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Govt
declares resolve to crush proxy war in J-K NEW DELHI, Aug 9: Amid vociferous opposition demand in Lok Sabha for resignation of Home Minister L K Advani for his "failure" to prevent the recent massacres in Jammu and Kashmir, Government today declared its resolve to crush Pakistan-backed proxy war and said the State would be asked to consider enactment of an Anti-Terrorist Law to combat militancy. Launching a blistering attack on the Government for not having a coherent policy, an agitated opposition said it was unable to take appropriate security measures despite Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s description of terrorism in J and K as a "freedom struggle". Dissatisfied with Advani’s statement and reply to a Calling Attention Motion on the Doda killings, the entire opposition angrily staged a walkout with some members raising slogans demanding immediate resignation of the Home Minister. In a spirited reply, marked by pointed queries by Congress and Left Party members, Advani asserted "Pakistan was defeated in three wars. Similarly in this proxy war we will succeed in defeating it." The Home Minister, who made an identical statement in the Rajya Sabha, said special intelligence-driven security force operations based on surprise and speed would also be considered as per requirements of the ground situation. "The Unified Headquarters have been directed to initiate fresh tactics and modify dynamic deployments to ensure that people in affected areas, and especially in Doda-Kishtwar, feel reassured and confident," Advani said adding that four more districts in Jammu region including Doda were being declared "disturbed areas" giving greater powers to the security forces to deal with the terrorists. The Home Minister said the Government was also contemplating action against "overground elements" in J and K who were giving tacit support to the terrorists. He, however, did not elaborate. The number of Special Police Officers (SPOs) authorised for Doda have been increased by 1,000 and, along with increasing effectiveness of existing Village Defence Committees (VDCs), setting up of "dhoke (temporary shelter)" defence committees for villagers who take their livestocks to graze in higher mountainous reaches would also be experimented, he said. Lashing out at the Government for its "inaction and callousness", Congress chief whip P R Dasmunsi reminded the Home Minister of a statement made by him two years back declaring that he would resign if such massacres recurred. CPI-M leader Somnath Chatterjee wanted to know whether it was the Prime Minister’s office, the Home Ministry or the J and K Government responsible for the people’s safety and security. Initiating the debate, Pawan Kumar Bansal (Cong) wanted to know what pro-active policy had been adopted by the Government in the wake of sustained targeting of Hindus by the terrorists. The Congress member said the "steely image of Sardar Patel" sought to be adopted by Advani had been "shattered to smithereens" and wanted to know whether paramilitary forces posted in the upper reaches of Doda-Kishtwar areas had been withdrawn six months back. BJP member Vijay Goel accused the opposition of politicising the issue. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh (RJD) asked how many more killings would it take for the Home Minister to step down? Advani said Government was determined to thwart the nefarious designs of the terrorists and their "mentors" across the border and not to let the counter-insurgency grid be thinned down. The Minister said measures for upgrading security arrangements at Jammu Railway Station including its fencing and better illumination as well as coordinated security efforts for the station had been agreed upon at a high-level meeting convened by him last night. The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Jaswant Singh, J and K Governor G C Saxena, Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and top officials of the security forces and Central and State Governments. Seeking the support of all sections of the House in Government’s efforts to combat terrorism, Advani said "it must be appreciated that what we are fighting is a proxy war of multiple dimensions unleashed by an inimical neighbouring country which has had no qualms in rationalising the brutal killing of innocent men, women and children as a freedom struggle". Countering the opposition attack, the Home Minister said that the recent killings of civilians was a result of the pressure on militants arising out of the successes of security forces in tackling militancy. Advani, however, conceded that declaring districts as disturbed areas was not the recipe for fighting cross-border terrorism. The recipe would be results on the ground, he said maintaining that 450 terrorists were killed in two months after the ceasefire was called off in May. All reports indicated