The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Indo-Pak ties vital for peace in J&K: Omar Tribune News Service Jammu, April 25 The Indo-Pak relations have a direct bearing on the peace and development of the state, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said even as he expressed the hope that the restoration of the dialogue process between the two countries would be carried out to the logical end. Addressing a public meeting in the Darhal area of Rajouri district, the Chief Minister said peace was a pre-requisite for economic prosperity and the all-round development of the state. “You have witnessed the benefits of a peaceful 2011 in the shape of development across the state,” he added. The Chief Minister said his government was not only addressing political issues with focused attention but was also wholeheartedly involved in the resolution of day-to-day problems of the people. “History is witness to the path-breaking and innovative initiatives taken by the coalition government on political and development fronts to restore peace and march ahead on the road to prosperity,” he said listing the major achievements registered during the last three years in the state. The government had reached out to every area in the process of development with a committed approach to seek the welfare of all areas and all sections of society equitably, he added. Denouncing the Peoples Democratic Party’s petty politicking and false propagandist approach to mislead people and divert their attention from the large-scale development process set in by the coalition, Omar said that self-praise and slogan-raising had remained the characteristics of that party since its inception. “This party (PDP) is habitual of selling the good deeds of others in its own name,” he said, adding that the party had failed to deliver on its own when it was at the helm in the state. Taking the PDP leadership to task for fooling the people on various counts, including on the issue of corruption, the Chief Minister said during the PDP dispensation, the party did nothing solid to address the menace of corruption. He said it was his government which had constituted the State Accountability Commission, strengthened the Accountability Commission and brought in the Public Service Guarantee Act to check corruption at all levels. Minister for Forests Mian Altaf Ahmad in his speech castigated the PDP for indulging in undemocratic and anti-people activities. He said the PDP’s only agenda was to mislead people and create a wedge between various sections of society. The meeting was also addressed by Minister of State for Tourism Nasir Aslam Wani, former Minster Mirza Abdul Rashid and provincial president of the NC Rattan Lal Gupta. Earlier, the Chief Minister paid obeisance at the shrine of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah, popularly known as Shahdara Sharief. He prayed for the peace and prosperity of the state and well-being of the people and laid foundation of Baitul Zaireen and other allied works at Shahdara Sharief. Minister of State for Power Shabir Ahmed Khan was also present at Shahdara Sharief.
	Ex-militants not allowed to meet CM at Rajouri Ravi Krishnan Khajuria Tribune News Service Jammu, April 25 Four surrendered militants who wanted to meet Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at a public rally in Darhal in Rajouri today were disappointed when they were disallowed to meet the CM. Former militants Abdul Munaf Malik of Topa Village, Mohammed Hanief of Darhal Budh Kinari, Mohammad Farooq Mir of Chokian and Tasaduq Hussain Malik of Budh Kinari wanted to tell the Chief Minister about their plight. “We had gone to the rally with the hope that the Chief Minister, who wants to bring back militants into the mainstream under the rehabilitation policy and restore peace in the state, will spare some time from his busy schedule to listen to our grievances, but we were not allowed to meet him,” Abdul Munaf Malik said. “We first approached stage secretary and National Conference (NC) leader Haji Rehman Lone, with a request to arrange a brief meeting with the CM. “He said he would arrange the meeting but after some time he informed us that Omar had no time,” said Malik. “When the Chief Minister went to a house in Darhal, we approached another National Conference leader Abdul Rashid, requesting him to arrange a meeting with the CM,” said Malik. “The NC leader told us that such issues were not discussed in public and asked us to come to Jammu,” said the former militant. Once an AK-47 wielding Divisional Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, who survived 26 encounters and escaped over 100 cordons, Abdul Munaf Malik said, “I along with three other former militants wanted to know what exactly was being done by the government to rehabilitate surrendered militants like us. We had gone there to seek our rehabilitation under the policy.” Munaf claimed that the former militant Mohammed Hanief, who had surrendered before security forces, lived in a forest in penury. sops for surrender Under the rehabilitation policy, the state government promises Rs 1.50 lakh to be kept in a fixed deposit in a bank for three years, stipend of Rs 2,000 a month for a period of three years from the date of surrender and payment of monetary incentive for surrendered weapons. The government gives Rs 15,000 for an AK rifle, Rs 25,000 for a UMG, a GPMG, a PIKA, a RPG and a Sniper rifle, Rs 3,000 for a revolver and Rs 500 for a grenade.
