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August 4, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Sink differences, Pak agencies tell
ultras Medicare & massage — all at
langar Don’t rake up autonomy issue, Gupta tells
NC Junior doctors manage OPD in open air |
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Sink differences, Pak agencies tell
ultras Jammu, August 3 Inside reports said agencies across the border have directed rebel outfits to close their ranks following growing conflict among these outfits operating in Jammu and Kashmir. The conflict arose when more than 120 activists of Pir Panjal Regiment of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen joined the Jash-e-Mohammad outfit recently. This resulted in a conflict between the leaders of the two outfits. Since the Pakistani agencies have reposed more trust in the Lashkar-e-Toiba and the Jash-e-Mohammad than in the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen there has been an element of mistrust between the two sets of militants. It is in this connection that the Pakistani agencies directed the leadership of these three outfits to join hands. And measures are afoot to work out a formula which would keep these outfits together after Al Badr outfit too agreed to join a new conglomerate of militants. These agencies have reportedly suggested to these rebel outfits to earmark areas for each group where they can carry out operations or select days for each group. The exercise was carried out five months ago but it resulted in confusion because militants belonging to these groups had bases in all districts. These instructions have been given with the message that if they remain united the Talibanisation of Kashmir could be achieved. And in this connection the Lashkar-e-Toiba has issued a code of ethics under which men have been asked to grow beard and women wear a purdah. Women have been asked not to travel alone and other “dos and donts.” In fact the rebels plan to create a situation which existed in Kashmir in 1990 when the militancy was at its peak. But the response of people towards the code of ethics has not been as encouraging as it was in 1990. Several rebel outfits tried to impose a dress code and other restrictions in the past six years but a majority of people, including women, did not respond. In addition, the Pakistani agencies have decided to carry out the reorganisation of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. In this context the chief commander (operations), Mr Abdul Majid Dar and his aides, including the divisional commanders, have been asked to report at the base camp in the occupied Kashmir for consultations. For the past two months Dar and his aides have been biding time as they are not willing to cross over to Pakistan. Dar and others are as much sceptical about the plans of Pakistan as they are about the Government of India. They have become suspicious of the government’s strategy in Kashmir after the deputy chief commander of the Hizb, Masood , was killed by the police recently. The Hizb leadership in Srinagar had never expected the police to strike against moderate elements. As such Majid Dar and his aides are not sure whether they would be left untouched by the Kashmir police. Dar is not certain about the Pak plan after Islamabad did not like his unilateral ceasefire which he had announced in July last. Hence he and others do not want to risk their lives by crossing over to the Pak occupied Kashmir. Inside reports said Pakistani agencies have not yet prepared the blueprint for the reorganisation of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen because not many senior and dedicated leaders were available. Those in Kashmir are unwilling to cross over to the occupied Kashmir and those across the border owing loyalty to the Hizb are reluctant to enter Kashmir for running the Hizb activities because senior activists have fears that they may be eliminated in Kashmir. As such the process of reorganisation and regrouping of different militant outfits is getting delayed. Rebels have fears that after the ongoing Amarnath yatra is over more than 20,000 security personnel, deployed on the yatra route, will available with the government for carrying out massive operations against the rebels. Already different security agencies have decided that operation ‘seek and destroy’ need to be given teeth so that militants are not in a position to strike for sabotaging the peace process. These agencies have come to the conclusion that once the rate of elimination of militants within the state show an upward trend not many would be willing to infiltrate into the state for indulging in subversive violence. |
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Medicare & massage — all at langar Amarnath, August 3 The general refrain among the pilgrims is that langars during the Amarnath journey are far beyond the usual “two daily meals served in the name of god to the needy” as they provide a wide range of services, including accommodation, medical assistance and even haircuts and massage, all free of cost. “For the middle class Indian the pilgrimage will be difficult, if not impossible, without the food and accommodation facilities provided by langars free of cost at different points,” said Sonu Bhardawaj a Patiala-based shopkeeper. Adds a yatri from Thane, “we could afford to come in a group of eight persons knowing the yatra will be subsidised through the aid of langars.” A langar supervisor said more than 115 community kitchens had been set up along the entire route from the vicinity of Punjab-Jammu and Kashmir borders at Madhopur and right up to the holy cave. Shiv Seva Samitis having earlier registered themselves with the government get clearance from the Jammu and Kashmir authorities and are allotted land and place to set up the facility, he added. Not only do they provide the usual meals but serve eatables throughout the day and even night ensuring that none goes hungry. Many langars have set up tents in their compounds to facilitate night stay of the pilgrims at camping points like Nunwa, Chandanwari, Seshnag, Panchtarni, Baltal and the holy cave. The langars have upgraded their service by extending ancillary facilities and have become a lifeline of the yatra. “As we move up the trek, things become astronomically expensive and a bottle of cold drink costs up to Rs 30. In these circumstances langars are doing a yeoman’s service,” said Rajkot-based Om Prakash. Some of the food items are culinary delights which are rarely found in a middle class Indian home but are served generously by the sevaks here, a pilgrim reminisces. For a pilgrim with a stiff joint or aching muscles due to exertion of climbing, there are sevaks rendering first aid and massage. For the absentminded who have left behind their shaving kit, there are barbers to shave and give a decent haircut. Most langars have first-aid facilities at their disposal given by a pharmacist or even doctor. An army official said, “These langars complement the efforts of the security forces and we feel assured that the pilgrims are spending their nights safely”. In fact many armed forces personnel also like to have their meals at the langars, preferring the variety there to the cantonment food. Sojourners to God’s abode, like the rest of the world do not live by bread alone. So relaxation is also there with music and songs in praise of the Lord, mostly the latest hit numbers. And, during night the pilgrims and sevaks dance in joy. Langars have been put up by devotees from all over the country. Not only do the langars from nearby states like Punjab and Haryana dot the Amarnath landscape but volunteers have come all the way from Gujarat and Rajasthan to serve in the name of the almighty. A langar volunteer said “For us it is a divine task to serve the pilgrims who risk their lives and undertake the arduous trek of 32-64 km depending on the route opted for.”
PTI |
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Don’t rake up autonomy issue, Gupta tells
NC Jammu, August 3 He said the state needed peace and economic progress and restoration of autonomy would only reverse the process of integration which was neither acceptable to people of Ladakh and Jammu regions and to a majority of people in the valley. He alleged that the NC was raising this demand to make the state a personal property of one family or a group of families. Prof Gupta said it was against the interests of people of the state if the Chief Election Commission, Comptroller and Auditor-General and the Supreme Court had no jurisdiction in Jammu and Kashmir. He advised the state government to concentrate on development activities because so far Central funds had been misused and most of the projects under the rural development plans had been completed only on paper. He said the National Conference government should desist from raising extraneous issues at a time when Pakistan was bent on destabilising peace in Jammu and Kashmir. |
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Junior doctors manage OPD in open air Jammu, August 3 The junior doctors examine patients in the OPD and prescribe medicines while senior doctors have been asked to remain present in case of an emergency. The junior doctors had recorded minute-to-minute development when Arjun Singh was admitted to the hospital which indicated that there was laxity on part of the senior faculty members. However, the college authorities have clearly stated that Arjun Singh was “clinically dead” when he was brought to the hospital. It was for the first time that large number of beds in different wards were vacant. Many indoor patients went to private nursing homes when they did not receive proper treatment. |
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