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Oil tanker drivers go on indefinite strike
report on Unmarked graves
Submit reports by July 7, SHRC tells officers
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Restore J&K’s internal autonomy, NC urges PM
Devotees being fleeced by vendors
Students clash with police, 12 hurt
Cross-LoC trade resumes after 2 weeks
‘Labourer’s family not paraded naked’
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Oil tanker drivers go on indefinite strike
Jammu, July 3 The union is demanding action against those involved in the death of the tanker driver. It has also sought action against the SHO, Pulwama, alleging that the officer had tried to shield the culprits. Reports said Akshay Kumar, hailing from Nowshera in Rajouri district, had driven a diesel tanker to Srinagar on June 21. On June 22, he reached the Jawahar tunnel, where he gave a lift to two unknown persons, who were posing as truck drivers. Devinder Singh, secretary of the union, told The Tribune, “Akshay told one of the drivers on the phone that he gave a lift to two truck drivers, who were stuck due to some snag in their vehicle.” “However, a few days later, his body was found with his throat slit,” said Devinder Singh. He said the two persons left Akshay’s body half buried in the Qazikund area and fled to Pulwama, about 37 km from Srinagar, along with the tanker. “They tried to sell the oil at a petrol pump. By then two more had joined them. Three of them were arrested after the petrol pump owner called the police. However, one of them managed to flee the spot. The police has also impounded an Alto car in this connection,” he added. Surinder Singh, the owner of the tanker, who hails from Nanak Nagar, Jammu, went to lodge a police report. However, the Pulwama police accused him of being involved and did not cooperate, Devinder Singh alleged. He said Akshay's body was found buried in the Qazigund area, over 90 km from Srinagar, on June 30. “We recovered the body and handed it over to Akshay's family. He was cremated on Tuesday. Now, we are demanding compensation for the bereaved family, a government job for one family member and stern action against the culprits and the SHO, Pulwama,” he added. Devinder Singh said there was a feeling of insecurity among them and they could not work in such conditions. “The Amarnath yatra is at its peak. Our strike will affect the smooth conduct of the yatra. However, the incident has left us with no other option. We will not end our strike until our demands are met,” said Devinder Singh. There are over 1,700 oil tankers in the state, which cater to the petrol, diesel and kerosene needs of the state. |
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report on Unmarked graves
Srinagar, July 3 “Since 1990, 3,431 militants have been killed in the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri and among them 2,080 were unidentified foreign militants,” said a report submitted to the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) by the Home Department. The report further revealed that as many as 1,486 foreign militants were buried in Poonch while 594 were buried in Rajouri. The SHRC is hearing a petition filed by the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) which had said there were nearly 4,000 unmarked graves in Poonch and Rajouri districts. The SHRC after admitting the application in September last year had directed the J&K government to submit a report on the same. The government report said that foreign militants who were killed in various encounters were categorised as unidentified militants. “The identity of foreign militants has always remained a problem. The bodies of local slain militants were handed over to their kin for final rites,” the report read. “And in such cases where identity could not be established, their bodies were handed over to local Auqaf who carried out burials as per religious rites,” it added. The report said the police could not prepare and maintain the identification profile of these slain militants as they were operating in areas other than their natural places and they were working under different code names. The Chief Prosecuting Officer informed the Commission that the Director General of Police, J&K, would file a separate report about the unmarked graves and the report submitted by the Under Secretary to the government, Home Department, should not taken as a report on his behalf. The SHRC directed the CPO to ensure the submission of the report from the DGP by or before the next date of hearing. However, the Commission is yet to get a report from the Rajouri Deputy Commissioner on unmarked graves. The SHRC issued fresh reminder to Rajouri DC for the submission of the report. The case has been listed for August 7. HIGHLIGHTS
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Kidnap & Murder of Foreign Tourists
Srinagar, July 3 The administrative officer of the SHRC was also asked by the commission to issue fresh reminders to Akali leader and former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, PS Gill and SSP Ashkoor Wani, at present SSP, Udampur, against whom there are some personal allegations. Gill was the IGP, Kashmir, at the time when the kidnapping of four foreign tourists took place. “The administrative officer will write fresh reminders to PS Gill and Ashkoor Wani informing them that in case their personal responses are not received by the commission by the next date of hearing, adverse inference in the matter will be drawn against them,” a double bench of the State Human Rights Commission said while hearing a petition filed by the International People’s Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice (IPTHRJ) and the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP). The petition seeks a “comprehensive investigation” and directions to the government to make public the findings of the investigation into the kidnapping of four foreigners and their subsequent killing by the Al-Faran militant group in Pahalgam. The Chief Prosecuting Officer informed the commission that he had written to the officers concerned. However, until now he had not received any reports either from the the DGP, the IGP, Crime, Jammu and Kashmir, or the Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag. These officials were asked on April 17 to submit all details pertaining to the case. The State Human Rights Commission also directed that the IG, Crime, be informed that in case the investigation file is not received by the commission by the next date of hearing, coercive orders would be passed. The case was later adjourned and has been listed for July 7. A PEEP INTO THE CASE
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Restore J&K’s internal autonomy, NC urges PM
