Udhampur, September 20
Even as the authorities have maintained a guarded silence over startling disclosures made by the arrested Hawala conduit Imtiyaz Hussain Malik, associated with Hizbul Mujahideen, this high-profile arrest has once again exposed the militant-bureaucrat nexus in the state.

The brother of a superintendent of police (SP), the arrested militant has direct links with some prominent politicians of the region. It was result of his political clout that he was "allotted" the forest land at Jai Valley in Bhaderwah to provide accommodation to the tourists.

Although the authorities are tight-lipped on how such a contract was allotted to Malik, it is alleged the accused had invested militants' money to expand his business. “It is premature to say whether he was investing on behalf of militants,” a senior police officer told The Tribune, on the condition of anonymity, but hastened to add that pre-fabricated accommodation constructed by Malik at Jai Valley for the tourists turned out to be the safe meeting points for militants and over-ground workers (OGWs).

Once considered as the safest zone for militants, a comprehensive operation was launched by the security forces to wipe out terrorists from the picturesque Jai valley. After busting all hideouts there, the state government formulated a comprehensive plan to develop the valley as a tourist resort. Interestingly, the local administration allotted forest land to Imtiyaz Malik to construct pre-fabricated accommodations for the tourists, despite the fact that his links with anti-national elements were well known. Despite repeated attempts, chief executive officer (CEO), Bhaderwah Development Authorities, Talat was not available for comment.

Malik was picked up on Friday night from Bhaderwah after police interrogated one Altaf Hussain who was arrested with Hawala money near Doda. Altaf had told the police that he was working for Imtiyaz Malik and had been assigned the job of handing over the Hawala consignment to Hizbul Mujahideen militants at Gandoh.

The sources said that these Hawala conduits had received an amount of Rs 5 lakh to be distributed among militants active in Doda area. They had already distributed more than half the amount. Malik is the brother of an SP posted in the CID wing. Immediately after their arrest, the duo was shifted to an unknown location for sustained interrogation. 

Jammu, September 20
With the expected completion of phase II of the Sheetali water supply project in March, 2009, the shortage in the supply of potable water in some parts of the Jammu city would become a thing of the past.

So far, one-third of the population of the Jammu city residing in the Muthi, Janipur, Roop Nagar, New Plot, Subash Nagar, Bhatandi, Sanik Colony and Greater Kalash areas are facing scarcity of drinking water.

“The public health engineering (PHE) department, Jammu, has the available resources of only 250 crore gallons of potable water per day, whereas the immediate requirement of supply is about 350 crore gallons per day. The requirement of 54 lakh gallons of drinking water can be met from the Sheetali project and the remaining requirement of drinking water will be met by way of digging 74 tubewells in different areas of the city which will be done in collaboration with the economic reconstruction agency”, S.P. Kanotra, superintending engineering, PHE, said.

Kanotra said: “The population of Jammu city is about 10 lakh. At present we are able to provide potable water facility to only 50 per cent people of the city whereas the rest of the population faces shortage of water”.

The present project of the Sheetali project is being carried out in collaboration with the power development department (PDD), Jammu and the Kashmir projects construction corporation (JKPCC) and the public health engineering (PHE) department.

The first phase of the water project was completed in February last and the second phase of the project is scheduled to be completed in March, 2009.

Kanotra said: “To overcome this major deficiency the department has initiated the Sheetali project phase-II, which is expected to be commissioned by March, 2009. about 50 per cent of the project has been constructed and the remaining 50 per cent will be completed up to March, 2009. The state government has allocated Rs 35.24 crore for the construction of the plant. Besides, a loan of Rs 10 crore has also been obtained from the LIC to ensure timely completion of this project”.

Meanwhile, the PHE department has decided to replace small pipes with pipes of larger diameter as they obstruct the supply of drinking water. 

Jammu, September 20
Even as mainstream political outfits like the PDP, the NC and the Congress appear reluctant to face the early Assembly elections, independent candidates may this time give these ‘big players’ a run for their money.

