Udhampur, April 29
In a fierce encounter, which lasted more than four hours, the security forces killed a commander of the Laskher-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit, Abu Hamza, at Kurar village in Bonjwah today. One jawan of the Jammu and Kashmir Police also lost his life in the gun battle.

“Hamza, a Pakistani national, was last surviving commander of the LeT outfit in Kishtwar district,” said DIG Hemant Kumar Lohia. He said after killing four LeT commanders last month, the security forces were desperately looking for Hamza to clear this belt from militants.

After getting information on the presence of Hamza in the forest of Kurar area, the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Rashtriya Riffles (RR) launched a joint search operation.

It is believed that militants were aware of the search operation. As soon as the police party reached Kurar village, militants, hiding on the top of the hill, ambushed the security forces.

Militants hurled some grenades and resorted to indiscriminate firing with sophisticated weapons. A selection grade constable with the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Kiker Singh, received severe injuries in the attack. The cop was evacuated from the encounter site but he later succumbed to his injuries on his way to the hospital.

The security forces resorted to the gunfire. The encounter, which started after midnight continued till this morning. While Hamza was killed in the encounter, two of his companions managed to flee the site taking cover of the darkness.

The police sources said two militants, who, were locals and working as guides for the Pakistani ultra. “We have already cordoned off the whole area to track down the militants who managed to give a slip to the security forces,” the DIG said and claimed that with the killing of Hamza this belt has been virtually cleared from LeT.

The security forces eliminated as many as 14 militants during the last two months in Doda and Kishtwar districts.

Srinagar, April 29
The restrictions on the use of water and natural resources had put the state at a disadvantageous position limiting its economic capabilities, said Mehbooba Mufti at a public meeting in Shopian today.

She said the party would take up the matter with the Central government and demand compensation against the losses suffered by the state on the account of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT).

She said, “We also look forward to the Centre to increase the share in the National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) by up to 50 per cent, which the previous regime had agreed on mere 12 per cent.”

She said if the IWT was not there, the state would have been well placed financially to take care of its problems and the money could have been used not only for the state's development but also for the generation of enough employment opportunities. The PDP president claimed that her party had raised various sensitive issues with the Centre for which various working groups had been constituted. These issues included repealing of the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), withdrawal of troops, rehabilitation of families of militants, return of youth from across the border, opening of all roads which connect divided Kashmir.

“Now when the recommendations of these working groups have come to the forefront most of our proposals have got a backing,” Mehbooba added.

Attacking the National Conference, the PDP president said, “On one hand the NC blames the PDP for having an anti-national agenda, on the other they call our agenda as ‘Delhi made’.”

Mehbooba said the party was committed to socio-economic and political emancipation of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “We would pursue pro-people policies without bothering about the hurdles,” she added.

She also referred to the opening of Srinagar-Muzaffrabad road, construction of Mughal road, extension of mobile facility to the state, round-the-clock movement of traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, establishing thousands of schools, opening of colleges and universities in the state.

The PDP president pointed out that her party carved a niche by entering into agreement with the Asian Development Bank, which financed a number of projects, which includes construction of roads and buildings in the state. 

Jammu, April 29
The state wing of the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) has adopted a few villages in the Kashmir valley where they have been providing basic technical skills to the militancy-affected women.

“Our aim is to provide basic technical skills to the women who had lost their husbands to the turmoil in the valley. This will help them earning a livelihood and they will be able to support their families,” a CII official said.

He said: “The women in the valley were worst affected by the two-decade-long turmoil. We, therefore, decided to work with them by helping them regain their sense of dignity and self-esteem and install in them the confidence to be a part of a progressive society.”

The state wing of the CII has been mobilising the women affected by violence into self-help groups with the objective of harnessing a united force with more bargaining power and capability to be effective change agents.

“We have opened a vocational training centre in Baramulla in this regard where women are being taught sewing and embroidery, beside other jobs like preparing jams, pickles and other items,” sources said.

“The CII has organised the women into a group named Kiran and have linked them with Dastkar, a non-government organisation involved in promoting and marketing linkage for the products generated by such self-help groups,” the source added.

Dastkar has also been involved in providing the militancy-affected women of these self-help groups with training on latest designs and patterns, entrepreneurial and marketing skills, besides helping them in selling the products.

“We have been helping them to acquire professional skills in the field of Kashmiri embroidery (Sozni) and market their products in different parts of the country,” the source said.

Besides providing technical skills to these women, the CII has also been involved in supporting the children who have been rendered orphans by the ongoing insurgency.

Jammu, April 29
Infuriated over misleading facts about Guru Hargobind in a textbook for class III students, Sikh community burnt an effigy of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLA and former Minister of State for Education Manjit Singh here today.

