Srinagar, October 22
Gurcharan Singh Rance becomes poignantly silent as he attempts to bare his feelings over his likely meeting with his sister in Muzaffarabad. She was only one-year old when she got separated from her large joint family, then staying in Muzaffarabad, in 1947, as marauding Pakistani raiders marched through the then united state of Jammu and Kashmir, targeting minorities.

She was presumed dead until she traced her family members, and now Rance is on his way from Jammu to meet her. He boarded the cross-LoC bus today.

Gurcharan, 58, was yet to be born then when his family members fled for safety to India. “I think it is divine. I don’t know how I will react when I come face to face with her. I think both of us will cry,” the Jammu-based transporter said.

Her sister is now Reshma Begum, as left hapless amid the shock of killed and disappeared family members she converted to Islam. Despite having not even faint memories of her family members, it was Reshma who managed to reach her separated kin first after getting details about them from some locals.

She would go annually to the Panja Sahib gurdwara and share the antecedents of her family members with the visiting Sikh pilgrims in hope that somebody would know them. And she did finally meet the kin of Gurcharan Singh in 2004, and then began the emotional journey that should culminate in a happy reunion of the two in the coming days.

But the anticipation of Gurcharan is as much filled with happiness as much tinged with apprehensions. “I am not sure how she is doing there. I wanted to stay with her, but she requested me to put up at another place,” he said. Reshma is a widow and staying with her children and other relatives in the capital of PoK.

Son of an Army man, Jaswant Singh Jamadr, who fought against the raiders in 1947, Gurcharan’s long desire to meet his sister fructified when Shakoor Ahmad sponsored his trip to the PoK. It is mandatory to have a sponsor for anybody wishing to travel across the LoC. “I would request the government to do away with this rule. So many families were divided in 1947 and they are still unaware about their separated kin. It is difficult to get sponsors in such cases,” he said.

However, the foremost thought on his mind is meeting a sister whom he never saw and thought was dead. “I pray all goes well.”

Srinagar, October 22
Senior separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah was released here yesterday, a day after the government ordered his release following his detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA) for nearly one year.

He reached his residence last evening after he had been arrested following continued protest demonstrations across the valley in the wake of Amarnath land agitation last year.

Several separatist leaders, including APHC chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Nayeem Ahmad Khan and others, visited the Sanatnagar home of Shabir Shah here today.

When asked to comment on the recent statement of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on dialogue process, Shabir Shah, head of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), a constituent of the moderate Hurriyat Conference, said it was premature for him to comment. “I would be meeting my party colleagues and other like-minded parties and only then I would be able to make a comment,” he said.

Only last week, restrictions were lifted on the movement of hard line Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Geelani, who had been under house arrest for more than a month. Geelani, also detained under the PSA, following the turmoil in the wake of Shopian incident, was released earlier after 95 days of detention.

A greater significance is attached to the release of separatist leaders in the wake of the statement of Chidambaram on holding a “quiet dialogue and diplomacy” with the separatist Kashmir leadership. 

Srinagar, October 22
Families whose male members are languishing in various jails across the country held a silent protest here today. The protest was organised by the International Forum for Justice and the Human Rights Forum, local human rights groups.

Mohammad Ahsan Untoo, chairman of the groups, said in case desired results were obtained, they would discontinue protests in future. He said the protest was held by the saddened families for the first time. “I don’t want others to face the problems I have faced,” he added. Untoo was recently released from jail. He alleged that the judiciary in India needed more freedom to deliver justice.

Fazi Begum’s son Abdul Majid Baba is languishing in the Tihar jail for past three years. Begum together with other family members had come all the way from Watlab-Bandipora to join the protest.

“Whenever he is brought to a court in Sopore for hearing, I try to meet him, but my heart pains on seeing him. I don’t have resources to visit him in the jail. My heart bleeds more when I see the condition of his family, comprising four daughters and two sons. His eldest son left studies and was doing labour,” said the mother.

Baba’s wife, Haja Bano, sitting next to her mother-in-law, said, “My husband was into fruit business since ages. He had gone to collect money from various dealers. He often visited Kolkata, Mumbai in connection with his work, but this time was framed in a false case fraudulently.” She does not rule out business rivalry, but added that she didn’t have more information on it.

The marriage of her daughters worries Bano the most. “It haunts me all the time. Our house was under construction when my husband was arrested. A downpour creates havoc for us, but we don’t have any financial support for its renovation.”

Srinagar, October 22
Governor NN Vohra has stressed the need for good governance and effective enforcement of the provisions of the Constitution and the rule of law for ensuring economic and social justice to all segments of society to usher the country into all-round progress and prosperity.

