RS Pura, August 25
Assuring to mitigate woes of the people of border areas who have been suffering hardships due to firing from across the border, BJP president Amit Shah today asserted that India would give a befitting reply to Pakistan.

“Home Minister Rajnath Singh has clearly said that if Pakistan resorts to firing, we will definitely give a befitting reply to them,” Shah said while interacting with some border families, who have taken shelter at Higher Secondary School, RS Pura, due to relentless shelling by Pakistani forces.

He assured the affected villagers that the BJP government would look into their problems, particularly those who had been displaced after the Partition in 1947 and the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan.

Irked over the statement of Omar Abdullah in which he had taunted the BJP leadership by referring border firing with “Acche Din Aane Walen Hai”, Shah said the days of the Omar Abdullah-led government were numbered.

“In the remaining period of his government, Omar should focus on governance instead of giving such provocative statements,” he said and criticised the Chief Minister for not visiting families affected by the border firing.

Launching a veiled attack on Omar for treating residents of his own state with “different yardsticks”, he said, “People of the border areas are suffering and Omar has no time to visit the affected families.”

“Jammu and Kashmir is not confined only to the Kashmir valley,” he said, mocking at the Chief Minister for not taking any step to mitigate woes of the border people.

Before the arrival of Amit Shah at Higher Secondary School, RS Pura, there was scuffle between National Conference leader TS Tony and BJP legislator from the Suchetgarh Assembly segment Sham Choudhary.

Eyewitnesses said activists of the two parties exchanged heated words, but with the timely intervention of the police, the situation was controlled.

Shah also visited Higher Secondary School, Slehar, where some displaced families of the Bishnah area have taken shelter.

Srinagar, August 25
Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Speaker Mubarak Gul today said ceasefire violations would continue along the Line of Control (LoC) until the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

“The ceasefire violations along the LoC and the international border have been going on and they will continue until the Kashmir issue is resolved,” Gul said during the inaugural day of the six-day autumn session of the Assembly.

The session started here with obituary references to former lawmakers who had died since the last Assembly session. Gul’s remarks came after the leader of the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) and Udhampur legislator Balwant Singh Mankotia protested against the “unprovoked” shelling by Pakistan on border areas.

Mankotia raised the issue of ceasefire violations by Pakistan and the difficulties faced by people living in border areas. The Speaker, however, told the MLA to allow the obituary references and bring in a motion for discussion on the issue.

Mankotia, however, remained adamant and stormed into the well of the House accusing the state government of neglecting and ignoring the sufferings of border people. He was marshalled out from the Legislative Assembly after he continued to disrupt the proceedings of the House over the ceasefire violations.

Mankotia had come wearing a black band on his head in protest against Pakistan. Though the Speaker told him that the firing issue was related to the Ministry of Defence, he stormed into the well of House to protest.

Srinagar, August 25
Governor NN Vohra today said the social media had enormous advantages but cautioned against its misuse.

Addressing a gathering at the Government College for Women, MA Road here, where The Tribune organised an inter-college debate, the Governor observed that the revolution in the information technology arena had made a vital contribution to enhancing communication and connectivity and enabled improvements in spreading education and advancing medicine, science and technology, besides improving management of trade, business and commerce.

He said real-time communications had also contributed to prompt handling of emergencies and disasters.

The Governor cautioned that there was danger of various forms of social media, being used for spreading misinformation and rumours which may lead to law and order situations.

The topic of the debate was “Does Social Media Contribute Towards Enhancing Better Understanding And Cooperation, Nationally and Internationally?”. A total of 24 students from 12 colleges of Kashmir participated.

Stressing the importance of debating contests in personality development, the Governor observed that such activities enabled the students to improve their articulation and develop coherent and rational thinking, which would enhance their potential for successfully meeting the challenges of life.

The Governor complimented Shaheen Altaf, Principal, Government College for Women, for her personal interest in organising the event and suggested to her to create more opportunities for the students to participate in such activities. He said essay writing competitions should also be held.

The Governor complimented The Tribune for providing a useful platform to students for showcasing their skills. He suggested that the newspaper should reserve at least one page for contributions by students where they could highlight issues concerning them.

Srinagar, august 25
Twentyfour speakers from 12 colleges of the Valley expressed their views in support and against the topic “Does Social Media Contribute Towards Enhancing Better Understanding And Cooperation, Nationally and Internationally?” during an inter-college debate organised by The Tribune at the Government College for Women, Maulana Azad Road here, today.