that Pakistan-based militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba was responsible for the recent massacres, the Home Minister told the House. To a pointed query whether the J and K Government had sought additional security forces in the recent past, Advani said the requirements of the State authorities had been met and added that the strength of paramilitary forces in the State was now higher than the pre-Kargil position. Ali Mohd Naik (National Conference) wanted the Centre to consider the State Government’s demand for greater autonomy while P H Pandian (AIADMK) said escalation in violence was the result of the "diabolical role" played by Musharraf leading to failure of the Agra summit. Earlier in the Lok Sabha, Advani said that Jammu and Kashmir Government has decided to declare remaining portions of Jammu province as "disturbed areas" to curb militancy and measures are being initiated to restore confidence among the people especially those living in Doda-Kishtwar. "I wish to assure this august House that the Government shall leave no stone unturned in bringing back peace to Jammu and Kashmir," Advani said in reply to a Calling Attention Motion on the situation arising out of recent killings of members of minority community in Doda and Jammu. Advani said the State Government had decided to extend the already declared disturbed areas as per the Armed Forces (J and K) Special Powers Act, 1990 to the remaining portions of Jammu province. At present only the 20-km belt along the International Border/Line of Control in Jammu province and all districts of Kashmir valley stand declared as "disturbed" since 1990. Seeking support of members in restoring peace in the region, Advani said "the unified headquarters have been directed to initiate fresh tactics and modified dynamic deployments to ensure that people in affected areas, especially in Doda-Kishtwar, feel reassured and confident." Seeking cooperation from all in crushing militancy and terrorism, Advani said the Government was determined to thwart the nefarious designs of the terrorists and their mentors across the border and not to let the counter-insurgency grid be thinned out. "Nor will we reduce the anti-infiltration posture of our security forces. We remain committed to take all possible steps for the protection of remote, scattered and minority population in J and K," Advani said terrorist groups in J and K had continuously showed total disregard for the yearning for peace and normalcy on the part of the people of the state and did not respond positively to Government’s unilateral Ramzan peace initiative. In an effort to divert this pressure, terrorists have been resorting to high visibility acts of violence in J and K. During this period terrorists have carried out attacks on innocent civilians at Shesnag Amarnath Yatri camp on July 21, two separate incidents of killing in Doda-Kishtwar area on July 21 and 22, a third incident in Doda-Kishtwar area on August 4 and indiscriminate firing on innocent people at Jammu railway station on August 7, he said. The objective of the militants in carrying out such attacks appeared to stretch the security forces by forcing them to provide protection in more and more areas thereby hoping to blunt present thrust and momentum of counter-terrorism operation in J and K, he said. Their other objectives were to create a communal divide with possible repercussions not only in J and K but also in the rest of the country, to strike terror among the people, to force minorities to flee to safer places thereby giving the terrorists space for their activities to be carried out freely and to attract media attention both nationally and internationally, Advani said. (PTI) |
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Cabinet declares 6 Jammu districts as disturbed Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Aug 9: The State Government today decided to declare all the six districts of Jammu region as ‘disturbed areas’ under Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act 1990. The decision to this effect was taken at a special meeting of the State Cabinet that met here this evening with Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah in the chair. The decision of the Cabinet is being sent to the Governor for his approval and the notification to this effect will be issued accordingly, official spokesman said. Meanwhile, talking to media persons after the Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister said that this measure will help strengthening the security forces in combating militancy more effectively in Jammu region which has seen spurt of terrorist violence after the Agra Summit. Dr Abdullah said that security forces have been able to deal firmly with the militants in Kashmir valley which is already covered under this Act. |
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Face militancy boldly: Governor
