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100 protesters rounded up on eve of Eidgah march
Curfew, protests no dampener for tourists in Valley
Sporadic incidents of stone-throwing
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Offices register thin attendance
Valley’s pride Rasool sets eyes on Team India
BJP sets out to woo Sikhs in Jammu region
Governor for use of traditional techniques of irrigation
JAKEDA allots six micro hydel projects
Hacking group joins protest against Internet censorship
Mirwaiz wants atmosphere ‘conducive’ for dialogue
Suggestions invited for draft of police Bill
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100 protesters rounded up on eve of Eidgah march
Srinagar, February 14 The sources said the crackdown against “troublemakers” was launched to ensure that situation remained normal on Friday as separatists had called for a march to Eidgah in Srinagar where an empty grave has been kept for the body of Afzal Guru. State Home Minister Sajjad Kichloo said “only few” arrests had been made during these raids. “Once the situation improves, those detained by the police would be released,” said Kichloo. “We have arrested over 100 protesters from various areas of Srinagar and other sensitive towns of the Valley,” said a senior police officer. “We will not allow the situation to get worse,” he said. The arrests have been made from various localities of Srinagar city, including Batamaloo, Magarmal Bagh and Nawab Bazar, and Baramulla in north Kashmir and other parts of the Valley which have been witnessing clashes between protesters and the police. Nearly hundred protesters, policemen and CRPF personnel have been injured in the clashes since Saturday morning. Three persons have died since Saturday. The action against the stone throwers was reportedly initiated by the police after the state government gave “clear directions” to the police top brass to ensure that the situation was brought to normal. “We will take every step to bring the situation under control,” the police officer said. A police source said they had decided to book some stone throwers and their mentors, who had been arrested in the latest crackdown, under the Public Safety Act (PSA). In the past five days, the police has registered many cases in the Valley for stone throwing, arson and damage to property.
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Curfew, protests no dampener for tourists in Valley
Srinagar, February 14 However, people associated with Kashmir’s tourism sector have kept their fingers crossed. “I had come here for my honeymoon and arrived just a day before curfew was imposed. I was at Gulmarg when I heard the news of Afzal’s execution. We have gone sightseeing and so far we have not had any problem,” said
Vikram, a tourist from Haryana, after taking a shikara ride on the Dal Lake here. “We will leave the Valley with good memories of its beauty,” he said. Another domestic tourist said: “We were a bit wary initially but now we are feeling safe. We came from Gulmarg and so far we haven’t faced any problems.” Farooq Ahmad, a tea shop owner on the banks of the Dal Lake near Nehru Park, who opened his stall after four days following relaxation in curfew yesterday, said he felt happy after seeing some tourists, including foreigners. “Though not many people came to my shop, the sight of a few tourists taking shikara rides and walking near the Dal Lake has brought some relief. We are hoping that things would get back to normal soon,” said
Farooq. Chai Beng Kiat, a tourist from Singapore, said it was his first visit to Kashmir and he was planning to stay here for three days. While foreign tourist looked oblivious to the situation in the Valley, a local tour guide accompanying Kiat said: “Many tourists from South Asian countries have arrived here and they do not know much about the situation. We will be taking them to places such as Gulmarg and Pahalgam that are unaffected by the situation.” However, he said some domestic tourists had cancelled their bookings. “If the situation improves, I am sure more tourists will visit Kashmir,” he said. Abdul
Rashid, a shikarawalla, too, expressed hope that things would get better. “Even though the main tourist season starts from mid-April, we used to receive a decent number of tourists this time as well. The tourist rush has decreased but we are hopeful that the situation will get normal by the time the main tourist season gets underway,” said
Rashid. A senior official of the Tourism Department, wishing not to be named, said tourists who had arrived here were feeling safe, even though he admitted that the developments post Afzal’s execution had created panic. “When people outside the state watch news on television, it definitely causes panic. However, the tourists who have landed here are feeling safe and we are ensuring that they do not face any problems. Once the situation improves, we are hopeful that tourists will start pouring in as usual,” he said. |
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Sporadic incidents of stone-throwing
Srinagar, February 14 The restrictions were imposed following the execution of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru in Tihar jail on Saturday. The police said the situation across the Valley remained peaceful till the reports last came in. Some stone-throwing incidents were reported from some places, the police said, adding that no one was injured in these incidents. Despite government instructions to security forces to allow employees to reach their places of duty, most of the government offices remained closed or saw a thin attendance. Residents in the uptown areas of Srinagar, where the restrictions were lifted today morning, came out to buy essential supplies, including fresh vegetables and milk, from vendors. However, shops and business establishments remained closed in response to the bandh called by separatists till Friday, following the execution of Afzal Guru. The curfew was relaxed in areas under the jurisdiction of 12 police stations, Ram Munshi Bagh, Kothibagh, Sadder, Rajbagh, Lalbazar, Shaheed Gung, Nigeen, Zakoora, Panthachowk, Parimpora, Bemina and Nowgam, from this morning. Curfew remained in force in areas located under the jurisdiction of Khanyar, Nowhatta, MR Gunj, Safakadal, Batamaloo, Karan Nagar, Kralkhud and Maisuma police stations, and other areas on the city outskirts. No relaxations were given in major towns of Anantnag and Pulwama in south Kashmir, Kangan in central Kashmir and in Baramulla and Pattan town. Relaxations were given for two to four hours and later extended in some areas of the Valley.
