Jammu, October 29
Darbar move, the royal practice of moving the entire capital from one place to another, may be unique to Jammu and Kashmir state. The practice was started by Maharaja Ranbir Singh 135 years ago, in 1872.

It continues without break till now. After closing in Srinagar on October 26, the civil secretariat will reopen here on Monday, November 5.

However, in 1987 the National Conference-Congress alliance government in the state, led by Farooq Abdullah, had tried to stop the practice by keeping the civil secretariat permanently at Srinagar. But the move was opposed by people of Jammu. The Jammu regio remained closed for a week and all supplies to the valley were cut off during the strike period. The government had to withdraw the decision and the civil secretariat moved to Jammu for winter.

According to historians, in fact, originally Jammu was the capital of Jammu and Kashmir. When Maharaja Gulab Singh, the founder of the Dogra dynasty, signed the Treaty of Amritsar with the British in 1846 and "purchased" the Kashmir valley, the royal family started moving to the valley in summer. When the Emperor moved, the darbar moved with him.

The practice was, however, regularised and made official by his son Maharaja Ranbir Singh in 1872 apparently with the idea since the entire government would move to Srinagar, it was better to make it official.

Even Mughal Emperors would spend summers in the Kashmir valley.

The famous Mughal Gardens in Srinagar had been developed for their recreation during their regime only. But their visits to the valley were only personal, while the seat of power remained in Delhi only.

The practice continued in the post-Independence era as well. However, it has become too cumbersome, consuming time and money.

The secretariat closes in the last week of October in Srinagar to reopen in the first week of November in Jammu and closes in Jammu in the last week of April to reopen in Srinagar in the first week of May.

But practically functioning of government departments stops from the beginning of October in Srinagar and in April in Jammu because the officials get busy in packing the records and files which is no ordinary job.

It is only the Chief Minister's office, the offices of his ministerial colleagues and the civil secretariat which move from one capital to another. Other offices like separate directorates for the Jammu and Kashmir region keep on functioning from the same place round the year.

But again, practically there is no government in the Jammu region during the summers and similarly no government in the Kashmir valley during winters. Both regions are "governed" by the divisional commissioners during that period as most of the ministers and senior officers, besides the Chief Minister remain away. 

Udhampur, October 29
Security forces this morning eliminated two Hizbul Mujahideen militants near the Chatroo area of Kishtwar district.

According to reports, on a tip-off the Jammu and Kashmir police and the Rashtriya Rifles (RR) launched a joint operation at the Chingam area of Chatroo. As security personnel reached near the hide-out, militants hiding there resorted to indiscriminate firing resulting in an encounter in which two militants were gunned down.

Mumtaz Ahmed, superintendent of police (SP), Kishtwar, said both slain militants had been identified as Mohammed Ashraf code name Gaznabi, resident of Batpura, Chatroo and Zafar Hussain code name Abid of Narian, Chatroo.

According to the SP, both militants were active in Chatroo and adjoining localities for two years and involved in some incidents. 

Udhampur, October 29
As a majority of local youths, engaged in blood and destruction, have been desperately trying to lay down their arms, foreign mercenaries are creating hurdles in their surrender. This was disclosed by Khalid Hussain, a militant of the Hizbul Muhajiden outfit, who laid down his arms before SSP (Reasi) J. L. Sharma here this morning.

Khalid said after sneaking into this side of the border, he was desperately trying to surrender. But, some foreign militants were creating hurdles in the way of militants like him willing to shun militancy. “Some commanders even threatened to kill my family if I surrendered”, he said, adding, “Foreigners are not giving important assignments to local youth as a majority of them are fed up with ongoing violence”.

Khalid, son of Abdul Aziz of Kothian village at Pouni block in Reasi district, was member of the group that was lured by some overground workers to join militancy. In 2001, he crossed over to Pakistan along with four other youths of the same area to get training in subversive activities. He was 17 then.

“Even during our training across the border, we had realised our mistake, but we were helpless”, he recalled, pointing out that as soon as members of his group entered this side of the border in 2004, they laid down their arms before the security forces.

The SSP told The Tribune that Khalid was not allowed to enter this place as members of his group had already surrendered before the police.

It was only six months back, Khalid managed to sneak into this side of the border. “As soon as he entered into our territory, he was in constant touch with the security agencies as he wanted to surrender”, the SSP said.

