Infiltration enrages CM
JAMMU, Sept 20 — If his recent utterances are any indication, the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, is upset over three developments.

Fate of 2 kidnapped
cops uncertain
SRINAGAR, Sept 20 — Army and paramilitary forces launched massive combing to nab militants who kidnapped policemen in Kashmir.

Bringing education system on the rails

SRINAGAR, Sept 20 (PTI) — Fourteen-year-old Ameena wants to go on a botanical tour of the country.

She belongs to a small hamlet in the terrorist-stricken district of Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir, where schools and other educational institutions have been among the worst-hit by the militancy.

Ameena, who aired her woes to a visiting media persons under the impression that they were government officials, is one among many girls and boys who have been deprived of basic education and training for almost a decade. Now they are seeking what they had lost and demanding more educational facilities.

Ameena's school was one of about 850 educational institutions in the state which was burnt down by militants during the past nine years. Among these, 596 buildings were in the valley itself. Classes of these schools were held in the open.

The state Education Department suffered a major setback due to militancy, which led to burning down of schools, colleges, laboratories and libraries and killing of several teachers and trained staff.

The tertiary level of education was the worst hit. It lost all semblance of order largely because it dealt with that component of society which was highly susceptible to exploitation by divisive and disruptive forces, senior academics said.

In the field of higher education, besides the physical damage caused to buildings, the main problem was of "unchecked admissions" and colleges churning out "half-baked graduates", said the academics, including principals of several prominent colleges.

During the militancy period, "colleges bursting at the seams because of unchecked admissions round the year, could churn out only half-baked graduates", they said, adding that the academic calendar had "totally collapsed".

They said the pass percentage in colleges had gone up to 80 and 90 per cent since the early nineties till 1996.

The Education Minister, Mr Abdul Qayoom, said the "single-most achievement of the Farooq government was to put the education system back on the rails".

While a massive programme of reconstruction of damaged buildings was underway and over half of these had been rebuilt or repaired, the pass percentage had been "rigorously checked", he said.

Mr Qayoom said restoration of the academic calendar coupled with reforms in the examination system and enforcement of discipline had paid off.

While about 51 per cent students had passed degree classes last year, the pass percentage was about 19, he said adding that "indiscriminate admissions" to colleges had been checked.

The minister said that another serious problem was that a large number of teachers both in schools and colleges were not willing to got to far-flung and border areas. To resolve this problem, the government decided to recruit teachers on the ad hoc basis to replace absentee staffers, he said.

On top of this, colleges all over the state were understaffed. The situation in the valley was worse because of a large number of students and the migration of a sizable number of teachers, he said, adding that in 1997, about 330 posts of lecturers were vacant.

These vacancies could not be filled over the earlier years because "only half a score eligible post-graduates could clear the National Eligibility Test (NET). A centre for this test was not fixed by the University Grants Commission or the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)," he said.

The state government therefore waived the requirement of clearing the NET, as a one-time exception to fill the lecturers' posts, the minister said, adding that the process of selection by the Public Service Commission was now underway and would be completed by this year end.

On steps to put back the academic schedule on the rails, he said the last summer vacation for colleges and universities was cancelled and efforts were made to complete the courses.

As a result of this, examinations were held on schedule and results announced on time, he said.

Mr Qayoom said about 70 students from outside the state had been admitted to Regional Engineering College here.

The state government will provide the existing schools with required infrastructure, teaching material, teachers and other staff and "not to go in for expansion during the first three years of the Ninth Plan period".

Similar was the situation in the field of technical education, with several premier polytechnics and industrial training institutes (ITIs) being damaged in arson by militants.

Besides, several of these institutions could not be regulated by central organisations, like the AICTE, due to the disturbances.

However, the situation had changed after the popular government came to power and gradually these institutes were being made to adhere to the AICTE norms and such other organisations, the minister claimed.

Infiltration enrages CM
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Sept 20 — If his recent utterances are any indication, the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, is upset over three developments.

First, the continued large-scale infiltration of militants, especially foreign mercenaries, and the smuggling of weapons and explosives from across the border have baffled and enraged the Chief Minister.

