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Pugwash Conference
Chopra Murder Case
Pak govt will help restore peace in state, hopes Farooq
Shun hatred: Farooq
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Jammu festival
Students hail IIM for state
Border fencing
Constitute a peace commission: Omar
30% Kashmiris still consume non-iodised salt
Tourists enjoy the beauty of tulips on Sunday. — Tribune photo by Mohd Amin War
Geelani condemns naming of tulip garden after Indira
Lovers shun marriages, elope to PoK
Jammu crime graph beats police efficiency
Police
ill-treatment leaves leopard cub injured
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Pugwash Conference
Srinagar, March 30 “The resolution process must commence with introducing fundamental principles of the solution leading to creation of a dual power-sharing arrangement based on equal relationships between people of Jammu and Kashmir across the border and combining this power-sharing arrangement into the framework of Indian and Pakistan polity,” she said. Mufti said in order to achieve a stable, sustainable and just solution to the Kashmir issue, the intra-state measures including decentralisation and power-sharing had to be combined with inter-state and supra-state measures. “This approach, which is underlying the concept of our party’s Self-Rule proposal, is the only way that would eliminate the sources of ethno-territorial conflicts entrenched in the traditional notions of sovereignty, national and ethnic borders in the region,” the spokesman quoting Mufti stated. The PDP president said one of the principal drawbacks of the past efforts to understand and resolve the Kashmir issue had been its inclusion in the larger rubric of Indo-Pak relations. “Indeed, Kashmir has been seen as a mere by-product of the India-Pakistan relations and these are bound to catalyze or influence the prospects of the resolution process”, she said. Mufti added that at the same time it does not mean that Indo-Pak relations should bind or determine the prospects of Jammu and Kashmir. She said the sub-continental peace process had to walk on two legs - the issue of resolution of Kashmir as one leg and normalization of Indo-Pak relations as the other. “There can be no forward movement unless both legs move with the same pace and in the same direction”, she said. Mufti emphasized that the right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to freely move across the borders, however, should remain at the core of fairness of the resolution process. “We should gain uncontrolled access to our own resources and the bounties of nature that are shared by our region as a whole and harness them for our socio-economic benefit”, she said. The people of Jammu and Kashmir, having been at the receiving end of the circumstances for centuries, deserved a special place in the hearts and minds of the entire region, she added. “We need our traditional road links with the outside world fully restored,” she said and added that Jammu and Kashmir must have access to Mansarovar and rest of China through Ladakh and a link to Central Asia with Kargil as the take-off point. “The fair deal must inevitably include the prospect of Kashmir’s only link through non-snow area, Srinagar-Muzafarabad road, to be opened fully so that we explore our traditional markets beyond Pakistan to Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia,” she said. Similarly the Jammu province must open up to the West Punjab and beyond, Mufti added. This, she said, was in tune with the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s resolve reiterated by him at Jammu University on July 15 last year when he said the LoC, which divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan, could be transformed into a ‘line of peace’ with a freer flow of ideas, goods, services and people. Suggesting setting up of a Regional Council for the undivided state of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti said the Upper House of the State Legislature can be redesigned as the Regional Senate with members from Jammu and Kashmir as well as Pakistan Administered Kashmir (PAK). She said this Regional Council could serve as a major cross-border institution that would ensure long-term coordination of matters and interests relating to the whole state. “The manner in which we are proposing to design the new institutional arrangements, J&K has the potential to be a showcase for a renewed and vigorous SAARC or even a global showpiece of sub-national community,” she said.