asks people Excelsior Correspondent Jammu, Aug 9: The Governor, Mr. G.C.Saxena has said that the State is fighting a proxy war waged on large scale in which not only common people suffer but political leaders, Para Military Forces and police personnel are also vulnerable and suffer. Addressing a specially called meeting of the prominent citizens here today, Mr Saxena said that our State is confronted with gigantic challenge from across the border and we should be ready and well prepared to face this challenge boldly. Referring to the massacre of innocent passengers at Jammu Railway Station, Mr. Saxena said that entire nation is in grief and condemn this heinous act. He said that the Government is committed to provide security to life and property of every citizens, but some times it becomes difficult to provide security at every place. He said that the terrorists are having a strategy to strike at different places so that our security forces are deployed there and the pressure of security forces on certain areas decreases. The Governor said that this proxy war is going on and we are sure that ultimately victory will be ours because we are united. The Governor while referring to the functioning of security forces said that during May the security forces eliminated 217 terrorists and 235 were killed in July this year. Of them 60 to 70 per cent are foreign terrorists. The Governor called upon the people to unitedly fight the proxy war and show Pakistan that we are one. He said, Pakistan has already economically destabilized itself due to its wrong policies. Referring to the mass killings of innocent people at Atholi in Doda district some day back, the Governor clarified that perception among the people that the State Government had removed the security forces from the area was wrong. In reality the unified headquarter keeps on shifting the battalions from one place to other according to the need. In Doda district, especially in the Dhokes of Paddar and other disturbed areas more SPO’s and VDC’s are being deployed. While referring to the militants killings at Jammu Railway Station, Mr. Saxena said that comprehensive measures are being adopted to further beef up the security there. The Railway Department has now agreed to fence the railway station and construct another overhead bridge, lighting arrangement and checking at the platform. In this connection New Delhi has fully assured the State all help, he added. Mr Saxena sought people’s cooperation in maintaining communal harmony and brotherhood in the region. Eulogizing the people of Jammu, the Governor said that they have always exhibited an example of utmost restraint, discipline and fraternity even in the hours of acute provocation. He complimented the prominent citizens for their cooperation to the Administration in maintaining age old tradition of communal amity and law and order in the region. The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah said that there is no doubt that he is the head of Unified command but the deployment is generally done by the Commander of the security forces and the politicians have to do nothing with it. Referring to the topography of Doda district, he said that the district has a very difficult terrain and it is not very easy to provide security to every individual in every nook and corner. Dr.Abdullah said that the promulgation of Disturbed Area and Special Power Act will provide more power to security forces to act effectively against terrorist in the State. However, the security forces have to exercise utmost restrain while using these powers and ensure that human rights are in no way violated, he stressed. The Chief Minister said that Pakistan was determined to destabilize our State both economically and politically and that the Jehadi groups are committed in their mission to spill blood of innocent people, which is not preached by any religion. Terrorists are constantly being trained in espionage in different camps set up across the border and when they cross the border they can do any thing. "We have to face them," he added. Referring to his meeting with the Home minister at New Delhi yesterday the Chief Minister acidly reacted to the allegations labelled by some persons against him regarding working of unified command. He said that the allegations were totally wrong and incorrect. "The Chief Minister never interferes in the functioning of the security forces, he added." Prominent citizens made suggestions regarding improvement in law and order situation. The suggestions included deployment of more VDC’s and SPO’s in highland pastures, to instill confidence among people of Doda not to migrate, providing security cover at vulnerable areas, to make administration more responsive and accountable, holding of regular Chief Minister’s meetings with people, improvement in power supply, strengthening security cover to Sikh inhabited in villages in Kashmir, improvement in intelligence net work etc. The meeting was also attended by Minister of Forest, Mr. Peerzada Ghulam Ahmed Shah, Minister for Information, Mr. Ajajtshatru Singh, Minister of State for Rural Development, Mr. Ajay Sadhotra, Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr. Ram Paul. The Chief Secretary, Mr. Ashok Jaitly, DGP, Mr. A.K.Suri, DIG Jammu Range, IGP Jammu, Divisional Commissioner also attended. |
