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Delegations of parties meet Dr
Manmohan Singh
PM, Omar review security
Human Rights Violations |
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Starving migrant women taking to flesh trade: NGO
Bungling in Social Welfare Dept
Amarnath Yatra
Militant killed in encounter
Man held for killing daughter
Militant’s body exhumed
PM must focus on Kashmiri Pandits, says Agnishekhar
Census work satisfactory: MC
Dogri music cassette by Naveen Punjabi released
NSF protests against Education Dept
Research paper on environment
15 booked during drive against adulteration
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Delegations of parties meet Dr Manmohan Singh
Srinagar, June 8 These included the National Conference, the Congress, the PDP, the BJP, the Panthers Party, the Pahari Forum, the CPI, the CPM, the DPN, the PDF and the Awami National Conference Muzzaffar Shah. The National Conference delegation sought an early resumption of dialogue with Hurriyat Conference, besides a surrender policy on youths who had crossed over to Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) and were willing to return. A CPM spokesman said the party put forth its view that dialogue was the key for strengthening the peace process in the region. Whatever be the provocation, talks at different levels primarily with Pakistan and all shades of opinion in the state needed to be pursued unhesitatingly and made purposeful and result-oriented. It pointed out that whenever there were signs of an improvement in the situation,incidents like the Machil fake encounter put the whole process in reverse gear. The party demanded that those involved in the encounter should be brought to book. “As the security situation in the state has improved substantially, draconian laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) need to be repealed forthwith. Such laws have become unwarranted and are likely to prove disadvantageous”, the CPM spokesman said.Efforts at every level must be made to restore the pluralistic ethos of the valley and for that all displaced people, primarily Kashmiri Pandits, must be encouraged to return to the valley. “Losses suffered by farmers, growers and tribal communities in respect of agricultural and horticultural production and livestock due to the recent natural calamities like cloudburst, hailstorm and incessant rain must be assessed and they should be compensated accordingly”. A delegation of the All-Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) urged the Prime Minister to hold talks with all parties and separatist organisations. The team led by APSCC coordinator Jagmohan Singh Raina urged him to take steps to prevent the killing of civilians by security forces. It also highlighted the plight of the Sikh community which was being neglected at various levels. Members of the community did not migrate from the valley following the eruption of militancy. However, they were being denied State Subject certificates, Raina said. Meanwhile, several delegations of trade, commerce and social organisations met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the second day of his visit here today. The delegations which included the Travel Agents Association of India, J&K, the House Boat Owners Association,the J&K Apple Growers Association, the Akhil Bhartiya Gujjar Maha Sabha, the Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Owners Federation, the J&K Political Migrants Front, the Shiromani Akali Dal, J&K, and the Youth All-India Kashmiri Samaj put forth their demands and highlighted their problems. A delegation of Gujjar and Bakarwals also met Dr Manmohan Singh and submitted a memorandum for setting up a separate state ministry for handling affairs of tribesmen, bringing the existing Directorate of Tribal Affairs under the Social Welfare Department and permanent settlement of migratory Gujjars and Bakarwals.
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PM, Omar review security
Srinagar, June 8 Before leaving for the national capital, the Prime Minister had a one-on-one meeting with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. During the meeting, which lasted for about half an hour, Omar discussed matters pertaining to socio-economic and political developments in the state with the Prime Minister. He also discussed issues relating to human rights, security and law and order, an official spokesman said.Restrictions continued here for the second consecutive day today due to Prime Minister’s two-day visit to the valley. Various roads in the city were sealed for traffic and the movement of people was also restricted at various places. “In view of the Prime Minister’s visit, traffic has been diverted at various places and restrictions have been put in place,” said a senior police officer. He said a large number of CRPF and police personnel had been deployed for the security of the Prime Minister. The Boulevard Road leading to the Dal Lake was completely sealed with barbed wires. Meanwhile, though hard line separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani had called for a one-day strike yesterday, the strike was observed at several places, though partially, today also. |
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Human Rights Violations
Srinagar, June 8 Reacting to the Prime Minister’s address at the fifth convocation of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST)-K here yesterday, the Mirwaiz held that it was a traditional approach of the government. “People have been disappointed over the Prime Minister’s human rights views, which have instead encouraged the elements responsible for human rights violations in Kashmir,” the Mirwaiz said in his statement here today. On the restoration of better relations with Pakistan, as referred to by the Prime Minister in his convocation address, the Mirwaiz asserted that the APHC was a strong supporter of good relations between India and Pakistan. He, however, added that good relations would not last long unless both countries resolved the long pending Kashmir issue through dialogue by involving people of Kashmir. He sought the resolution of the Kashmir issue in accordance with the aspirations of the people of the state. The Mirwaiz held that the APHC continued to favour a meaningful and result-oriented dialogue process between all three parties -- India, Pakistan and the people of Jammu and Kashmir. For this purpose, positive steps needed to be taken, he said, adding that adequate measures were necessary for improvement in the situation at the ground level. The APHC has already put forth its four-point programme in this direction that was announced by the Mirwaiz at a public meeting here on May 21. These included the revocation of special powers to security forces, withdrawal of troops, unconditional release of all political (separatist) prisoners and a comprehensive political package. “Unless these measures are taken a smooth ground for dialogue cannot be created, neither the talks can be fruitful,” he said.
