Udhampur, February 20
Recovery of four stolen vehicles belonging to other parts of the country, especially Delhi, by the Ramban Police has led to the startling disclosure.

With the help of well-organised gang of vehicle lifters operating from different parts of the country, approximately hundreds of such automobiles are plying in the militancy-infested Jammu and Kashmir.

The police has so far seized over 400 stolen vehicles. It is believed that majority of these vehicles, stolen from Delhi and adjoining areas, are used by the militants. Not only cars but also buses and trucks, stolen from Delhi, Gurgoan and Noida, are being sold and registered in the state on fake numbers.

These all revelations came to fore when the Banihal Police during routine checking intercepted a Tata Safari bearing registration number HR26AK-9018 at Jawahar Tunnel. The vehicle was seized as the driver failed to produce the required documents.

“After investigation we come to know that the vehicle was stolen from New Delhi and was being smuggled to the Kashmir Valley,” Banihal SHO Adil Rafiqi told The Tribune.

As the police was not able to locate the whereabouts of these vehicles, it contacted a NGO namely “stolenvehicletrackers-com” for establishing identity of the owners of these automobiles.

It was only after the efforts of the NGO, details of four vehicles have been so far found.

The Tata Safari was stolen from Shahdra, Delhi on June 12, 2007 and was plying on the roads of Jammu and Kashmir without any checking.

Similarly a truck, which was stolen on December 17, 2006, from Delhi was plying in Kashmir on a local number. A report in this regard has been already lodged in Samipur Badli Police Station of Delhi.

“We have so far tracked 50 vehicles which were stolen from different parts of country and lying in various police stations after seizure by the police,” Sant Kumar Sharma told The Tribune and informed that half of these vehicles were seized from across the Jawahar Tunnel.

“First time with the help of stolenvehicletrackers.com, identities of owners of some stolen vehicles have been established,” said a senior police officer.

Although the police have been maintaining a guided silence over number of stolen vehicles plying on roads in the state, it is believed that their number would be more than 
four hundreds.

“We are tracking over 375 vehicles in Jammu and Kashmir,” Sharma said and did not rule out the possibility of some stolen automobiles being used by militants.

The police sources admitted that majority of vehicles stolen from Delhi are being smuggled to the Kashmir valley. Out of the 50 stolen vehicles tracked, 12 were lifted from north west Delhi, 11 from west Delhi, 10 from south Delhi, 7 from central Delhi and others from Gurgoan and Noida.

Jammu, February 20
About 100 women activists of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today left for New Delhi where the party is holding a national rally seeking 33 per cent reservation for women in legislative bodies. The activists are being led by president of the the state women wing, Usha Choudhary.

The contingent was flagged off by state BJP president Ashok Khajuria. Prominent among those who left for Delhi included, Sweety Kaul, Suresh Jamwal, Mamta Singh, Sakina Bano, Haleema, Sheela Handoo and others. Khajuria said although the women constituted for about 50 per cent of the population, they were still deprived of opportunities to prove their ability and capabilities. He said it was quite unfortunate that women were still confined to the kitchen.

He said the BJP was committed to ensure reservation to women and the recent decision of the party at the national-level to grant 33 per cent reservation to them in its organisational set up was a welcome step. He demanded 33 per cent reservation to females in Parliament and Assemblies so that they could get due representation in the law-making bodies and could suggest ways to improve the position of women.

Srinagar, February 20
The mainstream political parties, including ruling coalition partners, which have been closely watching Pakistan elections, have expressed optimism over the restoration of democracy in the neighbouring country and hoped this would usher in an era of peace in South Asia.

Former chief minister and National Conference patron, Farooq Abdullah hoped that the elections would lead to strengthening of friendly relations between India and Pakistan, as also Pakistan’s stronger bond with other neighbouring countries. Addressing party workers in Ganderbal near here today, he said with the restoration of democracy in Pakistan there was a hope among the people in South Asia for an everlasting peace and stability in the region. "There is also a greater hope for the resolution of Kashmir issue through mutual understanding", Farooq Abdullah said. He expressed the hope that PPP leaders with due regards to sacrifices of Benazir Bhutoo and others, would continue to strengthen the democratic institutions. The former chief minister also hailed President Musharraf for the conduct of "historic" elections in a transparent manner.

