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No AFSPA protection for guilty CISF men: Omar
Parties, separatists condemn incident
Leh below freezing point at minus 17.2°C
‘Kharaashien’ showcases unending pain of families after Partition
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Justice Sagheer panel may get 3-month extension
14.25 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at Shiv Khori Shrine in 2011
Mehbooba habitual liar: NC leader
3 killed in road mishaps
Cabinet nod to DA hike, 13 degree colleges
Kashmiri Pandits eager to take part in Pune conference
‘Valley to get extra 150 MW soon’
Demolition drive turns violent
Cross-LoC traders demand direct ISD phone lines
Road Safety Week starts in Udhampur, Kishtwar
Harsh winter no deterrent to security forces hunting ultras
Four Bar-Headed Geese spotted at Gharana wetland
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Student’s Killing in Baramulla Firing
Jammu, January 2 “5 arrests effected, case registered. No protection under AFSPA will be considered since they weren't on counter-insurgency deployment,” Omar wrote on micro-blogging networking site Twitter this evening. In his earlier tweet, he said, “Tragic beginning to New Year. Inexcusable use of force in Uri today. Swift and exemplary action has followed. Law will now follow course.” Those arrested were Sub-Inspector Krishan Thapa, Havildar Dwarka Prashad and constables Raju Ranjan, Ajay Singh and Mohammad Shabir, said Sharma. Probably apprehending widespread protests against the killing of a student in the incident, Sharma clarified that the CISF, the troops of which opened fire, was not part of the counter-insurgency grid operating in Jammu and Kashmir. “The CISF troops have been deployed by the NHPC exclusively for the security of its installations across the state,” he said, adding “the government has taken up the matter with the Union Home Ministry and lodged serious protest against the killing. We have demanded exemplary action against the delinquent officers.” Sharma termed the student’s killing as “tragic and unfortunate” and blamed the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) for the clash. “Had proper communication about the confrontation between the NHPC and residents of Rampora and Guntamula villages in Uri been made to the administration, the situation could have been averted,” he said. Sharma said the people were probably protesting against the NHPC, demanding direct supply of electricity from the local unit of the corporation to their villages. The civil society and political groups have been pressing for the restoration of the NHPC-run hydel power projects to the state. They have been accusing the NHPC of exploiting the water resources of the state. Sharma added the district administration had been directed to provide ex-gratia relief to the next of kin of the deceased and the injured. An investigation had been launched in the incident. |
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Parties, separatists condemn incident
Srinagar, January 2 She said it was an irony that Altaf Ahmad was killed near the Uri hydel project while demanding regular power supply. Normally, this project should have been supplying uninterrupted free power to the area, but with the NC, which had gifted the project to the NHPC, the locals had to fight for even paid facility and face brutality. Mehbooba said Omar had set the government against the people and instead of reaching out to them and resolving their problems he had created a situation of confrontation. Today’s firing on innocent protesters, who were demanding electricity, was a direct consequence of this callous approach. The Hurriyat Conference has also condemned the incident and expressed concern over free hand given to the security forces in targeting peaceful protesters.
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Leh below freezing point at minus 17.2°C
Srinagar, January 2 Even though Leh town in the remote Ladakh region witnessed a comparatively warmer night, the mercury there settled at a low of minus 17.2 degrees Celsius, an increase of 1.6 degrees from yesterday, a MeT official said. Leh had yesterday recorded this season's lowest of minus 18.8°C. Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, witnessed a freezing minus 3.6 degrees Celsius, which was an increase of 1.3 degrees from yesterday, the official said. The summer capital yesterday recorded 4.9 degrees Celsius, which for the second time was this season's lowest temperature here. The south Kashmir resort of Pahalgam recorded an increase of three degrees in the night temperatures as the minimum there rose from yesterday's minus 7.0 degrees Celsius to minus 3.0 deg C, he said. The skiing resort of Gulmarg recorded a minimum temperature of minus 7.6 degrees Celsius, an increase of 0.4 degree as compared to the previous night, the official said. The gateway town of Qazigund in south Kashmir recorded a minimum of minus 1.6°C, an increase of 3.4 degrees from yesterday. |
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‘Kharaashien’ showcases unending pain of families after Partition
Jammu, January 2
