Jammu, June 23
Even as chain snatchers continue to strike in Jammu , the acutely understaffed Jammu police has pulled up its socks to deal with the menace in the district having a population of 18 lakh.

In the last one-and-a-half years, 59 cases of chain snatching were registered in various police stations of the district, out of which 24 were worked out while 35 were still under investigations, SSP, Jammu, Manohar Singh told The Tribune.

However, if statistics are to be believed, Gandhi Nagar tops the chart as 16 cases were reported in the posh area of the winter capital during 2008-09 followed by another posh locality of Trikuta Nagar with 13 cases.

Similarly, eight cases were reported at Nowabad police station, six at Gangyal, six at Janipur, three at Channi Himmat, two at Pucca Danga, two at Satwari, one at Bakshi Nagar and two at Domana police station.

“We have been doing everything possible to check the incidents of chain snatching, but it has become a constant menace”, said the SSP.

“To deal with the situation, we have started keeping notorious characters under constant surveillance, besides deploying cops in civvies in vulnerable areas”, he added.

However, the SSP was perturbed over more and more involvement of the local youth in incidents of chain snatchings and vehicle lifting.

”Before the Jammu agitation last year, criminal elements from outside the state used to come here to indulge in chain snatching and vehicle- lifting, but now locals are getting involved”,he said.

“Besides educating people, particularly women, about not talking to strangers,especially motor cycle- borne youth, we have also launched foot patrolling in vulnerable areas”, he added.He, however, attributed the root cause of the crime to growing unemployment.

Property-related crimes continued to be on the rise in Jammu and one might be shocked to know that some of the chain snatchers arrested recently belonged to good families. But they were unemployed graduates and undergraduates in the age group 20 to 28 and committed the crime for quick money, he added.

Sources in the police , however, feel it will be a difficult task for a force comprising 3700 personnel and officers to check the crime in the district.

Jammu, June 23
Despite the end of the two-month long strike over revenue-sharing terms of multiplex owners, local cinema halls are still running old films, much to the annoyance of moviegoers, particularly the youth.

There are not much recreational facilities in Jammu. As such, the most common places for the youth for entertainment are the cinema halls.

But this year, the youngsters are a disappointed lot as the cinema halls are running old movies. With no other alternative to enjoy their summer vacation, they are demanding that new movies should be run.

Expressing disappointment, Karuna Koul a postgraduate student said, “I have seen ‘Dostana’ thrice this month and I am fed up seeing old movies. It seems there is a drought of new movies. Earlier, there was an excuse for cinema hall owners, but now they don’t have any reason for showing old movies”.

Ankur Sharma, who is working in a private company, said, “I used to see latest movies in cinema halls during weekends. But during the past two months, I could not do so due to the Bollywood strike . Now, I was expecting to see some new movies, but to my disappointment most cinema halls are running old movies”.

“Cinema is the only medium of entertainment here and they are showing old movies, leaving no option for us but to watch them. We are now fed up and want to see latest movies,” said Tarun Sharma, a student of Class XII.

“Last week, multiplexes here have released new movies, but the old cinema halls are still running old movies. We cannot afford to go to multiplexes. Other cinema halls should release new movies soon,” said Charu Gupta, a PG student.

People have other reasons for watching movies in cinema halls. A large number of people prefer spending a few hours in an air-conditioned hall and relax by watching movies with friends.

Sumit Gupta, a university student, said, “This year, we are witnessing frequent power shutdowns and I prefer to watch a movie to avoid uneasy humid atmosphere at home”.

Rajinder Bedi, manger of Indira multiplex, said, “We know audiences are fed up with the old movies and want to see latest movies. Last week, we have released two new movies and we are going to release ‘New York’ and ‘Kambhakt Ishq’ this week”.

Srinagar, June 23
Stones and timbers have been placed across the roads leading to Shopian while groups of young and not-so-young men roam around to enforce the bandh, going on for the past 23 days against the alleged rape and murder of two women. “Only emergency cases and mediapersons are allowed,” a young man says.

Though the interim report of the judicial commission, which is probing the incident, indicted senior police and civil officials for grave negligence and destruction of evidence, it has failed to calm the volatile situation. “The commission has said what even a 10-year-old of Shopian knew from the day one. We want the guilty to be caught. And the guilty are definitely local policemen, none else,” Shahanwaz Hussain, a protester shouts while barring even mediapersons from moving ahead.

A Sumo driver sits on his haunches despairingly with the windscreen of his vehicle shattered as he tried to force his way through. The sanity returns in a few moments, but Shopian is definitely very angry.

