Srinagar, February 27
Tension continued in the Kashmir valley today, as at least 10 persons were injured in protests and police action amid restrictions in Maisuma here and Sopore, Baramulla and Handwara towns. The police lobbed teargas shells and cane charged protesters in different areas.

Normal life was paralysed across the valley with the imposition of restrictions in several areas of the capital city and major towns to prevent any untoward incidents in view of the protests against the recent killing of two youths.

The call for peaceful protests after Friday prayers today was given by Syed Ali Geelani led faction of the Hurriyat Conference. In view of the call, the authorities had imposed restrictions in most parts of the city since early morning to prevent demonstrations. It coincided with the fourth day of mourning of the death of Shabir Ahmad Sheikh, a cousin to JKLF chairman Yasin Malik. Shabir’s strangulated body was found in the Bemina area on Tuesday morning.

A police spokesman said here that shops and business establishments were open and traffic plied normally almost in all major towns and district headquarters of the valley. While in a few district headquarters, including Srinagar, the call had partial impact, situation in many areas in uptown Srinagar city remained normal.

However, some isolated incidents of stone throwing were reported at Rajouri Kadal, Batmaloo and Nawa-Kadal, the spokesman added.

A JKLF spokesman claimed here today that Shabir had sacrificed his life for the “freedom movement”. Acting chairman of the JKLF Bashir Ahmad Bhat addressed the gathering on the occasion.

Strict restrictions remained in force across the city and the Friday prayers could not be held at the Srinagar’s main Jamia Masjid today, where APHC chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq delivers his sermon every Friday.

The Mirwaiz had been under house arrest at his Nigeen residence since last evening, his spokesman said. He quoted the Mirwaiz as having expressed serious concern over the restrictions and disallowing people from offering Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid today. The Mirwaiz reportedly also expressed concern over the house arrest of several other separatist leaders and blamed the government for indulging in human rights violations.

Jammu, February 27
In a face-saving move to avoid embarrassment, members of the main Opposition PDP created ruckus in the Assembly after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah disclosed that one of the PDP members had tried to misguide the House over the extent of damage during an encounter in Aithmula in Bandipora.

PDP MLA from Bandipora Nizamudin Bhat, while speaking on an adjournment motion yesterday, had alleged that more than 36 houses were completely damaged during an encounter between the security forces and a holding militant.

The state government this morning pressed into service a chopper and the Chief Minister directed Minister for Rural Development Ali Mohammad Sagar and Director-General of Police Kuldeep Khoda to take along with them Bhat to the spot to come up with the truth and to ascertain the extent of damage.

However, the visit found that the damage to some of the houses was only to the extent of a few thousands of rupees and in some cases the damage was only to extent of only hundreds.

After Bhat’s allegation that the Chief Minister was hiding the facts regarding the extent of damage during the encounter, the Chief Minister had assured ‘stringent action’ against the officials if he was given wrong information by them. However, the report that was read by Sagar in the House came as an embarrassment for the PDP as the report read that only one house where the militant was hiding was completely damaged rest of the allegations were false.

Sagar said, “In 14 houses the extent of damage was only between Rs 100 and 500. In seven houses the damage was only between Rs 1000 and 5000. Only one house where the militants were holed up suffered a damage of Rs 6.5 lakh, a cowshed had a damage of Rs 80,000 and a house of Rs 20,000”.

Adding to the report the chief minister said, “I had promised action against my officers if they had misinformed me, now its upto your (PDP’s) conscience to punish the member for misguiding the house.” NC MLAs were demanding that the PDP MLA should seek an apology for misinforming the house.

Amid the din, PDP’s legislative party leader Mehbooba Mufti pressed for making a statement over the issue in the house. However, she was not allowed by the Speaker, PDP members continued to raise noisy scenes in the house. When PDP members threw the house into pandemonium, the Speaker adjourned the house till the second session in the afternoon.

Srinagar, February 27
Just before the beginning of the tourist season, the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (Lawda) is carrying out a demolition drive in and around the world famous Dal Lake as per the court directions. Houseboat owners have expressed dismay over the drive and they believe it will lead to another dry season for them.

Following directions from the Jammu and Kashmir High Court on February 25 to take action against houseboat and hotel owners who are violating norms set by Lawda and the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) for preserving the Dal Lake, the demolition squad of Lawda has sealed some houseboats and issued orders for the closure of some hotels immediately.

