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Pakistan again pounds posts in Poonch dist
Globemaster shot in arm for Army in Ladakh region
Omar for bringing political parties under RTI Act
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Pandits to take up temples Bill with Prime Minister
State’s first residential football academy to come up in Baramulla
Zubin, Valley musicians to share dais for ‘Tribute to Kashmir’
Militants targeting security personnel to acquire weapons
Cross-LoC trade remains suspended via Salamabad
Riot victims apprise MPs of situation in Kishtwar
BJP decides against ‘re-entry’ of expelled MLAs into party fold
Led by Jugal, BJP activists court arrest in Kathua
Kargil Council: Members to take oath on Sept 7
NC leader joins PDP
4.4-magnitude quake shakes Kishtwar
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Pakistan again pounds posts in Poonch dist
Jammu/Poonch, September 3 The minor was grazing his livestock at a pasture near the village when a mortar hit them. He has been identified as Mohammed Showkat, son of Mohammed Sharief. The incident happened around 4.30 pm. “The victim was rushed to a Poonch hospital but it takes over one hour walk from Kaiyan Mandhar village to reach the nearest motorable road,” said a local. In yet another ceasefire violation, Pakistani troops pounded Indian forward posts and villages in Kerni and Shahpur sub-sectors prompting the Indian Army to give a matching response, said a senior Army officer. Defence spokesperson SN Acharya said around 9.30 am today Pakistan troops opened small arms fire and automatics in the Doda Battalion sector drawing matching response from the Indian Army. “The firing between the two sides is still on,” he added. An Intelligence source said Pakistani troops fired mortars at various Indian posts like Sher, Shakti, Kerni, Shahpur. “They fired plenty of mortars and also targeted civilian areas, compelling villagers to stay indoors,” he said. The continuous firing by the Pakistani troops along the de facto border and forward villages like Kerni, Saujiyan, Gagrian, Chamber Kanari, Shahpur, Qasba, Digwar Trewa, Dhokri and Chakan da Bagh has forced villagers to look for safer places. The educational institutions in forward areas have also been witnessing thin attendance of students as well as the teaching staff. Villagers told The Tribune that studies in schools along the LoC had been adversely affected due to continuous firing by Pakistani troops since August 6. They said over 75 government schools located between the LoC and the barbed fence in forward villages of Poonch sector remained closed on days of firing. Manjeet Singh Bali, Principal, Government Higher Secondary School Islamabad in the Shahpur sector said, “Firing is a regular phenomenon in this sector and we have given the basic training to our students on how to protect themselves.” A few days ago, two women were injured during Pakistani firing in the same area. Pakistani troops yesterday violated ceasefire twice by firing in the Balakote and Mendhar sub-sectors. Search op in Kathua
Jammu: A massive search operation was launched on Tuesday in Kathua district after a villager spotted two suspicious men carrying bags in Tarnah Nullah in Ratnachak village. The Tarnah and Bein nullahs, besides other rivulets in the area that flow into Pakistan, have remained traditional routes of infiltration for Pakistani militants. |
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Globemaster shot in arm for Army in Ladakh region
Jammu, September 3 “Yes, the heavy-lift aircraft is capable of landing on any airfield, including the high altitude bases having a runway of 3,500 feet. And we have such airfields and advanced landing grounds in Ladakh,” IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Gerard Galway told The Tribune over phone. Defence Minister A K Antony had yesterday inducted three US-built 70-tonne C-17 heavy-lift transport aircraft into the service at the Hindon air base. “Wherever the aircraft is required within the Indian territory, be it northeast, Ladakh or Andaman and Nicobar Islands, it will be used,” Galway said. The C-17 can ferry around 150 fully geared troops and is capable of replenishing supplies in a matter of few hours. “Definitely, the induction of C-17 is another shot in the arm after the Super Hercules,” said a senior Army officer. “The C-17s will boost India's plan to strengthen its capabilities along the disputed border with China.The four-engine aircraft is capable of even operating on runways that are 2,400 feet long and here it becomes handy for the Army to ferry troops and artillery guns much closer to the border without any delay,” he said. “C-17 is undoubtedly a cut above the rest,” he added. The Union government, of late, has started showing concern to the changing scenario on the vast frontiers of the country, especially in Ladakh, in the backdrop of frequent Chinese incursions in the strategic region, he said. The officer felt that New Delhi had started giving “focused attention” to Ladakh, which was a
positive sign. “We have started sprucing up our airfields and advanced landing grounds in Ladakh. The region has airfields and advanced landing grounds at Leh, Kargil, Thoise, DBO, Nyoma, Demchok, Fukche and Chushul,” he said. “The creation of 15 or 16 new posts of the ITBP along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh in the next few years will also bolster our security grid,” the officer added. |
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Omar for bringing political parties under RTI Act
