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J&K open to changes in Panchayati Raj Act
Anti-graft panel filed 9 cases against ministers, ex-ministers
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LoC trade routes still porous for smuggling
Jammu, October 9 Despite the official trans-LoC trade via Salamabad in Kashmir and Chakan-da-Bagh in Poonch, which is one of the biggest confidence-building measures between India and Pakistan, there is rampant smuggling of contraband ranging from fake currency to arms and ammunition.
JKDF trying to encroach upon BJP agenda
The police uses lathis to disperse JKDF activists during a protest at City Chowk in Jammu on Tuesday.
Tribune photo:Anand Sharma
Warring Cong groups jointly discuss BDC poll
Retd cops under constant militant threat: J-K
Govt
Pahalgam’s plight: Unregulated garbage dumping
5 cops suspended for security breach in House
To facilitate research, forum for state universities set up
1997 custodial disappearance
case
Over 3,000 militants from state in PoK
Panchayat to boycott block council poll
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J&K open to changes in Panchayati Raj Act
Srinagar, October 9 “The present government is open to ideas and amendments aimed at empowering Panchayati Raj in the state,” Panchayati Raj Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar said while replying to a debate in the Assembly on the empowerment of panchayats. Coalition partners National Conference and Congress have been at loggerheads in the recent past over the implementation of the 73rd Amendment in the state. Last week, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi during his meeting with panchayat members in Srinagar had nominated two senior party leaders to discuss the panchayat empowerment issue with the state government. However, the government today said it had no issues about giving more powers to the sarpanches and panches. “Our government is open to considering all good suggestions with regard to strengthening the panchayat institution and is ready to incorporate all such good provisions of the 73rd Amendment in the J&K Panchayati Raj Act which will help further strengthen the basic units of democracy,” Sagar said. The minister said the holding of panchayat elections in the state after three decades was a landmark achievement of the present government. “So how will we even think of derailing the process to empower panchayats?” he asked. The minister also said the panchayat elections had nothing to do with Kashmir issue. “The panchayat institution in the state has the sole objective of development of villages and it should not be linked with politics or the Kashmir issue,” he said. Sagar said nobody should try to take political mileage from the issue. “The Kashmir problem needs a political solution and panchayats have nothing to do with it,” Sagar added. The minister said all measures had already been taken to create a congenial atmosphere so that the panchayat members feel a sense of security. On Monday, the BJP had demanded in the Assembly implementation of the 73rd Amendment, while the Peoples Democratic party and CPM had said that there was no need to adopt the Central law for empowering the panchayats. After Rahul's visit, the Congress has softened its stand on the 73rd Amendment. Today, the BJP and National Panthers Party legislators staged a walkout after alleging that the government was silent on reservations in the panchayat institution.
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Anti-graft panel filed 9 cases against ministers, ex-ministers
Srinagar, October 9 The reply said a case was registered against Minister for Cooperative Department Manohar Lal Sharma on allegations of misappropriation of government funds with “bungling, embezzlement worth crores of rupees”. The JKSAC had issued notice to respondents. However, the proceedings were stayed by the High Court. The then Education Minister Peerzada Mohammad Syed was accused of “misusing” his official position in facilitating the use of “unfair means” by his foster son during secondary school examinations in 2009. The matter is sub judice. Another case against Peerzada for alleged misappropriation of government funds for electrification of panchayat ghars is also sub judice. Preliminary hearing has been initiated by the JKSAC against Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather “regarding the opinion tendered by the Finance Department in respect of proposed payment to J&K Bank by the IT department for preparation of smart cards”. Consumers Affairs and Public Distribution Minister (CA&PD) Taj Mohiuddin had been accused of misusing his official position by allotting contract to various contractors but later extended the benefit to only one contractor identified as Kasturi Lal Mahajan. However, the proceedings of the case were stayed by the High Court. Former Health and Medical Education Minister Mangat Ram Sharma was accused of making illegal appointments but the proceedings of the case were stayed by the High Court. Proceedings of a case were also stayed by the High Court against former Health Minister Suman Bhagat and former MoS AG Sofi. However, the JKSAC has initiated regular inquiry in another case against Bhagat on allegations of corruption, malpractice, misuse of power and disproportionate assets to the known sources of income. A case against former Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Gulchain Singh Charak for misappropriation of money, misuse of official position and favouritism is listed for regular inquiry before the JKSAC.
