Srinagar, June 13
The family members of three youths, allegedly murdered by the police in Srinagar, have termed the decision of a Jammu court, which acquitted the guilty cops as “miscarriage of justice” and demanded same activism from judiciary and civil society in India as showed earlier after the acquittals of the killers of Priyadarshini Mattoo and Jessica Lal, which led to their subsequent conviction.

Three youths, Nazir Ahmad Gilkar, Javed Ahmed Shah and Ghulam Rasool Mattoo, were picked up by the police on June 23, 1999, when they were returning from a marriage party in a scooter.

At a time when the militancy was at its peak and the police were often highhanded in their dealing with the people, Gilkar allegedly died due to torture inflicted on him by the cops. Jittery officials in the Soura police station decided to bump off two other youths as they feared that they would spill the beans on the custodial murder of Gilkar, the police challan in the court said.

As their bodies were discovered, the Crime Branch was handed over the investigation and they filed a chargesheet against seven police officials, including the then SDPO, DSP Abdur Rashid Khan alias Rashid Billa. Despite being a senior police official, Khan remained absconding and the court started proceedings against other accused.

Farooq Ahmad, brother of Gilkar, said in a press conference that the accused police officials enjoyed patronage of the then Kashmir IG P.S. Gill and they got the trial transferred to Jammu.

“Many important witnesses were threatened and did not depose before the court. All police officials who were witnesses turned hostile in the court,” Parvez Imroz, a noted human rights activist said.

The high court had shifted the trial to Jammu as the accused had contended that they were facing threats from inmates in Srinagar jail.

The Jammu court had last month acquitted all the accused, saying the prosecution had failed to connect accused with the crime. Imroz said they would file appeal before the high court but the authorities should take note of the subversion of the justice meted out to the families of three murdered youths.

He said the lower courts had made similar remarks while acquitting accused in Jessica Lal and Priyadarshini Mattoo cases, but higher courts revered the justice. “We will fight in similar manner and hope that justice is delivered either through retrial or appeal,” he said. 

Udhampur, June 13
National Conference leader Madhu Verma today tendered an apology for her remarks against Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. But despite her apology, protest continued on the third consecutive day today.

Not only the Sikh Youth Federation but also some National Conference (NC) leaders expressed their resentment over the remarks of the party leader.

Senior NC leader Mohammed Shafi while interacting with mediapersons today made it clear that the party has disassociated itself from the remarks of the party leader. He said the party has already served a notice to her to clear the position.

The NC leader said the party has taken a serious note of the episode and asked the high command to take action against her. He said meeting of the party has been called to discuss the issue.

Meanwhile, the Sikh Youth Federation under the leadership of Ranjeet Singh continued their protest against the remarks of the NC leader. They demanded that former chief minister Dr Farooq Abdullah should himself tender an apology on behalf of her party leader. Sikh youths regretted that the NC leadership has not yet taken any action against the party leader for her derogatory remarks against the whole community.

A delegation of the Sikh leaders also met the deputy commissioner and demanded action against the NC for her remarks.

As reported earlier, a women wing of the National Conference organised a protest demonstration against the price rise on Tuesday and during the protest demonstration senior NC leader Madhu Verma allegedly passed some ‘derogatory’ remarks against the Prime Minister while criticising the economic policies of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

Chandimarh (Poonch), June 13
Though it requires a professional and experienced hand to drive an ambulance, the health authorities have given this responsibility to a safai karamchari (cleaner).

Shoket Ali of Surankote whose works as a cleaner in the primary health centre (PHC) here, has been additionally given the role of an ambulance driver. He has a valid driving license to drive a commercial vehicle and that qualifies him to drive the PHC ambulance also.

Interestingly, the local health authorities, on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that they are extracting the work of a driver from a cleaner.

But they said few months back they had requested the then Poonch deputy commissioner J.S. Pachnanda to appoint a local driver. Pachnanda even promised to appoint a driver. Meanwhile, he retired and nothing happened after that.

“Since the PHC is near the under-construction Mughal Road, the number of accident cases is quite large. In the absence of a regular driver we have to take the services of Shoket Ali for ferrying the patients to nearby Surankote sub-district hospital,” the sources said.

