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Tip-off on Presence of Militants
Pact: Samiti objects to disinformation
City limps back to normalcy
Schools reopen
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Jammu varsity resumes work
Conduct extra classes, principals told
Turmoil costs Jammu economy Rs 9,980 cr: CCI
Cross-LoC Trade
Geelani, Mirwaiz, Malik
Governor greets Muslims on Ramzan
Withdraw cases against youths: PDP
Day curfew lifted in Poonch
Number of goods carriers increases
Probe Aziz’s killing: Separatists
1,500 militants ‘waiting’ to sneak into India
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Tip-off on Presence of Militants
Jammu, September 1 After last week's terrorist attack in the Chinore area in Bantalab that left 10 persons, including three terrorists, dead, Jammu city has been kept on high alert as intelligence reports suggest the presence of more militants in the area. Though the BSF had claimed that two or three armed ultras had recently managed to sneak into Indian side after a two-hour-long gunbattle, intelligence agencies say that the number of infiltrators could be much higher. "No doubt, it was a complete failure on the part of the BSF that the militants managed to sneak into our side," said a senior Army officer. He said: "To save itself from embarrassment the BSF claimed that only two or three infiltrators had managed to sneak in. How can it be specific about the figure as the radio intercepts we have received suggest the number is much higher than what is being claimed by the BSF," he added. The police has been conducting search operations in the area. Vehicles are also being screened while security in and around vital installations in Jammu has also been increased. Two days ago the security forces searched Rathuchak village and the adjoining forest after receiving inputs about the presence of suspected terrorists there. People have been asked to remain vigilant and to inform the police about any suspicious movement in the area. Jammu DC Mandeep K. Bhandari said: "We have maintained a complete vigil and search operations are being carried out to track down the militants, if any, in the city." Jammu zone IGP K. Rajendra said frequent checking and search operations would be launched in the suspected areas to neutralise the militants operating in Jammu.
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Pact: Samiti objects to disinformation
Jammu, September 1 The samiti cautioned Governor N.N. Vohra against such officers who have been misusing the official machinery to sabotage the peace process in Jammu and to create misunderstanding amongst the people of different sections. Pointing towards "malicious and confusing advertisements" published in newspapers under caption "Victory of Dialogue", which was released by the State Information Department, the samiti expressed surprise that these advertisements "distorted the facts and are based on lies and falsehood". The samiti alleged that the advertisements tried to hide the information regarding "set aside for the exclusive use of land at Baltal and Domail (Compartment No. 63/S, Sindh forest division) traditionally under use for annual yatra purposes". The text was deliberately distorted in the government advertisements due to some hidden agenda, it charged. The samiti also charged the department with presenting distorted facts about reconstitution of the Amarnath Shrine Board. "As per the agreement there is no mention of words - local or outsider. According to the context of the agreement - the shrine board will be reconstituted keeping in view the provisions of the Act and the past precedents," the samiti said. "The samiti believes that any Hindu belonging to any part of the world is eligible to the member of the shrine board." The samiti asked the Governor to keep a check on the "misdeeds of such officers and present the real facts about the historical agreement to avoid any reaction from the people of Jammu". |
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City limps back to normalcy
Jammu, September 1 Much to the relief of the people, usual hustle bustle returned to Jammu city. Markets, government offices, banks and educational institutions opened today while normal traffic plied on city roads. Banks and ATMs in particular witnessed heavy rush of people, who were seen jostling to conduct their transactions. However, short messaging service (sms) has not yet been restored. The apex court had banned the service on the grounds that it had been fuelling agitation across the state. While Army troops returned to their barracks last evening itself, the police removed makeshift barricades and barbed wire fencing from different places across the city. Similarly, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) also pressed into service its men and vehicles, who cleaned the temple city removing remnants of the agitation, like half burnt tyres, effigies, smoke shells and garbage. Shopkeepers in Raghunath Bazaar, Purani Mandi, Parade Ground, Shalamar Chowk, Residency Road, Jain Bazaar, Lakhdatta Bazaar, Gole Market Gandhi Nagar, Apsara Road, opened their shops with a hope that normal life would not be derailed again. "Despite financial losses we are happy that agitation over the land row has yielded positive dividends and every individual across Jammu stood up for the cause. Now we can hope for leading normal life," said Ashwani Gupta, a departmental storeowner in Purani Mandi. However, the agitation had taken a heavy toll on daily earners like vegetable vendors, labourers and street vendors. " We have been facing shutdowns, curfews and pitched battles for the past over two months. Though hospitable people of Jammu had been providing us food but not everyone was as lucky as me," said Deep Kumar, a vegetable vendor at Parade Ground. |
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Schools reopen
Jammu, September 1 To make up for the lost time, government schools have been directed to hold extra classes so that students could finish their syllabus on time. Private schools, too, have decided to compensate for the loss by holding extra classes and curtailing winter
vacations. Official sources in the Directorate of School Education said: “Though a major part of the syllabus has been covered, but if the need arises, we can curtail the winter vacation and pooja holidays”. Sources said the authorities had decided to complete the remaining syllabus in such a way that students did not face any problem in the annual examination. Principal, Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 1, Gandhi Nagar, Chitra Mishra, said: “No doubt studies have suffered but we will try to minimise the loss by curtailing cultural and sports activities. If required, we can also curtail the winter break”. |
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Jammu varsity resumes work
Jammu, September 1
CET rescheduled for fifth time
Board of Professional Entrance Examination (BPEE) Chairman Santokh Ram today stated that the new dates for the Common Entrance Test have been rescheduled for the fifth time.
