Srinagar, November 20
Normal life was adversely affected across the Kashmir valley today in response to the separatists’ bandh call after eight days of hectic activity in view of the Eid-ul-Azha celebrations, while stray incidents of violence took place at different places.

The police here said two women teachers were injured and the windowpanes of their school bus were damaged in stone throwing near Zaldagar in the interior city this morning. Another incident was reported from the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) yard at Pampore where a group of protesters indulged in stone throwing and damaging its property. The protesters were chased away by the police and there were no reports of anyone injured.

All shops and business establishments were closed and public transport was off the roads. There was a thin attendance in government offices and educational institutions. Private vehicles and auto-rickshaws plied in several areas of the city and elsewhere in the major towns of the Valley.

This general strike was observed after eight days of normal life in view of the Eid celebrations, as per the protest calendar issued by hardline APHC led by Syed Ali Geelani. This had been the longest period of normal working days in the Valley since June 11 last, when the first death of a teenager in tear-gas shelling by the police took place in downtown Srinagar.

Meanwhile, the PDP has condemned the alleged rein of terror unleashed by the police and the security forces in different areas of Pulwama and Shopian districts. In a statement, PDP general secretary Mohammad Dilawar Mir and MLA Mohammad Khalil Bandh said the police and the CRPF were using brute force to crush peaceful expressions of people.

They alleged that the NC-led coalition government had refused to change its tactics of “official terror”. The people in Pulwama and adjoining areas were being beaten up by the police for no reason and many respectable citizens had been humiliated. Many shops and homes had been attacked and damaged and shopkeepers subjected to violence.

The PDP leaders said the movement of people in many rural areas had been restricted and the residents harassed. They added that the people of places like Pattan and Palhallan continued to face indignity and harassment at the hands of the security forces. On the other hand, the youth continued to be targeted and about 2,000 of them had been arrested without any reason or acknowledgment.

Jammu, November 20
The much-publicised convention of the BJP, which was convened today to infuse confidence into its workers to launch a “decisive war” against Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, witnessed serious differences among senior leaders of the party on vital issues.

While Leader of the BJP Legislature Party in the Assembly Chaman Lal Gupta suggested that the party should not contest the forthcoming panchayat elections, state party president Shamsher Singh Manhas outrightly rejected the suggestions and made it clear that the party would participate in the elections. Furthermore, Gupta also resented that today’s meeting was called to seek suggestions from party workers while the leaders were more interested in delivering speeches instead of listening to the cadre.

Gupta in his address suggested that the party should not contest the panchayat elections if the same were held without extending 73rd and 74th Amendments of the Indian Constitution to the state. “What is the fun of participating in the panchayat elections without such amendments, which are required to decentralise the decision-making power to the grass-roots level,” he said. He suggested the party leadership to look into all aspects before taking any decision on the elections.

Gupta also criticised the way today’s convention was convened. “I was hoping that suggestions from grass-roots level workers would be sought to chalk out the future course of action, but I am surprised that our leaders are more interested in giving speeches instead of listening to the suggestions of the workers,” he said.

As soon as Gupta completed his address, Manhas addressed the workers and outrightly rejected the suggestion of boycotting the panchayat elections. “The question of boycotting the panchayat elections does not arise,” he asserted and made it clear that the party would contest the elections seriously to prove its popularity.

Although Manhas did not mention Gupta, he, however, said party workers were asked to give their suggestions. “A large number of party workers have given their valuable suggestions and the future course of action will be chalked out on these,” he said. Enough time was given to the workers to give their suggestions, he added. BJP Lok Sabha member from Himachal Pradesh Rajan Sushant, who was the main speaker in the convention, also indirectly rebutted Gupta’s complaint that workers were not allowed to give suggestions. “Thirty-seven workers have given their suggestions and I have noted all these,” he said.

Jammu, November 20
Amid allegations that the BJP leadership has been playing the role of a “cooperative Opposition” to keep the ruling National Conference in good humour, BJP workers today asked fellow MLAs to boycott all official functions of Omar Abdullah and his Cabinet colleagues as a mark of protest against the controversial statement of the Chief Minister regarding the accession of the state to India.

During a one-day convention of the party that was organised to seek suggestions from cadre, grass-roots party workers expressed their anguish over the style of the functioning of party MLAs.

