The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

No respite just yet
More snow likely in Valley today
M Aamir Khan

Srinagar, January 22
Even as most parts of the Kashmir valley witnessed a sunny day today, the weatherman has forecast yet another spell of snowfall from tomorrow.

An official of the meteorological department here said many parts of the Valley will receive fresh snowfall from January 23 to 26. “Snowfall is expected to be heavy around the Pir Panjal range, while it is expected to be moderate at other places,” he added.

While Kashmir is currently going through “Chillai Kalaan”, the harshest 40-day period of winter that began on December 21 last month, the Valley has already witnessed three rounds of snowfall this season.

Regular snowfall has thrown normal life out of gear in Kashmir, with the Srinagar-Jammu national highway witnessing frequent blockades.

Even though the highway has been thrown open to one-way traffic from here to Jammu, the authorities only allowed the movement of stranded vehicles, besides trucks and State Road Transport Corp (SRTC) buses. Due to slippery road conditions, the movement of light vehicles has been restricted.

With more snow forecast, the situation is likely to worsen, as it may yet again force the authorities to shut the national highway, which has not yet seen the movement of normal traffic for almost two weeks now.

The IAF airlifted at least 827 stranded passengers from here to Jammu in six sorties, while it brought 550 passengers here from Jammu in four sorties yesterday.

In all, 1,377 passengers were airlifted even as the last flight took off from the city at 11 pm last night, said an official.

Meanwhile, the minimum temperature across the Valley continued to remain below the freezing point. Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of -4.2 °C, a MeT official said. The tourist resort of Pahalgam recorded a minimum temperature of -11.2 °C, while the ski resort of Gulmarg remained the coldest place of the Valley at -14.0 °C. The gateway town to Kashmir, Qazigund, recorded a minimum temperature of -7.6 °C.

Meanwhile, Leh in the Ladakh region witnessed the coldest night of the season, recording a minimum temperature of -20 °C.

LoC bus service cancelled again
Our Correspondent

Srinagar, January 22
The weekly ‘Karavan-e-Aman’ bus service from here to Muzaffarabad in the PoK that was scheduled to recommence tomorrow has been cancelled yet again. An official here said the decision to cancel the bus service had been taken due to likely occurrence of landslides at Uri in Baramulla district of north Kashmir. The bus service was cancelled last week as well due to heavy snowfall in the Valley.

Left out of BPL list, they continue to suffer
Meanwhile, scheme benefits help rich get richer
Dinesh Manhotra
Tribune News Service

Sumb (Samba), January 22
A number of people living in poverty in Kandi belt of Samba district are facing grave hardship as their names have not yet been included in BPL lists despite the fact that they fulfil the criterion fixed by the authorities. Due to exclusion of the families from the BPL lists, they have been denied benefits of schemes specifically meant for the poor.

Ramesh, a resident of village Sonki, who was at Sumb to attend a political rally, said he had neither agriculture nor any other source of income, but his name did not figure in the BPL list.

“Whenever I approach the authorities, they assure me that my family would be included in the BPL list after a fresh survey. For the last three years, I have been getting this assurance,” he regretted and alleged that even some who are rich and have palatial houses have managed to get their own names included in the BPL list.

Echoing the views, Sushil, a Beli resident, alleged that those enjoying political patronage manage to get names of those ineligible for BPL schemes included in the list, while others who are helpless and poor and don’t have any political backing are moving from pillar to post but to no avail.

Local leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Pawan Dev Singh alleged that the authorities blatantly violated rules formulated for including people in the BPL lists in Samba district. “According to the Centre’s directions, it is necessary to maintain sequence numbers of all BPL families, but in this district, these sequence numbers are not maintained,” he alleged.

Singh further alleged that many undeserving people have managed to get their names included in the BPL lists at the cost of those deserving all the benefits of the schemes meant for BPL families. “We have repeatedly brought this matter to the notice of the authorities concerned, but nothing concrete has been done so far,” he said.

