The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Communal tension in Rajouri Ravi Krishnan Khajuria Tribune News Service Jammu, January 5 Communal tension prevailed in Rajouri town over a mosque today. Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Pawan Kotwal and IGP, Jammu zone, Dilbagh Singh rushed to the town to take stock of the situation and ensure peace was not vitiated. A heavy posse of policemen has been deployed in and around the town to avoid any communal clash. “The situation is well under control and there are no communal clashes,” SSP, Rajouri, Vijay Singh Sambyal told The Tribune over the phone. Trouble erupted today when activists of some Hindu organisations threatened to set up a temple on the premises of Government Higher Secondary School (Boys) in Gujjar Market where the mosque stood. “There was a dilapidated Sarai on the school premises, probably built during the times of the Muslim ruler, Jehangir. Some 10 to 12 years ago when an Indian Reserve Police (IRP) battalion was accommodated there, some policemen found a small mosque in a dilapidated condition within the Sarai. They started offering prayers there,” a local told The Tribune over the phone. Subsequently, Muslims in the locality also started offering prayers there but three months ago the school management started objecting to the practice, the SSP said. He said three days ago the school management, in a bid to discourage the practice on the school premises, also locked the gate leading to the Sarai, angering the Muslims. In the meantime, Hindu organisations today became active and demanded that they would not allow any religious activities on the school premises. They also threatened to set up a temple there if the administration failed to take any remedial step.
	CM in thanksgiving mode, leaves opposition cold Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, January 5 The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today claimed that one of the biggest achievements of his three year tenure was getting overwhelming support of the people. Speaking at a function on completion of three years by the coalition government, Omar Abdullah lauded the unflinching and liberal support extended by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister, P. Chidambaram and other UPA leaders in helping the state to register substantial achievements in all sectors of development and strengthening ties between coalition partners. “After Almighty Allah if my gratitude is due, it is only to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,”he said. “My efforts for making Jammu and Kashmir a model State in the Country would continue in the next three years with even more zest and commitment. I want to make the State an example of peace and progress,” he said. He identified peace, unemployment and electricity as thrust areas during the remaining half of the government’s tenure and said that the war against corruption would continue. He said efforts would be redoubled to achieve the development goals. ?We want to face the people with “our heads up? at the end of the tenure,” he said. Curiously, the Congress appeared hesitant to endorse the government’s achievements. “How are we to judge performance of this regime? Let the people rate this government. Being part of the government, it is not wise on our part to give any rating to it,” spokesman of PCC Ravinder Sharma told The Tribune. “I don’t want to comment on the performance of this government?, said veteran Congress leader and ex-Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma. Panthers Party leader Harsh Dev Singh said that the government had nothing to highlight as achievement of its three year tenure. “Except promises, nothing has been done during the last three years,” he said. The principal opposition party PDP said that the only noticeable achievement of this regime was “legitimising corruption”. Former Minister and spokesman of PDP, Rangil Singh told The Tribune that this regime has not fulfilled promises made to the people. “The way government is hesitating to empower Panchayats, exposes the double standards of this regime,” he said. The last three years will be remembered as a bleak period in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, alleged BJP MLAs Ashok Khajuria, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Shyam Choudhary and Sukhnandan Kumar.
	Report card presented to Governor Tribune News Service Jammu, January 5 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here this morning and presented to him a publication highlighting the achievements of the coalition government in the past three years. The NC-Congress coalition regime completed three years in office today. The Chief Minister briefed the Governor about the achievements of the state government in different sectors during the past three years. The Deputy Chief Minister spoke about the difficulties faced and achievements made in some of the areas, particularly dealt with by him, including the functioning of the urban local bodies. The Governor offered sweets to the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister and congratulated them on the completion of three years of the functioning of the NC-Congress government in the state. He emphasised the importance of constant monitoring of the administration, timely completion of all development programmes and efficient functioning of the delivery system. The Governor stressed the need for honest functioning and congratulated the Chief Minister for deciding to undertake a district-wise assessment of the implementation of development works. He urged the Chief Minister to assign physical targets in all sectors, which could be measured against the envisaged time frames and cost limits so that those who performed well could be given state-level awards and promotions. The Governor wished the Chief Minister and all members of the council of ministers a successful year ahead in their endeavours to take the state to new heights of progress and prosperity.
