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Top BJP leaders’ visit to Kishtwar thwarted
Jaitley detention
No politician will be allowed to visit Kishtwar, says Omar
on the frontline |
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Restrictions on local media, GPRS banned
Internet services snapped yet again
Govt trying to control situation: Home Secy
CM takes stock of the situation
Shutdown in Valley evokes mixed response
Hundreds of Machail pilgrims stranded in Kishtwar
Amarnath yatra going on smoothly: Shrine Board
Congress doubts Omar’s credentials for fair probe
Mehbooba appeals for peace, blames govt for Kishtwar trouble
Social, political groups appeal for peace
Ceasefire violations taking place at Pakistan’s behest, says Omar
Governor reviews Dal-Nageen conservation project execution
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Top BJP leaders’ visit to Kishtwar thwarted
Jammu, August 11 The authorities arrested Rajya Sabha member from Punjab Avinash Rai Khanna, who is in charge of the J&K BJP, at Lakhanpur to stop him from visiting Kishtwar. Jaitley, Khanna and other BJP leaders had announced their intention to visit Kishtwar to assess the situation in the town. “Jaitley was detained at the Jammu airport soon after his arrival and was sent back to New Delhi. We have decided not to allow any politician to visit Kishtwar due to the situation prevailing there,” Jammu Divisional Commissioner Shantmanu said. “Politicians will be allowed when the situation improves,” he said. Jaitley was detained as soon as he arrived here at 10:30 am. No local BJP leader was allowed to enter the airport to meet him. There was heavy deployment of forces around the airport and all entry points were sealed to foil any attempt by BJP workers. Senior civil and police officers who were inside the airport urged the BJP leader to return and Jaitley left for New Delhi at at 3:30 pm. BJP activists led by state party president Jugal Kishore Sharma staged a dharna outside the airport. They raised slogans against the government for not allowing their leader to visit Kishtwar. Sharma said the state government was trying to hide the truth. “Jaitley is a respectable and responsible leader. There is no reason to debar him from visiting Kishtwar,” Sharma said. He added that the BJP would continue the stir for justice to Kishtwar victims. Meanwhile, Khanna, who was scheduled to accompany Jaitley to Kishtwar, was arrested at Lakhanpur this morning while trying to enter Kathua. He was later sent back to Punjab. “I fail to understand why the state government is not allowing us to visit Kishtwar,” Khanna said. |
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Jaitley detention
New Delhi, August 11 Arun Jaitley was to visit the riot-hit Kishtwar area today. The BJP criticised the Omar Abdullah-led government and accused it of resorting to “undemocratic” and “unconstitutional” methods and failing to protect the minorities in the state. “I don’t know under which law it (Jammu and Kashmir Government) has got the right not to allow someone to visit the state. This is undemocratic and unconstitutional. They want to keep the truth hidden,” Arun Jaitley said after landing at the Delhi
airport. Jaitley said a “particular community” was being targeted in hilly regions of Jammu. “This is the biggest example of the failure of secularism in this country. Earlier, a particular community was pushed out of the Kashmir valley completely,” he said. “The state is a complete silent spectator, if not colluding in this,” he alleged. Earlier, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain accused Omar of failing to protect the minorities in the state. “The Omar government has failed to handle the situation,” Hussain said, adding that his party had earlier alerted and warned the state government of the impending situation when Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj had talked to Omar. |
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No politician will be allowed to visit Kishtwar, says Omar
Srinagar, August 11 Omar said this while addressing a press conference, in the wake of violence in the Kishtwar area, here today. “No politician, whether belonging to the ruling coalition or to the main opposition or the separatist camp, would be allowed to enter Kishtwar,” he said, when asked about BJP leader Arun Jaitley’s efforts to visit Kishtwar. Omar said at the moment his government was restoring calm in the area. “Our understanding is that any efforts by political parties to visit Kishtwar will only result in further polarisation and exploiting of the sentiments of the people there,” he said. Refusing to share the “initial inquiry reports”, the Chief Minister denied linking Village Defence Committee (VDC) members with the situation in the area. “I don’t think you should link VDC with the situation at Kishtwar at this moment,” he said, when asked about the role of VDC members in the Kishtwar violence. Omar said the clash at Kishtwar was a clash between two communities at the local level which were living together and would continue to live so. He, however, said the government was examining the option of asking the people to deposit all licenced weapons at the nearest police station. “That is something the police is considering at the operational level,” he said. The Chief Minister said there were unaccounted weapons in the area as a gun shop was looted on the initial day of the trouble in Kishtwar. He added that all aspects, including the alleged role of VDCs, would be looked into during the inquiry. He said he had a telephonic conversation with Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, wherein he briefed her on developments in Kishtwar and sought the BJP’s cooperation in bringing the situation under control in the Jammu region. |
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on the frontline
If today almost the entire Jammu region, the economic backbone of Jammu and Kashmir, is in the grip of communal tension after having witnessed violent clashes on the pious day of Eid-ul-Fitr in Kishtwar, blame it on the political groups that had foreseen the communal violence visiting the state.
