The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	SC allows state free hand to tackle Kishtwar situation Seeks status report on clashes from Chief Secretary by August 21 R Sedhuraman Legal Correspondent New Delhi, August 13 Acknowledging that the J&K Government was taking steps to deal with the situation arising from the August 9 violence in Kishtwar, the Supreme Court today allowed a free hand to the state administration on the issue and directed the Chief Secretary to file a status report by August 21. “We cannot control the administration. The officials are the right and best persons to deal with the situation. They are in the field. They must be allowed to have a free hand,” a three-member Bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam told senior advocate Bhim Singh, who pleaded for a direction to the state government. The Bench, which included Justices Ranjana Desai and Ranjan Gogoi, pointed out that the state was contending that it had already taken all steps that were being sought in the PIL petition filed by Sudesh Dogra, political secretary of the J&K National Panthers Party. “The elected government is aware of people’s problems. They will take action,” the Bench remarked. Appearing for the state, senior Additional Advocate General (AAG) Gaurav Pachnanda said the state government had set up a judicial commission headed by a retired high court judge to inquire into the clashes. The state government had also announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the fatal casualties and up to Rs 2 lakh for damage to property. Further, efforts were on to evacuate and provide safe passage to the 357 pilgrims stranded at Gulabgarh, the last point of the motorable road to Machail Mata, due to the curfew. Upon this, the Bench said, “At this stage, we can’t say that the state government is keeping mum.” Bhim Singh, however, complained that the state government was clamping several restrictions. Yesterday, a number of local television channels were directed to be taken off the cable service, he said. Unconvinced, the SC said the administration was in a better position to deal with the situation. “How can we say you don’t ban channels?” Nevertheless, the Bench asked Bhim Singh to verify the averments made by the state government and report to the court at the time of the next hearing on August 21. In the PIL, Dogra had sought a judicial probe by a sitting HC/SC judge, higher compensation to the victims and protection and necessary facilities to the stranded passengers. What the court said We cannot control the administration. The officials are the right and best persons to deal with the situation. They are in the field. They must be allowed to have a free hand The elected government is aware of people’s problems. They will take action At this stage, we can’t say that the state government is keeping mum J&K to meet affidavit deadline Jammu: State Chief Secretary Mohammed Iqbal Khanday on Tuesday said a detailed affidavit on the Kishtwar situation would be filed before the Supreme Court by J&K well before August 21. “The Supreme Court has asked the state government to file the affidavit by August 21 and we would be doing so well before the deadline given to us,” the Chief Secretary told The Tribune on phone.
	Geelani calls for 2-day shutdown Srinagar, August 13 Separatist leader of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Geelani has called for a two-day shutdown in the Kashmir region on Thursday and Friday this week. Geelani, in a statement, said the shutdown on Friday would be to demand the disarmament and disbanding of Village Defence Committees. He said the shutdown would also be a protest against the state government’s failure to protect the lives and property of people. The separatist leader, who was barred by the police from addressing a press conference yesterday, also called for a shutdown on August 15, terming it a black day. — TNS
	BJP wants all-party team to visit affected areas Dinesh Manhotra Jammu, August 13 The war of words over the Kishtwar violence intensified today, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanding that an all-party delegation should visit the trouble-torn areas to assess the situation. The BJP claimed that the Omar Abdullah government was hiding the truth. The BJP demand to send an all-party delegation was another attempt to mount pressure on Omar. “Kishtwar and adjoining localities are still out of bounds for politicians. The town is under curfew and the real picture showing exact losses is not known,” state BJP president Jugal Kishore Sharma said. He added that it was not possible to present the truth before the nation without sending an all-party delegation. “We have urged the party high command to convince the Centre on a high-level all-party delegation to affected areas,” he said. Sources said a closed-door four-hour meeting of senior BJP leaders was held this afternoon to devise a plan to mount pressure on the state government to announce adequate compensation for the Kishtwar victims.
