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5 Hizb militants killed in Ganderbal
After Poonch, Pak now opens fire in Pallanwala
Congress factions vie for Soni’s attention
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It’s war of flags in Jammu for BJP and Congress
2 Independents hold key to new Kargil Council
Fate of J&K land conversion Bill hangs in the balance
International Day of Disappeared Persons
Members of the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons hold pictures
of their missing family members during a protest in Srinagar on Friday. Tribune photo: Amin War Gujjar deputation meets Governor
Governor NN Vohra with members of the Gujjar community in Srinagar on Friday.
A Tribune photograph Kulgam youth set for Bollywood debut
Tosa Maidan lease issue reaches rights commission
Flash floods damage seven BSF posts along border
Kargil Council
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5 Hizb militants killed in Ganderbal
Ganderbal, August 30 All five militants were Pakistani nationals and were led by a Hizbul Mujahideen commander named Assadullah Qari, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of counter-insurgency Victor Force Major General R R Nimbhorkar told mediapersons here. The five militants, gunned down in the operation which was jointly executed by the Army’s 3 Sector Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operations Group of the state police, were identified as Assadullah Qari, alias Hamid, Javaid, Zubair, Umar and Fazal. Qari, who held the rank of district commander in the outfit, was categorised as an “A plus” militant and was active in the region for the last seven years. The operation in the Najwan forest was the first in the central Kashmir district this year. “This group was called the Assadullah group. We (Army and JK Police) were jointly tracking this group since September last year,” the Army officer said while adding that the militants were killed after a fierce firefight. A defence spokesman said five AK-47 assault rifles, 11 magazines, seven grenades, and stock of ration were recovered from the encounter site, near Prang resort in Ganderbal. Ganderbal district, where the militants were killed, acts as a transit route for militants travelling from Bandipora —- which borders the Line of Control in north Kashmir — to south Kashmir districts. Maj General Nimbhorkar claimed the group had earlier planned to target this year’s Amarnath pilgrimage. The Hizb plan was thwarted by the strict security apparatus that was in effect during the two-month yatra period. “We had also learnt that they were trying to eliminate certain civilians in the area,” the Major General said. The “surgical” operation began around midnight following a specific input and continued for several hours till dawn, the officer said. “They (militants) were very well trained. They lived in mountains and forests and were expert in maintaining their security… that is why we were able to locate their exact location very few times,” Nimbhorkar said. The commander said soldiers were able to establish a contact with the Assadullah group a few months ago but the operation could not be executed due to fog and bad weather. He termed the killing of the five militants as a “big blow” to the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit. The bodies of the five slain militants were later handed over to residents of the area and buried at a local graveyard. This is the third major anti-insurgency operation in Ganderbal in the last one year. Five militants killed in an encounter in the dense Wangat forest in October 2012 were also Pakistani nationals. In September last year, two militants were killed in Ganderbal district’s Chattergul forest. ‘A plus’ militant *
The five militants, gunned down on Friday in an operation which was jointly executed by the Army’s 3 Sector Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operations Group of the state police, were identified as Assadullah Qari, alias Hamid, Javaid, Zubair, Umar and Fazal *
Qari, who held the rank of district commander in the outfit, was categorised as an “A plus” militant and was active in the Kashmir region for the last seven years *
Five AK 47 assault rifles, 11 magazines, seven grenades, and stock of ration were recovered from the encounter site, near Prang resort in Ganderbal |
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After Poonch, Pak now opens fire in Pallanwala
“Around 10:30 pm yesterday, Pakistani troops opened fire in the Bhadwal forward area of the Pallanwala sector, resulting in an exchange of fire till midnight,” said a senior Army officer. He said Pakistani troops used small arms fire and targeted four posts. “We gave them an effective and strong response,” he said. While the Poonch sector has not witnessed fresh firing by the Pakistan army for the past two days, firing in Pallanwala seems to be an attempt to ease off the pressure along the LoC opposite the Poonch sector, he said. The officer divulged that senior officers of the Pakistan army had conducted aerial and ground recce on the other side of the LoC opposite Poonch, Saujiyan, Mendhar and Hamirpur belts. “Latest Intelligence inputs and our observations tell that the Pakistan army has also moved artillery opposite the Mendhar sector. While an artillery battery usually comprises six guns, they have moved two to three artillery guns opposite Mendhar,” he said. So far, Pakistan had been using battalion-level weapons viz, small arms fire and automatics, including rocket-propelled grenades and mortars (82 mm), drawing a similar response from the
