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Sarpanches’ killings
Police told to provide security to sarpanches facing threat
Son’s advice could have saved Wani’s life
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Wani’s killing belies security forces’ claim of increased area domination
Ban on gutkha: High Court grants two weeks to state
Cross-LoC traders to boycott trade in protest from today
PoK national held with AK round
Jammu migrants to protest outside Assembly on Feb 28
Govt failed to empower
panchayats: Charak
Member of the Congress Working Committee Gulchain Singh Charak addresses mediapersons in Jammu on Monday. Tribune photo: Inderjeet Singh
Cabinet discusses budget proposals
Doc gets jail for carrying out abortion, leading to death
BJP to rethink on LC election boycott
Turtuk deputation presents demands to Governor
Baba Ghulam Shah varsity VC calls on Guv
Cricketer Parvez Rasool comes home to a rousing welcome
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Sarpanches’ killings
Jammu, February 25 The AJKPC also alleged that the ruling dispensation wanted to erode the constitutional institutions with a sole aim to close down the issue of “power sharing” once for all. “We condemn the brutal killing of Javed Ahmad Wani in Baramulla, which was the fifth killing of a sarpanch in the state since panchayat elections were held in 2011. The state government is responsible for all the killings of panchayat leaders so far,” Shafiq Mir, chairman of AJKPC, said while chairing a meeting of the organisation here today. He alleged the innocent elected people were dying “helplessly” and the state government had become a “mute spectator” to the situation. “Despite repeated representations for security cover to the threatened sarpanches and panches, the state government did not take any action. This suggests the government is deliberately making the innocent panchayat members sacrificial lambs so that others get terrorised and submit their resignations. It is being done to get rid of the empowerment issue raised by the elected panchayat representatives,” Mir said, adding the AJKPC couldn’t see its people die everyday and would take a final decision soon in its executive body meeting. Anil Sharma, general secretary of the organisation, also criticised both the Central and the state governments for their failure in protecting lives of panchayat members and dared Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, his Cabinet colleagues, MLAs and MPs to surrender their security covers. The Conference also decided to hold deliberations on the suggestion of various members regarding mass resignations from their posts in the next executive meeting. |
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Police told to provide security to sarpanches facing threat
Srinagar, February 25 “After the Sunday killing, I have asked the Deputy Inspector General (DIG), north Kashmir, and the Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, to identity those panchayat members who are facing threats and living in sensitive areas. They have been asked to provide security to them,” Minister of State for Home Sajjad Kichloo said. Javid Ahmad Wani, a 40-year-old sarpanch, was shot dead by suspected militants on Sunday evening at his native Kalantara Payeen village in Baramulla district. It was the fifth attack on the panchayat member in north Kashmir in the past six months, leaving four dead and one injured. The minister said he has also asked the DIG, north Kashmir, to conduct an inquiry into the incident within two days and find out the circumstances that led to his killing even when he was provided security cover. He did not rule out the possibility that the killing might be a result of local rivalry. Meanwhile, sources said the police had detained over 12 persons from Kalantara Payeen and other neighbouring villages. The police suspects some locals might have played a role in Wani’s killing. “We have detained few locals and are questioning them. The killing would not have been possible without the support of some local people,” said a police officer. “We are working on various leads and hopefully culprits will be brought to justice shortly,” he added. The police has also questioned deputy sarpanch Ghulam Mohideen, who met Wani last evening. “Apart from the militant angle, we are looking into various aspects,” the police officer added. The police is also scrutinising hundreds of mobile phone calls that were made in the village when Wani was shot dead. The panchayat members have blamed the state government for the killing of sarpanches. attacks on sarpanches Feb 9, 2012: Ghulam Muhammad Dar, a sarpanch of Hawoora village in Kulgam district, was gunned down by unidentified persons Sept 10, 2012: Militants shot dead Ghulam Mohammad Yatoo, sarpanch of Palhalan village in Baramulla Sept 23, 2012: Mohammad Shafi Teli, a deputy sarpanch, was shot dead in Nowpora village of Baramulla Jan 11, 2013: Sarpanch Habibullah Mir of Gooripora village in Sopore was shot dead Jan 12, 2013: Suspected militants shot at and injured a woman panch, Zoona, in Hardshiva village of Sopore Feb 24, 2012: Sarpanch Javid Ahmad Wani killed in his native village in Baramulla |
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Son’s advice could have saved Wani’s life
