J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

CAG asks state to close down nine PSUs, corpns
Jammu, April 15
The CAG has asked the Jammu and Kashmir Government to close down nine perennial loss-making PSUs and corporations.

Kashmir leaders shift focus to Jammu
Jammu, April 15
With a view to making a dent in the Muslim-dominated border districts of Rajouri and Poonch in the Jammu division, separatists and leaders of Kashmir-based political parties have started making frequent trips to these areas.

Bullet from across LoC kills BSF constable
Jammu, April 15
In yet another violation of the two-year-old ceasefire between India and Pakistan, a BSF soldier, K. Balakrishnan, was killed when a bullet from across the Line of Control (LoC) hit him this morning near Mendhar in Poonch district.

Kashmiris raise anti-police slogans in Srinagar during a protest against the arrest of Arif Shah for his alleged involvement in Friday’s blasts. The protesters claimed that he was a student and not a militant. — Reuters

Residents condemn terrorism, hold strike
Srinagar, April 15
For the first time since the advent of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir 16 years ago, people today spontaneously protested against terrorism by observing a strike in three localities of the city against yesterday’s grenade attacks.

Two feared killed in snowstorm
Srinagar, April 15
Two persons were feared killed and six wounded when a snowstorm swept Zojila on the Srinagar-Leh national highway, the police said today. Eight persons from Kargil were walking towards Srinagar due to closure of the highway when they were caught in the snowstorm at Captain More, 102 km from here yesterday, burying them all.

CAG asks state to close down nine PSUs, corpns
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 15
The CAG has asked the Jammu and Kashmir Government to close down nine perennial loss-making PSUs and corporations. These PSUs are Agro Industries Development Corporation, Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation, J&K Industries Ltd, State Handicrafts (Sales and Export) Corporation, State Industrial Development Corporation, Tourism Development Corporation and J&K Minerals Ltd.

The CAG has also recommended that the two statutory corporations — J&K State Road Transport Corporation and the J&K State Financial Corporation either be closed or steps taken to improve their performance.

All these PSUs and corporations, set up about 26 to 37 years ago, have been incurring losses for five consecutive years, leading to negative worth.

At present, there are 20 government companies, three of these are non-working, and three statutory corporations in the state.

Only one company, Jammu and Kashmir Bank Ltd, which finalised its accounts for 2004-05, earned a profit of Rs 115.07 crore and declared a dividend of Rs 38.78 crore.

Of the eight loss-incurring companies, seven have accumulated losses aggregating Rs 293.10 crore which exceeded the paid-up capital of Rs 60.78 crore by Rs 232.32 crore.

Despite the poor performance and complete erosion of paid-up capital, the government continued to provide financial support to these companies in the form of loan, equity, etc.

As per the latest finalised accounts, the statutory corporations had accumulated losses of Rs 738.88 crore which exceeded the aggregate paid-up capital of Rs 172.31 crore. During 2004-05, the government provided a support of Rs 69.22 crore to these corporations.

Except J&K Bank Ltd and J&K State Power Development Corporation, no other company held the requisite number of meetings and the shortfall ranged between 25 and 75 percent.

The Board of Director of the J&K Tourism Development Corporation in its various meetings in 1997, 1998 and 1999 considered privatisation, joint venture or sale of loss-making units. However, no action was taken.

Kashmir leaders shift focus to Jammu
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 15
With a view to making a dent in the Muslim-dominated border districts of Rajouri and Poonch in the Jammu division, separatists and leaders of Kashmir-based political parties have started making frequent trips to these areas.

Earlier, it was Shabir Shah, chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), who extensively toured the two districts and now it is the turn of Moulvi Umar Farooq, chairman of the Hurriyat Conference, who is currently in the area. Hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani also visited the districts.

However, the separatists have failed to muster support in these districts that have a sizeable population of the Gujjar community that is considered to be pro-India.

