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LeT declares ceasefire in Kishtwar
Bid to Revive Militancy
Rs 3.5 cr for upgrading water supply in Satwari
No headway into ration-for-poor scam
Transporter killed in group clash
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Police Post at Varsity Campus
Bandh hits life in valley
Restoration work of Samba Fort
to begin soon
Varsity students boycott classes
65 projects for Rajouri in phase VII, says minister
Tourism plan for Shopian soon: CM Protests leave scores injured Padma Shri to Ex-militant
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LeT declares ceasefire in Kishtwar
Jammu, February 5 The Pakistan-based LeT attributed the temporary shift in its ‘strategy’ to informers, with whom the militant outfit first wants to deal with. So far this year, security forces have eliminated 12 top commanders of Lashkar, Jaish and Hizbul in different counter-insurgency operations across the state. The posters in Urdu were noticed by people early this morning in at least four religious places but acting swiftly the police removed them by 9 am, official sources told The Tribune. Divulging contents of the posters, sources said they read that the LeT for the time being had decided not to strike at the Army and the police because it wanted to deal with informers first, who keep on providing information to the security forces about movement of its cadres. The posters further read that informers won’t be spared and for the time being they would be the target of the LeT. “Though we lost our district commander Nissar Ahmed Shah, alias Abu Maaz, of Tandar village and Nadeem Hussain Ahangar of Palmar village on February 3 at Patimahal, the jihad (freedom struggle) will go on, further read the poster. Sources said in the poster Nissar was described as a real Jihadi and his act of killing another Lashkar militant Amin in December last year was also justified. “We are taking cognisance of the matter but so far nothing has been found”, said Additional SP of Kishtwar Sunil Gupta. He, however, neither denied nor admitted the incident but at the same time did not rule out the possibility of posters being pasted first in the toilets and then being torn. Meanwhile, continuing with its counter-insurgency operations, security forces for the second day air-dropped soldiers to strengthen a cordon and pin down a self-styled commander of LeT in Kithar on the border of Kishtwar and Doda district near Himachal Pradesh. The operations were being carried out to trap LeT’s divisional commander Shah Din Khanday and his associates. Official sources said amidst hostile weather conditions security forces laid a cordon in Kithar - a remote area - yesterday, trapping Khanday and his associates. They said being a remote and snowbound area, the Army had pressed into service its choppers air-dropping soldiers in the area. Though the cordon has been laid in the area, the contact with Khanday and his associates has not been established so far. They added, “Of course it (Kithar) is Khanday’s area of operation and we air-dropped troopers yesterday and today. The troops are operating in the area,” said a senior Army officer. |
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Intelligence agencies step up vigil
Archit Watts Tribune News Service
Jammu, February 5 The sale and use of posters and photos of Bhindranwale is increasing, forcing the authorities to prepare a list of such vehicles. The intelligence agencies have revealed that certain elements supporting the Khalistan movement may be behind the posters. Ashok Gupta, Inspector-General, Jammu Zone, told The Tribune that though it was not illegal to put such posters, they were keeping a watch on such vehicles. “At this moment, we can’t say anything more on the issue. The situation is the same in Punjab and others states too. There is no threat of any movement to start,” Gupta said. The former Punjab DGP, KPS Gill, had also recently aired fears over the revival of militancy, going by the increasing presence of such posters and their sale. According to the intelligence sources, a list of such vehicles is being prepared and they would not allow resurgence of militancy in the region. Jammu and Kashmir is the first state to take such a step against the posters while other states are yet to take any notice. For the past few months, posters, stickers, pamphlets and T-shirts carrying Bhindranwale’s photos are being sold openly across Punjab, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir. A large number of vehicles, especially taxis and those driven by youths, carry the posters. An intelligence officer said the sale and use of posters of Bhindranwale could not lead to revival of terrorism in the state, but they were making record of each and every movement. Earlier, some parties, especially the Congress and the Shiv Sena, had objected to pasting of stickers of Bhindranwale on the vehicles
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Rs 3.5 cr for upgrading water supply in Satwari
Jammu, February 5 The minister was speaking after laying the foundation stone of a tubewell at KC Colony, Preet Nagar, which is estimated to cost Rs 80 lakh. Bhalla said with the completion of the 10,000-gallon capacity tubewell, drinking water facilities in KC Colony, Preet Nagar, Marakhari Mohalla, Ambedkar Nagar, Gangyal and adjoining areas would be supplemented. He said the government had formulated a comprehensive strategy to develop all remote areas of the state on a par with urban areas by providing all basic amenities like road connectivity, health care, education, drinking water, electricity etc. Bhalla asked engineers to complete the ongoing development works within the stipulated time-frame without compromising on the quality of work. He said the government had resolved to create durable assets in the state. At Gandhi Nagar, opposite Church and Apna Vihar, the minister asked the Floriculture Department to prepare estimates for the facelift of parks in these areas and submit for funding so that the work could be started. He also stressed for the construction of a pathway in the Housing Colony, Gandhi Nagar Park. Bhalla said the government was working on a plan to de-congest the city and create green and healthy atmosphere at all crowded sites by developing parks. |
