The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Naming of Art Emporiums Panthers Party assails govt for ignoring Jammu Tribune News Service Jammu, March 22 The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) today took on the state government for naming state’s art emporiums in other states as “Kashmir government Art Emporiums”, alleging that it was indicative of “highly prejudicial, offensive and parochial mindset of rulers”. During a debate on the grants of the Industry and Commerce Department, leader of the Panthers Legislature Party Harsh Dev Singh objected to the use of word “Kashmir government” instead of “Jammu and Kashmir Government” in the written replies made available by the Industries Department in response to cut motions moved in the House. “It needs to be explained if there exists a separate government for Kashmir. The phraseology used in the reply is indicative of highly prejudicial, offensive and parochial mindset of rulers who have sought to eclipse the very identity and existence of Dogra land,” Singh alleged. He further alleged that the current episode indicated that the government was not only discriminating in the matter of devolution of funds and in employment opportunities, but had also declined to respect the identity of the Jammu region and sentiments of its people. “The case in point is illustrative of such malicious and mischievous intentions of the helmsmen,” he remarked, and pointed out the elements of “regional bias” in the allocation of funds. Singh said merge amount had been allocated to the Jammu region in the matter of rehabilitation of sack industrial units of Jammu. He also called for compensating the Jammu region under the PM’s employment package for industries and demanded early opening of additional industrial estates in Jammu region, including Tajur (Majalta), announced and assured repeatedly by the government. Mubarak Gul, political adviser to the Chief Minister, countered the allegations of the JKNPP legislator saying: “In Jammu’s Raghunath Market, all shopkeepers have written Kashmiri shawls, Kashmiri garments, Kashmiri dry fruits, etc. on signboards. Why don’t you raise a question about them?” It set off heated arguments between Mubarak Gul and the Opposition Benches. As nothing was audible in the din, the Deputy Speaker Sartaz Madni, who was in chair, asked Gul to take his seat that led to peace in the House.
	30 ultras active in Rajouri-Poonch range, says Army Commander Ranjit Thakur Rajouri, March 22 A senior Army officer today said around 30 militants were still active in the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, while at least eight terror camps were visible across the LoC in the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. Talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of a function here today, Maj General KH Singh, GOC of 25 Infantry Division, said relentless counter-insurgency operations had dealt a severe blow to militancy in the two districts. “They (militants) number between 20 and 30 in Rajouri and Poonch districts and efforts are on to neutralise them,” he said. He said the militants had been trying to infiltrate into the Indian side but the alert troops had managed to foil their attempts each time. At least 10 infiltration bids, including the attempt last night, have been foiled in the recent past by the Army in the Pir Panjal range of the Rajouri-Poonch area, he added. He said in the past one year, at least 40 militants were pushed back to the Pakistani side while trying to intrude into the Indian territory from the Rajouri-Poonch range. “Nowshera, Jhangar, Barnoi and Tarkundi remain pressure points for us as infiltrators and militants try to take advantage of the Pir Panjal range.” He claimed that no militant had crossed the LoC from these areas in the past one year. He added that militants were present in various launch pads across the LoC but their number had gone down in the past few years. At the same time, their number had increased in various training camps on the other side of the LoC, he added. Major General Singh took exception to media reports about the presence of Chinese troops in civvies near the LoC. “This has not been confirmed as yet and nobody is in danger,” he said.
	400 IMA cadets visit Rajouri Ranjit Thakur Rajouri, March 22 Over 400 cadets of the prestigious Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, reached here on a motivational tour and witnessed the historic “Hall of Fame”. They visited several historic places of Rajouri and finally reached the 25 Infantry Division and witnessed epic places, including the “Hall of Fame”, dedicated to people and soldiers, who sacrificed their lives for the sake of Rajouri in three wars with Pakistan. Meanwhile, Maj-Gen KH Singh, GOC 25, Infantry Division, interacted with the cadets. “The cadets reached here under a motivational tour and will learn how to live under such difficult conditions,” Singh said.
