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Women ultras give cops sleepless nights
Top LeT militant, 2 jawans killed
Poll futile exercise: Ansari
Kupwara backs Sajad Lone
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Kandhar Case
PDP to protest water-sharing pacts
Mufti seeks mandate to carry forward PDP agenda
PDP pursuing divisive politics: Sagar
PDP moves EC again
BSP intensifies campaign
Azad campaigns in Bhalesa
Bhaderwah
Security of Nirmal Singh beefed up
Media ‘needs to portray’ Kashmir fairly
Mendhar repoll peaceful
Udhampur poll arrangements reviewed
Wheat harvesting on in Jammu
Give petitioner job on compassionate grounds: HC
Book on pending cases released
Hindi play “Lekhak” staged
BSF picket gutted
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Women ultras give cops sleepless nights
Security forces are giving a second look to poll preparations with militants getting active in the Doda region of the Udhampur parliamentary constituency during the second phase of the elections in the state on April 23.
Sources said militants were under tremendous pressure to make their presence felt by their mentors in Pakistan. They said security agencies had six or seven young women on their radar as these women were providing active logistic support to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militants. Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor recently indicated that intelligence inputs pointed towards militants using women to further their subversive activities. He said women terrorists were being trained and prepared to cross the Line of Control (LoC) into India. The sources said based on specific inputs, the Army and police intelligence has rounded about 38 over ground workers, commonly known as OGWs who act as sympathisers in providing shelter or work as couriers in ferrying arms and ammunition. Officials said they were concerned with reports of women being used as a front to escape the security dragnet. In yesterday’s encounter, the security forces jointly managed to kill two LeT militants and one woman militant Zahida Begum at Bagla village in the Bharat area of Doda district. Zahida was only the third women militant killed in two decades of militancy in the state. With today’s killing of Shahida, wife of Rias Ahmed, alias Shaheen, a Hisbul Mujahideen (HM) commander, who was injured but managed to escape during the Kashtigarh encounter, the number of women militants killed so far in the state since 1989 has risen to four. The sources added that there were reports that militants were taking young women into their fold as they easily passed off as schoolchildren. Zahida was only 17 and Shahida is also very young. A senior officer told The Tribune that the interrogation of OGWs had revealed plans of militants to indulge in killings, including those of candidates. About the today’s encounter, he said one injured militant had escaped while the entire house where terrorists were hiding was burnt due to the heavy exchange of fire between the militants and security forces. A joint search and rescue operation of the Army, the police and the CRPF is continuing in the Doda region of the state, where militants are still known to be present. But due to elections, LeT and HM operative are still reportedly hiding in lower mountainous ranges with an objective to strike during the poll. All efforts are now being concentrated on locating one territorial Army deserter Zaffarullah, who took his weapons and joined the militant ranks. Nissar Hussain, who was slain yesterday, had made a futile attempt at luring a college girl into joining his group last week. However, when she refused he had allegedly beaten her up publicly, it is learnt. |
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Top LeT militant, 2 jawans killed
Udhampur, April 19 Two security personnel, including one jawan of the Rashtriya Riffle, were also killed in the fierce encounter that took place in the Kashtigarh area of Doda district today. DIG, Doda-Ramban range, Hemant Kumar Lohia told The Tribune that the body of Mukthiyar Ahmed of Gulmohar in Doda had been recovered from the hideout. Mukthiyar was a Pakistan-trained, self-styled tehsil commander of the LeT. He was active in this belt for the last eight years. According to the police, on specific information about the presence of some militants in the forests of the Dhar Kastigarh area the security forces launched a joint search operation in that area this morning. As soon as the search party reached near Toti nullah, where terrorists were hiding, security personnel were ambushed by the militants. The security personnel came under a heavy fire. The militants first hurled grenades and followed it by indiscriminate firing. A jawan of the Rashtriya Rifle (RR) and an SPO were killed. The police quoting intelligence inputs said two self-styled commanders of the LeT and the Hizbul Mujahideen were meeting there to devise a strategy to increase militant activities during the elections. While Mukthiyar was killed in the encounter, Riyaz Ahmed managed to escape. It is believed that Shahida, wife of Riyaz Ahmed, was also killed in the encounter, but her body was yet to be retrieved from the debris.
