Jammu, December 2
The police has arrested another PoK citizen for having links with Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) agency and militant outfits in Kashmir.

The police arrested Mudassar Hussain Shah on the charge of having links with the ISI. He had arrived to meet his relatives in Poonch district on a legal permit. He is the second ‘legal’ visitor from the PoK to be arrested since the launch of the bus service in 2005.

Sources said Mudassar after his arrival in Mendhar had married Sobia, a resident of Surankote. Sobia was earlier married to a top LeT commander, who is at present lodged in the Kot Bhalwal jail in Jammu.

“The marriage was a pre-planned move to facilitate his frequent visits to the area,” a senior police officer said.

Mudassar’s arrest comes days after the arrest of Tufail Hussain Shah on November 23 following the seizure of a satellite phone and two Pakistani SIM cards from his possession. Tufail was suspected to be carrying the phone and sim cards for LeT operatives.

Speaking to The Tribune, SSP, Poonch, Manmohan Singh said, “Tufail had named Mudassar during interrogation to be an ISI operative.”

Though Tufail had pleaded innocence, he later told interrogators that Mudassar was his associate. “Tufail confessed that he was to hand over the satellite phone and SIM cards to Mudassar, who had arrived in Mendhar a few days ago,” the SSP said. He added, “We arrested Mudassar yesterday and sent him to Jammu to face Tufail.”

Jammu, December 2
Protesting for the past 988 days, unemployed ITI electrical diploma holders held a demonstration outside the office of the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, today.

The protesting youths were demanding that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah should fulfil his election promise to give them jobs in the state Power Department.

Rakesh Sharma, president of the All-Jammu and Kashmir Unemployed ITI Electrical Diploma Holders Association, said the Chief Minister on the opening of the Civil Secretariat in Jammu had assured that the government was planning to adjust them in the Power Development Corporation. “The Chief Minister should fulfil his promise and consider the demands of the association in the special package to be announced by the government,” Sharma said.

He expressed hope that Omar would take concrete steps towards the early redress of their grievances. The unemployed electricians served an ultimatum on the state government and threatened to protest more vigorously.

“If the government failed to give us respite till the eve of Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah’s birth anniversary, we will launch a series of vigorous protests in the state,” said Sharma. “The successive state governments had paid no heed to our demands. Some of our colleagues have become over age, but still the government is not doing anything for us,” said Parvesh Gupta, a protester.

He said the former Power Minister during a meeting with the association had assured them that the ITI diploma holders would be absorbed in the Power department, but no step had been taken in this regard.

The unemployed ITI electrical diploma holders have been protesting outside the office of the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, in Mubarakh Mandi for the past 988 days.

Jammu, December 2
Keeping in view the simmering discontent among weaker sections, the Sangh Parivar has floated another “non-political” organisation to rope in Schedule Castes and other categories who have been taking the benefits of the reservation.

The Anusuchit Jaati Aarakshan Bachao Manch has been constituted to protect the interests of the weaker sections. Though members of different communities have been involved in this organisation, leaders of the Sangh Parivar have given command to launch agitation to protect the interests of the reserved categories.

In its first meeting, the Manch expressed its concern over attempt of the government to grant reservation benefits to those who have converted to other religions.

A resolution was also passed in the first meeting in which leaders criticised both the state and the Centre for ignoring wishes and aspirations of the weaker sections. The Manch in the resolution took strong exception to the proposal of the state government to ban inter-district recruitment.

“The proposal of the state government to ban inter-district and inter-province recruitments, appointments and selections in the state is, in fact, an unfortunate, uncalled for, ill-conceived, rather intentionally designed and calculated move to deprive the SC communities in particular and also the other reserved categories,” the resolution passed in the meeting stated.

The Manch leaders observed that the proposed ban was bound and meant to shatter this chance for the reserved categories to claim reservation benefits in other districts on the plea that they are not residents of same district where vacancies exists. They appealed to the state government to reconsider the proposal and continue the inter-district recruitments.