While the authorities claim supply of BPL ration has been streamlined, Opposition leaders allege the government’s claims are far removed from ground realities. “There is acute scarcity of ration in Samba district,” Singh alleged.

State government has, for the last three years, been announcing a fresh survey of BPL lists. Committees comprising different departments were constituted in the district in this connection, but owing to lack of coordination, the process is yet to be started.

Of hollow assurances

Shakespearian proverb “Much ado about nothing” is aptly applicable to the treatment meted out by the government to the people of Kashmir in the wake of the recent snowfall. Over the past one week, when the harsh winter bared its teeth, leaving the only lifeline Srinagar-Jammu national highway blocked to traffic and causing scarcity of essential commodities, a number of ministers descended on the scene.

The scarcity of essentials amid sub-zero temperatures crippled the day-to-day life of people. But, the only solace came from the “presence” of about half of the council of ministers in Kashmir, having temporarily shifted from the winter capital of Jammu. This, however, led to additional expenses on their presence and movement in the Valley. They minced no words while giving assurances to those in distress about the stock position of the essential supplies, including water, power, LPG, ration mutton, poultry, etc. However, these assurances only filled the air, as the stocks had disappeared with the highway blockade. Separatists, most of whom had shifted to the warm environs outside the Valley, also maintained silence over the issues faced by people at large. Some of them, in a slight shift of stance, raised the issues of essential supplies earlier this month, but they have gone silent now. (see photo)

Rail traffic goes off track

After constant road blockades due to snowfall, the disruption of rail services in the Valley has now become commonplace. The recent snowfall coupled with sub-zero temperatures led to the disruption of rail services in parts of the 120-km stretch between Qazigund and Baramulla. Even as the tracks were cleared after initial heavy snowfall along the major portion, restoring the services, trains have not been chugging on the last 19-km stretch between Anantnag and Qazigund in south Kashmir. This stretch had been thrown open by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on October 28, 2009. It passes through the lower belt of the mountainous Qazigund range at the foothill of the Jawahar Tunnel. Due to heavy snow in the upper reaches, affecting this portion also, the tracks have not been cleared of snow for the movement of trains. With the result, trains have only been moving between Anantnag and Baramulla over the past many days. The track is expected to be cleared of snow within a couple of days and the commuters have chosen alternative ways of reaching the Anantnag railway station at Wanpoh on time.

Conversion row

Christian missionary schools have contributed a lot to the Kashmir valley. In fact, they had set up the first school (Tyndale Biscoe) in the Valley way back in 1880. These schools continue to provide education to the children irrespective of their religious orientation. However, the ongoing conversion controversy has brought the Christian institutions running in the Valley under the scanner of the Muslim clerics as well as the government. While some pastors have been accused of luring the Muslim youth to Christianity through money, this is not the first time that such charges have been levelled against them. Elsewhere in India, many missionaries have been accused of offering money for converting to Christianity. If the issue is mishandled, it is bound to give a bad name to the Christian institutions that have earned respect among the Muslims of the Valley. The J&K Shariat Court has already imposed a “lifetime ban” on four pastors on charges of coerced conversions. Therefore, it is imperative that the Christian community in the Valley comes forward and identify the black sheep, if any, within their ranks. After all, if a check is not put in place, actions of certain individuals will continue to mar the long list of contributions of the Christian missionaries to Kashmir. The Shariat Court, on the other hand, too needs to differentiate between the forced and voluntary conversions before issuing another decree over the issue.

Scoring brownie points

Even as people in the Valley continue to suffer on many fronts due to the inclement weather conditions, ministers, bureaucrats as well as security agencies have missed no chance to score some brownie points. Every day, the authorities issue statements on how they have gone all out to help people in tough times. Whenever, a minister or a bureaucrat visits a snow-hit area, he/she ensures that the news is circulated to the media through the Information Department. The Army and the police, too, have been issuing regular press releases about their “help” to the snow-affected areas. The authorities seem to be engaged in a sort of “press-note competition” over their “help” to people. However, the ground reality is completely different. People need some real help, not media gimmicks.

