Dinesh Manhotra
Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 25
As the temperature in Jammu is hovering between 45 and 46 degree Celsius, people are finding it difficult to beat the heat. Soaring temperature coupled with hours long unscheduled power cuts has compounded the miseries of people who usually spent evenings on the banks of Ranbir Canal to get some relief from the sweltering heat.

As most of the natural resources have been gradually depleting due to the prolonged dry spell, people have no option other than spending evenings on the banks of the Chenab. “Earlier we used to go to Jajjar Kotli during summers, but this time the Jajjar is dried up due to the prevailing dry spell,” said Rajesh Gupta, a shopkeeper of Vivekanand Chowk who was sitting on the banks of Rabir Canal with his family.

Giving the reasons of spending evening on the banks of the canal, Gupta said it was not possible to stay at home due to long power cuts. “Everyday, we have been experiencing power cuts from two to four hours, so we usually spend evening at this place,” he said.

During the summer, Ranbir Canal is the most favourite destination of the people to get respite from the scorching sun. Before the Partition, people from Sialkote, which is now a part of Pakistan, used to visit Canal Head, the main spot on the banks of the river canal near Bhagwati Nagar.

Going down the memory lane, Gurian Ditta, a resident of Purnani Mandi, recalled that Ranbir Canal was one of the favourite picnic spots of the people of this region. “As there was direct rail link between Jammu and Sialkote, people from Sialkote, along with their families, used to visit this picnic spot during summer season,” he recalled, but regretted that the authorities concerned have failed to properly develop this spot. The authorities have constructed a park on the banks of the canal, but the locals demand more facilities.

After Ranbir Canal, Bagh-e-Bahu is the other place where people usually visit during the evening to relax. As the park is located on the banks of the Tawi, people throng there to experience cool breeze coming from the river during evening hours. One can find a large number of people sitting in the park till late night and enjoying cool breezes.

“It is one of the favourite spots in Jammu,” said Riyaz Ahmed, a government employee from the Gandoh area, Doda, who has been putting up at Jammu, along with his family.

“As we belong to the area which always remains cool, even during summer months, we find it difficult to bear such a scorching heat,” he observed and added that being an employee he has to bear all such odd things.

“Everyday, our whole family comes to Bagh-e-Bahu and returns at late hours,” he said. For locals, Bagh-e-Bahu is also one of the spot to beat the heat. As this park is located just near the Bahu Fort, where the most revered temple of goddess Kali is situated, people, during the summer season throng in large number in this park. Usually people first visit the temple and later spend their evening in the park.

“For the last one week, I have been regularly coming in this park along with my family as it is not possible to stay at home due to soaring temperature,” observed Vinod Sharma, a businessman from Gandhi Nagar, who minced no words in attacking the Power Development Department for unscheduled power curtailments. “Except spending evening in parks, there is no other option to get respite from the scorching heat,” he added.

Abdulian, June 25
Days after Pakistani Rangers opened heavy fire from three of its posts here, panicky villagers pray that their worst fears of fleeing their homes and hearths shouldn’t come true.

“Surrounded by three Pakistani posts - Surgpur, Kunjpur and Bhanot Tekri - our village is dangerously close to the zero line and comes under the firing range. Hence, we always faced the threat of being caught in the firing,” said Ram Singh, a villager.

After mutually brokered Indo-Pak ceasefire in November 2003, Pakistan had stopped indulging into such misadventures here for quite some time, but the enemy bullets that hit the village recently have sent shivers down our spines. It happened for the first time ever since the ceasefire, he added.

Ujagar Singh, sarpanch, said earlier also, the villagers could not cultivate their land fearlessly and the latest incident had added to their fear. The fenced fields had already been turned into barren land because of clogged network of canals, he said.

Kulwant Singh, another villager, said going by the location of the village, marginalised farmers feared of getting uprooted.

“Agriculture has already taken a beating due to varied factors and like other forward villages, we also have limbless youths, who are victims of Pakistani firing and mine explosions. Under such circumstances unprovoked firing by Pakistan creates fear in our minds,” he said.

Such is their (Pakistan’s) psyche that when Harbhajan hit a six bringing victory to team India in Asia Cup against Pakistan the other day, they opened fire here, he added.

Meanwhile, official sources in the BSF said realignment of fence at the international border did not go well with Pakistan. “They (Pakistanis) initially had certain reservations over the realignment and when we reminded them that the land was ours, they could not do anything,” the sources said.

“Recently, we have also set up new posts near the realigned fence and that might be the reason for them to open fire,” they added.

Srinagar, June 25
More than 400 delegates from the Parliament and different state legislative bodies converged here for a five-day conference held in the picturesque Kashmir valley from June 19 to June 23. It included one-day “53rd Conference of Secretaries of Legislative Bodies in India” and the 75th All-India Presiding Officers Conference that were held in the newly constructed legislative complex in Srinagar. For participants, it was an opportunity to visit the valley in mid summer who were overwhelmed by the natural beauty and hospitality of the people of Kashmir.

While most of the dignitaries visiting the valley have been expressing in their own ways the beauty of Kashmir and praising it, the way Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar did it was different. Like many others, mostly presidents or vice-presidents, she did not express the beauty of Kashmir in the famous Persian verse “agar firdous bar rooya zameen ast, hamee ast, hameen ast, hameen ast..” (If there is a paradise on the Earth, it is only here, only here, only here...).

While inaugurating the 75th All-India Presiding Officers Conference on June 20, she was more than a poet. She expressed the beauty of Kashmir in the following way, describing the beauty of Kashmir as spiritual.

“Kashmir Hindustan ki shaan hai. Yahan kay parbat, vaadiyan, jheelein, nadiyaan, khushbu say bhari hawaein, chinar kay darakht, raseelay phal aur kesar ki kyariyan sabka mann moh lete hain”.

