Jammu, April 28
To cater to the manpower requirements of the industry in the region and give an impetus to skill development of local youth, members of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) have adopted six industrial training institutes (ITI) for upgradation this fiscal.

According to industry sources, less than 10 per cent pass-outs from ITIs in the state are able to get employment in industrial units as their training syllabus and methodology is obsolete.

This, while leaving a large number of educated youth jobless, also violates government policy that 90 per cent of the labour force in units should be from local sources.

Three of the institutes to be upgraded are located in Jammu, Kathua and Samba in the southern part of the state, while three are located at Pulawan, Ganderbal and Bagdam in Srinagar region. About Rs 15 crore would be spent on this venture, which is in line with the central government policy to upgrade a total of 1,396 ITIs across India by 2012.

"We have already received Rs 2.5 crore per institute from the government for this task to be undertaken during 2008-09," an industry source said. "This is an interest-free loan repayable in 25 years," he added. Upgradation of another six ITIs would be undertaken by the CII next year.

Pointing out that there was a lot of gap between the industry and the academia, industry sources said what the academia was providing was not acceptable to the industry because they had been trained on outdated equipment and hence cannot function effectively in modern industrial environment.

Infrastructure, machinery and faculty would be the focus of the upgradation process. While new machinery would be procured for training students, refresher courses faculty or hiring new instructors where required would be undertaken.

The chairman of the upgradation committee for each ITI would be from the industry to ensure that the manpower requirements of the local industry would be met.

Six industries have been identified in Jammu and Kashmir which have good potential for growth and expansion. These are hospitality, information technology, repair of household goods, automobile repair, construction and agro-processing. The end result of the upgradtion project would be that the youth passing out from these institutes would be able to fit into the specific requirements of these areas, sources said.

Jammu, April 28
As many as 14 schoolchildren were injured, three of them critically, when a school bus met with an accident here in the city today, official sources said.

The accident occurred when the driver of the bus lost control over the vehicle while escalating Circular Road this morning, the sources said.

According to the police the bus, suddenly stopped and started moving back and rolled down into 100-feet-deep gorge but the children were rescued immediately.

The injured children were shifted to the Government Medical College hospital, Jammu, where the condition of three of them was stated to 
be critical.

The seriously injured have been identified as Muskan Sharma of Pacci Dhakki, Shruti Khajuria and Madvhi Jamwal of Karan Nagar.

Srinagar, April 28
The Kashmiri Pandit Sangarash Samiti (KPSS) has welcomed the Prime Minister’s recent announcement to facilitate return of migrant Pandits to their ancestral places by announcing Rs1,600 crore package. It had, however, expressed anguish over the alleged betrayal by the successive Central governments by ignoring the suffering of valley-based Kashmiri Pandits through the militancy period, who chose to live along with the Muslim majority community after the mass migration of community in 1989-90, president of the KPSS Sanjay Tickoo said here today.

The KPSS has also threatened to take strong steps if the Central government did not consider their long pending demands and announce rehabilitation and employment package for the Kashmiri Pandits living in the valley.

According to Tickoo, the leaders of the community got assurances from different leaders at the Central level and senior officials at the Central and state level during the past 10 years that their demands would be fulfilled but no steps had been taken so far.

He added that the representatives of the KPSS had meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former PMs, Atal Behari Vajpayee and I.K. Gujral. After going through the package details, not a single word of encouragement or financial benefits had been made with effect to the valley-based Kashmiri Pandits, Tickoo said.

In his statement the KPSS told the Central government, parliamentarians and national-level political parties leaders to give a guarantee to the Kashmiri Pandit community as a whole that 1990 episode, which forced the community to leave their own motherland, would not happen or be repeated again.

Also counter guarantee should be given by the majority community leaders of the valley that 1990 episodes like slogans, killings would not be repeated, if the migrant Pandit community return back to the valley.

