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Join hands to propel J&K on path of progress: Vohra
Create conducive atmosphere for talks: Omar to Pakistan
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Security stepped up across Jammu ahead of I-Day
Prez Police Medal for Agarwal
Kishtwar remains under curfew
SHRC admits Hurriyat’s plea on village panel members
Former minister cautions against disbanding of village committees
Agitation against Kishtwar violence called off
Two militants killed along LoC in Kupwara
Two girls pin
Pakistani flag in Srinagar
Pak shells Indian posts, Army retaliates
Rain suspends Amarnath yatra
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Independence Day Message
Srinagar, August 14 In his message on the eve of Independence Day, the Governor said the security forces in such a scenario needed to maintain constant vigilance. He added that side by side the J&K Police needed to take timely pre-emptive action to ensure that subversive elements were not allowed to disrupt communal harmony in any part of the state. He also asked the administration to take effective initiatives to ensure that societal harmony was maintained in all regions of the state. The Governor reiterated his appeal to leaders of all political, social, cultural and religious organisations and people belonging to all segments of society in all three regions of the state to work together for enabling the peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues through dialogue and discussion. He urged all to join hands to work unitedly for taking the state speedily forward on the path of progress and prosperity. The Governor observed that the state would be able to achieve rapid human development and steady economic growth only when there was sustained peace along the LoC. He said, “While looking forward to the early realisation of such a development, we must thank the Army for maintaining eternal vigil on the LoC and pay homage to the valiant officers and men who have laid down their lives for maintaining the territorial integrity of our country.” Vohra said in the country’s march towards growth and development, the state had not so far been able to be in the forefront because of the prolonged period of disturbances, turmoil and violence which its people had gone through. However, it was a matter of some satisfaction that, notwithstanding the continuing external support to terrorism, in the past few years the activities of terrorist networks had been progressively contained. “For this we owe gratitude to our people, J&K Police and the security forces who have made continuing sacrifices to combat terrorism,” he added. The Governor observed that the turbulence in the past years had adversely affected the functioning of the administrative apparatus and eroded the erstwhile ethos and work culture. In this context, he said it would be necessary to ensure the success of several initiatives, which were launched in recent years, for governance to regain its dynamism. The Governor, while referring to the setbacks during the militancy period suffered by various important sectors like education and employment, said several steps had been taken by the government to overcome these problems. He observed that the severe shortage of power, inadequate connectivity within and between regions and the closure of mountain passes for several months in winter were among the factors which thwarted the state’s growth. What the Governor
said
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Create conducive atmosphere for talks: Omar to Pakistan
Srinagar, August 14 In his message on the eve of Independence Day, Omar expressed concern over the escalation of tension and violation of ceasefire on the Line of Control and borders with Pakistan. He reiterated his stand that the political issues being faced by the state be addressed across the table amicably and said ‘power or gun has never been and will never be instrumental’ in resolving problems. The Chief Minister also called for a sustained internal dialogue between the separatists and the Centre, adding that the state government will work as an active facilitator in this regard. Omar said those who had so far shunned the practice of putting their viewpoint across the table should come forward for a dialogue. He said democracy in India was ‘so strong that their viewpoint would be heard in detail and earnestly’. While extending the Independence Day greetings, Omar urged the people not to get carried away by rumours. Condemning the loss of human lives and damage caused to property in Kishtwar and other parts of the Jammu region during the clashes between two communities, he reminded the people of the pluralistic ethos of the state. In his appeal to the public, the Chief Minister asked the people to rise to the occasion and exhibit their highest faith in the state’s pluralistic characteristic. “This should be our resolve and message to all on Independence Day,” he said. “Some elements which thrive on dividing society in the name of religion, region and caste for vested interests, attempt to create tension between different sections of society, disturb peace and tranquillity and create mistrust in the minds of people for personal benefits…they do this just to polarise society for their self ends,” he said. Referring to the recent sectarian clashes in parts of Budgam and the Gool incident, Omar said rumours and reactions without ascertaining the truth were the reason for the escalation of tension in both cases. He said the government would take all measures to ensure justice to people. The Chief Minister also drew the attention of the people towards female foeticide. Omar referred to the hadith (saying of Prophet Mohammad) that any person who nurtures a girl child would get Jannat (heaven) in reward and cautioned the people against the sin of female foeticide. He also referred to drug addiction among youth and sought the cooperation of the civil society for tackling the menace. On financial autonomy, Omar said it was his cherished desire to make the state financially self-sufficient. He said the state government was harnessing resources in agriculture, tourism, horticulture, handicrafts, industries and other sectors to make the state self-reliant in finances so that it did not have to rely on the Central funding for every project. |
