Jammu, July 10
The Jammu Police today cracked a robbery case within 10 hours by arresting two of the accused involved in the incident and recovered the booty from them.

Four motor-bike borne youth had allegedly robbed around Rs 25 lakh from employees of a private company near Nanak Nagar Gurdwara at 11.30 am today. The accused committed the crime in full public glare after splashing chili powder in the eyes of victims.

The incident took place when two employees —Ashok Kumar, son of Sansar Chand, a resident of Akhnoor, and Sunil Kant Arora, son of Sita Ram, resident of Talab Tillo — of ITC Company in Sanjay Nagar area of the city were on their way to deposit around Rs 25 lakh in the Nanak Nagar branch of the J&K Bank.

“Two persons, identified as Varun, son of Baldev Raj, resident of Sector-4 Sanjay Nagar and Zaffar Hussain, son of Kaku Hussain of Sector-F, Sainik Colony, have been arrested in connection with the daylight dacoity took place today,” Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Jammu, Uttam Chand told reporters here late this evening.

“The employees were riding a Scooty and had kept the cash in a bag. When they reached near Nanak Nagar Gurdwara, they were stopped by four youth, who were on two motorbikes. As they (employees) stopped their vehicle the accused threw chili powder in their eyes and fled with the bag carrying around Rs 25 lakh,” the officer said.

Based on the eyewitnesses account, the SSP said, the police launched a massive manhunt and arrested two accused, who later spilled the beans and almost the entire amount was recovered on their confession.

“Three more persons were involved in this act of robbery and they would be arrested soon,” Uttam Chand said.

A police officer privy to the investigation said one of the employees of the firm was suspected to have informed the robbers that two persons were carrying cash to deposit it in the Nanak nagar branch of J&K Bank.

“The police got clues from the footage of a CCTV installed in a private clinic of a doctor and a tutorial located close to the crime spot. The registration plate of one of the motorbikes was inscribed with just three digits --- 143 --- and when all checks posts were alerted it came to fore that a youth in Sainik Colony had the motorbike of same number. His mobile number was put on tracking and it led to the arrest of two accused,” the officer said.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Yougal Manhas, other senior officers, SHO Gandhi Nagar police station Mohammad Kohli, probationer sub inspector Sushil Choudhary, who is the in charge of police post Sainik Colony, were also present in the press briefing.

Jammu, July 10
The much-awaited General Budget 2014-15, tabled in Parliament by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, today evoked a mixed response from the common man in the city. The Jammuites, however, appreciated the proposals for the upgrading of stadiums in the state, but were of the opinion that the minister could have announce more steps to curb the ongoing price hike of essential commodities hitting the common man.

The Tribune talked to a number of people to get their reactions on the Union Budget 2014-15.

Being a student, I was hoping that the Union Finance Minister would announce establishment of institutes for pursuing professional courses in different disciplines, but nothing of that sort happened. The setting up of five more IITs and five IIMs is a welcome announcement anyway. Students of J&K, like their counterparts from other states of the country, also want that prestigious institutes like IITs and IIMs should be opened in the state so that they do not have to go to other states for studies.
—Sumit, student

Though I have not gone through all the details of the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, but the excise duty hike of 72 per cent on Tobacoo products will pinch the common man. Already the cost of tobacoo products is very high and this new announcement would make it difficult for a common man to afford them. The decision of raising the tax exemption limit from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh is welcome.
—Ashok Kapoor, government employee

Jammu, July 10
Due to low monsoon and increase in heatwave, Jammu city is facing worst power crisis as curtailment has gone up to eight hours per day.

The worst-affected area is N2 feeder (Nanak Nagar), which includes Nanak Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Shastri Nagar and adjoining areas.

For the past few days the Power Development Department is going for curtailment on hourly basis, which has increased the woes of people of the city. The existing system of the PDD is not strong enough to bear the load, which results in tripping of feeder.

To avoid any kind of damage, the PDD is going for extra curtailment, which is irking residents of the city.

“It is a fact that the load has increased and the receiving station is not able to bear the load. In scorching heat, more and more air-conditioners are being used, which has increased the load. We are working on installing another 1 MVA transformer at the Nanak Nagar receiving station to improve the power supply,” said Shenaz Goni, Chief Engineer, PDD, Jammu.

