Srinagar, November 17
Normal life came to a standstill as a curfew-like situation prevailed across the Kashmir valley with the heavy deployment of the police and the paramilitary forces to thwart any attempts of the separatists to march towards Bandipore district today. Three constituencies of Bandipore district - Bandipore, Sonawari and Gurez - were among 10 constituencies in all three regions of the state that went to the poll in the first phase of elections today.

All shops and business establishments here and other major towns of the valley where elections were not being held, remained closed and transport was off the roads. Educational institutions, banks and other offices remained closed in response to the bandh call given by the Separatist Coordination Committee.

However, a police spokesman said despite a bandh call given by some organisations, shops and business establishments in many city areas remained open. Strict restriction had been imposed on the roads leading to the interiors that has been witnessing large-scale demonstrations over the years.

The committee spearheading the anti-election campaign had called for the march to Bandipore today as part of its programme of “march to election areas”. Heavy deployment of the police and the paramilitary forces was made here and all routes leading to Bandipore were sealed off. The committee had here yesterday appealed to the people to march towards Bandipore in any case to stall the process as these elections were in no way a solution to the Kashmir issue. It has been demanding the right to self-determination for the resolution of the Kashmir issue, while criticising the government’s way of projecting the elections in a different way before the global community.

Co-chairman of the committee and APHC chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has been kept under house arrest, while another co-chairman Syed Ali Geelani has been outside the state undergoing treatment. Other leaders, including Mohammad Yasin Malik and Showkat Ahmad Shah, are already detained under the Public Safety Act. Another leader, Zafar Akbar Bhat, was held here yesterday to thwart attempts of organising a march towards Bandipore district headquarters on the occasion of the polls today.

Jammu, November 17
Governor N. N. Vohra today expressed satisfaction over the peaceful conduct of the first phase of Assembly elections and complimented the voters of the 10 constituencies, who exercised their democratic right today.

“The participation of the people in large numbers, despite the rather cold weather on account of the recent snowfall, particularly in the constituencies that went to the polls in the valley and the Ladakh region, reflects their deep faith in democracy, which has flourished in Jammu and Kashmir, as elsewhere in the country, during the past six decades”, the Governor observed.

Vohra noted that the electorate had confidently displayed their commitment and trust in the power of ballot. He was hopeful that the voters in the remaining constituencies would turn out in even larger numbers in the coming six phases.

Jammu, November 17
Accusing the state administration of resorting to delaying tactics in implementing the Amarnath land agreement, the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti today warned the government of reviving the land agitation if the accord was not implemented in letter and in spirit.

Addressing mediapersons here today, samiti convener Lila Karan Sharma said the samiti called on S.S. Bleoria, adviser to the Governor, on November 11 and urged him to implement the agreement, including the withdrawal of cases against the protesters and awarding compensation to the traders.

He said the two-month time frame the administration sought from the samiti ended on October 31 and the administration's approach seemed lax in this regard. He said the samiti would again meet the authorities on November 19 and ask them to implement the accord otherwise the agitation would be revived.

The samiti convener alleged that some police officials had also "tried to dilute" the O.P. Sharma Commission appointed by the Governor to probe the disrespect shown to Kuldeep Verma’s body.

Reiterating that samiti is a non-political organisation and will never participate in elections, Sharma exhorted the people to support a winning candidates, irrespective of their parties, who can work for the cause of Jammu. He also appealed to the people and candidates not to use the name of the samiti in the elections. Sharma urged the people to go through the manifestoes of various parties and see the points like delimitation commission and equitable development in all regions while casting their votes.

Rejecting the speculation that the organisation had collected Rs 13 crore, samiti member Brig Suchet Singh (retd) said they had received donation of around Rs 1.35 crore of which Rs 1 crore had been disbursed as compensation among martyrs and those injured during the Jammu agitation.

Jammu, November 17
Taking strong exception to serious accusations levelled by PDP patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, former state Governor S.K. Sinha has said out of issues, Mufti has intentionally opened Pandora’s Box just to arouse communal passions of the people on polls, just the PDP had raked up the Amarnath land row in June.

Mufti yesterday made a “startling revelation” that the key accused in the Malegaon blast case- Swami Dayanand Pandey- alias Amritanand, had stayed at the Srinagar Raj Bhawan in 2007.

Sinha said: “It is the elections time and people make allegations. However, there was no sense or truth whatsoever behind Mufti’s accusations.”

Describing the allegations made by Mufti as totally absurd and malicious, Sinha said by levelling such allegations, he (Mufti) had raised a finger on his integrity. “His allegations were as absurd as it would be for me to say that he had been contacting Osama bin Laden during his visits abroad,” he said.