During a meeting of the Unified Headquarters in Jammu on Saturday the Chief Minister, while pointing to Lt-Gen D.S. Chauhan, Corps Commander, said, "Chauhan Sahib kuch kareyay" (do something) to check the infiltration and arms smuggling. Dr Abdullah has received reports from the police and the state intelligence agencies that during the past three months more than 1,000 foreign mercenaries have sneaked into Jammu and Kashmir and large quantities of weapons and explosives, including sophisticated arms, have been smuggled into the state.

In fact, during the detailed discussion at the meeting concern was expressed over the continued infiltration of militants. It was explained that the rate of infiltration was higher than the rate of elimination or arrest of militants which could pose a problem in the months to come. The Chief Minister and other senior government functionaries emphasised the strengthening of security on the Indo-Pak border. The Chief Minister seemed to be also perturbed over the delay in mounting pressure on the militants to either surrender or face elimination. He told the senior functionaries of the Army, the paramilitary forces and the police to carry out sustained operations against the insurgents which was the only way to crush militancy.

Second, the Chief Minister is unhappy with the Centre over the delay in releasing Rs 200 crore for implementing the action plan prepared by a committee of senior officers of the security agencies and the Union Home Ministry. During the past over two months the plan has been gathering dust in the absence of the required funds and deployment of additional companies of the paramilitary forces.

At Saturday's meeting, Dr Abdullah, pointing towards Mr M.B. Kaushal, Special Secretary, Union Home Ministry, said, "Kaushal Sahib kuch kareyay." He, in fact, wanted Mr Kaushal to release Rs 200 crore for implementing the action plan. The plan envisages the raising of two more battalions of the police, purchasing sophisticated weapons for the police and Village Defence Committee (VDC) members and to modernising the telecommunication and transport systems of the police. It also provides for raising the number of VDCs in Doda, Rajouri and Udhampur districts.

Mr Kaushal is said to have assured the Chief Minister that the Union Finance Ministry would be approached for approving the Rs 200 crore plan. The moment the Finance Ministry cleared it the required funds would be made available.

As a result of the delay in clearing the plan the government has not been able to execute fully the scheme for raising the number of special police officers from 3,100 to 8,000. However, the Director General of Police Mr Gurbachan Jagat, has managed to raise the number of VDCs in Doda district from 350 to about 800 during the past two months.

The third development that has perturbed Dr Abdullah is the campaign launched by Mufti Sayeed and his daughter, Ms Mehbooba Mufti, in favour of talks with All-Party Hurriyat Conference leaders and militants without any conditions. At a couple of public functions in Jammu on Saturday the Chief Minister lambasted those who favoured unconditional talks with the secessionists. He said he would welcome talks if these were held within the ambit of the Constitution of India. He would dissolve the Assembly and seek fresh elections if the Hurriyat leaders announced their participation in the poll.

He even went to the extent of accusing the two Congress leaders of hobnobbing with pro-Pakistan forces in the state. He made it clear that those who were espousing the cause of Pakistan should cross over to that country because not an inch of Jammu and Kashmir territory would secede from India.

Crores wasted in poor planning &
misutilisation of funds

NEW DELHI, Sept 20 (PTI) — Improper planning and misutilisation or non-utilisation of funds in Jammu and Kashmir has resulted in excessive or wasteful expenditure of several hundred crores of rupees, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has found.

In its report on the assessment of utilisation of Central funds till March, 1997, the auditing body has pointed out that almost all departments and public sector bodies have incurred huge losses or enormous outstanding loans.

Detailing the assessment, CAG has said long-term loans of Rs 303.51 crore were outstanding as on March 31, 1997, against 18 government companies.Citing another instance, it says the Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) had suffered an accumulated loss of Rs 199.33 crore till 1995-96, and of this, loss of Rs 31.30 crore was incurred in that year only.

Besides, the test-check of records of sales tax, state excise, stamps and registration fee and forest departments conducted during 1996-97 revealed under-assessments, short-levy and loss of revenue of Rs 5.46 crore.

The J and K State Industrial Development Corporation Limited is another loss-making government-owned company incurring losses continuously, accumulating a total loss of Rs 17.87 crore till the end of March, 1997.Specifying the causes for JKSIDC’s losses, the report cites low production in its manufacturing units, non-viable operation of trading and marketing activities and default in repayment of loans by the borrowers.The company has failed to effect recoveries of Rs 93.51 crore outstanding against 91 of 93 assisted units at the end of March, 1997, it says adding, a loan of Rs 6.12 crore outstanding as on March 31, 1997 in six test-checked cases was doubtful as most of these units had been abandoned

It states that in this case also, the appraisal of projects was inadequate or defective in terms of evaluation of technical, managerial and financial resourcefulness of co-promoters and poor follow-up.Besides, the JKSIDC has failed to plough back funds amounting to Rs 3.35 crore due to delay in disinvestment of its equity share holdings in the assisted units.