Senior (ruling) PDP leader and general secretary, Nizamuddin Bhat, said there was a hope of the return of democracy back on the rails in Pakistan through just concluded fair elections. "We also hope that the new government will respect the concerns of people in South Asia, who have been craving together for peace and stability in the region in general and stability in the sub-continent in particular,” Bhat commented.

Describing conduct of elections in Pakistan a triumph of democracy, the Congress leader and Minister for Social Welfare Abdul Gani Vakil has expressed the hope that installation of popular government in the neighbouring country would give fresh impetus to the Indo-Pak peace process. Addressing a public meeting at Baramulla yesterday, Vakil hoped that the democratic government of Pakistan would reciprocate peace initiatives taken by New Delhi for bringing stability in South Asia. He said new dispensation in the neighbouring country would strengthen J&K centric confidence building measures (CBMs) further to pave the way for early start of trade and commerce activities across LoC. 

Srinagar, February 20
Separatist organisations in Jammu and Kashmir have expressed optimism over Monday’s elections in which President Parvez Musharraf’s opponents have taken a lead without any decisive victorious party. Both the separatist and mainstream political parties in the state have been keenly watching these elections, particularly in view of Pakistan’s Kashmir policy and the Indo-Pak peace process.

The hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, at the head of an 11-party conglomeration, who has been unhappy with President Musharraf’s Kashmir policy, has stressed the need to prioritise her sovereignty and integrity. He expressed the hope that new leadership that may emerge in the neighbouring country would play its role in "neutralising conspiracies aimed at disintegration of Pakistan". Geelani, presently in New Delhi, has expressed the hope that the new government would adopt a Kashmir policy that would "match the sacrifices of the people of Kashmir". He also hoped that Pakistan continued to extend its political, diplomatic and moral support to Kashmiris’ "freedom struggle", as in the past. He pointed out that Hurriyat’s (Geelani) relations with Pakistan would only depend upon the new leadership’s policy towards Kashmir.

Geelani’s parent party, Jamaat-e-Islami, which is a constituent group of his faction of the Hurriyat Conference, has hoped that the "dictatorship" comes to an end in Pakistan. The Jamaat chief, Sheikh Mohammad Hassan, said that the coalition, which may emerge there must work for strengthening of the roots of democracy and stand united for uplift of the people and prosperity.

A spokesman of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, here today said that the election results were reflective of democracy and democratic standards in that country. He added that the results were an eye opener for those raising questions on the democracy in Pakistan. The spokesman said this at the end of a meeting of APHC leaders held here today to discuss the elections in the neighbouring country.

Earlier, chief spokesman and a former APHC chairman, Abdul Ghani Bhat, had stated that the people of Pakistan restored democracy and it was the people of Pakistan to decide in the larger interest of their country.

Shabir Ahmad Shah, who has recently joined the Hurriyat Conference (Mirwaiz) said that Pakistan always supported the Kashmir cause and expressed the hope that it would continue to extend its political, diplomatic and moral support to the people of Kashmir and their "freedom struggle". 

Udhampur, February 20
After the Peoples’ Democratic Party kicked off an aggressive campaign in three seats of newly-carved Ramban district, its archrival, the National Conference (NC), has also launched counterattack to consolidate its vote bank in these hilly constituencies.

A team of the senior leaders of the NC leaders including former MLAs Qazi Jalal-ud-Din from Inderwal, Abdul Majid Shan from Gool and Farooq Ahmed Mir from Banihal have been addressing series of public meetings in Gool and adjoining localities of Ramban constituencies to highlight, what they called, misdeeds of the coalition regime.

During the 2002 Assembly elections, the NC had lost two seats namely Banihal and Gool to independents while it had wrested Ramban from BJP. This time the PDP has been concentrating hard on Gool and Banihal constituencies.

The NC leaders during their tours in these areas have been raking up the issue of discrimination with these areas. The leaders lambasted the coalition government for neglecting rural and far-flung areas of the state in developmental sector.

Qazi said the claims of development by the coalition alliance remained confined to paperwork and media, while the people were still without even the basic amenities.

The government, he said, is answerable to the people of the state for its failure to deliver at the ground level despite receiving huge financial support from the central government.

“What has happened to the money received from the Government of India as special packages and budgetary support,” he asked adding, “the failure of the government to act can be gauged from the fact that only 35 per cent of the funds allocated in the prevision budget has been spent in more than eight months,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion former MLA Shan said Gool despite severe damage due to the recent snowfall, the government agencies have ignored the area for the best reason known to them.