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Poll futile exercise: Ansari
Srinagar, April 19 Syed Salahuddin, chief of the Pakistan-based United Jehad Council (UJC), a conglomeration of different militant organisations operating in the state, has also reiterated his call for boycott of the elections, adding that there was a need to unite the two factions. He had last week called for a boycott of the elections that was rejected by the acting chairman of the APHC (Mirwaiz), Maulana Abbas Ansari, on the plea that the UJC had not supported the boycott call during the November-December Assembly elections. UJC chief Syed Salahuddin, according to reports here, said he was trying to bring the two factions closer. He, however, said certain elements within a faction of the APHC were getting closer to the Indian government. The Ittihadul Muslimeen headed by Maulana Abbas Ansari, which is a constituent of the APHC, has supported the Hurriyat Conference’s decision that the elections were a non-issue and there was no need to call for a boycott, the party spokesman said here today. He said party president Maulana Masroor Abbas, speaking at the workers meeting here, said the elections were not a substitute for self-determination. The elections in Kashmir had not served any purpose in the past and it did not have any bearing upon the Kashmir resolution in the future, he added. “In view of international law and political relationship, Kashmir has been declared as a disputed territory, and to hold sham elections in the territory is a dubious act which will not affect the political discipline of pro-freedom Kashmiri leadership,” Masroor said. Rejecting elections as a futile exercise, Masroor said Kashmir dispute could only be resolved by plebiscite under joint supervision of Pakistan, India and pro-freedom leadership. Lashing out at the parties who opposed Hurriyat acting chairman Ansari for the poll decision, Masroor said Maulana Abbas Ansari advocated sentiments and aspirations of Kashmiris for the past five decades and had always stressed for right of self-determination. |
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Kupwara backs Sajad Lone
Kupwara, April 19 Dar’s wish may be a bit too far-fetched but there is no denying the approval his candidature has elicited in Kupwara, which solidly backed his father, Abdul Gani Lone, for decades and then slowly lost its political clout in state politics mired in regionalism as he first turned a separatist and was later shot by militants for speaking against them. The self-important intelligentsia of the valley with its sympathy for the separatist cause may still be debating if Sajad Lone is a “traitor” for turning against the “struggle”, he seems to have a complete backing of those who matter: his constituents. “The People’ Conference is not ideologically anti-India like Hurriyat leaders. We have always worked for the welfare of people and in the interest of the valley. Fighting election is a party’s lifeblood and Sajad sahib has taken a wise decision,” Ghulam Nabi, a worker from Handwara, says. Among the most articulate separatist leaders, Lone seems to be successful in selling his idea that politics of isolation has failed them and it was imperative to engage the people and the Government of India for an honourable solution to the Kashmir issue. Though, many say, his party cadres were always more than willing to fight elections and helped Lone take the plunge. It was this willingness of workers that made Lone’s sister, Shabnam Lone, contest the last Assembly elections. She lost but received more than 11,000 votes. A group of workers say their party was steadily losing its influence in Kupwara, which has five Assembly segments, as people were going to other parties with their day-to-day problems. “We were proving to be of no use to our loyalists,” a worker said, adding that the PDP’s arrival on the scene alarmed them further. Political observers say a victory is far from certain for Lone. The People’s Conference has rather limited influence in Baramulla and Bandipora districts, which have 10 Assembly seats and besides Kupwara make up for this Lok Sabha seat. “Nobody knows who will win but Sajad sahib has rejuvenated all People’s Conference supporters. After Gani sahib’s death, we felt orphaned, but not any longer,” says Ghulam
Nabi. |
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Kandhar Case
He asked: “Why Farooq did not speak over the issue in the past 10 years? He alleged that earlier Farooq Abdullah did not bother about the safe passage given to militants from the Hazrat Bal Shrine and Bariyani provided to them. “Now, when the elections are in full swing, the NC president is trying to rake up old issues to mislead the people.” Khajuria advised the NC president not to politicise the issue and rather concentrate on issues being faced by the people of the state. He asked Farooq to better focus on the issue of finalising common minimum programme of the ruling coalition state government so that the people of the state should know what the present government has in store for them. Meanwhile, the BJP president also criticised NC Minister for Rural Development Ali Mohammad Sagar for his alleged statement that “the BJP scuttled the NC’s autonomy proposal through the PDP. He said according to the BJP, both the NC and PDP were regional parties and working against the national interests. He stressed that the BJP opposed the NC’s demand of autonomy, it also opposed the PDP’s demand of self-rule and flow of dual currency in J&K, including that of Pakistani rupee and demilitarisation in the state. |
