Srinagar, November 1
The police lathicharged and lobbed tear gas shells to quell demonstrators in the Maisuma area of central Lal Chowk here protesting against the detention of JKLF chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik, who was shifted to Jammu under the Public Safety Act today.

Malik, along with Jamiat-e-Ahl-e-Hadeeth chief, Showkat Ahmad Shah, was under detention at Sumbal in Bandipore district of north Kashmir since October 24 last, a day after they led an anti-election rally at Hajin.

A spokesman of the JKLF condemned the police action to detain Malik under the PSA, after having been lodged in police station, Sumbal for over a week.

Soon after the news of the arrest and shifting of Malik to district jail, Jammu, spread in Maisuma, where the office of the JKLF is located, the youth held protest demonstrations.

Shops and business establishments in the area were closed while the traffic was diverted to other routes.

Malik’s arrest is part of the crackdown on separatist leaders and members of the Coordination Committee who were planning to launch a massive anti-election campaign in the valley.

The process of elections in phases has already set into motion with the issuance of notification to first two phases. Three seats in Bandipore district and two in Ganderbal district in Kashmir valley, are going to the polls in the first two phases on November 17 and 23, respectively.

Other separatist leaders, who have been detained ahead of the elections, include Shabir Shah, Mohammad Ashraf Sahrai, Asiya Andrabi, Ghulam Nabi Sumjhi, nayeem Ahmad Khan, G M Hubbi and Hakeem Abdul Rashid.

APHC chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who addressed Friday congregation at Jamia Masjid here yesterday, was also kept under house arrest for more than a week.

Meanwhile, a spokesman of the APHC has circulated the grounds of detention under PSA of the provincial president, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, who was held in Tangmarg area of Baramulla district on October 27.

Kargil, November 1
Tashi Dewa tries hard to brush aside the issue of the increasingly diluting influence of his tribe's ancient and unique customs, but he soon gives up.

“People change with times. Some of us are trying hard to retain our Aryan identities but youngsters think differently”, says the 64-year-old head of miniscule Brokpas, who claim to be the progenies of Greek monarch, Alexander the Great, living in Darchik village in Kargil district.

Scattered across not more than six villages tucked into the high mountains of Kargil and Leh districts, Brokpas say they are the true Aryans who have kept their racial identities pure by keeping away from mainstream population and marrying strictly into their community. It no longer rings as true as it used to a few decades back.

Brokpas, who have generally sharp and straight features, a distinguishing attribute of these Aryans, say they trace their family tree to the great king and his Greek compatriots, many of whom stayed back in the Indian sub-continent after their world-winning conquest.

“We were spread across the Ladakh-Gilgil belt and have been living here since time immemorial,” Kunchuk, a Brokpa villager, said.

Among the unique customs of this tribe have been their flowery dresses, their strict consumption of goat milk and meat and avoidance of any other animal product, use of scented burnt herbs to clean themselves and stone-made utensils to cook and worship their deities.

The government and travel groups continue to advertise these features to attract tourists to the region.

However, the competitive tendencies of organised religions to widen their folds have been taking a toll on this distinct tribe. Dewa says his tribesmen who settled in the Drass-Gilgit belt, a large part of which is now in Pakistan, were slowly assimilated into Islam and a couple of thousands of them living in Leh and bordering Kargil villages have come under Buddhist influence.

Many Brokpas living in Garchik, Garkhon and Dah villages have married Buddhists and their traditional customs are fast getting marginalised. In a sense, they have also benefited with modern education reaching them but their identity is threatened.

Kunchuk says Buddhist elite looks down upon them and avoids any kinship. “We are still Aryans in many ways but may not be so 20 years down the line”, Dewa says.

Leh, November 1
Unlike 2002 Assembly election when all political parties dissolved their units to form the Ladakh Union Territory Front and nominated two candidates for Leh and Nobra constituencies unanimously, there are 15 candidates in the fray this time for the two seats.

In Leh, the main contest is likely to be between two prominent leaders, former power minister Nawang Rigzin Jora (contesting on the mandate of Indian National Congress) and the sitting MP Thusptan Chhewang (contesting independently on behalf of the Ladakh Union Territory Front, an unregistered political party based in Leh and Kargil districts).

Both the candidates have stronghold in the constituency. The LUTF is the ruling party of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh. There are three more parties --- Panthers Party, BSP and PDP--- that are contesting the election this time.

Besides Jora and Chhewang, the five other candidates from Leh are Mohd Ramzan (Panthers Party), Phunchok Tundup (BSP), Tashi Galsion (PDP), independents Tsering Dorjai and Tsering Namgail.