Indian side. “Though the artillery has not been used by them (Pakistani troops) till now, the possibility of using it (following artillery movement opposite Mendhar) cannot be ruled out,” he said. “We are keeping a constant watch on developments unfolding on the other side,” he said. After remaining quiet to unwarranted and unprovoked firing by Pakistani troops, the Indian Army is now going full throttle. Since August 8, the Indian Army has decimated 15 Pakistani posts and several bunkers opposite the Poonch, Mendhar and Hamirpur areas by firing mortar shells, rockets and automatic weapons, including anti-material guns. From August 8 to 14, Pakistani troops fired 900 mortars (82mm), 120 rocket-propelled grenades, 13,500 rounds of small arms fire and 6,000 rounds of automatic weapons in the Poonch, Mendhar and Balakote sectors. The Indian Army retaliated and fired 600 mortars, 150 rockets, 22,000 rounds of small arms fire and 6,000 rounds of automatic weapons Truce violation *
From August 8 to 14, Pakistani troops fired 900 mortars (82mm), 120 rocket-propelled grenades, 13,500 rounds of small arms fire and 6,000 rounds of automatic weapons in the Poonch, Mendhar and Balakote sectors *
The Indian Army retaliated and fired 600 mortars, 150 rockets, 22,000 rounds of small arms fire and 6,000 rounds of automatic weapons |
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Congress factions vie for Soni’s attention
Jammu, August 30 This is Soni’s first visit to Jammu after being appointed as the in charge of the party’s J&K affairs earlier this year. A large number of party workers and leaders gathered at the guest house to meet the senior leader. As soon as she arrived at the venue, they started shouting slogans in favour of their respective leaders. Some Congress leaders openly sought to draw her attention to the feud within the party and cautioned that the factionalism would prove disastrous for it in the forthcoming elections. Interestingly, nearly two dozen delegations met Ambika Soni and all of them demanded mandate for their leaders. Although, Soni told them that she was not here to distribute the mandate, the delegates tried to convince her that they had mass following in their respective areas. Meanwhile, Soni while interacting with reporters refused to comment on the functioning of the Congress-National Conference coalition government in the state. “Tomorrow, I will discuss with party workers the inputs which we get about this government in New Delhi,” Soni said. “I am here to get the feedback from the grass-roots level workers about the strength of the Congress and the functioning of the coalition government,” she said. Soni also availed the opportunity to give a message to coalition partner, National Conference, that the Congress was committed to strengthening
the Panchayat Raj Institution in J&K. |
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It’s war of flags in Jammu for BJP and Congress
Jammu, August 30 While All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary and in charge Jammu and Kashmir affairs Amibka Soni has already reached the city to attend a day-long convention of the party leaders on Saturday, BJP president Rajnath Singh will be arriving here tomorrow to head a crucial party meeting. Both party workers have tried desperately to exhibit their strength by setting up their respective party flags all across the city. While Congress workers have particularly tried to capture the space around the Bikram Chowk, BJP representatives have set up their flags at Jewel Chowk and Dogra Chowk to out do its political rival. The scene is a clear indicator of the parties getting into the election mode. “Yes, all political parties are getting into poll mode and putting up flags. This time the stakes are very high in Jammu and the Congress seems to be a major player,” said Rekha Choudhary, former Head of the Political Science Department, University of Jammu. Choudhary said that Jammu was a place where every party has a space and the region is emerging as a major player of “power politics”. Meanwhile, the Congress convention is seen as a ‘unity rally’, as leaders of both warring factions within the party are expected to be a part of the event. Both Pradesh Congress Committee president Saifuddin Soz and Union Minister for Health Ghulam Nabi Azad are expected to share the stage along with Ambika Soni, a move which is seen as major step by the party to put a united face ahead of the forthcoming parliamentary and the Assembly polls. This will also be Ambika Soni’s first visit to the state as the party’s in charge of J&K affairs. |