	Janglat Mandi encounter: High Court adjourns case Majid Jahangir/TNS Srinagar, April 25 The Jammu and Kashmir High Court today adjourned the case seeking a reinvestigation into the March 2001 Janglat Mandi encounter, in which the Army Chief-designate, Lt Gen Bikram Singh, who was then a Brigadier commanding the 1 Sector Rashtriya Rifles in south Kashmir, was injured. The case could not be heard as Justice Mansoor Ahmed Mir, before whom the case was listed, was on leave. Counsel for the Central government Karnail Singh Wazir said the case was likely to come up for the hearing in the first week of May. A petition was filed by family members of Abdullah Bhat of Kupwara district in the high court last year, alleging that the encounter at Janglat Mandi, Anantnag, on March 1, 2001, was not genuine but stage-managed. The Army and the police later claimed that a foreign militant, Mateen Chacha, was killed in the encounter. Two civilians were also killed in the exchange of fire and Lt Gen Bikram Singh, who was then Brigadier, was also injured in the gun battle. The family members of Bhat, however, claimed in the petition that the “foreign militant” was 70-year-old civilian Abdullah Bhat, son of Qadir Bhat, of Machil Kupwara. They also demanded identification of Mateen’s grave for carrying out a DNA test and reinvestigation into the case. After the petition was filed, the Defence Ministry informed the high court that the 2001 encounter was genuine and not fake. They also submitted the FIR copies and Lt Gen Bikram Singh’s hospital records as proof that the encounter was genuine. The J&K police had also given a clean chit to Lt Gen Bikram Singh and said that the encounter was genuine. The police had objected to the reinvestigation of the case.
	State to enact law to protect temples in Kashmir valley Tribune News Service Jammu, April 25 Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Taj Mohiuddin today said the government would enact a law to protect Hindu shrines and temples in the Kashmir valley from being misused by some unscrupulous elements. Interacting with a deputation of Kashmiri Pandits here today, the Minister said the government had ordered that no ‘farud’ was to be issued in respect of such properties. He said the Kashmiri Pandits were an important constituent of the Kashmiri culture and the Muslims in the Valley looked forward to their return. Taj expressed concern that some non-state subject unscrupulous elements were forcibly occupying and selling these temples. The deputation thanked the Minister for his keen interest in the issue and sought redress of other issues confronting the community. Minister for Tourism and Culture Nawang Rigzin Jora was also present in the meeting.
	Cabinet to meet today Tribune News Service Jammu, April 25 Ahead of the annual darbar move, the state Cabinet will meet for the last time in the winter capital of the state on April 26. The Civil Secretariat and other government offices are scheduled to close in Jammu on April 27 and will reopen in Srinagar on May 7. Sources said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah would chair the Cabinet meeting on April 26 at the Civil Secretariat here. “Though the agenda of the meeting has not yet been circulated among ministers, a major reshuffle is likely to take place in the civil administration and the police,” the sources said.
	Srinagar-Leh national highway reopens M Aamir Khan Tribune News Service Srinagar, April 25 The 434-km-long Srinagar-Kargil-Leh national highway, which remains closed during the winter months, was thrown open to vehicular traffic today. The road, which had been closed on December 7 last year, was reopened during a function at Zojila, around 100 km from here on the Srinagar-Leh axis. The function was attended by senior officers of the Army, Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the government. Speaking on the occasion, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 15 Corps, Lt Gen S A Hasnain, said the highway had a historic importance for the Army. “Zojila and the Army have an old relationship. This road has a historic importance for the Army as it provides us logistic support. It (highway) helps the Army in maintaining its troops posted at Kargil and Leh besides helping the people of Ladakh,” he said. Director General, BRO, Ravi Shanker said the highway was reopened earlier than last year and efforts to make it an all-weather road were on. “Last year, the road had reopened on May 2 and this time we have opened it earlier. Enabling all-weather connectivity is a challenge and it would be made possible once the Zojila tunnel is constructed. The government has already urged for the fast-tracking of the construction works and our efforts in this regard are on,” he said. Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Samoon was also present on the occasion. Minister for Transport Qamar Ali Akhoon had recently said the construction of the 13-km-long Zojila tunnel to provide an all-season link to the twin districts of Leh and Kargil had been approved by the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways. Akhoon had also declared that the work on the project would be started this year and the foundation stone of the first phase, covering 6 km of the tunnel from Gagangeer to Sonamarg in Ganderbal district, would be laid in August.