	‘Probe into CISF firing to be taken to logical end’ Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, January 5 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said the probe into the CISF firing on protesters at Boniyar in Uri in Baramulla district would be taken to its logical conclusion and hoped that the Union Government would allow law to take its own course. The Director General (DG) of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), NR Das, had yesterday insisted that the personnel of the force also enjoyed immunity under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and it had followed the standard operating procedure while dealing with a mob in Uri. Omar was replying to questions of mediapersons at a function organised to celebrate the completion of three years of the NC-Congress government in office. He said a probe into the firing incident had already started. “In case it is found that prosecution is warranted and legal action has to follow, we will approach the Central Government. I have no doubt that keeping in with their commitment in ensuring justice, the Centre will allow law to take its own course. When his attention was drawn towards the statement of the DG, CISF, Omar said, “I am not getting into a tussle with anybody. As far as I am concerned, two parallel actions have been initiated. There is a magisterial inquiry going on into the incident. There is also a legal process as an FIR has been filled. And both these probes will be logically concluded.” Altaf Ahmad Sood, a resident of Boniyar in Uri, was killed on January 2 when CISF personnel opened fire on a mob protesting against power shortage. The mob allegedly tried to rampage an NHPC property guarded by the CISF. Asked about his demand for the withdrawal of the AFSPA from some parts of the state, Omar said there was a rightful case for its withdrawal and he would pursue the issue to the end. “I believe the line we have taken on the withdrawal of the AFSPA is based on logic and not on emotions. I intend to pursue it to its logical conclusion,” he said. He added discussions on the issue had been going on at various levels. Asked whether the AFSPA would be revoked in the coming years, Omar said, “It is not a question of coming years. I intend to pursue it in the coming weeks and months.”
	Omar Abdullah’s roller-coaster ride Ehsan Fazili Tribune News Service Srinagar, January 5 If the youngest chief minister of the state has lurched from one crisis to another during the last three years in office, he does not show it. He spent most of these three years fire-fighting and it is close to a miracle that his government still has a lot to show. As is now well-known, Omar Abdullah took over as CM in January, 2009 in the wake of a long, bitter and debilitating agitation involving the Amarnath Yatra. Barelyhad the dust settled down , and within months of Abdullah taking over, the rape and murder of two women in Shopian, allegedly by security personnel, brought the Valley to a standstill and led to a prolonged agitation. The summer of 2010 turned out to be equally restive, with stone pelters taking over the streets in Srinagar and bordering districts and targeting the men in uniform. As many as 110 civilians died and several hundred young men detained and allegedly tortured, giving rise to a vicious cycle. On both occasions, the Chief Minister did not appear to be in control and his inability to reach out to the people added to the distrust. A relatively peaceful summer in 2011, which saw tourists returning to the Valley after several years, led to a far more tense latter half. The Chief Minister added fuel to the fire by declaring in October that the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) would soon be lifted from some parts of the Valley. But instead of building confidence, it backfired when the Defence establishment put its feet down and pointed out that militancy in the state had taken a back seat and was more than likely to return. The uncle of the Chief Minister embarassed him by accusing the army of faking militant strikes to justify the continuation of AFSPA. He went on to question the accession of the state, suggesting that it was conditional. As if that was not enough, a National Conference worker, Md Yusuf Bhat, caused a sensation by alleging that another NC worker, Sayeed Md Yusuf, had taken a sum of Rs 87 lakhs from him for the Abdullahs after promising him a seat in the Legislative Council. The public furore got even more scandalous when the two were summoned to the CM’s official residence and Sayeed handed over to the police. His death ‘in police custody’ the next day forced the government to order an inquiry. Despite the gaffes and the hiccups, the NC-Congress coalition has managed to hold panchayat elections in the state and set up the Accountability Commission, Vigilance Commission, implement the Right to Information Act (RTI) and legislate the Public Services Guarantee Act. After a gap of several years, the state has witnessed new university campuses and new degree colleges come up. Sports events returned to the Valley along with cultural evenings, wedding receptions and musical bands.