All shops, schools and traffic are closed for over three weeks as vigilante groups go around enforcing their writ. But they do not have to do much. Everybody believes that Shaqil Ahmad Ahanger’s pregnant wife Neelofar Jan (22) and sister Aasiya Jan have been brutally done to death, after being gang-raped.

Jammu, June 23
A record of sorts was created when 100 Kashmiri Pandits conducted a grand yajna at the Gangbal (Harmukt Ganga), the historic religious place of Kashmiri Pandits, situated under the foothills of the Harmukt range in the north-east of Kashmir at a height of 12,000 feet, after more than 100 years recently.

Vinod Pandit, chairman, All-Parties Migrant Coordination Committee (APMCC), and member, Advisory Board of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, who pioneered the movement, recalling the event, said in Jammu : “The traditional three-day long yatra has been revived as part of efforts to restore historic religious places of Kashmiri Pandits and preserve their cultural and religious history. Since the place is so sacred, so we also performed shraadh in the Ganges (Harmukt Ganga) for the peace of all departed souls.This ritual was also observed by our ancestors at the place.”

The yatra began on June 1 from Naraan Naag to the long hilly track on foot up to the Harmukt Ganga (Gangbal). The yatra was in continuation of last year’s “Naran Naag Yatra”, which was also performed for the first time in the recent history by the APMCC where more than 300 Kashmiri Pandits participated.

The yatra was conducted solely by the APMCC through its own resources under heavy security arrangements made by armed forces and the J&K police, while the civil administration showed a lack of interest in the whole affair.

“The Army helped us in a big way by providing us security of 400 personnel. Maj-Gen VSS Gouder, GOC, (K), and Brig CA Pithawala, AC-CDR, 3 Sector RR, deserve the credit for it. The state government on the other side did not show the same spirit for the event,” added Pandit.

On such a difficult and high terrain, the pilgrims faced a lot of difficulties due to inclement weather on the way, especially on the track leading from Trunkhul to the Gangbal lake.

Pandit explained, “The gas cylinders did not work due to the temperature dipping to zero. We had to eat raw vegetation there. It was dicey to cross three rivers on the way, which were almost frozen. Cold breezes blowing at high speed at night almost blew our tents. Lack of communication was another big problem due to the absence of any tower at that height.”

It was certainly an acid test to make this pilgrimage a success not only because of weather and topography, but also for being highly porous area for militants. That is the reason; nobody dared to hold this yatra for all these years. But now since the group has made a success of it, they are full of energy and enthusiasm to observe it every year.

“We have decided to make this pilgrimage an annual affair from henceforth by adding a trust, named as the Harmukt Ganga Trust, to look after all arrangements. The members, too, have been decided for it,” informed Pandit.

He said a video CD of the yatra would also be released to showcase the rich cultural and religious tradition of Kashmiri Pandits to the entire Hindu community.

Srinagar, June 23
High potential risk groups, voluntary screening of people, sustenance of awareness and treatment available were discussed threadbare by doctors during a day-long “Update on HIV/AIDS” organised by the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, and the AIDS Society of India recently.

Dr Mohammad Amin Wani, project director, State AIDS Control Society, said Kathua, Jammu, Rajouri and Srinagar districts were badly hit by HIV/AIDS.

“Ratio is 65:35 for males and females and among females 90 per cent are housewives. Most of the affected people are illiterate and poor with the main route of transmission being unsafe sex,” he said, adding 70 per cent of the tested people were in the age group of 25-45.

Dr Wani said 22 ICTCs were functional in the state. “As many as 54,542 people reported voluntarily for screening, 53,404 were tested out of which 404 tested positive,” 
he said.

The project director said 1,811 persons were HIV positive in the state and among them 662 were confirmed AIDS patients. “Ninety two deaths have already taken place and 478 people are on Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART),” he added.

“Ever since the inception of the State AIDS Control Society in 1999, we have carried out awareness campaigns in various sections of the society for minimising harms caused by HIV/AIDS,” said Dr Wani. He added that truckers constitute 45 per cent, migrant labourers 20 per cent, security forces, including police, 10 per cent, tourist-associated people 10 per cent and others 15 per cent as far as HIV/AIDS carriers were concerned.

He suggested comprehensive and sustained awareness, behavioural change and provision of support services as steps for reducing harm on account of HIV/AIDS.

Dr Wani attributed “lies” and “non-acceptance” of condoms as reasons responsible for HIV/AIDS scenario in the state. “HIV is a disease of productive youth that is why it has economic and development dimension attached to it. AIDS is destroying productive population,” he said.

