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Differences over Surrender Policy
Kashmir Issue
LeT camps active in Pak, says militant
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Selection of Medical Institute Director
2 killed in accidental blast
One of the injured in the blast being taken to the GMCH in Jammu on Friday. Photo: Inderjeet Singh
Two terror modules busted, 7 held
60 govt employees held for fuelling unrest in Valley
Workshop on personal interview
IAS topper features in video
Court managers to help Judges in administrative duties
Army hands over de-mined land to villagers
Pak national held along border
Army holds medical camp
Free limbs for 42 physically challenged
Gandhian Study Centre holds quiz
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Differences over Surrender Policy
Jammu, November 26 Besides the rehabilitation policy, the Coordination Committee would also discuss some other vital issues on which both parties had divergent views and were affecting the functioning of the government. Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Saifuddin Soz told The Tribune over phone from New Delhi that the Coordination Committee meeting would be held in a couple of days. “Though the date for convening the meeting is yet to be finalised, it will be held in the next few days,” Soz, who is the coordinator of the committee, said. He, however, added that there was no specific agenda. He admitted that many important issues would be discussed in the meeting. Sources in the Congress said party leaders had expressed resentment over the way the NC had been pursuing its own agenda in the government, while the promises made by the Congress to the people during the last Assembly elections had been kept in the cold storage. “As the rehabilitation policy announced by the state government has snowballed into a political controversy and the BJP has been desperately trying to rake up the issue, Congress workers have asked the party leadership to adopt the middle path on the issue,” the sources said. They added that the Congress leaders during the meeting of the Coordination Committee would effectively put forth their view point on the policy. Veteran Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma hinted that his party would take up the issue with the NC in the committee meeting. Sharma, who is also a member of the committee, expressed anguish at the way the government had been trying to appease terrorists by ignoring deserving citizens. “Instead of rehabilitating militants, the government should emphasise on the rehabilitation of refugees and other helpless people,” he said. During the Cabinet meeting in which the rehabilitation policy was approved, three Congress ministers were conspicuous by their absence. Last week, senior Congress leader and Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council Arminder Singh Micky had made it clear that their party would oppose any move to rehabilitate militants, who had crossed over to Pakistan. Despite opposition by local Congress leaders, the state government had approved the policy.
Omar defends surrender policy
Jammu, November 26 Talking to reporters here,the Chief Minister claimed there was no negative reaction to the policy which had been formulated after seriously considering all aspects. In an obvious reference to the BJP and other political groups raking up the issue, Omar said some forces had been trying to create a controversy over the policy. “I don’t think there is anything wrong in it”, he said, adding, “Some political groups are trying to derive political mileage by raking up the issue.There is nothing in the policy which is going to harm the nation. A lot of homework has been done before formulating the policy and all aspects had been discussed with the Union Government in general and Union Home Minister P
Chidambaram, in particular”. It may be mentioned here the BJP and the Panthers Party have termed the policy as anti-national, which, according to them, was fraught with dangerous consequences. The Congress, which is a coalition partner in the government, has maintained silence despite the fact that party ministers were present at the meeting in which the Cabinet approved the policy. |
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Kashmir Issue
Jammu, November 26 He called upon the Central government to display courage and realism in addressing the issue. In a statement issued here, the Mufti said the government’s actions and pronouncements on Kashmir still smacked of the continuation of an approach that had yielded nothing but pain and disturbance in the last six decades. “While some response to the current turmoil that claimed 111 lives, in the shape of an all-party meeting and a visit by a delegation, had raised hopes of a changed approach, it seems the effort was limited to firefighting and attempting to see Kashmir move away from headlines,” he observed. The Mufti said it was disturbing to see the problem once again being squeezed into a security and terror frame. The exclusive dependence on security-related intelligence had always come in the way of a political approach, but it seemed the government was willingly walking into same alleys that had led us nowhere in the past, he added. The former Chief Minister said while it could be true that the youth may be tempted to take to arms again out of frustration, this fact could not be torn out of its context without the risk of upsetting the huge peace constituency in the state. The Mufti said Kashmir had made a collective, final and lasting break with violence and it disapproved of arms as a tool of political struggle. This fact had been reiterated repeatedly through peaceful street protests and participation in elections, but unfortunately it had failed to evoke a matching response from the country, he regretted. He said instead of attempting once again to tarnish the image of the state as a re-emerging haven of terrorism, the government would be advised to follow at least its own roadmaps. Observing what actually was happening on the ground was nobody’s business, the Mufti said instead of releasing youths and politicians, more had been arrested since the announcement of the eight-point agenda. The cosmetic announcements of bunker reduction were being projected as troop reduction while the Valley had been effectively converted into a prison. The Mufti said it was strange that while leaders from all political parties were keen to be seen talking to leaders like Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in Srinagar, their own attempts to open a dialogue with the people of the country were being blocked. Referring to the repeated disruption of interactive seminars attended by these leaders, the latest on Thursday in Chandigarh where the Mirwaiz was manhandled, the Mufti said it was ironical that a handful of troublemakers were allowed to disrupt serious and peaceful deliberations.