Jammu, December 2
The much-awaited process of re-verifying the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category is yet to take off due to lack of coordination among government agencies. The campaign to single out those influential families who have managed to get their names registered in the BPL lists has been necessitated following shortage of ration in many remotest areas of Jammu division. The Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Department wants to complete this process as early as possible.

It is a known secret that some influential persons have been getting subsidised ration especially meant for the BPL families on the outlets run by the CAPD Department. As the allotted quota for the BPL families has been swindled by some undeserving families, genuine persons have been facing hardship.

The re-verification process required coordination between the Revenue, CAPD Department and the Rural Development Department, but all these departments, so far, have failed to arrive at a consensus to take off the campaign. Except the CAPD Department, other agencies are taking this campaign lightly.

Officially, the Revenue Department has convened some meetings to start the process but nothing concrete has been done so far. Tehsil-level officers have been directed to constitute committees to re-verify the BPL category in their respective areas so that only genuine persons could get benefits of the schemes being launched for the weaker sections.

Sources said different government agencies had received complaints on large scale that some influential persons had got their names included in the BPL list. Due to their political clout, these influential families have been taking benefits of the schemes launched for the uplift of the weaker sections. Some deserving BPL families have been struggling to get themselves included in the category of the weaker section.

CAPD Minister Qamar Ali Akhoon has admitted that some undeserving families have been getting ration meant for the BPL families. “We have already started the process to re-verify the BPL list,” Akhnoon said, informing that teams comprising the assistant director of the CAPD Department of the district concerned, Block Development Officer (BDO) and officers of the Revenue Department.

Though the CAPD Department has already circulated forms to all ration card holders, other government agencies have yet not take any step in this regard.

Jammu, December 2
The ongoing agitating over the modification of master plan for Katra has taken a political turn as an organisation came out openly in favour of the decision of the government to take up new project for the bus stand.

The Shri Vaishnavi Dham Sudhar Samiti has appreciated the government for taking “revolutionary” steps for the development of Katra - the base camp of the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.

The Katra Development Centric Committee (KDCC), on the other hand, has been spearheading the agitation against the government’s decision to earmark the land for the new bus stand. The KDCC had given a call for Katra bandh on November 23 and a complete shutdown was observed in the town.

With the decision of the samiti to come out openly against the agitation of the committee, the issue of modification of the Katra Master Plan has taken political turn.

Local MLA and BJP leader Baldev Sharma has been actively associated with the Committee spearheading the agitation while as politicians of some other political parties have started rendering support to the Samiti to settle a score with the MLA. Leaders of different political parties are virtually divided on this issue.

Interestingly, the Committee has smelt a deal with a land mafia in earmarking land for the new bus stand, while the Samiti termed this decision as historical for the overall development of Katra town. The Samiti in a statement said: “People of Katra congratulate the government for taking up the first main measure at Katra by initiating the new bus stand project of 423 kannals in the heart of the town just behind the central office of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board”.

Worthwhile to mention here that the KDCC had alleged nexus between land grabbers and officers in modifying the already approved master plan and further added that the plan was modified without taking people of this town into confidence. The KDCC had also alleged some financial deal in shifting the proposed Katra bus stand from one place to another.

After the KDCC pointed finger of suspicion towards Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, the later has already formed a high-level committee to inquire into the allegations.

Jammu, December 2
The Geological Society of India (GSI) has provided an opportunity to the meritorious students of the state to represent the country at the 4th International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) next year at Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

An objective-type entrance test (ET) of aspiring students in class X and XI born between September 15 (1992) and September 15 (1995) would be conducted on January 24 next year at selective centres, a release issued by the GSI here said.

As many as 20 students would be selected to attend a training camp at Earth Sciences in Bangalore during May next year, out of which four students will be finally chosen to represent the country at the Science Olympiad, which will be held from September 19 to 28 next year at Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

The GSI has given a detailed information of the syllabus at http://www.ieso2009.tw/home/2a_scient.html.

Applications should be sent to Dr R Shankar, Foreign Secretary, Geological Society of India, C/O Department of Marine Geology, Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri (DK) 574199 on or before December 20.

