Srinagar, August 15
Governor N.N. Vohra today called for reconciliation between the sparring regions of Kashmir and Jammu. In his address after unfurling the Tricolour at Bakshi Stadium on the 62nd Independence Day here this morning, Vohra said he would continue the dialogue process with various agitating groups in the state for evolving an amicable and acceptable solution to various issues.

PDP leader and MP Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference leader Abdul Rahim Rather were among major mainstream leaders who attended the ceremony.

The Governor said onus of peace also lies on the people of the three regions of state and they should support the sincere endeavours of the administration in restoring the damaged social fabric of the state.

Vohra stressed that “more than any government or any governor, it were the people of the state who will have to be the agents of change and missionaries of peace.” Vohra said the unrest in the last two months have hugely damaged the business and tourist season.

12 cops get Prez medal

Srinagar, August 15
Twelve officers of the Jammu and Kashmir police have been awarded the President's police medals for distinguished and meritorious service, a spokesman said here today.

P.L. Gupta, posted as IGP, Headquarters, was awarded the President's police medal for distinguished services.

SSP, Traffic (Kashmir) Syed Kafayat Haider, Additional SP, Udhampur, Bhopinder Singh, SP, CID Cell, J and K, New Delhi, Rajnesh Pran, CPO, Budgam, Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, DSP, Vigilance Organisation, Hari Krishen Nazar, DSP Mohammad Yousuf, DSP Qudoos Abid Khan, Inspector Bhawani Singh, Inspector Ghulam Rasool Bhat, ASI Abdul Rehman Wani and ASI Mohd Saleem Mori were awarded the President's police medal for meritorious services.— PTI 

Jammu, August 15
Even as the official Independence Day function at Parade Ground turned out to be a lackluster affair, thousands of people converged at Mubarak Mandi to celebrate the occasion at a parallel function under the banner of the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti here today. 

People from all walks of life started thronging Mubarak Mandi, the seat of the government during Dogra rule in the state, before the scheduled time of the samiti's function and jostled for space in its galleries. The celebrations took off on a jubilant note with people, including women and children, waving flags and chanting 'Bharat mata ki jai' and 'Bam bam bhole'.

Some enthusiastic people even climbed atop the historic buildings and hoisted the National Flag there. Samiti's convener Leela Karan Sharma unfurled the Tricolour, which was followed by the recital of the National Anthem. Sharma urged the people to hold peaceful protests in support of their demands. He also asked the government to respect the people's sentiments and accept their demands. The participants then took out a procession that passed through different areas of the city. "It is a proud moment for all of us, as it is probably for the first time here that the people fighting for a right cause have gathered in such a huge number to celebrate Independence Day," said Ramesh Koul, a Kashmiri Pandit from the migrant camp in Muthi. "The message is loud and clear for New Delhi - we would continue our struggle till the land is restored to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board," said Vinay Chaudhary, a participant in his teens.

On the other hand, the official function to mark the occasion was a dull affair. The ongoing Amarnath land row agitation cast a shadow on the function, as it lost the sheen due to non-participation of schoolchildren. On top of it, a downpour also played a spoilsport. The Governor's Advisor, S.S. Bloeria, was the chief guest. In the absence of school kids, it was left to artists of the Information Department to present a cultural programme. While Jammu Mayor Kavinder Gupta boycotted the function, leaders of the National Conference and the PDP were conspicuous by their absence. 

Udhampur, August 15
The Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti, spearheading the 47-day-long agitation over the Amarnath land row in the Jammu province, upstaged official Independence Day functions in Udhampur and Reasi districts.

While there was negligible presence in the official functions, hundreds of people participated in the flag hoisting ceremonies organised by the samiti in different parts of the two districts.

At Udhampur, samiti convener Leela Karan Sharma came all the way from Jammu to hoist the national flag at Indira Chowk.

Amidst heavy downpour, hundreds of people, including women, were present when Sharma hoisted the Tricolour.

The entire Udhampur town was flooded with the Tricolour as the Samiti had asked people to carry national flags with them.

At the official function at Government Degree College Udhampur, the march-past ceremony performed by couple of contingents of the state police and paramilitary forces was witnessed by a handful of government employees along with Army personnel and their wives. Deputy commissioner Ajay Khajuria unfurled the flag.

Even, students of all private as well as government schools boycotted the official functions in protest against the casual approach of the Union as well as the state government to fulfill the genuine demands of the people of the Jammu region.

In response to the call given by the Samiti, locals had already had announced not to participate in the official functions.

People preferred to chose Indira Chowk venue to celebrate the Independence Day that too amidst the bandh call to show their mass support to samiti.

In Kishtwar, hundreds of people defied curfew and unfurled the national flag in their localities.

