Srinagar, July 31
A youth died in police custody in north Kashmir’s Sopore town last night. He was picked up by a team of the Special Operations Group (SOG) for questioning in connection with a case yesterday.

As the news of the death of the youth, Nazim,alias Anjum, a resident of the Krankshiven locality in Sopore spread, people held protests and demanded action against the guilty policemen.

Shopkeepers also closed their shops.

This is the first custodial death in Kashmir since 2009. A youth, Manzoor Ahmad from the Aloochibagh area in the city, died in SOG custody in May, 2009.

“Additional security forces have been rushed to Sopore for maintaining law and order while a large contingent of police personnel has been put on stand by in the Police Control Room in Srinagar for any eventuality,” a senior police officer said.

Meanwhile, the authorities suspended the in-charge of the Police Component, Sopore, the guard commander and the sentry and attached the DSP, Operations, Sopore, in connection with the custodial death.

The District Magistrate appointed a board of doctors and initiated proceedings under Section 176 of the CrPC. A case of custodial killing under Section 302 of the RPC was also registered.

Further action would be taken based on the medical report and the findings of the Magistrate, he added.

The decisions were taken at a meeting convened by the Minister of State for Home, Nasir Aslam Wani.

Meanwhile, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti has alleged that the authorities have placed restrictions on her and party patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's movements.

Mehbooba said she was planning to visit the family of the youth in Sopore, but the authorities had placed restrictions on her movement. A contingent of the police was posted outside her Fairview Bungalow residence on Gupkar Road and no one was allowed to leave or enter the premises, she said.

“I fail to understand why the government wants to drive a wedge between the people and the political leadership?” she said.

The SSP, Srinagar, Aashiq Bukhari, said the police had only requested the PDP chief not to visit Sopore today. “We have not put her under house arrest, but requested her not to go to Sopore town,” he said. Mehbooba strongly condemned the death of the youth allegedly in police custody.

“Ordering a probe into every atrocity has become a ritual for the Chief Minister (Omar Abdullah) as none of such inquiries has resulted in any action against the culprits,” she said.

She said the killing of Rashid was the unfortunate consequence of the government’s licence to the police and the security forces to use all methods for maintaining a surface calm to mislead public opinion about its “repressive” governance.

Mehbooba said unless the government changed its perception and policy towards the people of the state, such unfortunate incidents would continue to happen.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has termed the death of the youth as “inexcusable.”

“The death of Anjum in police custody is a gross human rights violation and inexcusable,” Omar wrote on Twitter.

“I expect the police to do nothing less than make an example of those responsible so that nothing like this happens again,” he wrote.

Omar promised exemplary action in the case. “Swift and exemplary action. No delays, no cover-ups (and) no excuses. That is all I can promise and ensure,” he said.

In another development, the police put several separatist leaders, including the chairmen of the two factions of the Hurriyat Conference, under house arrest following the incident.

Jammu, July 31
Every rainy season, Mohammad Deen and his family,who live in a kutcha house in Poonch, dream of a concrete roof over their head, but economic constraints never let it happen.

The family was buoyant for being a beneficiary of the Indira Awaas Yojana last year, but the happiness was short-lived.

The first two instalments of money by the Rural Development Department (RDD) under the yojana were spent on the construction of a plinth only, as the land available with the family was uneven.

“The officials have told me to raise walls at my own expense. Only then, the department will provide money for the construction of the roof,” Mohammad said, adding that he had received Rs 24,000 in two instalments so far.

The family comprises Mohammad Deen, his wife, Anwar Bi, and grandson Niyaz Ahmed. Both Anwar Bi and Niyaz are mentally challenged.

Recently, Mohammad was hit by an autorickshaw and fractured his arm.

“I do not have any source of income to get treatment for me and my family. How can I afford to get the walls constructed ?” he asked.

Sources pointed out many other basic flaws in the implementation of the scheme. They said the standard economic criterion were not followed while giving the benefits.