The Government College for Women, Government Degree College, Bemina, and National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, were adjudged the top three colleges on the basis of the performance of the participants.

Muvahid Rashid from Government Degree College, Bemina, won the best speaker award comprising a cash prize of Rs 5,000 and a Certificate of Merit.

The first prize of Rs 10,000 and Certificates of Merit were won by Sana Shah and Nisheet Zehbi from Government College for Women, MA Road. The second prize of Rs 8,000 and Certificates of Merit were bagged by Muvahid Rashid and Safiya Meraj from Government Degree College, Bemina. The third prize of Rs 5,000 and Certificates of Merit were won by Joyjeet Singh and Fatima Jaleed from the National Institute of Technology.

What the winners said

Srinagar, August 25
Students from far-flung areas were enthusiastic about participating in the first inter-college debate organised by The Tribune at Government College for Women, MA Road, here today.

The debate provided a platform to students from far-flung areas of Kashmir to present their views on social media, its uses and drawbacks.

For the students of Government Degree College, Uri, it was a rare experience as they usually do not get a chance to be part of such events due to little or no accessibility to such platforms. “It was a rare experience as I got exposure and appreciation both. I felt that I too have talent and can do better in terms of articulation and debate,” said a student from Government Degree College, Uri.

Another student from Shopian district of south Kashmir, who was part of the event, hailed the organisers and said these events should be held in colleges of other districts as well to help provide exposure to students of villages.

“Debates and seminars should be held in colleges of north and south Kashmir too to help students get broader understanding of things and also provide them a platform where they can express their views. Debates are a great way of communication and provide the much needed competitive spirit among students,” said another student from Government Degree College, Shopian.

Besides students of far-flung areas of north and south Kashmir, the event saw participation of faculty members of different colleges of the Valley.

“It just gives you an idea about what people think. You come across a variety of opinions,” said a participating student from Srinagar. 

Srinagar, August 25
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court today reiterated its earlier directive on shifting of houseboats on the Dal to the Doldrum area in the lake.

The court said it was “unable to appreciate” the stance of the government on the issue, adding that the “matter (shifting of the houseboats) is serious one” and requires urgent compliance. The directions were passed by a Division Bench of the J&K High Court comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar today.

“We are unable to appreciate the stance of the state government and closing their eyes, (thereby) completely shelving the court orders,” the Division Bench observed while expressing their displeasure over the non-compliance of the previous court order with regard to shifting of the houseboats and other directions.

Earlier in July 2013, the High Court had asked the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) to file a comprehensive relocation plan (about houseboats) before the Bench within two weeks. It had also observed that the houseboats should be shifted the Doldrum area in the lake as soon as possible. However, since then the government authorities have slept over the matter which prompted the court to reiterate its earlier directions today.

“The matter is serious and requires strict compliance,” the High Court said in its fresh orders while directing the Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Authority (HUDA), and the head of LAWDA Irfan Yasin to file an affidavit explaining the delay caused in implementing the court directions.

The affidavits are to be filed by or before September 4, the court said.

The court is hearing the public interest litigation calling for the conservation of the Dal Lake and has been monitoring the efforts of the government in this regard for the last many years.

Srinagar, August 25
Thriving liquor business has become a nuisance for the residents of Indra Nagar and adjoining localities as the locals said broken bottles of liquor lying on streets have created threat for elders and children in the area.

Residents of Shivpora, Indira Nagar, Bonamsar, Palpora Sonwar, Dalgate and Batwara said people buy liquor from local shops and throw empty bottles there.

“When we wake up in the morning, there are dozens of empty and broken bottles lying on the streets near our houses. We have also protested several times and brought the issue to the notice of officials concerned, but nothing has been done against the increasing menace,” said a resident of Indira Nagar.

Residents of the area frequently take to the streets against the increasing liquor sale in Batwara, Sonwar and Dalgate. The locals said the liquor business was having a negative impact on children of the area as well. “We cannot let it happen as such things are having a negative impact on our children and also the empty bottles have become a health hazard for us. We cannot walk on the streets freely as we have to be cautious every time,” said a resident of Bonamsar Sonwar.

Liquor is mostly sold at shops in Batwara and the Dalgate area of Srinagar where hundreds of people visit without any restrictions.

