The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Sports take back seat as political parties ‘seize’ Parade Ground
Parking of heavy vehicles and tents erected at the ground damage it badly
Arteev Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 4
Even as the state government has been laying thrust on the need to promote sports and games among the youth, sporting events have taken a back seat in the old city nowadays - courtesy election campaigning by political parties and parking of official vehicles on both the terraces of the Parade Ground.

The Parade Ground, located in the heart of the old city, has two terraces - upper terrace being maintained by the Municipal Corporation (MC) and lower terrace being maintained by the J&K Sports Council.

The lower terrace, which is generally used by sports lovers for sporting events, has been "seized" by political parties for holding big rallies. The glaring example of it is that the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which had erected large tents inside the ground for the party supremo Mayawati’s rally on April 1, has not removed them till date, forcing sports lovers and athletes to stay away from the ground.

Similarly, the upper terrace has virtually been converted into a parking place these days as the security personnel deployed with ministers and bureaucrats park their vehicles, especially pilot vehicles, on its premises leaving no space for young people to play cricket, football, etc.

"The city's sporting activities are centred around the Parade Ground. Generally, the evening or morning walkers face trouble walking in a straight line as they would remain busy avoiding the cricket or football players warming up for practice on the ground. Nowadays, the J&K Sports Council has virtually reserved the ground for political parties for holding political rallies, while the upper terrace has become a parking place for official vehicles," regretted Vishal Manhas, a sports lover, who used to go to the ground for playing cricket, but has stopped visiting the ground in view of tents erected by a political rally.

Vivek Sharma, a morning walker, said, "It is sad that the civic body has never thought of encouraging sporting events. Before the Darbar move - the biannual practice of shifting of the civil secretariat and other government departments from Srinagar to Jammu and vice-versa after every six months - the ground was given to various corporate houses and private firms to hold exhibitions, trade fairs and religious functions. After the Darbar move, it is being used for parking of private as well as official vehicles."

He said the Parade Ground was the only place in the city where the young and the old mingled every day during morning or evening hours. "See the condition of the ground these days. You can't walk easily on the ground as the movement of heavy vehicles, including trucks, inside the ground has damaged it badly," Sharma said.

"As far as the lower terrace is concerned, the political parties were bent upon damaging it while the J&K Sports Council does not have any concrete plan for draining out accumulated water from the ground after rains," he said.

Dalip Thusoo, secretary, J&K Sports Council, was not available for comments.

SHRC takes cognisance of Army man’s custodial death
Directs DGP, Commanding Officer, SHO to file factual reports
Ishfaq Tantry
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 4
The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of the custodial death of an Army man, who was the prime accused in a fake currency racket unearthed in J&K last month.

With contradictory accounts about his death in police custody, the SHRC has termed his demise as a human rights violation.

It has sought detailed factual reports from the Director General of the J&K Police and Commanding Officer of the 166 Territorial Army, where the accused was posted before his arrest in the said case.

The deceased identified as Muneer Ahmad Manhas, a resident of Kamalkote village of north Kashmir’s Uri area, was found dead in the bathroom of the Ram Munshi Bagh police station here yesterday.

Though the J&K Police in its statement said the accused used a pair of socks to hang himself by tying them with one another, his family members ruled out the suicide theory of the police and alleged that Manhas was tortured by the police during interrogation while in custody.

Quoting the media reports, the SHRC in its orders further observed that Manhas had dinner on Wednesday as routine and went to bed in the lock-up and entered the bathroom inside the lockup during night.

“However, the family of the deceased soldier have vehemently refuted the police version and accused the police of killing Manhas….They further alleged that the death of the soldier seems to be a big conspiracy,” the SHRC observed in its orders, while quoting newspaper reports about the incident.

“The news reports that appeared in a section of the Press here prima facie make out a case of human rights violation,” observed SHRC acting chairman Rafiz Fida in his orders today.

“Therefore, taking suo motu cognisance in the matter, the office is directed to register this note and the news reports …which shall form part of this order as a complaint,” it said in its orders while issuing notices to the Director General of Police, the Deputy Commissioners of Srinagar and Baramulla, Commanding Officer of the 166 Territorial Army and the SHO of the Ram Munshi Bagh police station.

In the orders issued today, the officials have been asked to file their respective detailed factual reports in the matter.

Besides, the next of the kin of the deceased have also been directed to appear on the next date of hearing fixed for May 6 and file correct statement of facts regarding the incident.

Fake currency racket

The fake currency racket operated across the region, including the city. In March, the police had arrested 12 people, who were part of the racket

On March 11, the police had said it achieved a breakthrough with the arrest of a Srinagar resident, a key operator in managing the fake currency racket in the city, who led the investigators to a network of operators, couriers and managers of the inter-district network

During subsequent investigations, the police was led to a Baramulla resident Masood-ul-Haq, who was initially suspected to be the main kingpin. Later, Haq told the police that a resident of Uri, Manhas, supplied fake currency notes to the racket, following which a renewed manhunt was launched to arrest him

SVEEP team targets devotees at Bahu Fort, urges them to vote
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 4
Teams of the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) campaign, constituted by the Election Commission of India (ECI), is targeting devotees at the Bahu Fort and other shrines during Navratras, creating awareness among them about casting their votes in the parliamentary elections. The SVEEP campaign has been entrusted with advertising for increasing voter participation.

During the ongoing religious festival at the Bahu Fort, thousands of pilgrims daily visit the shrine dedicated to Goddess Kali and a Election Commission team is telling people about the importance of voting and right to vote through an exhibition-cum-signature campaign.

