The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Pandits pray for their return at Kheer Bhawani shrine Thousands throng Tulmulla in Valley to celebrate annual mela M Aamir Khan/TNS Tulmulla (Ganderbal), May 29 Thousands of devotees thronged the shrine of Goddess Ragneya Devi here today to celebrate the annual Kheer Bhawani mela. Local and migrant Kashmiri Pandits along with tourists performed puja throughout the day while a large number of Muslims were also seen at the temple. The devotees prayed for peace and return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley. “We prayed for peace and our return,” said R K Bhat, a migrant who had come from Jammu to celebrate the festival. “This year the colour of the water in the natural spring has remained whitish-blue, which means peaceful days ahead,” he added. Devotees believe that the colour of the spring-water at the shrine gives an indication of future days ahead. “If the colour turns pink or reddish, it does not augur well for the future,” said S K Bhat, another devotee. Several political parties and non-government organisations besides the police, Army and government departments had set up food, drinks and first-aid stalls for devotees on the occasion. However, the temple witnessed a comparatively lesser rush of pilgrims as compared to last year. “This year, hawans were performed at four other Ragneya Devi temples across the Valley and therefore Tulmulla received lesser number of devotees this year,” said Moti Lal Bhat, additional secretary of the J&K Dharmarth Trust, which looks after the shrine. While Bhat said around 60,000 devotees visited the shrine, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal Showkat Ahmad Mir put the figure at around 20,000 only. Hawans held across Valley Besides Tulmulla, devotees performed hawans at four other places in the Valley on Tuesday to mark the birth of Goddess Ragneya Devi. The temple of Kheer Bhawani was built by Maharaja Pratap Singh in 1912. Hawans were performed at Ragneya Devi temples in the Ticker area of Kupwara district, Logripora in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district and Manzgam and Khanbaran areas of Kulgam district. “Around 1,200 devotees performed hawan at Logripora. Last year, we had performed the hawan here after more than two decades,” a devotee, Sudesh Bhat, told The Tribune over the phone. “Hawans were successfully performed at Ticker, Manzgam and Khanbaran areas as well,” he added.
	Mainstream, separatist leaders show up at mela to score brownie points M Aamir Khan/TNS Tribune News Service Tulmulla (Ganderbal), May 29 Even as mainstream and separatist leaders were thronging the Kheer Bhawani shrine to score political points, members of the migrant Kashmiri Pandit community, who came here from different parts of the country, said there was a need to go beyond “mere sloganeering” to enable their return to the Valley. “Religious tourism is fine and we will continue to visit Kheer Bhawani irrespective of the situation. But there is a need to go beyond lip service and mere sloganeering. Every leader is coming here as a symbolic gesture but nothing concrete is being done so that we return,” said Shiv Kumar Bhat, New Delhi-based businessman originally from Pulwama in south Kashmir. “We want to return but the situation has to be made conducive. Kashmir’s civil society has to come forward and the call for our return should be as clear as the ‘azaan’ (Muslim call to prayer),” Bhat added. Suneel Koul, a migrant Kashmiri Pandit also settled in New Delhi, had come to pay obeisance here after 22 years. Koul, who is originally from Anantnag district, said the only difference between the Kheer Bhawani celebrations before the migration and now was the “larger” number of Muslims present inside the shrine. “Before our migration, Muslims used to visit the shrine but as I come here after 22 years, I am noticing a larger number of Muslims and much more enthusiasm. Therefore I cannot understand why the government is not doing something substantial so that we return home,” he said. While many people rushed to greet the mainstream and separatist leaders, who could be seen arriving throughout the course of the day, others did not like their “tall claims”. “They only know how to make tall claims and shout hollow Muslim-Pandit brotherhood slogans. Real brotherhood can be endorsed only when we return safely. Separatist leaders too are coming here today and greeting us… we wonder what stops the government from facilitating our return,” said a devotee, apparently referring to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who had just left the shrine. Later, when separatist leader Yasin Malik arrived along with his supporters, a Pandit woman greeted him at the entrance of the shrine and started a conversation. As many people gathered around Malik blocking the entrance, a devotee shouted: “You can hold your press conference elsewhere... you are blocking the passage.” While the words did not reach the ears of the JKLF chief amid the hustle and bustle, the message to both the mainstream and separatist leaders was clear --- migrant Pandits do not want symbolic gestures but tangible measures so that they could return to Kashmir.
