The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

IndiaVotes 2014
Border dwellers turn out in large numbers to vote against terror
Elaborate security arrangements ensure peaceful voting in Kathua district
Arteev Sharma
Tribune News Service

Ladwal (Hiranagar), April 17
Despite the recent terror attacks in Samba and Kathua districts, unprecedented enthusiasm was today witnessed among voters staying close to the Indo-Pak border as they turned out in large numbers to exercise their franchise against cross-border terrorism.

Since early morning, all polling stations in border villages in the Hiranagar and Kathua areas had long queues of voters, including the elderly, first-time voters and ex-servicemen.

“Whenever Assembly and parliamentary elections have been held in the state, I have always cast my vote. This could be my last vote and I didn’t want to waste my vote,” said 103-year-old Masu Ram at the polling station in Government Higher Secondary School in Hiranagar. He was probably the oldest voter of the Kathua-Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha segment.

Ashwani Kumar, 55, an ex-serviceman at a polling station in Ladwal, just 500 metres from the Indo-Pak border said, “Every voter in this long queue is a soldier and we are casting our votes in favour of a strong government which has the capability of taking some tough decisions to end cross-border terrorism.”

Accompanied by a family member, 89-year-old Om Prakash, who had come to cast his vote at a polling station in Government High School, Khanpur, said: “My children were telling me not to vote as the elections in the past have not brought any significant change in our lives. Yet, I decided to vote and will continue to do so till the end.”

Nisha, one of the 64,030 new voters in the constituency, was quite elated to be the part of the election process. She said, “The border people are living under the constant fear of terror attacks and bullets from across the border. Nobody wants to leave homes during firing by Pakistan, which it often resorts to in our areas. My vote is against that firing and terrorism. I wish to have a strong government in the Centre.”

Security agencies had made elaborate arrangements to ensure peaceful and incident-free voting at all polling stations, especially in the border belts of Kathua district.

Ten persons, including a Lt Colonel, three soldiers and four policemen, were killed in twin terror attacks in Hiranagar and Samba on September 26 last year after three fidayeens had struck a police station and an Army camp. In another attack on March 28, three heavily armed Pakistani militants in fatigues had killed two civilians and a soldier in Kathua district.

2014 a historic chance to bring in change: Mufti
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 17
Peoples Democratic Party party patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said 2014 offered a historic opportunity to the state to defeat the vested interests that have held it captive for several decades.

Addressing a public meeting in Batamaloo segment of Srinagar parliamentary constituency, Mufti urged the people of Srinagar to vote for the PDP. He said for any change in the system and governance to be credible, it was essential that the politically conscious people of Srinagar led from the front.

He said the unchallenged dominance of the NC for most part of the last century had resulted in complete degeneration of the party. It neither provided a voice to the people nor took care of their needs, he added.

“The NC has now become a power broker that sells the interests of the state and its people for its share of power and luxury. The party has lost its representative character and credibility and is on a life support system, which will not last long.” said Mufti.

Mufti lashed out at the NC-Congress coalition, saying that it had brought nothing but miseries and destruction as a result of misgovernance, corruption and inefficiency.

“Out of 126 persons killed in 2010 by the Omar Abdullah government, most of the victims belonged to Srinagar. Thousands have been involved in multiple police cases and an entire generation has been labelled as stone-throwers, drug addicts, Lashkar-e-Toiba agents and criminals,” he said.

He said the PDP had made a strong beginning for the reconstruction of Srinagar along with other parts of the state in spite of the fact that it had no representative from Srinagar.

“But we considered Srinagar as the heart of Kashmir and wanted it to be in good shape for the entire region to feel good,” he said.

Mufti said the initiatives taken by his government had unfortunately been abandoned by the Omar government in spite of the fact that it owed its existence to the eight seats in the Assembly from the city.

Speaking on the occasion, the party’s candidate for the Srinagar parliamentary constituency, Tariq Hameed Karra, said both the NC and the Congress had failed the people of J&K.

Omar again hits out at Modi on skull cap
Farooz Ahmad Bhat

Pulwama, April 17
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today ridiculed BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for saying that UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi also does not wear a skull cap.

Omar said Modi does not know that Muslim women do not wear skull cap so how could Sonia be made to wear it.

Modi had made these comments in an interview with a national news channel in reply to a question on “why he wouldn’t wear a skull cap”.

“If one does not understand the sentiments of Muslims, how can he make a consensus with Muslims thinking,” said Omar.

The Chief Minister was campaigning for National Conference candidate and sitting MP Mehboob Beg in the Rajpora and Wachi Assembly constituencies of south Kashmir's Pulwama and Shopian districts today.

While taking a dig at Peoples Democratic Party patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Omar said he was returning the favours of the BJP. “The PDP owes its existence to the BJP,” Omar said.

Omar, while praising the secular image of Rahul Gandhi, said the NC had openly supported Rahul Gandhi's candidature as the Prime Minister but the PDP was covertly supporting BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

Udhampur records over 69% voting
Amir Karim Tantray
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 17
For the second part of the five-phase Lok Sabha elections in J&K, the Udhampur-Doda seat today saw over 69 percent voting, which is likely to go up.

State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Umang Narula said the polling percentages would be updated once reports are received from remote areas.

The constituency witnessed only 45.17 percent polling in the 2009 elections, when 6.11 lakh out of 13.5 lakh voters made their choices.

This time out of the 14.68 lakh electorate, 69.08% voters voted sealing the fate of 13 candidates. Among the contestants is Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Area-wise, the constituency is one of the biggest in the country. It covers six districts with 17 Assembly segments. It shares borders with Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh and the Kashmir valley. Most the area is rural and road connectivity is poor.

“The increase in poll percentage clearly indicates that Azad’s charisma has worked,” said Neeraj Gupta, state secretary of the Congress Committee.

The polling passed off peacefully. District Reasi remained on the top with 74.54% voting followed by Kathua with 70.43%, Doda with 68.41%, Udhampur 67.92%, Kishtwar 64.46% and Ramban with 63.22%.

The CEO said the election department had to replace six electronic voting machines in five districts following technical faults.

State BJP leaders push for Modi’s Kashmir visit
M Aamir Khan
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 17
The state unit of the BJP hopes that its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi will visit the Kashmir valley. With Modi having visited Jammu twice during the last few months, J&K party leaders are pressing for his visit to boost their chances in Kashmir, where the BJP has so far failed to win a seat.