She said in a couple of days the transformer would be installed and charged. “After that we are hopeful that the situation will improve,” the Chief Engineer added.

The Jammu city at present requires around 1,200 to 1,300 MW power and the PDD is supplying around 900 MW. The inflow has increased during the month of Ramadan and PDD officials have been directed to ensure power supply during early morning and evening time.

“During Sehri and Iftaar time, we ensure that there is no power cut and this is for the whole state,” Goni said.

Due to increase in temperature, transformers are getting damaged every now and then.

“We are making it sure that in Jammu city these damaged transformers are replaced in a single day so that people don’t suffer,” the Chief Engineer added.

Jammu, July 10
There seems to be no relief to the residents of the city, who continue to protest against shortage of water and unscheduled power curtailments in the prevailing scorching heat.

Two protests were held in the Manorama Vihar area, near Talab Tillo, and Hazuribagh, Bohri.

At Manorama Vihar, residents held a protest against the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department for the non-supply of water. A large number of people, including women and children, came on the roads and raised slogans against the state government and the PHE Department.

Vehicular traffic on the road was adversely affected as the protesting residents demanded immediate supply of water. “We have been facing tremendous hardships for the past few days due to the non-supply of water. We were informed that the machinery at the tubewell was damaged, but the officials concerned are least bothered about solving the issue,” said Ashok Kumar, residents of Manorama Vihar.

The protesters were holding placards and empty vessels in their hands, besides raising slogans against the PHE Department for not supplying adequate water in Manorama Vihar and other adjoining areas. They threatened to gherao the officials if the water supply was not restored at the earliest.

“What to talk of proper bath in such prevailing hot and humid conditions, even proper drinking water is now difficult to get because the hand pumps installed by the authorities are dry and no one is interested in repairing them,” said another resident Mukesh.

A protest was also held in the Hazuribagh Bohri area by resident against the Power Development Department (PDD) for not repairing the damaged transformer. The protesters raised slogans against the state government alleging that the city had been plunged into power crisis ever since the offices had moved to the Valley.

“The government is insensitive and has no concern for the people and their well-being, otherwise they would not have been made to suffer in scorching heat. Two days have gone by and not a single PDD official has come here to take stock of the situation, which is getting worse due to power failure,” a local residents said.

Srinagar, July 10
Pakistan has invited Kashmiri separatist leaders for the Iftar party to be hosted by the Pakistani High Commissioner in New Delhi on July 19.

Hardline Hurriyat Conference faction chairman Syed Ali Geelani, moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, breakaway Hurriyat group leader Shabbir Ahmad Shah and JKLF chairman Yasin Malik have been invited to the function.

A special invite has been sent to government-appointed grand mufti Syed Bashiruddin Ahmad and members of the Kashmir Bar Association, sources said.

Geelani and Mirwaiz will not attend the function, but other leaders from their respective groups will travel to New Delhi to attend the Iftar party.

“We have got an invite to the Iftar party at the Pakistan High Commission. Geelani and Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai have got individual invitations for the event,” hardline Hurriyat spokesman Ayaz Akbar said.

He and Altaf Shah, another Hurriyat leader, have also been invited. “A Hurriyat delegation headed by Sehrai will attend the function. Geelani will not be able to travel due to his poor health and the heatwave in New Delhi,” Akbar added.

The invitation to Hurriyat and other separatist leaders has been extended on behalf of Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit.

“Everybody in the Hurriyat, be it executive or general council members, have been invited to New Delhi on July 19,” said Shaid-ul-Islam, media adviser to Mirwaiz.

He added that Mirwaiz would not attend the event primarily due to “religious and other engagements” back home, but a delegation of the Hurriyat would attend 
the Iftar party.

Srinagar, July 10
The BJP would like to contest all 46 constituencies in Kashmir even though it has failed to win any seat in the Valley so far.

The party says it is confident of putting up a good show in the Valley during the upcoming Assembly elections and accomplish ‘Mission 44+’.

This was stated by former IGP Farooq Ahmad Khan, who had recently joined the BJP, while addressing a press conference on Thursday.

He referred to then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s famous statement during his visit in 2000, promising that the Centre would resolve the Kashmir issue within the ambit of humanity.

