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Monday,
October
13, 2003,
Chandigarh, India  
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Tribune Impact
Warrants against
PDP MP 2 militants killed, 10 held |
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Advisories force Australian to abandon J-K trek
Rs 10 cr relief for kids affected
by militancy Villager hurt
in blast BSNL exchange
damaged in fire
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Tribune Impact Jammu, October 12 However, the Union Minister for Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Mr Jagmohan, who took a keen interest in the development of Jammu and Kashmir during his tenure here as Governor, has fixed the responsibility on the Mufti government to examine and send a proposal to the Centre for this purpose. The Tribune had, from time to time, reported the neglect of these historical palaces and the damage being caused to the valuable Pahari miniatures on the walls. A prominent writer and art lover, Mr Dharam Chandra
Prashant, pointed out that the palaces of Maharani Charak, Maharaja Pratap Singh and Maharaja Gulab Singh had almost crumbled down because of neglect in the past. Many other palaces had become abodes for monkeys and stray cattle. Environmentalists here believe that it will be an uphill task to restore these wonderful palaces. It is being alleged that the deterioration of these palaces is a classic example of discrimination against Jammu by the Kashmir-dominated governments. Had such historical buildings existed in the Kashmir Valley, these would have been preserved to attract tourists. One of the major problems which the government might face, in case work on restoration of the historic buildings actually begins, would be to evict a large number of offices from there. The district courts, public service commission, Food and Supplies and many other government offices are situated in these buildings which might not find an alternative accommodation elsewhere so easily. The palace complex, which is known here as “Mubarak Mandi”, commands a picturesque view of the Tawi flowing below and the green hills around.These palaces were built by the Dogra rulers about 161 years ago. The palaces started coming up in 1822 during the reign of Maharaja Gulab Singh and Maharaja Ranbir Singh and Maharaja Pratap Singh added many buildings in the complex. A high-level committee, headed by Dr M.S. Randhawa and appointed in 1978 by the then Chief Minister, Sheikh Abdullah, had recommended that the palace complex should be restored and converted into a complex of fine arts. However, no steps were taken by the government in this direction. The marble palace has collapsed and the miniature painted wooden ceilings of many other palaces have got destroyed. The miniatures on the walls of the building housing the cultural wing of the Information Department have been scratched and a makeshift kitchen has caused irreparable damage to these. In another office, electric wires and other fixtures intrude on such paintings. The smoke of hundreds of vehicles coming to the complex every day is causing further damage to the remaining buildings and no initiative has so far come from the people for preventing further destruction of these historical buildings. |
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Warrants against PDP MP Jammu, October 12 Mr Bajwa and 20 others are accused of ransacking tehsil office and Police Station RS Pura and destroying official records there. The police had registered a case against them under various sections. Mr Trilok Singh Bajwa had filed a bail application and the court had granted him bail on August 21, 2000. But he never appeared in the court after that. —
UNI |
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2 militants killed, 10 held Jammu, October 12 Troops of Poonch brigade launched an operation to track down a group of infiltrating militants in Sabzian-Mandi area near LoC in the district resulting in a fierce gunbattle early today, they said. In the gunbattle, which was still on, two Pakistani militants were killed, the sources said, adding one or two militants were still holed up in the area. One of the slain militants has been identified as Abu Hanief, self-styled area commander, TEJ, the sources said, adding two AK rifles, five magazines, 17 grenades, seven UBGL grenades, 329 rounds, one pistol, one radio set and some explosive material was seized from the militants. Garrision commander Brigadier P.G.Kamath was supervising the operation, as Pakistan troops have opened mortar shelling in Sabzian border area, they added. The police today arrested 10 persons involved in the Septemeber 4 suicide attack on Kamsar Army Camp in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, which had left three persons killed and nine injured, bursting a Lashker-e-Toiba module. A police team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) Nasi Ahmed arrested two overground workers of the module, which had helped the two-member LeT Suicide squad to carry out the attack on the army camp, Senior Superintendent of Police Mukesh Singh said here. On interrogation, Arfan Joo and Ahmed Din alias AD revealed the identity of the other eight members of the full- fledeged module working directly under the command of the LeT commander for Poonch Ashan Elahie, he said, adding all of them were subsequently arrested. Those arrested besides Arfan Joo and Ahmed Din have been identified as Zahid Ahammad Bhatti, Mohammad Bhatti, Parveez (all students), Mohammad