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Offices register thin attendance
Srinagar, February 14 Asgar Samoon, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, had issued a directive on Wednesday directing the employees to attend offices from today without fail. The directive said the identity cards of the employees would be accepted as movement passes during curfew.
Despite the orders, the administration made no transport arrangements for the employees thus making it impossible for them to report for work. A small percentage of employees having personal vehicles managed to reach their offices but found them locked and had to return home. “I took the risk of stepping out of my house to comply with government orders. I somehow managed to reach my office since I have my own vehicle. But to my surprise, I found it locked. I do not understand the rationale behind this government order when there was no way it could be implemented,” a junior-level Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS) officer with the Rural Development Department said requesting anonymity. For the majority of employees, especially those living outside Srinagar district, going to work amid curfew is out of bounds despite the government directive. “The curfew has been lifted in some parts of the city only, mainly the Civil Line areas. Tight security arrangements are everywhere else in downtown Srinagar area and other districts. It is not possible to commute right now as no transport is plying,” said Hilal Ahmad Beigh, a resident of Kanipora in Budgam who works with the Power Development Department (PDD). In Kashmir, the government-owned State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) buses constitute only 10 per cent of public transport vehicles with a fleet of 800 SRTC buses. People in the Valley rely mainly on private transport modes such as Tata Sumos, autorickshaws and buses which are off the road since Saturday when the curfew was imposed. Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Samoon said the talks were on with private transporters for resuming services so that the employees do not face hassle while coming to work. “We have already made arrangements for employees who are working in essential services sector. For employees working with non-essential services departments, we are contemplating to run Tata Sumos. Each person will be charged Rs 10 for that,” Samoon said.
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Valley’s pride Rasool sets eyes on Team India
Srinagar, February 14 “My aim is to continue performing my best and wear the Team India cap soon. I want to make the best of every opportunity that comes my way. I am hopeful that I will represent the country this year,” Rasool said while talking to The Tribune over the phone. The 24-year-old all-rounder from Bijbehara in south Kashmir was in the news recently after he took a seven-wicket haul against Australia during a practice match in Chennai. The off-spinner had also remained the second highest scorer for Board President XI with an impressive 36 in the low scoring match that included four boundaries and two sixes. While batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar has always been Rasool's cricketing idol, he said his performance against Australia had won him accolades from the country's cricketing greats. He said he also met several top cricketers, including Team India captain MS Dhoni. “I met several top cricketers, including Dhoni, as I was called to bowl twice during net practice. I also got valuable tips from Dhoni,” Rasool said. In his message to the wannabe cricketers of the Valley, he said: “We have the talent and we are next to none. But hard work is the key. Hard work is needed
to excel in all fields - be it studies or sports like cricket.” After his excellent all-round performance in Chennai, Rasool is now in Himachal Pradesh to represent the Jammu and Kashmir team in the Ranji Trophy. “I will be playing Ranji Trophy one-day matches till February 22 and after that I will visit my hometown for three-four days. After that, my focus will continue to remain on giving my best while waiting for a call to represent Team India,” he said.
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BJP sets out to woo Sikhs in Jammu region
Jammu, February 14 A meeting of some prominent Sikh activists was held at the BJP headquarters on Thursday. State president Jugal Kishore Sharma in the presence of state general secretary (organisation) Ashok Koul presided over the meeting, which was convened by chief spokesperson of state BJP Jitendra Singh. While addressing the meeting, Sharma said the motive of the party leadership was to bring in more and more people into the party fold. He said the ruling National Conference and the Congress had failed to address the problems of the Sikh community in spite of being in power and therefore it was only the BJP which could help them. Sharma told the representatives of the Sikh community to identify their major problems because the party was committed to solving them. He said the party would raise important issues like that of Sikh refugees, both inside and outside the Assembly. The party would also resort to dharnas and protests for the same. Koul, in his address, said the party had given adequate representation to Sikh representatives in the new state team as well as in the working committee that has recently been constituted. Koul stressed the need to evolve a definite mechanism to reach out to the Sikh community and prepare a blueprint for it. He said party workers must carry the BJP ideology and programmes to Sikhs. Jitendra Singh said the BJP could take the credit of being the only political party in the state which took the initiative of organising a Sikh Sammelan in Jammu in September last at which the party’s national leader SS Ahluwalia was present. Presentations were made highlighting different issues related to the community at the sammelan. Jitendra said the Sikh community was known for its patriotism, nationalism, uprightness and self-respect. It is therefore the endeavour of the party to channelise the energies of the Sikh community in a positive manner and take up the problems of the community as a part of the party agenda.