Shouting slogans against Manjit Singh and the Jammu and Kashmir State Board for School Education, activists of various Sikh organisations under the banner of the Nirbhow Nirvair Organisation strongly protested against misleading the story and distorted history about the sixth Guru in a Hindi textbook “Saras Bharati Bhag-III”.The protesters said it had been wrongly stated in the book that Guru Arjun Dev visited Rainawari in Srinagar where he received a ‘chola’ by an old woman, Mai Bhag Bhari.

They said actually Guru Hargobind had visited Kashmir but the authorities in the state and the then MOS Education Manjit Singh didn’t bother to verify facts.

The book had been published under NCERT and is being taught to students in the state since 2003-04 academic session.

Protesters blamed Manjit Singh for hurting religious sentiments of the community and demanded his resignation from the lower house.

They also urged Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to initiate action against the former minister for his irresponsible act.

Rajouri, April 29
Poonch-Haveli MLA Jahangir Mir expressed serious concern over the increasing strength of unemployed educated youths in the district. A series of deputations of unemployed youths called on him at his residence and apprised him of their manifold problems. He gave them a patient hearing and assured that he would project their demands to the government. The MLA appealed to Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad for referring all vacant posts of teachers, junior assistants, paramedical staff and physical education teachers to the District Recruitment Board.

He said more than 400 posts of teachers, 200 posts of physical education teachers and 100 posts of junior assistants were lying vacant in the district, but only 78 posts of teachers had been referred. Similarly, 2,300 posts of physical education teachers all over the state were created two years back, but so far none of them have been referred to the District Recruitment Board.

More than 200 cases under SRO-43 are lying in the office of district development commissioner, Poonch, but only 24 posts have been allotted to the district.

He further appealed to the Chief Minister that Poonch was the most backward district in respect of per capita income, so a special recruitment package should be announced at the earliest. The 1947 migrants should also be rehabilitated honourably under the purview of Prime Minister Package.

Srinagar, April 29
If tourists are glued to the tulip garden for the last couple of months, the picturesque Gurez valley, which will be open soon to the public, will add to their feast.

The two-month-long pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in the upper reaches of Pahalgam in south Kashmir beginning mid-June is also expected to add to the tourists’ flow to the Kashmir valley.

The state government has already initiated measures to tap tourism potential in more areas of the Kashmir valley, which include Gurez in the newly created Bandipore district, Bungus in Kupwara and Dodhpathri in central Kashmir district of Budgam.

“We hope to open Gurez for the tourists this season,” said an official of the Tourism Department here today. Though the infrastructure is yet to be made up to the mark, a moderate tented accommodation would be made available in this scenic spot, about 150 km north of Srinagar.

The area remains cut off from the rest of the valley in winter months due to accumulation of heavy snow on Mudder hills near Bandipore. The motorable road is expected to be opened within the next month.

The tulip garden thrown open on March 29, according to the tourism officials, has got a great response from the tourists, along with some shooting of Bollywood flicks. “It has benefited in different ways and even foreign tourists have been attracted,” said the officials.

The tulip garden matched, though short-lived, the famous Mughal gardens of Nishat and Shalimar, they said and added that there was a need to provide “something parallel” for the tourist attraction after the tulips fade away.

“The flow of tourists is encouraging so far and everything would be clear only in the first week of May,” said Mohammad Azeem Touman, chairman of the Houseboat Owners’ Association.

He told The Tribune that inquiries about booking in the Kashmir special houseboats on the Dal Lake were going on and a good number of tourists was expected, he added. “When the mercury rises in other parts of the north India, tourists find their way to visit Kashmir,” he added.

Touman lamented that panic mongers outside the valley were creating a wrong impression about the situation in Kashmir adding that such attempts had failed to discourage tourists.

“We are of the firm belief that there is a good response next month,” said H.U. Mir, chairman of the Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHARA). “Many people have selected Kashmir as their destination during vacations in May,” he said and added that reservations were going on and accommodation available.

“We are capable of catering to a good number of tourists this season,” Mir commented and added the month of April had not been as much encouraging.

Ahead of the “fast approaching” tourist season, the state Tourism Department has notified directives to all those affiliated with the trade to comply under rules.

It has also warned touts against any violation of rules and undertaking tourism related business without proper permission and registration of units. These include photographers, handloom dealers, hoteliers, houseboat owners and travel agents.

Srinagar, April 29
The 70-km-long Bandipora-Gurez road in north Kashmir still remained closed due to snowfall for the past four months, the official sources said.

However, the authorities have pressed into service men and machine to make the movement of vehicular traffic smooth as soon as possible so that essential commodities could be sent.

It would take a couple of days more before the road could reopen again, official sources said at Baramulla.

They said the road was closed due to snowfall in December last year. However, the area experienced heaviest snowfall in about 25 years in January this year.

Meanwhile, an official spokesman said adequate stock of essential commodities was available in Gurez.

He said presently 10,300 quintals of rice, 3,900 quintal of wheat flour, 1,360 quintal of sugar and 51,800 litre of kerosene oil were in stock to cater to the requirements of people for next two months.

He said on the instructions of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Bandipora-Gurez road would be thrown open to traffic shortly despite accumulation of heavy snow on the road during the winter.