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No headway into ration-for-poor scam
Jammu, February 5 The Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Minister, Qamar Ali Akhoor, while ordering an inquiry into this huge scandal on December 22 had asked the inquiry officer to submit the report within 20 days. Forty days has been passed but nothing has been done so far. The scam came to light when CAPD minister visited Kishtwar district to conduct physical verification of the stores of his department. Failure of the authorities to single out the culprits involved in black marketing of ration has encouraged all those who have been indulged in such practices. “Entire Kishtwar district has been confronting with the shortage of the ration”, pointed Shakir Sadiqui, a prominent social activist who alleged that black marketing of the government ration had been going unabated due to a nexus between officials of the CAPD, transporters and shopkeepers. There has been resentment among residents of this backward belt following the failure of the authorities to book the culprits responsible for swindling the ration meant for poor people. The then Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Kishtwar, AR Natnoo, who was appointed as inquiry officer at that time, has washed off his hands from the inquiry. “As ADC Kishtwar, I was appointed inquiry officer to investigate the scam, but within few days, I was transferred so it is the duty of the new incumbent to pursue the inquiry,” Natnoo told The Tribune. He argued that he was appointed inquiry officer as ADC of Kishtwar and the task was not entrusted to him in an individual capacity. Natnoo further said after his transfer from Kishtwar, he has handed over the charge to another officer. Natnoo, who had initiated the inquiry, said it was not possible for him to conduct physical verification of some stores due to inaccessibility of these areas. “We had requested the state government to provide chopper for visiting these areas, but due to non-availability of chopper, we could not conduct physical verification”, he said and added that after his transfer, responsibility was on the new incumbent. Interestingly, the new ADC of Kishtwar, Ghulam Nabi Balwan, was also not ready to shoulder the responsibility of conducting the inquiry. “My predecessor was entrusted the task to conduct the inquiry, so how can I intervene in this matter”, Balwan said and added unless inquiry was officially handed over to him he would not initiate any step in this case. Meanwhile, non-availability of ration in the government-run outlets has trigerred resentment among the residents. |
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Transporter killed in group clash
Jammu, February 5 Prominent transporter Gurnam Singh (32), son of Isher Singh of Sainik Colony, was killed in the attack while his maternal uncle Rajinder Singh (43) received severe injuries. The incident took place at about 7 pm. Sources said Gurnam Singh, along with his uncle, was going in their vehicle towards the Fruit Market when they were intercepted by a group of youths. As soon as the duo came out of their vehicle, the assailants attacked them with knives and other weapons. After inflicting severe injuries to both of them, the assailants managed to escape from the spot. A police party headed by SHO Trikuta Nagar, Vijay Choudhary, rushed to the spot and shifted the injured to the Government Medical College Hospital where Gurnam Singh succumbed to his injuries while the condition of the other injured was stated to be critical. The SHO said a case has been registered. However, no one was arrested till the filing of this report. |
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Students protest by staging play
Ashutosh Sharma Tribune News Service
Jammu, February 5 The Progressive Students Association (PSA) has stepped in with a new idea and has started garnering support against the proposed setting up of police post through street plays. Such a play denouncing varsity decision has become a regular feature at the campus and the PSA activists are performing it in every nook and corner of the university. Going by the common perception at the campus, it seems that the varsity administration took a unilateral decision for setting up police post without taking into confidence, teaching, non-teaching, students and scholars. The varsity’s point that the police post was being set up in view of security threat has not gone down well. Also, the administration remains unsuccessful in convincing the stakeholders about the role of the police at the campus. The play, “Khaki Vardi” being staged by the PSA activists these days, portrays the varsity administration and police in bad light. The play brings to fore “criminal” face of the police. It evokes bad apprehensions about the functioning of the police and role it plays in curtailing civil liberties. Though the plot of play is not so strong yet it reverberates with a loud and clear message. It has been portrayed against the backdrop of recent incidents, wherein the police image has been dented. It also quotes examples from the Ruchika case and dubious role of suspended SSP Manohar Singh in Amandeep murder case. The president of the PSA, Rahul, believes that such a step was taken by the varsity to suppress their democratic rights. “Varsity does not have money to run its study centres and disburse scholarships. It is not raising new hostels,” he said and questioned as to how the varsity was going to bear the expenditure of new security apparatus. Though the administration is silent, the play has started a debate over the question whether the police post is justifiable in an educational institute.
