Jammu, November 4
A massive multi-tier security grid comprising the central police forces and police has been finalised to ensure violence-free elections in the strife-torn Jammu and Kashmir.

At least 538 companies of the central police forces, 60 to 70 companies of the police and armed police will be deployed. Though the Rashtriya Rifles of the Army would not be directly associated in the electoral process, it would certainly play its role in the security grid.

Talking to The Tribune, K Rajindera, IGP Jammu zone, said every aspect of seven-phase elections from campaigning to polling and safety of political leaders, especially the contesting candidates has been minutely discussed.

It may be mentioned here that a large number of security forces have already arrived in the state.

Rajindera said since the election would be held in two-month period, security forces would be moving around as per requirements. Sources said contesting candidates in militancy infested areas of Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, and Udhampur districts have also been issued an advisory apprising them about dos and don'ts.

Apart from the central police forces, services of special operations group, special police officers and village defence committees too would be utilised, they added. Similarly adequate security arrangements would be made for employees deputed on poll duties, the IGP said.

Meanwhile, DGP Kuldeep Khoda took stock of the security arrangements in a high-level meeting.

Jammu, November 4
The state government has decided not to engage troops for maintaining law and order in the state during the ongoing poll process.

A senior police officer of the rank of the IGP today said: “We have not even asked the Army to be on the stand by, as we have sufficient companies of police and paramilitary forces to deal with any eventuality.”

He said, “If we feel need to seek help from the Army, we will do it depending upon the situation.” An Army officer confirmed that the government had not so far sought any assistance from “us” to maintain law and order during the elections.

The troops were, in fact, engaged in foiling infiltration bids from across the LoC, he added.

He said as many as seven infiltration bids from across Kupwara, Tangdhar and in Jammu sectors were foiled.

Instructions have been issued to the troops guarding the border that they should remain alert and carry out round the clock patrolling.

Srinagar, November 4
The Jammu and Kashmir government has asked the vernacular press to refrain from publication of advertisements of separatists asking people to boycott the ensuing elections in the state or be ready to lose its advertisements.

“You are advised to please refrain from publication of objectionable and seditious material in your newspapers failing which the government shall be constrained to take action under rules,” a letter addressed to the editors of newspapers has said.

The letter written by the Secretary to Government, Information Department, K.B. Jandial, and published by a leading English daily today said: “It has been observed that newspapers have been publishing materials which grossly violate the government advertisement policy under which government advertisements are being issued,” apparently referring to the statements of separatists calling for boycott of elections in the state.

This policy clearly prohibits publication of certain objectionable material. Any newspaper violating it is required to be de-listed from the list of newspapers approved for government advertisements, the letter said.

It further said: “I am confident that given our long association and friendly relationship coupled with your commitment for healthy journalism and peace and tranquillity of the state, no such occasion shall arise for us to take action.”

Reacting strongly to the government directive, separatists as well as leaders of political parties termed it as “undemocratic and objectionable.”

“We unanimously condemn the restrictions on press and extended our solidarity with the journalist fraternity. This is a totally uncalled for and undemocratic move by the government to gag the media,” chairman of moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said.

By such tactics, Mirwaiz said, the government was violating its own constitution, which favours right to freedom of expression.

He said the pro-freedom groups have never pressurised the journalists not to accommodate the official statements.

“We respect the freedom of press. Hurriyat and other pro-freedom groups in the valley are not banned groups but internationally recognised political organisations. The restrictions are unjustified and signify government’s frustration for failing to curb the ongoing resistance movement and anti-election campaign,” the Hurriyat chairman said.

State secretary of CPM M.Y. Tarigami said it was not fair to put unnecessary restrictions on media.

Senior leader of National Conference and former minister Ali Mohammad Sagar said media has every right to make a healthy criticism of the government or any political party.

People’s Democratic Front chief and former minister Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen said threatening media is nothing but an attack on the freedom of the press.

“Media is the fourth pillar of any democracy and it is good if it is more independent,” chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Party (Nationalist) Ghulam Hassan Mir said reacting to the threat.— PTI

Udhampur, November 4
Denied the ticket for the forthcoming assembly elections, senior Congress leaders of Udhampur district have raised a banner of revolt against the high command for, what they alleged, giving in to a a faction.

