The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Cong toughens stand over Army rollback
Says party will not allow NC to take unilateral decision on issue
Dinesh Manhotra
Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 28
Buoyed by the “encouraging” statements of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Saifuddin Soz over the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from some areas of the state, Congress leaders have further toughened their stand on the issue.

Congress leaders in Jammu have made it clear that their party will not allow the ruling National Conference to take any unilateral decision on the issue which directly pertains to the security of the country.

Soz, who reached Jammu last evening in connection with the “Diwali Milan” organised by him, summoned all senior leaders of the party and held detailed discussions with them on the issue.

Sources in the party said Congress leaders appreciated Soz for his bold stand against the unilateral decision taken by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on the AFSPA and asked him to stick to his stand in order to force the Chief Minister to admit his “mistake”.

After getting a feedback from party workers, Soz convened a meeting of senior leaders in which two Cabinet Ministers were also present. All those present at the meeting lauded the PCC chief’s stand and asked him to become assertive as, according to them, their coalition partner National Conference was not consulting the Congress while taking important decisions.

Sources said it was decided at the meeting that representatives of the Congress would not allow their National Conference colleague to discuss the AFSPA issue in the Cabinet. “It was the result of Thursday’s meeting that discussion on the AFSPA was not held in today’s Cabinet meeting,” the sources said, adding that the state unit had also conveyed their feelings to the party high command.

The sources disclosed that the Congress leadership had made it clear to the National Conference that without consulting all stakeholders, there should be no decision on the AFSPA. Congress leaders felt that Omar Abdullah had raked up the issue only to strengthen the NC base in the Kashmir valley.

Meanwhile, amidst the widening of rift between the two coalition partners, the PCC chief organised the “Diwali Milan” function last evening in which leaders of all political parties were invited. A group of National Conference leaders also attended the function. This was viewed by many as an effort by the NC to placate the annoyed Congress leaders.

Davinder Singh Rana, political adviser to the Chief Minister, and Industries and Commerce Minister S S Slathia were the prominent NC leaders who attended the Diwali Milan function. The host PCC chief spent some time with National Conference leaders but no discussion was held on the controversy over the AFSPA.

AFSPA revocation will revive militancy, says Panun Kashmir

Jammu, October 28
The Panun Kashmir today warned the government that the decision to revoke the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Disturbed Areas Act (DAA) from some areas would “revive” militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

“It will create enough space for terrorists to consolidate and renew their strength to further their nefarious designs of bleeding the country,” Panun Kashmir convener Agnishekhar said at a meeting here. He asked Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and those advocating the revocation of these Acts to explain the grounds on which they suggested that normalcy had returned to the Kashmir valley.

The recent grenade attacks in Srinagar and Anantnag were a pointer towards the security situation in the state, Agnishekhar said. — PTI

Fall in voters’ number in Jammu region
Gupta seeks independent revision of electoral rolls
Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 28
Former Union minister and expelled BJP MLA Chaman Lal Gupta has stressed the need for an independent revision of the voter lists in the state. He has also urged the Election Commission to hold an inquiry to find out why has there been an abnormal change in the number of voters in the Kashmir and Jammu divisions.

Referring to a written answer to his question in the state Assembly recently, Gupta said it was given out that the number of electorates in 68 municipal wards of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation had gone up to 6.2 lakh while in the Jammu Municipal Corporation having 71 wards it had increased to 3.47 lakh.

Gupta said in all Assembly constituencies in Srinagar city a sharp increase in the number of voters had been registered in the past decade. He added there were 57,663 voters in the Amira Kadal Assembly constituency in 2001 and it increased to 77,363 this year. Similarly, in the Batmaloo Assembly constituency the number of voters increased from 75,800 in 2001 to 108,471 this year. Such a big increase had been registered even though the names of a large number of migrant voters had been deleted from the lists, he added.

Gupta said during the Assembly elections in 2002, the Jammu East constituency had 87,332 voters and this number reduced to 52,785 this year. Similarly, the number of voters in the Jammu West constituency was 1,63,689 in 2001, but this number came down to 1,43,602. There were 1,53,334 voters in the Gandhi Nagar Assembly constituency in 2002 and this number reduced to 150,708 this year. While it was stated some time ago that many families from the old city had shifted to Gandhi Nagar and other localities, no one knew why the number of electorates reduced in Gandhi Nagar and the Jammu West constituency.

