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State govt helped 6,198 ‘terror orphans’ under project ‘Assist’
Mufti tries to strike emotional chord with border residents
NYC youth to embark on ‘Delhi chalo yatra’ today
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2004 defamation case: Minister files revision against court ruling
Liyaqat not a terrorist till NIA finishes probe, says DGP
Morning walk, jogging catch fancy of Kashmiris
Show ‘zero tolerance’ to rights abuses, Amnesty tells Omar
Cong to play key role in forming next govt, claims Sharma
2004 defamation case
‘Addressing rights violations ongoing process’
Do not link tourism with politics, says Tourism Minister
Mankotia accuses Centre, state of allowing entry of Pak terrorists into state
BSP to intensify campaign for trifurcation of state
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State govt helped 6,198 ‘terror orphans’ under project ‘Assist’
Jammu, March 31 “A total of 6,198 children comprising 1,703 in the Jammu region and 4,495 in Kashmir Valley who were affected due to terrorist violence have been provided financial assistance till December 31 last year,” Minister for Social Welfare, Sakina Itoo, stated in an official statement. The NFCH is an autonomous organisation under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and it provides financial assistance to the children rendered orphan or destitute due to communal, caste, ethnic or terrorist violence, besides promoting communal harmony and national integrated through a variety of activities. In Jammu and Kashmir, the NFCH in collaboration with the J&K State Rehabilitation Council was running a project ‘Assist’, which has the provision to provide assistance to such children. “In Jammu division, the highest number of assisted children was in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri where 435 and 270 children were given financial assistance till December 2012. The number of ‘out of scheme after attaining 25 years of age’ children was 34 while the number of live cases (if child is studying) was 1,669,” the minister said. According to the project ‘Assist’, the present scale of assistance includes Rs 1,000 per month up to Class XII, Rs 1,250 per month to study up to graduation and post graduation and Rs 1,500 per month for professional courses such as medical, engineering and management. Age limit of 25 years and family income up to Rs 1 lakh per annum is required to avail the benefit of the scheme. In the Kashmir division, Itoo said the highest number of affected children who were getting financial assistance from the government was in Kupwara where the number is 1,635. “Baramulla and Pulwama districts come next to Kupwara where the number of children is 581 and 436, respectively. The number of ‘out of scheme after attaining 25 years of age’ children was 160 while the number of live cases was 4,335,” she said. The minister, however, admitted that the department was yet to receive the utilisation certificates worth Rs 82.55 lakh from the district authorities. “The failure of the district authorities to produce utilisation certificates has not affected the scheme. The submission of utilisation certificates generally takes time and providing financial assistance to the children affected due to the violence is a continuous process,” Gazzanfer Hussain, Secretary Social Welfare Department claimed. |
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Mufti tries to strike emotional chord with border residents
RS Pura, March 31 After strengthening its base in the Kashmir valley, the PDP has been desperately trying to create its own space in the Jammu region. So the party, as part of its strategy, has been utilising Yash Pal Sharma’s influence in some border belts. Although the party has strengthened its base in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, the PDP’s next target in RS Pura belt comprised of two Assembly segments, Suchetgarh and RS Pura, where PoK refugees live in significant number. Mufti is himself trying to revive his “emotional” relations with inhabitants of the border belt. During a rally at RS Pura town today, he tried to strike an emotional chord with border residents by recalling how people of the belt had rejected a local leader and elected him (Mufti) as an MLA in 1985 when the National Conference (NC) had given a call for social boycott of Congress leaders in the Kashmir valley. Mufti recalled the 1985 by-election, when he was elected as an MLA from RS Pura segment on the Congress mandate. “My election from this belt had proved that RS Pura is a symbol of brotherhood and secularism. I am indebted to the people of this area,” he said, but hastened to add, “The decision to shift me from J&K to Delhi in 1987 was wrong because at that time I was working assiduously to provide a political alternative to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.” Mufti, who became an MLA in 1985 from RS Pura, was shifted to the national politics in 1987 and made the Tourism Minister in the then Congress government headed by late Rajiv Gandhi. Although Mufti avoided a direct attack on Congress leaders, he said the decision of the Congress to enter into an alliance with the NC in 1987 was one of the blunders in the political history of J&K. “It is a historical fact that whenever the NC and the Congress have entered into a political alliance for enjoying power, the state of Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed chaos, confusion, anarchy and instability,” Mufti said. He referred to the 1987 allegedly “rigged” Assembly elections to substantiate his allegation. The PDP today for the first time touched the issue of West Pakistani refugees at the rally. “I agree that the issue of West Pakistani refugees is humanitarian, but there is a need to evolve a wider consensus to solve the complicated issue,” he said. |
