Jammu, September 23
Even as the reports of India and Pakistan inching closer towards sealing the cross-LoC trade pact pour in, the business community in the Jammu region feels that it can enjoy the fruits of cross-border trade only when the routes in Jammu's vicinity are thrown open to trade.

Talking to The Tribune, Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Ram Sahai said though the move would boost the economy of the state, the cross-border trade with Pakistan would be more viable in the Jammu region if the Pallanwala-Chhamb, Mirpur-Nowshera or Suchetgarh routes are opened for the purpose. He said Jammu traders would end up paying more freight on the Uri-Muzzafarbad and Poonch-Rawalkot routes. These are the two routes on which the bus service between the two countries is currently running.

He said the main items in India's export list includes carpets, wall hangings, Pashmina shawls, embroidery items, wood carvings, furniture, cricket bat, Basmati rice, coriander, spices, saffron, wazwan, green tea, rajmah and aromatic plants. He said the government had been requested to include coir mattresses, pharmaceutical items, chemicals, insecticides, motor parts and welding rods also in the list. On the other hand, the import list features precious stones, dry dates, chilgoza, namda and black chanas, he added.

Associated Chamber of Traders Federation president Yashpal Gupta said the opening of cross-LoC trade would not benefit the state's business fraternity much. At the same time, he felt that the government should not merely think about opening the Muzaffarabad route as the Jammu region too shared its border with Pakistan.

"Though there are bleak chances of trade gaining much here, the government should still open a trade route from the Jammu region as well," he said, adding that it would at least provide a level playing field to the business community in the state. "What the world has seen in Jammu during the land agitation was the result of the government's biased approach towards the region since Independence. The government should not repeat the same mistake," he averred.

According to Gupta, traders of Jammu and Kashmir could not gain from LoC trade as much as they could from their age-old trade ties. Referring to the Kashmiri traders' move to snap ties with their counterparts in Jammu, he said though trade relations between the two regions were witnessing turbulent times, it was just a passing phase that would soon be over.

Echoing similar views, Fruit Association president Praveen Kumar Gupta said Jammu would not gain much if cross-LoC trade wasopened through the two routes on which the bus service was plying. He, however, said the trade in Jammu as well as Punjab would be immensely benefited if the Jammu-Sialkot route was opened for it.

Srinagar, September 23
Various mainstream and separatist political parties have welcomed the decision of the governments of India and Pakistan to start trade across the Line of Control from next month.

The decision that came after a meeting of the working group on the cross-LoC CBMs held in New Delhi yesterday has been hailed by the PDP as recognition of urges of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, which would go long way in resolving the basic political dispute through a course of dialogue and economic freedom.

The PDP in its resolution has hoped that a formal decision by the Indo-Pak governments on actual initiation of the trade would be made public at the summit meeting of the leaders of the countries on the sidelines of UN Session in New York next week.

The resolution also called for an easy permit system and hassle free visa regime to facilitate the free flow of trade and cross-LoC movement. “The party awaits a historical movement for borders to become irrelevant in the event of negotiated settlement of lurking dispute of the state of Jammu and Kashmir”, the resolution added.

Addressing the convention senior party leaders termed the agreement as a forward movement which comes as an acknowledgement of people's sacrifices offered by them against the economic blockade and for the opening of trade routes.

The PDP leaders said that there was also an urgency to open other routes like Kargil-Askardu, Jammu-Sialokote and Bandipora-Gilgit roads after the trade commences on Poonch-Rawlakote and Srinagar- Muzzaffarabad routes.

“The people of Jammu and Kashmir on both sides have been craving for an end to isolation through an economic independence and opening of these routes is a natural choice”, the PDP leaders said.

State CPM secretary M.Y. Tarigami said the people of both the countries, particularly the people of Jammu and Kashmir looked forward to listen to a formal announcement on the opening of the LoC trade routes by the leaders of the two countries when they meet during UN General Council meeting.

He hoped that with this formal announcement trade across the LoC would commence and it would go a long way in mitigating the sufferings of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Tarigami hoped that this step would go a long way in rejuvenating the process of peace and reconciliation initiated with high expectations.

Awami National Conference leader Muzaffar Shah said it was opportune and proper that the Kashmir Federation of Industries and Chamber of Commerce and other trade bodies be allowed to explore the opportunities of trade of JK produced and JK manufactured commodities and the same should be allowed from the other side of the LoC.

The drafting of trade lists at Delhi and Islamabad is not practical, he said and added that the businessmen across the LoC be allowed to decide the commodities to trade between the two sides.

The Peoples League, a constituent of the separatist Hurriyat Conference, also welcomed the decision.

Srinagar, September 23
Two top Lashkar-e-Toiba commanders, including one responsible for killing an Army officer, were killed by the security forces at Sumbal today.

The police said both militants, Tahir Pathan, alias Abu Tahir, and Abdullah, alias Abu Maaz, were killed in a brief encounter when they opened fire at a joint party. Both militants are believed to belong to Pakistan.

