Jammu, December 15
Governor NN Vohra has emphasised the need for timely and holistic development of the historic Raghunath Bazaar in Jammu city as heritage bazaar in view of the large number of tourists and pilgrims visiting it.

The Governor was interacting with a deputation of the Raghunath Bazaar Businessmen Association at Raj Bhawan here today.

The Governor discussed various aspects of the project formulated for the improvement and upgrade of the bazaar, including its beautification, provision of modern civic amenities, illumination, parking areas, etc.

He enquired about the salient features of the project and stressed that once the work on the implementation of the project commenced, it should be completed within a time frame.

He said construction material for the project should be of the highest quality. He advised that agencies like INTACH and the Archaeological Survey of India be consulted for the project in view of their expertise in the field of conservation and restoration of heritage sites.

The Governor mentioned that in view of a progressive increase in the number of pilgrims to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, there was much greater need for the timely provision of all required facilities like streetlights, sewerage, storm water drainage, drinking water, multi-layer parking space, better roads etc. in Jammu city. The proposed heritage bazaar would be an added attraction, particularly for devotees visiting the shrine, he added.

The eight-member deputation led by association president Baldev Khullar, who is also the president of the Jammu Heritage Society, highlighted the need for constructing a multi-tier parking facility at old City Police Station adjoining City Chowk.

Another deputation of the Youth All India Kashmiri Samaj called on the Governor and submitted a memorandum of demands. The 10-member deputation led by samaj president RK Bhat urged the Governor for the speedy implementation of the Prime Minister’s employment package that had been announced for the migrant youth.

Srinagar, December 15
The CBI probe into the death of two Shopian women, Neelofar Jan and Asiya Jan, has also highlighted the disturbing nature of anti-state politics pursued by some in the valley, as victims’ family members allowed their grief to be exploited by bodies with political agendas and lies were invented and facts distorted.

Shakeel Ahangar, Neelofar’s husband and Asiya’s brother, initially acknowledged police support in search of his wife and sister, the video of which is with the CBI, and told locals while search was on that he suspected they drowned in a nullah, as per their statements to the CBI.

However, he found himself in the forefront of a vicious propaganda against the police and the security forces and preferred to change his statements as demanded by extremists of different hues. So much that his house in Shopian was used by lawyers of the Shopian Bar to induce and threaten witnesses into making damning allegations against the police and the security forces, the CBI said.

One such witness, Ghulam Mohiuddin Lone — who along with another person had claimed to have seen four policemen near a police vehicle on May 29 while a woman’s cries were heard - told the CBI that Shakil’s brother Zahoor Ahmad Ahangar and lawyer Abdul Majid Mir thrashed him and forced him to turn an eyewitness to a crime that never occurred. The CBI had chargesheeted both persons.

Lone said Mir had offered him a shop at the bus stand and money if he made the statement they wanted.

Another “eyewitness” was Abdul Rashid Pampori, who also retracted his statement and accused advocates and some police persons of threatening him into making the statement. Apart from several lawyers, Zahoor Ahmad Ahangar played a lead role in threatening these two men because they stayed near the nullah and thus were in a position to be valuable witnesses if the police and the security forces were to be framed.

Shakeel had also told the Jan Commission, a one-man commission of inquiry ordered by the government soon after the bodies were found, that he saw froth in Neelofar’s mouth, which could been taken as an indication, but not proof, of drowning. But when asked by the CBI, he denied making any such statement.

Shakeel had first claimed that his wife told him over mobile phone on May 29 evening that CRPF personnel were chasing her and Asiya. Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani among others used the statement to stoke public anger against the security forces. It later turned out that she never carried a mobile phone.

Srinagar, December 15
Describing the CBI report on Shopian case as “insensitive”, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti here today appealed to President Pratibah Patil, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for finding truth and punishing those guilty.

“We feel that it has created a situation that is against public perception,” Mehbooba told mediapersons here this afternoon, adding that it was shocking. Mehbooba held that there was credibility crisis in the state and that is how the CBI had been entrusted with the task of investigation into the alleged rape and murder case of the two Shopian women. She said it was for the first time that those seeking justice and closely associated with the case, including doctors and lawyers, had been charge sheeted. “It is something, which is not seen anywhere else,” Mehbooba said, adding that it was more of a human and women’s issue.