Reports indicate that the public meeting of Umar Farooq, particularly in Rajouri, yesterday was thinly attended. This was contrary to the expectations of the separatist organisations in the area.

However, the public meeting of the Hurriyat chief was peaceful and no slogans were raised against him which was contrary to the noisy protests that he faced during his earlier visit to Samba near Jammu.

The separatists have been targeting the three Muslim-dominated districts of Poonch, Rajouri and Doda in Jammu but except Doda, they have so far not been able to establish a foothold in the other districts.

PDP leaders Mufti Sayeed and his daughter Mehbooba Mufti have also frequently been visiting the districts.

Observers point out that their visits were aimed at eroding the traditional stronghold of the National Conference in these districts. The NC won all three Assembly seats in Poonch and two of the four in the Rajouri district in the last elections.

The father and daughter have been spending more time in Poonch and Rajouri districts than any other area of the Jammu region. The PDP tried to show its presence in these districts by putting up candidates during the Assembly elections but all of them forfeited their security deposit.

The NC patron, Dr Farooq Abdullah, was quick to visit there in a bid to safeguard his bastion soon after the trip of Ms Mufti.

The activity of the Kashmir leaders in these districts has suddenly increased following the work on the Rs 250-crore Moughal road that would link Poonch with the valley. They are apparently trying to make their base in the districts even before these areas get an easy access to the valley.

Bullet from across LoC kills BSF constable
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 15
In yet another violation of the two-year-old ceasefire between India and Pakistan, a BSF soldier, K. Balakrishnan, was killed when a bullet from across the Line of Control (LoC) hit him this morning near Mendhar in Poonch district.

Balakrishnan of G company in the 153 Battalion of BSF was patrolling the LoC near the Camelback post alongwith soldiers of the 6 Dogra Battalion when a bullet from across the LoC pierced his head. He succumbed to the injuries while being shifted to the Army Hospital.

Top Army and police officers were tightlipped on the incident and tried to evade questions about violation of the ceasefire by the Pakistani troops.

Reliable sources said two bullets were fired from the occupied-Kashmir (PoK) side and one of these hit BSF constable Balakrishnan (number 99009500), who belonged to Dimgul district in Tamil Nadu.

Patrolling on the LoC had been intensified since yesterday following a series of blasts in the Kashmir valley amid reports that a group of terrorists might try to infiltrate into the Indian territory from the PoK.

This is not for the first time that Pakistani troops have violated the ceasefire. Sometime ago, a religious place was fired upon from across the LoC in Poonch district.

However, the Indian authorities have been underplaying such violations because of the ongoing peace talks between the two countries.

Residents condemn terrorism, hold strike

Srinagar, April 15
For the first time since the advent of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir 16 years ago, people today spontaneously protested against terrorism by observing a strike in three localities of the city against yesterday’s grenade attacks.

An official spokesman said a complete shutdown was observed in Rawalpora, Nishat and Barbar Shah localities of the city, where three of the vitims of the blasts lived.

“People expressed their anger openly against the acts of terror unleashed by the four militant organisations, particularly on the holy Friday following Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi,” the spokesman said.

He said the militants had exposed themselves by claiming responsibility for these attacks at public places, disproving their claim that they did not strike at such places.

He said the incident had been condemned by tourist operators, taxi drivers, hoteliers and students. — PTI 

Two feared killed in snowstorm

Srinagar, April 15
Two persons were feared killed and six wounded when a snowstorm swept Zojila on the Srinagar-Leh national highway, the police said today. Eight persons from Kargil were walking towards Srinagar due to closure of the highway when they were caught in the snowstorm at Captain More, 102 km from here yesterday, burying them all.

Police teams which reached the spot rescued six persons — three residents of Doda district and three Nepalese nationals — while two persons hailing from Doda were missing. Since all of them remained under snow for a long time they sustained severe frost wounds. They were taken to the Kargil Army Hospital where legs of Nepali citizens were amputated, the police said. — PTI