Srinagar, July 3 During a party meet held here, Additional General Secretary of the NC, Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, said it would be for the best interests of both the state and Centre to implement the recommendation of the working group. “The autonomy document has become a legal document now. It has been recommended and passed by the state legislature. It is time New Delhi should adopt a path of reaching out to people of the state by endorsing the demand of the national Conference,” Kamal said. Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Rural Development, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Sagar said, “Restoration of autonomy is not only a demand but also a mission for which our leadership and workers have given countless sacrifices.” Other leaders present on the occasion also demanded the restoration of 1953 position. “The resolve of the party is rock- strong and we will never compromise on the autonomy document. The document is the lifeline of the party. It has been endorsed by people of all the regions of the state,” the NC spokesman said. —
TNS
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Devotees being fleeced by vendors
Jammu, July 3 “Elaborate arrangements have been made by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) for the smooth conduct of the holy pilgrimage like organising langars. However, we are being overcharged, which has affected our budget,” said Arvind Jamwal, a pilgrim from Chandigarh. “Our budget got disturbed right at the Jammu bus stand where taxi operators are taking full advantage of the heavy rush,” said Mohan Lal from Delhi. “There is no check by the authorities on these taxi operators in Jammu, who are actually misleading the pilgrims,” he added. “Both the SASB and various committees organising langars at the Baltal base camp have done a commendable job. However, en route the holy cave, vendors are charging so much for drinking water and other eatables that it is not affordable for pilgrims who came with a limited budget,” said another pilgrim, Pawan Chabra from Ludhiana. “What to talk of taking lunch. You find it difficult to purchase even packaged drinking water, for a bottle of which Rs 50 is being charged,” alleged another pilgrim, Sanjay Pathak from Rajasthan. “After paying obeisance at the holy cave shrine, pilgrims want to visit other tourist destinations in the Valley. However, the practice of overcharging has left us with no option but to return to our home,” Rajeev Saxena from Nainital said. Meanwhile, devotees organising langars for Amarnath pilgrims have expressed concern over the alleged shortage of LPG cylinders. “We had informed the agencies in advance about our requirement for LPG cylinders. However, the non-availability of cylinders is a major concern for us,” said one of the members of the langar organising committee. “If the present scenario continues for a few more days, I am afraid we will not be able to organise langar for too long,” he added. |
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Governor reviews yatra arrangements
Srinagar, July 3 The Governor paid obeisance at the shrine and reviewed the arrangements, particularly the queue system, made for the yatris to have darshan. At the crucial Sheshnag camp, he held discussions with the camp sirector, additional camp directors and senior Army officers. Thereafter, he proceeded to review the arrangements at the Panjtarni, the holy cave, and the Baltal and Domel camps. The Governor asked the camp directors and their staff to ensure effective sanitation and cleanliness. He particularly asked those running langars to ensure hygiene around their premises. He asked the camp directors to ensure that garbage was collected several times during the day and transported to the designated dumping sites.
— TNS |
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Students clash with police, 12 hurt
Srinagar, July 3 Sources said Principal Roshan Ara had allegedly beaten up a girl for not adhering to the dress code. Following this students threw stones at the college building. They then staged a protest at the Deputy Commissioner’s office and later at Beehama Main Chowk. As the police tried to disperse the protesting students, clashes followed. The students reportedly started throwing stones, following which the police resorted to a lathicharge in which 12 persons, including four policemen, got injured, eyewitnesses said. Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, Showkat Ahmad Mir said, “The Principal had instructed the students to wear the uniform and refrain from wearing T-shirts, sandals and sports shoes. She was only trying to implement the dress code.” The police said the agitated students, incited by some unscrupulous elements, had damaged the windowpanes of the college building and also the DC’s office. Defending the police action against the protesters, Mir said after protesting at the college and the DC’s office, they tried to go to the main road and target buses ferrying Amarnath yatra pilgrims. The situation was under control, the police added. |
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Cross-LoC trade resumes after 2 weeks
Poonch, July 3 The Poonch-Rawlakote trade was suspended after firing took place on LoC which killed two Indian soldiers and injured five others in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch. The Pakistan- occupied-Kashmir (PoK) authorities had refused to open the gates on LoC for the Poonch-Rawlakote bus service and also the trade between two sides alleging they suffered heavy losses in the cross firing, sources said. Sources added to defuse the tension on the LoC, the armies from both sides convened a flag meeting there and had agreed to open the gates for the smooth conduct of trade and bus service a few days back. On Monday, 90 passengers crossed sides via Rah-e-Milan bus service. Only four freshers from this side went to the PoK to meet their relatives whereas 41 stranded PoK nationals returned back.
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‘Labourer’s family not paraded naked’
Srinagar, July 3 On June 28, a case was registered at the Chadoora police station against sarpanch Aslam Khan, who owes allegiance to the ruling National Conference (NC), and 14 others for rioting and attempting to outrage the modesty of women. The case was registered on the complaint of 39-year-old Abdul Majeed of Kotabal village in Budgam. “The investigation so far in the case has revealed that the family of the complainant was not paraded naked in the village. There was no confirmation that the sarpach had urinated on the labourer either,” the Budgam SSP Uttam Chand said. “Majeed’s relatives used to file RTIs in various departments to know about the works that had been done by the sarpanch in the village under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and other schemes,” sources said.
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