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Omar orders immediate restoration of gutted shrine
Militants target Army camp in Srinagar
Separatist leaders to meet Pakistan foreign secy
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India, Pakistan get together at Baba Chamliyal fair
Thousands more offer prayers
at Amarnath cave shrine
Governor visits gutted Sufi shrine
Old Srinagar still tense
State to get six mobile forensic units
HC’s new step to speed up disposal of cases
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Omar orders immediate restoration of gutted shrine
Srinagar, June 28 “The restoration of the revered shrine should be strictly based on its heritage characteristic”, he told the Waqf Board at a meeting held here today to discuss measures for restoration of the shrine. An official spokesman said that head of the INTACH, J&K Chapter, Mohammad Saleem Beg presented the images, photographs and digital documentation of the heritage structure of the shrine in the meeting preserved by the INTACH. The Chief Minister said this documentation could provide required basis for restoration of the shrine as per its original heritage structure. The Chief Minister directed the Muslim Waqf Board to immediately notify the measures and put in place befitting mechanism to safeguard the revered shrines in the State. The restoration plan of the revered shrine was also discussed with the Sajjad-a-Nisheen or Caretaker, Syed Khalid Jeelani. The CM said that the suggestions and viewpoints of Sajjad-a-Nisheen and Management Committee as also of the experts in heritage restoration subject should be factored in the process of restoration of the shrine to its pristine glory. Fire at college, no one hurt Srinagar, June 28 The fire broke out in Sheikh-ul-Aalam BEd college at Bandipora, 55 km from here, this afternoon, resulting in damage to the first floor of the building, the police said. |
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Militants target Army camp in Srinagar
Srinagar, June 28 He said the nature of projectile was being ascertained jointly by the police and the security forces. “Efforts are on to investigate the attack,” he said. A case was registered in Parimpora police station and they have taken up the investigations. Police sources said the grenades were fired from outside using a projectile. There has been a slight increase in the number of militancy related incidents in the Valley since last month. A number of incidents, including grenade explosions and an attack on the CRPF men in which seven of them were injured, have taken place during the last month in the capital city. Senior security officials maintain that such incidents were a routine matter as militancy has not come to an end. The rise in militancy related incidents usually takes place during these months every year following melting down of snow along the high mountains through which the Line of Control passes where by armed militants from across the border sneak in to the Valley. Police sources said already 14-18 militants had managed to infiltrate into the Valley during past one month. In fact, on June 19, an Army jawan was killed after suspected militants opened fire at an Army post at Zatchaldara, Handwara, in the border district of Kupwara. |
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Separatist leaders to meet Pakistan foreign secy
Srinagar, June 28 A Hurriyat spokesman said Mirwaiz would be meeting Pakistan Foreign Secretary Jaleel Abbas on his arrival in New Delhi on the evening of July 3. “The (Pakistan) High Commission has called upon Mirwaiz and other executive members to get first-hand information about the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir,” he added. Malik too would be meeting Abbas on the same evening, a day before the Pakistan Foreign Secretary would be meeting his Indian counterpart Ranjan Mathai. Meanwhile, Mirwaiz termed the government action of imposing undeclared restrictions in the old city areas following the gutting of a Sufi shrine on Monday a “dictatorial” decision.“The curbs have stopped devotees, ulemma (religious scholars) and commoners from visiting the shrine. Instead, the government is officially facilitating the visit of those people who have not even a distant relation with the revered shrine. This act of government is absolutely shameful and highly regrettable,” Mirwaiz added. |
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India, Pakistan get together at Baba Chamliyal fair
Zero Line (Chamliyal), June 28 The fair was organised by the district administration, Samba, for the first time
as the Border Security Force had been solely handling it earlier. Around 10.30 am, BSF officers and the Samba district officials received a team of Pak Rangers along with members of the Sialkot civil administration and some civilians at the Indian side of the Zero Line. Virender Singh, DIG (Indreshwar Sector), BSF, and his Pakistani counterpart Lt Col Qaiser, Wing Commander, Chenab Rangers, performed the ritual of exchanging sweets and then held a meeting. Later, Mubarak Singh, District Development Commissioner, Samba, and his Pakistani counterpart Samiha Saleen, Assistant Commissioner, Sialkot, also joined the meeting. Others officers from the Indian side included Israr Khan, SSP, Samba; Mukesh Tyagi, Commandant, BSF; Yuvraj Dubey, CO of local battalion of the BSF; and KS Rathore, Deputy Commandant, Samba, BSF. Prominent officers from Pakistan included Lt Col Faisal, Wing Commander, Pak Rangers. The meeting concluded around 12:30pm. Pakistan officers offered chaddar to the Sufi saint Baba Dalip Singh Manhas on the occasion and the Indians handed over sharbat (holy water) and shakkar (holy clay) to the Pakistan officials. Addressing mediapersons after the meeting, Mubarak said that no political issues were discussed during