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LoC trade routes still porous for smuggling
Jammu, October 9 The Customs Department seized 105 kg of heroin and some ammunition in a train from Pakistan at Attari on Monday. There is a long history of such attempts to pump fake currency, Pakistani SIM cards, ammunition and poppy seeds via trans-LoC trade routes from PoK into J&K, a state which has started returning to normalcy after witnessing bloodshed for 22 years. “Though the authorities concerned have installed X-ray machines at the trade centres at Salamabad and Chakan-da-Bagh, a lot needs to be done to check smuggling of contraband from the PoK,” said a police source. Till date, the trade centres, which are sans whole body truck scanners, give enough opportunities to Pakistan to smuggle goods to Jammu and Kashmir, said the source. “From the Chakan-da-Bagh trade route, Rs 2.24 crore of fake Indian currency was pumped into the state in January this year. The counterfeit currency was successfully transported all the way from Poonch to Delhi, where it was finally seized by the Delhi Police. The money was meant to fund terror activities in India,” said the source. Similarly, from the Salamabad trade centre, Pakistan had succeeded in smuggling a three-battery remote that was used by militants in triggering a blast outside the Delhi High Court on September 7 last year, he said, adding in April this year, another attempt had been made to smuggle a large cache of expensive Dunhill cigarettes worth lakhs of rupees from Salamabad. However, custodian of the trans-LoC trade at Salamabad Nazir Ahmed Baba maintained that his trade centre had been strictly adhering to the norms allowing import and export of only those goods which were listed in the official trade list. Baba also feigned ignorance about smuggling of any contraband from Muzaffarabad (PoK) into Kashmir. “We also heard that there had been a smuggling of fake currency (Rs 2.24 crore) from the Chakan-da-Bagh trade route but I don’t remember even a single such instance from Salamabad,” he said. He, however, admitted that the Salamabad trade centre had no whole body truck scanner. “The demand had been repeatedly put before the Centre by the state government. The equipment had to be provided by the Ministry of Defence, which has also given its nod,” said Baba. Once we get the whole body truck scanners, not only the security would be strengthened but the trade would also be speeded up, said the official. When asked if the three-battery remote used in the Delhi blast had been smuggled via the Salamabad route, he said only the security agencies could give the right information. A three-battery remote had been used earlier by militants thrice in the Sangrama area of Sopore at Udhampur during an unsuccessful attempt to kill a senior Army officer and during the assassination of Jamiat-e-Ahl-e-Hadees head Maluana Showkat Ahmad Shah in April. This remote has more range than the normal remote and gives militants sufficient time for an easy escape from the crime scene. An investigation by the police and Central agencies found that six such remotes had been smuggled into India via the Salamabad trade route. TRADE CENTRES ILL-EQUIPPED The trade centres at Salamabad in Kashmir and Chakan-da-Bagh in Poonch are sans whole body truck scanners, which gives ample opportunity to Pakistan to smuggle goods to Jammu and Kashmir — A police source |
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JKDF trying to encroach upon BJP agenda
Jammu, October 9 After roping in a number of BJP activists, the JKDF is now trying to “hijack” BJP’s agenda by highlighting those issues which are core to the ideology of the Sangh Parivar. Although all the political parties have strongly condemned the act of three youth wing activists of the JKDF, who had created a ruckus in the Assembly on the issue of unemployment, the Front has gained publicity after the incident putting BJP leaders in a fix. Neither are the BJP leaders condemning the incident nor are they supporting the action of the JKDF activists. “There is a feeling among the youth of the Jammu region that the Centre as well as the state government were announcing employment packages exclusively for the youth of the Kashmir Valley and the educated unemployed youth of this region are being ignored. JKDF activists have tried to cash on this brewing resentment,” a senior BJP leader, admitting that gradually, the JKDF had been encroaching upon the party’s ground in the Jammu region, especially in Jammu city. JKDF chairman Anil Gupta had already announced that his party would not allow the BJP to win even a single seat in the upcoming Jammu Municipal Corporation elections. Instead of working in the whole Jammu region, the JKDF is concentrating on Jammu city to give the BJP a tough fight in the city, which was once considered as the citadel of the BJP and the erstwhile Jan Sangh. Since its formation in the month of October, 2012, the JKDF has been highlighting issues which are directly connected to the ideology of the BJP so as to encroach upon the vote bank of the saffron party. The JKDF has been rather aggressive in raking up such issues. Recently at a public meeting, veteran leader Chaman Lal Gupta, who has given his blessings to the JKDF, had supported the demand of statehood for the Jammu region. The seven MLAs who had been expelled from the BJP after the cross-voting controversy have not officially joined the JKDF due to some technicalities