The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Lashkar men behind Army convoy attack identified
Majid Jahangir/TNS

Srinagar, July 8
The J&K police today pasted posters in Srinagar of three Lashkar-e-Toiba men who they suspect are behind the recent attack on an Army convoy on the outskirts of the city which left eight soldiers dead.

Those identified by the police include LeT commander Mohammad Qasim, a Pakistani national, who has been active in south Kashmir since the last three years and has been also operating on the bypass stretch of the Srinagar-Jammu of highway.

“We have identified three militants — Qasim and two local militants — who are behind the recent attack. We have also announced cash rewards for those providing information about them,” said a police officer, adding that the posters would also be pasted in other parts of the Kashmir valley.

The police said Qasim was also allegedly involved in attacking a security patrol near the Silver Star hotel on the bypass road last year.

Eight soldiers were killed and 16 injured when militants ambushed an Army convoy near Hyderpora on the outskirts of Srinagar on June 24, a day ahead of the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. The Hizbul Mujahideen had claimed responsibility for the attack, but police investigations have found that the LeT was behind the ambush.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, central Kashmir, Ahfad-ul-Mujtaba, said the posters of the three militants had been pasted in city as they were active in the area where the attack on the Army convoy had taken place.

“These three militants have been operating in this area and that is why we have circulated their pictures,” Mujtaba told The Tribune.

Meanwhile, preliminary investigations by the Army into the June 24 attack has pointed a finger at laxity in security arrangements.

“There has definitely been a security lapse on the part of the security agency that was supposed to secure the road for the movement of security vehicles. Also, the two highway patrols of the Army that were deployed in the area for the convoy movement failed to reach the spot immediately after the attack,” said a source.

The Army had ordered a probe to look into the Hyderpora firing incident to find out whether the Standard Operating Procedure was followed by various security agencies during the movement of the Army convoy.

Pak violates truce, targets soldiers during rescue op

Jammu, July 8
Pakistani troops today violated the ceasefire and fired at Indian soldiers while they were trying to rescue two porters who were wounded in twin blasts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district.

The blasts occurred when some porters were carrying supplies from one Army post to another in the Sabzian-Mandi belt along the LoC around 8 am, an Army officer said.

When soldiers rushed to the spot to rescue the injured porters, Pakistani troops fired on them, he said.

“Our troops managed to shift one of the two porters to a nearby hospital while the other one is still lying there,” the officer said. Indian troops also fired back, he said, adding intermittent firing from across the border is still on.

This is the second attack on porters in the Poonch sector within a span of two months.

In May, porters were intercepted and assaulted by Border Action Team (BAT) personnel from across the border, who also snatched supplies from them.

Last week, the Army had foiled an infiltration attempt by a group of militants who were provided cover firing by Pakistani troops in Poonch district.

Earlier this month, a Pakistani intruder, trying to cross over into the Indian side, was killed when the IED he was carrying went off. — PTI

Lt Gen Chachra, Omar discuss security

Srinagar, July 8
Northern Command chief Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here today. The two discussed the prevailing security scenario in the region in their first meeting after Lt General Chachra assumed the new office, an official spokesman said.

It was Lt General Chachra's first meet with the Chief Minister after his recent takeover as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Northern Command.

Lt General Chachra took charge of the Northern Command early this month. — TNS

Protesting govt employees cane-charged
M Aamir Khan/Amit Khajuria
Tribune News Service

The police sprays coloured water to disperse protesting government employees in Srinagar on Monday. — PTI

Srinagar/ Jammu, July 8
The attempt of the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), an amalgam of various government employees’ bodies, to gherao the civil secretariat was foiled here today as several protesters were taken into preventive custody. Protests were also held in Jammu amid a JCC strike call that affected work across the government offices of the state.

A large number of JCC members led by employee leaders, including Abdul Qayoom Wani and Farooq Trali, gathered outside the Exhibition Ground in Srinagar from where they tried to take out a procession towards the civil secretariat. However, the police resorted to cane charge and used water cannons to disperse the protesters.

