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| Sunday, August 20, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Lashkar grooming fidayeen
J&K transfers 44 senior officers |
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Talks formula was
personal: Bhat Bitter memories mark yatra’s end J&K okays plan for migrants’ return J&K
panel to fix quota for disabled
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Lashkar grooming fidayeen JAMMU, Aug 19 (PTI) — Pakistan-backed
Lashkar-e-Toiba is raising suicide squads, fidayeen guerrillas, in large numbers for their use as a “tool” to engineer violence and target sensitive installations and important persons in Jammu and Kashmir, a surrendered top militant, Abu Jirat, said today. “As many as 800 mercenaries are getting a special three-month training for graduating them to fidayeen suicide squads at Umal Basti in Muzzafarabad and Bagalpur in Pakistan”, Mohammad Nawaz, codenamed Abu Hijrat, who was an instructor at an Afghanistan militant training camp, told the media here. Hijrat, a resident of Ratli village (Naushera tehsil) of Gujranwala district in Pakistan, said: “Of these over 400 fidayeen activists are awaiting along LoC to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir for carrying out major action against the government and security forces.” A fidayeen is given training in special acts of sabotage after his three-month commando course and three months of special training on mapping, surveillance, civilian cooperation and intelligence gathering at Bagalpur, Zafarwal and Umal Basti camps, Hijrat, who surrendered to the troops in Rajouri some time back, said. Hijrat, who infiltrated into Jammu via the Mendhar LoC on April 14, said hardcore militants mostly murderers, death sentence awardees, criminals and religious fanatics were being inducted into fidayeen squads and given training at these camps. These camps were being actively helped by Army officers and ISI officials who directly provided training to the fidayeens, he said, adding that a good number of fidayeens had already infiltrated into Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the sensitive districts of Rajouri and Poonch, during past six months. “I have met several fidayeen activists who were told that they would be freed from death sentence, if they participated in fidayeen attacks in Jammu and Kashmir”, he said. The Pakistan authorities looking after militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the ISI, were worried over the aftermath of the ceasfire by the Hizb-ul Mujahideen, he said, adding the ceasfire had given birth to rivalry between the Hizb-ul Mujahideen, and the
Lashkar-e-Toiba. |
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J&K transfers 44 senior officers SRINAGAR, Aug 19 — The Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered transfers and postings of 44 senior officers in the state administration. Mr H.L. Kadalbuju, IAS awaiting orders of posting has been posted as Principal Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department. Mr P.L. Raina, IAS, Commissioner, Secretary, Health and Medical Education has been transferred and posted as Commissioner/Secretary, Labour and Employment in place of Mr B.L. Nimesh, who has been transferred and posted as Commissioner/Secretary Science and Technology Department. Mr Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, IAS awaiting posting has been posted Chairman State Subordinate Recruitment Board. Mr A.C. Chaturvedi, IPS, Chairman SSRB has been transferred and posted Additional Director General-Police, Home Guards. Mr B.A. Runyal, Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, has been transferred and posted as Director, Food and Supplies, Kashmir. Mr N.K. Choudhary, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Leh has been transferred and posted as Director Employment. Mr Dheeraj Gupta, IAS, Additional Chief Executive Officer, Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has been transferred and posted Deputy Commissioner, Leh. Mr Mohammad Yasin Shah, Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara has been transferred and posted Labour Commissioner in place of Mr Najam-us-Saqib, who has been transferred and posted member SSRB. Mr Chaman Lal, IAS, Registrar Cooperatives has been transferred and posted as member SSRB. Mr Haq Nawaz, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Baramula, has been transferred and posted Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara. Mr Tashi Dorjey, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Kargil has been transferred and posted Director, Command Area, Kashmir. Mr Kachu Isfandyar Khan, Additional Commissioner, Kashmir has been transferred and posted Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri. Mr N.K. Verma, Special Secretary, has been transferred