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LeT camps active in Pak, says militant
Srinagar, November 26 Mohammad Saleem
Rehmani, alias Abu Saad, who was arrested by the police from the Panzan area in Budgam district, 20 km from here, told reporters that inspite of the crackdown launched by the Pakistani authorities, the militant training camps were active in various parts of the country and occupied Kashmir
(PoK). “There were about 250 to 300 militants training with me during the Daura-e-Khas (special or advance course) who are being trained in handling weapons and launching attacks on the security forces in Kashmir,"
Rehmani, who infiltrated into the valley a few months ago, said. He said the permanent training camps, which were operating in Pakistan before the attacks on Mumbai in 2008 had been sealed, but makeshift camps had been set up in forests where training was being imparted these
days. Rehmani, who hails from the Nawab Shah area of the Sindh province of Pakistan, was part of an eight-member LeT group which infiltrated into Kashmir from the Lolab sector in Kupwara district. His accomplices were killed in two gunbattles with the security forces in the Lolab and Kangan area of Ganderbal district. “I was injured in the gunbattle and somehow managed to reach a Srinagar hospital where I was treated,” he added. Feigning ignorance about the involvement of the Pakistan Army in training the militants in the camps,
Rehmani, however, confirmed that the forces used to facilitate the infiltration of militants into Jammu and Kashmir. “There are five launching pads active in PoK where 45 to 50 militants are always ready to infiltrate. When they are given the green signal by the Army, they cross over,” he said.He had not come across any Army officer during his training at several camps in Pakistan and
PoK. Asked about the task assigned to him by his handlers in Pakistan, Rehmani said he was explained the topography of Bandipora district in north Kashmir and he had to set up his base in that area. Though expressing his desire to take part in
'jehad' again, the arrested militant said there was no need for a holy war in Kashmir. "During my stay in the hospital, I interacted with people of Kashmir and found that they are happy in their way of life. I do not think there is need for jehad in Kashmir," he said. Inspector-General of Police
(IGP) Kashmir S M Sahai, briefing the reporters about the interrogation of
Rehmani, said the revelations made by the militants explained the role of Pakistani agencies in fuelling militancy in the
Valley. "Lashkar and other outfits are openly motivating youth to train for attacks on security forces in Kashmir. Rehmani has revealed that most of the camps and motivation
centres, which were claimed to have been closed by the Pakistan government, are still functional," Sahai said. He said the militants were put through three courses before being selected for carrying out the suicide attacks. Asked if the revelations made by Rehmani pointed towards a repeat of 26/11 like attack on the Indian soil, Sahai said: "Such things do not happen every other day". — PTI |
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Selection of Medical Institute Director
