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CISF jawan killed, another injured in militant attack in Srinagar
Kishtwar traders demand relief, observe shutdown
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Pandits accuse ASI of distorting facts
Cong infighting intensifies ahead of Assembly polls
EU delegation calls on Governor
Peace imperative for progress of South Asia, says Governor
Gen VK Singh controversy a creation of Congress
Panchayat members to get monthly remuneration
Jammu rape case: Cop suspended for interfering in probe
Senior official found dead in Srinagar
98 truce violations by Pakistan along LoC in Jammu in 2013
PDP slams govt for 'misguiding' Rajouri residents
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CISF jawan killed, another injured in militant attack in Srinagar
Srinagar, September 23 The CISF jawans were shot at by militants near Lal Chowk, the commercial hub of Srinagar. The paramilitary personnel were shot at from point-blank range by militants armed with silencer-fitted pistols, senior police officers said. The shooting took place around 10:15 am in the busy market near Iqbal Park, a kilometre from Lal Chowk, where the unarmed jawans had gone for shopping. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, central Kashmir, Afad-ul-Mujtaba while confirming that one jawan had died in the shooting said another injured jawan was in a critical condition. Mujtaba said a 9 mm pistol was used to target the
jawans. The slain jawan has been identified as head constable D Nayak, a resident of Orissa, and the injured as Mukesh Kumar of Uttar Pradesh. This is the second such shooting in the vicinity of Lal Chowk since June this year. Two policemen were shot dead by militants near Amira Kadal, three days ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s visit to the city on June 25. Kashmir has witnessed several attacks this year. The number of security forces personnel killed in a surge of attacks in the Valley this year include 15 Army soldiers, 14 policemen, six CRPF personnel, one BSF soldier and one CISF constable. In a separate incident, the Army said it had shot dead a militant on Monday morning in the Machil sector of north-west Kashmir’s Kupwara district. The militant had infiltrated into the Valley from across the Line of Control. An Army officer said the militant was alone and armed and it “appears” he was on a scouting mission when he was killed during a gunfight. “Normally, the trend is that they (militants) send out a scout first to carry out a recce of the place. If he would not have been detected, he would have stayed for the night somewhere and then would have signalled the rest of the group,” the officer said. The Army said it recovered an AK-47 rifle, one magazine and 30 rounds from the slain militant. |
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Kishtwar traders demand relief, observe shutdown
Jammu, September 23 The shutdown call was given by the Traders Association Kishtwar which took on the state government for its “hollow slogans” of disbursement of compensation among the traders, whose shops were looted and set on fire by rioters during the violence that started in the town on August 9. “We are left with no option but to down our shutters because the government has failed to provide compensation to the affected traders even 46 days after the violence. The district administration didn’t allow us to stage a dharna in the town as it is bent on muffling our voice,” Rakesh Gupta, president, Traders Association Kishtwar, said over the phone. Gupta said the traders observed a peaceful strike today. “We had approached the Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar, for permission for holding a dharna, which the latter denied. The administration has turned a deaf ear to the plight and sufferings of the traders. We are unable to meet our daily expenses,” Gupta said. Three people were killed and property worth millions was destroyed by rioters on August 9. The government had ordered a judicial inquiry by a retired High Court judge “to establish the truth behind the Kishtwar violence and what followed”. Over 50 people have been arrested by the Special Investigation Team for their alleged involvement in the Kishtwar violence. Following clashes in other parts of the Jammu region, the issue rocked both Houses of Parliament. Baseer Khan, Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar, claimed that only 65 shopkeepers had downed their shutters today. “There is no delay in disbursement of compensation. Around Rs 4 crore is lying at the disposal of the district administration. We had asked the public to file objections within 15 days and the deadline will end in the next couple of days,” Khan said. The Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner claimed it was for the first time that the government had relaxed the norms for the victims of the Kishtwar violence. “Earlier, the government used to pay Rs 2 lakh for a fully gutted structure in any part of the state. The government relaxed the norms for the affected people in Kishtwar and announced to pay Rs 5 lakh as compensation to them,” Khan said. We are left with no option but to down our shutters because the government has failed to provide compensation to the affected traders even 46 days after the violence. The district administration didn’t allow us to stage a dharna in the town as it is bent on muffling our voice |
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Pandits accuse ASI of distorting facts