While the police faced a tough time controlling the protesters, the JCC bid to gherao the civil secretariat was finally foiled. However, the movement of vehicular traffic remained disrupted around the Exhibition Ground during protests.

Condemning the police action, Trali said over 100 employees were taken into preventive custody while adding that a few protestors also got injured in the police action. As the JCC had also called for a strike today, work at the government offices here remained affected. Trali claimed that the employee strike was a “complete success”. He said the JCC would convene a meeting on July 15 after which the amalgam would issue a fresh protest programme.

In Jammu, a large number of employees marched towards the office of the Divisional Commissioner in Jammu where they held a protest demonstration. However, protests in Jammu passed off peacefully.

Senior JCC leader Mohammad Gafoor Dar, who led the protests in Jammu, said, “The employees of all state government departments, including secretariat employees, observed a complete strike today.” He flayed police action on protesters in Srinagar.

Due to the strike, the general public was subjected to a lot of inconvenience.

The JCC had earlier staged protests on June 21 and 22 in an effort to highlight its demands. After a series of protests and strikes by employees last year, the government had reached an agreement with the JCC wherein the employees were assured that a decision on their demands would be announced by September 30.

However, the JCC had resumed the protests, saying that the government had failed to fulfil the promises made to them. This year too, the government had urged the employee leaders to resolve their issues through talks but the offer was rejected by the JCC.

Demands of employees
The employees’ demands include 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 Joint Consultative Committee has also been demanding inclusion of five years of contractual service of Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers in the service book and regularisation of education volunteers after seven years of service

Artificial lake project on Tawi in doldrums
Amir Karim Tantray/TNS

Jammu, July 8
Wrong policies and projection related to the construction of an artificial lake on the Tawi river bed in Jammu city has put the government in a fix as the cost of the project has increased from Rs 70 crore to Rs 170 crore.

The Irrigation Department has no funds available to divert 17 sewage channels coming from various parts of Jammu city and entering into the Tawi. These channels need to be diverted to some other place so that the lake is not polluted and for this the Irrigation Department needs Rs 100 crore more.

Sources told The Tribune that it was former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad who had conceived the artificial lake project in Jammu and it was to be developed on the Tawi. The main aim of the construction of the artificial lake was to come up with a tourism circuit in Jammu city which included the lake, Bahu Fort-Mubarak Mandi Gondola project and a golf course.

“After the formation of the new government in 2009, the artificial lake project was shifted from its original place to near the Nikki Tawi area, without doing the home work. The project is giving a tough time to officials to divert the sewage channels leading into the Tawi from various parts of Jammu city,” a source said.

“The former Chief Minister had conceived the project, keeping in view all aspects, including the sewage channels,” the source said.

The work on the artificial lake project was started in 2010. Presently, the work on it has gone slow as the Irrigation Department needs more funds.

“The project was meant for attracting tourists and for starting various tourism-related activities on the lake. But if sewage enters the lake, it will stink and neither tourists nor locals can go near the lake,” said a senior official of the Irrigation Department.

Sources said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was aware that the project needed Rs 100 crore more. Now, the Irrigation Department is in a fix whether to go ahead with the project or stop it midway after spending crores on constructing a barrage.

1.42 lakh pilgrims have darshan in first 10 days

Srinagar, July 8
Over 1.42 pilgrims have so far performed darshan at the holy cave shrine of Lord Shiva during the first 10 days of this year’s Amarnath yatra that started on June 28.

“A total of 1,42,648 yatris had darshan at the holy cave shrine during the first 10 days up to last evening at an average of 14,264 yatris per day,” an official said after the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) held a meeting here today as per the directions of Governor N N Vohra, who is also the Chairman of the Shrine Board.

The meeting was chaired by SASB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Navin K Choudhary to review the yatra arrangements with the camp directors via teleconferencing.

The CEO directed the camp directors to ensure that special cleanliness drives were launched in their respective camps. He urged pilgrims to take adequate precautions while embarking on the pilgrimage while expressing grief over the death of three pilgrims. He said the SASB had helped in completing the required legal formalities of the deceased.

