Manjakote (Rajouri), February 23
Although inhabitants of most parts of the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri have been confronting with unscheduled power cuts, shortage of ration and scarcity of drinking water, electricity is a luxury in the Manjakote area which is the native place of Minister of State for Power Shabbir Ahmed Khan.

Khan, an MoS in the Council of Ministers of Omar Abdullah, has repeatedly promised to streamline power supply, but these promises remained only on paper. “When Shabbir became Power Minister in the Omar Abdullah government, there was a feeling among locals that they would get uninterrupted power supply,” said Rashid Ahmed, a resident of Ghambir Mugala village, located adjoining Manjakote. He, however, said their hopes were dashed within a week as unscheduled power cuts were increased even after their MLA became the Power Minister.

Shabbir, who represents the Rajouri Assembly segment, is a native of Majakote where irregular cuts have become a routine affair. Not only Manjakote, but also adjoining localities namely Behrot, Khablal, Rajdhani, Majhoor, Hasplote, Palanger, Gambhir Brahamana, Gambir Mugala, Lah, Nali, Kour and Doungi are facing the same problem.

“For years together, we have been facing the same problem,” regretted Anjum Mirza, a resident of Thanamandi. Anjum pointed out that in this belt, which is the constituency of the Power Minister, power is really a luxury. He said the locals have repeatedly asked the authorities to install electric meters in these areas to ensure uninterrupted power supply, but the authorities never took their requests seriously.

Zhangir Khan, a resident of Behrot, said students were the most affected due to irregular cuts. “Neither kerosene oil is available nor power so they find it difficult to study during night,” he said.

Khan said 14 to 16 hours power cut was a routine affair in this belt. He informed that after the first snowfall, power supply remained affected in most areas of this belt for three consecutive days.

Resident of this belt said they have repeatedly asked the authorities to fix a schedule of power cut so that they could remain prepare. “Instead of fixing a schedule, the authorities resorted to unscheduled cuts which have further multiplied our miseries,” said Gulzar Ahmed.

Jammu, February 23
Baldev Singh's brush with bureaucracy has remained sore so far. Like other militancy-affected families away from home and hearth, he has been awaiting relief. His file has been stuck in bureaucratic procedures for the past 17 years.

He remembers: On way back home in the evening, my elder brother, Ram Lal, was kidnapped by militants. Next morning his badly tortured body was recovered along with a letter warning the similar treatment to those not upholding separatism. Besides other injury marks on the body, his ears, nose and tongue had been chopped off and eyes gouged out. His throat had deep marks of strangulation.

The badly mutilated body was enough to terrorise the entire village of Badarkot in Ramban on the morning of May 3, 1993. Fearing threat to life, as many as 21 families fled the village that day. "Even today one has to trek 12 km from the main road to reach our village," he said.

He is putting up in a rented accommodation at Dandyal village of Udhampur district whereas his deceased brother's family lives at Ramban, a tehsil headquarters.

"Government was quick in providing job to my brother's widow, much to the relief of their three children but I did not get anything," he said, adding that "the militants had threatened me but targeted my elder brother as they could not get hold of me," said Baldev, who has been undergoing psychiatric treatment. Baldev is also hard of hearing.

"Life after migration has been harrowing. My wife and seven-year-old son had to undergo the worst during my mental illness that befell me after that traumatic experience," he said.

"My case bearing file No- 748 was marked by the DC, Udhampur, to the Relief Commissioner. The Relief Commissioner directed the tehsildar concerned who then forwarded the case to the tehsil supply officer. The latter forwarded the file to the clerk concerned and the file remains stuck there," he said. He lamented that he was visiting the office of the Relief Commissioner, (Migrants) almost daily seeking a ration card for being a migrant.

"Every time I go there, he tells me to come after three or four days. I don't know what the impediments are when the police, CID and local administration have done extensive verifications in my case and endorsed that I migrated under threat of militancy," he said.

Jammu, February 23
Now, visitors will have to dish out money to pay homage to martyrs at the country’s highest War Memorial (Balidan Stambh) situated on the Bahu Fort road here.

