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| Wednesday,
April 11, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Militants
ambush security patrol Hurriyat
Chairman meets Pak envoy Torchlight
procession marks Urs 13 safe
zones for return of Pandits |
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Anantnag
goes hi-tech in land records NCP
seeks Lok Ayukta for J&K VRS for
2 PSUs ratified Govt
serious on dialogue with APHC: CM Devi
Lal’s ashes immersed in Chenab
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Militants ambush security patrol Srinagar, April 10 Militants ambushed a security patrol at Surankote in Poonch district of Jammu killing a security jawan today, he said, adding that the security forces retaliated. A security jawan was killed and three others were injured in a powerful explosion, suspected to have been triggered by militants, at Mella Wali Pargwal in Jammu last evening. The spokesman said security forces shot dead a militant in the Ramgarh sector while he was trying to infiltrate into the Indian side from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Two security personnel were killed and five others wounded when militants attacked an Army vehicle at Gursai-Surankote in Jammu region’s Poonch district last night. He said militants shot dead a woman at Magam in Badgam district this afternoon. Three foreign mercenaries said to be associated with Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Toiba were killed and two civilians and a security jawan injured in an encounter between militants and security forces at Pattan in Baramula district, he said. Two militants, one of them a Pakistani, were killed in separate encounters at Durswani and Dardpora villages in the frontier district of Kupwara. Some arms and ammunition were seized from their possession. A militant each was killed in Gunbatr district of Kupwara. Some arms were seized from their possession. A militant each was killed in gunbattles with security forces in Banihal and Doda districts. An intruder was killed in an exchange of fire with the BSF in the Nowapind area in the R.S. Pura sector. Two Hizbul ultras were apprehended at Sopore in Baramula district.
During search operations, security forces seized 12 kg of RDX and two solar rockets in Rajouri district.
PTI |
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Hurriyat Chairman meets Pak envoy New Delhi, April 10 The meeting comes in the wake of growing dissension within the Hurriyat Conference and the Centre’s move for holding talks with all groups in Jammu and Kashmir. The luncheon meeting between Mr Bhat and Pakistani High Commissioner Qazi Ashraf Jehangir lasted more than three hours at the Pakistani High Commission. The two are supposed to have discussed the stand of the Hurriyat Conference in the wake of the Centre’s decision to hold talks without any pre-conditions. Differences have surfaced within the Hurriyat over the issue of holding talks with the Centre for the resolution of the Kashmir issue with Mr Abdul Ghani Lone favouring such a move and Mr Bhat averse to such talks. |
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Torchlight
procession marks Urs Aishmuqam (Anantnag), April 10 Many more thousands from nearby villages across Anantnag and Pulwama districts of South Kashmir continue to pour in to participate in the festival. It marks the beginning of the cultivation of land by farmers after a long recess during the winter. The annual Urs held yesterday on the 12th day of Haikh, according to the Kashmir calendar year, falls in March-April every year. The Urs follows a night-long religious congregation and torchlight festivity. Festivity at the shrine of Zainuddin Wali, a disciple of Sheikh Nooruddin Wali, would continue for two weeks. Those who cannot reach the shrine on the occasion of the Urs take out torchlights in the villages and mark the beginning of farming. People from the nearby and distant villages begin their journey to Aishmuqam in the morning, pay their obeisance at the mausoleum and witness the festivities that include traditional folk singing and playing of different musical instruments. In the evening, religious hymns are chanted amid drum beating. The shrine of Hazrat Zainuddin Wali is situated on a hillock, about 20 km short of the famous hill resort of Pahalgam overlooking the bewitching Lidder valley. The road to the shrine branches off to the right from the main Anantnag-Pahalgam road. A few hundred metres takes one to the foot of the stone stairs leading to the shrine. The mausoleum is located inside a deep cave atop the hill, about 100 metres higher than the main road. The Rishi saint passed away in 1448 AD. When his disciples brought the coffin for burial of the body, they were astounded to see it empty. In desperation, they left the place. At night, one of the disciples saw Zainuddin in his dream asking him to raise the mausoleum at the same place where the coffin was placed. Besides, Hazrat Zainuddin Wali, 18 of his disciples are also buried on the premises of the shrine. In structure, the shrine is a typical Kashmiri ziarat with a pagoda-shaped dome. It has a fine lattice work and colourful panels. Opposite the entrance is a long-roofed corridor that commands a grand view of the Lidder river and the valley. Devotees bring cooked food with them. During the festival days, the shrine and the corridor are illuminated. The shrine is visited by devotees throughout the year who usually tie strings at the shrine for wish fulfilment. These ties are unlocked as the wishes of a person or a family are fulfilled. Relics at the shrine include a holy staff gifted to Sheikh Nooruddin Rishi by Mir Syed Ali Hamadani, the 14th century preacher who influenced en masse conversion of Kashmiris to Islam. The 8-foot rod covered in green cloth is originally believed to be of Hazrat Owais Qarni, who is believed to be among the companions of Prophet Mohammad without having met him. At times of calamities like an epidemic, the blessings of the rod are invoked by taking it out and offering mass prayers. |
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13 safe
