Srinagar, September 27
Schools across the Kashmir valley reopened today after remaining closed for three months due to the unrest. Minister for Education Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, who had yesterday said that all measures to re-open educational institutions across the Valley would be taken, expressed satisfaction over the response. He said 28 per cent students resumed studies in different government and private educational institutions in Srinagar city.

Nearly, 80 per cent students attended schools in rural areas today, whereas the urban centres recorded 30 to 40 per cent attendance, he said. Terming it as a good beginning, the minister said the issue should not be politicised.

“We cannot have any political gains by re-opening schools and resuming academic activities. However, it concerns the career of lakhs of students, whose future has to be safeguarded by one and all”, he said and added that there was a unanimous opinion that students’ career should be protected.

He said the Education Department would strictly maintain the education calendar from September 30 till mid-December. Over 11 lakh students would appear in the examinations so that their academic year was not wasted.

The issue of re-opening the schools turned sticky in view of an appeal by hardline Hurriyat faction chairman Syed Ali Geelani to students and the teaching and non-teaching staff not to attend schools, following the Education Minister’s assurance on providing security and transport facilities.

Even as adequate security and transport arrangements were made, thin attendance was registered in many schools here, while in many government schools, there were no students. Most of the degree colleges here continued to remain deserted. Though the students of the University of Kashmir continued to be in touch with their teachers, most of them remained away due to lack of transport facilities and complained to the University authorities that their identity cards were not being honoured.

A police spokesman said elaborate arrangements and safe passage were ensured for all school buses, students, teaching and non-teaching staff. A large number of parents also dropped their wards in the schools.

However, miscreants threw stones from lanes and bylanes on school buses at Habbak, Machoo and Pindchi Mandi near Tatoo Ground here. Some miscreants stopped a car at Wanabal and took away Rs 43,000 and a mobile phone from a parent, the police said.

JAMMU: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday asked students in the Kashmir valley to attend schools and colleges. “We can rebuild anything,but the ruined careers of students cannot be rebuilt. The education of children should be kept conflict-neutral,” Omar said in an appeal to separatist leader, Sayed Ali Shah Geelani, and others besides seeking their co-operation.

“Those who do not take their annual exam are bound to lose an academic year,” Omar warned the students and stressed, “Education is the fundamental right of students. Provide them the security for ensuring the same.”

After the academics remained paralysed for many months, the Kashmir University and J&K Board of School Education, Srinagar, had issued the examination datesheet yesterday.

“For God’s sake, do not create any hype over the security scenario by stationing OB vans outside the schools and colleges as it flashes a wrong message to students and masses,” Omar asked the electronic media. He was speaking to journalists at the Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu, where he inaugurated a resthouse.

Jammu, September 27
The police today claimed to have established the involvement of a relative of the Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand, in the setting on fire of a woman, her daughter and a relative in Gigriyal border village of the Khour block in Akhnoor on September 1 night, and arrested three residents of the village.

Addressing a press conference at the police control room (PCR), DIG (Jammu-Kathua range) Farooq Khan said: “Both deceased and one of the arrested are relatives of the Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, but the Deputy Chief Minister has no connection with the case.” He added that Tara Chand’s wife hailed from the village.

Though the DIG did not reveal the relationship of the accused with Tara Chand, he said the three arrested included Parkash Chand, alias Kaku (50), a relative of Deputy Chief Minister. The other two arrested are Rashpal Chand (32) and Gharu Ram (25).

The DIG said the trio had a grudge against the deceased, Krishna and her daughter, Rajni, and killed them by pouring kerosene on them and setting them ablaze.

It is to mention here that Krishna Devi (55), Rajni (20) and their relative, Kajal (13), were set on fire on September 1 night by some persons when they were sleeping in their house.

Earlier, the police had arrested the sons of Krishna Devi on the suspicion that they were involved in the crime, but they were released yesterday when the accused were arrested.

However, the police termed it part of their investigation. “We don’t have a magic wand and it is a part of our duty to question the family members and other residents of the area to investigate any incident,” said Farooq.

Terming it as a difficult case, the DIG added that they got clues about the accused after they talked to residents of the village. “We had some doubt about Kaku in this connection. We established his involvement after confirming from a doctor that Kaku had also sustained a burn injury, which he tried to hide and was admitted to a hospital citing other reasons.”

About the condition of the injured girl, Kajal, the DIG said, “She is recuperating and is not able to record her statement.”

The police has registered a case. The names of police officers, who worked in the case, have been forwarded to the higher authorities for honouring them.

Jammu, September 27
To the respite of attendants belonging to the economically weaker section of society, a sarai (inn) for attendants was opened at the Government Medical College and Hospital in Jammu today.

