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Return of Pandits to valley may be delayed
6 Hizbul Mujaheedin militants
arrested
Poll roll: Gujjars dismayed at non-registration
Bismillah Khan casts spell
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A date with art and craft
Set up education commission: ABVP
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Return of Pandits to valley may be delayed
Jammu, September 13 The state government had planned to carry the first batch of the migrants back to the valley next month and has constructed clusters for them at three places around Srinagar and the Anantnag districts. It is learnt that brakes have now been applied on the proposed move at least for some time as four terrorist outfits had threatened if Pandits returned to the valley. The Kashmiri Pandits fled the valley 16 years ago in December 1989 when there was a spurt in terrorist activities and their lives and honour was not safe. Soon after coming to power, Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed took upon himself the task of creating an atmosphere in which Pandits could return to the valley without whom culture and identity of Kashmir was incomplete. Although a few lakh Pandits had moved out of the valley, but only 1500 families so far have approached the government for return. Cluster accommodation for them was being constructed at Sheikhpura, Kshir Bhawani and Mattan. The Mufti was taking personal interest in the construction of flats for Pandits. It is learnt that the Centre did not want the state government to rush through the proposed move, as it did not want that its talks with the Hurriyat and other separatist leaders get derailed due to some mishap. Sources said that further action in the matter might be taken sometime next year. Revenue Minister Hakim Yaseen has said that the government wanted the return of the migrants to the valley at the earliest. Softline Hurriyat leaders have already started a dialogue with various Kashmiri Pandit organisations to create right atmosphere for their return to the valley. However, certain elements have not relished the proposal of their return. Moreover, various organisations of the displaced Kashmiri Pandits were also divided on the issue, as they fear that the government might not be able to provide them adequate protection in the valley. The Muslims in the valley welcomed Kashmiri Pandits when the state government took a number of them to the valley to celebrate various religious functions.
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6 Hizbul Mujaheedin militants
arrested
Jammu, September 13 Sources said that on a tip-off, Army personnel arrested five terrorists who used to ferry arms and ammunition and also gather information for the outfit in the Gandoh area of Doda. They have been identified as Majid Hussain, Mukhtar Ahmed, Ghulam Hassan and Mohammad Rafiq. Another terrorist, Makhan Din, was arrested in the Palmar area of Kisthwar. A wireless set and a pistol were recovered from him. It is learnt that on the information provided by the arrested ultras, the police recovered some ammunition from the Billawar area of Kathua district. SRINAGAR: The security forces arrested a militant of Pakistan based Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) and busted a hideout, while a released ultra was kidnapped in Jammu and Kashmir over night. An official spokesman said the security forces arrested LeT militant along with two hand grenades and one wireless set at Satkoji in Kupwara district last night. Militants kidnapped released ultra Shameem Ahmad Yatoo from his Chadoora shop in Badgam district. The security forces busted a hideout and recovered two pistols, one wireless set, 2 kg of explosives, eight UBGL grenades and three hand grenades in the Dabraj forest last night. However, no one was arrested. |
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Poll roll: Gujjars dismayed at non-registration
Jammu, September 13 Vice-Chairman of the board, Haji Buland Khan told mediamen here today that a number of deputations from the ethnic groups had complained to him that the election authorities had not registered a large number of Gujjars and Bakerwals in the electoral rolls. Buland Khan said that the draft electoral rolls had many shortcomings. He appealed to the Chief Election Commission of the country to intervene and direct the Chief Electoral Officer to carry out proper enumeration of voters in the far flung areas of the state. He said that a large number of Gujjars and Bakerwlas were yet to come down from the alpine, where they have taken their cattle for grazing. The Chief Electoral Officer in Jammu and
Kashmir should ask his staff to wait for their return so that after due verification they were enrolled in the voter’s list, he said. Mr Khan said that in reply to his communication to the Election Commission of India, he was informed by the commission vide its letter (No. VC/G/PS/16 dated March 15,2005) that the election authorities concerned in the state had been given the guidelines for enumeration of all migratory population. He alleged that the election authorities in Jammu and Kashmir had not followed the guidelines and no official had visited the remote areas for conducting the enumeration. The Gujjar leader alleged that the nomadic tribes had been given a raw deal by the election authorities for the post several years because in officials did not visit the remote villages and camps of Gujjars and Bakerwals. “We had not been given our due share in the state legislature,” he said. |
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Bismillah Khan casts spell
Srinagar, September 13 The show was organized by the Jammu and Kashmir chapter of Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture among Youth (SPIC-MACAY) in association with the State Academy of Art, Culture and Languages and Jammu University. The shehnai vaadan of the Bharat Ratna Bismillah Khan included three segments of classical ragas tuned on shehnai by an eight-member group led by him. Those present among the audience included Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Begum Mufti Sayeed, Vice-Chancellors of Kashmir and Jammu universities and a galaxy of music lovers. While speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed hailed the contribution made by Ustad Bismillah Khan in the field of music and culture of the country. He said with his melodious voice Khan Sahib kept the shehnai vadan alive after decades of hard work. Mufti expressed the hope that Khan sahib’s recital would prove to be good omen for the state government and help in creating an atmosphere of peace and development. He thanked Khan Sahib for the visit, saying he would visit Kashmir in the days ahead as well. |
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A date with art and craft
Srinagar, September 13 Once the centre of hectic activity of arts, crafts and small scale industries of Kashmir, the spot had worn a deserted look ever since 1988 when the last exhibition was held here. The exhibition was inaugurated two months after ‘Kashmir Haat’ was thrown open to public on July 13 last. It has been constructed over a period of one year. This is the first major exhibition held at the haat after July 13, 2005 when a five-day exhibition of Kashmir handicrafts was held there. The exhibition, with a substantial component of amusement for visitors, especially children, would be on for 20 days. As many as 68 stalls have been set up with 26 government departments and other small scale industrial units from across the state displaying their products and achievements. The exhibition also heralds the return of circus to Kashmir after a gap of 17 years. As the guests and visitors moved from one stall to another to have a look at the displayed items, soothing Sufiana music played by Mushtaq Ahmad Saaznawaz of State Information Department mesmerized the atmosphere. Mr R. K. Kohli, who was also a part of the industrial exhibition in 1988, has also returned with his troupe for the exhibition this time. Other attractions include magic show, Mickey show, Columbus julla, break-dance julla, giant wheel, gymnastics, jokers, laughing gallery, melting girl, mini train and balloon shooting. Another addition to the exhibition is the food kiosks set up in beautifully laid cave like spaces. The Chief Minister, in his address, said the exhibition would be a round-the-year feature from the next tourist season. He stressed the need for expansion in the haat to accommodate more stalls and holding of buyer-seller meet at the exhibition. He said the security forces personnel who were occupying some buildings within ‘Kashmir Haat’ would be relocated and the space would be made available for exhibitions. He said the godown of the Department of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution would be converted into an auditorium for holding cultural activities. The Chief Minister said he would take up with the Centre the need to declare Jammu and Kashmir an export-free zone and lay stress on relaxing rules for the state in this regard. He asked the industrialists and manufacturers of the state to think before hand about the items that could be exported to Muzaffarabad besides the Kashmiri apples.
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Set up education commission: ABVP
Jammu, September 13 Mr Romesh Pappa, north zone organising secretary, and Mr Adarsh Kumar, state secretary of the ABVP, respectively, said here today that political interference should be stopped in the education sector and all decisions pertaining to education should be taken by the education commission. The ABVP leaders expressed concern over the “politically motivated” appointments, particularly in the agricultural university. They demanded that a separate competent authority should be set up in Jammu for selection of candidates for professional courses. |
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