J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Govt in spot over boys’ killing
Jammu, February 25
The killing of four boys at Dudipura in the valley during an encounter between the troops and terrorists has not only put Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in a tight spot but was also being seen as an attempt of certain elements to embarrass India during the forthcoming visit of US President George Bush.

• Governor defends Army

Bid to tarnish Army’s image: Chaman Lal
Jammu, February 25
Mr Chaman Lal Gupta, a BJP stalwart and a former minister of state for defence, has said that certain elements were blaming the Army for the killing of four boys in the valley with the aim of tarnishing the image of the troops who earned a great goodwill among the masses by providing timely assistance during the recent earthquake.

Pilgrims to be airlifted tomorrow
Jammu, February 25
About 200 pilgrims from Nobra valley in Ladakh, who are stranded at Chandigarh, will be airlifted by the IAF on February 27. These pilgrims had gone to attend Kalachakra sermons of the Dalai Lama at Guntur in Andhra Pradesh last month.

Old Palace being developed as heritage centre
Jammu, February 25
The historic Old Palace complex here is being developed as a cultural heritage centre with the assistance of the India Tourism Development Corporation and the Indian National Trust for Art, Culture and Heritage.

Sainik School gets Vijayanta tank
Jammu, February 25
The Defence Ministry has presented a Vijayanta tank to the Sainik School, Nagrota. Maj-Gen B.S. Jaswal, Chief of Staff of 16 Corps, unveiled the tank here today.

Govt in spot over boys’ killing
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 25
The killing of four boys at Dudipura in the valley during an encounter between the troops and terrorists has not only put Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in a tight spot but was also being seen as an attempt of certain elements to embarrass India during the forthcoming visit of US President George Bush.

The incident, which has fuelled anti-India sentiments in the valley, has come just before the visit of President Bush and the historic round-table conference of the Prime Minister with separatists and valley-based mainstream parties.

It is also being seen as an attempt of vested interests to sabotage the peace process between India and Pakistan. Not only the separatists, but also the coalition partner of the PDP have started criticising Mr Azad for the incident although it is yet to be ascertained whether the bullets of terrorists or the soldiers hit the boys.

The Army has claimed that the bullets indiscriminately fired by terrorists killed the boys.

The incident has provided an opportunity to the separatists and pro-Pakistan elements in the valley to once again consolidate their position by launching an anti-India rhetoric. On the call of hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the valley observed bandh for two days.

Hurriyat chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has shot a letter to the UN Secretary-General Kofi Anan, accusing India of having unleashed a reign of terror and oppression in Kashmir.

Ms Mehbooba Mufti, PDP chief and daughter of former Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed, has grabbed the opportunity to grill Mr Azad by questioning as to how the state government has given unrestricted powers to the security forces to shoot innocent civilians.

She said at least 12 civilians had been killed ever since Mr Azad replaced her father as the Chief Minister around four months ago.

Incidentally, the killings have come at a time when Mr Azad was repeatedly stressing the need for the security forces to exercise utmost restraint during encounters with militants in civilian areas. In a recent meeting of the Unified Command of the Army and paramilitary forces, he ordered that no civilian should be allowed to die in such incidents.

National Conference chief Omar Abdullah told the TNS on telephone that the incident was bound to make the atmosphere unconducive for the round-table conference.

He accused the PDP of playing politics on the incident by criticising the state government in which the party was sharing power.

What was the PDP doing when four innocent youths were killed at Handwara when Mufti Sayeed was the Chief Minister, he asked.

Meanwhile, it is worth mentioning that with a view to attract attention towards them, terrorists have always struck in a big way whenever some foreign dignitary was to visit the country or talks were scheduled to be held on the Kashmir issue. About 35 Sikhs were massacred at Chattisinghpura during former US President Bill Clinton’s visit to India.

Governor defends Army
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 25
Reiterating the Army’s commitment towards the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the Governor, Lieut-Gen S.K. Sinha (Retd), today described the killing of four children at Dudipura in Handwara as most unfortunate and expressed deep anguish over it.

