The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Cops-soldiers clash Police to move court for custody of Army men Military Police team visits Kathua rly station, begins probe Tribune News Service Jammu, September 12 A day after registering an FIR against Army men, including two officers, following a clash at the Kathua railway station, the police has decided to approach court to get the custody of the personnel whose names figured in the report. Sources said senior police officers felt that it was not possible for them to get the custody of those “involved” in assaulting the policemen and ransacking the police station so they had decided to approach the court. Meanwhile, a team of the Military Police today visited the Kathua railway station and started investigations into the case. The Defence PRO, however, issued a handout and clarified the Army’s position in the incident. “Two jawans from the Army were proceeding on leave from the Kathua railway station. While waiting for the train around 9:30 pm at the railway station, one of the jawans went to charge the battery of his mobile phone from a plug point installed in the alleyway located at the entrance of the railway station. Immediately, a General Railway Police person came and started abusing the Army jawan and asked him why he charged his phone from the plug point. The jawan immediately apologised and removed his mobile phone,” the handout stated, adding, “The GRP person, who was visibly in a drunken state, used unparliamentary language and hit the jawan with his rifle butt. On being pushed by the Army jawan, the GRP person called his colleagues present at the railway station. All of them started beating up the Army jawan and dragged him to the GRP office at the railway station.” While the Army jawan was being dragged by GRP personnel, he screamed for help. A local boy then alarmed the other jawan, who was waiting for his train at the station. The jawan immediately went towards the GRP personnel and asked them to stop beating up his unit colleague and also asked them why they were beating him up. The GRP personnel abused him also and tried to drag him inside the GRP office. However, he managed to escape and immediately called up his unit, the handout stated. “The abducted jawan was severely beaten by over 15 GRP personnel with rifle butts, belts and sticks. Around 10:15 pm, when representatives from the Army reached the location, all the GRP personnel had left the scene except a head constable and a constable who were in their office. On being inquired about the incident and reasons for beating up the Army jawan, the head constable did not respond and refused to give contact numbers of his superiors to whom the Army representatives wanted to speak,” the handout said. The Army representatives waited for one and a half hour for the GRP authorities, but nobody turned up. Finally, the Army representatives asked the GRP personnel to accompany them to the Kathua police station to which the head constable agreed. “What is important is that no police station was ransacked, the alleged kidnapping of GRP men did not take place, as the head constable willingly accompanied the Army personnel to lodge an FIR and no GRP personnel were thrashed or beaten up as alleged in few media reports. The charges levelled against the Army are totally baseless,” the handout stated.
	Yousuf’s daughter alleges their driver was tortured Says he was forced to give false statement by a DSP Ishfaq Tantry/TNS Srinagar, September 12 In a further twist to NC worker Syed Mohammad Yousuf’s custodial death, the daughter of the deceased today deposed before the one-man Commission headed by Justice HS Bedi (retd) that her father’s driver had been forced to record a false statement. Yousuf’s daughter Syed Wajahat, while deposing before the probe panel today, also refuted the crime branch claims that the family had been informed about Yousuf’s admission to Police Hospital, Srinagar, before his death. Yousuf, a National Conference worker, died in police custody on September 30, 2011, after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah handed him over to the crime branch of the police on September 29, 2011. “Syed Wajahat has revealed that driver Kursheed had been tortured and forced to give a false statement by one DSP Beg. She said the details of the torture had been revealed by the driver to (Yousuf’s) family in June this year,” said Mushtaq A Dar, the counsel representing Yousuf’s family. In his statements, Khursheed had said that he had told the family about the handing over of Yousuf to the crime branch and his admission in the hospital. Incidentally, the Commission has already declined to summon Khursheed for cross-examination. Mushtaq said Wajahat also disclosed that her family was not told by the crime branch authorities about Yousuf’s admission to Police Hospital, Srinagar, before his death or about his presence in crime branch headquarters. “In fact, on the intervening night of September 29 and 30, she rang up Khursheed around 12 am as she wanted to know the whereabouts of her father. He told her that he was still waiting for her father outside the church lane in Srinagar and did not know about his (Yousuf’s) whereabouts”, said Mushtaq, referring to her statement before the commission. Besides Wajahat, Yousuf’s brother Syed Mohammad Shafi also deposed before the Commission today. “He said that from all the evidence available, it emerged that his brother was murdered.” Mushtaq said, adding that tomorrow he was likely to produce two more witnesses before the Commission. On August 29 hearing, Yousuf’s son Talib Hussain had also opposed the statement of crime branch officials that the family had been informed about Yousuf’s admission to the hospital. Case Recall On September 29, 2011, the Chief Minister summoned NC worker Syed Mohammad Yousuf to his official residence at Gupkar after two party workers alleged that he had taken money from them after promising one of them a legislator’s post and another a ministerial berth The CM handed over Yousuf to the crime branch of the police the same day Yousuf died in police custody on September 30