A joint party of 45 battalion of the CRPF and 13 RR, besides the Sumbal police, laid a naka on an old bridge in Sumbal and challenged the two militants after spotting them. They fired upon the party and in the ensuing firing both were killed.

The police believes that Tahir was also involved in the Narbal IED blast in which 10 Army  personnel were killed on July  19, 2008.

The Hizbul Mujahideen had claimed responsibility for the attack but officials believed, as reported by The Tribune subsequently, that jehadi outfits like LeT had lent active support for carrying out the lethal blast.

The killing of Tahir has come as a big relief for the security forces that had been concentrating on him for a long time. He was the divisional commander of LeT and among his various acts of killings and subversion was the killing of Col Gurbir Singh in 2006 when  he was commanding 29  Rashtriya Rifles.

The other killed militant was his deputy and outfit's district commander Abdullah. Two AK-47 rifles and arms ammunition were seized from the killed militants.

Jammu (PTI): The police on Tuesday exchanged fire with militants and seized a cache of arms and explosive material in Doda district, official sources said.

During routine patrolling in the Rai Nallah area early today, the police came across some militants with whom they exchanged fire, adding that the ultras, however, managed to escape.

One AK rifle magazine, 14 rounds, one wireless set, seven detonators, 10 grenades and seven hand grenades were seized from the area.

Jammu, September 23
The Panthers Party has described Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari’s maiden speech to the joint session of the Pakistani parliament as a big blow to Kashmiri fundamentalists, who had been “exploiting innocent Kashmiris in the name of Azadi and right to self-determination”.

Panthers Party chairman Prof Bhim Singh said no interpretation could be drawn from Zardari’s written speech to suit the opportunist leadership of Kashmir. He said Zardari ruled out anything like “right to self-determination” in Kashmir.

Prof Singh said Zardari knowingly kept Jammu out of his speech and instead expressed his support for the fundamental rights of the Kashmiri people. He said Zardari carefully toed Pakistan’s policy vis-à-vis LoC as incorporated in the confidence-building measures initiated by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh with former President General Pervez Musharraf.

Zardari asserted on no redrawing of territorial borders between the two countries and his speech reflected the hidden message of the Shimla agreement of 1972 signed between the then prime minister Indira Gandhi and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Prof Singh said.

Prof Singh said after 36 years, Bhutto’s successor had conveyed the message that LoC had to be considered as an international border between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Panthers general secretary Ghulam Mohammed Shan has cautioned Hurriyat leaders about their “callous” remarks reflecting on the secular character of Kashmiriyat.

In a statement issued here today, Shan said the religious code of conduct could not be imposed on the political system, particularly in a secular democracy. Shan reminded Mirwaiz Umar Farooq that Jammu and Kashmir was a secular state and no institution, including a bank, could be disciplined in the name of any religious system.

Jammu, September 23
Finally, the trading and business community in the state can heave a sigh of relief as the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has assured to extend the last date of filing income tax returns till November 30.

President of the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), Ram Sahai said: “A seven-member JCCI delegation had called on CBDT chairman N.B. Singh last evening in New Delhi and he has assured to extend the last date of filing returns till November 30”.

It may be mentioned here that the trading and business community had been a harried lot as income tax authorities had fixed September 30 as the last date for filing returns.

Sahai said the JCCI delegation discussed the problem threadbare with N.B. Singh and the income tax commissioner, too, strongly recommended our case. Sahai said he hoped the formal order would be issued to the income tax authorities in the state within a couple of days.

Meanwhile, chairman of the federation of industries, Annil Suri said: “Normal life had been badly hit for the past over two months in July and August and filing returns by September 30 would be impossible for income tax returnees.” When normal activities remained affected for 63 straight days no professional could reconcile the statements and audit balance sheets by September 30, he added.

Though we are hopeful that authorities would extend the last date but in case they think the other way then penalties for no fault of ours would be slapped on us, Suri said.

“In Bihar, the CBDT has already extended the last date to November 30 but we cannot understand why authorities are in a dilemma as far as Jammu and Kashmir, where normal life remained crippled for two months, is concerned,” Suri added.

“We have already conveyed our grievances to Governor N.N. Vohra and the income tax authorities. We hope that the authorities concerned concede to our request”, he said.

However, official sources said the CBDT on September 18 had already extended for filing returns in Jammu and Kashmir and Bihar.

The due dates for filing returns in Jammu and Kashmir had already been extended from July 31 to September 30, while in the case of Bihar, it has been extended from September 30 to November 30, they added.

Srinagar, September 23
Governor N.N. Vohra has approved an additional amount of Rs 117 crore to accelerate the pace of work on the ongoing development projects and flagship programmes in the state.

An official spokesman here said the Governor has been monitoring the progress of the schemes to ensure their time-bound completion.