For the Nubra constituency, there are eight candidates in fray. They are Tsweang Rigzin (INC) and seven independent candidates, including former minister Tsetan Namgail.

Jammu, November 1
The National Conference (NC) plans to put in place an effective mechanism to be devised and implemented through elected representatives to address regional and sub-regional aspirations of the people of the state.

Talking to The Tribune, NC president Omar Abdullah said: “We have been listening about the discrimination issue from the people in different parts of the state and we have decided that if voted to power we will address this issue with all our sincerity.”

He admitted that the grudge regarding discrimination is prevalent not only at the regional level but also at the sub-regional level.

He said they would set up a fact finding commission under a sitting or retired Supreme Court Judge hailing from the state other than Jammu and Kashmir.

The commission would thoroughly look into the planning and execution in all three regions --- Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh --- and come out with a clear picture as to what all the state's regions and sub-regions have got till now in terms of development, employment and other key areas.

The commission will also suggest a mechanism to initiate corrective measures.

The party’s Vision Document also states, “The NC is conscious of the regional and sub-regional aspirations of the people of the state. It shall ensure that these aspirations are addressed adequately.”

The NC also intends to consider duplicating the Hill Development Council Model of planning in far-flung and backward areas of the state and gradually extend this pattern to all the districts.

“This initiative will hopefully accelerate the pace of development and sharpen the response to felt needs of the people through their participation. Through these models of development, the National Conference shall ensure that autonomy is given expression, in real terms on the ground, at the regional and sub-regional levels,” says the document.

“The Hill Development Council structure ensured that development became visible on the ground, flow of money was smooth, their utilisation was proper and execution of works was closely monitored. As such this experiment has without doubt proved a success because of people’s active participation through their elected representatives,” it adds.

It may be mentioned here that the two-month long Amarnath land agitation in Jammu region was attributed by many to the pent up anger among the people over the alleged discrimination that they have been facing for the last over 60 years.

Jammu, November 1
A high-level meeting of police officials has reviewed the security arrangements in the region ahead of the ensuing assembly elections and annual Darbar Move in Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting last evening headed by Inspector General (Jammu zone) K Rajindra discussed all necessary steps to be taken for smooth conduct of Assembly elections and maintaining law and order during the annual Darbar Move, a police spokesman said here today.

The IG asked police personnel to remain alert to keep the trouble mongers at bay and ensure that the upcoming polls are held in a peaceful atmosphere.

“Frequent checking and search operations should be launched in suspected areas and hard work is required to neutralise the dreaded militants operating inside the territory,” Rajindra said during the meeting.

Further he advised the police personnel to ensure humane approach while dealing with public. However, he cautioned them to remain extra vigilant and stern while dealing with criminals and anti-social elements.

“It is necessary to remain extremely vigilant and alert in view of the forthcoming general Assembly elections in the state as terrorists and anti-national elements seem to be determined to disturb peace,” he added.

The IG was apprised of the overall security scenario prevailing in the region. The meeting was attended by DIG of Jammu range A.Q. Manhas, SSP (PCR) Shakeel Ahmed and SSP of Jammu Manohar Singh among others. — PTI

Rajouri, November 1
Former National Conference (NC) MLA Rashpal Singh on Friday filed nomination for the Kalakote assembly constituency.

The border district has four assembly segments, which are Kalakote, Nowshera, Rajouri and Darhal.

Srinagar, November 1
The PDP on Saturday announced its second list of 25 candidates for the Assembly elections in the state.

They are Javed Mustafa Mir for Chadoora constituency, Ghulam Nabi Lone, Charar-e-Sharif, Swaran Singh, Marh, Rafi Ahmad Mir, Pehalgam, Sarpanj Arshad from Nowshera, Saif-u-Din Bhat from Khan Sahib, Sardar Trilok Singh from Sucehtgarh, Ms Shamshad from Gool Arnas, Abdul Haq Khan from Lolab, Raja Manzoor from Karnah, Qazi Mohammad Afzal from Ganderbal, Sardar Manjeet Singh from Vijaypore, A.R Veeri from Bijbehara, Ms Mumtaz from Gulabgarh, Mohammad Shafi from Beerwah, Choudry Zulfikar from Darhaal, Master Tassaduq Hussain from Rajouri, Khalil Quershi from Kalakote, Sartaj Madni from Devsar, Abdul Aziz Zargar from Noorabad, Peerzada Mansoor Hussain from Shangus, Farooq Andrabi from Dooru, Abdul Gaffar Sofi from Shalibugh, Nazir Ahmad Lawey from Kulgam and S Iqbal from Kokernag Assembly segments. 

