Srinagar, October 12
Life was paralysed across the Kashmir valley today after the curfew was imposed to prevent a “Hyderpora Chalo” march, a call for which was given by the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference against the continued house arrest of its chairman, Syed Ali Geelani.

The Hurriyat faction has been spearheading protest programmes against the killings in the Valley over the past four months. While it had called for a general strike today as per the “protest calendar”, Geelani’s close associate, Masarrat Alam, had announced a “peaceful march” to the Hyderpora residence of the party’s chairman.

All major towns, including Srinagar,Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, Budgam, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Kupwara, Sopore, Handwara and Bandipore were brought under the restrictions. However, a police spokesman said the security forces had been asked to allow students who had to appear in the State Board of School Education examinations and the staff connected with the said examinations to go to the examination centres on production of their roll number slips and identity cards, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Geelani faction has condemned the government for imposing the curfew to prevent the march, saying it was planned to be a peaceful protest. Geelani said the government had no answer to the party’s political programmes and instead resorted to restrictions.

“When we appeal to people to remain peaceful,it is always a peaceful programme”, Geelani stated, and added the incidents of violence after its appeal to people to maintain peace, always took place at the behest of government agents or smugglers. He said the Omar Abdullah government had lost the moral ground to remain in power as it had waged a war against its own people.

A party spokesman alleged that instead of releasing those arrested, hundreds of others including youth, women, children and aged persons were being arrested. He threatened to launch a massive agitation in case this practice was not stopped forthwith.

Srinagar, October 12
Even as the state Congress has maintained silence over the recent statement of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the state Assembly, it favours discussions for improving the situation in the Valley and a “vigorous and unconditional dialogue” to resolve the Kashmir issue.

State Congress President Saifuddin Soz looks forward to the constitution of a team of interlocutors, to be headed by a senior political leader to initiate a dialogue with the leaders of different shades of opinion. Soz, who also heads the Coordination Committee of the Congress and the National Conference, told The Tribune that he believed that talks with separatist leaders like Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Yasin Malik and others would begin soon.

He said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was keen on holding talks with the Kashmir leaders and moving forward towards resolving the issue. Soz believed that in the present situation it was important to reach out to the people for peace and development.

The PCC chief asserted that the unity of all three regions of the state — Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh -- having different aspirations, was important and stressed the need to devise a mechanism, acceptable to each region. He added that there was a need to strengthen the coalition at the grass-roots level.

The Congress, coalition partner of the Omar Abdullah government over the past 21 months, vigorously put forth its viewpoint before the all-party delegation of MPs during its visit here on September 20. “We conveyed to the delegation that a vigorous unconditional dialogue and reaching out to the people are important,” Soz had said.

Three weeks later, he opined that a dialogue was the only way out to improve the situation in Kashmir, which had seen the death of 110 persons, mainly youths and some of them women and children. “There has to be an end to the killings and curfew restrictions, which will help restore peace and pave the way for a dialogue to resolve the Kashmir issue,” he said.

Srinagar, October 12
Stressing that peace was imperative for the prosperity of the state, DGP Kuldip Khoda said yesterday that the purpose behind organising a public darbar was to know about people’s grievances and redress them promptly. He said this while addressing a public darbar at Dak Bungalow in Anantnag where a large number of people from all parts of Anantnag participated.

The DGP said unemployment and illiteracy were the main problems of the state and “we have to work together for eradicating these”. He issued on-the-spot directions to the officers concerned for immediate recruitment of 881 constables in Anantnag . He said more than 524 sub-inspectors in executive, armed, telecommunication and auxiliary police were selected recently.

Khoda said citizens should come forward and help the police redress their problems. He said the police had always worked to protect people and their property and people should help it maintain peace.

Srinagar, October 12
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has released Rs 6.46 crore to help improve health care facilities, including the upgradation of infrastructure and equipment, in various hospitals.