The district administration has already provided 12,000 litre of diesel for additional snow cutters to the Beacon authorities, he added.

The administration had arranged 28 air-flights to provide relief and succour to the passengers of Gurez, Bandipora and Tulail during winter months, when these areas remained cut off from the state due to snow. — UNI

Srinagar, April 29
The District Development Board has approved a sum of Rs 43.07 crore for Kulgam district under this year’s annual plan.

The board in a meeting at Anantnag today approved the sum, out of which Rs 38.53 crore is the capital component and Rs 4.54 crore is the revenue component.

The meeting approved Rs 8.43 crore for agriculture and allied sectors, Rs 1.64 crore for rural development schemes, Rs 7.89 lakh under industries sector, Rs 4 crore for communication, Rs 25 lakh for power and Rs 23.67 crore for social and general services, an official spokesman said.

Addressing the meeting, board chairman and transport minister Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen said the coalition government was concentrating on overall development of newly created districts including Kulgam. He said efforts were being made for creation of valuable assets and infrastructure in these districts.

Presenting a resume of physical and financial achievements for the last financial year, Kulgam development commissioner Lateef-u-Zaman Deva said Rs 40.82 crore accounting for 90.59 per cent of the total allocation was utilised under district plan during last year.

He said under R&B sector, 31.15 km of road length was blacktopped and 27 bridges and culverts constructed while road length of 161.85 km metalled and shingled. Under agriculture, 27,867 hectares of land were covered under paddy, maize, pulses vegetables and oil seeds.

The district development commissioner said that during the last financial year that mid-day meals were provided to 62,801 students while 30,375 students were provided free textbooks. He said 481 students were provided merit scholarships, 145 pahari speaking students and 6,537 Gujjar and Bakerwal students provided scholarships during last financial year. 

Jammu, April 29
Bullish attitude of the officers is stated to be the major factor behind the increasing number of suicides and fratricides in the Asia’s largest paramilitary force, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

According to the official sources, besides the attitude of the officers, communication gap also have a role in these incidents.

Though there have been efforts to curb such incidents, the CRPF so far has failed miserably. “Turning to Yoga guru Baba Ramdev and other remedial measures would serve no purpose until and unless the CRPF officers change their attitude towards jawans, who continue to work under extreme conditions,” the sources said.

It would be better if the officers first learn Yoga from the Baba themselves so as to change their attitude, they added.

The CRPF still has not bridged the gap between officers and troopers, a major factor responsible for jawans to resort to extreme steps, said the sources, adding that living without their families and working for eight to 10 hours under harsh conditions, jawans in the CRPF were still subjected to bullet theory of communication by their superiors.

Sharing their views, a couple of CRPF jawans on a check post were disappointed over what they claimed human rights abuse in largest law enforcing organisation.

They said problems like denial of leave, family life and protracted duty for 10 to 12 hours were always there but what lead to suicides or fratricides was getting humiliated by officers in front of other colleagues.

“Without looking into our genuine problems some officers abuse us and hence some among us run out of patience,” they added.

A senior CRPF officer initially attributed such incidents to domestic problems but also admitted that living separately away from their families vis-à-vis ‘harsh’ behaviour of some officers had been the root cause.

He said of late the CRPF has been exploring possibilities of allowing family life to the jawans so as to neutralise their stress but being a big organisation it has to be done gradually.

He said that remedial measures like liberal granting of leave, increased formal and informal interactions between officers and jawans, identification and counseling by psychiatrists, yoga classes, rest and recuperation centres to some extent checked the incidents.

“But the ghost would not die unless officers change their attitude and stop bullying jawans,” he added.

The CRPF recorded 44 cases of suicide in 2007, compared to 30 in 2006 and 19 in 2005. Ten fratricides have already taken place this year.

The CRPF has deployed 72 battalions, around 40 per cent of the force to quell insurgency and maintain law and order in the state.

Jammu, April 29
Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party chairman Bhim Singh has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, and Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad of pursuing nefarious designs of turning the state into an “Islamic republic” on communal lines.

Bhim Singh said he would be having a fast on April 30 and launch a weeklong ‘gareeb bachao andolan’ from May 1. He would also walk naked feet from the Mubarak Mandi complex to Martyred Students Memorial outside GGM Science College on May 1 to expose the government policies to the people of the Jammu region.

Addressing mediapersons here today, Bhim Singh urged the people to join his party and launch a decisive battle for justice, equality and freedom.

He again brought to the fore miseries of Jammu migrants, refugees, unemployed youths, OBCs, Paharis and Dogras.

“Present dispensation, including politicians and bureaucrats, has been plundering state exchequer at the cost of poor people, which the Panthers Party can’t tolerate”, he asserted.

“The Panthers Party would expose the state government for their connivance with the PDP to implement Dixon Plan, 51 by creating an Islamic Republic of Kashmir on communal lines,” Bhim Singh said.