	‘Anarchy, mis-governance hallmarks of regime’ Ehsan Fazili Tribune News Service Srinagar, January 5 PDP president Mehbooba Mufti today claimed that the three years of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in office had been about sheer survival, anarchy, mis-governance and political failures. She regretted that Omar failed to use the Congress support for the welfare of the state. Mehbooba, while addressing party workers here today, said, “With the blood of hundreds of innocents on its hands, Altaf of Boniyar in Uri being the latest, the celebrations of the coalition government of its three-year rule looks obscene.” She said the worst impact of Omar’s governance had been the orchestrated defamation of the Kashmiri people for all these years. “In 2009, following the Shopian tragedy, fingers were pointed by the rulers at the integrity of Kashmir women, in 2010 an entire generation was packaged before the world as stone throwers, drug addicts and criminals, and year 2011 was rounded off by the Chief Minister personally accusing Kashmiris of stealing electricity”.
	The last six months were hectic but satisfactory Ehsan Fazili Srinagar, January 5 A noted scientist and recipient of J.C. Bose National Fellowship, Prof Talat Ahmad joined as Vice Chancellor of the University of Kashmir in June last year. He was the head of the department of Geology in Delhi University till then. “The Grade A status granted to the university by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) was a good start to my innings here. But one third posts of teachers are still vacant. The vacancies have arisen due to retirement of teachers over the years. We hope to fill up 53 positions during the next three months. The remaining vacancies will be filled up by next summer. Three satellite campuses, one each at Leh and Kargil in Ladakh and Kupwara in north Kashmir, existed only on paper for three years. During the first four months of my tenure, I visited all the three places and interacted with local officers and political leaders. Land for each of these campuses was identified, which now has been transferred to the University. I then approached the UGC, which has sanctioned Rs 85 crore for the development of these campuses. Rs 40 crore have already been received. The process of admissions and examinations in B.Ed colleges has been streamlined and now these colleges are doing a good job. I have signed an MoU( Memorandum of Understanding) with Delhi University under which students of this University can have access to the laboratories there. There will also be co-supervision by Delhi University teachers and DU students and teachers will travel to this university. This will hopefully clear several wrong perceptions. Scarcity of hostel accommodation has been a major problem. When students stay at the campus, they can devote more time towards their studies and research. Decks have been cleared for a 400-bed hostel for boys while separate girls’ hostel and a Research Scholars’ hostel are also coming up. The post of Dean (Research) has been approved; he will lead the university in research work and facilitate research scholars. Till now very few people were getting facilities or funds for research work. I am trying to ensure that more research scholars receive scholarships and fellowships. When the Research Scholars’ hostel comes up, things will be even better. In Delhi University we had at least 10 to 15 scholarships, while here we have only two to three of them. There is much scope for Glaciology and atmospheric sciences like Meteorology. I have been asked to prepare a proposal for the Ministry for Science and Technology and Ministry of Earth Sciences. I hope to get grants for this purpose and to support this we would be sending faculty members for training abroad, if required. Another important thing is to set up a Seismic Study centre since Kashmir falls in an earthquake prone area. There is hardly any Scientific Lab in the region to conduct detailed studies. I am in touch with Geological Survey of India to build up an Institute of Seismic study here. We have a career planning and counselling centre and with the help of the central government, we plan to get experts from all over the country to train and prepare the youth for UPSC and other competitive examinations.