Jammu, October 29
Breaking up of the joint family system was one of the reasons for the increased level of stress among soldiers. And another factor was the instant communication between soldiers and their families that had increased the problem. Even foul language by seniors, inappropriate job and long duty hours also led to increased stress levels.

These revelations were made during a seminar organised by the Army here on combat stress and other lifestyle-related diseases. It was revealed at the seminar that the operational stress was not the only problem for the Army that led to some desperate steps like suicides by the troops.

Major-Gen Sanjeev Loomba of the 26 Infantry Division observed that there was an overall increase in the stress level of society and it was percolating into the armed forces also. He listed several factors, not necessarily associated with the work conditions of the soldiers, which led to desperate steps.

According to Lt Col J.S. Rana, a psychiatrist at a Military Hospital here, most of the cases were because of domestic or personal stress. He pointed out the breaking up of the joint family system was also one of the major factors that added to emotional stress.

Jammu, October 29
Thousands of displaced Kashmiri Pandits living in different camps here are wary of the belated goodwill generated towards them back home in the Kashmir valley.

For the first time in the past 18 years, various religious festivals are being celebrated in the valley with Muslims also participating in these. But not many of the displaced Pandits are prepared to take all this at face value. And everybody in the camps and those living in rented accommodations or those who have constructed their own houses are asking, “Why now?”

Most of the Pandits The Tribune talked to disclosed that Muslims had never participated in Hindu religious festivals before 1990. This was despite the fact that the two communities enjoyed a cordial relationship. “Our Muslim brethren visited our homes on festivals, but they never participated in these the way they are doing now, as they consider it against Islamic beliefs,” said Somnath, a representative of the displaced people living in the Muthi camp on the city outskirts.

The instant change of heart among members of the majority community in the valley and that too at a time when they can always be targeted by extremist elements is too much for the Pandits to accept.

The Pandits are also apprehensive that the separatist movement in Kashmir, which has been identified with Islamic extremism, might now be in search of a secular and tolerant face to show to the world that it was not sectarian.

Chaman Lal Kaul, a retired teacher who originally belonged to Kupwara district, observed that these were mere symbolic gestures. Kaul, who had visited his village this year after a gap of 16 years, said people did receive him with open arms, but only as long as he was not going to stay there for good. He observed, “I am welcome there only as long as I go there as a tourist and not to settle down permanently”.

Agnishekhar, chairman of the Panun Kashmir, an organisation spearheading the movement for a separate homeland for Kashmiri Pandits in the Kashmir valley, maintained that this would hardly make any difference to the plight of about a million Kashmiri Pandits scattered all over the country. He said even if the intentions of people participating in Hindu festivals were genuine, it would not help the cause of the Pandits. He reiterated his organisation’s stand for a separate homeland for Kashmiri Pandits within the valley, which, he said, was the only solution to preserve their distinct identity.

Udhampur, October 29
As chances of constructing shelters for homeless villagers before first snowfall expected anytime, are remote, the district administration has decided to shift all families of fire-ravaged Margi village to the nearby hamlets to protect them from severe cold. These families will be accommodated in nearby villages and shifted back to their native place after April 2008.

Although adequate rations and material for construction of tin-sheet shelters have reached the affected villages, inhabitants said it was not possible to construct shelters before first snowfall. They apprehend entire population will perish if not allowed to shift to safer places as winter has already set in in this hilly area bordering Kokernag of north Kashmir.

Today when Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad again visited the village, villagers urged him to shift them to nearby villages. “It was only after demand of the affected families, we have decided to shift them to the nearby villages”, deputy commissioner, Kishtwar, Inayatullah told The Tribune.

The deputy commissioner, who was camping in the affected village after the incident, said night temperature at Margi had already reached freezing point. “At present the homeless families have been living in tented colonies and they will be shifted to nearby villages very soon'', he said, adding, “three villages,Ghumri, Bismeena and Raitanbas, have been identified to accommodate these families''. He added the government would reimburse rent to the families.

The entire Margi village comprising more than 1,500 persons was reduced to ashes after a fire broke out in this hamlet on Monday night. The fire rendered entire population homeless as all 166 houses and more than 70 sheds were burnt out.