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Governor visits Leh, reviews security along border
‘Communal harmony must for progress’
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The counting of votes will be held at Degree College, Kargil, on Wednesday and the results are expected by midnight. Here, girls walk through a market in
Kargil. Tribune photo: Amin War
LeT behind twin attacks in south Kashmir: CRPF
The coffin of the slain CRPF jawan being carried by police and CRPF officers on Tuesday.
PM’s scholarship scheme being ‘misused’
Jammu youth feeling discriminated
State continues to rely on paramilitary forces
Congress convention to put up ‘united face’
Over 4,000 slum households in J&K without kitchens
Panic among villagers as Pak again opens fire in Poonch
Northern Command chief takes stock of preparedness along LoC
No relief for Kishtwar riot victims so far
Mehbooba slams govt’s rehab policy for former militants
Army celebrates Hajipir Day
Governor, CM extend Janmashtami greetings
People dance to devotional songs during a procession on the eve of Janmashtami
in Jammu on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Anand Sharma
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Governor visits Leh, reviews security along border
Leh, August 27 Chinese forces have been making regular incursions in the eastern part of Ladakh and earlier in April this year they had come about 19 km inside the Indian territory in the Daulat Beg Oldie sector. Lt General Sharma brought into focus the logistical problems faced by the Indian troops in the area and also highlighted how the infrastructure needed to be strengthened, an official spokesman said. The duo also discussed the recent ceasefire violation along the LoC in Kargil, he said, adding that Vohra stressed the vital importance of eternal vigil on the frontiers. Pakistani troops, earlier this month, had opened fire on Indian posts in Drass and Kaksar areas of Kargil. This was the first time after the 1999 Kargil war that troops from across the LoC had fired at Indian posts in the area. The Governor, meanwhile, complimented Lt General Sharma and all the officers and men of his corps for the devotion and high commitment with which they were protecting the territorial integrity of this vast region.
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‘Communal harmony must for progress’
Leh, August 27 He was inaugurating a 12-day Special National Integration Camp of the National Cadet Corps
(NCC) at Rinchen Auditorium at Leh today. Over 320 NCC cadets from the country, including 150 from various parts of the state, are participating in it. The Governor observed that India was a multi-religious, multi-lingual and multi-cultural country where people from all faiths were living together since centuries. He said “dozens of languages and nearly 2,000 dialects are spoken in India, which is yet another example of our pluralistic tradition.” He said communal harmony “is the bedrock of unity and the country cannot maintain its territorial integrity unless our billion plus people stand together”. He said, “It is of utmost importance for each one of us to contribute in whatever way we can to preserve the unity and integrity of the country”, adding that “our youth have to play a special role in securing this objective.” Referring to the
NCC, the Governor observed that it provided an excellent opportunity to “our youth to work together and serve as a disciplined element of the country, besides strengthening the bonds of national integration and brotherhood.” He said the strength of the country lies in the collectivity of its people and stressed on a collective approach to succeed in meeting any challenges before the nation. The Governor observed that the strength of the NCC had grown over the past years, but considering the strength of the youth and the size of the country, more and more boys and girls needed to be brought under the ambit of the
organisation. He expressed happiness that Naval and Air Wings of the NCC were also being established in the state, which would provide new openings to youth of the state. On the NCC Special National Integration Camp, the Governor observed that the NCC cadets were lucky to come to Ladakh and interact with youth of the state who were as talented in academics, aesthetics, creative arts and all other human
endeavours, as their counterparts elsewhere in India. Vohra lauded the cultural programme presented by the NCC cadets on the occasion and had a special word of praise for the song, “Hamein Hey Nasha NCC Ki Wardi Ka”, written by Brig NK
Khajuria, Group Commander, NCC Group Headquarters, Srinagar. The Governor congratulated Maj Gen Neeraj
Verma, Additional Director General, NCC, J&K Directorate, and other NCC
officers for organising the camp.