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PDP to protest water-sharing pacts
Udhampur, April 19 She warned that her party workers would take to streets to force New Delhi to compensate losses suffered by the state due to the discriminatory Indus Water Treaty signed by the then NC government headed by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in 1952. Addressing a public meeting at Kishtwar in support of party candidate Balbir Singh, Mehbooba reiterated her party’s demand of scarping all unfair agreements signed with the National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) for the exploitation of natural resources in the state. “For the lust of power, the NC has bartered natural resources of the state by signing unfair agreements with the NHPC”, she said, referring to the water-sharing agreement signed by the NC government in 2000 with the then Union Power Minister, Kumaramanglam. “No state in the country will barter its resources in such a reckless manner as was done by the NC government by handing over seven power projects to the NHPC under an arbitrary agreement signed by it with the Union Power Ministry,” she said. She warned to launch an agitation to restore rights of the state, as the state has already been suffering a recurring loss of Rs 650 crore per annum because of the discriminatory IWT treaty. Referring to recommendations of the Working Group headed by former RBI Governor C. Rangarajan on economic reconstruction, the PDP chief said it was recommended that NHPC projects--- Dulhasti and Salal hydroelectric projects--- should be handed over to the state government. She, however, regretted that no decision had been taken on these recommendations. “We have given an ultimatum to the Union government to implement these recommendations otherwise PDP workers along with the people of all regions would take to streets”, she warned. |
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Mufti seeks mandate to carry forward PDP agenda
Srinagar, April 19 Addressing public meetings in the Anantnag constituency, the PDP leader said though with 49 per cent polling, people in Jammu-Poonch had turned in larger numbers than the previous parliamentary elections in 2004, he drew the comparison with the Assembly poll and said varying statements by various security agencies on the number of militants operating in the state and the infiltration levels had been a blow to the people’s confidence. Addressing people in the Shangus and Kokernag Assembly segments, he said the recent tragic incidents at Bomai (Sopore) and Khaigam (Pakherpora)--- in which innocent people were killed in firing by the Army and the CRPF--- had forced Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to make a commitment on the floor of the House that the AFSPA would be revoked. He said the PDP was seeking the mandate for carrying forward the unaccomplished political and economic agenda set by the coalition government led by him. Meanwhile, PCC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Patel and Srinagar district NC youth president Noor Mohammad, alias Bitta, today joined the
PDP. |
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PDP pursuing divisive politics: Sagar
Srinagar, April 19 Addressing election meetings in south Kashmir, which is the first Kashmir constituency to face polls on April 30, said the NC was committed to working for the overall development of the state and in this regard various schemes had been launched to elevate the sufferings of people. Referring to NC president Farooq Abdullah’s offer of talks to separatists, Sagar said his party always believed in settling the issues through a dialogue and not divisive politics as played by the PDP. “The NC has a long history of settling issues through peaceful means and not to create hatred among different sections of society unlike the PDP,” he said. Reacting to the statements of PDP patron Mufti Sayeed, Sagar said people were well aware of the party’s agenda of dividing people on the lines of religion and region. He said it was during the Mufti’s tenure as Union Home Minister when several “massacres” took place in the state, which included the “unprovoked” firing on the funeral procession of Mirwaiz Farooq and other incidents at Gawkadal in which 72 persons were killed. “The PDP will go to any extent to fulfil its lust for power and they are fully exposed before the masses,” he said. |
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PDP moves EC again
