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Security stepped up as 15 militants sneak into Valley
Zero infiltration can’t be achieved, says
Lt Gen Hasnain
Governor reviews snow clearance along the |
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MM Kumar sworn in Chief Justice of J-K High Court
Justice Mahesh Mittal Kumar being administered the oath of office by
Governor NN Vohra in Srinagar.
INTERVIEW
Omar fulfils children’s demand for gondola ride
Valley in grip of cold wave Sarpanches seek security in Valley
Former militant shot at in Srinagar
Minister asks scientists to develop economically viable cropping system
Selected teachers irked over delay in offer letters
Panthers Party backs agitation of Ramban residents
Ruling NC remains silent on interlocutors’ report
Valley readers keen on books on culture, literature
Visitors at the book fair in SP College in Srinagar. Photo: Amin War
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Security stepped up as 15 militants sneak into Valley
Srinagar, June 8 Police sources said the militants were able to enter Kashmir through the Keran sector of Kupwara district and Uri sector of “As per our information, the militants who have entered Kashmir are trying to spread across the Valley. A majority of them are holed up in the higher reaches of Kupwara and Bandipore districts,” said a senior police officer “In past fortnight we also picked up the sudden increase in militant communication in north Kashmir and some of them (militants) are even heading towards hinterland,” he added. The officer said security had been beefed up in north Kashmir and night patrolling was being done to ensure that the militants did not reach Srinagar. “After the input about the new infiltration, we have increased surveillance and are analysing every bit of information to ascertain the plans of these new militants,” the police officer said. The militants took advantage of the damaged Line of Control (LoC) fencing and the heavy snow, he added. The Army claims that it has repaired 80 per cent of the damaged LoC fencing damaged during winter. The Deputy Inspector General of Police, north Kashmir, Rajesh Kumar, said there were reports of militants sneaking into the Valley, but they were yet to be confirmed. “An infiltration bid was foiled by the Army in the Uri sector last month. We have got inputs about militants sneaking into the Valley, but they are yet to be confirmed,” Kumar said. This year, Army had foiled the first infiltration in the Uri sector of Baramulla district on May 10 by killing five unidentified militants near the LoC. With the melting of snow from mountains, the Army expects more infiltration in the coming months. “These are the months when infiltration takes place. Militant leaders are desperate to send fresh cadres to Kashmir,” an Army officer in north Kashmir said. A senior Army officer in Kashmir had recently said that 400-500 militants were waiting to sneak into the state. The Army, sources said, was also keeping a tight vigil on three sectors of north Kashmir, including Nowgam, Chowkibal and Gurez, as militants in the past entered the Valley via these sectors.
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Zero infiltration can’t be achieved, says
Lt Gen Hasnain
Srinagar, June 8 Lt Gen Hasnain, who will be taking over as Military Secretary at the Army Headquarters, was addressing a press conference along with the newly appointed GOC of the 15 Corps, Lt Gen Om Prakash at the Badami Bagh Cantonment here this evening. Lt Gen Hasnain said due to the rugged mountainous terrain along the LoC, it would not be possible to achieve a “zero infiltration level”. There would always be “leakages”. He revealed that a few leakages, resulting in infiltration of some militants, had taken place across the LoC recently. The troops had observed some movement near the LoC last night also, Lt Gen Hasnain said. He held that attempts to infiltrate do take place during early summer months from April to June in view of the porous system. The attempts are being checked by increasing the density of the troops along these areas. The infiltration level since 2004 has been dwindling due to the LoC fence and improvement in the anti-infiltration methodology, he maintained. The recent attacks on panches and sarpanches and a car bomb explosion at Beijbehara were “indicators that militants are in the field”, Lt Gen Hasnain said. Meanwhile, Lt Gen Om Prakash said the established system to restore peace and confidence among the people would be carried forward.