	HC dismisses petition against DGP Khoda Tribune News Service Srinagar, May 29 The Jammu and Kashmir High Court today dismissed a writ petition seeking registration of a case against DGP Kuldeep Khoda for his alleged role in a triple murder case in Bhaderwah. “The judgment delivered by Justice Hasnain Masoodi was announced in an open court at Jammu by the acting Chief Justice. The petition was filed in the Srinagar wing of the High Court, which was subsequently transferred to the Jammu wing,” an official said here. The petitioners, Nazira Begum and Shahina Begum, were seeking registration of a case against DGP Kuldeep Khoda. They were also seeking the reopening of the case filed at the Bhaderwah police station and a fresh probe by the CBI into the alleged triple murder Bhaderwah case. The families of the dead persons, who were killed in 1996, had on September 21, 2011, approached the Srinagar wing of the High Court with a petition, seeking re-opening and reinvestigation into the encounter. However, the petition was subsequently transferred to the Jammu wing of the High Court in April this year, on a plea made by an accused in the case. The High Court while dismissing the petition observed that the local police had registered the case and conducted the investigation with “utmost promptitude”. “All the important and key witnesses were examined and as such no faults were found with the investigation. The trial was also conducted in a proper manner and the same cannot be labelled as a mock trial,” the judgment said. The petitioners had also alleged that the four men, who were killed, had been picked up by the police in January 1996 out of whom three were later thrown into the Chenab in Bhaderwah. Khoda was the DIG (Doda-Udhampur) when Fazal Mohammad Dar, his son Fareed Ahmad Dar, and their neighbour Mohammad Hussain Dar, were killed in Bhaderwah in 1996. Association to move SC Srinagar: The Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) has decided to file an appeal in the Supreme Court against the High Court for dismissing a writ petition against DGP Kuldeep Khoda for his alleged role in a triple murder case in Bhaderwah in 1996. “The disappointing role of the government and the judiciary has cemented the commitment of the APDP to take the case to all available forums. The APDP in the coming days will file an appeal in the Supreme Court,” Programme coordinator of the APDP Khurram Parvez said in a statement here today. “It is further disappointment for the families, which have watched with increasing frustration the proceedings of the High Court,” said Parvez.-- TNS
	40,000 pilgrims pay obeisance at Vaishno Devi shrine daily Devinder Thakur Katra, May 29 With about 40,000 devotees visiting the Vaishno Devi shrine every day in this holiday season, the authorities have been forced to regulate the entry of pilgrims to the shrine near Jammu, as part of a crowd management plan. “The number of pilgrims has reached 45,000 in the last couple of days, forcing the suspension of the pilgrimage. The pilgrims are now being stopped at Katra. They are allowed to move only once the rush on the 12-km trek and in the shrine thins out,” Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) officials said. The officials said the SMVDSB was taking care of facilities like boarding, lodging, food, security, water and electricity to cope up with the heavy influx of the pilgrims. An estimated 44,000 pilgrims paid obeisance at the shrine today while 5,000 pilgrims were stopped at Katra. “We expect 40,000 pilgrims daily during the summer vacation months. The number could rise on weekends,” said an official of the SMVDSB. The number of pilgrims visiting the shrine annually had crossed the 10 million mark last year while the number of pilgrims who visited the shrine so far this year is 36 lakh.
	Day after CVC row, Mufti talks of joint fight against graft Dinesh Manhotra /TNS Jammu, May 29 A day after Leader of the Opposition Mehbooba Mufti objected to Director General of Police (DGP) Kuldeep Khuda’s name being proposed for the first Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) of the state, former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today emphasised the need to evolve a consensus to form a mechanism to fight corruption. As Mufti was addressing a symposium organised by an NGO on the role of civil society in eradicating corruption, he seized the opportunity to launch a veiled attack on the National Conference (NC)-led coalition for not taking the opposition into confidence while finalising the name of CVC. “The war against corruption can be fought by jointly formulating a comprehensive mechanism,” he said, adding that without consensus, no mechanism could prove fruitful or effective because involvement of every section was must to eradicate the menace. On Monday during the meeting of the panel to decide the names of CVC and two Vigilance Commissioners, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti staged a walkout objecting to the appointment of Kuldeep Khuda as CVC. Although Mufti tried to keep a distance from the ongoing fight between the state government and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the appointment of CVC, he said for the last 60 years, successive governments had failed to arrive at a consensus to devise a joint strategy to curb corruption. Terming political corruption as the biggest problem of the country, Mufti said there was no provision of political accountability in the system and it was the main reason for rampant corruption. The veteran politician recalled his days in the Congress when party leaders used to collect funds from the masses to fight elections. “The days are gone when parties used to collect small funds from people. Today big companies are funding political parties and this is also one of the causes of political corruption,” he said. Mufti also took the opportunity to remind people about the steps which were taken during his regime to eradicate corruption. “It was only the PDP-led regime that had taken some bold initiatives to provide a corruption-free government to the people,” he claimed, adding that the State Accountability Commission (SAC) —an anti-graft body — was formed during the PDP regime. “It is unfortunate that the present regime has weakened such institutions,” he said. The PDP patron reiterated that when his party would come to power, it would establish a transparent and accountable system to provide good governance to the people of the state.
