SRINAGAR, Nov 28:
Senior Congress leader and veteran bollywood actor Raj Babbar today asked people in Jammu and Kashmir to help his party fight “nefarious designs” of the “divisive forces” bent upon harming the cultural identity of the State.
“I appeal to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to support Congress as this party alone can support Kashmir people’s thinking on how to fight divisive forces and how to protect the ‘Kashmiriyat’ which is the cultural identify of Kashmir,” Babbar said while addressing election rallies at Khrew-Pampore and Arihal-Rajpora in Pulwama district of south Kashmir.
The actor said he was confident that at this “critical moment” people of Kashmir would remain steadfast to fight the “nefarious designs” of those who pose danger to Kashmir’s “cultural identity”.
“This is the opportune time to think collectively how to remain together and how to fight the enemy,” he said, adding “Congress is the only party which can ensure equitable development of people in all the three regions of the State.”
“Congress alone can mitigate the sufferings of common people,” he said and congratulated the people for voting in large numbers in the first Phase of ongoing state elections.
Over 70 per cent electorate exercised their franchise in the first phase of the five-phased elections on November 25. (AGENCIES)
Raj Babbar urges voters to help Cong fight divisive forces
Arnia encounter over, 5 civilians among 12 dead
JAMMU, Nov 28:
The encounter in Arnia sector of Jammu region close to Indo-Pak border ended this morning after the remaining fourth militant was gunned down by security forces during the terror attack on an Army patrol that in all left 12 people dead including five civilians and three army personnel.
“The encounter has ended and boys did a good job by preventing the militants from striking anywhere,” Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police K Rajendra said here.
“In all, we have lost three Army personnel and five civilians. All the four militants have been killed,” he said, after the end of the encounter this morning which lasted over 24 hours following the fidayeen attack.
Yesterday, it was stated that four militants were killed and one more was still holed up in an army bunker which came under attack. Officials said today there was some confusion on establishing the identity of one the dead yesterday.
The operation to neutralise the militants began yesterday morning and went on throughout the day but was suspended during the night.
An Army official said that security forces, who had launched a cordon and search operation at the site of encounter in Arnia this morning to retrieve bodies of the civilians, came under fire from a militant holed up in a bunker triggering fresh exchanges in which he was killed.
Piecing together the events that led to the attack, sources in the security establishment said all the four terrorists had entered India from across the Indo-Pak border during the intervening night of November 26 and 27 and were hiding behind a culvert when they were spotted by Territorial Army personnel.
A fierce gunbattle then ensued and the terrorists who were in combat fatigues later entered two abandoned bunkers and remained holed up before three of them were neutralised.
Security officials suspected that the militants wanted to carry out a sensational strike in the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir to coincide with the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who held a poll rally in Udhampur today. The venue of the rally was about 100 km from Arnia.
On November 26, Pakistani rangers had fired on some posts in Arnia sector and by the time the troops could retaliate, the four militants are believed to have infiltrated into the state, official sources said. BSF, which guards the International Border(IB), maintains there was no sign of infiltration.
The five civilians who died also included two people who had tried to flee from the car, in which they were travelling, when it got caught in the cross-fire between militants and security personnel. (AGENCIES)
Modi slams NC, Cong; seeks clear mandate for JK’s development
UDHAMPUR : Sounding the poll bugle for the second phase of Assembly elections here, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today sought a clear mandate for BJP in Jammu and Kashmir for the state’s development and said that it was “stuck at the same place” for past 30 years.
He accused the ruling National Conference (NC), Congress and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of indulging in corruption and looting the state besides “emotionally blackmailing” people.
“Development has been stuck at the same place here for the last 30 years. Corruption, loot and emotional blackmailing has become a habit of politicians here,” Modi said addressing a rally here in Jammu region.
Amid chants of “Modi Modi”, the Prime Minster asked the people to give BJP a clear majority to form the next government in the state.
“We have decided that no time will be wasted in sending whatever that the state needs. But I will also make sure that we know where every rupee sent from Delhi is spent,” he said.
Modi also thanked the people in the state for voting in large numbers saying that the militants have been astounded by their efforts.
“I thank the people of Jammu and Kashmir for coming out and voting in such large numbers. The militants are astounded. Those who wanted to use bullet to overpower the strength of ballot have failed. People have shown that the strength of ballot has overpowered the bullet,” he said.
Promising development, Modi assured that he working on providing job opportunities for the youth in the state.
Modi said he was probably the only Prime Minister who has come to the state every month (July till now).
“I have come here to either to promote development or to be with the people in time of their sadness,” Modi said adding he had spent his Diwali in the state. (AGENCIES)
Pak violates ceasefire along IB in Arnia
JAMMU : Pakistani rangers today violated ceasefire by resorting to brief firing along the international border in Jammu’s Arnia sub-sector, just hours after it was hit by a terror strike.
“There was a few rounds of firing from Pakistani side on our positions in Pital border outpost area in Arnia sub-sector today,” a senior BSF officer said.
BSF troops, however, observed calm and did not retaliate, he said, adding, there were no reports of any casualty.
In a terror strike on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jammu, militants wearing combat uniform attacked two army bunkers close to border in Arnia yesterday leaving 11 people including three civilians and as many army men dead in a fierce gun battle with security forces.
