Jammu, October 3
Angry over being ignored by the state government during the announcement of sops, traders of the region today warned that they would not hesitate to take extreme steps if the step-motherly treatment towards the people of Jammu region continued.

The business community expressed surprise that economic packages had been announced exclusively for the Valley, whereas various taxes were being imposed on the traders of Jammu region.

“Recent decisions taken by the state Cabinet in which basic toll tax was waived for trucks carrying apple and entertainment tax was increased are glaring examples of the discriminatory policies being propagated by the coalition government,” pointed out YV Sharma, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCI), Jammu, while addressing a press conference.

To substantiate his allegations of discrimination, Sharma pointed towards the controversial circular issued by the J&K Bank for restructuring and re-schedulement of loans and advances in the Kashmir valley, ignoring the Jammu and Ladakh regions.

“Jammu and Kashmir is a single political unit but the authorities announce packages exclusively for the Kashmir valley, which authenticate our allegations that step-motherly treatment is being meted out to the Jammu region,” he said and strongly demanded that the facility of restructuring and re-schedulement of loans and advances should be given to the entire state.

Countering suggestions of the authorities that business in the Valley was badly affected due to the prevailing turmoil, Sharma argued, “The recent unrest in the Valley definitely did a great loss to the trade and industry in the region, but the government ignored the basic fact that almost 75 per cent of the production of the factories in Jammu is brought either by the government or the people in the Valley.”

“Trade and business is totally interdependent in both Kashmir and Jammu regions, but incentives were announced only for the Valley,” he said.

Giving reasons for participating in the Jammu bandh call given by the BJP on September 30, the CCI president said their organisation always opposed strike but they were forced to join the hartal as the region was totally ignored in the ‘eight-point incentives’ announced by the Centre for restoring peace in the state.

“Both Centre and state government should keep in mind that this state comprises of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, and all regions should be treated equally,” he said.

The CCI president said after the Amarnath land row in 2008, the government had announced package for businessmen and industrialists of Jammu region, but nothing had been done so far.

Jammu, October 3
To strengthen the existing security scenario and make citizens feel secure, traffic policemen in Jammu city will not wear masks while performing their duties.

Earlier, they were being provided masks to avoid harmful effects of air pollution on busy roads. However, since the masks conceal their identity, the department has ordered them not to wear them.

Confirming the development, IG Traffic, HK Lohia, who was in the city yesterday, said, “Though the masks were good for the traffic policemen as these helped them avoid health hazards , they concealed the identity of the policemen. So, the department directed the traffic cops not to wear the masks.”

Asked whether it would have an adverse effect on the health of the policemen, he said: “Yes, it will affect their health. But, we have arranged for regular medical check-up of these men within a short period, so that if they catch any infection, it could be controlled at an early stage.”

It is pertinent to mention here that being the winter capital, Jammu is one of the biggest cities of the state and the level of air pollution is higher here as compared to other nearby towns.

Every year, a large number of vehicles get registered and the level of pollution is increasing.

Jammu, October 3
The Kishtwar police and the 17 Rashtriya Rifles, in a joint rescue operation, today rescued two youngsters, who were about to join the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit at Patimahal in the Palmar area of Kishtwar district.

A police spokesperson said the youths, Mohammad Iqbal, and Ghulam Mohammad, both residents of Patimahal had left their homes to join the militant group. Immediately after receiving this information, a search operation was launched to prevent from doing so.

During the interrogation of these two youths, they told the police that they had met the district commander of the terror outfit, Subash, alias Wasif, a few days ago. They further told the police that Subash was in the process of arranging weapons for them.

After this development, family members of the youths were called at the Kishtwar police station and the boys were handed over to their families.

Srinagar, October 3
Four persons were injured when the police allegedly opened fire on protesters in Shopian,even as the authorities today reimposed the curfew on various parts of the Kashmir valley to foil a “Baramulla chalo march” call given by separatists.

Reports said the Army cordoned off Nagbal village in Zainpora village in Shopian after getting information about the presence of some militants in the area.However, local residents who were assembled in a field by the Army started raising provocative slogans.

The police which was also present there fired several rounds in the air and used batons to disperse the mob and bring the situation under control.Four persons were injured in the action and two of them,identified as 18-year-old Salima Yousuf and 19-year-old Aamir Dar,were referred to a Srinagar hospital for treatment.The two other injured were given first aid at the Zainapora Health Centre.

Earlier, the authorities reimposed the curfew in Srinagar, Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara districts as a precautionary measure in view of the “Baramulla chalo march” call given by the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

“While the curfew was reimposed in Srinagar, Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara districts, severe restrictions under Section 144 of the CrPC were in place in Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam, Ganderbal and Budgam districts of the valley”, a senior police officer said.