The play was based on the poems and four short stories of Bollywood lyricist Gulzar. Bhupender Singh had directed the play. The short stories of Gulzar were nicely interwoven and artistes got an opportunity to display their acting skills, as seven onstage characters played multiple roles. The first story, Hilsa, was a fair comparison of a woman, who had been facing atrocities in men dominated society. “Raavi Paar”, the second story showed the unending pain of families, who suffered in the aftermath of the Partition in 1947. The third story, “Kahuf”, highlighted the hidden devil in humans, which comes out suddenly after a long dormancy. “Khuda Haafis”, the fourth story portrayed the outcome of consistent infusion of hatred by various forces in contemporary society. All the scenes were interconnected with Gulzar’s poetic recitations, as the artistes used recitals while shifting from one plot to other. The cast included Tapeshwar Dutta, Poonam Sudan, Soham, Pradeep, Swayam, Vijay Goswami and Manoj Bhat. Bhupinder told The Tribune, “Kharaashien means scratches. The play was about the Partition of 1947 and about the riots and killings that are occurring unabatedly. It had the potential to touch our sensitive cords and humanise us in the process.” |
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Justice Sagheer panel may get 3-month extension
Jammu, January 2 Highly placed sources told The Tribune that the CSC had sought three months’ extension from the government to narrow down the differences between coalition partners NC and Congress on key issues like autonomy. “The General Administration Department (GAD) is in the process of finalising the modalities for granting three months’ extension to the Cabinet Sub-Committee. The GAD may take the final decision by the end of this week,” the sources said. They added the CSC was being given extension for the fifth time. “Earlier, the government gave an extension to the CSC on September 30, which expired on December 30. The CSC has met 15 times during its term so far,” they said. On December 27 last, the crucial meeting of the CSC was deferred due to lack of quorum as four of its eight members did not turn up following the death of senior Congress leader and MLC Yash Pal Khajuria. Of its eight members, four ministers, including Abdul Rahim Rather as chairman, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Surjit Singh Slathia and Qamar Ali Akhoon, belong to the NC, while four ministers namely Raman Bhalla, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Sham Lal Sharma and Nawang Rigzin Jora belong to the Congress. Sharp differences had cropped up between the coalition partners after the NC stood for the grant of autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir. The ministers belonging to the Congress were opposed to it. Justice Sagheer (retd), who had submitted his report to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah instead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in December 2009, recommended autonomy for the state and taking a final decision on Article 370 of the Constitution of India that grants a special status to the state. The Prime Minister had constituted five working groups in the second Roundtable Conference on Jammu and Kashmir in March 2006. Four of the five groups had submitted their reports in April 2007 to the Prime Minister during the third Roundtable Conference held in New Delhi. |
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14.25 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at Shiv Khori Shrine in 2011
Katra, January 2 During 2010, the pilgrims to the Shiv Khori Shrine touched the highest ever mark of 10.82 lakh, breaking all the previous records. The Shiv Khori Cave Shrine is now emerging as the second biggest pilgrimage site in the state after the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. A heavy rush of pilgrims is being witnessed at the shrine these days, as on January 1 about 6,500 devotees paid obeisance at the shrine. The Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board is making all efforts to provide better infrastructural facilities to the visiting pilgrims. A number of developmental projects have been taken up, which include a multi-storied waiting hall complex near the shrine and development of Ransoo, the base camp of the shrine. In addition, development of parks and gardens, plantation of medicinal plants all along the route, shelter sheds with toilet facilities, adequate provision of drinking water and power supply and a bus stand have also been taken up. A Tourism Reception Centre has also been constructed at Ransoo for the convenience of the pilgrims. |
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Mehbooba habitual liar: NC leader
Jammu, January 2 Sadhotra was addressing party workers at Marh this afternoon. He said though she had been exposed for telling lies, the PDP president and other party leaders have not desisted from the practice. He added Mehbooba should apologise to the people of the state for telling lies blatantly. “A lie has no legs to stand upon,” he said referring to the NIC official document mentioning Mehbooba having praised Modi. However, Mehbooba denied having praised Modi when BJP leader Sushma Sawraj talked about it. Sadhotra said though Mehbooba and other leaders of the PDP had to eat a humble pie on many occasions for telling lies and propagating falsehood against the coalition government in the state, it was not desisting from the practice. He asked the PDP to introspect and the party leadership to stop telling brazen lies and blaming others. He said, “It looks very amusing when the PDP talks about corruption because it is credited with making the state the second most corrupt state during Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s rule”. Sadhotra claimed that the historic and innovative politico-economic development policy launched by the coalition government in the state in the past years had helped in restoring peace and stability in the state and taking development to all corners. “After losing power you were so frustrated that you did not even spare your coalition partner and hatched conspiracy against Ghulam Nabi Azad. This publicly depicted your political opportunism and falsehood,” he said. |