Kalantara Payeen (Baramulla), February 25 But it was not to be and sarpanch Wani, 40, fell to the bullets of unidentified gunmen yesterday evening. The police said 14 bullets were pumped into his body and the assailants ensured that he did not survive. Residents of this apple-rich belt recall Wani as a gentle and a dynamic fellow. “His death could have been avoided had he not cancelled his visit to Srinagar at the last moment on Sunday. Javed had stayed back to meet Baramulla Deputy Commissioner to discuss the matter of setting up a playground at his north Kashmir village,” said Wani’s brother Zahoor Ahmed, who runs a medical agency. “He was provided a government accommodation in Srinagar and had arrived here along with his wife Mudassira Jan, his son Tabish (16) and 14-year-old daughter Nazish. His wife went back to Srinagar on Saturday along with her daughter and the father-son duo stayed back. They had planned to go to Srinagar on Sunday and even his son stressed for the same. But he had a planned meeting with Baramulla Deputy Commissioner on Monday. So he decided to stay back,” said Bashir Ahmed, Wani’s father. The villagers who thronged the Wani’s residence said he was a loveable man. “Even if he was associated with the National Conference, he doesn’t deserve to die,” said Showkat Ahmed, a neighbour. “We have lost a person who was always ready to help,” he said. Wani, who was associated with the ruling NC for almost two decades, was provided two Personal Security Officers (PSO). They were not accompanying him when he was shot dead. They have been detained for questioning. State Home Minister Sajjad Kitchloo, who visited Wani’s family along with party leaders Nasir Aslam Wani and Javeed Dar today, said the government would probe as to why the PSOs were not present at the time of the incident. “He was a protected person. We will look into the matter as to why the PSOs were not escorting him,” Kitchloo said. Villagers said Wani’s killing was the first major incident in the past one decade in the area. “Our village has remained peaceful but this incident has shocked us,” said Mohammad Ramzan, a local resident.
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Wani’s killing belies security forces’ claim of increased area domination
Jammu, February 25 “A strong background security by the police in tandem with the CRPF is being ensured. And, in the interiors, we are working in consultation with Kilo Force and Victor Force of the Army,” DGP Ashok Prasad had told The Tribune on September 29 last year. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, on September 26, had said the government would increase the deployment of forces and change the pattern of their deployment according to the threat perception. “Where is their increased area domination? Whenever they (militants) wanted to target panchayat members, they did it. I haven’t seen even a single instance in the last one-and-a-half-year when security forces have arrived on the scene during any terrorist attack on a sarpanch or a panch,” convener of All J&K Panchayat Conference, Shafiq Mir, told The Tribune. He lashed out at the government for what he claimed maintaining “criminal” silence over the issue. “In the last one and a half year, five panchayat members have been killed but the government could not arrest even a single militant involved in such attacks. This speaks volumes about the intentions of the government,” Mir said. He said four such incidents had occurred in Baramulla district alone. “In the absence of security, we are simply sitting ducks for the militants. We feel the state government wants this disturbing trend to continue because we have been demanding empowerment of panchayats in the state,” he said. Last year, the Jammu and Kashmir Police in tandem with the Army and the CRPF had claimed to have increased the area of domination, particularly where threat perception was more to the elected representatives. “Their claim turns out to be a hoax. Five killings, including the latest one, belied all their claims of increasing the areas of domination,” said Mir.
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Ban on gutkha: High Court grants two weeks to state
Srinagar, February 25 These orders were passed by a Division Bench of the high court comprising Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar and Justice Hasnain Massodi today even as the state government had filed an application seeking eight weeks’ time for implementing February 4, 2013 directions of the J&K High Court, which had asked for banning gutkha and other tobacco products in the state. The Bench is hearing a PIL filed by Sajjad Gilani on behalf of the Jammu and Kashmir Voluntary Health and Development Association, wherein a ban has been sought on the manufacture and sale of gutkha and other smokeless tobacco products in the state. While seeking time, the government in its application had said that the matter to ban the gutkha and other tobacco products had been forwarded to the state Finance Department to look into the financial aspects of the ban. “It is learnt that the proposal is under consideration of the Finance Department and it will take some time…The ban involves huge financial implications and the Finance Department has to be taken on board while imposing the ban on these items”, the Under Secretary to Government, Health and Medical Education, wrote in the application while seeking time to implement the court orders for banning the gutkha and other tobacco products in the state. However, the plea to grant respondent authorities more time to implement the ban orders was opposed by petitioner lawyer advocate Sajad A Geelani. After hearing both the sides, the Bench granted government two weeks’ time to implement the February 4 directions of the court seeking ban on gutkha and other tobacco products in the state. Considering the health hazards of these smokeless chewable tobacco products, 14 states in India, including Delhi, have banned the sale of gutkha. The PIL says smokeless tobacco products contain chemicals that could cause mouth and throat cancer. “As per the new regulations notified by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), a statutory