zones for return of Pandits Pahalgam (Anantnag), April 10 As part of the government’s measures to encourage return of the migrant families, various facilities and incentives would be provided to families returning to these areas of the district in south Kashmir. Talking to mediapersons here, the Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, Mr G.A. Peer, said these clusters constitute 360 houses belonging to 780 families. All these houses are “intact” and have not been sold during the past decade of militancy, when several migrants have already disposed of their houses in the valley. An amount of Rs 8.25 crore has been paid as compensation to migrants of Anantnag district, he said. Mr Peer said financial assistance would be provided to such families for renovation of their houses. Incentives would also be given to ensure renovation in the secure zones of the district. More than three lakh Pandits left the valley in the wake of the militancy early in 1990, leaving behind their homes and hearths. Many have moved to various camps in the Jammu region, while others have migrated to other parts of the country, including Delhi. The Jammu and Kashmir Government established migrant camps in Jammu, Udhampur, Nagrota and Kathua in the Jammu region. Many others are living in rented houses in Jammu and other parts of the country. The identification of “secure zones” for the rehabilitation of Pandits after one decade is contrary to the demand of the Panun Kashmir, the association of migrant Kashmiri Pandits. The Panun Kashmir has been demanding the grant of a separate homeland in the Kashmir valley with all facilities for the return of migrants. While the state government has been claiming the creation of a conducive atmosphere for the return of these migrants, the Panun Kashmir and other organisations of the Pandits have raised questions over the safety of the migrants in the valley. Various mainstream and separatist political parties have been claiming that Kashmir is “incomplete” without the Pandits. “We will ensure their dignified return and rehabilitation. They will be compensated for their damaged or destroyed properties,” said the National Conference manifesto. However, different hurdles have been coming in the way of the return of migrants to the valley. The two incidents of targeted killings of 25 Pandits at Wandhahama near Ganderbal on January 26, 1998, and eight others at Sangrampora, Budgam, later have come in the way of the steps taken for the return of migrants to the valley. The identity of these killers is yet to be ascertained, even as the government has blamed militants for these acts. The militants and separatists have been denying any attacks on the minority community in the valley. |
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Anantnag
goes hi-tech in land records Pahalgam (Anantnag), April 10 The settlement of land records and measurement on computers in place of the traditional manual means has been started in Anantnag district of South Kashmir. The system, according to the Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, Mr G.A. Peer, will enable the administration prevent the damage to land records, which are on paper. These records are bound to get damaged with the passage of time. A graphic system will be adopted in the new system for the purpose, where the wastage of many a feet of land during measurement can be overcome. “This is a scientific system and no wastage is possible as has been observed in the manual means in which 1 or 2 ft of land are left out during measurements,” Mr Peer said. He added that six such machines were being acquired for the purpose. According to the Deputy Commissioner, the new system will also save time and number of men involved in the measurement of land. Only two persons would be engaged in the operation, he said, adding that the heavy chains involved in the traditional means of measurement would be avoided. No tampering of the land records was possible, according to the Deputy Commissioner, adding that easy settlement of the land records could be possible. The farmers will be provided pass books which will carry the graphic map of their lands. All dealings in connection with the sale and purchase of land, agricultural activities or the financial assistance for the farmers will be made on the basis of the records available in the pass book of that particular farmer, he added.
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NCP seeks Lok Ayukta for J&K Jammu, April 10 The demand was contained in a resolution adopted at the end of a two-day meeting of the working committee of the
NCP. The meeting was presided over by Thakur Randhir Singh, president of the
NCP. It said the vigilance organisation simply targeted the small fries when the sharks remained untouched even after having amassed huge assets disproportionate to their known income. It demanded immediate steps by the state government to tackle the situation created by drought in several parts of the Jammu region. It demanded relief for those whose crops had been hit by drought. The NCP also emphasised the need for major amendment to the Panchayat Raj Act so that weaker sections of the people got reservation. It demanded that the constituency development funds allotted to each MLA and MLC should be transferred to panchayat committees, whose members could utilise them in a better way. |
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VRS for 2 PSUs ratified Jammu, April 10 The meeting was presided by the Industries and Commerce Minister, Dr Mustafa Kamaal, who is also the chairman of these organisations. It was decided that the Finance Department would be approached to release the budgetary support at the earliest for implementation of GHS. The budgetary support shall also include payment of arrears on account of COLA, HRA and 5th Pay Commission in favour of the employees and workers of the organisation. It may be mentioned that the government as a follow up action to the recommendations of Godbole Committee for effecting economic reforms in the PSUs have decided to close down the HSCL and HHRO as these organisations were running in red since their very inception and there were no chances for their revival. Consequently government set up a Cabinet sub-committee which recommended a voluntary retirement scheme for the affected employees of these organisations. The government has also created a PSU’s restructuring fund in the Finance Department which shall be managed by the Finance Department. |
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Govt serious on dialogue with APHC: CM Jammu, April 10 He told newspersons that Gen Pervez Musharraf has been harping on the need for resuming talks with India, but he should know that until Pak-aided militants continued to kill innocent people, attack security pickets and escalated the level of violence there was no possibility of parleys between the two sides. In reply to a question he said the Government of India was serious on opening a dialogue with the APHC and other separatist groups. Dr Abdullah said had the centre been non-serious than it would have not appointed Mr K.C. Pant as a negotiator after having declared a unilateral ceasefire. He said the APHC did not represent the people of the state. The Chief Minister said, “we will also meet Mr Pant.” He added that “our talks will be secret because we would try to suggest to Mr Pant what suitable solution could resolve the turmoil.” |
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Devi Lal’s ashes immersed in Chenab Jammu, April 10 The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, brought the ashes in an urn which was placed in the meeting hall of the Secretariat. All members of the Council of Ministers headed by Dr Abdullah placed wreaths on the urn. A two-minute silence was observed in respect of the departed leader. The state government had declared a three-day mourning after the leader’s death. |
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