Srinagar, November 1
All government offices were closed here today as part of the biennial 'Durbar Move' practice in Jammu and Kashmir.

These will reopen in winter capital Jammu on November 10. While the civil secretariat offices closed yesterday, rest of the offices moving to Jammu for the six months of winter period closed today, official sources said. The offices will now open in Jammu on November 10, the sources said.

'Durbar Move' is a practice started by Dogra Maharajas of the state in late nineteenth century as per which the state government functions in Srinagar for six summer months and in Jammu for the rest of the winter period.

Tens of thousands of files are shifted from one capital to the other as part of the practice while more than one lakh employees also shift base during the move period.

Meanwhile, with onset of winter, the school and office timings in Kashmir valley have been changed from today. The school timing in the Kashmir division (winter zone) will be from 11 AM to 4 PM from today, Director school Education Kashmir Shugafta Parveen said in a statement. While, the government office timing will be from 10.30 AM to 4.30 PM from today. — PTI

Jammu, November 1
The State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) is on the verge of bankruptcy. There are numerous problems that the corporation faces. Chief among them are being overstaffed, old rickety vehicles, insufficient number of buses etc.

Even as the state government has introduced the Golden Handshake Scheme to offload excess flab from the SRTC, yet it needs overhauling and upgrade to overcome its financial condition.

Over 4,500 persons have been employed for the smooth functioning of 1,132 commercial vehicles in the state. Of these, nearly 375 are being operated in the Jammu region. Notably, four years ago, the number of vehicles was 1,280.

According to SRTC sources, 25 per cent of the buses were on the verge of phasing out. They said a number of buses had exhausted their engine life as they had crossed the limit of five lakh km. Driving these buses posed a danger to the lives of passengers, sources said.

Ashok Mehra, president, SRTC Workers Union, Jammu, said the SRTC required a fleet of 1,500 commercial vehicles for the smooth operation and 25 per cent of the buses were in poor state and needed to be phased out. Mehra said the union had brought the matter to the notice of Governor N.N. Vohra during the last meeting.

He said Vohra had assured to add nearly 500 buses once the S.L Bhat committee, constituted to look into demands of the union and needs of the SRTC, was submitted.

He said the other main demand of the union to turn the corporation into a profitable entity was to hand over the transportation on the national road from Jammu to Srinagar to the SRTC.

The corporation has also received Rs 13 crore to pay those employees opting for the voluntary retirement scheme (VRS). With this the corporation wanted to overcome continuous losses and pay back debt to the government and Jammu and Kashmir Bank.

Jammu, November 1
The Jammu State Morcha (P) has strongly condemned, what it terms the “discriminatory attitude of the officials of the state government,” who according to the party leaders are bent upon harming the business interests of the Jammu region.

Morcha president Virender Gupta and vice-president Anil Gour in a joint statement issued here said: “The advisers to Governor N.N. Vohra and the commissioner, secretaries of the state, who have been vested with the powers of Cabinet ministers, are not helping Jammu-based businessmen in anyway.”

Gupta said: “The inaction on their part is creating frustration and resentment among them creating a hapless situation in the business community”.

Gupta alleged that tenders being submitted by the Jammu-based businessmen in the valley were being sidelined even if their bids were the lowest.

“In various cases, tenders were not called at all and orders were placed to the favourite suppliers. In particular, the medical superintendents of the Jawaharlal Memorial Hospital and Lal Ded Hospital made purchases ignoring the lowest bids submitted by Jammu businessmen”, Gupta alleged.

He said the act was not only limited to a particular hospital but was also shared by the overall medical department. “Even when the bids are invited for the whole state, Jammu businessmen are either ignored or sidelined,” Gupta averred.

Jammu, November 1
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court quashed the charges framed by Budgam Sessions Judge against three police officials, holding that they were not given fair trial.

Directing to hold fresh hearing in a custodial death case involving the policemen, the court said it clearly reveals that at the time of framing of charges the accused remained unrepresented by the counsel.

The trial court had an obligation to provide legal assistance to petitioners by invoking Section 340-A of the CrPC.

On recommendations of the State Human Rights Commission, the Crime Branch registered an FIR against three police officials for custodial death of Mohammad Ayoub Dar during interrogation in the intervening night of June 1-2, 1999 at Dalwan and presented a charge-sheet before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Budgam, after recording statements of witnesses.

Jammu, November 1
The residents of Bhawani Nagar, Gole Pulley Talab Tillo, Saraswati Vihar, Govind Nagar, SOS and Munshichak Gole Talab Tillo roads are perturbed over the deplorable condition of roads in their area for the past many months.

