Jammu, October 7
BJP general secretary and in charge of party's J&K affairs Arun Jaitley today strongly advocated timely Assembly poll, saying that any delay in initiating the electoral process would prove dangerous for democracy in the state.

Interacting with mediapersons, Jaitley raised doubt on the Congress-led UPA government’s intentions about holding elections on time, as he wondered as to why the Election Commission was holding a meeting with all political parties during its ongoing visit to the state when it has already held one earlier. He also alleged that the Union Home Ministry had adopted dilly-dallying tactics over the Election Commission’s demand for adequate security in the state for conducting Assembly elections.

He pooh-poohed the argument that the atmosphere in the valley is not conducive for holding the elections. “This argument holds true only for a few pockets in the valley and the elections cannot be delayed in the entire state for them,” he averred.

He said timely elections would increase space for political activity in the state and at the same time the separatists too will lose their grip. He said the Congress’ approach on the issue of Assembly elections has exposed its dual character. He urged the Union Home Ministry to facilitate adequate security for elections in the state.

Jaitley claimed that the BJP represented the spirit of Jammu, which had been amply proved during the two-month-long Amarnath land agitation. “We represent Jammu’s aspirations,” he said, making it clear that the party wanted to see a “nationalist government” in the state. He urged the people not to divide "nationalist vote" during the forthcoming elections. He said while the party would field its own candidates in the Jammu region, it might support independent candidates with “nationalist mindset” in the Kashmir valley.

Lashing out at the Congress-led UPA government, Jaitley said the ruling alliance had failed miserably on the economic front. The skyrocketing prices of essential commodities had hit the common man hard under the regime of the party that boasted of being with ‘aam aadmi’, he added.

On the BJP’s strategy for the elections, Jaitley said: “We will open our cards only when the elections are announced.” Jaitley said he and other party leaders were here to assess the ground situation, particularly the political scenario in the state. He said they had held meetings with party leaders and taken suggestions from the party cadres to devise the poll strategy.

Jammu, October 7
Disillusioned with the political parties, refugees from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) have now decided to contest the forthcoming Assembly polls to get their due share in the state.

Talking to The Tribune, Rajeev Chunni, president of the SOS International, an outfit of PoK refugees, said, “We have been seeking comprehensive settlement of the refugees for the past 60 years, but the successive state governments turned a blind eye towards our plight. All political parties make promises at the time of elections but forget them after coming to power. We have waited for justice for over six decades, but now we think the time has come to stand up and fight for our rights.”

Being a non-political organisation, he said, they had decided to field those refugees, who are committed to the cause as independent candidates from seven to eight constituencies in Jammu province where their population in mainly concentrated.

He said the refugees would not vote for any of the four big political parties - the Congress, the PDP, the NC and the BJP. “We have already chosen Suchetgarh, RS Pura, Jammu West, Jammu Cantonment, Vijaypur, Bishnah, Kathua city and Nowshera Assembly segments,” he added.

“It is not that none of the PoK refugees got elected to the state Assembly in the past. Our five to six persons became MLAs, but they contested polls on tickets of different political parties as they had no option but to tow their party line,” he said, adding that the candidates now being fielded by them would not be allowed to affiliate with any political party. “Even if we don’t win, we will surely show our strength to the political parties who have been taking us for a long ride,” he opined

Chunni said one of their major demands was that the elections be held on the 24 seats in the state Assembly, which are reserved for the PoK. “If the government can allow Kashmiri Pandits to vote from places like New Delhi and Chandigarh, then why we are not permitted to vote from those 24 seats and send our representatives to the Assembly,” he added.

“The government says only one third of the PoK’s population has migrated. Even if that’s true, then the government should at least allow elections on one third of the 24 PoK seats,” he said, adding that by taking such a measure India's claim on the PoK would only strengthen. “We are voiceless simply because our area is under Pakistan's illegal occupation. The government cannot deny us political representation on this premise,” he said.

Chunni said the government had also been denying them the refugee status on the premise that the PoK is a part of India. “If the PoK is the country's integral part then why is the government signing a pact with Pakistan for trading goods in its own territory? Isn't it legalising the illegal occupation of Pakistan on the other part of Kashmir?" he asked.

Lashing out at the successive regimes, Chunni said while the government is raising satellite townships for the displaced Kashmir Pandit community, the PoK refugees have been left to fend for themselves. He said the PoK refugees were leading a dismal life with no access to basic amenities, education and employment.

Srinagar, October 7
Two militants including a foreign self-styled commander of the Harkat-ul- Mujahideen (HuM), were killed while a militant was arrested along with a live hand grenade in the Kashmir valley overnight, official sources said.