Srinagar, November 26 The court has given a week’s time to respondents to reply. The petitioner, Dr Syed Mushtaq Ahmad, argued that the advertisement regarding the recruitment of Director, SKIMS, was in violation of norms laid down by the Medical Council of India and also the decision of the governing body of SKIMS. As per the petition, the requisite minimum teaching and research experience required for the said post, according to the MCI, was 10 years as Professor/Associate Professor/Reader in a medical college/institution, out of which at least five years’ experience was required as Professor in a department. The petition further argued that as per the MCI, preference for this appointment should be given to the Heads of the departments. The petitioner submitted that the governing body at its 32nd meeting held on May 25 this year, decided that in the light of mandatory character of the regulations of the MCI, the recruitment rules for the post of Director of 1998 shall be amended to the extent that rules as specified by the MCI are implemented with regard to essential qualification and experience. According to the petition, requisite experience as specified by the MCI and approved by the governing body, have been omitted in the advertisement published on August 4 in different newspapers. |
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Preventive curfew in Srinagar areas
Srinagar, November 26 The District Magistrate, Srinagar,ordered the imposition of the curfew under Section 144 of the CrPC on the movement of individuals in the areas falling within the jurisdiction of five police stations of Nowhatta, Khanyar, M.R. Gunj, Safakadal and Rainawari. However, security forces were advised to allow the movement of government employees on production of identity cards. They shall also regulate the movement of patients, attendants, chemists, teachers and students on the production of identity cards. All such persons shall be deemed to be exempted from the orders. The restrictions also foiled the proposed march by the hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman, Syed Ali Geelani, to Idgah today as per the protest calendar. Life in other parts of the capital city and elsewhere in the Valley, was normal and there were no reports of any untoward incident. The party expressed concern over the imposition of the curfew in the interior city areas and disallowing people to offer Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid and other major mosques in the area. Meanwhile, the hardline Hurriyat faction has called for a bandh on December 4 and has asked students to hold demonstrations for one hour on Tuesday. It has also asked the people to hold protests for one hour after Friday prayers next week.
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2 killed in accidental blast
Kulla (Jammu), November 26 The neighbours took the injured to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu,where the girl was declared brought dead and another member of the family succumbed to his injuries later. The deceased were identified as Lovely, daughter of constable Abhinesh Singh, and Kulbir Singh (40), his elder brother. The six injured were identified as Harbans Singh (70), his wife, Dalip Kaur (65), their two sons, Bhupinder Singh (39), a teacher, and Abhinesh Singh (33), Updesh Kaur, wife of Abhinesh Singh, and Puneet Pal, a three-year-old son of Abhinesh.The condition of two of the injured was said to be critical. Harjeet Singh, a relative, said: “Abhinesh had come on leave to attend the marriage of his cousin at Simbal Morh village and had to return next week to resume his duty in Gujarat, but everything has changed now.” The wife of deceased Kubir Singh was preparing to send her son to school when the blast took place. The police said splinters and parts of the shell had been recovered from the scene. The SDPO, RS Pura, HS Gill said: “ An FSL team has collected the samples of splinters from the house and only after getting the reports, the nature of the explosive device will be known.” He said the police had started investigations. “So far, the injured are not in a condition to record their statements and only after doing so, we will get any clue to the incident.”
