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Four militants holed up in Poonch
Militants facing financial crunch
Omar: Take Chinese incursions seriously
Nothing new about intrusions: Ladakh leaders
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Committee to oversee return of Kashmiri Pandits to valley
Fake currency being ‘supplied’ from across the border
Militants hurl grenade
Despite more yield, Kashmir apples costlier
Jammu region may be declared drought-hit
Ration Shortage
MLA seeks supply of fertilisers for farmers
State Cong men hail austerity measures
Inter-frontier games begin
6 jawans hurt in accidental blast
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Four militants holed up in Poonch
Rajouri, September 16 The holed up militants are firing intermittently on the security forces . Police sources said the militants belonged to more than one militant outfit, including the Lashkar-e-Toiba and the Jasih-E-Muhammad. The cordon was laid by a joint team of Special Operation Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and troops of the Kumaon regiment in the Bruin area on the border of Chajla and Bairi Rakh forest, close to the Line of Control (LoC), in the Mendhar area since this afternoon. They added that the militants who were hiding in a house had escaped to the nearby fields. “On getting information about the presence of the militants, the SOG personnel and troops of the 7 Kumaon regiment cordoned off the area. While they were searching, the militants who were hiding in a house opened fire on the security forces and escaped into the nearby fields”, said a police officer on condition of anonymity. “The militants fired at troops first at 2.30 pm and again resumed firing at 6 pm, which is still going on. These militants probably belong to an old group which was roaming in the area for a long time” he said. A resident on condition of anonymity told TNS that maize crop provided perfect conditions for militants to hide, which worked to the disadvantage of the security forces. DIG, Rajouri-Poonch range, SD Singh Jamwal, told The Tribune that “Our police party was on a routine patrolling when they came under gunfire. After that we lost contact with them. However, our police party has begun searches in the area. The search may be halted till tomorrow morning”. |
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Militants facing financial crunch
Udhampur, September 16 Instead of directly involved into forcibly collecting money from people, militants have directed their supporters to indulge into extortion. These startling disclosures were made by three militant supporters (overground workers), who were held by the Kishtwar police yesterday. The police has apprehended three overground workers (OGWs) who were involved in the killing of Ghulam Ahmed Chowhan, who was the father of a surrendered Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist, identified as Saifullah. The arrested OGW’s had reportedly helped the terrorists in the killing of Chowhan on September 12. Sources said the arrested militant supporters disclosed that the militants had assigned them the task to arrange money for them. Through these OGWs, the militants have been giving threats to contractors engaged in developmental works in the remotest areas of Kishtwar to give them ransom. Sources in the police said the arrested OGWs would be sent to the Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC) for further questioning. |
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Omar: Take Chinese incursions seriously
Jammu, September 16 He was talking to the reporters on the sidelines of an Iftar party that he had organised here late this evening. Omar said as India had good diplomatic relations with China and talks were already on, he hoped that the issue could be resolved through talks. “Our diplomatic channels with China are open. There is no need to use threats or harsh language,” he cautioned. He said the Chinese army should not make forays into the Indian territory. “The land is ours.” He said the state government had duly informed the central government about the ground situation and hoped the issue would be resolved. |
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Nothing new about intrusions: Ladakh leaders
Srinagar, September 16 However, they insist that there is nothing unusual about these Chinese incursions. “It has been happening for as long as I can remember. The border north of Demchuk is disputed and posts of Indian Army and Chinese army are situated at very long distances. There is no demarcation so these things happen,” Chering Dorje, Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC, told The Tribune today. He said the reports he had gathered from his workers and during interactions with officials, including Army officers, underline this. However, he said the violation of airspace by Chinese in June was something new. “It is about how you interpret these violations. But I believe media have played up the issue disproportionately,” he said. Chering said the armies of