Gupta said the authorities concerned owed an explanation to the people on the reduction of the number of voters in the Jammu region.

During the Assembly elections in 2002 and the Lok Sabha poll earlier, the Jammu region had about 2.5 lakh more voters than the Kashmir valley. However, there were 3 lakh more voters in the Valley than the Jammu region now.

Death in Custody
NC worker’s son wants CBI to probe corruption charges against Farooq

Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, the counsel who is pleading the case against Omar and Farooq Abdullah, heads towards the court premises on Friday. Tribune photo: Amin War

Srinagar, October 28
The son of National Conference worker Syed Mohammad Yousuf, who died allegedly in police custody, today sought directions from a special anti-corruption court to the CBI to probe allegations of corruption against Union Minister Farooq Abdullah.

The court heard arguments of Talib Yousuf's counsel Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, who pleaded that the CBI should investigate the allegations of corruption made by Abdul Salam Reshi following the death of the NC worker on September 30.

After the custodial death which sparked a major political row in the state, Reshi had alleged that Yousuf had taken Rs 34 lakh from him and Rs 84 lakh from another NC worker Mohammad Yousuf Bhat for getting them berths in the state legislative council.

Dar argued that since Farooq Abdullah's name had figured in Reshi's statement, the CBI could investigate the case without seeking consent of the state government or sanction for prosecution from the Centre. Farooq has since rejected allegations of "political payoffs".

“The question of sanction will come at the prosecution stage. At this time we are seeking only directions for investigation,” Dar said, adding that there was no question of seeking consent from the state government as Farooq was a public servant at the Centre.

Farooq has denied that he or his party were involved in graft and asked the people to await the outcome of the judicial probe into the custodial death.

About allegations levelled by Reshi, he said: “Anyone can mention anybody’s name. You cannot stop anyone. This is a democratic country, not an autocratic country.”

“Farooq has nothing to do with it. Whatever has to come will come in the judicial inquiry. We have nothing to hide.” the NC president added. — PTI

Public libraries in state to go hi-tech
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 28
The state took a major leap towards providing modern library services to book lovers here today with the launching of Rs 116.72-lakh pilot project aimed at automation and networking of public libraries.

Initially, the state’s four major public libraries -- SRS Central Library, Jammu; SPS Central Library, Srinagar; Oriental Research Library, Hazratbal; and City Central Library, Karan Nagar -- are being automated and networked. The rest would be taken up in the second phase.

The project was launched by Minister for Tourism and Culture Nawang Rigzin Jora with the inauguration of the workstation and three-day workshop on e-Granthalaya Software at a function at the oldest public library in Kashmir, the SPS Central Library, established in 1898. A similar three-day workshop will be held at SRS Central Library, Jammu, on November 1. Separate workstations have been set up at four libraries to execute the project.

On the occasion, the minister also released two significant and voluminous titles published by the Department of Libraries and Research. These include the Urdu translation of a 17th-century Persian manuscript Khawarikus Saliqeen by Mullah Ahmad Bin Abdus Saboor Kashmiri and the Catalogue of Manuscripts detailing the rich cultural treasure of the department.

Describing the project as an important milestone in upgrading library services, Jora said it would bring the state on a par with national and international standards.

The minister declared that the state had a 132-year history of public library service as the first library in the state, the SRS Library, was established in Jammu in 1879 followed by the setting up of the SPS Library in Srinagar in 1898. He said with such a long history, it was essential to switch over to automated management to meet the present-day requirements.

Cabinet to take up AFSPA issue after offices reopen in Jammu, tweets Omar
Ehsan Fazili/TNS/TNS

Srinagar, October 28
With “political skirmishes” over the lifting of the AFSPA going on between the ruling National Conference and its alliance partner, the Congress, the controversial issue is expected to continue for at least the next two weeks before the ‘Darbar move’ offices reopen in Jammu.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who raked up the controversy with his announcement on withdrawal of AFSPA during his address at the police commemoration day on October 21, has stated that the issue would be taken up by the Cabinet when the Darbar move offices reopen in Jammu, and that would not be before November 7.

