Jammu, December 14
Jammu, the land of peace and harmony, where king Jambulochan established a city after spotting a lion and a goat sipping water on same end of the Tawi, is more known as a quite city that erupts only in reaction to developments in Srinagar. Of late, certain individuals with their stories of grit and determination have made the city’s name to be reckoned with.

No, we are not talking about cops or soldiers, who are synonymous with courage. We are here talking about common citizens, who like millions others, would have easily sat back home sulking at their “weak” status or criticising the system that has wrested all power in hands of politicians, bureaucrats and cops or just simply cursing the destiny.

These individuals did not bow before anyone. They took on the adversary, the more powerful the enemy was, the greater the fight and success story of these “gladiators” turned out to be. It is easy to talk about daring when adversary is far away, but in their case, the adversary was right before them and all equipped with powers working against them. But with their success against all odds, their story is lapped up, not only nationally but internationally as well.

The Tribune recently talked to two families to ascertain their struggle for justice and how it could be helpful to others.

The world of Rajendra Kachroo, a resident of New Plot in Jammu, shook when his promising son Aman Kachroo became a victim of ragging. Aman had all dreams of the world when he joined a medical college at Tanda, near Kangra in Himachal Pradesh. After all, he would be fulfilling the greatest desire of his parents to adorn the doctor’s coat. But providence had something bad, rather worse and tragic.

Aman became a victim of ragging and lost his life. The shattered father did not sit at home. He fought on to get the culprits the punishment they deserve. And in the process, he becomes the beacon of hope for hundreds of such youth, who were saved from meeting the same fate as Aman.

“The entire world seemed to collapse on me at his death. I did not know how to react and how to think and how to behave,” recalls Kachroo. He says he was numb till the cremation when a young female journalist from Network 18 suggested he should take fight against the evil of ragging. She said someone has to take up the cudgel. That really was the turning point. And that was the start of the struggle,” he reveals.

The following day, he designed a prevention plan for ragging. Kachroo didn’t believe in punishment and is certainly not for capital punishment. “I believe prevention can save lives of many Amans.”

The whole life course of the family was altered. “I had to devote all my time to the movement against ragging. My sister became a big support and her company provided much-needed infrastructure and financial help from time to time. My daughter took one year off from her studies to work for the movement,” he adds.

Then, his wife worked full time to manage the finances. “Her pain was the biggest and as I fought the outside world, she worked full time as the kitchen fire had to be kept burning,” Kachroo says.

How tough was the battle for justice? “I firmly believe that our judiciary is too slow. We need to re-engineer procedures and improve the management of courts. But in the case of Aman, I think the judiciary, police and the executive have been extremely helpful”.

Kachroo has a word to say about bureaucrats, “My biggest problem which continues even today is to deal with the civil servants. I regret to say but it seems that they do not understand a thing. They are experts in creating problems rather than solving them. The biggest hurdle in the path of the Aman movement and the eradication of ragging today is bureaucracy. Politicians believe their officers blindly”.

What is his advice for people struggling like him for justice, “For us, fortunately, money was not an issue and cops were helpful, but this doesn’t happen in all cases. For people struggling for justice, I would say that should be mentally prepared to go all the way. Assess your situation correctly in terms of finances, support, objective etc. If you are 100 per cent sure that you must fight and can go all the way to the end only then go ahead. Otherwise, give it up from the very beginning. Leaving it half way can damage your conscience and give you a feeling of defeat. This feeling can be much more harmful to you than the original tragedy”.

While Kachroo family of Jammu was fighting its own battle, another city couple, CL Mattoo and his wife Rageshwari Mattoo of Talab Tillo were struggling for justice for their daughter, Priyadarshani Mattoo, who was raped and murdered by the son of an IGP.

“I have died everyday since January 23, 1996, when the brutal tragedy took place,” says Rageshwari Mattoo, mother of Priyadarshani. The day marked the end of a young life and start of a long legal battle where Priya’s parents took on mighty policemen and with the help of the media, exposed loopholes in the investigation. Eventually, much to their relief, the accused Santosh Singh, was convicted and awarded death sentence. The Supreme Court commuted it to life imprisonment last week, starting another battle for justice.

Like Kachroo family, the Mattoos, who are originally inhabitants of Kashmir, and now live in Talab Tillo, money was not an issue. “We could manage funds for the legal battle, but what we mustered up was the courage to fight an adversary, who had already taken away a precious life in form of our daughter, who dared challenge it,” said Dr Mattoo.

