J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

13 People’s League activists held
Srinagar, October 6
Thirteen activists of People’s League, a constituent of Hurriyat Conference, were taken into preventive custody today for trying to take out a procession in violation of prohibitory orders, official sources said.

Schoolchildren march against corruption
Jammu, October 6
To draw the attention of the Mufti government towards corruption in offices, the schoolchildren of the frontier region of Ladakh organised a massive rally against the evil which is being patronised by political bigwigs.

Minister admits using ex-militants for canvassing
Jammu, October 6
A Jammu and Kashmir minister today admitted utilising the services of surrendered militants for canvassing during the Assembly elections held last year.

NC predicts fall of Mufti govt
Srinagar, October 6
The National Conference today said the PDP-led coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir would soon fall under its own weight but ruled out snap polls in the state.

Teenaged boys hurt in shell blast
Srinagar, October 6
Two teenaged boys were injured when a mortar shell fired from across the border exploded at Khalsee village along the Line of Control (LoC) in Baramula district of north Kashmir, official sources said today.

Tribune lensman bereaved
Srinagar, October 6
Habibullah War, father of Amin War, Tribune photographer, passed away at his ancestral house at Kukroosa, Handwara in Kupwara district, this morning. He was 67.

13 People’s League activists held

Srinagar, October 6
Thirteen activists of People’s League, a constituent of Hurriyat Conference, were taken into preventive custody today for trying to take out a procession in violation of prohibitory orders, official sources said.

A group of league activists, led by senior party leaders including general secretary Mukhtar Ahmad, and chief organiser Mohammad Maqbool, tried to take out a procession from Maulana Azad road here to protest against alleged human rights violations by the security forces and the re-arrest of party chairman Sheikh Abdul Aziz, the sources said.

The police first used mild lathi charge to disperse the activists but when they failed to disperse, the cops arrested 13 of them and lodged them in the police station, Kothibagh.

Acting chairman of People’s League Bashir Ahmad Tota later said that the demonstration was being held to highlight the “growing human rights violations” particularly the re-arrest of political leaders despite court orders for their release.

“The healing-touch policy of the ruling party is a ploy to hoodwink the international community as there was no let-up in human rights violations,” he said.

Calling for tripartite talks among India, Pakistan and the represenatives of Kashmir, Tota said only talks could resolve the long-pending issue. — PTI

Schoolchildren march against corruption
Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 6
To draw the attention of the Mufti government towards corruption in offices, the schoolchildren of the frontier region of Ladakh organised a massive rally against the evil which is being patronised by political bigwigs.

Although corruption has been checked to a greater extent in the frontier region by the Hill Development Council of Leh since its formation, but the schoolchildren of the area want the menace to be stamped out. The rally was organised last week when schoolchildren carrying placards against corruption marched through streets of the town and then converged at an open ground where several local leaders addressed them.

The Leh town is nestled in the mountains 500 km away from here, but the initiative of the children was appreciated here as the reports of the rally poured in.

The rally is learnt to have been organised by various organisations and Maulvi Mohammad Omar Nadvi, Mirwaiz of the local Jama Masjid, is learnt to have played key role in raising the voice against various social evils.

The people of Leh have been demanding that the area should be given the status of Union Territory as the Kashmiri leadership had “discriminated” against them over the years.

Eradication of corruption was topmost on the agenda of the PDP-Congress coalition before it came to power in November last, but political bosses appear to have forgotten the promise after assuming power.

Corruption is as rampant as it was during the previous regime of National Conference (NC) as the Chief Minister, Mufti Sayeed, was more busy pursuing his “healing touch” policy in the valley. The Mufti’s PDP and the Congress had been criticising the NC government on the issue of corruption which became a major issue during the Assembly elections.

The Mufti did take some steps to check corruption by introducing a Bill to set up an Accountability Commission for the purpose. The Bill was unanimously passed last year, but the Commission has not yet been established.

A senior police officer on deputation with the CBI was recalled and given the top slot in the Vigilance Commission to fight corruption, but the hopes of the general public have been belied as not a single corrupt person had been trapped so far.

The Ministers of the Mufti government have been publicly declaring that the incompetent officials were being identified and would be retired prematurely, but no such step has been taken by the government.

Minister admits using ex-militants for canvassing

Jammu, October 6
A Jammu and Kashmir minister today admitted utilising the services of surrendered militants for canvassing during the Assembly elections held last year.

Qazi Mohammad Afzal, Minister of State for Public Health and Flood Control in the Mufti Sayeed government, said it was on his “great persuasion” that militants gave up the gun and took part in electioneering.

“I agree that the services of surrendered militants were procured by me during canvassing in last Assembly polls. These former militants had joined the national mainstream and their participation and canvassing in elections was just like any other citizen,” he told reporters here.

Qazi had defeated Omar Abdullah in the Assembly elections held October last year from Ganderbal, a constituency considered to be a stronghold of the Abdullahs.

Refuting allegations of his links with militants, Qazi said: “Police, including the Central agencies, know better as to who played a constructive role for the nation while bringing misguided youth in national mainstream.” — PTI

NC predicts fall of Mufti govt

Srinagar, October 6
The National Conference today said the PDP-led coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir would soon fall under its own weight but ruled out snap polls in the state.

“The coalition government is going to fall under its own weight because of lack of coordination between the coalition partners of the state”, NC provincial president Mirza Mehboob Beigh told reporters here. He, however, ruled out the possibility of midterm polls saying elections in Jammu and Kashmir had regional as well as international ramifications. Asked if there was any truth in reported dissent among NC MLAs, Beigh said ‘no, these are just rumours ... we are all united and there is no possibility of defections in our party’. — PTI

Teenaged boys hurt in shell blast

Srinagar, October 6
Two teenaged boys were injured when a mortar shell fired from across the border exploded at Khalsee village along the Line of Control (LoC) in Baramula district of north Kashmir, official sources said today.

The shell, lying unexploded in the village, went off when the two boys fiddled with it yesterday.

Identified as Farooq Ahmad Lone and Mehraj-up-Din Malik, the boys were shifted to here for specialised treatment. — PTI

Tribune lensman bereaved
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 6
Habibullah War, father of Amin War, Tribune photographer, passed away at his ancestral house at Kukroosa, Handwara in Kupwara district, this morning. He was 67.

He had been ailing for some time. His funeral was largely attended.

Journalists and press photographers have conveyed their condolences to the bereaved family.