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Security stepped up across Jammu ahead of I-Day
Jammu, August 14 Additional police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed across the region to guard vital installations and sensitive points while all private vehicles entering Jammu city - the main venue of Independence Day celebrations in the region - are being thoroughly checked. “We have been maintaining a close vigil on the developments along the border. There is no specific terror threat input but we have put in place all arrangements for peaceful celebrations of Independence Day,” said Rajesh Kumar, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu zone. He, however, admitted there was an escalation of tension on the border during the last few days and the police was maintaining a close watch on the developments. Pakistan has violated the ceasefire agreement nine times in the past four days along the international border and the Line of Control in the Jammu region. “All necessary security arrangements have been put in place across the region with all security agencies working in a coordinated manner. Additional security personnel, including paramilitary and police personnel, have been deployed at all vital and sensitive points to keep vigil on the movement of any suspicious element ahead of Independence Day,” a senior police officer said requesting anonymity. To thwart any ill-conceived plan of anti-national forces, the officer said security had been stepped up at the airport, railway stations, inter-state bus terminal and sensitive market places. The officer said the arrangements had been finalised after detailed deliberations on parade contingents, preparation of venue, anti-sabotage checks and traffic arrangements in the city for the Independence Day celebrations. “Intelligence agencies and the police have been asked to step up vigil and security at the district level to check any attempt of infiltration, movement of anti-national elements and defeat the nefarious designs of terrorists,” the officer said. He said the curfew - which was imposed following large-scale violence in Kishtwar town on August 9 - would also continue in seven out of 10 districts in the region during night hours as security agencies didn’t want “to take any chance” in view of the prevailing communal tension.
Srinagar: Strict security arrangements have been put in place across the Kashmir region ahead of the Independence Day celebrations scheduled for Thursday morning as a recent spate in militant activity has kept the security grid on heightened alert.
Police had laid checkpoints across the city and random search of vehicles was being conducted at short distances on all routes leading to the City Centre Lal Chowk and the nearby Bakshi Stadium. Armoured vehicles were also placed on standby at critical junctions across the city. Police and other security agencies have been making round-the-clock checks of vehicles and pedestrians are being frisked on all routes leading to the Bakshi Stadium for the last few days. The checkpoints in close vicinity of the main venue were in place outside the Civil Secretariat, at Maisuma, Regal Chowk, Batamaloo, Rambagh, Shaheed Gunj and Rajbagh. A senior police officer said the security arrangements have been made in tandem with the seriousness of the threat, which he described as serious in nature for the last two decades. |
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Prez Police Medal for Agarwal
Srinagar, August 14 The state government sanctioned the CM’s Vigilance Medal to two officials for displaying "conspicuous and exemplary courage in exposing corruption and creating awareness against corrupt practices in 2013". The officials are Additional Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Ghulam Mohammad Dar and then Additional Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, and private secretary to the Director of Vigilance Mohammad Hussain. — TNS
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Kishtwar remains under curfew
Jammu, August 14 “Except Kishtwar district, curfew was relaxed today in a phased manner in most of the districts of the Jammu region, including the entire Jammu city. There were no reports of untoward incidents from the region,” said Jammu Divisional Commissioner
Shantmanu. Lakhanpur, the gateway to the state, was likely to be opened to normal traffic this evening, he said. “Various organisations have withdrawn the bandh call and we anticipate the situation to turn normal. The Army, however, is still present in all affected districts of the region, he said. The administration today relaxed curfew in six districts ---
Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur, Rajouri and Reasi . Curfew restrictions at night remain in some of the areas. The state government had yesterday lifted curfew from Doda district.
