Jammu, September 4
Even as local leaders of the National Conference (NC) usually hesitate from countering the agitation calendars issued by Hurriyat Conference leader Sayed Ali Shah Geelani to enforce a shutdown in Kashmir, Union Minister of New and Renewal Energy Farooq Abdullah, who is also the president of the NC, today took on Geelani for dictating terms in the Valley.

Farooq reacted sharply to a statement in which Geelani had dared him (Farooq) to address a public meeting at Lal Chowk in Srinagar. “Who is Geelani to give me the challenge?”.

Interacting with mediapersons after attending a function at GGM Science College herre this afternoon, Farooq refused to give much importance to Geelani’s statement. “His (Geelani’s ) statement does not command any importance because I have never accepted Geelani as a leader,” he said, adding that “If he (Geelani) wants that Kashmir should go with Pakistan, I request him to go to Pakistan and live there. Kashmir will not go anywhere”.

He reiterated that Kashmir’s accession with India was full and final and Kashmir was not going anywhere and would stay with India. He further said nobody in Kashmir wanted freedom or azadi and a majority of people wanted to live with peace and dignity.

Taking a dig at those who demand plebiscite in Kashmir, Farooq pointed out that those who had been demanding plebiscite should first demand the same in the occupied Kashmir (PoK) where people lack even basic democratic rights.

When his attention was drawn towards the presence of Chinese troops in the PoK, he said this matter would be solved diplomatically. He, however, asserted that China was not a bigger threat as India had a strong defence to solve any such problem.

Reports of the presence of the Chinese troops in the PoK were not an issue of concern as India was quite strong to deal with the situation. “I think we are strong enough to deal with any situation arising out of the Chinese troops presence in the PoK. India is in a better position to deal with any challenge,” he said.

Admitting that the police and the security forces were not trained enough to deal with stone-throwing mobs in Kashmir, Farooq said, “It is unfortunate that nearly 60 young men have died during recent months in clashes with the police and I feel that security personnel should be better trained to deal with such situations.” He suggested there was need to create a specialised police force, which should be trained for using non-lethal weapons while dealing with people .

“The police is not trained enough to deal with the situation in Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of civilians. But its unfortunate that those who died were misled by the propaganda and even don’t know what azadi means,” he remarked.

Farooq also warned against succumbing under pressure from Naxalites. According to him, bowing to their pressure would prove disastrous for the country. He narrated the examples of the kidnapping of Rubiya Sayeed and the Kandhar hijacking cases to substantiate his argument.

He said Bihar should not repeat mistakes made by the Central government during the Kandhar episode. “The Centre should act tough against the Maoists, as we had paid a heavy price when about five militants were released during the Kandhar hijacking crisis. It was a big strategic mistake by India,” he added.

Jammu, September 4
Stepping up its attack on the ruling NC, the PDP said today that problems faced by the common man was the result of the wrong policies being pursued by the present government.

It said this regime had lost credibility and the NC leaders had been trying to divert the attention of people by raking up irrelevant issues.

PDP leaders, while addressing a meeting of the party here today, said to hide their failures the NC leaders had been blaming other parties for the prevailing mess in the state.

“The government has been totally paralysed and developmental activities have virtually come to a standstill,” they said, pointing out that on the one hand innocent people were being killed, while on the other the day-to-day problems of the common masses had been increasing.

The PDP leaders said during the last 18 months this regime had done nothing to solve the problems of the common man. They added instead of fulfilling its commitments, the government had been trying to hoodwink the people by raking up non-issues.

Pointing towards the shortage of ration, acute scarcity of water and power crisis in the Jammu region, the leaders said the whole state had plunged into an unprecedented crisis due to the wrong policies being pursued by the NC-led coalition.

“The people of the state have lost faith in the NC-led regime as this government has done nothing on the ground,” they said, adding that the 0achievements of the government was only on paper.

Srinagar, September 4
Separatists in the Kashmir valley, who are ruling the roost and have been keeping protests alive for the past almost three months, are now getting the taste of their own medicine as resentment is brewing among parents who are worried about the future of their children.

The first shock came two days ago when parents in a large number along with their children in school uniforms protested in Srinagar, demanding that schools should be allowed to open. The children were holding placards reading, “You are educated, why are you stopping us from getting education.”