Displaying the cover photograph of a local news magazine showing the blood-stained face of one of the women, Mehbooba pleaded that it was no case of drowning. “Is it the body of a drowned person? How the blood marks are there on the face?,” she questioned and added “we have come to a dead end”.

Appealing to the President, the UPA chairperson and the Prime Minister, the PDP president sought to know as to how “by any fragment of imagination” it was a case of drowning. She alleged that the whole machinery was used to cover up, and lamented that the two women were being abused even after their death.

Rejecting the CBI report, hardline APHC chairman Syed Ali Geelani has also expressed his concern saying justice was denied. He said the APHC would be going by the programmes of protests by the Majlis-e-Mushawarat and the High Court Bar Association on the CBI report.

The Independent Women’s Initiative for Justice (IWIJ) for Shopian has also rejected and strongly condemned the CBI report and charge sheet. “We are shocked at the pack of lies and inaccuracies being deliberately advanced by the CBI in the name of investigation and scientific evidence to pass it off as a case of drowning,” its statement said.

It added that the “brazenness” of the CBI was evident in its complete discharge of the four policemen who had been suspended for tampering with evidence and dereliction of duty in the first instance. “We register our strong protest at the way justice is being subverted by the CBI,” the joint statement of the members said. The members include Anuradha Bhasin Jamwal, Seema Mishra, Uma Chakravarti, Usha Ramanathan, Vrinda Grover and Dr Ajitha.

Srinagar, December 15
Several persons were injured in the clashes between stone pelting youth and the police at different places here and elsewhere, while normal life was affected due to a general strike across Kashmir today in protest against the CBI report on Shopian case. The police lobbed teargas shells and cane charge to quell the demonstrators at several places in Srinagar, Sopore and Baramulla.

The bandh call was given by the Majlis-e-Mushawarat of Shopian after it rejected the CBI report presented to the State High Court here yesterday. The call was supported by both factions of the separatist Hurriyat Conference, JKLF, High Court Bar Association and others.

All shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the roads here and in other towns of the valley. However, private transport and auto-rickshaws were plying in several areas of the city. Protests were reported from Shopian, Baramulla, Sopore, and Kulgam towns.

However, a police spokesman said the “bandh call given by some organisations in Kashmir evoked partial response and passed of peacefully”. There were stray attempts at disturbing peace at some places like Maisuma and Baramulla, which were foiled by timely intervention of the police. There were no reports of any civilian or policemen getting injured so far today, the police said. A large number of devotees visited the Dargah Hazratbal in connection with Urs Chaar-Yaar, the spokesman added.

A complete shutdown was observed in Srinagar and other major towns of the valley, including Shopian, that witnessed protests against the CBI report. Addressing the public gathering at the Jamia Masjid in Shopian town this afternoon, members of the Majlis-e-Mushawarat while rejecting the CBI report said it hurt the sentiments of the people. The Majlis also announced to continue the agitation until those guilty in the alleged rape and murder of the two women were exposed.

Nearly 10 persons were injured in the clashes between the agitating youth and the police in various localities here, including Maisuma, in the uptown and downtown localities of Safakadal, Bohrikadal and Saraf Kadal. The police lobbed teargas shells to disperse the demonstrators at different places here.

Meanwhile, a fire incident involving three buildings in Bohrikadal locality caught fire this morning, causing heavy damage to several shops and godowns. The police is investigating into the cause of the fire incident. The locals alleged that fire was caused during the clashes between the stone pelting youth and the police lobbing teargas shells in the area.

At least 10 persons were injured in the clashes between the agitating youth and the police in Sopore and Baramulla towns. The agitated youth held protests in the two towns prompting the police to use baton to disperse them that resulted in the stone pelting. The police lobbed teargas shells in Baramulla town to quell the demonstrators in which at least 10 persons were injured.

