Jammu, May 9
At least six persons, including SP, South, Mubasir Latifi, and two policemen, were injured in a bloody clash with Gujjars at Belicharana in the Phalian Mandal area, near here, this afternoon. Two Gujjars were also also injured.

Official sources told The Tribune that trouble erupted this around 2.30 pm today when a police party from Satwari police station led by Mubasir Latifi accompanied the officials of the Social Forestry Department to evict around 50 families of Gujjars from 10 hectares of government land in Belicharana.

The sources said the nomadic families had illegally encroached upon the land of the department and had raised around 50 hutments. They added that the department had recently issued notices to the Gujjars to vacate the land.

However, this afternoon situation took an ugly turn when officials along with a police party reached Belicharana and started evicting the Gujjars, they added.

The sources said the Gujjars resisted their eviction and heated arguments between the police and the nomads turned bloody, as the Gujjars started pelting them with stones and attacked the policemen with sticks.

They said the Gujjars outnumbered the policemen and the department officials, who had to run for their lives. They added that the police had to seek additional reinforcement from the district police lines here.

Though the additional reinforcement arrived immediately, Mubasir Latifi sustained fractures in his right leg and left elbow while two policemen and three Gujjars were also injured in the clashes.

The sources said to quell the violence the police fired several rounds of teargas shells and fired into the air.

They added that one of the teargas shells hit the thatched roof of a makeshift hutment and the resultant fire spread to other hutments gutting them completely.

A senior forest official said the Gujjars had raised around 50 hutments overnight on the department’s land and to evict them we had to seek help from the police.

Mubasir Latifi was under treatment at the Government Medical College here. Despite repeated attempts, Satwari SHO Sunil Jasrotia could not be reached for his comments.

Udhampur, May 9
The security forces today gunned down a self-styled divisional commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and his bodyguard in a remote area of Doda. A security personnel was injured in the gun battle that lasted for three hours.

“In a fierce encounter, the security forces this morning killed LeT divisional commander Abu Samana and his bodyguard Barkat Ali in the forest area of Dhar,” Hemant Kumar Lohia, DIG, Doda-Ramban range, told The Tribune. 

He informed that Abu Samana was a Pakistani national and had been active in the Doda area for the past five years. The killing of Abu Samana was considered a big blow to the LeT, as he was appointed divisional commander in December 2008 after the elimination of three LeT commanders that time.

According to reports, the local police and the Rashtriya Riffles (RR) launched a joint operation late Friday night in the Dhar Baghiana area of Doda after getting information about the presence of Abu Samana. 

After confirming that the LeT commander was hiding in the area, the security forces threw a tight cordon around his hideout around 1am. Asked to surrender, the militants fired on the security forces and in the ensuing gun battle both militants were killed.

The DIG said after being appointed as the divisional commander of the LeT Abu Samana had been active in Barat, Gandoh, Bhaderwah, Kulhand and Desa areas of Doda district. “He was instrumental in many militant activities in this belt,” he said.

Abu Samana, a Pakistani national, had reportedly managed to sneak into the Doda belt from the Kashmir valley five years ago. He had been assigned the task of collecting ransom and conducting fresh recruitment for the LeT.

During the last one year, the security forces have killed 12 LeT commanders. On April 18, LeT commander Shahbaz was killed along with a woman militant in Doda. Similarly, on April 19, another LeT commander Shaheen was killed near Ramban.

Jammu, May 9
Various Sikh organisations in the state, including the SAD (Amritsar), Sikh Students Federation and others, while expressing concern over the atrocities on the Sikhs in the tribal areas of Pakistan, have termed it as a part of a bigger conspiracy against the community.

“We are concerned about the security of the minority community in the tribal belts of Pakistan. It is a pity that when Sikhs in Afghanistan’s tribal areas by and large remained unscathed during the turbulent days of Partition, the upheaval during the formation of two nations did not cast its shadow on the communal harmony at that time, then why the Taliban after a gap of six decades imposing “Jazia” on the Sikhs,” a resolution passed by various Sikh organisations here read.