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Starving migrant women taking to flesh trade: NGO
Jammu, June 8 “What should have I done without money? How long can one survive on an empty stomach? With no work and money, pushing our daughters into prostitution was the lone way to escape death due to starvation,” said a psychiatrist and social activist, Yogesh Patel from Ahmedabad, quoting an internally displaced militancy-affected woman, who is camping at Talwara in Reasi district. A sizeable number of migrant women are into flesh trade, he told The Tribune. “We have met some poverty-stricken families who have sold off their children to issueless couples for money,” Patel maintained. He added, “We met 962 families at Talwara. Every migrant showed symptoms of chronic stress due to a prolonged sense of insecurity.” Sexually transmitted diseases were quite prevalent among them, he said and claimed that many have died due to such diseases.“We came to know about the symptoms but the migrants are not aware about the reality so far,” he said. A committee of an Ahmedabad-based NGO, Justice for Trial, is in Jammu to study the living conditions of Jammu-based militancy-hit migrants and the allegations of discrimination. “They are deadbeat and no longer have the will to fight for their rights. Their survival has reduced to mere existence,” said a psychologist and social activist, Maya Bohra, who is part of the fact-finding team. Briefing the media about their mission, former Governor of Himachal Pradesh VS Kokje, who is heading the committee, said, “We are here to verify complaints that internally-displaced victims of militancy, who belong to Jammu, have been denied relief and rehabilitation.” “The problem has its roots in Partition that led to the Kashmir problem. Our study report will be recommendatory in nature,” he added. Justice On Trail has already compiled and submitted reports on Nandigram and Singur to the President of India and the Governor of West Bengal. “We are looking into the allegations and will seek the Jammu and Kashmir government’s version about them as to why two sets of migrants were being treated separately despite the Supreme Court ruling,” said Kokje. One group of the team, headed by Kokje, visited Rajouri, Manjakote, Bhimber Gali, Mehender, Poonch, Surankote, Thanamandi, Kote Ranka, Budhal, Kalakote, Triyath, Talwara and Gool Arnas. “We met more than 500 persons and interviewed 250 direct victims of terrorism,” he said. Another group led by a former Additional Advocate General of the Rajasthan Government, GS Gill, visited Banihal, Ukhraal, Ramban, Batote, Doda, Chapanari, Kishtwar, Kwad, Thakrai, Gandoh, Bhaderwah, Pul Doda and Udhampur. Both groups, Kokje said, recorded complaints of affected people. He described the grievances, including about inadequate and erratic relief, non-registration of migrants, delay in the grant of dependent certificates, backward area and resident certificates. “Many families, who lost their family members in militancy-related violence, have complaints regarding SRO 43,” the former Himachal Governor maintained. “We have met people from all walks of life in this regard and are cross-checking the facts. The final report would be submitted to the President, the Prime Minister and the Governor and the Chief Minister of the state,” he added. Refuting the allegations, Relief Commissioner Vinod Koul said, “No doubt they have economic hardship but they (migrants) are too weak to make such compromises. Moreover, the police can better speak on the issue.” Commenting on disparities and delays in relief distribution, Vinod said, “The relief is distributed through the Deputy Commissioners of respective areas as sanctioned by the state government.”
