Srinagar, January 14
NC president and Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Resources Farooq Abdullah today expressed the hope that autonomy would be restored to the state in the wake of the recommendations of the Working Group’s report submitted by Justice Sagir Ahmed (retd).

He urged the Centre to initiate immediate action for the implementation of the recommendations to create a conducive atmosphere for peace and normalcy in the state. He sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s intervention to implement the recommendations after consultations with people’s representatives from all regions of the state - Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh. This, he said, would help maintain peace and normalcy and speed up progress and development in the state.

Farooq Abdullah also stressed the need to implement the recommendations of four other Working Groups constituted by the Prime Minister, which have already submitted their reports. The NC has been an ardent supporter of the grant of autonomy to the state, and it had earlier in 2,000 passed a resolution on autonomy in the state Assembly. This would also help in fulfilling the aspirations of the people of the state, Farooq said. He pointed out that autonomy, part of the NC’s political manifesto, was being supported by other political parties as well.

The former Chief Minister, who returned to the union capital this afternoon, while talking to a number of party leaders and mediapersons, said the recommendations were submitted by Justice Sagir Ahmed (retd) to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who had taken up the issue with the Prime Minister. “Now, we can hope that the autonomy can be restored in the state,” he commented. He added that it was a constitutional right of the people of all three regions of the state, and would be beneficial to the people in all regions.

Earlier, Farooq interacting with party delegations from different parts of the valley, asked them to ensure participation in the panchayat and local bodies elections, which are being held soon. The delegations included those from Assembly constituencies of Ganderbal, Shopian, Eidgah, Hazratbal, Shangus, Qazigund, Kulgam, Pulwama, Noorabad, Budgam and Srinagar district. He told the delegation from Ganderbal, the home constituency of the Sheikhs, that with the setting up of the Central University in the district, about 5,000 persons would be getting employment.

Jammu, January 14
Charging Minister for Roads and Buildings (R&B) Ghulam Mohammad Saroori with using derogatory and abusive language against their MLAs, the Panthers Party has filed a contempt complaint against the minister before the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.

All three MLAs of the party, namely Harsh Dev Singh, Balwant Singh Mankotia and Yashpal Kundal, filed the petition and urged the Speaker to initiate action against the minister for breach of privileges as well as contempt of the Legislature.

Giving reasons for filing the complaint against Saroori, former Education Minister and MLA from Ramnagar Harsh Dev Singh said, “the minister has not only ridiculed the institution of Legislature during public meetings in the constituencies of the Panthers Party MLAs by using abusive and derogatory language against the legislators, but also defied directives issued by the Speaker with regard to the powers of the legislature.”

Harsh Dev warned that if action was not initiated against the minister, the party MLAs would take up the issue during the Assembly session. “We will not allow ministers to undermine the institution of Legislature and ignore the representatives of people,” he told The Tribune. The Speaker had received the petition, he added.

During the last some months, the Panthers Party MLAs had been complaining that the ministers had been ignoring them in developmental activities. During a meeting of the District Development Board at Samba, Panthers Party MLA and former minister Yashpal Kundal had raised this issue and warned that they would not allow the ruling parties to ignore them.

Jammu, January 14
“There is need to have a comprehensive and holistic view towards conservation of lakes, having paramount value in eco-friendly environment,” said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah while presiding over a meeting for Wullar conservation here today.

Omar said besides being a historic lake, Wullar Lake was important for being eco-friendly for the Kashmir valley. Therefore, expert groups should be involved in the execution of the Wullar conservation plan, he added.

The meeting was attended by Forest Minister Mian Altaf Ahmad, Chief Secretary SS Kapur, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Khursheed Ahmad Ganai, Commissioner/Secretary, Forests, Shantmanu, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Jagdesh Keshwan, chairman of the Pollution Control Board Vinod Ranjan and other senior officers.

The Chief Minister said time had come to give more attention to environment and take all steps that would not only help maintain eco-balance of all such precious water bodies, but also help shape them as the most attractive and captivating sites.

He said, “We should not have any hesitation in acknowledging the fact that least attention was given to such places in the past.”

Omar thanked the Central government for massive financial help that the state had received for different sectors, including grants for environment-oriented projects.

The Chief Minister said the Central government had already sanctioned Rs 356 crore for Dal conservation. Under lake conservation programmes, serious attention was being paid to develop Sanasar, Mansar, Wullar and other water bodies of the state, he added.

Omar said even projects that had been prepared for drudging main rivers of the state shall also help improve the quality of water flowing in such lakes. The Chief Minister said while executing the Rs 386-crore Wullar Conservation Project all authorities and agencies concerned should keep in mind mistakes committed in the past with regard to the maintenance and preservation of such water bodies and be more vigilant, henceforth.

