Srinagar, July 13
The ongoing strikes and curfew in the Valley are making a severe dent in the economy of the state. The state is incurring a loss of around Rs 161crore on each day of strike.

In the current year, as per the figures available from the Finance Ministry, the state has lost Rs 6,762 crore so far due to strikes, with tourism, trade and business being the worst-hit sectors.

“In the current year, there have been 37 days of strike and five days of curfew in the Valley and the state has suffered a loss of more than Rs 6,762 crore,” an officer said.

In the two decades of turmoil, the state has lost 1,582 mandays of work thus suffering a whooping Rs 2,54,702 crore loss, besides other damage to public property and infrastructure as a large number of bridges, schools and other government buildings were damaged. The Valley has lost more than four years of period to strikes and shutdowns during the same period.

The tourism industry, considered to be the backbone of the state economy, too has suffered a serious blow due to the ongoing turmoil. The Valley this year has been expecting around 15 to 16 lakh tourists, most of whom have cancelled their bookings due to the prevailing tension.

“The Valley’s loss is Shimla’s gain. Tourists, who were expected here, are now heading towards Shimla and other hill stations,” said Nazir Ahmed, a tour operator.

The Amarnath pilgrims, whose number in the first 13 days of the yatra surpassed 1,50,000, too are giving the tourist places in the Valley a miss due to the strikes and the turmoil.

Another sector hit hard by the continuous strikes is business as a majority of the employees and dealers of the private companies in the Valley are unable to fulfil the targets set by their companies.

“A company has to constantly review its targets for Kashmir, which not only hampers the growth of the company but also the employees’ as they are deprived of incentives and other benefits,” said a senior executive of an electronic company.

Even the ongoing strikes would be rendering a large number of educated youths unemployed as some companies are planning to hand pink slips to employees in the Valley owing to losses incurred by them.

Srinagar, July 13
Normal life came to a grinding halt across the Kashmir valley once again today in view of the restrictions here and in major towns to avoid any untoward incident, while marches called by separatists on the occasion of martyrs’ day were foiled.

Restrictions were strictly imposed here to prevent marches planned by two factions of the Hurriyat Conference to pay tributes to the martyrs. A heavy deployment of the police and the CRPF restricted the movement of people here as prohibitory orders were in force to avoid any trouble. However, prohibitory orders continued in some areas of downtown and elsewhere in Anantnag and Sopore, which had also witnessed trouble.

The Mirwaiz faction of the Hurriyat Conference had planned to take out a march from the martyrs’ graveyard at the shrine of Khwaja Naqshband Sahib, Khwaja Bazaar in downtown, to the office of the United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan at Sonwar to submit a memorandum here this afternoon. The Mirwaiz continued to be under house arrest to prevent him from leading the march. He has condemned the government action to prevent them from paying tributes to the martyrs while facilitating the Chief Minister and other mainstream parties to pay floral tributes.

The hardline APHC faction led by its detained leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani had also called for a march from the martyrs’ graveyard to Eidgah on the occasion today. Several separatist leaders have been detained while many others are under house arrest to avoid any trouble in the wake of the recent incidents in the Valley. The call given by the Geelani faction for a march was part of the week-long protests against the alleged human rights violations, particularly the killing of 15 youths during the past one month.

Jammu, July 13
While the NC and the Congress observed Martyrs’ Day today, Kashmiri Pandit organisations and other groups observed it as black day.

The Jammu and Kashmir Vichar Manch organised a function to remember the atrocities inflicted upon the minorities in the Valley in 1931 on this day.

Speakers recalled how on July 13, 1931, minorities in Kashmir were lynched, womenfolk outraged and their houses burnt. They said the seed of secession was sown on this day in 1931.

Leela Karan Sharma, former convener of Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti, presided over the function in which Prof ML Koul, an eminent historian, spoke at length about the events of July13.

A similar function was held at the Brahaman Sabha in which representatives of various groups were present to observe black day. Representatives of the Megh Sabha, Jat Sabha, Sanatan Dharam Sabha and the Brahaman Sabha were present in the meeting. Speakers said July 13 was a black day in the history of the state as on this day rioters attacked the properties of the minorities in Kashmir during the regime of Maharaja Hari Singh.

