The Tribune...Jammu and Kashmir

J A M M U C& CK A S H M I R

Thursday July 9, 1998

weather n spotlight
today's calendar

Police arresting J&K Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) activists at Lal Chowk in Srinagar on Wednesday as they refused to disperse in spite of teargas being used. The activists were protesting against the alleged atrocities of the police and the security forces. PTI

Shabir Shah detained

Congress plans stir
against J&K Govt
SRINAGAR, July 8 — The Congress will launch an agitation against the Farooq Abdullah government for its alleged failure

Shabir Shah, 24 others detained
SRINAGAR, July 8 (PTI) — The police today took Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) chief Shabir Shah into preventive custody along with 24 other party activists for violating prohibitory orders in the city.
The arrests were made after JKDFP activists refused to disperse and insisted on continuing with dharna at Lal Chowk in the heart of the city

against what they termed "state terrorism" allegedly unleashed by the police and other security agencies in the valley.
The arrested persons were being lodged at Khotibagh police station.
Before taking them into custody, police burst tear gas shells and used lathis to disperse JKDFP demonstrators who refused to budge. However, none was hurt in the police action.
Later talking to reporters, general secretary of JKDFP M.A. Ganai alleged that 50 activists of the party were arrested while 15 others injured in the police action.
Condemning the police action, Mr Ganai said the peaceful dharna was aimed to highlight the growing human rights violation.
He said such programmes would continue till the government took steps to respect the human rights of the people.

Congress plans stir against J&K Govt
SRINAGAR, July 8 (PTI) — The Congress will launch an agitation against the Farooq Abdullah government for its alleged failure in protecting the lives and property of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Congress Legislature Party leader Mehbooba Mufti told reporters here today circumstances had compelled the people of the state to take such an extreme step.
"There is lawlessness in the state and nobody feels secure at the hands of special operations group of local police better known as the task force," she said.
She said people, irrespective of their party affiliation, would take to streets to protest against the atrocities allegedly committed by the task force.
In reply to a question, she said the Congress wanted accountability. The task force personnel should be taken to task for each and every wrong act committed by them.