Srinagar, June 7
In view of the threats that militants of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) might carry out fidayeen (suicide) attacks during the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, entire Srinagar city was converted into a fortress today.

A large contingent of CRPF and police personnel was deployed in the city and many roads were sealed for vehicular traffic.

The entire boulevard area along the Dal Lake and the road leading to the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), where the Prime Minister was to address the fifth convocation of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and Technology- Kashmir, were sealed and kept out of bound for civilians.

The mobile phone network and Internet services were also jammed in the city as a precautionary measure to avert any militant activity.

The Army had intercepted some conversation between militants and the LeT leadership and warned the state government that the militants were planning to carry out suicide attacks during the Prime Minister’s Srinagar visit. It had asked the state government to shift the venue of the function, the proposal that the state government had rejected.

“As precautionary measures, restriction on the movement of civilians has been kept in place in and around the places the Prime Minister will be visiting. Adequate security deployment has been put in place in the city,” a senior security officer told The Tribune.

Tight security arrangements were also made in the Dal Lake, where security personnel patrolled the lake in shikaras and motorboats.

Meanwhile, residents had to suffer as the mobile phone network across the city remained jammed and they could not make calls.“They have jammed the mobile phone network for security reasons, but everyone is not a terrorist and they should not have made the common man suffer,” said Gulzar Ahmed, a local resident.

Meanwhile, while tight security arrangements were in place for the Prime Minister’s visit, normal life was paralysed across the Kashmir valley due to a bandh called by the hardline Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Geelani.

All shops and business establishments were closed and traffic plied on the roads. Educational institutions, banks and other private offices were closed. There was thin attendance in government offices while the government machinery was busy with the arrangements for the visit.

Jammu, June 7
The Directorate of Indian System of Medicines (ISM) has ordered 112 transfers and postings of ayurvedic doctors in the state.

Following are the postings in the Jammu province in the ayurvedic dispensaries at the given places:

Dr Kuldeep Singh Reen to Ayurveda Dispensary, Purlakotla, Udhampur; Dr Kotli Arjan Singh and Dr Shafali Bakshi to Baspur, Jammu; Dr Harpreet Kaur to Gho, Manasha; Dr Supriya Thakur to Allah; Dr Nobat Ram Sharma to Samilpur; AD Arai and Dr VK Kholi to Baian, Bajalta; Dr Renu Dass to Julaka Mohala; and Dr Vijay Sharma, Dr Aruna Bhat and Dr Ajay Tickoo to Government Ayurvedic Hospital, Jammu.

AD Sama has been transferred to Chack, Marapati Kathua; Dr Deepak Rajan and Dr Deepak Rajan to Hamirpur, Kathua; Dr Sudesh Kumar Sharma to Hatli Kathua; Dr Neelam Gupta to Tanda; Dr Ravi Mohan Mishri to Domana; Dr Iftkhar Ahmad to Beja, Doda; Dr Rakesh Sharma to Duggani, Kathua; Dr Navdeep Kumar to Rajwalta, Kathua; and Dr Sushma to Pasgal.

Dr Suresh Kumar has been shifted to Jasrota, Kathua; Dr Bal Krishnan Sharma to Chalarian, Kathua. Dr Rajesh Kumar to Patwal, Kathua; Dr Rajinder Singh to Gura, Katyal, Kathua; Dr Pretam Singh Chouhan to Rajpora, Samba; Dr Nalni Sharma, Mubark-Mandi; Dr Ravi Datt Sharma to Gho, Brahmana; Dr Bodh Paul to Bhandar, Kathua; Dr Deepika Sankhyadar to Government Ayurvedic Hospital, Jammu; Dr Surekha Pandita to Sarna, Samba; Dr Primila Khajuria to Jakhbar, Kathua; Dr Nispank Sharma to Kotli Arujan Singh, Jammu; Dr VS Manhas to Parnala, Kathua; and Dr Yash Paul to Seswan, Kathua.

Dr KK Kapoor has been shifted to Rehian; Dr Surjeet Sharma to Lachipora, Kathua; Dr Vikas Ubot to Resligradan, Udhampur; Dr Aditi Sher to Sunater, Udhampur; Dr Manju Koshal to Rabita; Dr VK Zaru to Kharamadana; Dr Sarita Gupta to Talab Khethika; Dr ML Sharma to Galipindi Pooch; Dr RK Dutt to Udhayanpur, Doda.

Dr Jatinder Gupta to Arai Poonch. Dr Joginder Paul to Choki, Udhampur; Dr Vinod Sharma to Gursari, Poonch; Dr Madan Lal Gupta to Kheral, Udhampur; and Dr Shivani Padha to Aithem.

