Srinagar, October 11
Devotees visited shrines and mosques for night-long prayers on the occasion of Shab-e-Qader on Tuesday night, on 26th day of holy month of Ramzan.

These included the Hazratbal shrine that houses a relic of Prophet Mohammad, and Srinagar’s Jamia masjid, where the Mirwaiz or chief priest, Maulvi Umar Farooq led prayers.

Prayers were held in other major shrines, including the shrine of Sheikh Nooruddin Wali at Chrar-e-Sharief and all mosques across the valley.

The occasion would be followed by Jumat-ul-Wida, the last Friday of the holy month the day after before Id-ul-Fitr would be observed on Saturday or Sunday next subject to the appearance of crescent.

There has been hustle and bustle in main markets over the past one week with shoppers busy purchasing edibles and dress materials.

Special prayers were held in the shrine of Sheikh Noruddin Wali at Chrar-e-Sharief since Sunday last with the beginning of annual Urs of the Sufi saint.

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad reviewed arrangements in connection with Shab-e-Qadr and Jumat-ul-Wida here and directed the administration on power, water, cleanliness and medical facilities for the devotees.

Facilities for people visiting mosques and places like Hazratbal, Khanqah-e-Moalla, Jenab Sahab Soura, Jama Masjid and Charar-e-Sharief had been put in place the CM was informed.

Similar arrangements have been made at significant mosques and shrines in other districts of the state.

In view of the Id-ul-Fitr, Azad ordered a check on market and mobilise special squads to check profiteering and black-marketeering.

He also ordered the setting up of information booths by the Departments of health, PHE and SMC for the convenience of public.

Traffic officials were told to ensure smooth flow of vehicles to and from important congregational sites.

Earlier, "poshakbandi and opening of Roza Sharief Sheikh-ul-Aalam" at Charar-i-Sharief was performed at a religious congregation at Charar-i-Sharief on Sunday.

The district development commissioner, Budgam on the occasion informed work on the construction of Khanqah-i-Faiz had been expedited and round the clock work was on.

He said as the target of six months fixed by the Chief Minister during his last visit to the Khanqah, the Namazgah has been almost completed and would be opened in a month.

Khankaq-i-Faiz was gutted in 1995 Charar-i-Sharief incident and since then Namazgah could not be restored, he added.

Meanwhile, both factions of the separatist Hurriyat Conference have decided to offer Id Namaz at Idgah where the prayers have not been offered during the past two decades.

The civil administration is yet to decide whether to allow people offer prayers on the occasion, while a senior police officer here said the police would not stop anybody from offering prayers.

However, law and order wold be taken care of on the occasion, he added.

Hardline APHC chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani here last month appealed people to offer prayers on the occasion. Moderate faction of the APHC led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, visited the area yesterday to oversee arrangements for the conduct of Id Namaz.

Though both factions have planned separate programmes in this connection, Geelani has decided to reschedule it so that it did not clash with the Mirwaiz’ programme.

Srinagar, October 11
Hardline APHC leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has announced withdrawal of his programme of offering Id prayers at Idgah here in view of the possible confrontation with the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

Addressing mediapersons here this afternoon, Geelani said the decision to offer Id prayers at “Idgah” had been taken to uphold the sanctity of the place as no prayers had been offered there for the past two decades. He had on September 26 announced to offer the prayers there and appealed people to converge on the place for offering prayers.

He apprehended that the place would be vandalised or occupied by the security forces and the decision to offer prayers was to prevent any such event at the place.

Geelani described as unfortunate the decision taken by the Awami Action Committee and the APHC, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, on October 8 about offering the prayers at Idgah.

Both factions of the separatist Hurriyat Conference were virtually divided on the schedule of programmes to be held on the occasion. Geelani had earlier also visited Idgah and supervised the cleansing of the grounds. 

Udhampur, October 11
Claims of the ruling coalition on equal treatment to all three regions of the state notwithstanding, government employees of Jammu region have charged the Congress-led government with giving them unfair treatment.

Allegations of discrimination were not labelled by the opposition but the labour of the ruling Congress charged its own government with discrimination against employees of Jammu province.

The Congress’ labour wing has also charged the government with making false promises to befool employees of Jammu province.

Over 14,000 employees, of different wings of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department of Jammu province, allege as their salaries and other benefits are alleged to be lower compared to their counterparts in Kashmir valley though employees from of both regions were engaged under the same scheme.

Leaders of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) - labour wing of the ruling Congress party, have been planning a movement to get this discrimination removed. INTUC leaders do not mind attacking their own government for discriminatory policies towards employees of Jammu region. Citing examples of discrimination against Jammu, Som Nath leader of INTUC, Udhampur pointed out employees engaged under Community Participation scheme had been getting Rs 500 per month in Jammu province. ``It is irony that employees engaged under similar scheme in Kashmir Valley have been getting Rs 2100 per month'', alleged Som Nath. Maximum employees, under this scheme, have been engaged from Udhampur, Reasi, Kishtwar, Mahore and Banihal areas of Jammu province.

This issue of bias against Jammu-based employees had rocked the state Assembly but nothing except promises had been done. INTUC leader, while criticising his party’s government, said Chief Minister had twice assured to remove this discrimination but no step had been taken. 

Srinagar, October 11
At least seven persons, including six Army jawans and a civilian, were killed and eight injured when an LPG cylinder exploded inside an Army camp at Hamray in the Pattan area of Baramula district today.

The Hizbul Mujahideen, which has announced three-day unilateral ceasefire on the occasion of Id from Friday October 12 to 14, has claimed responsibility for the attack

A Defence spokesman here, however, pointed out the explosion causing heavy damage to the structure was caused by the explosion of an LPG cylinder at 11-20 am today.

Those killed included six Army jawans and a civilian working at the site of explosion. He said eight others, including five jawans and three civilians, were injured in the explosion who have been hospitalised.

Srinagar, October 11
One militant was killed and three CRPF personnel were injured, when militants attacked battalion headquarters of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), on the Boulevard road overlooking Dal lake, here this evening.

CRPF spokesman Prabhakar Tripathy said militant had been killed and three others, including two constables of the CRPF, injured in the incident. The area was sanitised and searches were launched after one hour of an exchange of fire between the militant and the security personnel.

The spokesman also informed the attack was carried out on the Boulevard Hotel, housing 144 battalion headquarters, on the Boulevard road at 6-45 p.m. The militants hurled a grenade and followed it by firing leading to an encounter, which continued for one hour. The CRPF and the police, to flush out any hidden militant within the premises, launched searches, the spokesman said. 

Udhampur, October 11
Iftaar parties being organised by the Army and other forces during the holy month of Ramzan are helping strengthen secular fabric as members of both communities are participating in these parties.

These parties are strengthening not only brotherhood, but also helping remove misunderstanding among Hindu-Muslim communities in sensitive areas like Kishtwar and Bhaderwah.

Iftaar party organised by the Army at Kishtwar exhibited an example of secularism and brotherhood as those present in the party pledged to work for peace in the area. Leaders of all political parties participated in the party. While the opposition National Conference was represented by MLA Sajjad Kitchloo, leaders of the PDP, the Congress and the BJP also participated in the party.

Sajjad Kitchloo hailed the Defence authorities for organising such types of function to strengthen brotherhood and communal harmony in these areas. He lauded efforts of the Army in bringing both communities together.

Similar type of Iftaar party was organised by superintendent of police (SP) Bhaderwah, M. L. Mehra. During past some months differences have cropped up between two communities over some issues. Iftaar party organiszed by the police helped members of both the communities to sit together to remove misunderstandings.