Jammu, May 6
The observation of Abdul Qayyum Khan, former prime minister of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, that independence for Kashmir was out of question and the UN resolutions on Kashmir had become obsolete, has come as a snub to the Srinagar-based hardliners among the separatists refusing to relent on the issue.

Khan, during a recent visit to New Delhi, did not relish the separatists boycotting the three round-table conferences on Kashmir convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

However, Khan’s remarks have upset the separatists and terrorist outfits who feel let down by the Musharraf regime in Pakistan.

As a face-saver, Hurriyat Conference chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, now has urged the Prime Minister to convene a separate round-table conference of separatists.

The separatists’ camps were divided on the issue and hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani gave the call for a Jammu and Kashmir bandh yesterday.

However, the call did not evoke any response in Jammu division.

The state government acted tough and yesterday stopped the “Safar-e-Azadi” of Yaseen Malik, chief of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front.

Malik had planned to tour particularly the Muslim-dominated areas of the state to seek independence for Kashmir.

Chairman of the Pakistan-based United Jehad Council Syed Salahuddin has announced the terrorist outfits will continue the fight.

The Opposition BJP in the state has warned the Congress-led UPA government not to fall into the trap of Musharraf and act tough with separatists and militants.

PPCC chief Peerzada Sayeed has accused the separatists of keeping the pot boiling by not participating in the Prime Minister’s round-table conferences. Why were they shy of taking part in these meetings when they had held a series of meetings with Pervez Musharraf and the Pakistani leaders and officials who visited New Delhi, he asked.

These actions of the separatists scare away tourists from the Kashmir valley.

Hoteliers and those connected with tourism business were saying cancellations of booking have started pouring in.

Terrorist outfits have been stepping up violence during tourist season in the past, but the separatists were also playing a spoilsport for those in tourist trade.

Uncertanity in the valley was likely to hit the pilgrimage to the Amarnath shrine in south Kashmir.

Bhalera (Bhaderwah), May 6
The Army has started stress management courses in combat schools functioning in militancy-affected areas to ease tension and depression among troops.

Cases of suicide among soldiers deployed in the violence-hit Jammu and Kashmir are not showing decline.

Apart from stress management, the Army authorities have also incorporated a special course on human rights and history of Jammu and Kashmir in the training programmes for troops being conducted in combat schools.

Stress management courses are also started at the regiment level beside recreational activities among soldiers deployed in insurgency-hit areas also called `war zones'.

Three combat schools-one in Kashmir and two in the Jammu region, have been functioning in the school. Before deployment in the operation areas, all troops given training in these schools.

``Although stress management courses were part of our training, after recent incidents of suicides among soldiers , emphasis is being given on such programme which helps ease stress among troops'', Dr (Captain) Seema Soolani told the Tribune.

While her men colleagues impart training of guerrilla warfare to the soldiers, her job is to remove their stress as well as depression with counseling and inculcating confidence among soldiers in this combat schools which is by surrounded by the snow- capped mountains of Seozdhar in the north and Jai Valley in the south.

Due to its geographical location Bhalera combat school is the most suitable place for meditation and yoga. ``Besides counselling we organise yoga and meditation camps for soldiers here'', she said, adding most of the time soldiers face stress as they come from peaceful areas and are deployed in violence-prone stricken area. In these battle schools special courses are also started to educate soldiers about basic concept of human rights. ``Some time we unintentionally violate right of civilians. Our main aim is to educate our troops about rights of a civilian'', Lt Col S K Singh, chief instructor of the combat school told the Tribune.

Udhampur, May 6
The displaced families, putting up in different areas of Reasi district have lost faith in the state government but pin hopes on the union home ministry as a high-level team of the ministry visited two days back to take stock of the hardships being faced by them.

The ministry team will submit its report to the Centre for sanctioning relief and other benefits to them on a par with other migrants of the state.

``Except promises the state government has done nothing to solve our problems'', rued Balwan Singh, president of the Migrant Union.

He pointed out for the past three years migrants had been agitating for genuine rights but the state government has maintained silence over their miseries.

``Visit of a high- power team of the union home ministry has rekindled a ray of hope among displaced families'', he said and hoped that the union government would consider their problems sympathetically.

A team of the union home ministry visited migrant camps at Talwara on Friday in Reasi district to review security and relief measures undertaken by the state government.

The three-member team led by joint secretary in the ministry of home affairs Rajiv Sharma visited migrant camps to know woes of the displaced people of Mahore, Arnas, Gool and others areas.

The team has to submit a report to the home ministry in this regard for taking a decision over the release of ration and relief besides security to migrants, they added.

Balwan Singh said after taking stock of the conditions the ministry team was convinced these displaced people too deserved relief on a par with other migrants of the state.

``The team has assured to treat our problem as human issue'', he said and disclosed during interaction the team had assured to provide relief to the displaced people initially for three years.

``We don't want to live in these camps but situation is not conducive for our return. Relief should be given to us as long as we are living in these camps'', he said.