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3 killed in road mishaps
Jammu, January 2 The police said Reetu Devi and her daughter, Soni (3), were crushed to death in Gangyal on Sunday night when a speeding truck hit the motorcycle they were riding. Reetu’s husband, Pramod Kumar, a resident of Bihar, was also injured in the accident. A youth was killed and three others were injured in a road mishap on the highway near the Vijaypur area. The deceased has been identified as Tanuj Sharma, 23, a resident of Rehari. The police said the accident took place when a speeding Alto car rammed into a truck parked on the highway. —
TNS
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Cabinet nod to DA hike, 13 degree colleges
Jammu, January 2 It also approved the construction of 13 degree colleges at a cost of Rs 16.71 crore (Rs 10.43 crore for eight PMRP colleges and Rs 6.28 crore for five state plan colleges through the Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation). The Cabinet also accorded approval to the promotions of RK Jerath to the fixed scale of Rs 80,000 per month with immediate effect, AK Srivastava on the proforma basis and Lal Chand to the above super time scale-II (Principal Chief Conservator of Forests) of Rs 75,500-80,000 with grade pay and HAG prospectively. It also approved the promotion of Deepak Khanna, Ravi Kumar Kesar, Suresh Chugh and Mukher Jeet Sharma to the above super time scale-I (Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests) in the pay scale of Rs 67,000-79,000 with grade pay and HAG prospectively. Other officers promoted were Aijaz Ahmad Akhoon as General Manager, Government Press, Jammu; Hridesh Kumar on the proforma basis, Sarita Chouhan, Mohammad Ashraf Bukhari, Mohammad Abass Dar and Shagufta Parveen, all IAS officers, to the selection grade of Rs 37,400-67,000 with a grade pay of Rs 8,700; Simrandeep Singh and Jitender Kumar Singh to the senior time scale of IAS (Rs 15,600-39,100) with a grade pay of Rs 6,600; Jitender Kumar Singh to the senior time scale of IAS subject to the condition that he shall pass the departmental examination within one year from the date of promotion. The Cabinet gave approval to the re-employment of Basharat Ahmad Dhar as Managing Director of the State Power Development Corporation for a period of two years with effect from January 1, 2012. It also approved the appointment of 46 officers of the feeding services to the time scale of the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Services (KAS). |
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Kashmiri Pandits eager to take part in Pune conference
Jammu, January 2 The Kashmiri Pandits will leave from here for Pune on January 4 and will be joined by other groups of community members in Jalandhar and New Delhi. The two-day conference will conclude on January 8. It will focus on three main issues — to connect to the youth of the diaspora, analyse and understand differences and find sources to help the underprivileged youth of the community. Rahul Koul, coordinator of the conference, said, “The conference will not just be a display of intellect but we will start a drive, form a task force and execute plans as well.” “There is a dire need to connect the youth to their roots, culture, language and heritage. Entrepreneurs have also attended conferences earlier and they can guide the youth about various means of business. They can also help the underprivileged youth of the community in starting their own businesses,” he added. Koul said Maharashtra was the first state to provide quota to Kashmiri Pandits and because of this move it had become a hub of the youth belonging to the migrant community. He added most of the Kashmiri Pandits were working in Pune or had settled there and hence it was the most suitable place for the conference. Dr Agnishekhar, convener of the Panun Kashmir, said, “A band of artistes, eminent writers and students belonging to the community, activists of the Kashmira Vahini and others will take part in the conference. Our main aim is to connect to the youth through the conference.”
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‘Valley to get extra 150 MW soon’
Srinagar, January 2 “On an average, Kashmir gets 850 MW and now the power supply has gone up to 951 MW. The Power Development Department (PDD) will further increase the supply to 1,100 MW in coming days,” said Development Commissioner, Power, MA Salroo. “The department has ensured that electricity supply to Kashmir is significantly increased to give immediate relief to the people from severe winter conditions prevailing in the Valley,” Salroo added. According to the power cut schedule, the non-metered areas would face 70-hour cuts every week. Salroo claimed the Valley had received an additional 10 per cent of power this winter.