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NYC youth to embark on ‘Delhi chalo yatra’ today
Srinagar, March 31 NYC Volunteers Association president Muddasir Hassan, who is leading the padyatra (foot march), which will cover 873 km, said the state government had failed miserably to address the concerns of 8,000 youth who were hired as NYC volunteers. “We will be joined by association vice- president Asif Ali and other volunteers when we reach Jammu on our way to Delhi. The women members of our association will not join us in the march and will only see off the rally on April 1, which will start from Khalsa School, Srinagar,” Muddasir said. The youth are working in 14 public departments across various districts of the state. The state government had asked them last year to resign at the end of their two years contract of service, which the NYC volunteers term as cheating by the state government. They said the state government had engaged thousands of volunteers in these departments under the centrally-sponsored National Youth Corps Scheme to dispel the summer unrest which had led to alleged killing of over 100 youth in the Valley. “The youth are now feeling alienated because they feel the government used the tactic of jobs to restore normalcy back then and three years down the line we have been shown the door,” Muddasir alleged. He said despite the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and various senior state cabinet ministers assuring them that their issues would be addressed, nothing had been done so far. “Chief Minister had earlier this year told our representative body that some reservation will be made for the NYC youth and he supported us. He had said some directions would also be issued by the state government in that regard soon. But that was only verbal assurance. Despite several legislators vouching for us in the Legislative Assembly, the state government seems unmoved,” Muddasir said. Dismayed with the insensitivity of the state government, youth say they would hold protests in front of the Prime Minister’s Office. |
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2004 defamation case: Minister files revision against court ruling
The Court of Sub-judge, Passenger Tax, Srinagar, in its December 18, 2012, order had directed Sagar to appear in person and record his statement in the defamation suit filed by him against People’s Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti in 2004. “Since the Court of Sub-judge, Passenger Tax, Srinagar, had rejected Sagar’s plea, seeking exemption from appearance before the court, we have now challenged the order before the Court of the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Srinagar, by filing a revision petition,” said Rafiq Bakshi, counsel representing Sagar, in the case. One of the many grounds on which the revision of the lower court orders has been sought, Bakshi said, includes the security threat perception to Sagar, in case he appears in the court to record his statement. In fact, the revision petition also came up before the Court of the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Srinagar, for arguments today. However, the matter was posted for further consideration on April 16. In 2004, Mehbooba had accused Sagar, who was then the chief polling agent of Omar Abdullah during the 2004 parliamentary elections, of rigging the elections and capturing polling booths to ensure his victory. Sagar had filed a defamation suit against the PDP president before the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar, wherein he had accused Mehbooba of “maligning his image by levelling baseless allegations against him.” The case was subsequently assigned by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar, to the court of the Sub-judge, Passenger Taxes. On November 17, 2012, the court of Sub-judge, Passenger Taxes, had also dismissed an application by Mehbooba, seeking the dismissal of the defamation suit filed by Sagar against her. Earlier in 2005, Mehbooba had moved the Jammu and Kashmir High Court with a petition under Section 561, seeking quashing of court proceedings against her. However, in June 2012, the High Court dismissed the PDP leader’s petition and directed the trial court to go ahead with the proceedings. |
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Sopore attack: Rifle snatched from injured cop not yet recovered
