Srinagar, August 14
Greeting people on the 61st Independence Day, Governor N.N. Vohra today called upon the people to act in best traditions of their spirit of assimilation and accommodation and support the sincere efforts of the administration in restoring the social fabric of the state.

The Governor, in a message, expressed the hope that the people of the three regions would strive for assuaging the feelings of all those who were feeling hurt and aggrieved.

“We have to rise beyond communal, regional and the ideological divides and strive to recreate a peaceful environment across the state,” the Governor said, and urged the people to totally shun the path of violence and maintain peace and calm in this difficult hour, in keeping with the glorious traditions of secularism, brotherhood and communal harmony.

He reiterated his commitment to continue the dialogue process, involving the representatives of various agitating groups for evolving an amicable solution.

“It should be our collective responsibility to resolve the most contentious issues through the democratic process, based on dialogue and conciliation,” he maintained.

The Governor noted with satisfaction the country’s march towards building a strong and vibrant India and said Jammu and Kashmir has not lagged behind in this odyssey, notwithstanding the traumatic period of militancy which impeded growth and development for very many years. He said the state has achieved appreciable progress on many fronts over the years.

Vohra extended his good wishes to the brave citizens of the state, civil administration, police, Army and the security forces on the auspicious occasion of the Independence Day and exuded confidence that Jammu and Kashmir would overcome all its difficulties and its pristine glory will be fully restored.

Udhampur, August 14
The authorities were forced to withdraw curfew relaxation in Kishtwar after tension flared-up in the town after members of the minority community took out two processions demanding action against those responsible for violence and arson.

In view of the problems being faced by the locals, the district administration had announced to relax curfew in a phased manner from 2.30 pm. As soon as the curfew was relaxed, members of the minority community took out massive processions from two different directions.

Shouting slogans against the Hurriyat and the PDP for instigating members of the majority community to attack minorities, people demanded action against those responsible for arson and looting.

Blaming the police for Tuesday’s riots, members of the minority community alleged that some police officers were hand-in-glove with anti-national forces in Kishtwar. They also demanded removal of some senior police officers.

Though some elderly people tried to pacify people taking out processions, but to no avail. Tension flared-up and the authorities reimposed curfew within half-an-hour. Troops deployed in the town immediately swung into action and dispersed the mob.

It is worthwhile to mention here that the minority community in Kishtwar has blamed some local Hurriyat leaders for instigating people to attack their properties and houses.

Meanwhile, the administration has involved members of both the majority and minority communities to restore peace in the town.

On the directions of the DIG, Doda-Ramban range, Hemant Kumar Lohia, the police has started constituting peace committees at the mohalla-level to frustrate the designs of anti-national forces. Some NGOs have also come forward to restore peace in the town.

Srinagar, August 14
People in the Kashmir valley formed a committee to provide relief material to the needy and supply essential items to hospitals owing to an acute shortage of vegetables and other articles due to strike, protests and curfew.

Sources in the local SMHS hospital said more than 30 quintals of rice, pulses, vegetables, oil and other essentials were donated by the people for patients and their attendants.

“We received rice, vegetables and oil from Anantnag, Pulwama, Badgam, Ganderbal and other districts, sources said, adding a number of cooks have offered free service to cook food for patients and their attendants.

Relatives of the patients in the hospital could not bring food for them because of the disturbed situation, they said, adding that local people donated food items 
for them.

About 60 trucks and other vehicles carrying vegetables and other essentials that had come from different parts of the rural areas were seen distributing these goods free of cost among people irrespective of their religion.

Bihari and other workers, still working in the valley, were also given essential items at different areas in the city and outskirts.

Similarly, people of Sonawar and Yatoo Showpora have been arranging food and other essential items for patients and their attendants of G.B. Pant Hospital in the high-security Batwara area for the past four days. — UNI

Jammu, August 14
Following the alleged damage to 94 oil tankers in Kashmir, the All-Jammu and Kashmir Petrol Tanker Owners Association today announced that it would not send oil tankers to the valley until the government assured them in writing of adequate security.

Addressing a press conference here today, association president Anan Sharma said: “We have sent 3,200 oil tankers to Kashmir, Leh and Kargil between August 1 and 13, of which 94 tankers were damaged by the protesters. In most of the cases, the windscreen of tankers was broken, while in others, the drivers were thrashed.”

Sharma said over 100 tankers, which were on their way from Kargil to Jammu, were still stuck in Sonmarg as the police was not allowing them to proceed further.

“The police has warned drivers to move ahead at their own risk”, he said, adding drivers were frightened to supply oil to the valley in such an atmosphere. Narrating one such instance, Sharma said, an angry mob attacked an oil tanker of Shalimar Transport at Bemina yesterday. He said the mob tried to set the oil tanker on fire, but timely action by the police saved it.

He said 40 tankers were issued slips for loading oil for the valley today. “However, the drivers of only six tankers were ready to fill up their tankers, while the rest had returned their slips. Those six drivers, too, are now not ready to take a risk,” he added.

“We have shown all 94 damaged tankers to the DSP deployed at the oil depot,” Sharma said. He demanded that the government should pay for the damages suffered by these tanker owners. 

Udhampur, August 14
Under the cover of darkness Ram Parkash of UP and nine other labourers had left turmoil hit the Kashmir valley to save their lives but fate has something else in store for them. With the help of driver Khurshid Ahmed, labourers from Jammu and UP somehow managed to reach the "safest" zone of Ramban but as bad luck would have it the vehicle in which they fled from the violence-hit Kashmir valley skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge.