They should ensure that all necessary survey and ground research should be made in close association with reputed experts on these subjects.

Jammu, January 14
Even as mercury plummeted to 8.5°C here on January 12, the lowest ever on the day compared to the statistics of the last 23 years, the intense cold conditions are likely to abate in the next 48 hours.

Though western disturbance is approaching north-west, the cold conditions are likely to abate in the next 48 hours, MK Khushu, chief scientist, Agrometereology at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu, told The Tribune.

However, weather may get cloudy tomorrow because of the western disturbances and it may remain the same on January 16. However, biting cold conditions were likely to abate in the next two days, he said. On January 12, we recorded 8.5°C at our Chatha observatory, the lowest in the last 23 years. On January 13, the maximum temperature was 16.2°C and today it was 17.6°C, he added.

The winter capital today recorded the minimum day temperature of 4°C, still 1.7 notches below normal. The chief scientist attributed the intense cold conditions to longer nights and shorter days vis-à-vis increase in humidity, that in turn increases fog. He informed that night temperature in the next two days would remain below normal to normal while day temperature would increase.

The city recorded a minimum of 3°C last night. Meanwhile, in view of extreme cold conditions schools up to class VIII cross Jammu had been shut till January 17.

The foggy weather conditions continue to hit rail, road and air traffic in the state. However, there was some respite from biting cold yesterday and today resulting in better staff attendance in government offices.

Jammu, January 14
The Jammu University Research Scholars Executive Association (JURSEA), the Progressive Students Association (PSA) and various student organisations of the university today held a protest in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s office against the decision to set up a police post on the varsity campus.

The protesting students warned to disrupt the examination process in the university if reasonable replies would not be given to the queries of the students pertaining to marks tampering and mass copying cases and withdrawal of the police from the campus.

The PSA extended full support to the JURSEA and the National Secular Forum (NSF) for their demands.

While addressing mediapersons, PSA president Rahul Bahu condemned the attitude of the university authorities for launching malicious propaganda against student leaders by calling misguided elements in the varsity.

Rahul said student leaders had raised their academic and genuine demands regarding the issues of mass copying, marks tampering and setting up of a police post.

Jammu, January 14
Stressing need for turning prisons into correctional institutions, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the concept could be put to reality only when the physical and mental health of jail inmates was taken care of and reform measures put in place.

According to an official statement issued here, the Chief Minister discussed various issues pertaining to the Prisons Department at a meeting held here. “We have to endeavour to convert jails into reformation institutes rather than managing them as custodial centres,” Omar said.

He said persons convicted for various crimes after completing their jail term should return to society as transformed citizens.

The Chief Minister said the government would provide every help in making jails more conducive for inmates to get reformed and learn different skills in jails.

Omar said correctional work in this regard was a specialised field and prison authorities should be well trained and their approach to deal with prisoners should be more professional and reformative.

The meeting discussed matters pertaining to the District Jail, Kupwara, Prison Complex, Anantnag, District Jail, Pulwama, District Jail, Leh, modernisation of prisons Phase-I and II, enhancement of ration allowance, creation of staff, including psychiatrists, recruitment, grants for maintenance of jail buildings and the Director-General of Prisons Medal.

Presenting a brief about reform and rehabilitation measures taken by the Prisons Department in year 2009, the Director- General, Prisons, Dr Ashok Bhan, said steps were taken to make every prisoner literate and skillful in different trades in jails so that no prisoner when freed was illiterate and unskilled.

He said jails had been registered as literacy units and facility centres with regard to reading, writing, computer education and skills development.

Meanwhile, Omar yesterday highlighted the importance of public participation in the development process to achieve the desired results of schemes and projects launched for socio-economic and public utility infrastructure development in the state.

According to an official statement issued here, around 30 deputations from different parts of the state called on the Chief Minister raising the number of deputations to over 300 that met him in the last one week.

“Your involvement at all levels is must to ensure proper monitoring and timely completion of works,” he told a number of deputations.

Srinagar, January 14
Two militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen, including a self-styled district commander, and a security forces jawan were killed and two others injured in an encounter in the Ahrabal area of Kulgam district today.

Those killed have been identified as Mohammad Sharief, alias Adil, Hizbul’s district commander in the Pir Panjal range and resident of Kishtwar district, and Khadim Hussain, alias Tahir Inquilabi, from Rajouri district, a defence spokesman said. An Army jawan and two policemen were hurt in the encounter. The jawan later died.

