Srinagar, October 8
The Centre has assured the Jammu and Kashmir government of all assistance for reconstruction of the quake-affected areas on modern lines and providing necessary succour to the sufferers. The state has proposed an amount of Rs 877 crore for complete rehabilitation and reconstruction programme to overcome the losses caused by the earthquake last year resulting in over 1300 deaths, injuries to 6240 persons and complete damage to 26,000 houses.

The Centre’s assurance was given by the Union Home Minister, Mr Shivraj Patil, at a public meeting held at Tangdhar, the worst affected area of Kupwara district, on the occasion of the observance of the completion of one year after the earthquake today.

Mr Patil, however, expressed the hope that the relief amount provided to the affected for construction purposes would be strictly utilised for the same.

Accompanied by the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Union Home Minister also visited Tetwal area of Karnah. Several areas of Karnah around Tangdhar and Tetwal close to the LoC in Kupwara district and Uri in Baramulla district suffered heavy damage in the earthquake.

The Union Home Minister and Chief Minister presented pass books to the orphan children of Tetwal who lost their parents in the earthquake. The amount of Rs 5 lakh each for the orphans who lost both parents and Rs 2.50 lakh each for those who lost single parent has been deposited in their bank accounts. The relief has been sanctioned under Prime Minister’s special package for the rehabilitation of the orphan who can withdraw the entire sum after turning major. Till that time, the interest accruing on this amount would be utilized for their education.

A memorial function was held at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) that was jointly organised by the state regional branches of the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) and Indian Red Cross Society. The function “Earthquake 2005- the year after” was attended by the Union Home Minister, Mr Shivraj Patil, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Governor Lt Gen (retd) S K Sinha, former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beigh and others. Several residents from the quake-affected areas of Uri, Tangdhar and Poonch and school children participated in the function.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad said that much had been done and a complete rehabilitation of those affected and the reconstruction of public infrastructure would be completed by the end of the next year.

He clarified that all the houses would be completely reconstructed by the end of this year with full payment of all the pending instalments. Focus would only be on the reconstruction and restoration of public infrastructure. He denied that there was delay in providing assistance for reconstruction of houses and added that this would be completed only when those affected started reconstruction at the basic level.

Earlier addressing the public meeting at Tangdhar, the Union Home Minister said Jammu and Kashmir is rich in human resources and a highly qualified number of youth available in the state have to be properly utilised in various fields. The Central government has already sanctioned raising of 15 Police battalions in the state of which 10 have already been established and recruitment for the rest is on.

In his opening remarks at the memorial function at SKICC here this evening, Dr Ashok Bhan said that it was organised to pay homage and tribute to those who showed courage in facing devastation. It was a tribute to those also who worked selflessly in rescue and rehabilitation process and administering justice by way of Lok Adalats. About 1000 mobile courts worked in the affected areas deciding about 10,000 cases and providing speedy justice by way of disbursement of relief to the tune of Rs 31 crores to the affected people.

Srinagar, October 8
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has assured the people of Kargil for initiating air service between Srinagar and Kargil during winter months, saying the matter would be taken up with the Union Civil Aviation Ministry.

He was interacting with representatives of the Imam Khumini Memorial Trust and Islamia School Kargil in the Ladakh region during his two-day visit to the region. He said the government was aware of the requirements of people and provision of basic amenities to them, especially those living in far-flung and remote areas.

The region remains cut off by road from the rest of the country for over six months of winter every year.

Addressing a public meeting in the far-flung area of Padum in Zanskar, the Chief Minister said that though they were living in far-off places, they were "deep in our hearts". He said that for connectivity in the areas of Leh and Kargil, measures had already been initiated to upgrade the roads.

Minister for School Education Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed said the state government was vigorously pursuing the sanction of Rs 96 crore for the Kargil-Zanskar road under the CRF scheme. The Chief Minister said his government was keen to see the Ladakh region as a hub of international and national tourism round the year. He said the extension of education and healthcare facilities in remote areas was his priority.

