J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Navratra festival in Katra from Oct 12
High-level meeting reviews arrangements
Udhampur, October 9
Senior police and civil officers met here today to review arrangements for the Navratra festival in Katra town. Besides all police and civil officers, minister of rural development Jugal Kishore also attended the meeting in which arrangements were finalised.

One killed, 11 hurt
Rajouri, October 9
A minor boy was killed and 11 others, including a woman and her son, both residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, who crossed to this side of the Line of Control only yesterday via the Poonch-Rawlakote entry point, were injured, one of them critically, after the Tata-Sumo car they were travelling in skidded near Krishna Ghati in the Mendhar areas of Poonch district Poonch. 

Only son kills businessman to lead ‘independent life’
Srinagar, October 9
Murder of a businessman of the capital has been traced with the police claiming his son having bludgeoned him to death to lead an independent life.

Migrants to resume stir after Navratras
Udhampur, October 9
Enraged over the death of two migrants, allegedly due to starvation, displaced people camping at Tawara, have decided to resume their agitation after the Navratras. Leaders of the migrants today met at Talwara to draw up future action. On the other hand, indefinite dharna by the displaced people entered the 88th day today.

Muslim activists of Jamat-ul-Islamia burn the effigy of US President George W. Bush and raise anti-US slogans in protest against the construction of an office of the Apple Corporation which is a replica of Mecca.— Tribune photo by Anand Sharma

400 ReT teachers sans salary for 3 months
Udhampur, October 9
Over 400 teachers of Udhampur district are resentful as the authorities have not released their salary for the three months. These teachers have been engaged under on the Rehbar-e-Talim (ReT) and centrally-sponsored Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan schemes.

Absence of Marketing Policy
Middlemen make hay at potato growers’ cost 
Udhampur, October 9
Hopes of potato growers of Paddar belt of maximum benefit during this year's harvesting are virtually dashed as middlemen have been cornering maximum profit due to the absence of a transparent marketing policy in this remote area of Kishtwar district known for producing organic vegetables.

Navratra festival in Katra from Oct 12
High-level meeting reviews arrangements
Tribune News Service

Udhampur, October 9
Senior police and civil officers met here today to review arrangements for the Navratra festival in Katra town. Besides all police and civil officers, minister of rural development Jugal Kishore also attended the meeting in which arrangements were finalised.

In view of the threat of militants’ strike, deputy inspector-general (DIG), Udhampur-Reasi zone, Alok Puri informed that the meeting of steps taken by the police to frustrate designs of the anti-national forces.

After the meeting, the DIG said security personnel had been deployed to foil designs of subversive elements. He said adequate number of securitymen had been deployed to plug the routes which connect with the holy shrine.

He, however, said keeping in view the expected rush of pilgrims during the Navratras, additional forces were deployed at Katra and adjoining areas.

Meanwhile, Katra town is all prepared for the festival commencing on October 12. Apart from government departments and the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, various social and religious organisations had been also involved make the festival a smooth event.

For the first time students of 25 government and private educational institutions will be involved the event. These students will showcase Dogra culture and ethos to the pilgrims coming from all parts of the country and abroad to participate in the function.

Some social organisations have also been involved to keep a eye on the movement of suspicious persons and ensure cleanliness during the festival.

One killed, 11 hurt
Tribune News Service

Rajouri, October 9
A minor boy was killed and 11 others, including a woman and her son, both residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, who crossed to this side of the Line of Control only yesterday via the Poonch-Rawlakote entry point, were injured, one of them critically, after the Tata-Sumo car they were travelling in skidded near Krishna Ghati in the Mendhar areas of Poonch district Poonch. Sources said a Tata Sumo car(JK02L-1152) ferrying 12 passengers, on the way to Mendhar from Poonch, skidded and fell into 150-foot-deep gorge killing a minor boy and injuring 11 others. The injured have been admitted to hospital.

Only son kills businessman to lead ‘independent life’
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 9
Murder of a businessman of the capital has been traced with the police claiming his son having bludgeoned him to death to lead an independent life.

Recovery of blood-stained body of Nazir Ahmad Mahajan on September 25 had surprised the city, and many alleged a liquor lobby behind the killing as he had moved the High Court against it and got favourable verdict.

SSP S.A. Mujtaba said they did explore this angle but their suspicion diverted to his only son, Zubair Nazir Mahajan, when the police found bloodstains in their showroom near Dal gate. A deeper probe of mobile call details of Zubair helped the police crack the case. He took the help of his friend, Suhial Ahmed Bhat, to kill his father. Foolishly enough, Suhail even inserted his SIM card in the mobile of the victim after he was dead to make a call.