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Chopra Murder Case
Jammu, March 30 However, the Jammu police claimed, “We are moving on the basis of evidences and only kingpin remains to be arrested.” It may be recalled here that cement magnate Rajinder Bhushan Chopra, his wife Madhu Chopra, their college going daughter Saloni Chopra besides two domestic helps were bludgeoned to death in their bungalow in posh Trikuta Nagar locality on the intervening night of September 17 and 18, 2006. The assailants had tied their legs and hands besides gagging their mouths with pieces of cloth before killing them. Rohit and Puneet, two sons of the deceased, apparently survived the organised attack because they were away in Australia pursuing their studies. Even as the Jammu Police are on their toes to lay hands on Sangram Singh, kingpin of a gang of Pardhi tribe from Guna district of Madhya Pradesh, Rohit Chopra describes police probe as eyewash. Talking to The Tribune, Rohit said, “The CBI has refused to take up separate probe on the grounds that the police has conducted a thorough probe on scientific techniques and accused arrested by them have also confessed to the crime. However, we don’t trust the police probe.” “If the case was not of big magnitude then how people from Madhya Pradesh were involved in the crime,” he said, adding, “The Congress-led coalition government has a direct involvement in the crime and that is why it doesn’t want a CBI probe.” Puneet Chopra had filed a petition in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court demanding CBI probe after the premiere investigating agency had refused to take up the case. It may be mentioned here that on September 21, 2006 Health Minister Mangat Ram Sharma, in the absence of Chief Minister Azad, convened a cabinet meeting referring the case to CBI. And the state cabinet had also attached the then SP (South) Sheikh Mehmood besides suspending the then SHO Trikuta Nagar Mohammad Rafiq Manhas. “Despite repeatedly divulging names to the police, till date real culprits have not been touched. Instead police harassed our relatives,” said Rohit, adding, “In fact police had prior information about the crime.” When reminded that the police has arrested four accused, who have confessed to their crime, he said, “It is a fraud. The police has arrested poor people in lieu of money to their families.” After a hard toil, the Jammu Police arrested four members of Pardhi tribe from Guna district of Madhya Pradesh, who confessed to their involvement in the crime but till date kingpin Sangram Singh remains at large. If police officers are to be believed only Sangram Singh knows the real conspirator, who had given him a ‘supari’ of Rs 25 lakh to liquidate the cement baron. When contacted, SSP Jammu Parminder Singh said, “We are in constant touch with the Madhya Pradesh Police and information is being developed about Sangram’s whereabouts.” “On the basis of evidences, the police is working real hard on the case,” said Singh, adding, “Only the kingpin remains to be arrested.”
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Pak govt will help restore peace in state, hopes Farooq
Rajouri, March 30 Claiming that bilateral relations between India and Pakistan will not improve without peace in this trouble torn state, Dr Farooq said both Indian and Pakistan needed to work jointly for bringing the same. Expressing optimism that the newly-elected Pakistan Prime Minister Makhdoom Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani will take personal efforts in accelerating the dialogue process between India and Pakistan, the NC patron advocated the involvement of the people of the state in the process. “We are of the firm believe that peace to the sub-continent is possible only when the two countries are able to solve Kashmir issue,” Dr Abdullah said. “This dialogue process is, however, meaningless if the people of the state are not taken into confidence.” “I am hopeful that the new government will help us in bringing peace to the state, where people have been facing bloodshed and miseries due to the ongoing turmoil,” former chief minister added. Coming down heavily upon the political parties playing religious card, the NC patron said that people were being misguided for pity political gains. “Secularism is the basic character of our society,” he said and warned the people that some elements were creating a wedge among the people on the name of Gujjar and Pahari, which may prove fatal for the composite culture of the state. Without naming anyone, he said, “Those people who are opposing Article 370 are neither friends of the state nor well-wishers of the country.” He said that people should remain cautious about such elements, which want to divide people on the name of religion, cast, colour and region. “Those elements will get a befitting reply
in the upcoming assembly elections.” Dr Abdullah criticised the state government for neglecting the far-flung areas of the state, where development was far from the reality. "I am shocked as the road of this area remains dilapidated and people are still without the basic amenities", he said questioning the hue and cry being raised by the coalition alliance about development of the state. He announced Rs 20 lakh from his MP fund for the water works scheme in the area. |
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Shun hatred: Farooq