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Demolition drive turns violent
Srinagar, January 2 Eyewitnesses said Nowpora residents opposed the demolition of structures as part of a road-widening exercise in the area. Soon after a team of officials and police reached Nowpora, the protesters burnt tyres and staged demonstrations. They alleged that they had not been paid appropriate compensation by the authorities concerned. The police fired one tear-gas shell to disperse the protesters, who pelted it with stones. The clash between the protesters and the police created panic in the area and also led ot disruption of traffic movement. Shopkeepers in the area closed their shops after the incident. However, the situation was brought under control later.
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Cross-LoC traders demand direct ISD phone lines
Jammu, January 2 “Since its inception on October 10, 2008, both countries have traded goods worth Rs 1,000 crore, but the state government has not done enough to give the much desired impetus to the trade,” a cross-LoC trader told The Tribune over the phone from Poonch. In 2011, trade on the barter system between the two sides crossed Rs 400 crore, but the government had done little to set up direct ISD telephone booths to enable us to talk to our Pakistan counterparts, he said. The state government had set up 10 ISD telephone booths, five each in Poonch and Baramulla. But Indian traders in Kashmir and Poonch were reluctant to use the facility, citing lack of privacy. “We had raised the issue before the authorities concerned, including the Deputy Commissioner, Poonch, and the Director, Industries. We had requested them to set up direct ISD telephone lines and extend the facility to the offices of the cross-LoC traders in Poonch and Baramulla, but nothing of the sort had been done,” he said. The trader said no cross-LoC trader would ever want to share his trade secrets with government officials. The ISD facility to A local resident of Poonch told The Tribune that till date only two traders had used the facility. Indian traders rely on monthly meetings to discuss business-related issues with their counterparts. Pawan Anand, president of the Cross-LoC Traders’ Association, has also urged the government to open direct ISD telephone booths to ensure hassle-free business conversations with their counterparts in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Director, Industries, Upinder Singh, however, said anyone associated with the trade could use the facility. “The government has provided 10 ISD telephone connections, five each in Baramulla and Poonch to facilitate the trade. These have been provided at the Deputy Commissioners’ offices, District Industries Corporations and Chamber of Commerce and Industries offices,” said Upinder. The request of the Indian traders for direct ISD facility had been sent to the Centre, which had the prerogative to take a decision on it, he added. Due to security reasons the direct ISD facility could only be provided |
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Road Safety Week starts in Udhampur, Kishtwar
Udhampur, January 2 The theme of the programme this year is “Accident Brings Tears, Safety Brings Cheers”. The awareness week is being organised by the Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) of both districts in association with the Traffic Wing of the police. Interactions with drivers, conductors and commuters, a medical camp, various demonstration programmes, especially for truck drivers plying vehicles on national highways would be organised during the week. The Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) said students and volunteers of the NSS, the NCC and the Civil Defence would spread awareness among the people. This is the 23rd Road Safety Week in Kishtwar, which is prone to road accidents due to its difficult mountainous terrain. Assistant District Development Commissioner (ADDC), Kishtwar, NA Shah launched the campaign and said by educating the people about road safety traffic problems could be solved to a great extent and loss of lives minimised. Every stakeholder should come forward to help the district administration and the police in this endeavour, added Shah. He was addressing a gathering of students, teachers, youth and social workers at the inaugural ceremony. ARTO, Kishtwar, Kuldeep Singh and SSP, Kishtwar, BS Tuti also urged the people to extend cooperation in managing the traffic system and enable strict enforcement of the Motor Vehicles Act in the district. The drivers’ community was particularly urged to stay away from intoxicants and drugs. Drivers of two-wheelers were asked to wear helmets while driving. An awareness rally by students and employees of various government and private institutions was taken out in Kishtwar town on the occasion. |
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Harsh winter no deterrent to security forces hunting ultras