“What is happing at present is that local MLAs and government officials, especially the gram sewaks, select the beneficiaries on an arbitrary and discriminatory basis,” they said.

“The beneficiaries who have an annual income of Rs 30,000 or more were selected, whereas many with an annual income of less than Rs 15,000 were left. It means above poverty line (APL) families were also given benefits under the scheme, whereas a few below poverty line (BPL) families were not covered despite applications,” the sources added.

“Despites the guidelines, the NGOs with good track record have not been involved,” they said, adding that, “Cheques are distributed by the local MLAs at public gatherings, which causes a delay in the disbursement of financial assistance to the beneficiaries and, consequently affects the progress of the work”.

“The payments should be released to the beneficiaries through their bank accounts without waiting for the MLAs to arrange for the public gatherings. It will also minimise the scope for corruption,” the sources added.

“The scenario may improve as the panchayats have come into place. Earlier, the gram sabhas were non-existent,” they added.

Deputy Director, Planning, RDD, Mohammad Iqbal Zargar, said: “The amount provided to a beneficiary has been enhanced to Rs 48,500 from Rs 38,000 lately. The amount to a beneficiary is provided in three instalments based on the report of our officials”.

Srinagar, July 31
Maintaining that geo-climatic conditions of the state are best suited for conventional tourism, Minister for Tourism and Culture Nawang Rigzin Jora has called for focused attention towards the sector.

He said the state had three distinct regions offering varied climatic conditions where tourism could be promoted as a round-the-year activity.

He was addressing an interactive session of the Indian Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB) and the Tour and Travel Organisations of Kashmir for holding national and international meetings, conferences and events in the Valley.

Jora called upon tour and travel organisations to pool their resources for roping in their counterparts across the world to hold mega conferences and events.

He said the government would provide all possible assistance in this regard.

Minister of State for Tourism, Culture and Home Nasir Aslam Wani also participated in the conference.

Jora said such conferences would provide a platform for promoting tourism in the state.

The minister said it was the dream of the late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah to promote convention tourism in the Valley, adding that for the purpose, the leader had built a convention complex on the banks of the Dal Lake.

He said the dream would be fulfilled by holding national and international conferences in the Valley, adding that in near future, Kashmir would become a hub of conventional tourism activities.

Referring to the peaceful situation of the Valley, Jora said peace was a prerequisite for tourism promotion.

“It is our collective responsibility to work for permanent peace and normalcy in the state, which will not only boost tourism activities but also improve economic growth of the common man,” he said.

Deliberating upon the upgradation of the tourism infrastructure in the state, Jora said it had been created at various spots and much more was underway to meet the requirements of the tourists. 

Drass, July 31
Shattered by enemy shelling during the Kargil war,this remote, largely illiterate Himalayan hamlet, close to the Line of Control (LoC) in the state, is empowering itself with education and sports that is bringing in a significant socio-economic progress here.

According to locals, one of the biggest benefits that the post-war change has brought in is the spread of education. “Today, the literacy rate in Drass and its surrounding villages is close to 50 per cent,” Mohammad Kazam, a physical education teacher, said.

“Till the Kargil war, only a handful of children went to school and whatever little existed in the name of educational infrastructure was destroyed during the war,” he added.

The locals said the region now had eight higher secondary schools, 37 middle schools and 28 primary schools. The Army had played a major role in restoring old schools and establishing new ones.

Described as the second coldest inhabited place, Drass is a small town on the National Highway 1-D, which connects Srinagar with Leh. It became prominent during the Kargil war and some of the major battlezones like the Tiger Hill, Tololing, Three Pimples and the Sando Top are adjacent to it. Drass was also the target of heavy shelling by the Pakistan artillery.

Army officers posted here said seven schools under Operation Sadbhavana were providing education to about 1,000 children. The NCC had also been introduced in some of the schools, they added. The involvement of the Army in the local area development had also provided a base for recruitments in the region with more youth joining the force.