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Bungling in Social Welfare Dept
Jammu, June 8 It is alleged that widow and old-age pensions are decided on political considerations and deserving people are not being given benefits of the schemes launched for their welfare. Saikna Banoo, state president of the Mahila Morcha, said thousands of cases for sanctioning widow and old-age pensions were pending before the Social Welfare Department authorities, but officers at the helm of the affairs were not deciding these genuine cases. She said the morcha had repeatedly brought the matter to the notice of the officers concerned but no action had been taken “We have ultimately decided to stage a protest in front of the office of the District Social Welfare Officer tomorrow to highlight bungling in the department,” Sakina said. The BJP leader further pointed out that the government had been giving a meagre amount of Rs 200 per month as pension to widows and old persons, which, according to her, was a cruel joke. “We demand that pension should be enhanced to Rs 1,000,” she said and asserted that the BJP would launch an agitation on the issue.
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Amarnath Yatra
Jammu, June 8 The annual pilgrimage will start from July 1. During the meeting, the delegation demanded special mini- buses for the pilgrims. It also demanded mini-buses should ply from the railway station to Yatri Niwas, the base camp. The delegation pointed out that pilgrims usually faced hardship due to non-availability of direct mini-bus service from the railway station to Yatri Niwas. It also demanded better medical facilities for the pilgrims and deployment of adequate medical staff at the time of the beginning of the yatra. The delegation further demanded that free meals should be provided to the pilgrims at Yatri Niwas. The Deputy Commissioner gave a patient hearing to the delegation and assured that every possible step would be taken to provide facilities to the pilgrims. The delegation also urged the Deputy Commission to resolve the controversy between priests and the management of the Raghunath temple as pilgrims had been facing hardship.
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Militant killed in encounter
Srinagar, June 8 Unidentified militants fired upon and injured Jaleel Ahmad Barwal at Rangwar forest in the Handwara area of Kupwara district today. Besides, the police had arrested two militants of Al-Fateh outfit at Palbugh Mattan in Anantang district of south Kashmir yesterday. Jammu: The body of a Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) militant, whose identity was mired in controversy, was exhumed today by the police in Poonch district after his parents expressed the wish to bury him in their ancestral graveyard in Doda. “The body of LeT militant Liaquat Ali was exhumed from Draba graveyard in Surakote belt at around 1330 hrs after the District Magistrate gave the permission,” SSP, Poonch, Manmohan Singh said. The body was later handed over to ultra’s father Gulam Mohammad, he said. Mohammad, who along with his family reside in Doda, took possession of the body in the presence of the Magistrate and later left for home. Mohammad, who along with his three brothers arrived in Poonch yesterday, identified the body as that of his son through photographs and video footage of the encounter shown to him by the police, the SSP said. “It was established that the body was that of Mohammad’s son and the family approached the DM, who granted permission to exhume the body,” he said.
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Man held for killing daughter
Srinagar, June 8 Giving details, SSP, Anantnag, Showkat Malik said on June 4 a woman named Ruby Jan, 30, of Dooru died of mysterious injuries in SMHS hospital, Srinagar. The family members of the deceased surreptitiously buried the body. However, soon after the burial, rumours were rife that the lady sustained injuries not due to accident but violence. The police immediately initiated proceedings under the Section 174 of the CrPC. During the probe and close examination of scene of occurrence, it was established that she was “stabbed to death by her father, Abdul Rahman Hajam”. The dead body was exhumed in presence of the Magistrate and postmortem conducted by a team of doctors. The accused, Abdul Rahman, has been arrested and further invetsigations has been ordered against him.
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Jammu, June 8 “The body of LeT militant Liaquat Ali was exhumed from Draba graveyard in Surakote belt at around 1330 hrs after the District Magistrate gave the permission,” SSP, Poonch, Manmohan The body was later handed over to ultra’s father Gulam Mohammad, he said. Mohammad, who along with his family reside in Doda, took possession of the body in the presence of the Magistrate and later left for home. Mohammad, who along with his three brothers arrived in Poonch yesterday, identified the body as that of his son through photographs and video footage of the encounter shown to him by the police, the “It was established that the body was that of Mohammad’s son and the family approached the DM, who granted permission to exhume the body,” he said. Ali, who went missing on June 20, 2008, had reportedly joined the rank of militants. The family had lodged a missing report in a police station in Doda a day later. — PTI
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PM must focus on Kashmiri Pandits, says Agnishekhar
Jammu, June 8 Addressing a public rally at Purkhoo Migrant Camp, the convener said the displaced Kashmiri Pandits (KPs) expected the Prime Minister to be forthright in setting an agenda of strategic reconstruction and nation-building in the state. Urging the Prime Minister to pay attention towards the employment scenario in the state, he alleged that the state government had sinister designs of virtually converting the employment package into an instrument of blackmail and exploitation by trapping the Kashmiri Pandit youth under the irretrievable conditions. “This package linked with the return is designed to belittle the religious cleansing of KPs by reducing the issue of their genocide and exodus to merely constructing transit camps in the valley,” said the convener. He added, “The state and Central government’s are either wilfully displaying the lack of vision in confronting the large challenges of ‘jehadi terrorism’ or toying the line of separatist forces under the quiet diplomacy.” Rejecting the demands raised by some individuals and groups regarding the creation of Jagati-type settlements, city-state constituencies in exile, minority status and political empowerment as viable solution for rehabilitation of KPs, Dr Agnishekhar said Panun Kashmir Homeland with UT status in north and east of Kashmir was the only well- thought and globally endorsed option for KPs.