Udhampur, January 2 Much to the relief of the common people as well as the security forces, the situation in Ramban district is being seen as moving towards zero militancy like in neighbouring Reasi district. There is no let up in eliminating a handful of still active militants hiding in the upper reaches of the district. “As of now, there are four militants belonging to the Hizbul Mujahideen active in the district. But we have not lowered our guard and will not let them operate for long. In fact, there have been occasions when we got closer to them, but they managed to escape. The militants tend to mix with nomadic tribes, who come down during the winter and keep changing their location,” SP, Ramban, Anil Magotra told The Tribune. Magotra did not agree to the contention that weather conditions could impede operations. “On the contrary, due to the harsh winter when militant hideouts in the upper reaches become snowbound, the militants have to come down and keep moving across the neighbouring districts. Almost all successful operations against other militants have taken place during the winter,” added Magotra. The surviving four militants in the district are Ghulam Qadir, a resident of Gool, Mohammad Ayub, a resident of Sumber, Riaz, alias Usman, a resident of Tarigam, and a Pakistan militant, Saifullah. Their operational area extends from Gool to Banihal in the district. They managed to escape during an encounter in January last year. “Besides deploying security forces in the areas where these four militants are suspected to be moving, we are also regularly monitoring the overground workers to get clues about their whereabouts,” said Magotra Militants of different outfits like the Hizbul Mujahideen, the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), the Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islami and the Jaish-e-Mohammad had been active in the district but successful operations in which five top militants, including two commanders of the Hizbul Mujahideen and the LeT were killed in Ramban in 2011, broke the backbone of militancy in the district. The self-styled divisional commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen, Abdul Rashid, alias Qari Zubair, was killed along with his two accomplices in February last year. Besides, LeT commander Mohammad Ayaz Malik, alias Abu Mousa, had also been eliminated in the Danbinallah area of Banihal along with two other militants. |
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Four Bar-Headed Geese spotted at Gharana wetland
Jammu, January 2 Flocks of Bar Headed Geese, the world’s highest altitude migrant birds, fly from their breeding grounds in select wetlands on the high plateaus of Central Asia to winter feeding grounds in lowlands of India and China through the Himalayan range, sometimes even directly above the Mount Everest in November-December. Tahir Shawl, Wildlife Warden, Jammu, told The Tribune, “We spotted four birds on December 20 with red collars around their neck. The collars were numbered like H97, H44, H12 and H76.” “Finding it unusual, I talked to the officials of the Pong Wildlife Sanctuary, Himachal, and they confirmed that the tagging was part of a study,” he added. Tahir said he shared the fact with many ornithologist and experts across the globe and it was learnt that probably the birds had come from Tibet. “Martin Gilbert of Wildlife Conservation Society, USA, Diann Prosser of USGS, Dr Taej Mundkur of Wetland International Lue Dongeing and Qian Fawen of National Bird Banding Centre, China, and Dr Asad Rehmani, Director of Bombay Natural History Society were contacted. It was then concluded that the birds were coming from Qinghai province of China, which is located on the northeastern part Tibetan Plateau,” he disclosed. He further said the number of birds arriving at the Gharana Wetlands had also increased this year. “About 6,000 migratory birds are using Gharana as their sojourn this year and it is a very positive sign,” he said. He said tagging had been done to study the course of migration and habitat of the birds. “We have also planned to study the birds using satellite telemetry. The project would help us in studying the evolutionary and other habitual alterations of the migratory birds,” said Tahir. Guldev Raj, an expert on migratory birds, said, “I have been observing the movement of these birds since 2005. At that time these birds never crossed the wetland and used to confine themselves to the other side of the pond, but this year they occupied the pond, came closer to the people, without any hesitation.” He said it was observed the birds were not afraid of people and had developed a sense of security here. He said the birds, which used to fly away on a single ripple in the pond were now unhesitant to follow locals to their farms. “I feel they have sensed the love from us so they prefer this land to China,” he said. |
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The minimum temperature across the Kashmir Valley rose by several degrees even though it remained below the freezing point with Leh town recording a chilling minus of 17.2 degrees Celsius.
A total of 14.25 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at the historic Shiv Khori Cave Shrine in 2011. The shrine is situated in Sanger Hills of the Ransoo area of Reasi district.
However, the number of pilgrims, visiting the shrine in 2010 was 10.82 lakh. This information was given by Executive Officer of the Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board Sukdev Singh Sambyal here today.
The Department of Wildlife, Jammu, has spotted a group of Bar Headed Geese
(Rajhans) with a red collar around their necks at the Gharana wetland, RS Pura. Flocks of Bar Headed Geese, the world’s highest altitude migrant birds, fly from their breeding grounds in select wetlands on the high plateaus of Central Asia to winter feeding grounds in lowlands of India and China through the Himalayan range, sometimes even directly above the Mount Everest in November-December.
Meanwhile, at a press conference this evening, BR Sharma, Principal Secretary, Home, said an FIR had been registered at Boniyar police station and five CISF personnel, who opened the fire on the protesters, had been arrested. 