Khan said: “A breath of fresh air had come during Vajpayee’s tenure. Once again, the time has come to take part in change.”

Urging the people of the Valley to give the BJP a chance in the Assembly elections, he said they should do away with ‘old faces’ like the Congress, the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party.

He asserted that the BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was ‘building bridges’ and taking everybody along.

Khan said senior party leaders would visit every village so that Kashmir ‘joined’ the developmental process along with the rest of the country.

“Jammu and Kashmir has been turned into a beggar state even though it has immense tourism potential and we can earn foreign exchange like Switzerland,” he added.

Khan claimed that the youth were entering the party fold in large numbers as they, especially from the Valley, were the worst affected.

On the chances of entering into an alliance for the Assembly poll, he said a decision would be taken at an appropriate time. He said the BJP was willing to hold discussions on Article 370.

Srinagar, July 10
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today dubbed the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) an “amalgam of turncoats”.

“The PDP is an amalgam of turncoats who change colour like a chameleon,” Omar, who is also the working president of the ruling National Conference, said while addressing party workers’ conventions in north Kashmir’s Kupwara and Lolab towns today.

He also alleged that the PDP changed its ideology with changing winds.

Omar claimed that the “time and situation” has unveiled the “real faces and the hidden agenda” of PDP leaders to barter the interests of the state to attain power.

“People have recognised the PDP’s duality and deceptiveness to grab power. They are not going to fall prey to the party’s propaganda again and again,” the Chief Minister said.

He said the history of PDP leadership was about “deceit, falsehood and greed for power”.

“I need not to explain or identify, you are yourself aware of each individual leader of the PDP rolling from one side to another, one extreme to other and changing the ideology for convenience and personal benefits,” he said.

Omar said the National Conference has never surrendered its political ideology and development agenda for ‘naya (new) Kashmir’.

“Whether in power or outside, we have strived for empowerment and autonomy of the people of the state so that they are in a position to make decisions themselves,” he said.

“We have never compromised on this issue, as such, conspirators outside and their agents within the state are active to confuse the people and defame the National Conference by telling unabated lies, particularly to young generation, who are not fully aware of the history, sacrifices and sincerity of the NC leadership and its workers,” Omar said.

National Conference general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani, district president Qaisar Jamsheed and Law Minister Mir Saifullah also addressed the workers.

Shopian, July 10
A section of workers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday gave a seven-day deadline to the party leadership to review the decision of nominating Mohammad Yousuf Bhat as the party candidate from the Shopian Assembly segment. They protested the decision to field Bhat without consulting workers from the constituency.

“The decision to field the candidate should solely be the right of those who have been working tirelessly for the party and have to work without VIP security. We have to face all threats as we are not under any security cover which party leaders enjoy,” said a worker.

He added that they were the most vulnerable lot. “If the PDP does not review its decision, we will take the extreme step of quitting the party,” he said. The workers alleged that the party had failed to fulfil the promise of taking the views of party workers into consideration. “The party has become authoritarian in deciding the candidates which is not acceptable to us,” said Mohammad Altaf.

Sources said Mohammad Shafi Bandey, who had been eyeing the seat, was on loggerheads with the party over its decision to field Bhat and was expecting a review of the party’s decision. Politics over ticket allotment had cost the party 400 workers in Sopore. More was on the cards as workers from Rajpora MLA Syed Bashir Ahmed’s segment had voiced resentment.

Meanwhile, the PDP reopened its district office in Pulwama on Thursday. The office was made functional by Abdul Bari Andrabi, district president, Pulwama. He said the district headquarters of the PDP would remain open on all days except Fridays.“Interacting with visitors to the office, he said the party’s endeavour was to make public service delivery institution-centric instead of individual-centric,” a spokesman said.

Srinagar, July 10
Senior National Conference leader and former parliamentarian Abdul Ahad Vakil died after prolonged illness at his residence in Srinagar today. He was 76.

Vakil, who had a degree in law, was elected to the Lok Sabha from the north Kashmir’s Baramulla constituency in 1977. In 1987, he lost the Assembly elections to the Jamaat-e-Islami’s Syed Ali Shah Geelani from the Sopore constituency but made a comeback in 1996 by winning the Sopore seat.