The police first questioned a large number of local businessmen and others. The hint of suspicion on the so-called liquor lobby only fuelled public anger as sale of liquor is a volatile issue in the valley.

The son initially searched for a grenade to kill his father as it would have made the murder look like a militant crime and fetched him compensation money from the government also, the police said.

When he failed in finding a grenade, both accused bought a hammer. On the evening of September 24 Zubair and his friend hammered his head from behind, the police said.

Migrants to resume stir after Navratras

Udhampur, October 9
Enraged over the death of two migrants, allegedly due to starvation, displaced people camping at Tawara, have decided to resume their agitation after the Navratras. Leaders of the migrants today met at Talwara to draw up future action. On the other hand, indefinite dharna by the displaced people entered the 88th day today.

Today a large number of migrants attended the dharna to express solidarity towards the cause. Chairman Balwan Singh, Migrant Action Committee, said a majority of the people favoured that the agitation should be resumed as the authorities seemed to be unconcerned towards their woes. Instead of solving their problems, the authorities wanted to stifle the voice of the people. Although most of the migrants wanted to intensify the stir, it was unanimously decided not to take any extreme step before Dasehra. — TNS 

400 ReT teachers sans salary for 3 months
Tribune News Service

Udhampur, October 9
Over 400 teachers of Udhampur district are resentful as the authorities have not released their salary for the three months. These teachers have been engaged under on the Rehbar-e-Talim (ReT) and centrally-sponsored Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan schemes.

After a symbolic protest, these teachers warned the authorities to release their salary early. President of the ReT Teachers Association Vinod Sharma regretted that for the past two months authorities had been promising to release the salary, but nothing had been done. He said families of these teachers were on the verge of starvation.

The state government had introduced the ReT scheme to streamline the functioning of most of the schools in remote and inaccessible areas.

Under this scheme, qualified youth among locals or nearby villages were appointed additional teachers on contract.

While implementing this scheme, the government had promised to regularise the services of all ReT teachers after satisfactory service of five years.

Some of the ReT teachers were regularised by the coalition regime, but those who are still working in remote schools have been denied even salaries.

Similar type of appointments of temporary teachers were made under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan scheme funded by the Union government.

As most of the permanent teachers have attached or get themselves transferred in the accessible areas, it is only the ReT teachers and those appointed under the Abhiyan scheme who have been managing almost all schools of remote and far-flung areas. A majority of the schools in remote areas have been functioning properly due to these temporary teachers. 

Absence of Marketing Policy
Middlemen make hay at potato growers’ cost 
Dinesh Manhotra
Tribune News Service

Udhampur, October 9
Hopes of potato growers of Paddar belt of maximum benefit during this year's harvesting are virtually dashed as middlemen have been cornering maximum profit due to the absence of a transparent marketing policy in this remote area of Kishtwar district known for producing organic vegetables.

As the price of potato has been witnessing unprecedented hike this seasons, farmers also expected a good profit margin this season as the demand of potato produced in Paddar belt, also known as Pahari alloo, has increased manifold in Jammu and Kashmir.

Although the price of this potato is between Rs 12 and Rs 15 per kg in many parts of the state, farmers are forced to sell it at Rs 4 to Rs 5 per kg to middlemen. It is the middlemen who are pocketing maximum profits by collecting potato from remote areas and later selling it in markets of town.

Director, Agriculture, Vinod Bala, who recently visited remote areas of Paddar, admitted that middlemen had been cornering maximum profit due to unavailability of strong marketing network in this area.

“The demand of the potato produced in this belt is not confined only to Jammu and Kashmir. It is in demand in Delhi market also”, the director said and she had taken up the matter with the Planning and Marketing wing of the department to formulate a comprehensive policy to establish network in these far-flung areas of the state.

Known for producing organic vegetables, Massoo, Kaban, Soul, Gandhari, Daghol, Ghulabgarh, Haloti and other areas are known as the potato belt. As many as 2,000 families are directly or indirectly involved in the production of potato in the belt of Kishtwar district. After so many years, the price of potato witnessed an unprecedented hike. So the farmers were also hoping this year's harvest will change their fortune. Due to climatic conditions of this belt, the taste of potato produced in this belt is different from that grown in plain areas. Hence, the demand is very high.

Chief agriculture officer, Doda, P. S. Thakur too admitted that due to lack of marketing facilities farmers were not getting the price they deserved. He said the department had been encouraging the farmers to constitute cooperative societies to get rid of the middlemen.