They said the security forces and the special operation group of the police launched a joint operation at Seer Jagir, Sopore, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir last evening, following a tip-off about the presence of militants in a house.

As the security forces were about to storm a particular house, they came under heavy fire from militants who also hurled grenades ensuing a fierce encounter. Sources said a HuM commander Abu Ubaid a resident of Pakistan was killed. One AK rifle and other arms and ammunition were recovered. A police spokesman said one army major was also injured in the encounter. Security forces arrested a militant along with one live grenade, one AK magazine and some rounds at Baramulla.
Another unidentified militant was killed in an Army operation in Bodar area of Kupwara, a police spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, the Army and Special Operations Group have killed a militant believed to be an Indian Mujahideen cadre hailing from Kerala's Kovalam district.

The central agencies had been monitoring certain leads which said a group of people hailing from Kerala along with Lashker-e-Taiba's support were trying to enter

Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) through North Kashmir.

The information was shared with the army headquarters in the national capital and a plan was chalked out to nab the exfiltrating group with the help of the state police.

A militant identified as Shakeel Mohammed hailing from Kovalam was killed in the encounter that took place between the Nine Para and Special Operations Group in Dever area of Lolab Valley in north Kashmir.

A hunt is on to track down who have escaped after the encounter, sources said. Shakeel is the first Keralite to have been killed in nearly two decades of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.

A photo identity card was found from his pocket besides some religious writings written in Malayalam, the sources said.

A team of Kerala Police is scheduled to visit Kashmir valley soon for carrying out the identification process of killed militant.

Jammu: The Army today arrested four persons including a Lashker-e-Toiba (Let) militant in Rajouri district, defence sources said.

Acting on a tip off, troops of Rastriya Rifle (RR) and Special Operation Group (SOG) of police launched a search operation in Shadra Sharief area of Rajouri district today.

During the operation LeT ultra Mir Mohmmad of Kishtwar district was arrested and one Chinese pistol, three magazines, and three grenades was recovered from his possession, sources added.

Later he was sent to Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC) for interrogation. Meanwhile, the RR troops arrested three people from Chatral area today. — Agencies

Jammu, October 7
The Army has adopted a five-pronged strategy to stamp out terror and bring peace and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir, a senior army official said.

" Due to the effectiveness of this strategy, the backbone of militancy has been broken," Northern command spokesperson Col D.K.Kachari told reporters.

The strategy included effectiveness of border fencing and effective patrolling, well-established and reliable network of intelligence gathering and effective counter-insurgency operations in hinterlands.

"The Army has been conducting counter-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir since 1989 at the behest of the civilian government," Col Kachari said, adding that over the years, the Army has been able to refine and innovate the conduct of these operations as also work in tandem with the people, the administration and the police.

Referring to counter-infiltration measures, he said the effectiveness of fencing on the LoC and high degree of alertness of patrolling troops have led to a decline in the rate of successful infiltration by militants.

He said the intelligence gathering machinery and network in the state was well-established and well-coordinated.

"Intelligence has been forthcoming and reliable tip-offs have become frequent, timely and accurate, leading to successful elimination of terrorists," he said, adding that a noticeable change in people was evident and the common man was now willing to disclose information about militants. The Army had been focusing on effective counter-terror operations in hinterlands and it had been able to effectively dominate the area.

The major success had been achieved against the terrorist leadership and rank and file leading to demoralisation of the cadres, Col Kachari said and added that 265 terrorists had been killed this year in hinterlands.

The support of civil population was an important factor in winning the war against terror, he said.

The Army was focusing on people-friendly operations and all such operations were conducted with care to ensure that the innocent were not harmed and that civilian casualties were minimum, he said.

Collateral damage was avoided some times even at the cost of delay in completion of operations and risk to own troops, he said, adding that against the number of troops deployed in the state and the intensity of operations, human right abuse was very minimal.

The Army had never resorted to the use of fighter aircraft, helicopter gunships, tanks and artillery fire in operations against terrorists like the US and Pakistan Army, he added.

Col Kachari said the ultimate settlement of insurgency in the state would have to be a political solution and not a military one. "The armed forces can only create conducive conditions. The Army in J&K has been conducting counter-terror operations in a manner that while militancy is being gradually eroded, favourable conditions are created for a political settlement." — PTI

Jammu, October 7
The disaster management cell of the state government has adopted various measures to minimise number of causalities and damage to property in case of a natural disaster.

As the state observes the third anniversary of the devastating October 8, 2005 earthquake, when more than 1,400 persons lost their lives in the Indian side of the Kashmir and around 70,000 on the other side of the border, the state administration is fully geared up to deal with any such calamity in the near future.

The disaster management cell established after the earthquake has been instrumental in not only spreading awareness amongst people, but also training them as how to minimise the number of causalities and damage to infrastructure if any such disaster takes place in future.