	Azad visits Kargil Tribune News Service Jammu, May 29 Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said the Union government had already formulated a number of new schemes to give incentives to the doctors who were serving in the far-flung areas. He claimed that within the next couple of months, the problem of shortage of doctors would be solved in Kargil. The Union Minister was addressing a public meeting at Kargil. Later, Azad visited District Hospital, Kargil, and inspected the working of the newly constructed trauma unit and the indoor complex. Later, the minister visited Gound Mangalpore village and Drass subdivision. In Drass, he inspected the ongoing work at Sub-District Hospital and also addressed a public gathering. To provide basic health facilities at Kargil, Azad announced Rs 1.70 crore for an oxygen plant and Rs 50 lakh for the central heating of trauma unit at District Hospital in Kargil. For completion of the construction work at the community health centre in Sankoo and Drass, Azad announced Rs 2.85 crore and Rs 2.34 crore, respectively.
	Geelani starts online campaign Tribune News Service Srinagar, May 29 The hardline Hurriyat faction led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani has started an online campaign to seek the release of separatist leader Ashiq Hussain Faktoo, alias Dr Muhammad Qasim, who according to the conglomerate has been under arrest for nearly 20 years. Geelani launched the campaign yesterday on the social networking website, Facebook, at his Hyderpora residence here. Besides garnering support for the release of Faktoo, his supporters have also been posted a petition.
	Return of Kashmiri Pandits cherished goal, says Omar Tulmulla (Ganderbal), May 29 Asserting that the Kashmiri Pandits are an “integral part of the culture and ethos of Kashmir and Kashmiriyat”, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said their return to the Valley was the “cherished goal and desire of the government and the civil society.” Omar said this after paying obeisance at the Kheer Bhawani shrine in Tulmulla. He said the gradual improvement in the security situation and generation of economic opportunities for the Pandit community would give the required boost for their return. “The sense of security and economic safeguards are the basic elements to help the return of Kashmiri Pandits to their native land. The government is focusing on both these crucial aspects and the improved security situation is proving a catalyst in this process,” he added. — TNS
	1 dead, 10 hurt in road mishaps in Ramban RK Kichlu Batote, May 29 One person died and 10 others, including a DSP of the CRPF, were injured in three separate accidents in Ramban tehsil today. The driver of a tractor died on the spot when it rolled down into a gorge at Nera on the Mehad-Nera link road early morning today. In another accident at Tringla, Batote, on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, a Srinagar-bound Maruti Gypsy of the CRPF, hit the rear wheel of a Jammu-bound truck, which in order to avoid the damaged portion of the road had kept right instead of left, leading to breaking of its axle and bursting of a tyre. Simultaneously, a Srinagar-bound car hit the Maruti Gypsy from its rear end, injuring four CRPF men on board the Gypsy and five occupants, including two children and two women, on board the car. The traffic on the highway remained disrupted for two hours. The injured CRPF men included DSP V Srikanth, constable Sodagar Singh, havildars Subodh K Jha and Kulwant Singh (driver). They were referred to Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu, from Sher-e-Kashmir Memorial Emergency Hospital, Batote. All the injured were discharged after receiving first aid. In another accident near the Batote market, a water tanker of the General Reserve Engineer Force collided sideways with a Wagon-R, resulting in minor injuries to Vikram Mehra, the driver of the car.
	Amarnath Yatra Himalayan Heli to ferry pilgrims Tribune News Service Srinagar, May 29 The Himalayan Heli Services Pvt Ltd has been awarded the contract to provide helicopter services to pilgrims intending to undertake the Amarnath yatra this year. The yatra will start from June 25. “The Himalayan Heli Services Pvt Ltd has been awarded the contract to provide helicopter services on the Baltal-Panjtarni route instead of the Global Vectra Helicorp Ltd,” Chief Executive Officer, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, Navin K Choudhary said here. “Originally the Summit Aviation Pvt Ltd and the Global Vectra Helicorp Ltd were awarded the contract to provide the helicopter services on the Baltal-Panjtarni route while the Pawan Hans was awarded the contract to operate the helicopter service on the Pahalgam-Panjtarni route. Due to operational difficulties and reported withdrawal of security clearance by the Director General of Civil Aviation, the Global Vectra expressed its inability to operate its helicopters for the Amarnath yatra,” said Choudhary. The one-way fare for the Baltal-Panjtarni route will continue to be Rs 1,445, as is being charged by the Summit Aviation. The booking of tickets on the website of the Himalayan Heli Services Pvt Ltd will start on May 31.