If sources in the civil administration are to be believed, with the beginning of the next month, civilians will be charged a fee to visit the memorial. The Army has constructed this 60-metre tall war memorial to recount the sacrifices of martyrs and their families. It was inaugurated by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The Army handed over it to the state government to maintain it in November last.

Within a few months after getting the possession of this war memorial, now the Tourism Department is contemplating to impose an entry fee, the sources said. The aim behind the construction of the memorial was to strengthen ties between civilians and the armed forces.

It is shaped like a rifle and has an eternal flame at its base, which symbolises the sacrifice of martyrs of the state. The pillars of the memorial bear the names of over 5,000 martyrs.

A senior officer in civil administration also accepted that they were planning to charge some amount, which had not been finalised yet and was under debate stage.

The martyrs’ families, who have suffered major loss during wars and have sacrificed their members in war against Pakistan, criticised the plan.

“I used to visit the memorial once in a week, for the past two months, but if the government will start charging fee, then who will visit the place? I have lost my son during the war and have not much money. How it will be possible for people like me to go there,” said mother of a martyr.

Jammu, February 23
With the elimination of 10 top commanders of various militant outfits across the Jammu region this year so far, the security forces are on a high.

Working on a foolproof strategy backed by intelligence network to render the outfits leaderless has paid rich dividends to the security forces in just 52 days of the new calendar year.

Since January, the security forces gunned down 10 top leaders of outfits like — Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Toiba, Hizbul Mujahideen and Harkat-ul-Jehadi — across the region, which, in turn, have demoralised their cadres, who are now on the run, said sources in the Army.

Out of 16 terrorists killed so far, 10 were top commanders, they said, adding that in January the security forces eliminated four terrorists while 12 were gunned down in February.

While terrorists continue to use women for all wrong purposes, recent arrest of a woman terrorist Hafiza Bano, alias Babli, in an encounter in Kishtwar district clearly reflects that how they are being lured into militancy in the name of “jihad”, they said.

The woman terrorist had been arrested during a surgical operation on February 4 wherein her husband, HuJIs district commander, Farooq Ahmed, alias Dawood, and tehsil commander Nazir Ahmed, alias Abu Furkan, were killed.

The elimination of Jaish divisional commander Abu Dawood and district commander Tipu Parbat Ali in Poonch was among the major successes of the security forces.

Sources said, HuJI was mainly active in Doda and Kishtwar districts while Jaish’s main area of influence was Poonch district.

Jaish Divisional Commander Abu Dawood, who managed to escape the dragnet of the security forces from the Bhatidhar forest siege in January 2009, was killed in Chunga in Poonch on January 16.

The very next day the security forces achieved another major success when HuJI district commander in Kishtwar, Farooq Ahmed, alias Dawood, and tehsil commander Nazir Ahmed, alias Abu Furkan, were trapped and gunned down in another precision encounter on February 4.

On the whole, three HuJI ultras and two Jaish ultras have been gunned down since January this year. The Lashkar also suffered a big blow when its district commander

Nisar Ahmed, alias Abu Maaz, was gunned down in a fierce gun-battle in Doda on February 3. The LeT had suffered three casualties in encounters this year.

In fact elimination of Nissar, along with another ultra Nadeem from the same outfit followed by the killing of HuJI’s top commanders Dawood and Abu Furkan shattered LeT to the extent that it was forced to suspend its operations in the north of Chenab.

The posters that appeared in Kishtwar bearing seal of Saifullah, a self-styled district commander of “Mujahidin Lashkar-e-Taiba J&K,” on February 5 were the stark reflection of the sense of disquiet and defeat following the annihilation of their top commanders.

Their utter frustration was reflective in the LeT’s announcement of unilateral ceasefire against the security forces in Kishtwar.

Likewise, Hizbul also suffered maximum damage by losing its eight ultras, including five top commanders, in different operations.

Its District Commander Tariq Ahmed Lone was eliminated at Qadernah, near Navapachi, on January 23.