body under the Health Ministry handles food-related issues,” the PIL further says. High Court directions *
The petition has invoked Regulation 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India for implementing in Jammu and Kashmir *
The PIL says that smokeless tobacco products contain toxic chemicals that could cause mouth and throat cancer *
It seeks ban on the manufacture, storage, sale and distribution of gutkha, pan masala and all other forms of chewing and smokeless tobacco products in the state *
The HC had February 4, 2013, directed the state Chief Secretary to take requisite steps to ban use of gutkha, pan masala and other forms of chewing tobacco containing tobacco and nicotine as ingredients *
The court had asked the government to file a compliance report in this regard within a week |
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Cross-LoC traders to boycott trade in protest from today
Jammu, February 25 Traders have cast uncertainty over the trade, which if doesn’t take place this week, would inflict a whopping loss of over Rs 3 crore upon them. The trade takes place on four days in a week from Tuesday to Friday. After finding some empty AK cartridges in the consignment of almonds sent to Poonch-based Dewan Traders from Rawalakote in PoK, the Indian authorities recently blacklisted the trader, Abdul Gani Dewan, and also asked the Pakistani authorities to ban PoK trader Hamid Raza Hashmi, who had sent the merchandise. “I have been into this trade since 2009 and never before have any cartridge been found in my consignment from PoK. There had been instances in the past when such contraband, in traces, was found in the consignment of other traders but the authorities never blacklisted any of us,” proprietor of Dewan Traders, Abdul Gani Dewan, told The Tribune. “The decision of the authorities has caused panic among traders because they feel that if any contraband was found in their consignments, they may also be blacklisted,” said Dewan. Another trader, Javed Khan of Bilal Traders, said the time had come for the proper implementation of the standard operating procedure (SOP) to ensure a hassle-free trade between PoK and J&K traders. “The contraband comes from PoK and it is absurd to think that an Indian trader into the trade since 2008 would ask for empty cartridges. If they continue to harass us, then we would be left with no option but to stay away from the trade,” said Khan. He expressed regrets over the “amateurish” thinking of the Indian authorities. “Though on barter system, every PoK trader owes each one of us Rs 20 lakh to Rs 30 lakh. If a PoK trader sends merchandise worth Rs 50,000 and mixes few empty cartridges in it, his counterpart here in J&K, who will be blacklisted, would be in ruins,” said Khan. “We have decided to boycott the trade in protest,” he said. Echoing similar views, Mohammed Taj, proprietor of Salsia Trading Company, attributed the malady to the Indian authorities. “Unless the Indian authorities remove the ban from Dewan Traders and ensure proper implementation of the SOP, we would stay away from the trade from tomorrow,” said Taj. This unwarranted and unnecessary harassment has to stop, he said. Taj has to get back merchandise worth Rs 36 lakh from his PoK counterpart. He suspected that some agencies in PoK did not want the trade to continue between the two divided Kashmirs.
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PoK national held with AK round
Poonch, February 25 Poonch SP Shamsheer Hussain confirmed the news and said, “During regular frisking, we recovered a live AK-47 round from the pocket of a man and arrested him on the spot. A case has been registered and investigations started.” “The decision regarding his repatriation will be taken tomorrow,” a source said. The PoK national, Gulam Hussain, a resident of Bhimber in PoK, who had to come to meet his relative Haji Gulam Din of Manjakote in Rajouri district, was arrested during frisking at Chakan da Bagh on the Line of Control crossing point, a source said. Meanwhile, 53 civilians today travelled on the weekly Poonch-Rawlakote bus service. Fifty civilians, including 15 Indians and 35 PoK residents, came to India while five people went to PoK. The cross-LoC bus service is a part of the confidence-building measures between India and Pakistan, which started on June 21, 2005.— OC
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Jammu migrants to protest outside Assembly on Feb 28
Jammu, February 25 Thakur appealed to legislators of all political parties to support Jammu migrants outside and inside the Assembly by joining hands with Panthers Party legislators inside the two Houses. She said the fight for the cause of migrants would be intensified in the coming days. “The Panthers Party will protest along with the migrants outside the Assembly on February 28, when Governor NN Vohra will address the joint legislature,” she said. Raising the issue of migrants from the Jammu region, particularly the people of the Talwara camp in Reasi district, Thakur said even though the apex court of the country had directed the government to treat them on a par with the Kashmiri Pandit migrants, they continued to suffer from discrimination. “Jammu migrants, including the Talwara camp migrants, are being discriminated by the state government ever since their forcible migration from their respective areas,” she alleged. “They are treated as enemies in spite of the clear directive of the Supreme Court to the Centre and the state government to provide them relief on a par with the Kashmiri Pandit migrants,” said Thakur.
