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Sikhs seek representation
in J&K Govt
One killed in suicide attack Top militant killed in encounter |
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2 more die en route to Amarnath 2 die in heavy rain in Jammu
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Sikhs seek representation
in J&K Govt Srinagar, August 8 The convention was attended by a number of Sikh bodies from all district and provincial units of Jammu and Kashmir, apart from senior SAD and SGPC leaders from the neighbouring Punjab. Those who attended the convention at Guru Nanak Khalsa Boarding House, Barzullah Baghat, here, included Mr Sucha Singh Langah, former minister from Punjab, Mr Dilbagh Singh, member, SGPC. Amritsar, Mr Gurumukh Singh Tibbia, vice-president, Akali Dal, Punjab, Mr Sukhbir Singh Wala, president, Youth Akali Dal, Gurdaspur, Mr Harjinder Singh Raina, president, SAD, Jammu, and Mr Charan Singh Bali, president SAD, Kashmir. In his address, Mr Langah sought due representation for the minority community of Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir in the state government. He referred to the representation given to the Muslim community in Malerkotla in Punjab and urged the state government to adopt a similar approach in giving due representation to the community in Jammu and Kashmir. He prayed for peace and prosperity in the state and added that the Sikh community always stood by the majority community, particularly in Kashmir, and held that the approach would continue in future as well. Various other Sikh leaders referred to the incident of the massacre of 36 Sikhs at Chhatisinghpora over four years ago and held that such attempts by the vested interests would not distance this minority community from the majority population of the valley. They reiterated the traditional amity and brotherhood prevailing in the state. Mr Charan Singh Bali, president of the Kashmir unit of the SAD, hailed the “efforts for resolving the Kashmir issue through bilateral dialogues between India and Pakistan. The participation of all concerned, including minority communities, be ensured”, he said. Referring to other political matters, Mr Bali sought the induction of a Sikh minister in Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet as a “permanent feature”. Other demands included nomination of two Sikh members to the Legislative Council from either of the regions and pave way for the entry of Sikh representatives in the state Assembly with two constituencies from either of the region be delimited as reserved constituencies. He sought the induction of Sikh member in the State Public Service Commission and State Recruitment Board from either of the region on rotational basis, representation of a member each in the State Human Rights Commission, Human Welfare Commission, Minority Commission, local bodies and all other such bodies that were being constituted from time to time. Mr Bali demanded 5 per cent reservation in services and training to Sikhs, OBC applicable to the Sikh community and an unbiased treatment related to the issuance of state subject certificate, Backward Class certificate, domicile certificate, etc to the community. Mr Bali sought the implementation of the Gurdwara Act in right spirit and amendments to rules for making the Gurdwara Endowment Act effective. Mr Bali sought filling up of the posts of lecturers of Punjabi lying vacant in colleges and higher secondary schools, starting of Punjabi department at the postgraduate level in the University of Kashmir, equal treatment to the language in the state Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, and the state Information Department Publications. |
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One killed in suicide attack Srinagar, August 8 A spokesman of the CRPF said one militant was killed in the retaliatory action by the troops, while one jawan was injured in the attack so far. The police said three militants opened fire from automatic weapons at about 8.40 pm this evening. Till the last reports came in, the operation to flush out suicide militants from the premises of the CRPF camp, was continuing. An unidentified caller, claiming to be a spokesman of Al-Mansoorian outfit, told local media agencies that three of its militants had undertaken the attack. An injured CRPF jawan, Hawaldar Bhim Singh of water wing of the camp, was admitted to the SMHS Hospital here for bullet injury in his leg, the police said. This is the third strike by militants in the high security zone here this month, after the DG Police here claimed that it had busted the entire network of militants involved in various attacks in the capital city. Two persons died and 35 others injured in an IED explosion at MA bridge near the official residence of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on July 3. Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma and Industries Minister Raman Mattoo, escaped a bid on their lives in Budshah Chowk area here on July 13. |
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Top militant killed in encounter Jammu, August 8 An encounter took place between the militants and the security forces in Bhadli forest belt of Doda district last night, they said. One top militant was killed and three others, including a civilian and two militants were injured, they said, adding that the top militant has been identified as Gulab Din, alias, Abu Haris, the area commander of HuM. The injured civilian has been identified as Baja Din, the sources said, adding that he was hospitalised. The operation to track down other injured militants was still on, they said. Militants shot dead one civilian Bashir Ahmed in the Mastan Dhara area of Poonch district last night after entering into his house, they said. They also beat up and critically wounded a woman, Zina Begum and Shafi in the Bhudan Wala area in Udhampur district last night, they said. The woman later succumbed to her injuries in the hospital they said, adding the militants escaped after the incident. Security forces also arrested a Bangladeshi national identified as Mohd Basar Mir near Pindi border outpost (BOP) on the Indo-Pak border in Jammu district early today, they said.
— PTI |
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2 more die en route to Amarnath
Srinagar, August 8 Vevak das (70) of Rishikash (uttar pradesh) died of cardiac arrest at Sheshnag yesterday, the spokesman said. He said the deceased was cremated after legal formalities. Another pilgrim, Rukmila Devi (55) of Jodhpur (Rajasthan), who was injured in a road accident, succumed to injuries in Pahalgam hospital, the spokesman said, adding her body was cremated by her son. With the latest deaths, the toll in the ongoing pilgrimage has gone up to 50, the spokesman said. Meanwhile, he said despite cloudy weather the Amarnath yatra was in full swing with 6160 more pilgrims having darshan of holy cave shrine yesterday, taking the number of pilgrims who had darshan of icy Shivlingam to 2,42,336 this year.
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PTI |
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2 die in heavy rain in Jammu Jammu, August 8 The police said incessant rain last night brought down the house of Faqir Mohammad, injuring him and his wife, Buban. Neighbours took them to Rajouri district hospital where Faqir died. Another person, Liaqat Hussain, was today washed away in the swollen Chingus river in Rajouri. His body was later fished out by the police. Two shops belonging to Ashwani Kumar also fell down in heavy rain in Chapra here last night.
— UNI |
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Illegal felling for coal Kathua, August 8 Reports of burning of willows for the same purpose in the Kashmir valley have also been received. However, neither the pollution control board nor the forest department has taken action against coal manufacturing units that reportedly have the backing of politicians of the area. A number of such kilns were operating illegally but the authorities have not collected any data of the volume of trees being burnt by them. The kiln owners buy wood at the rate of 10 paise per kg and sell coal for Rs 6 per kg. The authorities describe it as a “socio-political” problem that could not be tackled without political support. The kilns are also causing pollution as smoke emanating from the units spreads in the area. At times, driving becomes difficult because of a thick sheet of smoke. Wood is stacked in these kilns and burnt to get coal. A kiln owner said about 20 quintals of wood was burnt in one go in each kiln to yield five quintals of coal. The coal was purchased by dhaba owners and also despatched to various places in Srinagar and Doda districts. Some coal manufacturers are operating more than three kilns each at one place. The chairman of the state pollution control board, Mr S.D.Swantatra, said he would look into the matter and issue notices to kilns that were operating illegally. |
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