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Amarnath
Pilgrimage
Govt takes note of fake health certificates
Police played vital role in maintaining peace: Minister
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Hizb-ul-Islami militant held with wife, 3 kids
Army ensures zero infiltration along LoC in Jammu
Guv, CM extend Ramadan greetings
Cultural show brings Pandit, Muslim children together
Doctors call off strike at SKIMS
NCC provides opportunity to youth to serve country: Governor
Calls for showcasing cultural heritage of J-K
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Amarnath Pilgrimage
New Delhi, July 20 A bench comprising Justices BS Chauhan and Swatanter Kumar passed the order after taking suo motu notice of media reports on the casualties. Besides Vohra, who is also Chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), the committee includes the secretaries of the Union Ministries of Environment and Forest, Home and Health and the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir. The state Chief Secretary will be the nodal officer for making arrangements for the committee’s meetings and submitting the recommendations to the SC. The other members of the committee are the DGPs of Jammu and Kashmir, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF) and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), besides the state’s Home Secretary and Public Works Department (PWD) Secretary. The bench asked the panel, to be known as Special High Powered Committee (SHPC),to send a team to visit the area and submit its suggestions in the form of a report that would enable the SC to pass appropriate directions. All this would ensure that the next yatra was less hazardous and appropriately managed, at least with basic human facilities being available to the yatris, the bench said. The report should cover the following aspects:
The SC bench said the committee should visit the site during the current period, prior to the closure of passage to the holy cave. The casualties were mainly due to the sub-zero temperatures at the very high altitude and the narrow and slippery path between the base camp at Panchtarni and the cave shrine, the bench noted. Also, the pilgrims were being provided with tents made of plastic sheets that did not adequately protect them from the freezing cold. There was need for making separate paths for the horses and pedestrians. Further, the facilities for proper health check-ups were necessary along the way to the shrine in order to minimise the deaths, the bench felt.
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Govt takes note of fake health certificates
Srinagar, July 20 At the holy cave shrine, a total of 17 deaths have taken place due to cold weather conditions and high altitude between June 26 and July 16, official sources said. The yatra began on June 25 via both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes. It will conclude on ‘Shravan Poornima’ coinciding with Raksha Bandhan. The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, which looks after the affairs of the annual pilgrimage, in its advisories to intending pilgrims had made it mandatory to have a medical fitness certificate. It has also been repeating its do’s and don’ts for the safety of the pilgrims in view of the cold conditions at the high altitudes in the holy cave area. These advisories were repeated a number of times in view of 107 pilgrim deaths during the yatra
last year. The state had conveyed to the governments of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat in December last year that the pilgrims from these states were not adhering to do’s and don’ts to be followed during
the yatra. “Most of the people who died were elders and patients, who could not tolerate harsh weather conditions and high altitude,” said the Health Department. It has noted that most of the dead were ill prepared in terms of clothing. |
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Police played vital role in maintaining peace: Minister
Srinagar, July 20 “The J&K Police is fully geared up to face the challenges and the force has successfully dealt with various challenges after giving supreme sacrifices of its jawans and officers,” the Minister said while addressing a passing-out parade at the Commando Training Centre, Lethpora, Pulwama, in south Kashmir today. “The police has got acclaim at the national-level for its prime role in restoring peace in the state. It has to increase its proficiency at various fronts of policing to strengthen the image of the organisation,” Wani said. The Minister said he was impressed to witness the performance of the recruits at the passing-out parade. “There is a need to strengthen training skills of police personnel to face new challenges. The training courses should be oriented to tackle cyber crimes and latest techniques of criminals,” he said. The Minister said the training imparted to the recruits in handling and operating the latest equipment would help them in curbing the activities of criminals. “The recruits should adopt people-friendly behaviour while performing in the field, as the police is the first responder to any situation caused due to natural or man-made calamities,” Wani said. In his