Jammu, January 8
The leader of the opposition in the state legislative assembly Abdul Rahim Rather today ridiculed the claims of the state government about zero tolerance on human rights violations and the political corruption.

Speaking during the discussion on the Governor's address, Rather claimed that the "political corruption" in the state was quite rampant. Addressing the treasury benches, he said, "tomorrow you will bring out figures that so many people have been booked by the vigilance, but what about the big fish, the politicians?".

He said while the government employees involved in corruption were being booked no action was being taken against the politicians found involved in various corrupt activities. He asked the government to look into the recommendations of its own Accountability Commission, set up for probing corruption at high places.

On the issue of human rights, Rather pointed out unemployed youth were being beaten up mercilessly. Similarly people demanding setting up of colleges were fired upon. "Is it not the violation of human rights?", Rather asked.

He said that the report of the House Committee constituted to investigate backdoor appointments and the Kundal Report be tabled in the House. He said an expert committee be constituted for recommending new colleges in the state. He also suggested for a committee to monitor implementation of the Roshni scheme and demanded that a comprehensive policy be formulated for return of migrants to valley.

He also suggested for effective implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

Infuriated over the use of “brute” force on protesting refugees from Pakistan at the hands of police on Monday, legislators from the Panthers Party, State Morcha and BJP staged a walkout from the lower house here today. As soon as the house assembled this morning BJP legislator Jugal Kishore, State Morcha legislator Ashwani Sharma and Panthers Party legislators Harsh Dev Singh, Faqir Nath and Balwant Singh Mankotia tried to draw attention of the Speaker on miserable plight of Pakistani refugees.

Demanding that Pak refugees be given their fundamental rights, legislators shouted slogans like “solve the problem of refugees” and “stop discrimination with them.” 

Jammu, January 8
In an obvious reiteration of his stand that the Army must continue to remain deployed in the insurgency-hit areas, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad cautioned the people against any complacency in view of the improving situation in the state. 

Calling for greater coordination between the army, police and para-military forces, he said, they had done a commendable job and the coordination between them needed to be strengthened further.

Addressing a meeting of the Unified Command here last evening, the Chief Minister expressed satisfaction over the decline in the level of violence in the state. At the same, time he warned, there can be no complacency in dealing with militancy on the ground.

The meeting discussed the overall security scenario in the state and officers of the security and intelligence agencies briefed the Chief Minister about the situation and the likely scenario. The last meeting of the Unified Headquarters was held in Srinagar on May 21, 2007.

The meeting presided over by the Chief Minister, who heads the Unified Command, was attended among others by the Chief Secretary, B. R. Kundal, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Northern Command, Lt-Gen H. S. Panag, Director-General of Police, Kuldeep Khoda, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Anil Goswami, GoCs, 9, 15 and 16 corps, Lt-Gen B. S. Nagal, Lt-Gen Mukesh Sabarwal and Lt-Gen R. K. Karwal, senior officers of various intelligence agencies, the BSF, the CRPF and state police and divisional commissioners, Kashmir and Jammu.

The Chief Minister said the level of violence in the state had significantly come down, adding that against 1667 incidents during 2006, the year just gone by saw 1092 incidents of violence throughout the state. He said despite sharp decline in violence the situation did not leave any scope for complacency.

Azad said 2007 also saw increased political activity in terms of holding public meetings and rallies by political parties which was likely to go up further in the current year in view of the upcoming assembly elections. He said 2480 public meetings and rallies were held in 2007 compared to 1798 during the preceding year. He, however, said that infiltration and cross-border terrorism continued during the year.

Referring to the coordination between various security and intelligence agencies in the state, the Chief Minister said it was commendable and had shown excellent results. He said the coordination needed to be further strengthened to bring complete peace in the state. He also underscored the need for greater vigil in view of the ensuing Republic Day, saying "our preparations should be foolproof." 

Srinagar, January 8
The 300 km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway was again blocked today following heavy snow and rainfall in the region, as heavy accumulation of snow in Jawahar tunnel area disrupted the movement of traffic.

The highway was opened to clear stranded heavy vehicles and light vehicular traffic was allowed from Srinagar and Jammu yesterday, but the road had to be closed again due to heavy and continuous downpour in the upper reaches of the region.

The weatherman has forecast for heavy rains and snow in the entire region and heavy snow at many places during the next 48 hours. The upper reaches of Kashmir valley witnessed heavy snowfall since last night. The highest recorded in Kupwara being at 21.2 mm. However, Srinagar recorded 2.4 mm of rains and snow today, while the maximum temperature was recorded at 3.5° C and minimum at 1° C. Pahalgam in south Kashmir recorded 6 mm of rains and snowfall.

