Srinagar, July 19
A boy was killed and 15 others received bullet injuries when the police opened fire to disperse an unruly mob in Baramulla town today.

The protesters attacked the police after the body of 10-year-old Faizan Buhroo, who had drowned in a river on Saturday, was fished out.It was alleged that the boy was on his way home from school on Saturday when men of the Special Operation Group threw him into the river.However,the police had maintained that the boy was part of a stone-throwing group and had jumped into the river while being chased away by cops.

“As the situation went out of control, the police fired in the air. The mob attacked the police, prompting it to fire at the protesters in which some persons were injured and a person later died,” a senior police officer said.

The Medical Superintendent of District Hospital, Baramulla, Dr MS Nanda, told The Tribune, “A person, identified as Fayaz Ahmed Khanday of Kreeri, was brought dead whereas 15 others had bullet injuries. The condition of some of them is critical.”

At the time of filing this report, the situation in the town was tense as violent protests were going on and eyewitnesses said they could hear sounds of gunshots being fired.

“More casualties could have taken place as the police has been firing on the protesters. The situation is volatile in the town as people continue to clash with the police,” said the eyewitness.

As the news of the death of another youth in Baramulla spread, people in large numbers came on the roads in various parts of the Valley. Violent protests were also reported.

Earlier, even as the official restrictions were lifted, the shutdown called by the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani affected normal life in the Valley today.

“Though there was a strike, the restrictions have been lifted,” a senior police officer said. Educational institutes, shops and business establishments remained closed, transport also remained off the road and there was also thin attendance in government offices.

Meanwhile, sources in the police said an FIR had been registered at Baramulla police station against the SOG personnel and a Deputy Superintendent of Police was transferred in connection with the drowning of the boy.

Srinagar, July 19
Separatists in the Kashmir valley are using teenagers to ensure that their strike calls are enforced.

When some shopkeepers try to defy the separatists’ calls and try to open their premises in the interior parts of the city and other towns, the kids in the age group 8 -19 attack them and force the closure of their shops.

“ I was standing outside when some customers came to my shop today. I opened the outlet. Suddenly, some children came and attacked my shop.They forced me to not only close it but also damaged some items”, said a shopkeeper in the Batamaloo locality.

To enforce a call given by the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani to observe strike after 2 p.m, some teenagers in Baramulla started throwing stones on shops which were open yesterday.

The shopkeepers put up the shutters.However, the police swung into action and chased away the stone throwers. Later,it was reported that three boys jumped into a river and one of them, identified as 10-year-old Faizan Rafiq Buhroo of Jalal Sahib in Baramulla, was drowned.

Many teenagers have been killed in firing by the security forces on stone-throwing mobs. The government has already decided to hold a detailed enquiry into the circumstances leading to the deaths.

“The enquiry should be conduced into all aspects.It should also be probed what these kids were doing when there was heavy stone throwing and how come the teenagers who died were in the forefront of stone throwing ,” said a senior state government functionary.

The police also said it was aware that separatists were using children to enforce strike calls to provoke security forces to fire at them, but it was exercising the maximum restraint to avoid any loss of life.

Srinagar, July 19
Talking tough on the implementation of decisions taken at district development boards and other meetings, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today warned officers that no excuses would be entertained in this regard.

“No excuses will be entertained about the failure or delay in the implementation of the decisions and whosoever found guilty would be taken to task,” he said. He directed the administration to be prompt and responsive to public demands at all levels.

The Chief Minister said this while chairing a Srinagar District Development Board meeting here when some legislators brought to his notice that decisions taken at the previous board meetings were being implemented at a slow pace.

He announced the constitution of a monitoring cell in his secretariat to be headed by the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister to monitor the status of progress on various decisions taken at meetings, including District Development Board and public meetings, chaired by him. “The cell will monitor the implementation of decisions on a monthly basis and prepare a status report. Action will follow for any lapse by the functionaries concerned on this count, howsoever highly placed they may be” Omar said.

The Chief Minister also called for modifying the guidelines of the Sher-e-Kashmir Employment and Welfare Programme for Youth to expand its coverage. “It has been observed that some conservative provisions of this welfare programme for the youth prevent an overwhelming majority of the youth from getting the benefit of the scheme. As such, there is an urgent need for making the guidelines easy and smooth,” he said. He asked for revisiting the provisions meant for providing voluntary allowances to the unemployed youth and other aspects for necessary modification.

