Jammu, August 25
Ahead of the fourth round of talks between Governor N.N. Vohra's panel and the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti to break the ice over the Amarnath land row, the Bar Association Jammu (BAJ) has appealed to the latter to firmly seek the resolution of certain core issues that had led to the present agitation across the Jammu region.

Maintaining that the land row proved to be a catalyst the BAJ urged the samiti to resolutely raise the issue of discrimination with the Jammu region.

Addressing mediapersons here today, BAJ president B.S. Salathia said: "During the ongoing agitation a unanimous consensus has emerged that apart from the restoration of land in question to the Amarnath Shrine Board, discrimination with the Jammu region in all spheres of life should also cease forthwith."

The ongoing agitation in Jammu had its genesis in the discrimination being faced by the Jammu region at the hands of successive regimes headed by Kashmir-centric politicians, he said, adding that even successive dispensation at the Centre adopted a policy of appeasement towards those, who raise separatists and pro-Pak slogans.

Reminding the sangharsh samiti about political power to the Jammu region and the population and area of Kashmir vis-à-vis Jammu, Salathia said the land row was a flashpoint for the pent-up anger among the people of Jammu to come to the fore.

Since the Governor's panel was not competent the third demand of N.N. Vohra's removal as the Governor would be raised at an appropriate forum, he added.

Besides conceding the other demands of the samiti, the state administration should announce a relief package for the families, which lost their kin in the ongoing agitation, so as to rehabilitate them, said Salathia.

He demanded stern action against the police officers responsible for showing disrespect to the mortal remains of Kuldeep Dogra of Bishnah, who ended his life at Parade Ground on July 23 over the land row.

Jammu, August 25
The Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti today appealed the people of Jammu for social boycott of former Congress ministers Mangat Ram Sharma, Gulchain Singh Charak and Mula Ram for “rubbing salt on their wounds.”

Taking serious note of the utterances of former deputy chief minister Mangat Ram Sharma, who has defended the previous Congress regime’s controversial decision of revoking the land diversion to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board at Baltal, the samiti termed his statement as “an insult to the people of this region.”

The samiti accused the Congress leadership of playing with the religious sentiments of the people of the region and also blamed it for the present turmoil. “The people of Jammu would never spare these leaders for stabbing them in the back,” the samiti said.

Mangat Ram’s statement clearly indicates that the appointment of N.N. Vohra as the Governor followed by a hasty land revocation order was a “deep-rooted conspiracy hatched by the UPA and the then Azad-led government in the state”, it alleged.

Meanwhile, lambasting the National Conference (NC) and the PDP leadership for “maintaining criminal silence” over atrocities on Hindus in Poonch and Kishtwar districts, the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti today said: “The riots in these two districts have exposed their communal faces.” Accusing some leaders of the NC and the PDP of instigating mobs in the two districts, the samiti demanded their immediate arrest.

The samiti also demanded ex-gratia relief for the affected families and action against the deputy commissioner and the SSP of Poonch for their “inept handling of the situation.”

The samiti alleged that since the beginning of this mass movement of Jammu people, Kashmir centric political parties like the PDP and the NC were “trying to create a communal divide in the Muslim-majority areas” of Jammu region. “Kishtwar and Poonch riots have exposed that these political parties have hidden communal agenda to terrorise minorities of the state and spoil the secular fabric of Jammu region,” the samiti charged.

The samiti said “It is regrettable that instead of removing misconceptions created by certain vested interests, PDP and NC leaders are giving irresponsible statements to divide the people on communal lines.”

Jammu, August 25
The BJP and the Panthers Party see the moves of the Hurriyat Conference as an attempt to postpone the Assembly elections, due in October.

These parties also blamed the National Conference and the PDP for giving space to the separatists, who have “fuelled regional divide.”

State BJP vice-president Prof Hari Om said today besides the PDP and the NC, the Centre also gave a long rope to the separatists.

He said the Hurriyat factions called for poll boycott four months ago. “And they are using the current situation well so as to force the Election Commission and the government to postpone the elections,” he said.

Panthers Party general secretary Harsh Dev Singh said the agitation launched by the separatists was actually aimed at “sabotaging the poll process.”