Jammu, December 15
Protest demonstrations marked the day as usual in winter capital city today. Activists of the Anusuchit Jaati Aarakshan Bachao Manch today held a dharna outside the office of the Divisional Commissioner to register protest against the state government’s proposal for banning inter-district recruitment.

Former MLA and spokesman for the manch Bali Bhagat, while addressing the protesters, said the state government had been pursuing policies against the SC community. “Such a proposal if takes practical shape shall restrict members of the SC community to apply for reserved seats in the districts other than that their native district,” he said. He said the proposal of banning inter-district and inter-province recruitments, appointments and selections was uncalled for and ill-conceived.

“No member of the community lives in the Kashmir province and the entire population of SCs that makes 11 per cent of the entire state resides only in 10 districts of the Jammu province. It means that all reserved posts at the district level in the Kashmir province shall have no provision for accommodating the SC candidates from Jammu province,” he added.

Jammu, December 15
The Narwal police today arrested five persons, including a consolidated employee of the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) and two scrap dealers, on the charges of theft.

SRTC employee Gurnam Singh, alias Sonu of Simbal Camp, allegedly in connivance with two watchmen Naseer Ahmed of Mendhar and Avtar Singh of Vijaypur, stole automobile parts from SRTC vehicles grounded at the Narwal yard during the 100-day strike by the SRTC employees.

It may be recalled here that the protracted strike ended only after the state government agreed to dole out benefits to the SRTC employees on the lines of neighbouring Himachal Pradesh.

However, taking advantage of the strike, Gurnam Singh in connivance with the two watchmen removed automobile parts worth Rs 4.50 lakh from vehicles parked at the SRTC yard.

Narwal police post in charge Naveen Sharma said after the strike ended, SRTC officials found automobile parts missing from 21 vehicles. Subsequently, they lodged a complaint and the police took up investigations under Section 380 of the RPC.

“The police established that Gurnam Singh and two watchmen had removed parts from the SRTC vehicles,” said Sharma.

The SRTC employee then sold the parts to two scrap dealers Deepak Sharma, aka Munish Sharma of Shakti Nagar, and Prem Sharma of the Railway Station. “We have recovered the stolen automobile parts worth Rs 4.50 lakh from the two scrap dealers,” Sharma added.

Jammu, December 15
Summary revision of electoral rolls hangs in the balance due to delay in issuance of government notification for conducting civic body elections.

The elections for the civic body are scheduled for February, 2010, but the Election Wing of the Jammu Municipal Corporation is yet to gear up for the revision of the voter list.

Commissioner Mubarak Singh mentioned that the government would issue notification anytime for conducting the civic body elections. However, Mayor Kavinder Bhushan Gupta said the notification should have been issued during the first week of this month. He demanded that the government should issue the notification immediately because further delay would increase problems for conducting the elections smoothly.

The voter list was prepared by the Municipal Corporation in 2005 when the elections of the civic body were conducted. However, since then no revision in the list had taken place.

In 2005, the elections were conducted in all 71 wards at 399 polling stations and total electorate were 3, 29,723. The number of male electorate were 1, 67,847 where as female electorate were 1, 61,876.

“The process of summary revision of the voter list will be started after the issuance of notification by the government,” the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation said.

Chief Revenue Officer of the Corporation Charndeep Singh said the summary revision of the voter list would take around 30 to 40 days.

However, he said the Corporation had done summery revision of the voter list twice since 2005, but he could not give the number of revised and new electorate.

Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Sagar said the government would issue the notification in time.

Jammu, December 15
While warring factions of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) are busy fighting with each other, the Mahila Congress has started a drive in the Jammu region demanding a ‘due share of seats’ for women in the forthcoming panchayat elections. It is the result of the campaign of the Mahila Congress that even in the militancy-plagued areas like Rajouri women are demanding the reservation of seats for them in the panchayat elections.

Newly appointed Mahila Congress president Indu Pawar has started a campaign in different areas of the Jammu region to educate women for getting their share in different democratic institutions. During the last three days, Indu has campaigned in Samba, Jammu and Rajouri districts.