The killing was the bigger trauma than our exodus from the Valley. “We suffered much loss in the exodus, but the trauma of my daughter’s murder was the biggest. I shudder in fear and pain when I think of my small girl who I cradled in my arms and later suffered pain of being raped, beaten till her ribs were broken and finally, killed”.

She recalls it was a daily struggle. “It was not an ordinary struggle. Our psyche was already affected by our exodus from the Valley, but for my eldest daughter, Sangeeta, I would have died long ago from depression. She left her lucrative career in the US to take care of me as we struggled with her memories and for justice”.

After the tragedy, the reaction from people astonished them. “Not many came to our help initially and ironically, it was only Priya, who helped us as she had kept documented record of all police complaints against Santosh and his apologies to her,” she adds.

The hapless mother has just undergone an angiography. “I was far from being in good frame of mind and body to handle such a shock. I fainted time and again after I saw the ransacked house and her body.”

Fighting tears, she said the worse tragedy was the ordeal by judiciary. “The police was biased from day one. They started questioning my servant who was like a family member. I told the police not to touch him, but the police insisted then I had to shout at them. When everybody knew it was Santosh and he was seen entering the house that day, the police clearly under pressure wasn’t arresting him,” Rageshwari says.

“Then, media came in big way and many NGOs and social workers, who helped us from day one. We realised we are not alone. I met many big politicians like Farooq Abdullah for his help. Mattoo sahib visited many offices, People organised rallies. All this created pressure and that is what the common man can count on against the big wigs.”

All this while they were withering away. “We grew old early after Priya’s demise. She was the darling of the family. Her elder brother was in Kuwait and sister in the US when all that happened. I was almost paralysed with grief and couldn’t move much. I was not hopeful but my Husband did not lose heart. He kept on going. He followed it up. But after four years of struggle, what we got was the judge releasing Santosh by making the infamous statement that he knows the guy committed the crime but he has no evidence. It was a great shock. My Husband did not give up and we finally turned the tables.”

Money, a key component in struggle against injustice is always a factor. They had to put in their retirement money and all savings kept for Priya’s marriage.

“We were fairly well off in Srinagar. We had many years of service left. But the exodus changed all that. We were reduced to refugees. That affected us. We had kept money for Priya’s marriage. We spent lkakhs on the litigation. We spent our gratuity money. But if you have will to fight, money or lack of money does not make a difference, but it can’t be ignored altogether.”

Is getting in the limelight easier for crime taking place in Delhi or major cities? Rageshwari agrees, “There are thousands of such cases going on. Priya wouldn't have got the limelight had she been in Jammu.

“I had a fear that the accused could do something wrong. But killing and raping was never imagined.”

And when the fight of a family against injustice spreads around, others seek advice or offer support, especially those who have gone through such circumstances.

“I got calls from Jessica Lal’s sister and Nitish Katara’s mother showing solidarity with us, encouraging us and at the same time, seeking encouragement from our courage as well.”

“But our struggle is not over. We are not satisfied with the life imprisonment given to Sanotsh. We would get him death sentence. Till then, we won’t rest,” she reiterates.

Rageshwarri and her family don’t forget the media. “They took our struggle to the national and international levels and forced the investigation to be fair and free.”

Aman Kachroo lost his life after he became a victim of ragging at Tanda Medical College in HP

The life of the family was altered. Rajendra Kachroo had to devote all his time to the movement against ragging. His sister supported him with financial help. His daughter took one year off from studies

My biggest problem which continues even today is to deal with civil servants

Priyadarshani Mattoo, daughter of CL Mattoo and Rageshwari Mattoo, was raped and murdered by the son of an IGP in 1996

The Mattoo couple took on mighty policemen and with the help of the media, exposed loopholes in the investigation. Eventually, the accused, Santosh, was convicted and awarded death sentence. However, the SC recently commuted it to life imprisonment

The reaction from people astonished us and not many came to our help initially while the police was biased from day one

Jammu, December 14
To make government-run corporations and public sectors profitable and to bring professionalism in these sectors, the authorities have decided to conduct screening of the employees after repeated intervals to assess their performance. While those employees whose performance was found satisfactory would be accordingly awarded, those who fail to improve their capability would be shown the door because the authorities have decided to make their sectors profitable with the active involvement of the employees.