While the BJP, the Panthers Party, the BSP, Jammu State Morcha (P) and other Jammu-based parties have bright chances of fairing well in the elections in Jammu because of the Amarnath land row, potential candidates of mainstream parties, if denied the party mandate, may contest elections as independent candidates, said sources in the Congress.

They said the reluctance of mainstream parties like the Congress, NC and the PDP to support the Jammu agitation had given enough ammunition to the Jammu-based dissident leaders in such parties to part ways and jump into the fray as independents.

The two-month-long agitation across Jammu saw the popularity graph of several local leaders rising overwhelmingly, they added.

A senior congress leader said: “Though we would try and convince people about what the Congress had done during its rule in the state, initial hibernation on our part has certainly brightened the prospects of Jammu-based parties and independents candidates,” he added. He said the land row had put the Congress, the NC and the PDP on the backfoot in Jammu.

As the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti, which spearheaded the Jammu agitation, has no plans to contest the elections, local leaders smell a bright opportunity, said sources in the samiti. They said the agitation had undoubtedly added to the popularity of former legislators like Ashwani Sharma of Bishnah, Dr Manohar Lal of Billawar and Babu Singh of Kathua.

Sources said the political fortunes of the NC and the PDP look bleak in the Kashmir valley also for the simple reason that the Hurriyat Conference has made a resurgent comeback gaining sympathy of the Kashmiris.

Except for the PDP, the Congress and the NC have already started the salvage operation after the government conceded the sangharsh samiti’s core demand but independents also have strong possibilities of taking away a major share of the pie, feel political experts.

Jammu, September 20
In the rarest of rare cases, the additional district judge (Bank Cases), Jammu, set aside the dismissal of the then bank manager of New Bank of India, V.K. Gandotra after a protracted trial and held him entitled to damages, observing that “In these circumstances the plaintiff is entitled to damages calculated in terms of his salary and other perquisites for whole period of his employment, from the date of wrongful termination of service.

Since the plaintiff has already attained the age of superannuation and, as such cannot be inducted into service, thus a decree to the tune of Rs 12 lakh as damages, along with simple interest at the rate of 6 per cent, is passed in favour of plaintiff and against defendant.”

Gandotra, dismissed from service in August 1975, challenged his dismissal on various grounds, including mala fides, as the plaintiff was offered service from another bank with a higher salary, which led him to resign from services of the New Bank of India. However, the defendant bank instead of accepting resignation ordered his dismissal with allegations.

The additional judge (Bank Cases), Jammu, in his 110-page judgment decided various issues raised in the suit for recovery and declared the dismissal order dated August 8, 1975, as illegal, unwarranted, mala fide, arbitrary and having been passed in violation of the principle of natural justice while setting aside the same.

The additional judge, while allowing the suit of plaintiff observed, “In the absence of any inquiry, it cannot be said the plaintiff submitted his resignation to save himself from the alleged misdeeds or unauthorised advances since no inquiry was conducted in the present case and no inquiry officer has been appointed.

It was for the inquiry officer to give a finding to the said effect and, thereafter, provide a copy of the inquiry report to the plaintiff. Admittedly, no inquiry is conducted in this case, as such, this issue is decided in favour of the plaintiff and against the defendant.”

He further held, “Because of the dismissal order the plaintiff could not get service in the banking sector, however, he came to be appointed as managing director in the Citizen’s Co-operative Bank for two or three months.

The employees union of the bank approached the registrar co-operatives societies by filing an appeal, accompanied by the order of dismissal. The registrar cooperatives societies accepted the appeal and set aside the order of appointment, thereafter the plaintiff could not get any appointment in the banking service.”

Jammu, September 20
Irked at the alleged government move of not allowing them to hold a function to felicitate the families of “martyrs” of the land agitation, the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti today gave a two-day Jammu bandh call for September 21-22.

However, the samiti made it clear that it was not resuming the agitation, but had given the shutdown call to warn the state government.

Addressing a press conference, samiti convener Lila Karan Sharma alleged that the state administration not only pressurised the management of Abhinav Theatre to cancel the booking of “Sanskar Bharati”, but also deployed a heavy police force so that the function was not held.

Sharma termed the state government's move as an “insult to the martyrs of the land agitation, their families and the people of Jammu”.