— Contributed by Ehsan Fazili, M Aamir Khan

NIA grills Hizb ‘Doctor’, Showkat’s assassins

Srinagar/New Delhi, January 22
Dreaded Hizbul Mujahideen militant “Doctor” and alleged assassins of Kashmiri leader Maulana Showkat have been questioned by the National Investigating Agency in connection with September-7 Delhi High Court blast to unravel how an advanced three-cell remote used in the attack had been smuggled from J&K to Delhi.

An examination of the circuit used in the blast that left 15 people dead and scores others injured showed that the terrorists had used a three-battery remote to trigger the explosion.

Operations chief of Hizbul Mujahideen Mohammad Shafi, alias Dawood, alias Doctor, who was arrested from the outskirts of Delhi in mid-October last, was questioned by the NIA sleuths and central security agencies about the smuggling of remotes.

A resident of Bandipora in north Kashmir, Shafi had earned the alias of a Doctor as he was a pharmacist before joining the terror group. He was the leader of the group that carried the three-cell remote consignment from Uri in north Kashmir after they were smuggled from Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) through the LoC trade.

His arrest came after Jammu and Kashmir Police prevented an IED from exploding in Sangrama in Sopore of north Kashmir.

Militants were using a three-battery remote to detonate the IED. Their questioning led to “Doctor” who was arrested in a surgically planned operation by the police.

The remote had more range than the ones used earlier by the terrorists, as the technology used gave them some lead time to facilitate an easy escape from the scene of crime.

However, sources privy to the probe said the questioning of Doctor could not yield much other than the fact that smuggling of arms along the LoC trade was a routine affair that went undetected because of lack of proper scanning facility.

The NIA team also questioned six accused chargesheeted in the assassination of Maulana Showkat after seeking requisite permission from the court.

The six — Javed Ahmad Munshi. alias Bill Papa, Nisar Ahmad Khan, alias Ishaq, Abdul Ghani Dar, alias Ghazzali, Abdul Majid Dar al Madni, Gulzar A Khan and Reyaz Ahmad Shah — were also questioned to know how they learned to assemble the bomb used in killing Maulana Showkat in April last year. The statements of all six were recorded, the sources said.

The three-battery remote has been used earlier by terrorists thrice last year — Sangrama in Sopore of North Kashmir, Udhampur in May during an unsuccessful attempt on the life of an Army officer and assassination of Jamiat-e-Ahl-e-Hadees head Maluana Showkat Ahmad Shah in April.

Meanwhile, a massive search operation was under way in the higher reaches of Kishtwar for Junaid Akram Malik, wanted in the Delhi High court blast case.

The NIA has already announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh for information leading to Junaid’s arrest.

Junaid’s brother Wasim Akram, studying MBBS in a college at Bangladesh, is currently in judicial custody. — PTI

J&K seals Kathua-Punjab border
To check movement of criminals, flow of liquor
Arteev Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 22
As the polling date for the Assembly elections in Punjab draws closer, the Jammu and Kashmir Police has sealed the Kathua border along the neighbouring state to check the movement of criminals and flow of liquor besides fake currency between the two states.

Official sources said the security agencies have also identified over 10 “vulnerable points” along the Kathua-Punjab border where special checkpoints had been set up to thwart the designs of anti-social elements.

Sources added that additional deployment of state police as well as para-military personnel had been made, while night patrolling in Kathua district had been intensified.

“We have worked out the arrangements and set up necessary checkpoints along the border with Punjab to take care of any possible movement of criminals or smuggling of liquor, etc.” the Director General of Police (DGP), J&K, Kuldeep Khoda told reporters here.

The DGP, while talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the closing ceremony of week-long “Youth Promotional Sports Winter Camp” at Gulshan Ground here, said: “We attended a meeting in New Delhi, which was convened by the Chief Election Commissioner, in which Chief Secretaries and DGPs of the states going to the polls and those bordering them participated. We have initiated measures to stop the movement of criminals, money and liquor along the Kathua-Punjab border.”

