Jammu, March 25
Even after two paper leakage episodes, the Jammu and Kashmir State Board of School Education has failed to come up with a foolproof mechanism to check this menace. And now there are fears that Class XII exams might go the same way.

Talking to The Tribune, an official of the secrecy section of the board said the problem was handing the question papers to the superintendents and deputy superintendents of centres from far-flung areas at least 15 to 20 days before the commencement of annual exams.

“Board authorities undertake the exercise with a purpose to ensure that exams in remote areas get started almost simultaneously with other examination centers in the state. However, some disgruntled superintendents and deputy superintendents indulge in the malpractice and sell xerox copies of the question papers to earn easy money,” the official added.

It may be mentioned here that on March 15 class X students in the temple city had managed Science-II (Biology) question paper and following protest demonstrations, the Board authorities eventually cancelled it.

To a query, he responded, “In capital cities like Jammu and Srinagar the chances of paper leakage are sparse, rather zero, because board officials dispatch question papers to different examination centers in the morning on the day when exam has to be conducted.”

“The superintendents and deputy superintendents are the teachers drawn by the Board authorities from different government schools for the task. However, some of them have a separate scheme of things and hence the malady,” he added.

Suggesting punitive punishment to such ‘errant’ officials, he said, “Those found guilty should be fined at least one lakh rupee besides immediately terminating them from the service,” adding, “Presently, Board simply debars guilty not assigning him or her any assignment for a period of one year besides imposing a nominal fine of Rs 5,000 or Rs 10,000, which can be easily waived off on the intervention of any minister or legislator.”

He claimed that mathematics question paper for class X scheduled for March 24 had also reached the students well before the day of examination. “However, purely in a face saving attempt Board authorities didn’t cancel it,” he added.

However, despite repeated attempts board chairman Prof N.A. Ganai and secretary Veena Rajput could not be reached for their comments.

Srinagar, March 25
National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah said LK Advani was “lying” in his memoirs in which he said Abdullah accepted the then NDA government’s decision of rejecting his autonomy proposal and preferred to remain in power.

In a hurriedly called press conference at his residence yesterday evening, he admitted that the BJP had rejected the autonomy proposal initially but both PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his deputy Advani assured him to look into it when he decided to withdraw support.

Both had come to his residence in 2002 to offer their condolences after the death of his mother and gave their assurance, he said and added that former minister KC Panth was appointed convener and asked to examine autonomy report.

An upset Abdullah said it was unexpected for a man aspiring to become country’s prime minister to make such false claims. He said Advani has deliberately made these extreme claims to suit his party’s agenda of “ek vidhan, ek nishan and ek pradhan (one constitution, one flag and one head).”

“I will rather spend my time in jail than surrender the state’s autonomy,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the head of the moderate faction of Hurriyat, has also dismissed Advani’s assertions that his separatist amalgam held talks with the NDA government within the ambit of Indian constitution.

Vajpayee had said they would hold talks under the ambit of “humanity” and they had responded to it, he said.

Advani's autobiographical comments on Kashmir policies pursued by the NDA government has stirred up a real hornets' nest in the ever politically surcharged atmosphere of the valley and NC’s principal rival, the PDP, has gone on an offensive to exploit the issue. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has called for an explanation from the NC and said Advani’s comments were a proof of its greed for power. She has accused Farooq Abdullah, who is again spearheading his party’s campaign after letting his son Omar Abdullah take the responsibility for some time, of befooling the masses in the name of autonomy while scuttling it in New Delhi to remain in power. 

Rajouri, March 25
In a bizarre case, it remains a mystery as to who stole money from Thanamandi branch of the Jammu and Kashmir bank. A sum of more than Rs 10 lakh is missing.

Sources in the bank said as soon as the branch opened this morning, at around 10 am, Khadim Hussain, cashier of the Jammu and Kashmir bank, Thanamandi branch, which serves as state treasury branch, after taking the keys of the cash box from deputy manager Sunil Kumar, went to the strong room on the ground floor of the building where the bank is housed to get the cash.

After the cashier didn’t turn up for more than 40 minutes from the strong room, the deputy manager turned apprehensive and asked the peon Bashir Ahmed to go to strong room to ascertain as to why the cashier is late, sources added.

Bank sources further said after the peon went to the strong room to ascertain the whereabouts of the cashier, he saw the cashier lying unconscious on the floor and currency notes scattered all around.

The peon also found grill gate of the cash room closed from inside whereas outer wooden door was open, sources added.

After finding the things in total disarray in the cash room, sources said, peon Bashir went to the first floor where the bank offices is located and informed the deputy manager and other staff who in turn informed the police.

Police team immediately rushed to the spot and opened the grill gate later rushing the cashier to sub-district hospital Thanamandi, sources added. The cashier was further shifted to the district hospital here for specialised treatment.

Kewal Sharma, branch manager told media-persons that of the total cash of Rs 10, 96, 770 in the cash room of the which is a state treasury branch, they found only Rs 90, 550 whereas rest of the money has been allegedly looted by the burglars.