General secretary of the Brahaman Sabha Shakti Dutt Sharma said there was no logic behind observing the day as Martyrs’ Day as those killed in the police firing were miscreants, who indulged in looting and arson of the property belonging to the minority communities in the Valley.

Meanwhile, the Panun Kashmir headed by Dr Angishekhar along with the Kashmiri Hindu Conference, Kashmira Vahini, Kashmiri Pandit Welfare Society, Palampur, Displaced Welfare Committee Muthi, Phase-I, Displaced Welfare Committee, Muthi Phase-II, and Displaced Welfare Committee, Purkhoo, Phase-II, today paid homage to all those innocent Kashmiri Pandits who attained martyrdom on July 13, 1931, in the Valley.

According to a statement issued here, this day is observed globally by Kashmiri Pandits as “black day”. Survivors and witnesses of the 1931 massacre narrated the horror tales of this day at Kanikote village of Budgam, Maharajganj and Vicharnag in Kashmir. Meanwhile, members of the All-State Kashmiri Pandit Conference, Panun Kashmir headed by Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo and the Non-camp Coordination Committee held a joint protest demonstration to observe black day.

The protesters assembled outside the Raj Bhawan and raised slogans against ethnic cleansing and genocide of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley. 

Jammu, July 13
Facing criticism from various Jammu-based political groups for attending the all-party meeting which passed some “controversial” resolutions, the state unit of the BJP is finding it difficult to defend its decision to attend the meeting. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had called the meeting in Srinagar yesterday to discuss the prevailing situation in the Valley.

Not only Jammu-based groups but also some organisations of the Sangh Parivar also regretted the behaviour of the BJP representatives in the meeting who, according to them, remained mute spectators when some “controversial resolutions to appease anti-national forces were passed”.

Harsh Dev Singh, former Education Minister and Panthers Party MLA from Ramnagar, termed the all-party meeting as merely a “tea party” thrown by the Chief Minister to keep the leaders in good humour. The Panthers Party had boycotted the meeting.

“When the Chief Minister has himself admitted his failure, there was no reason to attend the meeting convened by him. He himself is responsible for the all turmoil in Kashmir,” Harsh Dev said. He added that the Central government needed to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the situation. The meeting, he observed, was convened only to hoodwink the masses and keep leaders of political parties in good humour by arranging a “tea party” for them in Srinagar.

Peoples’ Revolutionary Movement (PRM) leader Rajinder Singh Jamwal, while condemning the BJP for attending the meeting, said the BJP’s decision to attend the meeting had exposed its real face before the masses. “First, the BJP’s decision to attend the meeting was wrong. Then its leaders became party to controversial resolutions that were passed in their presence,” Jamwal said. He pointed out that during the meeting the Chief Minister had justified the anger of the stone throwers and the BJP leaders, by their presence, endorsed the stand. “People of Jammu will teach BJP leaders a lesson in the days to come for playing into the hands of the ruling coalition,” he said.

Interestingly, the state unit of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has also lambasted the BJP for its failure to address the aspirations of the nationalist forces of the state. “It is really regrettable that controversial resolutions to appease anti-national elements were passed in the meeting in which representatives from the BJP were present,” said Dr Rama Kant Dubey, state president of the VHP.

“Decisions taken in the meeting would prove disastrous for the state in general and the country in particular,” he cautioned and regretted that the BJP attended the meeting without taking care of the aspirations of the nationalist forces.

Srinagar, July 13
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and other senior leaders of the National Conference, Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) paid rich tributes and laid floral wreaths over the graves of the martyrs of July 13, 1931, and the “Mazar-e-Shohda” here today. They included PCC chief Saifuddin Soz and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

The Chief Minister visited the Mazar-e-Shohda (martyrs’ graveyard) at Naqshband Sahib and laid flower wreaths over the graves of the martyrs. Paying rich tributes to the martyrs, Omar highlighted their sacrifices and said they laid the edifice for democracy, social justice and independence.

Union Minister for New and Renewal Energy Farooq Abdullah, Speaker Legislative Assembly Mohammad Akbar Lone, ministers Abdul Rahim Rather, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, Ghulam Hassan Mir, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, RS Chib, adviser to Chief Minister Mubarak Gul and DGP Kuldeep Khoda were present on the occasion. Others present included Minister of State for Haj and Auqaf Aijaz Ahmad Khan, Member of Parliament GN Rattanpuri and senior civil and Police officers.