but they are participating in all the functions of the front to boost the morale of its workers. The JKDF is not apologetic of the act of its three activists who had created ruckus in the Assembly. “Seeing no other way to project their demands, this was one of the last resorts that the youth adopted to awaken the members of the House and Chair, who are duty-bound to project the demands of the people,” said Gupta. Meanwhile, the JKDF today held a protest in support of the three activists who were detained by the police. The police resorted to lathicharge on the protestors, in which a dozen of them were injured. CASHING IN ON BJP’S VOTE BANK? JKDF chairman Anil Gupta had already announced that his party would not allow the BJP to win even a single seat in the upcoming Jammu Municipal Corporation elections. Instead of working in the whole Jammu region, the JKDF is concentrating on Jammu city to give the BJP a tough fight in the city, which was once considered as the citadel of the BJP |
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Warring Cong groups jointly discuss BDC poll
Jammu, October 9 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Saifuddin Soz and his “detractor” Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand attended the meeting in which supporters of both the factions were also present in almost equal numbers. In the state unit of the Congress, one group is headed by Saifuddin Soz and another group, which owes its allegiance to Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi
Azad, is headed by Tara Chand. Ministers Sham Lal Sharma and Raman
Bhalla, who are Soz loyalists, and PCC spokesman Ravinder Sharma were also present in the meeting. Sources said although the meeting was officially convened to discuss the upcoming BDC polls, the main aim of the meeting was to give a clear message coalition partner National Conference (NC) that the “united” Congress would not sacrifice its agenda to remain in power. They said the warring factions had decided to iron out their differences so as to aggressively pursue the party’s agenda in the government. “There is a feeling among leaders that the party has been losing its ground due to its failure to fulfill the promises it had made with the people of the state, especially those of the Jammu region during the 2008 Assembly elections,” said a source, adding the high command had directed both the factions to work jointly. Sources said in the two-hour-long meeting, almost all the Congress leaders exhorted the party leadership to not dilute its stand on the incorporation of 73rd Amendment to the Indian Constitution in the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act. Congress leaders present in the meeting were unanimous that the party should contest the BDC elections without entering into alliance with coalition partner National Conference. Sources said a resolution was passed in the meeting to urge the high command to go it alone in the polls so that the party could show its strength to the NC. “A majority of the Congressmen observed that NC leaders were publicly abusing them so there was no reason of contesting BDC elections in alliance with the NC,” said a source. Spokesman for the PCC Ravinder Sharma said it was the last leg of their exercise to evolve consensus within the party on the polls. He said earlier, similar meeting had been held in Kashmir. The feedback from these meetings would be conveyed to the party high command, he said. “The other crucial element of the strategy is the Congress party’s commitment to adopt the provisions of the 73rd Amendment, which alone will ensure empowerment of the Panchayati Raj Institutions at all levels and representation to the scheduled castes, women and other sections of society. The Congress firmly rejects the present system of nominations as there is no substitute for a system of democratic election to the positions in the panchayat system,” said Sharma. |
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Retd cops under constant militant threat: J-K
Govt
Srinagar, October 9 Replying to a question seeking details about government vehicles and fuel being provided to retired police and civil officials, Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani said these officers were still facing militant threats. “Based on the threat perception, owing to their direct and indirect association with anti-militancy operations during their service, some retired police and civil officers are being provided security,” Wani said. The minister said these security measures were “temporary” and were subject to revision depending upon the emerging security situation and the “degree of threat perception” being faced by each one of the officials. He said the names of these officers and details of the vehicles could not be disclosed in view of the “security implications” which could “endanger their
lives”. Wani cited the example of a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP), who was shot dead by militants on the outskirts of the city shortly after he had retired from service, to highlight the threat to the lives of retired policemen. The retired
DySP, Abdul Hameed Bhat, was killed in August while he was leaving a mosque near his house in the Tengpora locality of the city. The minister said “atleast some retired police officials” were still on the radar of the militants. Even though he refused to divulge any details, he said the number of retired officials who were being protected was 50.