Jammu, April 28
The displaced community of Kashmiri Panidts has alleged that a nexus between government officials and land grabbers active in the valley has been illegally grabbing their property and officials were providing them documents for the same.

The all-state Kashmiri Pandit Conference today while addressing mediapersons in Jammu alleged that various government agencies in the valley were helping land grabbers in the valley to grab the property of migrant Pandits in the valley.

“Even the cremation grounds of Kashmiri Pandits in the valley have been illegally encroached upon, with the help of local authorities.” Reads a statement issued by the displaced Kashmiri Pandits.

They have alleged that the people who have grabbed their property in Kashmir have also prepared forged sale deeds and other documents with the help of government officials.

“A person who has encroached upon my property had got a forged sale deed made, and when we went to the court for a duplicate copy of the sale deed submitted to the court, they clearly told us that no such deed was registered in the court,” said Ashok Kumar Shangloo, a resident of Ali Kadal in Srinagar. He alleges that his property in Kashmir has been illegally encroached up by a few locals with the help of revenue officials.

Adding, he said, “The non-availability of any records with the court vindicates our stand that our property was being illegally occupied in the valley and the government was doing nothing in this regard.”

Panidts allege that there were numerous cases in the valley where locals had illegally occupied the immovable property of the displaced community; they allege that the state government had turned as a mock spectator and was doing nothing in this regard.

“We have submitted proof of 14 such properties where the locals have illegally encroached upon the property of our community members. The property worth million of rupees that belong to displaced Kashmiri Pandits was being sold to third and fourth parties, and our repeated requested are falling on dumb ears,” said general secretary of the Kashmiri Pandit conference.

Rajouri, April 28
More than three years after the Municipal Committee was elected in this border township, it has failed to improve the drainage and sewerage system. While as the municipal committee authorities here wait for the funds from the government to improve the drainage and sewerage, the district administration says that the urban body has to generate income on its own for carrying out such activities.

With the threat of epidemic looming large on their heads in view of the coming rainy season, residents said the Municipal Committee should act fast to solve the basic problems of drainage and sewerage. They said in areas, including Jawahar Nagar, DC Colony, area adjoining to Salani Bridge, Bus Stand and Ward No. 10, the problem of poor drainage and sewerage was worse and needed urgent attention from the urban civic body.

“It has been more than 15 years since the damaged lanes and drains were repaired in the town. If these lanes and drains are not repaired now, water logging can cause havoc in the town and may lead to outbreak of epidemic”, said Nadeem Ahmed, a resident of the old town. “I suspect that municipal committee councillors have forgotten their duties. We elected them just to solve these problems. They will have to manage the repairs”, he added.

Whereas the municipal committee authorities agree that the damaged lanes and drains have not been repaired for decades together, they attribute it to the lack of funds from the government.

Chairman of the Rajouri Municipal Committee Rajinder Gupta admitted that the lanes and drains had not been repaired for quite a long time now, but “Though the government held elections for the Municipal Committee, it failed to provide monetary support to us.” “It is the government who has to provide us funds for carrying out the repairs of lanes and drains. We on many occasions have asked for funds for our various schemes to improve drainage and sewerage, but so far money has not been provided by it”, he added.

Nullifying the assertions of the chairman of the Municipal Committee, deputy commissioner Sheikh Rafiq Ahmed told The Tribune that the Municipal Committee had to generate the income on its own and to use it for improving drainage and sewerage of the town. “Though the committee needs to generate income by levying various types of taxes, they have failed in doing so”, the DC said.

The DC said “We have sent a proposal to the government for repairs of lanes and drains, and are awaiting funds for the same.”

Akhnoor (Jammu), April 28
Residents of this frontier tehsil of Jammu district are happy with the construction of a bridge over the Chenab, inaugurated by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, during his recent visit to the state.

People said the bridge had not only made their travel easy but had also provided connectivity with the rest of the state.

It is the first ever pylon to pylon bridge in the country constructed at a cost of Rs 21 crore.

