The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Geelani opposes truth commission Tribune News Service Srinagar, September 12 Rejecting the state government’s proposal for a truth and reconciliation commission, the hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman, Syed Ali Geelani, today urged the UN Secretary- General to send a mission to unravel the mystery behind unmarked graves in the Kashmir valley. Addressing a press conference here,Geelani, who continues to be under house arrest, said the situation in Kashmir, particularly, on the human rights front was “serious”. He alleged that the harassment and torture of innocent residents was continuing and there was no end to this practice, which had begun about two decades ago. Geelani said the issue of the 2,700 unmarked graves was serious and held that there had been reports of at least 62 such graveyards across Kashmir where unknown persons had been buried. He held that in the remote Devar village of the Lolab area in Kupwara district, there were reports of about 38 such cases. “We reject the proposal of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for the setting up of a truth and reconciliation commission to look into the cases of unmarked graves,” Geelani said. He said there was a lack of fair trial and justice for those picked up by the police. The hardline leader also expressed concern over the restrictions imposed on his movement.He said he was kept under house arrest for 141 days last year and the practice continued this year also, preventing him from offering even the Friday prayers, especially during Ramzan. “No democratic ways are being allowed and there is no freedom for the people to put forth their points of view,” he said.
	Assembly Speaker admits 35 resolutions Tribune News Service Srinagar/Jammu, September 12 The State Assembly Secretariat has received 39 resolutions out of which the Speaker has admitted 35, including that of Sheikh Abdul Rasheed regarding clemency to Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. Giving this information, a spokesperson of the Assembly Secretariat said 22 members had given their resolutions and,therefore,only 22 resolutions would go for balloting under the rules and only seven would be taken up in the ensuing session on the day earmarked for resolutions after adopting the laid down procedure. The Independent MLA from Langate,Sheikh Abdul Rashid, had yesterday expressed concern and anguish over reports that the resolution submitted by him would be selected for debate and discussion through the ballot system in the forthcoming Assembly session beginning on September 26. He had alleged that the move was to ensure that his resolution regarding clemency to Afzal Guru was sabotaged and not taken up for the discussion. Referring to the allegation made by the MLA, the spokesperson said that members of the House had a right to give notice of two resolutions of their choice and the Speaker had to see the admissibility of such resolutions under the rules. In Jammu, former Health Minister and MLA, Ramnagar, Harsh Dev Singh has presented a resolution in the state Assembly for the establishment of the institution of Lokpal/Lokayukta in the state, on the analogy of a resolution passed unanimously in Parliament. In a statement issued here today, Singh, who is the working chairman of the Panthers Party, said the government must welcome the peoples’ call for accountability in public life and seize the opportunity to establish the institution of “Lokayukta” in the state and push the structural reforms, which could prove as potent anti-corruption instruments. He said the state government needed to wake up to the report of Transparency International, which had dubbed Jammu and Kashmir as the most corrupt state. He added that it was high time that the government took effective measures for the creation of credible institutions to institutionalise governance, put an end to discretionary powers of ministers and bureaucrats and adopt concrete measures for making governance transparent, accountable and responsive. Singh said the recent nationwide revulsion against corruption should be an eye opener for the government. He said the Lokpal debate was merely a trigger for the rage that the people felt for a political system, which displayed contempt for their priorities. He said he was not divorced from the response of the people to the outrageous loot of public coffers by ministers, bureaucrats and helmsmen. He added that the message of the recent upsurge was loud and clear that the people would no longer allow the loot and plunder of the public resources. Dubbing the State Accountability Commission Act as a grossly inadequate piece of legislation, he said it had merely an exhibitional and ostentatious value. He said the Act had excluded from its purview all bureaucrats, all IAS, IPS officers and all department heads.