Srinagar, March 31 The investigations so far have revealed that local Hizbul Mujahideen militants were involved in the broad day shootout on Sunday last at the Iqbal market of Sopore town. “We have identified the local Hizb militants who were involved in the attack,” said a police officer. “In fact, the attack was jointly managed by the Lashker-e-Toiba and Hizb cadres. But the shootout was carried out by Hizb,” he said. On March 24, militants had fired with a pistol on policeman Kishore Kumar of 16th Battalion of the IRP from a close range at Iqbal market in Sopore, 53 km from Srinagar. A civilian, Abdul Rashid Dar, a resident of Drusu in Rafiabad, Baramulla, was also injured in the attack. Both of them were rushed to a hospital where Dar died. The militants also snatched the assault rifle of the injured policeman before fleeing from the scene. Sopore SP Imtiyaz Hussain said the investigations into the case were on. “The investigations in the case are on. We have identified those who were involved in the shootout,” the SP told The Tribune. Police sources said Kashmir’s oldest militant outfit Hizb was trying to establish its network in Sopore. The police said in the past three months Hizb militants had carried out four attacks in and around Sopore town. “Hizb was behind the killing of sarpanch Habibullah Mir, who was shot dead in Gooripora village of Sopore on January 11. A day later, Hizb militants shot at woman panch Zoona in Hardshiva village of Sopore. On the intervening night of February 14 and 15, an IED blast took place in the town in which a police vehicle was damaged, which was carried out by Hizb. Militants of the outfit attacked a police party in the main market. All this indicates that the militant outfit is trying to establish its network in Sopore,” said a police officer. |
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Liyaqat not a terrorist till NIA finishes probe, says DGP
Jammu, March 31 “You cannot label a person a terrorist or innocent until the investigation process is complete. And, things would be clear only after the investigation,” the DGP told reporters while answering questions on Liyaqat’s arrest, at the sidelines of Police-Public Mela here today. Prasad said the J&K Police was waiting for the investigations to be completed. He said Liyaqat’s exact status would be known thereafter. “We are waiting for the completion of the investigation process. The Delhi Police has already done some investigation. The NIA is investigating and whatever is the finding, I am sure everyone will act accordingly,” he said. The Delhi Police, which recently arrested Liyaqat from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, and the J&K Police have been holding divergent views on the issue. The J&K Police had earlier said Liyaqat was returning home via Nepal from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir last week to surrender under the rehabilitation policy but the Delhi Police alleged that Liyaqat was planning an attack in New Delhi on Holi. In an interview to a news channel yesterday night, the Chief Minister said: “Given the complete divergent point of view of the Delhi Police and the Jammu and Kashmir Police, we needed an objective organisation to look into the facts and tell us the truth behind the whole matter.” Omar also said the state and the Centre were not on “cross-purposes” over the issue and praised the Union Government for handing over the case to the NIA for investigation. The Omar-led government announced a rehabilitation policy in 2010 to encourage Kashmiri youth, who had gone for arms training in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, to return home and live a normal life after abjuring violence. Under the policy, over 200 former militants have returned, most of them with their families. Most of the surrendered militants have Pakistani spouses, who also chose to come to Kashmir along with their husbands and children. |
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Morning walk, jogging catch fancy of Kashmiris
Srinagar, March 31 This trend is picking up fast in other localities of Kashmir as well with the number of morning joggers increasing day by day, especially as the warmer days return. “The people in the Valley who have been witnessing the turmoil since over past two decades are now showing a great deal of fixation with their fitness. The sedentary lifestyle, more reliance on motor vehicles for commuting, less exercise and heavy intake of junk foods is taking toll on the lives of people, including teenagers. So, the only way to remain fit is to shed extra calories and it is possible through the morning walk,” said Zahoor Ahmed, 40, a businessman and a resident of Peerbagh locality of the city. “Like other people, we are also becoming victim of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, blood pressure, heart disorders and now the doctors suggest us to take regular morning walk,” he added. Former director of Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) and country’s leading endocrinologist Dr Abdul Hamid Zargar said a cumulative study had shown that 8 per cent of adult Kashmiris have diabetes mellitus and 26.5 per cent of Kashmiri adults aged 40 years or more have pre-diabetes. “The public at large needs to change its lifestyle, including eating the right food, avoiding getting fat and doing regular exercise in order to prevent or retard the progression of this global epidemic of diabetes. Brisk walking is the best medicine for life-style-diseases,” he said. And people too are listening to medical advices. Many people are not taking voluntarily to jogging but they are doing it due to certain ailments. “I have a heart ailment, so I have been advised by the doctor to go for a morning walk,” said Nazir Ahmed, a city resident. Although jogging culture is picking up, joggers rue lack of open spaces. “There are less open spaces for exercising and morning walks,” added