The residents are demanding shifting of these shops from the area as they said a number of alcoholics visit the area which had resulted in increasing crime in the area.

They said, “When a person comes under the influence of alcohol, he loses humanity and turns into a destructive creature. It leads to destruction and is a key to many evils in our society. We are losing our youth to this evil,” the residents said.

Srinagar, August 25
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today reviewed arrangements for the smooth conduct of Haj.

An official statement said Omar, who is also the chairman of the State Hajj Committee, emphasised on ensuring all facilities to the pilgrims to and fro and also in Saudi Arabia. He said all agencies responsible for the conduct of Haj should work in close coordination to render best services to the pilgrims.

It was stated at the meeting that the first Haj flight from the Srinagar Airport would take off on August 27 at 10 am.

On August 28, two flights will take off from the Srinagar Airport and almost same arrangement will continue till September 12.

The statement said each flight would board 275 pilgrims and the flights would fly directly to Madina from Srinagar. “As many as 7,007 pilgrims are proceeding to Haj this year through the State Hajj Committee. All male pilgrims will be provided special jackets and female pilgrims will be given scarves. The meeting was told that necessary vaccination to the pilgrims had already been completed,” the statement added.

Srinagar, August 25
Member of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council Vijay Bakaya called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here today.

Bakaya, as per an official statement, discussed with the Governor issues relating to the growth and development of the state, the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants and certain matters relating to the forthcoming electoral process.

Jammu, August 25
The Dogra Sadar Sabha today expressed its anguish over the lack of necessary arrangement for the people of border villages of the Bishnah constituency, who have been shifted to different schools and government buildings.

The heavy shelling and firing from across the border has forced them to live like nomads. Being fed up with this kind of situation, now people want a permanent solution to it.

Taking into account the frequent incidents of heavy shelling/firing from across the border which result in tension among the people living in the border villages of the Jammu province, the Union and state governments have been urged to immediately take a final decision for allotment of 5 marla plots and financial assistance for shelter at some safer place to the people living on the border, as promised. The governments have also been urged to provide proper arrangements for shifting the people of the border villages who have still not being taken to the safer places.

Congress leader and in charge of the youth wing of the Dogra Sadar Sabha Gambhir Dev Singh Charak demanded that the human lives, crops, cattle, houses should immediately be insured by the government and the injured should be suitably compensated. The farmers whose agricultural land falls between the Zero Line and fencing on the Indo-Pak border, where they are not able to grow crops, should be compensated and the cases of the compensation for the land under occupation of security forces also be decided once for all.

Prominent people present from the border villages were OP Saini, Waryam Chand, sarpanch Raghubir Singh, numberdar Chuni Lal, Nand Lal Bhagat and Madan Lal Bhagat.

Jammu, August 25
A delegation of the SKUAST-Jammu Teaching Association, led by its president Vikas Sharma, met national president of the BJP Amit Shah and Union Minister of State for Science and Technology in Prime Minister’s Office Dr Jitendra Singh in the presence of Nirmal Singh, national executive member of the BJP, and Jugal kishore, MP, and submitted a memorandum regarding their “genuine” demand for the upgrading of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST)-Jammu to Central Agricultural University.

President of the SKUAST-Jammu Teaching Association Vikas Sharma told the BJP chief that the Jammu province includes 10 districts and SKUAST-Jammu has limited staff and resources, which makes it difficult to cater to the needs of farmers in far-flung areas of Udhampur (Gool, Mahore, etc), Doda/Bhaderwah (Chinta, Bhalessa, etc) and Bani (Dandi Kutu, Basohli, Billawar, etc), besides upper reaches of Rajouri and Poonch districts, which have suffered political as well as developmental alienation since Independence.

Sharma added that the farmers of these far flung areas are unable to get the benefits of the latest advances in agricultural technologies due to the shortage of sanctioned staff and meagre financial resources made available to the state agricultural university, ie SKUAST-Jammu, by the state government. This results in lower agricultural production and a strong resentment among the farming community leading to hindrances in joining the main stream of the Indian polity.

After giving a patient hearing to the delegation, the BJP supremo and Union minister said for the overall development of the Jammu division and to address time-to-time demands of the farming community of the region there must be one Central Agricultural University in the state.

They assured the delegation that their genuine demand would be considered and very soon their memorandum would be forwarded to the Central Agricultural Minister Radha Mohan Singh.

