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30 hurt in clashes after Friday prayers
Protesters burn effigies of the Taliban and the Pakistan government during a bandh in Jammu on Friday. Tribune photo: Anand Sharma |
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Militants kill three of family
Amarnath yatra likely from June 7
Guv surveys Baltal axis to Amarnath cave shrine
Tea vendor gets his shop back after 18 years
Safai karamcharis exposed to diseases
Red Cross Society to help terror-hit families
Mobile Cos told to pay dues
Mobike rider dies in mishap
Legal awareness camp held
Poll staff, EVMs airlifted
Lecture series deferred
Minor girl kidnapped
Power shutdown on May 10
Foreign ultra shot dead
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30 hurt in clashes after Friday prayers
Srinagar, May 8 Today, all shops and business establishments, educational institutions, banks and government offices opened and normal traffic was restored after two days of a complete shutdown across the valley. The 50-hour bandh, which began on Tuesday evening and ended on Thursday evening at the end of polling, was called by hard line APHC leader Syed Ali Geelani and supported by other separatist organisations. While most of the separatist leaders, including Geelani, continued to be under house arrest, restrictions on the movement of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq were lifted this morning. The Mirwaiz addressed the Friday congregation at the historic Jamia Masjid and later led an anti-election demonstration in the Jamia Masjid area. The Friday prayers were not held at the Jamia Masjid last week when all separatist leaders, including the Mirwaiz, were put under house arrest, and restrictions were imposed on the movement of people in the area. The trouble started in the nearby Kawdara locality, where the youths raising anti-election slogans were chased away by the security personnel leading to ding-dong battles between them this afternoon. Two CRPF men, including an SI of 49 CRPF, Sat Pal Singh, and a civilian, Javed Ahmad Bhat, were injured, the police said. The police lobbed teargas shells and resorted to a cane charge to quell the demonstrators in the area. The incidents again led to the disruption of normal life in the downtown localities. At least 10 others were also injured in clashes between the protesters and police and CRPF personnel in the apple rich town of Sopore in Baramulla district of north Kashmir. The Baramulla constituency comprising Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipore districts is going to the polls in the last phase on May 13. |
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Taliban atrocities on Sikhs in Pak Tejinder Singh Sodhi Tribune News Service
Jammu, May 8 Members of various social, political and religious organisations today held demonstrations at various places here and burnt effigies of the Taliban and the Pakistan government. The protestors were raising anti-Pakistan and anti-Taliban slogans. Members of the Jammu Bar Association took out a procession from Janipur to Vikram Chowk. They were joined by activists of other organisations to proceed to the office of the United Nations Observers where they lodged a protest against the Taliban atrocities. “It is very unfortunate that the people living in that country for centuries have been asked to pay jazia (tax),” said a protesting lawyer. Meanwhile, markets, schools and business establishments remained closed in the entire Jammu city due to the bandh call Vehicular traffic remained off the roads as BJP, Shiv Sena and VHP workers came out on the streets to enforce the shutdown. At various places clashes between the police and protestors were also reported. The police arrested some activists trying to force shopkeepers to close their shops in the outskirts of Jammu city. Elaborate security arrangements were in place to avoid any untoward incident. State BJP president and MLA Ashok Khajuria said: “We all supported the strike call and a march was taken out after which we handed over a memorandum to the UN representatives here.” The protesters blocked the Jammu-Pathankot highway here and damaged vehicles and forced shopkeepers to shut their shops. In the Satwari area here, the police resorted to a mild cane charge to control a mob. Local people had to face hardships as all pubic transport remained off the roads, and attendance in government and private offices remained thin. Various schools and collages in the city had already declared a holiday today. Protests rock Poonch too
Rajouri: Hundreds of Sikhs protested in the border town of Poonch against the Taliban. The protesters also burnt effigies of the Taliban and raised slogans against
Pakistan. According to eyewitness accounts, hundreds of Sikhs assembled at Gurdwara Singh Sabha in Poonch around 5 pm and protested against the harassment of Sikhs by the Taliban in Pakistan’s NWFP. Later, they also held a protest rally in
the town. |
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Taliban action un-Islamic
Srinagar, May 8 In a statement, Mufti Bashir-ud-Din here said such action was within the rights of the head of an Islamic state, and did not belong to any individual or a militant organisation. “The Taliban action in Pakistan is not within its jurisdiction”, the grand Mufti stated here. He asked the Pakistan government and its religious leadership to intervene and not allow any individual or organisation to take such action. Islam guarantees security to every individual, he said, and expressed concern over the wrong depiction of the Islamic principles. |
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Militants kill three of family Udhampur, May 8 “We have cordoned off the entire area to track down the militants involved in this inhuman act,” Anand Jain, SSP, Reasi, said. Asked whether it was an act of revenge, the SSP said, “The police is working on this theory also, as initial reports suggest that a militant commander wanted to marry the girl.” He further said locals had identified four militants involved in the incident and the police had launched a manhunt in Mahore, Gulabgarh and adjoining areas. According to reports, self-styled commander of Hizbul Ishfaq Ahmed, who is active in the upper reaches of Gulabgarh, was pressuring Taja Begum, mother of Shama, to marry off her daughter to him. For the past two months, Ishfaq was repeatedly sending messages to the poor woman through some over ground workers (OGWs). As both Taja Begum and Shama had boldly opposed the proposal of Ishfaq, he ultimately threatened to eliminate both of them. Due to the absence of security forces in this belt, Taja, a widow, reportedly sought support from some elders of her locality.