In his tweet here this evening, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah set to rest all speculations over the issue being taken up in today’s Cabinet. The meeting did not take up the issue as it was not scheduled for the day, he declared.

“The AFSPA revocation was always slated for discussion in Jammu once offices open,” Omar Abdullah tweeted here this evening. The issue of the AFSPA was also not discussed during the meeting of the Core Group on security that was held here today. The meeting was co-chaired by Lt Gen S A Hasnain, GOC, 15 Corps, and the J&K Director General of Police, Kuldeep Khoda.

The meeting held at the Badami Bagh Cantonment deliberated on the security initiatives being undertaken and took an overall view of the prevailing external and internal environment, a defence spokesman said.

Senior officers of the Army, police, CRPF, BSF, intelligence agencies and the civil administration attended the meeting. Addressing the meeting, Lt General Hasnain complimented the gathering on the high level of synergy that existed between all stakeholders in addressing the security concerns of the Valley. The DG (Police), Kuldeep Khoda, while addressing the gathering, echoed similar sentiments and elaborated on the key security issues, the spokesman said.

Allowance hike for darbar move staff
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 28
The government has enhanced the Move Travel Allowance from Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000 for the darbar move employees from October 1, an official spokesman said.

The state Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here today, approved the enhancement of the Temporary Move Allowance from Rs 650 to Rs 1,500 per month for the darbar move employees from this month. It also approved the promulgation of an ordinance titled “The Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (Amendment) Ordinance 2011”.

Students’ body celebrates Accession Day in Rajouri
Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 28
In continuation of its celebration of Accession Day as ‘National Solidarity Day’, the Sangharsh, an organisation of students of the University of Jammu, organised a programme in Rajouri district today. Rajouri had witnessed bloodshed during the time of the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India in 1947.

Chairman of the Sangharsh Vikrant Sharma called upon its activists and the people of the district to instil a sense of patriotism among the new generation and make them aware about the sacrifices and contributions of leaders like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Brig Rajinder Singh.

Speaking about the Instrument of Accession and the post-constitutional developments in Jammu and Kashmir, Sharma said though the accession of the state to India was not done before August 15, 1947, the attack by Pakistan invaders compelled the then Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu and Kashmir to sign the Instrument of Accession. “Under this instrument, Jammu and Kashmir surrendered three main subjects of defence, external affairs and communication to the dominion of India,” he added.

Sharma said at that time the Indian government made a commitment that the people of the state through their own constituent Assembly would determine its Constitution.

He added until the decision of the constituent Assembly of the state, the Constitution of India would provide an interim arrangement. And in this connection in 1954 the elected Assembly with the majority approved its accession to India, he said. Sharma added the President of India issued another order titled “Constitution Order 1954”, which extended the jurisdiction of the Union of India over the state. On January 26, 1957, when the Constitution of the state came into force, it clearly declared Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India.

It also declared that the state comprised all territories that were under the ruler of the state on August 15, 1947, including the areas which were under the occupation of Pakistan.

To move to winter capital, offices close in Srinagar
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 28
As part of the annual Darbar move, the Civil Secretariat and other move offices closed after the office hours here today. They will reopen in Jammu, the winter capital of the state, in the second week of November for the next six months.

Other offices having a six-day week schedule will be closing here tomorrow as part of the Darbar move, after six months of operations in Srinagar.

The Governor’s Secretariat in Raj Bhavan, offices of the Chief Justice of the state High Court and the Director General of Police, also closed here today as part of the move to the winter capital.

These offices are scheduled to reopen in Jammu on November 7 and in case it is a holiday that day on account of Eid-ul-Fitr, the date of opening of offices would be the next working day for the annual Darbar move.

In order to move the records of the Civil Secretariat and other move offices, trucks of the Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (J&KSRTC) were pressed into service this afternoon. All trucks carrying the huge piles of records would move from here on Sunday on the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway.