Jammu, August 25
Dulhasti Power Station of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited provided 1,000 notebooks to inmates of Bal Ashram, Kuleed, Kishtwar, which is being run by the District Social Welfare Department.

The notebooks were distributed by NHPC Limited under its Corporate Social Responsibility-Sustainable Development Scheme. The material was handed over to Bal Ashram during a function presided over by Arvind Bhat, General Manager, Dulhasti, in the presence of Bipin Gupta, Chief Engineer, and SK Parihar, Senior Manager (Law), NHPC, Kaiser Bhawani, District Social Welfare Officer, Kishtwar and others.

Speaking on the occasion, Bhat advised the inmates of Bal Ashram to devote time whole heartedly to their studies. In his address, the District Social Welfare Officer thanked Bhat for providing much-needed support, besides encouraging the students.

Jammu, August 25
Retired employees of the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) today protested against the failure of government to fulfil its promise and not releasing their pension dues of the last five years.

Under the banner of the All J&K SRTC Volunteer Retirement Employees Association (VREA), former employees of the corporation alleged that they were “betrayed” by the government, which made a false promise to them that all the employees who would take voluntary retirement would have all their dues, including 126 slabs of the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA), cleared.

The retired employees raised slogans against the Managing Director of the corporation and Finance Department for the delay in fulfilling the promise.

General secretary of the association Surinder Singh alleged that the management had not fulfilled their demands, included the release of arrears of COLA pending since 1999 and the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission with effect from 2006, which was assured.

Surinder Singh alleged that the SRTC management wrongly represented their case before the Finance Department, which is still pending there and for which they have been struggling for the last two years. He alleged that the government is deliberately ignoring their plight and adopted an apathetic attitude towards them.

“We want probe into where the money has gone, which the Finance Department had released,” he said. He said most of the employees who opted for the VRS scheme are still awaiting payment of money as the corporation has not fulfilled its promise.

Former SRTC employees have demanded vigilance probe into the alleged misuse of the crores of rupees released for clearing the COLA slabs of the employees. “They trapped us first and assured that money will be paid on time, but only a few people have got their dues cleared,” said another employee Kulbir Singh.

Jammu, August 25
Expressing concern over the inordinate delay in regularising the services of casual/seasonal labourers, ad hoc and contractual employees working in various departments of the state government and public sector undertakings, president of the National Mazdoor Conference (NMC) Subash Shastri today appealed to the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene personally and take decision in this regards in the next meeting of the state Cabinet.

He said any further delay in it would have an adverse impression in the mind of 57,000 daily rated workers (DRWs), including ad hoc and contractual employees.

Addressing a press conference here today, Shastri urged the CM to regularise the services of the casual/seasonal labourers, ad hoc and contractual employees before the enforcement of model code of conduct for the ensuing state Assembly elections.

He said there is no justification for the delay in the regularisation of the services of the daily rated workers, for which the state government has already made an announcement recently.

Shastri emphasised that whenever the recommendation of the Seventh Pay Commission are submitted to the Central Government, the Commission should extend these recommendations to the state governments, in general, and Jammu and Kashmir, in particular.

Among others who spoke on the occasion were Rajan Babu Khajuria, Sunil Kochhar, Surrinder Kumar, Darshan Lal Bawa, Sudesh Kumar, Parmjit, Vijay Kumar, Sukhdev Singh, Karan Singh, Bhupinder Singh, Mohammad Shafi and Ravinder Kumar.

Jammu, August 25
The J&K fencers have brought laurels to the state by fetching six medals — four silver and two bronze — in the recently concluded fifth Mini National (U-12) Fencing Championship held at Nasik in Maharashtra.

The boys’ team emerged overall second, while the state eves finished overall third. The J&K Amateur Fencing Association organised a function to felicitate the medal winners here today.

President of the association MJ Sharma, general secretary Vijay Sharma, other office-bearers and coaches were present on the occasion.

Mayank claimed a silver medal in the sabre individual event, followed by Tanish in the foil event.

The sabre team, comprising Mayank, Mridul and Lakshya, clinched a silver medal while girls’ foil team, comprising Shreya, Madhvi and Vanshika, bagged a silver medal.

Boys’ epee team managed to win a bronze medal. The team comprised Samarth, Sarthak and Anirudh. One bronze medal in the individual category was bagged by Radhika in the epee event. Ace fencer Ujjwal Gupta also accompanied the state team as an assistant coach.