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Govt failed to empower panchayats: Charak
Jammu, February 25 He also warned that the delay in empowerment of the Panchayati Raj Institutions would have serious repercussions in the state. “It is unfortunate that the state government has failed to empower the panchayats and it is high time for it (government) to wake up from its slumber and take immediate measures in this regard,” Charak told mediapersons here. Charak’s statement assumed significance as the Congress is the main coalition partner in the Omar Abdullah-led coalition government in the state. “Though the Congress has been adhering to the coalition dharma, it has already made its stand clear on the empowerment of sarpanches and panches. Once these people
get empowered, such incidents would come to an end as people would save them from any attacks,” said Charak. He, however, said more delay in the empowerment of the panchayats would not be tolerated and the government has to ensure during the forthcoming budget session that more powers be devolved to the panchayat representatives. Although, Charak welcomed the decision of the state government to raise the honorarium of numberdars and chowkidars from Rs 501 to Rs 751 and
Rs 500 to Rs 750, respectively, with effect from April 2012, he expressed dissatisfaction with regard to increase in the honorarium as it was contrary to the commitment made by the previous government. He appreciated Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Ajaz Khan for showing his concern for strengthening the grass-roots level institution of numberdars and chowkidars.
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Cabinet discusses budget proposals
Jammu, February 25 Sources said ministers made presentations about specific requirements for their respective departments, which are to be incorporated in the budget, before the Cabinet. The Cabinet also held discussion on various government Bills to be tabled on the floor of the House during the budget session. The Cabinet complimented the Finance Minister, Finance Department and Commercial Taxes and Excise Department for their outstanding performance in tax administration and collection. According to the provisional calendar issued by the Legislative Assembly, there would be a total of 26 business days. — TNS
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Doc gets jail for carrying out abortion, leading to death
Srinagar, February 25 The Principal District and Sessions Judge, Srinagar, Mohammed Shafi Khan, has sentenced Dr Ghulam Nabi Bhat of the Gopalpora area of Budgam district in central Kashmir to 10 years rigorous imprisonment with a fine. To cover the crime, the doctor with the help of the other accused, dumped the body of the victim at a government hospital in Srinagar. The court also sentenced four others, including the brother of the accused doctor, for assisting him in the crime. The court in its verdict on February 23 held Dr Bhat guilty for carrying out the illegal abortion of the deceased woman at his clinic, which caused her death later. The court sentenced him to 10 years for these offences separately. The court, however, observed that both sentences would run concurrently. “The court has sentenced Dr Bhat to rigorous imprisonment for 10 years with a fine of Rs 30,000 under Sections 316 and 120-B of the RPC. The court also held him guilty under Section 304 of the RPC and sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous jail term with a fine of Rs 20,000,” said senior public prosecutor AA Teli, who represented the prosecution in the case. The guilty doctor, who was out on bail, was arrested in the open court and sent to Central Jail in Srinagar, soon after the verdict. The other four persons convicted in the case are Altaf Hajam (boyfriend of the deceased woman), Muhammad Ashraf Bhat (convict doctor’s brother who worked as an assistant at the clinic), Safia (midwife at the clinic) and Riyaz Ahmad Dar. The court observed that he had taken the victim to the convicted doctor’s clinic to get her “foetus terminated under the cover of a well-planned criminal conspiracy,” with the aim to “conceal” his illicit relationship which he had developed with the deceased. The court convicted Ashraf, guilty doctor’s brother and sentenced him to five years rigorous imprisonment. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on him. Safia, who worked as a midwife at the clinic, was convicted by the court for “her limited role” in the criminal conspiracy.
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BJP to rethink on LC election boycott
Jammu, February 25 As Dodha was projecting himself as a candidate belonging to the Kashmiri Pandit community, a group within the BJP has asked the state leadership to rethink its earlier decision to boycott the elections to be held on March 7. Keeping in view the prevailing situation in the Legislative Assembly, the 11-member BJP group (including seven MLAs expelled from the party) holds the key as their support is crucial to ensure victory of the fourth candidate from the quota of four seats for the Upper House from the Valley. “In view of the new developments, we will re-devise our strategy,” BJP state general secretary (organisation) Ashok Koul said. Koul added that the party would take a decision at appropriate time. Chaman Lal Gupta, who is heading the group of seven MLAs expelled from the BJP, said he would also convene a meeting to take a final decision. He said the decision of the BJP to boycott the Legislative Council elections was not binding on them. “Let us wait for an appropriate time,” he said. BJP sources said a meeting of the core group of the party was held on Thursday to discuss the issue and a senior leader of the party had opposed rethinking of the earlier decision to boycott the elections. “The leader said casting the vote in favour of the candidate supported by the PDP will give a wrong message,” a source said. The general secretary of the party pointed out that the party should support Dodha, because he belongs to the minority Kashmiri Pandit community. Sources said the general secretary also argued that instead of indirectly supporting the coalition candidate by boycotting the elections, the party should support the Kashmiri Pandit candidate because the community was a traditional vote bank of the BJP. State BJP leaders said a group of Kashmiri Pandits had already held a meeting with the BJP national leaders to seek support for Dodha. “A senior national leader of the BJP has assured that the issue would be discussed in the national executive committee meeting on March 1, 2 and 3 and a final decision in this regard will be taken after consulting local leaders,” the source said.
