J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

‘Facilitate’ return of Pandits to valley
Jammu, July 8
Members of Durga Nag Trust, an association of Kashmiri Pandits, asked the government to implement a two-point programme for facilitating the return of displaced families to the valley.

Gurez sans healthcare facilities
Gurez (Kashmir), July 8
People of Gurez in the Kashmir valley, close to the Line of Control and a constant target of Pakistani shelling, seem to survive on God’s mercy as the only hospital in the area lacks doctors and healthcare facilities.

J&K Congress chief Ghulam Nabi Azad (centre) listening to leaders at a convention of the party at Jawahar Nagar in Srinagar on Monday. — PTI photo

Sadhus chanting religious slogans in front of a registration counter for the Amarnath yatra, in Jammu on Monday. — PTI photo

3 killed as box explodes
Jammu, July 8
Three youths, Mohammad Iqbal (22), Bushir Ahmed (14) and Manzoor Ahmed (15), were killed when a box they were trying to open exploded at Ind village in the Gool area in Udhampur district today.

2 BSF men killed in accident
Srinagar, July 8
At least two BSF personnel were killed and 17 others injured when their vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a gorge at Panzgam, near Awantipora, last evening.

‘Facilitate’ return of Pandits to valley
Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 8
Members of Durga Nag Trust, an association of Kashmiri Pandits, asked the government to implement a two-point programme for facilitating the return of displaced families to the valley.

According to Mr Pran Nath Takoo, president of the trust, and Mr A.N. Vaishnavi, a senior member, told newspersons today that the state and the Central Governments should resolve the problem of unemployment among the youths belonging to the displaced families and set up yatri bhavans at important Hindu shrines where the migrants could stay temporarily.

Mr Takoo said eight months ago over 12,000 youths had applied for government jobs and until now not a single person had been appointed. The candidates had given in writing that they were ready to be posted at district headquarters in the valley.

Mr Vaishnavi said some of the youths had been posted to remote villages which indicated that a section in the state administration was not keen to encourage them to return to Kashmir.

Expressing gratitude to the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, and some revenue and police officers for enabling the Trust to reclaim land that had been grabbed by anti-social elements, Mr Takoo said there was delay in the release of Rs 1 crore which Dr Abdullah had promised to donate for the repair of over 120 temples damaged by militants in the valley.

He said the Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena, had released Rs 10 lakh out of the promised Rs 25 lakh to the Trust for the construction of a yatri bhavan in Srinagar. The bhavan, estimated to cost over Rs 1 crore, was expected to be opened to pilgrims and tourists by October.

He alleged that a portion of the land had been grabbed by a Cabinet minister who still owed over Rs 4.75 lakh to the Trust.

The members suggested to the government to enact a law under which a Kashmiri prabandhak committee, on the pattern of gurdwara prabandhak committees, be constituted which would manage the affairs of temples and Hindu shrines in the valley.

They urged the authorities to restore to the Trust its land near Hari Prabhat Fortress which the government had earmarked for green belt.

Gurez sans healthcare facilities

Gurez (Kashmir), July 8
People of Gurez in the Kashmir valley, close to the Line of Control and a constant target of Pakistani shelling, seem to survive on God’s mercy as the only hospital in the area lacks doctors and healthcare facilities.

A pregnant woman, admitted in the sub-district hospital at Dawar-Gurez, had to go home in the night even though she needed blood transfusion urgently.

“There is no blood bank or facility for transfusion at the hospital even though it has a five-bed casualty ward,” a member of the staff said.

When asked how many doctors were posted at the hospital, he said there were three who catered to a population of about 30,000.

A resident of Dawar said each doctor spends 20 days at the hospital and 10 days with his family in the Kashmir valley.

Mr Ghulam Hassan, a paramedic, said people live on the “mercy of God” for six months when the Gurez valley was cut off from rest of the world due to heavy snowfall.

Things have become worse in the face of constant shelling by Pakistani troops.

“An 11-year-old girl, who was injured in Pakistani shelling couple of months back, died as proper medical treatment could not be given here nor could she be shifted to some other hospital due to road closure,” Mr Hassan said.

“Whenever a shell lands on this side, people start running for their lives. How can we treat the patients when we are not sure of our own safety?,” he asked.

The hospital staff and locals also demanded that a lady doctor be posted at the hospital. “We have been demanding it for many years. Every time a minister or an official comes visiting, they promise to send a woman doctor but once they leave this valley, they seem to forget their promises,” they said.

Mr Hassan said people generally enjoyed good health and had a long life span but even a small medical complication could prove fatal. “We need better facilities for performing operations here. At present, we can only conduct minor operations here,” he said. PTI

Shah ready to take part in poll

Srinagar, July 8
Advocating a peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue through dialogue, J and K Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) President Shabir Ahmad Shah today said he was ready to participate in the coming assembly elections, but not in any government formation.

“In principle, we stand for the democratic process and democracy, but in the case of the Kashmir conflict, this democratic process cannot be taken as a means to form the government. It can be taken up only as a means to put forth effectively the need for a purposeful dialogue to resolve the conflict,” Mr Shah said in a statement here, while harping on the peace theme.

Mr Shah said he was not afraid of facing any challenge even if participation in the elections was put as a precondition to prove their representative character.

However, even taking such “an odd step, obviously for the sake of our movement, will require all seriousness and sincerity on our part”, he said. PTI

2 ultras killed, 8 held in J&K

Srinagar, July 8
Security forces killed two militants, arrested eight others and seized RDX and other arms and ammunition, while ultras shot dead an accountant in Jammu and Kashmir overnight.

The security forces arrested seven militants from different parts of the city during overnight operations while an ultra was captured at Turkpora in the frontier district of Kupwara.

An official spokesman said militants shot dead Abdul Gani Beigh, an accountant in block office, Khan Sahib, last evening.

The security forces killed one militant each at Soker Tarminar and Lanawali in separate encounters last night. Some arms and ammunition, including three AK rifles, two magazines, one wireless set and one grenade, were seized from the slain militants. UNI

3 killed as box explodes
Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 8
Three youths, Mohammad Iqbal (22), Bushir Ahmed (14) and Manzoor Ahmed (15), were killed when a box they were trying to open exploded at Ind village in the Gool area in Udhampur district today.

According to the police, the youths spotted the box in a nullah. When they tried to open the box, there was an explosion and the three boys died on the spot. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the box, containing high grade explosives, had been kept in the nullah by militants to be used later.

2 BSF men killed in accident

Srinagar, July 8
At least two BSF personnel were killed and 17 others injured when their vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a gorge at Panzgam, near Awantipora, last evening.

Official sources said the mishap took place in the south Kashmir district of Pulwama. The injured have been hospitalised. UNI