He said the separatists first agitated against the land diversion order, later they campaigned against those seeking restoration of land to the Amarnath Shrine Board and when they realised that the land row was not an important issue they demanded reopening of the Jehlum valley road for trade.

When they leant that Delhi had already taken up the issue with Islamabad, the separatists demanded settlement of the Kashmir issue.

Chander Mohan Sharma, chief of Praja Parishad, also aired similar views saying the call for Eidgah chalo march and later to Lal Chowk chalo was aimed at not only delaying the poll process but also at discouraging the government in its bid to resolve the land row with the Sangharsh Samiti leaders.

Sharma and Prof Hari Om also expressed doubts over the timing of the separatists’ agitation as it coincided with the talks between the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti leaders and the four-member panel constituted by Governor N.N. Vohra.

Jammu, August 25
While the talks between the Governor’s panel and the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti have made some headway, the mainstream political parties like the National Conference and the PDP are keeping the cards close to their chest over the contentious issue.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said, “Besides the samiti, the government must also discuss the issue with the Action Committee in Kashmir. Nothing can be decided unilaterally.

“As far as her party’s stand is concerned, they are very clear that Amarnath yatris should be provided the best facilities, but the government should take care of it,” she said. When asked whether it means that the PDP is not in favour of diverting the land to the shrine board, she said, “Let the government come out with a solution after holding discussions with the samiti in Jammu and the Action Committee in the valley and we will examine it.”

“We would not support any decision that could aggravate the situation in the valley,” she added.

National Conference president Omar Abdullah said he would only comment on the issue once the agreement was reached between the two sides. “What I know as on today is that the government has proposed to allow the shrine board temporarily use the land during the Amarnath yatra,” he said. When asked as to what would be his party's stand if the land is again diverted to the board, he said, “I could not comment on speculations.”

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Jawahar Tunnel, the separatists, for whom the land row served as a catalyst to trigger a mass upsurge in the valley, today seem to have a one-point agenda - ‘azaadi’. Separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani said, “Land is no issue in Kashmir now.

The people here want ‘azaadi’, which is evident from thousands of them coming out on the streets daily and seeking their right to self-determination.”

Jammu, August 25
In the midst of the ongoing agitation over the Amarnath land row, community lunches being arranged by people and various organisations in the city have appeared as a silver lining for the needy.

Various organisations have been arranging community lunches and distributing ration among people belonging to the lower income bracket.

In several places across the city, including hospitals, railway station and bus stand, people can be seen taking food arranged by various social and religious outfits.

“We have been running community lunches at the SMGS Hospital at Shalamar, Government Medical College Hospital, Bakshi Nagar and Dogra Chowk”, said one of the trustees of the Sahib Bandgi Sant Ashram, Ranjir, Gopal Dogra.

“We will continue with our program in support of the people and the Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti till the ongoing movement reaches a logical conclusion”, he added.

Similarly, the Radha Krishan Temple management committee, New Plot, today distributed ration among some some residents and appealed to shopkeepers to sell their merchandise to the poor on “no profit no loss criterion.”

Sunil Dimple, a member of the committee, appealed to the Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti to hold such programmes which were of benefit to the needy. It needs a mention here that such community lunches have been arranged by several “mohalla welfare committees” in areas like Gandhi Nagar, Nanak Nagar, Trikuta Nagar, Sainik Colony, Digiana, Kunjwani, Gangyal, Ware House Ambphalla, Rehari and Panjtirthi among others.

“There is no work at all for me to arrange two square meal for me and my family. Since the administration has turned a blind eye towards us, we would have starved in the absence of food arrangements being made by altruistic people,” Suraj Prakash, a labourer, said.

Meanwhile, president, SOS international - a non-governmental organisation spearheading the cause of PoK refugees said: “Our organisation has decided to distribute ration among the needy in the prevailing logjam and our drive will start from Monday onwards.”

Udhampur, August 25
Terming statement of Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari, in which he has compared the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti with the Hurriyat Conference as anti-national and insulting, the state unit of the BSP yesterday demanded an apology from the Congress for insulting nationalist people of the state.