“We are trying our best to bring him (Modi) here and we are very hopeful that he will come to Kashmir. He came to Jammu as elections were first held there. Once poll dates draw near, his visit will be more appropriate,” BJP’s candidate for Jammu constituency and state president Jugal Kishore told reporters here today.

Anantnag is the first constituency in south Kashmir to go to the polls on April 24.

He reiterated that Modi would follow in the footsteps of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The BJP is looking to bank on the famous statement made by Vajpayee during his visit here in 2000, when he promised that the Centre would resolve the Kashmir issue within the ambit of humanity (insaniyat ke daiyre mein).

The party leaders have always been pointing out that the statement had even gone well with separatists.

Jugal said the BJP was very serious “this time” and was “fighting to win” all three seats of the Kashmir region. Accusing the Congress, National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of betraying the people of the state, he appealed to voters to give the BJP a chance and promised that the party would live up to their expectations.

Jugal, who had yesterday visited Baramulla in north Kashmir, where BJP candidate G M Mir filed his nomination papers, said he was glad that a large number of youth came out in support for the party.

He dismissed allegations that there was a secret pact between the BJP and the PDP for the ongoing polls.

“The NC and the PDP are alike for us,” he added. He also reiterated that the BJP was willing to accept Article 370 if it could be proven that it had benefitted the masses.

BJP state vice-president and in charge of Kashmir Affairs Ramesh Arora too said the party was fighting for victory in Kashmir and wanted to take along with it people from all communities and groups.

First-time voters want employment, growth
Amir Karim Tantray
Tribune News Service

Batote/Udhampur, April 17
First-time voters of the Udhampur-Doda parliamentary constituency have voted for development and employment. Since morning, there was a lot of enthusiasm among the first-time voters as they exercised their right to franchise today.

The entire constituency and Batote town in Ramban district witnessed many first-time voters. Nayaz Neen, a 20-year-old student, proudly showed her inked finger after casting her vote.

“I am casting the vote for development. Being a student, I want ample employment opportunities and development in my area. Like other places, development should reach the doorsteps of people living in far-flung areas,” She said.

Like Neen, 24-year-old Riyaz Ahmad of Chakwa village of Batote, who was waiting for his turn outside a polling station at Government Middle School, said, “It is a crucial moment for all of us to vote for a person who has actually worked on the ground. It was during Ghulam Nabi Azad’s tenure as the Chief Minister that we witnessed development and employment opportunities.”

“We want him to do much more good work for the area and unemployed youth,” Ahmad added.

“Youth nowadays are well-educated and aware of the wrongdoings of the present government. Unemployment has increased manifold and the government has no clear picture for our future,” said Rinku Sharma, a first-time voter of the Mand area.

Sharma said he was voting for a better future so that employment opportunities were available to the youth.

Geelani praises slain ultras, calls for poll boycott

Srinagar, April 17
Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani today praised the militants killed earlier this week in two gunfights in the Valley. The statement issued by the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference said Geelani offered tributes to the four militants killed while fighting security forces at the Khrew and Ahmad Nagar localities.

The militants were killed on Sunday and Monday.

“These youths don’t sacrifice their lives for power or money, but to free Kashmir from forcible slavery,” Geelani said in the statement while appealing for election boycott which he dubbed a “drama”. Geelani said those who vote for pro-India politicians are committing a grave crime of bargaining with the blood of militants.— TNS

Campaigning from sunroof vehicles in J&K poses security risk to politicians
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 17
On December 27, 2007, two-time Prime Minister of Pakistan and head of the Pakistan People’s Party Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in Rawalpindi while cheering her supporters from the sunroof of her vehicle ahead of the January 2008 elections.

Amid poll frenzy in Jammu and Kashmir, which witnessed three militant attacks on March 28 in Kathua district, in Kupwara district on April 8 and on April 12 in Pulwama district, politicians, including ministers of the National Conference-Congress alliance, UPA government and former chief ministers, have been putting themselves at grave risk.

Like Benazir, they travel in sunroof vehicles and some of them even travel in roofless vehicles when holding roadshows across the state.

Though the first phase of the polls in the Jammu-Poonch constituency, which saw a 70 per cent turnout, passed off peacefully, the possibility of terror attacks on politicians holding roadshows cannot be ruled out, said an Intelligence source.

“Just yesterday, militants attacked the residence of a National Conference leader and killed two policemen. It was the first terror attack targeting election activities in the state this year. Therefore, the possibility of attacks on politicians during their roadshows cannot be ruled out,” he said.

“We have alerted the Jammu and Kashmir Police and other security agencies,” he said.

Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Prasad said: “There is a proper and elaborate security system in place. To be more precise, there is a clear, elaborate, laid down procedure in place for political rallies and roadshows.”

“The police along with the CRPF and other forces are there. A lot of effort is going into these rallies and roadshows that can’t be discussed in public domain,” said the DGP.

“There is no compromise whatsoever with the security and it is not that we have made some ad hoc arrangements. Our effort is to ensure that no incident happens with the candidates contesting the elections in the state. We will ensure zero incident,” he said.

To a query, the DGP said, advisories in the form of do’s and don’ts have been issued to the candidates.

Those who have been holding roadshows in sunroof and roofless vehicles are Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, J&K Pradesh Congress Committee president Saifuddin Soz and Congress MP Madan Lal Sharma.

19 persons register under ‘others’ voter category in Baramulla
Bismah Malik
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 17
After the Supreme Court’s judgment of recognising transgenders as a third gender, 19 persons have registered themselves under the “others” voter category in north Kashmir’s Baramulla parliamentary constituency.

“This is for the first time that voters have been registered under the “others” category. Earlier, the transgenders, mainly eunuchs, would register as male or female voters,” said an official posted at the Election Media Centre in Srinagar.

The polling staff at the district election offices of Kashmir division are busy segregating the voter figures, gender wise, after the inclusion of “others” category in the voters’ list.

“So far, transgenders have registered themselves under the others category only in north Kashmir. A majority of them are eunuchs who were told by poll official to register themselves under the third gender category and they have agreed to do the same,” the election official said.

In Kashmir, where religious diktats determine the rights and responsibilities of people, voting as a transgender is considered an interesting move by activists.

“They (transgenders) often live as a marginalised society, afflicted by poverty and societal discrimination. It will be interesting to see the turn of events after the registration of transgenders in the other category in the Valley as religious scholars and clerics, who have quite a following in Kashmir, may react to it. ,” said Mohsin Ahmad, a Ph.D scholar, researching the status of transgenders in Kashmir.