He was addressing the inaugural session of the 33rd All-India Criminology Conference on Criminal Justice System: Challenges and Future Ahead at Kashmir University here today. The three-day conference has been organised by the Faculty of Law, Kashmir University, in collaboration with the Indian Society of Criminology, Chennai, and sponsored by the Bureau of Police Research and Development, New Delhi.

The prestigious Kumarappa Reckless Award was conferred upon the Governor on the occasion for his distinguished contributions over the past many years. The award was presented by the Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Justice Barin Ghosh, on behalf of the Indian Society of Criminology.

The Governor said the Preamble and the Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in the Constitution provided guidance to enable inclusive, equitable and balanced socio-economic growth, leaving limited scope for disenchantment among any section of the society.

He said the fruits of progress and development had to be evenly distributed so that no one felt deprived of the tremendous development made by the country during the past six decades. Vohra said determined efforts had to be made to effectively secure the goals envisioned in the Directive Principles of State Policy.

Vice-Chancellor, Kashmir University, Riyaz Punjabi thanked the Indian Society of Criminology for holding this conference in Kashmir University. He also suggested the setting up of a centre of criminology studies in the Kashmir University.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof MZ Khan, president of the Indian Society of Criminology, dwelt on the need for modernising the legal system keeping in view the present and emerging requirements and challenges.

Jammu, October 22
Businessman Nagar Singh and his two brothers has been ordered to appear or surrender before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Jammu, YP Bourney, or the Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by DIG, Jammu-Kathua range, Farooq Khan by November 20. If they fail to do so, a legal process to attach their properties running into crores of rupees will be initiated.

The businessman also owns properties in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.

The CJM has issued a proclamation declaring Nagar Singh and his two brothers Rakesh Singh and Jaggar Singh as absconders in the Amandeep murder case, directing them to appear/surrender before his court or the SIT by November 20.

Nagar, father of the main accused Jatinder Singh, and his two brothers face serious charges of allegedly bribing arrested FSL and police officers, including suspended SSP Manohar Singh, to change the course of investigation.

Amandeep, son of former MLC Deepinder Kour, was allegedly shot dead by Jatinder Singh outside his Shastri Nagar residence on August 29.

“If they (Nagar Singh, Rakesh Singh and Jaggar Singh) fail to appear before the CJM or the SIT by November 20, the process under Section 88 of CrPC would be initiated to attach their properties,” DIG Farooq Khan told The Tribune.

He described the proclamation issued by the CJM as an important development.

Asked about the weapon of offence, which still remains elusive, the DIG said, “We are hopeful of recovering it.” It may be stated here that some police and FSL officials had replaced the original weapon with a rusted to save Jatinder.

Jammu, October 22
The ban on burning of garbage in the open is being flouted in the city. Residents and the employees of the Jammu Municipal Corporation blame each other for the violation of the ban.

Residents of various localities like Shastri Nagar, Nai Basti, Nanak Nagar and Talalb Tillo allege that the MC safai karamcharis in their areas burn garbage inside the dustbin once in a week instead of lifting it in time.

They also allege that the safai karamcharis did not clear the dustbins in time, as a result garbage is seen littered on the main road.

Blaming the MC officials for adopting an indifferent attitude in maintaining hygiene, Avtar Bhat, a resident of the Talab Tilloo area, said, “The MC safai karamcharis did not clean the dustbins in time. Scattered garbage invites stray animals, which hinders the smooth movement of vehicular traffic as well as creates problems for pedestrians.”

Sunita Manhas , a resident of Shastri Nagar, said, “Though smoke that billows due to the burning of garbage is hazardous for health, the safai karmcaharis burn accumulated garbage regularly.”

However, denying all allegations, Satish Kumar Sharma, chairman of the Public Health and Sanitation, said the burning of garbage was completely banned and safai karamcharis caught burning garbage would be punished.

“All safai karamcharis have been instructed not to burn garbage. Actually, people have this bad habit to burn domestic garbage,” said Sharma.

Jammu, October 22
PoK migrants observed black day today to commemorate the invasion of Muzzafarabad by Pakistani forces and its subsequent control on October 22, 1947, due to which a large number of Hindus and Sikhs got displaced from PoK.

This year, they preferred to wear black badges instead of holding a protest as they had decided to protest before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his visit to the state later this month.

They also drew attention towards the inordinate delay in the disbursement of compensation of Rs 49 crore fixed in December 2008, but was later reduced to Rs 10 crore. Out of this, Rs 2 crore was to be distributed to the these migrants in the first instalment to compensate them for land deficiency, but nothing had been paid till date. Abdul Wazid Wani, provincial rehabilitation officer, assured them to expedite the process of compensation in the next few days.

