The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

CRPF steps up security for pilgrimage
Jammu: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has taken over the security of Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar, the base camp of the Amarnath yatra. Lakhs of pilgrims from across the country use the camp during their journey to the cave shrine. This year, about 74 companies of paramilitary forces have been mobilised for providing security during the pilgrimage this year, amid threat of militant attack.

Sub-Inspector held for ‘links’ with militants
Jammu, June 4
With the arrest of President’s Police Medal awardee, a sub-inspector (SI) at Kishtwar, for allegedly having links with militants, the police claims to be close to solving the case of a grenade attack on the police station in Thathri, Doda. The police has arrested SI Shiv Krishan Sharma, alias Sonu, who is also known as ‘encounter specialist’, and head constable Muhammad Ayub from the Kishtwar area after the their name figured during the police investigation.

Four infants die at GB Pant Hospital in a day
Srinagar, June 4
On Sunday four infants died within 24 hours at the Valley’s leading GB Pant Hospital. The hospital administration, however, denied reports that seven children had died at the hospital due to a breakdown in oxygen supply. Medical Superintendent of the hospital Dr Muneer Masoodi denied that seven infants had died due to oxygen breakdown. He said four infants had died at the hospital, but their deaths were not because of lack of oxygen supply.

Malik’s outburst irresponsible, says Moderate Hurriyat
Srinagar, June 4
On the second day of the infighting in the region’s separatist camp, moderate Hurriyat today in a guarded response has termed JKLF chief Yasin Malik's fiery outburst against them as “irresponsible”. The statement was issued by a moderate Hurriyat constituent which had organised the event on Monday to commemorate the death anniversary of Iran’s revolutionary leader Imam Khomeini.

Quake loss assessment still incomplete, says Congress
Srinagar, June 4
Congress leaders today urged the government to ensure that the relief packages announced for earthquake victims of the Bhaderwah belt of the erstwhile Doda district should be properly distributed and as per the latest census.

Bhaderwah MLA Sharief Niaz and J&K Youth Congress president Shahnawaz Choudhary address a press conference in Srinagar on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Amin War

Government facilitating settlement of Pakistanis in state: Panun Kashmir
Jammu, June 4
The Panun Kashmir (PK), a frontal organisation of displaced Kashmiri Hindus, today alleged that the Omar Abdullah government was facilitating the settlement of Pakistani nationals in the state in the name of “rehabilitating former terrorists who illegally crossed over to Pakistan for arms training in the 1990s”.

Members of the Panun Kashmir release copies of the ‘Report on policy and procedure for rehabilitation of ex-militants in Jammu and Kashmir’ in Jammu on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Anand Sharma

Cong forays into new territories in Valley to woo voters
Srinagar, June 4
The Congress is foraying into new territories in the strife-hit Kashmir valley. The party is working at various levels on the ground in its bid to reach out to the grassroots level in Kashmir ahead of the next year Assembly poll. The party has been holding public-contact programmes both in rural and urban areas, particularly in Srinagar.

RBI to issue Rs 5 coins for Vaishno Devi shrine board’s 25 yrs
Jammu, June 4
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will soon issue and circulate coins of Rs 5 denomination to commemorate the occasion of the silver jubilee of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB). According to an official statement issued here today, the RBI has confirmed the design, dimension and composition of coins of Rs 5 denomination.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh released coins to commemorate the silver jubilee of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board in New Delhi on January 31. A file photo