The charge of the sarai that has been constructed at a cost of nearly Rs 3.29 crore was formally handed over to the Red Cross Society chaired by the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Pawan Kotwal. The work on the sarai was started in March 2008.

The sarai has been constructed by funds contributed by the legislators of different political parties. It was inaugurated by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah accompanied by Minister for Health and Medical Education RS Chib.

In the absence of a sarai, the attendants had to spend nights on benches on the hospital premises. Nevertheless, the sarai that is first of its kind will not be able to cater to the needs of all attendants visiting the GMCH and its associated hospitals.

At the inaugural function held at the GMCH, the Divisional Commissioner, said, “The sarai has 20 dormitories and 160 beds. It has a provision for the addition of another 320 beds. The bedding capacity will be raised, besides equipping the four-storey building with a lift.”

Usually a patient is accompanied by two attendants and the hospital has 725 indoor patients, besides its associated hospitals like Shri Maharja Ghulab Singh Hospital has 500 indoor patients while the Chest Diseases Hospital as well as the Psychiatric Diseases Hospital have approximately 150 and 40-50 indoor patients, respectively, on any odd day.

“The government is aware of the fact that one sarai is not sufficient and the government is committed to raising more such facilities,” Minister for Health and Medical Education RS Chib said.

“The super speciality hospital at Jammu would be made operational by the end of the year. For that matter, the government has already sent 40 doctors on training,” he said. He added, “To cope with the lack of manpower in the GMCH and associated hospitals, the recruitment process for more than 4,000 medical and paramedical staff is already going on under the chairmanship of the Principal of the GMCH, Prof Rajinder Singh.”

Udhampur, September 27
The government has decided to provide land to residents of Batpora village in Ramban district whose houses have been damaged as the hillock on which the village was situated has been sliding continuously since Saturday.

The district administration had swung into action immediately to provide relief to about 450 affected residents of the 41 houses of the village. Cracks developed in their houses as the hillock today slided by about 10 feet. The fissures in the road to the village, too, have widened by 4 to 5 feet. The phenomenon has rendered the entire land of the village unfit for human dwellings.

“The affected people will be compensated by providing them a 5- marla plot each per damaged structure at a suitable place. I have directed Tehsildar, Gool, to immediately identify some land for the purpose. I hope this will be done in a couple of days as the damaged houses cannot be rebuilt on the land which is sinking fast,” Ramban Deputy Commissioner KB Magotra told The Tribune over the telephone.

J&K Minister for Revenue and Relief Lal Singh, Raman Bhalla and Minister for Haj and Auqaf, Aijaz Khan today visited the spot and interacted with the affected villagers. Besides the police and Army, the teams of revenue and health department officials are camping in the area for the purpose.

About giving compensation for agricultural land, Magotra said the decision for this would be taken at the government level.

To help students of the village, the administration is making arrangements for them in schools of nearby areas so that their studies did not get hampered. Tents had also been provided for temporary stay of the affected families.

Srinagar, September 27
Barring a few incidents of stone throwing, the situation across the Kashmir valley remained peaceful while the curfew was lifted from some major towns and a five-hour relaxation was given in parts of Srinagar city this afternoon. However, life continued to remain affected in response to a bandh call given by the faction of hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani, which issued a fresh calendar of protests here yesterday for the next 10 days against the series of killings.

The police here said one person was injured in the clashes after some protesters threw stones at the police and the security forces at Rainawari in Srinagar city this morning. Some miscreants, in a bid to defy the curfew, resorted to a heavy stone throwing on the security forces at Rainawari. The security forces retaliated in an effort to enforce law and order and bring the situation under control. One person, Farooq Ahmad Ahanger, was injured in the action.He was admitted to hospital.

Protests were also held at Samboora in Pulwama district where the protesters indulged in stone throwing and tried to stop traffic. The police and the CRPF chased the protesters away and there were no reports of injuries to anyone.

The curfew was lifted from Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian and Awantipora towns of south Kashmir and from the Baramulla, Handwara, Bandipora and Handwara areas. It was also lifted from the central Kashmir district town of Budgam. However, other restrictions under Section 144 of CrPC continued to remain in place in the district, a police spokesman said.

The curfew restrictions were also relaxed in Kangan and Ganderbal from 11 am to 1 pm and in Sopore town from 10 am to 12 noon in Kupwara town, and from 9 am to 2 pm in Trehgam and Kralpora.

Jammu, September 27
Welcoming the eight-point formula proposed by the Centre for addressing the crisis in the Kashmir valley, former Minister and Congress MLC Abdul Gani Vakil has urged the separatist leadership and other political groups across the state to respond positively.

