Srinagar, June 25
N.N. Vohra was sworn in as the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir at a ceremony at Raj Bhawan here this evening.

He was administered oath of office and secrecy by the Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Justice S.K. Radhakrishnan.

The Governor was presented a guard of honour by a contingent of the police on assuming the charge of the 12th Governor of the state. He replaces Lt-Gen S.K. Sinha (retd), who completed his five-year term on June 4.

Chief secretary S.S. Kapur read out in Urdu and English the warrant of appointment of the Governor, which had been issued by the President of India on June 11.

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, several ministers and leaders of different political parties, including National Conference president Omar Abdullah, were present on the occasion.

Later, talking to the mediapersons, Vohra said all issues and differences could be solved through talks for maintaining peace and harmony that was necessary for progress ahead in the land transfer case.

He said he had been in touch with leaders from a cross section of the society that would be maintained ahead, and evaded queries over his role as the Centre’s interlocutor on Kashmir.

“Let us talk about atmosphere, garmi and sardi,” he commented as he evaded queries on the controversial land transfer to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).

“If there was any issue which created differences and resentment among any section of the society that could be reviewed and resolved through talks without taking to roads and creating law and order problem,” he said in reply to a question on the ongoing trouble over the issue of transfer of land to the SASB which has led to differences between the two main coalition partners, the Congress and the PDP.

Udhampur, June 25
To ascertain the circumstances which forced recruits of the bihar military police (BMP) to desert the subsidiary training centre (STC), a two-member fact finding team of the Bihar police today reached Udhampur to probe the allegations.

Leaving their training mid-way, more than 100 recruits of the BMP left a BSF training centre on Friday, alleging sexual harassment by some instructors of the STC.

Although the BSF has strongly denied these allegations, a two-member team of
the Bihar police comprising Commandant R.N. Singh and Dy SP Daleep Singh reached the STC.

Although officers of the BSF have maintained a guarded silence over the issue, sources said the fact-finding team also interacted with recruits of the BMP who were being trained at the centre.

The visiting team also held discussion with BSF officers who had been managing this training centre.

Asaf Ali, DIG, BSF, who is the centre in charge, has denied these allegations and constituted a three-member high-level committee headed by a senior officer to look into the allegations.

Srinagar, June 25
In an attempt to ease tension over the issue of land transfer to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today announced to convene an all-party meeting for a consensus on the issue.

Talking to mediapersons today, Azad assured that until any consensus was reached, there would be no concrete construction on the land allotted to the shrine board.

PDP patron and former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, however, rejected the Chief Minister’s idea for an all-party meeting and reiterated his demand for the immediate cancellation of the order.

“The views and sentiments of the people over the issue have to be respected and responded to,” he said.

Azad said it was too late for any such consultation and if at all consultation was needed at the political level, it would have to be taken done before the issuance of the order.

“Responding to the public sentiment, the government must cancel the order immediately”, he said and added that the diversion of land to the SASB was only an administrative order that could be nullified by another such order.

Lamenting over the issue which led to violent protests, Azad said the issue could be solved through meetings, seminars and discussions.

“There is no need to take the issue on to the roads at a time when the situation has improved a lot and progress is being made,” he added.

CPM state secretary, M.Y. Tarigami said the issue needed immediate attention in and outside the government.

Jammu, June 25
The row surrounding the land transfer to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) and subsequent violent protests in the valley have dealt a severe blow to the process of return of Kashmiri Pandits to the valley under the Prime Minister’s relief package, which already has received a lukewarm response from the displaced community here.

Merely 350 forms have been submitted to the office of the relief commissioner in eight days after the process began on June 16.

The number is quite less as compared to the number of forms issued. The office had issued over 2,000 forms in the first three days only.

Hira Lal Pandita, general secretary of the Congress' migrant cell, said, “The shrine board issue has definitely dealt a setback to the process of the displaced community’s return to the valley. Already various Kashmiri Pandit outfits are opposing the move and now they have got another reason to dissuade the community members from being a part of the process.”

He claimed that Kashmiri Pandits were interested in the relief package announced by the PM, especially the youth who were promised employment.

“The state government too was very much serious on the issue and it intended
to employ at least 3,000 youth before the implementation of the code of conduct,” he said.

A.K. Diwani, the working president of the Jammu and Kashmir National Democratic Front, a political outfit of the displaced Kashmiri community, saw the row and subsequent protests in the valley as a “retaliation” to the Prime Minister's initiative to facilitate return of Kashmiri Pandits to the valley.

“Whenever there is a talk of our return the people there create problems,” he
said, adding that acts like these should not be tolerated by anyone who has
faith in secularism.

He also dubbed the controversy as "the efforts of fundamentalists to completely wipe out the minority community in the valley".

He claimed that the land transferred to the shrine board is completely barren. "While the PDP is raising such a hue and cry over the issue, why is it turning a blind eye to encroachment of forest land by Kashmiris in Bhatindi, near Jammu,” he wondered.