Interacting with a group of children from Kupwara district, who have returned from an Army-sponsored tour of the country, he asked how could the tragedy at Handwara be intentional when the Army was taking so much care of children in the valley. Those found guilty would be duly punished, he said.

He said the Chief Minister had initiated an inquiry and the Prime Minister and other senior civil and military functionaries in the country had expressed shock and grief over the incident.

The Governor recalled the services rendered by the Army to the civil population during the snow, tsunami and earthquake of last year and hoped the propaganda against the Army as a whole would not mislead the people.

He expressed hope that peace would soon dawn in Kashmir that would lead the state to progress and prosperity.

Bid to tarnish Army’s image: Chaman Lal
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 25
Mr Chaman Lal Gupta, a BJP stalwart and a former minister of state for defence, has said that certain elements were blaming the Army for the killing of four boys in the valley with the aim of tarnishing the image of the troops who earned a great goodwill among the masses by providing timely assistance during the recent earthquake.

In a statement here yesterday, Mr.Gupta stressed the need for allround cautiousness against the enemy designs as the happenings in the valley clearly indicate that the anti-national elements were out to disturb peace and create ill will against the security forces.

He said that the goodwill of troops was not to the liking of the separatists as also their masters operating from across the line of control. Hence, they are out to create conditions in which this goodwill is harmed. Violence is expected to increase in the state because of the proposed visit of the US President George Bush to India.

In a bid to attract world attention, the Pakistani agents have been indulging in such inhumane acts in Kashmir in the past too.

Mr.Gupta said that all efforts for peace would be futile in case Pakistan did not halt cross-border terrorism and interference in the internal affairs of India.

Meanwhile, the Akali Dal (A) leader, Mehta Adeep Singh, in a statement, has demanded stern action against those soldiers involved in the Kashmir incident.

He urged the Centre to send the Army to barracks so that the people of Kashmir heave a sigh of relief.

Pilgrims to be airlifted tomorrow
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 25
About 200 pilgrims from Nobra valley in Ladakh, who are stranded at Chandigarh, will be airlifted by the IAF on February 27.

These pilgrims had gone to attend Kalachakra sermons of the Dalai Lama at Guntur in Andhra Pradesh last month.

Mr Tsewang Rigzin, Executive Councillor of Education, Ladakh Hill Development Council, who is coordinating the matter with the Army, said the aircraft would take off from Chandigarh on Monday.

As many as 181 pilgrims of Zanskar, including five Hajis, have so far been airlifted by the Army. Ten sorties of IAF helicopters airlifted them to Padam. The helicopter carrying 17 stranded persons to Zanskar could not cross Nyrak due to bad weather today.

Old Palace being developed as heritage centre
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 25
The historic Old Palace complex here is being developed as a cultural heritage centre with the assistance of the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) and the Indian National Trust for Art, Culture and Heritage (INTACH).

This was stated by the Minister of State for Roads and Buildings, Mr Gulchain Singh Charak, while talking to mediapersons here today.

He said the ITDC was preparing a project to restore the grandeur of the complex.

The project included waterproofing the roof, permanent illumination of the monument, sound and light show, heritage hotel, conference hall and an emporium.

One of the terminal points of the proposed ropeway to Bagh-e-Bahu would be at the palace complex. This would make Jammu an attractive tourist destination, he added.

Mr Charak said the INTACH was preparing a project report for restoring and maintaining the pristine glory of the complex.

Earlier, the minister visited the complex and went around various buildings, including the Dogra Art Museum and the state archives that has about 12 lakh record files since 1724.

Sainik School gets Vijayanta tank
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 25
The Defence Ministry has presented a Vijayanta tank to the Sainik School, Nagrota.

Maj-Gen B.S. Jaswal, Chief of Staff of 16 Corps, unveiled the tank here today. He said the tank was a symbol of strength and the students must strive to be physically strong and mentally tough.