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Process to issue voter-I cards starts
Cong, CPM activists clash over N-deal
People still upset over land revocation order
Tourism industry hit by land row
We can solve land row: Panthers
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Bhaderwah incident solved: Police
20 kg explosives recovered
Tension flares up in Doda
Encounters in Sopore not something unusual
More reports of militant activity
Yatra affecting aesthetic ambience of Pahalgam
A private helicopter is seen over a base camp lodging Amarnath pilgrims from Baltal to Amarnath cave, about 110 km south-east of Srinagar. — A Tribune photograph
Five additional battalions for state
Student freed
NC seeks justice for Rajouri and Poonch
Vohra asks officials to expedite work
Paharis seek ST status
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Process to issue voter-I cards starts
Jammu, July 17 As the state gears up for the elections, authorities are abuzz with hectic activity these days and want to provide EPIC to at least one member in each family. Being a time-consuming exercise, we are trying to provide at least one EPIC to each family in the state before the next elections, B.R. Sharma, chief electoral officer, said. We started the process from mid-June this year distributing forms to the people and have set August 31 as the “shortened deadline” to complete the entire process, Sharma said. Though we had been given a deadline of October 15, we want to update records and prepare EPICs by August 31. The state as of today has a total electorate of 64,81,143. “However, the figures can change after we complete the process of updating our records,” Sharma said. When asked about gross discrepancies in the names of voters in forms being distributed to them, Sharma said discrepancies had crept, while translating them in English from Urdu, but a provision for such corrections is in the forms itself. Discrepancies, if any, might have crept while translating names of voters from Urdu to English, |he said. Sharma added, “Fully aware of the malady, we are maintaining two bundles of forms, one containing correct names and other requisite particulars free from mistakes and the other one having certain discrepancies.” “EPIC would be issued forthwith against correct forms while in the case of others it will take sometime and it may not be possible for us to provide them these cards before the coming elections,” he added Since EPICs would be used by voters for the rest of their lives, it should not contain any mistakes and hence extreme care was being taken, while updating electoral photo rolls, he said. Once the process gets completed, details of voters would be maintained in a digital form and stored in computers. Sharma also exuded confidence of meeting the deadlines. When asked about a major chunk of voter I-cards reportedly going into the hands of militants in the Kashmir valley, Sharma rubbished such reports. He, however, did not rule out the possibility of a miniscule number of misguided youth in the state, who had voter-I cards, but had gone astray. |
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Cong, CPM activists clash over N-deal
Srinagar, July 17 The demonstration held in Pratap Park, was marked by clashes between the CPM and the Congress activists, opposite the Pradesh Congress Committee office at the Maulana Azad Road here today. However, timely action by the police prevented the situation from further worsening. Heading the demonstration, former MLA
M.Y. Tarigami was also accompanied by his party colleagues, Mohammad Khalil
Naik, Ghulam Nabi Malik, Mohammad Yaqoob Ganie and Mohammad Amin Dar. Describing the nuclear deal as a dangerous game plan, Tarigami said with the deal, India would loose its non-aligned
character. Tarigami held that before casting aspersions on Leftists for withdrawing support to the UPA government, there was need to understand the pros and cons of the nuclear deal. He also referred to the 123 Agreement and the Hyde Act, which formed the axis of the deal and pointed out that under Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act, the US could go for bilateral civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with any other country. The Hyde Act gives the US Administration the waiver to reach a pact with India, which has not signed the
NPT. Tarigami said under the N-deal, apparently India would purchase nuclear fuel and reactors from the US at exorbitant prices to augment its energy
needs. Tarigami said the deal was to promote strategic ties with the US and not to meet the demands of energy security. He said the campaign that nuclear energy could only meet the demands of India's energy requirements in the future had been rejected by the Left parties for various reasons. He said it was clear that the country’s sovereignty would be eroded if the deal went through. “India for unknown reasons is going to purchase nuclear fuel from the US at exorbitant prices or the US is going to supply nuclear fuel to India at subsidized rates in order to develop a strategic base in India to fight countries like Iran, Afghanistan, North Korea, China, Russia and Latin American countries,” he said. |
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People still upset over land revocation order
Jammu, July 17 Karan Singh, a vegetable vendor in Bohri, said “We are being treated as slaves by the Kashmiri rulers for the past six decades which will not be tolerated now.” Banu Sharma, another youth from Bhori, said “Our elders have failed in liberating Jammu from Kashmir, we will accomplish this task now. Let every Kashmiri
know this.” However, Ramesh Koul, another youth, felt such actions would lead to communalism and bloodshed, adding that all the issues should be resolved amicably. Shanta Rani from Bohri demanded restoration of the land to the board but opposed total shut down as a means to highlight the demands. She pleaded for alternate methods which did not subject common people to hardship. Raju Bhagat, a resident of Talab Tillo, said “Once the government has decided to give the land to the board, it has no right to change the decision.” |
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Tourism industry hit by land row