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Two terror modules busted, 7 held
Srinagar, November 26 Four stone throwers were arrested and 18 grenades recovered from their possession in the Batamaloo area of Srinagar. Those arrested have been identified as Imtiyaz Ahmad Sheikh, Aadil Manzoor Aarm, Nadeem Ahmad Bhat and Aadil Hameed Bhat, the police said. It added that they were members of a module specially formed by Sajad Ahmad, alias Shamas, a militant of the Lashkar-e-Toiba, located in the Thanamandi area of Rajouri district. Grenades were distributed among these four youths to target the security forces and create disturbances in Srinagar city, the police said. Busting another module in the Sopore area of Baramulla district, the police arrested a stone thrower, Firdous Ahmad Sheikh, alias Birbal. Birbal has confessed to the link between the LeT and the Hurriyat (Geelani), the police added. |
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60 govt employees held for fuelling unrest in Valley
Srinagar, November 26 He was responding to a question about the involvement of some government employees in the five-month unrest that left over 100 persons dead and thousands others injured. Sahai said seven employees had been booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA), which provides for the detention of a person up to two years without trial. “We have sent our recommendations (to the government) and hope that disciplinary action will be taken (against the erring employees),” the IGP said. Sahai said investigations had revealed that some anti-social and criminal elements had also taken advantage of the law and order situation in the hope of escaping the dragnet of the police. “There are several incidents of arson in which people indulging in cultivation and illicit trade of bhang and fukhi (intoxicants) were involved,” he said. — PTI
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Workshop on personal interview
Jammu, November 26 Prof Chandu emphasised upon the importance of listening and cooperation while participating in a group discussion. He also discussed the approach needed in personal interview and highlighted the importance of domain knowledge, general awareness and general knowledge in facing an interview. The importance of communication skills and body language was also emphasised. Avneet Bagga, Head, North Region, introduced the students to KASH -- knowledge, attitude, skills and habit, which are the essentials for a successful career. Dr Kiran Bakshi, Principal of the college, was the chief guest on the occasion. Bakshi emphasised upon the importance of such lectures and workshops. She asked the students to get the maximum benefit out of such activities. The workshop was organised by the Placement and Counselling Cell of the college. Besides college students, the lecture was attended by Dr Neeraj Gupta, Prof Parveen Singh, Prof Poonam Kamotra and other faculty members of the college.
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IAS topper features in video
New Delhi, November 26 The video was released by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram yesterday on the occasion of Flag Day, which is observed on the last day of Communal Harmony Campaign Week. The National Foundation for Communal Harmony (NFCH), an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has prepared the video. Shah Faesal is the Goodwill Ambassador of the NFCH in the video titled , “Ray of Hope”. The video brings to light how the great determination and grit of a person affected with societal obstacles can overcome adversities in life. Through the video, Faesal highlights the need for being resilient against odds in life and also believing in oneself in order to be successful. His message to the younger generation is that they should use their abilities, skills and education for constructive activities, which make them part of the nation-building process. Faesal, whose father was killed by militants in 2001, became the first from Kashmir to top the Civil Service examination last year. The NFCH provides financial assistance to the child victims of societal violence for their care, education and training aimed at their effective rehabilitation. It also confers awards for outstanding contribution to the promotion of communal harmony and national integration. Separately, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram administered a national integration pledge to officers and staff of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
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Court managers to help Judges in administrative duties
Jammu, November 26 This information was given in a high level meeting under the chairmanship of Minister for Rural Development, Panchayats, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Sagar here today. Senior officers of the Law Department also attended the meeting. Of the sanctioned/released amount, Rs 1.5 crore has been sanctioned for setting up a judicial academy, Rs 2.98 crore for creating an alternate dispute resolution centre, Rs 58.70 lakh for renovation of heritage court buildings, Rs 30.60 lakh for training of judicial officers, Rs 26.07 lakh for legal aid, Rs 13.03 lakh for setting up lok adalats and also for the creation of court managers to assist the Judges. It was also stated that as far as the creation of court managers was concerned, professionally qualified persons with MBA degree would be engaged, who would support the Judges in their administrative duties, enabling them to devote more time to their judicial functions. The post of court manager would be created in each judicial district court to assist Principal District and Session Judges and two posts of court managers would be created for the High Court. The meeting was told that for the restoration and conservation of heritage court buildings of the state, preference would be accorded to larger and older buildings and the high level monitoring committee set up for the purpose had to decide the order of preference. With regard to the establishment of an alternative dispute resolution centre, the state government had to set up a centre in every judicial court for the out of court settlement of cases.