In the 1996 election, Vakil defeated his nearest rival Ghulam Nabi Mircha of the Congress by 11,599 votes.

Vakil was a close associate of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and had served as a state minister and also as the Speaker of the Assembly.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in a statement, expressed deep grief over Vakil’s death. In a condolence message, Omar said Vakil always worked for the welfare and betterment of the people.

The PDP also condoled the death. In a joint condolence message, PDP party patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and president Mehbooba Mufti called Vakil a seasoned politician, who during his years in active politics remained committed to the uplift of the downtrodden.

A meeting of the employees of the Assembly Secretariat was held under the chairmanship of Assembly Speaker Mubarak Gul on the secretariat premises today to condole Vakil’s death.

The committees on Privileges and Ethics of the Legislative Assembly also mourned Vakil’s death.

Governor expresses grief

Governor NN Vohra expressed grief over the death of former minister and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Abdul Ahad Vakil. In a condolence message, the Governor expressed sympathy with Vakil’s family and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul.

Srinagar, July 10
A total of 11,809 devotees paid obeisance before the ice ‘lingam’ at the 
Amarnath shrine on Thursday. A total of 1,67,644 pilgrims have paid obeisance at the holy cave since the commencement of the yatra.

Srinagar, July 10
The hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference today condemned the state government’s ban on a lecture by academician Mridu Rai, accusing it of being “totally intolerant” to opposite voices.

“Jammu and Kashmir is actually a police state where the government is totally intolerant towards the opposite voices,” the Syed Ali Shah Geelani-let separatist group said in a statement.

The state government yesterday banned lecture by academician Mridu Rai, author of the book ‘Hindu Rulers, Muslim Subjects’. Rai was supposed to deliver a lecture at a city hotel.

The separatist group said the freedom of expression has been “practically banned” in the region which is “miserably exposing” India’s claim to be the largest democracy.

“The democratic and basic rights of citizens have been snatched from them and no one is in position to freely express his views,” the separatist group said.

Doda, July 10
The three-day annual Mata Chandi yatra from Kulhand to Shia Dhar (Chandi-top) area of Bharat in mountainous Doda district commenced today.

The yatra was flagged off by District Development Commissioner, Doda, Mubarak Singh in presence of more than 3,000 devotees from Doda, Bharat, Dessa, Bhagwah and other adjoining areas.

Mubarak Singh prayed that the yatra brings peace and prosperity to the district.

He said the pilgrimage was a symbol of brotherhood and strengthens the communal harmony in the district.

The official, on the occasion, also congratulated the Mata Chandi Mandir Committee, Kulhand, for organising the annual pilgrimage.

The committee members, meanwhile, urged the administration to construct a proper road to the shrine so that more and more devotees can visit the temple.

The members also said the area can be developed as pilgrimage tourism destination.

Jammu, July 10
As the unscheduled power curtailments have become a routine affair in the city, the Congress, which is a part of the coalition government, has lambasted the state government for adopting causal approach to solve the problem.

Hari Singh, vice-president, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), in a statement issued here on Wednesday, expressed concern over the long scheduled and unscheduled power cuts in Jammu.

Hari Singh said people were facing great hardships due to prolong scheduled and unscheduled power cuts in urban and rural areas of Jammu. Moreover the delay in monsoon had added to the miseries of people. He said there was a huge rush of pilgrims in Jammu because of the Amarnath yatra. “These pilgrims are also suffering for want of electricity and it will also convey a wrong message to them about the state of Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

Rajouri, July 10
Most of the areas in Rajouri district, especially the plains, have been witnessing power cuts between 10 and 14 hours daily for the past few months.

People say they are facing problems due to power cuts in Ramadan.

Residents of Rajouri city held a protest against the Power Development Department (PDD) around 8.30 pm yesterday and blocked the Abdullah Bridge for more than 
two hours.

Demanding electricity, protesters alleged that the officials concerned did not bother about their problems.

Today, around 2.30 pm, people again blocked the Abdullah Bridge and raised slogans against the Executive Engineer and the Sectional Engineer of the PDD.

On receiving information about the protest, Hamid Choudhry, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Headquarters, Yash Pal Singh, Station House Officer, and Inderjeet Singh, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), PDD, rushed to the spot and talked to the protesters.