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Kishtwar Riots
Srinagar, August 14 The commission has asked the authorities concerned to file their reports about the incidents, while fixing the matter for further consideration in September. The moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference, headed by Mirwaiz Umar
Farooq, on August 13 had approached the Human Rights Commission over the communal violence in Kishtwar which broke out on August 9 and later spread to other parts of the region, including Jammu and
Rajouri. As many as three persons have been killed and many others injured in the violence so far. After admitting the petition, the commission had issued notices to the J&K Government through the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar and other official respondents, directing them to file their respective reports about the incident by or before September 26, petitioner counsel Ajaz A Dar told The Tribune. In the petition, the rights body has been asked to issue directions to the authorities concerned for registration of an FIR against the people who were behind the violence in the area, including the Village Defence Committee
(VDC) members, who were alleged to have played a key role by attacking members of a particular community during the riots. The
Hurriyat, in its petition, has sought directions to the state government for disbanding the VDCs in the state. |
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Former minister cautions against disbanding of village committees
Jammu, August 14 Gupta alleged that such demand was loaded with nefarious designs and must be snubbed by all right-thinking persons, more so, the men in authority. Gupta recalled that the VDCs were organised in the 1990s when militancy was raising its ugly head and the Doda belt was on the target of terrorists and Jehadi elements after the exodus of minorities from the Kashmir valley. To substantiate his assertions, Gupta pointed out that in the first over 12 years of militancy, about 60 massacres took place to scare away the minoritites from various areas. “Of these, more than two dozen were recorded in theDoda belt alone. This indicated the designs of the ultras and their mentors,” Gupta alleged. He said it was surprising that men who were ruling were being silent over the demands of the dubious characters. He said the role of the VDCs and the SPOs in fighting terrorism and restoring the confidence of people in far-flung areas was earlier acknowledged in the state Assembly and outside also. |
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Agitation against Kishtwar violence called off
Jammu, August 14 The
BJP, however, announced that it will review the situation on August 16 to devise future course of action. Although, the government had accepted opposition’s demand of sacking the Minister of State for Home, Sajjad Ahmad
Kichloo, and ordering a judicial probe into the Kishtwar violence, the deadlock had continued on the issue of sanctioning of compensation to the affected businessmen. The Chamber of Commerce was demanding that instead of sanctioning an amount of Rs 2 lakh to each of the affected families, the government should sanction an “actual compensation” in a time-bound manner. “This afternoon, the government accepted our demand of actual compensation in a time bound manner, so we have called off our bandh call,” Y V Sharma, president
CCI, Jammu, told The Tribune. “The government has announced that a committee would assess the actual losses within a month’s time and would disburse the compensations immediately there after,” he added. The state BJP president, Jugal Kishore Sharma, termed the acceptance of demands by the government as a victory of the people of Jammu. “This agitation launched by the people of Jammu is a clear message to the state government that Jammu would not tolerate communal and divisive policies,” Jugal said. “It is the result of the unity of the Jammu people that the government has ultimately succumbed,” he added. The BJP leader also availed the opportunity to corner the Congress ministers in the government for maintaining a “criminal silence” over the “atrocities” on the minority community in
Kishtwar. “The Congress ministers in the government are like Jai Chands (an analogy to the traitor). They are acting as yes men and are endorsing the anti-minority policies propagated by the state government,” Jugal alleged. He said the people of Jammu know that the BJP was the only political party capable of safeguarding their interests against the discrimination and injustice by the National Conference-Congress coalition government.