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Amarnath yatra likely from June 7
Jammu, May 8 BB Vyas, chief executive officer, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, told The Tribune that detailed information about the yatra would be released shortly. However, board sources said in a meeting recently the board decided to hold the annual pilgrimage from June 7 to August 5. “Most probably by May 12, the board would finalise the modalities and come out with a clear picture regarding the conduct of the annual pilgrimage, including the registration of pilgrims, security, chopper sorties, installation of eco-friendly fabricated structures, ration stocks and health care facilities etc,” they said. The sources said after an uproar over chopper sorties ferrying pilgrims to the cave shrine, the board had also decided to relocate the helipad some 100 metres to 150 metres away from the existing helipad to prevent early melting of the ice lingam. They added the board may also put a rider on chopper sorties in a bid to avoid the premature melting of the lingam. However, an official of Jammu and Kashmir Bank Limited said the bank had not received any intimation from the board for the registration of pilgrims. The bank in the past had been entrusted with the task of registration of pilgrims and the allotment of quota to various states. The board had been conducting meetings with the state government, including Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir, but the bank had not been asked to register pilgrims, said the official. Sources in the counter-insurgency wing of the state police said around 20,000 paramilitary personnel would be deployed for the two-month long pilgrimage.
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Guv surveys Baltal axis to Amarnath cave shrine
Srinagar, May 8 Observing that the entire track from the base camp at Baltal to the holy cave is under heavy snow, the Governor directed for speedy removal of snow and repair and restoration of the entire track in time. The Governor landed at the Baltal base camp and reviewed various works under implementation. He ordered the formation of a comprehensive site plan so that various areas are clearly demarcated for different service providers during the yatra period. The Governor particularly instructed that the channel flowing into Sindh Nullah should be thoroughly cleaned. He directed the officers concerned to ensure that all flows were properly treated before discharge into the nullah. The Governor stressed the use of plastic shedders for disposal of plastic bottles and other plastic materials and segregation of waste materials for appropriate treatment. He was briefed by the Army about the general security situation on the Baltal track and phased induction and deployment in the coming
days. |
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Tea vendor gets his shop back after 18 years
Srinagar, May 8 This Kanikadal resident does not remember exactly when his workplace was taken over by the security personnel for guarding this volatile old city. The location of his tea shop was right in the heart of Bohri Kadal Chowk, adjacent to the JKLF office, and overlooking the alleys leading into sensitive parts of Srinagar’s separatist heartlands like Idgah and Khanyar, which barely voted yesterday. Assigned the task of maintaining law and order in a place vulnerable to unprovoked violence, the CRPF installed one of their largest bunkers here, also taking over some of the adjacent lands. Those days were tough, remembers Mushtaq, recounting the horrors of militant violence and frequent assaults on political activists in the old city area. But today, this place is clear of troops, following the return of peace to the valley and the conclusion of the electoral process in Srinagar, which began in November last with the Assembly elections and ended yesterday with the Lok Sabha elections. That explained the rush at the tea shop today, with Mushtaq welcoming the customers with his familiar warmth. People here had been missing him, as Ghulam Mir said, “Mushtaq made excellent ‘kehwa’ and salt tea (forms of Kashmiri tea) and had a roaring business till he gave up his place for the security of others. We are happy to see him back.” In the interregnum, Mushtaq, the father of three, who also has an old mother and a wife to feed, ran his work from a small cart he bought on borrowed money. He has long repaid the loan, and is looking forward now to old times when he would make Rs 20 a day. “Now, I can make more money,” says the 45-year-old brave heart, who does not mind having vacated his shop for security men. “Someone had to do that. The place needed to be protected,” he says. Today, he has better chances of improved earnings, with many more shops having opened in the Bohri Kadal area and many new taxi drivers having lined up in the taxi stand right underneath his tea shop. Mushtaq has named his workplace “Sheher-e-Khas”, the popular name for old Srinagar |
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Safai karamcharis exposed to diseases
Jammu, May 8 There are around 900 permanent municipal safai karamcharis and around 600 daily wage earners and safai karamcharis of NGOs who daily lift garbage form drains, manholes and lanes of the city. But they are not provided with adequate safety kits, uniforms and necessary tools for discharging their duties in a scientific and hygienic manner. The irony is that they are always exposed to diseases while they lift and dispose of garbage and unhygienic substances. “Many employees have died due to lack of protective uniforms. Some are suffering from deadly diseases like TB and lung’s diseases,” said Devanand Gill, chairman of the Safai Karamchari Union. Gill said, “A daily wage worker, Ramesh, was afflicted with TB 10 years ago. He survived, but it cost him his job. The only bread winner of his family, Ramesh is struggling to get his job back.” The callous attitude of the MC toward its safai karamcharis could be gauged from the fact that for the past 15 years the MC had not conducted any periodic health check-ups, which, otherwise, is mandatory for employees who work under such unhygienic and hazardous conditions. Gill said besides being paid meagre salaries, these employees were not given necessary safety equipment and uniform. Only 10 per cent of the safai karamcharis had been provided with wooden carts to remove garbage to the dumping ground. No hand gloves, proper long shoes were provided to these employees. He added they had been demanding issuance of two summer uniforms and wooden carts for lifting garbage from different localities. He said they had also demanded the holding of 15-day medical camps every six months for field workers and their families, besides the supply of medicines free of cost. Meanwhile, all efforts to contact Municipal Commissioner Mubarak Singh proved
