Thursday, June 28, 2007

Probe Kashmir 'molestation' by soldiers: Antony

New Delhi, June 28: Defence Minister A.K. Antony Thursday ordered a probe into the alleged molestation of a girl by two soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir, an incident that has sparked widespread protests.
"The minister has taken the incident seriously and asked the defence secretary to look into it," a defence ministry official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.Bandipora town in north Kashmir Wednesday witnessed protests and a shutdown for the second day Wednesday against the alleged molestation of a local girl by two soldiers of the 57 Rashtriya Rifles counter-insurgency force.
Hundreds of angry demonstrators shouted slogans against the army in Bandipora, 54 km from Kashmir summer capital Srinagar, even as locals paraded the offenders naked and with their heads shaven.
The locals said the two soldiers were caught while attempting to rape a girl in Kunan village on the outskirts of Bandipora town late Tuesday.The soldiers are currently lodged in the Bandipora police station.Ten civilians and five policemen were rounded up Wednesday when police intervened to take the two soldiers into custody."

The soldiers were on routine patrol duties in Kunan when the civilians took them hostage. We have initiated our investigations into the matter," said Brigadier V. Garg, commander of the army's 81 Mountain Brigade under whose command the Rashtriya Rifles operates in Bandipora district.
The protesters, however, maintained that the soldiers could not have been on patrol duty as they were unarmed and were caught from a house in the village.The district administration has assured the people that appropriate action would be taken against the soldiers after investigations.

Shivraj Patil to visit J&K from Saturday

The Home Minister, Shri Shivraj Patil will visit Jammu and Kashmir from Saturday. During the two-day visit, he will discuss with the Chief Minister and senior officers of the State Government the security situation in the State. He will also review the security arrangements made for the Amarnath Yatra. The Home Minister will be accompanied, among others, by the Directors General of CRPF and BSF and Special Secretary (Internal Security) in the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Monday, June 25, 2007

J&K govt to restore Bemina woollen mills


SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir government will make all efforts to restore the pristine glory of the Bemina woollen mills. "The woollen products of the state are popular throughout Asia. We have to put in all our efforts to restore the pristine glory of this industry," Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Taj Mohiuddin on Monday said at a meeting here.

The meeting was convened to discuss matters relating to the revival of sick government owned Bemina woollen mills. Mohiuddin said the continuous slump of bemina woollen mills despite the availability of raw material, labour and machinery is a cause for concern.

Strategy is needed for making the defunct units functional and give boost to local products, he said adding the government departments including Health, Police and Tourism would be asked to purchase woollen products from the government wool board and woollen mills. Top state officials attended the meeting

Firing on Gujjars in Jammu

Jammu, June 25--An attempt to grab a piece of land in Majalta area under the Nagrota police station was foiled today.
The police fired at a group of Gujjars in Majalta, when they tried to capture 87 Kanals of government land. Police resorted to firing after the alleged land grabbers refused to vacate the land despite repeated warnings.
No one was injured in the firing and situation has been brought under control till last reports came in.

15 injured in Grenade blast at Doda

Jammu, June 25--Fifteen civilians were wounded three of them critically, when unidentified militants lobbed a hand grenade near old Bus stand of Doda, on Monday afternoon.
Official sources said that suspected militants lobbed a hand grenade targeting civilians who had just reached to Bus-Stand from their respective villages for purchasing ration.
Reports reaching here revealed that panic gripped the area after the blast as the people start running presuming it as a fidayeen attack. As the things calm down, the police and local residents shifted the injured to a Sub-District Hospital, where the condition of three persons was stated to be critical.