J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

General fears nukes may fall into wrong hands
Jammu, February 26
Maj-Gen Rajender Singh, GOC of 26 Infantry Division, today expressed the fear of nuclear weapons falling into wrong hands in view of the recent events in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq, which were a matter of concern.

NC walks out over water issue
Jammu, February 26
National Conference members walked out from the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly thrice during question hour today on the issue of failure of the government to provide drinking water in certain areas of the Kashmir valley and unsatisfactory implementation of the self-employment schemes.

One killed as police fires at protesters

Baramula, February 26 At least one person was killed and two were wounded when the police opened fire to disperse demonstrators at Bandipora in north Kashmir this afternoon. Official sources said the police opened fire after teargas shells and lathicharge had no impact on the demonstrators who had blocked traffic at Bandipora.
An injured man in a wheelchair at a hospital in Srinagar on Thursday. He was one of the casualties of the police firing to disperse demonstrators protesting against human rights violations. — Reuters photo

General fears nukes may fall into wrong hands
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 26
Maj-Gen Rajender Singh, GOC of 26 Infantry Division, today expressed the fear of nuclear weapons falling into wrong hands in view of the recent events in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq, which were a matter of concern.

General Rajender Singh, who was speaking at a seminar on “Central Asia — present challenges and future prospects” in Jammu University, said the proximity of Central Asian republics brought to the fore the possibility of militants and fundamentalists taking refuge in these parts and the consequent fallout of militancy reaching the Jammu and Kashmir region, besides the fear of nuclear weapons falling into wrong hands.

He said, “We have always believed in the principle of peaceful co-existence by people of all faiths and regions. But when confronted with unscrupulous neighbours, one must deal with them form a position of strength.”

He said India has had long-standing linkages with Central Asian republics. “We share common characteristics of being multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and multi-religious societies. But for the narrow Wakkhan corridor of Afghanistan, Tajikistan would be sharing its borders with the original Kashmir. We had a flourishing trade in this region before the Soviet Union broke up. But things appear to have gone on the back burner ever since. Our arch rivals, China and Pakistan have been quick to realise the potential and set to exploit the situation to their advantage, with Pakistan having the added advantage of religious affinity. It is in our national interests that these republics transform into stable, secular democracies and market economies, an opinion that our adversaries may not share.”

Dr S.S. Bloeria, Chief Secretary, delivered the valedictory address.

NC walks out over water issue
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 26
National Conference (NC) members walked out from the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly thrice during question hour today on the issue of failure of the government to provide drinking water in certain areas of the Kashmir valley and unsatisfactory implementation of the self-employment schemes. There were heated arguments between the opposition and Treasury Benches before the walkouts.

NC member Dr Mehboob Beg, sought a statement from the government on the ‘killing’ of innocent persons at Tral, Yaripora and Anantnag in the valley. He alleged that incidents of human rights violation were increasing.

Five MLAs of the NC walked out of the House alleging that the reply of the Minister for Public Health Engineering to a question on the scarcity of drinking water in certain areas of the valley was not satisfactory.

Mr Jugal Kishore (BJP) and Mr Ashwani Kumar (JSM) alleged that the government was discriminating against the Kandi areas of the Jammu region which faced water crisis.

Mr Dillavar Mir (NC) walked out during another question alleging that no steps had been taken by the government to provide drinking water in 55 census villages of the Rafiabad constituency.

Another walk out came on the issue of the failure of the government to meet targets of self-employment.

Minister for Public Health Engineering (PHE), Qazi Mohammad Afzal said that Rs 118.35 crore had been earmarked for the current year. A loan of Rs 20 crore has been obtained from the LIC for the completion of water supply schemes in the urban areas.

Discrimination against Jammu: In a written reply to a question of Mr Jugal Kishore (BJP), Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed denied any discrimination against the Jammu region in the appointment of Vice-Chancellors of all three universities here.

The Chief Minister said it was just a coincidence that the Vice-Chancellors of the Jammu University, Agriculture University and the Mata Vaishno Devi Technical University hailed from Kashmir. The Vice-Chancellor is appointed in accordance with the procedure laid down in the relevant Act and statutes from out of the panel drawn up by a selection committee.

Mr Jugal Kishore had sought reasons for “discrimination” against the meritorious and educated people of Jammu region in the appointment of Vice-Chancellors.

In a written reply, the Minister in Chage Home, informed Mr Abdul Rahim Rather (NC) that 355 persons belonging to Jammu & Kashmir were lodged in different jails of the state under the Public Safety Act (PSA). Besides, six detainees are lodged outside the state.

Giving break-up of detainees released between 1996 till January end this year, the minister said that 590 detainees were released in 1996, 527 in 1997, 417 in 1998, 306 in 1999, 123 in 2000, 59 in 2001, 83 in 2002,274 in 2003 and 52 till January end this year.

In the Legislative Council, the Chief Minister in a written reply to Mr Ali Mohammad Sofi informed that the expenditure incurred by the government on’employees’ moving every year from Jammu to Srinagar with the Durbar Move was Rs 71.48 lakh per month. A sum of Rs 1.32 crore was being spent on their lodging per month.

One killed as police fires at protesters

Baramula, February 26
At least one person was killed and two were wounded when the police opened fire to disperse demonstrators at Bandipora in north Kashmir this afternoon.

Official sources said the police opened fire after teargas shells and lathicharge had no impact on the demonstrators who had blocked traffic at Bandipora.

One Mushtaq Ahmad Wani was killed and two others, Mohammad Akbar and Suhail Ahmad, were wounded in the firing, the sources said. The injured were admitted to a hospital where their condition was stated to be critical.

Trouble started when people, including women, took to the streets and blocked traffic at Bandipora in protest against the torture of two villagers by the security forces.

The demonstrators, raising slogans against the security forces and the coalition government, alleged that the two, Ghula Mohammad Bhat and Abdul Ahad, were tortured after they refused to accompany security personnel to a forest area.

The incident occurred a day after the Hurriyat Conference (Abbas) threatened to pull out from the talks with the Centre if the human rights violations were not stopped by the end of this month.

The demonstrators questioned how the security forces could force villagers to accompany them into the forest against their will despite clear instructions by the Army Chief, General N.C. Vij, that no civilian would be forced to accompany forces in search operations. — UNI

Bill to amend accountability panel law
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 26
The Law Minister, Mr Muzaffar Hussain Baig, introduced a Bill today in the Assembly to amend the legislation pertaining to setting up of an accountability commission to look into complaints of corruption at high places in Jammu and Kashmir.

Setting up of the commission had been held up since last year although the Assembly passed a Bill on March 13, 2003 because of objections by certain quarters on the manner of the appointment of the Chairperson of the commission.

The proposed amendment provides that the appointment of a retired judge of the Supreme Court or a high court as the Chairperson of the commission would be made on the recommendation of a committee consisting of the Chief Minister, Speaker of the Assembly, Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Law Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.

The Chairperson or a member of the commission shall not be removed from his office except by an order made by the Governor passed after an address by the legislative Assembly supported by a majority of two-thirds of the members present and voting. The removal will be on the grounds of proved misbehaviour or incapacity.