Hafizullah, a local pharmacist, said before the Kargil war, there were about 100 persons from the area in the Army. “Today, almost every household has a member serving in the Army,” he added.

“The region hogged the limelight during and after the war. Thus, a need was felt to prepare the next generation for the future through education,” a senior officer said.

With a reasonably good academic infrastructure, subsidised education and free mid-day meals for the underprivileged, the schools in the area have been able to attract a large number of children. Goodwill School of the Army alone has 300 students.

To encourage the children and expose the deserving students to better educational institutions in the country, the Army has started sponsoring local students and there are about 20 such students in various schools across the country.

The Army has also helped the town revive its traditional game of polo, while ice-hockey, introduced four years ago, has put it on the international map with one of the residents participating in tournaments abroad.

“We had lost a lot, but now substantial development has taken place,” Haji Mohammad, a local trader, said.

“Besides education, power has been another area of focus with the setting up of micro-hydroelectric projects. Many such projects were set up, but a few of them are now defunct. There has been about a 10 per cent improvement in the power situation, though cuts are still imposed regularly,” he added. 

Srinagar, July 31
Governor NN Vohra said today that while the study of languages and other subjects was important, a majority of the existing and emerging problems on varied fronts required building a large human resource pool equipped and trained for taking up varied challenges in the arena of science and technology in the coming years.

The Governor was addressing the valedictory session of a five-day Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) camp at Kashmir University here this evening.

The camp was organised by the Department of Geology, Geophysics and Geoinformatics in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology, GoI, with a view to attracting the youth towards the study of sciences.

The Governor, who is also the Chancellor of the university, said among the many threats facing the world, two major threats related to global warming and climate change, which, in the long run, would have a serious and adverse impact on the agriculture and various other sectors of the economy.

He added that if the day temperatures were to rise by two degrees celsius, it would trigger the speedy melting of glaciers and the rising of sea levels, which would submerge the coastal areas.

Such changes would affect the entire cropping pattern and adversely affect human life and all other forms of life on the planet, he added.

He stressed the need for attracting youth to pursue studies in varied science subjects, as scientific approach and capacity were required to deal with the emerging challenges.

Referring to the state, the Governor said the youth of the state were highly talented and they had been doing well in science subjects, along with other disciplines.

He added that the INSPIRE programme provided an excellent opening for bright young students being attracted to pursue higher studies and research in varied scientific areas for which attractive scholarships were available.

He hoped that after having gone through such a beneficial exposure, a good number of young scholars would be attracted to pursue higher studies in the areas of science and technology. He wished them a bright future ahead. 

Jammu, July 31
Even as repair work was done on the 312-km-long Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (1-A) a few months ago, yet the road is full of bumps and potholes, which causes frequent traffic jams and accidents.

Despite being the only road link between Jammu and Srinagar, the road has developed cracks at several places. The road is turning out to be a nightmare for commuters due to the lackadaisical approach of the authorities concerned.

The bumpy stretches start from the outskirts of Jammu and continue till Srinagar. Due to the bad condition of the road, the travel time has also increased.

“To avoid driving on bad stretches and bumps, one has to drive in a wrong lane sometimes, which makes it dangerous,” said Rakesh Kumar, a tourist.

Shopkeepers along the national highway say everyday, heavy vehicles like trucks and buses develop snags due to the poor condition of the road.

“The road is in bad shape and driving any heavy vehicle loaded with goods or passengers is a risky job. The bumps often damage the vehicles, which not only causes losses to the owner, but also results in traffic jams,” said Ganesh, a shopkeeper at Domel.

However, the authorities concerned blame the truckers, saying, “The problem persists due to overloaded heavy vehicles, which ply on the road without even a check. As per norms, a truck cannot ply with more than 40-tonne load, but drivers do not obey the rules.”