The first experiment in this regard would be started from Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation Limited. A proposal for bringing professionalism and to enhance the capability of the employees was mooted in the 84th Board of Directors meeting of the corporation which was held under the chairmanship of Minister of Tourism and Culture Nawang Rigzin Zora recently.

In the meeting, it was decided that to strengthen the professionalism in the corporation, 10 junior executives on a contractual basis with professional qualification in the corporation to strengthen its service would be appointed.

The proposal for the engagement of professional executives at the senior slot of general manager was also given a nod. The Board of Directors desired that every employee should work for the overall development of the corporation and provide best service to the cliental in all its accommodation and restaurants. The employees who will not prove themselves up to the standard may be shown the door after screening their performance record.

The Board was informed that authorised share capital of the corporation is Rs 5 crore and proposal for its enhancement to Rs 16 crore was pending with the Administrative Department. While reviewing the assets and liabilities of the corporation, the Board was of unanimous view that the authorised capital of the corporation should not be less than Rs 100 crore. Necessary formalities in this regards were directed to be initiated immediately.

Decision taken in the meeting has been considered as radical to make government-run corporations profitable. It is widely alleged that due to the lack of professionalism and lackluster approach of the employees, the corporation has failed to compete with the private sector. Although the corporation has infrastructure at tourist destinations, tourists prefer to go to private sectors due to approach of the employees.

In the meeting, Satish Nehru, managing director of the corporation, gave a power point presentation of the physical and financial achievements of the corporation and also placed them before the board.

The Board of Directors and the chairman appreciated the all-round achievement of the corporation, particularly new initiatives undertaken and works done by Satish Nehru should be placed on record.

Among other decisions, grant of additional house rent allowance of 2.5 per cent to the employees of the corporation and raising the wages of casual/consolidated employees to the minimum of Rs 3,300 was also approved.

The performance of the Transport Division was also reviewed and in view of the quantum jump in profit of Rs 50 lakh registered during 2009-10 from the division, a proposal for acquiring 6 new vehicles was also approved.

The financial delegation of the managing director was also enhanced with regard to administrative approval to different works from Rs 30 lakh to Rs 1 crore and undertaking works of different nature without inviting bids from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh on individual works.

The chairman and the vice-chairman, while reviewing the performance of the corporation, desired that every employee of the corporation should redouble his efforts for the better performance of the company.

Srinagar, December 14
Even as the Kashmir Valley produces a large amount of electricity and has the potential to produce even more, residents have started experiencing power pangs with the arrival of the winter.

Officials say that due to the freezing of various water bodies in the Valley power generation has declined but the demand has increased owing to extreme cold.

“Every winter there is a huge gap between demand and supply of electricity in the Kashmir Valley,” said an officer of the Power Development Department.

He says as people use room heaters, geysers and other heavy electrical equipments during the winter, the consumption of electricity increases but the department is not able to meet the demand owing to the shortage of water in the water bodies.

However, the people contend that despite paying the hefty monthly electricity bills they have to face problems.

“I pay all my electricity bills regularly, but at the time when we need electricity the most, we don’t get its supply, rendering defunct all electrical appliances at home,” said Tariq Masoodi a resident of Allouchi Bagh.

He said unscheduled power cuts had increased with the arrival of the winter in the Kashmir Valley.

“No schedule of power supply is being followed, we don’t know when electricity would come and go. While taking dinner we have to keep an alternative source of power as a standby,” said Tariq.

Consumers also blame that there has been a drastic decrease of voltage, which is not sufficient enough to run any device.

“People who have installed big stabilisers are enjoying but those who can not afford these gadgets are the worst suffers as the voltage is dim,” said Mushtaq Ahmed of Jawahar Nagar.

The students, who are preparing for their exams are the worst sufferers as they say that it has become difficult for them to study owing to the low voltage. “The low voltage during the night puts a lot of strain on the eyes,” said Gurdeep Singh, who is appearing for his B Com second year examinations.

Though the government ban on smoking in public places has gone for a six, it appears time has come for imposing a similar ban on chewing tobacco and related products in the winter capital.

The other day a gentleman was seen having heated arguments with a man who, oblivious of his uncivilised act, had spoiled his white shirt.

Peeping out of a moving minibus in the city, the "shaukeen" of gutkha had spit and the "residue" had fallen on the gentleman riding a bike.

