Srinagar, September 14
In retaliation to the “economic blockade” during the Amarnath agitation, Kashmiri traders have snapped trade ties with their Jammu counterparts.

The trade organisations in Kashmir said the decision to snap ties with Jammu was largely driven by “economic blockade” of the valley and “insistence of the people here to severe links with Jammu even if it meant getting goods and products at expensive rates”.

Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) president Mubeen Shah said here today, “How can we think of maintaining trade ties with the traders of Jammu when they were part of recent economic blockade in the sense that they never tried to use their influence to stop it?”

He alleged that traders in Jammu did not oppose the blockade and contrasted this with the trade organisations in Kashmir.

“We are also part of the coordination committee, yet one of our constituents, the Kashmir Houseboat Owners Association organised a free ‘langar’ for the Amarnath yatris. Kashmiri drivers and passengers were attacked during the agitation,” he said.

Shah said, the “wounds inflicted by the blockade” would take a lot of time to heal. Should the face-off continue, it would mean a loss of around Rs 30,000 crore of annual business, traders said.

The KCCI president said Kashmiri businessmen would seek to make the valley the hub of consumption and trade, as it was prior to militancy.

The KCCI and Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation recently refused to meet a delegation of traders from Jammu headed by Jammu Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Ram Sahai and Anil Suri of the Federation of Industries Jammu. — PTI

Our Correspondent adds from Jammu: A section of traders, especially wholesalers, in Jammu are a worried lot as traders in Kashmir have started purchasing goods direct from suppliers in Delhi.

These valley-based traders earlier used to buy goods from wholesalers in Jammu. However, after agitators, protesting against revocation of the land diversion order, disrupted movement of goods to Kashmir in the middle of July, they decided to bypass wholesalers in Jammu by purchasing goods direct from Delhi and elsewhere.

Manohar Lal, a footwear wholesaler, is lamenting the loss in his trade after Kashmiri traders have started making cash payments to wholesalers in Delhi for getting footwear direct from the union Capital. Other traders have also started feeling the pinch of the “boycott” from the valley-based traders.

At a convention of Congress leaders and workers here today, former minister Raman Bhalla appealed to PCC President and Union Minister for Water Resources Saifuddin Soz to intervene and persuade traders in Kashmir to lift their “boycott”.

Bhalla hoped that traders in Srinagar would revert to the old system failing which the regional divide would further widen.

He wanted the Government to initiate measures so that the level of "mistrust and misgivings" between the people of the two regions was reduced.

He said new disturbing trends had emerged in which truck drivers from Jammu had started securing security cover while transporting goods from Jammu to Srinagar.

Similarly, Kashmri employees had stopped being enthusiastic about bringing their family members to Jammu during the Durbar move when the offices open in Jammu towards the first week of November.

Bhalla urged Kashmiri separatists to abandon their propaganda against people of the Jammu region.

Srinagar, September 14
A semblance of normalcy returned to Srinagar today and a large crowd thronged the weekly Sunday market, which opened to its full capacity after several weeks.

There were scattered clashes in Maisuma and local SHO Mohammad Ashraf and ASI G.N. Waskori were injured when some persons threw a petrol bomb on a police party. Their condition is stable.

Protestors took to roads in Anantnag and unconfirmed reports said the police had to use force to disperse the crowd. Close to 10 persons, including four security personnel, were injured today.

The overall situation was relatively peaceful today and it was best reflected in the throbbing Sunday market, which came to life after a gap of several weeks.

People demonstrated in Hari Singh High Street and Islamist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani joined them in their protest against the alleged desecration of Dastgir Sahib shrine yesterday by CRPF personnel.

There were scattered clashes in Maisuma but the situation there was under control today. Different parts of the valley were also peaceful but protesters took to the roads in Anantnag and unconfirmed reports said police had to use force to disperse the crowd.

