Srinagar, August 29
Senior Hurriyat leader Shabir Ahmad Shah, who evaded arrest for the past six days, was held from Rawalpora locality on the outskirts of Srinagar early this morning.

The police cracked down on the separatist leadership before the ‘Lal Chowk chalo’ march called by the Hurriyat-led coordination committee scheduled for August 22 by arresting the top brass of the Hurriyat, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani, on Sunday night.

JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik was also arrested while attempting to take out a march to Lal Chowk.

Other separatist leaders, Ayaz Akbar of Geelani’s Hurriyat, Asiya Andrabi of Dukhtaran-e-Millat and Merajuddin Kalwal have been lodged under the Public Safety Act. Geelani’s close associate, Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai, was also among those arrested during the past week.

Meanwhile, curfew restrictions continued for the sixth consecutive day today across the 10 districts in the Kashmir valley with relaxations for varying periods in different areas today.

These restrictions prevented people from offering Friday prayers at the Jamia Masjid here and in many other areas elsewhere.

An official spokesman here said that curfew remained strictly in force in view of the call by the Hurriyat-led Coordination Committee asking people to come out on streets after Friday prayers and hold protest demonstrations at all district and tehsil headquarters.

He said the overall situation was under control and no untoward incident was reported.

Protest demonstrations were held at different places after Friday prayers at various places across the valley, which however, dispersed without any reports of clashes. These areas included Bandipore and Hajin in north Kashmir and Shopian in south Kashmir.

The official spokesman said that Friday prayers were offered in mosques and shrines throughout the valley including Hazratbal, Khankahi Moula, Nowhatta mosque, Syed Sahib mosque, Sonawar, Kalashpora shrine, Makdoom Sahib mosque and Dastgeer Sahib shrine in Srinagar.

Giving details the spokesman said that curfew was relaxed in different areas of the city and other major towns of the valley in the afternoon for varying periods. These relaxations, which commenced after 3 pm, remained in place up to 7.30 pm in different areas. These relaxations passed off peacefully and people thronged markets to purchase essential commodities.

Curfew was relaxed from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm in Kothibagh, Maisuma, Ram Munshi Bagh, Nishat, Harwan, Zakoora, Pantha Chowk, Nowgam, Saddar, Shergari, Rajbagh, Soura, Karan Nagar, Parimpora, Nigeen, Lal Bazar and Zadibal areas here.

In Nowhatta, M.R.Gunj, Khanyar, Rainawari and Safa Kadal, the curfew was relaxed from 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm.

In Bandipora, it was relaxed from 4 pm to 6 pm and in Kupwara town from 4 pm to 6.30 pm; in Baramulla district from 6 pm to 7 pm, in Handwara, Kralgund, Sogam, Lalpora and Vilgam towns of Kupwara district, the curfew was relaxed from 5 pm to 7 pm. Curfew was also relaxed in Kangan from 4 pm to 6 pm and in Ganderbal from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm excluding Behama Chowk.

The official said relaxation was given in phased manner in Shopian and Kulgam.

Panchari (Udhampur), August 29
Even as some parts of the state witnessed communal clashes over the Amarnath land row, inhabitants of the remotest Panchari area of Udhampur district presented an example of brotherhood and harmony during the three-day-long Shankri Devta mela, which ended yesterday.

Due to the prevailing unrest over the land row, the authorities were not expecting such an encouraging response from both communities in organising this traditional religious festival of Lord Shiva.

Keeping in view the age-old rituals and customs, local Hindus involved Muslim brethren in preparations and arrangements for this religious event in which devotees from the Jammu region participated. According to a rough estimate, more than 60,000 devotees participated in this annual mela.

Muslim brethren rendered all possible help to the local administration and organisers in making this religious festival a historical event. Attired in their traditional and colorful dresses Gujjars thronged the mela to offer prayers and get blessings of their revered deity for overall peace and prosperity.

The Shankri Devta temple is situated on a hillock in Meer village of Panchari block in a scenic spot surrounded by meadows, lofty mountains and lushgreen forests. Devotees and visitors have to trek about two kilometers to reach the temple. As this area is dominated by Gujjars and Bakerwals, they were involved in making arrangements for their Hindu brethren. This year's Shankari mela has further cemented relations between Hindus and Muslims in this belt.

As far as the local administration was concerned, the J&K Department of Tourism has also constructed a tourist complex for the convenience of devotees on nominal charges. Though kitchen facilities are available there, the visitors have to bring along eatables as per their stay plan.

The highlights of the mela included wrestling match, rural sports, cultural programmes by school students and installation of stalls of sweets, fruits, cosmetics items by local vendors and free langars by volunteer organizations.

The wrestling match attracted a large crowd with a number of renowned wrestlers from within and outside the district taking part in the event.

Jammu, August 29
Panthers party chief Bhim Singh here today served a notice on the state government and the police for defying the Supreme Court order, in which the court asked the authorities to make necessary arrangements to enable patients in need of medical attention to reach hospital even during curfews.