They were making these predictions when no communal tension was in the air. It is clear that these elements had the foreknowledge of this unfortunate violence involving the two major communities of the state because of their experience of 2008, when the state witnessed the worst-ever communal tension after Partition. The political dividends that these groups reaped five years ago reminded them that this was the formula that works the best ahead of the elections. The polarisation had helped them and they had gained the legislative strength. It was also convenient for them to blame their rivals for having played the mischievous role in flaming the passions. It was clear from Day One that a political game was being played out in the name of religion. If any incident had preceded the violent clashes on Eid-ul-Fitr, the government should have been extra alert and worked to prevent the incidents that took place on Eid-ul-Fitr, which marred the celebrations on the day. The administration was lax or it was found sleeping over the matter. In a way, it was a silent partner in all that all happened, one way or the other. Simply
transferring the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of police will not bring back lost lives or heal the wounds of the two communities. The violence in Kishtwar had its ripple effect and the result was that most of the Jammu region is in the grip of communal tension. The Army has been called out and it has been left to the Army to bring the situation back to normal. The Army can play a limited role by keeping hostile elements separated from each other and not allowing the situation to be guided by frenzied elements who have political patronage. It cannot be a substitute for effective governance or permanent presence on the law and order front. Polarised society may help politicians and marginalise middle-of-the-ground political groups in the elections, but its overall impact is bad. It is bad for the communities which had started showing faith in each other after so many days, weeks and months. The design this time is clear. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah termed it as a design and vowed that his government was doing everything possible to defeat this design and would not allow political parties to visit the riot-affected areas. It is a sensible way of thinking and doing things. Much more effort is needed to bring back the confidence of the two communities. As the head of the government, he has a much bigger responsibility and he must show that he can stem the rot. Whatever has
happened cannot be reversed, but the future can be made secure for all citizens of the state. The appeal for calm and peace should not be restricted to words. This appeal should be translated into action, otherwise there is no way things will change for the better. People need freedom to move, assured of the safety of their lives and property and that of their children. It is not a tall order. A vast majority of people want peace. Their urges and aspirations should
be respected. It is time to step out and seek the cooperation of one and all.
The blame game will not help. It remains to be seen whether or not politicians forget their electoral benefits. So far, this is
not visible. |
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Restrictions on local media, GPRS banned
Jammu, August 11 Local channels in Jammu did not telecast news since morning. The administration has also been shying away from issuing curfew passes to
mediapersons. The state administration has instructed the local media not to telecast protests and incidents happening in the city. However, the administration says it has not issued any instructions to the media and that it has itself stopped airing news telecasts in Jammu. A source said, “The administration has sent a letter to the chief editors of all local news channels last night that they cannot telecast the coverage of protests and other happenings in the city till further orders.” “The editors were also instructed not to disclose that the administration had stopped their bulletins,” the source said. Meanwhile, no curfew passes were issued to the media throughout the day and two mediapersons were beat up by policemen in the city. DIG
Jammu-Kathua Range Shakeel Beig later apologised for the action taken by the police and said the identity cards of mediapersons would be treated as curfew passes. To control rumours in the city, the GPRS services were banned on all mobile networks. An official of a telecom service provider in Jammu said, “We have been instructed to discontinue the GPRS on our network till August 15. We are following the instructions of the state government and we apologise for the inconvenience caused to our customers.” |
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Internet services snapped yet again
Srinagar, August 11 Official sources said the state government took the decision after rumours of more deaths and fresh riots were doing the rounds on the Internet. Officials said the step was taken to prevent miscreants from spreading wrong information and fan the communal clashes in Kishtwar and Jammu districts. Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats Ali Mohammad Sagar told The Tribune that the BSNL telecom service provider would be directed to resume the Internet services soon. “I am going to speak to the BSNL authorities. This may be a temporary preventive measure. The services will be restored soon,” the minister said. However, the broadband Internet service of the BSNL and of some private telecom service providers across the state was functional. Meanwhile, private telecom service providers said the services had been snapped on the directions of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). An executive with the Idea Cellular Limited told The Tribune that on the directions of the CID, the Internet services had been snapped and would remain suspended till further orders. Snapping the mobile Internet and dongle services has invited the ire of people in Kashmir, especially when the Eid celebrations are still on. Every time an untoward incident happens, the authorities block the Internet services in the state. This is simply a curb on the freedom of speech and expression,” Insha Shah, a