Some alleged that their leaders were only interested in getting their photographs published in newspapers rather than effectively opposing Omar’s “secessionist” policies.

“If you are seriously interested in opposing the policies of the present government, boycott its all official functions until the Chief Minister withdraws his controversial statement on the accession of the state,” a veteran party worker asked BJP MLAs.

“On the one hand, you are criticising Omar for preaching secessionism, on the other you are sharing the dais with him in various functions. What is the purpose behind this double standards?” he asked creating an embarrassing situation for party legislators in the convention.

Although the party leadership has assured to seriously incorporate such suggestions while devising the strategy to launch a decisive war against Omar, MLAs were non-committal regarding boycotting official functions.

Interestingly, none of the party MLA endorsed suggestions of boycotting official functions. They rather ignored this suggestion.

Sensing the anger among the workers, BJP president Shamsher Singh Manhas assured them that the party leadership would not rest until Omar withdrew his statement. “I want to assure that the BJP would take this fight to its logical end and there was no question of taking rest,” he said and announced a number of agitational programmes for the days to come.

“On November 27, BJP workers would block traffic from 8 am to 11 am as mark of protest against the Chief Minister,” he said.

Srinagar, November 20
State Congress president Saifuddin Soz said here today that the proposed panchayat elections in the state would be held on the non-party basis, though the decision on the schedule of the elections was yet to be taken.

Soz, who also heads the Congress-National Conference Coordination Committee in the state, was addressing a rally of party workers at the PCC headquarters here this afternoon. He said the coordination committee would meet soon to take a decision on the panchayat elections.

Sources in the Congress, however, disclosed that the coordination committee meeting would be held in the next two to three days, as the panchayat elections were being proposed to be held by March-April next year.

Hundreds of party workers drawn from different parts of the Valley converged on the party headquarters on the Moulana Azad Road on the occasion, that was also organised to felicitate the newly-nominated state Youth Congress president, Shoaib Nabi Lone.

Several Youth Congress leaders also addressed the day-long rally. Those who addressed the rally included Ghulam Rasool Kar, former PCC president; Amrinder Singh Brar, general secretary of All India Youth Congress; Ghulam Nabi Monga, PCC vice-president; Bashir Ahmad Magray, MLC; Indu Pawar, president of the Mahila Congress; Khem Lata Wakhloo, Ghulam Nabi Mir Lasjan, and general secretaries Mohammad Maqbool, Farooq Andrabi, Mohammad Amin Khan, Gulzar Ahmad Wani, Aftab Ahmad Beigh and Sheikh Ishfaq and others.

Srinagar, November 20
Announcing only two days of general strike during next week, the hardline APHC chairman, Syed Ali Geelani, said here today that there would be a lesser number of general strikes in future as compared to the previous protest calendars.

Addressing mediapersons at his Hyderpora residence here this afternoon, Geelani announced general strikes for Wednesday and Saturday next week, while “peaceful protests” would be held after Friday prayers. He also called for the construction of a memorial at the Eidgah cemetery, where several senior separatist leaders, killed since the eruption of militancy, had been buried.

Geelani said there was no alternative than to observe a protest strike against the continuing excesses on the people of Kashmir by the police and the security forces. The decision to bring down the number of general strikes was taken in view of the problems being faced by the people in general and the business community in particular, who had suffered a lot during the past about six months.

He, however, added that the bandhs being the only way to express the will of the masses against “forced occupation” would continue in future also. The protest programmes were being chalked out in view of the feedback from different sections of society, he added.

The APHC chairman expressed concern over the continuing arrests of various separatist leaders, youths and the house arrest of senior leaders, including himself. He had been under house arrest for the past 73 days since Eid-ul-Fitre on September 11.

Geelani lamented that despite peaceful protests, youths were being harassed and excesses being committed on the people across the Kashmir valley. Giving details, he pointed out that over the past about six months, 112 persons had been killed, 3,520 others injured and 1,040 arrested.

Jammu, November 20
A bomb scare in Jammu-Ajmer Pooja Express held up the train at Kathua for two hours this evening.

Passengers from three coaches in the train were asked to vacate the train as sniffer dogs and policemen searched the coaches at Kathua. Nothing suspicious was found. The train finally left for its destination after 10 pm.