It has been organised under the supervision of the District Election Officer (Deputy Commissioner), Jammu, Ajit Kumar Sahu. During the campaign the SVEEP team is sensitising pilgrims visiting the shrine to the importance of election process by using specially designed reference boards, pictures and photographs of the activities going on in the district.

A special signature book with appeal from the District Election Officer to cast vote on the voting day has also been placed at the venue wherein pilgrims sign and voluntarily pledge to vote.

"This campaign will continue till Ram Navmi. The main aim of the campaign is to reach maximum people as lakhs of devotees visit the temple, mainly women folk and the youth, and give them the message of importance of vote and the right to vote," said KK Sidha, Assistant Commissioner (Development), Nodal Officer, SVEEP, Jammu.

Cong to intensify campaigning for NC contestants in Kashmir
M Aamir Khan
Tribune News Service

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at former minister Harbans Singh’s residence during campaigning in Jammu on Friday. Tribune photo: Anand Sharma

Srinagar, April 4
The Congress is all set to intensify campaigning for the National Conference (NC) in the Valley even though the pre-poll alliance between the coalition partners did not go down well with many party workers.

Though aware of resentment among its workers towards the ruling party, the Congress has decided to “forget the past” with the aim to sweep all six parliamentary seats in the state.

“We have to do what is in our best interests. I will tell them to forget the past and move forward. We have to try our best and help the NC in the Valley just like they are campaigning for us in Jammu. We are aiming for a clean sweep,” J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Saifuddin Soz told The Tribune.

He said this when asked how the party would convince its miffed workers to support the NC during the poll campaign, for which the Congress has formed three separate committees.

As per the arrangement between the coalition partners, the NC is contesting from three constituencies in Kashmir while the Congress is contesting the remaining three from Jammu and Ladakh.

Earlier, several Congress leaders and workers had openly favoured contesting elections on their own. Soz had even thrown his weight behind the demand of workers and raised the matter with the party high command in New Delhi. Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad too had pointed out that party workers were not in favour of a pre-poll tie-up.

While the Congress did not see eye to eye with the ruling party on several issues, they were irked most by the repeated jibes of senior NC leader Mustafa Kamal, also the uncle of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who would openly hit out at the coalition partner.

Now that the Congress has decided to tie up with the NC, Soz said he would not allow any disagreement within the Congress and intensify the campaigning. “Once the high command has taken the decision, there is no room for disagreement. I was present when (NC candidate) Mehboob Beg filed nomination papers in Anantnag and I will be present when Farooq Abdullah files papers in Srinagar,” he said.

Meanwhile, the JKPCC today formed an election committee for the Srinagar parliamentary constituency headed by MLC Muzaffar Parray. The Congress has already formed committees to campaign in Baramulla and Anantnag, which are headed by MLC G N Monga and Tourism Minister G A Mir, respectively. The committees have been formed for effective liaison with the NC during campaigning in Kashmir.

‘Tainted’ minister Shabbir to campaign

A day after a local court issued summons to former Health Minister Shabbir Khan in a case of alleged molestation of a doctor, JKPCC chief Saifuddin Soz on Friday said he would continue to take part in poll campaigns. “He has not been convicted yet and he will campaign in his constituency,” Soz said. Khan had won from Jammu region's Rajouri Assembly constituency in the 2008 elections and figures among the nominated star campaigners.

Mehbooba files nomination papers again
Our Correspondent

Anantnag, April 4
Fearing rejection People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti filed her nomination papers for the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat again on Friday.

Earlier, she had filed her nomination papers on April 1 but had to wait for more than two hours as she failed to produce a bank account required as per the Election Commission of India norms. She manged to open a fresh account with a bank despite April 1 being a national bank holiday.

Sources said that the ruling National Conference (NC), who cried foul over the issue, was planning to file a complaint regarding this with the Election Commission. Mehbooba, after filing her nomination papers today, said, "I did not want to be rejected."

She said she had consulted the returning officer about it.

Mehbooba said April 1 was a bank holiday but, somehow, a local branch of a bank was working that provided a fresh bank account to her.

When asked about any complaint lodged by the NC, Mehbooba said she was unaware of any such development.

In impromptu act, Omar reaches out to auto drivers
Dinesh Manhotra
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 4
Auto-rickshaw drivers in the temple city were in for a surprise today as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in an unprecedented move broke his security cover to shake hands with them before zooming away in his motorcade.

Omar, who was on his way to his official residence after attending a meeting at Megh Sudhar Sabha in Rehari, stopped his vehicle at an auto-rickshaw stand in front of the Tourism Reception Centre on the busy Residency Road of the walled city around 12.25 pm.

Surprised by the unprecedented action of the Chief Minister, an auto-rickshaw driver greeted Omar, who in turn lowered the windowpane of his vehicle and began interacting with the drivers. The drivers appeared overwhelmed by Omar’s spontaneous gesture.

Omar sought votes for Congress candidate Madan Lal Sharma, who is contesting the election from the Jammu-Poonch parliamentary seat.

Incidentally, after the Aam Aadmi Party’s success in the Delhi Assembly elections, auto-rickshaws are being viewed by parties as a significant target group.

Earlier, the Chief Minister addressed a meeting at the Megh Sudhar Sabha. The meeting, organised by veteran Scheduled Caste (SC) leader of the NC Ram Paul, was attended by leaders and workers of the coalition.

Omar along with Minister for Planning Ajay Sadhotra and provincial president of the NC Devender Singh Rana also visited the residence of former minister Sardar Harbans Singh. While interacting with mediapersons at Singh’s residence, Omar said it was known to everyone that BJP leaders were responsible for the demolition of the Babri Masjid.