Srinagar, December 2
The International Peoples’ Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice in Kashmir (IPTK) released a preliminary report on nameless and mass graves in the valley here today.

The report, which was released during a press conference here, focused on mass graves in Kashmi. Dr Angana P. Chatterji, convener of the IPTK, and professor, Anthropology California Institute of Integral Studies, said the report was based on applied research conducted from November 6 to November 9.

Reporting as many as 2,700 graves across 55 villages in three districts of Bandipora, Kupwara and Baramulla, the report says “more than 2,943 bodies are buried in these graves.”

Dr. Angana said: “Out of these, 2,373 graves were found without any name. Of these graves, 154 contained two bodies each and 23 contained more than two bodies.” According to the report, these graveyards have been largely constructed on community land.

The report, while examining 50 alleged encounter killings by the security forces in various districts here, says “47 were found to be those of civilians.”

Dr. Angana said: “We don’t know who lies in these graves but it is imperative to investigate. Even if they were foreign militants certain protocols are to be followed.” She added that graveyards investigated by the IPTK entomb bodies of those killed in encounters and fake encounters killings from 1990 to 2009.

Pervez Imroz, convener of the IPTK, and patron of the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), said: “The report released on April 20 last year was a tip of the iceberg. Now, IPTK is taking the task.”

Srinagar, December 2
Separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani said today that any formula arrived at during the ongoing “quiet dialogue” on Kashmir would not be acceptable to people even if it had the patronage of Pakistan or the US.

“The only solution to the lingering Kashmir issue lay in implementation of the UN resolution,” he told a gathering at an ‘Id Milan’ function here.

“We will not be part of any sell out on Kashmir,” the chairman of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference said.

“Any formula arrived at during the ongoing secret talks will not be acceptable to a majority of the people even if that has the patronage or blessings of Pakistan,” he said.

On Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s remarks that the talks between the Centre and the separatists should be held sans the hardline leader, Geelani said: “It is a matter of pride for me to be excluded from any sell out on Kashmir.” “Conscious and civilised people will not accept any formula which is against our basic stand, even if it has the blessings of the US,” he said.

Geelani said bilateral talks between India and Pakistan and between Kashmiri leaders and New Delhi had taken place 130 times, but these had proved futile. — PTI

Jammu, December 2
The Jammu Development Authority (JDA) has constituted a committee to check violations which have led to a virtually “choked” warehouse here.

Further, on the lines of transporters, who had been shifted from the warehouse to the outskirts of the city at Transport Yard, the JDA has a proposal up its sleeves to decongest the area.

The department had identified a piece of land near Vijaypur and the proposal to shift the existing warehouse was under active consideration, official sources said.

Talking to The Tribune, JDA vice-chairman GA Qureshi said after witnessing a huge congestion in the area, the JDA constituted a committee for the first time to look into the violations.

The committee would submit its report shortly, and acting upon the report corrective measures would be initiated, he said.

The committee had been directed to look into all types of violations taking place at the warehouse and find the reasons responsible for congestion in the area, the vice-chairman said.

However, the JDA vice-chairman felt that traders in the warehouse should keep the surroundings clean and resist from keeping their merchandise in the open.

While shopkeepers here continue to demand proprietary rights, JDA’s director, Land Management, Babu Ram made it clear that proprietary rights were given in residential areas and not in commercial area.

Sources in the department attributed the congestion at the warehouse to various reasons, including diversion of heavy motor vehicles from Asia Hotel to the warehouse, encroachments by kiosk owners, roadside dhabas, rehriwallas and dumping of merchandise by the traders outside their shops. The congestion not only hinders the free movement of vehicular traffic in the area but causes inconvenience to daily commuters.

The main road that divides the warehouse leads to the Regional Transport Office and Kendriya Vidyalaya located within a cantonment. However, due to security reasons and to ensure safety of children, the Army, which initially erected barbed wire on the road, had set up a gate, which now remains closed.