The Chief Minister directed the Planning and Development Department to constitute a task force and finalise a comprehensive and concrete package for the betterment and economic welfare of artisans.

“There is a substantial population of artisans associated with various handicrafts who require immediate attention to better their lot and help their economic growth and development,” Omar said.

He hinted at a new constituency development fund (CFD) scheme to empower legislators more and enhance the ambit of the scheme. “Under the new proposed scheme, the CFD can be raised from the present Rs 50 lakh to over Rs 1 crore for different sectors to ensure a balanced development of all sectors in a particular Assembly constituency,” the Chief Minister said.

Omar after hearing the development demands of legislators approved the overall development plan of Rs 80 crore of Srinagar district. The plan includes over Rs 45 crore under the district sector and other activities under the state sector.

Jammu, July 19
After scanning deep in the woods for a week, the Army and the other counter-insurgency forces today called off the operation in the Beri Rakh forest in the Mendhar sector of Poonch, 230 km north of Jammu.

After the heavily armed militants killed Major Amit Thenge besides injuring 11 other soldiers, including a Major and a Colonel on July 13, the Army, with the help of the CRPF and the Special Operations Group (SOG), had launched a massive search operation to track down the remaining militants.

“The operation has been called off today and troops are now being withdrawn,” Brigadier General Staff of 16 Corps, Brig Satish Dua said.

After thoroughly scanning the dense forest toay, none of the remaining ultras was found there and hence the operation had been called off, but further intelligence had to be built about the remaining terrorists. We are already on the task,” he added.

SSP, Poonch, Manmohan Singh expressed apprehensions that the remaining ultras, suspected to be two in number, might have managed to escape from the Beri Rakh forest during the heavy rains of the intervening night of July 17 and 18.

However, the check posts in the area have been alerted, he added. “On the seventh day of the operation today, we couldn’t find anything in the forest and hence the operation was called off,” he said.

“Around 4.30 pm, the Army, the CRPF and the SOG decided to call of the protracted operation,” said sources. During the seven-day long operation, the Army had gunned down two ultras on July 14 and 15 but the two remaining ultras remained elusive to the troops.

Despite widening the area of the operation to Chajla, Bhati Dhar, Thera Topa and Drana forests adjoining Beri Rakh, the troops failed to track down the remaining terrorists. Sources said, the dense Beri Rakh forest had natural hideouts and from one such hideout troops had recovered some arms and ammunition besides some medicines.

The medicines had been manufactured by Pakistan-based pharmaceutical companies, they said. The anti-terrorist operation was launched by the 37 Rashtriya Rifle on the basis of inputs received about the infiltration of 10 to 12 militants. According to latest reports from Mendhar, the Army recovered two AK 47 rifles, four AK magazines, 90 rounds, three shawls, three pair of socks, three rucksacks, one UBGL grenade, one cotton pack (US made), bandages and 20 kinds of various Pakistan-made medicines, besides a bottle of perfume.

Though the operation had been called off in the Beri Rakh forest, the Army had launched searches in the adjoining areas to locate and liquidate the remaining ultras.

Jammu, July 19
While half of the population in this restive state is still to be provided with voter identity cards, the oldest surviving militant of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), who was a self-styled area commander in Kishtwar district, had enjoyed the privilege since January 2009. “A voter card (GQH0329094) dated January 16, 2009, with constituency number-46, Pahalgam, was issued to Mohammed Shafi Shah of Ganai Gund at Aishmuqam in Anantnag district of Kashmir,” said a senior police officer.

“Though we will take up the matter with Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, tomorrow and we do suspect the involvement of some revenue officials, the recovery of the voter card from a terrorist has raised serious questions,” he said.

It may be stated here that Mohammed Shafi Shah, alias Pathan, was arrested on July 17 from the Patnazi area of Kishtwar. The security forces seized an AK-56 rifle, three AK magazines, 90 rounds of ammunition and a radio set from his possession. He also possessed a SIM card of Pakistan and three other SIM cards, besides a mobile phone.

The police officer said the voter card issued to a dreaded terrorist had exposed a nexus between terrorists and some revenue officials. During interrogation, Shah disclosed that a village watchman, Ghulam Hassan, helped him get the voter card, said the officer. He added that the ultra had just made a phone call to the watchman and the voter card was delivered to him somewhere in mountainous Kishtwar district.

The ultra, who joined the LeT in 1990, had been declared an absconder by the Kishtwar police before January 16, 2009.