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Militants seeking shelter in over 20 places in J&K From B L Kak NEW DELHI, Aug 9: Government sleuths have informed the Union Home Ministry that Pakistan aided militants and mercenaries trying to strike before and during Independence Day have begun trying and looking for accommodation in more than 20 places in Jammu and Kashmir. If inputs made available by men of two Field Intelligence Units (FIUs) are any guide, armed militants, including an unspecified number of Fidayeen (suicide bombers), have sneaked into the vicinity of Jammu as well as into the localities in the neighbourhood of the Civil Secretariat building and Police room in Srinagar. While targets for Islamist attackers in the vicinity of Jammu, intelligence inputs have warned, could be crowded places such as Raghunath Bazar, Kachhi Chowni, Mubarak Mandi, Jain Bazar, Tallab Tillo—Bohri section, inter-state bus stand and railway station, Srinagar city has been earmarked for deadly strikes on the Secretariat building and the BSF bunkers and campus and police stations. EXCELSIOR was officially told that other places in Jammu and Kashmir selected by the terrorists for deadly attacks on soft as well as hard targets include R S Pura, Samba and Akhnoor in Jammu district, Udhampur, Gool Gulabgarh and Chenani in Udhampur district, Doda, Kishtwar, Thathri and Gandoh in Doda district, Nowshera, Budhal, Kalakote, Sunderbani and Thanna Mandi in Rajouri district and Mendhar and Surankote in Poonch district. According to intelligence reports, "fresh" batches of armed subversive have, in recent weeks, managed to entrench themselves in Ganderbal, Lar and Kangan sectors of Srinagar district, Khag, Chadoora, Narbal, Beerwah and Budgam in Budgam district, Shangas, Kulgam, Brang, Qazikund, Kokernag and Dachanpora sections of Anantnag district, Pulwama, Keller, Tral, Shopian and Pampore in Pulwama district. This apart, additional posses of Jihadis belonging to the Lashkar-e-Toiba, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Al Badr have also made inroads into Baramulla, Pattan, Tangmarg, Sumbal, Sopore, Hajin, Bandipora, Gurez and Dangiwacha in Baramulla district, Kupwara, Trehgam, Langate, Rambal and Rajwar in Kupwara district. The Intelligence Bureau (IB) is reported to have received specific information that at least three Fidayeen squads of LeT have been sent to the vicinity of Jammu to strike before and during the 54th Independence Day celebrations. As a result of this direct threat, the Home Minister Mr L K Advani, told the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah in Delhi that the State police and other security agencies required to be pressed into service across J&K, particularly in sensitive areas, to manage security and to keep the attackers at bay. At a time when Mr Advani and Dr Farooq Abdullah have joined hands and at a time when the Centre has reaffirmed its resolve to crush terrorism in J&K, Islamabad has gone much beyond the UN resolutions on Kashmir and the ‘unfulfilled promises’ to the Kashmiris, Pakistan has chosen to intensify criticism against India for "oppressing and suppressing with brute force" the "indigenous struggle of Kashmiris for the right to self-determination". Islamabad has, once again, issued official statements on Kashmir, which interalia claim that more than 75,000 people of Kashmir have become martyrs in the face of "growing Indian repression". In his assessment note furnished to Mr Advani, Dr Farooq sees the hand of Pakistan in the so-called indigenous struggle. Indeed, Mr Advani has endorsed Dr Farooq’s diatribe against Pakistan for aiding and abetting cross-border terrorism. While referring to the regular terrorist training camps on Pakistani soil, the J&K Chief Minister has pointed to the number of militant outfits operating from Pakistan, which recruit and send hundreds of Jihadis to Kashmir from across the Line of Control (LoC). |
