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Valley soaked in patriotic hues despite separatists’ bandh call
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independence-Day address
Voices against terrorism get louder in Pak-occupied Kashmir
Machil encounter case
Police told to disclose details of encounters since 1989
CRPF inducts 373 constables
Protest held against atrocities on minorities in Pakistan
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Valley soaked in patriotic hues despite separatists’ bandh call
Srinagar, August 16 While Chief Minister Omar Abdullah unfurled the National Flag at the main function held at the Bakshi stadium in Srinagar, various ministers and legislators unfurled the Triclour at different district headquarters. A large number of security personnel were deployed for the Independence Day celebrations to take place peacefully. The celebrations were held at all the 10 district headquarters of the Kashmir valley and two districts of Leh and Kargil in the Ladakh region, where ministers unfurled the Tricolor and took salute at the march past which comprise contingents of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police, Central Reserve Police Force, Home Guards, National Cadet Corps, Border Security Force, Fire and Emergency Services, Forest Protection Force and students of various educational institutions. At Budgam, the Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Abdul Rahim Rather, unfurled the Tricolour and took salute on the march past. Rather paid tributes to the leaders and freedom fighters who have made sacrifices to liberate the nation from British rule. Rather said their sacrifices laid a strong edifice of secularism and socialism in the country which gave us the freedom to walk free and fearless. He called for self-introspection to analyse the contribution each one of us has made to protect this hard-earned Independence and dwell upon what needs to be done to protect the sovereignty and integrity of the country. Though the Eid-related shopping had picked up during the last one week, most of the shops and business establishments remained closed on Wednesday in response to the call for bandh by separatists. Little transport plied in the Valley. However, the hustle and bustle returned today with the shoppers thronging the markets to gear up for the festivities. I-Day cheer
in Jammu
Calling upon people to strengthen democracy and work for the development of the state, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, who unfurled the Tricolour on Independence Day here said the young generation should always remember the sacrifices made by the freedom fighters. Tara Chand, who took the salute at the parade in the Mini-stadium on the 66th Independence Day, highlighted the measures taken by the coalition government for achieving the developmental targets. The Deputy Chief Minister highlighted the achievements of the coalition government and said in the past four years, a number of steps were taken to combat corruption and speed up developmental works. "In order to strengthen the anti-corruption mechanism, the Accountability Commission has been made functional and the process of constitution of the State Vigilance Commission is also under progress,” said Chand. A cultural function was also organised on the occasion in which a number of students from various schools and educational institutions participated. While the Minister for Medical Education, RS Chib, hoisted the Tricolour in Udhampur, the Minister for Revenue, Raman Bhalla, unfurled the National Flag in Poonch. Speaking at a celebratory function in Rajouri, the Minister for Health and Horticulture, Sham Lal Sharma, remembered freedom fighters who laid down their lives in pursuit of freedom. The Independence Day functions were also held at the other district and tehsil headquarters in the region.
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independence-Day address
Srinagar, August 16 Omar said he had talked about the gradual removal of the AFSPA from some areas in his speech in the Legislative Assembly and was continuously advocating for its revocation from areas where it was not needed. This he said while addressing the Independence Day function at the Bakshi stadium here yesterday. In his yet another call to leaders possessing varied political views (separatists) vis-à-vis mainstream parties, Omar asked them to utilise the prevailing favourable atmosphere and discuss their viewpoint across the table. He said the Kashmir issue had a political genesis and it required a political methodology for effective addressing through a sustained dialogue process. “Let you come forward and talk for achieving a breakthrough on the table, which the gun could not deliver in 20 years,” he told them, asking for their positive contribution in seeking peace and prosperity for the state and its people. The Chief Minister said gun or money could never solve the issue. “A dialogue process is the only way forward to address it effectively and meaningfully,” he added. He said he had been advocating this necessity throughout. “On this rostrum, I once again underline the need for the political addressing of the issue,” he said and made an earnest appeal to the leaders with different viewpoint (separatists) to get engaged in the dialogue process for the larger interest of the people and the state. Omar said the graph of violence had shown a considerable dip since some years in the state. He said as against 370 violence incidents in 2010, the militancy-related incidents in 2011 were 190 and in 2012 these were only 90 incidents. He said civilian killings in the militancy-related incidents in 2010 were 50, 31 in 2011 and eight in 2012. He said 70 security personnel were killed in 2010, 33 were killed in 2011 and seven in 2012. The Chief Minister said the improvement in the situation and restoration of peace in the state after over 22 years was an achievement worth to reckon. He said the peaceful situation had helped in fast-track development across the state. |
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‘Shab-e-Qadr’ celebrated with fervour across Kashmir