Orders have even been issued to a CRPF company to move out from a hotel in the lake “as they too were found contravening parameters.”

The claims of Lawda that just a few houseboats have been sealed are disputed by the Houseboat Owners Association (HBOA), which says 1,200 houseboats have been sealed.

“Seven hotels and 1,200 houseboats have been sealed by Lawda and this includes four houseboats where septic tanks have been installed. These septic tanks were provided on a trial basis and no final decision has been taken about their utility,” says Mohammad Azim Tuman, chairman of the HBOA, while speaking to The Tribune.

“We’ve been cooperating to save the lake. Water around our houseboats is clean as carp fish found around houseboats keep on diluting wastes,” says Tuman. He points out that the absence of a sewerage treatment plant in Srinagar city has made matters worse.

Tuman says the SPCB submitted a report on January 31, but regrets that a copy of the same has not been provided to the association.

“We were caught unawares. On February 25, the high court issued directions for sealing houseboats and hotels in and along the lake. The court has offered me an opportunity on Friday to put forth my point of view,” says Tuman.

Irfan Yaseen, vice-chairman of Lawda, says, “The whole world knows what is happening, as it is being beamed on television channels. Why are you asking me? I am not authorised to make any statement. I am sorry it’s a court order.”

Mufti Javaid, director, SPCB, says he is not in a position to say anything in this regard as the case is sub judice.

Jammu, February 27
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today inspected renovation work to preserve and restore the glory of the Mubarak Mandi heritage complex.

The CM went around the complex and visited Darbar Hall, Grey Hall, Green Hall, Museum and other areas where restoration work is under progress.

Emphasising the need for preservation and protection of heritage structures, Omar said that the Mubarak Mandi Complex had a historical, cultural and architectural value which was to be restored and showcased for national and international tourists.

He also visited the Dogra Art Museum within the complex and inquired about various antique items on display.

The complex is being developed as a self-sustaining tourism destination and a socio-cultural heritage centre. The Archaeological Survey of India is looking after the restoration work of the complex.

The Mubarak Mandi Jammu Heritage Society, looking after the restoration and preservation of the project, was constituted in 2002 and the Chief Minister is the chairman of its Governing Body.

More than 5,500 works of exquisite art, spanning over 1,600 years, are in Dogra Art Museum, which is also known for its world-famous collection of Rasmanjari series of Basholi paintings, miniature paintings of different schools, manuscripts, Dogra armoury, , Dogra customs, jewellery, metal-ware, musical instruments and gallery of modern art.

Jammu, February 27
When the entire country was observing the martyrdom day of Chandra Shekhar Azad, the J&K Freedom Fighters Association today celebrated “the 103rd birth anniversary” of the great freedom fighter.

What is surprising is that besides organisers of the function, even the chief guest of the function, former Deputy Chief Minister of the state Mangat Ram Sharma, was not aware about the fact.

Expressing ignorance about the martyrdom day of Chander Shekhar Azad, Ved Gandotra, president of the association, said: “Today is the 103rd birth anniversary of Chandra Shekhar Azad and the organisation is celebrating this day every year in order to pay him tributes.”

Dr Nirmal Singh, HoD, History Department, Jammu University, said today was the martyrdom day of the great freedom fighter.

Srinagar, February 27
After giving many hints of his opposition to the separatists’ ideological stand against participation in elections, Sajad Lone may be veering around to fighting the next parliamentary elections.

Lone, who has been out of the valley for some time, first in Pakistan where his family lives and nowadays in New Delhi, had lashed out at the separatist leadership after the heavy participation of people in last year’s assembly elections and had demanded a change of strategy and, if needed, leadership in the separatist camp.

He could not be reached for comment despite several attempts and senior leader of his Peoples Conference party, Pir Hafizullah Makhdoomi, said he would not like to comment on a “sensitive” matter on behalf of his leader.

But party sources said Sajad, who enjoys strong support especially in Kupwara, nurtured by his father Abdul Gani Lone, had long been speaking in private about using elections to articulate the separatist point of view in Parliament and other forums and believed that time was appropriate for his plunge into electoral waters. If he does contest, he would bec the first important separatist leader to do so.

However, Sajad has not made his choice public so far but the fact that he has opted not to deny reports, which has appeared in a section of the media, is being interpreted by his friends and adversaries as an indirect confirmation.