The Sikhs said while a majority of top Sikh shrines in Pakistan were not harmed during Partition, then why the Taliban would impose “Jazia” on the Sikhs living in the area.

Condemning the atrocities being committed on the Sikhs in the tribal belts of Pakistan, the Sikh organisations appealed to the Pakistan government to protect the interests of the community.

The organisations also condemned the killing of 36 Sikhs in Chittisingpora in south Kashmir on the eve of the arrival of the then US President Bill Clinton and the killing of Sikhs at Mahjoor Nagar, Posh Kriri and Dargahpura in the valley.

Srinagar, May 9
With only two days left for campaigning in the last phase of elections when the Baramulla constituency will go to the polls on May 13, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and other coalition leaders campaigned in north Kashmir today.

Others who addressed the election rallies included NC president Farooq Abdullah and Congress leaders Saifuddin Soz and Prithviraj Chavan, who jointly campaigned for the coalition candidate at Bandipore today.

Addressing election rallies in Sopore areas, Omar criticised the PDP for circulating rumours and telling lies unabashedly for the sake of power. He asked people to understand this political game and foil all attempts aimed at dividing them on crucial issues.

He said at present the PDP leadership was spreading another rumour regarding an increase in toll tax for fruit dispatches, which was totally false and a propaganda to mislead and confuse fruit growers and traders. “There has been no increase, whatsoever, in the toll tax, and the government has any intention to increase it,” he said around the apple-rich town of Sopore. Omar asked the fruit growers not to believe the lies of the PDP.

“They do this to confuse people and divert their attention from the real issue of peace and development process,” he maintained.

Omar said a large number of human rights violations took place during the time of regime of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, but the latter never talked about the issue nor did anything concrete to book the culprits. 

“Now out of power, the PDP leadership is shedding crocodile tears on this count,” he said. “We are committed for zero tolerance as far as human rights violations are concerned and we stick to our stand of punishing the culprits,” he asserted.

Chavan said he had carried a message from UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to earnestly appeal to you to vote for NC candidate Sharief-u-Din Shariq.

Soz assured people that he would help build Bandipora into a model town, where all basic amenities would be available. He added that efforts would be undertaken to complete the Kishan Ganga Project that would generate 330 MW of power, besides creating avenues for employment.

Farooq made a passionate appeal to people to accept the NC-Congress coalition and help it perform well.

Srinagar/Baramulla, May 9
For the troops guarding border with Pakistan, it is no consolation that this year’s Lok Sabha elections have, so far, been violence-free, whereas the previous one had witnessed 13 political killings, 11 of them at a PDP rally in Baramulla’s Uri segment, and 24 attacks on polling stations.

Security agencies are working overtime to foil infiltration bids, with intelligence agencies reporting that hundreds of trained militants of the Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Al-Badr waiting to infiltrate into the valley. Baramulla is particularly sensitive with its Gurez segment along the LoC becoming a preferred infiltration route.

Sources in the state government told The Tribune today that Pakistan had this year encouraged more infiltrations into the valley in February and March, which is not the normal time for such operations.

Infiltrations usually take place around April and May. They have been successfully contained this year due to heavy troop deployment in the wake of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections; currently 400 CRPF companies are guarding the area.

But that doesn’t take away the element of militant threat looming large on the valley. Intelligence agencies have reported that close to 220 trained militants, mostly of the LeT, are waiting across the LoC, with “launchpads on”.

“They are looking for a chance to sneak in,” the sources said, adding that the number of militants active in the valley at present could be near 100, although the official figure is 38.

The security forces have reasons to believe that there could be more Pakistan-aided terrorist activity in the valley than thought. Two months ago, the Army had foiled two major infiltration attempts, killing 21 militants in the Gurez sector of Baramulla, which goes to the polls on May 13.

Several trained terrorists are believed to have escaped at that time and are hiding across Kashmir, with sources putting their numbers “above 38”. They had entered to sabotage elections.

