J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and state Home Minister Mushtaq Ahmad Lone inspect the guard of honour at the J&K Police Command at Baramulla in North Kashmir. — photo by Amin War

What prompted APHC to change stand
JAMMU, July 31 — While the rebel outfits, opposed to the Hiz-bul-Mujahideen’s unilateral ceasefire, have been making determined bids to kick up violence to sabotage the proposed talks between the separatists and the government, endorsement of the ceasefire decision by the All Party Hurriyat Conference has increased the Kashmiri representation in the proposed parleys.

Colleges unable to cope with rush
JAMMU, July 31 — Though the state government has opened evening colleges to accommodate candidates unable to get admission in regular colleges in Jammu city for BA, BCom and BSc part I courses, more that 500 students may still be denied admission.

350 Hindus migrate from Rajouri
JAMMU, July 31 — As many as 72 Hindu families comprising over 350 members, have migrated from Rajouri to Udhampur in Jammu division during the past few days due to militant threats, official sources said here today.

Conditions won’t take talks ahead: Farooq
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, July 31 — The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has said the Centre is sincere to hold talks with the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and observed the conditions laid by either party will not take the dialogue ahead.

Talking to mediapersons after the passing out parade of the Jammu and Kashmir armed police at Sheeri near Baramula today, the Chief Minister said gradually other outfits would follow the suit and lay down their arms for the restoration of peace in the state. He expressed happiness over the ceasefire by the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen saying this would nurture a feeling among other militant outfits who had been marginalised and they too might give up the gun.

In reply to a question on his role in the event of talks between the Hizbul and the Centre, Farooq Abdullah said: “I am never without a role” and added that there was nothing common between the talks and the demand for the restoration of autonomy. The Chief Minister said he need not join in any dialogue because “my Prime Minister is talking”.

Dr Abdullah said he did not know what would be the outcome of the talks but one thing was clear that the Government of India had made it abundantly clear to hold talks. There is nothing clearer than this and both sides must talk with sincerity of purpose”, he said.

When his attention was drawn to the statement of the Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Mr Chaman Lal Gupta, about the rejection of the autonomy report by the Cabinet being final or the Chief Minister having not briefed the PM about it, Dr Abdullah said: “This is absolutely baseless. Prof Chaman Lal forgets that he is a minister in the Union Cabinet”.

Earlier, addressing recruits the Chief Minister said though the ceasefire by the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen had heralded a positive atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir, there was no room for lowering the guard. “Realisation has dawned on the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen that gun is no substitute to talks for sorting out problems”, Dr Abdullah said. Pakistan had realised that neither anything was achievable nor the Line of Control could be changed and hence they too wanted a way out for a lasting peace, he said, cautioning, however, against certain elements who might not reconcile with the changed situation.

In his welcome address, the Director General of Jammu and Kashmir police, Mr Gurbachan Jagat, said the state police was being acknowledged as a well-knit force all over the country and hoped that it would keep up its image by serving people well. Referring to training of the police he said the training centres would be utilised for refresher courses after the passing out of recruits. He said two battalions of commandos trained at Sheeri centre would be deployed in Kashmir for anti-militancy operations.

A total of 830 recruits completed their course being the first batch from the subsidiary training centre (STC) at Sheeri near Baramula. The STC was established in September last year.

What prompted APHC to change stand
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, July 31 — While the rebel outfits, opposed to the Hiz-bul-Mujahideen’s unilateral ceasefire, have been making determined bids to kick up violence to sabotage the proposed talks between the separatists and the government, endorsement of the ceasefire decision by the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has increased the Kashmiri representation in the proposed parleys.

Though the level of violence in the state has registered a marked decrease, activists of the pro-Pak militant outfits today carried out attacks on the CRPF and the police in Srinagar in which three security personnel were injured. One militant hurled a grenade at a vehicle at Gulmarg in which one tourist was killed and four others wounded yesterday. Another group of militants tried to storm into an Army camp near Bandipore today.