Hyderpora attack: JKLF founder’s brother booked
Ishfaq Tantry
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 17
The Kashmir police have booked Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) founder Maqbool Bhat’s younger brother Zahoor Bhat, also a senior JKLF leader, for murder and criminal conspiracy in the June 2013 Hyderpora attack on an Army convoy.

Bhat has also been accused of having links with Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant outfit, which the police believes carried out the Hyderpora attack on the eve of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s visit to the state on June 24 last year. Eight Army personnel were killed and 12 injured in the incident.

Currently, Zahoor (40) is in judicial remand in the Hyderpora attack case and has also been booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) vide detentions orders passed by District Magistrate, Budgam, against him on March 29 in the same case.

In the supplementary chargesheet presented the police investigators have accused Zahoor of being

“involved in the hatching of a criminal conspiracy with other terrorists who attacked an Army convoy near the Hyderpora Bypass” road in June 2013. Zahoor has also been accused of being affiliated with the LeT, which is accused of carrying out the attack. After completing their investigation in the case, the J&K police had produced a chargesheet against eight persons before the forest magistrate, Srinagar, on November 18, 2013.

The accused in the first chargesheet also included top Lashkar militant Mohammad Zubair alias Talha alias Abu Hamza, who was killed in a militant attack on the residence of a National Conference youth leader at Khrew in south Kashmir on April 13.

Family refutes allegations

Zahoor’s family has
refuted the allegations and challenged his detention before the high court this week.

In her habeas corpus petition before the high court filed through advocate Shafqat Hussain, Maqbool Bhat’s aged mother has submitted that her younger son Zahoor was never released since his arrest by the police in the Keran sector of Kupwara in October 2013 and was thereafter booked twice under the PSA.

In the supplementary chargesheet, accessed by The Tribune, it has been alleged that Zahoor was apprehended by the Budgam police at Humhama on the Airport Road on March 7.

8 Armymen had died

n On June 24, 2013, an Army convoy was attacked near the Hyderpora bypass. Eight Armymen were killed and 12 injured

n The attack happened on the eve of PM Manmohan Singh and AICC chief Sonia Gandhi’s visit

n The J&K police produced a chargesheet against 8.

n Whille two accused have been killed, four are in judicial remand. The remaining two are at large

n In the supplementary chargesheet, the police named two more persons.

PDP to solve Kashmir issue along with people’s issues, says Mehbooba
Suhail A Shah

Anantnag, April 17
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti today said apart from the resolution of the Kashmir issue, her party wanted to work for the issues of the Kashmiri people, regardless of winning or losing the elections.

“Unlike the National Conference (NC), we are not power hungry. We want to work for the resolution of the Kashmir issue and for the issues of the Kashmiri people as well,” Mehbooba said during her roadshow in the Dooru constituency of Anantnag district in south Kashmir today.

The PDP leader said whether her party comes to power is another question. “We are not fighting to be in power,” she said.

Recounting the good work done by her her father, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, during his tenure as the Chief Minister, Mehbooba termed the period as the most peaceful in Jammu and Kashmir.

“It was the time when Farooq Abdullah talked of going to war with Pakistan. Our party made sure that the relations were made better with them,” the PDP president said.

“The opening of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road was the fruit of his (Mufti’s) tireless efforts,” she said.

Mehbooba is contesting from the Anantnag parliamentary seat and will be in a direct contest with National Conference MP and coalition candidate Mehboob Beg.

She criticised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for accusing her party of a secret alliance with the BJP. “He was a Union Minister when Muslims were being butchered in Gujarat,” said Mehbooba.

“If he was so concerned about the issue, he should have resigned back then,” she said.

“He (Omar) has no moral authority to accuse us of helping the BJP.”

BJP candidate from Ladakh files papers
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 17
BJP candidate for the lone Lok Sabha seat of Ladakh Thupstan Chhewang today filed his nomination papers in the office of the Returning Officer, Leh, Simrandeep Singh.

Today, it was 6th day of nomination for the Ladakh Parliamentary constituency and the last day for filing of nominations is April 19.

In its manifesto, the party has incorporated the demand for Union Territory (UT) status to Ladakh, inclusion of ‘Bodhi’ language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution and a central university for Ladakh.

Congress candidate Tsering Samphel had filed his nomination paper on April 15. The elections for the Ladakh parliamentary constituency seat will be held on May 7. A total of 1,59,631 voters will exercise their voting rights at 531 polling stations for the Ladakh Constituency at both Leh and Kargil districts.

In Leh district, there are 39,812 male and 39,230 female voters with a total of 79,042 voters to vote at 274 polling stations and in Kargil district, there are 41,182 male and 39,407 female voters with a total of 80,589 voters to vote at 257 polling stations.

Meanwhile, the first level randomisation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) was conducted by the Technical Director, National Informatics Centre, Leh, Jamyang Namgyal in presence of Returning Officer, Ladakh, Simrandeep Singh at the National Informatics Centre, Leh, today.

Residents of Keerian Gandyal village vote for bridge
Arteev Sharma
Tribune News Service

Keerian Gandyal (Kathua), April 17
Despite strong resentment against the successive regimes at the Centre and in the state, inhabitants of Keerian Gandyal, the first village of Jammu and Kashmir bordering Punjab, have exercised their right to franchise in the parliamentary elections for the Kathua-Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat today just for a bridge to have direct road connectivity with Kathua.

The villagers travel a long distance of 35 km via Sujanpur in Punjab to reach district headquarters Kathua for trivial purposes. Students and office-goers cross the Lakhanpur toll post, which is the gateway to Jammu and Kashmir, on a daily basis to reach their destinations.

The village, which has direct and easy access to Sujanpur in Punjab, is cut off from district headquarters Kathua due to the Ravi and there has been a long-standing demand for a 2.5-km-long bridge over the Ravi, to be built at an estimated cost of Rs 97 crore, to have a direct connectivity with Kathua town. Though the villagers could speak Punjabi language and have adopted Punjab culture, yet they prefer to be the part of Jammu and Kashmir. Interestingly, there are no roaming charges for them if they use the services of telecom companies operating from Punjab, while most of private vehicles, owned by them, bear registration numbers of Punjab.

Keerian Gandyal village comprises two hamlets Keerian and Gandyal. The number of eligible voters for the Lok Sabha elections in two hamlets are 1,581 in Gandyal and 1,572 in Keerian.