“Who filled up his form. Who signed it. Who conducted the verification process and how the card was delivered to him? These questions certainly proved that there were terrorist sympathisers within the system,” he said.

The officer said the top ultra might have foxed the security forces and other counter-insurgency forces using the voter card to his advantage. The Kishtwar police had started investigations and letters to the officials concerned, including the Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, would be issued tomorrow.

Jammu, July 19
As the much-publicised Mughal road is nearing completion, the government has decided to take up another project to connect the Kashmir Valley with Poonch district of the Jammu region.

While the Mughal road will connect the Shopian area of the Valley via Bafliaz, in the new project the Lohran Mandi area of Poonch would be connected with Tangmarg of the Kashmir Valley.

“The new project will be be shortest road to connect Poonch with the Valley,” Minister of Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla said. Bhalla, who conducted survey of the road through the Poonch side, informed that the detailed project report has already been approved of this road and the government has successfully mobilised the funds for it also.

“As the first instalment, Rs 10 crore has already been sanctioned to the authorities concerned to start work on 37 km road from Lohran to Tangmarg,” said the minister, adding that the Border Road Organisation has been assigned the job of constructing the new road and the work would be started within a couple of weeks.

At present, the Kashmir Valley is connected with the rest of the country only through the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway via Jawahar Tunnel. With the completion of the Mughal road, which has become a prestigious project, the Valley would be connected through Poonch. The new project of the Lohran-Tanmarg road would further reduce the distance of reaching the Valley through Poonch.

Bhalla further said he along with Minister of Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir had conducted the survey of the road for two months from the Tangmarg side. “We visited the interiors of Tangmarg with the officers who had assured that the road would be constructed within the shortest possible time,” he said.

Entering Kashmir through Lohran is a traditional route of nomadic people of Poonch. Nomadic Gujjars and Bakerwals of Poonch usually enter the Valley through this route during summer.

Bhalla said the government was committed to connect all areas through roads to minimise the woes of the masses. He further said the government was fully aware of the problems being faced by the residents of far-flung areas and sincere efforts were being made to develop infrastructure in the remotest areas. He further said the government has approved Rs 43 crore for the construction of 52-km long Mandi-Bafliaz via Phagla. He said the road would be completed by January 2013.

Jammu, July 19
Infuriated over the erratic supply of potable water, around 100 residents of the East Railway Colony staged a dharna on the railway line near the railway station here this morning, delaying the departure of the Mumbai-bound express train from the Jammu railway station by nearly two hours.

The train, which was to leave Jammu at 11.30 am, eventually left the station around 1.15 pm, almost two hours late.

Trouble erupted around 10.30 am today when women, children and men from the East Railway Colony came out and proceeded towards the railway station. Shouting slogans against the authorities they staged a dharna on the rail line on which the Mumbai-bound express train was to pass. Some angry residents even climbed up the engine of the train and refused to lift the dharna.

They said compelled by the erratic water supply for the past three days, they decided to block the rail traffic.

To pacify the protesters, Station Superintendent Ashwani Kumar, SDPO, GRP, Dushyant Sharma and SHO, GRP, Parveen Sharma rushed to the spot

Following repeated assurances by police officers and the Station Superintendent of taking up the matter with the authorities concerned, the protesters lifted the blockade and the train left for Mumbai around 1.15 pm, said Parveen Sharma.

It may be stated here that in the past as well the residents of the East Railway Colony resorted to similar protests.

However, passengers of the train said in this hot and humid weather the residents should not have blocked the railway line.

“Why the passengers have been held hostage? They should go and gherao the official concerned,” said a sweating passenger while peeping out of a window.

Anantnag, July 19
To avoid any tragedy or violence in south Kashmir, all cab drivers plying on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway have networked themselves through cellphones to keep themselves informed about the situation in the Valley. As per reports, Jammu-registered vehicles are being targeted by miscreants in the Kashmir valley. So, the cab drivers have prepared a directory of drivers who mostly ply on this route. All drivers have the cellphone numbers of other drivers plying on the route and they regularly call each other to keep themselves informed about the situation.

After accompanying a batch of pilgrims from Jammu to Pahalgam, The Tribune team observed that all drivers plying on the route were regularly in touch with each other. Even the driver of The Tribune team told it about this unique method.

With the beginning of the journey from Jammu, the driver kept calling other drivers and after crossing the Jawahar Tunnel the number of incoming and outgoing calls on his cellphone increased.