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Turtuk deputation presents demands to Governor
Jammu, February 25 The demands presented by the five-member deputation, led by Abdul Ali, councillor, Turtuk, LAHDC, Leh, included opening of the Turtuk-Khapulu cross-LoC road, speedy completion of the Turtuk-Hanu road, creation of a rural development block and establishment of a JK Bank branch at Turtuk. Other demands included upgrade of the primary health centre at Turtuk to community health centre and a special recruitment drive for the youth of the area by the Army, paramilitary forces and the police. The Governor discussed with the deputationists issues related to the functioning of health and educational institutions, advancement of tourism and production and marketing of apricot in the Turtuk area. He assured them that their demands would be taken up with the authorities concerned at the Centre and the state level. The deputation comprised sarpanch of Turtuk Haji Abdullah, Ghulam Hussain, Ghulam Mehdi and Ghulam Hyder. Principal Secretary to the Governor Navin K Choudhary was present on the occasion.
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Baba Ghulam Shah varsity VC calls on Guv
Jammu, February 25 They discussed various initiatives being taken by the J&K Universities Forum for forging mutually beneficial collaborations with the larger objective of improving quality of higher education and securing the speedy economic development of the state. Various possible areas of collaboration and the modalities for maximising benefits to be drawn from the available funds, infrastructure and human resources for advancing interests of students and the state were also discussed. — TNS
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Cricketer Parvez Rasool comes home to a rousing welcome
Srinagar/Bijbehara,
February 25 “I am being recognised and welcomed outside, but receiving love and recognition from fans, family and friends in Kashmir is an incredible experience. I was mobbed by fans soon after I arrived at the Srinagar airport. They took my photographs and I got great reception at home where there was no let up in friends and relatives, who poured in to congratulate me,” Rasool (24) told The Tribune. The young local cricketer had come to hometown Bijbehara in south Kashmir for a night’s stay yesterday for the first time after becoming the first cricketer from the Valley to bag an IPL contract. Rasool, who left Kashmir today, was signed by IPL franchise Pune Warriors earlier this month and had also remained in news after he took seven wickets against Australia during a practice match in Chennai recently. Asserting that he was confident of finding a place in the Indian team soon, Rasool said he was hopeful that other local cricketers would get inspired by his success and make their presence felt in the cricketing arena. Meanwhile, Rasool’s kith and kin are elated over his success and are hopeful that he will become a role model for young cricketers of the Valley. “He has made us proud and our house bustled with well-wishers as this was his first visit home after bagging an IPL contract. Not many take cricket as a profession but now he (Rasool) will inspire many to look at cricket as their profession,” said Omar Rasool, Rasool’s brother. Danish Vaid, Rasool’s childhood friend, who has also played cricket with him, said: “We are elated over his success. He has made Bijbehara town proud. We are hopeful that he will continue to perform well.” Like Rasool, his kith and kin are also waiting to see him play for Team India in the near future. “It had always been Parvez’s wish to play for Team India. He deserves a place in the team and we all are waiting and praying to see him represent Team India very soon,” Vaid said.
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Life, they say, is a mosaic of ifs and buts. In Javid Ahmad Wani’s case, death too was, if only he had listened to his son’s advice to go to Srinagar. If he hadn't stayed back to sort out the matter of a playground and if he hadn't spent those few minutes talking to a shopkeeper to gather village elders for a meeting with Baramulla Deputy Commissioner, his assailants might have missed him.
Congress Working Committee and AICC member Gulchain Singh Charak today regretted that the ruling National Conference-led coalition government had failed to empower the panchayats and said it was the sole reason behind the repeated killings of sarpanches and panches in the Valley.
A deputation from Turtuk in the Nubra area of the Ladakh region called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here today and presented to him a memorandum of its demands.