“Earlier, we used to cross the Ravi and cover a distance of 3 km on foot to reach Kathua town, but rampant and unchecked mining in the Ravi by stone crusher plants have made the situation worse for us. We have been demanding for a bridge to have direct connectivity with Kathua town since long, but nobody bothered to address the need of this village,” Subash Chander Sharma, a resident of Gandyal serving in the Education Department said. Rajesh Sharma, sarpanch, Gandyal panchayat halqa, said, “Politicians and ruling class visit us only during elections, but they never bothered to have direct road connectivity for the village with Kathua town. Former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and his rival BJP nominee Jitendra Singh visited the village and assured us of constructing the bridge. We have been getting such assurances since long, but nothing concrete has come out so far”.

Darshan Sharma, a native of Keerian hamlet, said, “We have always been met with stepmotherly treatment by the Centre as well as the state government. There are 400 West Pakistan refugee families in the village and adjoining areas, but they don’t cast their ballots in the Assembly elections. We don’t have adequate healthcare facilities and in case of emergency treatment, we either go to Pathankot or Kathua. Our major issue is the construction of a bridge to connect the village with Kathua town”.

The furious voter said, “Our daughters go to college in Kathua after covering a distance of 35km. It takes almost one-and-a-half hour for them to reach the college due to poor connectivity. We have conveyed our concerns to the contesting candidates who visited our village and we are hopeful of getting our issue settled this time”.

Governor chairs meeting to review yatra arrangements
Tribune News Service

Governor NN Vohra at the meeting to review arrangements for the Amarnath yatra in Jammu on Thursday. A Tribune photograph

Jammu, April 17
At a review meeting chaired by Governor NN Vohra, who is also the Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), various issues concerning logistic and other related arrangements in the context of ensuing Amarnath yatra were discussed here today.

Rakesh Kumar Gupta, Principal Secretary to the Governor, and CEO, SASB; Preet Pal Singh, Additional CEO, SASB, RK Pandita, General Manager (Works), SASB, and other officials were present in the meeting.

The CEO briefed the meeting about the to-date position of various ongoing arrangements for the yatra, including registration of yatris, provision of heli-services in the yatra area; grant of tent and shop permissions, registration of ponies, arrangements for cleaning of camps, track cleaning, garbage collection and disposal, provision of insurance covers to registered yatris, service providers and ponies, grant of permissions to NGOs to set up langars in the yatra area, appointment and deployment of camp directors, provision of telecom services in the yatra, etc.

The Governor stressed the need for ensuring time-bound action on all fronts to ensure the smooth conduct of the yatra this year scheduled to begin on June 28.

He directed the CEO to visit Chandanwari and Baltal to assess the status of the snowmelt and the date by which preparatory works could be taken up and executed for the forthcoming yatra.

He also directed the CEO to discuss all yatra-related issues with the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Deputy Commissioners of Anantnag and Ganderbal districts, CEOs of the Pahalgam and Sonamarg Development Authorities, Director General, Indian Meteorological Department, Chief Engineer, Project Beacon, Border Roads Organisation and all other related agencies.

Rakesh Kumar Gupta, CEO of the Shrine Board, said regular review meetings would be held in the next two months with officials and organisations concerned to ensure timely completion of all required arrangements for the yatra.

Governor for intensifying Red Cross activities in state
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 17
Governor NN Vohra, who is also the president of the Indian Red Cross Society, J&K, said it would be beneficial if Red Cross internship is introduced in the universities of the state and government medical colleges.

He also emphasised the need for imparting Red Cross training to teachers in educational institutions, who could in turn train their students.

Referring to the role of the Red Cross in offering its services during disasters, he said a large corpus of trained manpower would be an asset for the state.

The Governor was chairing the 169th managing committee meeting of the Indian Red Cross Society, J&K state branch, at Raj Bhawan here today.

While reviewing the present status of the Jan Aushadi Scheme, the committee stressed the need to create widespread awareness about the availability of generic drugs at fixed prices from jan aushadi generic drug stores, which were being run by the Red Cross in the state. Medicines available in these stores are at the rates prescribed by the Bureau of Pharma Public Sector Undertakings of India, which are in most cases significantly lower than the market rates of branded medicines.

The Governor also suggested that volunteers, who were instrumental in saving people’s lives, should be duly recognised.

To upgrade the infrastructure at district-level offices of the Red Cross society, the committee said the Deputy Commissioners should ensure availability of fully equipped computer with internet facility at every district Red Cross unit.

Referring to the need for intensifying Red Cross activities in the state, the Governor observed that the district, regional and state branches of the Red Cross should generate required logistics and resources for promptly and effectively dealing with all emergent situations to provide timely relief to the needy.

He stressed the importance of organising first aid and short-term disaster management courses and security drills for the Red Cross volunteers to build their capacities in undertaking rescue and relief operations in the hour of need.

He observed that medical training camps should be organised periodically, particularly in accident-prone remote and far-flung areas of the state to train volunteers to render first aid and utilise other techniques to save lives in the case of any emergent situation till specialised medical assistance becomes available to the needy.

Reviewing the status of the proposed Red Cross complex at Srinagar, the committee decided that the required funds would be allocated by the state government. The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, was directed to ensure that the building plans were approved and work initiated at the earliest.

It was proposed that there should be set-up, blood banks maintained and operated by the Red Cross at Jammu and Srinagar.

The Governor asked the Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu to prepare DPRs in this regard in consultation with the Red Cross Society and the state Health Department.

The committee also reviewed in detail the action taken on the decisions of the last meeting of the managing committee and deliberated on various agenda items for promoting the activities of the Red Cross in the state.

Earlier, Roma Wani, General Secretary, IRCS, J&K state branch, made a detailed presentation to highlight the activities undertaken for resource mobilisation, training programmes conducted, and the action plan for future activities.

Mohammad Iqbal Khanday, Chief Secretary, BB Vyas, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and Principal Secretary, Finance; Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary, Home; Rakesh Kumar Gupta, Principal Secretary to the Governor; Shailendra Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir; Shantmanu, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu; Hemant Kumar Lohia, IGP HQ, Major General MK Unni, Medical Wing, Prof Nusrat Andrabi, AM Mir, Prof Mohd Abdullah Charoo, Prem Gupta, YV Sharma; Members of the state managing, committee Ajeet Kumar Sahu, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Hemant Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, Sajad Ahmed Khan, Deputy Commissioner, Poonch, AJ Chaket and RC Puri, secretaries of the Regional Red Cross committee, Kashmir and Jammu, participated in the meeting.