	Infiltration bid foiled on LoC Tribune News Service Jammu, March 22 Army troops foiled an intrusion bid by a group of militants along the LoC late last night. The militants tried to sneak into Indian territory near Bhimber Gali falling between the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch. “Around 12.30 am, our troops noticed some suspicious movement in the Gambhir area, near Bhimber Gali. After being detected on surveillance devices, the suspected militants opened fire with light weapons on our forward posts,” said an Army spokesperson. “The militants managed to cross over to the Indian side and opened fire on a number of posts along the LoC. As our troops were on high alert, they responded appropriately,” he said. The firing continued for around 10 minutes before the militants escaped to the Pakistan side, he added. Sources said heavily armed militants, numbering at least six, fired rocket launchers, UBGL grenades and mortars, targeting Indian forward posts. “The incident occurred in a forward area between Kesar Gala Nullah and Tarkundi Nullah, near Bhimber Gali, which is being manned by 13 Sikh Regiment and 30 Jat Regiment,” said sources. The militants and troops exchanged fire for an hour from 11.30 pm to 12.30 am, they added. No casualty or injury to the Indian troops was reported. Security has been stepped up along the border with Pakistan following intelligence inputs of more infiltration bids in the coming days.
	Governor extends greetings Tribune News Service Jammu, March 22 Governor NN Vohra has greeted the people on Navratras and Navreh, while hoping for sustained peace, progress and prosperity in the state. In his message, the Governor observed that the Navratras had a special significance for the devotees visiting the Vaishno Devi shrine. The Governor also extended warm greetings to the Kashmiri Pandits, who celebrate the day of the first Navratra as Navreh, the beginning of the New Year and the onset of spring. The Governor prayed for the well-being of the people of the state.
	Tarigami meets Governor Tribune News Service Jammu, March 22 MY Tarigami, MLA and state secretary of the CPM, called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhavan here this evening. Tarigami discussed various matters relating to the democratic decentralisation process and important issues impinging on the rapid socio-economic development of the state with the Governor.
	All set for Navratras at Vaishno Devi Devinder Thakur Katra, March 22 Devotees are all set to celebrate the the nine-day Navratras, which begin from tomorrow, here. Like elsewhere in the country, the festival is celebrated with fervour and devotion at Katra, the base camp of the Vaishno Devi shrine. Artisans are working round the clock, putting the finishing touches to the idols of Goddess Durga. The preparations for the upcoming festival are in full swing here. A group of devotees said they would observe fast on all nine days, while a few others said they would fast on the first and last day of the festival. Many believe fasting is done only on the eighth day of the festival. Also, there are those who practise silence on all nine days, while some shun footwear during the festival. Artisans from different parts of the country are camping in the town for the past two weeks, busy giving shape to the idols.
	DGP rules out presence of female militants Tribune News Service Jammu, March 22 In a bid to downplay Union Minister of State for Home Jitendra Singh’s statement regarding unconfirmed reports about the revival of women cadre by the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba in Jammu and Kashmir, Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda today said there was no female militant active in the state. “Women were in certain cases being used as couriers by the LeT and we had made some arrests at that time. There is no female militant active in Jammu and Kashmir as of now,” Khoda told mediapersons on the sidelines of a function organised by the Postal Department. The DGP said security agencies had an upper hand in militancy-related incidents. “Last year, we recorded a 47 per cent drop in militancy-related cases. The police and other security forces are working in close coordination and high-level of synergy,” Khoda added. He said there were less than 200 militants active across the state. “In spite of the presence of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists in the state, there has been a considerable drop in violence. As per our inputs, around 200 terrorists are active in the state at this moment,” he maintained. He attributed the achievement to the coordinated efforts of the police and the security forces, saying they had been maintaining tight vigil on borders. On the recent clash among police recruits at the Police Training School, Kathua, Khoda said the incident took place over a trivial issue and it had nothing to do with the India-Pakistan cricket match.