The continuous strikes since June 11 this year has forced all schools, colleges and other educational institutes across the Valley to remain closed. In the past almost three months, there has been hardly a day when the students attended schools.

The parents are also worried about the future of their children as the latter are losing crucial study time. They are demanding either to call off the strikes or keep the educational institutions out of the ambit of the strikes.

“Children are the worst suffers. Their education is being badly hampered. What will we get if we get azadi, a generation of Angutha chhaps (illiterates)!” said a resident of Lal Chowk.

People here are also annoyed with the double standards of the separatist leaders as the head of the radical Dukhtran-e-Millat (daughters of faith), Asiya Andrabi, had said children should give up education and join the movement, but on the other hand she was desperate to get a passport for her son Muhammad Bin Qasim, whom she wanted to continue his studies abroad.

“If they want eduction for their children, the future of the children of the common man should not be hampered. The parents of children in Kashmir, who are seeing the future of their children being spoiled, want the educational institutes in the Valley to be kept out of the ambit of the strikes,” said another parent.

To save the academic year of students, some private schools in the Kashmir valley, including Delhi Public School, have shifted their students to New Delhi for studies, but children of common Kashmiris are bearing the brunt of the strikes and curfews.

“Not everyone could afford to send their children to study outside Kashmir. Parents who work hard and manage to provide education to their children are on the losing side,” said another parent.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has also urged people to shun the path of protest so as to save the future of children as their education was suffering.

Srinagar, September 4
Normal life was adversely affected across the Kashmir valley in response to the separatists’ bandh call today even as people came out in many areas to avail of bank facilities and purchase various things ahead of Id-ul-Fitre. Curfew was not imposed in any part of the Valley though preventive restrictions were in force in Anantnag and Pulwama towns.

The police lobbed tear-gas shells and resorted to a cane-charge to disperse angry demonstrators in parts of downtown amid a shutdown today. At least two persons, according to the police, received pallet injuries during the clashes in the Bohri Kadal area of downtown. They were identified as Shabir Ahmad Sheikh of Rainawari and Abrar Ahmad Malik of Nawa Kadal areas of the city.

Stone throwing incidents were also reported from Khanyar and Rainawari areas of the city leading to clashes with the police. “There were no restrictions on the movement of the people and vehicular traffic also plied normally,” a police spokesman stated here this evening.

At least five persons were injured in a retaliatory action by the police when a mob indulged in stone throwing on the police in Baramulla town last evening, the police said. The trouble started when a police party spotted an “objectionable flag” on a mobile tower in the local vegetable market. “The security personnel climbed up the tower to bring down the flag. A mob gathered and pelted them with stones. In the retaliatory action by the security personnel, five persons were injured,” it added. Two of the injured were reported to be serious and referred to hospitals here.

While shops and business establishments were closed and normal traffic was off the roads, a number of people came out of their places to avail of bank facilities for making preparations for the Id-ul-Fitre ahead. Over 34,000 people availed of ATM facilities by withdrawing about Rs 12 crore from 150 ATMs of J&K Bank in the Kashmir valley today, a bank spokesman said. He added that more than Rs 17 crore was withdrawn through 51,000 transactions from J&K Bank ATMs across the Kashmir valley on the occasion of Jumat-ul-Vida on the last Friday of the holy fasting month of Ramzan.

Leh, September 4
The process of land allotment to the victims of the recent flash floods in Leh district, who were rendered homeless, began here yesterday. As many as 156 persons from the Zanagi Mani Colony in the Choklamsar area, which is one of the worst affected areas in the district, were allotted plots in the Solar Colony by the District Commissioner, Leh, Tsering Angchok. Angchok said, “A total of 165 houses were fully damaged and 50 other partially damaged at Zanagi Mani in Choklamsar in the floods. The plots were allotted on the basis of a draw to those who were willing to shift from the Zanagi Mani Colony to the Solar Colony.” He added that people living on the banks of the Choklamsar nullah would also be shifted to safe places.

Meanwhile, the district administration has started distributing ex gratia of Rs 1 lakh from the relief funds to the next of kin of those killed in the floods.

An official of the district administration, Leh, said the list of the next of kin of the deceased along with their bank account numbers for the disbursement of ex gratia from the Prime Minister Relief Fund and the Chief Minister Relief Fund had been sent to the authorities concerned.’

Meanwhile, Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama during his scheduled visit to Leh and Kargil districts of Ladakh on September 13 is expected to visit Zanagi Mani.