People boycotted the official function in Reasi and preferred to participate in the Independence Day celebrations organised by the samiti in which an elderly person Janak Singh hoisted the Tricolour. Notwithstanding the “official warnings”, teachers and students also boycotted the official function.

Jammu, August 15
Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani has shot off a missive to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, urging him to recognise the gravity of the situation in the state, in the aftermath of the Amarnath land row and take a fair decision, rather than adopt a “do-nothing policy.”

In his letter to the PM, which was released to the media here by the state BJP, Advani said: “It appears that the government can not handle the issue. We are also convinced that the government is not serious about finding a solution to this problem.”

Advani said the people of Jammu division had suffered discrimination in matters relating to governance of the state. “The census is not done fairly and regularly. The delimitation is deferred. There is discrimination in matters of public employment, disbursal of funds and development of the region,” he added.

Advani further said: “Today the problem is not Hindu versus Muslim in the state. Nor is it even Jammu region versus the valley. It is essentially nationalists versus the separatists. The people of Jammu supported by the rest of the country, strongly feel that the revocation of the Cabinet order with regard to Amarnath was purely under separatist pressure. There is a huge sense of hurt in the Indian public opinion, which has resulted in the nationalist opinion being alienated because separatists have to be pleased.”

Advani said: “The protest of the people of Jammu has been nationalist. They hold the national flag to their heart even when they protest. They raise slogans in support of our motherland and also the Army. It is for this reason that both the Army and security forces are finding it difficult to enforce the curfew.”

“Can this group of nationalists be equated with the separatists who foment trouble in our country. This precisely is the mistake that the government is committing,” he added.

Advani said: “We urge the government to act immediately and restore the original Cabinet order, which sought to enforce both the law and judicial orders,” he concludes, seeking restoration of land to the shrine board.

Jammu, August 15
Claiming that the Amarnath land row has created "90s-like atmosphere" in the strife-torn state, the Dogra Sadar Sabha today urged the Centre to take immediate steps to resolve the issue.

Interacting with mediapersons here, former minister and sabha president Gulchain Singh Charak said their delegation would soon meet the Prime Minister to apprise him of the "evil designs of the divisive forces active in the state". He said the Governor could not take a decision on the issue as the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti, spearheading the agitation, had also demanded his recall. He said the Centre should invite the sangharsh samiti from Jammu and the action committee from Kashmir to find a solution to the land row. The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board should be reconstituted, ensuring the inclusion of prominent members of the Hindu community belonging to the state.

Charak flayed the anti-national forces for creating communal tension in Kishtwar, which led to loss of life and property there. He warned all those leaders who are giving "provocative statements" aimed at creating a communal divide in the state.

Charak also sought the setting up of a panel to probe the alleged discrimination with the Jammu region in various fields. "The panel should look into all such complaints by all three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh," he said.

Jammu, August 15
The closure of markets in Jammu has played spoilsport for many women who had been eagerly waiting for Raksha Bandhan, which falls tomorrow.

The festival has lost its sheen due to non-availability of rakhis in the market and closure of sweet shops. On the one hand, brothers have been waiting for rakhis sent by their sisters studying in the different parts of the country, whereas sisters are waiting to receive gifts from their brothers.

As the markets were closed, people could not buy rakhis as per their choice. With sweet shops remaining closed, people seemed to have decided to celebrate the day by taking sugar instead of sweets.

Sonia Sharma, a resident of Gandhi Nagar said: “I am disappointed as I could not purchase a rakhi for my brother. The shops are closed.”

Anil Gupta, a resident of Satwari, said: “My sister will be disappointed this time. Every year I present her with a gift but this time, I can not give her anything as markets are closed in the region.”

Durga Nagar resident Archana Bhat said: “Every year I used to celebrate the festival with great zeal. But this year, I can not do so because my preparations for the festival remain incomplete.”

Similarly, Arvind Mahajan, a student said: “My sister is studying in Jaipur. Every year she sends me a rakhi. But this time I have still not received it as postal services are suspended. It has spoilt my mood”.

Jammu, August 15
Intelligence sources have revealed that agencies across the Line of Control (LoC) had instructed militants, operating in the state, to keep a low profile during the ongoing turmoil.

On the basis of field reports, official sources said today: “It was under these instructions that during the past 43 days of turmoil, not a single militancy-related incident or violence took place in the state. Notwithstanding allegations that some militants had sneaked into a procession in Kishtwar, triggering communal violence on August 12.”

Official sources said as violence had escalated in the valley, the level of ingress of militants from across the border, had also dropped during the past over one month.

Explaining the reason behind the lull in militancy-related violence, a senior police officer said: “When people are resorting to violence resulting in regional divide and communal tension, there is no need for militants to fish in the troubled waters of the state”.

The officer said: “Militants believe that their task of attacking the security forces is being carried out by the people.”