In her address at the symposium on “Performance of legislators in the house-ensuring accountability to the people”, Meira eulogised the natural beauty of Kashmir. She said the inner beauty of the people of the valley was 

overwhelming and hospitality unprecedented. She praised charming valleys, snow-clad mountains, transparent lakes, murmuring brooks, singing streams and flower meadows of the valley. She also lauded the honesty, sincerity, friendly approach and good behaviour of the people of Kashmir and said this character of the people of the valley had remained legendary since ages. She also referred to the pluralistic character and communal harmony of Jammu and Kashmir and described this part of the country abode of great saints and religious scholars of different faiths.

“I feel nostalgic about coming to Kashmir. I used to frequently visit the valley when I was young. This time, it was a longer stay and I got an opportunity to interact with locals. I am fascinated by the pristine beauty of Kashmir,” she said while addressing a press conference at the end of the conference here. Seeking to boost tourism that would further boost the economy of the people and provide jobs to the youths, the Lok Sabha Speaker again praised the beauty of Kashmir. “I took a shikara ride to Char Chinari in the Dal Lake. The valley has a special attraction and people love to visit this place,” she added.

Sunder Bani, June 25
The practice of illegal abortions has been going on unchecked in this border town in Rajouri district. Reports of recovery of dead foetuses from pits and garbage dumps are consistently hogging the headlines. On June 8, an unmarried woman, Ashu Devi, died soon after she underwent a premature delivery at the residence of a nurse, Tripta Devi. The body was recovered from a pit near the subdistrict hospital on June 11.

The woman had reportedly come with Shanakh of Ransoo village in Reasi district and her aunt, Shamo Devi, for aborting her pregnancy.

The main accused in the case of induced abortion, Shanakh, is still absconding. He hoodwinked the police immediately after the matter became public and escaped.

Shamo Devi, who is apparently a party to the crime has been made complainant in the case whereas the accused nurse is in judicial remand.

Though it is a clear case of induced abortion that killed both the mother and the child, Tripta and Shanakh Singh have been booked for causing death by negligence under Section 304 (a) RPC, abetment under 109 RPC and mitigating the evidences under section 201 RPC.

All these charges are bailable and if proved in a court of law, the accused could serve two years of 

jail term. “Given the gravity of the offence and the fact that abortion in an advance stage of pregnancy can cause certain death, the police must have booked the accused under section 314 of the RPC, punishment for which is over 10 years,’’ said advocate Sheikh Shakel. “The relevant sections in this regard start from section 312 to 318 that deal with miscarriage, injury of unborn child, exposure of infant and concealment of birth”, he added.

It is yet unknown whether the baby was still born or murdered immediately after the birth and disposed of criminally. The exact age of the foetus is yet to be known as the medical report is awaited.

Sources revealed that Rs 7,000 was paid for the alleged abortion. “The nurse is infamous for executing such abortions. She charges anywhere between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 for the illegal act,” said a local medical practitioner.

Meanwhile, hospital sources said samples of the foetus had been sent to a forensic lab in Jammu and the report was expected in the next two months.

Srinagar, June 25
The much-cherished dream of former state Chief Minister late Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah would soon become a reality as the Jammu and Kashmir government is going to build Tehzeeb Mahal (Cultural Palace) soon.

“Tehzeeb Mahal would soon be a reality. It is now only a matter of 
days and months when the much-cherished dream of Kashmiris would become a reality,” informed Zafar Iqbal Manhas, secretary, Cultural Academy.

Zafar was speaking at a function to commemorate the noted Kashmiri writer Mohiuddin Hajini at Hajin.

The event was organised by the State Cultural Academy in collaboration with Halqa Adab Sonwari.

Laying stress on the preservation of Kashmiri language, Zafar said in order to preserve and promote Kashmiri, it was imperative that we converse in Kashmiri while at home.

Srinagar, June 25
The central Kashmir district of Budgam is going to be the third place after Teetwal and Uri in the Kashmir division where bamboo cultivation under the National Bamboo Mission was formally launched on Sunday last by planting bamboo saplings procured from the Institute of Himalayan bio-Research Technology, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh.

Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir accompanied by Minister of State for Agriculture and Health Javid Ahmad Dar, planted saplings at a nursery in Kariparoo Budgam in the presence of large number of farmers.

The launching ceremony was also attended by District Development Commissioner, Budgam, Mohammad Rafi, director, Agriculture, Kashmir, Mian Abdul Majid, and other officers.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister emphasised the need to popularise bamboo cultivation in the Kashmir division, particularly in wastelands. Stressing on the need to involve private sectors in the venture, Mir said the cultivation of highly commercialised bamboo prevents soil erosion and also proves to be a source of alternate employment.

He said timber obtained from bamboo could be used to manufacture handicrafts goods, furniture fencings, green house structures and irrigation pipes.

The minister said about 70 per cent of the population was affiliated with the agriculture sector, accordingly farmer-friendly schemes were being implemented to boost the production of crop and develop agriculture sector as a major sources of income.

He said for the benefit of farmers and to minimise their hardships, latest techniques were being introduced to ensure highly productive seeds. In this connection, the minister said farmers would be given special wheat seeds in the current Rabi season. He also spoke of the need to revive saffron production in the state, for which the government has earmarked Rs 375 crore under the Saffron Mission.

A number of presiding officers of legislative bodies from different states of the country during their stay in connection with the Presiding Officers’ Conference visited the State Academy of Art, Culture and Languages recently. The academy had put on display rare manuscripts and miniature paintings. The visitors appreciated the efforts of the academy in preserving the valuable documents.