Protesters in the summer capital said paramilitary personnel ran amok in the shrine and tore apart a holy book and damaged windowpanes and almirahs, a claim flatly denied by the CRPF.

"We did nothing which should have hurt people's religious sentiments. There were protests in the area and we did our best to contain them. Some people are spreading this canard to malign us," a CRPF official said.

It could be pertinent to mention that massive protests had broken out in Handwara last month over similar allegations against the Army and two persons were killed in police firing.

Geelani, who had been under house arrest for over a week, joined locals and alleged that the security forces were trying to "humiliate and terrorise Kashmiri Muslims for their peaceful protests against Indian sovereignty".

A police spokesman said minor incidents of stone pelting were reported from the Maisuma and Chota Bazaar areas in Srinagar.

Curfew in the south Kashmir town of Shopian was relaxed for two hours today at 5.30 pm while the relaxation in curfew in Baramula continues.

Curfews in both towns were clamped on Friday after one person each was killed there in police firing.

Srinagar, September 14
Demanding a thorough probe by a siting high court judge into the death of dozens of people in security force firing, the CPM today said such tactics would lead to further deterioration in the prevailing situation in Kashmir.

In a statement here today CPM state secretary Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said a siting judge of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court be appointed to inquire into the firing incidents causing deaths of dozens of people and damaging property.

Tarigami condemned the use of excessive force on protesters by the security forces and the police.

He strongly condemned the damage caused by the security forces to public property and asked the government to immediately constitute a committee to assess the losses and pay compensation to the families affected.

“In most cases as per reports, the protesters were demanding revocation of draconian laws like the Public Safety Act and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and hence use of any type of force against such people is unacceptable,” he said.

He said use of excessive force by the law enforcing agencies and misuse of power vested in them while dealing with protesters should be stopped and these agencies be made accountable and responsible. — UNI

Srinagar, September 14
Terming BJP president Rajnath Singh’s demand for nationalising the Amarnath route as a “vicious plan”, the PDP today said every Kashmiri would stand up to resist such “perilous designs” of the Sangh Parivar.

“The Sangh Parivar will find every Kashmiri up in resistance if it tries to give shape to such perilous designs,” PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said in a statement here.

Reacting to Singh’s call for nationalising the Amarnath route, she said while it was good that the Parivar had started opening its cards on Kashmir, it should serve as a “reminder to the saner forces in the country about the dangerous agenda the Parivar has for Kashmir”.

With the BJP’s latest demand, it seems the area in and around Amarnath is to be declared out of bounds for Kashmiris, she claimed. Mehbooba said the BJP plan had now also put in place the context in which the Amarnath Shrine Board had been constituted and the dangerous fallout it could have led to, if the people of Kashmir had not risen against the clandestine strategy. — PTI

Highlighting the role of the Police in maintaining the law and order and protecting the life and property of the people, the DGP advised all ranks particularly the field functionaries to maintain cordial relations with the public and earn their good will.

He also released ex-gratia relief to the tune of Rs 77 lakh in favour of the next of kin of 38 police martyrs who laid down their lives during militancy in the state.

Poonch, September 14
Work on the Mughal road project, the shortest alternative link between Jammu and Kashmir provinces, may be delayed by more than one-and-a-half years.

The 84-km Mughal road from Shopian in Kashmir to Bufliaz in Poonch, which was to be completed by March, 2009, was likely to be completed by December, 2010.

Sources said there were various reasons for the delay in completion of this project.

First, work on the road was stopped beyond Hirpora for almost two working seasons (March, 2006, to July, 2007) because of the presence of a wildlife sanctuary.

It was only after the Supreme Court gave approval for constructing the road that work was started beyond Hirpora.

Secondly, work couldn’t be carried out from December, 2007, to April because of inclement weather.

Thirdly, the recent Jammu agitation, which continued for almost two months, also affected the work since machinery couldn’t function due to non-availability of fuel.

Moreover, there was delay in felling of forest trees beyond Chattapani since the department couldn’t get the requisite administrative approval due to the agitation.