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Kargil council
elections
Srinagar, August 27 Arrangements for the counting of votes were reviewed at a meeting held at Kargil today under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner, Kargil, Fida Hussain and attended by SP, Kargil, Sujit Kumar. Of the total 257 polling stations, 87 were declared hypersensitive and 78 sensitive. The voting was completed in a peaceful manner on August 22, barring minor incidents of violence. The SP, Kargil, said paramilitary forces personnel had also been deployed in 20 sensitive and hypersensitive areas to avoid any trouble in the event of poll results. The security deployment with quick reaction teams would be made from 6 am to 12 midnight tomorrow. The counting of votes will begin at 8 am at Degree College, Kargil, tomorrow and the results are expected to be out by midnight. The counting of votes would be held in four halls, each with four tables, officials said, adding that entry would be restricted to the counting centre. The new council would be in place by September 2. Senior leaders, including National Conference MP from Ladakh Ghulam Hassan Khan, are contesting the elections whose fate would be known tomorrow. Out of the 26 constituencies, polling was held in 24 constituencies, with a total electorate of 77,158 votes, including 40,477 men and 36,681 women. Two Independent candidates, advocate Mohammad Amir from Stakchey Kahngral and Aga Mohammad Hassan from Saliskote constituency, were elected uncontested. Officials in Kargil said 79.65 per cent polling was witnessed in a peaceful manner, barring minor incidents of violence, in which three persons were injured in the Drass area of Kargil.
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LeT behind twin attacks in south Kashmir: CRPF
Srinagar, August 27 “The investigations have so far revealed that it were LeT cadres who carried out these attacks. The two attacks were carried out by two different groups of the LeT in south Kashmir,” said Inspector General (Operations), CRPF, Nalin Prabhat. He said both foreign as well as local militants were involved in the twin attacks. In the first militant attack on Monday, SOG personnel Salamat-ullah Khan was shot dead and a civilian was injured in a militants attack in Arwani Bijbehara in south Kashmir. Hours later, a second attack was carried out by militants in a neighbouring village in which Raja Ram from the 14th Battalion of the CRPF was killed and another injured after an escort vehicle of National Conference Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Showket Ahmad came under attack in Awneera village of Shopian district. The responsibility for these attacks was claimed by the Hizbul Mujahideen over a phone call to a local news gathering agency in Srinagar. “The Hizb has been owning responsibility for all major attacks and that is aimed at diverting the attention of investigators,” said a police officer in Srinagar. Meanwhile, the JK Police led by Director General of Police Ashok Prasad and the CRPF today paid homage to CRPF jawan Raju Ram, who was killed in a militant attack in Shopian yesterday. The wreath-laying ceremony was held in the District Police Lines, Srinagar, and was attended by ADGP (Headquarters) S P Vaid, IGP (Personnel) Arun Chowdary, IGP, Kashmir, A G Mir, IG, CRPF, Nalin Prabhat, IGP (Traffic) Muneer Khan, IGP, CRPF, P K Singh, and DIG, Central Kashmir, S A Mujtaba, and other senior police and paramilitary officers.
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PM’s scholarship scheme being ‘misused’
Srinagar, August 27 Addressing a press conference here today, chairman of the Association, G N Var, claimed that since the launch of the scheme, nearly 9,000 students from Kashmir have been duped by the touts in the name of this prestigious scholarship. “Claiming to be the facilitators of the PMSSS, some touts and NGOs, and so called social activists, charge anywhere between Rs 25,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh from every aspiring student, who wishes to be funded through this scholarship scheme,” Var said. “Some of the students have even been registered online by these touts of their own in the colleges where from they get commissions ranging anywhere between Rs 50,000 to Rs one lakh,” he alleged. Var added that by this way around Rs 100 crore of scholarship money has been syphoned off by these people so far. He said that the association was getting hundreds of calls and representations from the distressed students, who have been admitted by these touts in various colleges outside the state, but were refused the funding under the scheme by the respective colleges. Var informed that under the scheme, 250 scholarships are given in the field of medicine, while an equal number is offered in engineering discipline. “In violation of this rule, touts have registered thousands of young and aspiring Kashmiri students for pursuing medical and engineering courses under the PMSSS,” Var said. He added that any recognised college in India, under the scheme, can accommodate a maximum of five students from the state, but these people have placed up to 100 students in a single college. Var said it needs to be investigated by the government authorities. “Last year around 500 were enrolled by these men in some shady colleges after flouting all the guidelines, the result was that 200 students had to return with heavy hearts. The colleges refused them the scholarship and demanded money from them. Many of the parents were forced to sell their properties to pay the fees,” Var claimed. He said there was lack of awareness about the implementation of the scheme. “We don’t know how the students from J&K are selected under this scheme. No merit list is prepared…,” he said. Var, meanwhile, said that his association had made a representation to the Chief Minister and the Vigilance Commissioner about the misuse of the PM’s Special Scholarship Scheme earlier in June this year. “In June this year we made a complaint about the grave situation to the Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC), Kuldeep Khuda, who expressed his inability to take up the matter. He, however, forwarded the complaint to the Crime Branch in the same month,” Var said. “But till date there has been no action against the culprits. Besides, no policy has been formulated by the government to implement the scheme in a transparent manner,” he added. — TNS
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Jammu youth feeling discriminated
Jammu, August 27 “Police detained more than 150 people during the protest across Jammu province after the Kishtwar incident, many of them were young boys, who took part in stone pelting,” Inspector General of Police