A contingent of the police presented a guard of honour on the occasion.

Meanwhile, the state secretary of the CPM, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, in a statement paying tributes to the martyrs, said the day had to be commemorated as the struggle of the people of the state for upholding the values of democracy, social justice and brotherhood, which ultimately fructified and helped the suppressed people of Jammu and Kashmir live with dignity, self respect and honour.

He said the sacrifices paved the way for an organised political movement that inspired the people of the state to be masters of their affairs and make decisions for their welfare. This historical and remarkable incident assumed great significance and would be a source of inspiration for future generations to safeguard the democratic, secular and diverse character of the state, Tarigami added.

Srinagar, July 13
Normal life came to a grinding halt across the Kashmir valley once again today in view of the restrictions here and in major towns to avoid any untoward incident, while marches called by separatists on the occasion of martyrs’ day were foiled.

Restrictions were strictly imposed here to prevent marches planned by two factions of the Hurriyat Conference to pay tributes to the martyrs. A heavy deployment of the police and the CRPF restricted the movement of people here as prohibitory orders were in force to avoid any trouble. However, prohibitory orders continued in some areas of downtown and elsewhere in Anantnag and Sopore, which had also witnessed trouble.

The Mirwaiz faction of the Hurriyat Conference had planned to take out a march from the martyrs’ graveyard at the shrine of Khwaja Naqshband Sahib, Khwaja Bazaar in downtown, to the office of the United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan at Sonwar to submit a memorandum here this afternoon. The Mirwaiz continued to be under house arrest to prevent him from leading the march. He has condemned the government action to prevent them from paying tributes to the martyrs while facilitating the Chief Minister and other mainstream parties to pay floral tributes.

The hardline APHC faction led by its detained leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani had also called for a march from the martyrs’ graveyard to Eidgah on the occasion today. Several separatist leaders have been detained while many others are under house arrest to avoid any trouble in the wake of the recent incidents in the Valley. The call given by the Geelani faction for a march was part of the week-long protests against the alleged human rights violations, particularly the killing of 15 youths during the past one month.

Jammu, July 13
The National Secular Forum (NSF) conducted a convention at its head office here yesterday and discussed the problems being faced by the student community.

During the convention, student activists flayed the functioning of the Directorate of Distance Education (DDE), Jammu University. They alleged that students had been suffering due to the alleged mismanagement in the DDE.

Vikas Sharma, president of the NSF, held Vice-Chancellor Varun Sahni responsible for the alleged negligent attitude towards the mismanagement in the DDE. He also reiterated his appeal to Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in this regard for necessary action.

Rakesh Chib, senior vice-president of the NSF, condemned the hike in the admission fee in the university. He said due to the cancellation of entrance exams recently the university had to spend a large sum of money on advertisements, besides compromise on the merit-based admission criteria.

Randeep Chib, Jammu district president, criticised the university authorities for nepotism and corruption in the university. He alleged that the Vice-Chancellor had failed to bring much-needed reforms in the university.

Jammu, July 13
With a view to facilitating and assisting the Amarnath pilgrims, the police has set up a special police assistance booth at Kunjwani, on the outskirts of Jammu on the National Highway 1-A here.

Vehicles carrying pilgrims have been strictly directed to move in a separate queue, which goes towards the assistance booth where a DSP has been deployed to assist the pilgrims. Besides, a ‘chhabeel’ has also been organised to serve chilled sweetened water to the pilgrims.

“The purpose behind setting up the assistance booth is not only to educate pilgrims about the yatra route but also to tell them about precautions and issue to them immediate registration slips for the yatra,” DIG (Jammu-Kathua range) Farooq Khan said.

He further said the purpose behind establishing the assistance booth here was to provide the basic guidance to the pilgrims. “Our jawans deployed there are regularly guiding the pilgrims about the things they should carry during the yatra and what not to,” added Farooq.