The AEE assured the protesters that they would be soon provided electricity as per schedule.

At the Nowshera tehsil headquarters, people of Hanjana Thati village held a protest and blocked the Nowshera-Jammu-Rajouri road for more than two hours.

The protesters raised slogans against PDD officials for their failure to install a new transformer in their village which was damaged about a fortnight ago.

The Tehsildar of the area and Station House Officer Sajjad Khan talked to protesters and called the AEE concerned to the spot, who assured the protesters that a new transformer would be installed in their village on Thursday.

Meanwhile, people at Darhal, Budhal and Thanamandi also held protest against the power department, saying they were facing problems in the absence of electricity and the PDD had added to their miseries.

Kupwara, July 10
Residents of Bumhama near Kupwara town today held a protest against erratic power supply in their village.

Protesters raised slogans against the Power Development Department for its failure to provide uninterrupted power supply to them. They blocked the Kupwara-Sopore road near Bumhama for about an hour before being dispersed by the police.

The protesters said they were forced to eat “sehri” (pre-dawn meals) and “iftar” in candlelight. “Since last evening there is no electricity. It is playing hide and seek for the past over a week. Despite representations to power department officials nothing has been done so far,” said Mohammad Amin Malik, a local.

Another protester, Rafiq Ahmad Dar, said, “What is the point of paying power tariff, when we are deprived of the facility in the fasting month.” — OC

Samba, July 10
Inhabitants of Sandi village and its adjoining areas here have demanded immediate shifting of the Army’s firing range from the area saying that it poses risk to their lives, property and livestock.

Led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) activists from Samba district, the villagers held a protest demonstration for about an hour in support of heir demand.

The villagers alleged that their land had turned barren due to operational activity of the firing range.

They said several locals fall victim to accidents at the firing range, but the authorities concerned never paid any compensation, ex-gratia or relief to the victims’ families.

The villagers sought intervention of the district administration. “We want the firing range to be shifted. Our children are living in constant danger,” said Trilok Nath.

“More than 130 people have been killed and hundreds more disabled by the explosion of left-over shells. But the government has given no relief to the people till date,” said AAP convener ID Khajuria.

After receiving the information about the protest, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Samba, Inderjeet Bhagat reached the spot and pacified the protesters.

Srinagar, July 10
The police and the Army have extended the search in frontier Kupwara district to trace a foreign militant, believed to have been injured in a gunfight on yesterday afternoon in Hamlapati village of the district.

A divisional commander of the Lashkar-e-Toiba Abu Musa, a Pakistani national, was killed in the encounter at Hamlapati in Handwara, 90 km from here. An Army jawan was also wounded in the encounter.

“The Pakistani accomplice of Musa was injured in the encounter and managed to escape from the area after the initial gunfight. We have extended searches to many villages around Hamlapati to nab him,” said a senior police officer in north Kashmir. “Additional troops and sniffer dogs are being used to trace the injured militant,” he added.

The search operation was being jointly conducted by the special operations group of the police, 21 Rashtriya Rifles and 92 Battalion of the CRPF in Sultanpora, Rajpora, Ahgam, Satkochi and Duggerpora villages.

Searches were launched by the security forces yesterday in Hamlapati after specific information about the presence of two militant commanders in the area.

“As the search operation began, the militants opened fire on the troops to break the cordon. The fire was retaliated and in the encounter, Musa got killed and his associate managed to flee,” said the police officer.

A global positioning system, one phone, one AK-47 along with two magazines, two hand grenades and a pouch were recovered from the encounter site.

Meanwhile, a search operation was also carried out in north Kashmir’s Sopore locality today. Sources said searches were carried out in Model Town locality after information about the presence of a local Lashkar commander in the area. The operation was called off after no militant was traced.

Srinagar, July 10
Additional Director General of Police, Security, VK Singh decorated Fayaz Ahmad Lone, Superintendent of Police (SP), Commandant, 11th Battalion of the JKAP, Randeep Kumar, SP, Security, Civil Secretariat, J&K, TR Katoch, SP, Staff officer to the ADGP, Security, J&K, Ashok Sharma, SP, Commandant, 3rd Battalion of the JKAP, Manzoor Ahmad Dalal, SP, Security, Anti-Hijacking, Airport, Srinagar, and Ajit Lal Dogra, SP, Security, Raj Bhawan, Srinagar, with the rank of the SSP at a ceremony in Srinagar.

