Jammu, December 17
The police had a tough time coping with protests by political and non-political organisations here today. The protests were held over issues like price rise, unemployment and regularisation of services.

The PDP today held a protest against price rise and increase in unemployment in the state.

Jammu-based party leaders along with their activists took out a protest rally through the heart of the city and proceeded towards the Governor’s house. The protesters raised anti-government slogans for its failure to curb spiralling prices of essential commodities, besides provide jobs to unemployed educated youth. They also accused the government of failure to ensure availability of ration through the public distribution system.

The PDP leaders, including vice-president Rangeel Singh, former Rajya Sabha MP TS Bajwa, general secreatry Daman Bhasin, MLC Ved Mahajan, general secretary Balbir Singh, MLC Murtaza Khan and former MLA Shanti Devi, led the protesters.

Jammu, December 17
Looking for “non-controversial” issues to expand its base, the PDP has virtually hijacked the issue of price rise and shortage of ration to consolidate its position in this side of Pir Panchal.

For the past one week, PDP leaders have been raking up the issue of galloping prices of the essential commodities in different parts of the Jammu region to mobilise the common masses against the Congress-NC regime.

As two main opposition parties of the Jammu region - the BJP and the Panthers Party - have failed to take up the issue of shortage of ration and price rise, the PDP has seized this opportunity and decided to come on streets on these issues concerning the common masses. Today’s protest of the PDP was the first step towards mobilising the people of the Jammu region, which received encouraging response.

Turnout in the PDP’s protest was an eye opener for Jammu-based political groups who have been facing criticism of allegedly adopting cooperative attitude towards the coalition in the state.

During the last year’s Amarnath land row, the PDP was the main target of people of the Jammu region. Houses of some PDP leaders were also attacked by the protesters during the stir.

“People of this region have realised that only the PDP can play the role of effective opposition in the state,” Trilok Singh Bajwa, a former Rajya Sabha member, said. “Farmers, educated unemployed youth, employees, technocrats and others have been agitating, but the government was not serious in addressing their issues,” he said.

Srinagar, December 17
PDP leaders hold a protest march from the party office here today, demanding justice for the victims of the alleged rape and murder in Shopian in the backdrop of the CBI report denying the crime against two women.

The march that was taken out to the Lal Chowk also highlighted the failure of the government to arrest price rise and provide enough rations, especially in rural areas. The leaders alleged that the coalition government had failed to deliver in the state, resulting in difficulties to the people. They also expressed concern over the deteriorating electricity supply in the valley during the winter months. The protest was led by district president, Srinagar, Mohammad Ashraf Mir.

Meanwhile, people protested in the Bohrikadal locality of downtown where three structures housing some shops and godowns were damaged in a fire incident today.

The residents blamed the police for the fire incident, while the police denying the report was ascertaining the cause of the incident. The fire incident had taken place when clashes were going on at different places here against the CBI report on Shopian case.

APHC chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq condemned the incident and blamed the police and security agencies for such incidents.

Jammu, December 17
Facing criticism for allegedly adopting a “cooperative” attitude towards the NC-led coalition regime in the state, the BJP today came out openly against Chief Minister Omar Adbdullah and charged him with using official chopper to campaign for Congress candidates in Jharkhand, where campaigning for the Assembly elections is going on.

Interacting with mediapersons, leader of the BJP legislative party Chaman Lal Gupta ridiculed the government claims of taking austerity measures and alleged that these claims were only for getting cheap publicity.

“The Chief Minister is moving from one place to another in a government chopper to campaign for the Congress candidates in Jharkhand,” Gupta alleged, and asked “where are the austerity measures. Are these steps only for common masses?”

Gupta attacked the Omar-led government for adopting a casual attitude towards day-to-day problems being faced by the common masses. “The government is not visible on ground,” he said, adding that “except press statements and photo sessions nothing effective has been done so far.”

All six MLAs of the party who were present in the media interaction, strongly refuted the allegations that the party had been adopting a cooperative attitude towards the ruling NC.

“We have ideological differences with the NC and the Congress. The BJP is the only party which has been strongly opposing the policies of the government,” BJP state president Ashok Khajuria said.

The BJP leaders, while condemning lathicharge on agriculture technocrats, warned the state government against adopting casual towards just and genuine demands of the agitating youth, who have been demanding regularisation of their services.

“The government must act quickly to resolve the problem of these technocrats who had been appointed under the Rehbar-e-Zirat scheme”, he said.

Srinagar, December 17
The CBI’s comprehensive chargesheet in the sordid Shopian saga has an answer for every question except one. And it is connected with one of the actions of Dr Nighat Shaheen, one of the 13 accused, which turned the case of mysterious deaths into that of rape and murder, sparking weeks of protests and violence in the valley.