(IGP), Jammu, Rajesh Kumar, said. The state and the central government might be dealing with it as a routine communal polarisation and weighing it on the scale of vote bank politics, but there is simmering discontent among the youth in Jammu region, particularly in the Hindu dominated southern part of the state. The undercurrents of communal division have more to do with the feeling of discrimination. The youth, who associate themselves with the mainstream India, are feeling left out of jobs and centrally sponsored employment generation schemes. There is a sense of identity crisis, as youth are bewildered at the appeasement of separatist elements by the mainstream political parties, particularly National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP). The BJP having a sizable cadre base in Jammu, where it won 11 seats in 2008 Assembly Elections, was for once hesitant to give a call for shutdown after the reports of attack on minority community in Kishtwar spread, but when the markets and transport were forced to close down by the protesting youth, the party jumped in to give it a political colour. “The participation of youth is a new phenomenon and a subject of research for scholars. So far, this aspect was not given any consideration. Who were the youth that took part in the protests? What was the motivation? We have only few answers,” said Rekha
Choudhary, former Head of the Department (HoD) Political Science at the University of Jammu. The communal clashes in Kishtwar drew violent reactions from people in Jammu, forcing the authorities to call in the Army and enforce curfew across the region. This was unprecedented with Amarnath land agitation in 2008 being the only exception. Even during several terrorist attacks, Jammu maintained calm and never succumbed to the provocations. “Nationalist youth is feeling humiliated. There is greater political awareness among young generation. They want greater integration with the mainstream India. Youngsters are feeling suffocated with the policies of successive governments,” said Mahesh
Koul, a research scholar in management studies at the Jammu University. For the last six decades, strong political pressure from New Delhi and Srinagar has kept a lid on the aspirations of the Hindu dominated areas of the state, but the Jammu and Ladakh were perhaps the only regions of the country where people demanded division of the state immediately after the country attained independence in 1947. “New Delhi should not ignore the youth of Jammu. They feel abandoned by the central leadership, who are busy pampering separatist elements with economic doles,” said historian
Prof. Hari Om.
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State continues to rely on paramilitary forces
Jammu, August 27 Despite Chief Minister Omar Abdullah keen on bringing the J&K Police on the ‘forefront’, the state relies heavily on central security forces. More than two years ago, Omar had mooted a proposal before the Union Government to raise 50 new battalions of the Indian Reserve Police (IRP) for the state to reduce the footprints of the paramilitary forces from towns and cities. “The proposal of raising 50 new battalions of the IRP is under active consideration of the Government of India. We are waiting for a final decision now,” IGP (Personnel), Arun Choudhary told The Tribune. He said initially for some period the financial burden of the 50 new battalions (approximately 50,000 cops) would have to be borne by the Centre. The state today is being helped by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). “The Kashmir region today has nearly 50 battalions of the CRPF and we are into all sorts of duties related to counter-insurgency, law and order, guarding of shrines, vital installations and railway tracks and providing security to VIPs,” said CRPF Kashmir zone DIG Sudhakar Upadhaya. The officer further said due to the multifarious tasks, the CRPF was an overstretched force in the state. Another senior officer of the CRPF from the Jammu region said, “The CRPF is meant for operations like counter-insurgency and maintaining law and order. Even the Union Home Ministry has repeatedly asked the state government to relieve the CRPF from trivial tasks in order to send the force to the Red corridor of the country where the Naxal movement has assumed alarming proportions.” The officer said protecting politicians was not the responsibility of the CRPF and it was already in the process of withdrawing security cover to them in the state. Jammu currently has 13 battalions of the
CRPF. Tackling security
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Congress convention to put up ‘united face’
Jammu, August 27 The convention was earlier scheduled to be held on August 11. However, it was postponed due to riots in Kishtwar on August 9, followed by curfew in Jammu. The convention is aimed at bringing the warring factions within the state Congress closer. Also, the party is likely to devise a strategy for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections during the convention. Over 150 executive member of JKPCC from Jammu province, including ex-officio members like ministers, MLAs, MLCs, ex-ministers and ex-legislators, are going to attend the function. The convention holds importance, especially after the Kishtwar riots, as the Congress would be
the biggest sufferer in case of polarisation in the Jammu region. The party leadership in the state has also failed to take a united stand on issues like disbanding of Village Defence Committees (VDCs). While one group within the party has been echoing the demand made by the separatist groups of disbanding the VDCs, the other group supports the idea of strengthening the volunteer force. Sources within the party said that Ambika Soni will arrive in Jammu on August 30 and she will meet different delegations on first day of her visit, so as to evolve a consensus on vital issues like VDCs. Any resolution in the convention would be passed only after proper discussion with prominent leaders from all the three regions, they added. In the previous PCC convention held at Srinagar on May 18-19 last year, the party had passed a resolution on extending the 73rd amendment of Indian
Constitution in the state, but the government has not taken any action in this regard so far which has created an embarrassment for the party. This will be Ambika Soni’s first visit to the state as in-charge of J&K affairs. The senior leader had, however, accompanied Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi during their visit to the state for the inauguration of the Banihal Railway tunnel in June. Soni was appointment as the in-charge of J&K affairs on June 17 this year.
