Jammu, June 19
Despite sweltering heat, thousands of devotees today thronged the Kheerbhawani Peeth at Janipur here to participate in the celebrations of Jaisht Ashtami.

A replica of the original shrine at Tullamulla, Kashmir, has been built by the internally displaced Kashmiri Pandits at Janipur ever since their mass exodus from the valley way back in 1989.

Jaisht Ashtami, being the most auspicious festival of Kashmiri Pandits, was celebrated at the Jammu Peeth in Janipur in the same manner as they used to do at Tullamulla by offering prayers at the sacred kund.

The entire shrine was reverberating with religious hymns since wee hours today.

The district administration had made adequate arrangements of drinking water, transport and sanitation. A police contingent was also deployed in and around the shrine to avert any untoward incident. Away from their homes, Kashmiri Pandits have built the Kheerbhawani temple here in the typical Kashmiri architectural style, similar to the one at Tullamulla. The foundation stone of the temple was laid by an eminent saint of Kashmir late Raghu Nath Kukiloo on February 24, 1993.

Tullamulla (Ganderbal): Thousands of devotees from across the country thronged the Khirbhawani temple in Ganderbal district for the Khirbhawani Mela on the occasion of Jaisht Ashtami.

The temple at Tullamulla village, about 25 km from here, is dedicated to Ragnya Devi, one of the many incarnations of Goddess Durga.

Elaborate arrangements were made by the administration that also included free langars for the devotees.

Ravi Kumar, a devotee, said, “I wish peace and tranquillity returns to the place as people have suffered a lot over the last 20 years.”

Muslims lined up outside the temple today with ‘kheer’ in earthen pots for their Hindu brethren. Many devotees had reached the place yesterday and spent the night in barracks and houses of Muslims.

“Due to a pleasant weather, most devotees could stay on the premises of the temple only,” AK Rajpuri, president of the Hindu Welfare Society-Kashmir, said.

They were seen lighting diyas (oil lamps), he added. General secretary of the society Badrinath Bhat said the government should consider economic development of non-migrant Kashmiri Pandits.

Apart from the Hindu Welfare Society, Civil Secretariat Hindu Employees’ Welfare Association, Swami Viveknanda Ashram and Broadway Hotel had set up langars.

“Approximately 80,000 devotees visited the temple to take part in the festival,” said CL Bhat, publicity secretary of the society. “Kashmiri Pandits are our brothers and it is our duty to provide them with all the support,” Mughli Begum, a vendor, said.

Tulmulla (Ganderbal), June 19
Describing Kashmiriyat as the unique characteristic of Jammu and Kashmir’s traditional brotherhood and harmony, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said here today that Kashmiri Pandits were an integral part of Kashmir.

Kashmiri Pandit women light oil lamps at the Khirbhawani temple in Tullamulla in Ganderbal district

“Many attempts have been made to damage this trait but people foiled ill-designs time and again exhibiting their firm faith in Kashmiriyat,” said the Chief Minister while talking to the media on the sidelines of his visit to Mela Khirbhawani that was celebrated here with gaiety and religious fervour.

He said his government was determined to nurture amity, love, brotherhood and mutual trust between various sections of society and people of different faiths. “We’ve to join hands to restore and boost Kashmiriyat and help in equitable and faster development of the state,” he said, adding that Kashmiriyat was incomplete without Kashmiri Pandits.

Omar said a multifaceted programme for the return of Kashmiri Pandits was already in place. “The government has introduced new initiatives to facilitate their return which include the earmarking of posts in government departments. The construction of transit accommodations at Budgam, Mattan and other places is in full swing,” he said.

Replying to a question, he said the response to this initiative had been highly encouraging. “For about 4,000 jobs we’ve received more than 16,000 applications.”

Sunder Bani, June 19
A newborn baby girl was found abandoned along the Jammu-Poonch Highway, near Thanda Pani, yesterday after some passersby heard her cries. Two days on, she is still waiting for parental care whereas the Nowshera SDM is yet to make a decision over the fate of the baby. Without the legal sanction of the SDM, willing persons cannot adopt the baby.

The baby was brought to the sub-district hospital, Sunder Bani, yesterday by the police. Later, the hospital administration handed over the baby to a nurse, who took her to her home, which is in the vicinity of the hospital.