“Khadim Hussain is a government cashier of the treasury and not of the bank and the strong room used to have joint cash of the treasury as well as Jammu and Kashmir bank,” the branch manager said.

Police sources said its team after visiting the strong room found that there was no sign of scuffle and visible injury to cashier.

“Keeping in view the scenario at the site of offence, police later conducted a mock exercise wherein a policeman was sent inside the cash room and as per the exercise he was asked to cry from inside. But after he cried that cry reached more than 400 meters from the site raising the suspicion about the involvement of the cashier in the burglary,” a highly places police source said. The police has registered a FIR under section 382/384/448 of the RPC.

In the meantime, mediapersons who had gone to get the version of the cashier were told by his relatives that he was in quite serious condition and was unconscious. However, Dr. Bashir Malik who is attending to the injured cashier told mediapersons that Khadim has no serious injury and he is able to give the statement.

Meanwhile, state treasury department sources said that Khadim was put under suspension for several months allegedly for misappropriation of funds while he was posted at Sunderbani and was reinstated two years back.

Udhampur, March 25
Castigating People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti for exploiting sentiments of the innocent masses for petty political gains, former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah cautioned the people that policies being propagated by the PDP leadership would strengthen hands of divisive forces, trying desperately to divide the state on communal and regional lines.

Addressing a function organised to pay tributes to veteran BJP leader late Lala Charan Gupta who passed away on March 14, Dr Abdullah rued that his presence at this function would be brazenly exploited by Mehbooba Mufti in the Kashmir valley.

"Mehbooba Mufti and her team would visit every nook and corner of the Kashmir valley to exploit my presence at the 10th day function of departed BJP leader.

Instead of adopting a humanistic approach PDP chief always look for an opportunity to rake up emotional issues to further her political interests,” he said, adding, "I would be dubbed as supporter of the Sangh Parivar due to presence on this occasion".

"I am least concerned about dirty politics of PDP leadership but it is high time

for all politicians to shun this type of exploitive approach,” Dr Abdullah said and asserted that he had serious ideological differences with the BJP. "My presence in this function does not mean that I am with the BJP. I am here as a human being to express my sympathy with the bereaved family of Lalaji", he said while pointing towards BJP leaders and made it clear that in the Assembly elections he would the BJP.

Jammu, March 25
Refugees from the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) yesterday held a protest rally in Jammu as they alleged discrimination by the government for redressing their grievances.

A protesting refugee said, we suffered a major loss of life and property in the wars with Pakistan and thousands of us were mercilessly killed by the Pakistani army and invaders.

After 1947 as per the cabinet order No 578-C of 1954, it was promised that the government would allot 12 acres of dry land or 8 acres of irrigated land for agricultural purpose, but majority of the families were allotted land below the laid down scale, he added.

They alleged that around 8,000 families have not been registered by the government till date. They said the United Refugee Front had staged several protests and dharnas in Jammu and had appealed to the government to solve their problems. The government had formed a committee under G.P. Wadhwa to look into the problems faced by the refugees for PoK and West Pakistan.

Srinagar, March 25
Expressing the hope that “positive” political situation in Pakistan will help to find a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed today said he now sees a promise in the environment for the people of the state.

Meanwhile, he demanded employment and economic package, troops cut and repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the interest of the state’s peace and stability.

Welcoming the formation of a new government in Pakistan, Sayeed said the stabilisation of the democratic and political institutions in the neighbouring country had rejuvenated the hope for a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue.

“With the political situation evolving positively in Pakistan, I see hope in the air and promise in the environment for the people of the state,” the former Chief Minister said at a public meeting in south Kashmir today.

While felicitating Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) leader Sayeed Yousuf Raza Geelani on assuming office as the Prime Minister of Pakistan, he expressed the hope that the new government would ardently pursue the peace process with India to permanently end the six decades of hostilities, violence and economic deprivation in the region.

He said the PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, who is visiting Pakistan from March 28, would carry to the new government and the people the message of goodwill from the people of the state. — UNI

Srinagar, March 25
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today inaugurated a redeveloped Badam Wa'er (almond alcove), on the foot of the Hari Parbat hillock in the old city.

Officials said the almond garden for decades had been the focal point of recreation for the local people, but it fell into disuse due to neglect and suffered dilapidation. The government had asked J&K Bank to recreate the old charm of the Badam Wa'er, which it did.

The Chief Minister, Deputy CM Muzaffar Hussain Baig and J&K Bank chairman Haseeb Drabu among others walked around to have a feel of the environs. A cultural programme, comprising musical concert by local artistes and a humorous skit, was also organised.

The restoration work was taken up in December 2006 and completed in a span of 15 months. The garden is spread over an area of 300 kanals. Elements of traditional Kashmiri landscaping and architecture had been retained with the façade of the garden replicating the historical gate, Kathi Darwaza, of the Naagar Nagar wall raised by Mughal ruler, Akbar, around the hillock, officials said.

