Udhampur, January 16
The Kishtwar Police arrested a top Hizbul Mujahiden (HM) militant who had masterminded the 1995 Republic Day blast at Moulana Azad Stadium, Jammu, in which 12 persons were killed and about 60 injured.

The arrested militant has been identified as Wasim Ahmed Malik of a remote village in Kishtwar. Wasim had been absconding for the past ten years.

The police said the then Governor, Gen KV Krishna Rao (retd), had a narrow escape in the blasts triggered by bombs planted in the stadium. The CBI investigation into the case established that Pakistani militant Major Irfan and Wasim had masterminded the blasts on Republic Day. Major Irfan was arrested and a challan was produced against him the court. Malik was also arrested on January 25, 1996, but managed to give a slip to the police after some days.

After his escape, Wasim had been shifting from one place to another to evade the arrest. It is believed that Wasim also crossed over to Pakistan and stayed there for long time. "After getting inputs about his presence cops raided a house at Kishtwar and nabbed Wasim" , the police said.

According to the police, Wasim, alias Abdu Hamza, was appointed by HM chief Syed Salahuddin as deputy divisional commander and was operating in the Chenab belt of the Jammu region and south Kashmir.

Srinagar (PTI): The security forces have destroyed a hideout and sized arms and ammunition in the Charar-e-Sharief area of Budgam district, a police spokesman said here on Friday.

"During a search operation carried out by in Nagbal village, the forces seized a pistol, a magazine, eight rounds of ammunition, five Chinese hand grenades, an IED and a detonator," the spokesman said. The seized arms and ammunition were destroyed on the spot, he said.

Srinagar, January 16
Rain across the valley aggravated winter miseries for people today, as the sky remained overcast, hiding the sun for most of the day. Though the minimum temperature in Srinagar shot above zero, but it was no big relief as the maximum temperature, which is felt in the day, hovered below the normal temperature.

The upper reaches of the valley also experienced moderate to heavy snowfall while the plains had rain since last evening disrupting normal life and resulting in severe cold.

The Met Department said the mercury rose to a maximum of 4.6°C today, marginally below the normal threshold of 5°C.

The minimum temperature in the night was 3.5°C, much above the normal of -2°C. Officials said 4.1 mm rain was measured in Srinagar, while the higher altitude areas received much more rain and some even had snow. The Jammu-Srinagar highway was closed briefly during the day, but was opened later. The highway was blocked due to heavy snow at Jawahar tunnel and Patnitop. Besides, the road also became slippery at several places in the Ramban-Banihal belt, the traffic police said.

Colder places like Pahalgam received 19.3 mm of rain and the minimum temperature there remained above 0°C at 0.2°C. Pahalgam also experienced fresh snowfall early this morning.

About one to three feet of fresh snowfall was experienced at the holy cave shrine and its periphery during the last 24 hours, official sources said. They said Sheshnag, Mahaguns, Panjtherni, Chandanari and Pisso top had also experienced moderate to heavy snowfall since last evening.

Reports of snowfall were also received from other parts of the south Kashmir.

The world famous ski resort of Gulmarg had also experienced about six inches of fresh snowfall since early this morning, much to the delight of tourists and skiers.

However, about one feet of snowfall was recorded at Affarwat and seven springs besides at Khilanmarg. The entire upper belt in north Kashmir districts of Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora also experienced fresh snowfall.

The Met Department has predicted rain and snow in the next 24 hours across the valley. Srinagar and its adjoining areas had rain since this morning, disrupting the pedestrian and traffic movement.

At some places, including Budshah Nagar, Natipora, Banapora, Azad Basti, Bemina and Padshahi Bagh, drain water was overflowing, affecting normal movement.

Jammu, January 16
Having received a raw deal at the hands of the successive state governments over the past six decades, PoK refugees have now pinned their hopes on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Talking to The Tribune, Rajiv Chunni, Chairman of SOS International, an outfit of PoK refugees, said: "The successive regimes in the state as well as at the Centre have announced sops for displaced Kashmiri Pandits on various occasions, but nobody is bothered about us. We don't say that you don't take care of Kashmiri Pandits, but there should be a uniform policy." He said there were 12 lakh PoK refugees as compared to a mere 2 lakh Kashmiri Pandits displaced from the valley. "Like Kashmiri Pandits we are also state subjects and we too live in Jammu, but nobody talks about us. Is it because we were not born in Kashmir? The discrimination with Jammu starts from here," he said.

Chunni said there were 14-15 seats in the Kashmir valley for which members of Kashmiri Pandit community cast their vote, but there was no such provision for PoK refugees. "The actual strength of the Assembly is 111, out of which 24 seats from PoK have been freezed as the area is under Pak occupation. Keeping in view the fact that one third of the PoK population migrated to Jammu and Kashmir the government should de freeze at least eight seats to give due representation to the PoK refugees," he said.