When this correspondent visited the house of the nurse, a family member of the nurse said the baby caught fever last evening. Locals said there was no neonatal care facility at the hospital.

“On the basis of suspicion we got the medical examination conducted over an unmarried girl. The report of the test is awaited,” said SHO Deepak Jasrotia.

“We have written to the SDM for deciding over the custody of the child and are waiting the reply,” he added.

Contradicting the police claims, the hospital authorities maintained that in such cases it could be ascertained within minutes whether the woman had delivered a baby or not.

“At the time of the delivery certain changes take place in the body. So on the basis of the changes you can easily establish the reality. In this case I found that the girl had delivered a baby recently,” said the doctor, who examined the suspect. He added, “I submitted my report to the police yesterday.”

According to the locals, the father of the baby, who is from the nearby Dokhadda village, had been alluring the baby’s mother to marry him. However, quite contrary to his promise he reportedly married another girl a fortnight ago.

“Wellbeing of the child should be taken care of at any cost. The SDM should immediately decide over the custody of the baby,” said Pawan Kumar, a local. He added, “It is a clear crime case and the police should take swift action to nab the father of the baby.” Meanwhile, repeated attempts to contact the SDM proved futile.

Jammu, June 19
Akin to what they did to a senior BSF officer near the international border in Samba district last year, suspected Pakistan militants triggered an IED blast near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Mendhar sector of Poonch district killing a soldier of the 5 Maratha Light Infantry this morning.

However, the Army, which has the operational responsibility of 749-km LoC, maintained that 33-year-old Hambi Rao, a Havildar with the 5 Maratha Light Infantry, lost his life in an explosion in the Mendhar sector around 6.30 am.

It may be recalled here that 52-year-old OP Tanwar, DIG, BSF, was killed in an IED blast triggered by Pakistan ultras near the Ballard border outpost in the Samba sector in November last.

Asked about the possibilities of Pakistan troops or militants being involved in the incident, Brig General Staff of 16 Corps Gurdeep Singh said investigations had already been initiated.

Sources, however, said the explosive device was planted close to the LoC. “In fact, after the first explosion took place near Lohara Gali, a forward post on the LoC, the Army patrol rushed to the area to locate what exactly had happened, but in the meantime the second explosive device went off killing Hambi Rao,” they said.

The 33-year-old jawan, a native of Solapur in Maharashtra, bore the brunt of the explosion while other jawans had a narrow escape, they added. Hambi’s body is now being sent to Maharashtra.

It may be stated here that desperate to intrude into the state to fuel militancy, militants have been moved to various launch pads on the other side of the LoC and border.

Meanwhile, a mine exploded in a nullah near Pir Baba in the Balakote area, close to the zero line, also in Poonch district today. Later, searches of the area led to the seizure of a dead animal.

Srinagar, June 19
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar was here today in connection with the inauguration of the 75th All-India Presiding Officers’ Conference scheduled to commence tomorrow.

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar with Governor NN Vohra at the Raj Bhavan in Srinagar on Saturday. A Tribune photograph

Meira was accorded a warm reception at the Srinagar International Airport by Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Mohammad Akbar Lone, Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council Arvinder Singh Micky, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Sagar, Deputy Speaker of the J&K Legislative Assembly Mohammad Sartaj Madni, Lok Sabha Secretary-General PDT Achary, Secretary of the J&K Legislative Counci, GR Mehboobi, Secretary of the Legislative Assembly Mohammad Ramzan and other officers of the administration.

Meira is scheduled to inaugurate an exhibition “Legislatures in India: The Pillars of Democracy” on the premises of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislature Complex. She would also inaugurate a photo exhibition organised by the State Information Department regarding development activities undertaken during the present coalition government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Meanwhile, Meira Kumar met Governor NN Vohra at the Raj Bhavan this evening.

The discussions included a review of development and other major issues relating to the state, an official spokesman said. She also presented a memento to the Governor.

Jammu, June 19
The Backward Classes Federation of India (BCFI) today charged the Congress with betraying the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the state.

Addressing a meeting of the BCFI, Ashok Kumar Basotra said the Congress had been in the government but it had done nothing for the betterment of the OBCs.