Talking to The Tribune, Senior Superintendent of Police, Kathua, JL Sharma said: “Keeping in view the Republic Day celebrations and the Punjab Assembly elections, special checkpoints have been set up along the Kathua-Punjab border, while round-the-clock vigil is being kept at all vulnerable points.”

The SSP said all routes connecting Kathua with Punjab, including Maggar Khud, Nagri and Thian dam, had been plugged.

“Our focus will be to ensure peaceful and fair elections in the neighbouring state,” the SSP said. Yesterday, election observers of Punjab had convened a meeting at Lakhanpur — the gateway to Jammu and Kashmir — to review the security grid between J&K and Punjab.

Election observers Vikram Bani, Modi Reddy Partap and K Ellan Govan, SSP, Kathua, JL Sharma, SSP, Pathankot, Dr Surinder Kumar, Commandant, 121 Battalion, CRPF, VS Joon had attended the meeting.

Issues regarding checking at roadblocks and regular patrolling to check the smuggling of liquor, fake currency and weapons were discussed.

Attack on Kashmiri student
Omar speaks to MP CM
Our Correspondent

Srinagar, January 22
A day after a Kashmiri student was shot at by two youths in Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today assured that the guilty would be punished. He said he had spoken with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan regarding the safety of other Kashmiri students in the BJP-ruled state.

“Spoke to the CM of MP regarding Ujjain shooting of Kashmiri youth. He has assured guilty will be punished & other Kashmiri boys safety also,” (sic) Omar wrote on micro-bogging website Twitter.

The Chief Minister raised the issue with Chouhan after media reports suggested that the incident had created panic among Kashmiri students studying in Madhya Pradesh.

Mufti slams state govt

Jammu, January 22
PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed yesterday slammed the ruling NC-Congress coalition in the state saying the government had “eroded” democratic institutions in the state through its “gimmicks and misdeeds”.

“The present NC-Congress regime, through its gimmicks and misdeeds, has eroded the sanctity and credibility of democratic institutions in the state,” Sayeed said, while addressing a public meeting in Samba district. — PTI

Chaos on NH 80 drivers face action
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 22
As chaos continued to prevail on the snow-hit 300-km Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the traffic police today decided to initiate action against around 80 drivers for plying vehicles without permission.

“We have noted down the registration numbers of around 80 vehicles that came from Srinagar to Jammu without permission. They violated the guidelines of the traffic police and we have decided to write to the Regional Transport Officers (RTOs) and ARTOs for initiating stern action against them,” the IGP (Traffic), J&K, Hemant Kumar Lohia told The Tribune.

However, the national highway was today opened for one-way traffic after it remained closed for several days. Trucks and government-run buses were allowed to move from Srinagar to Jammu.

Stranded every year

Closure of the 300-km Jammu Srinagar Highway (NH-1) after snowfalls and landslide, thereby leading thousands of vehicles stranded for a long period, is not a new phenomenon.

Those plying on NH-1 are by now accustomed to this annual mess that has well turned into a norm over the last 40 years. Most shockingly, despite knowing what is in store, by failing to plan year after year, all governments have been ‘planning to fail’.

Had it been the case with some country in the West or even neighbouring China, the administration would have formulated some alternative in no time, so as to end the trouble once and for all.

Messy situation at NH-1 during this time of the year lays bare the government and its tall claims in the name of development and modernisation. Even stalled vehicles, mostly trucks and tankers, spell trouble for Kashmiris, since NH-1 is the only surface link of Valley with the rest of the country and supply of essential commodities is thus severely affected.

Scratching each other’s backs

The support staff of some of the Ministers in the state government is bearing the brunt of tension between the coalition partners - the Congress and the National Conference, as well as within the rival camps of the Congress. The other day, a prominent Congress Minister was giving a good dressing down to the Personal Assistant of another Congress Minister for “daring” to “request” work, or to be precise, a favour. “Your Minister has not obliged me with any ‘work’ I had requested in the recent past. And now he is sending you?” was the assertion. The Minister quoted a few examples about transfer of his close relatives. The “hapless” PA was seen smiling and patiently listening while assuring him that he would, as a “loyal” messenger, take the message forward.