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Governor for use of traditional techniques of irrigation
Jammu, February 14 They discussed measures being taken for augmenting drinking water supply and irrigation facilities in various parts of the state to effectively meet the existing and emerging requirements in both these sectors. The status of utilisation of the available resources under various Central schemes was also reviewed. Referring to the increasing demand for water to cater to the requirements of the Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims, the Governor stressed the importance of timely planning and executing of new water supply schemes to meet the future requirements of Katra town and its surrounding areas. The Governor also stressed the need for all traditional irrigation systems and channels, particularly kuhls, to boost agricultural productivity. Socio-economic issues discussed Chairman of the state Legislative Council Amrit Malhotra called on the Governor at Raj Bhawan here today. Malhotra briefed the Governor about some issues which got carried over after the last Legislative Council session and some new issues which would come up before the forthcoming session which is commencing on February 28. They discussed issues relating to speeding up of the pace of socio-economic advancement of the state. Briefed on afforestation Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Vinod Ranjan met the Governor at Raj Bhawan here today. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests briefed the Governor about various afforestation measures being undertaken for the promotion of forests in the state. The Governor urged Ranjan to assess the impact of the afforestation work done by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board in the Trikuta Hills, in the areas within the Board’s jurisdiction and to advise which species should be planted along the chain-link boundary fence, to ensure against encroachments and theft of the forest wealth. |
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JAKEDA allots six micro hydel projects
Jammu, February 14 The six micro hydro power projects have been taken up under the first phase among the 68 identified projects across the state for which the department has already prepared the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs). Among the proposed projects being taken up immediately, two are in Jammu and four in Kashmir. The department has also distributed 56,769 solar home lights among the people of 244 villages and 15 hamlets of 16 districts of the state under the Remote Village Electrification Programme. — TNS
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Hacking group joins protest against Internet censorship
Srinagar, February 14 Anonymous, quite popular among netizens for hacking government websites, shot to fame after hacking the websites of the Supreme Court, Department of Tourism and the Indian National Congress. The group, with various Twitter handles, called for an end to communication blockade in the Valley for the past five days. “#Anonymous joins protests against Internet shutdown in #Kashmir,” posted an offshoot Twitter handle of the group by the name of #OpKashmir on Tuesday. The description of the group on Twitter reads,” We are Anonymous. We are Legions. We never Forgive. We Never Forget Expect us (sic).” The group since Tuesday hacked websites of Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tourist Police of India, Information and Technology Department, Andhra Pradesh. Although majority of the hacked websites have been restored, there are few which continue to display messages posted by Anonymous.
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Mirwaiz wants atmosphere ‘conducive’ for dialogue
Srinagar, February 14 In a statement issued here today, the moderate Hurriyat spokesman said “force, coercion, killings and hangings” have never been a solution and further add to “complications”. “The Hurriyat Conference is of the view that war, imprisonments or execution of people have never solved the problems,” the spokesman said, adding that India and Pakistan cannot afford to “escalate tensions” at this juncture. He said the way curfew has been imposed in Kashmir and leaders have been detained was not going to solve the problems. “The Hurriyat believes that sincere and practical steps should be taken to make the atmosphere conducive,” the spokesman said.
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Suggestions invited for draft of police Bill
Jammu, February 14 The draft plan has been prepared in pursuance of the judgment of the Supreme Court, passed for police reforms. The draft Bill can be accessed by logging on to the website www.jkhome.nic.in. All concerned can send their comments and suggestions to the Home Department either through post or through email (home-jk@nic.in) within 15 days from tomorrow. |
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The state government has launched a crackdown on protesters across the Kashmir valley to bring the situation under control. Kashmir has been on the boil since Afzal Guru’s hanging in Tihar jail on February 9.
The imposition of curfew after the execution of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru may have caused panic and even forced some tour operators to cancel their bookings, but tourists have preferred to stay in the Valley for their full vacation periods which is bound to cheer up the stakeholders. Tourists say they are feeling safe in the Valley.
Srinagar, February 14