The department got the approval on September 5 only after things became normal.

Abdul Rasheed Dar, superintendent engineer, Mughal road project, said now that hurdles in the completion of this road project had been crossed, it was likely to get completed by December, 2010.

Rajouri, September 14
The police has arrested Ashfaq Ahmed Mirza and Umar Arshad Malik, and is hunting for Issar Ahmed Bhat, Hurryat activists for allegedly raising pro-freedom slogans after Friday prayers.

The arrest of the duo, police sources claimed, comes after a Kashmir-based newspaper claimed that thousands of people allegedly led by local Hurriyat Conference activists, took to streets here on Friday raising pro-freedom slogans after the Friday prayers in support of the call given by the Coordination Committee.

A “massive procession” was taken out that passed through the Gujjar Market area and culminated near the Sher-e-Kashmir Bridge, the newspaper had reported.

The newspaper had reported that a procession, mainly peaceful, was led by the local Hurriyat Conference activists, and the rally later was addressed by Hurriyat leaders Haji Ishfaq Mirza, Issar Ahmed Bhat and Umar Arshad Malik.

Udhampur, September 14
Even as the Election Commission has been holding discussions with the authorities concerned to finalise dates for the Assembly elections in the sate, the state government has deputed officers to review preparations for the poll.

Secretary of the Industries and Commerce Pawan Kotwal, who is also an electoral roll observer for Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar districts of the Jammu division, convened a meeting of officers of the Revenue Department to review the achievements made in preparation of updated electoral rolls in Udhampur.

While expressing satisfaction over the preparation of the electoral rolls in Udhampur district, Kotwal called upon the officers of the Revenue Department to gear up their activities in updating the electoral rolls with accuracy leaving no scope of any complaint from voters.

He also stressed for preparing new electoral rolls of legitimate male and female voters of the district, who have attained the age of 18 years as on January 1.

He urged the new voters who want to enlist their name in the voter list for the first time, to approach their respective BLOs.

To enlist the name of the new voters, Kotwal called upon the tehsildars concerned to take due care in verifying their dates of birth.

In case of illiterate electorate, he told tehsildars to get their date of birth verified from station house officers (SHOs) or from registers of chowkidars concerned.

The assistant commissioner, revenue, Udhampur, who is also an electoral registration officer of the district, said there were 1,48,076 male and 1,33,376 female voters.

Udhampur, September 14
Giving a befitting reply to communal forces, Hindus and Muslims turned out in large number to observe annual Martyr Day and took a pledge to work jointly for strengthening communal harmony and national integration.

This year’s Martyr Day attached importance as after August 12 riots, communal divide was deepened in Kishtwar town.

A huge number of people from both communities came together to pay tributes to those who had laid down their lives 34 years ago on same day while participating in an agitation for granting a district status to Kishtwar and opening of a degree college in the town.

A large number of students participated in the function. The place where four students had become victims to police firing had been treated as Sheedhi Mazar.

Since 1974, residents of Kishtwar have been paying tributes to the martyrs every year here.

Jammu, September 14
Sleuths of the CBI conducted raids on ordnance and vehicle depots at the Army’s Northern Command in Udhampur district, sources said here today.

“A CBI team last evening conducted the raids on 1 SOD of the Northern Command to investigate nonskid chains seized earlier and also questioned some officers about the inferior quality of the nonskid chains and other material supplied by a Mumbai-based private company,’’ the sources said.

They further said the company had supplied inferior nonskid chains and other material used by the Army in snow-bound areas.

“The team, however, has taken samples of the nonskid chains to test its quality while higher officials of the Army denied the reports about the CBI raids, but confirmed their visit to collect the samples of the seized nonskid chains and other material for testing,’’ the sources said. — UNI

Jammu, September 14
Panun Kashmir, a frontline organisation of the displaced Kashmiri Pandits, observed ‘Kashmiri Pandit Balidan Divas’ here today and paid rich tributes to the people of the community who fell to bullets of militants in the valley.