BSP general secretary Rakesh Wazir said Tiwari had given such a derogatory statement against the people of Jammu region, but the Congress high command had yet not taken any action against him.

He expressed surprise that national spokesperson of the ruling party was not even aware of the ongoing struggle between nationalist and separatist forces in the state.

“Comparing the samiti with the Hurriyat Conference is an insult to the people, who always made supreme sacrifices for unity and integration of the country,” Wazir said, adding that Tiwari should go through the history of Jammu and Kashmir before giving such an irresponsible statement.

BSP leader Ajay Singh said people of Jammu region were fighting against injustice with Tricolour in their hands, while Hurriyat people had been hoisting Pakistani flags in Kashmir valley.

Jammu, August 25
The Jammu State Morcha (P), while condemning the communal violence in Poonch, has attributed it to the “instigation by separatist elements at the dictates of their leaders in Kashmir”.

“The trouble started from Mandi, where the shops of minority communities were burnt, the police station ransacked and slogans were raised in favour of Pakistan,” president of the party Prof Virendra Gupta said.

Gupta blamed the police and the civil authorities for “sluggish approach” that led to the deteriorating situation in the district.

“The delayed action on the part of the authorities sitting at Poonch, Jammu and Srinagar only aggravated the situation. It is being alleged that the authorities allowed the law and order situation to worsen and also prevented filing of FIR against these culprits,” he said.

Gupta said action must be taken against the officers of the police and the civil administration, who did not perform their duties impartially and faithfully. The government should take immediate steps to restore the confidence of the minorities.

He also demanded compensation for those who suffered losses in the ongoing agitation.

Srinagar, August 25
Four militants were killed in an encounter with the Army in the Gulmarg sector of Baramula district today.

Acting on specific information about the presence of militants, the troops cordoned off an area in the Gulmarg sector which led to an encounter, a defence spokesman said here. Four militants were killed whose identity was being ascertained.

Three AK rifles and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter, the spokesman said.

This was the second major encounter in north Kashmir during the past one week.

In a 72-hour-long operation in the Machil sector, troops killed 14 militants in the woods yesterday. However, three soldiers, including a commanding officer, were also killed and four others wounded in the gunbattle.

Srinagar, August 25
The PDP and CPM has condemned the killings of protesters in firing in the Kashmir valley today.

Condemning the killing of protesters by the law enforcing agencies across Kashmir since last night, the PDP today said the rein of terror let loose by the state authorities, was violation of the civilized and democratic conduct.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said the repressive measures had neither worked in the past nor would such inconsiderate actions help in defusing the present crisis.

“It seems that some vested interests, both within and outside the administration, want the vicious cycle of violence to continue in the valley, as they are continuously adding fuel to the fire by spraying bullets on the peaceful protesters,” she said.

Mehbooba warned that the situation could go out of control, if bold political initiatives were not taken immediately to defuse the crisis.

Expressing dismay over the “double-standards”, being demonstrated by the law enforcing agencies in dealing with the protesters in the two regions of the state, she said ironically, the instruments of the state had failed to show the same tolerance in Kashmir, as was done in Jammu.

She asked the Centre to restrict the elements resorting to suppressive measures in Kashmir.

Condemning the crackdown and arrest of the Hurriyat Conference and the JKLF leadership, Mehbooba said instead of trying to resolve the issue with them through a process of dialogue, the government was again resorting to strong-arm tactics to tide over the crisis.

She said the Centre must renew, with fresh resolve and a sense of urgency, the peace and resolution process through a purposeful dialogue with all sections of the society, including the Kashmir Coordination Committee, to find an amicable solution to the Kashmir problem.

CPM state secretary Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami has expressed grief over loss of life and injuries to a large number of people in different parts of Kashmir.

He strongly condemned firing on unarmed protesters across Kashmir and urged the administration to exercise utmost restrain.

He expressed his apprehension that unwarranted use of force would only deteriorate the situation further.

The former MLA, in a statement, appealed to the political leadership of the state to rise above party politics and help resolve the crisis that has engulfed the entire state.

He urged the government to take into confidence the Kashmir Civil society, particularly the Coordination Committee before taking any decision about the issue of land row.