Poll cauldron boils as NC, PDP gear up for fight
Azhar Qadri
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 4
The two key political parties of Kashmir, the ruling National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are fighting it out against each other on a host of issues, including the decades-old demand for restoration of autonomy.

The battle also revolves around the emotive sloganeering, a promise of vocal presence in Parliament and a theoretical agenda of change.

With parties’ stalwarts pitted against each other in the Valley, the electioneering here remains a combo of promises, fears, agendas and apprehensions.

Interestingly, the coming elections would also seal the fate of presidents of both the parties as NC chief and sitting MP is seeking re-election from the Srinagar constituency, while PDP president Mehbooba Mufti is trying her luck from the Anantnag parliamentary segment.

Last Wednesday, when BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi was addressing a rally at Hiranagar in Kathua district, Farooq warned his party workers of the impending threat if the leader was voted to power.

“Such a plague is coming, God protect us, God protect us,” Farooq said in a theatrical monologue at a meeting of party workers in central Kashmir’s Budgam district. “Pray to God to protect this country,” he added.

Farooq continued to instill a sense of fear and apprehension about the repercussions if Modi-led BJP was voted to power.

“You should shelve your disagreements. This is the time to save the country. (If) country is saved, you will be saved. (If) country is not saved, neither you nor I will survive,” he told the workers.

In the state’s political landscape, where former allies have become enemies and former opponents have charted out alliances, the BJP prime ministerial candidate has become an electioneering issue and is being projected as a bogeyman to attract voters.

“My brothers, if you want Narendra Modi to become the Prime Minister of this country, then vote for any party other than the National Conference, because that vote will directly go to Modi,” Omar Abdullah, the working president of NC, told the workers meet in Budgam.

The state’s ruling party, which was a part of the NDA alliance led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, was partnering the Congress, while the PDP was trying to warm up to the BJP.

The PDP in the recent past has been seen issuing statements against its erstwhile ally the Congress blaming it for being “equally responsible” for the prevailing “mess” in the state.

The decades-old demand for autonomy, a pre-1953 arrangement when the state had its own Prime Minister, was also back in vogue in the political discourse of the ruling party.

The demand is being promoted as “the best political solution” to the state’s “political issue”.

The PDP, whose alliance with the Congress fractured apart in 2008, has released a manifesto titled “agenda of change”.

The party in its manifesto claimed that its role would be to make Parliament “a forum for representing the JK issue for debate and dialogue” at the national level.

The PDP said its representatives, if elected to Parliament would work on “five pillars”, which include “democratic participation, political resolution, emotional reconciliation, economic collaborations and socio-cultural association”.

The arch-rivals, that have the Kashmir region’s three parliamentary seats as their main contesting zone, have also engaged in harsh war of words against each other.

While the PDP has accused the NC of presiding “over the killing of hundreds of youth” in the state, the NC shot back accusing the PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed of “unleashing the bloodiest year of repression and injustice” during his tenure as the Union Home Minister in 1990.

In the fight for Srinagar, the two parties are also portraying each other as the villain. While the ruling NC accused the PDP of wreaking havoc in the city during its tenure, the PDP retaliated accusing the NC of turning the summer capital into a “concentration camp”, which gives a feel of a “brutal Nazi era”.

BJP slams NC’s hate campaign against Modi
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 4
The BJP today accused the National Conference-Congress coalition of unleashing a hate campaign against its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. Asserting that the coalition was creating an unnecessary debate between secularism and communalism, the BJP said the coalition was only diverting attention of the voters from core issues.

“The coalition has unleashed a hate campaign against Narendra Modi as it has no positive agenda for the people and the country and is only trying to divert people’s attention from real issues that the people face,” spokesperson of the BJP’s Kashmir unit Altaf Thakur said after a party meeting held here.

“The frustrated Congress and NC leaders are converting the pious democratic and electoral exercise into a debate between secularism and communalism. It is a fact that the Congress and the NC have all along sought to divide society on caste, religious and regional lines. The latest example is AICC president Sonia Gandhi’s statement that the Muslims should vote in one direction,” he added.

The BJP leader said that instead of contesting election on democratic and economic issues, the NC and the Congress were indulging in negative campaigning to create bitterness between communities and regions.

Thakur claimed that the Modi wave was sweeping the country, including Jammu and Kashmir.

BJP relieved as refugee leader Labha Ram pulls out of polls
Dinesh Manhotra
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 4
A week after BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi promised to solve the problems faced by the refugees in Jammu and Kashmir, Labha Ram Gandhi, chairman, West Pakistani Refugees Action Committee, today announced withdrawal of his candidature in support of BJP nominee for the Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat Jugal Kishore Sharma.

Gandhi had earlier filed his nomination as a consensus candidate of the Refugee United Front.

The decision had given sleepless nights to the BJP and Modi, while addressing a rally at Hiranagar in Kathua on March 26, had tried win back their support by announcing that he will take personal interest in solving the issues faced by the community.

“Days are not far when problems of all refugees, including those from the West Pakistan, would be solved. I will personally monitor that issues concerning the refugees of J&K are addressed,” Modi had said during his rally at Hiranagar.

The leader’s assurance seems to have worked in favour of the party as Gandhi decided to pull out of the election fray.

“After Modiji’s promise there is no reason for us to fight elections,” Gandhi told The Tribune.

He added that refugees have decided to campaign for the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections.