“This is a historic opportunity for ending violence and bloodshed that have left hundreds, mostly families of youngsters, wailing and weeping. We sympathise with families of those who lost their lives in the last three months and appeal to the people across the Valley to ensure return of peace to every corner of the state,” said Vakil, a Congress leader from Baramulla, while addressing a function of Congress Seva Dal workers at Samba yesterday.

He implored the separatist leadership to shun its rigid stand and demonstrate democratic flexibility. “Kashmir is passing through the worst phase in its history. Violence has ripped apart societal bonds and the common Kashmiri is facing a dilemma of being in the middle of a worst humanitarian crisis”, Vakil said, while adding that the UPA leadership had been watching the situation carefully and taking steps towards normalisation cautiously.

“The Congress leadership has thorough understanding of the aspirations and desires of the Kashmiri youth. It wants to lead the younger generation of Kashmir into a world of inestimable opportunities,” said Vakil. He reiterated that the eight-point formula was an exhaustive package for creating an atmosphere, wherein a dialogue could be initiated for bringing permanent peace in the Valley.

“Nothing can be achieved through violence, stone throwing, loot and arson. We must accept that dialogue in a congenial atmosphere is the only way out of this quagmire, which has already brought us to the shores of the economic disaster. We should act now and save the Valley from further death and destruction,” added Vakil.

He cautioned people of the Jammu region to remain vigilant against the forces of disruption. “We must exhibit exemplary courage and restrain from following leaders and parties that are hell- bent on dividing the society along religious and regional lines,” said Vakil.

Jammu, September 27
The Lok Janshakti Party has welcomed the initiative of the UPA government for making a constructive and meaningful beginning through its interaction with political and social organisations of the state.

Addressing mediapersons here today, Ravi Tickoo, national secretary of the Lok Janshakti Party Yuva, said for the past three months the valley had been facing crisis and life had been miserable.

Several people had been killed and others had to bear the brunt as the economic activity had come to a standstill while the education system too had come to a grinding halt, said Tickoo.

He appreciated the Central Government for its efforts to soothe the frayed nerves of the Kashmiris and announced a Rs 100 crore package to bring the education sector back on rails.

He also lauded the government for announcing a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the families, who lost their kith and kin in the violence.

He informed that the party delegation recently called on the all-party delegation in Jammu and highlighted various problems and demands. These included compensation to militancy-affected people of the Jammu region, a local Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Jammu and the settlement of refugees etc.

Udhampur, September 27
Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) will review the alignment of the Katra-Qazigund rail line in the wake of landslides in the Dharam area in Gool tehsil of Ramban district. The landslide had damaged all dwellings in Batpora village.

Chief Engineer, KRCL, L Prakash and his team of geologists visited the spot to study the cause behind the development. The district administration on Sunday had requested the KRCL authorities for the review.

It could also help find out whether it has to do anything with the tunnels being constructed for the rail project under the affected area or it was a natural phenomenon.

“After assessment of the sudden development, we have decided to realign the proposed rail line locally in terms of bypassing the affected area only. The project, however, will remain unchanged between Katra in Jammu and Qazigund in Kashmir,” Project Head KRCL, Vinod Kumar told The Tribune over the telephone. The realignment is going to cause some more delay in the completion of this Rs 1,700-crore project on which work was restarted this year after it was approved in 2002.

In geological terms, the soil stratum prevalent in the affected Dharma area is a layer of clay, clay stone, sandstone, siltstone and quartzite. Landslides might occur when the top layer of clay gets saturated due to excessive rain.

Jammu, September 27
In the gruesome murder case of taxi driver Gurpreet Singh, resident of Nanak Nagar here, the police today claimed to have recovered the Indica car that he was driving on the night of September 2.

Earlier, the police had arrested two accused, Kulwinder Singh, alias Kinda, of Jalandhar and Pargat Singh, alias Pagga, of Tarantaran. However, another accused, Dharampal Gujjar of Sikar (Rajasthan), is still absconding.

DIG (Jammu-Kathua range) Farooq Khan said, “We are putting maximum efforts to arrest Dharampal and he will also be put behind the bars within a short period”. It is to mention here that Dharmpal is a hardcore criminal and is involved in a number of criminal cases.

Jammu, September 27
The All Plus Two Lecturers Forum held its elections and elected new office-bearers here today. The newly elected office-bearers are: state president--HD Qureshi; vice-presidents--Charan Dass and Manmeet Bali; general secretary--NS Jamwal, and chief organiser--Ashwani Sharma.

The district presidents, who look the oath today, included BD Sharma of Jammu district, Rouf Dar of Rajouri, Uttar Kumar Khajuria of Kathua, Riaz Hussain Mintoo of Doda. Arunesh Kumar of Udhampur and Tara Chand of Samba and Imitiaz Kazmi of Poonch.