Yet another group of militants, operating in Rajouri and Udhampur districts, forced 70 families of the minority community to migrate to safer areas from the far-flung belts of the two districts.

Reports said Pakistani agencies were trying to encourage rebel outfits to escalate violence so that the proposed talks between the government and the Hirriyat-Hizb-ul-Mujahideen combine could not materialise.

However, APHC’s endorsement to the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen’s ceasefire has lent strength to the forces that were keen to resolve the turmoil through negotiations. Initially the APHC had dissociated itself form the ceasefire declared by the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen on the plea that the decision had been taken in haste and without consulting the Hurriyat leaders. Within two days there was a change in the heart of the APHC leaders when its Chairman, Prof. Abdul Gani Bhat, announced in Srinagar on Saturday that the APHC had endorsed the Hizb stand.

He favoured talks with the government to end the stalemate and turmoil and even went to the extent of announcing that the Hurriyat leaders would participate in the talks and if need arose represent the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in the proposed talks.

Though Prof Bhat indicated that his endorsement to the ceasefire was the result of Central Government’s unconditional offer for talks, informed sources, however, said that two major factors prompted the APHC to change its earlier stand.

First, by supporting Hizb’s ceasefire and talks with the Centre the APHC has tried to gain strength. As a political conglomeration of 25 parties the APHC is an emaciated force. By backing the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen it has gained in strength because the Hizb has both the man and machine power which the APHC can use for bargaining.

Informed sources said the APHC would be at an advantageous position by firing shots from the Hizb shoulders during the proposed talks. By associating itself with the Hizb-ul-Mujahidee, the APHC has emerged as a major separatist force when already Jamait-e-Islami is its major constituent.

Second, the APHC leadership has reportedly received a signal form Islamabad advising it to get itself associated with the talks proposed by the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. No doubt the Jamait-e-Islami in Pakistan has been irked by the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen ceasefire announcement, the Pakistan Government has not openly opposed the peace initiatives launched by the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.

Chief of Jamait-e-Islami, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, has suspected the Pakistan Government’s involvement in encouraging the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen to declare a unilateral ceasefire. The quzi has been peeved over what he called the “betrayal” by Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. However, the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen supremo, Syed Salahuddin, has confronted the qazi by telling him the problem in Kashmir had to be resolved by local people and not by outsiders.

Even with positive developments fresh confusion seems to have cropped up with the separatists modifying their demands and suggestions and the Central Government yet to finalise its strategy regarding the issuance of formal invitation to the APHC and the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen talks. First the APHC, soon after Hizb ceasefire, favoured bilateral talks and later reiterated its support for tripartite talks. Some of the Hurriyat leaders wanted permission given to them to visit Pakistan before the start of the talks.

The Government of India has been placed in a piquant position with Syed Salahuddin favouring unconditional and tripartite talks. When the Hizb announced its ceasefire Syed Salahuddin supported it and at that stage he did not press for tripartite talks. Hence political observers explain that the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen with support form the Pakistan Government may lay a trap for the Government of India. These observers suggest to New Delhi to insist on bilateral talks conveying to the separatists that tripartite talks could begin only after the trans-border terrorism was stopped.

Colleges unable to cope with rush
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, July 31 — Though the state government has opened evening colleges to accommodate candidates unable to get admission in regular colleges in Jammu city for BA, BCom and BSc part I courses, more that 500 students may still be denied admission.

The decision to set up evening colleges was prompted by the agitation launched by the ABVP and the Jammu Joint Students’ Federation in which one college principal was held hostage for several hours after ransacking of his office.

At that time the Minister for Education, Mr Mohammed Shafi had convened a meeting of senior government functionaries, including the divisional commissioner, and the police authorities and the opening of evening colleges was found to be the only viable alternative.

Under the decision two government colleges were been asked to enroll 400 students of the science and arts faculties in evening colleges.

The college authorities said for teaching these students the infrastructure currently deployed in migrant camp colleges, including their staff, would be utilised.