Earlier, the refugee leader held a press conference and told the reporters that he would not be contesting from the Jammu-Poonch parliamentary segment.

Gandhi represents the West Pakistani refugees, who have the right to vote in the LoK Sabha polls, but do not enjoy the same privilege when it comes to the Assembly elections as they have been deprived of citizenship right by successive state governments.

Modi in a deliberate attempt to woo the refugee voters had raked up the issue of the denial of citizenship rights to the West Pakistani refugees.

The BJP leader had said it was due to the Article 370 that the West Pakistani refugees had been deprived of citizenship and other constitutional rights, which other residents of J&K were enjoying.

Reports also suggested that there were serious differences within the Refugee Front over the decision to field their own candidate from the Jammu-Poonch segment.

A group of refugees under the banner of the Jammu and Kashmir PoK Refugees Front had opposed the decision to field a candidate against the BJP.

NC govt has failed to fulfil its promises: Mufti
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 4
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said in view of the unmistakable wave of anger against the NC government, the government narrative has become more incoherent, unconvincing and at times comic.

Mufti said there was a wave of anger against the government and the Chief Minister was making the promises, which he failed to fulfil in the past five and a half years.

Instead of making fresh announcements, the Chief Minster should present the report card of his achievements, Mufti said. “His inability to give an account of his achievements is understandable as the government has only scams, scandals, mismanagement and corruption to its credit," Mufti said. He said Omar Abdullah had wasted six years.

Referring to Chief Minister’s latest announcements about granting the Social Tribe (ST) status to the Pahari population of the state, Mufti said making such a pledge at the last leg of his term was insensitive towards the people of the state.

He said the revelation made by the Chief Minister about his resignation against Gujarat riots after 12 years was an attempt befool the people.

NC's Rattanpuri not to campaign for party
Majid Jahangir
Tribune News Service

Ghulam Nabi Rattanpuri

Srinagar, April 4
National Conference Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Nabi Rattanpuri, who has been at loggerheads with his party leadership, will not campaign for his party this Lok Sabha elections.

"I will not campaign for the NC in the upcoming poll, but surely will vote for party candidate Mehboob Beg, who is a far better parliamentarian than Mehbooba Mufti of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)," said Rattanpuri, who hails from south Kashmir's Pulwama district.

Rattanpuri, a former broadcaster, was elected unopposed on the NC ticket to the Rajya Sabha in 2009. However, he developed differences with the party leadership, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Last year, he earned ire of the party when he criticised NC founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah and termed hardline Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Geelani as the "tallest leader" of Kashmir. Last year, the MP even went to meet separatist leader Geelani in Delhi, when he was ill.

Despite his open differences with the NC, Rattanpuri claimed that the PDP was in no way a better option for the people in the Valley.

"The PDP since its inception has been cheating people and this time too when the elections are round the corner, its leaders claim that they will represent the Muslims. This is totally misleading," said the Rajya Sabha member, who contested the Pulwama Assembly seat in 2008, but was only able to secure over 3,000 votes and stood third.

Poll code violation: Patwari faces transfer
Shyam Sood

Rajouri, April 4
After several complaints of helping a particular party in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections, a patwari posted at patwar halqa Thanamandi since 2006 has been recommended for immediate transfer by the Nodal Officer of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violation.

Sources said a few days ago a written complaint was lodged with the Complaint Monitoring Cell that patwari Mohammad Azam from halqa Thanamndi had been organising meetings at different houses in favour of the People Democratic Party (PDP) candidate and also directing the people who came in his contact to vote for the PDP candidate. The matter was investigated by revenue officials of Thanamndi and the report forward to the Nodal Officer had said the compliant was found to be fake.On March 30, another deputation of people of the area, including Abdul Majid and Mushtaq, again met Farooq Shah, Nodal Officer, and informed him that the patwari was still involved in favouring a particular political party.

Sukhdev Singh Samyal, Assistant Commissioner (Revenue), said the recommendation was forwarded to the District Election Officer (DEO)

Cong forms poll panel in Anantnag

Srinagar, April 4
The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) has formed a campaign committee for Anantnag constituency ahead of the Parliamentary elections.JKPCC president Saifuddin Soz said the committee had been constituted for effective liaison with the National Conference, with whom they had entered into a pre-poll alliance.

Tourism Minister GA Mir has been nominated chairman of the committee and MLC Bashir Ahmad Magrey vice-chairman.Soz said Mir would immediately get in touch with the NC leadership to ensure effective coordination during campaigning at the district level. —TNS

Twitter discourse scary, says CM

Srinagar, April 4
Reacting to the comments attracted by an article published in a London-based magazine on a social networking site, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said the discourse, ‘You are either with me or a paid off traitor’, was “scary”.

Omar was commenting following twitterati’s angry reactions to an article published in The Economist that recommended Rahul Gandhi-led government as a ‘less disturbing’ option than the one led by BJP’s Narendra Modi.

“Please tell there is going to be place for disagreement or an alternative view point without being abused for it come the middle of May,” Omar wrote on Twitter.

“There certainly doesn’t seem to be any place for it now. This, ‘You are either with me or a paid off traitor’, discourse is scary,” he wrote. Omar said people are claiming to ‘not give a damn’ about the article, but continue to discuss it. — TNS

EC woos women voters in Reasi
Our Correspondent

Katra, April 4
Deputy Election Officer Joginder Singh Rai laid stress on the need for women to exercise their right to vote at Reasi. He was addressing a training programme organised for female teachers on Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) here today.

The training was organised by the District Election Officer for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and was attended by over 500 female teachers of the district.