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Curfew lifted in Jammu Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Aug 9: Curfew was completely lifted from Jammu at 1600 hours today even though it was defied thrice earlier in the day by the BJP and Shiv Sena activists at different places in the City. A complete bandh was observed in Kathua and Poonch towns today to protest Tuesday night’s shoot-out at Railway Station. Authorities lifted curfew at 1600 hours following improvement in the situation. Life returned to normal after curfew was lifted. Shops and business establishments re-opened after two days of curfew. No untoward incident was reported from any part of Jammu after curfew was over, official sources said. However, troops remained deployed in all sensitive areas of the City to maintain law and order. They were being assisted by para-military and police personnel. Earlier in the day, about 70 activists of BJP’s youth wing—the BJYM—gathered at City Chowk in defiance of curfew restrictions and started shouting slogans against Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah. They started burning the effigy of Abdullah. Police and para-military asked the BJYM activists, who were led by Satish Sharma, presidents, to disperse but they refused to do so. Police opened lathicharge and lobbed teargas shells to disperse the protesters. A BJYM activist Vikram Singh Randhawa received a serious injury on his head and was rushed to hospital. Other protesters dispersed. While BJYM workers were protesting at City Chowk, some youths appeared there and started shouting slogans against Home Minister L K Advani. It couldn’t be ascertained whether the youths were Shiv Sainiks. They too were chased away by police. Activists of Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Shiv Sena also defied curfew and burnt Pakistani flags. They were led by ABHSS president Yogesh Gupta and Sanjay Sawhney. Curfew was also defied by few youths at Purani Mandi, Kachi Chawni and Rajinder Bazar during the day. They pelted stones on police and CRPF jawans but fled away after police came into action. Four youths were taken into custody by police for stone pelting but were released after a warning. Several areas of Jammu, where curfew restrictions hadn’t been imposed, observed a complete bandh peacefully. Our Kathua correspondent adds: A complete bandh was observed in several towns of Kathua today to protest the Railway Station shoot-out. Traffic in Kathua town and Jammu-Pathankot national highway remained off the roads. Not even a single shop was open in Kathua town and outskirts in response to an all party bandh call. Even rehris didn’t appear on the roads. All banks, Government offices and educational institutions also remained closed. Gujjars entering the town alongwith milk were also stopped by the mob resulting into shortage of milk. Youths burnt tyres and raised road blockades at different places in the town. A complete bandh was also observed in Lakhanpur, Chadwal, Sanji Morh and Nagri. No vehicles plied on the highways and interior roads of Kathua as Truck Union and Industrial Association had also joined the strike call. Several leaders addressed a demonstration at Main Chowk, Kathua and criticized the failure of Union Home Minister and NC Government in containing militancy in Jammu. They included Rattan Chand, Surinder Mahajan, Jang Bahadur Mahajan, Naresh Sharma, Prithipal Singh Kid, Charanjit Singh Bhola, Nand Singh Bawa, Mohinder Singh and Vikram Singh Naja. Our Poonch correspondent reports that a near total bandh was observed in Poonch town today in response to a call given by Sanatan Dharam Sabha president Laxmi Chand Shastri. Shops and other business concerns were closed and transport, both commercial and private, was off the roads. People took out a procession in the town shouting slogans against L K Advani and Farooq Abdullah holding them responsible for stepped-up militancy in Jammu. Banks, Government offices, schools and degree college also remained closed. However, a couple of shops, owned by majority community, remained open in the town. |
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Curfew continues in
Kishtwar Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Aug 9: A CRPF Havildar was injured in a blast at Ramsu while a minor girl was killed in a firing incident at Chenani today. Curfew continued in Kishtwar town without any relaxation for fifth day today while it was lifted from Bhaderwah. Reports said the militants triggered a powerful IED explosion at Ramsu on Jammu-Srinagar national highway this morning. A CRPF bus was damaged in the blast causing injuries to Havildar Surinder Singh. The IED exploded after the bus had crossed over, thus, reducing the extent of damage. Only wind screens of the bus were damaged and a Havildar sustained minor injuries. He has been hospitalised. A militant, suspected to be involved in triggering the IED blast with a remote control, managed to escape. A six year old girl Sushma was killed in an accidental fire by his grand-father Krishan Chand, a Village Defence Committee (VDC) member, in his house at village Pattangarh in Chenani tehsil this morning. Krishan Chand was reportedly cleaning his 303 rifle when a shot went off killing Sushma on the spot. Two fierce encounters took place between security forces and militants at village Jambali in Basantgarh area of Udhampur and Chanka Dani in Bhaderwah tehsil of Doda district this afternoon. However, at both the places, the militants managed to escape after more than one hour long