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Bandh hits life in valley
Srinagar, February 5 APHC chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq continued to be under house arrest for the second consecutive day today. He had called for the special prayers on Friday as Pakistan has been observing February 5 as a “day of solidarity with people of the state since 1975”. Two other senior APHC leaders, Shabir Ahmad Shah and Nayeem Ahmad Khan, have also been under house arrest for the past four days ever since deterioration in the law and order situation began with the death of a teenaged boy on Sunday. With the house arrest of Mirwaiz (chief priest) and strict restrictions around Jamia Masjid in the old town, the Friday prayers were not held at the main mosque of the summer capital today. Mirwaiz, in a statement, condemned the police action by preventing him and a large number of people here from offering Friday prayers and described it as an interference in the religious affair of people. However, prayers were held in other local mosques here and in other major towns of the valley. Most parts of the interior city falling under five police stations of Nowhatta, where Jamia Masjid is located, Khanyar, MR Gunj, Rainawari and Safakadal were reeling under strict restrictions on the movement of people. No movement of people was allowed and most of the residents preferred to remain indoors in these areas in view of the curfew like restrictions. Life was also affected in other major towns, including Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam, Budgam, ganderbal, Baramulla, Kupwara, Sopore, Bandipore and Handwara. All the shops and business establishments were closed and traffic was off the roads, official vehicles, however, plied normally. Meanwhile, protest demonstrations erupted after the mysterious death of a youth in a firing incident in Nishat area on the outskirts of Srinagar city here this evening. The police said 17-year-old Zahid Farooq died in the SMHS hospital after he received a bullet injury in Kralsangri locality in Brein Nishat at about 4.30 pm. He was rushed to the SMHS hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The report of his death led to protest demonstrations in front of the CRPF camp in the area. The PRO of CRPF, Prabhakar Tripathy, said the death had not taken place due to firing by the CRPF men. He said the CRPF was not deployed or no movement of its troops had taken place when the incident occurred. “It has been established that the CRPF has not fired resulting in the death of the youth”, he said. The police, however, said investigations into the mysterious death of Zahid Farooq Shah had been started. “The allegation that some passing vehicle opened fire is also being looked into”, a police spokesman said. |
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Restoration work of Samba Fort
to begin soon
Jammu, February 5 Jora said restoration work of the fort would be started soon, for which Rs 25 lakh had been released to the Tourism Department. He also instructed for formulation of a detailed project report for complete restoration of the fort, which is an epitome of Dogra heritage. He said funds for the same would be sought from the Union Ministry of Tourism. He said 35 monuments had been declared as protected heritage sites of the state. He said the Samba Fort edifice, built by Raja Suchat Singh, on the remains of 1830 (AD) Nag Raj Gour Sena’s Fort was a state-protected monument. Expressing his reverence and love for cross-cultural plurality of the state, Jora said artistic richness of the under-renovation Mubarak Mandi Complex in Jammu, Hari Parbat in Kashmir and Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh were apt indicators of the state’s homogeneity. Meanwhile, Minister for Rural Development, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Sagar said the government was for bringing a complete transparency and accountability in implementation of various developmental programmes. The Minister was speaking after releasing Dehat Sudhar, a publication of the Rural Development Department, here. Umang Narula, commissioner- secretary (Rural Development), JL Bhagat, director (Rural Development), Jammu, and senior officers of the department attended the function. The booklet being published since 1960 provides a comprehensive knowledge about various schemes and achievements of the Rural Development Department. |
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Varsity students boycott classes
Jammu, February 5 According to a statement issued here, the students said despite the assurance given by nodal officer of colleges Dr Sham Lal Gupta and some university authorities, their demand for change in syllabus was not discussed in the meeting held in the university. While addressing the students, Partap Singh Jamwal, state-vice president of the JJSF, said the university authorities had played with sentiments of the students by giving them false assurances. He stated the agitation regarding this matter would be continued until and unless the demands were not fulfilled. Meanwhile, Jamwal condemned the beating up of a student of MAM College by a group of boys inside the University Campus in the presence of a newly framed police post. |