Jammu, March 30 He was speaking at a function organised to observe 26th death anniversary of former deputy chairman Legislative Council Ved Parkash at Jevan Nagar in Kathua yesterday. The hatred and violence, he said, was eating very vitals of our society. “To strengthen our state and country we need to change our approach and attitude, which was hindrance in the way of building a strong and peaceful nation,” he said. He said it was necessary to set high goals to climb the ladder of success. “We have inherent talent and a vast knowledge pool. Together we can build a prosperous nation,” he observed. “Dialogue process between India and Pakistan is immaterial if the people of the two countries do not shun their hatred against each other,” he said. |
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Jammu festival
Jammu, March 30 Addressing the media persons today afternoon, Jammu divisional commissioner Sudhanshu Pandey said, “A car rally would be also flagged off from Himachal under the title ‘Rally of the Lakes’ covering the major lakes of the province and it would culminate at Indo-Pak border in Suchetgarh sector,” Pandey said. The 15-day long festival would be a hub of heritage, cultural and traditional activities. However, live musical night with sensational Sonu Nigam on April 13, evening with ghazal singer Anoop Jalota, theatre plays, laser shows, painting and floral competitions, ethnic foods with boarding and lodging on special discounts for the tourists, would be the highlights of festival. — UNI |
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Students hail IIM for state
Jammu, March 30 Students said the establishment of an IIM would help upgrade the education standard and would bring it on the global map of learning. They also said a special provision to grant special quota for students of the state for securing admission in the IIM should be made. “We have no exposure as compared to students of other states and have suffered due to militancy,” said Rajni Bhalla, a student of Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar. Adding she said, “The decision of the HRD ministry to open an IIM in the state is being appreciated by the student community.” The state with a recorded history of more than 5,000 years has always been a seat of learning and the decision of opening of an IIM here would further provide impetuous to the education sector which has suffered the most in the past 18 years of turmoil in the state. “The education sector in the state has suffered a lot due to the past 18 years of turmoil. Schools and colleges were burnt down and the student community suffered a lot. The opening of an IIM in the state would help students to compete with other students and excel in the field,” said Vijay Kotwal, a retired professor. |
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Border fencing
Poonch, March 30 The repairs have been carried out at points damaged by heavy snowfall,”General Officer Commanding, 25 Infantry Division, Major-Gen Vinod Bhatia told reporters on Sunday. Gen Bhatia, who visited Gagrian, Sawjiar and Gali Maidan, said troops were prepared to thwart any infiltration attempt by militants. Several parts of border fencing were damaged due to heavy snowfall in the region. — PTI
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Constitute a peace commission: Omar
Srinagar, March 30 Addressing Pugwash Conference in Islamabad today, Omar urged India and Pakistan to commit themselves to intensify their efforts to resolve Kashmir, build mutual confidence and peace and pave the way for broader cooperation, a party spokesman here said. Omar, he added, said peace process needed to be intensified and the mutual cooperation between the two countries needed to be strengthen so that an atmosphere of trust and respect can be created for bringing peace to the sub-continent. Claiming that there was a strong public sentiment in both the countries in favour of accelerating the peace process and establishing a cooperative framework for our bilateral relations, he suggested that government of India and Pakistan to constitute a peace commission to heal the open wounds, which the decades-old Kashmir issue had created. The CBMs initiated between India and Pakistan, he said, failed to deliver the desired result as they were expected to. “Much was talked about the CBMs and its long lasting effect,” Omar said adding, “But today it is known to every one that the steps taken so far have failed to achieve the desired result which is a clear indication that much more need to be done at the ground level.” He said that common masses of Jammu and Kashmir living on both sides of Line of Control have faced tremendous hardships during the turmoil and both the countries have to take steps so that the wounds of people can be healed. “The buses which were supposed to join the people of the two countries have not been able to join people but instead the troublesome procedures and never ending wait has played with sentiments of the divided families living on the two sides of border.” The NC, he said, had been demanding easing of travel restrictions between two Kashmirs across the Line of Control (LoC) so that the CBMs can benefit the people in general. “We want the travel between the two parts of the state to be eased on the pattern of the European Union without any restrictions,” he said adding instead of travel permit the visitors on both side of border should be allowed to move freely across the border by using their Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC).