Zonal Physical Education Officers struggle to get independent offices
Vikas Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 17
As the competitions under the Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA) round the corner, the Zonal Physical Education Officers (ZPEOs) after the recent order by the Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) are struggling to get an independent office to devise an effective strategy to conduct events in their respective zones.

Pertinently, The Tribune had reported that the DYSS has recently issued a circular directing officers to vacate those offices whose monthly rent exceeds Rs 2,000.

The decision was taken by the Sports Department after it came to the fore that some ZPEOs had submitted documents to get reimbursement of the rent of the office in their respective zones which was quite high.

Sources said even some of the officials were utilising their homes as offices and getting the rent reimbursed from the department thereby putting financial burden on the state exchequer.

“PYKKA activities are about to begin and we are still waiting for the decision of the department after we apprised the authorities of the fact that it is very difficult to get a office with decent space under a meagre rent of Rs 2,000 in the heart of Jammu city,” a ZPEO told The Tribune.

“All the officials are now in a fix whether to search office or wait for another official announcement. But one thing is sure and that is if we are not provided independent offices early, it is almost impossible to discharge out duties in an efficient manner,” he added.

“Even the higher authorities already know that an amount of Rs 2,000 in the present scenario is not sufficient to get a full-fledge office having all the necessary facilities even then they are adamant to implement the order strictly,” another official said.

“When the posts of ZPEO were created by the Sports Department, it was not able to provide office with immediate effect. As a result, we have no option but to sit idle on the office premises of the DYSS at Gandhi Nagar,” officials claimed.

“How could the department expect from ZPEOs to perform their duties well when it fails to provide them the basic facility of an independent office. There is no logic in putting a cap of Rs 2,000 on monthly rent,” they added.

ZPEOs in different zones

Jammu Division: Rajouri (15), Kathua (13), Udhampur (12), Reasi (5), Poonch (11), Jammu (15), Samba (3), Doda (14), Ramban (4) and Kishtwar (5).

Kashmir Division: Srinagar (7), Ganderbal (5), Budgam (12), Kupwara (13), Anantnag (11), Kulgam (7), Baramulla (18), Bandipora (5), Pulwama (7), Shopian (5), Leh (5) and Kargil (7).

Offices witness less attendance as staff take leave to cast their votes
Holiday in Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar, Reasi and Ramban dists
Amit Khajuria
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 17
The attendance in government and private offices was less today as staff members from the Udhampur-Doda constituency working in Jammu were on leave to cast their votes for the Lok Sabha elections.

Most of the people who are posted here in the winter capital of the state or other districts of Jammu region, which are not part of the Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha segment, were on leave today, as they went to their native places to cast their votes.

These include permanent as well as contractual government employees and some employees of private firms, who were interested in voting.

The government had declared holiday for six districts - Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar, Reasi and Ramban - which are part of the Udhampur- Doda constituency, where the polling was held today.

Pankaj Kumar, an employee of the civil secretariat, said, “There was lesser strength in the office today as almost all the employees, who belong to that constituency, were on leave to cast their votes.”

“Work may have suffered to some extent, but casting a vote was much important and the pending work can be managed tomorrow,” he added.

This year the people of the state were more enthusiastic for casting their votes, which resulted in the record polling during the Jammu-Poonch constituency polling. But some of the employees of the private firms were disappointed as they didn’t get leave to cast their votes.

Ruksana Akhtar, an employee of a private firm, said, “I wanted to go to Reasi to cast my vote, but as I am working in a private firm, I didn’t get leave to go there.”

“Some of my friends, who are also work in private firms, have got leave and they cast their votes in Reasi,” she added.

Vinayak Puri, an engineer in Best Price, Walmart, said, “I adjusted my weekly off on Thursday to go to Udhampur to cast my vote.”

“Though it was hectic for me to go there and cast vote as I had to come back to Jammu today itself, but casting a vote is our right and it is very important to cast your vote,” he added.

MIER College of Education holds sports meet
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 17
The Model Institute of Education and Research (MIER) College of Education organised an inter-section sports meet on its BC Road campus.

During the meet, volleyball and badminton matches were played wherein students displayed great enthusiasm and commitment.

The meet was inaugurated by Dr Renu Gupta, Director, MIER. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Renu said sports and games are an integral part of school curriculum. A large number of students from all the wings of the college participated.

Dr Annie Koul, Head, BEd Department, along with staff members and students witnessed the sports event and encouraged the participants.

In the boys' section of volleyball, Section B, led by Anchal Singh, defeated Section C, led by Rajinder Singh, to claim the title, while in the girls' category, Section C, led by Nidhi Jamwal, defeated Section A, captained by Sangeeta Rani, to clinch the gold medal.

Matches in singles and doubles were also held in badminton. In the boys' category, Section B, represented by Vishal, Anchal, Anuj and Tenzin, trounced Section A, represented by Salman, Rajeshwar, Faizan and Ranjeet, in the summit clash.

In the girls' final match, Section E, represented by Sakshi, Premla, Subhadra and Priyanka, prevailed over Section B, represented by Reena, Deepika, Varinda and Shivangi, to emerge victorious.

The programme was organised by Dr Reeta Dwivedi, in charge, Games and Sports Unit, under the supervision of Usha Chunni, Sports Officer, MIER along, with Ramandeep and Manish.

Ambedkar’s birth anniversary celebrated
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 17
Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd, Northern Region Transmission System-II, Jammu, celebrated the birth anniversary of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar at Naveen Shiksha Kendra High School, being run by Sawera Foundation, an NGO, at Channi Himmat.

A painting competition on the topic "Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar: His vision and contribution" was organised to mark the occasion.

Executive Director, NRTS-II, JP Singh, was the chief guest. J P Singh, SD Joshi, AGM (O&M), Stanley Mathews, Chief Manager (HR), and several other officials of Power Grid, members of Sawera Foundation, teachers and eminent citizens were present.

Earlier, Ram Gopal Sharma, chairman, Sawera Foundation, delivered the welcome address.

In his address, JP Singh urged upon the children to live their lives with dignity and honour. He expressed happiness to be a part of these celebrations.