As the party has finalised the names for the Udhampur, Ramnagar and Chenani assembly constituencies, some senior leaders, who had staked claim on these seats, have called meetings of their supporters to devise a future strategy.

The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) and the BJP have already been facing a similar problem in Udhampur district after the announcement of their candidates.

Ashwani Khajuria, who was aspiring for the Udhampur seat, held a meeting of his supporters this afternoon to chalk out a strategy. Although Ashwani Khajuria has maintained a guarded silence, his supporters shouted slogans against the party high command. Ashwani Khajuria would disclose his future course of action tomorrow.

The Congress has finalised the name of Brij Mohan Sharma for Udhampur, Krishan Lal Bhagat for the Chenani reserved seat and Thakur Dass for Ramnagar. More than 12 leaders had staked their claim on the Udhampur seat.

Aspiring to contest the elections from Chenani, district president of Intuc Somnath had resigned from government service but he was denied the mandate. "I have called a meeting of my supporters to discuss the future course of action", Somnath said while expressing anguish over the denial of ticket. A strong lobby of Congress workers was demanding the mandate for Somnath as he belongs to Chenani. Krishan Lal Bhagat, who was allotted the party ticket, had lost the two successive elections from this constituency in 1996 and 2002.

Six candidates had staked their claim on the Ramnagar seat, including former minister Yashpal Khajuria and general secretary of the pradesh Youth Congress R.S. Pathania. Thakur Dass, who is considered a confidant of Lok Sabha member Lal Singh, has been allotted the Ramnagar seat. Before joining the Congress, Thakur Dass was an active member of the JKNPP. Ramnagar is considered as the JKNPP stronghold as its leader, Harsh Dev Singh, won this seat in two successive assembly elections.

Jammu, November 4
The Congress last night released its second list of 31 candidates for the Assembly seats going to the polls in the second, third, fourth and fifth phases.

Prominent among those featuring in the list are former ministers Abdul Ghani Vakil and Taj Mohiuddin. Following is the list of candidates along with their constituencies

Mohd Yasin Shah (Karnah), Chaudhary Salamuddin (Kupwara), Farooq Ahmad Mir (Lolab), Mohd Amin Khan Kutlari (Langate), Taj Mohiuddin (Uri), Abdul Gani Vakil (Rafiabad), Abdul Rashid (Sopore), Mohd Muzafar Paray (Sangarma), Ghulam Nabi Monga (Baramulla), Ghulam Hassan Shah (Kangan), Sheikh Mohammad Ashfaq (Ganderbal), Ghulam Nabi Mir Lasjan (Chadoora), Fayaz Rahat (Badgam), Master Mohammad Maqbool (Charari Sharief), S Surinder Singh (Tral), Mohammad Anwar Bhat (Pampore), Mohd Maqbool Bhat (Pulwama), Peer Nazir Ahmad (Wachi), Mohd Safi Bandey (Shopian), Jugal Kishore (Reasi), Aijaz Ahmed (Gool Arnas), Brij Mohan Sharma (Udhampur), Krishan Chander Bhagat (Chanani-SC), Thakur Das (Ramnagar), Prem Sagar (Bani), Kanta Andotra (Basohli), Manohar Lal Sharma (Billawar), Girdhari Lal (Hiranagar-SC), Dr Ramesh Chander(Nowshera), Thakur Puran Singh (Darhal) and Shabir Ahmad Khan (Rajouri).

Jammu, November 4
The National Conference, even in the backdrop of the Amarnath land agitation, doesn’t see the BJP as a force that can damage its poll prospects in Jammu.

The BJP projected the NC as a Kashmir-centric party and alleged that the latter worked against the interests of Jammu during the two-month-long agitation. Talking to The Tribune, former finance minister and senior NC leader Abdul Rahim Rather said in fact the party played a significant role in ending the stalemate over the land dispute.

Rather said: “We reject communal and regional politics and ours being a secular party, we are committed for the equitable development of all the three regions. We have envisaged a planning mechanism in our recently released vision document.”

When asked how the NC would counter BJP’s campaign, he said: “We don’t need any strategy to counter divisive politics. The finance commission is already in place and once the state planning commission was set up it won't be possible for any government to discriminate with any region.”

During the coalition rule, there had been enormous increase in socio-economic and political problems of the people and now they desperately want the NC back, he claimed.