Srinagar, August 16 Devotees thronged mosques and shrines last night and remained engrossed in prayers and supplications till dawn. The largest gatherings were held at the historic Jamia Masjid in the old city and the Hazratbal shrine on the banks of the Dal Lake. The areas around Jamia Masjid and Hazratbal shrine, which houses the holy relic of Prophet Muhammad, wore a festive look. The mosque and shrine premises were decorated with colourful lights and a large number of stalls, selling eatables and other goods had been set up on the occasion. Vice-chairman of the Waqf Board, which looks after the shrines and mosques, MY Qadri said they had to place additional tents outside the Hazratbal shrine to accommodate the heavy rush of devotees. He said the prayers and supplications were held with fervour despite drizzle in the area. Chairman of the moderate Hurriyat faction Mirwaiz Umar Farooq delivered a sermon at the Jamia Masjid, where he threw light on the significance of the holy night. Shab-e-Qadr is also called ‘Laylat-ul-Qadr’ and according to the Muslim tradition it usually falls on the 27th night of Ramadan. However, scholars say it can also fall on any odd night of the last 10 days of the fasting month. Keeping in view the sanctity of the night, many Muslims engage in nightlong prayers during all the odd nights of Ramadan. Many people go for a 10-day-long ‘chilla’ (retreat) where they spend the last period of Ramadan in mosques and shrines and do not venture out. Guv, CM extend greetings
Srinagar: Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah felicitated people of the state on Shab-e-Qadr. The Governor hoped that the auspicious occasion would further strengthen the bonds of communal harmony and brotherhood and usher the state into a period of sustained peace, progress and prosperity. He prayed for the well-being of the people of the state. The Chief Minister said the holy occasion provided an opportunity to devotees to spend the night in prayers and seek forgiveness and blessings from Allah. Omar prayed for prosperity and peace in the state while expressing the hope that the holy night would bring Allah’s munificence to all. |
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After offering sweets, Pak opens fire along LoC posts
Jammu, August 16 “Around 8.20 pm last night, Pakistani troops opened unprovoked fire in the Krishna Ghati (KG) sector targeting the Nangi Tekri, Kirpan, Kranti and Ghora posts. They used small arms fire compelling us to give them a calibrated response,” said an Army officer. The intermittent fire lasted till 10 pm before guns on both sides fell silent, he said. However, there were no casualties or injuries on the Indian side. Both on August 14 (Pakistan’s I-Day) and 15, Pakistani officers had offered sweets and fruits to Indian Army officers at the Chakan-da-Bagh and Roshini posts along the LoC. Earlier during the day, the Rangers had opened unprovoked fire in the Hiranagar sector along the international border. “Around 3.30 pm yesterday, the Rangers opened small arms fire at our Pansar post inviting adequate response from us,” said a senior BSF officer. The fire continued till 5.30 pm. However, sources said the Rangers continued firing at the Indian posts of Pansar and Rathua till 6.30 pm and as a result over a dozen villagers, who had gone to their fields on the other side of the fence, were trapped in the firing. In the morning, the Rangers had exchanged sweets with BSF officers at an Octroi Post in the RS Pura sector. The Commanding Officer of the 135 Battalion of the BSF, Jameel Ahmad, and Rangers’ Wing Commander Qaiser Mehmood along with other officials had joined the celebrations. A few days ago, the Rangers had targeted the Pansar post injuring two BSF troopers. The BSF had lodged a strong protest with the Rangers over the firing. In the past 11 days, the Rangers have thrice violated the ceasefire in the Arnia and Pansar areas along the international border. On July 28, the BSF had detected a 500-metre transborder tunnel at Chalyari in the Samba sector and since then there has been a spurt in truce violations by the Rangers. Yesterday at the Chakan-da-Bagh crossing point, Major Umar Gul, Major Tanveer Ahmad and Captain Shakoor Wani represented the Pakistan army while Major S Manhas and Major S S Sehgal took part in the I-Day celebrations from the Indian side.
Recent truce violations
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Voices against terrorism get louder in Pak-occupied Kashmir
Jammu, August 16 “It has not happened for the first time in Neelum Valley. There have been similar protests in the past and even last year when women had hit the streets in protest against terrorists,” said a top Army source. “Our inputs say even today the valley has 400 terrorists in various terror camps. They are either men from Pakistan’s Punjab province with affiliation to the LeT or foreign mercenaries,” added the source. He said these terrorists were creating all sorts of problems for residents of Neelum Valley. “The people there had earlier met senior bureaucrats of the administration and had then also called on the Prime Minister but the terrorist activity still goes on unabated, which has started backfiring on them,” said the source. The civil administration in PoK has no control over terror groups, which are being controlled by the Pakistani army and the ISI, he added. “Unless and until the civil administration takes control of the Pakistani army and the ISI, entire Pakistan will remain embroiled in terror,” he said. The source disclosed that of late Pakistan had shifted around 300 terrorists from Muzaffarabad division to Mirpur division, south of the Pir Panjal range. Reports from PoK stated that on August 5 when the people had staged a protest against militant activities in Neelum Valley, some women had also approached Pakistani army officers in Athmuqam - district headquarters of the Valley. The women had asked the officers to stop pushing militants to Jammu and Kashmir. Locals reportedly expressed the apprehension that activities of some outlawed Islamic groups in the valley may trigger retaliatory fire from the Indian side. Neelum Valley lies close to the Line of Control. Reports that emanated from the valley also stated that after confronting furious locals during a recent meeting, ISI officials had said that requisite measures would be taken against militants to avoid any possible tension with the Indian Army. Following 9/11, Pakistan had banned several radical outfits, including the LeT, which, however, continues to operate under the
garb of Hafiz Saeed’s Jamaat-ud-Dawa.