The company incurred a liability of penal interest of Rs 2.19 crore as on April-May, 1997, as it defaulted in repayment of Rs 37.40 crore to Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) or Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).The J and K Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC) has also been suffering losses, amounting Rs 8.35 crore by the end of March, 1997, it says, adding the company was running 61 units, of which 42 sustained losses.

Regarding tax collection on urban immovable properties, the report points out that its contribution in the total tax revenue raised by the state government ranged between 0.19 and 0.28 per cent from 1993-94 to 1996-97 despite advancement in urbanisation and opening of more commercial establishments.

In respect of 439 property units, which involved tax incidence of Rs 1.05 crore between April, 1991, and September, 1996, there was a negligible recovery of Rs 1,000 as of October, 1996.Referring to the centrally-sponsored Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission, it says utilisation of available

Funds was poor, ranging from 36 to 89 per cent between 1992-93 and 1996-97.Pointing out the reverses suffered by it, CAG says due to failure to conduct proper survey and ensure dependable source of water before taking up execution of water supply schemes, an expenditure of Rs 1.61 crore, incurred on six schemes up to March, 1997, was rendered unproductive as the sources either became defunct or were washed away by floods.

Besides, there were delays ranging between one and 16 years in completion of 72 water supply schemes.In 143 water supply schemes, expenditure had exceeded the estimated cost of Rs 19.40 crore by Rs 8.10 crore.

Failures have also been recorded in other fields including sericulture development, crop development and production schemes, construction of roads and bridges, developmental and other activities in Leh district and rural electrification wing.

Fate of 2 kidnapped cops uncertain

SRINAGAR, Sept 20 (PTI) — Army and paramilitary forces launched massive combing to nab militants who kidnapped seven policemen in south Kashmir even as six persons were killed in militancy related violence since last evening, an official spokesman said today.

He said, the policemen meekly surrendered to the armed intruders who overran the picket set up to safeguard the minority community at Diver-Tral village, 40 km from here in Pulwama district. All policemen were taken to an unknown place and robbed of their service weapons.

While militants released five, including four special police officers and their in charge, fate of other two cops was not known, the spokesman added.

Elsewhere, a police party gunned down an unidentified militant in an encounter in the Kreeri area of Baramula district last night, the spokesman said.

A woman was killed when security forces and militants exchanged fire at Sangla in Poonch, the spokesman said.

He said militants barged into a house in the Ganderbal area on the outskirts of Srinagar and gunned down two persons, adding militants also killed a medical shop owner at his shop at Haigam in Baramula district.

He said the police picked up an unidentified body from Dardnar in Kupwara district today. While three militants were arrested from Soura, two Jamait-ul-Mujahideen militants surrendered to security forces in Kupwara district the spokesman said.

Two civilians as Mohammad Subhan Dar and Abdul Rahim Bhat were shot dead by a group of unidentified militants at Kanchipora village of Ganderbal on the outskirts of Srinagar late last night, he said.

He said the militants raided the village at the dead of the night picked up their targets from their houses and shot them dead before making good their escape. The motive behind the killings was not known immediately, the spokesman added.

No militant outfit has owned the responsibility of the incidents, so far.

UNI: Militants fired upon security forces at Singla village last evening. Security forces also retaliated and in the shoot-out one woman was killed and another woman was injured.

The Jammu and Kashmir Special Operation group killed a militant at Munagam-Chandoosa in Baramula last evening.One pistol, two magazines ,one grenade and one wireless set were recovered during the operation.

He said an improvised explosive device went off at Thajiwara on the Pahalgam-Bijbehara road last evening.However,none was wounded in the blast.

He said forces captured three militants while two others surrendered in the valley during the past 24 hours.

Panchayat poll in March: Dr Abdullah

JAMMU, Sept 20 (UNI) — Panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in March next year, Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has announced.

Adresssing a public meeting at Chakroi village in the R.S. Pura sector yesterday, Dr Abdullah said his government would hold the elections in March without bothering about updating of the electoral rolls.