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65 projects for Rajouri in phase VII, says minister
Jammu,February 5 This was stated by minister of state for power and consumer affairs and public distribution, Shabir Ahmed Khan, at meetings with deputations and individuals from Rajouri, who met him. |
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Tourism plan for Shopian soon: CM Srinagar, February 5 Omar said people wished their demands for better roads, power, water, education and healthcare were addressed in a speedy manner. While underscoring the importance of Shopian, he said a comprehensive tourist programme would soon be initiated so that the Mughal Road Circuit from Shopian to Bufliaz reemerges on the tourist map. While driving on Mughal Road he had himself found that there were centuries-old monuments and heritage places on either sides of the road. He felt they could be showcased before the world. He strictly directed the administration to not allow any haphazard construction along the road so that its spectacular and virgin beauty is maintained with the same grace as they have been standing with for centuries. The Chief Minister said a well-defined Mughal Road Tourist Circuit Master Plan would be made where construction of new saraies, rest houses, parks and gardens, heritage sites, etc. will be ensured in the most scientific and professional manner. He said with the realisation of the dream of Mughal Road, which will be thrown open this year for public, the importance of Shopian would touch new heights and the local people and administration should remain prepared for providing necessary
infrastructure to the tourists, who would throng this road. The Chief Minister said the state government had engaged two credible external agencies, Mackenzie and Nafcom, which would conduct survey about quality execution, time target and other important components of mega and micro-development project. He said Mackenzie would take care of mega projects while Nafcom conduct survey of NABARD projects. Minister for Sheep and Animal Husbandry Aga Syed Rohulla, who is also the Chairman of the DDB, Advisor to Chief Minister Mubarak Gul, Political Advisor to Chief Minister Devendra Rana, and other senior leaders were also present in the meeting. |
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Protests leave scores injured Srinagar, February 5 Violent clashes between the ‘stone throwers’ and the
security forces have left scores of people, including security personnel, injured
who are undergoing treatment across various hospitals in the city. Many of them
are critical. One such injured person undergoing treatment at the bone and joint hospital here, who does not want to be identified as he fears that the police would arrest him for taking part in the agitation, is the sole bread earner of his family. For the past four days he has been lying in the hospital with a fractured leg. Considering that his family solely depends upon him, he is concerned for them. He alleges that he was not the part of the stone-throwing mob, but the police beat him up while he was returning to his house in downtown locality of the city. “I was not the part of agitation, but I was caught by the police and beaten up
mercilessly. They fractured my leg,” he said. “Frequent strikes and violent clashes have rendered thousands of people like me who are daily wagers jobless,” he said. Echoing the similar view, another injured person said everyone wanted the turmoil in the valley to end so that
people could lead a “happy and peaceful life”. Many among the injured are students who took part in the “violent agitation” and were injured in the “police action”. Doctors in the hospital say
the number of injured is increasing and many of them are coming with minor to
major fracture. “Whenever there is a protest in the valley, our workload increases as the number of injured visiting the hospital rises. Most of them are
either young boys or the middle-aged people,” a doctor said. |
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Minister dares Mehbooba Tribune News Service Srinagar, February 5 Itoo observed that Mir had now publicly revealed, through the media, his close association with the family since the time when Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was the Union Home Minister. She said, “I don’t want to comment on the relationship of the Mufti family with Mir and others. But, since Pandora’s box has been opened by Mehbooba herself, it is necessary that the people of Jammu and Kashmir, rather the people of the country, understand the double standards and dual role of the father and daughter. Commenting on Mir’s claims of playing a key role in getting Rubiya Sayeed released in 1990, Itoo said Mehbooba and her father were now morally bound to give clarifications on Rubiya Sayeed’s mysterious kidnapping and release. She said it was at that time that Jagmohan, who was also having a close relationship with the Mufti family, was brought here by the Mufti to act as his proxy man. She appealed to Mehbooba that for the sake of lakhs of orphans and widows, she should now abandon this dual and mysterious role forever and work for development only.
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Jammu, February 5