The day has been observed by the community across the globe for the last 20 years, since they were expelled out of the valley. Apart from it, people, who lost their life during pro-shrine agitation, were also remembered.

Two-minute silence was observed and a ‘hawan’ was performed in the memory of people martyred by terrorists.

A rally was also organised at the Press Club that was attended by the members of the displaced community from Udhampur, Nagrota, Mishriwalla, Purkhoo and other areas  of Jammu.

Speaking on the occasion, Panun Kashmir convener Agnishekhar, said, “A majority of the Kashmiri Pandits died due to apathy and neglect of the government. We had to live an animal-like existence in camps under conditions akin to genocide as described by the two former chairmen of the National Human Rights Commission”.

Expressing solidarity with the sangarsh samiti, Agnishekhar said the Kashmiri Pandits were committed to cause of people of Jammu.

Another senior leader, Daya Kishan Koul cautioned politicians against sabotaging the ongoing struggle of the Kashmiri Pandits.

General secretary of Panun Kashmir Sanjay Dattatrya said, “Despite our honest and sincere efforts, leaders of different Kashmiri Pandit organisations show utter disregard for unification moves”.

Jammu, September 14
Indian troops were today fired at from across the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, leaving a jawan injured, defence sources said.

"There was firing from cross the LoC in the Balnoi area of Poonch district. One jawan was hit by a bullet," they said, adding that the soldier was hospitalised.

One or two rounds of rocket-fired grenades were also fired in the area, they said, adding that the militants might have fired the rounds.

Col S. Jaswal, PRO of 16 Corps, said it was not a ceasefire violation and that no militants had infiltrated during the firing.

"There is no ceasefire violation and the matter is being blown out of proportion," he said referring to a media report about infiltration of militants. — PTI

Jammu, September 14
With India deciding to start cross-border trade along the line of control (LoC) in October, a delegation of traders of the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) will visit Jammu and Kashmir on a 5-day tour to finalise the arrangements in this direction.

A 13-member delegation of the PoK Chamber of Commerce and Industries, on a visit from September 22, would hold talks with traders and industrialists of the state in connection with the launch of trade between the two sides through two trans-LoC points of Aman Sethu on the Uri-Muzaffarabad road in Baramula district and Chakan- da-Bagh on the Poonch-Rawalakote road in Poonch district, official sources said.

The delegation would also meet Governor N.N. Vohra in this direction and visit the two trans-LoC points, the sources said.

The delegation will also decide over the menu of the items to be traded. India has already sent the menu of the trade items to Pakistan. — PTI

Jammu, September 14
Union Minister for Water Resources and PCC chief Saifuddin Soz has expressed hope that his party will form the next government in the state.

Addressing a public rally in Jammu, Soz said: “The Congress had adequate support in all three regions of the state to emerge as the single largest party and we are hopeful to form the next government here.”

He exhorted the party workers to get united and sink their petty differences to gear up for the upcoming Assembly poll.

Soz asked the party workers to educate the masses about the achievements and policies of the party.

About the Indo-US nuclear deal, Soz said: “The nuclear deal would ensure further progress and strengthening of the nation, adding that it would fulfil the energy needs of six lakh villages of the country.

Jammu, September 14
After being postponed twice due to the agitation on the Amarnath land row, the second and last phase of the Common Entrance Test (CET) was finally conducted in the state.

The test was conducted despite curfew, shutdown and agitation in several parts of Srinagar province.

Due to the protests over the land row, dates for the CET were rescheduled several times that had caused unrest among the student community.

As many as 15, 000 students participated in the exam that was conducted at 24 centres across the state this year.

“This year, no case of impersonation or cheating was reported and both the phases of the CET passed off smoothly,” chairman of the Board of Professional Entrance Examination Santokh Ram said.