Jammu, September 23 They have decided to submit a detailed representation to the ASI, urging it to correct historical facts on information boards installed at various places in Kashmir, particularly at Shankaracharya Hill, now renamed as Takht-e-Suleiman (Throne of Solomon). The hill lies in Srinagar overlooking the Dal Lake. Ancient records say Adi Shankaracharya (788-820 AD) lived, meditated and had religious discourse with Abhinavgupta, a great scholar of Shaivism, in Kashmir, paving the way for acceptance of Shakti cult in Hinduism across the subcontinent and formation of Advaita philosophy. “It is a matter of great concern that ASI has given the name Takht-e-Suleiman (Throne of Solomon) to it, replacing the earlier plaque. How have they come to this conclusion warrants an answer,” said Predhuman K Joseph Dhar, an expert on ancient Kashmir history. He said recently a European historian visited the place and expressed surprise over information provided to the people. “While the plaque informs the people that the roof of the temple was constructed by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 1644 AD, there is no mention of King Gopadhari, who constructed the temple, King Lalitaditya, who renovated it several hundred years before the arrival of Islam in the 13th century, and Dogra rulers, who placed the lingam of Lord Shiva, which was destroyed at the orders of Jehangir's wife Noor Jehan,” said Dhar. When contacted, Conservation Assistant Fayaz Ahmed, who looks after the Shankaracharya temple, said the historical research was conducted by a team of historians at the ASI. “We only implement whatever directions or changes in records have to be done. Only senior officers can say anything on what real history is,” he said. Superintending Archaeologist KC Nauryal was not available for comment. Talking about the name Takht-e-Suleiman, New York-based historian and author of “Jesus in Kashmir- The Lost Tomb’, Suzanne Olsson, said at one time Kashmir was controlled by Jews and Suleiman referred to Solomon, King of Israel and one of the greatest Jewish rulers, known for his wisdom and riches. “In ancient times, there was a considerable influence of Hebrew people in Kashmir. Several places have names similar to Jewish places. But historically, it is referred to as Shankaracharya Hill,” Olsson said. |
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Cong infighting intensifies ahead of Assembly polls
Jammu, September 23 To settle scores with their rival groups, some Congress leaders have desperately been trying to rope in potential candidates of other parties. Sources said leaders of both factions of the Congress were working overtime to ensure that only their loyalists get the party mandates and the approach of senior leaders had fuelled the infighting. The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) is divided into two factions. One factions is headed by JKPCC chief Saifuddin Soz and another group owes its allegiance to Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. For some seats, Congress leaders have opened channels of communication with leaders of other parties to counter the potential candidates of the rival faction. Sources said a dozen leaders of the BJP and the National Conference were in touch with some Congress stalwarts and were ready to join the Congress before the Assembly elections, provided they were given assurance of party mandate. Insiders in the Congress said the infighting was likely to intensify in the coming days as candidates aspiring to contest the elections had started washing their dirty linen in the public to undermine their rivals’ credibility. Due to the factionalism, in every Assembly
segment, a number of candidates have been staking claim to the party ticket. In Jammu East segment, which has been considered the citadel of the BJP, at least five Congress leaders are serious contenders for the party mandate. Similarly, on the Jammu West segment, two party stalwarts among six candidates are in the fray for getting the mandate. Same is the situation in most of the constituencies in Jammu districts where party candidates had lost the Assembly elections in 2008. Sources said all the sitting party MLAs, except one, would be repeated so there was no infighting on the seats which were won by party candidates in the 2008 Assembly elections. In the 2008 Assembly elections, out of total 87 seats, the Congress had won 17 segments. “The infighting among Congress leaders would be witnessed on seats where the party had lost in the last Assembly elections,” a source said. |
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EU delegation calls on Governor
Srinagar, September 23 During its meeting with the Governor, the delegation, as per an official press release, discussed various matters of mutual interest to India and the EU. The delegation comprised Ambassador of the European Union to India Joao Cravinho, Ambassador of Poland Piotr Klodkowski, Ambassador of Hungary Janos Terenyi, Ambassador of Greece Ioannis Raptakis, Ambassador of Ireland Feilim McLaughlin, Ambassador of Lithuania Larmonas Talat-Kelpsa, Ambassador of Austria Bemhard Wrabetz, First Counsellor, Political Affairs, delegation of the EU, Anne Marchal and Attache, Political Affairs, delegation of the EU, Anne Vaugier Chatterjee. |
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Peace imperative for progress of South Asia, says Governor
Srinagar, September 23 He said this while delivering the presidential address on ‘Embattled Liberalism in South Asia’. The lecture was conducted by Pratap Bhanu Mehta, president, Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi, organised by the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute of Kashmir Studies, University of Kashmir, here today. Vohra said the theme of Mehta’s talk was of high relevance and desired that a public lecture by him could be organised in the University in the coming time so that a much larger number of scholars, students and members of the civil society members could benefit from it. The lecture was followed by a discussion during which he replied to the queries of the participants. Usha Vohra, First Lady, Talat Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor, Kashmir University; Deans, Heads of Departments, faculty members of the University, scholars and students of the Institute participated in the seminar. In his lecture, Pratap Bhanu Mehta spoke extensively about the many serious consequences arising