"Kis jungle se aye ho," the gentleman was heard shouting at the top of his voice to the gutkha maniac.

Jammu, December 14
In a better late than never act, the Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) has decided to spruce up Police Martyrs’ Memorial here in the winter capital. It has also decided to install an eternal flame (Amar Jawan Jyoti) in the memory of its brave officers and cops, who had laid down their lives in the line of duty in the restive state.

Kuldeep Khoda, DGP, revealed this to The Tribune on the sidelines of a function held here recently.

It may be stated here that the memorial has been lying in a state of neglect. Its tiles on all four pillars have come off.

“We have also decided to illuminate the memorial so as to give it a soothing look,” said the DGP.

In the past two decades of militancy, 958 officers and other police personnel have laid down their lives in the line of duty.

The memorial was inaugurated on January 30, 2008, after its construction by the J&K Police Housing Corporation.

“The memorial, outside Jammu railway station, glorifies supreme sacrifices of our brave officers and cops and hence it should be kept in a good condition,” said a senior police officer.

According to sources, the project has already received approval from the authorities. “Within a couple of months, Amar Jawan Jyoti would be installed,” they added.

It may be stated that visitors to the memorial return dejected in the absence of Amar Jawan Jyoti and poor upkeep of the structure.

Even the DGP admitted during his visit to the memorial that he had noticed that several tiles of pillars had been broken.

“We will do whatever required for restoring the glory of the memorial,” he said.

“Before embarking upon the project, tenders were floated at the national level and three companies were shortlisted to finalise a design befitting to the supreme sacrifice of our officers and men,” said a senior police officer.

Srinagar, December 14
An impressive and thought-provoking one-day Sheikh-ul-Alam conference, “Views on humanity and education” organised by Alama Maulana Ghulam Rasool Hami, a renowned Islamic scholar of the Valley, was held at the Institute of Management and Public Administration (IMPA) here recently. A galaxy of intellectuals, Islamic scholars and writers attended the seminar.

Former vice-chancellor of the University of Kashmir, and vice-chairman, Muslim Waqf Board, Prof MY Qadiri, was the chief guest on the occasion. The chairman Carvan-e-Islami, Maulana Ghulam Rasool Hami, Prof. Bashar Bashir, Director, Information, Khawaja Farooq Renzu, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, MA Kakroo, Director, Tourism, Farooq Shah, and others participated.

Welcoming the guests and people, Maulana Ghulam Rasool Hami detailed out the resume of Sheikh-ul-Alam Research University and said he has met various ulemas, scholars and educationists, including Peer Allaudin in Birmingham and Maulana Tahir-ul-Qadiri, both in and outside the country for discussing various features of Sheikh-ul-Alam (RA) Research University. He said he received positive response from these learned ulemas and assured their full cooperation in setting up of the university.

Maulana Hami appealed to all to extend their cooperation in this connection, adding that the Sheikh-ul-Alam University Advisory Board has decided to provide reservations to poor students of all three regions of the state.

He said Carvan-e-Islami had a proposal to establish a model school where besides religious education; CBSE-pattern syllabus would be introduced for all sections of people. He said the organisation contemplated to promote mutual brotherhood and thoughts of all Sufi Saints on the lines of Sheikh-ul-Alam (RA).

He said the proposed university would be opened for all communities irrespective of caste, creed and colour, adding that research would be conducted on all Auliya Kirams (RA) whose spiritual contribution is unparallel.

Prof Bashar, while speaking on the occasion, said Sheikh-ul-Alam had 700 years ago given a message on environmental and ecological balance, justice, social life, religion, brotherhood and amity.

Khawaja Farooq Renzu urged the need for promoting the teachings of Sufi saints who had always preached mutual brotherhood and a system based on social justice.

Complementing the Carvan-e-Islami, Jammu and Kashmir, for taking initiative for setting up of the university in the Valley, he hoped that the university would go a long way in spreading the message of Sheikh-ul-Alam (RA) not only in the country, but also abroad.

Renzu said: “We all have to work in a coordinated manner which is the only key for the successful future of the university”.

The chief guest, while complimenting the Carvan-e-Islami, for establishing the university, highlighted the teachings of Islam and importance of education.

Qadiri said the Islam preached teachings of brotherhood tolerance and amity in the Arab world which gradually spread in the whole world.

He urged the need for an integrated educational programme for the university and hoped the university would prosper and become a seat of modern education, besides research-oriented religious education.