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Kashmir turmoil takes heavy toll on CRPF jawans
Security personnel try to protect themselves as protesters hurl stones at them in Srinagar.
Security personnel ‘harassing’ hospital staff
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Now, infighting among ultras over women
All-party delegation has hectic schedule
Educational trip helps students explore South India
Jammu diary
Turmoil: Kashmir takes Rs 26,000-crore hit
Maharaja Hari Singh: A ruler par excellence
LAHDC Poll
Exhibition on Urdu books from today
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Kashmir turmoil takes heavy toll on CRPF jawans
At least 1,295 CRPF personnel were injured in incidents of stone pelting from June 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009 in the entire Kashmir Valley
They are CRPF jawans, who have been discharging their duties in the turbulent Valley miles away from their homes. “Nearly 1600 CRPF jawans have been injured in the Valley in the past two years but ironically we are always at the receiving end”, said a senior CRPF officer, who expressed regrets over the raw deal being meted out to CRPF jawans by none else than the so-called messiahs of human rights in Kashmir. “In some cases our jawans suffered critical injuries losing their eyesight , teeth and even jaws,” he said and asked why the so-called champions of human rights maintained a criminal silence when it comes to security personnel fighting Pak-sponsored proxy war in Kashmir. Despite heavy odds and strong provocation by certain bad elements, which mix up with the crowds in the valley CRPF jawans exercise utmost restraint, said the officer. “If the death count continues to pile up, we also have nearly 1600 jawans with broken limbs and bones. What do you expect from a handful of jawans gheraoed by unruly mobs and rained with stones and bricks”, he quipped. CRPF inspector Rohtas Kumar was fired upon from a crowd in the Valley while some of our jawans, who were referred from Kashmir to our composite hospital here in Jammu, were further referred to the PGI, Chandigarh, for specialised treatment, CRPF’s Jammu zone IG AS Sidhu told The Tribune. Though the CRPF had been providing them with best possible treatment, some of them still are in a state of shock, he added. From June 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009 at least 1295 CRPF jawans were injured in incidents of stone pelting in the Valley and the number had swelled to 1552 by September 13 this year, he said. Sources in the CRPF confirmed that some of the CRPF jawans had been rendered disfigured and disabled for life. Initially, politicians in the state had also reacted amateurishly accusing the CFPF of high-handedness in dealing with unruly crowds but they reconciled after coming to know the facts that the CRPF had acted in self-defence, they added. “Despite our troopers losing their eyesight and some getting disfigured in stone pelting, the CRPF has always maintained a clean track-record when it comes to human rights but paradoxically none expressed sympathy with our jawans,” said sources.
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Security personnel ‘harassing’ hospital staff
Srinagar, September 21 “While the administration said that the identity cards of the hospital staff would be treated as the curfew passes, the security forces were not allowing us to do our duty. A few days ago the head of the surgical gastro was beaten up by CRPF men,” Beigh said Many other doctors were also beaten up by the CRPF, making hospital staff protest many times against the CRPF inside the hospital premises. “One day, CRPF men entered the casualty ward of the hospital and started beating doctors, staff, attendants and even patients, many of whom were seriously injured,” he claimed. He alleged that CRPF personnel were also stopping the hospital ambulances carrying serious patients for hours together, risking the lives of patients. “Two ambulance drivers were beaten up and stopped for several hours despite the fact that they were ferrying serious patients, ” he said. Beigh pleaded that the CRPF should take a humanitarian view of the situation and allow the hospital staff to perform their duties. |
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Now, infighting among ultras over women