“We want our due share in the forthcoming panchayat elections, as without adequate representation for women this village-level democratic institution would not serve purpose,” she argued. She gave example of civic bodies where reservation had already been made for women and women councillors had proved their ability.

Though various organisations had been demanding reservation for women in the panchayat elections, political parties had been hesitant in supporting their demand.

“There is no reason to adopt different yardsticks for civic bodies and panchayati raj institutions,” Indu argued and pointed out that even in militancy-plagued area like Rajouri women were enthusiastic to get their share in the democratic institutions.

Reservation for women were made in the civic bodies’ elections held in year 2005 after a gap of more than 20 years. As seats were reserved for women, a good number of them contested the elections. Even in the militancy-plagued areas, their participation was above expectation.

Jammu, December 15
The PDP today asked its workers to expose the ‘misdeeds’ of the coalition regime for its failure to solve the basic problems of people.

Addressing a public meeting after launching a membership drive in the Billawar area of Kathua district, party general secretary Balbir Singh said the wrong policies being pursued by the coalition regime were compounding the woes of poor people. He said most parts of the Jammu region had been facing a scarcity of ration. Situation deteriorated with every passing day as on the one hand ration was not available in government depots, on the other the prices of essential commodities were rising due to the wrong policies of the government.

Balbir Singh asked party workers to strengthen the party at the grass-roots level to effectively highlight the problems of people on every platform. He called upon the party cadre to take the party’s message to every part of the region. He said during the last 11 months the NC-Congress coalition had failed to solve people’s problems.

Balbir said the whole state had been facing ration scarcity and poor people had been bearing the brunt of the anti-people policies of the government. The PDP leader exhorted party workers to be prepared for launching a movement against the government. 

Srinagar, December 15
Mock drills will be conducted at various places, including educational institutions, shopping malls and certain villages, in the city in March-April.

“All preparations are being made for carrying out such exercises in schools, shopping malls, villages and certain places in the city to find out the preparedness of various departments like traffic, roads and buildings, hospitals, police and fire services in the event of disasters,” said Aamir Ali, in charge of Disaster Management, Kashmir.

He informed that various scenarios would be created at these places so as to check the efficiency of various departments.

“Our purpose is to make people aware and we want to improve on our shortcomings,” said Aamir during a two-day mock drill programme organised by the divisional administration, Kashmir, in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

Aamir said the exercise would try to find out “our strengths and weaknesses so that we are prepared well in advance in case there is an earthquake.” He added that since Kashmir falls in the seismic zone V “we’ve to be prepared.”

The programme has three aspects - coordination and orientation meeting, table talk and the actual mock drill. “The phase I of the programme that is based on coordination and orientation has almost been done. We may or may not go for table talk tomorrow, depending upon the preparedness of officers,” said Aamir.

Under table talk part of the programme, the officers would have to prepare and perform roles. “Scenarios would be created and they will have to play the role on table itself,” said Aamir.

“On the first day of the programme, a discussion was held. We are preparing for a mock drill that will be organised after a few months. Schools are closed this time and we want to conduct the mock exercise in schools as well,” said Aamir.

Those who attended the programme included the Director School Education, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Chief Education Officers, Chief Medical Officers, officers from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and the Police Department.

Srinagar, December 15
A militant belonging to the Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) was killed in an encounter in Kupwara district, while another militant of the Hizbul Mujahideen was arrested here today, the police said.

The LeT militant was killed this morning in a joint operation by the police and Rashtriya Rifles at Kakadpathi forest in Lolab, 100 km from here, SSP, Kupwara, Uttam Chand said.

The encounter started when the security forces confronted the militant on specific information, he said. “The deceased was affiliated with the LeT outfit but his identity is not known yet. He is believed to be a foreigner," Chand said, adding an AK assault rifle and some grenades and ammunition were recovered from him.

In another operation, Feroz Ahmad Rather, a Pakistan-trained militant of the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit, was arrested from the Fruit Mandi area of Parimpora, 6 km from here, on the Srinagar-Baramulla national highway.

A pistol, one magazine and two Chinese grenades were recovered from his possession by a joint squad of the police and Rashtriya Rifles. — PTI