Sticking to political karma

Recently, a senior Congress leader and Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) Yash Pal Khajuria died, having suffered a heart attack. Senior Congress leaders including Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Saifud Din Soz immediately reached Jammu to express their condolences to the bereaved family.

Shockingly, when family members of Yash Pal Khajuria were performing his last rites at Jogi Gate Cremation Ground, a group of Congress leaders present there were discussing as to who would be nominated in place of Khajuria as Member of the Legislative Council.

Within 24 hours of his death, Congress leaders apparently forgot Khajuria’s contribution to the party’s growth, especially in Udhampur district.

Instead of recalling his contributions, the party leaders were, at the cremation ground, busy floating names of some “potential” candidates who could replace Khajuria in the Upper House.

‘Republic Day’ nakas

With the Republic Day celebrations round the corner, the ‘traditional’ nakas (check posts) after every kilometre or so are quite visible on all vital roads connecting the winter capital city with the rest of the state.

J&K Police and paramilitary personnel are frisking all incoming and outgoing vehicles thoroughly and those suspected are being questioned.

Black films are being removed from glasses, while two-wheeler riders are asked to show cops their documents.

Needless to say, the arrangements are being put in place to ensure peaceful and incident-free Republic Day celebrations, but city residents believe ‘customary’ security measures will stay till the celebrations and all ‘nakas’ vanish into thin air immediately after January 26.

— Contributed by Jupinderjit Singh

Residents lament bad roads, lanes
Tribune News Service

Residents of Karan Nagar express their resentment. Tribune photo: Inderjeet Singh

Jammu, January 22
Karan Nagar Colony Association has expressed resentment over the dilapidated condition of connecting roads and lanes.

HC Katoch, president of the association, said, “Agencies have dug roads and bylanes haphazardly and left them unattended, rendering the roads unworthy of plying of vehicles.”

He stated that if the requisite steps were not taken soon by those concerned, the residents would hold a dharna at Jambu Lochan Community Hall.

Man with sharp-edged weapon held

Jammu, January 22
City police today arrested a person with a sharp-edged weapon while he was roaming under suspicious circumstances in old city area here.

The arrested person was identified as Rakesh Kumar alias Shunna of Rehari Colony.

Police said on specific info, it intercepted the person at Shalimar area and seized a sharp-edged weapon (Toka) from him. The arrest was effected by the police post in-charge Chowk Chabutra Deepak Pathania under supervision of SHO Police Station City, Basanti Bhat and SDPO Kulbir Handa. — TNS

Mahila Morcha concerned over delay in pension cases
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 22
BJP Mahila Morcha today expressed grave concern over delay in sanctioning of pensions of old-aged women, widows and members of the weaker sections.

Addressing a meeting of party workers, Mahila Morcha president Sakina Bano said the Department of Social Welfare, under the NC-Congress coalition, has been working for welfare of only those who are close to ministers and bureaucrats and the really deserving ones have been deprived of what they should be given.

She said poor widows, aged women and women belonging to weaker sections are being made to suffer as they have to visit the Department of Social Welfare for pension and benefits of other schemes.

There are piles of applications in the department waiting for clearance as the applicants are women without any connections with the high-ups.

She asked the department to clear all the cases which have been lying unattended for so long.

SRS ridicules govt’s tall claims

State unit of Shri Ram Sena (SRS) has ridiculed the tall claims of performance and achievements made by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led coalition government in the state on the completion of its three years in governance.

State president of SRS Rajiv Mahajan, while addressing mediapersons here today, said the performance report released by Omar Abdullah to highlight achievements during his three years of governance was nothing but drama for publicity.

He said the National Conference-Congress coalition government has proved to be total failure on all fronts.

Mahajan said the Kud-Patnitop cable car project foundation stone was laid some four years back by the then CM Ghulam Nabi Azad, but after he relinquished office, the project was kept in cold storage.