Other scenic spots in the higher reaches, including Sonmarg and Gulmarg, have also witnessed heavy snowfall since last night. Gulmarg has received about two and a half ft of snow blocking the normal movement of traffic since 
yesterday.

The Srinagar-Jammu national highway having remained blocked for the past few days, and the flights have been cancelled for two consecutive days, there has been a decline in the flow of tourists to 
the valley.

Poonch: Heavy snowfall and intermittent rain continued to lash the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch on fourth straight day today, disrupting normal life in these frontier districts.

The inclement weather conditions forced closure of Rajouri-Poonch road via Dera Ki Gali whereas traffic on the Jammu-Poonch National Highway through Bhimber Gali remained thin due to slippery 
conditions.

Early this morning, almost all the tehsils of these twin border districts witnessed moderate snowfall or rains, forcing the residents to stay indoors. However, the residents continued to grapple with erratic power and water supply.

It was snowing heavily in upper reaches of these twin border districts with two to three feet of snowfall reported from many parts of Pir Panjal range including Dera-Ki-Gali and Bufliaz.

Reports from adjoining Rajouri district said upper reaches received heavy snowfall on the fourth straight day on Tuesday. Several areas of the district remain cut off with normal life also getting affected.

The weatherman forecasted rains and snow at many places across these districts during the next 24 hours. 

Srinagar, January 8
Former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah has demanded free movement of people across the LoC on the basis of an identity card issued by the respective deputy commissioners, with no restriction on the movement for the state subjects, irrespective of whether they have relatives on either side of the LoC or not.

Dr Abdullah, who visited the Pakistan High Commission yesterday morning to record his condolence message on the death of Begum Benazir Bhutto, in New Delhi said the movement of the state subjects across the LoC would help to strengthen the bond of friendship between the 
two countries.

While talking to the acting Pakistan High Commissioner to India, he suggested to impress upon the Pakistani establishment to take radical steps to improve the relations between both nations and work towards creating better understanding and sense of confidence among the people for a long-lasting peace in the sub-continent.

Dr Abdullah said India wished and prayed for a stable Pakistan, where democracy and the democratic norms find a strong foothold. A stable Pakistan was very important for the stability and peace in not only in the sub-continent, but also in the entire South Asia, he added.

Dr Abdullah was accompanied by former CM of Uttar Pardesh Mulayam Singh Yadav, former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Chandrababu Naidu, former Karnataka Chief Minister K. Bangarappa and Samajwadi Party MP, Amar Singh.

The leaders recorded their messages of condolence in the condolence book and paid their respectful homage to the departed soul, a party spokesman said. 

Jammu, January 8
The state government plans to carry out a detailed survey on the number of people having been rendered widows and orphans owing to the militancy related violence so that the relief and rehabilitation programme covered the affected people.

Besides the government agencies, services of village heads and Anganwari workers were to be utilised for completing the census on widows and orphans, which could facilitate the Social Welfare Department to provide suitable relief to victims of militancy.

Official sources said here today that after the social welfare portfolio was recently allotted to Abdul Gani Vakil, who is known for his dynamism, the department has been geared up for completing the survey.

The need for carrying out the census has risen after the state government figures, in the absence of a survey, are in variance with the figures dished out by the Rehabilitation Council and National Foundation for Communal Harmony.

The council report has revealed that there are 25,000 orphans and 6,000 widows and so far, the state government has covered 6,000 widows and orphans under its relief and rehabilitation programme.

The US-based Kashmir Mission, headed by Malik Nadeem Abid, has revealed in its report that there were 25,000 widows and 1.10 lakh orphans in the state.

Hence, the Social Welfare Department plans to have a detailed survey done so that orphans were not forced to resort to child labour.

Besides several NGOs having pooled their resources for opening orphanages, the Rehabilitation Council of India, the Central government and the Army have been providing assistance for the rehabilitation of orphans and widows from more than last 10 years.

The Army has decided to set up seven orphanages, where destitute children are provided free board, lodge and education besides healthcare. The state government is yet to open an orphanage or home for the widows.

Vakil is likely to take up this issue with Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad so that at least one major orphanage was set up in Kashmir or those NGOs which had been running a couple of orphanages are provided financial support.

Preliminary survey has revealed that the border district of Kupwara in north Kashmir has the highest number of orphans (2,050) and over 550 widows because the areas has witnessed high-level militancy as the border belts in Kupwara have been the main infiltration routes.

Vakil plans to get the census completed as early as possible so that the state government could approach the Centre for increase in financial help.

The Centre has already decided to release Rs 20 crore for the rehabilitation and relief of orphans and widows during the current year. The state had spent over Rs 6.50 crore on the rehabilitation and relief programme and in the next budget proposals, the yearly allocation in this sector may be increased by at least 10 per cent.

