J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Arrangements for Assembly
session finalised
Srinagar, July 27
All necessary security arrangements have been made for the forthcoming Assembly session scheduled to begin here from August 18. This information was given to the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Speaker, Mr Tara Chand, at a joint meeting of police and civil administration officials here today. The meeting was held to finalise the security and other arrangements in and outside the Assembly Secretariat and the MLA hostel.

5 killed, BJP leader hurt in J&K
Srinagar, July 27
Five persons, including three militants, were killed while a BJP leader and his two personnel security officers (PSOs) were injured in Jammu and Kashmir overnight, an official spokesman said today. He said militants triggered an explosive device near Dak Bunglow at Kishtwar today, injuring BJP tehsil unit president Captain (rtd) Hukum Chand and his two PSOs. The injured were hospitalised.

Suicide attack on CRPF camp, jawan hurt
Srinagar, July 27
One militant was killed and a BSF jawan injured in an attack by a three-member suicide squad at a hotel housing a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in the Dal Lake area here this evening.

Terrorist strikes — act of desperation
Jammu, July 27
The recent gruesome terrorist strikes and killing of innocent persons in Poonch and Rajouri are an indicator to desperation among terrorists. Security personnel point out that such actions of terrorists indicate frustration as their supply lines have been cut and they have been losing support of local villagers.

Efforts to spruce up Sonamarg
Srinagar: Sonamarg, about 85 km from here, which has been a favourite destination of foreign tourists, is fast emerging as a major destination for domestic nature lovers, trekkers and adventure tourists.

Amarnath yatra suspended for a day
Jammu, July 27
The Amarnath yatra was suspended for a day today because of heavy rains and snowfall en route the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in the South Kashmir Himalayas. On July 20 also, the authorities had suspended the yatra due to bad weather conditions.

YOUR TOWN

Jammu Srinagar

A soldier stands in attention during Vijay Divas celebrations in Drass,
160-km east of Srinagar, on Monday. The Indian Army commemorated Vijay Divas in memory of over 500 Armymen who were killed during the Kargil war five years ago. — Reuters
 

	Terrorists kill 3 of family July 27, 2004
	Unity bid: APHC leaders leave it to Mirwaiz July 26, 2004
	Four militants killed in encounters July 25, 2004
	NC divided over Farooq’s merger proposal July 24, 2004
	PDP worker among six killed July 23, 2004
	Amarnath Yatra resumes July 22, 2004
	Cong Ministers protest against ‘inadequate’ security July 21, 2004
	Army, police step up checking in Poonch, Rajouri July 20, 2004
	Bypoll: BJP to confront govt on local issues July 19, 2004

Arrangements for Assembly session finalised
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 27
All necessary security arrangements have been made for the forthcoming Assembly session scheduled to begin here from August 18. This information was given to the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Speaker, Mr Tara Chand, at a joint meeting of police and civil administration officials here today. The meeting was held to finalise the security and other arrangements in and outside the Assembly Secretariat and the MLA hostel.

Mr Tara Chand lauded the role of the state police. He said its personnel had discharged their duties with courage and discipline during the past 15 years. He said the government had full faith in the police and hoped all necessary arrangements for the Assembly session would be ensured.

It was said that X-ray security screening systems for the screening of small bags, and mail would be installed within the Legislature Complex and Legislators’ Hostel, Srinagar.

Regarding traffic arrangements, the Inspector-General, (Traffic), Mr Ram Lubhya, said the department had already finalised arrangements for the smooth movement of vehicles of VIPs and other vehicular traffic leading to the Legislature Complex and Legislators’ Hostel.

It was suggested that the timing for all educational institutions be fixed at 8.30 am to avoid any inconvenience to the students and the people. The Director, Fire and Emergency Services, said complete fire-fighting arrangements would be made in the Legislature Complex and Legislators Hostel. The Health Department was directed by the speaker to provide better medical facilities in the Assembly complex and the Legislators’ hostel, besides posting doctors and paramedical staff.

To provide better communication facilities to the media, the Sub-Divisional Officer (Phones) and the Estates Department were directed to make necessary arrangements.

The speaker instructed the PHE authorities to ensure that adequate safe drinking water was available in the Assembly complex and the MLA hostel. The Electricity Department was asked to ensure uninterrupted power supply at the Assembly and the MLA Hostel. A generator would also be installed in the Assembly complex as standby arrangement.

The Srinagar Municipal Corporation would launch a cleanliness drive around the Assembly complex, including Maisuma locality.