Modi is due to address a rally today in Udhampur district, which is 100 km from Arnia. The attack also coincided with the SAARC summit in Kathmandu attended by Modi and his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif. (AGENCIES)
PDP’s promises ‘Self Rule’ in its election manifesto
SRINAGAR : Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today released its election manifesto which promised to pursue ‘Self Rule’ as framework for resolution of Kashmir, besides effective governance to fight corruption and to rebuild the shattered economy of the state.
“The special status enshrined in Article 370 (of Constitution) is required to empower the people of Jammu and Kashmir and help deal with the issues of identity, borders and governance,” the manifesto, released by senior PDP leaders, including party patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, read.
The party, in the manifesto titled ‘an aspiration agenda’, asserted that Article 370 effects everything from political discourse to personal responses, economy to emotions, society to sensibilities and institutions to ideologies.
The party said the self rule document will be the guiding framework for resolution which included closer ties across the Line of Control, making borders irrelevant and complete connectivity between various parts of the state.
It also envisages economic and social integration of the region around Jammu and Kashmir by setting up Regional Free Trade Area and common economic market.
The PDP has also included its earlier agenda of setting up joint coordination mechanism for projects across the Line of Control and joint regulatory commission on trade and tariffs.
The party has promised constitutional restructuring by restoring the powers of the state Assembly and empowering the sub-regions of the state.
The PDP manifesto, which bears the stamp of former JK Bank chairman and now party candidate from Rajpora constituency Haseeb A Drabu, also talked about reviving the economy, resource generation and protection of environment.
“Economic policy and reforms will promote self rule
through extensive import substitution, intensive export orientation and globalisation of skills and standards,” the manifesto reads.
The PDP will focus on international benchmarking of products and processes by registering patents for handicrafts manufactured in the state like shawls and carpets. The party also promises regional trade integration with SAARC economies.
“This is based on the European Union model where trade between the member countries is free from levies. The SAARC region will also have to move in that direction,” Sayeed said in response to a question.
Asked if his PDP would ally with BJP after the polls in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus on regional cooperation in SAARC, Sayeed said it was not a question of allying but coordination.
“In 2002, we worked in coordination with Centre (ruled by BJP-led NDA) and started some model steps like cross-LoC travel and trade. There are no customs levies or visa involved in these processes. This has to be taken to a bigger scale now,” he said.
The PDP also promised rebuilding the state economy and creating employment avenues. “We are not talking about providing government jobs but creating avenues where the youth of the state can find gainful employment,” Drabu said.
On the return of migrant Kashmiri Pandits, the PDP manifesto maintained that they will be reintegrated and absorbed in the Kashmiri milieu.
“Reintegration has to be a process that must start within the state as well as the civil society. Return with dignity will be based on a legal framework of citizenship and their rights as the state subject,” it added.
The PDP also promised a legislative framework for empowerment of all minorities, including Sikhs and Christians.
On the women empowerment front, the party also promised to make it mandatory for all political parties to field 33 per cent female candidates in elections.
Other issues included in the PDP manifesto were one time settlement for 1947 Pakistan-occupied Kashmir refugees and Scheduled Tribe status for Pahari people. (agencies)
Jammu Encounter Day 2: Battle resumes between Army and militants
JAMMU : Gun battle between militants and Army resumed this morning in village Kanthar of Arnia sub-sector here.
According to official sources, ‘Two to three more militants are holed up in the bunkers.’ Official sources said they had fired upon the search party of Army, leading to a triggered encounter. Sources said five tanks and over 500 jawans had been deployed at the encounter site to eliminate the anti-nationals.
‘We have sounded alert and also vacated village Kanthar’ they said.
‘We have asked the villagers to temporarily shift to safer places in view of ongoing gun battle,’ they said and added that bodies of two civilians who were killed yesterday had been recovered, while the operation was still in progress.
However, no body of the slain militant has been recovered, so far.
At least ten people including three soldiers, four civilians and three militants were killed yesterday in a fierce gun battle between Army and militants in village Kanthar of bordering Arnia belt.
(agencies)
40 Indian prisoners released from Karachi jail
KARACHI : Pakistan today released 40 Indian prisoners, including fishermen, from a jail here, officials said.
The release of the prisoners from Karachi’s district jail Malir comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif warmly shook hands and exchanged pleasantries at the 18th SAARC Summit in Nepal.
The released Indian prisoners included 36 fishermen and four others, Anwar Kazmi, a spokesman of Edhi Foundation charity, told.
“Our organization is providing transport to take them to Wagah border with a packet containing clothes for their families and Rs 10,000 in cash to each of the released prisoners,” Kazmi said.
They will be taken to Lahore and handed over to Indian authorities at the Wagah border.
It was not officially known when the fishermen were arrested but Dunya TV reported that they were held about a year ago.
The government so far has not commented on the release but an official said on anonymity that it was a goodwill gesture and the arrested Indians were set free on humanitarian grounds.
“When Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited India in May, we released 151 prisoners,” the official said.
He said India should also release Pakistani prisoners and fishermen.
India and Pakistan regularly arrest fishermen who venture into unmarked territorial waters of the two countries. (AGENCIES)