Jugal assured people that BJP would continue to take up the nationalist issues, including those related to security of minorities. |
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Two militants killed along LoC in Kupwara
Srinagar, August 14 The two militants, whose identity and group affiliation has not yet been confirmed, were killed early morning today near the LoC in the Keran sector of Kupwara district, nearly 140 km north-west of Srinagar city. An Army officer said the bodies of the two slain militants, three AK-47 rifles, two pistols and some war-like stores were recovered from the site of the firefight. The officer said a group of militants, assumed to be three to five in number, was spotted around 3 am today and intercepted while moving between the LoC and the fence. The fence, built soon after the November 2003 ceasefire and erected several hundred metres deep inside the LoC, has become instrumental in blocking and intercepting the infiltration of militants into Kashmir. The operation lasted for nearly two hours, the Army officer said. He said a search was underway in the area despite bad weather conditions. “It is anticipated that the rest of the militants have gone back to the other side (of the LoC),” he said. There has been an unusual spike in violence since last month when 14 militants were killed within a week in several operations in Kupwara district.Two militants were reported to have been killed during a failed infiltration bid through the Keran sector on July 29 while four others were killed on July 30 in the Machil sector of Kupwara. Six militants were killed in a week-long operation in the Hafruda forests of Kupwara early this month while two militants were killed in the first week of August while trying to sneak into the region through the Tangdhar sector. |
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Two girls pin Pakistani flag in Srinagar
Srinagar:
Ahead of Independence Day, two girls covered in veils pinned a Pakistani
flag to the fence of a park in the heart of Srinagar city on Wednesday.
The girls, who have not been identified, disembarked from an autorickshaw and pinned the Pakistani flag to the fence of a park at Residency Road in the Lal Chowk area, which is the commercial hub of the city. A
police officer said the flag was immediately removed by policemen. The
officer said a case would be filed against the two unidentified girls
who hoisted the Pakistani flag. — TNS |
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Pak shells Indian posts, Army retaliates
Jammu, August 14 "From 1 am to 5 am today, the Pakistani troops fired small arms, mortars and heavy automatic weapons on our posts in Poonch, Mendhar and KG sectors," said a senior Army officer. Initially, the Pakistani troops opened small arms fire and they then switched over to 82 mm mortars and heavy automatic weapons, added the officer. He said intermittent fire continued till 5 am today. "We gave them an effective and matching response. There was no casualty or injury to our troops," he said. The officer said some of the mortars landed in forward villages along the Mendhar sector. The villagers in some areas have recovered tail fins of the mortars. "They (Pakistani troops) are violating the truce deal with impunity and it makes no sense for us to remain quiet," he added. For the past few days, Pakistani troops have been resorting to heavy firing on the LoC. The latest truce violation by Pakistan on the LoC was ninth in the past four days. However, Jammu-based officiating Defence spokesperson SN Acharya said Pakistani troops had opened fire on forward posts in Hamirpur forward area along the LoC in Poonch district last night from 9 pm to 10.15 pm. During the intervening nights of August 11-12 and August 12-13, Pakistan Army troops opened heavy fire on the Durga Battalion area and the Balakote and Mankote sectors respectively with mortar shells, rocket-propelled grenades, automatic and small arms. Consequently, panic gripped villagers in forward areas along the LoC, had to flee their houses in the night and take refuge in safer areas. |
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Rain suspends Amarnath yatra
Srinagar, August 14 He instructed the camp director to shift 190 pilgrims camped there to the complex of Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sport.
— TNS
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Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra has said there have been continuing attempts at infiltration and repeated attacks on the security forces this
year.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today batted for the restoration of peace on borders and asked Pakistan to create a conducive atmosphere for talks so that the dialogue process was started.
A multi-tier security cover has been put in place across the Jammu region ahead of the Independence Day celebrations in the wake of the escalation of tension on the border and the recent Kishtwar riots.
Additional police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed across the region to guard vital installations and sensitive points while all private vehicles entering Jammu city - the main venue of Independence Day celebrations in the region - are being thoroughly checked.
