Srinagar, August 23
The Pakistan-based United Jehad Council (UJC), a conglomeration of various militant organisations, has asked armed militants operating in Kashmir to silence their guns and participate in the rallies in view of the ongoing public movement. It has also asked the separatist leadership to adopt a one-point resolution favouring right of self-determination and freedom at the next public rally to counter India’s “negative propaganda”.

The supreme commander of UJC, Syed Salahuddin, in an interview with a local news agency here, disclosed this today. There could be civil disobedience, in case, the Government of India failed to read the writing on the wall or the UN did not pay attention to the Kashmir issue, the news agency quoting Salahuddin said. “The people of Kashmir have themselves raised the slogans of freedom and right of self-determination”, Syed Salahuddin has been quoted by the news agency.

This, he said, had been made clear with the massive participation of the people in the rallies and meetings towards Muzaffarabad road, Pampore, TRC grounds and Eidgah recently. He called for the separatist leadership to respect the sentiments of the people of Kashmir at this juncture.

The news agency stated that Salahuddin held that the one-point resolution was necessary in view of the government “propaganda” against the public movement. He added that Government of India was misleading the world community by relating the “public movement” to land transfer issue, opening of trans-LoC routes and economic boycott.

Referring to the silencing of the gun, the news agency quoted Syed Salahuddin that this decision had been taken unanimously by the constituent organisations. There would be no use of the gun or its exhibition during the public rallies so as to avoid any justification to the security forces to open fire on the public. He added that it was not applicable to the uninhibited areas or those near the borders.

Srinagar, August 23
Seven more militants and an Army jawan were killed in the Kupwara encounter, which has been going on since yesterday. Three Army men, including a Lt Colonel, and five militants were killed yesterday.

A defence spokesman said so far 12 militants have been eliminated.

A police spokesman here, however, put the toll at six (four militants and two Army personnel). Two other jawans were injured, the spokesperson added.

The spokesperson said the troops had foiled an infiltration bid in the Machil sector which ensued the encounter yesterday.

Elsewhere, one militant of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit, Aijaz Ahmad Wagay, was killed in an encounter with security forces at Batnar Lolab in Kupwara district yesterday. One AK 56 rifle, three AK magazines, 122 AK rounds, two hand grenades and a mobile phone were recovered.

Security forces recovered an IED fitted in a pressure cooker on the road at Mawar Kutlari in Kupwara district. The IED was defused, the police said.

Jammu, August 23
The authorities had clamped an indefinite curfew and the Army was called out after a fresh row of communal violence erupted in border district of Poonch today. The Army held a flag march.

According to reports, members of the Muslim community took to streets to protest against police firing at protesters which left 20 persons injured in Mandi area yesterday.

The agitators then proceeded towards the market and attacked the business establishments of the Hindu community with petrol bombs, in which at least 15 shops were gutted. In the retaliatory action, five shops of the majority community were set ablaze.

The members of the Muslim community reportedly attacked and ransacked the houses of the minority community and looted the household items. They also damaged and set ablaze standing vehicles belonging to the minority community.

The members of both the communities resorted to stone-pelting and in the ongoing clashes more than 30 people were injured.

Even after curfew was clamped, the clashes between the two communities were going on till the filing of this report.

“People are defying curfew and the members of both the communities are out and the clashes are still going on,” a police officer confirmed. Poonch DC Mohammed Afzal said, “The situation is very tense at the moment and clashes are still going on; people are pelting stones on each other and they have also torched few shops and standing vehicles.”

He said, “We apprehended that there would be communal clashes in the area and had requested the Army to come out and hold flag marches, however the Army took time to come out due to which the situation deteriorated."

“As the Army is out we hope that the situation would be brought under control,” Afzal said. The Jammu-based PRO of the ministry of defence said, “The civil administration has requisitioned for the army and the five columns of the Army been deployed in Poonch.”

Srinagar, August 23
The valley observed a complete shutdown today after separatists called for a three-day bandh in their Eidgah rally yesterday.

While schools, colleges and private offices were closed, government offices wore a deserted look and transport services were crippled, even as groups of protesters took out several marches throughout the day.

However, there were some reports of clashes between security forces and agitators and tear shells were fired upon them in Pampore.

The coordination committee, spearheading the protests, has launched a secessionist movement after agitating against the “economic blockade” and has been frequently calling for congregation of people from across the valley at different places. They have already carried out impressive marches to Pampore, TRC and Eidgah so far.

People could be seen sitting in herds and debating the prevailing situation across the capital city, while youths at many places shouted azadi and pro-Pak slogans mixed with anti-India rhetoric. “Nobody knows where all this will lead to. Our sentiments are with separatists but I do not know how far they can take it,” Manzoor Alam, a resident, said.