Rajiv Chunni, chairman of SOS (Save Our Souls) International, an organisation of PoK migrants, said, “As many as 50,000 PoK families, who migrated to Jammu in 1947, after 65 and 71 wars, have expanded into a huge population of 10 lakh people in the Jammu province only. But they have been ignored blatantly. Our demands to provide them decent accommodation by setting up a satellite town, a monthly cash relief, reservation in technical education and employment on the pattern of Kashmiri Pandit migrants have not been fulfilled till date. This population who lives in 39 camps throughout the province in abysmal condition is becoming a victim of drug mafia. Parents are not being able to marry their daughters off and as a result the number of overage unmarried girls has risen rapidly.”

Chunni drew attention towards the inertia of the government in the disbursement of compensation to the PoK migrants saying “in 1986, the Central government increased the limit of compensation from Rs 5,000 to Rs 30,000 as the minimum compensation and from Rs 25,000 to Rs 1,50,000 in the maximum category to those people who were not given the designated quota of 36 kanal in the rural sector. But the amount of Rs 49 crore fixed in year 2008 was reduced to Rs 10 crore in August this year. And though only Rs 2 crore has been sanctioned for disbursement in the first instalment, nothing has been given to the PoK migrants.”

Wani reasoned that Rs 10 crore had been deposited with the Divisional Commissioner, who had forwarded Rs 2 crore to him, but by mistake it was deposited in the Panchtirthi treasury instead of the Sadar treasury. He assured the migrants that all formalities would be completed and the procedure of disbursement would be started in the next few days.

Srinagar, October 22
For the second consecutive day today, talks between the striking doctors and the government committee remained inconclusive with the former seeking more time to decide on the continuation of the strike.

The junior doctors in the state have been on a strike for the past more than two weeks now in support of their demands, including the rise in stipend and salaries. The strike has adversely affected the health services in the state.

An official spokesman said here that the high-level committee constituted by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to resolve the crisis arising out of the strike held the second round of talks with the doctors’ representatives here today. Talks were held in a very cordial atmosphere. Chairman of the committee and Minister for Finance Abdul Rahim Rather has reiterated the government’s resolve to address their demands in a positive manner before the darbar move.

The representatives of doctors sought more time to decide after discussions with their colleagues. It was decided that the third round of talks would be held either this evening or tomorrow morning.

Rather and other committee members, which included Minister for Medical Education RS Chib, Minister for Health Sham Lal Sharma, Minister of State for Health Javed Ahmad Dar and political adviser to Chief Minister Davinder Singh Rana, advised the representatives of the doctors that they should call off the strike in view of the sufferings of the patients and also the noble profession. However, Rather said all possible steps would be taken by the government to take care of patients.

Jammu, October 22
After Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Srinagar, Mohammed Akbar Ganai recorded the statements of seven family members of Rajnish Sharma, the Crime Branch (CB) of the state police today gathered the first hand information from Anchal Sharma, aka Amina Yousuf, and Raj Kumari, Rajnish’s widow and mother, respectively.

“Acting upon an order issued by Chief Judicial Magistrate YP Bourney, the Crime Branch would record the statements of Rajnish’s family members tomorrow,” a senior official of the Crime Branch told The Tribune.

Today, a Deputy SP talked to the family, particularly Anchal and Raj Kumari, and the probe would begin once we formally record their statements tomorrow, said the officer.

However, Anchal, 27, narrated in detail her love affair with Rajnish followed by their court marriage and the custodial killing of her husband in the lock-up.

She accused her father Mohammed Yousuf Mirazi, two brothers Tariq Ahmed and Javed Ahmed of conniving with the police to kill her husband in custody.

Anchal also told the Crime Branch officer that his brothers had paid Rs 1.50 lakh each to the Kashmir police and the Jammu police to get the job done.

It may be stated here one of the Anchal’s brother Tariq Ahmed, a doctor by profession, had married an Australian woman.

Raj Kumari narrated how she raised four daughters and two sons under acute penury after her husband, an SRTC driver, died in 1983.

Meanwhile, it has been reliably learnt that ADC Ganai today recorded the statements of Shashi Thakur, SHO, Bakshi Nagar, and SDS Chauhan, SDPO, Bakshi Nagar.

Anchal and her in-laws had accused both officers of conniving with the Kashmir police to kill Rajnish in police custody.

These officers had goofed over the identity of the deceased because in police records victim was identified as Pawan Sharma and not Rajnish Sharma.

In fact, the coffin carrying the victim’s body from Srinagar to Jammu had carried the name of Pawan, which the family later identified as that of Rajnish.

Srinagar, October 22
A boy was killed in Gurez when a live shell he was fiddling with went off, killing him on the spot. His sister was also injured in the incident.

Police sources said Zameer Ahmad Lone had found a shell near a nullah and brought it home. He was fiddling with it when it blasted.

Locals have blamed security forces for the presence of a shell there. A sensitive location near the Line of Control, Gurez has often seen fierce battles between the security forces and infiltrators, and some shells, which did not go off, could be present around, officials said.