	J&K strikes gold! 2 deposits of precious metal found Dinesh Manhotra/TNS Jammu, March 22 Gold ore deposits have been found at two places in the “cash-strapped” but “mineral-rich” Jammu and Kashmir and the process to extract the precious metal will be started after consultations with experts in this field. This was stated by Minister of Commerce and Industries Surjeet Singh Slathia while speaking on the grants of his ministry in the Assembly today. “During a recent survey conducted by the Geology and Mining Department, mines of gold ore were found at Akhnoor in Jammu district and Boniyar of Baramullah district in the Kashmir valley,” Slathia told the House. Also, deposits of iron ore were found in Bhaderwah and Sopore (Baramullah); limestone in Draba (Poonch), and Dooru (Anantnag); coal in Mohgola (Rajouri); and gypsum in Bagna (Uri) during the exploration and investigation of minerals in 2011-12, he said. The Geology and Mining Department of the state in collaboration with the Geological Survey of India also conducted a survey in the Dastgam area of Kargil after receiving reports of gold ore in that belt. The department found mines of gold ore in the Nathal area of Akhnoor. Slathia later told The Tribune that work to extract gold from these areas would be started after consultations with the experts. “A detailed report has already been prepared after the survey of the department concerned and the process will be started to create proper infrastructure to extract this wealth,” he said. Earlier, the minister told the Assembly that the National Mineral Development Corporation, Government of India, and Jammu and Kashmir Mineral Limited had set up a joint venture, J&K Mineral Development Corporation Limited, for the extraction of raw magnesite from Panthal in Reasi and establishment of plant there in 1989. “The project remained dormant for over 20 years but it has now been revived. The project shall provide employment, both direct and indirect, to local inhabitants.”
	BJP holds protest rally in Kishtwar Tribune News Service Udhampur, March 22 The BJP district unit of Kishtwar today organised a protest rally against the state government on the issues of corruption, unemployment and price rise. The rally started from the Netaji Park and culminated in front of the DC Office after passing through main areas of Kishtwar town. BJP state secretary Sunil Sharma and district unit president Hukam Chand Shan led protesters. Addressing the rally, Sharma alleged that district officials of the Rural Development Department (RDD) were working at the behest of the local MLA. All the works under the MNREGA and IAY, which are planned keeping in view the needs and demands of area residents, were being hampered due to the undue interference of the MLA. Hukam Chand accused the officers of the Health Department, Kishtwar, of throwing all norms to winds in the recruitment process of doctors under the NRHM. While deserving candidates were being ignored, blue-eyed candidates and those belonging to influential families were being adjusted in the recruitment, he alleged. BJP leaders also alleged that the government was ignoring the minority-dominated areas, including Kontwara, Cherji, Pullar, Chingnana Galhar, Chito Padder, Ungai, Gandhari, Kabal while sanctioning new roads. A large number of deserving and qualified candidates were ignored by the department and the district administration while recruiting the supporting staff for the MNREGA, they alleged.
	Uproar over West Pak refugees’ plight BJP MLAs stage walkout from House Arteev Sharma/TNS Jammu, March 22 The state Assembly today witnessed noisy scenes after opposition parties, barring the Peoples Democratic Party, sought a “suitable statement” from the government over the plight of West Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir refugees living in the state. The BJP and the Jammu State Morcha legislators also staged a walkout from the House, alleging that the government was adopting “anti-refugee” and “anti-Jammu” policies. During the question hour, JSM member Ashwani Kumar Sharma alleged that the government was maintaining a “complete silence” on the plight of West Pakistan refugees who were devoid of citizenship rights even after over six decades of inhabitation in the state. Seeking a “detailed and suitable statement” from the government, Sharma said lakhs of people had been denied their fundamental rights by the government. “The government should make a statement on the issue. They didn’t commit any crime and preferred to stay in Jammu and Kashmir after the partition in 1947,” the JSM leader remarked. BJP legislators Jugal Kishore, Ashok Khajuria and Choudhary Sukhnandan, besides JKNPP member Balwant Singh Mankotia, supported Sharma, alleging that the people from West Pakistan and PoK had been discriminated against by successive governments during the last six decades. While Dy Speaker Sartaj Madni tried to pacify the members, the latter resorted to sloganeering, saying the government had failed to act despite repeated assurances made on the floor of the House over the issue. “The government owes an explanation for not granting citizenship rights to the refugees even after six decades,” said Balwant Singh Mankotia.