The Chief Minister said the RTI Act was the model initiative to promote transparency, accountability and responsiveness in the functioning of a government, adding that information and knowledge sharing ensures empowerment of people and democracy. “I believe and support the idea of bringing all political parties under the RTI. I also believe that political parties should have no objection in this regard,” Omar said. Addressing the annual national convention on the RTI Act, organised by the National Right to Information Commission in New Delhi, Omar dwelt in detail upon the enactment of the National RTI Act and referred to the grassroot movements taking place in the country for the Act. The Chief Minister said with the implementation of the Act, the people had become empowered to see, check and inspect any information which did not come under the exemption list and as such, the government and governance had come under the scrutiny of most important stakeholder — public. Referring to the State Right to Information Act, he said the State Information Commission was fully functional with the appointment of the Chief Information Commissioner and two Information Commissioners in 2011. He said adequate staff and logistical support had been provided to the Commission, as per its requirements. “While there is a need to bring transparency in the recruitments at every level, information seekers should also focus on development activities and issues of urgent public importance and interests. If it is done, I am sure the real benefits of development will accrue to the common masses,” he added. |
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Pandits to take up temples Bill with Prime Minister
Jammu, September 3 Kashmiri Pandits are also planning to start a campaign across the country to draw the attention of the people towards their religious places in Kashmir and provide documentary evidence of encroachment by the land mafia. When passed, the Kashmiri Hindus Shrines and Religious Places (Management and Regulation) Bill will pave the way for the establishment of a management body on the pattern of the Muslim Auqaf Trust and Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, which manage the affairs of the Muslim and Sikh religious places in the state, respectively. “It is our only hope now, as the state government is not interested in saving our heritage. We have decided to meet the central leadership of the Congress, which is a partner in the present government in J&K,” said Arjan Nath Pandita, chairman of the Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust (PNBMT), an apex body pursuing the issue. Pandita said they had not received any commitment either from the Congress or the National Conference (NC), whose support was necessary for the passage of the Bill. The Bill is currently being examined by the Select Committee of the Legislative Assembly after Congress and NC MLAs demanded amendments in the Bill on April 5 this year, when it was introduced by the government. “This is a government Bill but there was opposition even from the ruling party MLAs. The PDP and the BJP have supported it, but they told us that only the government could get it passed. We hope that Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh would help our cause and press the Congress MLAs in state to support the Bill,” said Pandita. As the Leader of Opposition during the PDP-Congress coalition government (2002-08), Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather first brought a private member’s Bill in 2006. Later, it was put before the Assembly in 2009, when the NC-Congress government was in power. But it was deferred and has since then not been considered seriously. “If the government is sincere, it can place the Bill in the coming monsoon session of the Assembly. So far, we have not received any commitment from the government nor Law Minister Mir Saifullah who heads the Select Committee,” said Ramesh Bhat, senior member of the PNBMT. The Law Minister was not available for comment. Shrines target of
land mafia
After the exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley in 1990, when militancy erupted in Kashmir, religious places of the minority community became a major target of militants. The figures submitted in the Legislative Assembly say 57 temples have been damaged in Srinagar. In south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, 56 temples suffered damage during militancy. However, the Pandits dispute the figures and allege that several temples have been vandalised in rural and far-flung areas of the Valley, which they say are not being mentioned. As there is no management body, properties belonging to ancient temples have become a major target of the land mafia, which has managed to change the revenue records in connivance of some revenue officials in several villages. |
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State’s first residential football academy to come up in Baramulla
Srinagar, September 3 The academy will be set up at a cost of Rs 10 crore by the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) under its corporate social responsibility plan. The JKSPDC is the only state-owned power-generating company in the state. “The establishment of this formal and residential football academy will be a major step towards honing the skills of youth in the state. The academy will be operational in the next two years after which we will enrol kids and youth in different age groups,” said the general manager of the JKSPDC, Iftikhar Kakroo. “We will be hiring the best coaches and experts for the academy and the aim is to give a boost to the sport in J&K,” he added. The foundation stone of the academy will be laid on Wednesday by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is also the chairman of the JKSPDC. Despite unrest in the Valley, football has remained popular in Kashmir. Two football players Mehraj-ud-Din Wadoo and Ishfaq Ahmad have played for India. There are also three players from J&K who are at present playing for various prominent football clubs of the country. “The upcoming residential academy is the best thing to happen for football in J&K,” said the president of the J&K Football Association, Zameer Thakur. The JKSPDC official said the academy would not only help hone the skills of football players but also harness fresh talent. Spread over 70 kanals, the academy would offer facilities that would meet international standards. At present, there are five football academies in J&K. Out of them, four are run by the J&K Football Association. amenities at new academy