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Over 4,000 slum households in J&K without kitchens
Jammu, August 27 Official statistics revealed that there are nearly 97,000 slum households, most of them in Jammu region, out of which a total of 78,955 are permanent in nature, while 12, 815 dwellings are semi-permanent. Out of these 12,815 households, at least 2,744 structures need immediate maintenance. “Out of the total of 96,990 slum households in Jammu and Kashmir, at least 94,144 families cook food inside their houses,” the stats said. “While 90,396 families have kitchens inside their households, 3,748 dwellings don’t have proper kitchens and people cook food in different parts of their shanties,” the data added. In 2,548 slum households cooking is done outside the house. Of these 1,920 have make-shift kitchens outside their houses, while 664 families are yet to construct kitchens and cook their food in the open. There are 22,705 slum households that still use firewood as cooking fuel, while at least 1,332 households use crop residue for cooking purpose. As many as 2,853 slum families are dependent on cow-dung cakes as cooking fuel, while a number of households use kerosene to cook food. However, 61,625 slum households avail the facility of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in their day-to-day life, the stats said. Last year in December, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had received the best award for poverty reduction from the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Meera Kumar. The state had also bagged the best state award in the sectors of health, horticulture and forest protection. In his address, Omar had claimed that his government was focusing on reduction of poverty by generating wide-ranging economic activities all across the state. The statistics, however, revealed that there are still 12, 960 slum households that just have single room for the occupants. The number of slum households having six or more rooms is 14,400, the data added.
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Panic among villagers as Pak again opens fire in Poonch
Jammu, August 27 The spokesperson said there was no casualty or injury to Indian troops. Earlier this morning, Pakistani troops opened intermittent but heavy fire on Indian posts in Detote, Kanga Nullah, Panjani in the Balakote sector. “They started firing heavy arms fire around 6 am and the firing between the two sides continued till 12 noon,” said Intelligence sources. They said the area in the Balakote sector was being manned by 20 Jat Regiment and 15 Bihar Regiment. A local said continuous firing between the two sides since August 6 had caused panic among the villagers in the forward areas in Poonch district. “We fled to safety on a couple of occasions but returned to look after our cattle and attend to domestic chores. A constant fear lurks,” he said. Pakistan has been frequently violating the bilateral ceasefire on the LoC since the last two months. Meanwhile, Pakistan media reports claimed injuries to a Pakistani civilian today in retaliatory firing by the Indian troops in the Nezapir Keerni area of the forward Kahuta sector on the other side of the LoC in the Poonch sector. They also claimed injuries to six Pakistani civilians in Indian firing on Monday in the Turkandi area of the Nakyal sector.