“Even the local MLA has not bothered to visit the area to ascertain the situation,” he said adding, “While the government spent lakhs of rupees on aerial surveys and tours of ministers to some of the affected areas, people in Gool and Arnas areas have been left at the mercy of God.” 

Udhampur, February 20
The year-long struggle of the people of Udhampur finally yielded results when the wife of martyr Rajnesh Kumar was appointed as a laboratory assistant in the Education Department.

MLA from Udhampur, Balwant Singh Mankotia today handed over the appointment letter to Anuradha, wife of martyr Rajnesh Kumar. Naik Rajnesh Kumar attained martyrdom, while fighting with intruders at Poonch on the Line of Control (LoC) in December 2006. He killed two militants in the operation.

Under the SRO 43, the district administration appointed Anuradha as a Class-IV employee in the Education Department in 2006. People felt humiliated that the wife of a martyr had been appointed as a Class-IV employee. Since her appointment, Mankotia along with others had been struggling to restore honour to the martyr's wife.

Mankotia even raised the issue in the Legislative Assembly and drew attention of the government towards humiliation meted out to the people of Udhampur in general and to the martyr's family in particular. “It is a result of the people’s struggle that the government has finally issued an order to appoint her as a laboratory assistant in the Education Department”, Mankotia told The Tribune. He also said officers at the helm of affairs had delayed in issuing the order.

He rued that the kin of those who had sacrificed their lives for the country were not getting their genuine rights. He said people would launch another struggle to get a bravery award for martyr Rajnesh Kumar.

Jammu, February 20
The Rural Development Department (RDD) has been blamed for misusing funds, which were earmarked for various projects aimed at providing additional wage employment and food security to the poor in the rural areas.

A Government report said over Rs 67.46 lakh, earmarked for projects under the Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY), had been diverted for construction of buildings for religious purposes. Part of the funds had been spent on raising and renovation of monuments, memorials and bridges besides black topping of roads.

A survey had been carried out in 12 pockets in the state and it was found that the funds earmarked for SGRY schemes had been diverted on raising of religious places, monuments, memorials, bridges and roads in 13 places, including Achabal (in south Kashmir) Bhaderwah, Chenani, Kishtwar, Mahore and Vijapyour (all in the Jammu region.)

These works had been executed between 2002 and 2006 without seeking approval from either the Central or state government. The executing agencies had not even reported the matter to the state authorities.

When questioned, the block development officers and the Director Rural Development Department pleaded innocence saying the funds were diverted from the original schemes under pressure from the local people.

In certain cases, employment programmes generated under the SGRY were found to have been fictitious because of non-completion of priority works, blocking of funds, unfruitful investment, diversion and misutilisation of funds to the tune of several crores of rupees.

Srinagar, February 20
The Jammu and Kashmir Vigilance Organisation (VO) today produced a challan in a court against former chief engineer, roads and buildings, Kashmir, Nazir Ahmad Shah.

The chief engineer was allegedly caught red-handed, while accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 from a contractor in consideration of issuing an allotment order for construction of a footbridge at Kulangam, Handwara, on March 30, 2007.

Giving details of the case, a spokesman for the VO said a written complaint was received from one Altaf Hussain Teli, a contractor, in which he alleged that the accused chief engineer had demanded a bribe of Rs 30,00 from him, for allotting work to him though his tender was found lowest.

The rates were further negotiated and he was to get an allotment for construction of a footbridge over Puhroo Nallah from the chief engineer, who demanded a bribe of Rs 50,000 for issuing the allotment order.

The VO in the presence of an independent witnesses caught Nazir Ahmed Shah red-handed, while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 from the complainant on the roadside at Karan Nagar.

The tainted money and the relevant file which the chief engineer was carrying in his official car were recovered on the spot.

He said after completing an investigation of the case and accord of sanction for prosecution, the challan of the case was produced in the court of Special Judge, Anti-Corruption (Kashmir). — UNI

Jammu, February 20
Having been pushed to the margins by the mainstream political parties like the National Conference and the People’s Democratic Party, the secessionist sections in Jammu and Kashmir seem to be hanging on to anything that seems to provide some hope (against hope) to them.

The unilateral independence declared by the Muslims majority Kosovo from the Serbian nation is currently being blown out of proportion by the secessionist leadership, which has started saying, “Kashmir after Kosovo.”