He is also expected to meet the victims of the calamity. General secretary of the Ladakh Buddhist Association, Leh, PT Kunzang said, “A special prayer for the victims of the cloudburst will also be held at Chokhang Vihara in Leh.” As per his visit schedule, the Dalia Lama will arrive in Leh on September 13 and leave Kargil on September 14. He will deliver a sermon at Bodh Karbu.

Jammu, September 4
Infuriated over the murder of a cab driver by some assailants in Nagrota yesterday, an angry mob, including family members and relatives of the deceased, placed his body at the Bikram Chowk and blocked the traffic on the Tawi Bridge for nearly two hours today.

Joined by hundreds of other cab drivers, the angry protesters blocked the Tawi Bridge, which also brought the vehicular movement on two other bridges in the temple city to a standstill. The three bridges over the Tawi connect southern and northern parts of the winter capital.

It may be stated here that the Nagrota police yesterday had found Gurpreet Singh (23), a resident of Nanak Nagar, murdered in a deserted place near a traffic check post with his both arms tied. The body also bore injury marks on the head and face. A group of three criminals believed to have murdered Gurpreet on Thursday.

Around 9 am today an angry mob converged at the Bikram Chowk and placed the body in the middle of the road blocking the main Tawi Bridge. Demanding the arrest of the murderers, adequate compensation to the aggrieved family and a government job to the younger brother of Gurpreet, the protesters raised slogans against the police.

“The crime occurred barely 100 metres from the traffic check post and the murderers managed to flee in the Indica car of the victim. How is it possible?,” quipped one of the protesters.

Pradeep Singh, younger brother of the deceased, disclosed that his brother never switched off his cellphone but yesterday his phone was switched off. Worried about my brother, I went to the Jammu Railway Station late last evening and enquired about his whereabouts from other cab drivers, who told me that they had seen his Indica car near Nagrota being driven by an unidentified person, he said.

This morning, I went to Nagrota to establish his whereabouts and came to know that the police had recovered a body. To my worst fears, it turned out to be that of my brother, he added.

The protesters, including drivers, had parked buses and other commercial vehicles in the middle of the roads at the Bikram Chowk and the Asia Crossing.

To mollify the protesters, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, MK Dwivedi and SSP, Jammu, Basant Rath along with other senior police officials rushed to the spot. Talking to the aggrieved family, Dwivedi said the culprits responsible for the ghastly act would not be spared. He, however, expressed his inability to announce any compensation or job to one member of the bereaved family.

This irked the mob, and sensing the gravity of the situation the Deputy Commissioner agreed to provide a government job to the younger brother of the victim, depending upon his qualification. “As far as cash compensation is concerned, we will try to help the family,” he said. Following the assurance, the protesters lifted the blockade around 11.10 am.

Jammu, September 4
Teacher’s Day will remain memorable for Shreshta Sharma and Abdul Rehman, who will receive the National Best Teacher Award, 2009, in Delhi tomorrow. President Pratibha Patil will present this prestigious award to them on the occasion of Teacher’s Day.

Shreshta Sharma, headmistress of Government Girls High School, Reshamgarh Colony, and Abdul Rehman, headmaster of Government Middle School, Dhalwas (Batote) have been nominated for the award because of their marvellous performance and contribution towards the development of their schools.

Director, School Education, Zahida Khan said Shreshta had been nominated for the award for improving the standard of education and infrastructure in her school and for implementing the mid-day meal scheme in its true spirit.

The director added Abdul Rehman had been nominated for the award because he had brought appreciable changes in his school, which falls in the far-flung area.

Shreshta said, “Under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, I raised the infrastructure level of the school.”

Under her supervision, the school opened an attractive and colourful kindergarten, which was highly appreciated by Zahida.

Sharing her happiness for being nominated for the national award, Shreshta said, “It is just like a dream come true for me, as I was not expecting it. It has given me an opportunity to meet the President, the Prime Minister and the Union Education Minister.”

Extending gratitude to the state Education Minister and Zahida Khan for recommending her name for the award, Shreshta said, “Such awards always encourages teachers for doing better in the filed of education. It is all because of the full cooperation of the staff that I am able to receive this award.”

Rehman, another nominee, said, “I was hopeful of receiving the state-level award this time, as my name was ignored for the same on previous occasions. However, I am very lucky that I will receive the national award for my work.