from the “tyranny of compulsory identity”, the “conflicts and sufferings which Kashmir had gone through” and the “cycle of militancy and militarisation” which had been witnessed in parts of India and the South Asian Countries. He also spoke at length about the “governance deficit” in South Asian Countries and the need to replace the inherited “architecture of governance” which also impacted the political system in all the countries of the region. He also spoke about issues of diversity, governance, accountability, need for greater cooperation and deeper understandings among the countries of South Asia and varied other aspects which have a great bearing on the rapid progress and prosperity of this region. The Governor, who is the Chancellor of the Kashmir University and Chairman of the Governing Body of this Institute, suggested to Gull Mohammad Wani, Director of the Institute, to consider starting two academic projects at the Institute which would relate to issues of “Identity” and “Governance”, under the overall guidance of Mehta, as the issues involved have a vital bearing on the future growth, development and stability of South Asia. He said these projects could add great value as they would involve scholars from each of the SAARC countries who would be pursuing their research projects at this institute. Talat Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor, Kashmir University, dwelt on the initiatives being taken for the growth and development of
the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute of Kashmir Studies. |
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Gen VK Singh controversy a creation of Congress
Jammu, September 23 Major General Goverdhan Singh Jamwal (retd), who trained General VK Singh at the Indian Military Academy when the latter was a cadet there, recalled him as an upright and disciplined man. “The Indian Army never had a history of attempting coups. Ours is a wonderful Army and if he (Gen VK Singh) had to topple any government, why in the world would he think of the Omar’s government,” said General Jamwal. He said it was “very bad” for the country that tried to defame its Army Chiefs. “First, you give them the toughest job of defending the integrity and sovereignty of the country and then you try to defame them just because after retirement they do not toe your kind of politics,” he added. General Jamwal said the Army certainly got secret funds but there were
rules and regulations, too, to use them. He felt that General VK Singh’s proximity with BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi didn’t go down well with the Congress. “The controversy engineered by the government would soon rebound on it,” he added. When asked if the present controversy had to do anything with General VK Singh’s stiff opposition to Omar’s demand for repealing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the state, he said though General VK Singh was more vocal, three Army Chiefs in the past and the present incumbent were also opposed to it. Brigadier SS Saini (retd) also rubbished allegations against General VK Singh outrightly. “General VK Singh was never in the good books of the Congress. Recently, he shared dais with Modi and then a news channel also exposed how the Congress allegedly compromised and twisted the law of the land to appease the US on the nuclear deal. The Congress was already in a fix because of various scams and the rising inflation. So, totally caught off guard, the government raked up this controversy,” said Brigadier Saini. A serving Army officer said such baseless allegations certainly demoralised the Army. |
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Panchayat members to get monthly remuneration
Jammu, September 23 An order issued by the Rural Development Department has stated that the District Panchayat Officers (DPOs) have been directed to provide a monthly remuneration of Rs 2,000 per month to an elected sarpanch, while a panch will get Rs 500 per month for the first five months and Rs 1,000 per month for the remaining months in the current financial year. Official sources said the Drawing and Disbursement Officers (DDOs) had been directed to ensure strict implementation of the government orders besides making it mandatory that the funds released were utilised for the specific purpose. “In the case of remuneration to the panches, wherever a claim for two sittings per month is made, the panchayat secretary would have to certify that the two or more meetings have taken place along with the certificate appended with the copy of minutes of the two meetings, signed by the panchayat secretary and the panches. The Block Development Officers would release the amount to the sarpanches and panches on the basis of these certificates,” the order stated. The Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather had announced a pay remuneration of Rs 2,000 per month to all sarpanches and a fee of Rs 300 per sitting, subject to a monthly ceiling of Rs 600 per month to all panches, while presenting this year’s state Budget in March. He had also announced that the government would consider an appropriate insurance cover for them. Sources said the Rural Development Department (RDD) had released an amount of Rs 3.43 crore for 1,800 sarpanches and Rs 9.75 crore for 10,443 panches of 10 districts of Jammu for the current financial year. Anil Sharma, general secretary, All Jammu Kashmir Panchayat Conference, however, said the government should announce the remuneration with retrospective affect from July 2011 when they were administered the oath under the constitution. |
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Jammu rape case: Cop suspended for interfering in probe