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Pahalgam’s plight: Unregulated garbage dumping
Srinagar, October 9 The Kashmir Centre for social and Development Studies
(KCDS), a civil society group, in its ecological research report of the popular south Kashmir tourism hub, has flayed the authorities for failing to check pollution which was disturbing the ecological balance of the area. The report said an increasing amount of garbage was being produced there every year. It particularly mentions the manual dumping of solid wastes such as wasted food, empty plastic bottles and human excreta in the soil as the major cause of contamination of the 73-km-long Lidder river which is the major water reservoir in the area. The report also blames the same for various water-borne diseases among the locals.
Nadeem Qadri, an environmentalist and a member of the KCDS, says Pahalgam’s beauty was rapidly waning due to unregulated solid waste dumping. He said that the absence of a sewage treatment plant in Pahalgam had been a major concern over the last few years but the government had not paid any attention to it. “The basic problem is that there has been an unabated construction of hotels and hutments in Pahalgam without any adherence to basic environment laws. Even the government does not check if the hotels, which cater to a huge rush of tourists and locals, are abiding by these regulations. There are many hotels which do not even have septic tanks but they are still operating here. Moreover, tonnes of garbage is being disposed of from here everyday,” he said. The civil society has urged the state government and the High Court to take strong notice of the environment degradation of
Pahalgam. |
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5 cops suspended for security breach in House
Srinagar, October 9 “The MLAs too can be subjected to frisking if the security guards feel it is necessary,” Speaker of the Assembly Mohammad Akbar Lone said in the Assembly when Independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid raised an issue that he was frisked and his personal assistant was not allowed to enter the Public gallery despite a valid entry pass. On Monday, three youths had created a ruckus in the Assembly during question hour, when one of them jumped into the Well and shouted slogans. Legislator Jagdish Sapolia, who was expelled from the BJP last year, had managed entry passes for the three youths. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was also present in the House when the youth jumped into the Well of the House. The Speaker said the directions for frisking had been issued as he did not want to compromise on the security of the House. “After yesterday’s incident, we have to take measures to ensure the security of every legislator,” Lone said. “It is not the question of my security only, I have to ensure the security of the House,” he added. The agitated Rashid said it was sad that even the MLAs sitting in the House were not trusted. The Speaker told the MLA that he was playing to the gallery and asked him to “stop the drama”. The Independent MLA later staged a walkout from the House. The Speaker said five security guards were suspended by the Additional Director General of Police after the ruckus. The police stepped
up frisking in the Assembly today.
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To facilitate research, forum for state universities set up
Srinagar, October 9 “A forum for all universities of the state was set up for securing inter-varsity mutually beneficial collaborations in the arenas of teaching, research, libraries, extension projects, sports, cultural activities, infrastructure and exchange of students and faculty,” said a SKUAST spokesman. The larger objective of the forum would be to improve quality of higher education and bring about speedy economic development to the state, he added. The spokesman said the Governor impressed upon the forum to make a beginning by organising an inter-university sports event or a declamation contest. The meeting of Vice-Chancellors discussed the possible areas of collaboration and the modalities for maximising the benefits to be drawn from the available funds, infrastructure and human resources for the overall benefit of the students and the state at large. “They put forth several suggestions and agreed that the forum would meet regularly. It was decided that the forum’s next meeting would be held in Jammu in January 2013,” the spokesman said. Those who participated in the meeting included Vice-Chancellors of University of Kashmir, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Central University of Kashmir, University of Jammu, SKUAST (Jammu), Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University.