blogger, said. People, who exchange Eid greetings over the Internet, are especially irked at the government decision, calling it unjustified. “Eid these days means greeting each other on online messaging applications, especially for families which live outside the state. Banning the Internet on festivals is unfortunate. The state government should rather tighten the noose around those who misuse the Internet for spreading hate,” said Muhammad
Maqbool, a school teacher. |
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Govt trying to control situation: Home Secy
Jammu, August 11 Home Secretary Suresh Kumar said, by and large, the situation across the Jammu region remained peaceful since yesterday, barring one incident today where an angry mob torched a vehicle on the Muthi-Barnai road in Jammu. He said a body was recovered last evening from Padder but it was not confirmed whether the individual died in the clashes. “The investigations are on,” he said. Fresh clashes in Padder last evening, some 298 km from Jammu, had left one person dead and three others injured due to gunshot wounds. The Home Secretary said two people had lost their lives in the clashes so far. |
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CM takes stock of the situation
Jammu, August 11 The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, ministers Abdul Rahim Rather, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Peerzada Mohammad Sayed, Sham Lal Sharma, Raman Bhalla, Ajay Sadhotra and Mir Saifullah, ministers of state Shabir Ahmad Khan, Ajaz Ahmad Khan, Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo, Manohar Lal and Nazir Ahmad Gurezi, the Principal Secretary for Home, the Director General of Police, the Jammu Divisional Commissioner and the Jammu Inspector General of Police. — TNS |
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Attempts to recreate 2008-like situation: CM
Srinagar, August 11 Urging the people not to fall prey to rumours and let anybody exploit their sentiments, Omar Abdullah assured swift action against those behind the violence. He was addressing mediapersons here in the wake of Eid violence in Kishtwar and other parts of the Jammu region and efforts of the administration to tackle the situation. Stating that the situation in Kishtwar was brought under control within a few hours, Omar said the main aim of his government was to ensure calm in
surrounding areas and preventing the trouble from spreading to other parts of the Jammu region. “By and large, we were successful in our first aim, barring some clashes in the Padder region of Kishtwar yesterday,” he said. Without naming any other political party, the Chief Minister said there were efforts to flare the situation and exploit the sentiments of the people in the wake of what happened in Kishtwar on Friday. “I will like to tell the people that the situation which erupted in Kishtwar is now being exploited by some political parties for their political gains,” he said. “I wish these political parties had helped us improve the situation while remaining within the ambit of humanity, but that does not seem their intention. Their efforts and aim are to recreate a 2008-like situation in the state with an eye on parliamentary and Assembly seats,” he said. The Chief Minister added that the wounds inflicted in 2008 and 2010 had not fully healed yet and the state continued to pay a heavy price for the damage suffered to life and property. Appealing to the people of the state not to lend an ear to rumours, the Chief Minister said an inquiry had already been ordered into the incident. Promising swift action, he said people would come to know facts on how the situation developed and whether there were administrative lapses. “At the same time, we will ensure that the persons responsible for the deaths and damage to property in Kishtwar and other areas are brought to book and the most severe punishment is handed out to them,” he said. Stating that he “understands that sentiments have been hurt at a certain level”, Omar said he wanted to reassure the people that the administration would do everything necessary to ensure calm and restoration of peace in Kishtwar and other areas. He also said the administration had acted swiftly, adding that the Army had to be called in to bring the situation under control as the police and paramilitary forces were unable to handle the situation. “As a result of the efforts to flare trouble and the consequent rumour-mongering in parts of the Jammu region, we had to the involve the Army to help the civil administration in Rajouri, Reasi and parts of Jammu,” he said. |
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Shutdown in Valley evokes mixed response