He released Rs 3.86 crore for GB Pant Hospital and Rs 1.25 crore for SMHS Hospital, Srinagar, for the purchase of CT scan. He also released Rs 75 lakh for Lal Ded Hospital’s neo-natal intensive care unit (ICU).

Omar approved purchase of five buses for the hospitals, which is likely to cost Rs 60 lakh. It may be mentioned that the Chief Minister recently released over Rs 50 lakh to various hospitals in the Valley to provide free treatment to those injured in the recent violence.

Omar said the health sector was one of the priorities of his government and a multi-pronged strategy was in place to improve health facilities at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels.

Jammu, October 12
The Congress leadership has initiated some concerted efforts to convince both the warring factions in the party to announce ceasefire for the time being as there is a feeling among party leaders that ruling National Conference (NC) has been taking undue benefit of the prevailing infighting among the cadre.

The party leadership has realised that the NC has been using the division among party leaders to its advantage.

After Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s controversial speech in the Legislative Assembly there is a feeling among Congress leaders that if some steps were not taken, the party would be completely wiped out of the Jammu province. Realising the importance of pursuing its own agenda in the government, leaders of both the groups have been asked to iron out their differences and protect the party’s interest in the government.

A senior Congress leader told the Tribune that the Omar’s controversial statements had already damaged the Congress in the Jammu region and if some steps were not taken the party’s base would be further eroded in other parts of the state also.

Sources in the party said the dinner politics, which was started recently, was aimed at removing differences among warring factions of the party. During the last two weeks, Congress leaders had organised a number of dinners in which leaders of both the factions were invited and leaders of warring groups were agreed to announce a ceasefire for the time being.

“During a recent meeting of Pradesh Congress Committee chief Saifuddin Soz with Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand at former’s residence, a step was taken towards this direction,” sources said and added the dinner politics had yielded positive results as it helped in removing some misconceptions.

Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, who owns his allegiance with Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, is a known critic of Saifuddin Soz.

“Tara Chand’s visit to Soz’s house is a clear indication that the Congress leadership want to present a united face to get its agenda implemented in the government,” the sources said.

Sources said a majority of the local Congress leaders were of the view that the NC had been implementing its own agenda in the government and the promises made by the Congress leaders with the people during the Assembly elections were yet to be fulfilled. “Congress leaders from Jammu are worried as some actions of the state government have evoked strong reactions in this region and the BJP has been raking up such issues to strengthen its base,” sources said and added in the days to come Congress leaders would aggressively take up their issues in the government.

Srinagar, October 12
The Revenue Department has got 1,500 kanals cleared of encroachments in Ganderbal district in the past one year and now various government buildings are coming up on the land.

The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Dr Asgar Hussain Samoon, held a meeting of the officers of Ganderbal district to review the performance of the Revenue Department. The Financial Commissioner (Revenue), Premod Jain, was also present in the meeting.

During the meeting, District Development Commissioner (DDC) Dilshad Khan informed that 1,500 kanals had been cleared of encroachments in the last one year and buildings like that of the District Hospital, Mini-Secretariat, bus stand and the central university were coming up on it.

The DDC also said Rs 2.31 lakh as mutation fee and Rs 97,800 as fee for the issuance of abstracts had been realised during the last one year. The meeting also disclosed that land in 54 villages had been measured while in 47 villages fresh records had been prepared under settlement.

It was also revealed that 100 kanals had been handed over to the Beacons authorities for the widening of the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road while Rs 28 crore had been paid to the land owners as compensation.

The DDC said 355 kanals for 12 roads under the Prime Minister Gramin Sadak Yojana had been handed over to the authorities concerned, while Rs 6 crore had been paid as compensation to the land owners.

She said land acquisition for the Central University of Kashmir coming up in the district was a priority and revenue papers of all four villages had been submitted to the higher authorities. The land compensation for three major bridges at Gund Roshan, Gund Rehman and Ganiwan had also been paid to the land owners, she added.