	Panthers Party demands President’s Rule Jammu, August 13 Activists of the Panthers Party today defied curfew restrictions in Jammu and took out a march, demanding the imposition of President's Rule and alleging that the law and order in the state had collapsed. Party activists led by Members of Legislative Assembly Balwant Singh Mankotia, Harsh Dev Singh and Yashpal Kundal defied curfew outside the party office in the Gandhi Nagar area. They tried to take out a march to the Bikram Chowk area, but were not allowed to move to Bikram Chowk. They then staged a dharna. The police arrested the leaders and activists and detained them at the Gandhi Nagar police station. They were released after a couple of hours. — TNS
	Ramban killings Rights panel unhappy over delay in filing reports Says authorities can’t be allowed to sleep over matter Ishfaq Tantry/TNS Srinagar, August 13 The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has expressed displeasure over the delay in filing reports by the authorities concerned with regard to the civilian killings in Ramban last month, observing that the reporting officers cannot be allowed to sleep over the matter. Four civilians were killed and over 40 injured in Dharam village of the Gool Gulabgarh area of Ramban district on July 19 when BSF personnel allegedly fired upon a mob protesting against them. While taking suo motu cognisance of the incident, the commission had on July 22 issued notices to notices to the Commissioner Secretary, Home, J&K Government, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, and the SSP, Ramban, asking them to file their report about the incident within 10 days. Besides in its orders passed on July 23, the SHRC, while admitting a petition by the Hurriyat Conference seeking constitution of a commission of inquiry to probe civilian killings, had also issued notices to the Secretary, Union Home Department, and the Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF), directing them to file their reports about the incident by or before August 13. However, as the matter came up before the commission today, it was told that the respondent authorities were yet to file their respective reports about the incident and the case diary files had also not been submitted as was directed. “The matter is important and needs expeditious disposal. (However) the reports in the matter are awaited,” a division bench of the SHRC observed in its orders passed today. “The reply officers cannot be allowed to sleep on the matter so that it will die down with the lapse of time,” the commission further observed while keeping the matter posted for September 10, by which time the authorities are expected to file their reports as directed earlier. Demanding the registration of first information reports (FIRs) against the BSF and the J&K Police for the killing of civilians in Ramban, the Hurriyat Conference, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, had on July 22 approached the SHRC with a petition, seeking directions to the state government for appointing a commission of inquiry to probe the incident.
	Hurriyat moves rights panel against Kishtwar violence Seeks action against VDC members, compensation to victims Ishfaq Tantry Tribune News Service Srinagar, August 13 The moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference, headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, has approached the State Human Rights Commission over the communal violence in Kishtwar and its surrounding areas. Communal riots broke out in the Kishtwar area of the Jammu region on Eid-ul-Fitr on August 9 and later spread to other parts of the region, including Jammu city and Rajouri town. So far three persons have been killed and many others injured in the violence. In a petition filed by the Hurriyat through its legal cell head, Manan Bukhari, the rights body has been asked to issue directions to the authorities concerned for registration of an FIR against people behind the violence in the area, including Village Defence Committee (VDC) members, who the Hurriyat alleges were behind the violence in the area. In the petition, it has been stated that in the wake of the communal violence on Eid in Kishtwar “three precious lives have been lost”. It has been submitted that “during these incidents” of violence, members of the VDCs had “played key roles by committing acts of atrocities against members of a particular community” by “misusing” their powers and weapons. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while confirming the three deaths, in his tweets on Monday, had also identified the victims. “The fresh incidents have once again put into focus the working of the VDCs in the Jammu region, where VDC members have often been charged with committing crimes and have now become something of a law unto themselves,” it has been submitted in the petition by the Hurriyat before the SHRC, filed through counsel Ajaz A Dar. It has also sought the disbanding of the VDC in the area, created by the government to fight militants. The petition states that the unfortunate incidents at Kishtwar and its surroundings areas constitute the violation of human rights. In the petition, it has also been said the government was not taking action against the VDC members allegedly behind the communal violence and registering FIRs against them. “It is, therefore, prayed that the cognisance of the matter be taken by this Commission and the authorities be directed to register cases against VDC members,” it said. The petition demanded a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for those killed in the communal violence and Rs 5 lakh for the injured. It has also sought Rs 5 lakh as compensation for those whose houses have been damaged in the rioting. In the petition, which is expected to be listed before the Commission for hearing this week, the directions have also been sought to the authorities for explaining their failure in controlling the communal riots in the region.
	Pro-Pak groups out to repeat 1990 in Kishtwar, says Pandit body Tribune News Service Jammu, August 13 Panun Kashmir, a frontal organisation of displaced Kashmiri Pandits, today said the attack on the minority community should not be brushed aside as a mere communal clash. It said it was a deep-rooted conspiracy of pro-Pakistan and separatist elements to engineer the exodus of the minority community as had happened in the Kashmir valley in 1990. While reacting to Finance Minister P Chidambaram’s statement in the Rajya Sabha that the repeat of 1990 will not be allowed in Jammu and Kashmir, Panun Kashmir convener Agnishekhar today said the Central government needed to take effective measures for the safety of the minorities. “The attack on the minority community by people carrying Pakistani flags and raising pro-Azadi slogans is a matter of concern for patriotic people of the country. The nation must see these developments in a proper perspective and in light of the similar circumstances in 1990, which forced the Kashmiri Pandits into exile,” the Panun Kashmir convener said. He alleged that the attacks were designed to create fear among the minorities and a tool used by terrorists in Kashmir to force the migration of the minorities from the hilly areas, particularly in the Jammu region. Panun Kashmir has said the vote-bank politics and the prejudiced responses of various political parties both in the state and country was making them blind to the real threats to the sovereignty of the country by spreading of radical fundamentalism in Jammu province. The organisation has said it was ironical that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had justified his inaptness at Kishtwar by quoting the 2002 Gujarat violence. “Omar has no moral authority to ask the Gujarat Chief Minister to apologise for the 2002 riots. Has his father Farooq Abdullah, the then Chief Minister of J&K, tendered an apology for leaving the state in the lurch and fleeing to London in 1990, at a time when he could have stopped the forced exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits,” he said.