	Another grenade attack in Anantnag; six injured Suhail A Shah Anantnag, June 4 While the Anantnag police claimed to have solved Sunday’s grenade attack on a police post with the arrest of four Hizbul Mujahideen men, a similar attack was carried out on Tuesday near the Deputy Commissioner’s office in the Lal Chowk area here. Militants hurled a grenade at an Army vehicle near the Deputy Commissioner’s office. It missed its target and exploded on the roadside, injuring six persons, including a policeman. The injured were rushed to the district hospital and are said to be out of danger. This is the second grenade attack in less than three days in Anantnag town. On Sunday evening, a grenade was lobbed into the premises of the Sherbagh Police Post here. No casualties were reported, but some seized civilian vehicles, parked inside the police post were damaged. Following Sunday’s attack, security was beefed up in Anantnag town and its adjoining areas. The police had on Monday conducted raids and search operations across town and arrested over 12 youths for questioning, sources said. While police officials said no arrests had been made on Monday, they today claimed to have busted a Hizbul module with the arrest of four persons. A police statement issued today said Sunday’s grenade attack was hatched at a local bakery shop and all four persons involved in it have been arrested. At a time when Kashmir Inspector General of Police Abdul Gani Mir has maintained that militancy is on the decline, the South Kashmir region has witnessed a substantial rise in militancy-related activities. While four Army personnel and a militant were killed on May 24 in an ambush by militants in Tral area of Pulwama district, two militants were killed on May 31 in an operation conducted by security forces in Wachi area of Shopian district.
	AMARNATH YATRA Jammu civic body launches drive to check duping of pilgrims Special cell to keep tabs on hoteliers, traders, taxi drivers fleecing yatris Tribune News Service Jammu, June 4 Ahead of the Amarnath yatra, which will commence from June 28, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has constituted a cell to check activities in markets so that action could be taken against people found duping pilgrims, who start their journey to the holy cave from the city. Officials said the district administration had also passed strict directions to hoteliers, dhaba owners and taxi and autorickshaw unions asking them to not charge extra. They warned that violators’ permits could be cancelled. Each year, lakhs of pilgrims from India and abroad take part in the Amarnath yatra. However, the huge influx of pilgrims also gives some people a chance to dupe them. Though most of the pilgrims stay in Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar, thousands of others stay at hotels and lodges in the city. Though the hotel association offers discount to pilgrims, many of them are being duped daily. Officials said in the next few days, the district administration would hold a meeting with key departments, including the Power Development Department (PDD), Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department, JMC and other civic authorities to ensure proper arrangements for pilgrims visiting the city for their journey to the shrine. “The main complaints that we receive from pilgrims are overcharging by traders and taxi transporters and poor quality food being supplied to them. The issue has been taken up with traders’ associations,” said a JMC official. To ensure the regulation of rates and a check on the quality of eatables and other essential commodities during the yatra period, regular inspection will be conducted in the markets.
	CRPF steps up security for pilgrimage Jammu: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has taken over the security of Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar, the base camp of the Amarnath yatra. Lakhs of pilgrims from across the country use the camp during their journey to the cave shrine. This year, about 74 companies of paramilitary forces have been mobilised for providing security during the pilgrimage this year, amid threat of militant attack. The pilgrimage would commence on June 28 and culminate on August 21 on the occasion of Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan. The administration, on its part, has begun the renovation of Yatri Niwas. The shrine board has increased the number of registration counters from 276 to 422 this year, which would help yatra enthusiasts in registering themselves at their nearest destinations.
	Sub-Inspector held for ‘links’ with militants Amir Karim Tantray/TNS Jammu, June 4 With the arrest of President’s Police Medal awardee, a sub-inspector (SI) at Kishtwar, for allegedly having links with militants, the police claims to be close to solving the case of a grenade attack on the police station in Thathri, Doda. The police has arrested SI Shiv Krishan Sharma, alias Sonu, who is also known as ‘encounter specialist’, and head constable Muhammad Ayub from the Kishtwar area after the their name figured during the police investigation. On the intervening night of April 27-28, a grenade was hurled at the Thathri police station when J&K Chief Secretary Muhammad Iqbal Khanday was at Kishtwar, 30 km from Thathri. The police said the grenade attack was aimed at creating panic. The police had arrested five persons - Abdul Rashid, alias Abdullah, a surrendered militant, and Akhter Hussain, both residents of Tantna, Mohammad Rafi of Patnazi Bonjwa, Altaf Hussain of Joura Gandoh and Mohammad Yaqoob of Bathree Gandoh — in this case. The investigation, however, brought forth other things. Now, with the arrest of the SI and the head constable, the investigation has taken new turn. Shiv Krishan, who was appointed as Special Police Officer (SPO) in 1997, got two out-of-turn promotions for his active involvement in anti-militancy operations. With his efforts, the police and the Army managed to kill many militants in Doda and Kishtwar districts. Doda district was being considered free from militancy but the grenade attack on the police station in April raised several questions on intelligence and police reports. Highly placed sources said it was Sonu who was behind this attack and arms and ammunition used came from his side. “Sonu was using a militant who had surrendered, Abdul Rashid, and it was with his help that the police station was attacked,” a source said. “We have arrested two people, including Shiv Krishan, and further investigations are on,” said Doda Superintendent of Police Arif Rishu. Earlier when the five suspected militants were arrested in the case, the police claimed that they had been planning to attack security forces on a large scale but were not able to do so.