Dilshad Khan also informed the meeting that 184 kanals had been acquired for Police Training School, Manigam, while occupants of 808 kanals had been conferred with the proprietary rights.

Meanwhile, the Financial Commissioner (Revenue) stressed upon the officers to ensure the quick disposal of cases under SRO 43.

Jammu, October 12
Trouble seems to be compounding for the Jammu police as a senior Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) official today disclosed to The Tribune that they had not received the samples of suspicious material, which was found lying in 10 boxes near the MLAs’ hostel on October 8. The police had claimed on the same day of recovery of the boxes that they had sent the material to the FSL for examination.

Sources in the FSL said the police today called an FSL expert to a police station to examine the suspicious material and tell how to seal and dispatch it to them, which was still lying in its custody.

The recovery of suspicious material on the first day of navratras had already led to a controversy between the police and military’s intelligence, sources added.

Even a senior police officer had yesterday said there were some reports of involvement of military’s intelligence personnel behind the episode and whosoever was found guilty, would not be spared.

Meanwhile, the sources said the seized material was seen in the shape of sticks and they would only be able to ascertain it after conducting a number of tests. However, the FSL haven’t not received the material yet.

On the day of the seizure of the material, Farooq Khan, DIG (Jammu-Kathua range), had said the police had sent the material to the FSL for examination and also denied the possibility of any terrorist’s involvement, terming it not an explosive substance.

The police is tight-lipped over the entire issue.

Meanwhile, sources in the police disclosed that the kingpin, a suspended special police officer (SPO), Mehboob Dar, was late last night detained from Bhala village in Gandoh of Doda district.

With the arrest of the suspended SPO, so far the police had nabbed eight persons, including an ex-serviceman and a SPO, who had also been suspended, sources added.

Jammu, October 12
The Jammu State Morcha (JSM) has expressed concern over the “criminal” silence of the Congress and the Union government on the statement of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah challenging the accession of the state to India, the integrity of the country and its Constitution and endorsing the agenda of the separatists and Pakistan.

Addressing a press conference today, JSM leaders said the silence of the Congress and the Union government on this issue raised apprehensions in the minds of the people about their intentions. “The Congress and the Union government have to tell people whether they endorse the views expressed by Omar Abdullah or they have reached an understanding with Omar and the separatist leaders to grant the greater autonomy, pre-1952 position or any solution for the state,” the JSM leaders asked. They added,“If it is so then the people of Jammu and Ladakh regions have no option but to revolt against the Union and state governments to demand the division of the state and creation of separate states for Jammu and Ladakh regions.”

The JSM called upon the people of the Jammu region and all nationalists to rise to the occasion and unitedly defeat the evil designs of the separatists, including the mainstream NC and the PDP.

Varinder Gupta, HB Khajuria, Anil Gour, Chandra Uday Sharma, Virander Magotra and Surjeet Singh addressed the press conference.

Jammu, October 12
To identify various priorities of colleges regarding student-centric activities and student welfare programmes, the college principals of the Jammu division held a meeting here today.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Tanveer Jehan (IAS), Secretary to government, Higher Education Department, at Government College for Women (GCW), Parade Ground.

Dr Kiran Bakshi, Principal of GCW, Parade Ground, started the meeting by welcoming the principals of the colleges of the Jammu division. This was followed by detailed deliberations on the priorities of various colleges, which included the need for additional classrooms, upgrading flats, purchase of science equipment, establishment of laboratories, purchase of additional land for playgrounds, development of playgrounds, fencing of the colleges, repair and renovation of girls’ common rooms and wash rooms and other points related to improvement in the infrastructure of the colleges.

The Principals also briefed the administrative authorities about the status of the ongoing works being taken up by various agencies for the development of the colleges.

At the end of the meeting, Tanveer assured the principals that their priorities would be taken into consideration for meeting the needs and requirements of the colleges.