Party’s provincial president and former minister Ajay Sadhotra said people know about real culprits responsible for the Amarnath land dispute. Instead of raising fingers on others, the BJP should better do some soul-searching, he said.

He said the BJP has already been under fire from its own workers and it should better set its own house in order. As far as we are concerned people would be apprised about party policies and programmes and they would decide about what actually they want.

Jammu, November 4
Even as the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti has urged all the “pro-Jammu outfits” to jointly contest the Assembly election to wipe out Kashmir-centric parties, its chances appear bleak and division of the pro-land agitation vote imminent.

Among the samiti’s key constituents, the BJP and the Jammu State Morcha (Progressive) are fielding their candidates at almost all the Hindu-majority Assembly seats in the Jammu region.

In such a scenario, the samiti will face a dilemma in extending its support to any party on various seats.

Jammu (West) Assembly seat, considered “safe” by the BJP, is one of them. While the BJP has fielded senior party leader and former Union minister Chaman Lal Gupta, morcha president Virender Kumar Gupta would himself contest the seat.

The division of votes between two Guptas may benefit Congress stalwart and former deputy chief minister Mangat Ram Sharma who is most likely to contest the seat.

In the last elections, Sharma had polled 25,627 votes and defeated Morcha chief by 7,923 votes.

Another seat with a similar scenario is Bishnah from where the BJP has fielded land protester Kuldeep Verma’s widow Shilpi Verma. In the last elections, Ashwani Kumar Sharma, an independent, had won the seat by 4,663 votes. Sharma too had supported the Amarnath land agitation.

The morcha president said they would be contesting Samba, Vijaypur, Bishnah, Suchetgarh, Gandhinagar, RS Pura, Suchetgarh, Jammu East, Jammu West, Reasi Assembly constituencies, besides all three seats of Udhampur district.

Regarding the samiti’s suggestion to contest jointly, he claimed that the samiti had also taken up the matter with the BJP, but “did not receive any positive response” from the party.

“We even asked the BJP to assess the situation and support candidates from any of our parties depending upon the winning chance,” he said, hoping that there would be no division of votes.

He said the people today were well aware and they would only vote for the candidate having bright winning prospects.

However, he didn’t rule out the possibility of other parties taking advantage of the situation. Political observers opine that the division of vote among the samiti’s constituents in the Hindu-majority areas will give an opportunity to the parties like the Congress and National Conference to score crucial victories.

Also if some other “pro-Jammu” outfits like the Duggar Pradesh Party, Jammu State Front or Kranti Dal jump into the electoral fray, it will lead to further division of votes.

Samiti spokesperson Narinder Singh said the elections in a majority of the seats in Jammu region will take place next month and it will be too premature to reach any conclusion regarding the stand of pro-Jammu outfits.

“We are talking to various outfits and the process to devise a formula is underway,” he said, adding that their core committee would soon meet to chalk out the samiti’s poll strategy.

Srinagar, November 4
Separatist Abdul Manan Bukhari was arrested when he emerged out of the headquarters of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat here today, amalgam sources said. Bukhari was later lodged in Rajbagh police station.

Bukhari is also chairman of the Republican Party, they said. The police neither confirmed nor denied his arrest. A number of prominent separatist leaders were arrested, mostly under the Public Safety Act, in the run-up to the staggered Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

More than 100 leaders and workers of both Hurriyat factions, besides senior separatist leaders, including JKLF chief Mohammad Yaseen Malik, Democratic Freedom Party chairman Shabir Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Jamait-ul-Ahalhadeen Moulana Showkat Ahmad Shah, Dukhtaran-e-Milat chief Aasiya Andrabi and three acting chairmen of the breakaway HC, have been arrested during the past two months.

A majority of them were later detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) for two months to prevent them from leading an anti-poll campaign in the valley.— Agencies

Jammu, November 4
Just days ahead of the Assembly elections in the state, the BSF foiled a major infiltration bid near the international border in the Makwal sector of the Jammu division last night.

Two BSF soldiers, identified as constable D.C. Bohra and head constable Harbans Lal of the 141 Battalion, were injured in the operation.

The infiltration attempt was supported by heavy fire by the Pakistani Rangers, violating the November 2003 ceasefire between the two neighboring countries.

