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Amarnath Land Row: Efforts to find way out
Panthers chief begins fast
Panthers chief Bhim Singh (garlanded) displays the victory sign after sitting on an indefinite fast in Jammu on Monday. — Tribune photo by Anand Sharma
Cong leaders to meet Sonia, PM
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Security sought for Muslim Gujjars
HC: Treat press I-cards as curfew passes
Protesting ‘musical’ way
Attack on mediapersons condemned
Jammu residents sore over Centre’s policy
One killed, 20 hurt in clashes Wailing relatives of Asif Mehraj, who succumbed to his injuries sustained in teargassing at Srinagar on Monday. — Tribune photo by Mohd Amin War
Muslims make Pandit’s wedding a family affair
Yasin Malik begins fast today
'Paddy Blast'
Normal supply of essential commodities resumes
Lok Adalats settle 365 cases
Prayers held for peace along LoC
Mission Clean Dal
A Kashmiri worker unloads weeds from his boat removed manually from the polluted Dal Lake. The lake, which once was spread over 30 sq km, has shrunk to half the size over the past four decades.— Reuters photo
Cong men support samiti
Vohra visits Baltal area
2 youths died in gang rivalry, claims I-G
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Amarnath Land Row: Efforts to find way out
Jammu, August 4 Addressing mediapersons here, state BJP vice-president Prof Hari Om said: “We also demand the Army should be sent to Kashmir to sternly deal with anti-national secessionist and communalist elements.” He sought free movement of mediapersons and restoration of SMS facility. “The sentiments of crores of Hindus across the globe have been hurt by the decision taken by the erstwhile Congress-led government in connivance with the Governor in the state,” he said. The BJP leader said: “The people know that the government succumbed to diktats of the separatist forces under a big conspiracy that had the support of the regional parties like the National Conference and the People’s Democratic Party.” He also praised the people of Jammu for sustaining the ongoing agitation. “The agitation had shaken the leadership of Kashmir and awakened New Delhi. People of Jammu have shown to the country that they should not be taken for granted by those who have always subjugated them and treated them as second class citizens,” he said.
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Security sought for Muslim Gujjars
Jammu, August 4 In a statement issued here, they appealed to the majority community top protect Gujjars residing in the Jammu region and urged the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (AYSS) to ensure the safety of Muslim Gujjars. Various leaders from Rajasthan like Sachin Pilot, Attar Singh Badhana, Parlad Gunjal, Karori Singh Bainsala, Ram Gopal Gard and Ashok Singh Gujjar, while talking over the telephone to the secretary, Tribal Foundation, Dr Javaid Rahi, expressed solidarity with Muslim Gujjars and appealed to be aware of the nefarious designs of communal elements. They said Gujjars should maintain communal harmony and not be misled by vested interests. The leaders also condemned the recent attacks on Muslim Gujjars in Kanachak where their makeshift houses were allegedly set afire by the protesters and a few tribesmen were injured in the Akhnoor tehsil. |
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HC: Treat press I-cards as curfew passes
Jammu, August 4 Passing orders on a public interest litigation (PIL), a Division Bench comprising Justice J.P. Singh and Justice Sunil Hali, also lifted a restriction placed by the administration banning SMSes, until the next hearing on August 8. “The administration must treat press identity cards as curfew passes so that mediapersons can perform their duties. It must also ensure that law enforcing agencies/curfew agencies, including the Army, honour the press cards”, the Bench stated. The Bench also stayed an order of the Jammu District Magistrate and permitted broadcast of local channels - JK Channel and Take-1 Channel till August 8. The PIL was filed by the Bar Association of Jammu. —
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Protesting ‘musical’ way
Jammu, August 4 Beating drums, plates and bursting crackers, people gather at their rooftops and shout slogans. In areas like Panjtirthi, Jain Bazar, Parade, Pir Mitha, Raghunath Bazar and Jewel etc in the old city besides, Talab Tillo, Janipur, Palora, Gandhi Nagar and Shastri Nagar, protesters accompanied with their families shout slogans against the Kashmir-based separatists, the PDP, the National Conference, the Congress and Governor N.N. Vohra. Many have also arranged professional drumbeaters for the purpose. Apart from political parties and separatists, the state police is also bearing the brunt of people's fury. “We can’t move out to take part in protest demonstrations but we can voice our resentment against the government from our rooftops”, Priya Sethi, a housewife, said. “The administration can no longer suppress their voice by the use of excessive force”. “We have been bearing anti-India rhetoric by Kashmir-based fundamentalists and separatists for the past over 20 years and continue to sacrifice our regional interests for the sake of the country but that does not mean that we will stand discrimination with our religion”, a group of college students in Janipur said. |
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Attack on mediapersons condemned
Jammu, August 4 Terming it an attempt to suppress the constitutional rights of the people, the Jammu State Morcha (P) in a statement issued here said: “We strongly condemn the repressive methods and brutal suppression of the constitutional rights of the people of Jammu by curtailing their access to free press and media”. The State Morcha added: “We condemn the curtailing of the freedom of press by muzzling the media and taking over of the local cable network and not allowing them to air the ongoing agitation and other national channels along with imposing censorship on the newspapers”.