Zahoor. |
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Show ‘zero tolerance’ to rights abuses, Amnesty tells Omar
Srinagar, March 31 As part of the campaign, titled “Omar Abdullah: Pick up your Pen to stop Police abuse”, the rights body has also launched a global petition on social networking sites, including Facebook, telling the Chief Minister to take a stand of “zero tolerance” for human rights violations in the Kashmir valley. The campaign will close on June 1, 2013. By that time, the Amnesty aims to have the Chief Minister issue an “administrative order”, directing detaining authorities not to repeatedly detain individuals under multiple, consecutive PSA detention orders, and ensuring PSA detention records maintained by the state Ministry of
Home Affairs are made accessible to people. “The people of Jammu and Kashmir want Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to pick up his pen to stop police abuse and take concrete steps to stop police practices that have facilitated administrative detentions, torture, ill-treatment and other human rights violations in the state for years,” the Amnesty has said on its Facebook campaign page. “The Amnesty International wants the Chief Minister to take a stand of zero tolerance for human rights violations in the Valley and the first step is to address police abuses facilitated under the PSA or similar legislation,” the Amnesty has added. Past campaigns
by Amnesty
In 2012, the Amnesty International had launched an international campaign for amendments to the PSA and had also campaigned against the detention of minors under the PSA in Kashmir. The PSA was later amended by the state government in April 2012. Earlier in 2011, the Amnesty had released a report “PSA: A Lawless Law”, documenting how the PSA violates human rights and how it has been used as a “revolving door” for repeated detention of individuals in the state. The Amnesty International’s research has shown that the police authorities detain people repeatedly under the Act despite courts ordering their release, the Amnesty has said in its latest statement, adding that “families are often left in the dark about where their loved ones have been detained”. |
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Virender Sehwag trains budding Kashmiri cricketers
Srinagar, March 31 “It was a dream come true for these budding cricketers when they met and interacted with Sehwag. He also provided them valuable tips about the finer nuances of the game besides sharing his experiences with them,” a defence spokesman said. “The young cricketers were guided in their fields of expertise by highly qualified and experienced professionals. The trainees were mentored by committed coaches ensuring a once in a lifetime experience. These enthusiastic young cricketers of the Valley underwent progressive coaching programme of five weeks, which included fitness regime followed by technical lectures and practice sessions covering the finer aspects of the game under watchful eyes,” he said. In order to enhance the skills of trainees and prompt identification of technical flaws, high-tech bowling machines and video analysis equipments were utilised. The spokesman said the closing ceremony of the camp was conducted at Old Air Field Military Station. While addressing the players, Brig MK Bindal, Commander, Chinar AD Bde, reiterated the commitment of Chinar Corps in providing a platform to the budding cricketers of the Valley to showcase their talent and further hone their skills through such camps. The KPL was organised by the Army in collaboration with the J&K government to promote cricket and help the cricketers of the Valley. |
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Cong to play key role in forming next govt, claims Sharma
Jammu, March 31 He said the Congress would play a dominate role in the formation of the next government in the state. “The Congress will be a major partner in the formation of next government in both the Centre and the state,” he claimed. Exhorting people of Jammu region to fight for their cause, he said no other party except the Congress was in a position to fight for the people of Jammu. He called upon the people to strengthen the Congress party in the interest
of Jammu. He also made people aware about the centrally-sponsored schemes and asked them to avail maximum benefit of these schemes. Sharma announced Rs 15 lakh grant for the construction of a community hall at the Seri Pandita Panchayat out of his constituency development fund. He also directed the officers present to redress the genuine demands like tube wells, upgrade of transformers on priority. Satpaul, Raj Dev Singh, Uttam Chib, Dr Karan Bhagat, Vijay, Skinder and others also spoke on the occasion. |
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2004 defamation case