There are also increasing reports this year of Pakistan’s intensified efforts to recruit Kashmiri youths for terror training. “Several young boys have been caught ex-filtrating from the valley to the other side,” the sources said.

The Army, meanwhile, has energised its multi-layered counter-infiltration grid along the LoC, with a Pakistani militant captured last month in Gurez confessing that Pakistan-based terror groups like the LeT and the Hizbul Mujahideen were training youths for jihad in Jammu and Kashmir.

He had further confessed that Pakistani troops and other agencies had facilitated infiltration of militants into Kashmir in the recent weeks.

Srinagar May 9
An unidentified militant was killed in an encounter with the security forces in Ganderbal district last night, while the police apprehended two suspected militants here today.

Unidentified militants also hurled a grenade toward the government accommodation of senior PDP leader and Baramulla MLA Muzaffar Hussain Beigh at Khwaja Bagh, Baramulla, last night. The grenade exploded in the house compound without causing any injuries or damage, the police here said.

Acting on specific information, the police and the Army launched search operations at Akhal Kangan village in Ganderbal district last night. The hiding militants fired on the troops. However, a hiding militant was killed when the security forces returned fire.

The identity of the slain militant is yet to be ascertained. One AK-47 rifle, five AK magazines, two Chinese grenades, 110 rounds of ammunition and one pouch were seized from the site of encounter, the police said. Constable Heera Lal was injured in the encounter.

Meanwhile, the police apprehended two suspected militants from the Dalgate area of Srinagar today, sources said. They were being questioned and their identities were being ascertained.

Jammu, May 9
Humming Buds, a pre-school of the Model Academy, today celebrated Mother’s Day at its BC Road and Residency Road branches.

Around 60 mothers of the pre-school from ‘O’, ‘A’ and ‘A+’ levels participated in various events organised on the occasion. A craft competition was organised in which mother and child worked together as a team.

This was followed by poem recitation in which children performed in an enthusiastic manner. An interactive session with mothers was also organised.

Principal of the academy Rupa Gupta described motherhood as the most wonderful and important gift of God to women.

Gupta said Mother’s Day celebration would serve as a small token of appreciation for their efforts towards each and every element of society.

Dr Adit Gupta, joint director, MIER, congratulated the faculty members for putting in valuable efforts for celebrating this day.

He said, “We should admire the role of a mother in every stage of life."

Children also presented gift items prepared by them to their mothers.

Meanwhile, Shemrock International School, Bantalab, also celebrated this day with great zeal and enthusiasm. Students presented dance on bollywood numbers and mothers displayed their talent by singing songs and presenting dances.

To honour the mothers, cards and roses were distributed among them. 

Srinagar, May 9
The affection and love from mothers would be doubled tomorrow on Mother’s Day, but pangs of separation for those who don’t have mother and lost her at a young age continue to pain them.

For 40-year-old Mohammad Yasin, a resident of Zandifaran-Baramulla, the void has been there since childhood.

Yasin lost his mother at the age of four and since then has been missing her at every stage of life. For him “life of a person becomes hell when he loses his mother”. He says: “For me, a child without mother is a real orphan.

The moment a child loses his mother, he loses his father too,” adding that, “When I was in class X my arm got fractured and since then I badly miss my mother. It became painful when after returning from my school, my stepmother asked me to live separately.”

Controlling his emotions and gulping his words back while taking a pause, he said, “As I was thinking what to do and how to manage life, my maternal uncles came and took me along.”

He recalled that his marriage was delayed because of his stepmother. “Since I was living in the rural area, the people at that time used to take a serious note of such things. They thought that marrying with a person like me would be problematic as I would inherit no ancestral property because of my stepmother,” he said.

He says the best way of observing the day is that everyone should offer special prayers on the day as a token of love and respect to their mothers.

He added that there were numbers of cases in his village where children were “forced to move out of their homes” after the death of their mothers and most of their fathers re-married.