“Now the exams have been scheduled to take place on September 13 and 14 in which 15,000 students are likely to participate in 24 centres across the state,” he said. The admissions for various post-graduation courses reopened in the campus which drew huge rush of students. Most of the students, who had deserted hostels, returned today and were all set for the new academic session. Students were seen in groups near coffee shops discussing and debating the agitation. But amidst cheers, they seemed a little worried over their studies --- which remained at the receiving end for over two-month-long agitation. Most of the university students were waiting for the new datesheet for rest of their examination as well as counseling, which had to be postponed on June 29 in wake of the agitation. Meanwhile, BPS Samyal, dean, Academic Affairs, Jammu University, said September 9 has been slated as the last date for the submission of application forms for the admission. However, admission seekers can submit their application forms till September 12 with an extra fee of Rs 50. He disclosed that the first cut off list would be issued on September 16 and the post-graduation classes in all disciplines will commence from September 25 onwards. He said the pending examination of various post graduation classes will start on September 8. “Both examinations and admissions will go on simultaneously and as the process ends, new classes will start functioning,” he added. Controller Examination Prof Desh Bandhu, said, “Results for the second year of the graduation would be declared on September 10.”
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Conduct extra classes, principals told
Srinagar, September 1 In a circular the Higher Education Department has directed the principals of all colleges to ensure maximum presence of teaching and non-teaching staff to make good the deficiency in teaching and learning process in their colleges due to the loss of teaching days, official sources said here. The principals have been instructed to submit weekly attendance reports to the government and organise extra classes before or after the scheduled working hours. Special lectures on some important subjects will also be organised for women at education centres of government institutions in Srinagar and Gandhinagar in Kashmir and the Jammu region, respectively, they said. — PTI |
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Turmoil costs Jammu economy Rs 9,980 cr: CCI
Jammu, September 1 Addressing mediapersons here today, Sahai said the industrial and tourism sectors were hit the most during the turmoil. He pegged the losses of tourism trade (hotels, lodges, restaurants, cinemas) sector at Rs 3,050 crore and of the industrial sector at Rs 4,050 crore. The agricultural sector had suffered a loss of Rs 980 crore while the transport and automobile sectors had suffered losses of Rs 750 crore. Sahai apprehended more losses in the industrial sector in the coming days due to a shortage of skilled labour. He said the Central government should immediately restore the excise incentives for the industry. He also put forth a slew of measures for providing relief to the business community. |
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Cross-LoC Trade
Srinagar, September 1 This was stated by former chief minister Farooq Abdullah at a party meeting held here today. Farooq reiterated his “consistent stand of resumption of trade” between the state and PoK. The NC also welcomed the agreement reached between the government and the Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti (SASB) and put forth “seven-point measures” to create an atmosphere of peace in the state. Farooq said: “I feel the agreement adequately addresses the sensitivities and apprehensions involved in the matter.” “It is hoped that people will take it in the right perspective as the agreement leaves no scope for any disinformation campaign by vested interests”, Farooq said. The NC leaders observed that there was an acute shortage of essential commodities, particularly foodgrains in the state, while medicines were not available in hospitals. They urged the government to address the problem immediately and take appropriate measures by putting up a monitoring mechanism in place to ensure uninterrupted supplies of essential commodities. The leaders said continued curfew imposition had caused a lot of trouble to the common masses. The meeting impressed upon the government to remove curfew restrictions in view of the ensuing holy month of Ramzan. The leaders also demanded that all political detenues be released immediately, adding that cases registered during the period of turmoil be reviewed and those who were not involved in offences of serious nature, be released. Meanwhile, the leaders demanded that the families of people killed or injured during the turmoil and the trading community, including fruit growers and dealers, be adequately compensated.