	Four infants die at GB Pant Hospital in a day Hospital denies reports that deaths occurred due to breakdown in oxygen supply Tribune News Service Srinagar, June 4 On Sunday four infants died within 24 hours at the Valley’s leading GB Pant Hospital. The hospital administration, however, denied reports that seven children had died at the hospital due to a breakdown in oxygen supply. Medical Superintendent of the hospital Dr Muneer Masoodi denied that seven infants had died due to oxygen breakdown. He said four infants had died at the hospital, but their deaths were not because of lack of oxygen supply. “The four infants were suffering from ailments such as pre-natal asphyxia with meningitis, very-low birth weight with respiratory distress, congenital heart disease and encephalopathy with sepsis,” Dr Masoodi said. A senior doctor at the hospital said a snag had developed in the oxygen concentrator system due to power fluctuation on Monday due to strong winds in the region. He said the snag was rectified immediately. “Incidentally one of the infants had died during that time, which could have led to the speculations but the snag had nothing to do with the death,” the doctor said. Dr Masoodi, however, said the hospital had “full backup” to meet the emergency situations. “We have two generators with a thousand litre of diesel always at our disposal and they come up within half a minute. There was a slight breakdown of the oxygen plant but we have 60 bulk cylinders as backup. Even if the plant breaks down completely, we have the capacity to run the system for 12 to 18 hours,” he said. GB Pant Hospital, which is the main childcare facility catering to the entire Kashmir Valley, had hit the headlines last year when several hundred infants had died in the first half of 2012. Nearly 4,000 children died within four years at the GB Pant Hospital till last year. The government had blamed the deaths on lack of infrastructure and mismanagement of services at the hospital. Over the past year, the hospital has significantly upgraded its services leading to a decrease in the infant mortality at the hospital.
	Malik’s outburst irresponsible, says Moderate Hurriyat Azhar Qadri/TNS Srinagar, June 4 On the second day of the infighting in the region’s separatist camp, moderate Hurriyat today in a guarded response has termed JKLF chief Yasin Malik's fiery outburst against them as “irresponsible”. The statement was issued by a moderate Hurriyat constituent which had organised the event on Monday to commemorate the death anniversary of Iran’s revolutionary leader Imam Khomeini. JKLF chief Yasin Malik had yesterday accused the moderate Hurriyat leaders of being “hypocrites” who are protecting India’s interest and simultaneously claiming to struggle against it. Malik remarks against the Hurriyat faction led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq came after he was barred from speaking at the commemoration event at University of Kashmir, which was organised by the Anjuman-e-Shar-i-Shia — a constituent of the moderate separatist amalgam. The Anjuman-e-Shar-i-Shia in a statement issued today termed Malik’s comment as “irresponsible and lacking political statesmanship”. “Levelling baseless allegations to prove that one’s own self is greater than others is not the example of pro-movement people but strengthens the motives of the anti-movement elements,” the group said while reacting to Malik's diatribe against them. The separatist group also defended its position of not allowing Malik to speak at the event saying that the university authorities were pushing them to cap the function early and also blamed the decision on Malik’s late arrival at the function.
	Quake loss assessment still incomplete, says Congress Wants relief material to reach all victims M Aamir Khan Tribune News Service Srinagar, June 4 Congress leaders today urged the government to ensure that the relief packages announced for earthquake victims of the Bhaderwah belt of the erstwhile Doda district should be properly distributed and as per the latest census. Addressing a press conference here, senior Congress leader and Bhaderwah MLA Mohammad Sharief Niaz said the victims were yet to get the complete benefits of the packages. Stating that the relief had been announced as per the census figures of 2001, he demanded that ration and timber should be distributed as per the 2011 census. Niaz claimed that the victims were complaining that all of them were not getting free ration and labourers were sitting idle without work after the May 1 earthquake and several aftershocks that hit the area. He also reiterated his demand that the earthquake victims should get relief as per the pattern adopted in disbursement of relief after the devastating floods that took place at Leh in the Ladakh region in 2010. Pradesh Youth Congress (PYC) president Shahnawaz Choudhary, who was also present on the occasion, claimed that the authorities were yet to assess the complete losses. Asserting that the process of loss assessment had not yet been completed in the interior parts of the Bhaderwah belt, he demanded that the relief packages should reach the entire affected population of the area. He also appealed to the civil society to come forward and help the earthquake-affected victims. On Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik not being allowed to visit the erstwhile Doda, Niaz said the separatist leader should have been allowed to visit the area. When pointed out that the Congress was a part of the coalition government and had still been making repeated appeals to the authorities over the rehabilitation of earthquake victims, he said: “I am raising the issue in the capacity of an MLA and I will continue to highlight the issues of the people.”
