Jammu, November 8
A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Army was killed whereas two others were seriously injured when the Pakistani side fired a volley of rockets and mortars from across the LoC.

Official sources said the Pakistani side fired rockets and mortars early this morning from the Cobra post towards the Mukhyari post in the Sawjian sector in Poonch district that exploded near the post, killing Subedar Arun Palikar and critically injuring two others.

The Army has not officially said anything about the ceasefire violation, but it accepted that one of its JCO died while two others were critically injured. “The reason of the blast is not known yet. The two injured soldiers were evacuated by a helicopter to the command hospital at Udhampur and their condition was stated to be critical but out of danger,” a senior army officer said. The officer said the Army did not retaliate. Speaking to The Tribune, a defence spokesperson said: “The jawans were returning from a night patrol.”

Meanwhile, in another incident, Gurnam Singh, a soldier of the 7 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, was critically injured when he accidentally stepped on a mine at Tarkundi village in Balakote sector in Rajouri district today. The explosion took place when the patrolling party of the Army was returning to its base.

Jammu, November 8
In a case of revenge killing, two gunmen killed a militant-turned BSF jawan and his wife and left their 8-year-old son almost crippled after pumping three bullets into his leg at Thandi Gali village of Rajouri district early today.

The deceased who was a former militant, and had joined the mainstream after surrender in 1999 was recruited to the BSF.He was identified as Mohd Arif (32). Both he and his second wife, Mallika Khatun, died on the spot.Their son, Abrar, was seriously wounded when the militants fired at his left leg. Abrar’s step- brother, had a narrow escape as he hid himself under a bed in another room. The BSF soldier’s first wife was in the fields at the time of the incident.

The assailants escaped after committing the crime. Security forces have launched a combing operation in search of the killers.

This is the second incident of revenge attack in Rajouri in less than a week.

Earlier, the house of Rukhsana Kausar, who had killed a militant, was attacked. Residents of the area are reportedly living under fear psychosis, especially after troop reduction in the past few months in the region.

Later,Abrar told mediapersons in a Rajouri hospital that his father was scheduled to leave for Assam, his place of posting, tomorrow.

He said two gunmen came to his house located on a cliff at 6:30 am and asked for a pistol from his father. “When my father denied that he had a pistol, they started firing, killing my father and mother on the spot. Then they fired at my leg,” he said.

DSP Farooq Kesar said a joint combing operation by the Army, the CRPF and the police was on.The police officer said it seemed to be a case of revenge killing, but the police was inspecting all angles, including personal enmity.

Jammu, November 8
Are they children of a lesser god? Well, this seems true if one goes by the pathetic condition they are in and the official apathy they seem to face. Militancy forced them to flee their homes and hearths following selective killings in 1996 and they continue to lead miserable lives.

“Putting up at the Talwara camp in Reasi district and the Belicharana camp here, the internally displaced families are not getting any relief whatsoever and the government claims are mere eye-wash,” said Anita Thakur, in charge of the Jammu Migrant’s Committee and Panthers Party leader.

She puts up the figure of families so dislocated from various areas of the Jammu region at 16,000. However, the official records tell an entirely different tale.

Following selective killings, several families, mostly Hindus, fled their homes from Doda, Poonch, Kalakote, Rajouri, Bhaderwah and Kishtwar. They had no choice but to live in inhuman conditions at Talwara and Belicharana camps, Anita Thakur added.

Recalling the incident of cane-charge on these families on August 7, 2007, at Reasi when the police foiled their march to Jammu, Anita said even a Supreme Court decree in favour of these families had not been honoured by the state government in letter and in spirit. The apex court in its decree had clearly asked the state government to treat displaced families of the Jammu region on a par with displaced Kashmiri Pandits saying that there could not be separate parameters for the same set of people, she added.