The Rangers used automatic rifles and even fired rockets to help the bid.

“It was a serious infiltration attempt supported by the heavy firing from across the border, but the BSF jawans foiled the bid in which two of the soldiers were injured,” IGP Jammu range K. Rajindera told The Tribune.

According to official sources, the BSF troops posted at the Durga outpost observed suspicious movement at the other side of the border.

The troops first challenged them, but the infiltrators started firing indiscriminately on the post. In the meantime, the Rangers also opened fire on the BSF post.

“The fire continued for sometime after which the militants fled back to the Pakistani side,” the IGP said.

Expressed concern over the rise in infiltration attempts, Rajindera said: “We saw militants try to implement the election boycott call of the separatists by killing the candidates and civilians during the elections in 1996 and 2002, but now most of their cadre has been eliminated so their leadership from across the border is desperate to push in large number of trained terrorists to disrupt the election process,”

He said: “But stringent measures are on to foil the nefarious designs.”

Srinagar, November 4
One of the most-dreaded Hizbul Mujahideen militant, whose arrest in March was projected as a big success, today escaped from police custody at Pulwama's district court complex where he had been brought for a routine court appearance.

Rayees Ahmad Dar, alias Rayees Kachroo, fired at cops and escaped in the ensuing melee. There were conflicting versions about his escape with some saying that Kachroo was carrying a pistol but others alleging that he snatched the service weapon from a cop, helped by some of his accomplices. Two police personnel were injured in firing. A stunned police department has launched a massive operation in Pulwama to nab him.

An expert in manufacturing lethal explosives, Kachroo is responsible for killing of over 20 security personnel in different IED blasts executed by him. His active presence in Pulwama, his home district, spelt terror for security personnel before his arrest on March 31 as he frequently targeted them.

One of the most serious attacks by Kachroo was the killing of 11 Army men, including Major Lalit, in an IED blast in Pulwama in December, 2004. He also frequently targeted CRPF battalions active in the area, using his influence in the villages to hide IEDs on roads frequented by the security forces.

Though the Hizbul Mujahideen no longer has the same effective and well-oiled network in south Kashmir, where its workers once abounded, sympathies for the outfit are still palpable and an intelligent organiser like him is bound to exploit it, a senior official said. After he was arrested on March 31, Kashmir's then IG S.M. Sahai had termed Kachroo's arrest as a "significant success". 

Jammu, November 4
Seems the ban on smoking in public places is not strictly enforced in Jammu as many people can be seen openly “violating” it.

This is in gross violation of the Supreme Court’s orders, which has banned smoking in public places. A notification in this regard was also issued by the Union Health Ministry. Be it the busy Raghunath Bazaar, Parade market, bus stand or any state government office in Jammu city, people openly flout rules, without the threat of being caught or fined.

“Despite the ban on smoking at public places, people smoke fearlessly in public places and at bus stops. The law should be strictly enforced,” Poonam Choudhary, a passenger, said.

A municipal corporation employee on the basis of anonymity said: “Many employees in the municipal corporation openly violate the ban.” The scene is no different in the police stations. “People smoke in police stations and offices,” a police officer spoke on the condition of anonymity.

However, contrary to this, the ban on smoking is strictly enforced in all central government offices located in Jammu. The ban is imposed in letter and spirit at the railway station by the authorities. People found smoking at the railway station are caught and fined.

Meanwhile, deputy commissioner Mandeep K. Bhandari said: “Directions have already been given to the authorities to enforce the ban strictly at all public places”.

Jammu, November 4
The anti-ragging campaign set out by Jammu University with the start of new academic year has failed to yield desired results, as the menace is still going on unabated.

According to reports, in mid July, all departments of the university were asked to take stringent anti-ragging measures in the light of apex court’s directions. Accordingly, anti-ragging committees in the respective departments, including faculty members, research scholars and senior students, were constituted.

Hoardings warning strict penalties against students, including the cancellation of admission of violators resorting to ragging, were put up in several places on the campus.

Contrary to it, such committees remained restricted to papers only and new entrants in most of the departments were harassed in the name of ‘intros’ or ‘preparation for fresher party or instilling etiquette in juniors’.