Mushtaq, Farooq Ahmed, Abdul Majeed, Gulam Mohammad and Ahmed Joo all from Seri Khawaj village of
Poonch, Mr Singh said. — PTI |
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Advisories force Australian
to abandon J-K trek Srinagar, October 12 Speaking to The Tribune at the India Palace houseboat in the Nageen Lake overlooking Hariparbhat here, Garry Weare said he missed his daughter India (now in her teens) back in Australia, who had to stay back due to disturbed conditions prevailing in the valley. Garry Weare feels “Once government advisories are lifted there are chances of huge influx of tourists, both foreigners and domestic, to Kashmir.” There has been a steep decline in the flow of tourists, both domestic and foreign, to Kashmir over the past 14 years since the eruption of militancy in the state. The abduction of six tourists from Aroo near Pahalgam in south Kashmir in July, 1995 was the reason for strict adherence to adverse advisories by foreign countries. Of the six tourists abducted, one had escaped, another was killed by the abductors, while no authentic information has so far been given regarding the whereabouts of the other four. Garry Weare feels that the state government is also keen to get the advisories lifted by the New Delhi-based embassies for tourists against visiting Kashmir. He had a meeting with the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, here on Thursday, and both agreed to the view that there was a need to put a time frame for lifting such advisories. Garry Weare hopes to return to Kashmir next year. It would have been a great opportunity to reach the last resort after traversing over 20 high passes linking the trans-Himalayan ranges between Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh and Kashmir. No doubt he opines the situation has improved a lot since his last visit in 1995, but the “fear” of the Army prevails in upper reaches of Pahalgam and Sonamarg. The infrastructure to trekking expeditions and general tourism in this region, according to Garry Weare, needs to be taken care of. He said that there was greater opportunity to improve the basic facilities like clearing of garbage along the main roads around Sonamarg and introducing professional guides. “There would be very few who know these mountains as well as Garry”, said one of his admirers in Kashmir. Since first visiting Kashmir in 1970, he has returned regularly and trekked well over 25,000 km in the Indian Himalayas. Garry is a consultant and former director of the Adventure Travel Company, World Expeditions. He is a founder-Director of the Australian Himalayan Foundation, and a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. He may include trekking in Kashmir in the fifth edition of his guide book “Trekking in the Indian Himalayas”. He also plans to write a book on the trekking experience of the past six months from Gangotri to
Gangabal. |
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Rs 10 cr relief for kids affected
by militancy Srinagar, October 12 The organisation runs various programmes and projects to provide assistance to the children of families affected by militancy and communal violence, they said. An amount of Rs 6.10 lakh was distributed among 120 deserving beneficiaries functioning in Pulwama district last year under the scheme. As many as 265 orphan students were provided financial assistance of Rs 600 per month in Baramula district, they said adding, 300 more cases had been identified in the region. —
PTI |
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Villager hurt
in blast Jammu, October 12 Rakesh Kumar was going to his field near Nikowal border when he walked over a landmine, sources said, adding that he was admitted to Government Medical College Hospital here. Meanwhile, two Bangladeshi nationals were arrested when they were trying to cross over to Pakistan from AMK Post, they said. —
PTI |
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BSNL exchange
damaged in fire Jammu, October 12 The fire which broke out in the three-storeyed wooden structure in Bani area yesterday destroyed equipments worth Rs one crore snapping ties to nearly 500 subscribers, official sources said. The police did not rule out sabotage as the area is infested with militants. —
PTI |
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