	BJP holds protest against Omar’s remark on Afzal Tribune News Service Jammu, September 12 Continuing its campaign against the statement of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in which he had demanded clemency for Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, the state unit of the BJP today organised a massive protest at the Janipur area and burnt an effigy of Guru. Raising anti-government and anti-Afzal slogans, the protesters took out a procession and held demonstrations in the Sarwal and Janipura areas to oppose the statement of the Chief Minister. They demanded that Guru should be hanged immediately. Addressing the activists, senior party leader Praduman Singh said no one was above the law of the land. “Be it the common citizen or the Chief Minister, all ought to respect the decision of the court. Making a statement advocating clemency for a terrorist cannot be tolerated,” he said. Singh said it was not for the first time that Omar had made such a statement which was an indicator of his communal mindset. In the past too, his statement on the Amarnath land row had invited similar protests and Jammu observed a complete bandh for 63 days. This Chief Minister had been making allout efforts to appease a particular faith in order to keep his constituency in Kashmir intact, realising the fact that the people had lost faith in his government and their anger might burst any time. Those who addressed the gathering included Usha Choudhary, Kuldeep Magotra, Sangita Gupta, Vijay Sharma, Anil Gupta, Sureshta Jamwal, Dinesh Gupta, Balwan Singh, Amrik Singh, Bishamber Jasrotia, Ajay Vaid, Rakesh Sethi, Balbir Singh, Onkar Singh, Parshottam Dogra, Paras Ram and Minush Sharma.
	Framing of charges in murder case HC upholds order of trial court Legal Correspondent Jammu, September 12 Justice Hasnain Masoodi of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, in a significant judgement, has dismissed a revision petition filed against an order dated February 19, 2011, passed by the Sessions Judge, Samba, whereby, the trial court had directed the framing of charges against the petitioner, Jagman Deep Singh and his accomplices for the offences punishable under Section 302/201/120-B of the RPC. On August 12, 2010, Madan Lal, while travelling on a scooter, bearing No. JK02AL-9076 was hit from the rear side by a Tata Sumo vehicle, driven rashly and negligently, resulting in his instant death. An FIR under Sections 279/304-A of the RPC was registered in this regard. The investigation, however, revealed that the accident was, in fact, the outcome of a well-planned criminal conspiracy hatched by the accused. Since the deceased, Madan Lal, was having a dispute with the accused, Niranjan Singh, over a plot of land at Samba, the accused entered into a deal with another accused over the land in question. When Madan Lal refused to fall in line, the accused decided to kill him. Initially, the death was declared as accidental, but on investigation, it was found to be a clear case of murder. The Sessions Judge, Samba, accordingly charge- sheeted the accused for offences punishable under Sections 302/201/102-B of the RPC. The High Court, while dismissing the criminal revision, observed that, “In the present case, the investigating agency presented well-knit material before the trial court that prima facie indicated the involvement and complicity of the petitioner in the criminal conspiracy, allegedly hatched by the accused to do away with Madan Lal, whom the accused perceived as an impediment to their way for taking over a large chunk of land.” “The order impugned is interlocutory in character and the revision against the order is expressly barred under Section 435, Sub Section 4 (a) Code of Criminal Procedure. It is a well-settled law that the inherent powers vested in the court under Section 561-A of the CrPC because of their spread and sweep are to be exercised sparingly and with utmost caution,” held the Judge.
	Silver jubilee of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Sanitation drive launched on yatra route Tribune News Service Srinagar, September 12 The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has drawn up a programme for the shrine board’s year-long silver jubilee celebrations, which commenced on August 30 this year. A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting chaired by the Governor,NN Vohra, who is also the Chairman of the SMVDSB, during his recent visit to the holy shrine of Vaishno Devi. According to an official spokesman, a special sanitation campaign has been launched for removing all the solid waste which has accumulated over the past years on the hill slopes along the yatra route between Banganga and the Bhawan. In this context, the shrine board has set up sector-wise task forces for closely supervising the operation. The task forces have been directed to associate some of the experienced NGOs with this effort and, besides, explore the possibility of involving volunteers from the middle and high schools and colleges in the vicinity. Another significant decision relating to the celebrations relates to augmenting the existing sanitation infrastructure by setting up additional toilet units along the track and also undertaking an extensive renovation of the existing toilet blocks. The Governor has directed the SMVDSB CEO to accord top priority to initiate new projects for enhancing accommodation for the yatris, particularly in the low-rent and free-of-charge category. The Governor has also asked the CEO to draw up well-considered proposals for enhancing the welfare of the board employees and their children, with particular focus on the construction of new accommodation, enlargement of education and medical facilities, grant of scholarships to meritorious children of the employees and special schemes for protecting the interests of the girl child in every possible manner etc. The Governor has also asked the CEO to evolve a time-bound programme for the implementation of various activities planned for the silver jubilee celebrations.
