Jammu, May 2
Family members of deceased Raja Mahroof Khan, general secretary of the Youth Congress, today alleged that he was murdered in a well-planned conspiracy. Mahroof was reportedly found dead under mysterious circumstances in the Dheragali forest where he had gone for hunting last month.

Addressing a press conference here today, brother of Mahroof, Aroof Khan contradicted the version of the investigation agencies that he died in an accidental fire. “My brother was a potential leader. He was murdered in a well planned conspiracy,” he alleged. He added that, “We are dissatisfied with the investigating agencies and demand that the team of investigation be changed as the present team has failed to uncover the plot to kill my brother”.

“There was a gunshot wound in Mahroof’s face which does not match with the version of the investigators. He was intentionally shot at in the face so that his body could not be identified,” he alleged. “The person who accompanied Mahroof from Thanamandi to the Dheragali forest and accompanied him to hunting cannot have mistook him for an animal before opening the fire,”he claimed. “The conduct of the accused leaves many question unanswered as after the so-called accidental fire the accused left my brother in jungle without informing the nearest Army Camp and Tourism Huts”.

“The photographs of the body and the site besides the post-mortem report indicate that the spot was so clear that an ordinary person with little prudence and caution can identify any object from a longer distance. The post-mortem report indicate 17 pallets injuries in face and three pallets injuries in the back on the left side causing suspicion that Mahroof was shot not once but twice and that too from two directions, which could not be accidental,” he stated.

He alleged that the post-mortem was not done in a proper manner. “The abdomen was not opened to examine the presence of poison or any other substance and the process of the post-mortem was not video-graphed”. He added that the local police had adopted a callous attitude towards the case. “We had to file an RTI to get a copy of the FIR and other relevant documents,” he alleged. “Given the situation, we are facing disappointment from all quarters. We approached even the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and the Minister of State for Home, but all in vain. We approached the DGP many times, but to no avail,” he added.

“We demand that the investigation of the case be handed over to the crime branch or the special investigative team that has been investigating the Amandeep murder case”.

Zojila Pass, May 2
The strategically important Srinagar-Leh National Highway was thrown open to vehicular traffic today after it remained closed for more than five months due to heavy snowfall.

The highway was thrown open by the General-Officer-in-Commanding of Srinagar-based 15 Corps of the Army, Lt-Gen SA Hasnain. “This is a strategically important communication route and I thank the men of the BRO, who worked tirelessly to open this route. They are doing a service to the nation and every man, who contributes to opening the logistic arteries and logistic routes, is doing an important job. All of you are working for a national cause,” Lt-Gen Hasnain said.

The Srinagar-Leh highway was closed to vehicular traffic on November 26 last year after the high altitudes of the Valley, including the Zojila Pass, experienced heavy snowfall. The highway passes through the 11,900-ft high Zojila Pass and receives the heaviest amount of snowfall during winter, resulting in the closure of the road for five to six months annually. “The stretch from Gund to Drass closes every year for a period of six months in November or December due to heavy snowfall. The BRO undertakes summer snow clearance from March every year by deploying snow removing equipment and dozers. The average height of snow accumulation is 15 to 30 metres,” said Brig TPS Rawat, Chief Engineer of the Project Beacon.

He said despite early snowfall in the third week of October, 2010, the Zojila Pass was kept open till November, 2010, by the project Beacon to ease the hardships of the people of the Ladakh region.

Jammu, May 2
Justice Virender Singh of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, while dismissing a criminal appeal filed by Ghulam Hussain (50) after being convicted under Section 376 of the RPC vide judgment dated October 6, 2008, passed by the Principal Sessions Judge, Poonch, thereby, sentenced to seven years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 8,000, held that “in the case at hand, the ‘victim’ wanted to perform ziarat .

It is a seat of spiritual bliss, which is visited by devotees having all lifestyles for paying obeisance. The ‘victim’ was elderly and of the age of appellant’s mother. She had asked for some help for going to the ziarat, which was extended by the appellant.

She had not imagined that she would fall prey to the appellant for satisfying his sexual desires while undertaking the ziarat.

The prosecution story as unfolded stated that on April 24, 2005, the victim, a more than 75-year-old woman had boarded the last bus at Drungli to Bandi Chechian village, a place en route the ziarat. When the victim alighted from the bus on reaching Bandi Chechian village, it was late. Being a stranger she inquired about the location and road of the ziarat from her co-passengers. The appellant pretended to be a devotee of the ziarat and assured her of guidance.

The victim trusted him and joined him towards the ziarat. When they were en route the ‘ziarat’ and reached a deserted place, the appellant overpowered her and taking benefit of the deserted location, forcibly pushed the victim on the ground and sexually assaulted her against her will and consent. When the victim raised a hue and cry, the appellant fled. She then reached a Water Mill en route the ziarat where she narrated the incident to its occupant, Rashid, and also reported the matter to other persons, who in turn informed the police at the ziarat. The police apprehended the appellant and brought him to the ziarat. The investigation into this case culminated into filing of a charger sheet against the appellant, who consequently was charged under Section 376 of the RPC for which he stood convicted and sentenced.

The High Court, while dismissing the criminal appeal, observed that “Undoubtedly, sexual violence was a serious blow to the honour and dignity of a woman. It leaves behind a traumatic experience. The courts, therefore, are expected to deal with the cases of sexual crime against woman with utmost sensitivity. While we are celebrating Womens’ Right in all spheres, it becomes the duty of the court to show all concern for her honour also.

Zojila Pass, May 2
This Army commander uses his heart as a weapon to win the hearts and minds of the people of Kashmir. The General-Officer-in-Commanding of Srinagar-based 15 Corps, Lt-Gen SA Hasnain, who had declared this year as the ‘year of Kashmiri Awam’ with the motto that ‘his heart is his weapon’, spoke exclusively to The Tribune today.

“Many people are saying this, but we must remember that the Army fights the enemy, it does not fight its own people. As far as own people are concerned, the Army is there to support them and help them. The capabilities of the Army are to support the national government. This is part of my doctrine,” Lt-Gen Hasnain said.

He added that, “Those who deserve hard power, it will be used against them and those who deserve soft power, they will be dealt with likewise. Our main aim is to make the people realise that we work for them and the Army is there to assist them”.

Asked that China has invested huge money in occupied Kashmir (PoK) and does the presence of the Chinese troops there posed any threat to India, he said, “From the military angle, let me clarify, it has nothing to do with any particular country. If anywhere you find the resources in the area opposite to you increasing and the military capabilities enhancing too, it is always a cause of worry and therefore you have to analyse your own resources and capabilities again,” Lt-Gen Hasnain said.

Asked about infiltration from the Pakistan side, he said in the coming days efforts would be made by the “highly dedicated and motivated terrorists’ to sneak into the Indian side, but they (infiltrators) would be greeted with a surprise.