gun-fighting. No casualty was reported on either side in the two encounters. Meanwhile, no relaxation was given in curfew in Kishtwar town today in view of yesterday’s tension and mob’s attempt to take out a procession against Railway Station killings. Army remained deployed in Kishtwar town to maintain law and order. Today was fifth day of curfew in Kishtwar. Yesterday, authorities had announced a two hour curfew relaxation but restriction had to be re-imposed within one hour as people came out of their houses shouting slogans, resulting into tension. Day curfew was lifted from Bhaderwah town today. Initially, curfew was relaxed in Bhaderwah town from 1000 hours to 12 noon. Relaxation period was subsequently extended upto 1900 hours. Normal conditions prevailed in Bhaderwah during the relaxation period. A bandh was also observed in Doda town by the minority community. Shops, owned by minorities, remained closed. Call for the a bandh in Ramban was given by Beopar Mandal president Sham Singh Katoch. In the evening, BJP workers held a meeting at Ramban and demanded resignation of Farooq Abdullah government holding it responsible for spurt in militancy. They charged the State government with complete failure in dealing with the militants. BJP district Doda president Om Parkash Gupta has condemned the killings at Kishtwar and Railway Station, Jammu. Bandh was complete in Ramban tehsil of Doda district against Railway Station shoot-out. All shops in the town were closed. Bandh in Doda and Ramban remained peaceful. |
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Two bureaucrats in the eye
of legislators’ storm From Ahmed Ali Fayaz SRINAGAR, Aug 9: Much more than the ever-angry Opposition legislators, it is the ruling National Conference (NC) MLAs who are this time around gunning for the ebullient Pervez Dewan and Khursheed Naqeeb. Dewan is the Commissioner Secretary Tourism in the State Government and Naqeeb is Vice Chairman of Lakes & Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) but, more than that, they are known for their intimate relationship with Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah. Regarding the senior IAS officer, Pervez Dewan, NC’s MLA Sadiq Ali has written to the Speaker of Legislative Assembly Mr Abdul Ahad Vakil: "Some officers seem to have developed a mindset where democracy perhaps does not fit. I think such people are not any different from the gun-wielding militants who do not believe in democratic norms. Someone has to tell them where they belong!". Sadiq, who is heading the Public Undertakings Committee (PUC) and another House Committee on Lakes and Waterways, has requested the Speaker to refer the matter of Dewan’s "wilful absence" (from the two House Committees) to the Privileges Committee "for necessary action under rules". He has asserted that Dewan’s staying away from the proceedings has "obstructed and impeded in the functioning of both the Committees". "Mr Dewan was summoned to depose on various occasions but, intriguingly, every time he either disregarded the summons or provided an excuse. The Parliamentary procedure is abundantly clear that when any individual authority disregards or attacks any of the privileges, rights and immunities, either of the members or the House in its collective capacity, it comes under breach of privileges and is punishable", Sadiq notes in his letter, dated August 04, and insists that the senior bureaucrat has committed "disobedience" to the legitimate orders of the House. While MLA Zadibal is all fire against Dewan, MLA Hazratbal, Akhoon, has trained his guns on Khursheed Naqeeb. Both the influential MLAs of the ruling party maintain that "some super-imposed bureaucrats" have been ruling the roost with little regard for democratic norms and traditions since Dr Abdullah’s comeback in 1996. Akhoon, often described as Minister without portfolio in political circles, has grown important due to two factors: He was the only vociferous NC leader in Valley in the thick of militancy when almost all of his colleagues, including today’s ministers, published resignations in newspapers and remained hidden in Jammu. But, during the present regime, he remained in news due to his being the "supervisor" of the construction of Dr Abdullah’s house in the winter capital. "We have a thousand differences with this illiterate Akhoon but he has the credit of keeping our flag high when Naqeeb pulled down and desecrated Sher-e-Kashmir’s portrait at his house", remarks a senior NC leader. But Naqeeb is no less important. Enjoying a strong clout in top echelons of bureaucracy, he is known as the CM’s alter ego. He simultaneously functioned as Managing Director of three glamorous PSUs in the present NC regime. It was none other than Naqeeb who replaced Wajahat Habibullah — a seniormost IAS officer — as VC of LAWDA last year. Even senior bureaucrats’ and politicians’ allegations regarding his intimacy to the CM