Kosovo declared its independence unilaterally from Serbia, with the help of the NATO forces. While Russia, China and some other countries have opposed its independence, the United States and most of the European Union countries have already accorded it recognition.

Expectedly, the secessionist leaders including Sayeed Ali Shah Geelani, Shabir Shah, Yasin Malik, have started trumpeting the Kosovo “independence” so hard, apparently to provide boost to the sagging morale of the secessionist movement 
in Kashmir.

The secessionist leaders, who are otherwise vitriolic in their attacks on America, have, however, kept quiet about the US for recognising a Muslim state in the heart of Christian Europe.

Geelani, the radical secessionist leader was quoted saying, this (Kosovo independence) was a victory for the entire Muslim world, albeit by the support of an otherwise “anti-Islamic” America.

Yasin Malik, the chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, said, the freedom of Kosovo should serve as a source of inspiration for the people of Kashmir to achieve their goal for freedom.

He even asked the European Union to intervene in a similar way to resolve the Kashmir issue. Shabir Shah went to the extent of remarking that the Kosovo independence should serve as an eye opener to all those who were saying that Kashmir's accession to India was irrevocable. The euphoria, albeit with sufficient amount of cynicism, notwithstanding, even the secessionist quarters admit that the situation in Kosovo was far too different from Kashmir.

Whether it may be possible for Kosovo to hold on to freedom for long after the withdrawal of the NATO troops remains to be seen, Kashmir is already enjoying the freedom within the Indian union.

The secessionists have always used the outside examples to influence Kashmiris. It dates back to 1989-90 period when communism was crumbling in Eastern Europe and people came out in thousands and thousands to celebrate its fall.

Taking this cue, people in Kashmir also came out in thousands knowing little that they were being made to equate the change of a regime with secession from a sovereign nation.

However, the situation in Kashmir has seen a sea change and people have started realising the advantages of being the part of a large secular and democratic nation than a small, narrow and sectarian set up.

They have already started comparing the promised land of Pakistan with India. Kosovo may not figure much in their imagination, momentary rhetoric, created by certain leaders, notwithstanding.

Srinagar, February 20
Panic gripped a village in Anantnag in south Kashmir after a leopard who had come down from the forest, following snowfall recently, killed 16 sheep injuring 15 others early this morning, official sources said.

They said a leopard entered the cowshed of one Bashir Ahmad Dar at Taspora Gadol village in Kokernag.

However, before the villagers could do anything the leopard killed 16 sheep and injured 15 others.

The leopard later escaped back to the forest area, they said adding that wild animals had created havoc in the villages adjacent to forests where the heaviest snowfall in 20 years was experienced recently.

A musk deer was captured by the Jammu and Kashmir police in the outskirts of the city early last week and handed over to the wildlife authorities at Dachigam.

Official sources said more than two dozen people were killed and about 40 wounded by wild animals in the Kashmir valley during the past one year.

In retaliation, the people also killed four wild animals in the valley during the same period.

After unprecedented snowfall, people living in upper reaches in the Kashmir valley are now facing a threat from wild animals who had come down from the woods in search of food.

The Wildlife Department has directed the people living in villages adjacent to forests to remain cautious against the movement of wild animals who had now turned towards the plains in the wake of heavy snowfall in the upper reaches.

Reports of attacks on villagers by wild animals during the past fortnight had been received from different areas in north and south Kashmir. — UNI

Srinagar, February 20
Two people were killed and a Nepali labourer was injured, while a migrant's house was damaged last night in Kashmir valley, official sources said today.

Sources said one Shabir Ahmad Ganie was injured after being hit by a vehicle at Frisal Chowk in Kulgam in south Kashmir. He died on the way to the hospital.

Meanwhile, the Shopian police recovered the body of 20-year-old, Fayaz Ahmad Rather, at Checki Sadpora in Pulwama district. The cause of his death could not be ascertained immediately.

In another incident, a Nepali worker of the Hindustan Construction Corporation was injured when he was hit by a stone during blasting in a tunnel at Uri. He was admitted to the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences at Soura in a critical condition.

In yet another incident, a fire broke out in a double-storeyed house of Sunil Kumar Raina, a migrant, at Abalwani Shopian in Pulwama. Partial damage was caused to the building. The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained. — UNI