Srinagar, April 19 “I am enclosing herewith a picture of a state police vehicle decorated with the flags of the NC. The picture is self-explanatory as how the official machinery is being brazenly misused by the ruling party candidate,” party president Mehbooba Mufti said in a communication to the CEC. A copy of the letter released to the Press here today said the picture was taken during an election rally of the NC candidate for the Anantnag parliamentary constituency at Parigam village in Pulwama district on April 15. Mufti alleged that while on the one hand the state administration had withdrawn the security of functionaries of the PDP, on the other the police was openly being misused by the ruling party for electioneering. “I would expect an appropriate legal action against the NC by the Election Commission on the issue of misuse of the official machinery for electioneering in the state,” Mehbooba said. This is the second time in less than four days that the PDP had moved the EC. On April 15, the party appealed to the EC to initiate action against Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his reported statement that EVMs had already been programmed in favour of a particular party. — PTI |
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BSP intensifies campaign
Jammu, April 19 To woo Rajput voters in the area, the party has fielded a Rajput candidate, Rakesh Wazir, from the seat and is considering cashing in Muslim votes in the area. The candidate shares good relations with the Muslim voters in the area. Though contesting for the first time against political bigwigs of the state, including BJP candidate Prof Nirmal Singh, PDP candidate Balbir Singh, JKNPP candidate and party supremo Prof Bhim Singh and sitting Congress MP Lal Singh, the BSP is hopeful of doing a miracle, as it has a sizable vote bank in the region. It is also hopeful that given its already established vote bank in the region, it will get benefited from anti-incumbency factor against Congress candidate and sitting MP Lal Singh. Lal Singh, along with his wife, recently lost state Assembly elections in two Assembly seats that fall under the Doda-Udhampur parliamentary segment. After winning 11 seats in the state legislature, the BJP is riding high on the support that it got the post Amarnath land row led by the Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti. |
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Azad campaigns in Bhalesa
Udhampur, April 19 Azad addressed an impressive public meeting at his native place of Bhalesa and sought the support of people for Mohammad Sharief Niaz, who is contesting the Bhaderwah Assembly byelection, and for Lal Singh, who is the party candidate from the Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat. Azad highlighted the achievements during his two-and-a-half year tenure as Chief Minister. He assured people that Niaz would accomplish tasks left incomplete. Azad had vacated the Bhaderwah seat after his election to the Rajya Sabha. Azad cautioned people against those forces that were playing the communal card to exploit the sentiments of people. He said such divisive forces were responsible for the two decades of bloodshed and destruction in the state. He minced no words in attacking the BJP for raking up emotional issues to garner political support in the belt. He cautioned people against the gimmick of the BJP and asked them to vote on the basis of performance of the candidates. PCC chief and Union minister Saiffudin Soz said the NC and Congress workers were campaigning jointly for party candidates in the area. |
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Bhaderwah
Bhaderwah, April 19 Bhaderwah would go for an Assembly byelection as well as vote for the Doda-Udhampur Lok Sabha election on April 23. The anger against Jammu University extension campus that caused displacement of farmers can be understood. But the second one is funny. People are unhappy that the government has started metering power supply. For the first time since Independence, the government has installed meters on power supply lines. Till now, people were just paying a lump sum amount every two months. It cost them Rs 100 to Rs 300 . It was far less than the actual consumption. But now, each unit has to be accounted for. Rajesh Kotwal, a resident, said: “The government generates electricity from water resources emanating from our region. We were getting subsidised supply. But now, we will have to pay a lot. Due to harsh cold conditions, geysers have to be used throughout the year.” Mohd Salim, a shopkeeper, said he would vote for only that candidate who promised them subsidised electricity supply. Such demands are leaving the candidates confused. “How can this demand be fulfilled? We just assure the voters we would try to find a solution,” said a candidate contesting the Assembly byelection. About the university extension campus, farmers allege they have neither received the promised compensation nor a job in the varsity. The agitation of the farmers in support of their demands has entered its 45th day. They stage a dharna outside the university campus and conduct a peaceful protest march through the town carrying candles or mashaals. “The government had promised a compensation of Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 per kanal. Besides, a job to one member of the displaced farmer was also promised. But we have got only Rs 7175 as compensation but no jobs have come,” rued Maroof Hussain, one of the main leaders of the agitating farmers. “No candidate is coming to our aid. We have decided not to vote in the Assembly as well as parliamentary elections. We have a strength of about 5000 persons, besides thousands of our sympathizers and relatives,” said Ashiq Hussain, a spokesperson of the protesters. |