	Vaishno Devi pilgrimage Guv for making Katra railway station pilgrim-friendly Tribune News Service Srinagar, September 12 Governor NN Vohra has emphasised the importance of timely putting in place all facilities for the Vaishno Devi yatra at Katra Railway Station well before the Udhampur-Katra sector of the Udhampur-Katra-Qazigund-Baramulla rail link project becomes operational around March 2013. He said this during a meeting with NC Goyal, Divisional Railway Manager, Ferozepur Division, Northern Railway, who called on him here this evening. Observing that on an estimate around 80 lakh pilgrims would de-board at Katra Railway Station from next year, the Governor, who is also the Chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, stressed effective cooperation between the Railways and the Shrine Board to facilitate the pilgrims and commuters to and from Katra Railway Station. The Governor observed that the Shrine Board should establish all required facilities at the railway station, including information and inquiry counters and registration facilities. It would also be necessary to assess the requirements of waiting halls, eateries, bath, latrine and locker facilities. Goyal informed the Governor about facilities which the Northern Railway was planning to provide at Katra Railway Station and assured all required support to the Shrine Board for putting in place pilgrim-centric facilities at the railway station. It was decided that Navin K Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, would have further discussions with Railways officials at Katra on September 30. It was agreed in principle to explore the possibility of a pilgrim travelling by train be automatically registered for the yatra, on a given date, so that his train ticket is virtually his yatra permit. Goyal also briefed the Governor about various time-bound steps taken by the Northern Railway to reduce congestion at the Jammu Railway Station, improve cleanliness and enable advance bookings. The CEO told Goyal that the Governor had talked to the Minister for Tourism regarding problems being faced by the pilgrims at Jammu Railway Station, besides written to the Chairman of the Railway Board.
	CM back to backwater, chairs meet near LoC Second such meeting in a remote area this year Tribune News Service Srinagar, September 12 The state Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, today held a meeting in Machil, a remote area of Kupwara district near the LoC in north Kashmir. This is second such meeting held by the Chief Minister this summer. The Cabinet had decided in May this year that it would meet once a month in remote and backward parts of the state. In the last week of May, the Chief Minister had chaired a Cabinet meeting in the remote Tangdar village in Kupwara. Since then, all Cabinet meetings have been held in Srinagar. Today’s meeting becomes the second Cabinet meeting in a remote area. Incidentally, on September 10, The Tribune had reported that Omar’s governance-at-doorstep plan was heading towards oblivion as the government had failed to keep its promise of holding one Cabinet every month in a remote area. Cabinet meetings in remote areas are aimed at ascertaining the problems confronting people and taking a first-hand account of their needs, said an official spokesman today. The meetings also provide an opportunity to Cabinet ministers and administrative officials to interact with people and assess their problems. Besides discussing development issues of Machil, the Chief Minister held a meeting with district officers, interacted with locals, talked to panches, sarpanches and local representatives and addressed public meetings. Addressing the public, the Chief Minister said that reaching out to every area was the guiding principle in the development process launched by his government across the state. He said special focus was on the fast development of remote and backward pockets of the state.
	Youth Cong demands security for panches M Aamir Khan/TNS Srinagar, September 12 Two days after a sarpanch was shot dead by suspected militants at Pattan in north Kashmir, leaders of the the state Youth Congress today demanded security for panchayat members. Addressing a press conference here, Pradesh Youth Congress (PYC) president Shahnawaz Choudhary said the government should provide security to panches and sarpanches in the Valley. “The purpose of holding the panchayat elections is not fulfilled, if security is not provided. The government has failed to empower the panchayats....how will it provide security?” he asked. Regarding the PYC’s demand for the extension of the 73rd and 74th Amendment of the Panchayati Raj Act in the state, Choudhary said the Youth Congress would now turn its “struggle” into a “mass movement” by involving the panchayats members. In charge of the J&K Affairs Chetan Chauhan, who addressed the press conference, said the PYC leaders would travel across the state and aware the panchayat members about the benefits of the 73rd Amendment. Chauhan said they would also seek the cooperation of Congress leaders. He said the PYC would knock at the doors of all MLAs and call upon Governor NN Vohra in this regard. When asked why senior Congress leaders were not openly supporting them, Chauhan said: “The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee has passed a resolution in support of our demands but the coalition has its own compulsions. They support our demands, but they alone cannot take a decision. A consensus has to be built first.”