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Governor reviews snow clearance along the
Srinagar, June 8 Vohra, who is also the chairman of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), held a special review meeting here that was convened after reports of difficulties being faced due to intermittent rains and continuous bad weather around the yatra tracks. SASB chief executive officer Navin K. Choudhary informed the meeting that there was 18 feet snow accumulation from the Chandanwari route. As the distance from Chandanwari to the cave shrine is around 30 km, 18 feet snow has accumulated from 15th to 17th km stretch of the track. Other SASB officials expressed concern over the pace of work on ground because of repeated and prolonged interruptions due to frequent spells of heavy rain and fresh snow in the yatra area. The CEO further informed that the fresh snowfall on June 6 and 7 had adversely affected the ongoing work in the yatra area. “While work is under way for the clearance of track, it has been cautioned that the complete removal of snow from the track in one go, at this stage, will lead to formation of steep walls of snow which could prove dangerous in case of windstorm or snow avalanches. Consequently, the snow clearance work is proceeding in stages, step by step,” the CEO added. The meeting also took note of the Meteorological Department’s report, which has forecast rain and thundershower in the yatra area from June 9 to 13.
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MM Kumar sworn in Chief Justice of J-K High Court
Srinagar, June 8 Justice Kumar is the second judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court who has been elevated as the Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. Prior to Justice Kumar, Justice SS Kang of the Punjab and Haryana High Court was administered oath as the Chief Justice of the J&K High Court on October 24, 1989. The warrant and notification of appointment of Justice Kumar, as Chief Justice of the J&K High Court, was read out by the Registrar General of the high court. After administering the oath, the Governor congratulated Justice Kumar and wished him a successful tenure as the Chief Justice of the state High Court. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Speaker, Legislative Assembly, Mohammad Akbar Lone, ministers, adviser to the Chief Minister, judges of the high court, Chief Secretary, Acting Director General of Police, advocates, senior civil, judicial and police officers and family members of Justice Kumar were among those present on the occasion. The ceremony began with the Principal Secretary to the Governor, Navin K Choudhary, seeking the permission of the Governor for the commencement of the function, which had to be relocated at SKICC at the last minute, due to inclement weather. Justice Kumar, born on January 5, 1953, was enrolled as an advocate on December 22, 1977. He worked as the Additional Advocate-General, Punjab, from October 1995 to November 1996. He was appointed as an additional judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on July 2, 2001 and a permanent judge on November 9, 2001. |
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INTERVIEW
Congress leader and Minister for Medical Education, Youth Services and Sports R S Chib, who is facing flak for the high number of infant deaths in the only hospital for children in the Valley, claims that the focus of the state government since it has taken over has been on infrastructure development in the healthcare sector. The minister, in an interview to The Tribune correspondent Majid Jahangir, highlights his efforts to bring the healthcare facility on a par with the national level.
How would you see the situation at G B Pant Hospital? The infant deaths at G B Pant Hospital have been unfortunate. But the mortality rate of the infants is not as high as it is being projected. After the reports about the infant deaths surfaced, we ordered a probe by one of the senior most doctors. Let us wait for the inquiry and if it finds anyone guilty, we will not hesitate in punishing them. What measures are being taken to improve the healthcare facilities for children of the Valley? We have taken various long and short-term measures to improve the functioning of the hospital. We have already identified a land for constructing a new hospital for children in Srinagar. For the short term, we have provided equipment and more staff to improve the functioning of the hospital. What have been your major achievements in medical education? We constructed a new emergency block in Government Medical College, Jammu, which had a 60-bedded ward, an emergency ICU ward, separate cabins for doctors and four additional cabins. Our government also renovated Lal Ded — the only maternity hospital in the Valley — and now it has 200 more beds. The ground and first floor of the renovated building has already started functioning. The sarai for attendants was constructed in Jammu, while another one in Srinagar is almost ready. The new Out Patient Department (OPD) and casualty block of Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital, the new OPD Block of Chest Disease Hospital (Srinagar) and the neonatal ward in Lal Ded Hospital have been completed. What are your plans for improving healthcare? The government will set up 200-bedded maternity hospitals in Jammu and Bemina in Srinagar to ease out the burden on existing hospitals for which the Centre will provide assistance. We will also ensure that the new hospital for children on the outskirts of Srinagar becomes functional in the next two years. We also plan to upgrade infrastructure of health institutes in Srinagar and Jammu. You are also holding the charge of sports minister. What are your plans for sports? The government had been making efforts to strengthen the sports infrastructure in the state to draw youth to sports activities. The construction of new and upgradation of existing sports infrastructure for promoting sports culture in the state is the priority of the government. We want to engage youth in sports activities and channel their energy in a positive direction. |