Police sources said that the fear-stricken labourers from Jammu and UP had taken a lift in the truck to flee from the valley. "After crossing Banihal all labourers were looking relaxed as they had reached the "safest" zone", a police officer said, quoting the driver who had promised to give them lift only up to Ramban. The tragic accident, however, took place 10 km before the town at 5.30 a.m. According to the police, 11 were killed and nine injured when the truck they were travelling in skidded off the road in Ramban district.

Five of the deceased have been identified as Ramparkash and Rajbir of Rai-Bareli (UP), Kaku Ram of Hiranagar, Kathua, Mukthiar Chand of Jammu and conductor Murtaza of Uri (Kashmir). Five of the deceased belong to Rai-Bareli. Most of the deceased are labourers engaged in a brick kiln.

Jammu, August 14
Panthers Party supremo Bhim Singh has reiterated that his formula of solving the Amarnath land row should be given a serious thought by New Delhi.

In a statement issued here today, Singh urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Governor N.N. Vohra to take into confidence Muslim leadership in the valley to end the conflict.

Singh said: “In case the Governor amended the Cabinet order dated July 1, 2008, to the effect that the said 39 hectares of land in Baltal is diverted to the SASB for facilitating the pilgrims, without changing its proprietary status which was vested with the forest department, the Kashmiris will have no objection.”

Srinagar, August 14
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti today staged a dharna along with senior party leaders outside Raj Bhawan here in protest against the alleged police and security forces excesses in Kashmir during the past three days.

She also threatened to launch ‘jail bharo tehreek (movement)’ in case there was not an end to the ongoing brutality.

Mehbooba Mufti also blamed the administration for adopting “double standards” in the two regions of Kashmir and Jammu claiming that about 40 persons were killed at the hands of the police and the CRPF in Kashmir since Monday last.

Accompanied by senior party leaders, she took out a foot march from her Fair View residence on Gupkar Road to Raj Bhawan this afternoon.

The prominent leaders included Abdul Aziz Zargar, Mohammad Dilawear Mir, Tariq Hameed Qarra, Peer Mohammad Hussain, Abdul Rehman Veeri and Javed Mustafa Mir, MLCs, Nizamuddin Bhat and Basharat Bukhari. The PDP leaders were not allowed to enter and therefore, staged a dharna outside the Zeethiyar gate of Raj bahawan for about an hour.

“We demand action against the police and CRPF personnel,” Mehbooba said.

Referring to the demand for opening Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road, Mehbooba held that the former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in 2003 had extended the hand of friendship to Pakistan.

She added that there was need to take the process forward which had already resulted in the opening of the Sriangar-Muzaffarabad bus service since 2005. 

Srinagar, August 14
Spiritual leader and founder of the Art of Living, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar held meetings with the leaders of both factions of the Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and discussed prevailing situation in the state here yesterday.

During their 45-minute meeting, Geelani said the people of Kashmir were not against the Amarnath yatra or pilgrims, but were fighting for the right of self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He held that the issue of land transfer to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) was not related to the annual pilgrimage.

He lamented that the agitators in Jammu had given it a communal colour and blamed the central government for coming in the way of peace in this state.

Reports here said Sri Sri Ravi Shankar expressed his unhappiness over the “economic blockade” of the Kashmir valley by agitators in the Jammu region.

He also favoured opening of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road for people and trade purposes in view of the aspirations of the people in general.

Similar views had been exchanged in his meeting with the Hurriyat conference chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

Meanwhile, both factions of the Hurriyat Conference have demanded an unhindered movement of people and trade across the LoC via the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road. 

Rajouri, August 14
Even as the BJP continues to make Amarnath land row an electoral issue, members of the majority community have labelled its prime ministerial candidates L.K.Advani as an ISI agent who is trying to divide Jammu and Kashmir.

Thousands of protesters of the majority community in the Thanamandi area here also passed a resolution demanding that the former Deputy Prime Minister should be sent to his native place in Karachi. The resolution was also supported by the local Beopar Mandal, Bar Association, Muslim Front, Muslim Federation and various political parties, including the Congress and the PDP.

The resolution threatened that people would migrate en mass to Kashmir via Mughal Road if atrocities on Muslims were not stopped within a week in the Kashmir and Jammu regions. "We will be compelled to give Kashmir chalo call if our demands are not met," the resolution said.

Meanwhile, thousand of protesters in the Darhal and Manjakote areas have also reportedly supported the resolution to send Advani back to his native village in Karachi.

Hundreds of protesters of the majority community today took to streets in Surankote town against the “economic blockade” and “killing of innocent 
Kashmiris”.

About 600 protesters raised slogans against the Centre and state government for blocking the supply of essential commodities and killing of innocent Kashmiris. The protesters also raised pro-freedom slogans and anti-India slogans.

“Whereas the security forces observed maximum restraint in dealing with protesters of a particular community in Jammu, they murdered Kashmiris by resorting to unprovoked and indiscriminate firing. Even children were not spared by the security forces. Why are security forces adopting double standards. The Indian government is killing Kashmiris,” a protester said.

“We can not watch Kashmiris getting killed like this. We will fight this tooth-and-nail and are ready to sacrifice our lives for our brethren in Kashmir”, he added.

Another protester said: “The way the state government has killed Kashmiris and given a free hand to the Right wing Hindu extremists (RSS, BJP, VHP, Shiv Sena and Bajrang Dal) in Jammu to attack Muslims, it will not be tolerated.”

Meanwhile, there were reports of massive protests in other areas of Poonch district in support of the agitation against the economic blockade and killing of innocent people in Kashmir.

In this border township, members of the minority community numbering around 300, including women and children, also took out a protest rally.