He said, “Besides increasing the number of students and improving the infrastructure of the school, I have brought around 70 dropouts back to the school under the SSA,” he added.

Rehman said, “When I joined the school in 2005, the strength of the students in the school was around 150 and today it is 250. Apart from regular education, I have always encouraged the students, particularly girls, to learn stitching, embroidery and clay modelling.”

Jammu, September 4
The Buisness School of Bhaderwah Campus, University of Jammu, celebrated Teacher’s Day on its campus today. Students of MBA and MA (English), besides faculty members of MBA, MCA and English, were present at the function.

Rector, Bhaderwah Campus, Prof IA Hamal was the chief guest. Speaking on the occasion, Hamal emphasised on the importance of Teacher’s Day and congratulated the management club of the school for celebrating such events. Hamal highlighted the contribution of Dr S Radhakrishnan towards society.

The programme concluded by cutting of a cake by the faculty members and the students of MBA. The other campus officials, who attended the function, included Kuljeet Singh, academic coordinator Dr Umesh Choudhary, Harpreet Kaur, Samrata, Palvi Bhagat, Nikhil Gupta and Amit Soni.

Jammu, September 4
On the run to save his life from security forces in Kishtwar, a hardcore militant and divisional commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen, Firdous Ahmed Mattoo, aka Prince, was nabbed by the Anantnag police in Kashmir yesterday.

“Though Kishtwar was his area of operation, where he had let loose a reign of terror, Prince was nabbed by the Anantnag police, an area where he had sneaked into in a bid to buy some time and save his life from the security forces in Kishtwar,” said a senior police officer.

He had been operating in Kishtwar from the past several years and he knew that time was up for him in the district where he was wanted in at least six cases, all serious in nature, added the officer.

A native of Drabshalla, the militant was involved in offences like killings, extortions and a bank dacoity. “Apparently, to save his life Prince had sneaked into the Anantnag area,” said SP, Kishtwar, Dr Hasib Mughal.

In Kishtwar the security forces and the police had intensified their operations to either nab or eliminate him, said Mughal.

In recent times, we had either eliminated or captured the top militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen and the Lashkar-e-Toiba in Kishtwar and he was the only “A” category ultra left to be dealt with, he said.

Official sources said Prince had looted over Rs 1 crore from a branch of Jammu and Kashmir Bank in Kishtwar.

Mughal said the Kishtwar police had already contacted its counterpart in Anantnag to get the custody of Prince because he was wanted in at least six cases registered against him in various police stations of Kishtwar.

Jammu, September 4
With the arrest of 11 persons, the Kishtwar police has busted an inter-district gang of sapphire smugglers.

“On specific information, the Kishtwar police laid a trap to nab the culprits. Raids were conducted and 11 persons involved in illegal trading and smuggling of precious sapphire-like stones were apprehended. Four pieces of sapphire-like stones were seized. The authenticity of these stones is being ascertained with the help of local jewellers and the FSL, Jammu.

The 11 arrested persons have been identified as Faqir Chand of Churyana Kuntwara,

Romesh Chander of Sarthal, Amar Singh of Kerthaie, Abdul Rashid of Kokernag, Mohammed Syed of Kokernag, Shabir Ahmed of Saroor, Rajpal Gupta of Trikuta Nagar in Jammu, Subash Saraf of Talab Tilloo in Jammu, Mukhtyiar Shafeeq of Qazigund, Shabir Ahmed Rather of Dooru and Nazir Ahmed Wani of Qazigund. Moreover, Rs 2,35,000, one Tata Safari vehicle bearing registration number CH03-Z-2361 and 10 mobile phones were also seized from their possession.

A case under Sections 4/5 of the Sapphire Act has been registered against them.

Jammu, September 4
The police today busted a flesh trade racket in the Sainik Colony here and arrested a woman, a girl and a man while two girls managed to escape. “A flesh trade racket was busted in the Sainik Colony. At this stage, I can’t divulge more details,” said SSP, Jammu, Basant Rath.

However, official sources said a police party today raided a house in G Sector of the colony from where a woman (believed to be from Himachal Pradesh and kingpin of the racket), a girl from Bagh-e-Bahu and a man were nabbed. Two other girls, however, escaped when the police raided the house. They jumped from the rooftop and escaped, they added.

The racket was being operated from a rented accommodation, said the sources.