Ms Kiran Sharma, Principal, Government College for Women, said though she had sent up 400 admission forms for the science faculty of evening colleges she was told there were only 200 seats.

Dr S. Sapru, Principal, Science College, said admission for evening colleges had been started from today and the process would be completed in one week.

He said the Camp College was working within the science college premises and the staff and laboratory and library facilities were to be utilised for those admitted in evening colleges.

The ABVP has welcomed the opening of evening colleges but has demanded setting up of at least two more colleges in Jammu city and degree colleges in other districts to cope with the rush

Rain disrupts Amarnath yatra
From Ehsan Fazili
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, July 31 — With the arrival of another batch of 3197 devotees in 147 vehicles from Jammu today, the total number of pilgrims has gone up to 1.25 lakh. Of these 1.06 lakh pilgrims have had darshan at the cave shrine till this evening while nearly one lakh pilgrims have returned to their homes after performing pilgrimage.

The intermittent rains today disrupted movement of pilgrims from Pahalgam and Chandanwari today. However, there was no disruption in the downward movement of pilgrims on the 48-km-trekking route from the holy cave to Chandanwari-Pahalgam, reports reaching here said.

Three pilgrims including one from Ferozepur in Punjab have died along the route since yesterday, an official spokesman stated here today. Those killed included Ashok Raina (45), a resident of Kailash Nagar, Ferozepur in Punjab, Mr Janak Bai (45) of Babu Nagar and Mr Viyas (70) of Jagat Mohalla Baroda, both residents of Gujarat.

Ashok Raina was reported to have died of cardiac arrest near Poshpathri yesterday. The two others died due to cardiac arrest at the cave and Pahalgam, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Health Minister Mian Altaf Ahmad has said that the Department has stocked medicines worth Rs 8 lakh for the pilgrims at health camps at various places on Pahalgam and Baltal yatra routes. Besides, laboratory and ECG facilities have also been made available at Pahalgam and Baltal base camp. 

In addition a private medical company has also kept stocks of medicines available at the Baltal camp, he added.The Health Minister, who visited Baltal base camp yesterday, was informed that for the first time in the history of Amarnath yatra a four km-long queue of pilgrims was seen waiting for their turn at darshan the other day. Seven thousand yatris were despatched from the base camp towards Srinagar on July 29 after having darshan at the holy cave. He was told that at least 2500 pilgrims were reaching at Baltal daily for the annual pilgrimage.

This year a record number of yatris is arriving for the annual pilgrimage. Last year over 1.5 lakh pilgrims visited the holy cave shrine, while so far this year 1.25 lakh have already arrived.

PTI adds: Two Amarnath pilgrims from Gujarat died today enroute to the holy cave taking the toll in the ongoing yatra to 13, an official spokesman said.Janak Bhai (45) of Babunagar village and Viyas (70) of Jagat Mohala, Baroda, died near the 3,880 metre high cave, he said.

Pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath was disrupted again today as moderate to heavy rains lashed large parts of Kashmir valley.

The downpour started this afternoon across Kashmir valley disrupting the yatra temporarily, official sources said.

The pilgrims who left the base camps of Pahalgam and Baltal had reached safer places enroute to the holy cave situated at a height of 3,880 metres in south Kashmir, the sources said. 

350 Hindus migrate from Rajouri

JAMMU, July 31 (PTI) — As many as 72 Hindu families comprising over 350 members, have migrated from Rajouri to Udhampur in Jammu division during the past few days due to militant threats, official sources said here today.

The Hindu families migrated between July 28 and July 30 from the villages of Chuma and Thaan of Rajouri district to villages of Charger, Ramso and Chapenwari in Udhampur district, sources said adding two more families had migrated from Taryath village to safer place last evening.

Migration was also the result of fear psychosis among the members of the minority community as militants had been striking in the upper areas of these villages, sources said. However, they said many families of minority community continued to stay back.

Meanwhile, the security forces had rushed to the area for launching search operations to track down militants, they said.