	‘Phretay Munh’ a satire on police functioning Varun Suthra/TNS Jammu, January 5 The Feroz Cultural Group, Bandipora, staged a Kashmiri play, “Phretay Munh”, on the eighth day of the ongoing Budshah Theatre Festival at the Abhinav Theatre auditorium here today. The humorous play was scripted by a noted Kashmiri writer, Shaukat Shehri, and designed and directed by Rafiq Ahmad Dar. The story revolved around two thieves, who had been stealing things at the behest of some police officials. The police instead of taking action against them always bothered the innocent people. The two thieves decamp with some booty from the house of Janki Nath. His neighbour Khazir Bhat suggests to him to report the incident at the nearest police station. Janki and Khazir are not aware of the fact that the thieves had accomplished the task with the help of the police. Hence, the police arrests both thieves and tells them to give the police its share. Not satisfied with their share, the police again forces the thieves to give them more money. The thieves later decamp with some booty from the house of one of the police officers involved in the gang, which shocks the police. The play was a satire on the obsolete functioning of the Police Department in contemporary society. The play explored the dimensions of crime, criminal issues, the system and society in the present social disorder. Dar told The Tribune, “The play is a satire on the present system, social disorder and the crime that is taking place. It also shows the sufferings of a common man, who is lost in the milieu.” The cast included Ghulam Nabi Malik, Nasreena Sofi, Mohammad Ashraf, Mohammad Shafi Dar, Abdul Rashid, Aejaz Ahmad, Bilal Ahmad, Shabir Ahmad, Farooq Ahmad, Nazir Ahmad and Mohammad Amin.
	10-day cultural show of Trikuta hills concludes Devinder Thakur Katra, January 5 A 10-day cultural show of performing arts of the Trikuta hills organised by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), Katra, concluded at the auditorium of the Spiritual Growth Centre here today. Forty shows of rare performing art forms of the hills of the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine featured in the cultural show. The prominent art forms, which were the highlights of these shows, were Karkan, Kud, Bhakhan, Jagarna, wedding songs like Surma, Morni, Chatani and the Gojri music and dances. Dr Mandeep Bhandari, Additional Chief Executive Officer of the SMVDSB, said the shrine board would continue with such endeavours, which were aimed at the preservation, promotion and propagation of the rich cultural heritage of the Trikuta hills. The programme was part of an initiative, which the shrine board had taken up through Natrang, Jammu, under the direction of Balwant Thakur to document, preserve, promote and propagate the dying art forms of these hills. The best way to preserve and promote these rare performing art forms is to encourage their performance and practice. Thakur presented a vote of thanks and expressed his gratitude to the SMVDSB for giving his team an opportunity to showcase the rare and dying art forms of the Trikuta hills. He hoped that they would get more occasions to perform for the pilgrims and local residents.
	Punish erring varsity officials: NSF Jammu, January 5 The National Secular Forum (NSF) has urged the government to initiate action against erring officials of the University of Jammu and order a special audit of the varsity affairs of the past six years. Addressing a press conference here today, NSF president Vikas Sharma said, “We had demanded inquiry into frauds and embezzlements that occurred during the tenure of the previous Vice-Chancellor. The probe is over so we demand immediate action against the erring officials.” Those present on the occasion included Surjit Choudhary, Ravi Choudhary, Shafqat Malik, Simran Singh, Nasir Shah and Vimal. — TNS
	Bank manager held taking bribe Devinder Thakur Katra January 5 A senior manager of a public sector bank was arrested by a CBI team while accepting bribe from an unemployed youth who was seeking a loan under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme, the police said here today. Senior manager of Punjab National Bank Parveen Kumar Sangloo was caught red handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 at the Main Bazaar branch of the bank in Reasi, it said. Sangloo had demanded bribe from Ajit Singh, a resident of Panassa in Reasi, whose loan application for Rs 2 lakh had been approved by the government, after he came to know that the youth was entitled to a subsidy of Rs 30,000 under the scheme. According to the police, Sangloo first demanded Rs 20,000 to process the loan application, but settled for Rs 10,000. Ajit Singh lodged a complaint and brought the matter to the notice of the CBI.
	Representation for Kashmiri Pandits in Cabinet sought Tribune News Service Jammu, January 5 A deputation of the welfare committee, Durga Nagar, Jammu, called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here today and presented to him a memorandum of demands. Led by RL Raina, president of the committee, the seven-member deputation presented a number of demands, including a financial assistance for the completion of an under-construction community hall, setting up of a dispensary, land for the construction of a Higher Secondary School in the Durga Nagar locality and representation for Kashmiri Pandits in the Cabinet. Other demands highlighted by the deputation included construction of a park in the locality, accommodation facilities for non-camp migrants, who had a meagre income and increase in cash relief to migrants. The Governor gave a patient hearing to the deputation and announced Rs 1.50 lakh for the completion of the under-construction building of the community hall at Durga Nagar. He agreed to take up their other demands with the state government.