Srinagar, August 11 Geelani had called for the two-day shutdown against the rioting in Kishtwar, in which two people were killed in communal clashes on Friday. The public transport across the region plied smoothly while many major markets, government offices and business establishments remained closed today in view of Sunday being a holiday. The Internet services of all telecom providers remained suspended across the region since early morning today as the authorities tried to preempt any flare up in the situation. There were no signs which hinted that the tension in Jammu division was spreading to Kashmir division. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, People’s Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Yasin Malik addressed press conferences and appealed for calm. Geelani, who issued a statement in the afternoon, did not extend the shutdown to Monday. He blamed the Village Defence Committees of being the “real problem” and accused some people with “vested interests” of trying to divert the attention and conspiring to flare up the “communal fire”. Kashmir’s Grand Mufti Bashir-ud-din Ahmad expressed sadness over the rioting in Kishtwar and asked the people to form “defence committees” in their areas. |
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Army has helped out state again
Jammu, August 11 The Army has been called out in at least eight districts of the Jammu region where troops have been patrolling the streets to restore law and order. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah seldom misses the opportunity to demand the revocation of the AFSPA. He is keen on bringing the Jammu and Kashmir Police on the forefront and reducing security forces in the state. Every time the situation slips out of hand, the state government looks up to the Army, says a top Army source. Be it the 63-day Amarnath land agitation in 2008, the summer unrest in 2010, the Leh cloudburst in August 2010, anti-terrorism operations, guarding the frontiers of the state or natural calamities, the Army has been helping the state in restoring normalcy and providing relief to the people, says the source. Guarding the frontiers and fighting external aggressors are the prime mandate, but the Army has been doing multifarious tasks, the source says. The government looks up to it in case of an emergency, but it is regrettable that it government demands the revocation of the AFSPA without thinking rationally, the source adds. India has to remain very watchful on Jammu and Kashmir in the run-up to 2014, when US-led NATO forces will pull out
of Afghanistan, the source says. Even if the AFSPA is revoked or amended on the grounds of making it more humane, security forces will need legal cover to take on militants, the source adds. The Army has strong reservations over the dilution or revocation of the AFSPA, saying doing
so may heavily impinge on its counter-insurgency operations. For the last over three years, Omar Abdullah has been mulling the revocation of the AFSPA from Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Reasi, Srinagar and Budgam districts, to begin with, as the situation there has improved in recent years. |
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Hundreds of Machail pilgrims stranded in Kishtwar
Jammu, August 11 The stranded pilgrims accused the administration of indifferent attitude and alleged that the police was harassing them in the name of security and safety. “Hundreds of pilgrims are stuck in Gulabgarh, on the 68-km road between Kishtwar and Gulabgarh, and en route to the shrine of Goddess Chandi in Machail village, but the administration does not bother to take adequate measures to safely shift the pilgrims who have been living amid a fear psychosis,” Vijay Kumar, a pilgrim stranded in Gulabgarh, said over phone. Gulabgarh is the base camp for the Machail yatra which will conclude on August 27. The administration yesterday suspended the Machail yatra for three days in the wake of violent clashes between two communities in Kishtwar district. Kumar said there was no proper arrangement for food for stranded pilgrims. “Yesterday, there were violent clashes between two groups and langer (community kitchen) organisers stopped it following the tension in the area. The stranded passengers are left with no option but to spend the day without food,” he said. Romesh Sharma of Shanu village, who has also been stranded in Gulabgarh since Friday, said: “The police has been harassing the pilgrims in the name of security. It has been asking the stranded people to leave the area, owing to the prevailing tense situation. People are not being allowed to enter Kishtwar town where widespread riots took place on August 9. We have been caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. Unfortunately, the administration has failed to save us from the crisis.” He said the administration should either airlift the stranded pilgrims or shift them safely to their native places under tight security arrangements in view of the hilly terrain and the volatile situation in the area. Reports from Kishtwar said a large number of vehicles carrying Machail yatris were still stranded at various places between Kishtwar and Gulabgarh. Jammu Divisional Commissioner Shantmanu claimed that a majority of stranded pilgrims were shifted to Udhampur safely last night. “The remaining stranded pilgrims are being taken care of by the administration,” the Jammu Divisional Commissioner said. |
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Amarnath yatra going on smoothly: Shrine Board
Srinagar, August 11 Responding to some media reports, the CEO clarified that the yatra had not been stopped and was proceeding as per schedule. “All yatris reporting at the Chandanwari and Domel access control gates left for the holy cave and
people offered prayers throughout the day today at the shrine, without any hindrance.”
