Srinagar, June 23
Hundreds of exiled Kashmiri Pandits flocked to the Kheer Bhawani temple,a traditional holy place for them, in Tullamulla, 30 km from here today and were greeted by locals and Kashmiri politicans who want them to return to the land of their birth.

The premises of the ancient temple were marked with festivity as Pandits settled in Jammu, Chandigarh and other parts of country made way to it. Since thousands of them left their homes in the valley as insurgency erupted in '89, the fesitival, celebrated twice a year, has taken on an emotional colour as it provides them a chance to reunite with their motherland, albiet only for a few hours.

"I feel like a blind man whose sight has been restored. This language is ours, this culture is ours and nowhere else can we get the same bonding," M.K. Bali, settled in Jammu, told The Tribune.

Local Muslims also took a lead in making them feel welcome as they had put up banners and posters greeting them. "Pandits and Muslims together made the unique culture of Kashmir and it is incomplete without them," Suleman, a local trader, said, stressing that they should come back to the valley.

However, not many Pandits appeared enthusiastic. "Whatever politicians may claim, the valley is far from safe for us. Even they have to move around in security cover, what is the guarantee of our lives," Awtar Krishan said, after shaking hands with Peoples Democratic Front’s (PDF) Shabbir Shah, who appealed to them to return.

The Pandits want the government to be more pro-active if it is really serious about their re-settlement.

Bhaderwah, June 23
Along with 20 other artists, hailing from different parts of the country, Ritesh, a craftsman of Haryana, is crafting peace through his art in this militancy-plagued town of Jammu and Kashmir.

The craftsman has come all the way from Faridabad to organise a workshop-cum-training camp for the youth of Bhaderwah to create employment opportunities for them. Exploiting their being idle, anti-national elements, known as over ground workers (OGWs) in violence-prone areas, usually lured local youth to join the ranks of militants.

Ritesh, by training the local youth and channelling their energy to constructive activities, is foiling the designs of OGWs to take undue benefit of the helplessness of the younger lot.

Apart from promoting tourism in new areas, the Jammu and Kashmir government, in its new policy, has decided to invite known artists of the country to train local youth in their respective fields. These artists have been specially invited to participate in the 15-day-long Bhaderwah festival to be concluded on June 25 .

While Ritesh of Haryana is training them in toy-making, Mansoor Alam Khan of Gaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, is imparting training to the youth here in wood-crafting. Mansoor, who was awarded the prestigious Best Craftman of the Country award, has been camping in the town for the past week and training local youth in wooden and brass blocks for textile printing and wood-carving and brass inlay.

Rajouri, June 23
Former militant leader and chief of the Jammu Kashmir Salvation Movement (JKSM) Zaffer Akbar Bhat today said he was ready for any sacrifice for the restoration of peace in Jammu And Kashmir.

At a news conference here Bhat admitted his earlier preaching of accession of the state with Pakistan was wrong.However, he blamed the government of India for deceiving all those commanders of the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) who had announced ceasefire in 2000 under the leadership of then HM commander- in- chief Abdul Majid Dar.

"I along with other seven senior leaders of the Hizb also participated in the meeting held at Nehru guest house with the Indian home secretary. The Government of India didn't keep its promise and let all commanders to die ,including Majid Dar, who had taken an initiative for the peace process", he claimed.

"We along with all parties, including the Hurriyat Conference, after long deliberations felt the continuation of the armed struggle would bring only miseries for the people of the state, and favoured ceasefire. But unfortunately all our senior commanders ,including Majid Dar, were killed by unknown gunmen. It was duty of the government to protect the lives of those who had offered to work for peace", said Bhat. He claimed he himself lost his elder brother after he raised voice in favour of the peace process.