	Panthers Party holds protest against govt Tribune News Service Jammu, September 12 National Panthers Party (NPP) district unit Udhampur today organised a protest under the leadership of MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia against the state government for not implementing various poverty alleviation schemes. Mankotia also asked the district administration to check the corruption menace. Mankotia appealed the party workers, students, youth and general public to join the movement initiated by the NPP against corruption, discrimination and causal attitude of the state government for implementing various schemes in Jammu.
	Under Central scheme, over 300 villages electrified in Rajouri Our Correspondent Rajouri, September 12 Jammu Divisional Commissioner Pardeep Gupta while reviewing physical and financial achievements of the district announced that over 300 villages were electrified in the border district of Rajouri under the flagship programme Rajiv Gandhi Viduyti Kiran Yojana (RGVKY). An expenditure of 18 per cent was recorded against the current year district plan. The Divisional Commissioner took sector-wise review and sought details about the implementation of schemes under agriculture, floriculture, rural development, urban development, education, health, public health engineering, R&B and power. He also reviewed the work on the projects taken under the flagship schemes of Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yujana (PMGSY), National Rural Health Mission (NHRM) and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme. Sources said during the last financial year, the district recorded 91.55 per cent expenditure against an annual district plan of Rs 111. 24 crore, while an expenditure of 18 per cent was recorded against the current year annual plan of Rs 112 crore. Reviewing the status of work on various major projects, the Divisional Commissioner asked the authorities to ensure timely completion of work. He asked the officers to monitor the pace of progress of each development projects. Pardeep Gupta stressed for a close monitoring of the educational institutions and availability of facilities like drinking water, toilets and sanitation, besides implementation of midday meal scheme. The Divisional Commissioner inspected the pace of progress on the Abdullah Bridge being constructed over the local river at an estimated cost of Rs 24.65 crore. He directed the engineers to expedite the work on the bridge and complete the same within stipulated period of time. Deputy Commissioner Saughat Biswas, Rajouri SP and other officers were present at the meeting.
	Army should go back to the barracks: Mustafa Our Correspondent Kupwara, September 12 Senior National Conference (NC) leader Mustafa Kamal on Tuesday said the role of the Army has come to an end in the Valley and it should go back to the barracks. He said the NC-led coalition government would continue to make efforts for the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the state. “Peace has returned to Kashmir and the Army should go back to the barracks. The Army had played its role and there is no need for them to stay in Kashmir,” said Mustafa Kamal. He was addressing a public gathering at Sogam in Lolab Kupwara on the occasion of 10th death anniversary of former home minister Mushtaq Ahmad Lone. Kamal said if the Union government did not revoke the AFSPA, the NC was confident that the next government at the Centre would revoke the Act from the state. Senior NC leader said action under law should be taken against the erring policemen escorting the Cabinet Minister for taking law into their own hands. The NC leader said when the Chief Minister’s fleet adheres to traffic signals, ministers should have no qualms about going by traffic rules.
	‘Mirwaiz undecided about attending Kashmir varsity function’ Ishfaq Tantry/TNS Srinagar, September 12 Chairman of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has not yet made up his mind about receiving his PhD degree from President Pranab Mukherjee. The President is likely to be the chief guest at the annual convocation of the University of Kashmir on September 27. Keeping in view the political fallout of accepting an award from the President, there is every likelihood that the Mirwaiz may not attend the function at all. The Mirwaiz was conferred a doctorate in 2010 by the University of Kashmir for doing research on political thought in Islam under the guidance of Prof Naseem Ahmad Shah of the Department of Islamic Studies. The Mirwaiz, who has registered himself for the university convocation, figures among the list of PhD scholars nominated by the university for receiving the awards (preferably a gold medal and a citation) from the chief guest. “Yes, he has registered for the convocation. There are chances that he might participate in the event,” said a Hurriyat source. “He has not yet made up his mind yet,” the source said. Despite repeated attempts, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was not available for comment. Officials of the university said the Mirwaiz has registered himself for the convocation.