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Congress doubts Omar’s credentials for fair probe
Jammu, August 11 He reiterated his demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the riots, which according to him were carried out as a deep-rooted conspiracy. Rejecting the inquiry committee constituted by the state government, he said it was a mere eyewash to hoodwink the people. — TNS
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Soz demands credible probe
Jammu, August 11 Sources said Congress leaders told the JKPCC chief that the situation had been deteriorating due to the failure of the state government. Some leaders urged him to exert pressure on the government to sack the Minister of State for Home. Talking to mediapersons after the meeting, the JKPCC chief emphasised on a credible inquiry to reveal the truth. He termed as very unfortunate the Kishtwar riots and appealed to the people, especially those of Kishtwar, to maintain brotherhood and communal harmony. Soz announced the constitution of a six-member team to visit riot-hit Kishtwar. Headed by him, the team included Hari Singh, Gurmukh Singh, Mula Ram, Vinod Sharma and Choudhary Shah Mohammad. Soz said he would meet the Chief Minister and urge him to direct the administration to give permission to the Congress team to visit affected areas. He demanded adequate compensation for affected families and rehabilitation of those who had lost their business. |
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Mehbooba appeals for peace, blames govt for Kishtwar trouble
Srinagar, August 11 “My appeal is to both Hindus and Muslims to maintain peace and harmony because we have to live together,” Mehbooba said while addressing mediapersons at her Gupkar residence here today. The PDP president said the authorities did not allow her to leave for Kishtwar where she was planning to visit today in view of the mounting tension during the past few days. “We wanted to go there
(Kishtwar)…the authorities extended the hospitality of keeping us (mainstream parties) under hostage like separatists,” she said. Replying to a question, Mehbooba expressed concern over Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s stand on seeking the help of BJP leader Sushma Swaraj to get inputs from the DG Police and the GOC of the Northern Army Command on the situation in
Kishtwar. She questioned the role of both, the government and the opposition
BJP, on the prevailing situation in Kishtwar. Mehbooba sought investigations into the entire developments, from the killings in Sumbal
(Bandipora) to the sectorial tension in Budgam and the latest law and order situation in Kishtwar district, in which so far three people have died. “Weakness lies at the hands of the government,” Mehbooba alleged, and questioned the role of Congress ministers, most of whom, were from the Chenab valley of the Jammu region. Referring to the Chief Minister’s press conference, which he addressed earlier today, Mehbooba said “he (Omar Abdullah) acts in reaction. He does not take any action”. She said the state had never had “this type of communal riots”, even during militancy, and added that such a situation was developing towards the end of the coalition government's tenure. Mehbooba lamented that the tension was spreading to other parts of the Jammu region. |
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Social, political groups appeal for peace
Jammu, August 11 These organisations have condemned the clashes in Kishtwar and demanded a thorough probe to bring the culprits to book. In a press statement issued here, Panun Kashmir convener Agnishekhar expressed his apprehension that it might be an attempt to engineer minority cleansing from the erstwhile Doda district. He expressed shock and anguish over the alleged collapse of the civil and police administration due to which the mob thrived on a “free-for-all” situation for several hours. Extending support to the fresh shutdown call, the Kashmiri Pandit leader appealed to his community to help in maintaining peace in their respective areas of residence. An emergency meeting of the office-bearers of the Akhil Bharatiya Shiromani Mahajan
Sabha, Jammu, was held yesterday under the chairmanship of its president Mahesh Gupta to discuss the situation which had arisen in
Kishtwar. In the meeting, members said the situation could have been averted if the state Home Minister, who was at
Kishtwar, had ordered the local administration to act swiftly and take the miscreants into custody. The group requested the government to provide government jobs to a member of the families of the deceased, besides giving proper compensation to those whose business establishments were looted and set afire by miscreants. The All Parties Sikh Co-ordination Committee also condemned the incident and termed it as “unfortunate for J&K”. The committee said more such incidents would lead to the division of state on communal lines. It demanded that the officers who did not act timely should be punished and a high-level probe should be ordered. Meanwhile, in a joint statement, National Conference provincial president Devender Singh