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2 Independents hold key to new Kargil Council
Srinagar, August 30 Reliable sources said any decision to reach the target and form the new Council would be known only by September 2, the last date for the formation of the new Council. There was a hung Council after the results were declared on Wednesday night. The Congress got 10 seats, National Conference (NC) eight and Independents got eight in the 26-member Council. The NC also has three elected members of its ally, Islamia School Kargil, in its kitty, taking the total number of seats to 11. The Congress, which has bagged 10 seats, has got the support of two Independents, taking its tally to 12, sources said. The sources said one more Independent had shown his tendency towards the National Conference, taking its tally to 12 on a par with the Congress. Now, two Independent candidates hold the keyto the formation of the
new Council. The local offices of the National Conference and the Congress in Kargil were abuzz with activity today as leaders were working out the modalities to ensure clear majority. However, both camps were in a “wait and watch” mood as none of them could garner the requisite numbers. The efforts are going on even as senior state-level leaders of the parties have not visited the district after the results or during the election campaign. The job had been entrusted to the local-level leaders or legislators, who have been in constant touch with the senior leadership. The local-level senior leaders include NC’s Qamar Ali Akhoon, a former minister, whose exit from the council of ministers led to “disappointment” among the local NC cadres and the vote bank in Kargil. Presently, Akhoon is the adviser to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Feroz Ahmad Khan, representing the Zanskar constituency, who is a Minister of State, is camping at Kargil to work out the modalities. Ghulam Raza, ex-Congress MLA from the Zanskar constituency, has been camping at the district headquarters and working out the possibilities of getting the requisite majority to form the new Council. |
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Fate of J&K land conversion Bill hangs in the balance
Jammu, August 30 The Bill was tabled in the Legislative Assembly in the Budget session in 2011. As political parties differed on the draft of the Bill, the then Assembly Speaker, Mohammad Akbar Lone, had referred it to the Select Committee on April 1, 2011, for its final recommendations. More than two years have passed but nothing concrete has been done to make the Bill an Act. Minister of State for Revenue Aijaz Ahmed Khan, who heads the Joint Select Committee of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council, told The Tribune that members of the committee had to give their recommendations. “After getting recommendations of the Joint Select Committee, the Bill will be again tabled in the Legislative Assembly,” he said and put the onus on the Committee for expediting the process of passing the Bill. Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir said the Revenue Department had to pilot the Bill to make it a law so as to ban the conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes. “We are making our effort to get the Bill passed,” the minister said. Kathua MLA Charanjeet Singh, who is a member of the Joint Select Committee, said it was a time-consuming process because new members of the Committee had sought more time to read the drafted Bill. In the last Budget session of the Assembly, the Bill was referred to the Joint Select Committee for deliberations. The first meeting of the Committee was held on August 29, in which new members asked the chairman to give them some time to read the Bill. “The new members will read the Bill and only after that deliberations will start again in the Joint Select Committee for final recommendations,” Singh said. The state government had tabled the Bill in the Legislative Assembly to arrest shrinking of agricultural land. Data available with the Revenue Department revealed that 1,51,352 hectares which were under cultivation in the state a few decades ago has now shrunk to 46,943 hectares. |
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International Day of Disappeared Persons
Srinagar, August 30 The local police station at Hajira’s native Wangam village in Bandipora district of north Kashmir has refused to lodge an FIR in the disappearance case of her son. Hajira’s other three sons were killed in separate incidents during the two-decade-long turmoil in the Valley. Now, all she is left with is hope which she is not ready to give up. “On the 10th of every month, I make it a point to join other men and women at Pratap Park in Srinagar to express solidarity with them. I have got no financial sources. I manage some money from chairman of the Association of Disappeared Persons Parveena Ahangar. I pay Rs 50 as bus fare from my village to Srinagar. I wail over the death of my three sons, but I have no one left to cry over my dead body. My husband died of heart attack after my sons got killed,” said Hajira. Only her eldest son, Nazir Ahmad, was married. He died after Bashir’s disappearance. “Nazir got killed in an encounter. His four children do not live with me anymore. Then my other son, Muhammad Rafiq, tried to cross the Line of Control and was killed. My youngest son, Aijaz Ahmad, was allegedly killed by security forces in Srinagar. Our family suffered a setback after Bashir disappeared. A pall of gloom has descended on our home ever since,” said a teary eyed Hajira. She alleged that Bashir was picked up by 14 Rashtriya Rifles. Bashir Ahmad Sofi’s