welcome address, DGP K Rajendra Kumar said the training centre was primarily established in 2006 for imparting training in various modern disciplines, including commando training to policemen, for enhancing their abilities to deal with the security situations. “937 recruits have undergone basic training with special emphasis on commando and tactics. During the period, the recruits have been deployed for law and order duties, which helped them to develop vigour and aptitude at the time of crisis,” Kumar said. At the passing-out parade, recruit constable Jehangir Ahmed Darzi was declared the all-round best trainee and was given one rank promotion as a selection grade constable on the spot. Other trainees, who performed well during the training period included Bilal Ahmed, Nazir Ahmed, Parvaiz Ahmed and Safeer Ahmed. They were given cash rewards by the Minister. |
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Hizb-ul-Islami militant held with wife, 3 kids
Poonch, July 20 During preliminary investigations, Sarfraz has revealed that he crossed over to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in 1999 via Chambar Kanari, Sabjian, in Poonch with 20 to 25 militants for arms training in PoK and later joined the Hizb-ul-Islami outfit. He also got training in Kotli under the Pir Panjal regiment. He returned to Poonch district in 2000 and remained operational for about 16 months. He went back to PoK in 2004 with a local girl of his native Hari Safeda village. He has three children from his wife Akhter. The children have been identified as Mujtaba, Tabinda and Asad. Sarfaraz was working as an assistant with a local property dealer in Kotli in PoK and was in regular touch with his family at Hari Safeda, Surankote, telephonically, the SP said. The police had specific information that Sarfraz had managed to get a passport in PoK and was returning to Jammu and Kashmir via Nepal. After giving a slip to the Jammu and Rajouri police, he reached Bhimbar Gali and was trapped in a naka laid by the Gursai police under the supervision of ASP Yougal Manhas and SDPO, Mendhar, Amit Bhasin, the
SP said. He reached Kathmandu via Karachi on July 16 and entered India via Gorakhpur on the Nepal-Uttar Pradesh border. He boarded a TATA Sumo and was on way to his residence when he was nabbed by a police party headed by SHO, Gursai, Harmohinder Singh, sources said. A case under the 3 Enemy Agent Ordinance Act has been registered in the Gursai police station and investigations are on, said the SP. A source said, “During preliminary investigations, Sarfraz revealed that a majority of local militants want to return except for those who have got married in PoK.” “When we came to know from our relative, who had come from PoK via Chakan-da-Bagh, that Sarfraz is alive and wants to return to Poonch, we applied for his return. We are happy now,” said Khaliq, Sarfraz’s elder brother. |
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Army ensures zero infiltration along LoC in Jammu
Jammu, July 20 The Army had maintained zero infiltration along the LoC in the Jammu region last year as well. “However, maintaining the tempo was not an easy affair. This year our hostile neighbour has so far violated the ceasefire agreement 17 times and there had been nine attempts by the armed terrorists to infiltrate into the state from different places along the 224.5-km-long LoC in the Jammu region,” said a senior Army officer. He also recalled major ceasefire violations by the Pakistan Army in the Krishna Ghati sector recently, which resulted in the death of two troopers - BSF jawan PK Mishra and Lance Naik Harvinder Singh. Four soldiers were also injured in the firing. The summer, when the snow melts in mountain passes, usually sees a spurt in intrusion attempts by Pakistani militants along the rugged and difficult terrain of the LoC. Learning lessons from past experiences, the Army this year has strengthened its multi-tier security grid all along the LoC in the Jammu region. “Adequate measures in the form of fence, flood lights, sensors, night vision devices, sniffer dogs, ambushes and 24x7 patrolling have been put in place at vulnerable stretches along the LoC. Depending upon intelligence inputs, we keep changing our strategy,” the Army officer said. The officer divulged that latest inputs suggest the presence of over 300 militants in various launch pads on the other side of the LoC. “Peace by and large is prevailing across the Jammu region and we would like to maintain the tempo. A handful of militants, particularly in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, are being hunted relentlessly,” he said. |
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Guv, CM extend Ramadan greetings
Srinagar, July 20 The Governor hoped that the auspicious occasion would be a harbinger of sustained peace, amity, communal harmony, brotherhood, progress and prosperity in the state. “The holy month of Ramadan is a period dedicated to fasting, service and prayers. It highlights the values of patience, self-restraint, tolerance and austerity, which promote feelings of compassion and respect for others,” the Governor said. The Chief Minister said the holy month provides an occasion to seek Allah’s munificence and forgiveness.