	Youth Congress begins membership drive Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, September 12 On day one of the beginning of the membership drive of the Pradesh Youth Congress (PYC), influential persons, including kin of senior leaders, displayed their strength by turning up at the venue with a large number of supporters who raised slogans in their favour. As the new president of the PYC will be elected directly by the delegates, influential persons have decided to utilise the services of their supporters to enrol the maximum number of members during the ongoing drive. Earlier, the PYC chief was usually nominated by the Central leadership. “The membership drive has been started in the state by the PYC to elect all the office-bearers through the democratic system,” Pankaj Punia, Pradesh Returning Officer (PRO) appointed by the Centre to conduct elections in the state, told The Tribune. “ A similar process has already been implemented in 20 states to elect office-bearers through democratic means,” he said. He added that the membership drive would be completed by October 10 followed by the scrutiny of all the enrolled members to avoid bungling. “Like other parts of the country, we have decided to constitute the new body in the state through the democratic system,” he said, adding, the process would take some time. However, the venue of the membership drive was changed at the last moment as the pro-Ghulam Nabi Azad faction tried to “hijack” the show. Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, who owes his allegiance to Azad, along with a large number of supporters, dominated the show. While inaugurating the membership drive at Jammu, the Deputy Chief Minister said the Youth Congress was the backbone of the Congress. He asked the party activists to enrol the maximum number of youths during the drive.
	12 hurt in clash at police recruitment rally Srinagar, September 12 Twelve persons, including four policemen, were injured in a clash between candidates and the police at a special police recruitment rally in Budgam district today,official sources said here. The clash took place when some candidates started raising slogans and indulged in stone throwing amid allegations of favouritism during the recruitment rally at Chadoora tehsil, 13 km from here, the sources said. The police,which initially used batons to disperse the protesters,later fired tear gas shells to bring the situation under control. Four policemen and eight protesters received injuries in the clash, the sources said. The clash, however, failed to disrupt the recruitment drive which ended with the selection of candidates. Earlier, the police had launched a special recruitment drive this year for the unemployed educated youth, which had received a tremendous response. — PTI
	Inform us before detaining any resident: J&K police to states Srinagar, September 12 The state police has written letters to Anti-Terrorism Squads (ATS) of various states urging them not to detain any person from the Kashmir valley without informing it. According to police sources, a top police officer has written to the ATS of various states asking them to take the state police into confidence before detaining any person from the Valley. The move comes in the wake of the detention of two Kashmir residents at Alwar in Rajasthan in connection with the Delhi blast. The two were detained as they apparently resembled the sketches of the suspects in the case. Investigations had revealed that the two residents had no connection with any terrorist outfit and were not involved in any suspicious activities. The sources said the state police did not want the Valley youths to harbour any feeling of unnecessary "harassment" during their travel to other parts of the country. — PTI
	Eco-tourism workshop from Sept 26 Ehsan Fazili Tribune News Service Srinagar, September 12 A two-day tourism workshop is being organised by the Eco-tourism Society of India (ESOI) in collaboration with the Department of Tourism of the state government and the WWF, India, with the support of the Central government here from September 26. The workshop will conclude on World Tourism Day on September 27 with a strong signal for “Responsible tourism becoming the only vehicle to ride on for a sustainable tourism industry”. More than 100 dignitaries from the tourism industry will be participating in the workshop. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah would deliver the valedictory address on the occasion, a spokesman of the ESOI, J&K, said. He added that Tourism Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora and MoS, Tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani, would preside over the event. This would be the second such event in the state, as the first one had been conducted in Jammu in April this year, he said. The third such workshop would be held in Leh from September 30 to October 1, the spokesman said. The workshop in Srinagar, later this month, would set an agenda to make “nature tourism” responsible in the state, he added. Quoting Mandeep Singh Soin, president, ESOI, he said the workshops aimed at setting corrective measures with regard to tourism practices with ecological sensitivity and conservation of nature and community development in the state. He said the challenge before the tourism service providers was the implementation of environmentally responsible and sustainable tourism practices.