Jammu, September 23 An inquiry has been initiated into the matter, which will be conducted by Superintendent of Police Rauf Lone. Sources in the Police Department said sub-inspector Neelam Saini, who is the in charge of the Residency road police post, yesterday shifted the doctor, Raj Sharma, from the women cell police station to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), without informing the Station House Officer or her higher-ups. “Yes, Neelam Saini has been suspended for entering the women cell police station without permission. We have initiated an inquiry and the report will come in 15 days,” said Atul Goel, Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu. On September 4, sexual exploitation of five mentally challenged minor girls at the Rotary Innerwheel Home for Mentally Retarded Children in Jammu came to the fore. The police later arrested and detained a few people in the case. During the process of investigation, the police came to know that one of the five girls, who were being raped regularly, was forced to go for an abortion. Raj Sharma, owner of the Astha Nursing Home, Rehari in Jammu, was accused of performing the abortion of the mentally challenged girl. When her name appeared in the police investigation, the doctor was arrested and taken to the women cell police station. “Raj Sharma called up sub-inspector Neelam Saini to take her out of the women cell and Saini, despite having no jurisdiction over the women cell, took the accused and admitted her to the GMCH,” a source said. The sources said Saini was formerly the in charge of the Rehari police post, under which the Aastha Nursing Home falls, and had good relations with Raj. The SSP, Jammu, suspended the sub-inspector after attaching her to the district police lines. |
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Senior official found dead in Srinagar
Srinagar, September 23 Rakesh Gupta, Special Secretary, Science and Technology Department, was found dead at his room at Kong Posh Hotel, which served as his official residence, a police spokesman said. Gupta, a Kashmir Administrative Service officer, was a resident of the Channi-Himmat area of Jammu, the spokesman said. “He was found dead in the hotel room around 8 in the morning,” the police said. The spokesman said the police had initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC to ascertain the cause and circumstances of the official’s death. “It seems to be a natural death, but nothing can be said conclusively unless we get the post-mortem report,” a police officer said. Gupta was earlier posted as the Joint Director, Industries and Commerce (Development), Jammu, and transferred as the Special Secretary, Science and Technology Department, in July this year. |
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98 truce violations by Pakistan along LoC in Jammu in 2013
Jammu, September 23 “The LoC in Jammu region has so far witnessed 98 truce violations by Pakistan this year,” said officiating Defence spokesperson SN Acharya. “There were 20 ceasefire violations by Pakistan in the month of September alone, bringing the total number of violations to 98 this year up to September 23 along the LoC in Jammu region,” he said. The year, that has already seen the highest number of truce violations by Pakistan in the past eight years, also witnessed the killing of seven Indian soldiers on the LoC in two border action team attacks in the Poonch sector. Besides a Border Security Force jawan was killed in a sniper fire from Pakistan on the international border. Earlier, there were 93 ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir in 2012. Pakistan infringed 51 times in 2011, while the number of violations stood at 44, 28, 77, 21 and three during 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 respectively. The mutually brokered truce deal on the borders was put in place on November 23, 2003 between the two neighbouring countries. Meanwhile, a Srinagar-based Army officer said: “This year Pakistan has so far violated the ceasefire agreement 26 times along the LoC under the jurisdiction of 15 Corps.” “We have also foiled seven intrusion bids so far this year,” the officer said. In the Ladakh region, which is being looked after by the Leh-based 14 Corps, the Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire thrice. If that was no enough, the Pakistan Rangers violated the ceasefire agreement six times on the 191.5 km long international border. “These included three incidents of sniper fire in which one border guard was killed and two others were injured,” said a BSF officer. Jammu and Kashmir shares 744 km long LoC with Pakistan. While the Army guards 224.5 km long LoC and 10 km long international fence from Poonch to Akhnoor in Jammu region, the BSF mans 191.5 km international border from Paharpur in Punjab to the Chicken Neck area in the Pallanwala sector of Jammu.
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PDP slams govt for 'misguiding' Rajouri residents
Rajouri, September 23 Addressing a workers’ meeting at the far-flung Thandapani area in Rajouri, PDP district president Abdul Qayoom Dar said the people of the border area had understood the ill motives of the National Conference-Congress coalition regime and were feeling frustrated and wanted a change. Dar said the coalition had lost its moral ground to run the government. He further expressed concern over the disturbing state of affairs and added that the state government had failed to address the basic problems of the people such as water, roads and electricity. He said the National Conference and the Congress were aware of the anti-government pulse of the people so they were adopting a new strategy by visiting different areas, issuing baseless statements and laying the foundation stone of projects. PDP leader Choudhary Qammar Hussain criticised minister and MLA Rajouri for ignoring the ongoing projects in the district. The meeting was organised by Saleem Khan, PDP block president, Manjakote. |
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Srinagar, September 23
“Both were shot in the head from behind,” said the DIG. He said “in all probability” the militants involved in the brazen day-time attack were affiliated to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen outfit. 
