SUNDAY, November 09, 2014 15, Muharram 1436 AH 27th Year of publication

Published from Srinagar | Jammu Regd. No. JK NP-6/SKGPO-2012-2014 Vol: 27 No. 299 Pages: 20 Rs. 3.00 (Air Surcharge For Jammu/Leh 50 Paisa) epaper.GreaterKashmir.comGreaterKashmir.com, GreaterKashmir.net

AMIRA KADAL, LAL CHOWK NEAR GURDWARA

ARVIND SHARMA

Jammu, Nov 8: Sticking to its traditional stance, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has reiterated its “commitment” to abrogate Article 370 which gives spe-cial status to Jammu and Kashmir besides “removing obstacles hampering state’s complete integration with rest of the country.”

According to sources, the BJP’s manifesto for the upcoming Assembly elections—which will be released on November 15—talks about Article 370 in two parts. The first part reads: “The party will initi-ate comprehensive debate in all three regions of the state to ascertain as to whether the Article 370 has benefited a common man in all these years, or it has deprived him of the benefits which people in rest of the country enjoy.” And second reads: “The party is committed for

abrogation of Article 370, and if voted to power, will work towards removing all obstacles hampering state’s complete integration with the country.”

Pertinently, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his election rally in Jammu during the Parliamentary elections in December last year, had categorically said that a “debate should be ini-tiated to find out whether Article 370 has benefited a common man or not.”

Prof Hari Om, president of BJP’s Manifesto Com-mittee, said the document is being prepared “in close consultation with leaders from Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and has almost been drafted.”

“It will be released on 15th of November,” he told Greater Kashmir, adding,” “It focuses on issues which will take the state closer to the country.”

Nobody can touch Article 370, says Ram Jethmalani‘Modi gave tongue-lashing to Jammu-based BJP leader for raking up issue’

SHABIR IBN YUSUF

Srinagar, Nov 8: Prominent lawyer and Chairman of Kash-mir Committee, Ram Jethmalani, Saturday said the Article 370 is a part of the “basic structure of the Constitution of India” and is a “final article which no one can touch.”

“Article 370 is a part of the basic structure of the Constitution because we have incor-

porated it in accordance of the wishes of the then Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir. It is now a final

article which nobody can touch. It is the under-standing of the Kashmir Committee that this kind

of a thing (repealing Article 370) is out of question,” Jethmalani, who has been expelled from BJP, told

reporters here, adding that the successive J&K

ABHINAV VERMA

Jammu, Nov 8: Chang-ing his political allegiance ahead of Assembly elec-tions in Jammu and Kash-mir, the Member Legisla-tive Council (MLC) Ajat Shatru has quit the ruling National Conference to join the Bhartiya Janta Party. The development comes barely three days after the senior NC leader and MLC Sheikh Ghulam Rasool quit the party and joined the Peoples Democratic Party in Srinagar.

Sources said that the scion of erstwhile Dogra dynasty and younger son of senior Congress leader Dr Karan Singh, M K Ajat Shatru Singh would be for-mally welcomed into the BJP on Sunday. They said Ajat may be given the party mandate from Nagrota Con-stituency, represented by him during the 1996- 2002 as National Conference MLA.

Ajat, who had lost Nagro-ta seat to Jugal Kishore Sharma of BJP in 2002 and faced a defeat again in 2008 elections, was elected as NC MLC in 2009 for six years. His tenure is ending March 9, 2015.

Confirming the reports, BJP in-charge for Jammu and Kashmir, Avinash Rai Khanna told Greater Kash-mir that the stage was is for joining of MK Ajat Shatru in BJP.

“He will be joining the party on Sunday in New Delhi in presence of senior party dignitaries,” he added.

Shatru had made his debut in politics in 1996 when he contested elections from Nagrota assembly con-stituency and defeated his nearest rival Dhan Raj Bar-gotra of Janta Dal. Ajat has been a cabinet minister in National Conference gov-ernment headed by Farooq Abdullah during 1996-2002.

SHABIR IBN YUSUF

Srinagar, Nov 8: Two per-sons including a 10-year-old boy were killed after paramil-itary Central Reserve Police Force vehicle hit a motor-cycle in Dalgate area here Saturday, triggering massive protest demonstrations.

Police have arrested driver of the CRPF vehicle and also a lady who was driving her Swift car that has also got damaged in the accident.

Police identified the deceased as Muhammad Ashraf Hafiz of Brain Nishat and Nadeem Ahmad Chapri of Dalgate, here.

Eyewitness said the CRPF Gypsy of 144 Battalion hit a Motorbike on which Ashraf was travelling near Hotel Heemal on The Boulevard road. They said Nadeem was also mowed down by the gypsy at the same place. They were shifted to a hospi-tal where they were declared as brought dead, reports said.