The chief guest highlighted the role of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar in amelioration of the cause of the downtrodden and weaker sections of society. He advised the children to study hard and avail themselves of the opportunity provided to them in the same manner as was done by Dr Ambedkar.

Progress of Bari Brahmana project reviewed
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 17
Joint Development Commissioner, Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), SR Samuel visited Bari Brahmana Industries Association (BBIA) Bhawan to review the progress of the integrated infrastructural development (IID) project.

The project was sanctioned for upgrading the existing infrastructure, including lanes, drains, streetlight, water supply, etc, at Bari Brahmana Industrial Complex.

During an interaction, president, BBIA, Annil Suri highlighted various issues related to the industrial sector, which included undertaking of different works in the already sanctioned IID scheme for Bari Brahmana Industrial Complex on priority, national awards selection for J&K industries, purchase preference to the MSME Sector in Government of India enterprises purchases, extension of incentives to service sector industries, etc.

Samuel assured the association of upgrading the existing industries infrastructure. He also advised the entrepreneurs to take benefits of all MSME schemes, such as cluster development, common testing facilities, national awards, etc.

Later, Sameul visited two units, namely Ashwani Crockery Industry and Shalimar Floorings Pvt Ltd. Varinder Sharma, Director MSME DI, Jammu, Vikram Gupta, General Manger, JKSIDCO, Dr RK Thappa, GM, DIC, Jammu, Rahul Bansal, Vice-President, BBIA, Lalit Mahajan, general secretary, BBIA, and other senior officials of various departments were also present.

Office-bearers of Alumni Association elected
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 17
The Alumni Association of the Handa College of Education organised its meet in the college auditorium here.

The function started with the lighting of traditional lamp by the college director Gurpreet Handa, Principal Seema Mohan along with former students.

Simmi Lal, convener of the programme, highlighted the importance of alumni for the institutions. Students of the college presented a colourful cultural programme for the former students of the college.

Neerja Sharesht was elected president of the Alumni Association, while Tript Upadhyay was elected vice-president and Vijay Kumar secretary. Radhvi, Gunsheen, Chandandip, Rajuram, Harjeet and Shehnaz Bhatti were elected other office-bearers of the association.

District climbing tourney starts on April 21
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 17
The Mountaineering Association of J&K in collaboration with Sprawling Buds School will organise the 14th Jammu District Sport Climbing Championship from April 21 to 22.

The two-day-long competition will be held at the 40 ft-high fibreglass artificial climbing wall at the Sprawling Buds School complex.

About 200 climbers from various institutions will vie for top honours in the championship. These included St Xavier Senior Secondary School, Barnai, Jammu, Oriental Academy Higher Secondary School, Shangrilla Public School, Sarwal, Jammu, Shiksha Niketan Senior Secondary School, Jeevan Nagar, Dogra Higher Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, Cooperative Public School Ambphalla, Shining Star Academy, Muthi, and a few schools from RS Pura, Bishnah and Arnia.

The championship carries a prize money of Rs 10,000, which has been sponsored by St Xavier Senior Secondary School, Barnai.

The championship will be inaugurated by Raman Bhalla, Minister for Youth Services and Sports, on April 20, wherein the competitions will be held in six categories of sub-junior boys and girls (born in 2001 and after), junior boys and girls (born in 1998, 1999 and 2000) and men and women (born in 1997 and earlier).

Some selected sub-junior boys and girls shall, however, be allowed to compete in the junior boys and junior girls categories. Participants in all the categories would climb with a "top rope" in the preliminary rounds and "lead climb" in the subsequent rounds.

A qualified national judge in sport climbing, Shawetica Khajuria, will be the president of the jury of the competition, whereas Anil Kumar, Shashi Sharma and Aman Arora, all qualified belayers, are the route setters-cum-belayers.

Other technical and logistic support will be provided by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation, North Zone Committee, New Delhi. The championship is being sponsored by the J&K State Sports Council.

Climbers interested to participate in the competition may contact the organising secretary, Ram Khajuria. On the spot registration will also be done at Sprawling Buds School from 8 am to 9 am on April 21. National and zonal medal winners as well as state champions are, however, exempted from registration fee.

Registration for event

Climbers interested to participate in the competition may contact the organising secretary, Ram Khajuria.

On-the-spot registration will also be done at Sprawling Buds School from 8 am to 9 am on April 21.

National and zonal medal winners as well as state champions are, however, exempted from registration fee.

Sports meet of Jamwal group of institutions continues
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 17
The sports meet of the Jamwal Group of Educational Institutions (JGEI), which started yesterday, continued on the college premises.

The meet was declared open by chief guest Pervaiz Ahmed Malik, Secretary, Technical Education, Youth Services and Sports Department, in the presence of the special guest Prof Desh Bandhu Gupta, Director, Colleges Development Council, University of Jammu, and other dignitaries.

Vidhi S Singh, chairman, Jamwal Group of Educational Institutions, was also present. The events which are being held in the meet are cricket, volleyball, badminton, kabaddi, kho-kho, tug-of-war, rangoli (special event for girls), carom, chess and athletics.

In 200-m sprint, Komal and Priya Sharma secured the first and second position, respectively, while in 200 m (boys), Gagandeep Singh Jamwal and Rajinder finished first and second, respectively.

In 100-m sprint for girls, Kanika Gupta and Monika Pandita claimed the first two positions, while in the boys' section, Rajinder and Ashish bagged first two positions.

In chess (boys), the first prize was bagged by Vishesh, who defeated Arjun Magotra.

In badminton (girls), Heteshi Khosa thrashed Shilpa Kapoor, while in the boys' category, Aditya lost to Puneet Sharma.

SHRC takes note of ‘unbridled’ rise in airfare in J&K sector
Seeks report from DGCA and the airline companies operating in state
Ishfaq Tantry
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 17
Taking note of a complaint regarding “unbridled” and high airfare by the airline companies in the JK sector, the State Human Rights Commission has sought reports from the Director General of Civil Aviation and also sought reports from the airline companies in this regard.

The orders in this regard were issued by a two-member Bench of the commission comprising its acting chairman Rafiq Fida and member Amlok Singh.

Admitting a complaint by MM Shuja, representing an NGO, the commission observed that prima facie a case was made out and termed the exceptionally high airfare in the JK sector a human rights violation.

“We have gone through the contents of the complaint, which prima facie disclose a case of discrimination against equality and violation of human rights,” the rights body observed in its orders today while admitting the complaint.