“This bridge would help in the economic development of the area.

It has not only connected the region with the rest of the state, but the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri have also received better connectivity,” Sham Sharma, MLA from the Akhnoor constituency said.

He added, “It was a long-pending demand of the people to have a bridge over the Chenab and their dream transformed into reality when the Prime Minister himself inaugurated the bridge.”

Earlier, people had to rely on a temporary iron bridge constructed by the Army for travelling. However, the bridge was closed for several hours daily to carry out maintenance work.

“The previous bridge was a temporary one constructed by the Army and had to be closed several times a day for maintenance. Now this bridge provides us round the close surface connectivity with the rest of the state,” Chaman Lal, a resident of Bhambla village in Akhnoor sector said.

The construction of the bridge not only has strategic importance, but hundreds of military vehicles ply on the route on a daily basis.

“The bridge is strategically important as hundreds of Army vehicles ply on the route daily to transport supplies in the border belts in Akhnoor, Poonch and Rajouri districts,” an Army officer said on the condition of anonymity.

Srinagar, April 28
Two local militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), one of whom was the outfit’s financial chief, were killed in an encounter with the security forces in Pattan area of Baramulla district, last evening.

Six others, including a policeman, were injured in a grenade explosion at Sopore on Sunday evening, while two security forces personnel were injured in an attack by armed militants in Handwara area of north Kashmir today.

The two militants killed at Palhalan in Pattan area were identified as Zahoor Ahmad Waza, alias Zee Shan, financial chief of the HM of Palhalan and Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, alias Muneer, from Nihalpora Pattan.

Police sources said the house in which the militants were hiding got damaged. Zahoor Ahmad Waza had been appointed as the financial chief after Hanief Khan was killed in an encounter in Tral area of Pulwama district recently.

The police said Zahoor Ahmad Waza had been an expert in fabrication of remote as well as cell phone IEDs. He along with Mohammad Yousuf, alias Munir, operating in the area for the past eight years, were wanted in many incidents of violence. Two other militants were killed and four others of the outfit arrested in the area during the past few months.

At least six persons, including one SPO were injured when unidentified militants hurled a grenade in the main chowk of Sopore town in Baramulla district, last evening.

Meanwhile, two security forces personnel were injured in an encounter with militants at Dardpora in Handwara of Kupwara district. Security forces also busted a hideout and recovered one AK rifle, 12 magazines, 300 AK rounds, two Chinese hand grenades, 16 UBGL grenades and two IEDs in the forest area of Kalaroos in Kupwara district today.

Srinagar, April 28
Defence authorities in the Kashmir have decided to conduct recruitment rallies for candidates belonging to all districts in the valley and for the Ladakh region from next month.

Additional commissioner, Kashmir, giving details about these rallies said a recruitment rally would be conducted at Chamkote in the frontier district of Kupwara from May 11 to May 13 for candidates of the border town of Tangdhar.

A similar rally would be held at Kupwara from May 15 to May 20 for candidates of Kupwara, Baramulla, Srinagar, Anantnag, Budgam, Pulwama, Kulgam, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Shopian, Kargil and Leh. The written test would be conducted on May 25, he said.

This is for the first time that the Army is conducting recruitment rallies for the candidates of Kashmir valley and Ladakh region after eruption of militancy in the late 1980’s. — UNI

Jammu, April 28
In an unprecedented incident, a man was arrested by the state police for “stealing” human bones from a cremation ground here, official sources said today.

Sources said on a complaint registered at the Bahu Fort police station, the police conducted a raid on the residence of one Kailash Kumar, 65, resident of Gorkha Nagar and arrested him. “During search, we found a bag hanging inside his house, which contained the bones of Yashodha (72) who expired on April 26,” Zahid Manhas, SP, South said.

A complaint was registered by one Kishore Kumar, who told the police that when he reached the cremation ground to collect the mortal remains of his mother, he found them stolen.