When asked whether Mufti had done this out of vendetta because of estranged relations between them when the former was the chief minister of the coalition government, Sinha said apart from differences over the duration of the Amarnath pilgrimage, there were so many differences, but ironically the PDP always tried to arouse communal passions of people.

He alleged this time too on polls; it had adopted the same ploy trying to arouse communal passions of the people.

Sinha claimed that he never met Swami Dayanand Pandey, who is presently in the ATS custody, and had heard and read about him from the media saying, “So far as I am concerned, I don’t know this man.”

Sinha said in the backdrop of serious allegation, he had sought advise from his legal advisers and after analysing his statement, he would plan to sue him in the court of law. He said he felt hurt over Mufti’s unwarranted remarks linking his name with the controversial Swami.

With differences between Mufti and Sinha an open secret, the latter in the recent past had reportedly accused the PDP and its patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed of being hand in glove with separatists and fundamentalists in the Kashmir valley.

Jammu, November 17
The Devasthan Prabandhak Committee Bijbehara Kashmir has alleged that attempts are being made by certain elements in the valley to grab the land of the ancient temple of Lord Shiva on the national highway adjacent to new bus stand in Bijbehara.

In a meeting of the committee held in Jammu under the chairmanship of the secretary of the committee, the panel members observed that in 2005, too, similar attempts were made by certain mischievous elements, but were foiled in time by the court orders in 2007.

The committee asked Governor N.N. Vohra to get the illegal and unauthorised occupation of the temple vacated at the earliest, otherwise, the committee will have no other option, but to take the issue with all leading Hindu religious organisations of the Kashmir Valley and Jammu.

They said the committee would draw up a programme of massive protests to safeguard the property of the historic temple of Bijbehara situated on the National Highway.

Jammu, November 17
Former state BJP vice-president and now Congress leader Hari Om said today that the BJP could never form a government in the state as its demography was not conducive to it.

Addressing his first press conference after joining the Congress, Prof Hari Om clarified that this was, however, not the reason that made him quit the BJP. Dubbing Congress rule in the state in 1960s and 1970s as a "golden era", he said the Congress brought Jammu and Kashmir under the ambit of various central laws and institutions.

“The people of Jammu and Kashmir got all rights from the Indian Constitution because of what the Congress did. The state got integrated with the country under Congress rule. While the Congress abolished Sadar-e-Riyasat and set up the office of Governor, the BJP-led NDA government could not extend a single central law to the state in its six-year tenure,” he added.

Stating that he was never into power struggle, Prof Hari Om also announced that he would never contest elections. He said joining the Congress was the biggest decision of his life. “I have no regrets as the decision came after a serious thought,” he said, adding that the move was made purely on “ideological considerations”.

Prof Hari Om said the situation in the state was not good as bids were being made to disintegrate it. “The National Conference and the PDP term Kashmir as their core constituency. It is only the Congress which talks of all three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh,” he said, adding that the Congress coming to power would be in the interest of the state as well as the nation.

When asked as to how he would justify the Congress role during the land agitation, he said Congress leaders too supported the movement in theJammu region. He exhorted the people to vote for the Congress as it was the only national party that could form a government in the state.

On his stand on abrogation of Article 370 after switching loyalty, he said the BJP could not do it as it would require a clear majority for the purpose. “Do you see any difference between Jammu and New Delhi ?” is how he chose to put forth his views on the special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Poonch, November 17
The voters are hoping that their representatives will take care of their basic needs like development of the area, improved education facilities, healthcare, water and power supply.

“We don’t expect miracles from the representative we elect this time around. We are just hoping that at least he should bring development of the area and also voice our problems. Unemployment is a huge problem here so we expect that he will help in getting employment for the unemployed educated youth”, said 110-year-old Billu Khan who was waiting to cast his vote outside the polling station at Traranwali (C) in Bufliaz of the Surankote constituency.

Mehfroz Khan, who was casting vote for the first time, at the same polling station felt elated.“We are poor people and have not seen development at all. We are lacking basic amenities. As a student, I would expect that our representative will fight for getting a degree college at Bufliaz so that we can at least go for higher studies”.

It was not only the first-timers who had a hope for a better future, but people who had come to vote for the second time, too, expected good results coming out of the whole exercise in an honest representative.

The enthusiasm among the voters regarding the elections process was on expected line, but coming of a blind youth for voting summed up everything. “My two sisters and I are blind. Till this date we didn’t get anything from the government. I came to vote to fulfil my duty without any expectation from any one. I hope that whosoever he will be, but he will fulfil the aspirations of the people of our area”, said Sharief Khan, a blind.