and CM’s Secretariat are unparliamentary, but it is a fact that he has risen to prominence with neither KAS nor IAS in his hand. Unlike Naqeeb, Dewan is in the prestigious IAS since 1977. In the environment sector itself, it was Pervez Dewan who first banned the use of polythene bags in 1990 when was DC Jammu. Besides, he is the man who introduced all community solar cookers in J&K in 1982. In the current year too, Dewan was singularly instrumental behind cleaning Anchar Lake as also keeping Pahalgam neat and clean during the Amarnath Yatra__ first time in history. On Monday last, when Sadiq Ali led the House Committee on Lakes and Waterways to a tour in Srinagar, neither Dewan nor Naqeeb were present. Akhoon registered a strong protest spitting his ire on Naqeeb and walked out. He even cast aspersions on men in the CM’s Secretariat and shouted that Naqeeb, alongwith a bureaucrat, had "spoiled the State". Asked why the State Government was appearing to be little sensitive towards conservation of water bodies and environment and why the officials were absenting from the House Committee meetings, Dewan asserted that the executive had enough of seriousness in the subject. He described Sadiq as a very refined legislator and environmental activist and claimed that he had attended all but two meetings of the House Committee. "Once the CM took me to Nobra and on another date I was running fever at 104", he explained saying that, in a Jammu meeting, it was he who was present and the Chairman himself was absent. "Sometimes one has legitimate reasons to be absent. It is with everybody", justified Dewan. |
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Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Aug 9: Three militants and four civilians, including a Government employee, have been found dead in different militancy-related incidents in Kashmir valley since last evening. Official sources said that two militants died in Machhil and one near Gulab Post on LoC in Kalaroos on Wednesday in separate encounters with security forces. In Kupwara district, militants launched a severe attack on the residence of District Congress president, Mohammad Amin Khan, at Mawar late last night. His guards retaliated the fire and there was no damage. Police also recovered the decomposed dead body of Bashir Ahmed S/o Mohammad Sultan R/o Shulina, Shimnag. Officials described him as a counter-insurgent source of security forces who seems to have been kidnapped and killed by militants. At Pantachowk, in the capital city outskirts, Police recovered the dead body of a Bihari labourer from river Jhelum. It was not clear how he had died. Police in Pahalgam recovered the dead body of an R&B employee, namely Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh S/o Ghulam Rasool Sheikh of Frislan. He is believed to have been killed by militants. During last night, militants fired some shots towards the house of Shabir Ahmed Sheikh S/o Bashir Ahmed Sheikh of Shah Latoo Shopian. One Akil Ahmed S/o Zahoor Ahmed Sheikh sustained injuries in the shootout. This afternoon, militants lobbed a grenade towards a vehicle of security forces at Kunzar on Srinagar-Tangmarg road. It missed the intended target and exploded on road without causing any damage. This evening, due to a misfire from a BSF official’s gun, a 50-year-old civilian Abdul Gani got killed at Pohroo, in southern outskirts of Srinagar. In the same area, a joint patrol of SOG Budgam and Army fired several shots at Kuthipora. It was not immediately clear as to what happened in the shootout. Reports from south Kashmir said that militants and security forces exchanged fire at Dagpora Nayidgam (Shopian) and Sopat (Qazigund). However, there was no casualty. Militants lobbed a grenade at SOG camp Badgam, about 50 yards away from shrine of Syed Mohammed Aali Balkhi, Chrar-e-Sharief at Pakharpora at 9 p.m. today. Four civilians were injured in the attack. SOG Badgam and Army have launched a search operation at Kuthi pora following reports that a group of 8 Lashkar-e-Toiba militants were hiding in a house. |
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Engineering student shot dead in Surankot Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Aug 9: An engineering student was kidnapped and killed by the militants in Surankot while security forces recovered a large quantity of explosives from Bindi Gali this evening. Official sources said three militants struck at village Kalar Katyar in Surankot last night and kidnapped a 23-year old engineering student Shahzad Ahmed son of Aziz Bhatti, a retired Sub Inspector of police. Militants whisked away Shahzad to a forest area where he was shot dead. Body of the engineering student was recovered by police from Kalar forests at 1100 hours today. It was handed over to victim’s family in the afternoon. Local people resented the killing of the innocent student. Sources said that militants wanted to induct