Same is the fate of Mubarak Mandi to Bagh-e-Bahu cable car project, whose files have been gathering dust somewhere in the state government office.

Poll campaign: State BJP leaders head for Punjab
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 22
The BJP high command has deputed some senior leaders of the state unit of the party at Punjab to campaign for the party candidates there.

While state president of BJP and some other senior leaders have been assigned the job to campaign at Pathankot and adjoining localities, veteran party leader and former state president Dr Nirmal Singh has been deputed at Ludhiana to assist the party leadership in three Assembly segments of Ludhiana.

Before leaving for Ludhiana, Dr Singh told The Tribune that the party had decided to utilise all its resources to ensure return of the SAD-BJP government in the state. He said the party leadership has asked BJP leaders from Jammu and Kashmir to establish contact with all natives of Jammu region residing in different areas of Punjab.

6 held for gambling
Our Correspondent

Katra, January 22
The police arrested six persons for gambling here this afternoon. According to police sources, the Reasi police had received a tip-off about a gambling den and raided Bhaga village.

The police caught six men indulging in gambling and recovered Rs 65,150 cash from the scene.

Those arrested have been identified as Kuldeep Kumar, Deep Kumar, Sukhdev Singh, Raj Kumar, Sonu Kapoor and Bansi Lal. Separate cases have been registered against them.

Several others fled the scene during the raid. Police sources said similar raids were on to catch the remaining accused.

‘Govt biased towards Dogri’
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 22
Activists of the National Panther Student Union (NPSU) staged a protest over the alleged discrimination of the government against Dogri here today.

The agitating students raised slogans against the state government and demanded the introduction of Dogri at the primary level in schools.

National Panther Student Union leader Virender Thakur said there were over 300 higher secondary schools in the Jammu region but all lacked
posts of Dogri teacher
or lecturer.

“Even though students want admission in the subject, they cannot pursue it due to the absence of faculty,” he added.

The National Panther Student Union also demanded the introduction of the subject in Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University besides other satellite campuses of the University of Jammu.

Youth tries to hang himself
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 22
A youth today made an abortive bid to end his life in Hira Nagar area of district Kathua.

The youth, identified as Chaman Lal, 28, son of Kaka Ram of Hira Nagar, tried to hang himself from the hook of the ceiling fan at his residence. His family members rushed to the room upon noticing it.

They got him admitted to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where his condition was stated to be stable.

AIDS is spelling doom, reminds Pralaya Ki Dastak
Varun Suthra
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 22
Hindi play ‘Pralaya Ki Dastak’ was staged here today at Natrang Studio Theatre as part of Sunday Theatre Series.

The play has been written by Yogesh Tripathi and directed by Neeraj Kant.

The play exhibits in a very artistic yet comprehensive manner the disastrous effects of the biggest threat which the world is facing today- AIDS. How it spreads and how fatal it is, is borne out in lectures and seminars, but today’s performance showcased everything so vividly that one is forced to think over it with the deepest concern.

Tragedies related by AIDS victims grabbed the attention of the audience at once and made everyone realise that though everyone is confident that they know all about the causes of AIDS, the number of victims of the disease is rising and not only illiterate masses but also well-educated and learned people are under its dark shadow.

Young artistes of Natrang who performed on the stage included Sajra Qadir, Balwinder Singh, Uplaksh Singh, Abhinav Vimarsh, Syed Fardeen and Atin Tikka.

Mohd Yaseen rendered the music. Sumeet Sharma co-ordinated the show and also did the presentations.

Teacher’s body fished out from Chenab
Devinder Thakur

Katra, January 22
The body of a school teacher of Government Primary School Kabhi was today recovered from a reservoir in Reasi district, more than three days after he slipped from a boat while crossing the river on January 18.

The decomposed body of the teacher, Prittam Singh, was fished out by a joint search party of the police and locals from Salal hydroelectric power project reservoir in river Chenab in Kabhi area, police officers said.

The body has been handed over to his family members for last rites.