Rana, senior state vice-president Surjeet Singh Slathia, vice-president Rattan Lal Gupta, provincial secretary Sheikh Bashir Ahmed and former legislators Kashmir Singh, Brij Mohan Sharma and Babu Rampal said the state had been an abode of peace where people of different faiths had been living in complete harmony from times immemorial. “The spirit of amity and tranquility, despite grave provocations from time to time, has been a high point of the pluralistic ethos that distinguishes the state from the rest of the country,” the statement read. The leaders said it was time for all political parties to join hands and isolate those who wanted to create a wedge between different communities. Senior Congress leader and MLC Jugal Kishore Sharma expressed concern over the communal tension. He urged the district administration to ensure adequate security for the pilgrims of Machail Mata and provide immediate compensation to those who suffered losses in the violence. |
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Ceasefire violations taking place at Pakistan’s behest, says Omar
Srinagar, August 11 “The fact is that the ceasefire violations are largely taking place at the behest of Pakistan. It is not India which is violating the ceasefire. It is Pakistan which is first violating the ceasefire and forcing India to respond,” the Chief Minister said while addressing mediapersons in
Srinagar. “The ceasefire violations are a matter of concern for us. Any tension along the Line of Control
(LoC) is detrimental to the interests of the state as a whole, particularly to those living along the
LoC,” Omar said. He was responding to questions on the ceasefire violations along the LoC in the Poonch and Keran sectors by Pakistan today. He said there already existed an agreement between the two countries and Pakistan should respect and honour the ceasefire agreement along the
LoC. “We want Pakistan to agree to that agreement and follow it. Whether they have a design to aid infiltration or distract attention for the failure of their administration, I cannot say. But what I want is that they should stop the ceasefire violations.” |
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Governor reviews Dal-Nageen conservation project execution
Srinagar, August 11 The Governor emphasised the need for involving various elements of the civil society, particularly senior school, college and university students for spreading awareness about the need for conservation of Dal, Nageen, Manasbal, Wular and other lakes and water bodies in the state. He referred to the encroachments and pollution being caused in the Surinsar and Mansar lakes. While reviewing the progress on the sewage and sewerage treatment, hydraulic works, catchment and management works, restoration and development, rehabilitation and resettlement of Dal dwellers and other aspects of the project, the Governor said each component of the project should be simultaneously implemented within an envisaged time frame to save the Dal Lake. The Governor said he had extensive discussions with the then functionaries about the importance of ensuring no delay in developing tenements and plots along with all required civic amenities and ensuring that the Dal Lake was early cleared of all habitations and restored to its pristine glory. Vohra also reiterated the importance of all required steps being taken to ensure that the wastes generated by houseboats did not pollute the lake. The LAWDA vice-chairman, in his PowerPoint presentation, briefed the Governor about the to-date status of each component of the project and their completion time. He stated that out of 27.90-km main trunk sewers, 26.05 km had been completed while the remaining 1.85 km
would be completed by September. Similarly, five intermittent pumping stations have been commissioned while the other five would be completed by September. He said five sewage treatment plants also stood commissioned. Referring to the development plan of Rakh-i-Arth, Yasin stated that out of 7,526 kanals made available for establishing a housing colony for the Dal dwellers, 4,000 kanals would be under plots. Yasin said 2,532 structures were being acquired in the Dal Lake, of which only 868 had been acquired so far. |
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If today almost the entire Jammu region, the economic backbone of Jammu and Kashmir, is in the grip of communal tension after having witnessed violent clashes on the pious day of Eid-ul-Fitr in Kishtwar, blame it on the political groups that had foreseen the communal violence visiting the state.
People’s Democratic Party
(PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti has demanded an investigation into the series of killings and law and order situation across the state, particularly over the past one month. Mehbooba has appealed to the people of both communities to maintain peace and harmony.