The CFSL, New Delhi, said the purported vaginal smears of Neelofar Jan and Asiya Jan prepared by Shaheen were not really theirs and were fudged. In her questioning by the CBI, Shaheen, who is a key accused, first said she had prepared these slides in the Pulwama hospital, where she was posted, on May 31 using “two gloves lying in the dustbin of her room”. When that statement was found incorrect, she made what appeared to be an astonishing confession. “She said she had prepared them of her own vaginal smear,” the chargesheet says.

The CBI collected the blood samples of her and her husband, Dr Imtiaz Mir, but the CFSL said the DNA profiles generated from their samples did not match those of the original slides. However, she proved a hard nut and refused to spell out her source. “She has not truthfully revealed the source of smear used for making the slides,” the CBI said, adding that they did not have the answer as to from where she got her samples.

CBI officials, DIG Satish Golcha and SP Ratan Sanjay, who is the investigating officer in the case, said the finding of source was not that important. “We have conclusively proved that the samples were fudged and doctors, including Shaheen, fabricated one after another evidence to substantiate the allegations of rape and murder,” Golcha had said.

However, the officials conversed with the ways of investigation say Shaheen might have believed that she would benefit from this omission during the trial.

Among all doctors, it is Shaheen who has drawn the maximum attention of the media and the investigators for her series of inspired evidences and statements. She was the one who had come out of the post-mortem room on May 30 and told an already volatile crowd that both women were raped, setting them on a course of violence and arson.

When the CBI confronted her in the presence of the Majlis-e-Mashawarat, a body of locals spearheading agitations in Shopian, she blamed the Majlis for her bungling, alleging it was due to their pressure that she felt forced to play to people’s sentiments.

Udhampur, December 17
In the wake of thefts of LPG cylinders meant for cooking midday meals, government schools are worried about the security of DTH equipment, including TV sets, given to them under the centrally-sponsored scheme for imparting informal education. The reason: There is no provision of a chowkidar to prevent the theft of costly equipment, especially in middle and primary schools across the state.

SK Gandotra, Chief Education Officer (CEO), Udhampur, admitted that the theft fears were abound as no post of chowkidar or peon existed in government middle and primary schools. He also attributed unused equipment in several schools to connectivity problem. A total of 215 rural schools in the district were given the DTH receiver system and a TV set in July 2009. Its purpose was to show school education related programmes to students to supplement formal education.

But sources said several schools refused to accept the equipment on the grounds that they did not have proper space in the schools to secure them from thefts, as LPG cylinders meant for the midday meal scheme have been stolen.

Equally worried are those schools that have received the equipment, but constantly fear for their security in the absence of a peon or chowkidar to keep watch after school hours. As a result, the equipment is lying packed at several schools, defeating the purpose of the scheme.

Notably, the district education authorities have in the case of LPG cylinders given instructions for their security, but it is finding it difficult to ensure the security of the DTH equipment. “Though as per instructions, cylinders could be kept at the nearby house of a student or a teacher or any other person in the area around the school, but this measure cannot taken in case of bulky and costly equipment on a daily basis. Hence no preventive care can be taken. We are really in a fix how to keep it secure after school hours,” said the headmaster of a middle school.

Jammu, December 17
The Supreme Council of Panun Kashmir today expressed concern over the fast changing political scenario in view of the ‘quiet diplomacy’ initiated by the Central government that recognised autonomy, self rule or the Musharraf doctrine as the compromise formula for the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

While addressing a press conference here, Dr Agnishekhar, a member of the Panun Kashmir, said the organisation had directed its carders to get ready for a nationwide awareness campaign to apprise people of the dangers of such proposals.

He said in order to discuss the future course of action and strategies, the council had decided to convene a one-day all-India convention on ‘Homeland Day’ at Jammu on December 27.

On that day, Panun Kashmir would felicitate Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Uma Shanker Gupt, Chief Minister and Home Minister of Madhya Pradesh, respectively, for the passage of the historic resolution by the Madhya Pradesh Assembly on July 24, 2009, expressing solidarity with the struggle of displaced Kashmiri Pandits, including the endorsement of their geo-political demand of a ‘homeland’ in Kashmir.

The Panun Kashmir also expressed satisfaction over a similar proposal moved by BJP national president Rajnath Singh at the Bangalore convention of the party last year.

Leh, December 17
Residential, commercial and religious places, including monasteries, Buddhist stupas and mani walls, have been illuminated in Ladakh to mark the festival of Losar, the region’s New Year.

Ladakhis celebrate Losar along with the birth anniversary of Buddhist saint Galwa Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Yellow Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, on the 25th day of the 11th month and lasts till 9th day of the 12th month of the Tibetan lunar calendar.