Jammu, September 21 “Azad Hussain, alias Wasim, a section commander of Hizbul Mujahideen has killed Firdous Ahmed, alias Furqan, alias Jaral, a fresh recruit, because Wasim had doubts over his wife’s character,” Parbhat Singh, SSP, Doda, told The Tribune. Wasim harboured doubts that Firdous had developed illicit relations with his teenaged wife Shehnaz, added the SSP. “Wasim along with HM’s divisional commander Javed Qureshi and Zamir Ahmed, another HM militant, has executed the killing,” he said. The slain ultra, Firdous, aged around 18 years, had joined the HM in July this year. Talking about Azad Hussain, alias Wasim, the SSP said Wasim was a hardcore terrorist in the Doda area known for his atrocities. Five FIRs under section 302 of the RPC had already been registered against him in various police stations, he added. “After suspecting his first wife of infidelity, he also killed her in a brutal manner. Wasim had married 18-year-old Shehnaz a year ago,” said Parbhat Singh. Firdous being a young guy developed illicit relations with Shehnaz and Wasim somehow came to know about their relationship. On September 8, Wasim called Firdous at a deserted place on some pretext and fired four rounds from his AK rifle killing him on the spot. “In fact, the Jehadi ideology has taken a backseat after security forces eliminated top leadership of HM, LeT, and wiped out JeM and HuJI from the erstwhile Doda district. Now, the remaining cadre are fighting over money and women,” said another police officer from Kishtwar district. In the absence of leadership and the waning local support, they (remaining cadres) now want to make the most of the opportunity, he added. “What could be expected from the harried lot of remaining ultras who know that sooner or later they will also meet the same fate of getting killed in encounters,” said the officer. When enquired about Hindu militant Subhash, alias Wafif, alias Qamran, another HM ultra, who has become divisional commander of the outfit for Jammu region, the officer said that he, too, had married a Muslim girl from Sigdi Bhatta. “No wonder, if he too kills a close associate of his because history is replete with instances that gun-wielding militants take no time in settling score when it comes to women, who move along with them,” said
the officer. |
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All-party delegation has hectic schedule
Srinagar, September 21 The delegation led by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram arrived in Srinagar yesterday to assess the prevailing ground situation in the Valley and was received by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, Minister for Rural Development and Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Sagar, Chief Secretary S S Kapur and DGP Kuldip Khoda. The delegates included Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dinesh Trivedi, Rajya Sabha leader Govind Rao Adik, DMK leader in the Lok Sabha T R Baaki, Leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitly, Lok Sabha member Prassna Kumar Patasani, Rajya Sabha member Mohan Singh, Narinder Kumar Kashyap, KC Tyagi, Thambidurai, Nams Naqeshwara Rao, Dr Rattan Singh Ajnala, Anant G. Geeta, CPM leader Vasudev Achariya, CPI leader Gurudas Des Gupta, AIFB leader Narahari Mehto, Prashant Kumar Mazumdar, Sahid Sadiqqi, Rajniti Prasad, SK Bwiewnuthiary, Ram Vilas Paswan. Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Bindu Kumar, Shetti Raju Allas Devappa E Ahmad, Shibu Souran, Asaduddin owasisil, Jcoo K. Manl, Bahulal Lal Marandi, Thirumanvelavan Thei, Balak Ram Sukur Jadhav, Joseph Toppo, CM Chang, and OT Lepcha. A National Conference deputation led by Minister for Finance AR Rather called on the all-party delegation and apprised the delegation of various solutions for lasting peace in the state. The NC delegation included Ch. Mohammad Ramzan, Mian Altaf, Sakina Itoo, Mehboob Baig, Saifullah Mir, NC Provincial President, Ali Mohammad Dar, Sheikh Ghulam
Rasool and Dharamvir Singh Oberoi. The PDP, Congress and CPM deputations led by Dilawar Mir, Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz and MY Tarigami, respectively, met the all-party delegation and presented their viewpoints to restore peace in the troubled state. The BJP, Democratic Nationalist Party and PDF delegations also called on the all-party delegation. During the afternoon session, various deputations comprising trade, industry, travel, tour, tourism, transport, apple growers, NGOs, university students, vice-chancellors of various universities and a cross-section of people also met the central delegation. Representatives of the Sikh community under the umbrella of the Kashmir Sikh Sangat also met the all-party delegation. A deputation of teachers, J&K Shromani Akali Dal (Badal), among others, also met the central team and placed their viewpoints. |
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Educational trip helps students explore South India