Sharma said the samiti would not allow any function to be held at the theatre until the theatre authorities apologised. He has also sought an inquiry into the incident. He, however, said the function to felicitate the families of “martyrs” would soon be organised at another venue.

The Jammu State Morcha (P) has strongly condemned the administration for not allowing the samiti to hold a function to honour the families of the martyrs of the land agitation.

Morcha president Virender Gupta said the cancellation of the function was an ulterior agenda of fomenting trouble and to destabilise the peaceful Jammu region.

Srinagar, September 20
Normal life was paralysed across the Kashmir valley today in response to the general strike call by the separatist coordination committee as part of its month-long programme ahead of the Lal Chowk rally scheduled for October 6 after the holy month of Ramzan.

At least 40 persons, including 23 civilians, 10 police and seven CRPF men, were injured in clashes at Nowhatta and at other adjoining areas, while 10 persons were injured in clashes in Bandipore town of north Kashmir.

At Nowhatta, the police resorted to lathi-charge and lobbed tear-gas shells in the Jamia Masjid area, where the clashes were going on till the reports last came in.

The police swung into action after the protesters pelted stones on the police personnel manning the streets. Ten police personnel, seven CRPF men and eight civilians were injured in the incident.

CRPF spokesman P. Tripathy said two CRPF men received injuries in the head and had been shifted to the SKIMS, Soura. Police sources said it exercised maximum restraint, while dealing with the protesters in Nowhatta area. A police vehicle was also damaged at Bemina near the Tattu Ground by a stone-pelting mob.

There were also reports of clashes between protesters and the police at Bandipore town in which at least 10 persons were injured. Clashes broke out after the police tried to chase away the protesters.

Shops, business establishments, educational institutions and banks remained closed and traffic was off the roads. However, private vehicles and auto-rickshaws plied in some areas of the city.

A complete shutdown was also observed in other major towns, including Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, Baramulla, Kupwara and Sopore.

Meanwhile, Hurriyat hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani continued to remain under house arrest at his Hyderpora residence here for the 16th consecutive day today.

The coordination committee has now planned the Lal Chowk rally for October 6.

Srinagar, September 20
A major tragedy was averted with the timely decanting of a tanker loaded with 24 tonne of LPG, which met with an accident and rolled off the road at Beijbehara, 40 km south of here on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway today.

The decanting of the loaded tanker was done in a professional manner by the experts of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) and the tanker emptied, thus averting a major disaster, said Aamir Ali, coordinator disaster management, office of Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir. He added the area had to be cordoned off by the local police, and traffic on the highway remained suspended for over one hour.

Giving details, the coordinator, disaster management said that since the tanker was fully loaded with LPG and was in the midst of the town, there was every apprehension that the tanker could leak and endanger the lives of all the residents of Bijbehara and adjoining areas. The divisional

commissioner, Kashmir, directed all the concerned agencies to assist the HPCL authorities to retrieve the tanker. A 50-tonne private crane was hired by HPCL and the tanker brought on the road. The chassis of the tanker had suffered damage due to which the tyres could not move and due to its heavy load the recovery vehicle was not in a position to lift it up and tow it up to the HPCL Plant located 25 kms away at Pampore.

The repair of the tanker at site was ordered, so that it could be in a position to be towed away, he said. The divisional commissioner, Kashmir ordered a joint operation for decanting of the LPG tanker at the site, with experts from HPCL and help and assistance from Army, police, traffic, fire and emergency services, mechanical engineering department, state road transport corporation and medical department.

Jammu: Sunken eyes constantly gaze at the main gate and a streak of sheen grows across their wrinkled faces as one enters the gate. Hopes move up and fall like tides every now and then.

To view the change in weather, a bunch of old people is sitting numb on the iron bench in the courtyard under the cloudy sky. They are inmates of an old age home at Ambphalla living in wait that some day their near and dear ones may come and take them back home.

Life of some 62 disowned and abandoned feeble creatures in their twill light years goes like this.

Silence prevails upon the ‘home.’ A little murmur or a desperate laughter some times shivers the atmosphere and voices dip into deep lull again. Mohan Lal (name changed), returning home yesterday, has given their similar desire a boost.

