Srinagar, January 25
Tight security arrangements are in place across Kashmir to thwart the nefarious designs of separatist militants ahead of the Republic Day celebrations as preparations are in full swing for the occasion.

As a result of intensified and strengthened security measures, the checking of passenger vehicles and surprise roadside frisking has increased. The capital city also witnessed less movement of people today. Office-goers and businessmen left for their homes earlier fearing harassment and inconvenience due to frequent security checks on their way. Roads wore a deserted look soon after the Friday prayers and there was thin transport plying on the roads.

The main function which will be held at the Bakshi Stadium has been sanitised and all roads leading to the stadium have been sealed-off. Search operations have been completed in all localities adjacent to the Bakshi Stadium. These include Gogji Bagh, Wazir Bagh, Jawahar Nagar and Aloochi Bagh areas, where the police and CRPF men have taken positions at high-rise buildings to frustrate the designs of militants to create trouble on the occasion. Traffic restrictions have been imposed along the roads adjacent to the venue, including Tulsi Bagh-Jawahar Nagar and at the main gate of the stadium to Wazir Bagh.

Iqbal Park, which has come up at the old Hazoori Bagh, separated from the Bakshi Stadium and Indoor Stadium, has been closed for security reasons. The Police and CRPF men continue to keep a strict vigil amid barricades having been created along the routes in the vicinity of Bakshi Stadium and the central Lal Chowk area. Similar arrangements have also been made around other vital installations in the capital city.

Security arrangements have been tightened in major towns of the valley, including Srinagar, Budgam, Anantnag, Pulwama, Baramulla and Kupwara. Tight security arrangements have been made at the newly established four district headquarters, which would be observing the Republic Day celebrations as the new districts for the first time. These include Ganderbal, Bandipore, Kulgam and Shopian. Adequate arrangements are also in place at Leh and Kargil district headquarters in the frontier cold desert region of Ladakh, which remains cut-off from the rest of the country by road surface during the 
winter months.

All passenger, private vehicles and auto-rickshaws are being checked by the police and security personnel on the entry and exit points to the major towns.

UNI adds: In view of the high degree of threat perception, general strike call given by separatists and recovery of RDX and IEDs, a red alert has been sounded in the Kashmir valley to foil any militant plan to disrupt the Republic Day (RD) celebrations tomorrow.

Meanwhile, more than 60 known trouble makers, anti-national elements and former militants were taken into preventive custody since yesterday in different parts of the valley.

Roads leading to Bakshi stadium, the venue for main RD function in the summer capital, were closed for traffic since yesterday morning for security reasons.

New Delhi, January 25
Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz will be the new chief of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), a move aimed at giving a boost to the party prospects in the crucial Assembly elections later this year.

An official announcement to this effect would be made in a day or two.

Sources said Prof Soz would, for the time being, retain the portfolio of water resources ministry.

They said the Congress High Command has informed Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad of the decision.

The sources further said Prof Soz was not ''too keen'' to occupy the top party post in Jammu and Kashmir, where the crucial Assembly elections are scheduled for September-October this year.

A large number of supporters of Prof Soz have been camping in the national capital for the past several days in anticipation of the decision after the resignation of Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed from the post.

Sayeed, a former Education and Haj and Auqaf minister, resigned from the Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet and the party post on January 17 following allegations of bribery leveled against him by a legislator.

Independent legislator Shoaib Lone had alleged in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on January 11 that Sayeed demanded and took from him Rs 40,000 for giving permission to his sister to open an elementary teacher training institute in the valley. — UNI

Jammu, January 25
In a clear and unambiguous message apparently aimed at those seeking withdrawal of troops from the civilian areas, Governor Lt-Gen S.K. Sinha (retd) today cautioned against the

security forces lowering their guard, saying that terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir was intact and conditions in Pakistan were most volatile, “having risk of spilling over to our side.”

In his telecast on the eve of 58th Republic Day anniversary, the Governor while greeting the people, made it clear, “We cannot lower our guard, whether on the borders or in the interiors.”

Drawing parallels between the troops deployment in Jammu and Kashmir, Waziristan area in Pakistan and in Tibet, the Governor pointed out, “The ratio of deployment of troops, Army and paramilitary, to population in the state, excluding militancy free Ladakh, is 1 to 40. This is less than 1 to 37 in Wazirstan in Pakistan and 1 to 28 in Tibet.”

He, however, added that once peace is restored in the state and infiltration from across the border ceases, the government and the Army, will be only too happy to return the troops deployed for internal security back to barracks.