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Security of Nirmal Singh beefed up
Jammu, April 19 Meanwhile, the security of some 15 Independent candidates that was removed yesterday was restored today after they protested before chief electoral officer BR Sharma. The police cordoned off the Palmar area where Nirmal Singh was addressing a meeting and launched combing operations. After Nirmal Singh was through with his speech, he was escorted to his next destination in police vehicles. Speaking on behalf of Nirmal Singh, BJP state unit president Ashok Khajuria said, “Udhampur-Doda being a sensitive belt has been attacked by terrorists several times. We appreciate the police swiftness in providing security to Nirmal Singh.” It must be pointed out here that similar threats were also given to Bhim Singh, candidate of the Panthers Party. On the one hand, the state government strengthened the security of the BJP candidate, on the other it took off escort vehicles from 15 Independents, including Labha Ram, leader of the West Pakistani Refugee Party, Sanjay Kumar, Satish Punchi and Sajiv Manmotra. However, their security was restored after the candidates protested before BR Sharma. Independent candidate Labha Ram said, “Repoll was to take place in Mendhar today. How could we go there without security? Our lives are equally precious like that of the leaders of the national parties. If we are fighting as Independents, it does not mean that the state government can leave us to die.” The Independent candidates have asked the government to provide security till the elections were over. “We are under threat till the final results of the polling are declared. Moreover, we are to campaign for the next phase in Kathua as well. We have been promised by the election officer to provide us security till the results of the election were declared.” |
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Media ‘needs to portray’ Kashmir fairly
Srinagar, April 19 Speaking at a seminar entitled “Kashmir in Media Perceptions”, Bukhari said Kashmir “gets coverage in international media only when somebody is killed”. “The perceptions about reporting Kashmir vary for local, national and international media. Human rights violations is a big story for the local press, but same cannot be said of national and international media,” he added. The senior journalist said correspondents in the Kashmir valley had walked on a razor’s edge while reporting various facets of the Kashmir conflict. He added that Kashmiris were politically conscious and no newspaper or media organisation could thrust their policy on them. Referring to the role of journalists working at the national level, Gautam Navalakha, senior journalist and human rights activist, said “truth becomes the first casualty when it comes to reporting in a conflict situation.” “Unfortunately, the national media has covered Kashmir in context of India’s relations with Pakistan and a very few are bothered about the aspirations as well as emotions of Kashmiris. Once we talk about Kashmir, it has been seen that the journalists of the national media do not cover Kashmir in the right perspective, as they are swayed by the so called national interests,” said Gautam. Tahir Mohi-ud-din, Editor of Urdu weekly Chattan, said while the local media organisations cover each and every aspect related to the Kashmir conflict, national newspapers and those in Pakistan carried their “Masters’ Voice”. The programme was organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society. |
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Mendhar repoll peaceful
Udhampur, April 19 Following clashes between the workers of the NC and the PDP on April 16, the authorities had ordered a repoll in this polling station. During the clashes, some miscreants had also damaged an EVM. According to official reports, out of the total 1,041 votes, 598 voters today exercised their right to franchise amid unprecedented security in the area. Additional forces from the Poonch and Surankot areas were deployed here. |
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Udhampur poll arrangements reviewed
Udhampur, April 19 He last evening reviewed arrangements for polling by migrant voters in Udhampur on April 30, May 7 and May 13. |
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Wheat harvesting on in Jammu