Jammu, August 25
The Sharnarthi cell of the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today released a 10-point charter of demands on the occasion of “Balidan Divas” of refugees killed in 1947.

The members of the cell sat on a day-long hunger strike at Satwari Chowk here today. The charter of demands included issuance of advertisement by the Union Government by inviting applications for general enumeration of displaced families without conditions, reservation of seats in the state Legislative Assembly and giving one-time relief package to each displaced family.

The Sharnarthi cell also demanded that Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK) displaced persons must be included in any dialogue on J&K at any level, besides constitution of a development board of displaced persons of 1947 from PoJK to look after the development needs of these people living in and outside refugee camps.

The charter of demands also included reservation for PoJK refugees in technical and other professional colleges, special package for employment of educated refugee youth, reservation in Central and state government jobs.

The cell demanded state subject certificates to PoJK displaced persons living outside the state, fresh counting of refugee families to examine their entitlement of claims and refugee status for displaced persons from PoJK.

Kathua, August 25
Unveiling his much publicised “Mission Kashmir”, national president of the BJP Amit Shah today said establishing a nationalist government in the sensitive border state of Jammu and Kashmir would be the main target of his party in the coming Assembly polls.

“Elections in J&K are not a routine exercise of getting our party’s MLAs elected. It is a big mission to establish a nationalist government in J&K,” Shah said while addressing a public meeting to formally induct two-time Lok Sabha member Choudhary Lal Singh into the BJP.

Revealing that formation of government in J&K is the top agenda of the BJP, Shah said the target of “Plus 44” seats was his personal mission.

“As elections in J&K are top on our agenda, I will dedicate more time in this state to accomplish our mission,” he said.

In his first public meeting after his nomination as BJP national president, Shah touched the emotive issues like “denying” permission to devotees of Kousar Nag from Valley route, “step-motherly” treatment being meted out to the Jammu region and denial of constitutional rights to the West Pakistani refugees.

“Denying permission to pilgrims to perform the Kousar Nag yatra from the Valley route is a clear indication that the government headed by Omar Abdullah has failed to protect the religious rights of the people,” he said.

Seeking to woo people of the Jammu region, Shah regretted that since 1947 successive state governments were meting out “step-motherly treatment” with the region. “Only a nationalist government headed by the BJP will ensure justice to the Jammu region,” he said.

Vowing to end dynastic politics in J&K, Shah said after wiping out the Congress from the political scene of the country, the party’s next target was to rid the people of J&K from Abdullahs and Muftis.

“The BJP is fighting to make ‘Congress-Mukt Bharat’ (Congress-free India) and Jammu and Kashmir is also a part of the country. So to make J&K Congress-free, you have to fight to make the state free from Abdullahs and Muftis,” he said.

“Dynastic role is the main reason for unequal and imbalanced development in J&K,” he said, adding, “J&K has received maximum grant from the Centre, but money meant for the betterment and development of the common man was pocketed by a few families.”

“It is high time to bring J&K on the map of development,” he said, adding, “I come here with the message of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who wishes to usher in development in the state for it to move along with the country on the path of speedy progress”.

Listing major achievements of the Modi regime in the first three months of coming to power, he said in 60 months, the government would accomplish more than 60 things. “If there is a BJP government in the state, the state will benefit largely” he added. 

Srinagar, August 25
The Congress election committee met here today to discuss the strategy and candidates for the forthcoming Assembly polls.

The meeting was chaired by Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Saifuddin Soz and former Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Sources said the panel finalised names of candidates and the list was forwarded to the screening committee. The final decision would be made by the party high command in consultation with Congress general secretary Ambika Soni, who is also the in charge of party’s J&K affairs.

Sources said all the sitting Congress legislators would likely be repeated, even as the election committee finalised Salman Soz as its candidate for the Baramulla seat. Akram Chowdhary was likely to contest from the Surankote segment.

Salman is the son of JKPCC chief, while Akram happens to be the son of former MLA from Surankote late Aslam Chowdhary.

Sources said the Congress would not field candidates from Tangmarg, Khansahib and Kulgam constituencies of the Valley.

Tangmarg is being represented by Ghulam Hassan Mir, while the Khansahib Assembly seat is represented by Hakeem Yasin. MY Tarigami holds the Kulgam seat. All the three representatives happen to be the allied members of the Congress party.