They don’t know anything about the Grand Parents Day, but declining health, impending mortality and other challenges keep on haunting their life abused by isolation.

Just sit by them and everyone has a tragic story of his own - a story of deceit, torture, estranged relations, neglect and exploitation.

It’s not that constraint financial sources forced their families to dump them here but in most of the cases inmates hail from affluent families.

In some cases, inmates are physically challenged also but in most of the cases cynical behavior of daughter-in-law is described the reason that brought them here.

“There is no difference between children and oldies, what one requires is little love and concern,” opines Pritam Chand (33), who has devoted his life for the cause of disowned people for the past 15 years.

“We take care of every thing concerning them and even organise pilgrimages for them,” he says and adds, “People generously donate and often visit here on special occasion to share feeling of the inmates.”

“This year, the government gave us an amount of Rs 50,000 only. You tell me how it is possible for 62 people to manage a full year with such meager amount?” he asks.

“Their daughters pay a visit but sons hardly bother,” he says and adds in the same breath that in exceptional cases the later have come to take them back too.

Responding to the query as to how they behave at that time, “They groan, quarrel, complain and then forgive easily. Sir ji......relations never die,” he says looking up at the downpour.

Srinagar, September 20
Taking a serious note of the non-implementation of a court order on preservation of the world famous Dal Lake, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the authorities concerned to submit the reasons. The Division Bench, comprising Justices Nissar Ahmad Kakroo and Justice Hakeem Imtiyaz Hussain also directed the officials of various departments to file a detailed report about the measures taken for preservation of the Dal Lake in response to the court orders from time to time.

The court took a serious note of the non-implementation of a court order dated December 15, 2007 and directed the authorities concerned to submit the reasons for its non-execution.

The court has directed the vice chairperson of the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority, inspector general of police (Traffic), municipal commissioner, regional director of the State Pollution Control Board, and secretary housing of the Urban Development Department to file affidavits regarding implementation of the court orders in letter and spirit for preservation of the lake.

The court has directed the officials to remain present in person on next hearing while filing the reports.

About the construction of a hotel reportedly on the banks of the water body, the court directed the director tourism to come up with the detailed report about the legality of the construction, on next date of hearing.

Senior lawyer Zaffar Ahmad Shah pleaded before the court to direct the government to effectively deal with the preservation of the lake. He said government has failed to live up to the expectations of the court regarding preservation of Dal. Zafar pleaded that all the officials involved in the preservation of the water body should be made accountable to the court rather than the chief secretary of the state as per the previous court order.

This, he said, would ensure effective implementation of the court orders from time to time. The court while taking serious note of the ''non-seriousness'' on part of the government to conserve the lake, directed the officials to submit the affidavits on next hearing on September 24. — UNI

Jammu, September 20
A wine factory situated near Bohri chungi on Bohri-Talab Tillo road has virtually made the life of residents of the area a living hell.

The factory is causing pollution in this area. It spreads stench in the surroundings, leading to irritation and nausea among the people.

Vijay Sharma, a shopkeeper of the area, said, “The foul smell that emits from this factory makes it difficult for us to breathe during the night.”

Sharma added, “paddy husk is burnt as a fuel in the production of whisky, which is also a source of pollution.”

Expressing helplessness in getting rid from this menace, he said that great efforts were being made by the welfare committee of the area, which included people like B.D. Jalali, Deendayal Sharma and Mukhtyar Singh, to get the factory shifted but they were in vain.

In addition to this, the waste discharged from the factory passes into an irrigation canal that has adversely affected the fertility of the agricultural land being irrigated by this canal.

It is learnt that on the complaint of the farmers, the management of the factory was debarred by the irrigation department from using the irrigation canal for the drainage of its waste.

After complying with the directions for some months, the factory has again started dumping its waste into the canal.

The chief engineer of the irrigation department, Jammu, could not be contacted for his comments. Mayor Kevinder Sharma, while acknowledging the problems caused by the location of the wine factory, said, “I visited the area two days back only. I have discussed this issue with S.S. Bloeria, Advisor to the Governor, and corrective measures will soon be initiated."