Let, in the first instance, reports be sought from Director, Civil Aviation, Safder Jung, Station Airport, New Delhi, and all in-charges of airline companies operating in the J&K sector, including Indigo, SpiceJet, Air India, GoAir, Jet Airways and all others, the commission further observed while posting the matter for further consideration on May 15.

In the complaint, grievances regarding hike in the airfare by airline companies operating in J&K sector had been projected.

The contents of the further complaint revealed that tourism in the Kashmir valley has got adversely affected by this unbridled airfare hike.

“The middle class and lower-class families are the main source of tourism, but sudden hike in airfare has considerably narrowed the flow of tourists to the Kashmir valley in March. Besides, patients, students and lower business class have been hit by the airfare hike which has rendered the air travel facility impossible for them,” it has been submitted in the complaint before the SHRC.

‘Case of human rights violation ’

We have gone through the contents of the complaint, which prima facie disclose a case of discrimination against equality and violation of human rights.
—State Human Rights Commission

Fed up with PDD, residents collect money to repair transformer
Our Correspondent

Srinagar, April 17
Residents of Baghat were forced to collect money and repair the public transformer of the locality after authorities failed to address the issue.

The residents said they approached the authorities concerned regarding fault in the public transformer of Mandir Bagh in Baghat Barzulla, where more than a 100 houses are dependent on it, but the authorities turned a deaf ear to their pleas.

“Due to fault in the transformer, we had to reel under darkness. We approached the authorities concerned many a time, but they did nothing on ground. Then we were forced to collect money from every household and got the transformer repaired,” said a resident of the locality, Ahmad Ganai.

Another resident said the officials of the Power Development Department in the area when approached said that they did not have the required material needed for repair.

“We collected Rs 100 from every household and got the required material from market like cables, thimble and bush rods which costed nearly Rs 6,000. We have done it before as well - collected money and repaired the transformer ourselves. We had no other option,” the resident said.

Baghat Barzulla falls on the way to Sheikhul Aalam international airport, Srinagar, and is considered as one of the posh areas of the city.

Officials of the PDD said residents should have approached the executive engineer concerned. “It is not possible that our officials would say we have no required material to repair the transformer. People should have approached the executive engineer concerned, but we will still take action against the culprits,” said the Chief Engineer, PDD, Kashmir.

With winters over in the Valley, the residents expect better electricity supply, but people from several areas still complain of interrupted power supply. “In winters, power crisis is expected due to harsh weather conditions, but with the arrival of spring, the authorities are yet to address the issue properly,” city residents rued.

Tippers continue to ply sans number plates; police look the other way
Our Correspondent

Srinagar, April 17
Violating traffic rules, tippers in the city ply without number plates on roads during night and even enter restricted zones.

Tippers without numbers can easily get away with accidents during evening hours. In many cases, no action could be initiated against the tippers involved in accidents or killings as they can hardly be identified without a number plate.

Residents allege that the authorities concerned have failed to check the violation seen mostly in Pampore, Lasjan, Athwajan and Pandrethan which is the hub of raw materials for construction such as sand, bricks, stones and cement plants.

“It is nothing new here. Tippers and other heavy vehicles keep violating traffic rules. It seems there is no one to keep a check on them. The authorities don’t seem to be concerned about the issue,” said a resident of Pandrethan.

The residents also alleged that frequent movement of tippers has become a cause of congestion and traffic snarls in the area. “They always create problems for us as they create chaos on roads,” said another group of residents. Officials of the traffic department, while admitting that there could be some violators, assured that they would act against erring drivers.

“Some of these drivers say the number plates broke while unloading material from their vehicles. We will act against the violators,” said Superintendent of Traffic Police, city, Haseeb-ur-Rehman.

The tippers have also become the cause of inconvenience for other city residents such as Nowgam. “Despite ban on the movement of heavy vehicles inside the city, the tippers keep on violating traffic norms,” residents rued.

“On routine basis, civilian vehicles are checked at all entry points of the city. However, the police never check tippers without number plates,” said a shopkeeper.

Wazas warned against use of ‘harmful’ food colours
SMC issues notice to chefs to avoid ajinomoto
M Aamir Khan
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 17
As the marriage season is drawing near, Kashmir’s traditional chefs called “wazas” are in for some counselling.

Infamous for using harmful colouring agents, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has issued a public notice to the chefs and also hoteliers to avoid ajinomoto, used for seasoning, and other colouring agents while cooking food.

“Research has proved that ajinomoto is not good for health. It has been dubbed as a silent killer and can even cause cancer. Therefore, we are asking the hoteliers and “wazas” not to use it. We will also be calling the wazas to make them aware of its bad effects on health,” SMC Health Officer Dr Shafqat Khan told The Tribune.

During weddings, a separate tent is traditionally erected for a team of local chefs, who cook more than a dozen varieties of mostly non-vegetarian dishes called “wazwan” for at least two days. Even as “wazwan” is the favourite delicacy of Kashmir, “wazas” have often been found using colouring agents while cooking.

The marriage season usually picks up in the Valley in May and lasts till autumn end. Weddings are not usually solemnised during winters and in the fasting month of Ramadan.

Meanwhile, Khan said the health wing of the SMC had issued the notice as part of its efforts to discourage the use of colouring agents, especially in weddings and at the hotels.

He claimed that the use of colouring agents here had come down by 50 per cent in the recent past as people had become aware of its negative effects. Khan said the SMC team, later, would also be conducting regular checks to ensure that ajinomoto and other colouring agents are not used by “wazas” and in hotels and restaurants operating within the municipal limits.

Polish, Norway academics interact with students

Srinagar, April 17
A team of academics from the University of Poland and Norway yesterday interacted with the faculty and students of the Department of Education at the Zainakote academic block of Central University of Kashmir (CUK).

The team comprising Maria Walczak, Director, Institute of Pedagogy, Szczecin University, Poland; Elzbieta Perzyka, International Coordinator, SIT Project, Poland; Aneta Makowska, Research Officer, Poland; Raffaele Tumino, Stefano Polenta and local coordinator MH Zaffar is conducting a study titled “Stimulators and Inhibitors of Culture of Trust in Educational Interaction assisted by Modern Information and Communication Technology.”

The project is being sponsored by the European Union. The team members interacted with the students and received their feedback on the research project.