Jammu, July 17 “There was no end to hustle-bustle at our taxi stand throughout the day prior to the land row agitation in the state, but now the number of tourists coming here has fallen,” Sudarshan Sharma, manager, Taxi Operators Union said. Sharma said the controversy had taken a heavy toll on what could have been their best season this year. “People from different parts of the country had started making bookings for tourist destinations like Srinagar, Pahalgam and Gulmarg. But all our hopes of earning well have dashed to the ground. The curfew in Jammu for over a week has only added to our woes,” he lamented. The hoteliers at Patni Top, a major tourist spot in Jammu region, have also bore the brunt of the agitation. “Our hotel was packed to capacity 20 days back, but now the occupancy rate has dropped by over 60 per cent. The controversy has affected our business to a large extent,” said Dammar Singh of Hotel Green Top. As the city has a huge market of dry fruits, dry fruit sellers too have sufferred major losses. “My business has been reduced to half in the aftermath of the controversy. Now, I’m primarily catering to the local population,” said Prem Singh, a shopkeeper. Similarly, dhabas and restaurants too have witnessed a decline in their daily business. “I had recruited more employees to cope with the increasing rush of Amarnath and Vaishno Devi pilgrims. However, in the wake of deteriorating business, following shutdown call and curfew I had to sack them,” said Naveen, a dhaba owner near the bus stand. Anil Gupta, general secretary, Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) admitted that business in the winter capital had dipped by over 50 per cent in the past few days. “Earlier, the city was receiving around 25,000 Vaishno Devi pilgrims daily, but now it has reduced below 5,000. It certainly has hit the business community hard,” he added. |
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We can solve land row: Panthers
Jammu, July 17 Addressing a press conference here, Bhim lashed out at former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad for his role in the land row. “Jammu is burning because of Azad. He made the biggest blunder of his life by revoking the land diversion to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), hoping to get back the PDP's support and complete his tenure. There was no need to revoke the order after Governor N.N. Vohra had given up the shrine board's claim on the land.” He, however, defended Governor N.N. Vohra, stating that he had no option. “What he did was in the national interest,” he added. |
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Bhaderwah incident solved: Police
Udhampur, July 17 Although police officers are tightlipped over arrest of main accused in the grenade throwing incident, sources said that one militant of Laskher-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit and one over ground worker (OGW), who is an active worker of a political party have been arrested by the police and their involvement in that case has been
established. Quoting interrogation reports of two accused, police sources said that LeT had pre-planned the attack on BJP rally to create communal division in Doda district. “As the OGW was pretending himself as worker of a main stream political party he was assigned the job to throw the grenade during the procession”, sources said, adding, “after throwing the grenade on BJP workers the accused mixed with civilians to dodge the police”. Sources said that LeT outfit was very much aware of the Hindu groups’ proposed protest demonstration on July 2, 2008. As the procession crossed Seri Bazar the accused hurled the grenade and later slipped away from the scene taking advantage of chaos and confusion which prevailed there following blast. Police sources told The Tribune that a group of four militants had been assigned this task. While as a released militant was carrying the grenade which he had later handed over to the OGW for final action, the remaining two ultras were providing them information about movement of the procession. Main aim of this attack was to create communal division in the whole Doda district. “Two militants, who were arrested three days back, have confessed their involvement in the attack after interrogation and they have also disclosed names of two more youth who would be arrested very soon”, sources said. |
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20 kg explosives recovered
Udhampur, July 17 Police sources said that on specific information the police launched a search operation in the area early this morning. During the search operation the police busted a hideout of militants. About 20 kg of explosives, some bullets, magazines and other ammunitions were recovered from the hideout. Sources said the hideout was busted as the police intercepted some messages of militants. Some propaganda material was also recovered from the site. |
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Tension flares up in Doda
Udhampur, July 17 Although real cause of firing is yet not known, it is believed that firing started after one police constable received bullet injuries in accidental fire. Sources said constable Sandeep Kumar was injured in accidental fire. Other
cops presumed it as a militant attack. Without confirming from their higher-ups, panic-stricken cops resorted to firing in air in a haphazard manner. As policemen were firing in the air, jawans
of para-military forces also resorted to indiscriminate firing. |
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Encounters in Sopore not something unusual
Sopore, July 17 Sopore, the home of hardline Hurriyat leader S.A.S. Geelani, is among the richest areas in Kashmir due to its prolific apple business and trade and was once the backbone of armed militancy. Its narrow and populated lanes were the most hostile terrains for security forces and their vehicles were routinely attacked before they managed to crush the support for militants. However, many locals allege that repressive tactics against them were used in an attempt to suppress militancy. Abdul Gani, a septuagenarian trader in Iqbal market said, “They were always at the receiving end and once the market was completely burnt down as security forces targeted them for their suspected support to militants.” Abdul said two decades of violence had set back Sopore by several decades. “Our leaders have failed us. Somebody should be bold enough to take an initiative that satisfies everybody, especially the Kashmiris,” he says. Some distance away from Sopore is Warpora village. Yesterday the village witnessed a fierce encounter between security forces and militants, in which two militants and a cop were killed. One of the slain militants, Hilal Ahmad Sofi (27), hailed from Warpora village. Despite the surcharged atmosphere in the village, there is also a sense of reconciliation. Locals say Sofi was a graduate who disappeared on the day of his sister's marriage in July, 2006, only to become a militant. A senior official from the 179 Battalion of CRPF, stationed in Sopore and which took part in the encounter, said the area was famous for its open hostility to troops. “There was a large congregation of locals yesterday. Today it's business as usual,” he said. He added as a cautionary tone, “The alienation remains.” |