	Set up photography school in state: Usha Vohra Tribune News Service Jammu, January 5 Governor NN Vohra’s wife Usha Vohra today stressed the need for establishing a photography school in the state for imparting techniques and technological skills to budding photographers in the state. She was addressing a gathering at the 3rd photography exhibition and an awards presentation ceremony organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages at the Kala Kendra here this evening. The Governor’s wife said technology had advanced rapidly and photography today was not what it used to be some years ago. She added that there was digital photography now and considerable effort was required to master the art of photography. She also urged Minister for Tourism and Culture Nawang Rigzin Jora to consider establishing a photography school in the state. Referring to the breathtaking natural beauty of Jammu and Kashmir, she said one did not need to go long distances to click a good picture, as the entire environment around was enchanting. She presented awards to eight photographers whose entries were adjudged best. She congratulated them and hoped that they would do much better next time. She added the people of Jammu would get an opportunity to see more beautiful pictures. She went around the exhibition and evinced keen interest in the pictures on display. She was presented a memento by the Tourism Minister. In all, 83 photographs had been displayed at the exhibition. The exhibition would remain open for public till January 7. A large number of art lovers, photographers, intellectuals and senior officials of the Cultural Academy were present on the occasion.
	Sixth Pay Commission arrears sought Jammu, January 5 The Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC), Kashmir, today reiterated its demand for the payment of the arrears of the Sixth Pay Commission to the employees in two instalments. Chief spokesperson for the committee Aijaz Ahmed Khan told mediapersons that keeping in view the rising prices of essential commodities the government should pay the arrears as soon as possible. The committee also demanded the regularisation of the services of daily wage workers in the state, particularly those working in the Power Development Department (PDD). “Most of them have repeatedly been assured that their services would be regularised in the department, but nothing has been done so far. The case is also same with daily wage workers working in other departments,” said Ishtiaq Ahmed Beig, a member of the EJAC. — TNS
	Narwal mandi sans power, water Tribune News Service Jammu, January 5 The Sri Ram Sena (SRS) has threatened to launch an agitation if the authorities concerned did not resume normal power supply to the business community in the Narwal vegetable mandi. “The vegetable mandi at Narwal, Jammu, is facing an acute shortage of power and potable water due to official apathy,” said SRS state president Rajiv Mahajan while addressing a meeting of commission agents here today. He added that there were four high-mast floodlights in the mandi of which only two were functional.
	Snowfall, rain continue in Valley Our correspondent Srinagar, January 5 Many parts of Kashmir received snowfall and rain for the second consecutive day today, bringing some respite from the severe cold conditions prevalent over the last two weeks. The night temperatures rose considerably due to the snowfall over the last two days. Srinagar city recorded a minimum temperature of 0.7°C last night, as compared to minus 3.1°C the night before, a MeT official said here. The tourist resort of Pahalgam in Anantnag district recorded a minimum temperature of minus 1.6°C last night as compared to minus 3.2°C the night before. The maximum temperatures in Srinagar and Pahalgam were 4.2°C and 2.8°C, respectively. Pahalgam received 9.5 cm of snow and 3.4 mm of rain today while the gateway town of Kashmir, Qazigund, received 2 cm of snow and 4.4 mm of rain. Kulgam received 5.3 cm of snow and 4.2 mm of rain. Leh in the Ladakh region remained the coldest place in the state, as it recorded a minimum temperature of minus 16°C. However, the maximum temperature stood at 1.2°C. Due to the rain, vehicular movement on the Srinagar-Jammu highway was suspended for a few hours in the morning. The highway was reopened after the weather improved in the afternoon. The weatherman has forecast light to moderate snowfall and rain at several places in the Valley during the next 24 hours.