Jammu, February 15
In a hard-hitting indictment of the police over the missing case of two persons suspected to be murdered at Malikot village of Mahore tehsil in Reasi, the State Human Rights Commission has asked the DGP for a fresh inquiry.

The nearly 11-and-a-half-year old case of abduction was closed as “untraced” by the police. The highlights of the orders are scathing comments made on working of the police. While narrating the story, the commission’s report begins with the comments that it is one of the oldest cases pending with it.

The commission recommends that though it is a “hard task”, some hard decisions need to be taken to assign the inquiry to an honest and dedicated officer to unveil the truth.

In its report, the commission notes: “The police and other associated agencies have all ‘magic’ in their hands which has changed a full-fledged final report under Sections 302, 147, 364 and 109 of the RPC into a closed case with the help and connivance of the complainant”.

The commission also advised the DGP to have an in-depth introspection of working of the crime branch. “If the instant 
misadventures are repeated, multiplied and get unnoticed, it will bring down the image of this sister branch of the police in the eyes of the people. So an inquiry be initiated for the safety of the institution,” he report says.

The commission registered a complaint in 1999 in which the complainant, a resident of Malikot village in Mahore tehsil, Mohd Shabir, reported that his 80-year-old father, Ghulam Ahmad Kashmiri, along with a close relative, Qamar-ud-Din, was abducted by five persons of the village who had a land dispute with the complainant.

The accused allegedly handed over both of them to Maj OP Samroo of the 13 Sikh Regiment stationed at Mamankot on November 1, 1998 on the basis of wrong information.

When the complainant visited the Army camp, he was told that abductees had already been released. Eventually, a shoe of Ghulam Ahmed was found from a nearby jungle, but Ghulam Ahmed and Qamar never returned home.

The commission finds that when the then SHO Mahore had finalised the investigation into filing of challans against all six accused, the file was submitted to CPO Udhampur. He advised the investigating officer to again record statements of the complainant and other witnesses.

“In the meantime to hush up the matter under umbrella cover of the court, a private complaint was filed by the complainant not before the CJM Udhampur concerned, but before the CJM Jammu for offences under Sections 506, 420 and 468 of the RPC against Abu Baber (a militant of the area) involving him and his associates with the alleged crime. A copy of which was magically received by the IO through post. Most astonishing,” the commission maintains.

Thereafter, the complainant and other witnesses changed their statements maintaining that the missing persons were summoned by the Army and then released within two-three hours. The witnesses further maintained that the same persons were abducted by some persons in the guise of Army uniform.

Maintaining that despite due and proper service, the complainant for known reasons has opted not to appear and pursue the matter, the chairperson of the commission states: “I am conscious of the fact that in the court, the defence would have taken advantage of many lacunas such as delay in filing of the FIR. By not filing the challans and closing the investigation (once final report was ready) as untraced, the investigative agency has taken undue advantage of its powers and has done great disservice to the administration of criminal justice system for which they are being paid”.

“The normal process of law could not have been scuttled and aborted by adopting such absurd and crude shortcut,” he adds in the report with a rebuff to the police.

Jammu, February 15
The CRPF has acquired X-95 INSAS 5.56 mm rifles to enable its men counter Pak-sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir effectively “The CRPF has acquired a new weapon, X-95 INSAS 5.56 mm rifle, for counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir,” a senior CRPF officer told The Tribune.

A smaller and light weapon compared to AK-47 rifles, it had been found very effective in room intervention as well as during night operations, added the officer.

It had multipurpose reflex sight due to which a soldier could accurately aim at any target without keeping his eye and body in the line of weapon, said the officer.

It also had laser and infra-red pointer that were very useful in pinpointing the target, enabling the handler to hit the target with precision.

“The jawans will have to use infra-red goggles in the night while switching over to the infra-red mode ,” he said, adding that conversion from day optics to night optics was done without zeroing.

The X-95 INSAS 5.56 rifle has an effective killing range at par with the AK-47 rifle. The CRPF has acquired 150 such rifles, which have been distributed among quick response teams (QRTs) of 15 battalions deployed across the Jammu region.

The CRPF had acquired non-lethal weapons last summer to quell mob violence in Kashmir. At that time the CRPF had been accused of high-handedness while dealing with the frenzied mobs in Kashmir and hence we had acquired pump action 12 bore guns to quell violence and avoid life-threatening injuries to frenzied mobs.

“But we have to fight militants as well, who have been provided sophisticated weaponry,” said the officer, adding that as a part of modernisation the CRPF had been provided the new weapon to bolster its power.

Divulging more about the X-95 INSAS 5.56 mm rifle, the officer said that the weapon was specifically designed to deal with terror threats, urban and open area combat missions.