In that event reduction in the strength would be considered. However, he said, that would not apply to troops guarding the borders with Pakistan and China.

Lauding the valour of the security forces in carrying out their difficult task in the state, he said they have been showing immense restraint while dealing with the situation. He said unlike helicopter gunships and artillery being freely used in Baluchistan, Wazirstan, Iraq and Afghanistan, there has not been a single instance of the use of such weapons in Jammu and Kashmir.

Wishing the people of Pakistan to come out of the grave crisis they were embroiled in, he said, “I wish they overcome their present trauma and enjoy the fruits of peace, prosperity and democracy.”

The Governor said we needed to learn lessons from the happenings in Pakistan. “Terrorism is a monster that eats the hand that feeds it,” he remarked, while adding, “Both the US and Pakistan sponsored international terrorism in Afghanistan, based on religious fundamentalism. It rebounded on the US on 9/11 and on Pakistan in the current turmoil there. The US has the resources and resilience to withstand the terrorist onslaught. Pakistan does not have the same capability.”

Jammu, January 25
Suspecting the presence of some moles among the staff at Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s official residence here, his security has been revamped. Twelve employees from his personal staff have been shifted out and two have reportedly been detained for questioning.

The revamp was done, following the leads provided by the Delhi police, that the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister was on the hit list of militants and there could be a possible fidayeen (suicide) attack on him. The threat perception still exists and the Chief Minister has been asked to keep his movements restricted.

The two employees detained are suspected to have leaked the information about the movements of the Chief Minister. Their activities were monitored for about a month. Those removed from the Chief Minister’s staff include telephone operators, personal attendants and some members of the security staff.

The leads followed the arrest of a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan by the Delhi police last year, who was alleged to have claimed in conversation with some militant groups, that he could be of immense help to them in targeting the Chief Minister. His “disclosures” were followed up by searches conducted by the Delhi police in and around the Chief Minister's official residence. The Delhi police had reportedly kept the operation confidential. Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is already in the Z-plus category, guarded round the clock by the elite Special Security Guard (SSG) commandos of the state police. The SSG is assisted by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).

Inspector general of police (IGP), CM security, Raja Aijaz Ali Khan, only one component (of the CM’s security) had been changed with the elite National Security Guards replacing the ITBP.

The security and intelligence agencies had cautioned the leaders of various political parties in the state to be careful about their security, following the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto. The security agencies are being extra careful as the state is already into the election year with greater movement and activities of the mainstream political parties.

In this backdrop, security agencies are apprehensive that militants might strike at some targets to create fear psychosis among the masses, particularly when the situation is improving at a considerable pace in the state and people are getting involved in political activities.

Srinagar, January 25
The police in the valley has cited a sharp increase in convictions announced by courts as a major evidence to claim that militancy is on the decline and the role played by cops’ in ensuring law and order has helped checked the crime rate.

The police has made available conviction figures for the districts of north Kashmir, whose districts border Pakistan and are more susceptible to militancy. Police sources said what was more heartening that the most heinous and sensational crimes had resulted in the conviction of the accused prosecuted by them.

In 2007, the district court in Baramulla had pronounced guilty verdict in 238 cases, including handing down three life imprisonments. The police said 62 and 39 prosecution cases ended in conviction in the courts of Kupwara and Handwara courts. “From the increasing convictions and prosecution proceedings in courts, it is evident that the onset of normalcy in north Kashmir is reflected in the reduced violence and terrorist initiated incidents. It has not only enabled the police to gain ascendancy in anti-militancy operations and law and order duties but has also facilitated in bringing back the investigation and prosecution skills into focus,” the police said.

The Tribune had earlier reported as to how militancy figures had hit an all-time low in 2007. Though these incidents remained substantial, their huge relative decline was a cause to celebrate for the law and order machinery.

The police cited an infamous case of a murder in which a Kupwara court on January 23, this year, sentenced Md Sarwar Ganie to life. Ganie was a former militant-turned counter insurgent, and used his proximity to the forces to shoot down his adversary Md Amin Shah, his wife Shareefa Begum, their daughter Sanobar Amin and a widow on May 11, 1999. Counter-insurgents known as “ikhwanis” in popular parlance are much-hated in the valley as many of them have misused their official patronage to brand those they disliked as militants. 

Srinagar, January 25
Three days after tabling the Kundal report in the state Legislative Assembly, forest minister Qazi Mohammad Afzal today pleaded innocence and dared the National Conference (NC) to face the PDP in the constituency, saying the opposition was frustrated, ahead of the elections.