“The locals informed Kishore about the accused, who was seen roaming around the cremation ground. He lodged a complaint with the police on which a police party arrested the accused and recovered a bag of bones from his possession,” Manhas said.

However, the reason behind committing the crime was yet to be ascertained as the accused kept narrating different stories and posed himself as mentally challanged, the SP said, adding that case under Section 297 of the RPC had been registered against him. — UNI

Udhampur, April 28
As many as 30 houses were gutted when a devastating fire broke out in remotest village of Paddar area of Kishtwar district. Although there is no report of loss of human lives in the incident, unconfirmed reports said scores of cattle had been died in the incident, which took place in Hungai village, Kishtwar district.

The police rushed to the spot as soon as they got the information.

“The police teams along with some officers of the Revenue Department have been rushed to the spot to start relief and rehabilitation operation”, DIG, Doda-Ramban range, Hemant Kumar Lohia told The Tribune.

“Real picture will be emerged only after rescue parties reached the village and assess the total loss”, he added.

Although real cause of fire is yet not known, initial reports suggested that fire broke out from the kitchen of a house, and later engulfed the whole village. Most of the houses in this locality are made up of wood so fire spread within no time in the village.

Two years back, same village was gutted that rendered most of villagers homeless.

Meanwhile, various political parties have demanded immediate relief for the victims and asked the authorities to start rescue operations.

Jammu, April 28
With the mercury unexpectedly soaring four to five notches above normal, erratic water and electricity supplies have started haunting people in the winter capital.

People in densely populated localities like Janipur, Ban Talab, Durga Nagar, Bharat Nagar, Paloura, Potli, Toph Sherkhania, Muthi and Barnai have started to feel the heat in the absence of basic amenities.

Talking to The Tribune, residents said summer was yet to reach its fury, but erratic supplies of water and electricity had become an immense cause of worry.

“The state government had sanctioned 30 tubewells for the Jammu west Assembly constituency in 2006, but no work whatsoever had been taken up,” claimed Sunil Dimple, a local leader.

If this is the situation in the winter capital, one can imagine the condition of people in rural areas, he added.

Sources in the public health engineering (PHE) department admitted that with the increase in population of the winter capital, the department had to explore the possibility to divert the water of Chenab from Akhnoor to the winter capital.

It may be mentioned that presently the Tawi river is a major source of water for the vast population of Jammu.

Official sources said though the government had commissioned an intake pump house at the Sitlee filtration plant in Nagrota last year, the two intake pump houses having a capacity of 70 lakh gallons per day, would no way cater to the needs of the people.

They said the silt content and reduced water-level in the Tawi river coupled with low electricity voltage had marred the functioning of two intake houses and a percolation well at the Sitlee filtration plant.

However, the PHE department had shifted the blame of erratic water supplies on the power development department (PDD).

A senior PHE department official said poor voltage affected lifting of water from tubewells, dug wells besides, from the main source - Tawi river.

The official said the population had reached nearly 13 lakh and had aggravated the problem of water shortage, he said.

Similarly, unscheduled power cuts had also become a major problem of concern.

Srinagar, April 28
Akbar Bibi from a remote village of Machkrinde in Uri area, near the LoC, is hoping against hope for the return of her two sons, who had been picked up by the security forces during a crackdown on their village 10 years ago.

The crackdown during which the security forces picked up Abdul Hameed and Mohammad Younus, both farmers, followed some incidents of explosions in the area. Their father, Mohammad Lateef, suffered a broken right arm when assaulted by the security forces during the search operations, said Akbar Bibi, who was sitting among many others on a silent dharna here today.

The sit-in was organised by the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) at the Sher-e-Kashmir Park as part of its monthly programme to highlight the issue of enforced disappearances in troubled state.

All efforts of her family to trace the two brothers during the past 10 years were of no use. The family had approached all, including the concerned deputy commissioner, Baramulla, and a report stands lodged in Uri police station, but of no avail.