and posted Secretary, Women Commission. Mr Abdus Salam Bhat, IAS, Director Rural Development Kashmir has been transferred and posted Secretary Rural Development Department. Mr G.N. Wani, Director, Horticulture Produce Marketing Corporation has been transferred and posted as Additional Secretary Labour and Employment. Mr G.M. Wani, awaiting orders of posting has been posted Special Secretary Agriculture. Prof G.N. Untoo, Secretary, CAEE has been transferred and posted Director Rehabilitation Council. Mr Manoj Diwedi, IAS has been posted as Additional Chief Executive Officer, Shrine Board. Mr L.K. Mengi, SE, JDA, has been transferred and posted Managing Director, housing Board. Mr R.K. Handa, Vice Chairman, JDA has been transferred and posted Managing Director SIDCO. Mr Vinod Gupta, Managing Director, State Financial Corporation has been transferred and posted as Vice-Chairman, JDA. Mr P.S. Betab, Additional Secretary, Revenue has been transferred and posted as Managing Director, Himalayan Wool Chambers. Mr Charanjit Singh, Additional Commissioner, Jammu has been transferred and posted Director, Command Area, Jammu. Mr Shant Manu, Special Secretary, Power, has been transferred and posted as Director Industries, in place of Devinder Nagotra, who has been transferred and posted Additional Commissioner, Jammu. Mr G.A. Dar, Additional Secretary, Agriculture has been transferred and posted as Registrar Cooperative Societies. M.S. Wani, Managing Director Himalayan Wool Chambeers has been transferred and posted Managing Director Agro-Industries Corporation. Mr O.P. Khullar, Managing Director SICOP has been transferred and posted Managing Director State Financial Corporation. Mr R.A. Qadiri, Managing Director, Agro-Industries Corporation has been transferred and posted Managing Director SICOP, Mr G.Q. Mughal, Joint Agrarian Reforms Commissioner, Jammu has been transferred and posted Custodian General. Mrs Tanveer Jahan, Custodian General has been transferred and posted Managing Director JKTDC in place of Khursheed Naqeeb, who has been posted as Vice-Chairman, Lakes and Waterways Development Authority. Mr Abdul Ahad, Secretary, Planning has been transferred and posted Secretary in Education Department. Mrs Naseema Lankar, Director Finance has been transferred and posted Special Secretary, Social Welfare Department. Mr Saleem Beigh OSD Industries Department has been posted as Special Secretary Industries. Mr A.K. Raina, Special Secretary, Information has been transferred and posted Special Secretary ARI. Mr G.Q. Wani, Managing Director, SIDCO has been transferred and posted Managing Director, JK Industries. Mr G.Q. Bisati, Managing Director Handicrafts has been transferred and posted OSD Craft Development Institute. Mohammad Ashraf, General Manager Adm. J&K State Cooperative Bank has been posted Managing Director, Cooperative Bank. Mr A.M. Mattoo, Chief Engineer, Maintenance and Rural Electric has been transferred and posted Managing Director, Power Development
Corporation. Mr Vinod Sharma, Chief Engineer Maintenance and RE, Jammu has been transferred and posted Development Commissioner, Power. Mr Irfan Yaaseen, Managing Director, Cooperative Bank has been transferred and posted Managing Director Handicrafts Corporation. |
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Talks formula was
personal: Bhat JAMMU, Aug 19 — Buckling under resentment conveyed by a couple of senior party leaders, the Chairman of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC), Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, today made it clear that the new talks formula spelt out by him was “my personal suggestion.” He told this correspondent that his peace formula had not yet been discussed by the executive committee of the APHC and hence “I prefer to call it my personal suggestion.” Prof Bhat has suggested that the seven-member executive committee would be divided in two groups. A four-member group would hold talks with the Indian leaders in Delhi and the remaining three members would visit Islamabad to initiate a dialogue so that the mistrust between the two countries was removed. Soon after Prof Bhat made this announcement yesterday, a number of senior Hurriyat leaders expressed their ignorance about the formula. Some of them conveyed their resentment to Prof Bhat, who today made it clear that it was his personal opinion and the same could be discussed in the executive committee meeting of the APHC. In reply to a question he said that talks with a group of militants might not restore peace to Kashmir. In support of his contention, he referred to the recent ceasefire announced by the Hizbul Mujahideen and said that despite the ceasefire Kashmir was rocked by violence. Prof Bhat said that tripartite talks alone were an answer to the problem. When reminded that India was ready to talk to Pakistan only when Islamabad stopped abetting cross- border terrorism, Prof Bhat said that when the tripartite talks were started there were possibilities that subversive violence would stop. At least Pakistan should be given a chance to make its stand on Kashmir and allied issues clear during the tripartite talks. Asked whether he was under compulsion to favour talks when the Centre had not responded to his earlier offers, Prof Bhat said that the Government of India was keen to hold talks. “It did talk to Hizb leaders and it is something different that the talks did not last