	Govt employees threaten fresh stir, indefinite strike from Oct 1 M Aamir Khan/TNS Srinagar, September 12 As the deadline for the implementation of government-Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) agreement is nearing completion, employees’ leaders today threatened to go on an indefinite strike from next month if the authorities failed to address their demands. “In case our demands are not fulfilled, we will go on an indefinite strike from October 1 and will not hold any talks with the government,” said Farooq Trali, leader of the JCC, an amalgam of various employees’ bodies. Trali said this after a JCC meeting held here to review steps taken by the government with regard to their agreement. After a series of protests and strikes by the employees earlier this year, the government had made an agreement with the JCC wherein the employees were assured that a decision on their demands would be announced by September 30. The Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC-Q), one of the main components of the JCC, convened a meeting recently where it expressed concern over the ‘slow pace of implementation’ of the promises made to them. The JCC leader said the association would convene a seminar on September 27 where the civil society and traders’ groups are expected to take part. “We will raise awareness regarding our demands that have not been met for years now,” he said. The employees are demanding release of arrears recommended by the sixth pay commission, enhancement of retirement age from 58 to 60 years, removal of pay anomalies and regularisation of daily wagers and casual workers working in various government departments. The JCC meeting was chaired by Khurshid Alam and Abdul Qayoom Wani.
	Five IPS officers transferred Tribune News Service Srinagar, September 12 The state Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at Machil today approved the transfers and postings of five IPS officers of the rank of DIG. VK Singh, IGP, awaiting orders of adjustment after repatriation from the Central deputation, has been posted as the IGP, Training/CIV, Police Headquaters, replacing Kamal Kumar Saini. Kamal Kumar Saini has been transferred and posted as the IGP, Railways, J&K, against the vacancy created due to superannuation of Abdul Qayoom Manhas. Satish S Khandare, DIG, awaiting orders of adjustment after his repatriation from the Central deputation, has been posted as the DIG, CIV, Police Headquaters, replacing Shakeel Ahmad Beigh. Danish Rana, DIG, Traffic, Jammu, has been transferred and posted as the DIG, Rajouri-Poonch range, replacing MK Sinha, whose services have been placed at the disposal of the CBI for posting as the DIG on a deputation basis. Shakeel Ahmad Beigh, DIG, CIV, Police Headquaters, has been transferred and posted as the DIG, Traffic, Jammu, replacing Danish Rana. The Cabinet also approved the promotion of Nasreen Khan, Deputy Director, Archives, Archeology and Museums, presently attached with Government College of Education, Srinagar, as the Director, Archives, Archeology and Museums, J&K, on an officiating basis for six months. The Cabinet also approved the transfer of 108 kanals of state land at Khour village in Akhnoor for the establishment of a degree college.
	In 8 months, over 600 road casualties in J-K Arteev Sharma/TNS Jammu, September 12 Over 600 persons have died in road accidents over the first eight months of the year, puncturing the claims of the state government on bringing down the number of accidents by taking various initiatives. Most of the deaths took place in districts which were recently declared accident-prone. Official sources said at least 414 people were killed while over 3,700 were critically injured in 2,537 road accidents across the state till May 31. Over 100 people were killed in road accidents in July. Despite the government’s measures to curb road accidents, the higher number of deaths expose the failure of various agencies in finding out some concrete and comprehensive measures to deal with the situation, said official sources. Overloading and rampant traffic violations in hilly and mountainous districts are being overlooked by traffic policemen and transport officials. The process of installation of crash barriers and construction of concrete parapets along vulnerable stretches on the national highway is taking place at a snail’s pace, sources said. The government had recently declared Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Rajouri and Poonch districts as accident-prone. There is a well-knit nexus between traffic policemen and violators, especially bus and minibus operators. Policemen and transport officials overlook glaring violations and don’t penalise offenders because bribe is rampant, said sources. People said the authorities should start a comprehensive drive to book the officials for ignoring the traffic violations so that sanctity is restored in the system. Official statistics revealed that over 1,120 people had lost their lives in 6,644 road accidents across the state last year.
	JKCA multi-crore scam Farooq to take up issue of official documents with DGP Vikas Sharma/TNS Jammu, September 12 Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) chief Dr Farooq Abdullah has emphasised the need for a thorough probe into the multi-crore cricket scam. He has assured the in-house advisory probe committee that he would take up the matter with Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Prasad so that all important documents seized by the police, pertaining to the investigation are provided to the probe committee. Sources said despite directions High Court’s directions to the police to provide the documents to the probe panel, the police had not yet returned them even after the completion of the preliminary internal inquiry. Arvinder Singh Micky, one of the members of the probe panel, while confirming the development said, “Yes, the JKCA chief in the recently held meeting of the Working Committee has assured that every document will be provided to the probe committee for a thorough probe into the scam.” “Dr Farooq has informed us that he will approach the DGP so that the important documents will be made available to the probe panel soon,” said Micky. The four-member probe panel constituted by the JKCA chief includes Arvinder Singh Micky, Ashwinder Koul, Sham Swaroop and Mohammad Ashraf Bhat. “Earlier, some office-bearers of the JKCA had raised objections on the ground that Dr Farooq had no authority to constitute a probe committee for conducting the investigations, but now, the Working Committee which is the supreme body in the JKCA has fully endorsed Farooq’s initiative,” he said. The Tribune had reported that the preliminary internal inquiry by the probe committee had revealed that Rs 40.53 crore meant for the promotion of cricket activities in J&K was swindled by the previous office-bearers. “The availability of cash books will be of utmost importance for the remaining phases of the investigation process,” said another member of the JKCA probe panel. “The Board of Control for Cricket in India has provided us the balance sheets from 2001 onward,” he said. The cricket scam came to the fore two months ago after JKCA officials were found running a number of parallel accounts in the Khanyar and Air Cargo branches of the JK Bank along with the original account. The funds for the promotion of cricket were diverted to the fake accounts and were subsequently siphoned off by them.