Meanwhile, some protesters burned copies of a Jammu-based English daily at the Press Enclave, which houses a majority of newspaper offices, alleging that it was not giving due coverage to Kashmir. There was hardly any traffic on city roads and people preferred to remain indoors.

Jammu, August 23
The Panun Kashmir has said mobilisation of people under “communal banners” in the valley yesterday, had vindicated their stand that the political class in the valley continued to reject co-existence. Leaders of the Panun Kashmir - Ajay Chrungoo, Agnishekhar, O.N. Trishal and Virender Raina, said leaders like Syed Ali Shah Geelani had exposed their agenda of the final settlement of Kashmir.

“The agitation in Jammu has unveiled the Centre’s hypocrisy”, the leaders said. They alleged that the government had invariably surrendered to Muslim communalism.

They warned the government from according legitimacy to any form of Muslim separatism be it secession to Pakistan, Independence, shared sovereignty or autonomy.

The Panun leaders maintained that Kashmir belonged to Kashmiri Hindus as much as to any other community. They also reiterated their commitment to the Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti for its agitation to restore land to the Amarnath Shrine Board.

Jammu, August 23
The fate of hundreds of aspirants of various competitive exams hangs in balance here, as the ongoing unrest has taken a heavy toll on their preparations.

Various competitive exams like the Combined Defence Service (CDS), Management Aptitude Test (MAT), B.Ed , BCA would now be held in the September whereas the students who have applied for these exams are yet to receive their admit cards as postal services are closed.

Moreover, those who qualified for these written exams earlier have still not received their interview letters. The closure of cyber cafes due to ongoing unrest has added to their woes.

Anil Singh, an CDS aspirant said: “I am very much worried about my future as my aim is to become an Army officer. This is my last chance to appear in the CDS as per the age limit and I have not received my call letter yet. If in any case, I am not able to appear in this exam, my dream will never come true.”

It is not only graduate students who are facing problems but also those who have just completed their 10+2 and are awaiting admission in different colleges. The date for the examination of the CET has been deferred many times.

Now students are wondering if their exam will be conducted this year or not. They are also worried when their results would be declared and when the admission procedure will start.

Rohit Verma, a CET aspirant said: “I am very depressed due to the ongoing situation in the region because it has adversely affected my career. I have applied for CET but dates are being postponed every now and then. I can not decide whether I should go for any other exam or wait for it”.

Meenakshi Rajput, another CET aspirant said: “Every year exams are conducted in September. But this time due to the prevailing situation in the region, the date of examination has been postponed due to which I have lost time to study.”

Jammu, August 23
Taking serious note of the "malicious and misleading campaign" launched by the Congress high command regarding the mass movement of Jammu people, the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti today warned the Congress leadership against playing with the sentiments of nationalist forces in the state.

Reacting sharply to the statement of Congress spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan, who described the present mass movement as "non-issue based on falsehood and lies", the samiti has termed her utterances as an insult to the nationalist people of the Jammu region who have been fighting on the streets with the Tricolour in their hands for the past 53 days for their religious rights. "Instead of giving such vicious statements the Congress leaders sitting at Delhi should consult their own local leaders who have already joined the movement," the Samiti said.

The samiti asked local Congress leaders to react strongly against such utterances of their leaders sitting in Delhi or else resign from the party membership.

Srinagar, August 23
There is no shortage of drugs and medicines in private and government health institutions in the valley, a spokesman of the state Health and Medical Education Department said here today.

The availability of drugs and medicines was again reviewed by the commissioner and secretary, Health and Medical Education Department.

The spokesman said a team of officers headed by the deputy controller, Drug and Food Control Organisation, conducted a survey of the availability of drugs and medicines with chemists and found that sufficient stocks of medicines were available with them.

Besides, supplies were also being received by road and by air.

During the last week, 15 trucks carrying medicines of various pharmaceutical companies have arrived in Srinagar, with more trucks coming. Besides, consignments of various drugs are also being received by air.

The principal, Government Medical College, who supervises the associated hospitals in Srinagar city, has reported that there is no shortage of essential drugs in any of the hospitals in Srinagar.

The stock of life-saving drugs is likely to suffice for four to six weeks. Additional supplies are also being received by road and air, the spokesman added.

He said in cases where a specific item was required under some compelling circumstances, the same was immediately procured from the local market, where it was available. The availability of anaeshesia drugs had also been reviewed and found to be sufficient for two to four weeks, he added.

Meanwhile, the director, Health Services, Kashmir, has already issued annual supplies to various health institutions under his control in May and June. Besides, reserves are also available in provincial stores across Srinagar for being distributed to the health institutions as and when needed. — UNI

Srinagar, August 23
Expressing concern over the mounting attacks on the members of the minority community, the PDP has called for a stern action against the elements involved in the attacks.