Choudhary advised the yatris to refrain from attempting to complete their pilgrimage in a hurry, as they have to undertake an arduous trek through high mountains under adverse weather conditions. He urged them to immediately contact the nearest medical centres in case they felt uneasy. He once again urged pilgrims to strictly adhere to the do’s and don’ts issued by the Shrine Board. — TNS

Salt accumulation affects soil fertility in paddy-growing areas
Scientists say nearly 7,500 hectares have been affected by salinisation
Sumit Hakhoo

Jammu, July 8
Salinisation is slowly affecting thousands of hectares of agricultural land in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts due to poor drainage in fields mainly irrigated by the canal water.

Scientists said analysis of remote sensing images taken by a satellite had revealed that out of nearly 75,000 hectares of land under the canal irrigation, 25,000 hectares was either wasteland, waterlogged or salt affected (high sodium content), which could have devastating consequences in future as it would turn the cultivable land into infertile.

“Our initial study has revealed that nearly 7,500 hectares have been affected by salinisation. Major factor is the poor drainage in the fields. When land remains waterlogged for long, natural salt comes on the surface and after evaporation, sodium content remains on top of the soil,” said soil scientist Dr KR Sharma, who conducted the study.

“Dyala Chak, Saini, Tarore, Khokyal and Nagri villages where paddy cultivation is done on a large scale are the worst affected by the problem. So far, no much has been done to address the issue,” he said and added that experiments had shown decreased yield in the affected area. Farmers, especially in the low-lying areas, were advised to consult the soil testing division.

The survey was conducted after the scientists receiving a number of complaints about falling production of paddy and wheat in the area.

“Paddy cultivation in majority of the areas is possible due to a network of irrigation canals, but waterlogging is contributing to increase in saliniation. We are continuing our research about the future impact and ways to prevent its spread,” said Sharma.

Scientists said mixing gypsum with soil was the only solution to prevent sodium affected land from turning into barren land.

Patients face long wait for surgeries at govt hospitals
Bismah Malik/TNS

Srinagar, July 8
Muhammad Iqbal (58) has been waiting for three months to undergo surgery for his hernia at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital in Srinagar. He still has to wait for two months to undergo the surgical procedure.

Despite applying for the surgery early, Iqbal was told that he would have to wait for five months to get the procedure done.

As his abdominal pain shows no signs of subsiding, Iqbal is now ready to shell out a huge amount of money to get the procedure done at a private hospital in New Delhi. Another reason why Iqbal decided to go to Delhi to get his surgery done is the delay in the conduct of surgeries at government hospitals. Like Iqbal, hundreds of patients are put on the waiting list at the Valley’s main government hospitals due to a heavy influx of patients.

The Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) at Soura in Srinagar, which is the Valley’s only tertiary care hospital, is witnessing a huge rush of patients. Patients who have to get operated for problems related to neurology, urology, gastroenterology and dermatology have to wait for six months to one year.

Doctors express helplessness over the issue and blame the maddening rush of patients at a few city hospitals as one of the reasons for the delay in surgeries. The other major factor as per Valley-based medicos is the almost defunct peripheral health infrastructure which puts all the pressure on Srinagar’s three major government hospitals.

“Since the health institutions located in peripheral areas (far-flung districts) are ill equipped to conduct surgeries, all such cases are dealt with at the city hospitals. Patients are suffering due to the delay, but nothing can be done at the moment,” said Dr Yasir, posted at the Psychiatry Department of the SMHS Hospital.

Although the state government has been asserting that the peripheral health system in the state would be strengthened, doctors say the mis-management of health facilities in these areas has led to poor patient care.

“The district health care is still not strengthened with round the clock patient care. All the referrals, including those of the surgeries, are done at the city hospitals. Either the doctors are unavailable or the requisite facilities for conducting such procedures at district hospitals are not enough. We are, hence, compelled to send patients to Srinagar-based government hospitals,” a surgeon posted at a district hospital in central Kashmir’s Budgam district said.