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Omar fulfils children’s demand for gondola ride
Srinagar, June 8 During an interactive session with a group of 250 students from 33 states and union territories of the country participating in the National Camp here, children requested him for a gondola ride at Gulmarg in north Kashmir. Omar quickly agreed to the demand, saying that the state was known for its hospitality the world over. “You are not only our guests but our children. My office will arrange and bear the expenditure of your Gulmarg visit and the gondola ride,” Omar said during the interactive session at the Tagore Hall. While the children welcomed the offer with an applause, Omar urged them to carry the message of love and affection from Kashmir to the boys and girls of their respective states. “Tell them about the hospitality, natural beauty and cultural richness of Jammu and Kashmir and make them visit this place along with you again and again,” he said. The camp has been organised by the Indian Council of Children Welfare, New Delhi, in collaboration with state governments. Omar said such camps should be made a regular feature. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister met 36 delegations of people from various parts of the state during his public meeting. The delegations presented their list of grievances and demands. |
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Valley in grip of cold wave
Srinagar, June 8 While Srinagar recorded a maximum of 17.6 degrees Celsius temperature today, which is around 12 degrees below normal, Gulmarg ski resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district recorded 2.6 degrees night temperature, an official of the Meteorological Department said. The city also recorded 7.8 mm of rainfall till 5.30 pm today and minimum temperature of 12.9 degrees Celsius, forcing the people to use woollens yet again. In fact, the temperatures across the Valley have remained below normal most of the time this summer due to frequent spells of rain and snowfall in the upper reaches. Director Meteorological Department Sonam Lotus said the Valley continued to witness chilly weather conditions most of the time this summer because of frequent western disturbances. He said moderate to heavy rainfall was expected tonight as well while the next two days would remain cloudy following which there would be a gradual improvement in weather conditions.
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Sarpanches seek security in Valley
Jammu, June 8 The core committee members of the AJKPCC organised a meeting to extend support to the sarpanches and panches in Kashmir. They expressed concern over the threatening calls to the sarpanches and panches and described it as an attack on democratic institutions. “It is a direct assault on on the democratic institution and it should be condemned by one and all. It is the government’s responsibility to protect the lives of the elected representatives who had contested elections at the cost of their lives,” they said. They observed that the recent developments have created a sense of insecurity among the elected representatives and it was the high time that government should take some drastic steps to restore confidence among them. The posters, being claiming to be that of militants, had been circulated and pasted in south Kashmir, threatening the sarpanches and panches of dire consequences if they didn’t resign from their posts. Yesterday, seven panches announced their resignation in Kashmir following threatening calls. “The government should take all positive steps to infuse a sense of security among the sarpanches and panches in Kashmir. The resignation of seven panches is highly unfortunate,” the AJKPCC members said. They also expressed resentment over the “repeated and misleading” statements of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his Cabinet colleagues regarding empowerment of
panchayats. “It is highly unfortunate that the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues had been resorted to lip service for the past one year. Nothing has been done to decentralise powers and frequent statements were mere an eyewash,” the committee said. The committee also took into task other elected representatives, including MLAs and MLCs, who, it alleged, have maintained a criminal silence over the issue. Prominent among those who were present in the meeting included Mohammad Alam Choudhary, Kulbushan Khajuria, Mohammad Sadiq, Milki Ram Bhagat, Madan Lal Sharma, Vijay Saini, Balbir Singh, Sardar Sartaj Singh Latta and Raghunandan.
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Former militant shot at in Srinagar
Srinagar, June 8 “The two injured were shifted to Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, where the condition of Mir is stated to be critical,” the police said. “Rashid was later discharged from the hospital.” Mir, a resident of Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, had migrated to Saderbal seven years ago and was running a provision store in the area. He was formerly associated with the Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit. No militant group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack. Meanwhile, suspected militants hurled a grenade in the Nowgam area on the outskirts of the city last evening. However, no one was injured in the attack. The police said militants hurled a grenade towards a patrol party near Phuroo Chowk at Nowgam. The grenade missed the target and exploded on the roadside without causing any damage.