“Initially, we have distributed these 150 weapons among our QRTs in the Jammu region, particularly in the militancy-infested districts of Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban,” he said.

Every unit of the CRPF in these areas had been given 10 to 11 guns and “we expect to get more deliveries in the days to come” saidthe CRPF officer.

Now, it has to be seen how much success the government gets with this initiative.

A senior bureaucrat said there was no harm in using social networking sites for the purpose of highlighting the achievements of the government or to get the suggestions from the public. He also said the Chief Minister had been using Twitter to get connected with the masses.

Jammu, February 15
Concerned over the fast urbanisation, academicians, experts and art lovers have stressed the need to preserve the tribal and nomadic heritage of Gujjars of the state.

The concern was expressed during a week-long photo exhibition which concluded at the Kala Kendra here recently. The exhibition was organised by the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation which is in the business of promoting Gujjar heritage for the past about one decade.

Governor NN Vohra was the first dignitary who wanted to propagate and document various forms of the Gujjar tradition through audiovisual means.

While inaugurating the exhibition on February 7, the Governor had emphasised the need for publishing these photographs as an album with suitable comments for their wider dissemination. He opined that photographs tell their own story and had their own importance, alongside the historical records.

All 30 photographs on display depicted varied moods, shades and colours of this brave nomadic community, mostly living and moving in the upper reaches of the state.

Dr Javed Rahi, secretary of the foundation, said he planned to hold a series of such exhibitions in near future, even outside the state, in order to highlight the vast richness and diversity of the Gujjar culture.

Rahi asserted that due to urbanisation, Gujjars were losing most of the nomadic traits the community was known for. “It was our first attempt to exhibit the unseen shades of the Gujjar culture and to draw the attention of masses towards their colourful cultural heritage,” he said.

Rahi called for formulating policies for the development of tribes under various programmes and policies of the government.

Similar views were expressed by various dignitaries and art lovers who thronged the Kala Kendra to peep into heritage, lifestyle and habitats of the Gujjar tribe on display. While penning down their observations in the visitor’s book, they felt a strong need to have such more exhibitions on different themes related to the tribal Gujjar culture.

Rahi said in order to encourage professional as well as amateur photographers to visit the tribal areas and depict Gujjars through photographs, the foundation would provide all logistic support in the far-flung areas where Gujjars live in temporary sheds and establishments both in winters and summers. Prominent personalities who visited the exhibition included First Lady Usha Vohra, Choudhary Taj Mohi-ud and Mian Altaf Ahmed, (both ministers), various Gujjar leaders, former director, General Culture, Mohammad Yusuf Teing, secretary, J&K Academy of Art, culture and languages, Zaffar Iqbal Manhas, former director, General Tourism, Mohd Saleem Beig, art critic Lalit Gupta and Kashmir expert Prof Ayaz Rasool Nazki.

While 2.57 lakh trees will be planted on 245 hectares in Baramulla and Kupwara districts, in Srinagar, Ganderbal and Budgam districts 134 hectares of land will be covered with the plantation of 2.34 lakh trees for which 78,000 saplings in Srinagar district, 89,000 saplings in Budgam and 67,000 saplings would be planted in Budgam during the period.

The minister was also informed that 2.14 lakh saplings will be planted in Shopian and Pulwama districts for which 101 hectares of land will be covered under this programme.

The minister was informed that the Wildlife Department will also plant 2.45 lakh saplings in the Dachigam, Khrew, Ajas, Daksum, Kheram, Avara, Hajan, Kothar and Lachmanpora areas. Besides, the Soil Conservation Department will also plant 18,600 saplings in Pulwama, Kupwara and Baramulla districts on the available land.

The minister urged upon the officers to gear up their all forest units so that vacant land is covered under plantation during the ensuing plantation season.

Srinagar, February 15
Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats Ali Mohammad Sagar has said that Ganderbal district would be developed as a model district for which Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has made commitment with the people.

He said a Central university would be set up in Ganderbal for which 4,500 kanals was being acquired adding that it would not only boost the economy, but also take the education sector in the district to new heights.

The minister was addressing a public meeting at Ganderbal. He said the government contemplated to establish a forest college in the district.

Regarding panchayat elections, Sagar said the elections would empower the rural people to decide about their development plans at grass-roots level.

He said panchayat elections were being held after 32 years and later local body elections would also be held in the state.

Sagar appealed all political parties to rise above party politics so that the issues relating to Kashmir were settled for ever. He hoped that positive results would come out of the steps taken by the Central government for the purpose.

Sagar said the government was committed to provide employment to 50,000 unemployed youth, while 5,500 vacancies had already been advertised.