Dr Sangeeta Mahajan has been transferred to Shama-Chack, Jammu; Dr Lakhwinder Singh to Juthana Kathua; Dr Rajnesh Sharma to Naga; Dr Deepa Kachroo to Surinsar; Dr Dhanwanter Singh to Kundran, Udhampur; Dr Veenu Gupta to Londi, Kathua.

Dr Anjana Raina to Gajansoo; and Dr Anil Gupta to Aghore-Manjoor. Meanwhile, Dr Sakshi Sharma has been appointed in government ISM dispensary, Kote, Punnu, Kathua and Dr Asha Sharma is appointed in government ISM dispensary Pasgal, Jammu.

Jammu, June 7
After taking on militants to protect her family, Rukhsana Kausar of Upar Shahadra village in Rajouri is now taking on her parents for the acceptance of her marriage with a married man having a four-year-old son. He was posted as her security guard and is about 13 years older than her.

Her parents and younger brother reacted strongly by locking her up in the house and keeping the security guard at bay. Rukhsana was got released by the Rajouri police today. It recorded the statement of Rukhsana and her husband in the afternoon. She was reportedly beaten up for her action.

Amid opposition from villagers also, Rukhsana had married Kabir Hussain, a head constable posted as her security guard, on May 26, local media reports from Rajouri said today. The police has confiscated the licensed weapon of her husband.

The police had given her security after she got nation’s admiration for killing a Pakistan militant and wounding another with an axe in September last year.

A defiant Kabir told The Tribune over the phone that he took permission from his first wife for marrying Rukhsana. He claimed it was a step aimed at silencing militants. “Militants had issued threats many a time that whosoever married Rukhsana would have to pay the price with his life. I offered her my hand,” he added. Militants did attack Rukhsana house once early this year.

Kabir, who also claims to have killed over 100 militants in 10 years of service, said he was in awe of Rukhsana and would protect her all life. “She is constantly living in danger”.

The girl, who won the Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Award and the Kirti Chakra, besides the job of a constable, told The Tribune over the phone that her life was in constant danger from militants and she needed someone to protect her.

“I and Kabir came close in those trying times and we fell in love. I have done nothing wrong,” she said. “I have every right to choose my husband. And I will fight for it,” she said.

Jammu, June 7
Thousands of nomadic Gujjars and Bakarwals stranded in the higher reaches of Kishtwar district due to inclement weather are keeping alive by eating chapatis made of grass, called ‘trumba’ in local dialect, as their ration has exhausted. The relief in form of food packets being airdropped are highly insufficient.

Choudhary Nazakat Khattana, president of the Gujjar Youth, an organisation working for the welfare of the nomads, disclosed this to The Tribune today. Khattana accompanied by the relief teams of the government and the security forces, which supplied food and other necessary items to the stranded nomads.

Khattana visited the Tribune office in Jammu today to show chapatis of grass, which he had brought with him. “The carcasses of cattle were strewn everywhere and it was difficult to walk past them as the air was filled with the foul smell,” he recalled and added, “While the higher reaches are still witnessing snowfall the lower areas are being consistently lashed by torrential rains.”

Khattana said, “Due to adverse weather, the nomads are falling sick. Their tents have caved in under the weight of snow and they have been putting up in mountainous caves. Some local villagers have also given them shelter but in view of the number of nomads, it’s insufficient.”

“The exact number of affected people is not known at this juncture but as per the estimates there are nearly 1,000 families stranded in the entire area,” he said.

Every summer the nomadic Gujjars and Bakarwals leave plains and camp in hilly areas in search of fodder for their livestock that includes sheep, goats, horses, mules and buffaloes. Similarly, during winter to escape severe cold they migrate to plains, a routine they have been following since time immemorial. Elderly nomads, Khattana said, had never seen such a rough weather in their life. “It is for the first time they have seen such devastating rain and snowfall. The administration is finding it very hard to land helicopters there due to villainous weather,” he said.

The areas in Kishtwar, where they are stranded, include Vadvaan, Inshan, Mulvaran, Dazbagh, Sarkund and Hajka. “Upward Inshan village are areas such as Mungli, which streches towards Jabal nullah, Hafti, Kozus nullah, Margarti and Gumer that extends to Paluas and Rukunvas,” said Khattana.

There are other villages situated on the banks of the Vadvaan river like Battu, Vurvun, Brinjan, Humpait and Drubgam. The nomads have also been camping near Garvas nullah, Qudrat nullah, Mungali nullah, Machvari, Kozus nullah and Sukhnai nullah, he added.

“I surveyed all these areas and found that a large number of people were missing. The death of at least four persons has been confirmed so far,” said Khattana.

“I had been there along with the first dispatch of relief that was flown in an helicopter by the Udhampur administration,” said Khattana who went there on June 3 and reached here this morning. He would again leave for helping the stranded nomads on June 9.