A Division Bench of the Supreme Court passed this order on July 4, 2008 following a writ petition filed by Bhim Singh seeking direction to provide medical aid and care to the patients in Jammu and Kashmir during curfew hours.

Singh alleged that the administration deliberately chose to defy this direction across the state especially in the districts of Srinagar, Poonch, Kishtwar, Kathua, Kupwara, Anantnag, Budgam and Udhampur.

Bhim Singh had rung up Raj Bhawan and SP Srinagar (Control Room) from Delhi to arrange an ambulance for a two-month-old child needing immediate medical attention.

Singh, also member of the National Integration Council, expressed his dismay that the police control rooms at district headquarters under curfew had no information about the Supreme Court direction to this effect.

He maintained that scores of people had perished in the curfew bound cities of Srinagar and Jammu for want of medical attention and added that the administration has largely been insensitive to this vital human need.

He threatened to move contempt application against the director general of police, two divisional commissioners and all advisers if they did not respond to the notice immediately.

Jammu, August 29
The Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti today alleged that the government was not serious about solving the Amarnath issue and it was ''doubtful of its intention'' to hold the fourth round of dialogue.

'' After three rounds of talks on July 23, the administration sought two days’ time for the next round but more than 10 days have passed and the issue is still lingering on,'' Leela Karan Sharma, convener of the samiti, told mediapersons at a press conference here this evening.

Sharma said the samiti was ''doubtful'' of the administration's ''intention'' in solving the Amarnath controversy.

The convener, however, revealed that a mass rally, which was scheduled to be held on August 27, was postponed due to the militant attack at Chinore, would now be held at Maulana Azad Stadium on August 31. — UNI

Jammu, August 29
A popular saying goes, marriages are made in heaven and solemnised on the earth. However, for the past two months, this holds little meaning in Jammu.

The two-month-long turmoil has not only become an obstacle for boys and girls as they are finding it hard to materialise their weddings, but has it also hit the entire business related with marriage ceremonies.

Right from jewellers, garment sellers, beauticians, caterers to hoteliers; all have suffered heavy losses. The nearly two-month-long shutdown has forced people to defer the date of marriage ceremonies or get together parties.

Due to the prevailing scenario wherein all hotels, restaurants and eateries have been shutdown, most of the chefs and caterers have returned to their native places outside the city and in the state.

“We have suffered losses in lakhs as several marriage ceremonies were cancelled in the wake of the agitation”, Anil Chopra, managing director, Baby Caterers, said. “We rented out the hall, besides making all arrangements, including food and decoration for the parties. The ongoing turmoil has badly affected our business”, Chopra said.

“Most of the workers, including chefs that we hire at the time of marriages, have left for their homes in the absence of work”, he said.

Chopra said he also had to return the advance payment to some customers who cancelled their bookings as there was no let up in the tense situation. Similarly, jewellers, garment sellers and beauticians, who generally did brisk business in the marriage season, have also been left high and dry. Most of them maintained that they expected to do good business this season, but they would have to wait till the next marriage season starts, which is due from October 15 to December 10.

The Patel Bazaar, a favourite spot with women who shop here during festive seasons, also bears a deserted look. During the marriage season, women visit the market to get mehandi applied on their hands.

The men who apply mehandi originally belong to Rajasthan and MP and used to earn extra bucks by getting booked for marriage ceremonies. But due to the shutdown, these people have been forced to return home.

Jammu, August 29
The Panthers Party and the Praja Parishad have demanded the setting up of a high-level committee for examining the level of discrimination with the Jammu region in the allocation of funds for development, share in government jobs and professional colleges.

Harsh Dev Singh, general secretary of the Panthers Party, and Praja Parishad chief Chander Mohan Sharma said today that the committee should review the entire gamut of discrimination and recommend measures for equal share of development funds for the Jammu region. They said the Jammuites had a 30 to 35 per cent share in government jobs and in professional colleges against over 65 per cent for those in the Kashmir valley. The committee should be asked to evolve a mechanism for reversing this "injustice."

Both urged Governor N.N.Vohra to use his constitutional powers for setting up a delimitation commission. After the state legislature had adopted a resolution under which fresh delimitation of Assembly seats could not be carried out till 2026 the Governor could use his constitutional powers for issuing an ordinance for fresh delimitation in the state.

Explaining the need for such an ordinance or notification the two leaders said that despite the fact that the Jammu region had more area and population than Kashmir province it had 37 Assembly constituencies against 46 in the valley. Blaming the successive valley-centric governments for "sabotaging" the demand for fresh delimitation Chander Mohan and Harsh Dev said "we suspect some ulterior motives behind the inordinate delay in carrying out fresh delimitation of the Asembly segments which had not been done for the past 25 years."