Earlier, Sagar distributed Rs 5.53 lakh IAY cheques as the first instalment among 40 beneficiaries for constructing low-cost houses in the Ganderbal block.

Later, Sagar reviewed the land acquisition process for the Central university at an officers meeting. He was informed that 4,300 kanals had been acquired for the purpose.

On the occasion, Director Rural Development Jehangir Mir, additional DDC, Ganderbal, Hamdani, ACD, and other officers were also present.

Srinagar, February 15
Chief Secretary Madhav Lal has underscored the need for reactivating all administrative units at the grass root level for serving the people.

He said officials should prioritise the works so that these were completed within the fixed time frame, adding that every department must have a vision to carry forward their plan for the benefit of the people. He said ctizen-centric services were a priority for the government and said that the officers should not shift responsibilities.

The Chief Secretary, who came to Srinagar after assuming charge as Chief Secretary, was addressing heads of departments, Deputy Commissioners, and Chief Engineers of Kashmir Division.

The Chief Secretary said that the officers should also reach out to the people and apprise them about the policies and programmes taken up by the administration and also get the feedback on these programmes and policies from them. He asked the Deputy Commissioners to hold regular courts themselves and settle revenue cases and also monitor the functioning of Assistant Commissioners and Tehsildars in this connection.

The Chief Secretary said vacancies would be filled at all levels to increase the work potential of the departments concerned.

Srinagar, February 15
Minister for Health, Horticulture and Floriculture Sham Lal Sharma inaugurated a new building of horticulture planning and marketing constructed at the cost of Rs 40 lakh at Rajbagh. The minister was also accompanied by Minister of State for Health, Horticulture and R&B Javid Ahmad Dar.

On this occasion, the minister, while addressing the fruit growers who have come from Budgam and Srinagar districts to benefit themselves from those schemes which have been launched by the Central and state governments in the state, said 60 to 70 per cent people of the Valley were directly or indirectly involved with the horticulture, floriculture and agriculture sectors. He said under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the Coalition government was making every effort to make the farmers of the state self-reliant.

Sharma further said the production of walnut and ambri apple of the Valley had no parallel in the world. He asked the farmers to pay attention on the better quality and packing rather on the quantity. He said in the private sector, there was a turnover of Rs 2,200 crore in the state.

Sham Lal said there was a big scope for marigold and other flowers in the Valley as it had all facilities like irrigation, fertile land and pleasant season.

On the occasion, Minister of State for Health and Horticulture Javid Ahmad Dar also spoke and asked the fruit growers to expand their activities and benefit other people also.

The minister on the occasion distributed cheques worth Rs 7.50 lakh among 26 fruit growers of Budgam and Srinagar districts for subsidy on account of machines, farm holding units, purchasing of power tillers, etc.

Later on, the minister convened a meeting of the officers of the Agriculture Produce Marketing in which many sectors of the department were discussed thoroughly.

The meeting was attended by floriculture director Sarwar Naqash, director horticulture & marketing MS Qasba, deputy director horticulture, executive engineer and representatives of the Parimpora Fruit Growers Association.

The meeting was told that till now 11 lakh tonnes of fruit had been exported in different markets of the country. While in the past during the same period, only nine lakh tonnes of fruit was exported.

The minister also directed the executive engineer for fencing and macadamisation of 324 kanals of the Parimpora Fruit Mandi.

Srinagar, February 15
With growing cases of dogbites and the population of stray canines crossing 100,000, the state government plans to launch a sterilisation drive, besides providing incentives to dog catchers.

"It has been decided that the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) will train some of its staff as dog catchers. An incentive of Rs 50 would be given for every dog caught by them," an official of the civic body said.

The sterilised dogs would be tagged and released later, he said.

A society for prevention of cruelty on animals will also be constituted in each district headed by the respective Deputy Commissioner, the official said.

He said the government had submitted a Rs 4.5-crore proposalto the Animal Welfare Board of India to check the growing population of stray dogs. The government had also sought expertise and funds for scientific sterilisation of dogs.

The official said 50 per cent expenditure would be borne by the Animal Welfare Board and the rest by the state government.

In January, an eight-year-old boy died after being bitten by a dog in the Uri area of Baramulla district.

Dr Muneer Masoodi from Social and Preventive Medicines Department said 3,951 dogbite cases were registered from April 1 to December 31 last year.

"The worst-affected district is Srinagar followed by Budgam and Bandipora," Mohammad Amin, Director Health Services, Kashmir, said , adding that the government was initiating an multi-pronged policy to check the growing population of stray dogs.

There are about 100000 stray dogs in the Kashmir Valley and dog catchers will be placed near garbage dumps to catch the canines for sterilisation.

The Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir and the State Animal Husbandry Department will provide the technical support to the SMC for conducting sterilisation. — PTI