Later its two section commanders Zakir Hussain and Muzaffar Ahmed Zafar were neutralised on February 11 in Doda while another district commander Jan Nisar was gunned down in Rajouri on February 12. On February 19 another district commander Abu Bakar was neutralised.

In the backdrop of the recent successes, the demoralised residual rank and file of these terror outfits had no option but to fall in line and surrender, the sources said.

In 2009, a total of 82 terrorists, including 24 top commanders, were eliminated in various operations.

Sheganpora-Sumbal, February 23
Though the situation about availability of safe drinking water has improved in certain villages, others await facility.

Hardly 30 km from the city centre, residents in Sheganpora face shortage of safe drinking water, though situation in adjacent villages has improved with water schemes coming up and many in pipeline.

Residents said the Inderkote Water Scheme that was started last year supplies water to five villages. "We got benefited from it and receive regular water supply. Our nightmare has ended," they said.

Other scheme that is expected to be started within a month will benefit 10 to 12 villages, including Sheganpora.

"We are anxiously waiting for the day," said a group of women fetching water from a nearby public post. "The tap is almost buried in ground and women after collecting water in small containers pour it into pots and carry them home. It is a tiring job," they remarked.

Sharing that they get potable water for 2 to 3 hours a day, they said, "We have to collect water everyday. This is a part of our household chores," said Fatimah Bano, a resident of Sheganpora-Sumbal in Bandipora district. Sonawari is a cluster of 250 villages and Sheganpora being one.

Such public posts can be found in almost every mohalla here. "Usually, there is one tap for a few houses around where they fetch water in pots," said a group of women at Nowgam-B, adjacent to Sheganpora.

Ali Mohammad, a social activist, said the Inderkote Water Scheme that was started last year supplies water to five villages. "The residents got benefited from it. Other scheme that is expected to be started within a month would benefit 10 to 12 villages, including Sheganpora," he said.

Recollecting old memories, he remembers those days when he used to collect water in buckets from a spring near junction on his bicycle. Junction is a midpoint where roads leading to Nowgam, Sheganpora, Gounchipora and Inderkote-Sumbal converge.

"Men, women and children could be seen waiting for their respective turn to fetch water. Though the situation has improved, even today people could be seen at the spot fetching water and washing clothes," said Sheeraza Bano, a local resident.

Ali Mohammad Dar, a resident of Nowgam-B, said the absence of irrigation facilities add to the problems of villagers. He said the absence of nearby nullah validates the importance of well.

"Water would be used for washing purposes and for animals. Daily consumption of water for cattle per household is 200-250 litres. Cattle are our basic source of income. One well could be used by 50 households," he said.

The population is mostly dependant on agriculture and cattle. Dar wishes a well should be constructed in every locality. He said the importance of well could be gauged from the fact that everyone in the village is ready to donate land for the construction of well. "The owner of the land gives in writing (an affidavit) that he will not stop anyone from using the water," he added.

Khur Mazar (Uri), February 23
Villagers in this remote part of the valley have started taking up self-employment units to revive their economic status.

Two years back, Farooq Ahmad, a local resident, was provided 12 apiculture boxes by the Centre for Environment and Education (CEE) Himalaya, and Welthungerhilfe [WHH-formerly German Agro Action], but he is left with only four boxes.

He said after getting 25 kg of honey in 2008, he suffered losses next year. "A doctor told me that the bees had developed some disease," said Ahmad, adding that "I will try to develop the unit."

Ahmad, a labourer, has to feed six children. He plans to shift apiculture boxes to Pirnia, a few kilometers from his village, in the summer. "The conditions there are favourable for polling. I've acquired training from the Department of Apiculture, Bijhama, which has proved helpful."

The village comprises 40 households, mostly landless. Ahmad said that villagers were mostly engaged in umbrella and stove-repairing work.

He left his studies midway after he lost his father at a young age. "Then I learnt repairing umbrellas and stoves. I can't move out of the village as there is no one to look after the family."