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Army hands over de-mined land to villagers
Jammu, November 26 The cleared area was handed over in a simple ceremony along the Zero Line to Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Sheetal Nanda by the Commander of the Bawan Brigade in the presence of local villagers, civil administration officials and Army personnel. The Army had earlier cleared 1,300 kanals close to the Zero Line and handed it over to the local farmers, before the onset of the monsoon. The de-mining activity had to be temporarily suspended due to unprecedented monsoon this year and flooding of Manwar Tawi and neighbouring areas. During the extremely tedious and painstaking process of de-mining, soldiers had to be extra cautious because of the danger of drifted and displaced mines. Army de-mining teams operated under harsh weather conditions and worked tirelessly day and night to meet the deadline of de-mining so as to enable the local villagers to restart tending their fields well in time. Highly technical and modern equipment were used by the Army to clear the area, which is now safe for cultivation by the farmers who had so far been deprived of their only source of livelihood for the last 10 years. The handing over ceremony was attended by a large section of population from the border areas. Addressing the gathering, senior Army officers reiterated that the men in uniform were committed to not only ensuring the security of nation’s frontiers, but also would continue to assist the local population in their empowerment and development of the area.
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Pak national held along border
Jammu, November 26 They added that last evening the troops observed a man, Chaudhary Muneer, who was said to be mentally sick, moving suspiciously along the international border. He was arrested immediately. However, the police said they had not received any information about the arrest of any Pakistan national. “Yes, we have heard that the BSF nabbed a Pakistan national along the border last evening, but we have not been informed,” said SHO, Samba, Gian Chand. Arms recovered
Udhampur: The security forces on Thursday recovered arms and ammunition from a militant hideout identified by arrested commander of Hijbul Mujahideen Abdullah Inqlabi in Reasi district. The recovery included one AK 56, one grenade, 120 cartridges and 4 AK magazine, besides a large quantity of eatables. |
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Army holds medical camp
Jammu, November 26 People of all age groups arrived in large numbers at the camp location to benefit from the medical facilities, investigations, medical advice, treatment and free medicines. Vaccinations, eye-sight testing and treatment for cardiac problems, aches, water-borne diseases and malaria were main focus of the camp. A talk on health and hygiene was also conducted by doctors during the camp. |
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Free limbs for 42 physically challenged
Udhampur, November 26 The beneficiaries were fitted with limbs free of cost. They belonged to various parts of the state, including Kashmir, Kishtwar, Jammu, Doda, Chenani and Ramban. Major-Gen AK Chaturvedi was the chief guest.He lauded the services of the ABMYM. The national convener of the ABMYM, MN Agarwal, informed that they had already organised two such camps in association with the BRO. In all, 190 physically challenged persons have been fitted with artificial limbs so far. In the camp organised in Srinagar last month, 150 persons were provided these props. He added that High-Density Ployethene Pipe (HDPP) developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was used as the material for the artificial limbs. It is considered to be the most suitable material used for the purpose in the world. The ABMYM has 628 branches in India run by about 40,000 youths of the NGO who have so far benefited more than 4 lakh physically challenged persons in the country.
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Gandhian Study Centre holds quiz
Jammu, November 26 The quiz comprised three rounds which included a visual one. Six teams participated in the competition wherein there were interesting queries on the life and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. The teams - Shanti, Swaraj and Swadesh- bagged the first, second and third prizes, respectively, in the competition. The quiz was anchored by Sahil Ravgotra. The aim of the quiz was to propagate Gandhian philosophy amongst the youth. The quiz was conducted by the volunteers of the Gandhian Studies Centre, namely, Abdul Qayoom, Imtiaz Ahmed and Rahul Kundal. Dr Ajeet Angral, Principal of the College, exhorted the students to make themselves aware about the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. Prof N.K.Tripathi, Dean, Students Welfare, University of Jammu, was the chief guest.
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Puncturing Pakistan's claims about the dismantling of the terror infrastructure in the wake of 26/11 Mumbai attacks, an arrested militant from across the border today said training camps of the Lashkar-e-Toiba
(LeT) and other outfits were still active on its soil.
Two members of a family, including a three-month-old girl, were killed and six others injured in an accidental blast in their house at Kulla village, near
Bishnah, about 25 km from Jammu, this morning. The explosion took place when a BSF constable, posted in
Gujarat, who had come home on leave, was fiddling with a bomb shell in the verandah of his house.
New Delhi, November 26