However, a government spokesperson claimed that around 1,000 families uprooted from the Jammu region were regularly getting relief in the form of cash and kind. “Every month, the government provides 9 kg rice and 2 kg flour per person, besides 1 kg sugar per family and a cash relief of Rs 1,000 per month per person up to a maximum ceiling of Rs 4,000 in case of displaced Kashmiri Pandits. In case of Jammu migrants (those uprooted from border areas and militancy victims of the Jammu region), the government has been providing ration akin to displaced Kashmiri Pandits, plus 10 litre kerosene per family and Rs 400 per person,” claimed the spokesperson.

Out of 37,300 displaced Kashmiri Pandits living in Jammu, 16,500 families regularly got government relief (cash and kind) every month. “However, the figure comes down drastically when it comes to Jammu migrants. Around 1,000 families from the Jammu region are getting relief every month,” said the official.

The relief package meant for border migrants (from Kathua to Akhnoor), who had been uprooted because of shelling from the Pakistan side, was extended to Jammu migrants, said the official, perhaps in a bid to downplay the disparity in relief, particularly in cash relief.

Initially, around 2,000 families of Jammu migrants lived in the Belicharana camp on the outskirts of the city on a barren piece of land where they faced risk of snakebites. It may be recalled here that a couple of years back some of the displaced families had put their children on sale, a move that the government had described as “politically motivated”.

Srinagar, November 8
The moderate faction of Hurriyat led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has expressed its willingness to talk with mainstream parties like the NC and the PDP to arrive at a road map to deal with Kashmir issue.

The bold assertions by former Hurriyat chairman and senior moderate leader Abdul Gani Bhat at a seminar in New Delhi yesterday has been described here as a “major policy shift with far-reaching political implications” by Kashmiri media even as PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s “endorsement” was a must for any common agenda.

Senior NC leader and Rajya Sabha MP Mohammad Shafi Uri made similar conciliatory statements at a seminar, which threw as much surprise for comments coming out of it as for the participation of Kashmiri leaders of contrasting hues, ranging from Mehbooba Mufti to Uri to Bhat, state Congress president Saifuddin Soz and JKLF Chairman Yasin Malik, who was heckled by some Kashmir Pandits, who accuse him of involvement in killings of Kashmiri pundits during the onset of militancy.

Bhat said the Hurriyat, NC and the PDP should work together to find a solution to the vexed issue and Uri very much attested to his sentiments and said the NC was willing to deliberate any measure which proposes a better road map than the autonomy plank of his party.

However, it was Mehbooba who virtually punctured the short euphoria generated by the show of grandiose intentions by these leaders and said any such united agenda was not possible without Geelani’s backing.

The octogenarian Islamist leader has always ridiculed mainstream parties and dismissed them as agents of New Delhi. Despite this, Mehbooba’s courting of Geelani is seen here as a mere political move by her party to occupy separatist space in electoral politics, as it has done so well in the last election by targeting Indian policies in and on Kashmir and by siding with the Hurriyat over several issues like its Muzaffarabad chalo last year.

Though Geelani could not be reached, a close associate of his termed her and Bhat’s statement as “political tamasha” they indulge in time and again. “Our stand is clear and non-negotiable,” he said. However, political sources said Mirwaiz faction’s softening attitude, if it lasts, could bode well for the peace process.

Srinagar, November 8
Icy winds swept Kashmir as the high altitude areas, including the famous ski resort of Gulmarg, experienced snowfall today. Reports of snowfall were received from higher reaches, mostly in north-west of Kashmir and parts of the frontier Ladakh region.

Gulmarg, 55 km from here in north Kashmir, witnessed a mild snowfall but its peripheral areas, including Aferwath and Sunshine peak received two to three inches of snow during the day. Farkian Gali, Sadna Top, Razdan pass, Tulail and Gurez along the LoC also experienced mild to heavy snowfall, the MET office said, adding snowfall was also reported in the mountains surrounding Uri sector.

Gumri and Matian near Zojilla Pass in Kargil and Khardungla in Leh were lashed by the snow.