Srinagar, March 25
When the cops in Ganderbal flagged down a timber-laden government vehicle, the fact that it was a smuggled consignment was surprising, but the real shock came when they learnt it belonged to a senior medical officer (SMO).

“It's a shame that our own people are indulging into timber-smuggling,” district commissioner G.N. Bodha said. It was also an admission of his helplessness when he publicly asked Army officials to help his administration in checking the brazen smuggling of timbers even though soldiers were not really here to nab smugglers.

In the valley’s forest rich with high quality woods, their illegal felling is the most organised crime only after militancy, and police records attest to it. Sharing figures, a police official said they have registered 98 cases so far since January 2007 and 140 smugglers have been arrested. Timber worth Rs 29 crore has been recovered during this period.

But it is not the figures on record that, official say, is the story but what goes behind it. A clique of forest officials, police and smugglers is responsible for thousands of acres of forest getting deforested over the years.

Kashmiris put a premium on woodworks in their houses and offices and those who are supposed to protect the forests are only too willing to look the other way for some bribe and favours.

A crunch of resources in the Forest Department, police’s unwillingness to actively campaign against smugglers when “our hands are already full” and, importantly, lack of public awareness means that trees are being cut unabated.

A senior forest official, who did not wish to be named, told The Tribune that forest area in Kashmir is now close to 51 per cent, which is significantly less than the norm of 66 per cent forest cover recommended by National Forest Policy for hilly areas like Jammu and Kashmir and northeast states.

“I'm not sure of figures about 10 or 20 years back, but it has definitely come down over the years,” he said.

As the increase in population is pushing the boundaries of forests, prevailing unemployment among the youths gives villagers a money-earning option in timber smuggling, and callousness and complicity of officials only worsen the matters.

A forest official recalled that villagers in Shopian district in south Kashmir gheraoed his team when they stopped some locals from transporting timbers illegally.

“The police arrived and asked us to let the matter go as they do not want any local resentment for some trees,” he said. “There might be black sheep in our department but stopping of smuggling requires synergy of several resources and backing of leaders and it's not happening,” he said.

Jammu, March 25
The National Democratic Front led by A.K. Dewani has demanded that an ordinance be promulgated by the Governor for banning any further “clandestine” sale of temple properties in the Kashmir valley.

The demand was contained in a memorandum, the Front submitted to the Governor, here today. Before submitting the memorandum, activists of the Front staged a demonstration in front of the Raj Bhawan. They shouted slogans against secret sale of temple property during the last 18 years.

The memorandum said till the government got the proposed temple bill adopted by the state legislature, the Governor should issue an ordinance, which would prevent vested interests from dealing in the sale of temple property.

Dewani told mediapersons that he also demanded a CBI probe in all sale deeds of temple property. He explained that there were over 900 temples and shrines in the Kashmir valley, and land and other immovable assets of most of these shrines had been sold or grabbed during the last 18 years.

He wanted all these sale deeds to be cancelled by the government so that the properties, thus, grabbed were restored to the temples.

Dewani also demanded in the memorandum that a board, on the pattern of Gurdwara Prabandhak Board, be set up with membership restricted to Hindus only.

He said Kashmiri Pandit youths faced a major problem of unemployment and if the board appointed educated Pandit youths as managers for each temple and shrine, it would not only provide jobs to them but also prevent further “clandestine” sale and encroachment of temple property.

Srinagar, March 25
Family members of a deceased man have demanded a judicial probe into his death while holding a protest here today.

Relatives of Farooq Ahmed Khan, who died under mysterious circumstances on March 9 by drowning in a nullah and whose body has not been recovered yet, and other members of his village accused cops of throwing him in the nullah.

They belong to Sopore in Baramula district. The official versions is that the police raided an orchard on that day as many people were gambling there and Farooq, who was in orchard, fell in the nullah while trying to run away.

The police said some people, including Farooq, ran from the spot to escape but he drowned in the process.

His father Ghulam Qadir and other family members have refused to believe the story and said cops were behind his death. "We want a fair probe and have no trust in the police," he said.

A police spokesman said it was inquiring into allegations but Qadir said he had no trust in this inquiry.

Srinagar/Jammu, March 25
Two militants were gunned down in two separate encounters with security forces in the state today.

In the first encounter, troops gunned down a militant immediately after sneaking into this side from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in Keran sector in the state, a defence ministry spokesman said.

He said troops guarding the Line of Control (LoC) noticed a group of militants sneaking into this side early this morning under the cover of darkness.

In another encounter with the security forces a Hizbul Mujahideen militant was killed in the state’s Reasi district today.

On a specific information, troops of the 59 Rastriya Rifles (RR) launched a cordon and search operation in an area in Gulabgarh belt of Reasi district today, defence spokesman said.

During the encounter, which was still on, one Hizbul militant was killed and an AK rifle and large amount of ammunition were recovered, the spokesman said. — Agencies