This PHC caters to thousands of patients coming from Peer Ki Gali, Poshana, Dugran, Chandimarh, Behramgala and Bufliaz. The patients coming to this PHC for treatment comprise nomads and labourers working on the Mughal Road.

“However, problem arises when even the cleaner goes on leave. At that time, if an emergency case arrives, we are simply helpless,” they added. Locals complained that during a public durbar called by Pachnanda, they had raised this problem but even as the latter promised, nothing happened.

Sources in the district administration confirmed that Pachnanda had called a local youth with valid driving license and ample experience for appointment as a driver in the PHC on contractual basis but nothing materialised.

They added that now the district administration has invited applications from the local unemployed youth with requisite qualification for appointment as a driver on contractual basis in this PHC. Every effort to contact director health services and district health authorities were not available for comment.

Jammu, June 13
The state government’s decision for 14 per cent hike in passenger and transport fare is bound to make a hole in the common man’s pocket.

“Every time there is a hike in transportation charges, it is ultimately borne by the consumers,” said Praveen Kumar Gupta, president, Jammu Fruit Association.

He said, “As of now, the city is receiving mangoes from UP and Delhi, while bananas are being brought from Gujarat. Hence, the rates of fruits and vegetables being received from far off places would obviously be more.”

“The skyrocketing prices of essential commodities have already affected people. But now the fuel price hike has added to their woes. Earlier, it was for oil and pulses that we were shelling out more money and now the same would hold true for vegetables and fruits. I don't know how I will manage my household expenses,” Shivani Sharma, a housewife from Gandhi Nagar, said.

Meanwhile, Ram Sahai, president, Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCI) said transporters were right in seeking a hike in transportation fares, as they had not increased it in the past 3 years. He, however, said the state government should have absorbed the effect of fuel price hike by slashing excise and custom duties instead of increasing fares, as the latter would directly affect the common man.

CCI secretary Anil Gupta said the freight cost would shoot up, following the hike in transpor-tation charges.

“It would deteriorate the region's industry which has already suffered a jolt in the form of withdrawal of the Central excise package sometime back. Unfortunately, while other state governments are slashing taxes to bring the fuel prices to the pre-hike level, our government has resorted to increasing fares. The move could spur exodus of industry from the state,” he averred.

Rajesh Jain, president, Association of Small Scale Industries has termed it a steep hike and said it would add to the price rise.

He said small scale units would suffer losses on account of prior commitments. It would also trigger unfair competition, resulting in losses, he added.

However, Jain admitted that the burden would ultimately pass on to the consumers and that the market would take time to absorb the hike.

Anchal Singh Manhas, president, Taxi Operators Union felt the hike would not affect the tourism industry. “It would hit the local populace hard but not the tourists who visit the state from different parts of the country,” he said.

Jammu, June 13
The ever-soaring rate of inflation has forced majority of the people in the winter capital of the state to change their diet. Many have now shifted towards meat from vegetables and pulses. Many people, who otherwise were orthodox vegetarians, have converted their lifestyle and have switched over to eating non-vegetarian diet; the reason non-vegetarian items are cheaper than the vegetarian products.

“With vegetables available at a high price, we have no other option but to switch over to non-vegetarian products, which comparatively come at a lower cost,” said Anita Mangotra, a housewife. “Eating dals and pulses has become much more costlier than eating mutton and chicken,” she added.

Though she said the decision to switch over to non-vegetarian diet from a pure vegetarian diet was not so easy, the family was left with no other option.

The vegetable sellers in Jammu had increased the prices of vegetables and have been charging as per their wishes after the state government succumbed to their pressure after a recent standoff between the fruits and vegetable dealers and the state government.

“There is no rate list for the fruits and vegetables and these hawkers now charge as per their wishes, the peas at one day is sold at Rs 15 per kg and the next day they charge Rs 32 per kg for it,” said Manju Koul, a resident of Trikuta Nagar locality. Adding to the woes of the residents of the state who have already been facing the brunt of the ever-increasing rate of inflation and hike in the fuel prices is the fact that the state government has increased the passenger fare by 14 per cent.