During his visit to the region, the Chief Minister also inaugurated additional accommodation for Government Girls Higher Secondary School at Kargil, which has been constructed at a cost of over Rs.1.16 crore under the Border Area Development Programme.

Mr Azad also visited the Chutuk hydel project and inaugurated a bridge and approach road near Kargil.

Jammu, October 8
The PDP’s idea of self-rule is altogether different from the concept of greater autonomy of the National Conference, said Mr G.H. Mir, former minister and a member of the committee constituted by the PDP for drafting the document on self-rule.

He explained that the self-rule idea did not seek the abolition of the jurisdiction of the Election Commission, the Supreme Court and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India in Jammu and Kashmir.

In reply to a question, he said they did not favour the change of nomenclature of the Chief Minister to the Prime Minister and the Governor to the Sadr-i-Riyasat, but supported an elected Governor, though they were yet to determine the electoral college for electing the constitutional head of the state.

Mr Mir said if it was done, people in the three regions of Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir would have the satisfaction that a man belonging to the state was the Governor.

The PDP leader said they were for economic sustainability for the people of the state, which could be achieved if Jammu and Kashmir was developed into a trade-free zone, with no limitations for entering into trade agreements with any country.

He said economic viability could promote self-respectability, needed to satisfy wounded egos of people.

He said the document on self-rule, which was being given final touches, favoured a detailed discussion on the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 in the light of its adverse impact on the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

He said since the treaty could not be scrapped, the government needed to assess the annual loss to the state so that compensation was given to Jammu and Kashmir.

He added that once the state started receiving compensation, it could become economically self-reliant.

He said ‘Apne Log Apna Raj’ was a concept which could prove a meaningful exercise in satisfying the aspirations of the people of the state.

They were also in the process of finding a solution to the resolution of region disparity, he said.

Asked whether party patron Mufti Mohd Sayeed, scheduled to visit New York from October 29, would circulate the document on self-rule among diplomats and members on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session, Mr Mir said, “Why should he carry copies of the document”?

He said once the document was ready, it had to be discussed with the government.

Asked if there was a need to discuss it with Islamabad, the PDP leader said it was for the government to discuss it with Pakistan. He made it clear that the document on self-rule would lay focus on basing the discussion on the Instrument of Accession and economic sustainability of the people.

Jammu, October 8
Three militants and a soldier were killed in an encounter at the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, police sources said.

“Three militants were gunned down by security forces at Chaprian Ban Nala when they were trying to sneak into this side of the LoC,’’ the sources said.

Soldier Rahul Kumar of the 4 Bihar Regiment was also killed in the encounter, which began at 2 am, they added.

A huge cache of arms and ammunition, including three AK assault rifles, 10 AK magazines, 9 Chinese grenades, 5 UBGL grenades, one UBGL launcher, two wireless sets, one mobile phone, one GPF and 268 AK rounds, besides one blanket, three pouches, two bags and one binocular’s were recovered from the encounter site.

The encounter was on when last reports came in, they said.

Srinagar: Unidentified gunmen killed a dental surgeon while three children were wounded in a blast in the Kashmir valley overnight, official sources said on Sunday.

They said some unidentified gunmen abducted Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Shah, a dental surgeon, at Langate while on way to his home at Zachaldara in the Handwara area of Kupwara district last evening.

The police today recovered his bullet-ridden body from Nowpora in the Sopore area of Baramula district in north Kashmir.

The police launched a massive hunt to nab the culprits.

Meanwhile, three boys were wounded in a blast, the sources said.

The three boys — Ajaz Ahmad Mir (11), Altaf Ahmad Mir (15) and Ishfaq Ahmad Mir (16) — were wounded when an explosive device went off near their house at Chattinbandi village in the Bandipora area of Baramula district.

The injured were rushed to district hospital at Baramula, from where they were referred to Shar-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences.

The sources said the condition of the boys was stated to be “critical”. — UNI