Rival Cong groups to project united front
Amir Karim Tantray/TNS

Jammu, July 8
To end factionalism in the Congress and send across a strong message, the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Saifuddin Soz and Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad may come on a joint platform in Jammu in the near future.

Sources in the Congress told The Tribune that there is a chance that both Soz and Azad will address a party meeting in Jammu in the near future from a joint platform, which will revitalise the party cadre ahead of election year.

The Congress in the state is divided into two factions, Azad group and Soz group, and from time to time, party cadres having proximity with either of these leaders have remained at loggerheads.

“The factionalism in the party gave a chance to coalition partners to rule without facing any opposition from within. But when we will get united, no one will be able to impose things which are not acceptable to us,” stated a source.

In the first quarter of 2014, parliamentary elections are expected and in the last quarter, Assembly elections are scheduled to be held in Jammu and Kashmir. There are six parliamentary seats in the state.

Governor, Forest Minister discuss environment issues
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 8
Minister for Forests Mian Altaf Ahmad called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here this evening.

“Besides discussing various issues relating to protection of environment of the sensitive areas in the Valley, the Governor and the Forest Minister also reviewed arrangements for the ongoing Amarnath yatra,” an official said after the meeting.

The minister also lauded the smooth conduct of the yatra and the arrangements made to facilitate the pilgrims.

Azad, Soz camps may put up a united front in Jammu
Amir Karim Tantray/TNS

Jammu, July 8
To end factionalism in the Congress and send across a strong message, the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Saifuddin Soz and Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad may come on a joint platform in Jammu in the near future.

“There were differences among these leaders, but they have been bridged recently. In the party's and state's interest, both Congress leaders have decided to infuse new life into the party in the state,” said a source. The Congress in the state is divided into two factions, Azad group and Soz group, and from time to time, party cadres having proximity with either of these leaders have remained at loggerheads.

State’s economic empowerment PDP’s main agenda: Mufti
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 8
Seeking a decisive mandate from people to establish political stability in Jammu and Kashmir, patron of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said the political and economic empowerment of the residents of the state was the main agenda of his party.

He said the PDP, with the support of the people, was committed to setting up a corruption-free system of justice and equality in the state.

Addressing a public meeting at Chadoora in Budgam district, the PDP patron said the programmes and policies of his party were formulated by incorporating the political and economic aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

“Addressing the political and socio-economic aspirations of the people of J&K is the main focus of our vision document,” Mufti said.

The former Chief Minister said the PDP during its tenure had proved how to deliver good governance and to bring transparency and accountability in the governance.

“People of the state are now comparing our three-year tenure with the decades-long mis-governance of the successive National Conference regimes,” he said. He said the PDP-led government had established a system of governance which had earned the credibility and acceptability of the people.

“In our tenure of just three years, our party set into motion a comprehensive process of economic empowerment and infrastructural development in the state which is to be taken to its logical conclusion with the support of the people,” he said.

Stressing on the need for political stability for accelerating development activities, the PDP patron said the coming Assembly elections would be a historic opportunity for establishing lasting peace and implementing equitable development agenda in the state.

“If the 2002 elections were a turning point in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, the coming Assembly elections are historic in the sense as they would be an opportunity to change the fate of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” said Mufti.

Bus to Muzaffarabad suspended as rains damage highway in Uri
Ishfaq Tantry
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 8
The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad weekly peace bus service has been cancelled as a portion of the highway in Uri in north Kashmir was swept away by heavy rain today. The Kashmir peace bus service, also known as Karvan-e-Aman, operates once a week every Monday.

Earlier, the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service had suspended due to bad weather conditions on January 21, as heavy rain and snowfall had closed the road at several places in north Kashmir.

Though the bus service was scheduled for today, keeping in view the heavy rains in Uri and the overflowing streams along the way it was decided to suspended the service due to the risks involved, officials said.

“Since morning, we had field reports that a stream beyond Uri town in north Kashmir is flowing over the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway,” said Regional Passport Officer, Srinagar, Firdous Iqbal, whose office is entrusted with issuing the travel permits for the Karvan-e-Aman passengers.