Prof Imtiyaz Ali, dean, medical faculty, and head of the Department Community Medicines, SKIMS, said, “Awareness about HIV here is increasing, but still it is low. Prevention is the key, but the integration of prevention and care is 
much important.”

He said truck drivers, trekking guides, hoteliers, college hostellers and sex workers were potential high-risk groups.

“AIDS shouldn’t be treated as medical disease, but a socio-medical disease,” said Prof Ali.

Dr IS Gilada, secretary-general, AIDS Society of India, termed AIDS in India “as a man-made, government neglected and socially sponsored calamity.”

He said early onset of maturity, delayed marriages and youth welfare being the last priority in government programming and inter-personal relationships at stake were some reasons responsible for the spread of the disease. He said millions of lives were lost worldwide. “We’ve lost 1.2 million people in India alone. Besides, several breadwinners have also been lost,” he added.

Teaching has always remained one of the noblest and respectable jobs in our society. However, the substantial growth of private schools and the low remunerations paid to the teachers by such schools have degraded the position of educationists.

In Jammu, teachers working in private schools claim they are struggling to eke out a decent living as private institutions pay poor remuneration.

“I am trying to get a job in a government school, which is a better option. In private schools, the policy is more work less pay. Salaries in most of the private schools are neither proportionate to the experience nor to the qualification. They pay as per their will. Mostly, the private schools pay as low as Rs 700 to Rs 2,500 to a fresher with BEd. Those who have some experience get a few bucks more,” says Jyoti Sajgotra, a teacher working with a private institution in the city.

“There is no fixed criterion for payment in private schools but in general, the teachers are paid very less as compared to their counterparts in government or government-aided schools. I am working in a private school and getting only Rs 2,500 per month. I hold a master’s degree and have also done BEd. I would prefer some government job even if I get it on a contractual basis,” she says.

“I am working on a contractual basis in a government school, but I am satisfied. Earlier, I worked with a private academy for six years and I was paid only Rs 1,200 per month. Though I am working as an R-e-T teacher, I am happy as I will be regularised after a short period, says Monica Sharma, who opines that it is of no use to work for private institutions.

“Even after 10 years of experience, I was getting only Rs 8,000 per month. After spending Rs 1,000 for transportation, I was getting only Rs 7,000 in hand. I am 35 years old now and have a family to support, but private academies only want work, but pay very less. Therefore, I stopped working and now I am running a private tutorial where I am earning handsomely. It is better to sit idle rather than to work for private academies,” rues Kuldeep Pathania, who till last year was working with a noted private school in the city.

Summer vacations add to the troubles of teachers of private schools as they do not get salary for this period even as schools charge fees from students.

“We have to face temporary unemployment during the vacation period as we are not given salary. Even after the end of the academic year, we are not paid for some time. Hence, in a year, we are without salary for three months. It is like schools terminate our services at the end of the academic year and again recruited us at the start of the new session,” says Manohar Sharma, who has been working with a private academy in Janipur for the past three years.

"In the past few decades, the city has seen a tremendous growth of private schools and most of the teachers prefer sending their wards to the private academies, but unfortunately low salaries result in low teacher retention in many schools in the region. Teachers keep on changing jobs, which affect the overall performance of the schools. There is no fixed recruitment policy for the appointment of teachers in private schools and that is the main reason that there is so much of anomaly in their remuneration,” says Om Parkash Manhas, principal and owner of Budding Flower.

"There is so much of unemployment that the people sitting idle at home think that it is better to join some private school or academy rather than wasting time. This is also one of the reasons that sometimes the deserving are paid less,” he says.

Rajouri, June 23
It’s not the people who are benefiting from the cross-Line of Control (LoC) trade, but traders on the either side who are making the most of one of the main confidence- building measures between India and Pakistan.

The trade between the two countries follows the barter system wherein goods are exchanged from both sides. Sources in the district administration as also local sources told TNS that even as the trade had witnessed phenomenal increase since the time it was started through Poonch-Rawlakote cross-LoC road more than seven months ago, it had not benefited the people on the either side in any way. They added that it was the traders who were reaping the maximum benefit.

Since the prices of commodities on the either side are cheaper, people should have been benefited, but that did not happen, the sources said, adding that of the main items traded, including moong dal (green gram), onion and Peshawari chappal, the margin of traders varied between 100 and 1,000 per cent. They added that items like garlic, which is no longer on the list of tradable items since its import from Pakistan was banned due to plant quarantine measures, also brought huge profits to traders on both sides.