Rai said, “The voting percentage of women was less as compared to the percentage of votes cast by men during the last elections. It is the duty of the women representatives to educate women to participate in the election process.”

The training was organised with an aim to create awareness among working women in the organised and unorganised sectors to increase their participation in the voting process, said Rai.

Dr Jagdish Mehra, nodal officer, SVEEP, while addressing the gathering, said the gender gap in voter participation had increased in the country in the past few years. He added that an enabling environment would be created by the Election Commission of India for the working and rural women.

The authorities would create awareness among women voters, he said.

Chief Education Officer, Reasi, Ashok Sanyal said, “Partnership with various departments such as social welfare, health and education has been initiated to spread electoral literacy among rural women. A number of awareness programmes under SVEEP in schools, colleges and universities have been organised under the guidance of the DEO to create awareness among female students about universal adult suffrage.”

66% polling stations marked hypersensitive in Srinagar
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 4
Over 95 per cent polling stations in Srinagar parliamentary constituency, which is scheduled to go to polls on April 30, have been designated as hypersensitive and sensitive.

Out of the total of 1,546 polling stations in the constituency, 1,021 have been designated as hypersensitive, while 470 have been marked as sensitive, which together constitute for 96.4 per cent of total polling stations of the Srinagar parliamentary segment.

A marginal 3.6 per cent or 55 polling stations in the constituency have been categorised as normal.

The segment is spread over three districts, including the summer capital.

“Out of the total number of these polling stations, 1,021 are hypersensitive, 470 are sensitive and 55 are normal,” Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Farooq Ahmad Shah, who is also the District Election Officer for the constituency, told reporters here.

He added that the numbers were ascertained by the security agencies and magistrates.

Shah, however, said a security plan has been formulated for all the three districts where polling will be held at 968 locations.

Meanwhile, the poll notification for the constituency was also issued today.

“The last date of filing nominations will be April 9. Scrutiny of nominations will be conducted on April 10 and the last date for withdrawal of nomination will be April 12,” the official said.

Srinagar parliamentary segment comprises Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal districts. The Deputy Commissioner said 804 polling stations would be located in Srinagar district, 540 in Budgam district and 202 in Ganderbal district.

“In addition to these, 13 polling stations will be established in Jammu, four in Delhi and one in Udhampur for migrant voters,” he said.

Shah further said 11,71,772 voters have registered so far in the Srinagar constituency and the number was continuously increasing. In 2009 parliamentary election, the number of voters in the constituency was 11,06,729.

Srinagar is likely to witness a close contest between the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

While the NC, which is partnering the Congress in a pre-poll seat sharing arrangement, has announced to field sitting MP and party president Farooq Abdullah from the constituency, the PDP would field its urban-face and former finance minister of the state Tariq Hameed Karra from Srinagar.

Farooq had defeated PDP’s Iftikhar Hussain Ansari by 30,242 votes in 2009.

The Deputy Commissioner, meanwhile, said elaborate arrangements have been made to maintain law and order in the constituency.

He said 15 assistant expenditure observers, 15 video surveillance teams, 15 video viewing teams, 15 accounting teams, 45 flying squads, 45 static surveillance teams, 45 magistrates, 22 zonal officers and 87 sector officers have been appointed for the election related duty.

Number game

Out of the total of 1,546 polling stations in the Srinagar constituency, 1,021 have been designated as hypersensitive and 470 have been marked as sensitive

A marginal 3.6 per cent or 55 polling stations have been categorised as normal

Police issues terror alert for Kathua, Samba, Jammu
BSF, CRPF to remain vigilant, Army keeps close watch on LoC
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 4
Following the March 28 twin terror attacks in Kathua district tat left two civilians and a soldier dead, DIG, Jammu-Kathua-Samba Range, Shakeel Beig today issued a fresh terror alert to the respective SSPs of Jammu, Kathua and Samba.

Beig also told the BSF and the CRPF to remain “extra vigilant” in border areas and on the Jammu-Pathankot highway to thwart a “possible terror strike”. The Tribune has the copy of the DIG’s order to the SSPs of Jammu, Samba and Kathua.

“Please remain extra vigilant in your respective jurisdiction, especially in border areas/national highway during the intervening night of April 3 and 4 as most of the infiltration bids followed by terrorist attacks have been carried out during the wee hours of Friday,” the order stated.

It further stated, “All border police posts/police stations/naka parties be kept on high alert. Quick Response Teams (QRTS)/Flying Squads/PCR vans be activated. Mobile patrolling in fully equipped QRTs be intensified, especially in border areas/national highway to avoid any untoward incident. All the vehicles coming from border side during wee hours be thoroughly checked at strategic locations by the fully-equipped naka parties.”

When contacted, a senior police officer said, “Brainwashed in the name of so called ‘jihad’, the suicide squads of terror outfits usually strike on Fridays. Their mentors indoctrinate and radicalise them and it has been seen that they usually strike on Fridays.”

Last year’s twin terror attacks on Hiranagar police station and the Army camp of 16 Cavalry Unit in Samba district on September 26 happened on Thursday, but we should not forget that the three terrorists, who were killed in a day-long gunbattle, had plans to prolong the operation and take it to Friday, the officer said.

Beig, who initially was reluctant to speak, said the police didn’t want to take any chance with the security.

“Before they (terrorists) come inside and carry out the strike on Friday, it is good for us to stop them before they strike. They usually choose Fridays,” said Beig.

He added that the police was fully alert to the situation.Post-Kathua terror attacks, the Army is also keeping a close watch on the Line of Control (LoC) in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch.