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30% Kashmiris still consume non-iodised salt
Srinagar, March 30 According to the study conducted by Department of Endocrinology of Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) at Soura, 45 per cent of school-going children had enlarged thyroid gland and other problems related to iodine deficiency. It said the availability of the iodised salt is less than its demand. Speaking at a workshop-cum-sensitisation programme on National Iodine Deficiency Disorder Central Program (NIDDCP), organised by Salt Commission of India in association with directorate of health services, the director of SKIMS, Prof Abdul Hamid Zargar said the study was conducted on 11,000 children from 202 villages of all the districts in the valley which shows that only 70 per cent people consume iodised salt. He said during nineties the supply was many fold less then the demand. There is still a wide gap between demand and supply, he said. He said the consumption of non-iodised salt can cause sever brain damage, which is irreversible, and affect the intelligentsia of a person. He, however, said efforts were on not only to cater to the present demand of salt but take care of future needs. He said a fresh study has already been started to know the present scenario of the disease in the valley. However, the Salt Commissioner, Government of India, S. Sundarshan said the iodised salt manufacturing units have to play important role to make available iodised salt to people living in far flung and remote areas of the country. — UNI
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People throng tulip garden
Srinagar, March 30 It was for the first time that people in the Kashmir valley witnessed long rows of colourful tulips at one place. As compared to the 30,000 flowers last year, the garden was dressed up with 12 lakh tulips of different varieties this year. The mega project completed at a cost of over Rs 2.8 crore on the shaping of surfaces and purchase of tulip bulbs from Holland was completed within a period of five months, said Dr Sarwar Naqash, director, floriculture department. “There were many foreigners who visited the garden today”, said Naqash. He added that more than 900 tickets were sold out within the first hour. There were long queues of tourists till evening when the entry was shut down at 6.30 p.m. However, many locals were not happy with the cost of the entry ticket of Rs 50 for adults and Rs 20 for children. “It is very costly and one cannot afford it so easily”, said Ghulam Mohammad. Many people peeped through one of the closed gates of the garden saying, “We cannot afford to enter”. Heavy rush of visitors and vehicles in the afternoon led to a road blockade and policemen had a tough time to ensure smooth movement of traffic. Congress president Sonia Gandhi, while inaugurating the first Kashmir Tulip Festival at Siraj Bagh yesterday, had said that it was a fantastic idea. She complimented Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad for conceptualising, designing and laying out the wonderful tulip garden. Sonia said she would love to visit the garden next year. She also planted a sapling of Magnolia-Soulangia (tulip tree) in the garden.
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Geelani condemns naming of tulip garden after Indira
Srinagar, March 30 Geelani strongly condemned the naming of this garden after Indira Gandhi and said that it was a conspiracy to “snatch identity” of the people of Kashmir. He claimed that it was highly deplorable and naming the garden after Indira was condemnable and asked the people to protest the “cultural imperialism”. “We cannot tolerate this… these people snatched our freedom and this is an attempt to suppress the freedom movement of Kashmiris”, he said here last evening. The records reveal that the tulip garden has come up in Siraj Bagh that was known as Shirazi Bagh after one of senior officials in Maharaja’s times. In her inaugural address the UPA Chairperson said that Kashmir was the natural habitat and home of tulips, adding that it grew here in wild 1,000 years before it was sent to Europe from the valley. She said the tulip was in great demand in Netherlands and a single bulb of the flower would sell at the price of a house. She said the tulips had tremendous potential for employment and called for the cultivation of typical local varieties which she said were in good measure available in Kashmir. Feeling nostalgic about her family’s intimate relationship with Kashmir, Sonia Gandhi recalled that Indira Gandhi loved nature in its different manifestations like streams, meadows, snow capped mountains and flowers, especially the flowers of Kashmir. She said Kashmir was not only a place for holidaying for her but the bedrock of her life. She recalled the lyrical description of beauty of Kashmir in the letters exchanged between Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru and his daughter and said that it reflected their joy at the sight of cherry and almond bloom. She said Kashmir used to be a regular holiday destination for Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi and the sheer magic of the beauty of Kashmir lessened their tensions of politics and governance. She said on the occasion that she herself had the feeling of the breathtaking beauty that the tulip garden had turned out to be. She also alluded to the fond memories of her own and her children’s visits to Kashmir with husband and former PM Rajiv Gandhi.