Personnel of the police, the CRPF and the Army cordoned off a village near Ahrabal in Kulgam district yesterday and launched search operations to flush out the hiding militants. The militants hiding in the house of Ghulam Qadir Poswal opened fire on the search party, ensuing the encounter that continued till late in the evening. The security forces suspended the operation for the night. The encounter started again this morning and the militants were killed and the house was damaged.

Jammu, January 14
A Sadbhavana Mela was organised by the Counter-Insurgency Force (Uniform) today at Reasi. The Sadbhavana Mela was inaugurated by the General Officer Commanding (GoC), Uniform Force. The mela was organised to strengthen the relations of the Army with the civilians and instill a sense of confidence in them about the role and performance of the Army in the state.

A large number of civilians, including women, children, along with senior civil and police officials from Reasi witnessed the mega event.

The mela was organised with the theme of “Sena Awaam Ke Saath”. Children from various schools of Reasi presented a colourful cultural programme on the occasion. The audience were also enthralled by a scintillating band display and a dog show organised by the Army. A medical camp was also organised at the venue.

The Army medical authorities, including lady medical officer, provided valuable medical advice and dispensed medicines free of cost to the needy people who had travelled from the adjoining areas to seek medical assistance. A large number of people benefited from the medical camp.

In order to show civilians the punch of the Army, a weapon and equipment display was organised at the venue. Youth keenly followed the briefing of Army personnel handling the weapons and equipment. Youth were briefed about various types of entries available to them to join the Army.

Various local government organisation like agriculture, animal husbandry, sheep husbandry, horticulture and public sector banks also established their stalls in the mela and rendered useful information to the people.

Jammu, January 14
The parents of Mohd Arif, a youth who was found dead under mysterious circumstances at City Chowk on the night of January 8, are running from pillar to post to convert the FIR into a murder case. Family members of Mohd Arif alleged that they had told the police the names of the accused involved in the murder of Arif, but their repeated requests to convert the FIR into a murder case proved futile.

“The police has registered this case under Section 174, CrPC, and is not willing to convert it into a murder case due to obvious reasons,” the mother of the deceased said. Family members of the deceased are still in a state of shock.

Mohd Rafiq, father of the deceased, said: “Two friends of Arif, namely Romi and Nikku, had killed him. Both are drugs addicts and they left my son at the Government Medical Hospital after killing him under the influence of drugs.”

However, a senior police officer said Arif was a drug addict and a peddler too. It seems the drug overdose claimed his life. Two cases under various Sections of the NDPS Act had been registered against him, the officer said.

“In a recent incident, the Gujjar Nagar police had arrested him with some narcotics and he was also associated with some high profile drug peddlers,” the police said.

SP City (North) Randeep Kumar said: “At present, we are waiting for the postmortem report and also recording the statements of persons who knew him. If the postmortem report indicates a murder case, the FIR will be converted into a murder case.

Jammu, January 14
The BSF arrested a Pakistan national in the Bobian post of the Hiranagar sector in Kathua district today. Official sources said the Pakistan national was trying to infiltrate into the Indian territory, near the Bobian post, on the International Border in the Hiranagar sector when BSF jawans nabbed the intruder.

Frisking of the foreigner led to recovery of 1 kg of flour and Rs 65 in Pakistani currency, they added.

The man was barefooted and was not speaking to the BSF, sources said, adding that he was being subjected to questioning by the BSF officers. Sources said the man appeared to be mentally challenged.

Jammu, January 14
The police today ruled out any role of militants in the grenade explosion at the house of the president of the Employees’ Joint Action Committee in Channi Himmat on January 12.

A grenade was “hurled” at the house of Khurshid Alam, who is protesting against the government for better pay scales for employees.

A senior police official said the police, FSL experts and CID teams were investigating the matter and during the preliminary investigations it had been found that there was something suspicious behind this.

Jammu IG Ashok Gupta said: “We have come to know that there is no role of any militant. But, we are still investigating the matter and are trying to ascertain the reason behind the attack.”

Jammu, January 14
Describing the recently-announced employment policy as a historic decision that has generated hope among the masses, Ministers of State Nasir Aslam Wani and Javid Ahmad Dar have asked youth to come forward to develop entrepreneurial mindset to defeat the menace of unemployment.

According to an official statement issued here, they said the new policy was full of incentives which would provide enough handholding to job-seekers for living honorably. Addressing the people at Rajouri and Sunderbani, Wani asked the youth to come forward and embrace entrepreneurship in a big way by setting up self-sustaining ventures.

During the interactive session, they answered several questions about the policy and provided a detailed blueprint of the objectives and the incentives available to the youth.

The ministers stressed upon the youth to come forward and take benefits as the policy was framed in such a way that every job-seeker would benefit from it.