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Minister asks scientists to develop economically viable cropping system
Jammu, June 8 The minister, who was addressing the inaugural session of a two-day-long XXII meeting of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) at Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, said in order to boost the agriculture production in the states, the focus should be on setting up centres of All-India Coordination Research projects in J&K and other hill states of the country. He said studies on climatic Resilient Mountain Agriculture in Kashmir, particularly Ladakh region, with regard to vulnerability and adaptation were essentially required in Jammu and Kashmir. “The State Agriculture Universities (SAUs) in the state need to be made partners in climate Resilient Agriculture programme of the ICAR to address these issues,” he added. Mir disclosed that the ICAR had approved the establishment of four Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in Kashmir region during the 11th Plan while five more KVKs are needed to be set up in sensitive border areas of Gurez, Machil and Uri and tribal areas besides remote mountain areas of Zanskar in Ladakh. “However, there is still need to establish KVKs in far-flung and border areas of the state whereby agricultural technologies and the latest trends in the development of agriculture shall reach the farmers, who do not have access to the existing KVKs on account of topography and distance, to harness the benefits”, he added. The minister said the SKUAST-K had established two Highland Agricultural Research Stations - one at Zanskar and another at Changthang - and added that the ICAR institutions were invited to use the facilities to launch highland specific research programmes. He said the scientists should make an endeavour for the conservation and improvement of typical livestock of Ladakh region which include double-humped camel, changthani pashmina goat, zanaskari horse and yak. Referring that farm mechanisation in hills was constrained due to small holding size, steep slopes and difficulty in carriage, Mir said development of suitable machinery for hills was a priority which needs to be addressed by the research institutions.
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Selected teachers irked over delay in offer letters
Udhampur, June 8 Former president of District Youth Congress Kishtwar and member of the J&K Pradesh Congress Committee, Sheikh Nasir Hussain Advocate, in a press note issued yesterday, urged the Education Department authorities to issue the order in favour of 113 selected teachers of Kishtwar district so that they can join their duties. These teachers were selected by the SSRB last year against the vacant posts advertised in November, 2010. Sheikh Nasir alleged that the inaction on part of the education authorities was detrimental to the interests of a large number of students in most of the schools in the district, especially in far-flung areas, due to lack of teaching staff. He rued the non-serious attitude of the authorities concerned towards educational needs of the students, especially from poor strata of society. He has appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abndullah to issue directions to the authorities concerned to issue the appointment letters without further delay. — TNS
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Panthers Party backs agitation of Ramban residents
Jammu, June 8 In a statement issued here today, Singh regretted that the people of Chenani and Ramban tehsils had contributed major part of their land holdings for the construction of road and railway projects, tunnels and hydropower projects in the area but were being neglected, deprived and exploited. He lamented that the people had been, in several cases, unwillingly divested of their small land holdings by the big industrial and commercial houses without compensating them in a fair and equitable manner. He regretted that the poor and innocent villagers of the said areas had not only been deprived of their due and legitimate compensation but they had also been declined their due share in employment avenues generated on their lands. He deplored that several of the labourers had been terminated on flimsy grounds causing great unrest in the area. Advocating the claims of the local youth for absorption in the multi-crore and billion-dollar projects launched in the area by outside corporate houses, he called upon the government to intervene so as to ensure justice to the aggrieved villages. He said earlier the lands were acquired for Baglihar project and natural resources of the villages of Ramban were exploited without conferring any corresponding benefit to the local people. He said the localities were ignored in all sectors, including employment, and they were under persistent threats and perpetual hazards associated with the project. He criticised the practice adopted by the corporate houses of importing labourers from outside and demanded due share for the local people. He said all skilled and technical labour which was available locally should be duly absorbed. |
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Ruling NC remains silent on interlocutors’ report