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Geelani, Mirwaiz, Malik released
Srinagar, September 1 Official sources confirmed the release of hardliner Geelani saying he had been shifted to the SKIMS hospital, Soura, for treatment. Geelani had developed some health problems, while in detention, even though medical aid was provided to him. He was shifted to the SKIMS hospital after he was released and shifted to his Hyderpora residence. APHC chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik were also released. It was for the first time that the Mirwaiz had been taken into custody. Geelani and Mirwaiz had been taken into custody after the authorities apprehended threat to their lives ahead of the ‘Lal Chowk Chalo’ march scheduled for August 25 last. This was followed by strict curfew restrictions here and in other major towns of the Kashmir valley to prevent the march to Lal Chowk after three major rallies at Pampore, TRC grounds and
Eidgah here. JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik was also arrested, while attempting to take out a march to Lal Chowk amid curfew restrictions on August 25. Several other separatist leaders, including Shabir Ahmad Shah of the moderate APHC and Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai and Ayaz Akbar were also arrested later last week. Asiya Andrabi of the Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Shabir Ahmad Shah of the moderate APHC and Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai had been detained under the Public Safety Act, officials said. |
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Governor greets Muslims on Ramzan
Srinagar, September 1 In a message, the Governor said the holy month of Ramzan was a special time for fasting, service and prayers and it highlighted the values
of patience, self-restraint, tolerance and austerity. “It also improves the quality of mind, promotes feelings of compassion and respect for others and reinforces faith in the benevolence and mercy of the Almighty,” the Governor added. The Governor hoped that the people would observe this month by sharing their joys generously with the poor and the needy in the true spirit of the tenets of Islam. — UNI |
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Withdraw cases against youths: PDP
Srinagar, September 1 This was necessary in view of the sanctity of the holy month of Ramadan, senior PDP leader Tariq Hameed Karra said in a statement today. He said besides senior separatist leaders like Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mohammad Yaseen Malik and Shabir Ahmad Shah, scores of youths, mostly teenagers, have been rounded up from Srinagar and other parts of the valley during the recent protests. The PDP leader asked the government to release ex gratia on priority for next of the kin of those who lost their lives during the recent protests across the Kashmir valley. He demanded strengthening of the one-man committee constituted by the government to speed up the sanctioning of ex gratia. He also reiterated the party’s demand for working out a compensation package for all traders, transporters, hoteliers, persons associated with tourism industry, farmers and orchardists in the Kashmir valley on the pattern of Jammu. Karra demanded the lifting of curfew restrictions in the valley. He also advocated the lifting of night curfew to facilitate special prayers being offered during Ramadan. |
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Day curfew lifted in Poonch
Rajouri, September 1 However, the night curfew will continue in this communally sensitive township as a precautionary measure. Sources in the district administration said the district administration decided to lift the day curfew after the members of the two communities agreed to work for maintaining peace and communal harmony. Sources further said during the relaxation period, the markets were flooded with people. Educational institutions, government offices and private enterprises opened today. Meanwhile, in this border township, the things were racing back to normalcy. The shops and business establishment of a particular community, which remained shut during the agitation,
also opened. It was business as usual in adjoining towns of Sunderbani, Nowshera and Kalakote in this frontier district. |
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Number of goods carriers increases
Srinagar, September 1 However, the common man remained a non-beneficiary as main markets were shut even during relaxation of curfew. Locals said they purchased essential commodities like rice, pulses and flour from their local shops but were not able to go to shops in Residency Road to purchase other items. Sohail Rashid, who lives in Maisuma area, said there were no packaged foods nor was Amul milk available in the local shops. Shopkeepers in commercial areas chose not to open their units. “Most of the leaders are under arrest and there is an underlying tension among people,” a shopkeeper said. The government, however, believed that markets would come back to life in coming days as protests would subside and festival fever would gather momentum with the holy month of Ramzan. A government spokesman said 930 load carriers have left the valley during the last 24 hours and, of these, 383 carried fruit, 27 vegetables, 284 other commodities and 281 were returning after off-loading fuel here. He said 596 load carriers entered the valley and 132 carried rice, 28 flour, eight sheep, 14 chicken, six fresh fruit and 251 others.