They rue that the roads were dug up for laying sewerage but were not repaired subsequently. “The roads are full with streams of boulders and dirt and only urgent repair and metalling can put an end to our woes.”

Residents informed that after the construction of drains, the department concerned left the roads in a dilapidated condition making it difficult for people to drive on the road. This poses a safety hazard and is a nightmare for drivers.

More so, the number of accidents has also increased. Suraj Prakash of Govind Nagar said heavy movement of traffic on these roads necessitated immediate attention of the authorities. He said: “The authorities wake up only after mishaps as the roads are in no way motorable.”

Besides, it poses a great health hazard to the residents since streams of traffic cause heavy dust to choke the whole surrounding. Suraj added that there was invariably a risk of food being contaminated in the shops located in the area.

A senior official of the PWD department said roads were dug up by the Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) to lay sewerage pipes. As per the norms, the agency involved in the task would have to repair the road, he added.

A senior official of the ERA said: “Repair works got delayed due to the two-month-long agitation. Now, with the enforcement of the code of conduct for the Assembly elections, it will take some more time.”

Jammu, November 1
The Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti has strongly reacted to what it termed a “dubious conspiracy to win over the witnesses and hoodwink the proceedings” of Justice O.P. Sharma Commission inquiring into Kuldeep Verma’s death and disrespect shown to his body during the Amarnath land agitation.

Addressing a press conference here, Samiti’s legal cell members K.K. Proch and Ramesh Arora said the police officials “involved in the incident” have challenged the credentials of the commission on frivolous, false, fabricated and manipulated grounds.

According to them, the names of then SSP Alok Kumar, SP Shailendra Singh and DySPs ML Kaith and Swatanter Arora figured in various affidavits submitted to the commission.

However, these officials moved an application to the law secretary of the state with malafide intention. “The cops have alleged illegalities by the commission and also charged it with showing undue favour to the samiti members,” they added.

According to them, the application was moved yesterday when Kuldeep’s widow Shilpi Verma and brother Surinder Kumar had appeared before the commission for recording their statements.

Seeking immediate intervention by Governor N.N. Vohra into the matter, they demanded that the plea submitted by the cops be dismissed without any delay.

“It is a known fact that the presiding officer of the commission is an undisputed personality. The application has been made with the sole intention to prolong and delay the proceedings before the commission and temper with the evidence, which is to go against the police personnel. In these circumstances the Commission has adjourned the proceedings saying the government should decide the plea immediately,” they said.

“We urge the Governor to intervene forthwith and instruct the Commission to proceed with the matter in hand as there is no low which can stop the Commission from conducting its proceedings. We only intend that all those responsible for showing disrespect to the corpus of Kuldeep Verma be sternly dealt with under law,” the samiti legal cell members averred.

Meanwhile, the Sangharsh Samiti has also decided to call on the Governor over the issue very soon.

Jammu, November 1
The Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti today said it would not campaign for any candidate in the upcoming seven-phased assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir. “We will not campaign for any candidate, including Shilpi Verma -- wife of Kuldeep Verma who committed suicide during the agitation,” co-convenor Tilak Raj Sharma said here.

The Samiti has no political agenda but will prefer coming to power those individuals or political outfits which will work for removal of “injustice and discrimination” meted out to the Jammu province, Sharma said.

When his attention was drawn to the October 31 deadline set by the Samiti to the state government to fulfill the commitments agreed between their committee and a panel set up Governor N N Vohra, co-convenor Tilak Raj Sharma said the organisation will hold a meeting within a day or two to discuss the future course of action. — PTI

Jammu, November 1
The J&K National United Front has alleged that the members of the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community were being harassed during enrolment or carrying out corrections in the electoral rolls.

Talking to The Tribune, front’s working president A.K. Dewani claimed that over 3,000 forms of Kashmiri migrants were lying with the Election Commission awaiting modification, but the EC authorities were “delaying” the process.

“They are creating difficult situation for the Kashmiri migrants who want to cast their vote,” he said, adding the community members have strong faith in the democratic process and they want to participate in it in large numbers.

“Amid the talk of poll boycott where apprehensions regarding representatives elected by five per cent ruling the remaining 95 per cent people are being raised, our community members can play a key role in boosting the participation in the Assembly elections,” he said.

The front has decided to lodge its protest with the chief electoral officer over the issue tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the front has also named its five candidates - Ashok Raina from Dooru, Desh Rattan Pandita from Wachi, Gulshan Sanotra from Baramulla, Rakesh Handoo from Hazratbal and RK Sehgal from Amira Kadal.