”The officers have completed 15 years of gazetted service in the J&K Police and are entitled to wear the SSP rank,” an official spokesman said. — TNS

Srinagar, July 10
Separatists in Kashmir have criticised New Delhi for its move to close down the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) office in India.

While Hurriyat leaders Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq have termed the move as unrealistic and contrary to the ground realities, the Kashmir Bar Association has called for implementing the pending UN resolutions over Kashmir.

In a tough stance against a mission that Indian had long opposed, the Union Government has asked the United Nations military observer group on Kashmir to vacate a government-provided bungalow in New Delhi.

“The decision of the Government of India is unrealistic and contrary to the ground realities,” the Moderate Hurriyat said in a statement issued at the end of its executive council meeting here today, which was chaired by its chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

“During the meeting, it was stated that the GOI should accept that Kashmir is a disputed state and political courage is needed to resolve it,” it said, adding that the UN resolutions on Kashmir was a stark reality.

“Apart from Pakistan, India too has pledged at the international forum to implement those resolutions in letter and spirit,” the Hurriyat said.

The Geelani-led hardline termed the government order as ridiculous action of the BJP-led NDA government, saying that these types of actions could neither change the “status” of Kashmir issue, nor could be this long-pending issue solved this way.

It said, “India itself took this dispute to the UNO that has passed 18 resolutions on Kashmir to which both India and Pakistan are signatory.”

“We strongly criticise and oppose the move of closing down the UNMOGIP office in India and call upon the United Nations to enforce the UN Resolutions of August 13, 1948, in letter and spirit,” the Kashmir High Court Bar Association said here in a statement, while claiming that New Delhi has “no power or authority” to sideline any of the clauses of the said resolution “unilaterally or otherwise.”

Srinagar, July 10
A militant group, which announced its formation last year and vowed to fight in India, has translated the sermon of Islamic State chief Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, named as caliph by militants, into Hindi and Urdu and released it online.

Al Isabah, the media wing of militant group ‘Ansar-ut-Tawheed Fi Bilad Al-Hind’, released the Hindi and Urdu translations of the Arabic sermon, delivered by Baghdadi on Friday in the Iraqi city of Mosul.

The extremist group has repeatedly hinted at its Indian roots and claimed India was in its cross-hair.

The Hindi and Urdu translations of the sermon were released on Al Isabah’s Twitter account, where the group has formerly shared links to its video and audio statements.

The group has also translated the statement of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) spokesman Abu Mohammad al-Adnani, in which he had announced the establishment of caliphate in the areas where his group has gained control in Iraq and Syria.

The Tribune was the first to report the formation of the new militant group, calling itself ‘Ansar-ut-Tawheed Fi Bilad Al-Hind’ (the supporters of faith in the land of India) — when the group’s leader, who uses pseudonym Abdur Rehman al Hindi, announced its existence in the video statement last year.

The group’s origin remains a mystery till now and has been limited so far to distribution of online propaganda material, which is directed against India and produced on a pattern similar to the al Qaida and released on sites where the member outfits of the global jihadist movement share their messages and propaganda.

Ansar-ut-Tawheed has released several videos since announcing its formation in November last year. In one video, it shows armed men firing assault rifles and machine guns and identifies them as Abu Mohammad and Abu Baseer of Uttar Pradesh and Abu Mus’ab and Abu Saeed of Karnataka.

Srinagar, July 10
The government decision to ban a lecture by noted academician and author Mridu Rai has come in for criticism from different quarters, including both separatist and mainstream political parties and Kashmiri Pandit groups and individuals.

As part of the Pandit Rughonath Vaishnavi Annual Talk, 2014, the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society, had invited Prof Rai to deliver a lecture on “Languages of Violence, Languages of Justice: the State and Insurgent Kashmir”.

“J&K is actually a police state, where the government is totally intolerant towards opposite voices,” the spokesman for hardline Hurriyat Conference headed by Syed Ali Geelani said in a statement here today.