He said the B.R. Kundal report on the forest scam had no corruption charges or mishandling against any ministers or officers of the department, which had led to Qazi’s resignation from the council of ministers last year. The names of two ministers which reportedly figured in the report were - forest minister Qazi Mohammad Afzal and finance minister Tariq Hameed Karra.

Forest minister and PDP leader Qazi Mohammad Afzal said it was a departmental inquiry and there was no rule that it be brought to the House. He blamed the opposition NC for creating ruckus in the House forcing the government to decide in favour of bringing the report to the state legislature. “We are ready for discussion…. there is no proof of any corruption in the report”, Qazi commented, adding, that the Chief minister had given him a clean chit thrice.

“I have documents in support of my argument and against my rivals”, Qazi said and added that the Kundal report was clear and there were no charges of corruption against any minister or officer. He also referred to the case of double citizenship to the then managing director, State Forest Corporation, saying that he was involved in the case of double citizenship. Qazi said the home department was investigating into that aspect and pointed out that no deal had been struck by his party colleague and finance minister Tariq Hameed Karra.

The minister lashed out at the NC saying that the party was frustrated as the coalition government had declared the year to be a year of “continued development”. “I request them (NC) not to make it a political issue”, he declared adding that he was ready to face the NC democratically in the constituency. He blamed the NC for fraudulently appointing 750 persons in the forest department and 250 others in the IWDP.

Qazi representing the Ganderbal constituency had wrested the prestigious seat from the NC relegating it to the opposition after a gap of 27 years in the 2002 Assembly elections. Finance minister Tariq Hameed Karra got elected in the byelection from Batamaloo constituency, the bastion of the NC and represented by its senior leader Ghulam Mohiuddin Shah for two consecutive terms in 1996 and 2002.

Jammu, January 25
On life support system since its inception during mid-60s, Jammu Cooperative Wholesale Limited, popularly known as Super Bazar situated at a prime location in the heart of capital city, has a bank balance of Rs 3.48 lakh and faces a deficit of Rs 50,000 every month.

It has a monthly income of Rs 3 lakh and it owes Rs 25 lakh to the suppliers. Talking to The Tribune, a senior cooperative official said, “Super Bazar owes an amount of Rs 25 lakh to the suppliers stuck up since long and it has just Rs 3.48 lakh in its bank account.”

“It earns a monthly income of Rs 3 lakh when salaries of 88 employees accrue to Rs 3.50 lakh, thereby creating a shortfall of Rs 50,000 every month,” he added.

Though agriculture and cooperatives minister Abdul Aziz Zargar had assured to remove deadwood and check political interference in cooperative sector, yet Jammu Cooperative Wholesale Limited had all along remained a victim of mismanagement.

However, of late it has started some signs of revival. In December, 2007 Super Bazar had a total sale of Rs 34.90 lakh, highest in the past 15 years.

Official sources told The Tribune that former general managers considered the institution their personal fiefdom plundering it to the fullest and furthermore there had been no accountability check either from the Registrar Cooperatives Societies office or from the state government.

Talking to The Tribune, another cooperatives official said, “Realising its potential the government has now decided to provide interest free loans to the Super Bazar.”

He, however, admitted that political interference has already taken its toll on Super Bazar.

“Shops which were part of Super Bazar, were sold at throwaway prices by the board of directors,” he said. He further said, “The Jammu Development Authority had also purchased five kanals of land from the Super Bazar for a parking lot in lieu of Rs 2 crore. However, being a chronic defaulter Rs 1.43 crore were remitted to banks as one-time settlement and remaining amount went to Sales Tax authorities.”

Rajouri, January 25
Eight persons, including a station house officer (SHO) of the police, were injured in violent clashes, which broke out between the police and protesters who were agitating against the alleged “criminal negligence” of doctors in saving a pregnant woman and her stillborn on the intervening night of January 19.

Director, Health Services, Jasbir Singh who was reportedly asked by the victim's family to inquire into the matter also faced the heat as people tried to manhandle him before the police came to his rescue. Family members of the deceased, Rehmat Bi, who were enraged at the negligence on part of the hospital staff resulting in Rehmat’s death, started pelting stones forcing the director to flee from the spot. The police had to resort to cane-charge after the protesters resorted to heavy stone pelting against the alleged corrupt practices adopted by doctors and paramedics in the district hospital.

They said Rehmat Bi had died due to the negligence of doctors as her family could not arrange money demanded by them for getting her operated. She died as doctors did not attend to her, they rued.

Husband of the deceased, Muhammad Rafi, said his wife, Rehmat, was admitted to the district hospital on January 18 for delivery.