	Cross-LoC trade via Salamabad touches a new high M Aamir Khan Our Correspondent Srinagar, March 22 In spite of several obstacles confronting traders, the cross-LoC trade conducted through Salamabad on the Baramulla-Muzaffarabad route has broken the previous records in terms of import and export value of goods in the current financial year. Till last week, goods worth over Rs 588 crore (combined Indian and Pakistan currency) had been traded via this route. The total value of traded goods stood at Rs 426 crore in the last fiscal (2010-11). Talking to The Tribune, Nazir Ahmad Baba, Custodian Officer, Salamabad, said the total export and import value of traded goods so far this financial year stood at Rs 221. 27 crore and Rs 367.02 crore (in Pakistan currency), respectively. The figures of the value of traded goods have witnessed a significant increase despite many concerns raised by the LoC traders, who claim that the government has not done much to expand the trade after it was started in October 2008. Since the start of the trade, goods worth Rs 450.91 crore have been exported to Pakistan from the Valley, while goods worth Rs 719.87 crore (Pakistan currency) have been imported. The trade was started three years after the start of the LoC bus service from here to Muzaffarabad in the Pakistan occupied Kashmir in April, 2005. The trade and bus service were started as part of confidence building measures between the two countries. However, the main demands of the traders, who are still doing business through the age-old barter system, are yet to be fulfilled. The traders have been demanding the setting up of proper banking and communication facilities, besides exemption from the purview of value added tax (VAT) and expansion of list of items that can be traded. The Salamabad-Chakoti Traders Union had boycotted the trade for four weeks in June last year in support of their demands. They resumed their business after they were assured by the government that their demands would be looked into. On November 15, the number of trading days per week were increased from two to four. Besides Salamabad, which is located at Uri in Baramulla district of the Kashmir valley, the LoC trade is also done through Chakan-da-Bagh in Poonch district of the Jammu region.
	Windstorm to be declared natural calamity: Omar Jammu, March 22 The state government is in the process of declaring the recent windstorm, which lashed the Valley and parts of Jammu on the intervening night of March 19 and 20, a natural calamity, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told the state Assembly today. The windstorm left three persons dead and 39 injured, besides affecting over 16,000 structures, he said. “The windstorm claimed three lives and left 39 persons injured. It damaged residential houses, non-residential structures, public service infrastructure, including school buildings, etc. in the state, he added. The necessary government order to declare it a natural calamity is being issued by the General Administration Department. Members of the opposition parties alleged that the government was not able to take steps to tackle the situation. In all, 12,475 residential houses were damaged partially in Kashmir and Jammu provinces. Of these, partially damaged houses in the Kashmir valley accounted for 11,641, while the number stood at 834 in Jammu province. At least 95 houses were totally damaged in Kashmir, while in Jammu province their number was 36, he said. Also, 4,074 non-residential buildings suffered minor damages in Kashmir, while two such structures — one mosque and a temple — were damaged in Jammu, Omar said. No death was reported in Jammu province. Of the 98 school buildings damaged, 42 fell in Kashmir, while 56 were in Jammu province, he said. In his statement made in the House before the start of the question hour, Omar said a team of ministers led by Minister for Revenue and Rehabilitation and Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani had been deputed to visit affected areas in Poonch, Anantnag, Kupwara, Bandipora, Srinagar and other areas to review of the damages. The CM said the distribution of relief by the DCs concerned would start as soon as the order was issued. — PTI
	Service Tax Scam Ex-Relief Commissioner gets pre-arrest bail Legal Correspondent Jammu, March 22 Justice Hasnain Massodi of the J&K High Court High of Judicature, Jammu, granted pre-arrest bail to Vinod Koul, former Relief Commissioner (Migrants), accused of being involved in the multi-crore service tax scam. The court, while issuing notices to the respondents, ordered that in the event of Koul’s arrest in connection with an FIR registered by the Vigilance Organisation, Jammu, he should be let off on the furnishing of bail and personal bonds. The petitioner will have to make himself available for interrogation by the Vigilance as and when required, the order stated.
	Youth corps volunteers cane-charged Our Correspondent Srinagar, March 22 Members of the All-Jammu and Kashmir National Youth Corps Volunteers Association were cane-charged by the police after they tried to stage a demonstration here today. They were seeking retention of their services in various government departments. The police cane-charged the association members when they tried to stage a sit-in at Press Enclave this morning, causing chaos on the busy Residency Road. Eyewitnesses said some protesters were also taken into preventive custody. On March 13, the members of the association had giving a tough time to the authorities while staging a three-hour dharna. They had initially refused to leave the Press Enclave but later relented after senior government and police officials assured them of looking into their demands. “We were assured that a statement on the extension of our services would be issued after a week but we have once again been betrayed by the government,” a protester said. The association members had been engaged as National Youth Corps volunteers in 2010 and deployed in various departments like Rural Development, Youth Services and Sports, Tourism, Finance, Social Welfare and others. However, they had now been told that they would soon be relieved from their services, the alleged.