	Municipal Corporation comes to help of Traffic Dept Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Srinagar, May 29 To inculcate traffic discipline among bikers and motorists in the summer capital, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has come to the help of the Traffic Police. The SMC has started a special drive in the city against wrong parking by pasting special stickers on vehicles parked wrongly. The stickers mentions the time, date and the area, where the vehicle was wrongly parked. “The drive against wrong parking is aimed at helping the Traffic Police to strictly enforce rules,” said SMC Commissioner GN Qasba. “We will intensify the drive in the coming days,” he said. SMC officials said copies of wrong parking slips were sent to the Traffic Department, which would later collect penalty from offenders. Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Traffic, Shafqat Watali said the offenders were being penalised Rs 200, Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 for repeated offences. “The Traffic Police usually tows away vehicles which are wrongly parked. But this initiatives of the SMC is a good step and will inculcate traffic discipline among motorists,” said Watali. Chief Enforcement Officer, SMC, Aijaz Ahmed said almost 40 to 50 challan slips were pasted across the city every day. “We started this drive a fortnight ago and we will continue to paste challan slips on vehicles which are wrongly parked,” said Ahmed.
	Disappearance of four foreigners in 1995 Rights panel sends fresh notices to Gill, Wani Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Srinagar, May 29 Even as the state government failed to submit the relevant records in the kidnapping and disappearance case of four foreigners from Pahalgam in 1995, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) issued fresh notices to Akali leader and former Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, P S Gill and Ashkoor Wani, at present Senior Superintendent of Police, Udhampur. Gill was IGP, Kashmir, and Wani was Superintendent of Police, Anantnag, in 1995. Gill and Wani failed to submit the personal response on an application filed in the SHRC seeking “comprehensive investigation” into the kidnapping and subsequent killing of the tourist by the Al-Faran militant group. After the failure of the state administration and police in submitting the relevant records in the case, the SHRC directed the Chief Prosecuting Officer to “ensure submission of all the relevant reports from the officers concerned and the investigation files from the Crime Branch which investigated the kidnapping case.” The petition was filed in the SHRC by the International People's Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice (IPTHRJ) and Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP), which has sought “comprehensive investigation” and directions to the state government to make public the findings of the investigation into the kidnapping of four foreigners in Pahalgam. On April 17, the SHRC had issued notices to the state government and Crime Branch to furnish all reports about the various investigations into the case. The same day notices were issued to Gill and Wani seeking their personal response. The case has now been listed for July 3. CASE RECALL Four foreign tourists - John Childs and Don Hutchings of the US and Keith Mangan and Paul Wells of England - were kidnapped on July 4, 1995, during a trekking expedition in Pahalgam in Anantnag by the Al-Faran, an offshoot of the now defunct Harkat-ul-Ansar. *Four days later, on July 8, two more foreigners - Dirk Hasert of Germany and Hans Christian Ostro of Norway - were kidnapped. Children managed to escape on July 8 while Ostro was beheaded. The other four were never traced and are believed to have been killed. A book by European investigative journalists Adrian Levy and Cathy Scott-Clark has claimed that the Al Faran had killed only one of the tourists and they had handed over to the authorities the other four, who were then murdered by state-sponsored gunmen.
	India seems powerless to stop Chinese intrusions on border, says BJP Ranjit Thakur Rajouri, May 29 Chinese intrusions into the Indian Territory have been increasing, but India seems powerless to stop them, said Ravi Shankar Prasad, national spokesperson of the BJP, during his two-day visit to the twin border town of Rajouri-Poonch. He was accompanied by a study group. Prasad took serious note of China’s continuous interruption on the Indo-China border areas, where China was building pressure and not allowing India to build roads under Centrally-sponsored schemes. He said the Government of India needed to take this problem seriously and not feel helpless. He said local people were suffering due to the Indo-China border dispute. Prasad said, “India is not a small country. We are a big power and we need to solve the issue by initiating a dialogue process with China.” He said India was near to becoming a world power during the tenure of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee while the UPA had failed and lost its credibility due to price rise and corruption in the country. “Now, nobody wants to invest money in Indian markets due to uncontrolled price rise,” he said. “Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi’s hollow claims have exposed them. They have continuously failed to control price hike for the past three years,” he said. “The people are frustrated due to increasing price rise. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is also quiet over the increasing price hike and corruption,” the BJP national spokesperson said. Clearing its stand, Prasad said, “The Accession of Jammu and Kashmir with India is final and we cannot make any compromises on it.” He said smooth relations with Pakistan could not be possible till Pakistan stopped sponsoring terrorism in India. On the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), he said, “It should not be revoked under pressure as Jammu and Kashmir is secure because of security forces. Anybody who is found guilty should be punished.”