case is one among thousands of alleged enforced disappearances, claim APDP members. On International Day of Disappeared Persons, which was observed today the world over, the Association of Parents for Disappeared Persons (APDP) observed a silent sit-in, in which civil society activists, students, academicians and APDP members participated. The solidarity sit-in
was also observed by APDP members at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, Tata Institute of Social
Sciences, Mumbai, and Azim Premji University, Bangalore. The State Human Rights Commission, on December 24, 2012, had admitted the case of disappearances in Kashmir and issued notices to the Director General of Police and the Deputy Commissioners of Baramulla and Bandipora districts to furnish their reports regarding the disappearance of 507 persons. However, ambiguity
prevails over the actual number of disappeared persons in the Valley. On October 8, 2012, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had said 2,305 persons had been declared missing in the state since 1989 and in 182 cases FIRs had been lodged while missing reports had been filed in most of the remaining cases. |
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Gujjar deputation meets Governor
Srinagar, August 30 The demands presented by the six-member deputation, included provision of political reservation for Gujjar and Bakerwal community in the state, opening up of more mobile schools for facilitating the education of children of the community and appointment of youth of the community as Rehbar-e-Taleem, an official spokesperson said. The deputation also asked for effective implementation of the tribal sub-plan and various other Centrally-sponsored schemes, launching a special drive for the recruitment of Gujjar and Bakerwal youth in police and establishment of Gujjar and Bakerwal Bhawans at Srinagar and Jammu. Other demands presented by the delegation, included augmenting water and power supply and other civic amenities in the Gujjar and Bakerwal habitations, particularly in the remote areas of the state. The Governor gave a patient hearing to the deputation and observed that the issues raised by them would be duly taken up with the concerned authorities, he said. The deputation comprised Ch Mohammad Munshi Gorsi, Ch Mohammad Yasin Poswal, Haji Nazir Ahmad, Ch S D Bajad, Ch Mohammad Sharif and Mian Javed Nizami. |
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Kulgam youth set for Bollywood debut
Srinagar, August 30 The film also stars yesteryear glam girl Zeenat Amaan, Kapil Sharma, Yuvraj Parashar and
Norwegian actor Edith Roth Gjevjon. Danish, who is currently busy shooting in Mumbai, told The Tribune that 90 per cent of the film was complete and there are few songs which need to be shot now. “I returned from Oslo recently and we have shot a major portion of our film there. The release dates of the film will be announced soon,” Danish said. Dunno Y 2 is a sequel of the internationally acclaimed Dunno Y (Na Jaane Kyun) which was released in 2010. The film had won many accolades and was screened at the International Film Festivals in Germany, Australia and Norway. The tinsel town, however, is not new to the youngster as he has been doing regular advertisement assignments since last couple of years. Danish has been a part of advertisement campaigns involving the brands like Nokia, Samsung, Reliance, etc… and has rubbed his shoulders with the seasoned actors like Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra, apart from India cricket captain M S Dhoni. He was recently seen walking the ramp as a lead model for designer Shantanu Goel in the Lakme Fashion week. However, he made his small screen debut in March 2012 with Amrit Manthan. His performance as King Adhiraaj Singh in the soap aired on Life Ok not only won him a substantial fan base but also earned him a lot of admirers. Many believe that his acting in the daily soap got him a chance in the film. “I just walked in for the auditions and was selected for Adhiraaj’s role,” Danish recalled. Life has, however, not been a bed of roses for Danish who left his home in 2008 to realise his dream. The actor says that his alluring looks alone did not help him achieve the success and that he spent many sleepless nights to get the modelling assignments and the acting roles. “Although, we Kashmiris are blessed with good looks but that alone is not the ticket to success. I have been through a struggle too and finally got the opportunity,” Danish said. He, though, added that the boys from the Valley were talented enough and that it was just a matter of providing them with a right platform. “I think Kashmiris have got a lot of talent. All we lack is the platform and an adequate exposure,” he said. Asked about any other assignments coming his way, Danish said, “I am reading a number of scripts. There area some good offers…” The actor attributed his success to his family, who he says have always been on his side in tough situations. “I think I have come a long way from the small village in Kulgam to Mumbai --- the city of dreams. The credit goes to my family, it is all because of them that I have made it to this stage,” he said. |