The curfew restrictions were relaxed in Handwara and its adjoining areas from 12 p.m to 3 p.m, in Srinagar, the relaxation was given after 3 p.m and in Kupwara, Kralpora and Trehgam, the restrictions were relaxed from 2 p.m.

The authorities had lifted the curfew from the entire Valley yesterday following the suspension of the proposed strike by the Geelani faction and normalcy was restored with the reopening of shops and business establishments.

Kashmir has been in the grip of protests for the past more than four months now and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said the current unrest is the fallout of the Machil encounter in which three youth were gunned down by the Army allegedly in a fake encounter.

Jammu, October 3
The police claims to have nabbed a self-styled district commander of the Harkat-ul-Jehad-Islami (HuJI) outfit of militants, along with his associate, from Kishtwar district last night.

Meanwhile, a militant hideout was also busted in same district.

The police said a major breakthrough was achieved by apprehending two active ultras of the HuJI - Shabir Ahmed, alias Imran, and Zakir Hussain - from Sondar Pinjrari area today.

It said acting on specific information, a joint operation by the police and the Army was launched in the general area of Sondar Pinjrari area and both ultras fired upon the security men,which was retaliated.

“Both ultras tried to escape, but finally got trapped along with arms and ammunition. A PIKA gun, one PIKA belt, 30 rounds of PIKA and one pouch have been recovered from their possession,” a police spokesperson said.

With the arrest of these two ultras, the HuJI had been wiped out from the district, the spokesman added.

Meanwhile, the police and the Army (26 Rashtriya Rifles) busted another hideout of militants during a joint search operation in Patnazi area of Kishtwar district.

The hideout was smashed and a huge haul of arms and ammunition were recovered from it, which included one AK-47 rifle, one 9 mm carbine machine gun, one radio set, two AK-47 magazines, one carbine magazine, 40 rounds of AK-47, 1 Chinese grenade and 50 rounds of 9 mm gun.

Srinagar, October 3
Gujjars and Bakerwals of the state have appealed to law-enforcement agencies to ensure a safe passage for the communities along with their livestock through the curfew-bound Kashmir valley.

The Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation today sent a memorandum to Governor NN Vohra, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Defence Minister AK Antony, demanding their immediate intervention in providing them a safe passage during migration to the plains from the upper reaches.

Giving details about problems being faced by the migratory tribes due to restrictions in the Valley, Dr Javaid Rahi, a member of the foundation, said: “We have taken up the issue with various law-enforcement organisations with a plea to allow the tribal population to move freely in the restricted and curfew-bound areas of Kashmir.”

“We have already sent a memorandum to the Governor and the Chief Minister with a copy to the Union Defence Minister for their intervention to end the hardship of lakhs of Gujjars and Bakerwals, who are moving along with their livestock towards plains and warmer areas”.

Dr. Rahi added other than the seven hill routes of Pirpanjal, Gujjars and Bakerwals were also migrating through the Mughal Road via Shopian and roads connecting major districts and leading to plain areas of the state.

He said due to various restrictions, they couldn’t move freely towards their destinations.

The Gujjars and Bakerwals started their seasonal migration towards the plains and warm areas in the last week of August owing to a fall in the temperature and shortage of food in the hill areas.

Dr Rahi appealed to various NGOs and government agencies to mobilise their resources for providing necessary logistical facilities to the nomadic tribes so that they were able to move smoothly towards their destinations without loss to the livestock and other properties.

Srinagar, October 3
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today reiterated his government’s determination to reach out to every area in the state for a balanced economic development and upgradation of basic amenities.

“My government is committed to fulfilling the promises made to people on development and every step is being taken in this direction,” he said.

Omar added despite hindrances due to the law and order situation in parts of Kashmir, the development process had been given a forward push.

“The administration at all levels has been sensitised to carry forward development with full endeavour,” he said.

Speaking to scores of individuals and deputations from across the Valley here, the Chief Minister said government officers had been directed to make public interactions a regular feature of their schedule.

“This is to ensure that the grievances of people at all levels are heard and the necessary action is taken for their redressal,” he said.

Underlying the importance of peace and tranquillity in the process of development and economic welfare of the state, the Chief Minister said tranquillity was imperative to carry forward the development agenda smoothly and complete the schemes in the prescribed timeline.

He expressed the hope that normalcy would completely be restored and asked the people to play an important role in this direction for the larger interest of the state.

Jammu, October 3
The Kathua police today claimed to have arrested a drug-peddler and recovered 950 intoxicant capsules from his possession.

