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Security
beefed up for I-Day
2
militants killed, arms seized |
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Ansari
rejects Centre’s talks offer When
women spoke their hearts out
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Security beefed up for I-Day Srinagar, August 13 Meanwhile, the security forces unearthed a militant plan to strike on August 15 when they destroyed an arms dump and seized a cache of arms and ammunition, including rockets, explosives, grenades and mortar bombs, in the Raj Bagh area of the city last night. The two hospitals adjacent to the stadium have been taken over by the forces for security reasons. More than 100 persons, mostly former militants and known trouble makers have been taken into preventive custody. A BSF spokesman said troops of the 98 battalion along with the police, conducted searches at Armpora Raj Bagh, half km from the stadium, following information that militants have dumped arms there. He said after about three-hour search of the area, the troops reached the hideout around 12.30 am and seized three rockets, six rocket boosters, one grenade launcher with eight grenades, one 60 mm mortar bomb, four kg explosive, two hand grenades, one wireless set, two AK magazines and 104 rounds of ammunition. However, no one was arrested, he said. All roads leading to the Bakshi stadium, venue for the function where Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is scheduled to unfurl the Tricolour and take salute on August 15, have been closed. The area has been turned into a security camp. A large number of security personnel in full battle gear could be seen deployed in and around the stadium. |
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2 militants killed, arms seized Srinagar, August 13 He said the body of a Hizbul Mujahideen militant, Umar Usman, was recovered at Ghambir today, while another militant was killed by the security forces in an encounter near the Line of Control (LoC) at Khajaria last night. One AK rifle, one magazine and 26 cartridges were seized from the slain militant. Militants entered the house of Fazal Hussain at Mangota and shot him dead late last night. Militants also shot at and wounded Altaf Ahmad and Khursheed Ahmad at Check Badwani last evening. They were hospitalised. The security forces arrested two militants along with four grenades, two AK magazines, 10 cartridges, and six detonators at Danthoo. He said the security forces also seized 4 kg of explosive, three rockets, one rocket booster, one wireless sets, three rifle grenades, two hand grenades and two AK magazines from an open field at
Aramwari.
— UNI |
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India, Pak military to begin talks on Siachen Siachen Base Camp, August 13 “Military personnel (of the two countries) will meet to discuss the demilitarisation exercise and report back to their respective governments,” Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who made his first trip to Siachen, said here. However, he did not indicate when the talks may be held. He was replying to a question on how progress could be achieved in the Indo-Pak talks on demilitarisation of Siachen. After two days of talks last week, India and Pakistan on August 6 had agreed to continue discussions to work out modalities for disengagement and redeployment of troops on the Siachen Glacier and resolve the issue in a peaceful manner. During his two-day trip, Mukherjee visited forward locations on the glacier as well as Kargil and Drass on the Line of Control and Chushul and Pangong-Tso Lake illegally ceded by Pakistan to China. “We are occupying sensitive and strategic positions on the glacier and Pakistan knows they cannot dislodge us from there”, he said. Speaking on demarcation of the boundary on the Siachen Glacier, he said: “Delineation should first be done on the ground and then it should be reflected on the map so that any violation by either side could be proven.” Maintaining that from the beginning India had insisted that talks on demilitarisation should be part of the composite dialogue process with Pakistan, Mukherjee said: “All areas of dispute should be discussed and resolved ... like we are doing with China”.
— PTI |
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Ansari rejects Centre’s talks offer Srinagar, August 13 Addressing a Friday congregation in north Kashmir today, the APHC chairman said it had “never accepted the Indian Constitution and therefore there is no question of talks under the purview of the Constitution”. He, however, added that there was no other way to resolve the long-pending issue. Maulvi Abbas blamed both Central and state governments for not being sincere in their approach as the life of common man in Kashmir had been made miserable. He held that the approach had exposed the governments and there was no question of dialogue under such circumstances. The APHC chairman’s stand comes close to the recent assertion of the Union Home Minister, Mr Shiv Raj Patil, that was re-affirmed by his deputy Sriprakash Jaiswal during his three-day visit to the state on Tuesday. |
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When women spoke their hearts out Srinagar, August 13 The event, “Colours of Heart”, presented by women artistes from both countries focused on the plight of women, their values and human rights in the present world order. It was organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages in collaboration with the British Council and Darpana Academy of Performing Art, Ahmedabad. “We are creating new waves, a new path. The language of art is more powerful and free of hatred”, commented Mallika Sarabhai at the end of the over one-hour programme. She said she did not lose hope regarding peace in the region when she addressed a selected audience of over 300, attended among others by the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Recalling her childhood days with her father Vikram Sarabhai in Kashmir she assured the people that they were “no longer isolated. You are part of us, we are part of you.” The artistic presentation that portrayed the plight of women, she said, was the creation of her mind and heart. “Woh jo Ham Mein Tum Mein Qaraar Thaa, Tumhein Yaad Hou ki na Yaad Ho”, a presentation dotted by sarcastic remarks over the plight of woman in the male-dominated social set-up, came from Mallika Sarabhai towards the end of the joint performance. The programme concluded with Samia Malik’s musical presentation “Apna Wattan Hai Apna Wattan Hai, Tou Kyon Yahan Pardesi Lagoon Mein”, thereby making a complaint against the ill-treatment meted out to the woman-folk in society. Her lyrics touched the audience as she portrayed the sufferings, torture, pain and agony supported by the performance on the stage by Mallika Sarabhai and her troupe. Mufti Sayeed, who was chief guest on the occasion, appreciated the presentations. He asked the organisers, Mr Ramesh Mehta, secretary of the J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages to have extended the duration of the programme. Such programme should be of longer duration. It came to an end when I began to enjoy it”, said Mufti Sayeed, who was accompanied by his wife and some of his ministerial colleagues. Earlier in his remarks Mr Ramesh Mehta, secretary of the J&K Academy, said it would organise a number of more such programmes. |
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