The accident triggered massive protests in the area, with angry protestors attempting to set ablaze the CRPF vehicle. Police how-ever used tear smoke shells and dispersed the protesters.

Eyewitnesses said the CRPF men opened fire in air and managed to flee from the area after massive protests broke out.

Reports said the protests also erupted in Brain Nishat area soon after the news of the accident spread.

Panic gripped The Bou-levard road after the acci-dent and police blocked its

entrance points for hours to prevent the law and order situation from deteriorating.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Srinagar, Amit Kumar said they have arrest-ed the driver of the CRPF

vehicle and a lady who was driving her Swift car. He said the deaths have result-ed due to collision between CRPF vehicle, Swift car and Motorbike. “We are investi-gating the matter,” he said.

Gunmen attack CRPF party in Qazigund, injure 4

KHALID GUL

Kulgam, Nov 8: Sus-pected militants Saturday attacked a CRPF party in Qazigund area of this South Kashmir district, injuring four of its personnel.

The incident took place at around 6 pm near Qazi-gund Flyover when the CRPF Road Opening Party (ROP) was about to embark on a gypsy.

“The gunmen fired a volley of bullets towards the CRPF party, injuring four of its personnel,” said a police official. He said the forces couldn’t retaliate as the gunmen immediately fled from the spot.

Two of the injured CRPF men were shifted to SKIMS Soura while two others to the Bone and Joint Hospi-tals at Barzulla, here.

The injured CRPF men were identified as ASI Mahindar Singh, ASI Ajan-dar Singh, Constable Tar-seem Lal and Driver Consta-ble Muhammad Arif. All the injured were posted in 163 Batallion based in Vesu area.

BJP in poll manifesto: Will abrogate Article 370‘Will give all rights to West Pakistan refugees; ensure JK’s complete integration with rest of country’

Now, Ajat Shatru quits NC to join BJP

Omar tweets: Glad some deadwood is clearing itself

Faisal’s father wants accused soldiers tried in civil court

MUDDASIR ALI

Srinagar, Nov 8: Muhammad Yusuf Bhat, father of 14-year old Faisal who was killed in army firing in Chattergam Budgam, Satur-day demanded that the accused soldiers be tried in a civil court. He also sought revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from J&K to ensure safety of “our children and the future gen-eration.”

Faisal was killed along with 21-year old Meraj-ud-Din Dar by Army’s 53 Rashtriya Rifles at Chat-tergam on past Monday.

CRPF vehicle mows down 2 persons on The BoulevardAccident triggers massive protests Police arrests driver

MUDDASIR ALI

Srinagar, Nov 8: Massive protests broke out in Nowgam area on Sri-nagar outskirts Saturday over the killing of two boys in firing by Army in Chattergam area of Budgam last Monday.

The protestors, including rela-tives of slain boys—Faisal Yusuf and Meraj-ud-Din Dar—didn't allow traffic movement on Anantnag-Baramulla highway for the entire day, demanding punishment to the accused soldiers. In the evening, police fired some teargas shells to disperse the protestors.

The protests started this morn-ing when angry people including women and children from Khawaj-apor and Bonpur—the native locali-ties of slain youth—and adjoining areas took out a protest rally and marched towards Nowgam Chowk.

Chanting anti-India and pro-free-dom slogans, the protestors staged a sit-in on the highway, blocking traffic for the entire day.

“We won't leave this place till the accused soldiers are punished,” shouted a cousin of Meraj-ud-Din.

Besides killing of Faisal and Meraj-ud-Din, two other boys Zahid Ayoub and Shahid Ahmad were seri-ously injured in the firing while the fifth boy, 14-year old Basim Amin, had a miraculous escape.

Police and CRPF men in heavy numbers rushed to the spot as some angry youth exchanged heated argu-ments with soldiers of an army party stationed in Nowgam Chowk. The situation deteriorated as protes-tors intensified sloganeering.

"Justice", five year old Faizan—younger brother of Faisal—shouted repeatedly, as he broke in tears.

Chattergam Killings

QUALITY CEMENT OPC 43-Grade

JEHLUM BRANDJ&K CEMENTS LTD

Product is availableFor all Consumers

May Contact:

9419089055 7298006239 9419003827 NB

-1624

Massive protests rock NowgamProtesters demand punishment to Army soldiers

CRPF men opened fire in air and fled from the accident spot following protests

Aman Farooq/GK

People of Jammu and Kashmir are not living under the constitution of India but their own constitution and in a way enjoying the plebiscite

Mub

ashi

r Kha

n/GK

See Gunmen...on Pg-12 See BJP in poll...on Pg-12

See BJP in poll...on Pg-12

See Now, Ajat...on Pg-12

See Massive protests...on Pg-12 See Faisal’s father...on Pg-12

CMYK