On permanent settlement, Chunni said the government contended that if it ensured permanent settlement of PoK refugees it would amount to giving up the claim on PoK. "Did the government also give up claim on the Kashmir valley when they built up apartments and provided flats to Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu?" he wondered. He said all these are instances of the government's double standards.

Chunni said the "indifferent attitude" of the successive governments towards the plight of PoK refugees was also a "human rights violation". "The new CM has talked about zero tolerance towards human rights violations. Are human rights violated only when the police kills militants? Is it not a human rights violation that we have been left to fend for ourselves and the government has not bothered about our rehabilitation for over 60 years? " he asked.

On their demands, he said, "Firstly, we will ask the government to decide our status. We are called displaced persons, which has no legal definition. Therefore, we will urge the CM to categorise us." Chunni said they would also seek reservation for their youth in professional colleges so that they could eke out their living.

Jammu, January 16
State BJP president and Jammu East MLA Ashok Khajuria has advised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to “remain within limits” and stop giving suggestions over the Indo-Pakistan relations inviting third party’s intervention against the spirit of the Shimla Agreement.

In a statement issued here today, Khajuria said Omar should realise that he was not the Foreign Minister, who had to deal with external affairs.

He should give priority to problems haunting the people of the state and being the in charge of the Unified Command he should make earnest efforts to check militant-related activities.

Khajuria expressed regrets that Omar did not utter a single word about the sacrifices of armed forces in the meeting of the Unified Command held here on January 14.

“We feel that the way Union minister AR Antulay made an irresponsible statement about the Mumbai attack recently, Omar too has shifted focus away from internal problems,” he said.

He should better deal with internal problems of the state instead of expressing opinion about foreign relationship with Pakistan and other countries, said the state BJP president.

“It is a matter of policy and at times such irresponsible statements become a weapon in the hands of foreign countries to counter the claims of the Indian government and are against national interests,” he said.

Though Khajuria welcomed Omar’s reassertion about zero tolerance of human rights violation, he wanted the Chief Minister to define human rights.

“Here in our state, human rights are normally taken as rights of militants and their families and not the victims of militancy,” he said.

He reminded Omar of his first and foremost job of crushing militancy with iron hands instead of beating about the bush.

Jammu, January 16
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said he considers himself as the representative of every citizen and area of the state and would utilise every moment to put the state on the path of speedier development to ensure all-round prosperity. He stated this while talking to deputations and individuals that met him here.

Responding to the demands put forth by a deputation of Kashmiri Pandits led by Ravinder Koul, the Chief Minister said his first and foremost priority would be to restore sense of security among the community, adding that he wanted to create such conducive conditions where the community could go back to their homes and hearths in the valley with dignity and respect.

The deputation led by President, J&K Youth NC, Jammu Province, Surinder Singh Bunty pleaded for setting up of a placement cell in the state for facilitating the youth for jobs. They also demanded creation of an overseas consultancy service to cater to the requirements of the unemployed youth.

Srinagar, January 16
Union Minister of Water Resources Saifuddin Soz has discussed the matter regarding the provision of the Instrumental Landing System (ILS) at the Srinagar airport with the Minister of Defence and the Minister of Civil Aviation.

In his communications and subsequent discussion with the two ministers, he lamented that in the absence of the ILS, extreme inconvenience was being caused to the general public, particularly during winters and inclement weather.

According to his spokesman, Soz told the ministers that the Air Force continued to collect the landing charges from various airlines, though its ILS had become obsolete and had not been in use for years. He emphasised on sorting out the matter between them at the earliest so that flights could be operated even in inadequate visibility in the presence of the ILS, which would also facilitate evening flights to and fro Srinagar.

The Union Minister, who is also the state president of Congress, has made out a strong case that since twenty 20 most-modern (Category I) Instrumental Landing Systems were being procured by the Government of India shortly, one of these should be installed at the Srinagar airport. Both Union Ministers agreed to sort out this problem at the earliest, the spokesman added.

Srinagar, January 16
Seeking to turn his home constituency Ganderbal into a model district, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has allocated Rs 15.50 crore for the construction of three bridges, besides announcing other development projects. The Chief Minister has issued directions to all authorities to take up productive schemes, which will be beneficial for people and could bear fruit in a short span of time.

Addressing the maiden meeting of all sectoral officers of Ganderbal district during his Kashmir visit yesterday, Omar asked the district administration to identify core areas where schemes could be launched and completed within 100 days, as the same had been made a benchmark by the present coalition government.

The Chief Minister also asked the officers not to get involved in politics, and focus only on development and welfare of their respective areas.