The state government has written to the union home ministry that sanction be accorded for bringing children of deceased militants under the rehabilitation programme, for which the Centre had to earmark additional funds. 

Srinagar, January 8
In the next couple of months there would be a "new look APHC", Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said here today. Separatist Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has said he would be extending invitation to Shabir Ahmad Shah, chief of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) to join the conglomerate to constitute a united platform for finding a solution to the Kashmir problem.

Shah yesterday put forth a six-point unity proposal in the backdrop of his sustained unity efforts to provide a common political platform to move forward on the separatist agenda of the resolution of long pending Kashmir issue.

Talking to media persons at the party headquarters at Rajbagh, Farooq welcomed the unity proposals of the senior separatist leader, Shabir Shah.

“His views are positive… this is our viewpoint as well,” Mirwaiz said adding the move was “in the best interest of the people and the (freedom) movement.” He said Shah would be formally invited to join the Hurriyat Conference soon and the process to invite others would also continue.

The aim was to make the Hurriyat Conference a grass root level organisation, he said adding “we will give this coalition a shape of a party". Others present on the occasion included the former APHC chairman, Moulvi Abbas Ansari and Fazal-e-Haq Qureshi. “We will discuss and debate on the implementations of the suggestions” made by Shabir Shah, Mirwaiz said and added that it would be given a final shape within the next few months.

He pointed out that it was looking forward to Pakistan to come out of the political crisis and election process. He hoped that the focus on Kashmir is not lost since Pakistan was serious on resolving Kashmir, as there were welcome signs, he said. During the next three to four months "we will see some movement forward on Kashmir", Mirwaiz said. India also needs to have more flexibility on Kashmir, he observed.

“All these efforts are being made towards the resolution of Kashmir issue,” in the wake of the ongoing Indo-Pak dialogue process, Mirwaiz said. The APHC supports resolution of Kashmir issue in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and through tripartite talks involving the people of Kashmir, these being in the constitution of the Hurriyat Conference when constituted in 1993, Mirwaiz said.

When asked about the hardline leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the APHC chairman said goal of all the organisations was the same but modalities differed.

Other separatist leaders, who had earlier been part of the Hurriyat Conference since its constitution in 1993, are also being roped in as part of the renewed unity efforts. They include Peoples League leader, Sheikh Abdul Aziz and Azam Inquillabi of the Mahaz-e-Azadi, who have indicated their return to the amalgam. 
The hardline Hurriyat Conference leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and JKLF chairman, Mohammad Yasin Malik, have already parted ways with the moderate Hurriyat Conference since early 2003.  

Jammu, January 8
The state government has finally woken up to the problem of garbage dumping in the city. At least 156 kanals of land has been transferred to the Jammu Municipal Corporation in the city outskirts near Kot Balwal, which would be used for dumping the garbage generated from the city.

Disclosing this in the Legislative Council here today, minister of state for housing and urban development Gharu Ram also allayed the apprehensions of members about the garbage being dumped near Tawi river.

Ram said the Jammu Municipal Corporation was dumping the garbage at least 100 m away from the Tawi river and that too after digging the trenches and covering it with earth.

The government had already transferred 156 kanals of land at Kot Bhalwal to the corporation for the development of the dumping site on modern and scientific lines, he said.

Earlier, Ram also informed the House that 3,227 candidates from both the divisions, who have acquired their graduation and post graduation degrees in agriculture and horticulture, stand registered as Rehbar-i-Zirat. The payment of stipend is under consideration of the government and will be paid in due course of time, he added.

The minister also said the government had constituted a sub-committee to examine various issues related to Rehbar-i-Zirat scheme adding that the recommendations of the cabinet sub-committee shall be considered.

During zero hour, Panthers Party chief Bhim Singh also raised the issue of unemployed diploma engineers, who were sitting on dharna outside the divisional commissioner’s office from the past 300 days. He urged the government to provide jobs to these engineers. 

Jammu, January 8
Probably for the first time in its history, the state-owned Jammu and Kashmir Bank has brought out separate calendars for the three regions of the state, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. 

This is being viewed as the acknowledgement on part of the government that the three regions are ethnically, culturally, historically and linguistically different from each other.

The Jammu and Kashmir Bank calendar is the most popular in the state and can be seen in almost all households. Earlier, the bank used to print the scenic beauties of the state. Last year, it had printed the places of historical and religious importance, while this year different cultural and historical milestones of the three regions had been highlighted.

However, for the first time, the bank decided to bring out separate calendars for three different regions, which have practically nothing in common with each other.

Meanwhile, state BJP general secretary and former MLA Bali Bhagat hailed the decision of the state government to prepare separate envelope and calendars for the three regions.