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Jammu residents sore over Centre’s policy
Jammu, August 4 R.S. Sharma, a retired government employee, said it took the Centre and the state government less than a week to accede to the demands of Kashmiris when the Amarnath land row broke out in the valley. However, our city had been suffering for 37 days now, but the Centre had shown no urgency to intervene and resolve the issue. A Gandhi Nagar resident, Mohini Gupta said, “We have been running short of essential commodities for over past one week, our children are sitting at home with their schools shut and we don’t have money due to closure of the banks. However, the government seems too busy in ensuring the supply of goods to the valley, leaving us at the mercy of God.” Even as major cities and towns here look like Army cantonments on 37th day of the agitation and essential commodities depleting rapidly, people irrespective of caste, creed and gender claimed they would not settle now without getting the land. Jammu State Morcha, general secretary D.S. Jamwal said, “The successive governments , be it the NDA or the UPA, always had pro-Kashmir policies. We were protesting, raising slogans “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and see it had ben raining lathis and bullets on the agitators here. Whereas, the people in Kashmir hoisted the Pakistani flag and the government bowed before them within no time. Also no curfew was imposed nor the protesters cane-charged over the land row there.” The Centre’s policy on Jammu and Kashmir was beyond our comprehension,he added. Sneh Lata, a housewife, said if the government could give forest lands for setting up the Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University in Rajouri and the Islamic University at Anantnag, then why it couldn’t hand over 39 hectares of land for two months for Rs 2.30 cr on a rental basis for the yatra pilgrims. Extending support to the ongoing protest, Avtar Singh, a city resident said, “Time has come to reverse the trend, and establish doctrine of equality. Otherwise survival of other communities would become difficult.”
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One killed, 20 hurt in clashes
Srinagar, August 4 A complete shutdown paralysing normal life was also observed here and across the valley in response to the separatist Hurriyat-sponsored call to express solidarity with Muslims of the Jammu region, who were allegedly being targeted in the ongoing clashes. Shops and business establishments were closed and traffic was off the roads while some private vehicles plied in parts of the city. Life was also thrown out of gear in other major towns of the valley, including Anantnag, Pulwama in south Kashmir and Baramulla, Sopore and Kupwara in north Kashmir. Public transport was off the roads and only official vehicles and those belonging to the security forces and were seen on the roads. Amid a complete shutdown across Srinagar, demonstrators pelted stones on the police and CRPF personnel deployed in large numbers to maintain law and order. They were protesting against the alleged targeting of Muslims and Kashmiris in Jammu by demonstrators, demanding the restoration of forestland to the Amarnath Shrine Board. Stone pelting by a mob at Maisuma made the police resorted to tear smoke shelling to disperse the mob in which a 15-year boy, Asif Mehraj, was injured. Asif Mehraj later succumbed to his injuries in the SMHS hospital. Besides, 11 policemen and three CRPF personnel were injured. The condition of one of the CRPF personnel is serious. The death led to demonstrations in the area with youths taking out a procession carrying the body Asif Mehraj from Maisuma (Budshah Chowk), to Dalgate. The police again lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the angry demonstrators protesting against the death of Asif Mehraj. Demonstrators attacked Nowhatta police station here by pelting stones and throwing petrol bombs. However, there were no reports of any injuries in the incident. Stone pelting on fruit trucks stranded at Parimpora here was also reported. Reports from south Kashmir said stone-pelting incidents were reported from Kakpora in Pulwama district on the trucks carrying fruits. Similar incidents had also taken place on the fruit trucks stranded at Beijbehara, 45 km from here on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway.