The ever-soaring inflation has increased the prices of essential commodities as the level of expenditure has crossed people’s income level. “The government gave another shock by increasing the price of petrol, diesel and cooking gas,” said Amit Kumar, a government employee in Jammu.

Jammu, June 13
The residents of various localities in Jammu are reeling under an acute shortage of water and electricity these days. The problem of unscheduled power cuts is also prevailing in areas where 100 per cent electronic metering has been completed. Unscheduled power cuts in Jammu region has become a reason to worry for the people due to the soaring temperature.

“Despite installing electronic meters and being charged exorbitantly, we are not being provided with adequate power supply,” said Harcharan Singh, a resident of Digiana, Jammu.

He added, “The unscheduled power cuts come at a time when we have no other option but to wait for the electricity to return as it becomes difficult to sit inside a room without fan and other cooling gadgets.”

After the unscheduled power cuts during night, people can be seen sitting on their rooftops.

“This has become a daily event. Despite paying hefty electricity bills, we are being made to face problems every night,” Kuldeep Singh, a resident of Gangyal, said.

However, Electricity Department officials said unscheduled power cuts in some areas were unavoidable as electricity had to be supplied in the VIP areas.

Not only electricity, a majority of areas in Jammu are reeling under water scarcity. “Water has become rare here. For the past three days, water supply has been so poor that we have not been able to store a drop,” Babita, a resident of Nai Basti, said.

Jammu, June 13
The high court dismissed a criminal revision by the state of Jammu and Kashmir against the judgment dated May 12, 2005 of Sessions Judge, Rajouri, by virtue of which respondent Dinesh Kumar, who was booked for allegedly storing 360 litres of diesel for selling purposes, was acquitted.

Deputy A.G. Shaista Hakin appearing for the state sought adjournment for placing a forensic science laboratory (FSL) report on record submitting that at the time of passing of impugned order, the said report was not made available to the court.

Despite availing three to four opportunities, the said report was not placed on record. Hakin after getting latest instructions made a statement at the bar that the oil seized from the shop of the accused was not sent to the chemical examiner and, therefore, no FSL report was placed before the trial court.

The high court while dismissing the criminal revision observed, “The conceded position before me is that there is no evidence collected by the prosecuting agency with regard to the accused selling oil allegedly seized from his shop to any customer for black marketing. The other conceded position is that there is no report of the FSL to show that oil seized by the police was petroleum product, much less, it was petroleum class.”

“The learned trial Court after entering into detailed discussion and reproducing Sections 2 & 7 of the Petroleum Act came to a categorical finding that the prosecution has not been able to prove prima facie that the oil seized by the police was petroleum product,” the court further ruled.

Srinagar, June 13
There is clear evidence which suggests that the only fort in the Kashmir valley — Hari Parvat, largely believed to be built by Afghan governor Atta Mohammad Khan — may have had a major contribution from Mughal emperor Akbar and has prompted experts into research.

The Hari Parvat fort, where the state's Archaeology Department is carrying out major renovation work to restore the majestic historical site to its past glory, occupies a place of pride among the valley's heritages due to it being the only fort here of its kind, said Khursheed Ahmad Qadri, director, Architecture, Archaeology and Museum.

Official sources said the fort, stretched over 200 kanal was built by Atta Md Khan in 1808, as implied by an inscription. However, some reasons have led officials to dig into this assumption. Firstly, there is a 5 km outer wall surrounding the fort . “The belief is that there can't be an outer wall, which apparently protects the fort, without having a fort first,” an official said.

Another important reason is that the construction material used for the construction of the fort is not uniform. It may be possible, officials said, that a part of fort was built by some previous king, most probably Akbar, and the Afghan governor later carried out a section of construction and left his inscription.

Qadri said it was a long haul to prove the origins of the fort conclusively but his department was working upon it. He said his department was sure to bring back the old splendour of the fort as they were carrying out renovation work with the same material as used by artisans in building it. The fort has seven-odd compartments and each of them has a big water reservoir. It also has 12 viewing points.

Qadri said renovation work was likely to be completed next year and then it would be opened for tourists. The fort has long been an important attraction, but it was closed for tourists when the construction work began last year.