He said: “This is a step in the right direction as the people of Jammu and Ladakh have always complained that they have been ignored in all spheres during the past 60 years.”

He said the decision to bring out separate calendars was a testimony to the recognition of the fact that people of the three regions are different from one another. It is good omen that authorities have ultimately realised this contradiction and taken a positive step to respect the sentiments of the people of these two regions also.

At the same time, Bali Bhagat said the publication of separate calendars was no solution to the problems being faced by the people of Jammu and Ladakh. He said a policy was needed today that could solve the problems between Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh permanently. 

Srinagar, January 8
An official of state cooperative bank has been arrested for alleged embezzlement of over Rs 20 lakh, the police said on Sunday.

Abdul Rashid Mir, manager re-cancellation of state co-operative bank, was arrested on Thursday as part of investigation in a case of embezzlement in Ganderbal branch of the bank, a spokesman of crime branch of Jammu and Kashmir police said.

The spokesman said the crime branch received information that an amount of Rs 20,44,552 has been allegedly embezzled by then branch manager state cooperative bank Ganderbal, Shamshada, in connivance with other officials of the bank.

During the course of investigation, it was found that the woman officer in connivance with Mir, the then second officer of the branch, after forging the records of the bank diverted an amount of Rs 20,44,524 from an account belonging to one Sonaullah Mir.

The money was allegedly diverted to the account of the nephew of the manager and misappropriated by the accused, the spokesman said. — PTI 

Udhampur, January 8
One Srinagar-bound passenger was killed when he was hit by a shooting stone at Panthal on Jammu-Srinagar highway this afternoon following which the authorities decided to close the highway.

Higher reaches of Doda and Ramban districts experienced intermittent rains and heavy snowfall. Hundreds of passengers were stranded on the highway. Besides heavy down pours and snowfall, many areas also witnessed land sliding and shooting stones.

Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Danish Rana told The Tribune that the deceased Manzoor Ahmed of Tulsi Bagh was on his way to Srinagar. As the Sumo, in which he was traveling, got stranded near Panthal due to heavy snowfall. Manzoor Ahmed was hit was a shooting stone when he came out of the vehicle. He was taken to the hospital but doctors pronounced him brought dead.

SSP said Nogam, Banihal, Panthal and some other areas have been witnessing heavy snowfall.

According to police over 1,000 Kashmir-bound passengers and 1,200 trucks carrying essential commodities got stranded at different places on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.

Although the GREF personnel tried their level best to reopen the road by removing the accumulated snow but they failed in their attempts as continuous and heavy snowfall repeatedly hampered the snow clearance operations.

The SSP said rains and snowfall made the road between Ramban and Jawahar tunnel slippery.

As hundreds of passengers were struck up near Banihal, deputy commissioner Ramban, A.D. Shahnas summoned all senior officers to make arrangements for these people.

"Although we have standing arrangements to face such conditions, a team has been constituted to assess the situation,” Shahnas said and assured that all possible facilities would be given to the stranded passengers.

Worthwhile to mention here that meteorological department had already warned of heavy rainfall and snowfall from January 8 to January 10 due to active western disturbance. 

Jammu, January 8
CPM legislature M.Y. Tarigami has accused the railways of violating the labour laws. Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the assembly, Tarigami said, “The labourers engaged in laying the railway line in the valley are being exploited by their employers. 

Though the government had fixed a remuneration of Rs 2,100, they are only being paid Rs 1,200 which is a clear case of labour law violation.”

The labourers, who work for railways, were being denied any part-time wages neither there is any risk allowance, the leader said.

Tarigami alleged that the farmers whose lands were taken by the railways were still waiting for the compensation promised to them.

“When the land was taken from the farmers for laying the railway line they were promised a job as compensation. But they haven’t been given any jobs as yet; also the payment for the acquired land has also not been given to them,” he said.

Tarigami alleged that the government instead of redressing the genuine grievances of the labourers, who had taken to streets, used brutal police force to crush their voice.

“The act of using brutal police force to crush the voice of the innocent labourers who were demanding their right is a blot on the performance of the state government,” he said. Abdul Gafar Sofi also raised the same issue during zero hour.

Among other issues, Mehboob Baig of National Conference raised the issue of unemployed youth of the state. Kanta Andotra of congress raised the demand for jobs for unemployed engineers who were at strike for the past many weeks.

Mir Saif-ullah and Qaiser Jamsheed Lone of National Conference raised the issue of recent thefts and fire incidents that occurred in Kupwara and Lolab area and demanded immediate relief for the fire sufferers.

Responding to the issues raised by Moahhmed Sayeed Akhoon and Aga Ruhullah, Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig informed the Assembly that the government had allotted sufficient funds for arrangements during Moharrum days in the valley.