Omar sanctioned Rs 15.50 crore for the construction of three bridges, including Athoora to Takinwari, Shadipora and Narain Gund, in Ganderbal district. He assured that the construction of the bridge in Hariganiwan will also be considered. He also approved the upgrading of 200-bed hospital and said the receiving station would be upgraded within two months. Omar also accorded approval for opening one higher secondary school and two primary health centres in the Kangan area.

Earlier, Minister for Forests Mian Altaf Ahmad highlighted the problems confronting people in the district, mostly relating to the construction and upgrading of roads, completion of Degree College, improvement in the health sector, PHE, transmission lines and other sectors.

Srinagar, January 16
Anti-Israel protesters clashed with security forces after Friday prayers at several places injuring 16 persons, including eight security personnel, here today.

The protesters shouted slogans against Israel and governments across the globe for their “criminal silence” over Israeli attacks in Gaza. Shouts of “down with Israel” and “Palestine will win” could be heard at many places.

The clashes occurred in the downtown areas of Rajouri Kadal and Nowhatta, Maisuma and Basant Bagh among other places as security forces fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. Most parts of the city saw protests, most of which ended peacefully.

Separatist groups have been calling for protests, which have been going on for over a week in the valley.

Meanwhile, the IG, Kashmir, has ordered an inquiry into alleged stone-pelting by security forces at Saraf Kadal in which window panes of some houses and vehicles were damaged. The SSP, Srinagar, will conduct the probe and the matter has also been brought to the notice of the IG, CRPF, who has assured of strict action against the erring officials, an official spokesperson said.

The CRPF company allegedly involved in the incident has been moved out of the area.

Jammu, January 16
The state government today ordered the revocation of detention of 15 PSA detainees.

This follows Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's recent statement that the government was actively considering the release of PSA detainees.

These detenues are Parvaz Ahmad Bhat, Nissar Ahmad Najar, Abdul Rashid Naikoo, Ghulam Mohammad Khan alias Khan Sopori, Zafar Khurshid Mirza, Bashir Ahmad Indrabi, Tariq Ahmad Shah, Mohammad Akbar Khanday alias Ayaz Akbar, Showkat Ahmad Hakeem, Rashid Abdullah Bhat, Noor Mohammad Kalwal, Ghulam Rasool Dar, Ghulam Ahmad Dar, Nissar Hussain Rather, and Ashiq Hussain Sofi.

Jammu, January 16
ABVP activists continued with their demand for ‘open choice’ today and threatened that the month-long agitation would take a violent turn from Tuesday.

As part of their protest, students of GGM Science College today continued with their class boycott campaign and ransacked the laboratory to vent their anger against the authorities concerned.

Similarly, students of Government MAM College and SPMR College for Commerce did not attend their routine classes and held demonstrations on the college premises.

Students raised slogans against the authorities and alleged that they were being forced to take harsh steps for making the authorities concede their "genuine demand".

State ABVP secretary Suresh Magotra said "students will resort to all means to get their demand fulfilled," he said.

Jammu, January 16
In an apparent case of human trafficking, a domestic help at the Warden’s residence of Sarojini Naidu Girls Hostel, Jammu University (JU), today alleged that the warden “had forcibly employed her besides making her subject to mental and physical harassment”.

According to reports, warden Amisha Bhat reportedly thrashed her domestic help Meera Bai (16), who is from Jaspur of Chattisgarh, last night. When hostellers came to the rescue of the girl, the warden allegedly threatened them to “stay out of it or else she would oust them from the hostel”.

“Meera had bruises on her face while her nose and mouth were bleeding profusely. As she approached us for the help,” hostellers told The Tribune.

“The warden told us that she had purchased the girl from some agent in Delhi and would treat her as she liked,” inmates of the hostel claimed, adding, “This was not the first time she was beaten up. We used to listen to her screams earlier also. This time we could not stop ourselves from helping the poor girl,” they said.

Thereupon, the hostellers took up the custody of the girl and did not hand her over to the warden. Later, the provost pacified the hostellers by assuring them to initiate action against the warden.

When this correspondent visited the hostel, the warden denied any incident had taken place in the hostel and did not allow meeting with Meera.

However, a group of hostellers facilitated a telephonic talk with her. Meera said, “Some agents approached my family and allured it for a job in Delhi. We were a group of 40. Those having good complexion were plunged into flesh trade while rest were sold for domestic help.” “I am not being paid anything for the last two years and I have not talked to my parents either. As I am illiterate, I could not even write a letter to them. I just want to go home,” she pleaded.

Meanwhile, the Progressive Students Association (PSA) and boarders filed complaint against warden to the provost and demanded suspension of the warden and a police action with immediate effect. Provost BL Sharma said they were probing the matter.