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Census work satisfactory: MC
Jammu, June 8 In a census review meeting held here, the authorities claimed that about 35 per cent of the field work had been completed. The supervisors/enumerators apprised the meeting about some of the problems being faced by them during their work/operation in the field. It was stressed that adequate schedules of census for field operations be made available to the JMC for distribution among the field staff as per their requirements. The municipal authorities asked all master trainers to remain present in their allotted wards for supervising the field operations. It was also brought to the notice of the authorities to provide funds to meet the day- to-day expenses made by the JMC for conducting the training programme, distribution of orders and materials to the field functionaries and other miscellaneous expenses.
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Dogri music cassette by Naveen Punjabi released
Jammu, June 8 Padamshri Dr Jatinder Udhampuri was the chief guest while Prof Savita Bakshi, Additional Secretary, Cultural Academy, was the guest of honour on the occasion. Naseem Khan, Director, Doordarshan Kendre, Jammu, was the special invitee. Guru Tirath Ram Manhas blessed the entire team. SS Anand Lehar, a renowned Urdu short story writer, poet and senior advocate, presided over the function and Dogra Harish Kaila, president of the sanshta, also shared the dais. Udhampuri congratulated Naveen Punjabi for making the cassette. He also congratulated the NDS for organising such programmes. Savita appreciated the efforts of Naveen Punjabi and Lakshmi Sharma and music director Sahil Lucky. Naseem Khan lauded the tireless efforts of the NDS for the cause of the propagation of art and culture. Kaila requested the people of Jammu to preserve and flourish the Dogri culture. Yash Pal Yash, general secretary of the NDS, presented the vote of thanks.
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NSF protests against Education Dept
Jammu, June 8 Addressing a gathering, Sharma questioned the credibility of the inquiry ordered in connection with the alleged procurement of fire extinguishers on high rates. He maintained that as the inquiry was being conducted by the Education Directorate itself how it could be justified. He demanded that the government should either give the inquiry to the State Vigilance Organisation or the Crime Branch or some independent body so that those responsible for the “fraud” were made accountable. Sharma apprehended that those who had been assigned the inquiry will never implicate the guilty officers as they were on the same board. “We urge the Chief Minister to look into the matter and order an impartial inquiry as the case is of financial embezzlement worth crores of rupees,” said the NSF president. He added, “We want to make it clear that such fake inquiries would not be tolerated at any cost and the NSF cadre would intensify their agitation against Education Minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed.” Others present in the protest included Sunny Babber, Rohit Sharma, Surjit Chowdhary, Ravi Chowdhary, Sanjay Sharma, Pawan Sharma, Javed, Ravi founsa, Ashwani Kumar, Mohammad Maqeem Ansari, Sunil, Anil Charak and Sandeep Singh Charak.
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Research paper on environment
Jammu, June 8 In his research paper, Suresh highlighted the adverse changing climatic conditions of the environment resulting in making the life harder on the earth. He critically opined that the man was indulging in overconsumption of all the natural resources, leading to global warming. —
TNS
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15 booked during drive against adulteration
Jammu, June 8 The team inspected 65 food establishments at Mahesh Pura, Bakshi Nagar, Akhnoor Road and Talab Tillo. During the drive, the team destroyed 10 kg of stale food and 20 pieces of chipped crockery. The drive would continue in the city. All the owners of food establishments/vendors have been asked to ensure supply of hygienic and wholesome food stuffs to public.
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Manmohan Singh after the conclusion of fifth convocation of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Kashmir, here yesterday.
Describing them as “disappointing”, Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has expressed dismay over Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s views on human rights violations by security forces in the state.Reacting to the Prime Minister’s address at the fifth convocation of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST)-K here yesterday, the Mirwaiz held that it was a traditional approach of the government.