He held that the land use issue was bilateral and cautioned that any unilateral decision would be highly “counter productive”.

Srinagar, August 25
Former minister Ghulam Hassan Mir has urged the government to involve the representatives of Kashmir before taking any decision on land transfer to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.

This, he said, would help restore peace and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir which has been reeling under trouble for the past over two months now.

“If any unilateral decision is taken by the government, it would further widen the regional and communal gap between the two regions”, Mir said here today. He lamented that there was already a communal and regional gap between the two regions.

Mir, who was expelled from the PDP earlier this year and later constituted his JK Democratic Party, also expressed concern over the difficulties faced by the people on account of the blockade of smooth supply on the highway and the curfew restrictions in Kashmir.

He held that sufficient supplies of essential commodities were not reaching the distant and far-flung areas of the valley.

Srinagar, August 25
Local dailies in the Kashmir Valley failed to hit the newspaper stands today due to indefinite curfew since yesterday morning, while all local television channels remained off the air for the second day today.

The newspapers attributed the curfew restrictions imposed by the administration for their decision to call off today’s edition. Security forces have sealed off Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the city, from all sides to thwart the separatists’ agitation.

Curfew was clamped in all 10 districts of Kashmir Valley yesterday to thwart separatists move to organise a march to Lal Chowk today.

The management of almost all local English and Urdu dailies decided not to publish today’s issue because of indefinite curfew restrictions in the valley.

We could not distribute our newspapers yesterday because of sudden announcement of curfew by the authorities, they said.

About 40 newspapers are published in the valley daily.

All local channels remained off the air, in protest against the district magistrate’s order, directing them not to telecast news and current affairs programme.

However, official spokesman said the channels were issued notices not to telecast any such news or any other item which could vitiate the law and order situation and inflame passions with a view to fuel public disorder.

Meanwhile, six more mediapersons were beaten up by the CRPF men when they were performing their duties today.

Refusing to honour the curfew passes issued by the authorities, CRPF men again beat up about half a dozen mediapersons, including UNI photo journalist Sheikh Fayaz Ahmad.

The CRPF personnel said they did not accept any pass issued by the Kashmir government. Another local journalist, Omar Ganaie, was also beaten up by the CRPF personnel at the same place.

The matter was brought into the notice of senior CRPF officers, who promised to look into the matter.

Yesterday, CRPF men beat up about a dozen mediapersons and damaged about half a dozen vehicles of journalists in the city. — Agencies

Srinagar, August 25
Curfew coupled with general strike called by the Coordination Committee, spearheading the present agitation, kept the Kashmir valley paralysed for the fourth consecutive day today.

Though shops and business establishments in Srinagar and other major towns remained closed and transport was off the roads due to an indefinite curfew since August 24, day-to-day activities came to a standstill in the curfew-free areas also.

Shops and business establishments in the curfew-free areas remained closed and transport remained off the roads. Government offices, educational institutions and banks also wore a deserted look. Life in the Valley has been at a halt since August 4 when thousands of people participated in the Muzaffarabad march.

However, normalcy was restored in from Tuesday to Thursday. On Friday, lakhs of people again participated in the Eidgah march where the Coordination Committee gave three days bandh call and also asked people to reach Lal Chowk today. The committee extended the strike call for four more days. — UNI

Srinagar, August 25
While Srinagar and other major towns in Kashmir continued to reel under curfew for the second consecutive day today, as many as 485 load carriers with essential items reached here during the past 24 hours today.

Officials here claim that the supply position was satisfactory in the Valley with the improvement in smooth flow of truckloads on the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.

An official spokesman said these include 74 trucks loaded with rice, 29 with sheep, 15 with flour, 2 with chicken and 251 with other commodities. Besides, 40 tankers with diesel, 24 with petrol, 17 with kerosene oil, 24 with LPG arrived in the valley during the same period. Also, 9 empty trucks, after unloading goods outside the state, returned during the same period.

The spokesman said as many as 241 load carriers left from the Valley to other parts of the country during the past 24 hours today. These include 24 trucks with fresh fruits, 16 with vegetables and 20 with other commodities. Besides, 181 empty tankers after offloading fuel here.