“There are absolutely perfect arrangements on the LoC. There is movement at various launch pads on the other side of the LoC, but that’s a routine,” an Army source said.Similarly, infiltration attempts are also a usual phenomenon but the Army is fully prepared for any eventuality, added the source.

The Jammu-Poonch parliamentary constituency, having 20 Assembly segments with 17 lakh voters, is scheduled to go to polls on April 10.

The directive

Remain extra vigilant in your respective jurisdiction, especially in border areas/national highway during the intervening night of April 3 and 4 as most of the infiltration bids followed by terrorist attacks have been carried out during the wee hours of Friday

Rain lashes Kashmir valley
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 4
While the Kashmir valley continues to reel under a heavy spell of rain even after the onset of spring, the state weather department has forecasted that the downpour is likely to increase in coming days.

The rainfall, which began in the evening yesterday, continued intermittently throughout the night and during the day today.

According to the state Meteorological Department, the city received 12.1 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours (till today morning).

Kashmir region witnessed a lengthy winter and received heavy snow and rainfall in March, which was unprecedented in the recent decade.

The Meteorological Department in its forecast bulletin said light to moderate rain and thundershowers would occur at many places over the state in the next 24 hours.

The department said there was a possibility of increase in precipitation during the next two days till April 7 following which there were chances of decrease in downpour.

Ex-MLA’s daughter to join politics

Srinagar, April 4
Former lawmaker and MLA Mohammad Shafi Bhat’s medico daughter Hina Khan is all set to join politics this weekend.

Hina, 34, said she would contest the Assembly elections scheduled later this year from the Amira Kadal constituency of Srinagar - which was represented by her father twice.

“I will be joining politics on Sunday and will contest the upcoming Assembly elections from Amira Kadal,” said Khan. “I have not decided as to which party I will join,” she added.

Bhat had won the Amira Kadal seat in 1996 on the National Conference ticket. Bhat, who was denied ticket by the NC in the 2002 poll, later joined the Congress and he defeated the NC’s Ghulam Nabi Mir. Now, Bhat is not active in politics due to his ailing health. — TNS

NC president meets public delegations
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 4
National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah, who is the party’s candidate for Srinagar parliamentary constituency, today met various public delegations in the city here and took stock of their grievances.

Farooq said, “The party has a history of rendering sacrifices for the people of the state. The NC is the sole guardian of the state’s identity, culture, diversity and unity.”

The NC president said the state had survived numerous conspiracies and ploys to dilute its unique constitutional status. “The NC will never allow the apologetic proxies of communal parties to divide the people of this state for their short-term, electoral and political gains,” he added.

“It has always been the goal of the National Conference to fight poverty, destitution and hopelessness and the party has achieved historic feats in mitigating the problems of our people,” Farooq said.

The NC, which has a pre-poll alliance with the Congress in the state, has announced to field Farooq for the second consecutive term from Srinagar constituency.

As part of campaigning for the elections, NC leader and Eidgah MLA Mubarak Gul held a roadshow in Eidgah constituency.

Gul asked the people to vote in favour of Farooq in the parliamentary elections.

April chill gives residents reason to smile, but adds to farmers’ woes
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 4
With sun still playing hide and seek, April chill is giving residents a reason to smile. Hovering clouds over the city with interment showers in the past few days has created a balmy weather, with residents enjoying the cool weather before facing the ruthless hot days, which lay ahead.

Weatherman says that maximum temperature is four degrees below normal and there is a strong indication that Jammu will receive moderate to light rainfall during the next two days. As per the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast maximum temperature from April 5 to 8 will remain between 25°C to 28°C, while the minimum temperature will remain between 13°C and 15°C.

"We are expecting cloudy weather till April 9 and after that hot conditions will prevail. Western Disturbance (WD) extended itself over J&K and that is the reason for the cold conditions." said Dr BC Sharma, weather scientist at SKUAST-Jammu.

However, while the residents are enjoying the pleasant days before facing the ruthless heatwave, farmers are quite concerned over the present conditions. As the harvesting of wheat has just started, cultivators are worried over the sudden rainfall or hailstorm, which could destroy the standing crops.

"It has happened several times in recent years that as we began harvesting, weather gods played mischief. Sunshine is important during coming days. We pray that there should be no rain during the next two weeks and we can harvest our crops, which is our only source of livelihood," said a farmer, Chet Ram.

School authorities not implementing tobacco Act: NGO
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 4
The J&K Voluntary Health Association, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) working for eradication of smoking and use of drugs in J&K, has alleged that the school authorities in Jammu are not implementing the Prohibition of Tobacco Act-2003.

The association has praised the education authorities in the Kashmir region for implementing the Act in proper way and submitting details about the steps taken to curtail the sale of tobacco products outside the educational institutions.

As per the Section-6 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 (COTPA), there is a ban on the sale of tobacco to minors and prohibition on sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of educational institutions.

The NGO says that the government with technical support from the J&K Voluntary Health Association have already conducted sensitisation workshops for the Chief Education Officers (CEOs) of both the Jammu and Kashmir regions. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), carried out by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare among students in India, reveals that 14.6 per cent of 13-15-year-old students are using tobacco in India. Of these, 8.1 per cent of students smoke tobacco. As many as 11 per cent of all male students surveyed were found to be smoking or using tobacco products, while 6 per cent of female students were found to be using tobacco products and 3.7 per cent smoking tobacco.

Militant hideout busted in Doda
Our Correspondent

Doda, April 4
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, a militant hideout in Puneja-Bhaderwah forests of Doda was busted by the Jammu and Kashmir police and the Army yesterday evening.