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More reports of militant activity
Poonch, July 17 Intelligence sources said a group of militants reportedly held a meeting in the forest area near Hari Buddha in Surankote yesterday, to chalk out their future line of action. According to an intelligence report, the meeting was attended by “commanders” of different militant outfits besides, local commanders, including “district commander” of the Jaish-e-Muhammad, Shoket Hussain of Mendhar, and Muhammad Yaqoob of Falera, among other foreign mercenaries. It is believed that about 10-12 Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) militants had sneaked into the Sawjian sector in the first week of July. Earlier, there were reports of a large group of militants trying to
infiltrate from Krishna Ghati sector. |
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Yatra affecting aesthetic ambience of Pahalgam
Pahalgam, July 17 While security arrangements for pilgrims attract more attention of the administration, the eco-system and aesthetic ambience of the tourist spot seems to have suffered even as various measures are being taken for its preservation. Along the banks of the Lidder river, which flows down the high peak mountains through Pahalgam to join the Jhelum, one can find non-biodegradable polythenes, plastic bottles, cellophane wrappers, littered all around. Human defecation emanating foul stench is a common feature on the 20 km stretch from Nunwan to Chandanwari. “It is no different along the Sheshnag nullah,” a labourer at Chandanwari said. “Many people are seen defecating close to the banks of nullah, which flows down to pollute the waters. This is a serious problem and if not checked, this spot will vanish from the tourism map,” said a local official. “Polythene bags have been banned in this area,” said Abdul Rashid Parray, chief executive officer, Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA). This apart, the prefabricated structures erected by the SASB look like a colony in the green belt. There are at least 27 prefabricated huts for pilgrims and sadhus, 70 bathrooms and 270 toilets in the area. What meets the eye is that there are open washrooms at the Nunwan base camp for pilgrims that are emptied into the gushing waters of the Lidder nullah. |
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Five additional battalions for state
Jammu, July 17 Director general police (DGP) Kuldeep Khoda today said the recruitment for these new battalions would start after the state government issued the required order. He said the state government had to weigh financial implications before issuing the order, even though, the Center was going to meet initial expenses for raising the battalions. He said once the recruitment of these five battalions was done, the state would have 20 IRP
Battalions. Asked whether the state government had projected to the Center its requirement of additional companies of security forces for the ensuing Assembly poll, Khoda said “We have to see whether the election commission orders polling to be held in four phases or not”.He said if the election was to be held in four phases “We may require a few hundred companies of paramilitary forces.But if the polling is to be conducted in less than three phases the state may require over 400 additional companies of |
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Student freed
Srinagar, July 17 Some pedestrians, however, informed the police about the incident. The police immediately flashed the message and a massive hunt was launched to trace the
student. The Sumo driver was arrested and this led the police to different hideouts of the criminals, the sources said. However, in another case, the police is still clueless about a four-year-old boy, Mehran Latief, who was abducted
by unidentified persons from Habba Kadal town. — UNI |
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NC seeks justice for Rajouri and Poonch
Jammu, July 17 Addressing media persons here today, the former legislators also demanded a thorough probe into the alleged bungling in the power development department,especially in Poonch. “Funds worth crores of rupees released for the approved schemes in power sector were never utilized and instead misappropriated,” they said. Former NC legislators said they fervently urged the Governor to launch a special recruitment drive in these two districts to improve the socio-economic condition of the people. Bukhari and Rana also said officials and employees belonging to Rajouri and Poonch districts had always been neglected during transfers and postings. Switching over to the pathetic condition of farmers, they said “Despite loss to their crops and damage to their houses due to floods, they have not received any compensation so far. We urge the Governor to do jutsice with these districts.” |
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Vohra asks officials to expedite work
Jammu, July 17 Peeved over the slow progress, he decided to hold discussions with the principal secretary, Public Health Engineering (PHE) and managing director of the Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation and chief executive officer of the Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) and other technical officers of the Ground Water Commission in Srinagar tomorrow to get the work expedited. |
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Paharis seek ST status
Srinagar, July 17 The leaders said the community had been demanding ST status for decades, and despite assurances from various governments in the state and at the Centre, no steps had been taken so far. They appealed to Governor NN Vohra to look into the matter as they had got assurances from the former Governor and former chief ministers, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Farooq
Abdullah. “All the governments promised ST status to us, but nothing has been decided so far,” said Sharafat Ali Khan, chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Pahari Cultural and Welfare Forum. He said the government in 1989 had recommended seven classes for the ST status. While all others had been granted the status, only the Pahari community was left in the lurch. |
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Pahalgam, July 17