long," he said, adding that informally a number of mediators have been in touch with him and other Hurriyat leaders which indicated that India had realised that talks alone could resolve the turmoil in Kashmir. He made it clear that New Delhi should clarify its stand as far as its willingness to discuss the Kashmir issue was concerned. He said India needed to make it clear whether it was prepared to discuss Kashmir or not and if it favoured tripartite talks would Delhi be prepared to settle the Kashmir dispute for good? Prof Bhat said that he and the Hurriyat leaders were keen to act as a bridge between India and Pakistan so that when the two countries started a dialogue in the presence of the representatives of the people of Kashmir some solution would emerge. Prof Bhat wanted both Islamabad and New Delhi to consider his formula with an open mind and take immediate steps to break the ice that was needed to stop bloodshed in Kashmir. |
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Bitter memories mark yatra’s end JAMMU, Aug 19 — The one-month long annual Amarnath pilgrimage has ended with the last group of yatris reaching Jammu yesterday. However, the massacre of 32 persons, majority of them being pilgrims on August 1, in the militancy-related strike at Pahalgam has left bitter memories. The only satisfaction for the State Government is that despite this massacre a record number of over 1.73 lakh pilgrims visited the holy cave, considered to be the abode of Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati, situated at an altitude of 13,500 feet. Besides this 19,000 security personnel from various states also performed the yatra. The state authorities explain that had not weather played dirty role, delaying the march of the pilgrims, and had not the massacre taken place at Pahalgam, the base camp for the yatra, more than 2.30 lakh pilgrims would have visited the cave. The one-month long yatra has not been a smooth affair for the pilgrims. Right from Jammu, where the yatris had to register themselves, up to the cave the pilgrims had to face many odds. In Jammu pilgrims were lathi charged on several occasions by the police when the yatris protested against poor arrangements at the registration centre. Though five registration counters had been set up the number was too small to cater to the swelling number of pilgrims. Large groups of pilgrims had to wait for days together to get themselves registered. All hotels, guest houses and Yatri Bhavans were full with yatris, who remained stranded in Jammu for several days. First, the pilgrims were stranded because of the suspension in the yatra after the massacre of 32 persons at Pahalgam. Secondly, yatris were not allowed to leave for Pahalgam because rain and storms had washed away the track between Chandanwari and the cave. As the number of stranded yatris further swelled in Jammu the government woke up only after the pilgrims staged protest demonstrations and blocked the Tawi bridge for several hours. Some of the yatris received injuries in police lathi charge. As tension mounted the government made some lodging arrangements in sports stadium and a convention hall. But majority of pilgrims had to face several problems. Many were seen biding time on roadside corners, others preferred to get fleeced by hoteliers and traders to be on the roads. More than 12,000 pilgrims abandoned the yatra after spending three to four days in Jammu. Yet others went to Vaishno Devi and returned to their home states. Even in Pahalgam the tented accommodation was limited. Besides Pahalgam the tented accommodation at three places from Chandanwari to the cave failed to insulate yatris against rain and icy winds. According to Mahant Deependra Giri, the state government should learn from this year’s experience and make better arrangements for registration and accommodation. He said a contingency plan has to be prepared every year so that yatris, in case of rain or suspension of passenger traffic on the Jammu-Pahalgam road owing to landslides, were not subjected to inconvenience and harassment. As far as security arrangements were concerned pilgrims would have no complaint had not the massacre taken place on August 1. Though the state government has yet to complete the inquiry into