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Northern Command chief takes stock of preparedness along LoC
Srinagar, August 27 Lt General Chachra had arrived in the Kashmir
valley on a four-day visit on Sunday. The Northern Command chief visited forward areas along the LoC in the Gurez, Machil, Tangdhar and Gulmarg sectors, where he interacted with troops. “The Northern Command chief complimented the troops for their dedication, outstanding vigilance, high state of preparedness and the grit and determination with which they are braving all odds of terrain and weather in the service of the nation,” a defence spokesman said. “The Army Commander also visited the Sector Headquarters of the Rashtriya Rifles located in the hinterland and praised them for exercising a high degree of control over the internal security situation, upholding the highest ethos of the Army and respecting the human rights of the
Awaam,” he said. “The GOC-in-C, Northern Command, was pleased with the counter-infiltration and joint-intelligence grid which resulted in a series of successful counter-infiltration and counter-terrorist operations during which 28 terrorists were killed. “He particularly commended the high-level of synergy between the security forces, intelligence agencies and state police,” the spokesman said.
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No relief for Kishtwar riot victims so far
Jammu, August 27 But even after 19 days of the incident, no money has been given to the victims. The state administration is citing non-availability of the budget for the said purpose. “There were budgetary issues and so far we haven’t got the money from the revenue department,” Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Shantamanu, said. “This morning I talked to the revenue department and we are hopeful that budget will be sanctioned,” he added. Communal clashes that broke out in Kishtwar on August 9 caused widespread damage, not only in Kishtwar, but in other parts of the Jammu region as well. Three people were killed, while 60 shops besides few houses and hotels were damaged in Kishtwar district. Shops were also damaged in the Jammu city, by rioters. After the incident, officials from the public works department were asked to prepare a detailed assessment report of losses occurred in the Jammu division and the process has almost been completed.
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Mehbooba slams govt’s rehab policy for former militants
Srinagar, August 27 Speaking at a public gathering at Tral in south Kashmir today, she said backtracking on the promises made to the ex-militants was unfortunate. “The government has turned a blind eye towards a serious humanitarian issue - the education and social rights of their (militants’) children and spouses. They had crossed the LoC as young people, but are returning with their large families, risking their lives during their journey from Pakistan to Kashmir, but have been left high and dry. The former militants face economic insecurity, are jobless and their children and spouses face an identity crisis because of the insensitive dispensation,” she said in a statement. “In the given situation their children face a dark future, as no school or college here is ready to give them admission, and the rulers have forgotten them completely. What was the fun of bringing them from a fire pan and putting them into the fire?” Mehbooba asked. She added if they are now returning to Pakistan, it should not surprise anybody. She urged the government to take immediate steps for their honourable rehabilitation in the state so that they could live a dignified life along with their families. The PDP president said the half-baked policy was rushed through only to score propaganda points. “It is time that it (rehabilitation policy) is amended and the entry is allowed through local routes which has emerged as the central idea for the peace and resolution process,” she said.
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Army celebrates Hajipir Day
Srinagar, August 27 “As a mark of respect for the locals who participated and contributed towards the success of the operation, the Hajipir Brigade celebrated this historical day by organising a series of activities,” a defence spokesman said. “On this day, the Hajipir Pass was successfully captured by the troops of the Brigade. It was an attack from two directions thereby, overwhelming Pakistani troops before enemy reinforcement could reach them. This gallant act prevented Pakistani raiders from entering Kashmir from the Poonch side. Since then August 28 is celebrated as Hajipir Day,” the spokesman said. He said a fortnightly programme on healthcare, awareness drive and skill enhancement measures was organised by the Army to honour people.
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Governor, CM extend Janmashtami greetings
Srinagar, August 27 In his message of felicitations, the Governor observed that the divine message of Lord Krishna, enshrined in the Shrimad Bhagvad Gita, exhorted mankind to strive for the ultimate truth and do one’s duty to the best of one’s ability without worrying about the benefits. He said adherence to such values provided a firm foundation for a stable and harmonious society. The Governor prayed for the well-being of the people of the state. In his message, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the tradition of celebrating festivals and holy occasions in an atmosphere of amity and brotherhood in Jammu and Kashmir added colour to the occasions. He stressed on strengthening the trait. He prayed for peace and development in the state and country. Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah also felicitated the people on Janmashtami and prayed for their prosperity. In a statement issued here, Farooq emphasised the need for further strengthening the bonds of love existing between various sections of society.
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Srinagar, August 27
Srinagar, August 27
Governor NN has greeted the people on the eve of Janmashtami and expressed the hope that the occasion would be a harbinger of peace, harmony, progress and prosperity in the state.
In his message of felicitations, the Governor observed that the divine message of Lord Krishna, enshrined in the Shrimad Bhagvad Gita, exhorted mankind to strive for the ultimate truth and do one’s duty to the best of one’s ability without worrying about the benefits.