Jammu, November 17
To woo internally displaced Kashmiri Pandits, NC leader and party candidate from Langate seat in Kupwara district Sharif-ud-Din Shariq visited them in migrants’ camps at Purkhoo and Mishriwalla on the outskirts of the city here yesterday.

Addressing meetings in these camps, Shariq appealed them to uphold the traditional principles of secularism and communal brotherhood. He urged them to vote in the favour of the NC and said the party alone could solve their problems.

After every six years as the elections draw nearer, the contesting candidates of different political parties visit migrant camps and try to convince displaced Kashmiri Pandits to exercise franchise in their favour.

However, the two frontal organisations of the displaced families-the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Forum (JKDF) and the Panun Kashmir Movement (PKM)-have already dissociated from the entire electoral process. PKM president Ashwani Chrungoo said acting upon our call, the entire community had already dissociated from the polls.

Even after 19 years of mass exodus, successive regimes had failed to reverse the reasons responsible for the genocide and ethnic cleansing of the community in the valley, he added. He said though candidates from the community had been contesting these elections, there was a remote possibility of even a single Kashmiri Pandit candidate winning from any of the Assembly constituencies in Kashmir.

While the governments failed in resolving the issue of the displaced community, we were happy that our request had been given positive response, he added.

Meanwhile, JKDF chief Pandit Bhushan Bazaz claimed that the families of this community living in the Kashmir valley would boycott the elections.

Jammu, November 17
The Jammu Kashmir Praja Parishad (JKPP) and Jammu Kashmir People’s Front (JKPF) have decided to jointly contest the Assembly elections, Rishi Kumar Kaushal, chief patron, JKPP, and Satish Poonchi, president of the JKPF, said here.

The parties would field over 24 candidates in the Jammu region. The JKPP was initially reluctant to participate in the elections, given their reservation against non-delimitation of constituencies. Rishi Kumar emphasised that the number of Assembly seats in the Jammu region should be about 55 instead of 37 at present.

In view of the keenness of other Jammu-based political parties to contest the elections in view, the JKPP too has decided to follow suit. It was decided to field Naresh Dogra, secretary of the state JKPP, from Jammu West and Rishi Kumar Kaushal from Jammu East.

The remaining candidates would be declared soon. The two outfits have also decided to support Gursharan Singh (Ind) from Poonch. 

Jammu, November 17
Though jolted by the exit of former ideologue Hari Om, who joined the Congress here yesterday, the BJP claimed it would gain more power in the present elections irrespective of the fact that the party never remained in power in the state.

Barely a few hours after Hari Om claimed that saffron brigade could never form government in the state, BJP state spokesperson Ramesh Arora said the party never tried to achieve political gain at the cost of power or vote bank.

In a statement issued here, Arora said since the independence, the BJP was playing an important role in the state and had compelled the central as well as the state governments to extend laws, which led to more unity.

In his maiden press conference here today after joining the Congress, Hari Om said the BJP remained in the Centre for six years, but never brought central laws to the state. He said it was only the Congress, which implemented the laws in the state.

However, Arora said the Congress leadership couldn’t justify unholy alliance of the Congress with the PDP, as the latter always raised demands, which were and are against the unity and integrity of the state.

A radical change is required this time and people would prove by voting in the favour of the BJP, the spokesperson said.

Jammu, November 17
Members of the displaced families from the Kashmir valley have formed yet another organisation, Jammu Kashmir Ladakh and Gilgit Unification Forum, with A.K.Vaishnavi as its chairman and M.K. Machama as general secretary. The forum, with headquarters in Ghaziabad, has urged the Centre to issue a white paper on the 1948 UN resolution on Kashmir.

The forum is of the firm opinion that had Pakistan implemented all clauses of the resolution the Kashmir issue would have been settled years ago. It wants India to take steps to make Pakistan withdraw its forces from occupied Kashmir as provided in the UN resolution.

In a memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister, the forum has stated that to ensure dignified return of pandits to the valley India should "eliminate terrorists operating in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Gilgit." It has called for implementation of the February 22, 1994, resolution passed by Parliament which provides for liberating the territories of Jammu and Kashmir held by Pakistan.

According to M.K.Machama, the forum believes that the "dispute in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Gilgit is not over azadi for 7 per cent territory of Kashmir province. The dispute is the illegal Pakistani and Chinese occupation of 50 per cent of the state’s territory. The memorandum said Jammu and Kashmir had an area of over 2.22 lakh sq km on August 15,1947, which had been reduced to over 1.01 lakh sq.km after 50 per cent of the state's territory was grabbed by Pakistan and China.

Jammu, November 17
Prof Amitabh Mattoo, whose term expired today, will continue as the vice-chancellor of Jammu University till the appointment of a new vice-chancellor.