“So, in view of the dicey situation and the recent tragedy in Uttarakhand, it was decided to suspend the bus service for today and not to take risks,” he added. Officials said a portion of the highway, measuring nearly 100 feet, has been swept away near Gawalta village by gushing waters overflowing from a stream in the area. The region witnessed heavy rain and cloudburst this morning.

Officials said the damage to the road was being assessed to carry out the repair works at the earliest.

Elsewhere in Kashmir, many parts received early morning showers, giving residents the much-needed relief from the sweltering temperatures.

The bus service, which is one of the first confidence-building measures over Kashmir, was started on April 7 in 2005 to facilitate the meeting of divided families on both sides of the Line of Control.

Remove pay anomalies of undergraduate teachers: HC
Legal Correspondent

Jammu, July 8
Justice Bansi Lal Bhat of the J&K High Court directed the Chief Secretary, Finance Secretary and Secretary, School Education Department, to accord consideration to the cases of petitioners and memorandum referred to them by the director, School Education, Jammu, to take a decision in respect of removing the anomalies and pass a consideration order within a period of three months from the date the copy of order was supplied to them.

Som Raj and 18 other petitioners sought mandamus commanding the respondents to remove the pay anomaly in respect of undergraduate teachers promoted from the post of laboratory assistants and grant them the benefit of the revised pay scale of Rs 4,500 to Rs 7,000 to those appointed/promoted on the basis of academic qualification of class XII with a pay scale of Rs 3,050 to Rs 4,590 and were already working in the pay scale of Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000 when SRO 225 dated August 18, 2005, came into effect.

Educationist Manzoor Fazili’s death condoled
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 8
Well-known writer, political analyst and educationist Manzoor Fazili, who also served as a professor at several Valley-based colleges and the University of Kashmir, passed away after a prolonged illness. He breathed his last during the intervening night of July 7 and 8 and was laid to rest at his ancestral Wonagam village in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district today.

Born on March 3, 1933, at Gamroo in Bandipora, Fazili had an illustrious teaching career. After completing his postgraduation from Aligarh Muslim University, Fazili did his Ph.D from the University of Kashmir in 1977. One of the evaluators of his thesis was Boutros Boutros-Ghali, ex-Secretary General of the United Nations.

His publications in English included Socialist Ideas and Movement in Kashmir (1980), Kashmir: Government and Politics (1982), J&K Constitution (1983); Hasan: Kashmir Historiographer (1983); A Liberated Teacher (1996), The Prince of Kashmir (1997); Springs of Love - 45 episodes, published in a local daily with subtitle ‘Flowery Hourri’. He also wrote regular columns for several local dailies.

Fazili’s Kashmiri publications include ‘Seyastich Perzan’, ‘Luke Seyasat; Munawar Shah’, ‘Luk Hakumat’ and ‘Mukhtesar Tareikh-e-Kashmir’. He was also conferred the J&K Academy of Arts and Culture award.

Fazili is survived by his wife, two sons Ehsan Fazili — special correspondent for The Tribune newspaper — and Irfan Fazili, who teaches Russian at the University of Kashmir, and two daughters. Fazili’s wife, sons, daughters and his grandchildren were on his side at the time of his death.

His demise has been widely condoled. Governor NN Vohra spoke to Ehsan Fazili and expressed sympathy with him and other members of the bereaved family. He prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul.

Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Saifuddin Soz described Fazili as a ‘great literary figure and scholar of Kashmir’. “I knew Prof Fazili for more than three decades and he wielded the pen comfortably in both English and Kashmiri. He was a great conversationalist and had considerable knowledge on political, social and literary issues. His death has caused a vacuum in the literary circles of Kashmir,” Soz said.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s political secretary Tanvir Sadiq and provincial president of the National Conference Nasir Aslam Wani also condoled Fazili’s demise. Sadiq described Fazili as ‘one of our most distinguished educationists’.

Secretary, J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Khalid Bashir also condoled Fazili’s demise and conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. A condolence meeting was held at the Directorate of Information, Srinagar, to mourn Fazili’s demise. It was presided over by Director, Information, Zaffar Ahmad.