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| Landslide Victory for Ballot: 64% Vote | | Barring aberrations in Bhaderwah, Kulgam polling ‘peaceful’ in five districts | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar/Jammu, Dec 17: It was a massive victory of democracy. The sixth and penultimate round of balloting to pick a new assembly seats in Jammu and Kashmir ended peacefully Wednesday with about 64 percent of the electorate turning out to vote despite winter chill and threats from separatist groups.
The authorities said the 10-hour exercise went off without trouble in Anantnag and Kulgam districts in the Kashmir Valley and in the districts of Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar in Jammu region. Stray protests against the elections were reported in both regions, however.
Election Commission officials said an estimated 63 percent of the 1.16 million voters voted Wednesday, again defying calls from separatist groups to boycott the polls.
Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Masud Samoon told reporters in Srinagar that the election was "peaceful" in the Kashmir Valley "except for stray incidents" in Anantnag.
Long queues of enthusiastic voters were seen in most towns across the Jammu region. Although the region is Hindu dominated, even Muslim majority areas saw brisk vot... | |
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FRONT PAGE STORIES |
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| HM militants’ arrest: Rajouri Police to corroborate details from Mumbai | | BJP leader being questioned for connection | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 17: Following arrest of a former Hizbul Mujahideen militant, the Rajouri Police are approaching their Mumbai counterparts to verify the disclosures made by absconding militant during preliminary interrogation.
A Special Operation Group of Rajouri Police had on Tuesday arrested Sat Pal a former militant of Hizbul Mujahideen who was absconding since 2004. Sat Pal was arrested near Sunderbani in Rajouri district when he was traveling with BJP leader Master Dev Raj Sharma.
Sources said that during his questioning in the Joint Interrogation Center, Sat Pal has revealed that he was in Mumbai for past more than two years. He is reported to have told Police that h... | |
| | | | Test of popularity for Mufti, Azad | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 17: Other than heavy voter turnout, the most interesting feature of today sixth and second last phase of polling in Jammu and Kashmir was perhaps the test of popularity for two former Chief Ministers –Mufti Mohammad Syeed and Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Both were not in fray in 2002 elections and both had later sought re-elections at different points in time. They won with landslide margins in by-elections but this time there was contest.
Congress leader and former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s choice of constituency was obvious and natural –his home village and township of Bhaderwah. Peoples Democratic Party patron Mufti, however, took a challenge –going to a... | |
| | | | Minister raises doubts over Karkare’s killing | | | | Early Times Report
New Delhi, Dec 17: Union Minorities Affairs Minister AR Antulay courted controversy on Wednesday by suspecting the truth behind Maharashtra Anti-Terror Squad chief Hemant Karkare’s killing during the Mumbai attacks. His divisive statement on such a sensitive issue is now bound to send ripples across the nation, with the Opposition already seeking a clarification from the Prime Minister.
Maintaining that "there is more than what meets the eyes", he said Karkare was investigating some cases in which "there are non-Muslims also", an apparent reference to the Malegaon blasts case in which sadhvi Pragya Thakur and a Lt Colonel Shrikant Prasad Purohit were 11 persons to be... | |
| | | | Two top HM operatives killed | | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Dec 17 : Two commanders of the Hizbul Mujahideen were killed in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district Wednesday while voting was underway in the adjacent areas of Anantnag and Kulgam, police said while describing the operation as a major success against separatist guerrillas.
One of the slain guerrillas has been identified as Rayees Kachru, divisional commander of the outfit who had escaped from police custody in Pulwama, and the other as Ashfaq.
Giving details, an official said the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the local police, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Rashtriya Rifles carried out a "pin-pointed operation" based on specific informa... | |
| | | | SC gets three more Judges | | | |
Agencies
New Delhi, Dec 17: With the Supreme Court Collegium finally having its way overlooking Centre's reservations, Asok Kumar Ganguly, R M Lodha and H L Dattu were today sworn in as judges of the Supreme Court.
Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan administered the oath to them at a simple ceremony in his court. With this, the number of judges in the apex court has risen to 24 against the sanctioned strength of 26.
The elevation of Ganguly, Lodha and Dattu--Chief Justices of Kerala, Madras and Patna High Courts as judges of the Supreme Court, was mired in controversy as the Centre had asked the Collegium headed by the CJI to reconsider the decision, taking into account the senior... | |
| | | | Anti terror bill gets LS nod | | | | Agencies
New Delhi, Dec 17: Lok Sabha passed the historic National Investigation Agency (NIA) Bill on Wednesday and also approved the proposed amendments. The main Opposition party, Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) also backed the Bill in the Parliament.
The new anti terror Bill comes in the wake of Mumbai terror attack that shook the nation and made the country debate on the necessity of such a strong law that could prove both as a deterrent and a precursor in bringing terrorists to book.
The NIA Bill provides for the setting up of special courts for speedy trial of terror-related offences, with hearings to be held on a daily basis.
Under the new Bill the detention period is 30 days and ... | |
| | | | Re-polling in two Mendhar stations | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec17: According to District Election Officer Poonch, the Election Commission of India has ordered fresh poll at polling stations No. 79 Kotan and 92-Gursai D of 86-Mendhar Assembly constituency. The re-polling date is December 22, 2008 (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
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| | | | BJP leaders booked for MCC violations | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 17: A case has been registered against two BJP workers for allegedly preventing a government officer from discharging his duties and defacement of properties, police said today.
"A case under various sections of Ranbir Penal Code and Defacement of Properties Act had been registered against BJP members Chander Mohan Sharma and Surinder Sharma at Pacca Danga police station," they said.
Police said that the complaints were received that some BJP workers were pasting posters at government buildings and erecting party flags in some city areas for the last couple of days.
"Defacement of properties amounts to violation of the Election Commission code of conduc... | |
| | | | Sonia visiting Jammu on Dec 20 | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 17: Congress President Sonia Gandhi is expected to address an election rally in Jammu on December 20. Srinagar, Jammu and Samba are the only districts left for polling in seventh phase on December 24.
Sonia has already addressed two election meetings –one in Uri and other in Doda. Party insiders maintain that Congress does not want to leave any stone unturned for wooing voters, and canvassing by party bigwigs from past more than one month in the state is a part of the strategy.
Campaigning by party top leaders has proved fruitful for us till now and that is why we are inviting Sonia Gandhi again on December 20,” party sources said.
Earlier, on Decem... | |
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