Jammu, January 19
Different associations of government employees from Jammu and Kashmir regions gave a joint call for strike on February 16 and 17 in support of their long standing demands here today. These organisations announced to work under a common banner -- J&K Government Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC).

“We have resolved to struggle from a united platform under the collective leadership of non-political people,” Ram Kumar Sharma, a committee member, said while addressing a press conference here today.

Sharma said a two-day token strike would be observed in all three regions of the state and the protesting employees would abstain from regular work in all departments, except emergency services.

“We have also dissolved various factions of the EJAC that have been formed by some self-styled leaders for petty gains. Such factions have no right to sham a united platform,” he added.

Other prominent leaders from both regions included Mohammad Gafoor Dar, Pardeep Kumar, Balwant Singh Jamwal and Subash Chander. They alleged that the government was not keen on fulfilling their demands and resented silence maintained by it.

The government employees have been demanding the release of arrears as per the Sixth Pay Commission, release of pending 5 per cent HRA and regularisation of services of all temporary, ad hoc, consolidate and contractual daily rated workers engaged after 1994 in different departments.

Jammu, January 19
A deputation of the Jammu University Teachers Association (JUTA) called on Governor NN Vohra here today and submitted a memorandum of demands.

The deputation was led by president of the association Dalip Singh. Their demands included an increase in the age of superannuation of varsity teachers from 60 to 65 years, payment of arrears as per the Sixth Pay Commission report, revision of leave and regulation rules, reduction of the qualifying age for full pension benefits to 20 years, grant of children education allowance and reimbursement of tuition fee.

Other demands included one-time option for teachers for the conversion of CPF to GPF, adoption of new guidelines regarding incentives for higher qualifications in favour of the university teachers, granting of academic grade pay to those within 10 per cent of the total strength of the professors in Jammu University and other perks as per the UGC norms.

Jammu, January 19
Demanding the restoration of their rights, various organisations of Kashmiri Pandits staged a demonstration in front of Raj Bhavan this morning. The protest was jointly organised by the All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (ASKPC), Panun Kashmir, J&K Vichar Manch (JKVM) and the Non Camp Coordination Committee to mark 20th ‘Holocaust Day’.

The protesters later assembled at Geeta Mandir and pledged to continue their struggle till their demands were not met by the government.

The leaders of the community recalled the horrifying experience of terrorism that led to their mass exodus from the valley. They also criticised the proposals of self-rule and autonomy as solutions to the Kashmir issue.

The protesters holding placards, banners and sporting black bands on their arms assembled outside Raj Bhavan here and shouted slogans against terrorism and the alleged apathetic attitude of the government towards displaced Kashmiri Pandits.

HL Chatta, general secretary of the ASKPC, said the Kashmiri Pandits could not forget the turmoil that they underwent in the Kashmir valley in 1989-90 and thereafter. “We have a bounden duty to pass on the knowledge of our history to the next generation and we shall keep on fighting for our rights. We will not stop till we achieve our desired goal,” he added.

Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, president of the Panun Kashmir, said they were the natives of Kashmir with a long cultural and historical background. “We have been the victims of the majority community that allowed our genocide and ethnic cleansing in Kashmir, resulting in our forced exodus,” he alleged.

Senior national vice-president, JKVM, Dr RL Bhat said the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits had disapproved the secular credentials of Kashmir. “The tall claims of secular accommodation and tolerance of the majority community in Kashmir have proved wrong as the minority community has been denied any space in the valley,” he alleged.

The protesters also carried out a rally to the office of Divisional Commissioner, where they held a demonstration.

Jammu, January 19
It is a matter of honour for any individual to be chosen for the state award on Republic Day, but for more than 35 such awardees belonging to Jammu and Kashmir, it has become a joke.

While 20 of them were chosen for the award on Republic Day in 2008,17 were chosen last year on January 26.However,none of them actually got these. The ceremony never took place. Most of the awards carried citation, but some had cash rewards also.

“It has become a joke for us”, says Prof Lalit Magotra, well- known poet and author. “The government announced the award as per the annual ritual on Republic Day.Reports were splashed prominently on newspapers and TV channels, but the ceremony for bestowing the awards was never held.”

Says Mithun Minhas, an ace cricketer from the state, who has made a mark at the international level, besides in the Ranji Trophy and IPL matches.

“I was one of the awardees.But after the announcement, there was no communication. Even now, I expect I may be called this Republic Day. But till now, there has been no invitation.

A senior government official wishing not to be quoted said he did not know the reason behind not giving the awards in 2007, but last year, the government could not give these because of assembly and parliamentary elections and later the session of the state legislature.

Less than a week is left for Republic Day, but there is no official word about the likelihood of the awards being bestowed upon these prominent personalities.

"People visiting our house often ask me to show the state award. When they learn it is yet to be given to me, some even joke if the news was correct ?" said a 2008 awardee not wishing to be identified.

The list of the 17 state awards announced last year is indicative of the eminence of those chosen for their contribution to literature, art, journalism, sports and public services.