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Zubin, Valley musicians to share dais for ‘Tribute to Kashmir’
Srinagar, September 3 Sources said several local musicians would come together with the famed Bavarian State Orchestra ‘for a few minutes’ before Mehta conducts his usual orchestra at Shalimar Garden on September 7. The composition of Sopori, to be conducted by Mehta, would have the theme ‘Tribute to Kashmir’, the sources said while adding that German Ambassador Michael Steiner today interacted with the local artistes who are scheduled to perform at the Zubin Mehta concert at the J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages here. Zubin is scheduled to arrive on Friday, a day before the concert that would have an audience of around 1,500 guests. Ambassadors of various European countries besides a host of VVIPs are expected to be part of the audience. Meanwhile, Sopori, who has already arrived in the summer capital, said it was an honour for him as well as the state that his composition would be played at the concert titled ‘Ehsaas-e-Kashmir’ (feel of Kashmir) being organised by the German Embassy with the support of the state and centre. “It is a big honour for me and the state that my composition will be played before Beethoven and Tchaikovsky (compositions),” Sopori told The Tribune. |
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Militants targeting security personnel to acquire weapons
Anantnag/ Shopian, September 3 The policeman reportedly kept his assault rifle on a table and started to have his meal. Around half a dozen taxi drivers were also having their lunch at the eatery when a pistol-borne youth entered the restaurant and fired at Khan. Injured Khan tried to flee, but the militants followed him and shot him dead outside the hotel and decamped with his rifle. The sources said three militants, two foreigners and one local, were involved in the attack. “I could not understand what happed. I first thought that there was a cylinder blast inside the kitchen,
but later I came to know that militants had fired at the police man,” owner of the restaurant, Asharf War, recalled. Later on that day, militants also attacked the CRPF men accompanying National Conference Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Showkat Ganai to a marriage function in Awneera village of Shopian district. While constable Raja Ram died on the spot, Lalu Ram was grievously injured in the attack. Again the militants fled away with the rifle of the slain jawan. “We came to know about the incident almost after five minutes…Everyone, including the MLC, was having lunch when the attack took place,” said Showkat’s grandson. The sources said two Lashkar militants, one of them a foreigner, were involved in the attack. In all the recent attacks on the police and paramilitary troopers in south Kashmir, including the attack on cardiologist Dr Sheikh Jalal in Pampore last month,
militants have snatched the rifles from the slain security men. Over the last few months, south Kashmir has
witnessed a spurt in militant attacks. While speculations are rife about the regrouping of militant outfits in the area, top police officials attribute the “urgency” behind the attacks to the dearth of weapons among the militant cadres. “The fact that after almost every attack in recent past, the militants have decamped with the weapons of the slain cops cannot be overlooked,” Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), South Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said. “The limited number of militants active in the area, as per our sources, is fast running out of weapons and ammunition. This somehow explains the sense of urgency that can be felt in the recent attacks,” Kumar told The Tribune. Police said nearly 30 militants, including the cadres of Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizbul Mujahideen, are active in four districts of south Kashmir. Nearly half of them are foreigners, they said, adding that the LeT’s top men, include a Pakistani militant named Qasim. Hizbul has its presence mostly in the Tral area of Pulwama district and
its command is being led by Adil Sah, a local, police said. They also said LeT module of south Kashmir has been involved in various attacks in Srinagar, including the June 24 Hyderpora attack on an Army
convoy in which eight soldiers were killed. There have been four major attacks in over a month’s time in south Kashmir, the latest being the attack on Awantipora police station in Pulwama district on August 28, in which two civilians were injured. The DIG said all the four attacks in south Kashmir, including the attack on Jalal, were carried out by the LeT cadres. “One of the militants involved in the attack
was Bilal of Pulwama and another one was a Pakistani Abdullah Yousuf,” Kumar said. Over the past one
year, south Kashmir has witnessed young educated youth joining the militant ranks. “Even though, short
on weapons and ammunition, these young men are very dedicated to carry out strikes at will,” the source said. attacks on forces
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Army refutes reports of infiltration in Rajouri
Rajouri, September 3 The GOC said though an extensive search operation was launched by the Army and the police over the inputs, no militant was traced, adding that no fence was damaged or cut as “our jawans are very vigilant all along the line of control”. Reports said on August 29 night, security forces launched massive search operations in Panjgrian, Thandapani, Niaka, Katarmal, Gambhir Brahmna and Tasyala villages after receiving inputs about the movement of militants in the Tarkundi sector located close to the Line of Control. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of a school function at Rajouri, Major General Singh said, “I want to assure you that no successful infiltration occurred in our area. We have thoroughly investigated the case and maintained strict vigil. No fence was damaged or cut.” |