On the other hand, truck drivers say the fuel prices continue to increase.So, they have no other option but to overload the vehicles. “ On a journey on the route, a truck consumes diesel worth about Rs 10,000. So, we are forced to overload the vehicle, because no one pays the increased freight charges.”

Akil Ahmad, Deputy General Manager (Jammu and Kashmir), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), while talking to The Tribune over the phone from Delhi, said, “I assure you the repair work will be started soon at some places on the highway.”

He added that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) also carried out the repair work of the national highway at some places. 

Jammu, July 31
Buoyed over the encouraging response received by the party during its protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi in support of the demand for making the Central University of Jammu (CUJ) functional, the Panthers Party has decided to intensify its ongoing stir in the Jammu region to corner Congress ministers for “watching discrimination” against Jammu as mute spectators.

“For the lust of power, the Congress ministers belonging to Jammu have been brazenly watching the step-motherly treatment being meted out to the region as mute spectators. We have decided to expose such ministers,” Panthers Party working president Harsh Dev Singh told The Tribune.

“We don’t blame the leaders of the National Conference (NC) for the delay in making the Central university functional, as it is their policy to snatch the rights of the Jammu people and treat Jammu as their colony.Our anger is against the Congress ministers, who are enjoying the power with the support of the people of Jammu, but fail to protect the interests of the region,” he said citing the example how the state government, including a Congress minister from the Valley, had opposed the grant of Dogra certificate to the people of the Jammu region and ultimately got the order revoked through the intervention of the Union government.

“Why the government is not showing the same efficiency which it had shown in the case of the Dogra certificate?” Harsh Dev asked.

He said the state government had been deliberately delaying the functioning of the Central university in the region”.

“Not only the launch of the university has been inordinately delayed, but also the government has deliberately avoided the initiation of the process for the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor.

“The delay in appointment of the Vice-Chancellor is inordinate, inexplicable and unreasonable and the state government appears to have deliberately chosen to deprive the people of the Jammu region of the benefits of the ensuing academic session,” he said.

As resentment is brewing among the people of the Jammu region against the delay in making the university functional, the Panthers Party wants to get the maximum benefit out of the prevailing situation. 

Jammu, July 31
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) today came out openly in support of the demand for the trifurcation of the state to solve the Kashmir problem.

The support is a big boost to those who have been propagating the trifurcation of the state as the BSP is the first national party, which has come out openly in favour of dividing Jammu and Kashmir on geographical lines.

Some smaller regional, political and social groups have been demanding trifurcation while the Panthers Party has been demanding the re-organisation of the state.

“We are demanding the trifurcation of the state on geographical lines because aspirations of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are entirely different,” said Tulsi Dass Langeh, state president of the BSP. “The majority of the people of the Jammu region are demanding strengthening of relations with the Indian Union by abrogating the special status given to the state while some sections in the Valley are demanding more autonomy,” Langeh told The Tribune, adding, “Residents of Ladakh are unanimous on the demand for a Union Territory (UT) status.”

“In our opinion, the Jammu and Kashmir regions should be given the status of separate states while the hilly region of Ladakh should be given a UT status to address the aspirations of all the regions of the state,” he said, and added that discrimination against Jammu could be removed only by granting statehood to the region.

Earlier,addressing a meeting of party workers, Langeh said during their interaction with the three interlocutors appointed by the Centre, the party delegation had put forth the demand for the trifurcation of the state. He informed that during its one-hour meeting with the interlocutors, the BSP delegation had made it clear that the division of the state on geographical lines was the only viable and lasting solution of all the problems of the state.

The BSP’s decision to support the trifurcation demand attached importance because the party had taken the decision to strengthen its position in the Jammu region.

Interestingly the BJP, claiming to be a guardian of the interests of the people of the Jammu region has been hesitating to come out openly in support of the demand for trifurcation. However, it has been demanding a regional council to solve the problem of discrimination. 

