The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	assembly in session BJP, JSM, Panthers Party stage walkout over fidayeen attack Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, March 14 The state Assembly today witnessed pandemonium and commotion over the killing of five CRPF jawans on Wednesday in a fidayeen attack in Srinagar. Jammu-based parties protested against the state government for “demoralising” the security forces. Alleging that the state government had disarmed the police and security forces personnel and made them “sitting ducks”, members of BJP, Panthers Party and Jammu State Morcha (JSM) created an uproar in the House before staging a walkout from the Assembly. As soon as the Assembly proceedings started today, BJP, Panthers Party and JSM members stood up and sought the decision of Deputy Speaker Mohammad Sartaj Madni over the adjournment motion for the discussion over the grave situation arising due to terror attacks on “unarmed” security personnel in the Valley. “Those who are demanding revocation of the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) are responsible for the gruesome killing of five unarmed CRPF men,” shouted Panthers Party legislator Balwant Singh Mankotia, who had moved the adjournment motion. Taking a dig at National Conference and PDP members, who were not present in the Assembly, BJP member Jugal Kishore Sharma said, “You created an uproar in the Assembly for the body of Parliament attack convict terrorist Afzal Guru but now you are tightlipped over the killing of CRPF jawans in the terror attack. He was also supported by JSM member Ashwan Kumar, who pointed out that disarming the security forces was a deep-rooted conspiracy to demoralise the nationalist forces in the Kashmir valley. These legislators resorted to shouting slogans like “Security forces ki hatya band karo! Security forces kay khilaf sajish band karo! Security forces kay sath insaaf karo”. There was chaos in the House as these members trooped near the Well of the House demanding that the Deputy Speaker should give his ruling on the adjournment motion. Madni, who was in the Chair in the absence of Speaker Mubarak Gul, rejected the demand for the adjournment motion maintaining that the Speaker along with the government had condemned the attack yesterday. On this, the BJP, Panthers Party and the JSM resorted to protests and staged a walkout, saying that if the issue of Afzal could be discussed in the House then why not that of the CRPF and police force martyrs. Seven MLAs of the breakaway faction of the BJP, however, maintained a distance from the BJP, Panthers Party and JSM who were creating an uproar in the Assembly over the killing of CRPF jawans. These MLAs neither participated in the protest nor a walkout.
	Protesting BJP activists lathicharged Tribune News Service Jammu, March 14 The police today resorted to mild lathicharge to disperse BJP activists who were marching towards the Secretariat in connection with an ‘Assembly gherao programme’. The party had given a call in this regard to “expose rampant corruption and pro-militant policies” of the National Conference-Congress government in the state. A BJP spokesman claimed that at least three dozen party activists, including some female leaders, were injured in the “unprovoked” police lathicharge. Earlier, the BJP activists gathered outside Exhibition Ground, where senior leaders addressed the workers. State BJP president Jugal Kishore Sharma, while addressing the party activists, said the Omar Abdullah-led coalition government in the state had been speaking in the favour of Afzal Guru in the Assembly and had been calling him “sahib” but had no sympathy or pain for patriotic personnel of the Army and the para-military forces who were falling in line of their duty at the hands of terrorists. He said the administration had been ineffective in governance and corruption was crossing all the limits under the government.
	Sporadic stone-throwing in Valley, 8 policemen hurt Tribune News Service Srinagar, March 14 A day after five Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed in a fidayeen attack on the outskirts of Srinagar, life came to a grinding halt today as restrictions were imposed in the city and other major towns of the Valley as precautionary measures. The restrictions were imposed to prevent any breach of peace and tranquility. Section 144 was imposed to prevent damage to life and property as tension gripped Srinagar following the suicide attack coupled with the death of a youth, Altaf Ahmad Wani, allegedly in CRPF firing near Eidgah on Wednesday afternoon. Sensing trouble, the authorities decided to impose restrictions in major towns of the Valley today. A police spokesman here this evening said the situation remained largely peaceful throughout the Kashmir valley, though there were isolated incidents of stone-throwing at a few places. Miscreants threw stones at Kurhama, Badergund in Ganderbal and Safakadal in Srinagar. Police and security forces exercised maximum restraint while dealing with the law and order situation. Eight police personnel were injured during these incidents, the police said. In view of the restrictions, roads in the capital city wore a deserted look as police and CRPF men restricted movement of people and vehicles. Entry points to the city were sealed with concertina wires. However, private vehicles were seen plying in the peripheries of major towns. The restrictions affected the functioning of government offices and banks. Barring stray incidents of stone-throwing in Kulgam and Shopian districts of south Kashmir, there were no reports of any clashes in these areas. Restrictions were imposed in Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Bijbehara towns. Normal life was paralysed in north Kashmir districts of Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipore due to restrictions in major towns. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee chief Saifuddin Soz met UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi at New Delhi last night. According to a handout issued by the party, Soz discussed various issues with her, including the latest situation in the state. CRPF put on alert in civil secretariat Jammu, March 14 A day after fidayeen killed five Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in the Bemina area on the outskirts of Srinagar city, their counterparts in the civil secretariat here have been put on alert and also briefed by the officers on how to react in case of a similar suicide attack. Around 9.45 am today when mediapersons were rushing towards the Assembly secretariat, CRPF officers were seen explaining to their men on how to react in case of a similar suicide attack. The Budget session is on on the premises of the civil secretariat that houses the Assembly secretariat. “Though the civil secretariats in both capital cities remain fortified by security forces, briefing our men guarding vital installations is part of our job. As a precautionary measure, CRPF men were asked to remain more vigilant,” said a CRPF spokesperson. — TNS
	Governor for boosting Red Cross activities in state Tribune News Service Jammu, March 14 Governor NN Vohra today called upon corporate and business houses, philanthropic organisations and affluent sections of society to contribute generously towards enlarging the resource base to boost Red Cross activities across the state. The Governor was speaking after felicitating sponsors and supporters for their valuable support to the Red Cross Mela and the raffle draw organised by the Regional Red Cross Society, Jammu, in December, at a function held at Raj Bhawan here today. The Governor, who is the president of the Indian Red Cross Society, J&K, observed that the collection raised by the Regional Red Cross Society, Jammu, last year was significantly higher than in the past years. He added that, “We have a very large base of the industry, commerce and business sectors here which can be approached to make much larger contributions.” Referring to valuable contributions made by the state and Central police forces to the Red Cross, the Governor thanked them particularly for discharging their duty and for contributing to a noble cause. In this context, he referred to the five CRPF personnel who were killed by militants in Srinagar yesterday. The Governor said districts should evolve as focal points of Red Cross activities. He to Roma Wani, Honorary General Secretary, Indian Red Cross Society, J&K, who was present on the occasion, to intensify Red Cross activities across the state and extend their ambit to the Ladakh region and other far-flung areas of the state. In his welcome address, Pradeep Gupta, Jammu Divisional Commissioner, who is the chairman of the Regional Red Cross Society, Jammu, said Rs 22 lakh was collected from the raffle draw and other events organised in December. Gupta said 21 blood donation camps were organised last year and 1,605 units of blood were collected. He added that 214 persons were trained in eight first aid training camps. He thanked the Governor for taking a keen interest in the activities of the Red Cross.
	Lt Gen Parnaik briefs Guv on security Tribune News Service Jammu, March 14 Northern Command chief Lt Gen KT Parnaik called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here this evening. The Governor and the Northern Army Commander discussed issues relating to the obtaining internal and external security situation in the Valley.
	HC grants state two weeks to file reply on ancient caves Ishfaq Tantry Tribune News Service Srinagar, March 14 The J&K High Court has granted the state government and other respondents two weeks to file their response to a public interest litigation seeking declaration of the ancient Abhinavgupt caves in Kashmir’s Budgam district as sites of “cultural and religious” importance. In the meantime, however, the local Auqaf Committee of Beerwah, where the caves are situated, has approached the high court with an application seeking to be arrayed as the interveners in the PIL. Abhinavgupt, regarded as the greatest teacher of Kashmiri Shaivism, lived in Kashmir from the end of the 10th century to the beginning of the 11th century. The high court is hearing a PIL filed by two activists, Veer Saraf, convener of the Roots in Kashmir, and Tanvir Hussain Khan, who runs an NGO named Act Now for Harmony and Democracy. Seeking preservation and protection of the site, the PIL has also sought an end to illegal mining activity around the ancient caves in the Beerwah area of Budgam. As the PIL came up before a division bench of the high court this week, an application by the Auqaf Committee in Beerwah was presented to the court by a counsel, wherein the committee had prayed to be arrayed as the interveners in the PIL. “While accepting the application by the local Auqaf Committee, the high court has granted respondents, including the state government, two weeks’ time to file their reply to the PIL”, said petitioner lawyer Irshad Ahmad. After admitting the PIL, the high court had on October 16, 2012, stayed the “illegal” mining activity around the ancient Abhinavgupt caves in Budgam district and had also directed the state government to submit a report explaining how it regulates quarrying and mining activities across the region. Earlier on March 2, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in its reply submitted to the court had said the ancient Abhinavgupt caves in Kashmir’s Budgam district were not Centrally protected monuments of national importance and had called for dismissal of the PIL. The ASI had further submitted that since the caves were not Centrally protected, therefore, the rules governing Centrally protected monuments could not be imposed in the area for the protection and preservation of the caves. “The caves at Beerwah are not Centrally protected monuments under the ASI, hence the site in question does not come under the provisions of Ancient Monuments, Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, and Rule 1959 and the ASI does not have any authority to stop illegal (mining) activities (at the site),” the ASI said in its response to the high court.