The spokesman said the Governor has sanctioned a little over Rs 53 crore for the flagship programmes, which include the Haj House, Assembly Complex, Museum Complex and the building for Institute of Management & Public Administration at Srinagar, besides the buildings for various colleges and industrial training institutes, taken up under the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan.

To ensure timely completion of the college and ITI buildings, the Governor has sanctioned an additional amount of Rs 23.96 crore.

For completion of the second phase of the prestigious Haj Complex, additional Rs 7 crore has been approved. Similarly, additional Rs 7.87 crore have been sanctioned for the Srinagar Museum Building and about Rs 2.09 crore for the IMPA Hostel building at Srinagar.

Till July last, about Rs 110 crore had been spent on these projects.

In view of the dire need for augmenting drinking water in the Jammu City, the Governor approved an immediate grant of Rs 27.26 crore for expeditious completion of the ambitious Sitlee Water Supply Scheme, currently under execution near Nagrota.

Srinagar, September 23
Under the accelerated power development reforms programme (APDRP), the power development department (PDD) is utilising Rs 684.87 crore in the Kashmir province for upgrading power infrastructure.

Since the implementation of this programme, Rs 301.26 crore had been utilised under the sector in the valley, an official spokesman said here today.

The construction, renovation and modernisation of 13,253 receiving stations and sub-stations had been taken up at a cost of Rs 130.11crore. The work on 1,059 receiving stations and sub-stations had been completed, besides work on 311 such stations being constructed at a cost of Rs 76.54 crore, was under progress.

The modernisation and upgrade work of four-power grid stations was also coming up in Kashmir at a cost of Rs 4.05 crore and Rs 10 lakh had been spent on the execution of 2 grid stations in Srinagar and Budgam districts under the APDRP uptill August end this year, the spokesman said.

He said the erection work of 4,289 km of new 33 and 11 KV lines had been also taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 135.38 crore and erection of 2,784 km of such lines had been completed in the valley and an expenditure of Rs 76.24 crore had been booked uptill August this year for the purpose. The re-conducting and replacement of 1,987 km of 33 KV and 11 KV lines had also been taken up at a cost of Rs 58.78 crore, out of which work on 533.770 km had been completed and work on 434 kms of 33 and 11 KV lines at a cost of Rs 28.28 crore was currently under progress.

The installation of digital meters was also brought under this programme by the department and a target of 59,10,40 digital meters had been fixed in the Kashmir division at the cost of Rs 126.70 crore and uptill August last, the department had installed 17,67,95 meters to the consumers by utilising Rs 28.38 crore in the valley.

Jammu, September 23
Acting tough against unauthorised rehris, the Jammu Municipal Corporation today launched a drive and seized 11 rehris at Vikram Chowk, Police Lines and Gandhi Nagar.

The drive, launched by the Enforcement Wing of the JMC under joint commissioner J.S. Tondan, has also been undertaken to tackle the security threat in the highly populated areas, which can be an easy pick for militants to plant explosive material.

Enforcement officer Kamlesh Chadha said, “The rehriwalas have been directed to sell their products from moving from one place to another but usually they stand at fixed places on the roadsides or outside the bus stand, which becomes a cause for frequent traffic jams.”

“So with a view to avert any untoward incident, we have initiated this drive, which will continue for a month,” he added.

He said, “The rehris, which have been seized will be released on imposition of fine by the joint commissioner or after obtaining proper license from the corporation.”

Sources in the MC said, “Rehriwalas cannot sell their products without having a license and if they do so they are liable to pay fine up to the tune of Rs 250 per rehri.”

Udhampur, September 23
Ajay Khajuria, district magistrate, Udhampur, has banned the sale and purchase of combat dress, cloth of army pattern and plying of army-painted vehicles by civilians.

According to an official handout, the district magistrate has issued this order on the basis of reports of the security forces as well as intelligence inputs that militants commit atrocities on innocent people in isolated and hill areas of the district in the guise of security force personnel. Such activities of militants also help defame the security forces, besides flaring up communal tension.

Although no arrest has been made so far, locals have informed the police about the movement of some suspects in remote areas. Patrolling of security forces and village defence committees has already been started in remote areas.

The DM has also banned the dumping of construction material like sand, bajri, bricks and stones etc. on roads and public paths.

Udhampur, September 23
The district and session judge, Udhampur, today awarded life imprisonment to Govind Singh for killing his son over a property dispute.

Govind Singh belonged to Chak village in Raimbal in Udhampur, who killed his son Ajit Singh two years back.

The police produced a report in the court, according to which, on June 1, 2006, Govind Singh and Ajit Singh entered into a scuffle over cutting of trees from their field.

As the son was adamant to cut a tree, the father took out his 12 bore rifle and shot his son dead.

The police arrested Govind Singh on the same day and a case under Section 302 of the RPC and 30 Arms Act was registered. The police collected some authentic proof against the accused.