Ishtiaq Khan, a driver, said, “Sir, it is very difficult to ferry passengers from the Jammu region, as some people in Kashmir do not want the yatra to go on peacefully this year. They pelt stones at vehicles carrying pilgrims or people from Jammu. That is why we call each other on the way, especially after entering the Valley, to know about the situation ahead.”

He further said the drivers were always concerned about their vehicles because most of them were employees. “If the vehicle gets damaged while plying, we have to pay from our pocket. So, we have decided to call each other before entering any city or village,” he added.

Ishtiaq said these days south Kashmir was witnessing turmoil and the drivers call each other to keep themselves informed about the situation at the next station.

Jammu, July 19
Jammu University declared the first merit list for various postgraduate courses here today.

The merit list brought smiles on the faces of admission seekers whose names figured on the list while a majority of them returned disappointed. The second merit list would be declared on July 23.

Out of around 32 departments, the highest cut-off limit was witnessed in science departments where it was above 80 per cent.

However, in most of the departments the cut-off limit were around 65 per cent except for Dogri and Punjabi departments. In these two departments, the cut-off limit was recorded below 60 per cent.

In the English department, the cut-off percentage was 60.71 per cent while in the Buddhist Studies department it was 61.43 per cent. The Hindi and Urdu departments saw the same cut-off percentage, which was 62.57 per cent.

The cut-off limit in the History department was 64.61 per cent, while in Sanskrit and economics departments the cut-off was 64.22 per cent and 65.85 per cent, respectively.

The cut-off limit was 72.60 per cent for B.Lib course and 72.13 per cent for M.Lib course.

Meanwhile, in mathematics, physics, electronics and botany departments, the cut-off percentage was 76.03, 76.42, 76.52 and 79.14, respectively.

The highest marks of the applicants in the Chemistry department was 84 per cent while the cut-off was 79.85 per cent.

In the education, sociology, psychology and commerce departments, the cut-off percentage was 64.57, 66.75, 68.10, 67.95 and 58.91, respectively.

While talking to The Tribune, Firdosa, a candidate from Leh, expressed disappointment and said, “I had applied for admission in three departments. I was expecting my name in the first merit list. The merit has gone very high in all departments and I could not make it to the list. I hope my name will appear in the second merit list.”

Udhampur, July 19
In an endeavour to further the noble cause of preserving and harnessing the environment and display a conservationist spirit, the Van Mahotsav week celebrations involving multifarious activities started in Udhampur military station today.

As part of this, a procession was held.

Over 3000 participating schoolchildren, all ranks, families and even horses added colour to the celebrations. The enthusiasm, interest and spirit of participation, amongst all, amply demonstrated the success and purpose of the event.

Under the patronage and guidance of Lt-Gen BS Jaswal, GOC-in- C,Northern Command, and Lt-Gen Jasbir Singh, Chief of Staff of the Command, various initiatives on afforestration, water harvesting, nature conservation, area cleanliness, tree plantation and spreading environmental awareness in the Northern Command and the Udhampur military station have been taken. This season, the Udhampur station has planned to plant 15,000 saplings of various types with assistance from the Social Forestry and Horticulture Department of Jammu and Kashmir.

An official spokesperson said the Army was one of the pioneer institutions to adopt ecology conservation as a way of life and had rich traditions of protecting the natural habitats.

Being located in different eco-systems & bio-diverse zones and its nature of duty bound it close to mother earth and nature.

It had always endeavoured to protect the green belt and had undertaken multifarious activities to convert the existing barren patches into green.

Jammu, July 19
Seven persons, including four children, residing in an iron factory, Shivam Metals, in the Gangyal area here were taken ill after they consumed ‘laddoos’ distributed by a worker of another factory late last evening. Five persons were admitted to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) here while two were admitted to Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh (SMGS) Hospital, the police said.

It said Waseem, a worker of another factory, offered them laddoos and after eating these, they fainted and had to be taken to hospital. Waseem was also taken ill after eating laddoos, the police added.

It said after consuming laddoos they started vomiting and also complained of other complications. Those who fell ill are Sanjeev and Pooja, their mother Malti, Pawan, Mahender Kumar, watchman of the factory, Manish and Umesh. They were treated for food poisoning and their condition was improving, the police added. In the evening, Malti was discharged from the hospital. However, the police said investigations were on and no case had been registered so far.

A police officer said they were waiting for the doctors’ nod to record the statements of the ill persons.