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Muslims make Pandit’s wedding a family affair
Srinagar, August 4 Suman Koul, daughter of Pushkar Nath Koul, got married to Ravinder Zutshi from Ganderbal district amidst Wanwun (traditional Kashmiri wedding songs) sung by her Muslim neighbours in Karfali Mohalla of the Habba Kadal area. The Muslim women too joined the party by welcoming Zutshi's ‘baraat’ with songs, while men garlanded the groom. Kouls are the only Pandit family living in the area after rest of their community fled to Jammu after eruption of militancy in the state in early 1990s. The locals and Auqaf Committee of Habba Kadal in a joint effort held the marriage ceremony. “We did whatever we felt as our moral duty. We know communal forces are eyeing to disrupt the religious harmony in the state, but we will not allow them to succeed,” Bashir Ahmad, a neighbour of the Kouls, said. A member of the Auqaf Committee said Muslims were duty bound by their religion to take care of their neighbours. “We are Muslims and will abide by what our religion says in matters of behaviour with our neighbours, no matter what the caste or religion of the neighbour is,” he added. The Pandit family had arranged separate feasts for Muslims and Pandits on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. A Pandit said it was unfortunate that efforts were being made to pit Muslims against Hindus in the state. “What you saw here, you will not see anywhere in the world.” — PTI |
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Yasin Malik begins fast today
Srinagar, August 4 He had earlier announced to launch the fast unto death from next Monday but decided to advance it in view of the deteriorating situation in Jammu during the past few days. He pointed out that despite of the assurances from the government, several persons were injured and many vehicles damaged by angry demonstrators along the highway yesterday. Malik also expressed concern over the role of the BJP and its top leader L.K. Advani in the present scenario. He claimed that the party was behind the incidents of violence with an eye on the next general elections. He held that the Muslim population was being targeted not only in Jammu and Kashmir, but elsewhere in the country to ensure BJP’s victory in the next elections. The JKLF leader also deplored the role of National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah for his recent statements. |
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'Paddy Blast'
Srinagar, August 4 "The farmers are requested to strictly adhere to the spray schedule advertised through the media to check paddy blast," an official spokesman said here today. "They have also been asked to immediately inform nearest junior agriculture assistant or agriculture extension officer in case of any incidence of paddy blast so that timely action is taken to control it," he added. All pesticide dealers have been instructed to keep available the prescribed pesticides for the control of paddy blast, the spokesman said. The law enforcement officers had been directed to ensure availability of the prescribed pesticides at all sale outlets by inspecting pesticides retail shops regularly, he said, adding that the licences of those pesticide dealers not keeping the prescribed pesticides available at their sales outlets would be cancelled. — PTI
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Normal supply of essential commodities resumes
Srinagar, August 4 “Things are under control and essential commodities have started to pour in sufficient quantity”, divisional commissioner, Kashmir, Masood Samoon told The Tribune here today. Samoon said the optimum level of stocks in the Kashmir valley would last for the next about two weeks. He said since the situation along the highway between Lakhanpur and Banihal had improved, the stock position would also improve. Samoon said a fleet of trucks carrying essential commodities, mutton and chicken for the valley, had already started from Lakhanpur this morning and would reach here by tomorrow. The 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway is the only surface link that connects the valley with the rest of the world. All essential commodities - rice, wheat, sugar, mutton, chicken, and fuel products like petrol, diesel and LPG and other goods, are transported to the valley through this road. It is for the first time that the normal flow of trucks transporting essential commodities has been hampered due to the ongoing trouble in the Jammu region over the Amarnath land transfer row. This had also hampered the movement of fruit trucks from the valley to the mandis outside the state. Chief secretary S.S. Kapur said here yesterday that the transportation of fruits would be monitored on a daily basis. Reiterating the government’s resolve to provide security cover to the fruit-laden trucks from the Lower Manda onwards, Samoon said Governor N.N. Vohra had issued clear instructions to the police and the civil administration to ensure safe movement of trucks on the highway. Samoon also chaired a meeting of senior, civil and police officers and representatives of various fruit growers associations yesterday. He said the the regional transport officer had been directed to divert empty trucks to various areas for loading of fruit. He said 130 trucks stranded on the national highway had been cleared. He said some trucks were still stranded on the Dhar road due to landslides and would be cleared soon. He said 1,462 fruit-laden trucks had reached the Azadpur Mandi in July, while 584 trucks had reached Bangalore and other stations of the country. He said the matter regarding safety of trucks on the highway had been taken up with the Jammu administration and the Army's help has been sought for the purpose. |
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Lok Adalats settle 365 cases
Srinagar, August 4 He said the Lok Adalat held in the court complex of Saddar court here took up 738 cases yesterday.