Six weapons and eight kg of RDX were also recovered.

After about 48 hours of intense search, security forces found a well organised hideout in Bhadani Nala. As per reports, warlike stores comprising arms, ammunition, communication equipment, logistic support items, literature-related to terrorists and Pakistani currency were also found.

The major items recovered from the hideout included an AK-47 rifle with two magazines, one 303 rifle, two Chinese pistols with magazines, a .12 bore single-barrel gun, a country-made pistol, seven hand grenades and a grenade of UBGL. Explosives, including eight kg of RDX, two electric detonators, six high-frequency hand-held radio sets and a large quantity of ammunition for sniper rifle Pikka were also recovered.

Though no arrest has been made so far, the security forces continue to comb the area. A senior police officer said the cache of terror material, particularly the weaponry, appeared to be an old dump of the militants.

The Bhaderwah-Doda belt is a part of the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency, which is going to polls on April 17. Union Minister Gulam Nabi Azad is contesting from the Udhampur Lok Sabha seat.

Staff crunch cripples health services in north Kashmir
Javid A Malla

Baramulla, April 4
The government’s claims of ensuring better healthcare in the primary and secondary health institutions in the state have fallen flat in north Kashmir's Baramulla district, which faces acute shortage of doctors and paramedical staff.

Not only peripheral hospitals, even District Hospital, Baramulla, faces the shortage of staff. For the10 lakh population of the district, there are a total of 200 health institutions including, district hospital, sub-district hospitals and other primary health institutions.

The district comprises 10 medical blocks and they fall short of 40 specialist doctors against the 78 sanctioned posts, while 88 positions of assistant surgeon are vacant against the 234 sanctioned posts and six posts of dental surgeon are also vacant in the district.

Moreover, the district is short of 342 non-gazetted staff against the 1,498 sanctioned posts.

The District Hospital, Baramulla, which caters to a heavy rush of patients faces dearth of 25 specialist doctors and assistant surgeons against the sanctioned posts of 74. The hospital is short of 54 paramedics against a total of 118 sanctioned posts in various categories.

The staff shortage has hit the medicare and night surgeries are yet to take place in the hospital.

Medical Superintendent, District Hospital, Baramulla, Dr Bashir Ahmad Chalkoo admitted that night surgeries were yet to take place in the hospital. He said four doctors man the night services in the hospital, while 10 doctors remain on call, if need arises. The staff shortage has not only taken heavy toll on patient care, but has also overburdened the hosital staff.

The situation is grim in the Sub-district Hospital, Sopore. It lacks nine specialist doctors against the sanctioned strength of 15. There are only 19 assistant surgeons in the hospital against 49 sanctioned posts, 85 posts of paramedical and non-paramedical staff are also lying vacant against 296 sanctioned posts.

The shortage of staff has also hit the functioning of the sole maternity hospital in north Kashmir — Mother and Child Hospital, Sopore.

According to officials, the hospital has no sanctioned post of any doctor and was being manned by the doctors on deputation.

The situation is no different in other medical blocks of the district. Director, Health Services, Saleem-ur-Rehman maintained that almost all vacant posts were referred to recruitment agencies.

“Around 350 vacant posts have been filled in different categories, including specialist doctors and assistants surgeons. But their posting is yet to be made. That is why posts still seem vacant,” Rehman said.

“If the postings could not be made during the elections, the same would be ensured after the elections,” he said.

Durbar Move offices in Jammu to close on Apr 25
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 4
The Civil Secretariat and other move offices will remain closed here on April 25 and 26, while all these offices will reopen in the Summer Capital of Srinagar on May 5.

According to a government order issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) here today, the government offices observing a five-day week would remain closed in the winter capital--Jammu on April 25 after the office hours and the offices observing a six-day week would remain closed on April 26 after the office hours. However, all these offices would reopen at Srinagar on May 5.

All the departments have been asked to ensure that records are packed in boxes after working hours on last working day.

It has been ordered that the offices moving in camp shall carry only 33 per cent of the strength of staff in that particular office or with10 officials, whichever is minimum.

All departments have been asked to send their advance parties on April 21, comprising one gazetted officer and four to five non-gazetted employees to receive the records in Srinagar. The departments will ensure that boxes are properly locked and their keys reach the advance parties at Jammu well in time.

The State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) has been asked to make available sufficient number of buses in good condition for transportation of Kashmir based employees on April 26 and 27 and Jammu based employees on May 3 and 4.

The SRTC will also make available trucks for shifting the records from Srinagar to Jammu. The trucks will be requisitioned by the departments from the J&K SRTC and these will be allowed to enter the secretariat premises after 5 pm on the last working day.

Loading of trucks will commence on the day following the last working day. Loading of records in the offices located outside the Secretariat premises, observing a six-day week, will take place after working hours on the last working day.

Valley youth to be part of global education programme
To rub shoulders with Pakistan’s Malala Yousafzai
Bismah Malik
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 4
Nadeem Qadri, a young environment activist from the Valley, will rub shoulders with Pakistan’s Malala Yousafzai in a United Nations-supported initiative to help provide education to school dropouts.

Nadeem will be a part of the 500-member ‘Global Youth Ambassadors Group’ that would campaign for the global education.

The 28-year-old activist was selected for the programme by a UK-based charity organisation, A World at School.

The organisation in collaboration with the United Nations is scheduled to conduct a day-long ‘2015 Countdown Summit’ on April 10 in Washington.

The event would be inaugurated by UN Secretary General Bank Ki-Moon and the UN Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown.