“There is no hope. We do not know where are the two brothers”, laments Akbar Bibi in her local dialect.

Last month, the APDP had come out with the report on 940 nameless graves and mass graves in Uri area of Baramulla district that had evoked much response from the international human rights organisations, political parties and several other sections of civil society.

“The families of the disappeared have neither the resources nor the expertise to carry out either the job of comprehensive reporting or the task of scientific exhumation and identification of those buried in these nameless graves and mass graves”, a spokesman of the APDP stated.

“We have received more reports of the existence of mass graves and nameless graves”, an APDP spokesman revealed, which claimed that about 10,000 persons had been subjected to enforced disappearance since militancy erupted in the state.

It sought media and people’s support in taking adequate measures to help “safeguard the grave sites from tampering” and any interference till a thorough exercise of identifying these bodies was completed with the help of international experts and humanitarian bodies.

He said the process of identification would provide some relief to the families whose kin had disappeared. It has also urged the local political formations to provide more information about these and other grave sites and to take necessary measures to safeguard these sites from tampering considering them as extremely sensitive.

The APDP has also taken a strong exception to the role of security agencies in “dismissing” the findings as a result of their alleged involvement in these crimes in view of various “fake encounters”.

Srinagar, April 28
An election clerk has been arrested in connection with reports of foreign militants being in possession of electoral photo identity cards in Handwara area of Kupwara district.

At least five of the six Pakistani militants killed in different encounters in the area during the past four months have been found to have obtained genuine identity cards, though with different photographs. Two of these militants were killed in an encounter between the militants and security forces near Handwara recently, SP, Handwara, Haseeb Mughal told The Tribune here today.

“We cannot rule out the possibility of more such identity cards in the possession of militants”, the SP said. He said the disclosures could be made following the death of these militants in the encounters in recent months.

The SP said the concerned election clerk, Farooq Ahmad Mir, had been arrested a week back and further investigations into the matter were going on.

The issue is also being taken up by the Election Commission of India with the concerned authorities in the state, apart from other issues related to the Assembly elections due to be held later this year.

This is for the first time during the past 18 years of militancy in the state that such cards had been seized from the militants as these are issued after proper verifications from the concerned authorities.

The electoral photo-identity cards were for the first time issued in favour of majority of the electorate in the state prior to the last Assembly elections held in 2002. The photo identity card is regarded as the most authentic document for all official use, including proof of identity while applying for the issuance of a passport.

New Delhi, April 28
Defence minister A.K. Antony today said the ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir had shown signs of improvement with incidents of violence going down significantly.

“The incidents of violence in the state have registered a significant drop. The relatively peaceful conditions have created a conducive environment for the Assembly elections due to be held later this year,” he told the Army Commanders’ Conference here.

Antony said this had been made possible mainly due to the commendable dedication, sacrifices and commitment of the Army.

He referred to the recent decision of the government to increase the payment of rentals in the state from 2.1 times to 5 times for various categories of land.

The defence minister asked the top commanders to ensure that timely relief was given to people for their legitimate dues.

“This will surely go a long way in accelerating the return of peace and normalcy in the state,” he added.

Referring to the North-East, Antony said the government accorded top priority to the development infrastructure in the region. “Latest infrastructure will not only enhance the security and defence preparedness of the region and the country, but also accelerate the economic growth and welfare of the region”, he added. He said the general situation in the North-East had shown a marked improvement and was by and large peaceful.

Recently, elections were successfully conducted in some states, the defence minister said, adding that this indicated a yearning for peace among the local people.

He said the role of Army in countering Naxal violence was limited. The Army had provided assistance to states by setting up counter terrorism institutions and by a mechanism of ‘training the trainers’, Antony added. He said the task lay clearly in the realm of state police forces, the central police organisations and paramilitary forces and they must develop the requisite capacity and efficiency to deal with the menace effectively. — UNI