5 killed, BJP leader hurt in J&K

Srinagar, July 27
Five persons, including three militants, were killed while a BJP leader and his two personnel security officers (PSOs) were injured in Jammu and Kashmir overnight, an official spokesman said today.

Militants shot at and wounded Abdul Rashid Shalla at Arampora while Abdul Rehman Mir was abducted from his Kulgam house last evening. — UNI

Suicide attack on CRPF camp, jawan hurt
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 27
One militant was killed and a BSF jawan injured in an attack by a three-member suicide squad at a hotel housing a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in the Dal Lake area here this evening.

A spokesman of the CRPF said one militant was killed in the retaliatory action by the troops. A BSF jawan was injured in the attack so far. The police said three militants opening fire from automatic weapons attacked the security camp 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 some local media agencies here that three of its militants had undertaken the attack.

An injured BSF jawan, Hawaldar Bhim Singh of Water Wing near the camp was admitted to SMHS Hospital here for bullet injury in his leg.

Terrorist strikes — act of desperation
Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 27
The recent gruesome terrorist strikes and killing of innocent persons in Poonch and Rajouri are an indicator to desperation among terrorists. Security personnel point out that such actions of terrorists indicate frustration as their supply lines have been cut and they have been losing support of local villagers.

The local population has now started to come forward with information on the hideouts of terrorists.

On June 26, terrorists stormed into a remote village in Thiali Katha in the Surankot area of Poonch, killing 12 innocent villagers and grievously wounding 18 others. The killed included a woman and five children.

Further, the ordeal of Mariyam Begum, a girl from Doda, reflects the barbarism the terrorists have unfolded in the valley. For 27 days, the girl remained under their confinement and raped repeatedly by terrorists before being rescued by the police on July 10 after a raid on the hideout. During her confinement, militants used to beat her with rifle butts and sticks.

She was tied to a tree and made to hand upside down for long periods. Her body parts were burnt with cigarettes and ears and nose chopped off.

In another act of cruelty, terrorists massacred five persons of the family of 70-year-old former havildar of the BSF, including his two-year-old grandson, at Gurdanbala (Rajouri) last week.

The massacres in Poonch and Rajouri are a clear indicator that terrorists are finding themselves isolated.

Further, the fencing along the Line of Control, installation of electronic devices to monitor activities along the fencing and stepped-up vigil by security forces have rendered terrorist organisations helpless.

Efforts to spruce up Sonamarg
Ehsan Fazili
Tribune News Service

Srinagar: Sonamarg, about 85 km from here, which has been a favourite destination of foreign tourists, is fast emerging as a major destination for domestic nature lovers, trekkers and adventure tourists.

In order to further improve its surroundings, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has constituted the Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA) on the pattern of other tourists spots of Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Patnitop.

The SDA is craving to have an international standard 18-hole golf course on a sprawling meadow in the shades of Thajwas glacier at an estimated cost of Rs 4 crore. A park is also being laid over 60 kanals in the periphery the fencing of which is going apace. The master plan drawn up for the development of this hill resort in 1987 is being recast keeping in view the latest requirements in tourism trade. The 75-km road from Zaloora to Sonamarg is being upgraded to four lanes.

According to Mr Nazir Ahmed Mir, Chief Executive Officer of the SDA, a time-bound programme is being chalked out to give a facelift to this resort . To start with, a new look is being given to the market place for which 20 tattered structures, besides several encroachments, have been removed. A plan to have a self financed shopping mall is on the anvil. A 15-kanal plot has been developed on the right side of Sindh to have modern tents pitched tourists.

Mr Mir said special attention had been paid to improve the conditions in the truck, bus and pony stands in view of a large number of tourists visiting Sonamarg.

Situated at an altitude of 2730 metres, the 85-km drive from Srinagar to Sonamarg through the Sindh Valley on the 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh highway presents a spectacular facet of Kashmir’s countryside. Thajiwas glacier is a major local attraction during the summer. Sonamarg is the base of a major trek that passes along several mountain lakes — Vishansar, Kishansar, Gadsar, Satsar and Gangabal. One trek from Sonamarg leads to Baltal, the base camp to the holy Amarnath cave shrine.

Sonamarg is the last halt on the Kashmir side for the drive from Srinagar to Leh. The Thajwas mountain ranges, 3 km from Sonamarg, is covered by glaciers.

Amarnath yatra suspended for a day

Jammu, July 27
The Amarnath yatra was suspended for a day today because of heavy rains and snowfall en route the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in the South Kashmir Himalayas. On July 20 also, the authorities had suspended the yatra due to bad weather conditions. “The yatra has been suspended keeping in view the safety of pilgrims,’’ an official spokesman said. Rains also lashed the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway last night. — UNI