Udhampur, September 21 The itinerary involved visit to places of historical importance and tourist interest in South India. The aim of the trip was to broaden the horizons of children by showcasing many facets of South India, which would also lead to better Army-civil relations in the area and contribute towards winning the hearts and minds of locals. The trip turned out be an eye opener for the students for its educational value since they got their first exposure outside the remote areas from where they belong. It also assisted in bringing realisation amongst these selected children and teachers about the unity, diversity and secular fabric of the country. The group started its road journey from Sarh to Jammu by bus on September 2, where they visited Raghunath Bazar, Jama Masjid, Bahu fort, fish aquarium and City Square shopping mall. The group left for Chennai the next day by train. Most of the students found the 4-day journey very exciting as for most of them it was the first experience of travelling by train. In Chennai, they were taken to places like Marina Beach, Officers Training Academy, National Art Gallery, MGR Film City and the zoo. On September 7, the group got an opportunity to meet Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala, who urged the students to spread the message of friendship and harmony when they return home. Pondicherry was the next destination where they were shown Aurobindo Ashram and Auroville Township. On September 10, the group was in Bangalore where the students were shown various Army establishments and other tourist places. There also they got an opportunity to meet Karnataka Governor HR Bhardwaj. At New Delhi, the children also got a lifetime experience of travelling by metro train. The group finally returned to Mahore on September 15. The group traversed a total of 8,532 km from the northernmost to the southernmost state of the country, which included 5,696 km by train and the rest by bus. Interestingly, several students had never travelled out of their district, leave alone state and for whom this trip was like a dream come true. |
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Cops’ command defies reason
The presence of cops on the Jammu University campus has always remained controversial. At times, it has been more embarrassing than providing a sense of security. The other day, a man went in his car to give lunch to his friends who were appearing in an exam in the university. The man was wearing shorts. Two cops stopped him at the university gate asking him to park his car outside as he was wearing shorts. The man argued in that case he would have to walk all way in the shorts. Much to his disbelief, the cops said they had no problems with that but one can’t take his car in the university wearing shorts. No high hopes from visit
While both state and central governments have given much hype to the visit of the all-party delegation in the state to restore peace in this region, most people are of the view that nothing would emerge from this high-profile exercise as this effort is only a formality to further linger on the situation. During the 2008 Amarnath land row, a similar delegation had visited the state to defuse the tension but the attempt failed to yield any result as a majority of the leaders who visited the state were unaware of the ground realities. Some of them had been visiting the state for the first time and had enjoyed its scenic beauty. People of this region are not expecting much from this visit “The outcome of this entire exercise would be another high-profile meeting at New Delhi”, said a citizen, comparing the exercise with the Ulta-Pulta TV serial of comedian Jaspal Bhatti. Teachers
‘doing their bit’
Socrates and Plato are frequently quoted for their exemplary teacher-pupil kinship. So much was Plato influenced by his teacher that people believe: “What is Socratic is Platonic.” Closer home, a board at the main entrance to Jagriti Niketan School reads (see picture): “There is a teacher behind every great student.” The idea seems to have been borrowed from Socrates by some admirer as a Socratic paradox says: “No one desires evil”. One can make out that the teachers at the school are imparting education
to the students in the same manner. (Contributed by Jupinderjit Singh,
Dinesh Manhotra and Ashutosh Sharma)
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Turmoil: Kashmir takes Rs 26,000-crore hit
Srinagar, September 21 The flames of the unrest began on June 11 with the killing of a 17-year-old boy in alleged teargas shelling by the police at Rajouri Kadal and have engulfed the entire Valley. Sopore, Pampore, Kupwara, Bandipora, Baramulla, Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam, Budgam, Ganderbal and Srinagar city have all witnessed violence, arson and deaths during the period. Education system in the Valley has become a collateral damage in the cycle of protests and strikes called by the hard line Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani and curfew imposed by the state government to thwart these programmes. Despite claims of the government that over 70 per cent schools were functioning normally in the Valley, students have stayed home for most of the past 100 days. Considering that the Valley has three months of winter vacations and another month of gazetted holidays, the