They pleaded that once a delimitation commission was set up it could fulfil the pending demands of people of the region. They requested the Governor to order the establishment of a delimitation commission before the schedule for the next elections was announced.

Srinagar, August 29
Expressing deep concern over the media reports about the possible attacks on minorities in Kashmir, over 20 religious and social organisations, traders and intellectuals today urged the union and state governments and the militant leadership to implement a comprehensive ceasefire in the state.

In a statement, they requested the United Jihad Council, which had promised to halt their activities within civilian areas in Kashmir, for a comprehensive ceasefire in the entire state.

This is for the first time that such a joint statement was issued in the Kashmir valley. The minorities should not be treated as the cannon fodder to carry out the agenda of vested interests in sabotaging the people's movement of Kashmir, the statement said.

“Whatever be the circumstances, we have lived and suffered together and would continue to strive together for our political emancipation,'' the statement said.

“We also urge the community leaders, civil society actors, political parties of Jammu province to strive for the safety and security of minority community residing in Jammu,'' the statement noted.

The signatories to the statement included Moulana Mufti Mohammad Bashiruddin Ahmed, head Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir in charge of religious affairs; Mirwaiz Molvi Riyaz Ahmed Hamdani, Islamic Study Circle, Aga Syed Hassan Al Moosvi, President, Anjuman Sharie Shiyaan, Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society, Chamber of Commerce and Industries Kashmir, Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Owner's Federation, Valley Citizens Council, among others. — UNI

Udhampur, August 29
Militant outfits operating in Doda and Kishtwar districts of Jammu province have started forcible recruitment of teenagers in their rank and file to boost their activities in these areas.

This was disclosed by two recruits of the Laskher-e-Toiba (LeT), who were rescued by security forces from the clutches of militants from a remotest village of Doda district. During questioning, these youths told the police that militants kidnapped some youths, who were used as guides and porters.

Doda SSP Raghubir Singh said the youths --- Khursheed Ahmed (18) and Farooq Ahmed (19) --- were kidnapped two months back from Calabash area of Doda and were rescued from a hideout.

On a tip-off, the troops of the Rashtriya Rifles and Doda police launched a joint operation during which they apprehended two recruits of the LeT. It is believed that militants managed to escape from the site during the 
operation.

Pertinent to mention here that security forces rescued four youths from the clutches of militants on August 21. The rescued youths were residence of Pathwar area of Ramban, Udhampur, who were nomadic Gujjars and had gone to higher reaches when they were kidnapped.

Srinagar, August 29
As many as 154 carriers laden with fresh fruits out of a total of 471 load carriers have left Kashmir for outside destinations during the past 24 hours today, an official spokesman said.

The cargo includes 23 carriers loaded with vegetables, 59 with other commodities, and 235 empty tankers after off-loading fuel here. The spokesman said 510 load carriers arrived in the valley with essential items and fuel during the same period.

Of these, 167 carried rice, 38 flour, 24 sugar, five chicken, 10 fruits, 168 other commodities while as 28 tankers carried diesel, 19 kerosene, 25 petrol, 18 LPG, four milk and four were empty after off-loading goods outside the valley.

According to the Health and Medical Education Department, sufficient stocks of drugs and medicines are available in hospitals and other health institutions. "Ambulances have been pressed into service to carry doctors and other paramedical staff to the hospitals", he said, adding that essential drugs were sufficient for four weeks. Additional supplies were also being received by air and road. Curfew passes had been provided to chemists and fair price shop owners.

Srinagar, August 29
Elections may be far off people’s minds due to the ongoing turmoil, but the Ladakh division of the state is gearing up for it local council elections tomorrow.

To conduct the election of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, the government has set up as many as 892 polling stations and more than 1,000 police personnel, including para-military forces, have been deployed in the district.

A meeting of zonal magistrates and sector officers chaired by deputy commissioner Satesh Nehru was today held to review the overall arrangements for the smooth conduct of election.

DC Nehru and SSP Garib Dass informed that 223 polling stations for 24 council constituencies had been set up for an electorate of 83,883 in the district. Of the total polling stations, 24 had been identified as hypersensitive and 36 as sensitive.

Both stressed upon the zonal magistrates and sector officers to work in close coordination to ensure that law and order was maintained in their respective zones and sectors.

The government has asked the magistrates and sector officers to submit timely reports every two hours to the DC and the SSP about the proceedings on the date of polling.

Srinagar, August 29
The JKLF has hailed US and UN concern over the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir and hoped that concrete measures are taken to help end the crisis.

In a statement here today, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, vice-chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), also condemned the arrest of chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik and others lodged at some unknown place for the past several days. He urged the international bodies to impress upon the Government of India to release the detained leaders, including Malik. The JKLF leader expressed concern over the alleged excesses and atrocities being committed on innocent masses under curfew restrictions in Kashmir. Bhat further condemned the restrictions on the print and electronic media here, disconnecting the Kashmir valley from the rest of the world.