What Army says
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Machil encounter case
Srinagar, August 16 The case pertains to the alleged stage killing of three youth of north Kashmir on April 30, 2010. The verdict is likely to delay the trial of the accused before a GCM as the Army may approach the High Court against this verdict by filing a revision or
seeking clarification. While announcing his verdict in the Army petition seeking the option of trial against Abbas on Tuesday, Baramulla Principal District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Shafi Khan held that “the petition is dismissed as there was no merit in it”. Abbas, who belongs to the Territorial Army 161 and is considered to be one of the main links in the 2010 fake encounter case, is currently in judicial custody. The Army in its petition had sought custody of Abbas for subjecting him to trial under the GCM, jointly with other accused army jawans and officers. “I have not seen the order yet. Whether to go for an appeal or a revision before the High Court will be decided only after studying the judgment thoroughly,” standing counsel, Union of India, Karnail Singh Wazir, who is representing the Army in the Machil fake encounter case, told The Tribune. He said the Army may also seek a clarification from the High Court as it has already passed a verdict in the case wherein it had held that the concerned commanding officer can exercise his option under Section 125 of the Army Act for subjecting the accused army jawans/officers to court martial proceedings or trial before a civil court. Before allowing the commanding officer to attend the court martial of the accused, the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Sopore court, in July had bifurcated the charge sheet against the accused army soldiers and officers. However, Abbas was not handed over by the CJM Court to the Army Court for his trial under the court martial. This had prompted the Army to go for a revision before the Baramulla Sessions Court. |
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Police told to disclose details of encounters since 1989
Srinagar, August 16 Holding that the information related to encounters does not fall with the ambit of Section 8(1)(a) of the J&K RTI Act (threat to security and sovereignty of the state), the Commission in its ruling passed this week observed that, “The reputation of the police, armed and paramilitary forces will be enhanced, if this information is made public.” State Chief Information Commissioner GR Sofi made these observations while deciding on an application filed by human rights activist Khurram Parvez in July under the Right to Information Act. Khurram had sought information and FIR details from the police about all the encounters that took place between the security forces and militants since 1989. Earlier, while rejecting Khurram’s plea, the Public Information Officer of the J&K Police had on May 22, 2012, denied disclosing information related to encounters, citing security reasons. The police had invoked Section 8(1)(a) of the J&K RTI Act, which bars the disclosure of information which “effects the sovereignty and integrity of India, security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the state or leads to incitement of an offence”. This compelled the RTI activist to approach the Commission. While rejecting the contentions raised by the police, the Information Commission held that these provisions were not applicable in the present application and ordered the police to furnish the information within 60 days. |
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CRPF inducts 373 constables
Srinagar, August 16 Bhupinder Singh, DIG and Principal, RTC, welcomed the chief guest who later took a salute at the parade. “The 373 constables hail from various states. They will perform duties ranging from monitoring normal law and order to serious internal security problems like insurgency in different parts of the country,” said CRPF spokesman Sudhir Kumar. Kumar said the constables were given intensive training in various subjects, besides conditioning them to operate in varied environmental conditions. “Sufficient emphasis was also given on subjects like law, human rights and police-public relations,” the CRPF spokesman said. The all-round best trainee award was bagged by Jai Prakash. Mukesh was adjudged the best shooter, Rajesh Shah bagged the best in indoor and Jaswant was adjudged best in outdoor. |
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Protest held against atrocities on minorities in Pakistan
Jammu, August 16 The protest march, which passed through different parts of the city, turned into a rally, which was addressed by leaders of various social organisations. The speakers, while addressing the rally, highlighted the plight of Hindus living in Pakistan. They lamented that Hindus living in Pakistan were forced to leave their homes because the Pakistan government had failed to restore confidence among minorities there. The speakers asked the Union government to give lifetime visas to Pakistani Hindus and also consider granting asylum to them. Representatives of various organisations like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Sanatan Dharam Sabha, Brahaman Sabha, Shiv Sena Hindustan, Rajput Sabha, Bajarang Dal, Kranti Dal, Rashtravadi Shiv Sena, Aggarwal Sabha, Jain Sabha, Jaat Sabha and others participated in the protest. |
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