His mother, Haniefa Begum, said: "We just manage to make both ends meet. Life has been tough for us. Taking to apiculture was good but since there is no proper sunlight and space, so we suffered losses."

Begum said that usually parents in the village migrated to a city for six months to eke out living. "As children stay with elders, their education suffers."

Mubashir Ahmad, coordinator, CEE, Himalaya said "Khur Mazar is the poorest of the 10 villages we are working in." The CEE is working in Noorkah, Bagna, Salamabad, Reshwari, Bijhama, Chapodar, Manya, Lachipora, Danisayeda and Cholan.

As the village has no school, children study in schools in adjacent Noorkah and Kanchan villages. The village does not have any ration depot and anganwadi centre.

Other beneficiaries like Babu and Mohammad Saleem have been offered cattle by the CEE, Himalaya.

Mohammad Saleem who has been provided sheep says that "we take wool from the sheep and mix it with other things to make mattresses for domestic purposes. If the production is more, we'll definitely start a micro unit."

The poultry unit set up by Mohammad Ishaq, a load carrier driver, said: "The CEE provided me with 500 chicks. After they attained a weight of 1.5 kg each, they died of some disease. Since my interest in poultry was generated, I brought 300 chicks more."

Jammu, February 23
A two-day workshop on development of self-learning material was organised recently by the Directorate of Distance Education (DDE), University of Jammu.

Fifty participants from the discipline of English, sociology, Urdu, commerce, management, education and Hindi from the postgraduate departments of University of Jammu and affiliated colleges participated in the workshop.

Noted trainers and distance education experts Prof CRK Murthy and Dr Ashok Gaba from the STRIDE, IGNOU, New Delhi, were the resource persons for the workshop.

Dr Anupama Vohra, associate Prof of English DDE, was the workshop coordinator.

NK Verma, commissioner Secretary, Higher Education, inaugurated the workshop. In his inaugural address Verma appreciated the efforts of the DDE for organising the workshop and involving senior faculty from PG departments and affiliated colleges for contributing to the study material.

Dr Meenakshi Kilam, director, DDE, welcomed the chief guest and workshop participants. She said the process of the training of the in-house faculty and teachers from PG departments of the university and affiliated colleges had been taken up on priority by the DDE in order to improve the quality of the study material. In the second technical session, Dr Ashok Gaba talked about instructional design issues and characteristics of self-learning material. In the concluding technical session, the participants reviewed the existing study material and made presentations.

Jammu, February 23
In the absence of a proper graveyard, residents of Sher-e-Kashmir colony are using the banks of the Tawi, beneath the colony, for burying dead bodies.

The colony was established after the government allotted land to underprivileged Gojar population migrated from the far flung areas of the province on May 8, 1976.

But no land has been allotted to 800 families residing in the colony for burying their dead family members and relatives.

Burying the dead bodies on the banks of the Tawi creates a perpetual tension among people about the safety of graves, as these graves run a constant threat of getting washed away.

Mohammad Ameen, naib sarpanch of the colony, said, “Whenever the water level rises in the river, particularly during the monsoon season, the floodwater often enters the graves, erode them and wash away the corpse”. Amjed Hussain, a resident of the colony, said, “Every year, we offer prayer called “fateh” on the graves of our relatives and friends, but when the graves get washed away, you can understand the pain and agony we undergo under such circumstances”.

A perpetual worry about the safety of the graves can be heard from the affected people of this colony who have been running from pillar to post for the allotment of some forestland near the locality for using as a graveyard.

“When the government can allot forestland for the construction of overhead water tank in the Khanpur area, which is 1 km away from our colony, then it can also provide us forestland for a graveyard,” demanded Mohammad Farooq, another resident.

The residents alleged that many times they had pleaded to the authorities, but their pleadings had always fallen on deaf ears.

Case property vehicles parked in the premises of a police station are always in poor condition, but sometimes apathy crosses all limits. A Santro car (see picture) lying under the possession and jurisdiction of Meeran Sahib police station is an apt example. It is a case property. The vehicle had been gathering rust, but the worse happened when an electricity pole fell on it.