The Director Colleges, Dr Sham Lal Gupta; Joint Director, Planning and Statistics, Higher Education, Ishfaq Ahmed Pachiwal; and Special Secretary to Higher Education Hemant Kumar Sharma along with the principals of all colleges of the Jammu division attended the meeting.

Jammu, October 12
Quashing the order of discharge of an Army man, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court today ordered his reinstatement with all consequential benefits. The court, in its ruling, stated that the petitioner did not commit any offence of grave nature by overstaying the leave and earning four red entries.

Suresh Kumar was enrolled in the Army on December 22, 1995. Invoking the provisions of the Rule 13 (3)III(v) of the Army Rules, he was discharged from the service on November 9, 2007, on the premise that his services were no longer required.

The respondent in its objections stated the petitioner was a habitual offender and had been declared undesirable for retention after having earned four red entries.

The high court, while allowing the writ petition, observed: “The petitioner has been found guilty of the offence under Section 39 of the Army Act which relates to absence from duty without leave that too for a period which is about more than three years prior to the date of passing of the impugned order.”

“There is nothing on record to show that the petitioner committed any offence of a grave nature as defined under Sections 52 to 62 of the Army Act.”

“The other aspect which was required to be taken note of by the authority concerned, while passing the impugned order, was that the petitioner had completed almost 12 years of service and was due for pension on completion of 15 years of service, which has not been done by the said authority,” ruled the High Court.

Jammu, October 12
Students of Government MAM College today boycotted classes and protested against the non-payment of scholarship to Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students. The protest was organised by the Progressive Students Association.

The protesters blocked the road in front of the college for some time and raised slogans against the state government for being indifferent to the needy students.

Subsequently, the police intervened and lathi-charged the students to disperse them. Many protesters were injured in the police action while Talib Hussain, a student activist, was reportedly detained by the police for some time.

“We had to block the road as the college principal was not taking the issue seriously. Every year the scholarship is delayed and poor students have to suffer,” the protesting students said. They alleged that whenever they took up the matter with the principal of the college they got false assurances. The protesters urged the authorities concerned to find out why scholarships were delayed every year.

Jammu, October 12
A replica of the famous Shignapur temple of Shani Devta of Maharashtra will be established in Jammu. This was announced by president of the Durga Mandir Committee Rampura Parshotam Shastri.

Shastri said the biggest ever idol of Shani Devta would be installed on the premises of Durga temple on October 16 on the occasion of Navami. The idol was carved by artist of Jaipur and would be installed during a big function. He said devotees from different parts of the country would attend the function.

Being one of the oldest temples of the city, the temple is located on the Shastri Nagar road. Renovation of this temple has been going on for the last six years and an idol of Shani Devta would be installed as part of the ongoing renovation.

Shastri said when the renovation project was started its estimated cost was Rs 2 crore but the project had been expanded and it would be completed with an estimated cost of Rs 6 crore. He said besides installing idols, the management of the temple has also decided to set up a school for poor students in which free education would be given to poor children as well as a medical centre for the people.

Jammu, October 12
The second day of the “Display Your Talent- 2010-11” started with a collage-making competition, in which Kanwar Iqbal, a student of Government Medical College, won the first prize.

The second prize was won by Shivali Rani a, student of the Department of Environmental Sciences, and Shekha Bhat from the Department of Chemistry, University of Jammu, clinched the third prize.

The topics for the competition were “Communal Harmony” and “Festival and Wild Life”. Around 25 students participated.

The students prepared beautiful collages by pasting old magazines, colourful poster- papers, kite papers and newspapers on drawing sheets.

The Certificates of Merit were awarded to Shallina Gupta from Government Degree College, Kathua; Jasneet Kour from Government Women College, Parade, and Shafali Gupta from Business School, University of Jammu.

The adjudicators of the competition included Suman Gupta, Manoj Chopra and Dr (Prof) M.L. Sharma.