Eighty-year-old Abdul Gani, from the same village, says that a person who loses mother at a young age should commit suicide.

“That person has no right to live as his life becomes hell. I lost my mother at a young age and was compelled by my stepmother to give away my share of property,” he rued.

Jammu, May 9
Buddha Purnima was celebrated with religious fervor and gaity in the state. The festival is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha. As per historians he achieved enlightenment on this day and he died the same day, which is called ‘Mahaparinirvana’.

“Today was the 2,553 death anniversary of the Buddha. Buddha Purnima comprises three major events of the Buddha’s life -- his birth, enlightenment and death (Mahaparinirvana).

The Department of Buddhist Studies, Jammu University, organised an inter-departmental elocution competition on the theme of “Buddhism and peace process in Jammu and Kashmir”.

The first three prizes winners were Sapna Sharma of the Department of Biotechnology, Bhanu Pratap of Law School and Meenakshi Anand of the Department of Home Science, respectively.

Prof Veena Gupta, Dean, Faculty of Arts, was the chief guest on the occasion while Prof B. Labh, head of the Department of Buddhist Studies, presided over the function.

Gupta talked about the teachings of the Buddha, like the four noble truths, the noble eightfold path (which is essentially the middle path) and the ways and means of their application in the day-to-day life.

Labh highlighted the Buddha’s teachings and their rationality that has attracted modern minds throughout the world. He termed the Buddha as a highly liberated and rational historical personality.

Sharing his views about his recently concluded trip to Thailand, he cited the Buddha’s teachings that could make everybody smile and kind hearted.

Leh: Though Buddha Purnima according to the Tibetan lunar calendar, which is followed in Ladakh, will be in the next month, it was celebrated in Leh with religious fervour and devotion today.

A large procession starting from Chokhang Vihara passed through several villages of Leh town and culminated at Polo Ground, where the main function was held. A large number of monks and devotees participated.

Monks were playing religious musical instruments and the devotees were reciting the teachings of Lord Buddha translated into the Tibetan script in 108 volumes.

The celebrations started from the early morning with devotees thronging monasteries with incense, butter lamp, khataks (white scarf) and garlands. Organised by the Ladakh Buddhist Association, several tableaux depicting the life of Lord Buddha were also presented during the procession.

Hotels and restaurants served only vegetarian foods during the day, as people abstained from eating onion and garlic on the occasion. Leh town was decorated with Tibetan prayer flags.

Jammu, May 9
The Indian Red Cross Society today observed World Red Cross Day at a function organised at Abhinav Theatre in the J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages.

The function was attended by Red Cross volunteers, life members and directors from Kishtwar, Kathua, Udhampur and Samba districts.

Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma, Divisional Commissioner Pawan Kotwal and IGP K. Rajendra were the main guests on the occasion.

Students of Shangrilla Public Higher Secondary School and KV Bantalab besides artists of the Natrang Theatre Group presented cultural extravaganza on the occasion.

Honorary secretary of the regional Red Cross Society Anil K Padha delivered the welcome address. Medals and certificates of merits were also distributed among volunteers of the society.

Srinagar, May 9
DGP Kuldeep Khoda today reviewed security scenario in three north Kashmir districts of Bandipora, Baramulla and Kupwara at separate meetings held at these district headquarters. Officers from the police and other security forces participated.

IG, Kashmir zone, B. Srinivas, DIG, Baramulla, Farooq Khan, SSP Baramulla, and SPs of all respective districts also participated in the meetings, an official spokesman said.

The DGP chaired the meetings of senior officers of the police and paramilitary forces in view of the Baramulla Lok Sabha elections on May 13.

Khoda asked the police and the security agencies to take all possible measures to ensure that people could exercise their right to franchise without fear. He said no anti-social element should be allowed to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere and peaceful conduct of elections.

Srinivas and DIG (CRPF), north Kashmir, Rajiv Kumar briefed the DGP about the measures already taken for strengthening the security grid, especially in north Kashmir in view of the Baramulla Lok Sabha elections on May 13.