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Probe Aziz’s killing: Separatists
Srinagar, September 1 A PL spokesman said several people were also killed by the security forces, while marching towards the LoC. The spokesman said All-Party Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq had said: “We have ample proofs regarding the target killing of Sheikh Abdul Aziz”. Meanwhile, acting All-Party Hurriyat Conference chairman, Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari, has asked the people to stay united and continue the peaceful protests and programmes of the coordination committee, while strongly condemning the curfew and atrocities on civilians by troopers. In a statement Ansari, while condemning the curfew restrictions imposed across the Kashmir valley, said such restrictions “exposed the real face of the Indian democracy”. Ansari also accused New Delhi of “killing dozens of Kashmiri youth and wounding thousands during the peaceful demonstrations in August”. He said by use of force, the government was compelling youth to take extreme
measures. Ansari has appealed to the people to follow the programmes of the coordination committee and has urged international organisations, including the RCC, to provide aid in wake of the economic blockade in the valley. He also appealed for immediate release of separatist leadership arrested in the recent past. He also expressed concern over the health and whereabouts of the detained leaders. The All-Party Hurriyat Conference has also expressed concern over the alleged continued atrocities on the people, detention of various leaders under PSA, raiding of houses of several leaders, economic blockade and the continued curfew restrictions for the past nine days. Ansari also rejected the state government and the Sangharsh Samiti’s pact over the settlement of 800 kanals of the controversial forestland issue in
Baltal. |
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1,500 militants ‘waiting’ to sneak into India
Jammu, September 1 According to highly placed defence sources, militants have been divided into smaller groups and have been kept across the international border and the Line of Control. “Groups consist of 75 to 80 militants,” a senior Army intelligence officer told The Tribune. He said, “There are launching pads, which are mobile and temporary. At one time, they try to send a maximum of 10 to 15 persons and their main aim is to avoid any contact with our security forces.” The source said the group is further divided into smaller groups of 3 to 5 men and one group is assigned the task to engage the security forces so that the rest proceed for their “main mission.” “The group after infiltration further gets divided into smaller groups and each group is assigned an independent mission,” the source said. He said that the Army was well aware of their tactics and was fully prepared to tackle such situations. The source further informed that in wake of the upcoming winter in the valley, the thrust of the militant leadership across the border at the moment would be to infiltrate the maximum number of trained militants. “Snow would prove to be a deterrent in the infiltration process so the militant leadership across the border is trying to infiltrate more men into our side. In Jammu most of the infiltration takes place in the upper reaches of Rajouri district from where they proceed towards Mahore, Gool and Gulabgarh to go into hibernation till further instructions,” the source informed. According to the source, around 45 training camps across the border were actively training terrorists, with the objective of disrupting the coming Assembly elections and attracting the attention of the world community. The level of infiltration from across the Line of Control (LoC) has escalated during the past three weeks, official sources said. Of late, groups of heavily armed militants have been making a series of infiltration bids from across Poonch, Rajouri, Keran, Macchel, Kupwara and Tangdhar sectors. Senior police functionaries, while confirming the rise in the level of infiltration from across the LoC, said more than 12 ingress bids were foiled by the security forces in the past one month. Sources said despite strict vigil and installation of sophisticated gadgets, including sensors, for monitoring the movement of militants from across the border, between 50 and 75 militants had managed to sneak into India. A senior police officer said since May, the 187-km-long border in the Jammu sector had been selected by militants for infiltration. During the past three months more than six infiltration bids were made in which small groups of militants entered into the Akhnoor and Samba sectors. The six militants, who infiltrated into Samba and Jammu, killed more than 16 persons, including five security personnel, before being gunned down by the security forces. Intelligence reports revealed that several rebel groups had been camping across the Macchel, Tangdhar, Poonch, Rajouri, Samba and Akhnoor sectors, to infiltrate into the Indian side, while smaller groups were camping across the Uri and Gulmarg sectors, waiting to sneak into the Kashmir valley. The reports further revealed that agencies across the border were trying to push as many militants as possible into the state as November onwards, the border routes would be buried under deep snow. Police sources said these agencies were also helping militants to increase their manpower due to the upcoming Assembly elections in October.
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