	Governor briefed on Jammu Central varsity functioning Tribune News Service Srinagar, August 13 Vice Chancellor of the Central University of Jammu SS Bloeria met Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here today. Bloeria briefed the Governor, who is also the Chancellor of the Central University of Jammu, about the to-date status of the teaching and research programmes, conduct of interviews to fill faculty positions and the time frame within which the construction of the university campus can commence on the land acquired for establishing the varsity. The Governor emphasised the usefulness of the essential facilities being established within an envisaged time frame. Bloeria informed the Governor that suitable accommodation had been hired to run the teaching programmes and for providing hostels to boys and girls. The teaching work is in full swing in eight departments. Vohra, who is the Chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, had discussions with Bloeria, who is also the member of the Shrine Board, with regard to several new initiatives being taken for enlarging infrastructural facilities for the pilgrims in view of the progressively increasing yatra.
	Natrang director calls on Governor Srinagar, August 13 Director, Natrang, and Regional Director of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Jammu, Balwant Thakur called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here this evening. Thakur briefed the Governor, who is also the Chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, about the to-date status of various projects, commenced last year for preserving and showcasing the heritage and performing art forms of the villages surrounding the Vaishno Devi shrine. These programmes are supported by the Shrine Board. Thakur informed the Governor that out of 110 groups of artists identified in the villages surrounding the shrine, 45 groups had been documented. — TNS
	I-Day preparations in full swing Tribune News Service Srinagar, August 13 A full dress rehearsal was today held at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar amid tight security ahead of 67th Independence Day. Sources said there was a general input about the presence of militants in Srinagar and its outskirts and the security had been beefed up to keep militants at bay. “Checking has also been intensified across Srinagar and other parts of the Valley ahead of the Independence Day functions,” a police officer said, adding that night patrolling has been intensified in sensitive areas of the Valley. Security has also been intensified around Bakshi Stadium, the main venue of the Independence Day function in the state. The stadium was today virtually sealed by the police and the CRPF. The passenger vehicles coming from the uptown areas of the city were diverted through Jehangir Chowk. Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Shailendra Kumar supervised the dress rehearsal at Bakshi Stadium. Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Farooq Ahmad Shah, after unfurling the Tricolour, inspected the parade and took the salute at the march past. “The march past was presented by contingents of the JKP, JKAP, IRP, CRPF, BSF, ITBP, women police, State Disaster Response Force, Fire and Emergency Services and students from various educational institutions, besides contingents of the Forest Protection Force also took part in the march past,” an official spokesman said. He said a variety of colourful cultural programmes were presented by students of educational institutions in collaboration with the Information, Youth Services and Sports Departments and the Cultural Academy of Art, Culture and Languages. Senior civil, police and paramilitary forces officers were present at the dress rehearsal. There were reports of full dress rehearsals at the district headquarters in Baramulla, Anantnag, Budgam, Kupwara, Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam, Bandipora and Ganderbal.
	Truckers attacked in Samba district 2 injured, another stripped of cash Suhail A Shah Anantnag, August 13 A truck driver and a cleaner were injured in alleged attacks and another truck driver reportedly robbed of cash in Samba district of the Jammu region. Most of the Jammu region has been under curfew. Reports said the drivers were headed home in Shopian district of south Kashmir from Delhi when they were reportedly attacked on the outskirts of Samba. “People of the area had assembled in large numbers along the highway,” said Tanveer Ahmad Bhat of Tengwani in Shopian. He was behind the wheel when the rioters attacked his truck (JK22-4084). They smashed the windowpanes and beat up him and the cleaner. “They took away 28,000 as well,” he said. While Bhat received no external injury, cleaner Nazir Ahmad Khanday of Pinjoora in Shopian had to be given several stitches on the forehead as he was hit with a sharp-edged weapon. Shakeel Ahmad Mir of Pinjoora in Shopian received a head injury in another attack. He was behind the wheel of a truck (JK03B-8922) when he was attacked. There was a shutdown in Pulwama town and its periphery for the fourth consecutive day. People demanded the release of youths detained since Sunday evening after clashes left over a dozen persons injured. Some youths threw stones at the local police station in Pulwama town around 7 am today. Police personnel fired pellet guns and teargas shells to disperse the protesters.