effect of strikes and curfews on the learning process is anybody's guess. The quagmire in which students find themselves has led to protests at some places. Although just a handful, a group of students from Natipora area of city came all the way to Lal Chowk early this month to protest against their inability to attend schools. Students of the National Institute of Technology have gone on a hunger strike from September 14 as many of them feel that they have been robbed of the chance to find a placement due to the ongoing strike. Junior batches of engineers are demanding regular class work be started and even expressed their willingness to go for night classes to make up for the lost time. The other major casualty of the strike has been the business and unorganised labour class. The state is losing Rs 161 crore per day of shutdown in taxes and other levies, which amounts to Rs 16,100 crore for the 100-day shutdown. The business community maintains that it loses Rs 100 crore in overheads and opportunity costs per day and has capped its losses so far at Rs 10,000 crore. Hotels, houseboats and those associated with the tourism industry, including transporters and travel agents, have been the worst affected. More than four lakh tourists had visited the Valley even before the season had begun, but the hopes of a bumper harvest for tourism were dashed with the beginning of the agitation. As direct fallout of the lack of revenues, hotels and restaurants began laying off their staff to minimise the losses. More than 60,000 jobs have been cut in the hotel sector alone, while another two lakh skilled and unskilled workmen are not able to earn livelihood. The unrest has also seen mobs torching government and police properties. Besides damage worth crores of rupees, valuable records have also been lost.
— PTI |
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Maharaja Hari Singh: A ruler par excellence
Hari Singh was born on September 23, 1895, in Amar Mahal Jammu, which is now a museum and a popular tourist attraction in Jammu. He was a son of Raja General Amar Singh, younger brother of Maharaja Partap
Singh.
Hari Singh was one of the renowned rulers of British India as well as the Indian Union as king of the geographically largest and strategically most important empire of Jammu & Kashmir. He gained acclamation for being the last ruling king of Independent India since he continued to rule the state till November 5, 1952 while all other rulers of princely states had seized to be kings by 1948. When he was 13 years old, he was sent to Mayo College of Princes for studies. Soon after, his father died. A British army officer was then deputed as his guardian with the responsibility of ensuring proper education and training with an aim of grooming him to be a good ruler. After completing his education in Mayo College, he was sent to Imperial Cadet Corps at
Dehradun. Hari Singh married Tara Devi in 1928, as his fourth wife after his previous three wives died one after the other without an issue. This marriage took place on the advice of astrologers and true to their prediction, a son was born to them on March 9, 1931. In 1915, he was appointed commander-in-chief of the J&K State Forces, when he was only 20 years old. On assuming command, he introduced a lot of reforms in the training and welfare of officers and soldiers. Central cookhouses, called
Langars, and officers’ messes were introduced by him in the state force prior to which the officers and jawans used to cook their own meals. During the reign of Maharaja Partap Singh, Union Jack used to fly on all official buildings of the state. Hari Singh ordered their removal, which was contested by the British government, but he didn’t relent. Later, on Viceroy’s request, he allowed a British flag to be flown only on the residential building of the Resident, thereby exerting his full authority over his sate. He brought about several rules and regulations for the welfare and betterment of his subjects. There are numerous instances worth mentioning but few of them such as making primary education compulsory for all subjects, prohibiting child marriage and opening all the places of worship for his low caste subjects are the most remarkable. He opened a lot of new schools and colleges. He managed to check corruption by adopting unique ways. He banned begging and it is said that during his rule none dared to accept bribes or deny wages for any services rendered. He even ploughed land himself to get landholding rights to his subjects. He was made a member of the Imperial War Council from 1944 to 1946 during the World War