According to available information, three passengers boarded the train at Jammu but got down between Samba and Kathua, leaving their luggage behind. After some passengers drew the attention of the Railway Protection Force to the abandoned luggage, information was relayed to Kathua and the platform was cordoned off as soon as the train reached.

While further details are awaited, security sources claimed that three persons had been detained and they were being interrogated.

Jammu, November 20
The future lies in nuclear fuels based on thorium as India has large thorium deposits of approximately 8,80,000 tonnes but a limited uranium reserve of 60,000 tonnes, for its long-term nuclear power programme.

This was stated by VK Manchanda from the radiochemistry division of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, at a national symposium on ‘New Trends in Material Research’ that started here yesterday.

Manchanda emphasised on the need to save the planet from hazardous emissions and greenhouse gases till viable alternatives to fossil fuels were available.

The symposium that would come to a close tomorrow is being organised by the Indian Association of Solid State Chemists and Allied Scientists (ISCAS) Institute of Solid State and Material Science on the Jammu University campus.

In his inaugural speech, a scientist from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, KJ Rao, lauded the setting up of the ISCAS Institute of Solid State and Material Science on the Jammu University campus under the leadership of Indu Bhushan Sharma.

He emphasised on technologies such as nanotechnology, energy storage and conversion, nuclear materials, environmental monitoring and electrochemistry. “The symposium will contribute tremendously towards enhancing the research activity in the country,” he opined.

“Leading scientists and academia from institutes like the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore; Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai; Vikram Sarabhai Space Center, Trivandrum; Indian Institute of Technology and at least 30 other universities of the country are participating in the three-day event,” said ISCAS president Indu Bhushan Sharma.

Sharma said the institute had been encouraging budding scientists to work for innovative research that benefited the rural population in particular. Prominent among others present in the function included chairman of the Atomic Energy Education Society, Mumbai, SK Kulshreshtha.

On the occasion, Jashanpreet Singh from the Department of Chemistry, Guru Nank Dev University, Amritsar; Renuka Bobde from Nagpur University, Nagpur; Nidhi Kalgotra from the Department of Chemistry, Jammu University; and Onkar Singh Chaudhary from Government Gandhi Memorial Science College, Jammu, were selected for the awards in the poster presentation competition.

Jammu, November 20
The government is determined to provide basic amenities like road connectivity, drinking water, electricity and health care facilities to the people of the state and sufficient funds have been earmarked for the purpose.

Minister for Medical Education, Youth Service and Sports RS Chib said this yesterday while addressing an awareness camp organised by the panchayat of Tinda Kalan village in RS Pura to educate the villagers about their rights in a democratic set-up.

Chib said the government was aware of the problems of the people and steps had been initiated under various developmental schemes launched by the state and Central governments to mitigate these problems. He added that the village would witness more development after getting a separate panchayat status because then funds for its development would be earmarked separately.

Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council Arvinder Singh Mickey, who also accompanied the minister, urged people to extend full cooperation to the government so that the initiated developmental works could be completed in a short period.

He said the Centre was also keen on development of all areas of the state for which many centrally-sponsored schemes had been launched.

Mickey asked the authorities to investigate the matter of delay in the construction of a community hall at Tinda Kalan village and directed for strict action against the defaulters.

Jammu, November 20
A delegation of the All-State Kashmiri Pandits Conference called on Governor NN Vohra at the Raj Bhavan here today and submitted a memorandum of their demands.

The demands presented to the Governor by the deputation led by conference president AN Vaishnavi included the enhancement of a monthly cash relief to Kashmir migrants; a provision of adequate medical relief and a health insurance scheme; relaxation in age for over-aged Kashmir migrant youth to entitle them for employment; provision of merit-cum-means scholarships to the students of the community.

The other demands highlighted by the deputation related to the grant of the minority status to Kashmiri Pandits and ensuring protection of their religious places in the Kashmir valley by the enactment of a law in this regard.

The Governor gave a patient hearing to the delegation and assured it that he would take up their problems and demands with the Chief Minister. Other members of the delegation included vice-president of the All-State Kashmiri Pandits Conference RK Raina, general secretary HL Chatta and member Amit Raghu.