futile. |
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Red Cross Society to help terror-hit families
Srinagar, May 8 Sharing details with The Tribune, Feroz Ahmad, honorary secretary of the society, said, “We are trying to enhance sustainable livelihood to families which have lost bread winners during militancy. Such families have been shattered and their children have not been able to pursue studies.” “It depends upon the wish of the affected families as how we can assist them in helping their children continue with studies, says Feroz. “The family has to decide about the help that they want from us. We are quite flexible in this regard and are ready to do our bit,” he says. Feroz says that 40 volunteers have been trained in Srinagar city as how to tackle disasters, natural and man-made. “We are in the process of training more people and as such we intend to carry out programmes at the tehsil level,” he says. He says the aim of the society is to reach every nook and corner of the state, especially remote areas, so that people there get to know about tackling disasters. AM Mir, a member of the state managing committee, while throwing light on the importance of International Red Cross Day, observed today, said 250 families were provided blankets and other relief material in Srinagar district during a function organised here. GM Gulzar, secretary, Regional Red Cross Society, said the aim of the society was to provide first-aid training to people in the age group of 18-35 years. He said resource persons were invited from various hospitals and they trained students about first aid. “The society holds free medical camps in far-flung areas and during festivals we also organise medical camps at Hazratbal for devotees visiting the shrine. Blood donation camps are also organised and the donated blood is given to the needy,” said Gulzar. |
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Mobile Cos told to pay dues
Jammu, May 8 The renewal fee in the form of a demand draft favouring the respective panchayat halqa has to be paid through the BDO concerned. The district panchayat officer and BDOs have also been directed to expedite the recovery of the renewal fee. |
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Mobike rider dies in mishap
Jammu, May 8 Official reports said a minibus hit a motorcyclist Ajay Sharma of Jandrah at Shuja in Kishanpur Manwal, killing him on the spot. A bus carrying a marriage party from Panger to Kultar rolled into a nullah at Kultar in Panchari, injuring 19 baratis. Thirteen others were injured in road mishaps in and around Jammu. |
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Legal awareness camp held
Jammu, May 8 According to a statement issued here, around 65 law students participated in the camp. The students interacted with the villagers and disseminated information about the Panchayati Raj and Roshni Acts as to how they could derive benefits from these Acts. Besides, the villagers were also educated about loan facilities available under the self employment schemes of the Directorate of Rural Development, Horticulture and Khadi Gramudyog. The students made the villagers aware about the provision of free legal services for people belonging to the SC, ST and BPL categories. |
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Poll staff, EVMs airlifted
Srinagar, May 8 An officials spokesman said 276 polling and security officials were airlifted from Bandipora to Dawar by a helicopter. Besides, EVMs were also sent to Dawar today. Poll staff and 59 EVMs have already been airlifted to Padum Zanskar from Kargil by special MI-17 helicopters. There are 49 polling stations in Zanskar subdivision of which 12 are still inaccessible from
Padum. |
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Lecture series deferred
Jammu, May 8 It will now be held at Business School, University of Jammu, at 10 am tomorrow Prof Varun Sahni, VC, University of Jammu, would deliver a lecture on “Business in a World in Flux: Fundamental Drivers of Contemporary World Affairs”.
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Minor girl kidnapped
Jammu, May 8 Official sources said that father of the girl, Ved Parkash Mehra of Pir Khou, has lodged a complaint aginst 22-year-old Sunny, son of Kalu, of Prem Nagar. The girl had gone to her grandmother’s house in Prem Nagar last evening from where she was allegedly kidnapped A case has been registered and efforts are on to trace the girl. |
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Power shutdown on May 10
Jammu, May 8 Similarly, the power supply to Gandhi Nagar, Rail Head Complex, University of Jammu, Vikram Chowk, Bahu Plaza Complex, Nanak Nagar, Shastri Nagar and adjoining areas shall remain suspended from 6 am to 11 am. on May 10. |
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Foreign ultra shot dead
Srinagar, May 8 The police said that the encounter ensued a joint search operation launched in the Kaninar Poshlot Top Afan Nar forest area in Lalpora. One AK-47 rifle (damaged), two AK magazines and 31 AK-47 rounds of ammunition were seized from the site of encounter. |
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Even as normal life was restored across the Kashmir valley after two-day bandh against the Lok Sabha elections here, at least 20 persons, including two CRPF men, were injured in fresh clashes in Srinagar downtown after Friday prayers this afternoon.
Srinagar, May 8