Historian Fida Mohammad Khan Hussain and Dogri writer Ved Kumari Ghar got the award for lifetime achievement. Those for contribution to journalism went to Sumir Kaul , Masood Hussain, Nazir Masoodi and photo-journalist Ashok Sodhi (posthumously).

Professor Magotra and Sadiq Ali Sadiq were selected for contribution to Dogri and Balti languages, respectively.Radio artist Pran Kishore, Kashmiri singer Raj Begum and Ghulam Mohammad (Dogri) were the other award winners.

Mitali (gymnastics), Gul Mustfa Dev (skiing), Ram Singh Slathia (mountaineering) and Ajay Sharma were chosen for their contribution to sports.

Srinagar, January 19
In stepped-up violence ahead of Republic Day, two police officers, including a DSP, were among seven persons injured, while a vehicle and a bridge were damaged in two militant attacks in south Kashmir last night.

Six persons, including a DSP and a police Inspector, were injured when their vehicle was hit by an explosion while it was crossing a bridge at Tral in Pulwama district around 10.30 pm last night. The police vehicle and the bridge were damaged as a result of the blast, the police said.

While one vehicle had crossed the bridge unharmed, the blast hit the following vehicle. Injured DSP Amarjeet Singh and SHO, Tral, Inspector Javed Ahmad and four others were also injured in the explosion. They were hospitalised and discharged after first aid. The bridge was closed and is being repaired.

Unidentified militants fired upon a special police officer (SPO), injuring him at Sangam in the Beijbehara area of Anantnag district last evening. The police said militants fired upon SPO Abdul Rahman around 8.30 pm last evening and fled in a waiting pick-up van. The injured policeman was hospitalised and his condition is stated to be out of danger.

The police and security agencies have intensified search operations to thwart any designs of the militants to create trouble ahead of Republic Day in Kashmir. The main function on the occasion is held at the Bakshi Stadium here, which continues to be under strict vigil of the police and security agencies. The checking of vehicles in and around the heart of the summer capital, vital installations and at the district headquarters has been increased to frustrate any designs of the militants to create trouble.

No roadside parking of vehicles is allowed around the vital installations, which results in less congestion on city routes.

Jammu, January 19
Continuing with their misadventures, Pakistan troops again violated the ceasefire and fired from light and medium machine guns on the 9092 Kinari forward post in the Sabjiyan sector of Poonch district this afternoon. They also fired two rockets at the post.

Official sources told The Tribune that around 2 pm today Pakistan troops resorted to universal machine gun fire on the 9092 Kinari post and also fired two rockets that exploded away from the post without causing any damage.

They said the Army men guarding the post retaliated and both sides exchanged fire for around two hours till 4 pm, they added. DIG, Poonch-Rajouri range, SDS Jamwal confirmed firing from across the LoC and said it was a ceasefire violation.

SSP, Poonch district, Manmohan Singh said the firing started around 2.30 pm, but there were no reports of any casualties or injuries to anyone on our side.

Sources in 16 Corps also said it was a ceasefire violation, adding that there was no infiltration bid. There were no casualties or injuries to our troops, but we were not sure about the Pakistan troops, they added.

The ceasefire violation, second in the past 24 hours, show desperation on the part of Pakistan to fuel insurgency in the state. “We are maintaining a strict vigil on the LoC and border,” the sources said.

Srinagar, January 19
Baramulla remained tense today following the death of a youth who was injured in police firing in June last year.

Manzoor Ahmed, a resident of Baramulla,who was injured in a protest last year, died today. Tension gripped the town after residents came to know about the death. Agitated youths raised slogans against the police and started pelting it with stones.

There was shutdown as the agitators forced the closure of shops in the area.

Manzoor had sustained a bullet injury last year during a demonstration in Baramulla against an alleged attempt to molest a woman by personnel of Baramulla police station.

Clashes between the police and the protesters were reported from various parts of the town and several agitators were arrested as a precautionary measure. The police and the CRPF were deployed to maintain peace.

Angry protesters also attacked police station with stones and tried to set it ablaze, but the security personnel lobbed tear gas shells and resorted to a cane charge to disperse them.

“The situation was tense as the protesters pelted the police personnel with stones.We are trying to control the mob by using the least amount of force. As a precautionary measure, we have arrested some of the protesters,” a senior police officer told The Tribune over the phone from Baramulla.

Jammu, January 19
Three persons, including a woman, were killed and six others injured when their vehicle fell into a gorge at Kot Jagir, near Nagrota, this morning.

The incident occurred at about 9 am when the driver of Tata Sumo going from Jammu to Katra lost control over it and the vehicle fell into the gorge. The police said three persons died on the spot while six others suffered injuries. The injured were rushed to Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu, the police said.

It said the deceased were identified as Sonal Dogra, Amrit Sharma and Mulkh Raj,residents of Jammu.

A police officer told The Tribune that the injured had been identified as Vinod Pandit, Devinder, Raj Kumar, Rakesh Kumar, Updesh and Jagwinder, residents of the Jammu region. They were employed with various agencies in Katra, the police said.

N. A. Dar, SHO, Nagrota police station, said: “The bodies have been removed to hospital for a post mortem. A case has been registered”.