Meanwhile, other official sources said militants were satisfied with the turn of events in which people had started browbeating the police, making their task of maintaining law and order, a difficult exercise.

The sources said militants had a reason for lying low because what they could not do in the past 12 years, was being done by the people. “The people, while shouting pro-Azadi and pro-Pakistan slogans, had demanded reopening of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road for trade”, the sources added.

Jammu, August 15
A day after the "Muzaffarabad march" over 300 “Durbar Move” employees belonging to the minority community fled the Kashmir valley and reached here. Some of these employees told The Tribune that "on August 12, a day after the 'Muzaffarabad chalo' call, certain fanatics made announcements and asked non-Muslims to leave the valley immediately." Following these announcements over 300 employees fled the valley in 15 SRTC buses on the intervening night of August 12 and 13, they added.

Amidst tight security these buses started leaving Srinagar around 12.30 a.m. and reached Jammu next morning, they said.

Though every year employees belonging to the Hindu community avail leave and come to Jammu for Independence Day and Raksha Bandhan but this time the volatile situation in the valley forced us to flee, they said. Those among us, who had been accommodated in hotels, too had a tough time as hotel owners on the false pretext of 'economic blockade' started providing unwholesome food, they said.

Owing to dearth of government accommodation around 80 per cent of the Durbar Move employees are given accommodation in hotels in Srinagar and the government bears the expenditure. A single room, which has to be shared by two employees, costs Rs 660 a day and the entire expenditure is met from security-related funds by the state Home Department. Even some hoteliers asked us to vacate their rooms, they claimed. These employees claimed that even a day before the Muzaffarabad march, some colleagues reached Jammu by air as no vehicle from the valley was ready to come to Jammu.

During August 11 and August 12 when the entire valley was witnessing huge frenzied mobs on the streets of Srinagar none from the administration bothered about their safety, they said. They had availed leave till Janmashtami in the hope that the situation would get normal by then. They said only a handful of their colleagues were stuck in Srinagar because of their vehicles, which they had taken along with them. "They have sent their families by air but could not come along because of their vehicles," they said. They were not getting petrol and diesel for their vehicles in Srinagar and hence could not leave the valley, they added.

Sources in the Police Department also admitted that a considerable number of non-Muslim employees had fled to Jammu because of the prevailing turmoil. It may be recalled here that judges of the minority community were also threatened to leave Kashmir following which the Bar Association, Jammu, had taken strong notice, demanding stern punishment for the culprits.

Srinagar, August 15
As many as 238 persons stranded in Baramulla during the Muzaffarabad-chalo march on August 11, were ferried to their homes by the police with the help of three civilian vehicles, police sources said today. These civilians had got stranded after they returned from Chahal, Boniyar, as curfew was clamped in Baramulla.

According to Baramulla police authorities, these civilians were sent to Rafiabad in a civilian bus and then to their respective places. Police authorities confirmed that no missing report had been lodged at the Baramulla, Sopore, Chandusa and Sheeri police stations after August 11. 

Jourian, August 15
Six-year-old Sayda Ali, daughter of Fazal Din, is too young to understand the tragedy that struck her family. But it indeed has left her traumatised.

Ten days back, miscreants struck at Taryoti Khud village in Jorian, inhabited by migrant Gujjars and set 12 kullas (huts) on fire, besides thrashing up inhabitants and ravaging their property. Sayda was lucky to have survived, but the mental trauma she went through, will continue to haunt her for a long time.

Taryoti Khud village is inhabited by around 300 Gujjars of 42 families, who have been living here for the past 28 years. The Gujjar families today stated that despite repeated assurances, no relief or compensation had reached them and they were being forced to lead a miserable life.

“Despite repeated assurances, no compensation has reached us. The deputy commissioner and other officers who came here had promised that we would be given tents but nothing has come our way,” Alaf Din (70), whose kulla was burnt down by the miscreants, said. “For the past 10 days, my family is forced to sleep out in the open,” Alaf said.

“We settled here in the hope of a better future, but now we are scared to venture out of our village. We don't even go to the market,” Manzoor Ahmed, another resident, said.

The incident has not only shattered their dreams of a happy life but has also seriously affected their business. Residents say they were on the verge of starvation.“Earlier we used to earn Rs 1,500 a day by selling milk and milk products. But now we don’t go out of the village. Our income has dropped to less than Rs 100 a day”, Fajar Din, another Gujjar resident, said. 

Udhampur, August 15
Muslims came forward to give protection to their fear stricken Hindu brethren in Gandoh tehsil of Bhaderwah, who were planning to migrate to Himachal Pradesh after two of their religious places were ransacked by some miscreants.

Setting an example for the whole state to follow, members of the Muslim community not only repaired the damaged temples but also initiated some concrete steps to revive shattered confidence of the minority.