the meeting. “The event is a symbol of peace and we just discussed ways to improve the arrangements. It is a very curial event for people of both countries and we can turn it into a big event with each other’s cooperation.” he added. Israr Khan said, “We all felt that the meeting has been very successful in reducing the tension in our relations. It proved a very successful venture and we all see it as a ray of hope in improving Indo-Pak relations.” Baba Chamliyal Fair n
Devotees have been visiting Chamliyal (over 45 km from Jammu) to offer prayers at the shrine of Sant Baba Dalip Singh Manhas for over three centuries. n
Since the devotees from Pakistan have not been allowed to cross the Indo-Pak border since Partition, they gather at Saidawali village (in Pakistan) on the international border. BSF officers provide them holy clay and sharbat, which are believed to have curative properties for various skin ailments. n People from all religions reach the shrine to pay obeisance and the annual fair has become an emblem of communal harmony and Indo-Pak peace. Low-key affair The tense Indo-Pak relations cast a shadow on the meeting, as the BSF did not arrange any musical band this year at the Zero Line. Mediapersons were not allowed to interact with any Pakistan official or civilian, who were present on the occasion. A BSF officer said, “We have got clear instructions from the higher authorities that no one from the media should be allowed to directly interact with any person from the other side of the border.” |
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Thousands more offer prayers
at Amarnath cave shrine
Srinagar, June 28 As many as 22,244 yatris had darshan on Wednesday while thousands of pilgrims had lined up for darshan today, reports said. “There is a heavy rush of pilgrims and long queues are seen in the cave area,” an official said on phone from the cave. More than 15,000 pilgrims had darshan by this afternoon, he said, adding that the darshan beginning around 6 am continues till late in the evenings. Meanwhile, fresh batches of pilgrims started the yatra from the base camps of Pahalgam (Nunwan) and Baltal today. At least 6,944 pilgrims started the yatra from Baltal this morning. Problem of
missing yatris The Amarnath cave shrine area presents a festive scene with over 20,000 pilgrims reaching here every day. Repeated announcements are being made from the public address system for the pilgrims. These announcements usually relate to the missing and tracing of pilgrims. “This is because of lack of communication among pilgrims of a group,” said an official. Most of the mobile phones from outside the Valley do not function due to lack of network coverage in the area. In order to avoid this problem, the BSNL has provided the facility of pre-paid SIM cards for the yatris at Pahalgam and Baltal base camps, which have a validity of four days during which the yatra is completed. “Many people (pilgrims) are not aware of this facility,” an official said, adding that the lack of communication between members of different groups leads to the problem of “missing” of some members from their respective groups. However, an official of the BSNL said that so far 1,200 SIM cards had been issued to the pilgrims from the Pahalgam base camp during the first four days of the yatra. These SIM cards are issued to the yatris with valid yatra permits, proof of address and proof of identity. “It remains functional for four days and automatically gets cut off after the period of validity,” said the official. |
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Governor visits gutted Sufi shrine
Srinagar, June 28 Expressing sadness over the unfortunate incident, the Governor hoped that the reconstruction work would commence at the earliest to restore the revered and historical shrine to its pristine glory. The Sufi shrine was destroyed in a fire incident on Monday. While interacting with Sajada Nasheen (caretaker) of the shrine Khalid Hussain Jeelani, the Governor expressed relief that the holy relics kept at the shrine were safe and secure. During his visit, the BJP spokesperson said his party “rejected” the government probe initiated into the incident. An impartial probe should be initiated instead, Javadekar added. He was accompanied by Altaf Thakur, general secretary of the BJP’s Srinagar district body. Mir, who is also the president of the Democratic Party of Nationalist, appealed the people to maintain peace and amity. He hailed the efforts of the Sajada Nasheen and others for displaying courage and protecting the sacred relics of the shrine. Mehbooba, too, paid obeisance at the shrine and later visited the residence of the Sajada Nasheen. |
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Old Srinagar still tense