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Cross-LoC trade remains suspended via Salamabad
Srinagar, September 3 “No trade took place between the two sides on Tuesday,” said Raja Ehsan, custodian of the Trade Facilitation Centre, Salamabad-Uri. The trans-LoC trade on the Salamabad-Chakoti axis is conducted for four days a week. Traders had last week threatened to suspend the trade for an indefinite period. Business was suspended over a recent Custom Department order which banned the import of some items, including mangoes and dates, from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. “Unless the order is revoked, we will not resume business,” said a cross-LoC trader. The cross-LoC trade between India and Pakistan began on the Salamabad-Chakoti axis on October 21, 2008, and is considered one of the major confidence-building measures between the two countries. Traders have alleged that the trade was now taking its last breaths and with this, gloom and despair was descending upon the traders. “At the beginning of the trade, more than 600 traders were involved. Gradually, the number came down and today, it is less than 50 traders,” said Tariq Khan, president of the Salamabad Chakoti Traders Union, recently. |
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Riot victims apprise MPs of situation in Kishtwar
Jammu, September 3 The delegation apprised them of the situation in Kishtwar and the hardships suffered by the minority community due to the wrong policies of the National Conference-Congress government in the state, which led to riots and violence in Kishtwar on August 9. A handout issued by the BJP said prominent MPs with whom the delegation interacted included Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, M Venkaiah Naidu, Naresh Gujral, Sitaram Yechury, Naresh Agrawal, KN Balagopal, Narendra Kumar Kashyap, Sanjay Raut, Birendra Prasad Baishya, V Maitreyan, Kanwar Deep Singh, TM Selvaganapathi, Balbir Punj and HK Dua. |
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BJP decides against ‘re-entry’ of expelled MLAs into party fold
Jammu, September 3 Seven out of 11 BJP MLAs, including veteran leader and former Union Minister Chaman Lal Gupta, were expelled from the party in the aftermath of the cross-voting incident on April 13, 2011. While Gupta was ousted on May 31, 2011, six MLAs were debarred from the party on November 18, 2011. Interacting with media persons at Jammu on Saturday, BJP national president Rajnath Singh had asked the state unit to take a decision regarding the “re-entry” of the seven expelled MLAs. A day after Rajnath’s statement, BJP leaders took the issue at the core group meeting convened to review the visit of the national president, a source said. “A representative from the centre, who was present at the meeting, asked the members to present their views about the impact of Rajnath Singh’s visit to the state, but the BJP leaders were keen to settle the issue of expelled legislators,” a source said. Sources said all the
members unanimously opposed the “re-entry” of expelled leaders. They believed that the move will further dent the party’s image in the state. “The core committee, without deliberating on any pros and cons passed the resolution in one voice,” a source said. Party insiders said there was feeling among BJP leaders that if Chaman Lal Gupta returned to the party fold he will dominate the affairs, so they (BJP leaders) were united in stalling his “re-entry”. Some party leaders had been trying to convince the high command to take back the expelled leaders. |
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Led by Jugal, BJP activists court arrest in Kathua
State chief spokesperson Dr Jatinder Singh, general secretary (organisation) Ashok Koul and other senior leaders of the party, besides Sharma courted arrest. Earlier, the party organised a dharna in support
of the various demands raised by the people of the border areas. The demands included special economic package for border regions and removing discrimination in the recruitment in the Central Security Forces for the people living along the Line of Control. The party also asked for timely and round the clock availability of electricity and water, both for irrigation and drinking purposes, to these area, besides demanding compensation to the people on account of being denied the access to their fields beyond
the fence. |
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Kargil Council: Members to take oath on Sept 7
Srinagar, September 3 The district authorities have fixed September 7 for the oath taking ceremony, official sources said. The announcement comes a day after a notification of
elected members was issued by the Ladakh Affairs Department of the state government. A formal invitation would be sent to the party with the highest number of elected members to form the next Council. In this case, the Congress, which emerged as the single largest party, however, without a clear majority, is expected to be invited to form the new Council. The Deputy Commissioner, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the LAHDC, Kargil, would hold a meeting with all elected members. |
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NC leader joins PDP
Jammu, September 3 He had joined the NC just before the Assembly elections. Before joining the NC, Bhagat was the state president of the Bahujan Samaj Party. Former Rajya Sabha member Trilok Singh Bajwa, Ved Mahajan, Daman Bhasin, Rashid Malik, Jagjit Singh Jagga and Deepinder Kour were present when Bhagat joined the
PDP. |
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4.4-magnitude quake shakes Kishtwar
Jammu, September 3 Since May 1 this year, Doda and Kishtwar districts have been witnessing moderate-intensity quakes. Most of the buildings and residential houses in the area have developed cracks and more than 1,000 structures have been completely damaged. The fresh tremor in the area brought people out of their houses and they spent a few hours in the open. |
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Jammu, September 3
Jammu, September 3