“Moong dal (green gram) is being sent by the traders from Pakistan at the rate of Rs 25 (Indian currency) per kg, but the same is being sold by here at Rs 55. Similarly, Peshawari chappal is bought from Pakistan at Rs 250 per pair, but the traders here sell the same for Rs 500 per pair, thus a profit of 100 per cent,” sources said.

“Onion is being send by Indian traders to Pakistan at the price of Rs 14 (in Pakistani currency) per kg, but the same quantity is being sold there at Rs 40. Similar is the case of other vegetables and fruits being sold by local traders to those in Pakistan, who are making huge profits”.

A reliable source in the district administration said had the respective governments checked the profit margins of the traders, people would have been benefited, but in the absence of any check, traders were making hay.

A senior officer in the district administration told The Tribune that the central government did not want to disturb the trade. “We also feel that people should also benefit from the trade between the two countries. Presently, only traders on both sides are reaping the maximum profit. The prices of the items traded from Pakistan should be monitored but for that the government has to take steps,” he said.

Srinagar, June 23
Legendary Kashmiri writer, scholar and educationist Professor Mohi-ud-Din Hajni was remembered on his 92nd birth anniversary at a literary meet in his native township of Hajin in north Kashmir district of Bandipore on Sunday.

Prof Hajni, as he was popularly known in the literary circles of the Kashmir valley, was an intellectual and Kashmiri prose writer, who had a humble beginning from Hajin village. He was a distinguished student, always securing the first position in his academic career and first class in MA (Arabic) from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Aligarh.

“He rose from the dust, but pervaded over an age that was the beginning of a new era”, said one of his taught, who also happened to be Prof Hajini’s colleague in Sri Pratap (SP) college, Srinagar, for several years. Hajni worked in colleges all along his life and mostly in SP College, apart from two or three years in Jammu. He was constantly upholding the cause of the Kashmiri language and literature. He has written many articles and profiles on Kashmir’s history during his career.

Amongst his important Kashmiri books include “Maqualat-e-Hajni” and “Nasrech Kitab”. He wrote some dramas also, and had a deep insight into the history and culture of Kashmir. He was well versed with literature, history and even sciences to a large extent.

The meet, organised jointly by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages and the Halqay-e-Adab Hajan, Sonawari, was presided over by eminent Kashmiri poet, scholar and Jnanpeeth awardee Prof Rehman Rahi. Mohammad Akbar Lone, Speaker, Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, who represents the Hajin constituency was the chief guest. Zaffar Iqbal Manhas, secretary academy and other prominent literary figures also attended.

“The intellectual and writer community of the state, especially of the valley, feels proud of his achievements,” said Prof Rahi while addressing the gathering and added that “his contributions for the preservation of Kashmiri ethos would be remembered all times to come”.

Zaffar Manhas impressed upon the Kashmiri writer community to chalk out a time-bond strategy for the development of the Kashmiri language and act upon forcefully and vigorously. He said now the movement of the language needed an appropriate direction, discipline and dedication. He added that the time was high for the intellect of this linguistic group to sit together and work for its preservation in an organised manner and that would be a great tribute to Prof Hajni who had rendered his whole life for the cause of the Kashmiri language.

Mohammad Akbar Lone said the best way to pay tributes to Prof Hajni was to carry forward his work and mission. He said Hajni was a great educationist of the area who had contributed his life for the promotion of the Kashmiri language. He said the state government was committed to the development of the language. He also impressed upon the State Cultural Academy, Radio Kashmir and Doordarshan to work jointly for the promotion of the cultural heritage of the state.

Jammu, June 23
At the mercy of God when mercury, too, has been hovering three to four notches above normal, water still remains a luxury for over 100 families in Meen Charakan village, barely 22 km from here.

It’s the same village where the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department had failed to supply potable water for 18 continuous days in May forcing the villagers to hold hostage at least three PHE officials.

“Despite holding them (officials) hostage and highlighting the issue in the media, nothing has been done to ensure water supply to the village,” said Parveen Singh, a youth.

No tanker had been pressed into service to meet the contingency, he said, adding that hardships of the young and old and particularly of women have increased manifold.

“The entire village relies upon the lone handpump and instead of mitigating our hardships, the department now supplies water once a week,” he added. However, PHE Minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din assured to take up the matter with PHE chief engineer VK Abrol.

“In this intense heat, the only handpump is the only source of water for us,” said Purni Devi.

She expressed regrets that neither the PHE Department nor sitting MLA from Vijaypur Surjeet Singh Salathia, a minister in the Omar government, bothered to look into their problem.