Members of Phaspun sect after offering prayers to God and Goddess, which is known as Lhato, by changing Juniper branches with a traditional lamp with a new one. Phaspun is a group of families traditionally bonded together and believes in one Goddess. The function of Phaspun is to organise ritual prayers for its dead members.

The dead are also remembered on Losar and their family members visit their mausoleum with delicious food and beverage that they used to like when they were alive.

Losari Gu during which traditional dances of Karok, Patimo, Abimaymay and Lamazugu are performed on the 8th and 9th of 12th month of the Tibetan lunar calendar to conclude Losar celebrations. Losari Gu is still found in Basgo, Skurbuchan, Chushot and Hemisshukpachan villages.

People still prefer to celebrate Losar with traditional dress and local food. Mokmook, Chutigy, Guthung and Khura are the main Ladakhi traditional foods served during Losar. Though Chang (local drink brewed from grain), mutton dishes are the main food and beverage during Losar, many Buddhist associations, including the Ladakh Young Buddhist Association, are raising their voice against them saying these items are against Buddhism.

Villagers also visit the village monastery on Losar.

Kalakote, December 17
Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand has announced a Municipal Committee for Kalakote and laid the foundation stone of two roads and a 2000 GPH capacity water supply scheme filtration plant at Sunderbani.

According to an official statement issued here, Tara Chand also announced a grant of Rs 30 lakh for the construction of a building complex of the Municipal Committee.

He directed the Tehsildar of Kalakote would act as executive officer of the committee.

Tara Chand said the government had adopted a comprehensive strategy for allround and equitable development of the state, adding the government would take all measures to come up to the expectations of the people.

“The coalition government has announced a unique and comprehensive policy to provide employment to the educated un-employed youth”, he added.

While addressing the gathering, MLC Abdul Gani Vakil said the network of road projects which was imperative for development, had been started by the coalition government and appealed for implementation of welfare schemes to benefit the genuine people belonging to weaker sections of the society. 

Jammu, December 17
To ensure timely execution of the Rs 100-crore Patnitop-Kud Ropeway Project, a high-level meeting chaired by Minister for Tourism and Culture Nawang Rigzin Jora today discussed various issues related to the development of the project. The project would give further boost to tourism-related activities in the area and add to its aesthetic beauty.

An official press release said Jora had directed the officers concerned to remove any impediments in the way of the project at the earliest. Jora asked the officers to work with close coordination for removing other bottlenecks coming in the way of the execution of the project. He also directed that the matter for forest clearance should be sort out with the Forest Department so that necessary compensation would be paid to the department for the land for afforestation.

Meanwhile, Jora has inaugurated Zaiqa Garden Restaurant at the Tourist Reception Centre, Jammu. The centre offers Kashmiri cuisine served in traditional settings and manners. He was accompanied by Minister of State for Tourism Nasir Aslam Wani.

An official press release said the Minister stressed that the government endeavoured to provide all modern facilities to the visitors at various tourist destinations. He said over Rs 90 crore were being spent on development of tourist spots and upgrade of tourism infrastructure during the current fiscal.

Jammu,December 17
Master Hiteshwar Singh, a ninth class student of a local school, called on Governor NN Vohra here last evening.

Hiteshwar Singh recently received the National Child Award-2009, for exceptional ability in the field of sports (Roller Skating) from the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development.

The award, comprising a silver medal, a citation,a certificate and Rs 10,000 in cash was presented to him at a function held on Children’s Day at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

The Governor advised Hiteshwar to secure excellence in academics and sports.

Vohra also enquired about the quality of skates he used and the forthcoming sports events in which he was likely to participate.

The Governor presented a gift to the award winner and wished him a bright career.

Srinagar, December 17
The police arrested a militant of the Hizbul Mujahideen in Pattan in Baramulla district and seized arms and ammunition,the police said here today.

During a joint search operation by the police, the army and the CRPF at Nihalpora village, an ex-militant of the Hizbul Mujahideen, Hilal Ahmad Palla, was arrested and one AK 47 rifle, two magazines, 60 rounds of AK ammunition, 17 UBGL rounds, one UBGL thrower, five detonators and one radio set were recovered from his house.The police said he had apparently joined his outfit again clandestinely after his release from jail.

Meanwhile, the Army foiled an infiltration bid by gunning down a militant near the LoC in Baramulla district today.

“The infiltration bid was foiled in the Uri sector and, so far, one militant was killed. The operation is still in progress,” defence spokesman Lt-Col JS Brar said.

However, the police said a group of militants was challenged by the Army troops at Madiya village in Kamalkote, 140 km from here, and in the ensuing gun battle one of the infiltrators was killed. Arms and ammunition were seized from the possession of the slain militant.