Matto was appointed in 2002. He had completed his first tenure in 2005 and got extension for another three years.

He has been retained as a ‘stop-gap arrangement’ till the search committee headed by economic adviser to the Prime Minister G.K. Chadda makes a fresh appointment.

The search committee is scheduled to hold the second meeting on November 22.

Srinagar, November 17
An infiltration bid apparently to coincide with the start of the keenly awaited elections was foiled when four militants were killed as the security forces scuttled an attempt by militants to sneak into the valley in Uri sector today, official sources said.

The militants were killed by troops in a fierce gunbattle lasting several hours at Bali Behak in the Lachipora area near the LoC in Uri sector of Baramulla district, the sources said.

An Army jawan was killed in an encounter near the LoC here just before polling for the first phase started in the district.

An encounter took place when the security forces opened fire on a group of militants who tried to enter this side to sabotage the election process in the Berirukh area of the Mendhar assembly constituency, officials said.

In New Delhi, deputy election commissioner R. Bhattacharya said: "The polling was by and large peaceful and there was no report of any major incident".

Bhattacharya said the commission took disciplinary action against a polling party for staying with a relative of a candidate. The polling party has also been taken in custody, he said. — PTI

Jammu, November 17
Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir of the J&K High Court of Judicature allowed petition while quashing the Pension Payment Order (PPO) and directed the Technical Education Department to re-fix the pension of the petitioner on the basis of the last pay drawn by him i.e. Rs 11,025 instead of Rs 10,750 and also calculate the retiral benefits accordingly.

Jagdish Dutt Nargotra averred that respondents have wrongly fixed pension and assessed retiral benefits while holding that pay of the petitioner was wrongly fixed. It was further stated that the pay fixation was done wrongly by officer-authority concerned at relevant point of time. Feeling aggrieved by the communication issued by the respondents, the petitioner questioned the same and prayed for issuance of writ of certiorari quashing the Pension Payment Order and fore directions to the respondents to fix retiral benefits on the basis of the last pay drawn by the petitioner.

The HC while allowing the writ petition observed: “Admittedly the pay of the petitioner was fixed in 1987 and the petitioner reached age of superannuation on March 31, 2004. The retiral benefits had to be calculated in terms of Article 242 of the J&K Civil Service Regulations and last 10 months pay has to be taken into consideration for the fixation of pension.”

The HC further held that “The Bench have examined the photocopy of Service Book which has been annexed with the writ petition, perusal whereof shows that an objection was ever raised by either the department or by the competent authority right from 1987 till 2004 to fixation of the pay of the petitioner. Therefore, keeping in view the mandate of Article 242 of the CSR above, and ration of catena of judgments, the writ petition is allowed.”

Jammu, November 17
The state High Court has dismissed the petition of Sikander Hussain, who sought quashment of the order of District Judicial Magistrate (class I), Rajouri, directing him to pay a monthly maintenance allowance of Rs 600 to his wife and respondent Shaheen Kouser.

It also quashed the order of the Sessions Judge, Rajouri, refusing to interfere with the Magistrate’s order. The petitioner questioned the Magistrate’s order on the ground that he had no jurisdiction to award maintenance to the respondent in view of refusal of the Army Authorities to sanction maintenance in her favour on the ground that the petitioner had divorced her as per the Muslim law.

It observed that the “jurisdiction of the Army authorities to make penal deductions from the pay and allowances of Army personnel is not adjudicative in nature and as such would not affect the Magistrate’s jurisdiction to pass orders under Section 488 of the CrPC on his finding that his husband having sufficient means had refused to maintain his wife.”

Jammu, November 17
Municipal Safai Karamchari Union chairman Devanand Gill has demanded immediate convening of pending Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC), promotion of temporary employees to permanent daily-wager labour (PDL) and release of pending arrears of permanent safai karamcharis of the corporation.

All these demands were highlighted during a meeting held today between the chairman of the union and municipal commissioner Parshotam Kumar Sharma. General secretary of the union Shanker Kumar was also present in the meeting. Gill said there were 124 temporary/contract-base safai karmcharis in the corporation who were eligible for promotion, but till date they were not declared as PDL.

He said the commissioner had assured that the matter of the DPC would be send to the election commissioner for getting his permission and then it would be release among the employees.

Gill has also demanded for release of arrears of pay in favour of 125 employees who were promoted in the year 2005. He said besides many assurances given by the higher authorities, nothing had been done so far.

He warned the authorities concerned that if all these demands were ignored, the employees would hold a protest demonstration.

When contacted, the municipal commissioner said after completing all official inquire, decision would be taken in this regard. He said the corporation was always ready to help its employees, but in a legitimate manner.