The police said Mangesh Kumar, a resident of Madhopur (Punjab), was intercepted in Kathua city and was found carrying a large number of intoxicant capsules. A case has been registered against him.

Jammu, October 3
A 21-year-old man was killed in a road mishap after a minibus hit a motorcycle that he was riding in the Rehari area this afternoon, the police said.

According to the police, the deceased, Kashish Vaid, who was riding his motorcycle was hit by a minibus on the Janipur-Parade route around 12 noon.

The man was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries around 3:30 pm. The body has been kept in the hospital to conduct the postmortem.

The police has registered a case against the minibus driver, who fled from the spot leaving behind the mini-bus, which has been seized.

Meanwhile, a 45-year-old man was killed in another road mishap when the motorcycle he was riding hit a truck at Lakhanpur on the J&K-Punjab border this afternoon, the police said.

Balkar Singh, a resident of Pathankot in Punjab, along with his relative Sukhwinder Singh, was heading towards Jammu around 4.30 pm, when the mishap occurred and Balkar died on the spot.

The police said the truck was going ahead of the motorcycle and the driver suddenly applied breaks and Balkar failed to stop his motorcycle, which then hit the truck.

Luckily, pillion rider Sukhwinder received minor injuries, the police said. A case has been registered and the body has been shifted to a hospital in Kathua to conduct the post-mortem.

Jammu, October 3
On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, the Pradesh Youth Congress (PYC) adopted a remote village in Udhampur district for its all-round development and to provide basic living facilities in the village.

Giving details of the project, PYC senior vice-president RS Pathania, while addressing a press conference here today, said they had adopted Chor Panjian village for its all-round development and to create basic living facilities in that village, which is one of the backward areas of Udhampur district.

This village is situated on the boundary of Majalta tehsil and bounded by Ramnagar tehsil of Udhampur and Bani and Billawar of Kathua district. It takes about three-four hours to reach here on foot from the nearest road point. The area has a population of about 5,000, having a difficult topography, tough terrain and militancy-infested conditions.

“There is no road connectivity in the area. And most of the habitations are without provision of electricity and drinking water facility. People have to walk down to the Dhar Road and then cover a distance of 150 km to reach their block headquarters at Jakhed (Dudu),” he said.

Pathania said the PYC had decided to adopt this under-developed village which was bearing the brunt of poor governance.

While assigning respective duties and responsibilities to Youth Congress volunteers, Pankaj Chibber was entrusted with the job of overseeing the working of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department (CAPD) in the area and appointment of fresh ration/kerosene oil dealers in the area.

Manjit Singh Jatt was deputed to ensure opening-up of fresh Allopathic dispensary/health sub-centre in the area.

While, Sonu Dogra shall monitor working of Rural Development Department, Mandeep Singh will look after the working of Animal Husbandry and Sheep Husbandry Departments. Charanjeet Singh ‘Chiku’ was entrusted to look after working of Agriculture Department.

Srinagar, October 3
The joy brought by the revocation of a three-month-old ban on the services of the private cellular companies in Baramulla has been short-lived as thousands of subscribers in the district have started getting 
hefty bills.

The state government had enforced a ban on the services of the private companies in Baramulla following reports that miscreants were using mobile phones to instigate people to resort to stone throwing.

Only BSNL was allowed to function in the district, forcing the people to switch over to the state-run service provider.

But after the government decided to revoke the ban and asked the mobile phone companies in Baramulla to restore their services, subscribers, who did not use their phones for more than three months, were now being asked to pay the rental for the period when their phones were not active.

“As soon as the services were restored, I got a call from a customer care executive, asking me to pay the outstanding amount.

“When I informed him that I had paid all the dues, the executive told me that the rental for the period when the service was not active had to be paid,” said Diljeet Kour, a resident of Baramulla.

She was informed that if she failed to deposit the rental for the period, her services would be deactivated and she would have to pay a hefty surcharge.

“I am shocked as I did not use my phone for three months as it was not working. Now, the company is asking me to pay the rental which is unacceptable,” Kour said.

Many subscribers said they had to face a lot of inconvenience after their services were stopped and they could not contact their relatives.

Now, the demand of the companies to pay the ‘outstanding rental’ was unfair.“Why should we pay the rental for a period when we did not use the service and the companies should not treat the subscribers that way.

“We are supposed to pay for the time when we use the service and not for the time when the service was snapped,” said Reyaz Ahmed, a local resident.

Meanwhile, the companies said the services were unavailable only in Baramulla whereas these were normal in other parts.So, the customers had to pay the rentals.

“As the services were stopped in Baramulla, we are not charging any late fee, but the subscribers have to pay the rental,” said a representative of a private company.