The Panun Kashmir Movement (PKM), a frontal Kasmiri Pandit organisation, which had rejected the PM's package soon after it was announced, felt that the shrine board row has vindicated its stand.

PKM president Ashwani Chrungoo said: "Our stand that Muslim structures in the Kashmir valley have unleashed a campaign of ethnic cleansing has been vindicated. The controversy has come as a big blow to the so-called secular system in Kashmir. Everything is exposed today."

He said the row also vindicated their demand for geo-political reorganisation and a separate homeland for Kashmiri Pandits in the state.

Jammu, June 25
Infuriated over the violent protests by people allegedly at the behest of separatists and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ministers against the transfer of land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) and alleged attack on Amarnath pilgrims near Ganderbal yesterday by some fanatics, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Bajrang Dal and the Shiv Sena have given a call for a complete Jammu bandh here tomorrow.

The BJP has also extended support to the bandh call. Addressing a press conference here today, state VHP president Dr Rama Kant Dubey has strongly condemned the alleged attack on Amarnath pilgrims near Ganderbal.

“An unnecessary controversy has been created by these fanatics over the allotment of 800 kanals of forest land to the shrine board,” Dubey said.

Describing the situation as alarming in the Kashmir valley, the VHP leader said, “Till the voices of communalism end, Kashmir should be handed over to the Army and if the Kashmir-based political parties do not desist from making communal statements, then President's rule must be imposed in the state.”

“How the SASB could be termed a non-state subject organisation when organisations like the yatri bhavan at Jammu, haj houses, Shahdara Sharief at Rajouri, Auquaf Trust, Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Madr-e-Meharban Medical Trust, Jammu and dozens other are state subject organisations,” asked the VHP leader.

Such communal elements should first peep into their conscience and then justify raising of Muslim colonies like Sidhra, Bathindi, Sunjwan etc in Jammu, he said. He asked Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to clarify his stand over the controversy.

He said, “The evil has to be nipped in the bud otherwise another mass exodus of Hindus, similar to Kashmiri Pandits in 1990, from the state may happen.”

In the morning VHP activists staged demonstrations at different places in Jammu and blocked the national highway at Lakhanpur.

They were involved in one way or the other in creation of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) and temporary transfer of land to the board, he added.

Activists of the BJYM led by its state president Pawan Khajuria took out a protest demonstration in Udhampur and warned the authorities not to play with the sentiments of Hindus.

Jammu, June 25
Various Sikh organisations under the banner of the All-Jammu and Kashmir Youth Akali Dal today lambasted former chief minister and PDP patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed for showing “double standards” on the controversy of land transfer to the Amarnath Shrine Board.

Addressing a joint press conference, S.S. Wazir, former president of the J&K Sikh Gurudwara Parbhandak Board, lambasted the PDP leadership for trying to “hoodwink and befool people”.

“Isn’t it hoodwinking and befooling people on the issue of land transfer. On the one hand, Mufti and his party was consciously and actively involved in the process of land transfer and now sensing political mileage to the issue, he and his party have changed its stand,” Wazir said.

Wazir suggested the government to pass a legislature in which the management of the shrines should be handed over to the elected bodies.

“We suggest that a shrine board act in line of the Sikh Gurdwara Management Act should be passed in which the management of the shrines should be given to the elected bodies,” Wazir said.

Jammu, June 25
Power minister Babu Singh today said the first phase of the 320-MVA Burn grid station would be commissioned in July.

This would provide much needed succour to the people of Rajouri and Poonch. Besides this, the much awaited commissioning would also lessen burden on the ageing and badly overloaded 220/132 KV Gladni grid station in the winter capital that feeds Rajouri, Poonch and Jammu.

Singh said commissioning of the 160-MVA first phase would improve the power scenario in Rajouri and Poonch besides, lessen the burden on the Gladni grid by 90 MVA. “Successful tests have been conducted and now it’s a matter of time before the first phase is commissioned next week,” Singh said.

Jammu, June 25
The coalition government so far in its nearly six year tenure failed to adopt the Domestic Violence Act (DVA) 2005, a comprehensive legislation aimed at checking atrocities on women.

Talking to The Tribune, A.H. Kochak, principal secretary Law, said, “The DVA 2005 has not been adopted by the state as of yet.”

Definitely both the Houses of the state legislature would be summoned before the next elections. Let both the Houses be summoned and then I would be able to tell about bills that had to be moved, Kochak responded to a query.

Highly placed sources said before the state goes into Assembly elections, probably after September, both the Houses would be summoned by the Governor in Srinagar anytime after July 9.

The bill could not be adopted because of abrupt end to the last budget session in January this year after the Kundal committee report had indicted two PDP ministers Tariq Hamid Karra and Qazi Mohammed Afzal in a forest scam.