Out of these, 359 cases were settled by five Benches constituted under the supervision of the Sessions Judge, Srinagar. He said fines of over Rs 1.55 lakh were realised from criminal
cases and compensation of Rs 41.35 lakh awarded in various Motor Accident Claim Tribunal
(MACT) cases. Six more cases were settled amicably at the Lok Adalat held under the chairmanship of Chief Judicial Magistrate Bandipora in north Kashmir, he said. — UNI |
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Prayers held for peace along LoC
Uri, August 4 Nearly 70 students of 'Darul Uloom Tailimul Quran' (House of Quranic Knowledge) at Lagama were joined by residents of the Gharkote-Uri area for the special prayers for continuing peace in the state in general and areas close to the Line of Control (LoC) in particular. Recently, there have been several incidents of ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops along the international border and the LoC, triggering bouts of anxiety among the local residents whose lives were crippled by cross-border shelling before the ceasefire came into effect in November, 2003. "The haunting memories of pre-ceasefire days have come back again ... I hope that it does not rain in shells and bullets again," Jameel Ahmad, who escaped death in 1998 when his house was destroyed by a shell fired from across the LoC, told PTI. Ahmad, who managed to rebuild his house only to see it razed to rubble by the devastating earthquake in October, 2005, said he was still in the process of trying to put together another structure which he could call a home. "The recent incidents of firing along the Line of Control have made me think again whether it would be wise to invest my savings into anything that is likely to be destroyed if the hostilities between India and Pakistan flare up again." Gharkote-Uri and other areas close to the Line of Control were constant victims of cross-border shelling before the 2003 ceasefire. There have been several ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops in recent past. However, the apprehensions of a flare-up increased after Pakistani troops crossed the LoC in the Nowgam sector and shot dead an Indian soldier last month. Reyaz Ahmad, a youth from Nambla, said he would migrate to some other part of the valley in case the situation in border areas went back to the pre-2003 days. However, many old timers said they would stay right here and hope for the best. "I hope that better sense prevails over both countries and they would continue the dialogue process. We have seen bad times ... we tasted some good years but we are ready to fight out if worse times are coming our way," 75- year-old G.D. Shah said. — PTI |
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Mission Clean Dal
Srinagar, August 4 An official spokesman said on the instructions of Governor N.N.Vohra issued at a recently held review meeting, the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) has initiated the manual cleaning of Dal and Nigeen Lakes from July 22. The Dal dwellers have also been involved in this exercise, he said, adding that the LAWDA has divided the Dal into 10 zones for the purpose. He said the Dal cleaning has also been started from Nishat to Habbak, including Hazratbal basin, where the intensity of weeds is higher. About 300 persons living in the Dal area have been engaged in thew cleaning operation. The manual deweeding will continue till a reasonably good level of cleaning was achieved. The Governor had instructed not only to speed up the execution of all components of the Dal conservation plan but also improve its aesthetics so that this world famous lake was restored to its pristine glory. — UNI |
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Cong men support samiti
Jammu, August 4 “If we abide by the instructions of the PCC high command, we may face the wrath of voters in the coming Assembly elections”, two former Congress legislators said. While defending former MLA Sham Sharma, who drove to the headquarters of the Sangarsh Samiti at Geeta Bhawan to express his support to the ongoing agitation yesterday, the Congress leaders said: “Sharma had no other alternative but to defy the instructions of the PCC leadership. Protest demonstration was staged against him in his constituency of Akhnoor and his effigy was also burnt”. It is due to people’s growing anger against Congress leaders and former legislators that senior party leaders - Raman Bhalla and Yogesh Sawhney - who were elected to the Assembly in the 2002 poll, demanded the recall of Governor N.N. Vohra. Raman Bhalla said: “I can’t be a passive spectator to what is happening in and around Jammu”. He also referred to a protest in Shastri Nagar, which falls in his Gandhi Nagar constituency, and said people had vowed to vote against the Congress in the next election. Raman and 10 other Congress leaders held a meeting in Jammu yesterday and issued a statement that people were fighting for a just cause. |
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Vohra visits Baltal area
Srinagar, August 4 The Governor was informed that while considerable damage had been done to shops, tents and langars, no harm was caused to the pilgrims, who were provided food and shelter by the security forces deployed in the area. He assured the victims that a compassionate view would be taken based on the assessed actual damages. He expressed satisfaction over the adequate availability of rations, medicine and cooking gas at the holy cave. He was accompanied by Justice G. D. Sharma, a member of the shrine board and B.B. Vyas, principal secretary to the Governor and shrine board chief executive officer. The Governor also visited the Baltal base camp and the Domail area. Besides reviewing the facilities for the pilgrims available at Baltal, Domail and Rangamorh, the Governor had extensive discussions with Abdul Majid Khandey, deputy commissioner, Ganderbal, and forest and revenue Officers about the area and classification of land which had been used from June to August every year for raising tents and temporary structures for the yatris. |
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2 youths died in gang rivalry, claims I-G
Jammu, August 4 The IGP said Sanjay Singh fired on Sunil Singh, alias Kitto, of Mandigarh. Another person, Jugal Kishore, who tried to intervene, also sustained a bullet injury. Both Sunil Singh and Jugal Kishore later succumbed to their injuries. |
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Jammu, August 4
Srinagar, August 4
Srinagar, August 4