Jammu, June 7
Expressing grave concern over the inordinate delay in the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Jammu, the Jammu Central University Morcha once again warned the authorities that any further delay in the matter would force the people of the Jammu province to resort to agitation.

Addressing a press conference, leaders of the morcha said if forced they could go to any extent to get their genuine demand fulfilled. The morcha leaders said they would be happy Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the two-day visit to the state made a categorical statement announcing a local Vice-Chancellor for the Central University of Jammu. They expressed hope that the Prime Minister would recognise the demand of Jammu people and fulfil it.

Regarding the solution to the Kashmir problem, the morcha leaders said it was regrettable that the Prime Minister, instead of visiting Jammu and listening to the woes of the people of the Jammu province, had chosen to go to Kashmir only to further pamper the Kashmir leaders. They said it was strange that while the Prime Minister had time to meet separatist and those attacking the Army, challenging the sovereignty of Indian state, he had no time for the people of Jammu, who had been facing discrimination at the hands of Kashmir rulers, backed by New Delhi. The leaders said it was time for the Prime Minister to deal with Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh separately so that the problems of the people of different regions were surmounted to their satisfaction.

JCUM cautioned that people of Jammu would not accept any agreement that was against the interests of the people of Jammu and Ladakh. The morcha once again reiterated its stand that the people of Jammu would not accept Kashmir domination.

Those who were present in the press conference included Rajinder Jamwal, Udhay Chand, Rampal, Rajiv Chuni, Anil Gaur and others.

Jammu, June 7
Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Raman Bhalla said the coalition government was making concerted efforts to connect every nook and corner of the peripheral areas with the nearest headquarters in providing road connectivity.

The minister said this while addressing a gathering after inaugurating a 1.5-km link road at Gangyal Garden in Gangyal here today.

Bhalla said the government had taken various initiatives to develop all the peripheral areas of the state on par with urban centres by providing all infrastructural facilities there. He asked the officers to personally monitor the quality of the ongoing projects in their individual areas, adding the government had resolved to create durable assets in the state. He appealed to the people to protect public property.

Responding to the local demands, the minister asked the Floriculture Department to prepare the estimate for developing the embankment areas of the Ranbir canal as parks and walkways so that the walkers could avail the benefits of such spaces. He asked the people not to dump garbage on the areas of the nullahs, besides open spaces. He said the government had been planning to construct parks by covering the nullahs.

To improve the power and drinking water scenario in Gangyal and its adjoining areas, the minister said besides the Rs 3.5-crore tube well, the18 substations had been commissioned recently. To ease rush in the main hospitals of the city, the government was planning to upgrade Rajiv Gandhi Hospital up to 100-bedded hospital by providing all infrastructural facilities there for the benefit of masses.

Jammu, June 7
The All-State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (ASKPC), the Panun Kashmir, and the Non-Camp Migrant Co-ordination Committee (NCMCC) today said the Prime Minister’s special employment package for Kashmiri Pandit (KP) youths had become a source of worry and tension regarding their security and well-being in Kashmir.

Addressing a press conference, Ashwani Chrungoo, president of Panun Kashmir, said KP youths wanted jobs in the valley, but they did not want to settle in Kashmir.

The leaders of Panun Kashmir, ASKPC and NCMCC jointly demanded delinking of the employment package and return of KPs to the valley.

Chrungoo said the exodus of KP community was a political issue and needed to be addressed politically keeping in view the geo-political aspirations of the displaced community. He added that the need was to address the economic and livelihood issues in a substantial and comprehensive manner.

Chrungoo said: “The government is yet to announce the additional 3000 jobs under the PM’s employment package. There is need to remove conditions attached with the employment package as conditions prevailing in Kashmir are no different from what existed at the time of exodus”.

Srinagar, June 7
Favouring dialogue with the entire leadership of the state, including the Hurriyat, the ruling National Conference today demanded restoration of autonomy to the state and said it was the basic step towards the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

“The NC considers restoration of autonomous status of Jammu and Kashmir state as the basic step for creation of goodwill for resolution of the issue,” said a party delegation led by former state Minister Chowdhury Mohammed Ramzan, which met the Prime Minister.

A memorandum, which was handed over to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by him, said any “other solution better than restoration of autonomy is acceptable to our organisation”.

The party demanded measures for carrying forward the dialogue on granting autonomous status to the state as recommended by Justice Sageer Ahmed led working group, which was set up by the Prime Minister on the Centre-state relations.

“We as such pray for taking initiative in accordance with such recommendations,” it said.

Advocating dialogue with separatist Hurriyat Conference and others, it said, “The Kashmir problem has been a source of conflict in this area and for resolution of this issue both the governments of India and Pakistan shall have to consider the peoples aspirations across the Line of Control as such the entire leadership has to be involved in the dialogue process. This includes the Hurriyat Conference and other allied sections.” — PTI