both countries hold flag meetings regularly in the Chuchul area to sort out their issues. During his interactions with Army officers, he said, they did not expressed any major concerns about the incursions. Dorjay Nutup, councillor of the Chering’s party, echoed the similar line. There is nothing in black and white to divide both countries and both armies had their own claims, he said. “The issue demands a long-term solution because of the border dispute. But I don’t think anything extraordinary has happened now,” he said. If anything, they said, India should be more concerned about the development in the border areas in Leh which has no mobile connectivity and poor condition of roads and electricity. “Our villagers complain about this all the time. The development on Chinese side is 10 times more than us. And it does make our people feel bad,” Chering said. “Chinese have built metalled road to their border villages and built airports while villagers in Indian side still suffer from lack of basic facilities,” he said. |
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Committee to oversee return of Kashmiri Pandits to valley
Srinagar, September 16 The committee headed by Minister for Revenue Raman Bhalla comprises 32 members of Kashmiri Pandits from various walks of life and senior officers. The official members include Sudhanshu Panday, Commissioner-Secretary Finance, Basharat Ahmad Dhar, Commissioner-Secretary, General Administration, and Vinod Koul, Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner, while Eijaz Iqbal, Revenue Secretary, would be the convener of the committee, an official spokesman said here. The Prime Minister has in his package announced Rs 7.5 lakh of financial assistance to any family that undertakes renovation and reconstruction of its house in the valley. It will be given accommodation by the government till it completes reconstruction of the house. In case any family likes to stay in its chosen rented accommodation, the rent will be reimbursed by the government. The package also allows different families, who have sold their houses to farm cooperative societies, and accordingly each member family of the society will be given a financial assistance of Rs 7.5 lakh each for purchasing land and constructing the house. The PM’s package also includes 6,000 government jobs for Kashmiri Pandits in the valley, out of which 3,000 will be given by the state government out of the available vacancies and the salaries of other 3,000 jobs will be borne by the Central government initially. All Kashmiri Pandit migrants, who return to the valley, will continue to get the relief for two years as per the already announced package. Their children will also be given a monthly stipend. The package also provides relief for those migrant Kashmiri Pandits who have horticulture and agriculture land and desire to revive the same. They will be given Rs 1.50 lakh each for the purpose. Those migrants, who have raised the loan before 1989, shall be given interest waiver facility. The transit accommodation has already been identified for the migrants, who desire to return to the valley, in Anantnag, Kulgam and Baramulla. Two transit accommodations have already been built at Sheikhpora (Budgam) and Mattan in Anantnag districts. The committee constituted by the government will be monitoring the implementation of all these schemes and shall also take appropriate measures in this direction. |
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Fake currency being ‘supplied’ from across the border
Udhampur, September 16 The Union Home Ministry has already termed the circulation of counterfeit currency as a grave threat to the nation. Investigating two incidents when fake currency was seized from some people in militancy-plagued Kishtwar district, the police concluded that the counterfeit currency was being supplied in this mountainous belt through the Kashmir valley from across the border. “The main supplier of fake currency in Kishtwar district, Irshad Ahmed of Pampore in south Kashmir, has revealed during interrogation that he got these notes from a resident of Kupwara,” Dr Hasib Mugal, SP, Kishtwar, told The Tribune. He pointed out that the involvement of Irshad, a resident of the border area, was a clear indication that the counterfeit currency was being supplied from across the border. “We have conducted repeated raids in north Kashmir to nab the main accused, but he is still eluding arrest,” Dr Mugal said. The fake currency notes seized from the smugglers had been sent to five laboratories to get scientific evidences. Though senior police officers are tight-lipped over the reports from these laboratories, sources said it was established that these currency notes were printed in the PoK. The Kishtwar police arrested smugglers Inayatullah and Yasir in July. Sapphire and counterfeit currency worth Rs 2 lakh were seized from their procession. The name of Irshad figured in their interrogation and he was later arrested. |
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Militants hurl grenade