“It has now become a routine to ban and restrict seminars and academic conferences of fro-freedom people and by banning the lecture of a prominent Indian author in Srinagar, the government has proved that it doesn’t want to listen the reality on Kashmir in any way, even if the speaker is an Indian citizen,” the spokesman added, while terming the ban on such conferences and lectures as “ridiculous”.

The PDP said the NC-led government had “stamped out” all channels of dissent in Kashmir. “It (ban) is undemocratic and dictatorial. Denying intellectual space to anyone is the worst any government can do to bring disrepute to itself and the place it governs,” said party chief spokesperson Naeem Akhtar. — TNS

Srinagar, July 10
The Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA), an amalgam of various traders’ bodies, today urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to recall his promise to revamp the ailing transport sector in the Valley.

“It was at the Chief Minister’s behest that the Minister for Transport held many meetings with the KEA on finding a viable solution to the problems being faced by this sector and help them revive the industry and ensure its economic viability….The CM is requested to immediately call a meeting of all affected bus owners to sort out the issues highlighted by the KEA in their earlier meetings and sort out problems if this sector is to be revived,” said Siraj Ahmad, Chief Spokesman for the KEA.

Pointing out that a rehabilitation package had been discussed and assurance was given for its announcement in a short period of time, he said the package was to replace at least 600 old and condemned vehicles. However, the KEA regretted that no headway had been made in this regard and other suggestions, including one-time relief package for replacing old and condemned buses with new and comfortable and fuel efficient buses.

“Instead, the state government has been issuing thousands of permits to all kinds of vehicles and issuing such permits has caused chaos and economic disaster to the already ailing transport industry. If this was not enough, traffic jams have added to the miseries of people,” Siraj added. 

Srinagar, July 10
The CRPF’s 161 Battalion won the III-Inter-Battalion Kabaddi Tournament which was held in Srinagar.

The three-day tournament began on July 6 and was organised by 35 Battalion of the CRPF at Recruit Training Centre in Srinagar. The tournament concluded with a closing ceremony where DIGP, CRPF, Srinagar (south), KM Yadav was the chief guest.

“He gave away prizes to the winner and runners-up teams,” a CRPF spokesman said.

Commandants and senior officers of other units of the Srinagar sector were present on the occasion.

The tournament is being organised since three years continuously under the annual sports programme of the CRPF.

“Twenty units of the Srinagar (operations) sector participated in the tournament and 161 Battalion of the CRPF won the tournament,” he said. 

Srinagar, July 10
At least six women got injured in a police action when they were staging a protest against water shortage in the city today.

Eyewitnesses said a large number of women from Saraibala and Maharaja Bazar blocked the road near Naaz Crossing in Srinagar in protest against water shortage in the area.

The women protesters said their localities had been facing acute water crisis for the past many days and the authorities concerned seemed to have turned a blind eye towards the hardships.

“We were forced to come on road to highlight our problems,” said a protester. The protest, however, created a massive gridlock in the city.

The police, eyewitnesses said, later cleared the road for traffic which was blocked for over an hour. The locals alleged that the police used force to disperse the protesters.

Shopkeepers of the Maharaja Bazaar and Saraibala localities later observed a shutdown against the police action. To protest police action, the traders closed their shops and observed a shutdown.

A police officer said the police used mild force as some protesters pelted the police with stones. — TNS

Jammu, July 10
A deputation of the J&K United School Teacher Association (USTA), led by its president Hari Singh, called on the Divisional Commissioner and apprised him of their demands.

The demands included immediate release of salaries of schoolteachers working under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), removal of anomalies in pay scales of undergraduate teachers and masters, transparent transfer policy and transfer of those masters, lecturers and principals who have completed their tenure in far-off places. — TNS

Jammu, July 10
A BSF jawan was injured when his gun went off accidently at a forward post in the Krishna Ghati (KG) sector along the Line of Control in Poonch district today.

“Constable Naresh Chand of 135 Battalion of the BSF was unloading his weapon after finishing his duty at the Kranti Post in the KG sector this morning around 7 when the gun went off accidentally and a bullet hit his left shoulder,” said an Intelligence source.

After first aid the constable was shifted to Northern Command Hospital in Udhampur, he said.