Jammu, November 20
An overground worker of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) was killed, while three terrorists managed to escape during a fierce gun battle with the security forces in the Nandigrad forest in the Keshwan belt of Kishtwar district in the wee hours today.

However, local residents alleged that the security forces killed an innocent person, Shafi Ahmed Gujjar, in the encounter. They took to the streets to stage a protest. Raising anti-police slogans, the protesters also observed a shutdown and demanded action against the security personnel involved in the operation.

On the other hand, a senior police officer claimed that they had received the inputs of the arrival of some militants led by a district commander of the LeT, Habib, alias Salman, at Gujjar Mohalla village in the Keshwan belt of Kishtwar district around midnight. They then launched a joint search operation with the assistance of the Special Task Force (STF) and the Army in the area and Shafi Ahmed was killed in the ensuing gunfight.

He said the militants also lobbed grenades and fired heavily on the security forces when the search operation was being carried out around 1 am.

Identifying Shafi Ahmed as an overground worker of the LeT, the IG, Jammu zone, Ashok Kumar Gupta, said, “Shafi Ahmed was a guide and overground worker of the LeT and uncle of a district commander, Habib, alias Salman.”

He added that though they were successful in killing Shafi, the militants, including Salman, escaped during the encounter.

He said the body of Shafi Ahmed had been recovered and locals had identified him. One pistol, one magazine, one Chinese grenade and four detonators were also recovered from near the body.

About the protests and allegation of locals against the security forces of killing a civilian in the encounter, a local policeman of Kishtwar said, “Basically, the family members of Shafi are trying to get compensation and nothing else. He was definitely a worker of the LeT.” Meanwhile, the search operation was on to nab or kill the militants who managed to escape.

Jammu, November 20
The security forces busted a hideout of militants in the Richh Bangla area in Reasi district last evening and recovered a huge haul of arms and ammunition.

An Army officer said during a joint search operation launched by the Rashtriya Rifles and the police, one UBGL, six UBGL grenades, one 12 bore double barrel gun, one single barrel gun and two blankets were recovered from the hideout. However, the militants managed to escape before the security forces reached there.

Jammu, November 20
The BSF Inter-Frontier Athletics Meet came to an end here at the Palmora stadium yesterday with the presentation of a colourful cultural extravaganza by students of BSF School, Palmora.

Minister for Sports Raman Bhalla was the chief guest on the occasion. The event that started on November 16 saw many sports events in different categories. In his address, IG, BSF, Frontier headquarters, welcomed the main guests on the occasion while the minister distributed prizes to the winning teams and declared the meet closed.

As many as 1,000 athletes of 10 BSF Frontiers from all over the country participated in the athletics meet that was organised by the Jammu Frontiers.

The Punjab Frontiers with seven gold, two silver was declared the overall champion, while Jammu and North Bengal frontiers stood second and third, respectively.

Jammu, November 20
The Rajouri police today booked Rukhsana Kausar’s husband on the charge of creating nuisance at the district hospital of Rajouri.

Sources said Rukhsana’s husband Kabir Hussain, a head constable in the Jammu and Kashmir police, had created nuisance at the district hospital where he had gone for first-aid, as he was injured after his motorcycle skidded off the road last night.

They added Kabir, in an inebriated condition, reached the hospital around 8 pm and created a ruckus when he was told to wait as the doctor was attending to some other patient.

Kabir threatened the doctor of dire consequences if he were not treated immediately. He also pointed his service rifle towards the doctor, the sources said.

Meanwhile, the hospital staff intervened and gave first-aid to Kabir to pacify him. Later, the hospital authorities filed a complaint against Kabir at Rajouri police station. He was arrested immediately.

Deepak Jasrotia, SHO, Rajouri police station said, “Kabir, husband of Rukhsana, has been booked under Section 36 of the Police Act. He was arrested on the complaint of the hospital authorities that he had misbehaved with them and created nuisance on the hospital premises last night.” He added the accused was put behind bars and was released only on the production of bail orders from court today.

However, the SHO refused to speak over the inebriated condition of the accused and the report of Kabir having aimed his service rifle at the doctor. It is to mention here that amid opposition from her family and villagers, Rukhsana Kausar had married her security guard, Kabir, an already married man and father of a four-year-old son on May 26, this year. Rukhsana was awarded Kirti Chakra for killing a militant.