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Lovers shun marriages, elope to PoK
Rajouri, March 30 The story weaves around Muhammad Rasheed and Nageena Bi, who for tying the knot, reportedly escaped to PoK after crossing over the Line of Control (LoC) on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday. Sources said Muhammad Rasheed Jat (35) and Nageena Bi (25), who was wife of Muhammad Afzal and residents of Qasba hamlet falling between LoC and fence in Bandi Jajiyaan general area in Poonch, were in love for last three years. The lovers were finding it hard to manage second marriage and were on a look out for some opportunity to flee from their native village. Nageena, who is mother of five children-- four sons and a daughter--has taken along her two-month-old daughter. Sources further said Nageena had been meeting Rasheed outside village for the last three years and the lovers were deeply in love with each other. “However during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday, the duo managed to flee from the village and crossed over to PoK after crossing the LoC in Poonch sector,” reliable sources said. “The duo is most likely to get married in PoK.” Meanwhile, the family members of the duo have reportedly lodged a missing report at police station Poonch. Poonch SSP Jagjeet Kumar told The Tribune over the phone from Poonch that they got the information about the missing persons today and that too only through the special branch of Poonch police. “Accordingly, a police party was rushed to the village to ascertain the facts,” the SSP said.
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Jammu crime graph beats police efficiency
Jammu, March 30 The city has witnessed an increase in the crime rate for the past few months, where the criminals have been on the prowl to attack the victims. In the recent past incidents of murder, robbery have witnessed a steep rise in the otherwise calm city, however, the police blames outsiders for the increase in the incidents of robbery and burglary. There has also been an increase in the incidents of murders in the city and the police has so far failed to solve many such murder cases. On December 30 last year two girls were brutally killed in Beli Charana village of Jammu but the police was still clueless in the incident. On January 9 this year a driver was killed in Chattha, the next day the deputy advocate general was attacked and he expired a few days later, a fisherman was killed on January 22 in Kunjwani. A police constable was killed on February 2 in Vijapur, on February 4 a guard was killed in Nanak Nagar, on March 1 a person was killed during a marriage procession and on 25 March two senior citizens and a priest was brutally killed and no progress has yet been made in the case. Just yesterday a person was killed in RS Pura sector in Jammu region. Though the police claim to have identified the accused, but majority of these cases remain unsolved, thus the culprits still remain at large. “The police has failed to check the increase in the crime rate in and around the Jammu city, which was once considered as a safe city, but in the recent past it has become the hub of criminals,” said Mukesh Kumar, a resident of Trikuta Nagar locality. The people of the area haven’t yet come to the terms with the Chopra murder case that rocked the entire state; the criminals had brutally killed three members of the cement tycoon Rajinder Bhushan Chopra and two of his servants at his Trikuta Nagar residence in September 2006. Though the police had made some arrested in the case. The ‘so called’ ‘kingpin’ in the case is still absconding. People in the region are worried due to the increase in the crime rate; however police sources attribute the increase in crime in the city to the deficiency of manpower in the police force. “There are only 5,000 policemen for 55 stations in the region and the last recruitment rally for police in Jammu was held 10 years ago,” an official source said.
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Police
ill-treatment leaves leopard cub injured
Rajouri, March 30 It was against law and the local police should have informed the Wildlife Department after capturing the cub, said regional wildlife warden, Jammu, N.A. Kitchloo over the phone from Jammu. The department would look into the allegations that as to why the police after capturing the cub from Pongai village in Thanamandi chained the animal from neck There are also allegations that the cub was dragged to the local police station, which caused injuries to the animal. The enquiry will also look into the allegations against the local police regarding illegal confinement of the cub for days and not informing the local wildlife authorities. Sources in the Wildlife Department said after rescuing the injured cub, the local wildlife authorities administered it tranquilisers and shifted it to Manda Wildlife Sanctuary
in Jammu. They further said the cub had suffered bruises and was unable to walk due to injuries in the neck and paws because of its enchainment. Cub was undergoing treatment at the sanctuary and the department is utilising the services of a veterinary surgeon for its treatment, they added. |
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