Srinagar, July 31
Minister of State for Home and Tourism Nasir Aslam Wani has said the State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) over the years has been taking appropriate measures to apprehend corrupt elements in various public utility departments. The minister was addressing the XI state-level Departmental Vigilance Officers Conference in Srinagar today.

Wani said the registration of vehicles, the issuance of licences, state subjects and ration tickets or cards had been a problem area where the people had suffered. He said the government would extend full support to the SVO for taking action against corrupt officials.

The minister made it clear that no immunity shall be given to any corrupt official against whom prosecution was sought by the SVO.

For an organisation that received between 4,000 and 5,000 complaints annually, Nasir said the department was doing a commendable job.

The status or party affiliation of individuals would not and should not be a consideration in apprehending corrupt people, he said, adding the complainants were generally poor people and their gradual erosion of faith in the ability of the system to deliver could have serious consequences and the SVO could contribute substantially to curb the menace of corruption.

He said in 2004, Jammu and Kashmir was declared the second-most corrupt state in the country, which was a major embarrassment. However, with proactive measures by the SVO and other organisations, efforts were being made to make Jammu and Kashmir a less corrupt state.

He said, “We should not allow any situation to emerge where Departmental Vigilance Officers draw flak for exposing corruption. Such discouragement of the officers should be construed as a tacit support to corruption. Upright and honest whistle-blowers helping the government in bringing down corruption will be rewarded through out-of-turn promotions.”

Jammu, July 31
The police today arrested the main accused in the murder of a student, Sukhbir Singh, here yesterday. The accused, identified as Jaspreet Singh alias, JP, a resident of ward no 1 in Bhour Camp, Jammu, was arrested by the Gandhi Nagar police.

Sukhbir,a resident of Deoli Bishnah and a Class XII student of Shiksha Niketan School, Jeevan Nagar, along with his friends, Iqbal Singh and Shubam, had gone to Shastri Nagar to take tuitions on Saturday when the incident took place.

The three students were reportedly intercepted by two motorcycle-borne youths, Jaspreet Singh and Amandeep Singh, residents of Chatha, near Ram Temple, and Sukhbir was attacked with a sharp-edged weapon by Jaspreet.He later died in hospital.

The police was also conducting raids to apprehend the other accused, Amandeep. Meanwhile, the family members of Sukhbir today alleged negligence by doctors.

They met Minister for Medical Education RS Chib here and urged him to order a probe into the murder of Sukhbir.

“The doctors at Government District Hospital, Gandhi Nagar, and Government Medical College and Hospital did not provide timely treatment to Sukhbir and as a result, the injured student died due to excessive blood loss,” alleged Inderpal, the father of the deceased. — TNS

Jammu, July 31
Natrang staged Balwant Thakur’s Hindi play, ‘Aag’, in the weekly Sunday Theatre at its studio here today under the direction of Neeraj Kant. The play was based on multiple stories, which highlighted the problems of drug abuse and alcohol. In the first story sequence, a young boy is shown struggling for a good company after his entry into a college.

He feels isolated from other students as he stays away from drugs and alcohol. Students treat him like a child, which leaves him frustrated. Just to prove that he has come of age, he starts consuming intoxicants.

In another sequence, in a rural locality, the menfolk are shown drunk. All the miseries in the village like poverty, domestic violence and ailments are attributed to the growing consumption of alcohol in the village. The third sequence portrays a labourer, who spends his day’s earnings on alcohol. He loses his way while returning home. When he reaches home, he starts beating up his wife and kids for not receiving him.

When an escort intervenes to save the poor woman and children, the alcoholic blames him for having bad intentions towards his wife.

In a fit of rage, the drunken man damages his household property as well.

The play unfolds a series of incidents where people influenced by drugs, alcohol and other intoxications create hell for themselves and for others.

“Many precious lives are being ruined due to the drug menace, which needs to be eradicated in a collaborated manner,” said Balwant Thakur while speaking on the occasion.