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Cultural show brings Pandit, Muslim children together
Srinagar, July 20 Therefore, an attempt was made to familiarise Pandit children and youth, who were born in migrant camps in Jammu, about Kashmir’s secular ethos through theatre. The first show, “Salaam Mahara”, a musical and theatrical presentation, was staged here yesterday evening. The performances were presented jointly by the migrant Pandits and local Muslim children and youth in the age group of six to 20. “We held the show just before the fasting month of Ramadan, as we felt it is an auspicious occasion to start holding the performances that are aimed at reminding the children about the strong communal bonding and the rich Kashmiri culture. During Ramadan, we will hold performances in migrant camps (in Jammu) and then across Kashmir after Eid,” said Dr Amit Wanchoo, CEO of the Space Communications, which organised the performance. The name of the play epitomises the age-old bonding between Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims. While “salaam (meaning peace)” is the Muslim way of greeting, “mahara” is added to the word as a mark of respect. The word, used by the Pandits in their daily conversations, is spoken by Muslims only when they talk to the Pandits. “I remember my grandfather’s Muslim friends always used to greet him with salaam mahara,” Dr Amit told The Tribune. Yesterday’s performance was widely appreciated. After watching the musical play, Governor NN Vohra stressed on the importance of showcasing the glorious composite cultural heritage of the state which “spreads the message of peace, harmony, brotherhood and secular ethos”. He congratulated Dr Amit and the director of the play Kishen Ganjoo of Gul Gulshan Gulfam fame. Governor’s wife Usha Vohra, Minister for Tourism and Culture Nawang Rigzin Jora and Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir were present on the occasion. “The presentation has fully demonstrated that we all are united and no one can divide us,” Mir said after the performance. The play commenced with Lal Vaakh, rendering of the poetry of mystic poet Lal Ded, revered by both Muslims and Pandits. It also showcased the rich Kashmiri culture through poetry, traditional dances and conventional wedding and scenes from other functions, which were once jointly attended by both the communities. |
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Doctors call off strike at SKIMS
Srinagar, July 20 The Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) at the SKIMS called off their strike late last night, following which normal work resumed at the hospital. The RDA had started its strike on Monday, which was triggered by an altercation between two doctors and the hospital security staff over car parking on Friday last week. Following the incident, the RDA registered an FIR against the two employees of the hospital, alleging that they had roughed up two doctors. However, a counter FIR was also registered against the doctors later. The doctors were also accused of beating up the security staff. While the SKIMS administration on Tuesday filed a chargesheet against the two employees, who were accused of beating up the doctors, the Non-Gazetted Employees’ Association (NGEA) and the paramedical staff of the institute suspended work demanding rollback of orders. The NGEA and the paramedical staff too observed a strike on Wednesday. In the entire process, the healthcare facilities barring the emergency services were severely affected. RDA president Dr Asif Meraj told the Tribune that they had called off their strike after being assured by the SKIMS administration that an inquiry would be conducted into the incident. A police team and senior SKIMS officials arranged a meeting between the two dissident groups, following which they signed an MOU where they decided to withdraw their respective FIRs. |
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NCC provides opportunity to youth to serve country: Governor
Srinagar, July 20 The Governor said the NCC provided an excellent opportunity to youth to work together and serve as a disciplined element of the country, besides strengthening the bonds of national integration and brotherhood. “The strength of this national organisation has grown over the years, but considering the strength of our youth and the size of our country, the total strength of the NCC should have been much larger,”
he said. Vohra, however, expressed satisfaction that two lakh youth had been brought within the fold of the NCC. The Governor was presented the guard of honour by NCC cadets. In his welcome address, Additional Director General, NCC, Jammu and Kashmir Directorate, Maj Gen NS Jamwal gave a resume of the aims and objectives of the camp. Jamwal said the focus in the state was to expand the NCC network to the remotest and border areas like Poonch, Teethwal, Nubra, Kishtwar and Doda. He said three more NCC units would be raised in the state, including one at Leh in the Ladakh region. Calls for showcasing cultural heritage of J-K
Srinagar, July 20 He was addressing a gathering after witnessing “Salaam Mahara”, a musical and theatrical presentation by young Kashmiri artists, at the Sheri-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), yesterday evening. The event was organised by the Space Communications, an event management company of the state, showcasing the Kashmiri culture and spirit of Kashmiriyat. Referring to “Salaam Mahara”, the Governor lauded the performance of the young artists and said the presentations of the programme should be made at various places in the state. He particularly referred to “Mashaal”, the last item of the programme, and stressed the importance of strengthening the bonds of communal harmony and brotherhood. He congratulated CEO of the Space Communications Amit Wanchoo, Director of “Salaam Mahara” Kishen Ganjoo, Imran Sheikh and all those associated with the programme.
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The Supreme Court today set up a high-power committee headed by Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra to suggest steps for preventing the growing number of casualties among the pilgrims.
Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani today said the state police has a pivotal role to play in maintaining lasting peace and order in the state. He credited the police for bringing peace in the state.
The Poonch police arrested a local Hizb-ul-Islami militant at Bhimbar Gali when he was trying to sneak into Poonch district last night. He was accompanied by his wife and three children.
SP, Poonch, Shamsheer Hussain told mediapersons at Police Headquarters, Poonch, that the arrested militant had been identified as Sarfraz
Hussain, a resident of Hari Safeda village, Surankote.
After the migration of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley in early 1990s, children of the minority community born outside Kashmir were brought up in a different culture. They know little about the bonds of communal harmony and brotherhood that existed in Kashmir before the eruption of militancy.