It was all due to the assurance of the majority community that members of the minority community abandoned their plan to migrate to safer place.

Two days back, some miscreants ransacked two old temples at Batiyas village in Bhallessa area of Gandoh tehsil. Fear gripped the minority community after the attack and they took out a demonstration at tehsil headquarters to register their protest against failure of the authorities to protect their religious places.

As population of the minority community is just 10 to 15 per cent in this area, fear-struck people threatened to migrate to bordering Himachal Pradesh to save their lives.

Although the SDM and some senior police officers were camping at Gandoh to persuade the people not to take the extreme step, villagers were adamant.

Local Muslims came forward and repaired the damaged temples. Terming this act as handiwork of some outsiders, members of the majority community took responsibility of providing security to the minority community.

Hindus and Muslims have been living peacefully in this belt of Doda district. 

Srinagar, August 15
After a day of relatively peaceful demonstrations, things flared up in the evening at Habakadal in Srinagar as at least two persons received bullet injuries when security personnel fired at a raging crowd.

As many as 20 others were also injured in a baton-charge and tear gas shelling by the security forces.

Hundreds of youths assembled in the locality and began pelting stones and damaging property. The security forces opened fire when the mob charged towards them despite being lathi-charged and teargassing. CRPF personnel opened fire when thousands of protesters, demanding removal of the CRPF from the area and deployment of the local police, refused to call off their stir.

Two persons with bullet injuries were shifted to the nearby SMHS hospital while a cameraman of a private television channel was among those injured in teargas shelling and the resultant stampede, sources said.

The residents of the area have been on a sit-in near the Habbakadal bridge since yesterday after CRPF personnel beat two youths

As many as 22 persons have been killed and over 700, including nearly 200 police and paramilitary personnel, injured in firing by the security forces and clashes in the valley since Monday. One person died in CRPF firing in the Safakadal area yesterday.

Jammu, August 15
National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah’s alleged remarks on a television news channel have drawn flak from a cross-section of the society here, with people saying Farooq should respect the ‘religious sentiments of every community’.

Farooq in a recent interview with a news channel had asked the people of Jammu to stop their agitation or face consequences. He had also held them responsible for fanning communal hatred.

Expressing regrets over Farooq’s inordinate utterances, Aditya Sharma, a law student said: “Instead of respecting the sentiments of the Hindu community and finding a solution, he held us responsible for the turmoil.”

Aditya said the PDP had raked up the entire controversy and the National Conference had joined the bandwagon later. “Kashmir-based parties are responsible for heaping miseries on the people of Jammu and calling them culprits.”

Sonali Tickoo, a working woman, said: “I fail to understand why these valley-based leaders first rake up controversies and then hold us responsible. Their double standards reminds me of the adage - pot calling the kettle black,” Tickoo added.

Rajesh Jamwal, a government employee, said: “Before giving a piece of advice to the people of Jammu and describing them as the root cause of the problem, Farooq should have given a serious thought to the entire controversy before giving irresponsible statements.”

“He is a seasoned politician and knows everything about the issue but in this country, vote-bank politics has always played spoilsport and he is no exception to it,” Jamwal added.

However, I think the Amarnath land row has come as a blessing in disguise because every Kashmiri leader now stands exposed before the people,” he said.

Srinagar, August 15
Referring to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s address at the Red Fort, Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said, this would not have been the situation in Jammu and Kashmir in case the Centre had thought over the APHC leaders' suggestions on resolving Kashmir.

Addressing the Friday congregation at Jamia Masjid here, Mirwaiz held that the APHC leadership had already put forth its views before the central government for an everlasting peace in the state.

These demands included tripartite talks, opening of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road, unconditional release of all those detained and withdrawal of the laws giving powers to the security forces.

Two major congregations were reported from the central Jamia Masjid here and at Eidgah in Anantnag town of south Kashmir where large number of people converged for the Friday prayers.

Mirwaiz expressed concern over the reign of terror allegedly unleashed by the police and security forces during the past 10 days in Kashmir and held that majority of the people in the state supported the Hurriyat moves.

He said the people of Kashmir were not against the Amarnath yatra or the pilgrims but were fighting for their “own rights”.

The Mirwaiz of south Kashmir, Qazi Yasir, addressed a large gathering at Eidgah Hanfia in Anantnag town.

Jammu, August 15
Two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants were arrested, along with two grenades, in Doda district, official sources said here today.

''In a joint operation, troops of 8 RR and the police nabbed two LeT militants last night and seized two hand grenades from them, which they had plotted to throw on the crowd during Independence Day celebrations,'' official sources said.

The militants have been identified as Farooq Ahmed Naik and Mohd Ishaq, both residents of Neelsu, Doda. — UNI