Srinagar, August 4
Advocating the need for the continuation of dialogue process on the Kashmir issue the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today claimed that there was a considerable improvement in the security scenario and this had led to overall development in various sectors in the state. Even as infiltration and incidents of violence continued, there was 25 per cent decrease in the incidents of violence in the state since last year, he said.

Three months short of completing his three-year term as Chief Minister, Mufti Sayeed gave a detailed account of the progress made on peace front and the development works taken up in the state since he took over as the head of the coalition government on November 2, 2002.

“I have made my position abundantly clear…there is no ambiguity”, he said in reply to a question regarding handing over power to the Congress. He has said he would step down at the completion of his term to pave way for the Congress Chief Minister to take over as per the agreement reached upon between the two main coalition partners. As per the agreement, the AICC General Secretary and Union Minister, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, the then state Congress chief, would be the next Chief Minister of the state.

“There is a considerable change in the security scenario”, Mufti said while talking to mediapersons here today. He said the reconciliation process between India and Pakistan, ceasefire on the border and dialogue with separatists at various levels had changed the atmosphere in the state, though there were some ups and downs. He said there was a need to continue this process and this had been conveyed to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh.

“The dialogue process should go on… for it is most beneficial for the people”, he said adding that “people have developed a stake in peace”. He, however, admitted that infiltration and incidents of violence continued to take place across the state.

Giving details of the development scenario in the state over almost three years of the rule of the coalition government, the Chief Minister said GDP growth had jumped to 5.7 per cent in the last financial year from 4.3 per cent in the 1990s. It was expected to be 9.3 per cent in the current financial year and would touch 10 per cent in the next financial year. He held that this figure would be the highest in the country and that had been made possible by the Prime Minister’s package, other investments and ADB allocations.

“All this has been made possible because of security scenario in the state has changed a lot”, he said. The Chief Minister pointed out that it had been made “abundantly clear” that there was no room for human rights violations and collateral damage, though stray incidents like the killing of three children in Kupwara recently were taking place, he admitted.

Elaborating on priorities in various sectors, the Chief Minister said education got the maximum attention during his tenure and this led to a decline in the dropout percentage. The dropout percentage became less than four. Over 9,000 new primary schools had been set up, 220 middle schools had been upgraded to high schools 200 high schools had been upgraded to higher secondary level and 22 new colleges had been established. Moreover, 30,000 teachers had been appointed apart from the establishment of 16 industrial institutes, introduction of nursery classes in government schools and English at the primary school level, he informed.

Regarding power sector, which was second on the priority list, the Chief Minister said Prime Minister’s Rs 24,000 crore package included Rs 18,000 crore earmarked for power sector alone. 

Jammu, August 4
An Army Lieutenant was severely injured in a landmine blast near the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri, according to official sources.

Lt Durga Kshetri was on routine patrolling along the LoC last evening at Morha gap when he inadvertently stepped on a landmine, the sources said.

In the explosion, he lost his right foot and was admitted to the hospital, the sources added.

Meanwhile, a shepherd was killed by militants at Murgali Dhok near Budhal in Rajouri district.

Police sources said Mohammad Sharief left home at Hubi for Dhok yesterday to graze his cattle.

Two militants struck at the Dhok late at night and shot him dead, the sources added.—UNI

HC forms expert panel to probe timber scam
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 4
In a new twist to the scam involving supply of “inferior” timber to the Army, a Division Bench of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court today constituted a three-member expert committee for physical verification of the quality of timber.

Taking a serious note of the issue, the Bench consisting of Mr Justice V.K. Jhanji and Mr Justice Y.P. Nargotra asked the committee to submit its report expeditiously and also ordered the Managing Director, State Forest Corporation and the Conservator of Forests, central circle, Srinagar, to join the investigations with the crime branch within one week.

A public interest litigation (PIL) regarding supply of about 5,000 sleepers of inferior quality timber, to ordnance depots of the Army at various places in the country and the Railways by five private timber merchants was filed in the court by Mr Rattan Singh Gill. Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed, a local lawyer, argued the case on his behalf.

The crime branch of the police had recently seized a train that was carrying the timber in 14 rakes from here.

The court ordered that any agency or department would assist the expert committee consists of Dr C.M. Seth, Chief Wildlife Warden, Mr P.C. Kapoor, Chief Conservator, Jammu, and Mr Brij Mohan Sharma, DFO, Kathua.

The court directed the Secretary, Forests, to provide manpower for unloading and transportation of the timber to a safe place. The Railways have been directed not to create hurdles during unloading of the timber and also not charge any demurrage till further orders of the court.

Certain officials of the Railways and the Forest Department had earlier tried to create hurdles in the investigations of the crime branch and a futile attempt was also made to take away the seized rakes by attaching them to an engine.