If he fights elections, many would not consider it as an U-turn by him as he had, they said, put up proxy candidates in the 2002 assembly poll but had supported the boycott call this time in the wake of strong agitation over the Amarnath land controversy. He soon, though, changed tack when it became clear that Kashmiris had rejected the boycott call.

“Our advice to him will be that he refrain from elections. But the way he has been shaping his politics over the years, it may not be very surprising,” Aiyaz Akbar, a close associate of hawkish separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who is in New Delhi for medical treatment, said in his party’s reaction to the reports.

Jammu, February 27
Minister for Tourism Nawang Rigzin Jora has said the Lolab valley, Tangdar, Drangyari in Kupwara district have been on the tourism map of the state under the Tourism Incentive Rules.

He said a Tourist Reception Centre is under-construction at Kupwara at a cost of Rs 1.7 crore for the promotion of tourism in the district and will be completed by May this year.

The minister was replying to a question raised by Abdul Rashid Sheikh regarding the promotion of tourism in Kupwara district.

Jora said the Union tourism ministry had sanctioned Rs 2.31-crore scheme for the development of the Bungus valley in the district as a tourist destination.

He said Didi Koot, Wader-Wader Balal and Nowgam Mawar of the district were being developed as tourist villages. He added that the development of the Lolab valley had been proposed under the 12th Finance Commission at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore for creation of the tourist facilities.

Replying to the queries raised by Ch. Mohammad Ramzan, Nazir Ahmad Gurezi, Mir Saifullah, Abdul Haq Khan and Sakina Itoo, Jora dispelled apprehension that any area having tourism potential, particularly Kupwara district, was being ignored. However, execution of some tourism development works were facing obstacles due to the Forest Conservation Act, Jora said, adding that the Tourism Department has a comprehensive plan to promote ecotourism projects in the state.

The minister also said the construction work of the TRC and Aaramgah in Bungus Valley had to be abandoned as the Forest Department did not allow clearance.

Jammu, February 27
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said today that the government would explore the possibility of constructing alternative roads, tunnels or realigning the existing Batote-Doda national highway at vulnerable places to avoid frequent accidents in the hill district.

The Chief Minister was replying to an adjournment motion moved by the Leader of the BJP Legislature Party, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, in the House to discuss the accident that claimed 39 lives in Doda district on February 25.

The Chief Minister said a survey would also be conducted to ascertain whether any damage had been caused to the highway due to the Baglihar project. Expert opinion for the purpose would also be sought from the Central Road Research Institute, he added.

Omar said the accident took place due to the negligence of a tipper driver who did not move his vehicle but asked the bus driver to pass at a narrow and slippery spot. The Chief Minister said the bus had the permit for 27 passengers but was carrying over 50 persons. He said officers had been asked to keep an eye on overloading.

He said a passenger corpus fund had been constituted for providing urgent relief to the accident victims. He said Rs 1 lakh to next of kin of the deceased and Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 to the injured would be paid out of this fund to the passengers of the ill-fated bus.

Jammu, February 27
Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Taj Mohi-ud-Din said today that 40 water supply schemes had been taken up for execution for providing potable water to the residents of Kulgam district. Of these, 10 are in the Kulgam constituency, 13 in Noorabad, four in Homshalibugh and 13 in the Devsar constituency.

The minister was replying to a question by Sakina Itoo in the Assembly today. He said these schemes would be completed under the accelerated rural water supply programme (ARWSP). He added that funds had been released under the programme for the completion of the schemes.

Taj said project reports for eight new water supply schemes under the ARWSP had been formulated at an estimated cost of Rs 10.67 crore. These schemes would be taken up for execution as soon as funds were made available by the Centre.

Taj said no water supply scheme in Noorabad was defunct.

Poonch, February 27
Security forces have arrested a suspected militant belonging to the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) in Poonch district, defence sources said here today.

On a tipoff, Army troops and the police in a joint operation arrested a LeT militant, identified as Bashir Ahmed Nayak, from a house in Mandwas Kothi in Mendhar tehsil yesterday, they said. The sources added that the house belonged to Abdul Hamid, who is a brother of LeT militant Rahmat Ullah.

The security forces seized an arms cache in Mendhar, including two AK rifles with 103 rounds and two magazines, 437 Pika rounds, 26 hand grenades, nine UBGL grenades, three disposable rocket launchers. — PTI