Srinagar, June 28 While the city centre Lal Chowk and adjoining areas remained shut for the fourth consecutive day, the shutdown call of Kashmir’s Grand Mufti, Bashiruddin Ahmad, evoked partial response in the Civil Lines area of the city. The government had imposed restrictions under Section 144 on the movement of public and transport in the jurisdiction of six police stations of the old city areas following the gutting of the Sufi shrine on Monday. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, however, defended the restrictions, saying the same had to be imposed due to stone-pelting incidents. “Why don't you blame the stone pelters? If I was so keen to "curfew you" I'd have done it without the stone throwing,” Omar wrote on a micro-blogging website after he was questioned over the imposition of curfew-like restrictions. The restrictions are likely to continue tomorrow as well as the Grand Mufti has called for “Khanyar chalo” in the morning. Even as 20 persons, including 10 policemen, had been injured in clashes on Monday after the Sufi shrine was gutted, the police managed to curb stone-pelting incidents through stringent restrictions in the old city areas. The police has also launched a crackdown on the youth allegedly involved in stone-pelting incidents in the old city areas. Confirming that the police had arrested some youth, Inspector-General of Police Kashmir SM Sahai said: “There have definitely been some arrests and anyone who takes law in his hands, the law will take its course.” Meanwhile, six persons were arrested in Kupwara district of north Kashmir for allegedly vandalising a private car. A police spokesman said six persons were held at Armpora in Kupwara after they had damaged a car by pelting stones at the vehicle. |
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State to get six mobile forensic units
Srinagar, June 28 The minister said District Mobile Forensic Units (DMFU) would be established for speeding up the investigations. “Six DMFUs would be established in J&K alone. Besides, six new Regional Forensic Science Laboratories and 52 DMFUs would be established in different states across the country under the proposal,” Singh said while speaking at the valedictory function of the three-day All-India Forensic Sciences Conference in Srinagar. The conference was organised by Directorate of Forensic Sciences Service, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, in collaboration with Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratory, J&K. Over 200 delegates from across the country and abroad participated in the conference. Elaborating the role of forensic science in the investigation of serious crimes, Singh said it has changed the world of investigation and justice. “The forensic science has been constantly developing new techniques and theories in the field of investigation and justice. The forensic science forms an important factor in the investigation, court process and security levels,” the minister said. He said the scientists and professionals in the forensic
science have to bring innovations to meet the challenges. J&K Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani, Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser, Union Ministry of Home Affairs SC Panda, Director-cum-Chief Forensic Scientist, Directorate Forensic Science Services C N Bhattacharayya also spoke on the occasion. — TNS
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HC’s new step to speed up disposal of cases
Chandigarh, June 28 Available information suggests just one of the two judges hearing the cases will change, instead of both, as the new roster of duties comes into force. The cases are placed before the Benches after being categorised in accordance with their nature. For example, a petition filed in public interest on environment and related issues will be placed before the “Green Bench”. Similarly, a case involving the commission of a criminal offence will be placed before the Bench or Benches dealing with criminal matters. Petitions pertaining to service conditions will again be heard by the Bench hearing service matters. A case remains before the same Bench even as the judges change; and moves from one court to another as the roster changes. For instance, a criminal case will still be heard by the “Criminal Bench”, even as the judges hearing the case may shift over to “Civil Benches” and new judges take their place. In the process, the continuity in hearing is lost. The judges, who have heard a particular case for six months, may find themselves shifted to another Bench. And, the judges replacing them may find themselves beginning from the scratch. The judges sometimes avoid the wastage of time and effort by placing a case under the category of “part heard”, where it remains before them even as the roster changes. But the practice is an exception, rather than a rule. The new initiative of retaining one of the two judges has been taken by the Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Justice MM Kumar, and is expected to ensure expeditious disposal of cases. The retained judge will be familiar with the facts and circumstances of the case and won’t have to begin all over again. The scheme, is rather, one of the first steps taken by Justice Kumar after taking over as the Chief Justice about a fortnight ago. |
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Zero Line (Chamliyal), June 28
Srinagar, June 28