Srinagar, March 31 The Court of Sub-judge, Passenger Tax, Srinagar, in its December 18, 2012, order had directed Sagar to appear in person and record his statement in the defamation suit filed by him against People’s Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti in 2004. “Since the Court of Sub-judge, Passenger Tax, Srinagar, had rejected Sagar’s plea, seeking exemption from appearance before the court, we have now challenged the order before the Court of the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Srinagar, by filing a revision petition,” said Rafiq Bakshi, counsel representing Sagar, in the case. One of the many grounds on which the revision of the lower court orders has been sought, Bakshi said, includes the security threat perception to Sagar, in case he appears in the court to record his statement. In fact, the revision petition also came up before the Court of the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Srinagar, for arguments today. However, the matter was posted for further consideration on April 16. |
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‘Addressing rights violations ongoing process’
Srinagar, March 31 This was stated by Chief Minister’s political secretary Tanvir Sadiq today while reacting to the Amnesty’s latest campaign. “It (addressing complaints about HR abuses) is an ongoing process, which we have been doing for quite a long time,” Tanvir told The Tribune. “As far as the campaign by the Amnesty is concerned, it is their agenda. Whenever there have been complaints about human rights abuses, the state government has taken it seriously and dealt firmly with such issues in the past as well,” he said. As regards its human rights policy, Tanvir said, the J&K Government was committed to the policy of zero tolerance towards human rights abuses. “Our government is committed to this and the demand for the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act is part of that policy,” Tanvir said. |
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Do not link tourism with politics, says Tourism Minister
Srinagar, March 31 A large number of tour operators, students and prominent citizens took part in the summit. The minister called for promotion of the tourism sector in the state to improve and sustain economic growth of the people associated with the tourism industry. Later, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Shalindar Kumar, distributed trophies among the winners of the golf tournament. The award function was organised by the Directorate of Tourism in collaboration with the Association of Kashmir Tour Operators and the J&K Federation of Tour Operators. Earlier, the minister Teed off the Spring Swing Golf Tournament at picturesque Royal Springs Golf Course. Mir said the event would help promote the Valley as a golf tourist hotspot and a viable alternative to the more popular destinations in Europe for domestic tourists. He said such tournaments would be regularly organised at the lawns of the RSGC. |
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Mankotia accuses Centre, state of allowing entry of Pak terrorists into state
Jammu, March 31 Addressing students and youths at Udhampur, Mankotia referring towards the recent arrest of alleged Hizbul Mujahideen militant Liyaqat Ali Shah, he asked, “How could a Pakistani national, holding Pakistani passport enter Nepal and how the same persons could get entry across the borders to enter India?” Mankotia said how was a foreigner allowed to enter India and then facilitated to enter the state by the state government with the tacit support of the centre. Mankotia accused the Centre and the state government putting a question mark on the integrity of the nationalist Kashmiri Muslims who had stood firm with Indian Constitution and flag. He said unemployment was the biggest problem in the state and thousand of youth were forced to leave the state for want of job in other part of country but the state government was preparing rehabilitation policy for Pakistanis to settle in the state, he said. He warned that youth of the state would not allow the government to implement such a policy. |
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BSP to intensify campaign for trifurcation of state
Jammu, March 31 In a statement issued here today, state BSP president Tulsi Dass Langeh said it was unfortunate that there was a competition between the ruling National Conference and the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to appease anti-national forces. Langeh said these parties were ignoring the genuine wishes and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Ladakh, so the trifurcation of the state was the only way to get rid of these parties. He specially mentioned that in the ongoing Budget session, much time had been devoted to discuss Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru and other militants but neither the government nor the PDP had the time to discuss the basic issues such as power, water, health and civic amenities. He said the BSP had expressed its concern over the developments on the floor of the Assembly, where some members were delivering anti-India speeches. “Due to the domination of pro-secessionist forces in the Assembly, voices of the Jammu and Ladakh regions remained unheard so the BSP has proposed the idea of trifurcation,” he said. The BSP president further said his party was going to launch an agitation in support of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) who have been struggling to get their constitutional rights. He regretted that unlike other parts of the country, the OBCs in Jammu and Kashmir were not getting reservation as per the recommendations of the Mandal Commission report. |
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Srinagar, March 31