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Tosa Maidan lease issue reaches rights commission
Srinagar, August 30 The lease of the firing range at the pasture, which is known for its scenic beauty, is ending early next year and the residents from villages in central Kashmir have formed a committee — Tosa Maidan Bachao Front — to oppose the extension of the agreement and to press for the shifting of the range to some other place. The complaint was filed by RTI activist Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat on Thursday. In his plea, Dr Bhat has requested the Commission to direct the state government not to extend the lease to the Union Ministry of Defence for the firing range beyond 2014, as the life and property of the residents living in the vicinity of the Maidan was at stake. “They (residents living around the pasture) are not able to earn their livelihood through tourist trade. The exploitation of admissible forest produce could be an important source of their income. At present due to abject poverty and non availability of jobs, many locals have turned to timber smuggling. This has lead to the destruction of forests in the Tosa Maidan area. The firing range could be shifted to some uninhabited area of the state,” the plea stated. It also mentioned that the relatives of those who died due to bomb blasts, artillery shelling, etc… in the area must be compensated at the same rates as applicable to Army personnel who die on duty. “The injured/disabled persons must also be monetarily compensated and government jobs provided to them,” it added. Dr Bhat also demanded that an independent enquiry be conducted into the deaths, caused due to mortar shelling in the area surrounding the Tosa Maidan firing range from the last many years. |
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Flash floods damage seven BSF posts along border
Jammu, August 30 “The recent torrential rains triggered flash floods and as a result some of our posts were damaged and one post was washed away after a river changed its course. Similarly, nearly 800 metres of the border fence has also been swept away,” said BSF (Jammu Frontier) DIG NS Jamwal. There has, however, been no let-up in the vigil despite the damage to forward posts, the officer added. “The neighbouring posts are now covering the affected areas along the border. There has been no impact on our security grid.” The DIG said the reconstruction work had begun on the damaged border outposts and fence in the affected stretches. It was the first time that a forward post had been washed away in flash floods. “Our ambush points are in place and there is no compromise on the security grid,” he said. Without giving details, the officer said the affected posts were in the Jammu region and close to rivers and rivulets. Last year, the BSF had reconstructed the fence over 500 metres in Samba district which had been damaged by torrential rains. The international border is fenced and floodlit to check infiltration and smuggling of narcotics and weapons from Pakistan. The low-lying areas, particularly those close to the Basanter, Devak and Tarnah rivers in the Samba-Katua sector, the Aik Nullah, Nikki and Baddi Tawi in the RS Pura sector of Jammu district and the Chenab river in the Pargwal sector of the Akhnoor subdivision, get inundated during monsoon. |
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Five Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including a top commander, were killed in the wee hours today after a fierce gunfight with security forces inside a forest in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, a senior Army officer here said.
Ahead of the crucial meeting of their respective party leaderships in the city tomorrow, both the Congress and the BJP workers have installed flags at various places to score over each other.
It has been a wait of 22 years for 80-year-old Hajira Begum for her son, Bashir Ahmad Sofi, who was allegedly picked up by a local Army unit in Bandipora and has not returned home since.
The local police station at Hajira’s native Wangam village in Bandipora district of north Kashmir has refused to lodge an FIR in the disappearance case of her son.
A deputation of the Gujjar and Bakerwal community from Kashmir valley today called on Governor N N Vohra at the Raj Bhawan here and presented him a memorandum of their demands.
Jammu, August 30
The 26-year-old is playing the lead role in the movie which is being directed by Sanjay Sharma and Norwegian Tonje Gjevjon.