Srinagar, June 8 “When other leaders have not commented on the report, why should I comment?” said senior National Conference leader and Minister for Rural Development, Law and Parliamentary Affairs and Panchayats Ali Mohammad Sagar. Replying to queries at a press conference here yesterday, the Minister, however, maintained that the government was not silent on the issue. “We will talk about it at a proper time,” he said, adding that the National Conference would be in a position to respond to the report within a fortnight. The three-member team of interlocutors, including noted journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, academician Radha Kumar and former Information Commissioner M M Ansari, had submitted the 176-page report to the Central government after a year-long exercise of having meetings with a cross-section of society in the state. The separatists, who at the very outset had rejected the report, did not meet the interlocutors despite repeated invitations. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, within hours of the interlocutors’ report being made public, had tweeted that he would be reacting to it “within a few days” after consultations with senior party colleagues. Though he has been making frequent public appearances, the Chief Minister has not reacted to the report so far. The party’s additional general secretary and Farooq Abdullah’s younger brother, Mustafa Kamaal, who is known for his controversial remarks, is also silent on the issue. The newly set up media cell headed by Tanveer Sadiq has also been evading any references to the report in daily political statements. There may not be many points in report on which the National Conference would be having a different take, but it is yet to respond. The recommendations speak of a review of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and reduction of security forces from residential areas. The Chief Minister has already been advocating the revocation of the AFSPA from some districts in view of the normalcy in these areas. |
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Valley readers keen on books on culture, literature
Srinagar, June 8 “A reader’s demand for memoirs of Dara Shikoh surprised me. He also had a long list of other unique books. This will never happen in Delhi where people are mostly looking for bestsellers. I found out that people here are more
interested in books on literature, culture and regional history,” said the in charge of the book fair at
S P College, M R Mahapatra, who is also an NBT editor. Urdu books, especially those from Pakistan, are also in big demand. “Yahaan pe Pakistan kutub dastiyaab hain (Pakistani books are available here),” read a poster. While the last NBT book fair was held in Srinagar in 1986, Mahapatra said the event was a “good beginning” to promote book reading culture in Kashmir again. General secretary
of the Kashmir Book Suppliers and Publishers Association Mir Ghulam Ahmad, who has also set
up a stall, termed the book fair a “good beginning” even though he said the fair in 1986 had drawn more people. “In 1986, I attended the fair as a student and today I am managing a stall. I remember seeing a huge rush of people. Book reading habits have declined over the years due to turmoil and also as a result of Internet usage. But an event like this is a good beginning towards inculcating book culture yet again,” he said. Mahapatra said the number of people visiting the book fair was increasing with every passing day, especially after reading newspaper reports of several mainstream and separatist leaders visiting the fair. “Even in other parts, including Delhi, not many people visit a book fair during the first two or three days. But then there is a footfall due to media publicity,” he said. Besides Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and other Cabinet ministers, separatist leaders like Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik have visited the book
fair so far. A total of 112 stalls displaying around one lakh books have been put on display at the eight-day that commenced on June 2. The organisers have also been holding other programmes like interactive sessions between writers and students, mehfil-e-ghazal, panel discussions and seminars. A literary meet by the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, will conclude the fair on June 9. The NBT is mulling over making the book fair an annual event in Kashmir. |
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Describing the security situation in Kashmir well under control despite the recent militancy-related incidents, the outgoing GOC of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps, Lt Gen S A Hasnain, however, said zero infiltration along the LoC would not be achieved.
Justice Mahesh Mittal Kumar was today sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court by Governor NN Vohra at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre
(SKICC). Justice Kumar is the second judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court who has been elevated as the Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.
Congress leader and Minister for Medical Education, Youth Services and Sports R S
Chib, who is facing flak for the high number of infant deaths in the only hospital for children in the Valley, claims that the focus of the state government since it has taken over has been on infrastructure development in the healthcare sector. The minister, in an interview to The Tribune correspondent Majid
Jahangir, highlights his efforts to bring the healthcare facility on a par with the national level.
While Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had a busy day today listening to the demands and grievances of 36 delegations that called on him during his Public Mulaqaat (meeting), he faced an unusual demand at another
programme. During an interactive session with a group of 250 students from 33 states and union territories of the country participating in the National Camp here, children requested him for a gondola ride at Gulmarg in north Kashmir.
The ongoing National Book Trust (NBT)-sponsored fair may not have drawn large crowds as compared to similar events outside the state. But
booksellers are coming across “unique” demands from book lovers of the Kashmir valley.
“A reader’s demand for memoirs of Dara Shikoh surprised me. He also had a long list of other unique books. This will never happen in Delhi where people are mostly looking for bestsellers.