	Government facilitating settlement of Pakistanis in state: Panun Kashmir Tribune News Service Jammu, June 4 The Panun Kashmir (PK), a frontal organisation of displaced Kashmiri Hindus, today alleged that the Omar Abdullah government was facilitating the settlement of Pakistani nationals in the state in the name of “rehabilitating former terrorists who illegally crossed over to Pakistan for arms training in the 1990s”. Members of the organisation alleged that the Central government was allowing violation of national and international laws and Pakistani nationals, mostly wives and children of terrorists, were illegally travelling from Nepal to Jammu and Kashmir to seek benefits from the government. PK president Ashwani Kumar Chrangoo released a document prepared by the organisation, ‘Policy and procedure for return of ex-militants to Jammu and Kashmir state’, at a press conference here. He said the rehabilitation policy announced by the Omar-led government was openly against the interests of the country. “There are reports that these ex-militants, upon return to Kashmir, are invited to big functions with lavish feasts where anti-India rhetoric is at its peak. The policy has opened illegal flood gates for Pakistani citizens to settle in India forever as its citizens,” he said. Chrangoo said even the policy approved by the government was being violated as most of these individuals entered the country from the Nepal route, which was illegal. “Under the policy, three entry points - Wagah-Attari (Punjab), Chakan-da-Bagh/Salamabad crossings (J&K) and Indira Gandhi International Airport (New Delhi) - were identified for the return of such individuals but government data says nearly 241 militants have illegally returned through Nepal,” Chrangoo said. “Lakhs of refugees, who are living in the state and are struggling for their citizenship rights, compensation and voting rights for the past 66 years, have been in-principle sidelined by this policy while ex-terrorists, their Pakistani wives and children have been given preference over them,” he said. “One is reminded of the patronage given to the secessionist elements post-Maqbool Bhat execution after 1984, release of 77 dreaded terrorists in Kashmir in 1989 and exchange of five militants in return for the release of Rubaya Syed, daughter of former Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, in 1989 as they strengthened the anti-India forces in the Valley,” states the document released by the PK.
	Cong forays into new territories in Valley to woo voters Majid Jahangir/TNS Srinagar, June 4 The Congress is foraying into new territories in the strife-hit Kashmir valley. The party is working at various levels on the ground in its bid to reach out to the grassroots level in Kashmir ahead of the next year Assembly poll. The party has been holding public-contact programmes both in rural and urban areas, particularly in Srinagar. “A number of meetings have been held in Srinagar, which is seen as the stronghold of the ruling National Conference over the years. Recently, Pradesh Congress Committee chief Saifuddin Soz made a public appearance in the downtown area of the city, which is also a separatist bastion,” said a senior Congress leader. “Many people, especially youth of the Valley, are coming forward to work with the party and it is a positive sign ahead of the poll,” he said. In the Valley, the Congress has its representation on three Assembly constituencies out of 46 in Kashmir. The remaining seats are represented by the National Conference, the PDP and others. While the party has greater representation in the Jammu and Ladakh regions, the Congress has been vital in framing coalition arrangements following the last two state Assembly elections. Soz said the way people were coming forward, they were sure that they’ll from the single largest party in the poll. “In the Valley, too, we are sure that we will improve our tally in the poll next year,” Soz told the Tribune. “We are also focusing on new areas to make people understand the party agenda,” he said. The party recently held a rally in Langate constituency, known to be Peoples Conference’s bastion, in north Kashmir. “Apart from Langate, we also have a good rally in Bandipore,” Soz said. The Congress had a coalition arrangement with the PDP in the previous coalition government which was constituted in 2002. The second coalition that came into being was constituted by the Congress with the National Conference.
	RBI to issue Rs 5 coins for Vaishno Devi shrine board’s 25 yrs Tribune News Service Jammu, June 4 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will soon issue and circulate coins of Rs 5 denomination to commemorate the occasion of the silver jubilee of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB). According to an official statement issued here today, the RBI has confirmed the design, dimension and composition of coins of Rs 5 denomination. The coins will have a circular shape, 23-mm diameter and 100 serrations. The coins will be made of nickel, brass, copper and zinc, the statement said. The face of the coin will bear the Lion Capital of Ashoka Pillar in the centre with “Satyamev Jayate” inscribed below and flanked on the left with the word “Bharat” in Devanagari script and on the right with the word “India” in English. It will also bear the rupee symbol and denominational value “5” in international numerals below the Lion Capital. On the reverse side, the coin will bear the picture of “Shri Mata Vaishno Devi” in the centre with the inscription “Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board” in Devanagari script and in English on the upper side and the lower portion, respectively. The year ‘2012’ will be inscribed below the picture and words “silver jubilee” below the year. On January 31, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had released these commemorative coins specially designed by the RBI to mark the silver jubilee of the shrine board in New Delhi. Governor NN Vohra, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had attended the function.