Federation representatives sought the implementation of the Mandal Commission report to enhance the quota from a meagre 2 per cent to 27 per cent as is the case in other states.

It was further demanded that a single OBC certificate that would be applicable in the state and other parts of the country for Central government jobs and institutions should be issued.

The removal of the ban on the OBC quota and an amendment to the J&K State Backward Classes Commission Act was also demanded.

Jammu, June 19
The warning by separatist leader Sayeed Ali Shah Geelani demanding the curtailment of the period of the Amarnath yatra has evoked a strong reaction from social and religious organisations here.

Geelani has warned that if the yatra is not curtailed to just 15 days and restrictions are not imposed on the number of pilgrims, he will launch a movement in Kashmir.

While leaders of the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYSS) warned Geelani against interfering in their religious affairs, representatives of social and religious organisations convened a meeting to chalk out the further course of action to counter, what they called, an attempt by Geelani and other fundamentalists to disrupt the yatra.

“Geelani’s warning reflects the fundamentalist mindset of Kashmiri leaders who find it difficult to see Hindus visiting religious places in the valley,” said Leela Karan Sharma, a former convener of the samiti. He said unfortunately the government so far had not taken any action against him.

“Kashmir is the crown of India and not Geelani’s personal property,” he said, adding that “there are many religious places and pilgrim centres of Hindus in the valley and no body has any right to interfere in our religious affairs”. He said it was the responsibility of the Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) or religious bodies to decide the yatra’s duration.

“Geelani has always played with our sentiments. Thus he should be put behind the bars,” Sharma added.

Activists of the Ram Sena protested against Geelani saying any attempt to disrupt the yatra would not be tolerated. The Sena reminded Geelani of the agitation during the Amarnath land row and warned that any curtailment of the yatra duration would not be accepted at any cost.

Jammu, June 19
Sudesh Kumari, the alleged kingpin of a flesh trade racket busted by the Trikuta Nagar police yesterday, was reportedly running the immoral trade in the presence of her two teenage sons.

The police said Akshay Parihar and Amit Parihar, students of Class X and XII, respectively, were present in the house, where the immoral activity was going on during the raid and they were detained to record their statements.

Sudesh, former wife of an Army personnel who at present is deployed as a home guard jawan in Himachal Pradesh, had taken a house on rent in Bilal colony of Trikuta Nagar for the past two years and was running the racket from there, as the owner of the house lives in Srinagar, the police said.

The police said both sons of the accused had given their statements that they were sleeping in an adjoining room of the house and were not aware about what happened in the house.

Concerned over the upbringing and future of these children, Gopal Sharma, a social activist, said, “In the present civic society, most of the people are focused about themselves and are least bothered about the future of their children.”

“Likewise, this incident, where a woman has been found running a brothel, has spoiled the future of her children. If the parents are indulging in such activities how can they stop their children from emulating them,” he said.

Meanwhile, the police took all arrested persons to the Police Hospital for a medical examination. 

Srinagar, June 19
There is a need to develop museums as robust centres of cultural excellence to attract children, Tourism and Culture Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora said here yesterday.

“Art, culture and history are three important components of a nation and all these are present in a museum. As such it will be proper if some cultural programmes are held at these museums so that children are drawn towards these places,” said Jora while speaking at the launch of the website of the SPS Museum here.

The Tourism Minister said tourists were attracted to Kashmir and Ladakh due to their distinct identities. “As such there is a need to protect and preserve the rich cultural heritage,” he added. Construction taken up by the department in the recent past had been confined to the aesthetic taste of the local population, he said.

Referring to the conservation plan of the museum, Jora said it could be taken up under proper scientific planning. He added that the department was ready to sponsor some employees, who were given training to take the conservation plan to its meaningful conclusion.

Minister of State for Tourism Nasir Aslam Wani expressed concern over the absence of fire fighting equipment in the museum. He said the issue needed immediate attention as fire could break out any time.

Wani said though there was a conservation lab in both old and new buildings of the museum, trained manpower was missing. He stressed that the conservation plan of the old SPS Museum building should be taken side by side with the development of the new one.

Noted historian Fida Mohammad Hassnain asked Jora to expedite the process of retrieving monuments of Kashmir from national archives. He said some things discovered during excavation at Burzohama had been shifted to Kolkata and asked the minister to consider this matter as well.