The Jammu-based employees, for whom SRTC buses have been requisitioned, would be moving from here on Saturday and Sunday. The employees belonging to the Kashmir valley would be moving to the winter capital in SRTC buses on November 5 and 6.

Work on reviving two dams to start soon, says Rather

Srinagar, October 28
The state government has said the work for the revival of two dams in Budgam district will commence soon with the technical clearance committee giving its approval to the two projects worth Rs 78 crore.

“The technical clearance committee has approved the revival of the Arzan-Garzan and Malpora dams at a cost of Rs 28 crore and Rs 50 crore, respectively,” Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather said during a visit to the Chrar-e-Sharief area here yesterday.

He said the revival of the Khanchi irrigation canal had also been approved and Rs 9.50 crore had been sanctioned for the purpose. “On completion, these projects will bring a green revolution in the Chrar-e-Sharif constituency and its adjacent areas,” he added.

The minister also announced the upgrading of the Chrar-e-Sharief-Yousmarg road at a cost of Rs 23 crore. All possibilities would be explored to construct a ropeway from Nilnag to Bargah through Yousmarg to exploit the tourism potential of the area, he added. — PTI

Two more arrested in fake currency racket
Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 28
The police arrested two more persons, including the kingpin, in the fake currency racket in Rajouri district today. However, a third accused was still at large.

The police had arrested Mohammad Altaf, a resident of Darhal and medical trainee at the ENT School of Training in Rajouri, and Pawan Kumar, a police constable and resident of Rajouri, yesterday and recovered Rs 17,500 of fake currency notes from their possession.

Official sources said during interrogation Altaf and Pawan disclosed the names of three more persons involved in the racket. They added the houses of the accused persons were raided today and Satish Kumar, a resident of Dangri, and Rohit, a resident of Ward number 7 in Rajouri, were arrested, while their third accomplice Sahil managed to escape.

The sources said a printer, a scanner, a laptop, some papers, a few half-printed Rs 500 and Rs 100 fake notes were recovered from the house of Satish Kumar, who is said to be the kingpin of the racket.

They added the investigating agencies had given BJP leader Kuldeep Raj Gupta the clean chit saying his involvement in the racket could not be established.

It may be stated here that the Special Operation Group of the police had raided Gupta’s house yesterday and recovered 40 counterfeit notes of Rs 500 and Rs 100 denominations, besides some half-printed fake notes from his personal security officer (PSO) Netar Prakash, who is at large.

Nine gamblers arrested
Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 28
The Samba police arrested nine gamblers and recovered Rs 1,580 of stake money from their possession today.

Reports said a police team led by Inspector Sandeep Mahajan conducted a raid near Bhargava College, Samba, and arrested four gamblers identified as Subhash, Mohan Lal, Ravi Kumar and Nittu, all residents of Samba. It also recovered Rs 1,080 of bet money and playing cards.

Another police party led by Inspector Arun Jamwal conducted a raid near the railway station, Bari-Brahmna, and arrested five gamblers and recovered Rs 500 of bet money. Those arrested were identified as Raju Khemat, Lalu, Suresh, Baja Choudhary and Mannu Ram, all natives of Madhya Pradesh. They were also booked under Section 13 of the Public Gambling Act, 1920.

Six Bangladesh nationals held

Jammu, October 28
The police arrested six Bangladesh nationals from a forward village along the international border in Arnia this morning. Sources said the Arnia police arrested six persons, including a girl, while trying to cross over to Pakistan.

They said the arrested persons had been identified as Amjad Khan, Nilofer, Imran Hakik, Mian Altaf, Shakeel Ali and Meera Mohammed, all residents of the Kohani Gon area in Bangladesh. — TNS

Railway employee found dead

Jammu, October 28
Mystery shrouds the death of a train ticket examiner (TTE), NK Sharma, whose body was found from the Jammu Railway Station here this morning. Sharma, 45, was a native of Dehradun.

“We recovered Sharma’s body from a bathroom on a platform. He apparently died of cardiac arrest,” said the SHO, GRP. A licensed revolver belonging to the TTE was also recovered from the spot.

The police has started inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC and the body has been shifted to the mortuary of the Government Medical College and Hospital here. — TNS