	25 cases of dog bite occur daily in Kashmir valley M Aamir Khan Tribune News Service Srinagar, April 25 With the Kashmir valley witnessing an improvement in the situation, heated debates and street protests against alleged human rights violations by the security forces after the eruption of militancy in the state have been overtaken by the issue of dog menace. At least 25 to 30 cases of dog bite are being reported and treated at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital daily, say the officials concerned. The civil society and some other groups, including the High Court Bar Association (HCBA), are up in arms against the menace of stray dogs. The issue is not just being debated in public. Local newspapers are splashed with reports, letters and opinion pieces over the growing canine population and dog attacks on local residents, especially children, almost every day. People have also started taking out protests in this regard. The first protest against the dog menace was taken out by a civil society group in February that was followed by another protest by students of the University of Kashmir recently. While some civil society groups have now threatened to undertake dog culling themselves, in case the government failed to take action, the HCBA on the other hand has decided to take the “battle” to court. The association will now intervene in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that was filed by an NGO before the High Court last year, asking for measures to end the dog menace in the Valley, especially in Srinagar city. While officials claim that the accurate population of dogs in the city is 91,110, residents continue to wait for the much-touted sterilisation programme of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC). Commissioner, SMC, Dr GN Qasba had earlier stated that three blocks having a capacity of 10 dogs each would be made functional by March 15 at the Shuhama dog pound here and the sterilisation programme would commence from April 1. However, the SMC has now said the sterilisation programme would start in May. Anger against the alleged failure of the government over the matter continues to grow. The people want some serious action, as a walk on city roads in the morning or during the evening is risky. “We are not animal haters, but we want action to prevent the menace of stray dogs and dog bites. If the government continues to sleep over the problem, the day is not far when someone will call for a shutdown over the dog menace,” said a local.
	Missing engineer case Sikhs demand proper identification of body Tribune News Service Srinagar, April 25 The All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) has urged the government to get a proper identification of the body which was recovered from the Jhelum in the Awantipora area of Anantnag district last week. It is believed that the body was that of an engineer, Jagdeep Singh, who had been missing since February 18. “We demand that the body be immediately airlifted to such a place, where it can be kept in a mortuary for fact-finding,” Jagmohan Singh Raina, Chairman of the APSCC, stated here today. He lamented that even after Jagdeep’s son and other close relatives had identified the body, it had not been handed over to them and was not buried according to the Sikh rituals. “This is a shocking and shameful act, not only for his family but for the entire humanity,” Raina said. The APSCC Chairman expressed shock over the incident and said the government should have preserved the body instead of burying it till the final report was received, so that his body was buried according to the Sikh rites. The APSCC chairman expressed concern over the lack of high-tech forensic laboratory and mortuary in Kashmir. He said authorities did not conduct a DNA test of the body that would have revealed the truth.
	Social Welfare minister issues orders on recall of employees Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, April 25 Minister for Social Welfare Department Sakina Itoo today issued a directive for the recall of all employees of her department who had been attached to various towns or capital cities. Although she refused to comment whether these employees were “influential”, she said the functioning of the department was getting affected due to such transfers. “I don’t know how many people have managed to get themselves attached to offices other than their original place of posting but one thing is clear that only genuine cases would be considered for ‘attachment transfers’ to ensure smooth functioning of the department,” she said. It is widely alleged that functioning of the Social Welfare Department has been getting affected in rural areas due to shortage of employees. Some supervisors who have been appointed in rural areas have managed to get attached to department offices in towns and cities. Itoo, while reviewing the implementation of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in Jammu division, directed the authorities to immediately shift the employees posted on attachment basis to their original places of posting to ensure efficient functioning of the department at all levels. She said any negligence in this regard would not be tolerated and stern action would be taken against those who failed to comply with the orders. The minister directed the Programme Officers to complete the selection of anganwari workers and anganwari helpers. She asked them to pursue court cases so that the benefits of the schemes reached the masses well in time.