Dr Abdullah said the panchayat elections would bring a sea change in the rural areas especially since the government had provided for 33 per cent reservation to women.

Referring to militancy in the state, Dr Abdullah said he was willing to hold talks with anyone who accepts Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India.

He offered to step down to pave the way for fresh Assembly elections if the militants laid down arms and agreed to participate in the electoral process.

He said Pakistan was not only pushing in foreign mercenaries into the state but also resorting to shelling on civilian areas.

The Chief Minister said lights would be put up on the border to check infiltration, but people in the border areas should lend a helping hand in checking the influx of militants.

Urging the people to launch a crusade against corruption, Dr Abdullah said the list finalised for recruitment of constables in Anantnag had been cancelled following complaints of irregularities.

He said the Centre should release adequate funds for the state which was faced with a war-like situation.

BJP, NC have ‘failed to contain militancy’
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Sept 20 — At a Youth Congress rally at R.S. Pora, 25 km from here, today the National Conference government and the BJP-led government at the Centre were accused of failure to contain militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.

Several Congress leaders, including Mr Yogesh Sawhney, president of the Youth Congress, blamed what he called the nexus between the BJP and the National Conference for the rise in insurgency in the Jammu region and for the acute financial crisis.

He said it was under BJP rule that the prices of essential items had touched a new high in the country and those responsible for the sale and manufacture of adulterated edible oil, which had resulted in several deaths, were not touched.

Mr Sawhney and others alleged that jobs in the state were on sale.

The Congress leaders and activists took a pledge to fight not only anti-national forces but also BJP and National Conference "misrule".

The Youth Congress rally demanded the immediate dissolution of the state assembly to be followed by fresh elections so that a "genuine" representative government was installed in the state.

Mass copying: J&K to
take strict measures
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Sept 20 — Various measures will be taken to discourage mass copying in the school board and university examinations in Jammu and Kashmir. The government has decided to take strict action, including rustication, against those found indulging in mass copying.

The decision was taken at a meeting of college principals and the Deans of different faculties of Jammu University here today. Senior state government functionaries, including the Chief Secretary, Mr Ashok Jaitley, and the Director General of Police, Mr Gurbachan Jagat, were present.

Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, who presided over the meeting, urged the officials concerned to be strict in dealing with the menace of mass copying. Copying, if allowed to remain unchecked would rob the deserving candidates of their right to get government jobs and admission to professional colleges.

Dr Abdullah said the government would introduce a system of monthly reports which each head of the institution would have to furnish regarding the number of classes held and courses completed. Teachers' promotions and the release of annual increments would be linked to the performance of teachers and the examination results.

He directed the university authorities to see to it that teachers remained on the campus from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M.

He said the government would take immediate steps to regularise the services of teachers and principals who were working on an ad hoc basis
.

BSF jawan killed in Pak firing

JAMMU, Sept 20 (PTI) — A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was killed in firing by Pakistani troops from across the border in the Akhnoor sector last night, a BSF spokesman said here today.

Pakistani border guards, using light arms, opened fire on the Dewra border outpost in the sector critically wounding a jawan, he said.

The jawan, Manju Bhai, was taken to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, he said, adding Pakistani troops also resorted to intermittent firing on border outposts in the Samba and R.S. Pura sub-sectors.

Indian troops returned fire, the spokesman said.

Journalists asked not to forget citizen's role
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Sept 20 — The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has suggested to journalists not to "ignore their responsibility" of watching the national interest.

Speaking at a function organised by a local English daily "the Himalayan Mail" here today, Dr Abdullah referred to what he called "irresponsible" reporting of Kashmir-based journalists and editors and said that they should have realised whether they were serving the interests of people or the enemy of India.

"Aren't journalists citizens?" he asked and added that several newspapers in Kashmir continued to dish out reports not based on facts and these very reports were being used by Pakistan in its propaganda against India in international fora. He said "I am not against the press. I am for freedom of the press but I cannot sit silent when I find trash being published which simply served the interests of Pakistan", he said.

He said he was ready to accept constructive criticism and newsmen should first check veracity of the facts with them from different quarters before publishing. He said, it was unjust if newsmen malign soldiers while reporting on human rights violations.

He called upon newspaper owners in the state to improve their standard.