	3-day musical talent audition inaugurated Tribune News Service Jammu, September 12 The Parwana Musical Group, Jammu, and the Sangam Theatre Group, Reasi, in association with the Academy of Art, Culture and Languages today organised a 3-day musical talent audition at the KL Sehgal Auditorium in the local Abhinav Theatre. On the first day, 250 candidates participated in the programme. Savita Bakshi, additional secretary of the Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, appreciated the interest shown by the youngsters in the programme.
	Pensioners hold protest Tribune News Service Jammu, September 12 Protesting against “anti-people policies” of the coalition regime headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the Kathua unit of the All-J&K Pensioners Association held a demonstration at Hiranagar today under the presidentship of Sohan Lal. Speaking on the occasion, leaders of the association asked the government to pay the pending arrears to the pensioners in one instalment and also implement the Central policy of additional quantum pension in favour of the state pensioners. They demanded that the medical allowance be enhanced from Rs 300 to Rs 1,000 per month. The speakers said the government had hiked the salaries of legislators and ministers more than three times and paid arrears to them in one instalment, but the pensioners and employees were agitating to get their dues. Those who addressed the rally included Mukand Lal Sharma, convener of the association, Madan Lal Abrol, Lal Singh, Hans Raj, Harnam Singh, Chaman Lal Sharma and Jagdev Singh.
	Less rainfall recorded this monsoon Archit Watts Tribune News Service Jammu, September 12 Though the monsoon has wreaked havoc in the Jammu region, yet the total rainfall recorded till today has been less than the last year. A perusal of records procured from the Agronomy Department of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) revealed that the rainfall during the current monsoon (from June 1- September 12) was 10.68 per cent, which was less than the rainfall last year. The total rainfall this year was 869.6 mm, as compared to 929.5 mm last year. A scientist at the SKUAST said the average rainfall per day was 8.36 mm this year as compared to 8.94 mm last year. He added that the arrival of the monsoon was good, but in July, it became weak and the trend continued in August. “This year in June, the region witnessed 68.4 mm more rainfall as compared to the last year,” said the scientist, adding, that the monsoon proved weak in August also, as the total rainfall was 41.6 mm. He added that the situation had slightly improved in September. About 22.8 mm rainfall was recorded this month, which was double of what was recorded last year. Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that the region could witness light showers in the next 24 to 48 hours. “We can’t say whether the monsoon will be strong or weak this year, as we are able to forecast the weather for the next 24 to 48 hours only. As of now, the sky is partly cloudy and there is a possibility of light rain,” said Sonam Lotus, in-charge of the IMD, Jammu and Kashmir. Criminologists Society Members visit schools Tribune News Service Jammu, September 12 Members of the Criminologists Society visited several schools in the rural areas and held discussions and meetings with sarpanches and panches in their drive to make the state safe and secure. Ashwani Kumar, press secretary of the society, said the purpose was to make the youths law- abiding citizens. He further said they also distributed booklets among the schoolchildren so that the people could understand the laws and their duties towards the country and try to make their conduct better. The members of the society who visited the areas included Ranjit Singh Jamwal, Rakeshwar Singh Durswal, Pawan Dev Singh and Sandeep singh Langeh.
	2 gangs of vehicle lifters smashed Jammu, September 12 In a major breakthrough, the police today smashed two gangs of vehicle lifters and recovered three cars and three motorcycles from their possession. In a press release issued here today, SSP Jammu, Anand Jain claimed that the Domana police had arrested two persons from a petrol pump on the intervening night of September 4-5 and during their interrogation three Maruti 800 cars and two motorcycles were recovered from their possession today. Meanwhile, the Kanachak police arrested another vehicle lifter, Davinder Singh, of Simbliala village and recovered one motorcycle from his possession. The police said he had stolen the motorcycle from Government Hospital, Akhnoor, on September 2. It added that further interrogations were on in both the cases.
	2-yr-old girl’s body fished out of canal Jammu, September 12 The body of a two-year-old girl, who had drowned yesterday in a canal at Bassi Kalan village in Bari Brahamana, was fished out of Chua Chak in the Bishnah area here. The Bari Brahamana police said the parents of Rani had yesterday filed a complaint that their daughter was missing and during the investigations, it came to know that she had drowned in the canal, while playing near it. “The water supply in the canal was stopped and the body was found today,” said the police, adding that it was handed over to the family. The police was investigating the matter. — TNS