Srinagar, September 16 A bomb disposal squad soon arrived and defused the bomb. The area is a high
security zone as it and surrounding localities house a host of high profile
government buildings. The throwing of grenade created panic in the crowd, while security personnel stepped up preventive measures like search of vehicles and frisking of people. Meanwhile, an unidentified militant was killed in a gunfight with the Army in Kupwara district, official sources said today. The gunfight took place at Badi Rakh Doori in Keran sector, 165 km from here, last night when a search party of the Army confronted a group of militants hiding in the forest area, the sources said. The Army along with the BSF had launched a massive search operation along the LoC on Monday following the seizure of two grenades, a wireless set and four wire cutters at Surnal Malie indicating the movement of militants from across the border, the sources said. They said the militants, on noticing the approaching troops, opened fire and in the ensuing encounter one militant was killed. An AK rifle, three magazines and some ammunition were seized from his possession. The identity and group affiliation of the slain militant could not be ascertained immediately as the search operation to track down his accomplices was continuing when last reports were received, the sources said. |
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Despite more yield, Kashmir apples costlier Srinagar, September 16 Even in Srinagar where early varieties have arrived, good quality apples cost Rs 50-60 per kg these days as compared to Rs 35-40 last year. “I believe prices will be up 30 per cent this time. Our apples’ quality has improved and we are also applying a stricter grading system to distinguish good apples from very good ones, making it easier for customers,” Horticulture Director GH Shah told The Tribune. More importantly, he said, imported apples cost much in upward of Rs 100 and people had started realising that quality apples, whether of American, Delicious or Maharaja varieties, were still tastier. It had led to an increase in the demand and in cost. As a sense of security has returned to Kashmir villages, farmers have started investing in fruit production and the government has also pitched in with vital inputs beginning from production to irrigation, harvesting and marketing. Shah said they expected close to 13 lakh metric tonnes of apples this year against 12.5 lakh metric tonnes last year. Hailstorm and less rain had affected the yield and the quality at several places, with kandi (foothills) and upland belts, especially suffering from a lack of rain and irrigation facilities. So high is the demand for quality Kashmir apples in Indian markets that up to 8 lakh metric tonnes is likely to be sold at much higher prices this year and feverish activities in fruit mandis of Sopore and Shopian only attest to it. “We were initially worried but, god willing, it will be a good year. The demand is very good,” Jahangir Shar, a fruit grower, says. However, a major concern for the department is the decreasing land holding of farmers, which would affect his investment capacity and quantity and quality of fruits. The average landholding of a Kashmiri farmer is 0.6 hectare, Shah says, and adds apple orchards occupy only a part of this area. The average yield of 12 metric tonne per hectare in Kashmir may be the most in India but is much less than that outside- anywhere between 60 and 86 metric tonnes in developed countries. Increasing the yield would be critical for the valley whose economy depends considerably on apple production, he says.
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Jammu region may be declared drought-hit
Jammu, September 16 "We are gathering the statistics and other facts to see if we can declare the region drought-hit. Poor farmers have suffered 50 to 80 per cent losses and we want them to get compensated for that," Jammu and Kashmir Revenue Minister Raman Bhalla said. Most farmers in the region grow rice and vegetables. The loss to the rice crop has been reported at 50 to 60 per cent. Bhalla said after the area is declared drought-hit, it qualifies to get money under the Calamity Relief Fund that can compensate the losses due to low rainfall. "The farmers in the region get only one crop during summers, while the fields are snow covered in winter. It is important for these farmers to get compensated for the loss or else they will face starvation in winter," he said. However, the worry of farmers does not end with the loss of the present crop. Experts point out that "less rainfall can adversely impact the next crop as well". The government has asked agriculture experts to suggest measures to farmers to minimise possible future losses According to the weatherman, average rainfall in Jammu, Udhampur and Kathua districts is around 900 mm but this year it has only been around 550 mm. They said the worst hit was Kathua district which had 52 per cent less rainfall. Jammu and Udhampur had around 42 per cent less rainfall than average.