Shahzad Ahmed, who had just returned to Surankot after completing his engineering, into the ranks of militants. However, Shahzad’s father was strongly opposed to the militants’ demand. Meanwhile, army recovered a large quantity of explosive material from Bindi Gali in Rajouri area this evening. A hideout of the militants was also busted by the troops. Recovery included five IEDs with fuses, six kg explosives, 14 meters of cordon, five IED remote switches with battery compartments, five electronic detonators, one IED antenna and some incriminating documents. Documents were related to fabrication of IEDs. No militant could be arrested from the hideout during the raid, the sources said. Another consignment of explosives was recovered by police and security forces from Dhok Dana Gajna which included 7 RPG rounds, 22 hand grenades, 10 detonators, 100 gms RDX and one pistol with one magazine. |
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NEW DELHI, Aug 9: Denying the claims of Hurriyat Conference about any formal meeting with the Dalai Lama, prominent Gandhian Nirmala Deshpande today clarified that the two leaders of the amalgam — Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone — had not been invited to the recent inter-faith-meet at Chennai which was inaugurated by the Tibetan spritual leader on Sunday. "They (Lone and Farooq) had not been invited to the Sunday’s meet and they had entered the hall only as part of the audience," Deshpande told reporters here. Giving the sequence of the events, she said after the inauguration, Lone, who was sitting in the audience, requested that Farooq should be allowed to speak at the meet as he was the religious head of Muslims in Srinagar. "The Mirwaiz was allowed to speak for five-minutes in which he only condemned the Doda massacre which had taken place in the last week-end," Deshpande said clarifying that none of the Hurriyat Conference leaders was orginally on the panel of speakers at the meet. She said the Mirwaiz was allowed to speak on peace and communal harmony only. The Hurriyat leaders also made an attempt to speak to the Dalai Lama separately and indicated their interest to visit him at Dharmshala. "The spritual leader responded in his usual way that they are welcome," she said. She said that the spritual leader had not extended any invitation to the Hurriyat Conference leaders as claimed by Lone and Mirwaiz. (PTI) |
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BSF extra-vigilant prior to I-Day celebrations Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Aug 9: The Border Security Force (BSF) has taken stringent security measures to thwart militants designs to sabotage the forthcoming Independence Day celebrations here, a senior BSF official said today. "We have information that militants are planning to strike in a big way on or before the independence day in the city to create panic and therefore we have beefed up the arrangements to frustrate their nefarious designs," Deputy Inspector General of BSF, R P Singh said here. Shortly after handing over five boys, allegedly lured to join militancy but rescued by the force, to their relatives at Chandipora battalion headquarters, Singh told reporters that "25 foreign mercenaries and some local militants are active in the city and efforts are on to neutralise them". "In addition, some 60 militants, most of whom stay outside the city, are visiting their contacts regularly to coordinate their activities and plan subversive activities," Singh said. "There is also a possibility of a Fidayeen attack prior or on August 15", the BSF official added. Singh said his force is fully prepared to take up the challenge and had launched a special drive alongwith police and CRPF to neutralise the militants. The drive which has proved successful in nabbing a number of suspected militants and killing of some hardcore militants during the past few weeks is also aimed at infusing sense of security among the locals, he said. "Surprise search operations, frisking and vehicle checking has also been intensified besides area domination patrols are being conducted in the city," he said. BSF has taken vantage positions around the Bakshi Stadium, where the independence day functions are to be celebrated and has cordoned off three-km area around the stadium besides round-the-clock checking frisking operations for the last few days. Earlier, presenting the boys before mediapersons, the BSF officer said the boys were lured by the militants and were ready to cross over to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) for arms training. The boys identified as Sajad Ahmad Dar, Gulzar Ahmad Bhat, Aijaz ul Salam Wani, Mohammad Ibrahim and Tanveer Ahmad Bhat also revealed that they were lured by a Hizbul Mujahideen commander (recently killed) to join the outfit and were planning to go to Pakistan occupied Kashmir for arms training. |
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