Nadeem is the founder president of Jammu and Kashmir Youth Parliament, a group working for implementation of environment laws in J&K.

The youngster has been instrumental in raising concern over the preservation of extinct wildlife species of the state.

He has worked with many international organisations like the Action Aid International, Amnesty International (London) and World Coalition.

On December 16, 2008, Nadeem presented a paper on ‘Universal Declaration on Human Rights’ as a guest speaker at Christian University, Bangalore.

He was also awarded a fellowship by the Action Aid International for “Child Rights of Children in Conflict in J&K: Problems and Solutions”.

Nadeem hopes to bring a change in the education scenario of the violence affected J&K through the digital mobilization initiative by the UN for promoting education.

“The Global Youth Ambassador programme will also be officially announced on the occasion and all the 500 youth involved in the programme will be made ambassadors for the programme committed to speak up and take action for education in their respective communities,” Nadeem said.

“I believe that we can change the future of youth in our state by joining hands with those who wish to promote education globally,” he said.

“I am particularly inspired by Malala’s courageous act of standing up for millions of children globally who are kept out of school because of conflict, poverty, early marriage, child labour and different forms of discrimination,” the young activist added.

In J&K, as per the Education Department report 43,000 children remain out of schools with a majority in the age group of 6-14 years.

Junior clerk caught taking bribe
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 4
Deepak Sharma, a junior clerk at the office of the Transport Commoner, Jammu, was caught while taking a bribe of Rs 5,000 on Thursday.. It was not for the first time that a corruption case has been registered against him. Earlier, he was booked in a corruption case during a raid at the Regional Transport Office (RTO), Jammu, in 2009. However, no challan was presented against him in the court allegedly due to the alleged influence of some senior officers.

Sources in the department said, “During a raid at the Regional Transport Office, Jammu, in January 2009, Deepak Sharma was found to be the main accused and remained in custody for 22 days. However, despite serious charges against him, no chalan was presented against him in the court and he was again posted at the transport office.” Deepak Sharma belongs to the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) but due to his connection with higher officials and politicians he remained posted at the Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) on deputation basis.

Sources said bungling of crores of rupees was found during the raid at Jammu RTO in 2009. “There is a nexus between higher officials of the department and the accused. A big amount earned through unfair means goes to the higher official who support and recommend to appoint him in his favourite department,” sources added.

It was found that he was using a luxury car and wearing heavy gold jewellery, which shows that his income was not confined to his salary. R K Chalotra, SSP, Vigilance, said, “He is now under custody of the Vigilance Department. The investigation is on and a case has also been registered against him,” he added.

Residents demand construction of Kupwara-Lolab road

Kupwara, April 4
Residents of Lolab valley have demanded the construction of the Kupwara-Lolab road at the earliest. They were facing problems due to dilapidated road, connecting at least 40 villages of the Lolab valley with the rest of Kupwara district. “The road is full of potholes and it takes about two hours to reach Sogam from Kupwara,” said Abdul Rashid Bhat from Sogam.

“Often we reach school late due to unattended road. The vehicles ply at a snail’s pace from Zangli to Charkote, a 10 km stretch, which has been rendered almost non-motorable due to the negligence of the R&B Department,” said Lateef Ahmad, a Class XII student from Devar.

Residents said in 2009, a bypass to Lolab was started but the work was suspended in 2010 due to unknown reasons. At present, the road connecting Lolab with Kupwara passes through Army’s 28 Infantry Division at Zangli.

Abdul Haq Khan, MLA, Lolab, said: “The Governor assured me of that he would take up the matter with the government. However, so far, the work has not been resumed.” — OC

Tosa Maidan firing range
Mirwaiz threatens stir if lease extended
Ishfaq Tantry
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 4
Supporting villagers, who have been opposing the extension of lease of the Tosa Maidan field firing range in central Kashmir's Budgam district, moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today threatened that any extension by the government would be opposed tooth and nail.

Mirwaiz said this while addressing a Friday gathering in Jama Mosque here.

The lease of the firing range expires on April 18. However, local villagers have been opposing the extension of lease and demanding shifting of the firing range from Tosa Maidan.

On the other hand, the J&K Government-appointed panel is yet to make any progress in identifying an alternative site for relocating the firing range, which has also become a poll issue in the trouble-torn Valley.

In fact, the high-powered panel has asked the Army to come up with its requirements for the firing range in place of Tosa Maidan.

"The state has become an area with the highest concentration of the Armed forces in the world and India instead of decreasing its Army establishment in the region, is increasing their number in order to prolong hold over the area on one or the other pretext," Mirwaiz said.

Mirwaiz said any attempt to extend the lease of Tosa Maidan land to the Army would be unacceptable.

"In Tosa Maidan area alone, 67 innocent people have so far got killed and many injured due to the firing exercises undertaken by the Army and unexploded shells lying around in the area," Mirwaiz said.

Tulip Garden opens today
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 4
Asia’s largest Tulip Garden located in the foothills of Zabarwan range will be reopened here tomorrow. Bad weather conditions had delayed its reopening.

This season, visitors will be greeted by 25 new varieties of tulips, specially imported from Holland, which will bloom among over 6.5 lakh bulbs in the garden. It has become a major tourist attraction in Kashmir.

“This time, there will be 108 varieties on display out of which 25 are new that have been imported from Holland. These new varieties have been successfully grown. In total, the garden will have over 6.72 lakh flowers this year,” an official for the Floriculture Department said.

However, he said, “It may still take a week’s time for the garden to witness a full bloom of tulips as the city has been witnessing frequent spells of rain.”