Speaking to The Tribune, project coordinator of the disaster management cell Amir Ali said, “Post October 2005 earthquake, we have concentrated the most on spreading awareness and on capacity building.”

He said his department had launched a massive awareness campaign to educate common people about what measures should be adopted if any disaster strikes again.

He said in capacity building, the department had trained over 500 engineers to construct earthquake-resistant structures.

“Besides 500 engineers, we have trained masons, architects to construct earthquake-resistant structures,” Amir said.

He said the department had launched a Techno Legal Regime so as to amend the building laws to enforce construction of earthquake-resistant structures in the state.

“So far, there is no such law to enforce people to construct earthquake-resistant structures, so the Techno Legal Regime was introduced to amend the existing building laws. The draft of new law is ready and would be brought before the next Assembly for its approval,” he said.

Meanwhile, the chief secretary of the state had issued an interim order in March this year, making it compulsory for all government departments to construct their new buildings as per the BIS (Bureau of Indian standard) code.

Besides BIS code, the state has also introduced a ‘triage' system so as to identify the patients who need immediate treatment in case of any natural calamity.

Srinagar, October 7
The government has shifted nine senior officers with immediate effect. An official spokesman said here today that Nirmal Sharma, director, handlooms has been transferred as director, command area development, Jammu, vice Bashir Ahmad Dar.

Malik Manzoor Ahmad, under orders of posting as additional commissioner, commercial taxes (administration), Kashmir, has been posted as member, Services Selection Board, vice Mushtaq Ahmad Mir.

Charanjit Singh, additional district development commissioner, Jammu, has been transferred as MD, J&K Handloom development Corporation.

Hemant Kumar Sharma, under orders of posting as additional district development commissioner, Kathua, has been posted as director, area planning and ex-officio special secretary, Planning and Development Department.

T. Angchok, under orders of posting as special secretary, Science and Technology Department, has been posted as additional district development commissioner, Jammu, vice Charanjit Singh.

Udhampur, October 7
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the much-talked about 450-MW Baglihar hydroelectric project at Chanderkot near Ramban on Friday.

The authorities have successfully completed the trial of the first phase of the project.

The Prime Minister will land at Udhampur on Friday morning. From there he would visit Chanderkot and would commission the project.

“Security has been intensified in the entire belt in view of the PM’s visit. Additional forces have already been deployed in the sensitive areas,” Hemant Kumar Lohia, DIG Doda-Ramban range, told The Tribune.

Senior officers of the state government and other agencies have been camping at Batote to supervise arrangements for the Prime Minister’s visit.

For the past month, the authorities have been conducting trial of the first phase of the project.

The power situation in Jammu and Kashmir is likely to ease this winter after commissioning of this project, which will generate 150-MW power in the first phase.

Phase I of the project worth Rs 5,002-cr would be commissioned while the work on the second phase involving an expenditure of Rs 3,800 crore will start soon.

Pertinent to mention here that Baglihar is the second major hydroelectric project, which would be commissioned this year.

In April, Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh had inaugurated Dul Hasti hydro electric project constructed by the National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) at Dul near Kishtwar.

Being constructed on the Chenab, the Baglihar project has been a contentious issue between India and Pakistan as the latter had charged India with violating the Indus Water Treaty.

As soon as construction of the project started in 1997, Pakistan raised objections. In 2005, Pakistan had sought the World Bank's intervention to stop construction of the Baglihar dam and the hydroelectricity power project. Following objections raised by Pakistan, the World Bank had appointed Raymond Lafittee as neutral expert.

After visiting the project site, Lafitee had given his report on February 2007 and allowed India to go ahead with the project with few modifications.

The Baglihar hydroelectric project, which was launched in 1997 with an estimated cost of Rs 2800 crore and was scheduled to be completed in 2003, completed with a cost of more than Rs 5000 crore.

Apart from objections from Pakistan, the Baglihar project faced number of problems, including financial and land acquisition, since it was launched.

The two tunnels of the project were blocked in 2005 due to floods leading to further delay in commissioning of the project.

Blockade of tunnels led to a loss of Rs 300 crore, of which, Rs 100 crore will be borne by the insurance company.

Keeping in view the visit of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, senior officers, including chief secretary S S Kapoor, have been camping at Batote to supervise all the arrangements. Senior officers of the Power Development Corporation are also camping at Chanderkot.

Jammu, October 7
For the past 27 years, he and his colleagues have become instrumental in weaving an “unbreakable” bond between the Hindu and Muslim communities.

For these many years, Mohammed Rehan Thekedar (55), a resident of Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, has been coming to Jammu to make the effigies of demon kings Ravan, Meghnath and Kumbkaran, which are set on flames on the day of Vijay Dashami (Dussehra).