the massacre, two conflicting reports have been received from pilgrims who were a witness to the gory incident. One set of opinion was that though the militants, whose number was not more than two, opened fire on the pilgrims, the panic reaction by men of the paramilitary forces is said to have increased the death toll. Eyewitnesses said that paramilitary forces resorted to heavy firing in different directions in which two militants were killed but at the same time several yatris also fell to their bullets. Another set of opinion is that the men of the Jammu and Kashmir police acted half heartedly and had not the CRPF opened fire militants would have killed more than 100 pilgrims. The Corps Commander, Commissioner Home and the Deputy Commissioner Anantnag have started investigating the massacre. The three officers have been in Pahalgam where they have started interviewing porters, traders and other officials. One official report has said that those running the free langars between Pahalgam and the cave have treated local porters and poneywallahs shabbily. Couple of them were beaten up when they demanded a cup of warm tea. This is said to have infuriated militants who may have struck to teach these langar owners a lesson. |
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J&K okays plan for migrants’ return SRINAGAR, Aug 19 — The Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet yesterday approved the action plan for the return of migrants as recommended by the Koul Committee with some modifications suggested by the apex committee. The interim report shall be further edited by the Revenue Department in consultation with the Law Minister and will be sent to the Centre for consideration. The Cabinet under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, considered the interim report of the sub-committee. The proposed approval by the Cabinet has financial implication of about Rs 2,600 cr, an official spokesman stated here today. Earlier, the interim report had come up for discussions before the apex committee for the migrants headed by the Revenue Minister at several meetings. The Revenue Minister, Adviser to the Chief Minister on Minority Affairs and the Financial Commissioner had also detailed meetings with prominent representatives of Kashmiri Pandit migrants of different groups and socio-political organisations on the issue. The comprehensive action plan covering various aspects of migrants’ return and rehabilitation envisages a package. It suggests the setting up of transit settlement camps at three different places in the valley, rehabilitation grant for the reconstruction of damaged houses under different categories, repair of houses and other structures, grant for damaged household goods and furniture, interest-free loans for re-establishing business and trade, rescheduling of repayment of outstanding loans, compensation for loss of income from agriculturists and orchardists, cash assistance and free rations for some time and one time stipend to students for purchase of books, uniforms etc. |
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J&K panel to
fix quota for disabled SRINAGAR, Aug 19 — The Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet has set up a five-member expert committee to consider the proposal for reservation
up to three per cent in government services for physically handicapped. Briefing newsmen about the decision of the Cabinet, the Chief Secretary, Mr Ashok Jaitly said the panel shall make recommendations to the Cabinet within two weeks. The expert panel shall comprise Principal Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Commissioner/Secretary General Administration, Dr G.Q. Allaqa-band, Dr Merajuddin, Director SKIMS and Prof A. Rouf, Principal of the Government Medical College, Srinagar. The committee shall also examine the guidelines for implementation of reservations and adoption of definition of differernt types of disabilities. The Cabinet also approved special freight rates adopted by the Transport Department for Ladakh for the year 2000. According to the decision, Rs 12,500 shall be charged per truckload of six metric tonnes for Srinagar to Leh, Rs 8,200 from Srinagar to Kargil, Rs 7,700 from Srinagar to Drass. In the case of Jammu-Leh, the rates for truck-loads of nine metric tonnes
up to Srinagar and six metric tonnes load beyond Srinagar has been fixed at Rs 13,900. By another decision, the Cabinet approved an amendment in the Kashmir and Jammu Universities Act 1969. The amendment was necessitated by adoption of composite scheme for revision of pay scales of universities and college teachers by University Grants Commission. It, inter alia, specifies eligibility requirement for appointment and constitution of selection committees for filling of these posts. |
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