The authorities recently decided to keep the Srinagar-Leh highway open till weather permits, though dumping of essential commodities at both Leh and Kargil was completed by October-end. Mild snowfall was also reported from higher altitudes in south and central Kashmir, including the areas around the 3,880 metre holy shrine of Amarnath.

In rest of the valley, including Srinagar, the weather remained cloudy with icy winds sweeping across the state, further bringing down the temperature. Famous hill resort Pahalgam, 100 km from here in South Kashmir which serves as the base camp for pilgrims during the annual Amarnath yatra, recorded a low of minus .2°C - the lowest in any part of the valley. — PTI

Udhampur, November 8
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lt-Gen BS Jaswal today visited the Fire and Fury Corps in Ladakh. The Udhampur defence spokesperson said this was his maiden visit to the region after assuming the command of the Northern Army.

Lt-Gen Jaswal accompanied by Lt-Gen SK Singh, General Officer Commanding, Fire and Fury Corps, visited forward posts at the Siachen Glacier and posts in the Ladakh sector.

Lt-Gen Jaswal interacted with troops and conveyed his appreciation for their dedication and commitment in guarding the frontiers of the country in most inhospitable terrain under extreme climatic conditions and stressed the need for alertness at all levels. The GOC-in-Chief was briefed by the General Officer Commanding, Fire and Fury Corps, about operational preparedness and training activities.

Jammu, November 8
Governor N N Vohra has called upon all sections of society to contribute generously to the Annual Flag Day fund of the Bharat Scouts and Guides (BSG) for added impetus being given to scouts and guides activities in the state.

The Governor was interacting with a group of scouts and guides who called on him at Raj Bhavan in Jammu today in connection with the foundation day of the Bharat Scouts and Guides which is also celebrated as its Annual Flag Day.

He stressed the need for taking the activities of Scouts and Guides to the remote and far-flung areas of the state. State commissioner, J&K Bharat Scouts and Guides, I.D. Soni briefed him about the activities of the organisation and its future plans.

Earlier, they pinned the Flag Day sticker on the Governor’s coat, conveying the message of the movement. The Governor made a contribution to the Fund.

Jammu, November 8
Gujjars have sought the intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the extension of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 to Jammu and Kashmir.

The Gujjars today demanded identical rights on forests, constitutionally made available to other Scheduled Tribe communities of the country.

In a detailed letter to Dr Manmohan Singh, the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation -a premier organisation of Gujjars - stated that in J&K more than 95 per cent of ‘nomadic Gujjars’ were landless, without shelter and deserved dwelling rights on forest land which they were using as traditional inhabitants for centuries.

Giving details, Dr Javaid Rahi, national secretary of Tribal Foundation, said: “We wrote to the PM that the equitable growth of country and state cannot be achieved without guaranteeing the legitimate rights to hitherto marginalised and isolated sections of our society mainly the Gujjars of the state which constitute more than 85 per cent of the total tribal population in J&K.”

“It’s urgently needed to empower the nomadic community with the means to determine their own destiny, their livelihood, their own security and above all their dignity and self-respect and all these can be achieved only by way of giving them the forest rights in J&K,” Dr Javaid Rahi said.

To give benefits to scheduled tribes and other traditional forest dwellers the Forest legislation was passed by Indian Parliament on December 18, 2006 and was subsequently implemented in all the states except Jammu and Kashmir.

Due to the presence article 370 this Act cannot be extended directly to J&K without legislation, the letter reads.

The letter further said the Gujjars had been protecting forests against mafias, land grabbers but as per laws available, till date protection of forests by any community was illegal here in Jammu and Kashmir which is unjust for tribal rights.

The letter further reads that “systematic exploitation and social and economic abuse” of the tribal Gujjars must end and mobilise their energy towards controlling and protecting natural resources of the state including forests.

The letter further said Dogra rulers of the state had granted the Gujjars Forest Rights but later with the establishment of the Forest Department after 1950 the same was snatched by the successive governments and the Gujjars demand restoration of their rights on Forests.