	Attendants beat up doctors Medical services hit at Reasi hospital Our Correspondent Katra, April 25 Hospital staff and doctors went on a strike and medical services were disrupted for a few hours at District Hospital, Reasi, after some attendants beat up doctors at the hospital yesterday night. Eyewitnesses said attendants accompanying a 5-year-old boy allegedly beat doctors when they were asked to make the payment for an X-ray. Dr Pritam Singh said the boy complained of abdominal pain and had been hit by a vehicle at Kansi Patta in Talwara. Dr Pritam said, “He was referred to the Surgery Department. We asked the boy’s attendants to make the payment for the X-ray and they started beating them (doctors).” The doctors went on a strike around 11 pm yesterday, demanding tighter security in the hospital, strict enforcement of one attendant per patient rule and an FIR against the alleged attackers. The strike was called off today afternoon, after the hospital authorities agreed to the demands of doctors.
	Governor for early completion of Vaishno Devi medical institute Tribune News Service Jammu, April 25 Governor NN Vohra has stressed the need for taking immediate steps to ensure the expeditious completion of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) to provide quality medical services to people of surrounding areas and also to the increasing number of Vaishno Devi pilgrims. He also issued directions to the officials concerned for taking the necessary steps for establishing a medical college, a nursing college and a world class blood bank in the coming years for the benefit of society. The Governor asked for putting in place all required equipments and other arrangements, particularly those which are crucial for the early commissioning of the Out Patients Department services at the SMVDIME in the next few months. He also directed the officials concerned for taking immediate action for starting the construction of residential quarters for doctors, paramedics and other staff of the SMVDIME. He added that for the purpose a master plan should be finalised on a priority basis. The Governor reviewed the status of various important projects being implemented by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board at a meeting held here last evening. HL Maini, member, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board; Navin Kumar Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shrine Board; Mandeep K Bhandari, Additional Chief Executive Officer; Vinod Gupta, Medical Superintendent of SMVDIME; Vinay Khajuria, Range Forest Officer, and other officers of the Board participated in the meeting. The Governor said baggage X-ray machines and CCTV cameras must remain functional round-the-clock and all required measures should be put in place to ensure against a stampede or any other avoidable hazard. Taking stock of the upgradation of the track from Banganga to Bhawan, he asked the CEO to ensure that all vulnerable stretches of the track were improved, track dividers were installed and track tiled wherever required. He also stressed taking all required steps for addressing the problem of falling stones and cleaning of the track round-the-clock. Referring to the construction of a mule-track from Katra to Adhkwari, he said the construction of a pony stand, toilet blocks, provision of drinking water and other basic requirements must be put in place at the earliest. The Governor was told that 2.25 lakh plants were planted from July 2011 to March 2012 and 1.11 lakh more plants would be planted during the ensuing monsoon season. Referring to the recently commissioned Pai Nullah Water Supply Scheme to augment the water availability at Bhawan and Adhkwari, he said initiatives must be taken for rainwater harvesting, water recycling and identifying other sources of water for meeting the long-term water requirements of the yatra. Other proposals for the region Helipad near the Panchhi view point and approach road to be completed by July A helipad facility for landing of MI-17 helicopters Early start of work on material ropeway project from Siar Dabri to Bhawan and passenger ropeway from Bhawan to Bhairon Temple Completion of work on Ashirwad Complex at Katra, dormitory complex at Adhkwari and Kalika Dham at Jammu within stipulated time
	Pak national held in Samba Tribune News Service Jammu, April 25 The Border Security Force (BSF) arrested a Pakistani national from the international border near the Malu Chak post of the Ramgarh sector in Samba district late last night. Sources said jawans of the 59th Battalion of the BSF were patrolling on international border when they noticed a person moving under suspicious circumstances. The suspected person was overpowered by the jawans and subjected to questioning. The preliminary investigation revealed that the arrested person belonged to Pakistan and was mentally challenged. “He might have crossed the international border inadvertently. He didn’t utter a single word regarding his identification,” the sources said. After the interrogation, the BSF authorities handed him over to the Ram-garh police for further investigation.