Katra, September 19
Amidst chanting of slogans by the thousands of overexcited devotees, annual Navratra festival, being organised by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and the Tourism Department in collaboration with the local organisations, today kicked off with much fun fare in the temple town of Katra.

“Jai Mata Di” repeatedly rented in the air when Minister of Revenue Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla officially declared the Navratra festival opened with lightening of the traditional lamp. Shobha yatra, which depicted the rich Dogri culture and folklore, marked the beginning of the festival. Bhalla extended greetings to the people and pilgrims.

Students from different schools and contingents of cultural troupes drawn from different parts of the state participated in the yatra.

The yatra passed through different parts of the town before culminating at the main chowk. While the yatra was passing through the town, helicopters showered flower petals on the procession. The nine-day festival would conclude on Dussera.

As part of the festival, cultural procession would be taken out from Asia Chowk at 7 pm regularily, all India devotional song competition would be held at Shri Yog Ashram Air Strip, Katra, at 8 pm and cultural programme would be arranged by the song and drama division at GHSS, Katra, at 8 pm daily.

Garkhal (Akhnoor), September 19
Septuagenarian Magha Ram woke up early today, went to inspect his maize crop and water his fields situated within one km of the International Border with Pakistan, milked his cows and left his grandchildren at a government middle school. This is his daily routine.

Firing from across the border just a day earlier has not necessitated any change, not even from his wife, children and grandchildren. Life along the border goes on as usual whether there is any firing incident or encounter or not.

“It doesn’t matter. We are used to it. Earlier, the Pak troops used to fire indiscriminately at civilians working in their fields. We still did not stop taking care of our fields and houses, but we had to be cautious,” he added.

For a man who does not live far away from the site where the Pak troops fired at an Indian post injuring two soldiers on Thursday night and Friday morning, this would come a brave boastful statement, but for scores of villagers living across the nearly 1,000-km long Zero Line with Pakistan.

Ramesh Chib of Pargwal town, while talking to The Tribune just after being frisked by security forces on way to the border, said: “The only change the firing does is that it brings a lot security forces vehicles and mediapersons,” he added.

Ramesh, however, cautions the villagers not to take such incidents very lightly. “There are worries that if militants infiltrate or there are regular incidents of firing, then the security forces would force us to cut the maize crop or else they will be damaged,” he added.

Jammu, September 19
Major turnaround in Hurriyat Conference’s stand, where its chairperson Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has extended support to the return of Kashmiri Pandits without asking for their cooperation in their fight for independence, but has also cautioned them not to oppose it either, has not evoked much positive response from Kashmiri Pandit organisations from Jammu.

The office of Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner Vinod Kaul has welcomed the big shift in the separatists’ thinking, saying: “This is indeed a significant departure from the Hurriyat’s earlier stand, which for the past 19 years was imposing conditions on the Kashmiri Pandits’ participation in their struggle for settling down in the valley.

It is certainly a positive development that from the gun culture they have opened up a negotiation channel. The government, too, is working towards the return of Kashmiri Pandits. Constituting an apex committee, comprising of all major Kashmiri Pandit organisations, is the first step.”

But convener of the Panun Kashmir Agnishekhar, who has been demanding for separate homeland for Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir, has reacted strongly to the statement. He said: “It is an old strategy of the Hurriyat to hide the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits, which it perpetrated in the valley two decades ago.

Now, Hurriyat wants to camouflage that heinous act under the mask of secularism before the international community, but we will not be the victim of that trap.”

President of Jammu Kashmir National United Front (JKNUF) AK Dewani opposed the “conditions” of the Hurriyat. Chairman of the Steering Committee of All Camps Roshan Lal Raina said the valley was their own land and they would live there on their terms and conditions and not on pity of any individual and group.

Udhampur, September 19
A self-styled commander of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) was killed in a gun battle with security forces in the Dessa area of Doda district early this morning.

The slain militant commander has been identified as Noor Hussain of Kuthal village of the Chatroo area in Kishtwar district. Involved in more than 12 militancy incidents, Noor was active in the Dessa area of Doda for the past two years.

According to official sources, on specific information about the movement of some militants, the security forces had launched a combing operation in forest areas of Dessa on late Friday evening. This morning, security personnel spotted the militants and an encounter ensued that lasted for more than an hour.

One rifle, rounds of the rifle, some literature and other material were seized from the possession of the slain ultra. 

Srinagar, September 19
The government has ordered transfers and postings of five IGs, three DIGs and four SSPs, while three other officers have been placed under suspension. An official spokesman said here last evening that Ram Lubhaya, IG (personnel and training), PHQ, has been posted as IG, security.

SM Sahai, IG, crime, has been transferred and posted as OSD in the office of the Principal Resident Commissioner, New Delhi, while Raja Aijaz Ali, Director, SSG, J&K, has been posted as IG, crime.

S. Owais Ahmad, IG, has been recalled from the State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) and posted as IG (personnel and training), PHQ. B. Srinivas, IG, security, has been transferred as IG, Headquarters, PHQ, relieving PL Gupta, Commissioner of Vigilance of the additional charge.

Rajesh Kumar, DIG, has been recalled from the SVO and posted as DIG, SSG, J&K. T. Namgyal, DIG (Armed Police), Jammu, has been transferred as DIG, IR, Kashmir, T. Punchok, DIG, awaiting orders of adjustment has been posted as DIG (Armed Police), Jammu. Manmohan Singh, Commandant IR 8th Battalion, has been posted as DSP, Poonch, and Basant Kumar Rath, DSP Poonch, has been transferred as DSP, Jammu.

Rajouri, September 19
The Army has seized some Nepali currency from a militant hideout in this border district. Army sources said the troops of the 48 RR launched a search operation in militancy affected Kandi belt of this border district and busted a militant hideout in a forest.

They said the recoveries from the militant hideout included Nepali currency, Pakistani currency, Indian currency, five Chinese pistols, 92 AK rounds, 10 grenades, a radio set and Pakistan-made wrist watch. — TNS

Srinagar, September 19
Two days after taking over the case of rape and murder of two women in Shopian, the CBI team visited the south Kashmir district formally beginning the investigations into the case today.

The CBI team had arrived here on Thursday to take the charge of investigations from the Special Investigating Team (SIT) of the state police under the supervision of IGP, Kashmir range, Farooq Ahmad.

After the questions had been raised over the DNA report of the two women, Neelofar (22) and her sister-in-law, Asiya, the state government had approached the Centre on September 9 to get the case investigated by the CBI. The Centre directed the CBI on September 15 to investigate the case. On its arrival here on Thursday, the CBI team had discussions with the SIT, sharing the details of the case.

Sources here said the team visited the location of Rambiara rivulet where the bodies had been found on the morning of May 30. The team also visited the nearby orchard of the family where the two victims had reportedly gone the previous day. The members also met the family members of the two women, seeking their cooperation in the investigations.