Many such families were also forced to migrate to safer places in various suburbs of Jammu, said PDP president Mehbooba Mufti in a statement from New Delhi.

She said: “Hundreds of Gujjar families had been forced to flee their homes following attacks and even the persons in whose premises the hapless Gujjars have taken refuge in Jammu were now being targeted by the police.”

She held that the state had failed to provide security even to the non-Muslims who differ with the views of the agitators in Jammu, how Muslims there, already demonised and threatened, can feel confident.

Demanding stern action against the criminals from outside the state, who allegedly had taken charge of the Jammu agitation and indulging in acts of violence, Mufti said the failure of the law enforcing agencies to curb such activities in the region had put a question mark on their impartiality.

“Where was the administration when the Bajrang Dal and the VHP were openly holding weapon training camps in Jammu and spitting venom against the minorities,” she asked.

Condemning the recurrent violent attacks in Jammu on the Kashmir truckers, Mehbooba said despite official claims about normal vehicular movement on the Srinagar-Delhi highway, the hooligans in Jammu were hell bent upon enforcing an economic blockade against the Kashmir valley by discouraging movement of trucks on the road by attacking the drivers and their vehicles.

Meanwhile, various national organisations of Gujjar tribe have appealed the community residing in Jammu areas not to migrate from their ancestral lands to any ware and co-ordinate with majority Hindu community and administration of Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts of the state in order to contribute in confidence building measures in region which is witnessing turmoil for the last two month.

In a statement, the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation, a national organisation working on Gujjars, sought the intervention of district administration and that of the majority to create and build an atmosphere of confidence among various communities in the region.

Javaid Rahi, national secretary of the Foundation, expressed concerned that a few elements among the Gujjars were trying to create confusions and chaos among the community and the tribe needs to identify them so that they are isolated.

Jammu, August 23
Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) chairman, Bhim Singh, today demanded a ban on the PDP headed by Mehbooba Mufti for “inciting the people of Kashmir against the country”.

Without naming any leader of the PDP, Singh maintained that in the interest of democracy, rule of law and secular unity of the country, the people responsible for provocation should be brought to book.

Singh also sought a judicial inquiry into the communal clashes that took place in Kishtwar and Mandi.

Terming the ongoing agitation on the Amarnath land row as a popular movement by the people of Jammu, Singh urged political parties to keep away from it.

Singh said: “For its logical end, it is necessary for political parties of all hues whether local, regional and national not to meddle in the agitation.” He also demanded that a case under treason charges be registered against those who raised slogans against India and in favour of Pakistan in the valley.

Singh, who recently met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and various other political and religious leaders from the valley, said all of them had expressed a positive attitude towards his proposal.

His proposals included Amendment in Section IV of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board Act, 2000, by making it mandatory for all nine members of the board to be permanent residents of the state.

Singh said: “The said land shall stand diverted to the shrine board without changing its proprietary right which shall remain intact with the forest department”.

Srinagar, August 23
The continuing unrest over a piece of land has changed the scenario of the Kashmir valley.

The issue which started with the allegations against the Amarnath Shrine Board of raising permanent structures shot up to become one of the most fierce agitations, the state has ever seen.

Though normalcy came back in the valley with the revocation of land transfer order, it was short lived.

When people in Jammu were fighting for restoration of the land to the shrine board, an “economic blockade” took the centrestage in the valley. The issue got feeder after targets on a particular community in the Jammu region.

These issues gave the separatists a stronger chance to make their presence felt. They demanded the right of self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Following events like the ‘Muzaffarabad Chalo’ call by fruit growers supported by the separatists in which senior separatist leader, Sheikh Abdul Aziz was killed on August 11 gathered more heat in the region.

Factions of the Hurriyat Conference presented an united face over the issue. The Hurriyat-led Coordination Committee also showcased their strength during the TRC chalo call followed by Eidgah chalo call here.

More than the leaders, public at large in Kashmir has overtaken the “freedom mood”.

“We have arisen above many things to the focal point of the right of self-determination,” a senior separatist leader told The Tribune at Eidgah congregation.

The JKLF chairman, Mohammad Yasin Malik sat on fast unto death to protest economic blockade and targeting of the community here on August 5 and ended his fast after an assurance from the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

In his brief address after the Friday prayers at Eidgah, the Mirwiz focused on the four demands with that of the right of self-determination featured at the top.

He urged Pakistan to take immediate measures for the opening of the ‘Rawalpindi Road’ or the Jhelum valley road as they found India’s approach unsatisfactory.

He also demanded the withdrawal of troops and revocation of all the laws granting special powers to the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir.

The fourth demand has been the unconditional release of all the detainees from Jammu and Kashmir languishing in various detention centres in and outside the State.