II. Hari Singh’s rule witnessed lot of political upheavals. From 1931 onwards, his rule faced Kashmiri insurrection against his rule, which became a mass movement in the valley under the leadership of Sheikh Mohd Abdullah. He opposed Jinnah’s Muslim League for its communal agenda illustrated in his two-nation theory, hence faced his wrath. He was victim of hostility of the Indian National Congress because of Pt Nehru and Sheikh Mohd Abdullah. Immediately after the Independence and Partition of India, he saw tragic communal riots that engulfed his state as well. It was followed by an invasion of his state by Pakistani raiders. It was during his reign that the first Indo-Pak war was fought on the soil of Jammu & Kashmir. Finally, the India government took over the control of J&K, ending the 106-year-old hereditary rule of the last Maharaja of India on November 15, 1952. Earlier, Lord Mountbatten visited Srinagar in June 1947. He advised Maharaja Hari Singh to accede to Pakistan on the grounds of religion of majority population and geographical contiguity. Although the advice amounted to be an order, Maharaja ignored the advice and instead wanted more time to decide the future of his state. He knew that Pt Nehru and Sheikh Abdullah were for state’s accession to India, which was his wish as well. But all the rail and land routes to J&K passed through Pakistan, which hindered Maharaja’s early decision of accession to India. But Pt Nehru took a keen interest in the development of road link to Jammu facilitating accession. When India gained Independence, Hari Singh had the option of joining either India or Pakistan or to remain independent. He knew the consequences of all options for which he offered a Standstill Agreement with both the dominions, which unfortunately was not accepted by Pt Nehru, which changed the course of history. Had Pt Nehru accepted it, it would have given India over two months to understand the problems of the most strategic state of the world and prepare for anything untoward from any direction. It might have perhaps averted Pakistani attack in October 1947 as the state would have been the joint responsibility of both the dominions. However, following the invasion by Pakistan on October 21, 1947, he appealed to India for help. India refused unless he acceded to the Indian Union. He signed the instrument of accession with the government of India on October 26, 1947, acceding his country to the Indian Union, which included Jammu, Kashmir, Northern Areas,
Ladakh, Trans Karakoram Tract, PoK and Aksai Chin. The events mentioned above leading to the accession with the Indian Union created Indo-Pak hostility that has resulted into four military conflicts and the ongoing proxy war in Kashmir. Due to growing hostility with his Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah, Hari Singh appointed his son Yuvraj Karan Singh as his regent and left for Bombay in 1949, never to return to his state thereafter. He spent rest of his life in Bombay. His passions for polo, horse racing and reading kept him occupied for the remaining period of life. He breathed his last on April 26, 1961, in Bombay. As per his will, his ashes were spread all over J&K and immersed in the Tawi at Jammu. The Amar Kshatriya Rajput Sabha is remembering the beloved ruler by celebrating his 115th birth anniversary on September 23 at Raj Tilak
Bhavan, Purani Mandi, Jammu. |
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Politicians urged not to use money, liquor
Our Correspondent
Leh, September 21 To ensure effective implementation of their appeal at the ground level, the association has decided to involve village numberdars in their initiative. Taewang Thinles, president of the association, told The Tribune, “A delegation of the youth wing recently met political parties and asked them to ensure the forthcoming elections free and fair by avoiding the use of money and alcohol to win over voters.” Thinles said the delegation also met the deputy commissioner, who is also the district election authority, and the Leh SSP in this regard. “The delegation is also going to meet numberdars to tell them to remain vigilant in their respective villages against the use of unlawful means during the elections. We have also appealed to political parties to fight election on development issues and maintain harmony during the poll process”.
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Exhibition on Urdu books from today
Jammu, September 21 The inaugural function will be held at Prof Gian Chand Jain seminar Hall of the department. Prof Hanis Ishaq, head, Urdu department, Lucknow University, will be the chief guest whereas dean, academic affairs, University of Jammu, will be the guest of honour. Prof Shohab Inayat Malik, head of the department, said, “The exhibition will also sell syllabus as well as poetry books at a concession”. “It would be a rare exhibition as books have been procured from across the country. So, readers will have an opportunity to purchase rare books during the two-day event," he added. |
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Jammu, September 21
Jammu, September 21