Earlier, CUK Vice Chancellor Meraj-ud-Din Mir, briefed the guests about the university functioning. — TNS

Now, cancer patients to get treatment on their doorstep
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 17
The Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, and Directorate of Health Services have started a project in order to streamline the management of cancer patients scientifically and to develop skills of surgeons at district-level hospitals.

Director, SKIMS, Showkat Zargar said, “The initiative is aimed to kick start onco-surgeries at the doorstep of patients suffering from the dreadful disease.”

“The project has been kick started in three district general hospitals with optimal facilities, including Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, Ranawari, District Hospital, Baramulla, and Handwara. We feel proud to announce that this project has become successful and a good number of patients are being regularly operated in these hospitals by a team of cancer surgeons from SKIMS,” Dr Zargar said.

Dr Altaf Gauhar, head of the department, surgical oncology, said, “This is research-based long-term understanding between Dr Showkat Ali Zargar and Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman, Director, Health Services, Kashmir, in order to cater to cancer patients and to reduce massive load of cancer patients at SKIMS.

“Working on the guidelines of mutual thought, ‘Together it is possible’, the leadership ultimately leads to framing of onco-surgical team from SKIMS,” he added.

Panel to propagate Hindi in Central offices
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 17
A meeting of the Town Official Language Implementation Committee (TOLIC), Srinagar, was held here yesterday to give “due priority” to Hindi language in the central government offices.

Secretary, Official Language, GoI, Neeta Choudhary, who chaired the meeting, urged the heads of the central government offices working in Kashmir to come forward with suggestions so that the national language - Hindi - could be given due priority in the functioning of the official system.

Choudhary assured all possible help for propagation and modernisation of the tools and kits needed for the implementation of the language in the times of IT revolution.

Earlier, Chander Prakash, Chief Post Master General and Chairman, TOLIC, Srinagar, presented the blueprint on the activities of the committee in Srinagar. The meeting among others was attended by Harinder Kumar, Director, Official Language, and all members of the TOLIC.

Soz against UT status for Ladakh, says it’ll divide J&K
Suhail A Shah

Anantnag, April 17
Jammu and Kashmir State Congress Committee chief (JKPCC) Saifuddin Soz today said making Ladakh a Union Territory would tantamount to the division of the state and the Congress would never let that happen.

The Congress manifesto for the Ladakh region mentions that the party "stands for the struggle for the Union Territory status to Ladakh".

The manifesto was released during a campaign rally in support of party's candidate for the Ladakh parliamentary seat Tsering Samphel.

The JKPCC chief said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the Ladakh seat had promised the people there of a Union Territory status and the Congress candidate just promised not to interfere, if he (the BJP candidate) was able to deliver the promise.

"However, as far as the Congress is concerned, we firmly believe that any such move will be an attempt to divide the state," said Soz, while talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of a rally in the Dooru area of Anantnag.

He said the Congress would not allow any division of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Soz was accompanied by Tourism Minister Ghulam Ahmad Mir. They were campaigning for the National Conference-Congress coalition candidate for the Anantnag parliamentary seat, Mehboob Beg.

Earlier, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed called the promise made by Congress in their manifesto an election gimmick.

Mufti also criticised the National Conference (NC) for remaining silent over the issue

Accession with India to end if Article 370 goes, says Farooq
Azhar Qadri
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 17
President of the ruling National Conference Farooq Abdullah today warned that the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India would end if Article 370 was abrogated.

“Definitely, it (accession) will end. There is no doubt about it. Our accession is dependent on Article 370. The Article is the bridge which holds the accession,” Farooq told reporters on the sidelines of a rally here.

Article 370 has become an election slogan for the National conference since the BJP released its manifesto which included abrogating the Article once the party comes to power.

The National Conference leader had earlier warned against tampering with the Article, saying he will do everything to defend it.

“If they (BJP) remove Article 370, the bridge will go,” he warned.

Farooq, who is a member of the UPA-II, trashed the talk that the Article had been diluted over the years. “Many people say that but then this state would not be having its own flag and we would not have our own Constitution. Everything would have ended then,” the Union Minister said. He is the NC candidate for the Srinagar constituency, going to the polls on April 30.

“We do not have to send bills to Delhi but we pass them here,” he said in defense of the Article’s validity. He reiterated his party’s demand for autonomy. “Autonomy is part of the National Conference’s agenda. We have never given up that agenda and will never give it up,” he said.

Shutdown in Hajin on Farooq’s visit
Shops remain closed as mark of protest against youth's killing
Our Correspondent

Baramulla, April 17
A complete shutdown was observed in Hajin town of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district today in the wake of National Conference president Farooq Abdullah’s visit in the area. Sources said shops and other business establishments remained closed, while youth were checking identity cards of civilians near the Hajin bridge to restrict the participation of NC supporters at the party’s election rally in the Baharabad locality.

They said shutdown was observed in Hajin as a mark of protest against the recent killing of a youth in the area.

Heavy deployment of forces was seen in and around the venue to thwart any untoward incident. Amid rain and shutdown, Farooq addressed a gathering.

Reports said Farooq and his cavalcade, including Sonawari MLA Mohammad Akbar lone, Gurez MLA Nazir Ahmad and parliamentary candidate Sharief Din Shariq, reached Markundal village where from supporters joined them towards the venue, near Baharabad, 2 km from the main town Hajin.

Eye witnesses said supporters’ participation was low. They attributed downpour, shutdown and the recent killing of a youth in Shahgund for the low participation. Reports said soon after the NC rally concluded, shopkeepers started reopening their business units.

The area has remained sensitive after the recent killing of 20-year-old Farhat Ahmad Dar of Shahgund, Naidkhai.

Pampore shuts over militants’ death
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 17
South Kashmir Pampore town observed a shutdown to mourn the killing of two Pakistani militant who were shot dead by the security forces in an encounter in Khrew on Sunday.

Sources said business establishments remained closed and vehicular traffic remained minimal on link roads of the area for the entire day. While the town remained shut, traffic on Srinagar-Jammu national highway remained unaffected.

The police said no untoward incident took place except a minor stone throwing incident in the morning which lasted for a few minutes only.

Two Pakistani militants, Abu Hamza of Faisalabad and Usman Gori of Abbottabad, were killed on April 13 at Andrusa by security forces in a joint operation soon after they attacked the house of youth Congress leader Yawar Masoodi, killing his two policemen at Khrew village of Pulwama district.

The police said one of the slain militants, Abu Hamza, was part of a two-member squad which carried out a deadly attack in June last year on an Army convoy killing eight soldiers.