Rohit Jalotra, a student of the Law School, rued, “I felt embarrassed when my senior kicked and punched me for no fault on Monday.” “I was not aware that he was my senior, so I did not wish him. He thrashed me in front of everyone,” he said. He alleged till now no formal action had been initiated against the accused.

Other new entrants to the varsity said when they reached out to the administration, it preferred to hush up the matter instead of initiating action against the accused.

“As all student organisations are busy with political campaigns in the wake of elections, we have nowhere to go to highlight grievances,” they lamented. President of the Progressive Students Union Rahul said: “Ragging is still prevalent in hostels and in most of the science departments .”

Alleging that no action has been taken over complains filed with the office of the Dean Student Welfare from time-to-time, he urged for the translation of policies into actions to completely root out the menace. When contacted Dean Student Welfare, D.S. Bahu said they had received not even a single complaint of ragging, while terming the incident involving Rohit Jalotra as “a clash between two parties.”

Jammu, November 4
The Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu, has initiated a programme on lac cultivation from ber and palas trees to help raise the income of poor farmers of the Kandi region.

The programme has been planned in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums (IINRG), Ranchi (Jharkhand). After carrying out successful trials, the institutes organised an on-farm training programme at Raya village, near Jammu.

Dr V. Kaul, professor, Division of Entomology at SKUAST, urged the farmers to take to lac cultivation on a wider scale and assured all possible help in this connection. At the outset the farmers were introduced to the importance and scope of lac and its market potential in India through a 30-minute video film produced by the IINRG.

Thereafter, they were exposed to a field demonstration by the Division of Entomology and imparted various practical skills on brood lac and stick lac production.

Dr Monobrullah, a senior scientist at IINRG, elaborated on various uses of lac for cosmetics, electrical industry, dyeing of wool, coatings in medicinal formulations, handicrafts, ethnic jewellery etc and deliberated upon the prerequisites and market opportunities of lac for Jammu farmers.

He also stressed that lac demand in J&K was ever-increasing as it is used in coating of apples for preventing post harvest losses.

Responding the queries on the economics of production, R.K. Gupta, associate professor, Division of Entomology, said on the basis of trials conducted at Jammu, on an average one ber plant can yield about 10 kg of brood lac which cost about Rs 1,000 in the Indian market. Since, in a year two crops can be taken alternatively on ber and palas, 50 plants can fetch a net profit of about Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000. Farmers were also provided with 10 kg of brood lac for inoculation of 5 palas plants in their respective farm at 2 kg/plant.

They were themselves engaged for inoculation of about 20 palas trees of Ashok Singh Jamwal of Suchani village who volunteered to adopt its cultivation under the supervision of Kamlesh Bali and will be demonstrated all the operations in future on this farm till the maturity of crop in July 2009.

Srinagar, November 4
More than 50 per cent of Kashmiris are suffering from depression and are unwilling to share their psychiatric problems even with doctors.

The findings were divulged during a day-long seminar organised by the Advanced Institute for Management of Stress and lifestyle problems here at the convocation centre of Kashmir University.

Dr Mohammad Ashraf Khan, administrator, AIMS, said more than 50 pc of adult population in the Kashmir valley had been affected due to stress and other disorders. Due to the absence of separate mental health centre, such people were facing tremendous hardships, he added. Expressing dismay over the lapse of funds under the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), Prof Mushtaq Margoob, director, AIMS, said Rs 124 crore got lapsed during the last year. He said for the current year, nearly Rs 1,100 crore had been earmarked under the NMHP.

Vice-chancellor of the university Prof Reyaz Punjabi said conflict was one of the major reasons for mental and other disorders in the valley. 

Jammu, November 4
On the second day of the north zone inter-university table tennis (men and women) championship 2008-09; MDU, Rohtak, beat HP University, Shimla, by 3-1 in women section.

Similarly, in another event of same category, Delhi University beat CCS, Merut, by 3-0, whereas Punjab University, Chandigarh , trounced host Jammu University by 3-0.

Also RML Avadh University got better off GADVS University by 3-2 and PTU, Jalandhar, beat MJP, Rohilkand, by 3-0.

In men category, Kumaun University, Nanital, beat HP University by straight 3-0 sets, while PTU, Jalandhar, beat CSJ University , Kanpur, by 3-2. Apart from it, Allahabad University beat Aligarh University by 3-1 and MJP, Barelly, defeated Garhwal University by 3-1.