After visiting the place, The Tribune team found a number of pilgrims sitting in the assistance booth seeking information about the yatra. Vivek Shekhar, DSP, performing duty at the booth here, said, “We are entering the record of each and every vehicle carrying pilgrims in a register to make a list. This is being done so that if any untoward incident happens en route the cave shrine, we should know the number of persons travelling in that vehicle.”

He further said to show the way of the Yatri Niwas, a brochure carrying the map of city roads was being distributed free of cost among the pilgrims. Shekhar added, “We are also providing the rate chart of ponnywallas and porters to the pilgrims so that no one is overcharged.”

The DSP said they were giving a list of all telephone numbers of the police control rooms (PCRs) to the pilgrims so that in case of need they could contact the PCRs and lodge their complaints over the phone anytime. 

Jammu, July 13
Irked over two girls going ‘missing’ after they were detained by the police in the Padder area of Kishtwar district late last evening, hundreds of people gathered outside the Padder police station and took the SHO and a naib tehsildar hostage for more than two hours today.

The girls were detained by the police when, according to it, they were found indulging in an immoral act with a boy on the banks of the Chenab late last evening. The police claimed that both girls and the boy were released after preliminary questioning.

According to some locals, some policemen ‘forcibly’ took two girls and a boy of the same community to the police station late last evening when they were sitting on the banks of the Chenab. However, the girls did not return home.

Today, after the girls did not return home the families of the girls staged a protest outside the police station. However, the police said the girls were dropped at their houses by policemen last evening and it was unaware about their disappearance.

Meanwhile, eyewitnesses told The Tribune over the phone that the relatives of both girls gathered outside the police station around 7:30 am and shouted slogans against the police till the evening. The enraged people also took SHO, Padder police station, Farooq Ahmed and naib tehsildar BL Badyal hostage in the police station.

To take control over the situation, some senior police officers and bureaucrats, including the Deputy Commissioner, reached the spot. The situation was unresolved till the filing of this report.

The family members of the girls asked the police “if the girls and the boy were detained after they were found indulging in an immoral act, where were the medical reports? We want our girls back. It seems the police was behind the sudden disappearance of the two girls,” said a relative of a girl.

Despite repeated attempts, Haseeb Mughal, SP, Kishtwar, could not be contacted. Meanwhile, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Pawan Kotwal decided to look into the matter. 

Jammu, July 13
“I know I am on a wrong path, but I cannot help... Please take me home, I am very scared here... I am the owner (creator) of my own conditions (circumstances). Sorry parents. I love you both, take good care of yourself.”

These are the words that were scribbled on a suicide note by a deeply anguished first-year student of Government Gandhi Memorial Science College who was not doing well in her academics.

Tsetan Dolkar, 21, daughter of an ex-Army man, from Basgo village in Leh tehsil, was at present putting up at Nanak Nagar along with four other fellow students from Ladakh. She along with her room-mates had gone back home. However, she came back two days ago.

Last night, she was alone at her rented accommodation here when she ostensibly committed suicide. The police retrieved her body dangling from the ceiling fan this morning and recovered a suicide note from the room.

Dolkar was disturbed over her repeated failure in academics. Her close friends disclosed that she was depressed as she had dropped one academic year to prepare for an entrance exam. However, even this year she could not get through the common entrance test. She also failed in the first year annual examination, results of which were declared yesterday.

The Gandhi Nagar police has registered a case under Section 174, CrPc, and is investigating the matter. The body was handed over to her relatives. 

Udhampur, July 13
The police today arrested Manmohan Singh (50) of Delhi, who was posing as political adviser to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, after he had allegedly been accorded the status of a state guest at Katra in Reasi district.

DIG, Raesi-Udhampur Range, GS Salathia refused to divulge details though he confirmed that the accused had been arrested and a case registered against him under sections 170, 419 and 420 of the RPC. It is alleged that the accused has a shady past.

Sources said the accused reached Katra to pay obeisance at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine around 11 am yesterday. He drove into the state through the Lakhanpur toll barrier in a Skoda car (DL 4C 8D 3227) along with three women and a sadhu. Interestingly, he was given a police escort as per the protocol by the state police.

The sources added that his normal conversation and other activities during his stay at the Niharika Bhawan meant for devotees at Katra did him in. Getting suspicious, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) was contacted and the man turned out to be an imposter. He was subsequently arrested around 10 am today.