DIG, Baramulla range, Farooq Khan and police officers from Baramulla, Bandipora, Handwara and Kupwara districts gave details about the deployment of police personnel and other security arrangements in their areas.

The DGP also reviewed sector, zone and polling booth wise deployment of the security forces. He stressed upon the officers acclimatise and brief the security personnel on poll duty.

He emphasised the need for high class rapport and communication among the security agencies deployed on election duty right up to the polling booth level to facilitate the people to exercise their democratic right.

Jammu, May 9
While the threat of global warming has alarmed the entire world community, in India it is threatening the very existence of high altitude Himalayan wetlands in general and the wetlands of Ladakh in particular, Pankaj Chandan, India coordinator of the Himalayan High Altitude Wetlands Conservation Programme, has said at an extension lecture.

The lecture was on “Conservation and Management of Himalayan High Altitude Wetlands with a Focus on Black-necked Crane” and was organised by the Friends of Ladakh Society, Jammu University, in collaboration with the Vijay Suri Foundation at the Seminar Hall of the DSRS, Social Sciences Block, of the university here on Thursday.

“Major challenges to the high altitude wetlands of Ladakh include unplanned and unregulated tourism, tourist season coinciding with peak biological activity, infrastructure, tremendous grazing pressure, lack of awareness among the stakeholders, emerging threat of climate change and lack of coordination among various developmental agencies,” said Pankaj.

Informing that the Himalayan high altitude wetlands of the state not only support the unique biodiversity of the region, but are also a source of livelihood for the local communities, he said at the regional level these wetlands also acted as a source of major rivers originating from the regions and supported billions of people downstream.

Forty per cent of the world’s population was dependent on water coming from the Himalayas, he added.

Pankaj said the Worldwide Fund (WWF) for Nature Wetland projects started in Leh in 2000 with a stakeholders’ meeting, followed by various activities planned at three wetlands of Ladakh at Tsomoriri, Tsokar and Pangong Tso. He added that two more sites Hanle Marshes and Chushul Marshes were added in 2004.

The most interesting initiative of the WWF India for the conservation and management of Ladakh high altitude wetlands is that it has started involving Indian troops at the wetland sites.

“Training workshops for officers of armed forces are being organised. A training programme every alternate year is being organised in Ladakh for the Army, ITBP, IAF and Border Roads Organisation and the state police.

The process of training officers has been institutionalised. Many officers, who were trained in these training programmes, are contributing in conservation in other parts of India as well,” said Pankaj. 

Sunderbani (Rajouri), May 9
The work of laying of tiles in lanes and bylanes in the town has been delayed because of an alleged tussle between chairman of the Municipal Committee GL Dogra and a contractor over the colour of the tiles. The excavation work in the lanes and the bylanes was completed about six months ago.

While the MC chairman wants the contractor to lay red tiles,

the contractor reportedly wants to lay grey tiles, as he has been “paid” as per the rate of grey tiles. The failure to lay tiles has caused damage to the lanes and the bylanes, and more than 12 persons have suffered fractures and injuries by falling in the lanes in the past six months.

“Two months ago, my sister-in-law Guddi Sharma fell in a dug up lane and her right hand was fractured. There are more than 12 such cases here,” said Ganesh Chander, a resident of Ward No. 4, here. “After the incident, when we approached Dogra, he told us that the tiles would be laid soon.

But we have heard about a tussle between the chairman and the contractor over the colour of tiles. In the interest of the residents, they should iron out their differences and get the tiles laid immediately.”

Dogra told The Tribune that the MC would soon get red tiles laid in the lanes and the bylanes of Sunderbani. “We will get the desired colour tiles laid in Sunderbani town within next two months,” he said. He refuted any difference with the contractor over the choice of tiles.

Though the contractor refuse to talk about the issue, sources close to him said he would lay the tiles of a particular colour since he had been paid for these tiles.