— IANS |
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Ration Shortage
Udhampur, September 16 Instead of highlighting the achievements of the coalition regime, local leaders of both parties have been indulging in blame game for the hardship being faced by the inhabitants of this mountainous region. Scarcities of essential commodities and poor road connectivity is the biggest problem being faced by the residents of this area. During the recent visit of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Minister Qamar Ali Akhoon, NC workers praised the Minister for streamlining supply of ration. Though allegations of black-marketing of ration came to his notice, his party workers made every attempt to “highlight” the achievements of the Minister as he belongs to the NC. Instead of raising the issue of the shortage of essential commodities, the NC workers rather blamed the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department for frequent road accidents in this belt. Congress Minister Ghulam Mohammad Saroori holds the R&B portfolio so the NC workers availing all opportunities to take him to task. Same was the story when the R&B Minister visited Doda and Bhaderwah. During his meetings at these places, the Congress workers minced no words in attacking the Minister of their coalition partner for his failure to ensure supply of ration in erstwhile Doda district. One after another the Congress leaders, who spoke in these meetings before the R&B Minister, flayed the CAPD Department for its casual approach towards the miseries of common masses. |
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MLA seeks supply of fertilisers for farmers
Jammu, September 16 He was on a tour of Lohari Chak, Saharan, Flora Nagbani, Chowane Chak- Smailpur and the Deorey Napu areas, falling under his constituency. During his tour of these areas, the farmers told him that they were not able to sow vegetable seeds as there were no fertilisers available in the open market or at the government outlets and in the coming month the wheat-sowing season would start. They said their survival was totally dependent on the crops. They also complained that many times their crops were destroyed by natural calamities like droughts and heavy rains. They said they were irked at the non-seriousness on part of the government and the Agriculture Department in particular. The BJP MLA asked the government to take the matter seriously and ensure that the farmers were not made to suffer due to non-availability of fertilisers. He stressed that there should be a clear policy over availability of fertilisers round the year. Sukhnandan said the poor farmers crops were destroyed and the agencies concerned were not bothered about the farming community. Sukhnandan also asked the government to direct the Power Development Department (PDD) authorities to supply regular electricity to the farmers so that they could run machines and motors for agricultural purposes. |
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State Cong men hail austerity measures
Jammu, September 16 Ravinder sharma, party spokesman and MLC, said the step would go a long way in helping the drought-hit. However,the councillors though being paid less, want a fixed amount to be cut and that too for not more than a month. Said Lalita Sharma, Congress Councillor: “ It is a natural calamity.We are not responsible for it. But still, we too want to help the drought-hit. The highly paid MPs, MLCs and MLAs can give a part of their salaries, but we poor councillors who just get Rs 6000 a month can’t do much. We should not be asked to give more than Rs 500 or Rs 1000 and that too only for a month.” Raman Bhalla, Minister for Revenue and Rehabilitation, too supported the idea of pitching in funds to help poor farmers. “I welcome the decision taken by the All-India Congress Committee. He condemned those who calling it a farce”. |
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Inter-frontier games begin
Jammu, September 16 In the function, the Minister took a salute of the march-past contingent of players representing various frontiers. During the four-day long event, which will conclude on September 18, different competitions like wrestling, judo, gymnastic, weightlifting and boxing would be held. In the weightlifting competition (56 kg category), P Haridas of Punjab Frontier won the first prize whereas second and third prizes were bagged by Rijwan Ahmed of Miziram and Chachar Frontier and Surender Chauhan of South Bengal Frontier, respectively. Students of several BSF schools also presented a colourful programme before the gathering, comprising officials of the police and the civil administration. |
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6 jawans hurt in accidental blast
Rajouri, September 16 Army sources said six jawans of the Mendhar Battalion were injured.One of them a Lance Naik received serious injuries. Five of the injured soldiers received minor injuries and were reportedly admitted to military Hospital at Rajouri. The Lance Naik identified as Suneel Kumar, who had received serious injuries was flown in an Army helicopter to Command Hospital at Udhampur.
— TNS |
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