Jammu, April 19 Due to intermittent rain earlier this month, the harvest of wheat had got delayed for a few days but is catching up now with the increase in temperature. Groups of labourers can be seen harvesting the wheat crop in fields. However, farmers along the border area from Suchetgarh to Samba suffered huge losses because of yellow rust making the government give them free ration for six months. “The younger generation is not taking interest in farming these days as it prefers to join The Army or do some other job in the city,” revealed farmer Raj Kumar in RS Pura. “In our fields you will see that most of the workers are from outside the state as locals don’t toil in their own holdings as in the past,” he added. |
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Give petitioner job on compassionate grounds: HC
Jammu, April 19 The entire process was directed to be completed within a period of two months from the date of receipt of judgement by respondents. The husband of Sheela Kumari, an assistant accounts officer in the Finance Department, died in harness. The petitioner claimed her appointment on compassionate grounds in terms of SRO 43 of 1994. The High Court in earlier round of litigation directed the government to give appointment to the petitioner on a suitable post by relaxing the age limit and the entire process was directed to be completed within three months. The state filed letters patent appeal against the said judgement and the Division Bench allowed the appeal on the grounds that the respondents, who were not heard before passing of the impugned judgement, be given a hearing and the reply filed before the Division Bench was transferred to the Writ Court for consideration. Justice Sunil Hali, while allowing the petition, observed: “It is not in dispute that the petitioner entitled for being considered for appointment under SRO 43 of 1994, completed all formalities under rules, after having obtained justification certificate, which reflects that the petitioner would be responsible for all assets left by her deceased husband. His minor daughters were not eligible for appointment and the petitioner, though over-aged, could only be considered for such appointment. The object of providing compassionate appointment is to provide succour to the family who had lost its bread winner. These appointments are exception to the general mode of recruitment. Underlying objective of SRO 43 is that a person, who has lost their lone bread earner, cannot be expected to wait for regular appointment. No reasons have been given regarding rejection of application for age relaxation. The respondents have powers under the statute to reject the claims but it had to be followed by reasons.” The HC held that the petitioner would be entitled for fixation of notional seniority for the purposes of pension from the date she had filed application for grant of compassionate appointment. However, the petitioner was not held entitled to any arrears. |
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Book on pending cases released
Srinagar, April 19 This has been revealed in a study carried out by the South Asia Forum for Human Rights (SAFHR) and the Centre for Law and Development (CLD), Srinagar. The study has been compiled in a book titled In Search of Vanished Blood that was released by Justice DK Basu, retired judge of the West Bengal High Court. Speaking on the occasion, Justice Bashir Ahmad Kirmani, retired judge of the J&K High Court, said the book had missed out in respect of disposal of cases related to habeas corpus. “As many as 95 per cent of cases involving detention of persons were disposed of in the recent past, and barring few cases these detained persons were set free. At present the situation is such that it does not take six or seven months in disposing of cases related to habeas corpus,” said the former judge. Justice Kirmani says that judges working in subordinate courts have rendered yeoman service in disposal of justice. “It is important to appreciate services offered by such judges, but sadly nobody values it,” he added. The former judge said judges received full cooperation from the KBA in disposing of cases. |
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Hindi play “Lekhak” staged
Jammu, April 19 The play tries to portray the fate of a creative person who is not being understood by the people living around him.
Gargi, being a writer, has depicted the life of a creator, his aspirations, and frustrations. The play showcases the struggle of a creative person Without acknowledging his creative tensions every visitor burdens him with his problems. By the end of the day the writer is not able to even put a single line on the paper. Eventually, he cries for having lost everything but ironically no one is aware of the fact that the only prime possession for a creative person is time. Rahul Singh portrayed the frustrations of a writer. |
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BSF picket gutted
Srinagar, April 19 While BSF personnel manning the picket at Bhore village in Keran sector escaped unhurt, a rifle and some ammunition were gutted in the incident last evening, the sources said. A service rifle, five magazines and some cartridges were destroyed in fire that broke out due to bursting of a kerosene stove.
— PTI |
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Jammu, April 19