Rehan has been supplying effigies of the demon kings to almost all the areas of Jammu and the Kashmir valley. So to make these effigies, he along with 30 of his artistes camps in the city for more than a month.

“We supply effigies of demon kings to almost all the areas in J&K and have been doing so for the past more than 27 years,” said Rehan.

He said, “It takes more than one month to make these effigies so we camp in the city a month prior to the celebrations.”

The members of Rehan’s team said they feel elated when their creations were set of fire.

“We anxiously wait for the day, this is an art that we learnt from our parents and we feel happy when these effigies are ignited,” said Mohammed Gyas-ud-din (32), an artiste in Rehan’s team.

He said, “From day one, when we start making these effigies, we know that all our creations would be reduced to ashes.”

He said the materials used to make the effigies of these demon kings are brought from Meerut.

Majority of the members in Rehan's team are from the Muslim community and he felt “proud” that people love and respect him and every year invite his team to make these effigies.

“The festival of Dusehra showcases the victory of good over evil, and our country has been an epitome of communal harmony. Despite being Muslims, we have been making the effigies for Hindu festivals for past many generations,” said Mohammed Gyas-ud-din.

He said, “For the past two years we have been celebrating Eid with the people of Jammu who treat us like their family members.”

He said making effigies was not their only source of income, but many of them were professionals who work with other private firms or had their own land where they work as farmers.

“Our livelihood does not depend on making these effigies, though we get paid for making them but this is our contribution in the religious fervor of our Hindu counterparts,” said Mohammed Gyas-ud-din.

Srinagar, October 7
The Majlis Shoura of breakaway Hurriyat Conference (HC) has appointed Ghulam Nabi Sumbji as acting chairman of the amalgam because of the ill-health of chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who is being shifted to Delhi for treatment.

A spokesman of the Hurriyat Conference said here today that members of the Majlis Shoura, the highest decision-making body of the amalgam, unanimously decided to appoint Sumbji as the acting chairman.

He will function as acting chairman of the Hurriyat Conference in the absence of Geelani, who has been advised to get his pacemaker replaced.

The spokesman said the condition of Geelani had deteriorated because of his continuous detention and house arrest. He was admitted to a local hospital on October 5.

However, the doctors have now advised him to go for replacement of the pacemaker in Escorts Hospital at Delhi.

The spokesman said Geelani would leave soon for Delhi. However, in a message to the people of Kashmir, Geelani stressed the need for unity among all separatist groups.

He appealed to them to follow the programmes of the coordination committee (CC), spearheading the present agitation in Kashmir.

Geelani criticised the authorities for imposing curfew in the valley and arresting separatist leaders. He asked the people not to heed rumours and foil any attempt by miscreants to harm unity. — UNI

Srinagar, October 7
Over Rs 500 crore is being sepnt on 36 major projects in Kashmir and Ladakh Divisions under by the Jammu and Kashmir Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA), Kashmir divisional commissioner Masaud Samoon said here today.

An official spokesman said the the agency had taken up works under the transport and urban sectors, which involved upgradation of various roads and bridges and revamping of water supply schemes, water treatment plants and construction of drainage across the national highway. The projects taken up for upgradation included 19 road and 17 bridge projects involving an expenditure of Rs 390 crore.

Two projects costing Rs 9.82 crore had also been taken up for roads and bridges at Leh.

Udhampur, October 7
Meenu Atwal of Punjab has bagged the first prize in the All-India Devotional Song Competition, held in Yog Ashram in Katra on the occasion of Navratras.

Atwal was presented Rs 5,000 in prize money. The second prize was shared by Juhi Rai and Varun Kotwal who were presented Rs 3,000 each and the third prize of Rs 2,000 was also shared by Surinder Hans and Parveen.

In all 16 singers from within and outside the state participated in the competition.

In another event, Devinder Thakur of Udhampur was adjudged the best comedian in the most sought after event of the Navratra festival, ‘Hassaya Vayang Pratiyogita’, which concluded at Durga Bhawan last evening.

A cash prize of Rs 25,000 was awarded to him for his extraordinary performance. The show was organised by the Hassaya Vayang Manch, Katra with the help of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and State Tourism Department.

Mukesh Vohra of Amritsar and Manoj Saberwal of Jullunder were adjudged 2nd and 3rd and awarded cash prizes of Rs 10,000 and 5,000, respectively.

Jammu, October 7
The police today raided a video parlour here and arrested 10 persons, including its owner, for watching pornographic films.

On public complaints, a police team raided the video parlour in the Hari market area and arrested 10 persons, including owner Sunil Kumar.

The police registered cases against the owner for screening porno films and the rest for watching them. — PTI