With no let up in opposition’s onslaught in the wake of startling revelations the session had to be adjourned sine-die 10 days ahead of its schedule.

Since legislations passed by the Union government necessarily do not apply to Jammu and Kashmir because of Article 370 the state government enjoys a privilege but people shouldn't be held hostage to the special status, said sources.

Under Article 370, the state legislature has to pass a bill in both Houses to adopt legislations passed by Centre either verbatim or after making requisite amendments.

Sources admitted that the Act was a step in right direction to empower women because for the first time ever the legislation had comprehensively covered domestic relations of female gender.

Under the DVA a mechanism had been evolved to help women in distress, they said adding that it also ensures expeditious trial with first hearing to be held within three days of the case and then entire trial to be disposed off preferably within 60 days.

Last year the crime against women in the winter capital crossed 745-mark and first half of the 2008 has so far witnessed 357 cases.

A police officer said, on an average women cell in Jammu receives 80 complaints from women every month.

Had the state government implemented the DVA, it would have certainly checked to some extent crime against women, she opined.

Jammu, June 25
As the Assembly elections draw nearer, the Congress-led government has gone on an inauguration and foundation stone-laying spree in the state.

Taking the lead is Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who has inaugurated a string of projects in the Jammu region in the past fortnight.

Azad laid the foundation stone of the Public Service Commission Complex in the city on June 22.

Earlier, he had inaugurated the Yatri Niwas for Amarnath pilgrims at Bhagwati Nagar here on June 16. The building was raised in a record time of four months.

On the same day, he opened the Jawaharlal Nehru Udyog Bhavan, a seven-storey building housing 11 departments dealing with the industry and providing all amenities for entrepreneurs under one roof.

On June 14, Azad inaugurated the 1.8 MGD water filtration plant at Boria in
the city. On June 11, the Chief Minister laid the foundation of Rs 20-crore grid station, inaugurated industrial estate and opened a common facility centre for bee-keeping at Kishtwar.

He also opened classes at newly sanctioned government degree college, Rs 1.26-crore double-storey Primary Health Centre building, Community Information Centre and Rs 1.2-crore Malikabad model village at Chhatroo on the same day.

He also inaugurated classes at a new college at Kilhotran in Doda, besides and upgraded higher secondary school at Kandhote on June 10.

Meanwhile, the National Conference and the BJP have raised question over the timing of Azad's inauguration spree. Former NC minister Harbans Singh said, “The Congress-led government has been making a slew of announcements and inaugurating projects these days to divert the people's attention from burning issues like rising inflation and unemployment. It is nothing but an election stunt.”

State BJP vice-president Prof Hari Om said, “We are not against inauguration of development projects, but the big question is its timing. If the Congress thinks that it will translate into electoral gains then they are highly mistaken.”

Jammu, June 25
Residents in the city are facing the heat as the Power Development Department (PDD) is imposing power cuts for six to eight hours daily.

However, PDD engineers said prolonged cuts were not due to power shortage, but it was a strategy to ensure the safety of grid stations and substations which got overheated due to high temperature and humidity.

Engineers said 10 days ago, transformers of the main grid station at Gladani suffered a major damage, due to which people in Jammu and other districts had to go without power for more than 16 hours.

In order to avoid this from being repeated, the engineers said, “We have resorted to scheduled and unscheduled load-shedding to prevent the grid stations and transformers from getting damaged due to the hot weather.”

People having electronic metres installed in their houses are amazed over the repeated power cuts. They say till last year, power cuts were imposed only for an hour daily.

The power engineers said, “We can draw over 900-MWs from the Central pool and in the peak hours the demand touches over 960-MWs.”

They said, “We are drawing less power simply to save the system otherwise there
is no shortage.”

The engineers said under the new programme, the PDD had been asked to execute on a priority basis the schemes suggested by members of the Legislative Assembly for their constituencies.

As such “We have to implement the proposals from MLAs which include installing new transformers, laying of new transmission lines and erecting poles, to ensure that people did not face power shortage.”

Udhampur, June 25
To streamline the police department’s functioning, Ashqoor Wani, SSP, today transferred 6 SHOs and shifted a number of lower-grade officials from police stations to the District Police Lines (DPL).

Some lower-grade cops who had been working in police stations for the past so many years were specially targeted and were shifted to the police lines.

“I have shifted only those officials who have completed their two-year tenure”, SSP Ashqoor Wani, told the Tribune, while defending his decision to over-haul the police department in the district.

It is worthwhile to mention here that the crime rate has increased in Udhampur district. SHO Udhampur Jagdev Singh was transferred to the police lines and Rubail Choudhary was appointed as the new SHO.

Mushtaq Ahmed was shifted from Majalta and was appointed as SHO, Kud, in place of Manoj Kumar.

Padamdev Singh has been appointed as SHO, Majalta, while Amarnath Bhagat has been transferred as the SHO, Tikri.