	Bhaderwah triple murder case Rights panel dismisses petition against ex-DGP Khoda Ishfaq Tantry Tribune News Service Srinagar, September 12 In a decision, which is likely to pave the way for the appointment of a former Director General of Police as the Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC), the State Human Rights Commission today dismissed a petition filed against him in the 1996 Bhaderwah triple murder case. The case relates to the killing of Fazal Muhammad Dar, his son Fareed Ahmad Dar and their neighbour Mohammad Hussain Dar in Bhaderwah in 1996. The petition filed by the family members of the three slain civilians had questioned the role of the ex-Director General of Police (DGP), Kuldeep Khoda, in the case and had asked the SHRC to reinvestigate the case “to know the truth.” Khoda, who retired recently, was the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Udhampur-Doda range in 1996 when the incident took place in Bhaderwah. “The Division Bench of the SHRC, which met here today, has dismissed the petition on many grounds,” Commission Secretary Tariq Banday said while confirming the verdict. Taking the grounds that the ex-DGP has been exonerated by courts, more recently by the High Court, the SHRC Division Bench comprising Javed Kawoosa and Rafiq Fida dismissed the petition for want of “sufficient evidence”. While exonerating Khoda, the High Court in its verdict on May 29 had observed that the status report prepared by Crime Branch Officer Bachan Singh, on which the petitioners had relied, did not point out the involvement of Khoda in the incident. “Inaction, if any, on the part of Khoda does not allege his involvement in the occurrence.” In the petition before the SHRC, it had been claimed that the investigation conducted into the 1996 incident by SP, Crime, Bachan Singh Choudhary had blamed Ashraf for executing three civilians. “A defective investigation was conducted by the investigating agency to help and shield actual culprits and the involvement of the then DIG,” the petitioners submitted to the SHRC. The verdict is believed to pave the way for the appointment of Khoda as the CVC. He was recommended for the post by the government on May 28, a day before the High Court cleared him in the case.
	Three-year jail for Pak agent DS Chauhan Jammu, September 12 Principal Sessions Judge, Jammu, Jang Bahadur Singh Jamwal today awarded three years rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 5000 on Ashiq Hussian under Section 3 of the Enemy Agent Ordinance. The accused, Ashiq Hussian, in order to subvert the government went to Pakistan and made contacts with the enemy, obtained an identity card issued by the Government of Pakistan and travelled from Karachi to Nepal and then to India on an air ticket issued by Pakistan. On November 1, 2008, the accused was arrested in Batote and an identity card having the address of Rawalpindi (Pakistan), fake passport and an air ticket were recovered from his possession. On the basis of the report, the police registered a case and after completion of the investigation presented a charge sheet. While awarding the sentence to the accused, the Principal Sessions Judge, Jammu, observed, “The public prosecutor has argued that the accused committed a heinous crime and is a menace to society. ”
	Ex-militant gets life term in kidnapping and murder case Ishfaq Tantry/TNS Srinagar, September 12 A sessions court in Shopian district in south Kashmir has sentenced a former militant for life in a kidnapping and murder case. The court also sentenced his accomplice to a five-year rigorous jail term. The decision in this regard was announced yesterday by the district and sessions court in Shopian. The court sentenced Isaaq Palla, a former militant, to a life term for kidnapping and later killing a civilian, Nazir Ahmad Kumar of Manihal village, in 2005. “The court also sentenced the co-accused and his accomplice Tariq Ahmad Sheikh to five years of rigorous term,” the police prosecution said. As submitted by the police in the charge sheet, on September 11 in 2005, Isaaq and Tariq had barged into Nazir’s house in Manihal village and kidnapped him. Nazir was later killed by them, the police had claimed in the charge sheet. A case under Section 364, 302, 109 of the RPC was registered by the police. The duo was arrested in 2007.