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1997 custodial disappearance
case
Srinagar, October 9 Azizi Begum (63), the mother of Mushtaq Ahmad Dar of the Bemina Boatman Colony in Srinagar, had alleged that her son was taken into custody by 20 Grenadiers Unit of the Army in April, 1997, and was not seen thereafter. She had approached the High Court and filed a habeas corpus petition which was finally disposed of in her favour on March 25, 2011. Holding 20 Grenadiers of the Army responsible for the “enforced disappearance” of Mushtaq, the High court had directed the Union Defence Secretary to pay her a compensation of Rs 10 lakh. However, as the Defence Ministry failed to comply with the HC orders and did not pay the compensation amount, Azizi Begum approached the High Court with a contempt petition in December, 2011. Subsequently, the court on August 23 this year directed the Defense Ministry to deposit the said amount along with the interest in five weeks. “On September 29, we approached the High Court Registry with a cheque of Rs 10 lakh plus the interest amount for depositing it with the bank,” the standing counsel for the Union of India, Karnail Singh Wazir, told The Tribune. “However, we were directed by the registry to file an application with the High Court for depositing
the money as according to the registry, the due date for depositing the money was September 28,” he said, adding that
afterwards, an application had been filed before the High Court, which was listed this week. The court verdict, a first of its kind in any disappearance case, was based on an inquiry into the incident conducted by the Additional Sessions Judge, Srinagar, which had held the Army responsible for the “enforced disappearance” of Dar. 2011 COURT ORDERS: Holding 20 Grenadiers of the Army responsible for the “enforced disappearance” of Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, the High court had directed the Union Defense Secretary to pay the victim’s mother, Azizi Begum, a compensation of Rs 10 lakh
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Over 3,000 militants from state in PoK
Srinagar, October 9 Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani in a reply to a question by MLC Ravinder Kumar Sharma in the Legislative Council said 3,084 militants “belonging” to the state were “reportedly in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).” He said 1,082 applications have been received on behalf of Kashmiri militants who “intend to return under the rehabilitation policy” from PoK. “Out of these, 219 cases have been recommended for return. The rest of the applications are being scrutinised and verified,” the minister said. The policy for return of former militants from Pakistan was approved in 2010 by the state government in consultation with the Union Home Ministry. Once the militants are granted permission to return to the Valley, they are dubbed as “former militants”. Wani said 123 former militants have returned to the state via Nepal and other routes in the last two years. “Out of these 123 former militants, 90 have brought families along with them,” Wani said. The government said 824 “missing” youth from
different districts of the state had also reportedly joined militancy. Human rights associations have placed the number of missing youth in the state at 10,000 while the government has put the number between 2,000 and 3,000. |
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Panchayat to boycott block council poll
Jammu, October 9 “The recent notification of the government to conduct BDC elections in November without empowering panchayats will be a futile exercise. We have decided to boycott the elections as it holds no meaning for elected members who have not been given powers even one and a half years after the panchayat elections were held,” Kishore Kumar, sarpanch of Muralian village in Jammu district, told reporters here. He alleged that the government was ignoring the elected members’ demand for empowering panchayats. “There is no need for the elections as the authorities have failed to empower the panchayats fully by granting powers to panches and sarpanches in accordance with the 73rd Amendment to the Indian Constitution. The government has also failed to set up panchayat ghar in villages,” he said. Accompanied by other elected members of the panchayat, he made a fervent appeal to panches and sarpanches across the state to boycott the upcoming BDC elections as it would not do any good for their empowerment at the grass-roots level.
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Jammu, October 9