Jammu, November 8
A five-member All-India Congress Committee (AICC) team would shortlist potential candidates for the post of Pradesh Youth Congress (PYC) president.

After the removal of Mohammad Amin Bhat from the PYC presidentship, the Congress leadership has stared the process of selecting the new president.

This time the PYC president would be selected through “talent search contents” which would be held in Srinagar on November 9 and Jammu on November 10.

Addressing a press conference here, national general secretary of the Youth Congress Nadeem Javid, who is also in charge of the Jammu and Kashmir Affairs, said the team comprised Jagdish Tytler, Jatin Parshad, Jatinder Singh, Ashok Tomar and Salem Ahmed, which would shortlist potential candidates during the talent search contest in Jammu.

While reiterating commitment of the party to restore the democratic system in constituting different units, Javid admitted that it was not possible to conduct elections for the post of PYC president due to the prevailing situation. “The process of electing PYC presidents of different states has been already started, and gradually the same system would be introduced in all other states,” he said. He said AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi had decided to appoint dedicated and committed workers on important positions.

Jammu, November 8
The All-India Kashmiri Youth Samaj has reminded members of the Apex Committee to take the employment issue of internally displaced Kashmiri Pandit(KP) community seriously.

According to a statement issued here, members of the samaj at a meeting under the chairmanship of president RK Bhat discussed the decisions taken at the recently held Apex Committee meeting at Jagti in Nagrota.

They expressed disappointment and said they had pinned high hopes on Union Home Minister P Chidambaram’s visit.

They stressed they would not listen to anything unless and until the employment package of 6,000 was provided, with seven- year age relaxation to the KP youth.

Addressing the meeting, Bhat said it was also not made clear as to why the state government failed to obtain the sub-committee report for working out the modalities regarding the employment package for the displaced youth, when the cut -off date for the said report had lapsed.

Jammu, November 8
To provide necessary guidelines and latest techniques in agriculture before sowing of wheat,a rabi campaign which was started in Reasi ended yesterday.

A total of 47 awareness camps were held all over the district to educate farmers.

During the camps, experts of the department created awareness among the farming community about the latest techniques and improved varieties of crops and vegetables.

The experts asked farmers to get soil tested first before sowing and then only use balanced dose of required fertiliser.

They emphasised on the use of bio-fertiliser and drip irrigation during draught to boost agriculture and vegetable production.

The chief agriculture officer of Reasi district visited agriculture zones and interacted with farmers.

About 400 storage bins were also distributed among the farmers on 33 per cent subsidy in the Mahore area.

Jammu, November 8
Natrang Theatre reverberated with laughter when quarrelling women created funny situations in Hindi play, ‘Main-Main Tu-Tu’, directed by Balwant Thakur, which was staged today.

The play had an all-women cast. It revealed different aspects of women’s lives, which, instead of contributing to the development and growth of the society, ruined their lives purposelessly. The three women,Tulsi, Maya and Issro, cannot have their kitchen menu complete until they borrow some eatables from their neighbourhood.However, they never deliberately return the borrowed material.

Jammu,November 8
A middle-aged woman died when a gunshot was fired while her husband was killed and 10 others were injured when a wooden bridge on which they were protesting against the woman’s death collapsed in Kishtwar this afternoon.

The injured included an SP-rank officer and a few other cops, who were talking to the protestors on the bridge.

Baasti Begum, wife of Noor Mohammad of Nagha Bujwana, died after she was shot by some persons late on Saturday night. While the police claimed the woman was killed by militants,the locals alleged that she was shot dead by security forces.

Early today, a large number of locals came on the streets and resorted to slogan- shouting against the authorities. Naib Tehsildar, Kishtwar, Babu Ram along with ASP Sunil Gupta pacified them by assuring that an inquiry would be held.At this stage,the wooden bridge on which they were standing collapsed.

DIG, Doda-Ramban range, Deepak Kumar later told The Tribune that an inquiry had been ordered.He further said two militants were also spotted by the locals in the area and it was believed that the woman was shot dead by the militants.