	5 jawans face dismissal in Samba fracas CoI for administrative action against 4 officers, 5 JCOs Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 14 Seven months after a fracas between officers and jawans of 16 Cavalry at Samba, the Indian Army has come down heavily on those involved in the incident. Sources said the Court of Inquiry (CoI) has directed termination of services of five jawans; disciplinary action against three junior commissioned officers (JCOs) and four jawans; and administrative action against four officers and five JCOs. The ones terminated will loose their jobs immediately. The disciplinary action will include graded punishment up to court martial that can lead to summary dismissal. The administrative action can include censure, reprimand and even reduction in rank. The incident had taken place on August 8, 2012, close to India’s border with Pakistan. A jawan, Arun, from Thiruvananthapuram, had allegedly shot himself after being denied leave. His parents had been quoted in the media as claiming that two days earlier, Arun had called them up saying he and his fellow jawans were not being treated well. Two CoIs had been instituted, one to look into the fracas between officers and jawans and the second to probe into the suicide. In the past, Army Chief General Bikram Singh said such incidents were “isolated” and the force was trying to strengthen its culture. “As far as the atmosphere in battalions is concerned, we are looking into that and trying to correct it. We have been trying to address these issues,” he had said. The case A jawan, Arun, from Thiruvananthapuram, had allegedly shot himself after being denied leave. His parents had been quoted in the media as claiming that two days earlier, Arun had called them up saying he and his fellow jawans were not being treated well.
	Slain CRPF jawans given final farewell Tribune News Service Srinagar, March 14 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand today paid floral tributes to CRPF personnel, who had died in a fidayeen attack, at Srinagar Airport before the jawans’ bodies were flown to their respective states. Omar was accompanied by Minister of State for Home Sajjad Kitchloo. The Chief Minister arrived in Srinagar from Jammu on Wednesday in the wake of the attack which had left five CRPF jawans and a civilian dead. Earlier this morning, colleagues of the slain jawans expressed disappointment over Omar’s absence at the wreath-laying ceremony. “Hum ko anaath jaisa laga (we felt as if we are orphans),” said a CRPF jawan after the ceremony. “The Chief Minister is the head of the family and we are obeying his orders. As the family head, he should have come here to bid farewell to the CRPF men who died while fighting for the nation.” The ceremony was held at District Police Lines in Srinagar. It was attended by CRPF Director General Pranay Sahay, who flew to Srinagar this morning, J&K Director General of Police Ashok Prasad and other senior security officials. However, no official from the civil administration attended the ceremony.
	CRPF men want rethink on SOPs for handling crisis Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Srinagar, March 14 In the wake of the killing of five Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) men in a fidayeen attack in Bemina on the outskirts of Srinagar yesterday, the security forces are seriously contemplating revisiting the standard operation procedures (SOPs) while handling law and order and militancy-related incidents in the Valley. “We will have to seriously think about the SOPs and be ready for both situations whether it is a law and order crisis or counter-insurgency operation,” said a senior CRPF officer in Srinagar. “After the Bemina attack, we have put our viewpoint before the state as well as our seniors in Delhi and everyone is serious about making certain changes,” he added. As per the SOP, one-third of the personnel in any law and order situation are supposed to carry firearms. The others have to carry riot gear and lathis. The advisory for not carrying firearms was taken recently by the J&K Government after the hanging of Afzal Guru to ensure that there was no civilian causality which could spread violence like in 2010, when over 100 civilians were killed by the police and security forces. “In the Bemina attack, the CRPF men were in the law and order mode and a majority of them were unarmed. The militants took advantage of this and killed five CRPF men. Without weapons, in such situations, the CRPF men are like sitting ducks. So, we will have to revisit the whole strategy,” the CRPF officer added. A senior J&K police officer said that they had to be very cautious if at all they had to rethink on the SOPs. “The situation demands that we have to be prepared for everything. We have to be cautious if we have to bring some changes in the SOPs while handling the law and order situation,” he said. Director General, CRPF, Pranay Sahay who arrived in Srinagar this morning from New Delhi, however, said the police and CRPF were well armed to handle any situation. “Both the J&K Police and CRPF are appropriately armed to deal with any situation that arises. We can handle any kind of situation,” Sahay said. Procedure followed The officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendents of Police have been asked to ensure that no personnel (including CRPF) shall carry firearms during the law and order duties. The instructions for not carrying firearms were for all those police and CRPF men who were in the frontline while handling stone-throwing incidents One-third of the company is allowed to carry arms. But in case the entire company of the CRPF is involved in handling law and order, those men who are carrying arms are asked to keep them in a nearby vehicle to avoid any casualty
	Indian spy cremated in Akhnoor Jammu, March 14 The body of Chamel Singh, an Indian spy, was cremated at his native village Molu Pargwal in Akhnoor sub-division today, 57 days after he was allegedly killed in Kot Lakhpat prison in Lahore. The body was brought from Wagah Border, Punjab, to Jammu by his family via road. “After a post-mortem examination by a team of doctors at the Government Medical College and Hospital here this morning, the body was taken to his native village Molu Pargwal, where it was cremated around 4 pm,” said Sat Sharma, a BJP leader who has been pleading the cause of the family — to get Chamel’s body from Pakistan — with the Indian and Pakistani authorities. Sharma, however, expressed regret that no compensation or job to the next of Chamel’s kin had been announced by the district administration. Chamel was allegedly killed by a prison official on January 15 over a trivial issue.