J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Azad explains security cover to separatist leaders
Jammu, March 10
As many as 10 senior Kashmiri separatist leaders continue to be under the government security cover in the valley.

Residents hope for Bhaderwah’s development
Bhaderwah, March 10
The decision of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to contest the byelection for this Assembly seat has generated a ray of hope among residents for an all-round development of the area that has so far remained neglected by the successive governments.

J&K declares veterinary services essential
Srinagar, March 10
The Jammu and Kashmir Government today invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Ordinance (ESMO) to prevent the Animal and Sheep Husbandry Department employees from going on a strike or remain absent from duty in the wake of deadly bird flu scare in the state, official sources said.

6 dead, 45 hurt as bus falls into riverbed
Jammu, March 10
Six persons, including two women, were killed when a private passenger bus plunged into a dry riverbed at Kalibari in Kathua district today. As many as 45 persons were injured, 10 of them seriously.

Caught copying, student commits suicide
Jammu, March 10
A Class VIII student committed suicide by consuming poison after she was caught cheating in the examination in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said here today.

Azad explains security cover to separatist leaders
Our Correspondent

Jammu, March 10
As many as 10 senior Kashmiri separatist leaders continue to be under the government security cover in the valley.

Disclosing this, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad informed PDP member Nizam-ud-Din Bhat in the state Assembly today that during 2005 over Rs 1 crore had been spent on the security cover to the separatist leaders.

He said those provided with the government security include APHC chairman Molvi Umar Farooq, chief of Peoples’ Conference Sajjad Lone, president of Democratic Freedom Party Shabir Ahmed Shah, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, Molvi Abbas Ansari, Bilal Gani Lone, Saleem Geelani, Aga Syed Hussain, Hashim Qureshi and Yaqoob Vakil.

On the basis of the list circulated in the legislative council it became clear that Syed Ali Shah Geelani, chief of Tehrik Hurriyat Conference, and members of its executive committee had not been provided with any security.

The chief minister said protected persons that include leaders of different political ideologies were provided security on the basis of their individual threat perception. He did not elaborate.

Mr Bhat had asked whether the government was providing security to leaders questioning state’s accession with India and the chief minister had confirmed that separatists were under the government security cover.

In reply to another question, Mr Azad said the Union Home Ministry had sought comments of the state government for issue of travel documents to the APHC and JKLF leaders for visiting foreign countries in 2005.

He said, “As a sequel to foreign visits of the Hurriyat and the JKLF leaders indications suggest a sort of change in their perception and mindset with regard to the resolution of political problems of the state”.

Mr Azad claimed that visit to foreign countries, including Pakistan and occupied Kashmir had promoted moderate group within the separatist camp. He said, “Confidence building measures, dialogue and interaction within the state, national and international levels shall go a long way in creating an optimum environment for the peace process”.

Residents hope for Bhaderwah’s development
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

Bhaderwah, March 10
The decision of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to contest the byelection for this Assembly seat has generated a ray of hope among residents for an all-round development of the area that has so far remained neglected by the successive governments.

With its scenic beauty and snow-clad mountains in the backdrop, the Bhaderwah town, which is generally known as a mini-Kashmir, has all of a sudden become a VIP area as Mr Azad has turned down the offer to contest the election from anywhere else in the state and stuck to his home place.

A drive around the town provides a tell-tale picture of neglect of the area that has all potential for being developed as an attraction for tourists.

Although the Bhaderwah valley is fertile and the climate is congenial for a large-scale cultivation of quality apple, almond, saffron and other fruits and cash crops, but neither the Horticulture nor the Agriculture Department have so far paid any attention towards this aspect.

Despite a large potential in these fields, poverty is yet looming here because of neglect by government agencies.

Des Raj, an elderly person, hoped that things might take a turn for the better with Mr Azad adopting this constituency.

The hydel potential for setting up a couple of mini and micro power projects in the area is not being utilised.

A couple of tourist huts, constructed around the area when Mr Azad was holding the tourism portfolio in the Union ministry, are now lying in a dilapidated condition.

The local radio station, set up when Mr Azad was the Information and Broadcasting Minister at the Centre, is almost non-functional because of shortage of staff.

Mr Azad regretted that the laying of the road network was lopsided in the state. While certain districts had a road network of about 70 to 80 per cent, Doda and Udhampur had 8 and 12 percent road connectivity, respectively.

He said it would be his effort to bring Doda and Udhampur at par with other districts within three years as far as road connectivity was concerned.

To meet the long-standing demand of the people for promotion of tourism, Mr Azad, through his personal efforts, has got from the Centre sanctioned a tourist circuit that would stretch from Lakhanpur, bordering Punjab, and then proceeding to the Kashmir valley after touching here.

He disclosed his plan to develop Bhaderwah, which was a centre of learning in the past, into a modern town under the National Urban Renewal Mission (NURM) where under 90 per cent funds in the shape of grants would come from the Centre and a matching grant of 10 per cent had already been provided by him from the MPLAD fund.

Besides, the local tourism development authority would spend Rs 20 crore.

J&K declares veterinary services essential

Srinagar, March 10
The Jammu and Kashmir Government today invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Ordinance (ESMO) to prevent the Animal and Sheep Husbandry Department employees from going on a strike or remain absent from duty in the wake of deadly bird flu scare in the state, official sources said.

The sources said the state administration had also declared the veterinary services as “essential’’.

According to today’s order (SRO-86), the government directed all the employees of the Animal and Sheep Husbandry (both veterinarians and para-veterinarians) not to go on strike or remain absent or depart from the place of their duty.

Anybody found violating the directions would be liable to severe punishment with imprisonment up to one year, besides fine, the order said.

The sources said the government decision came in the wake of the avian influenza scare in the state. — UNI

6 dead, 45 hurt as bus falls into riverbed
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 10
Six persons, including two women, were killed when a private passenger bus plunged into a dry riverbed at Kalibari in Kathua district today. As many as 45 persons were injured, 10 of them seriously.

The mishap occurred on the Jammu-Pathankot highway when the driver was reportedly driving the vehicle at a high speed. The bus first hit the parapet of the bridge and then plunged into the riverbed.

The police said four persons died on the spot and two women succumbed to their injuries on the way to hospital.

Caught copying, student commits suicide

Jammu, March 10
A Class VIII student committed suicide by consuming poison after she was caught cheating in the examination in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said here today.

Rajni, a student of Class VIII in Pansa in Udhampur district, was caught red-handed while cheating in the examination yesterday, they said.

The girl went home and consumed poisonous substance last evening and died on the way to hospital, they said. — PTI