Sources, however, said the final call would be taken by the Congress high command and the first list of candidates would be announced soon.

Srinagar, August 25
Urging for restoration of peace and ceasefire on the Line of Control (LoC) and the international border (IB), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti today said the two countries could not ignore the yearning for peace in Jammu and Kashmir without pushing the region into more miseries.

Addressing a number of roadside meetings in the Dooru segment of the Anantanag parliamentary constituency, she said the PDP wanted to make it clear to the national leadership and the government of Pakistan that the people of the state would resist through all democratic means the heightening of tension between the two countries.

“While temperatures are raised as a result of war room tactical games, the only sufferers are the people of J&K. It is the life and property and sense of security of the people of J&K, which are in the line of fire and her party will channelise and strongly register the opposition of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh to war mongering and use of weapons across the LoC and the international border. Every bullet or a mortar shell fired hits only the residents of this state whether they are on this side or the other,” she said.

She stressed the need for building a strong peace initiative from within the state.

Meanwhile, PDP general secretary Mohammad Dilawar Mir while addressing party workers ridiculed Omar’s remarks on PDP-BJP tacit understanding saying that people were aware about the fact that “until 1998, the BJP was an untouchable party in the country for its sectarian agenda”.

“The NC continues to have ties with the BJP as Omar Abdullah has confessed to giving money to BJP legislators,” Mir said while pointing out to a relationship of reciprocity between the NC-BJP in the 2009 Rajya Sabha elections and 2011 Legislative Council. “Those who accuse us of having some understanding with the BJP should explain to the people as to what were they doing in the NDA government,” Mir said. 

Chandu Chak, Laiyan, Abdulian, August 25
“We spend nights in the camps but return early morning to attend to our cattle and then get busy in preparing milk cake because inflation is more harmful than Pakistan shelling,” says 45-year-old Garib Dass of Chandu Chak village on the border.

The forward belt of the RS Pura sector here is famous for its milk cake that is sold locally and supplied to sweetmeat sellers in Jammu also.

Our village is a kilometre from the Zero Line and like other villages, Pakistan is raining mortars on this village but we have to earn a livelihood for ourselves and our children, Dass says.

“We returned this morning from ITI College (a makeshift camp) in RS Pura town to attend to our livestock and prepare milk cakes. Pakistani mortars kill you once but rising inflation kills a common man every day,” Dass says while stirring milk in a utensil over a furnace.

“To sustain my family, I have been doing this work for the past 20 years. We have seen hostilities between the two countries in the past as well. Every time there is heightened tension, the administration comes up with cosmetic exercise. No one helps you,” adds Dass.

Another border resident, Kulbir Kumar of Laiyan village, says, “While people savour milk cake that we prepare, only we know how much effort goes into it. No doubt, this time around Pakistan is firing mortars but this phase would also end.”

Kumar said due to Pakistan shelling for the past over 15 days, his daily itinerary like other milk cake makers had changed. “After preparing milk cake and selling it during the day, I along with my family return to a relative’s house for the night. In the morning we return to our houses again to prepare milk cakes,” he adds

Srinagar, August 25
Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo today lashed out at the BJP for trying to exploit human sufferings caused by the cross-LoC shelling.

Kichloo criticised the “irresponsible statements” being made by the BJP leaders regarding the cross-LoC shelling and the affected families.

The minister said he visited the affected areas extensively, interacted with the people, ascertained their difficulties and oversaw the arrangements and help being provided to them by the state government at this critical juncture.

“Instead of making statements for political purpose, they should urge the Centre to take immediate necessary measures for addressing the burning issue,” he said, adding the state would spare no efforts to help the affected people.

Kichloo said the state has already begun a comprehensive programme in this regard. — TNS

Jammu, August 25
Recurrent skirmishes triggered by Pakistan on the 198-km long international border and 744-km long Line of Control (LoC) has adversely affected lives of the border residents, the real torch-bearers of democracy in the conflict-ridden Jammu and Kashmir.

While some young dreams have been snuffed out by the trigger-happy Pakistani forces (Army and Rangers) in years gone by, several among them have been rendered limbless and confined to wheelchairs and beds. They include children as young as five and six years.

Ironically, there had never been a serious census of such people, who have been rendered physically challenged, in the Pak firing. There have been umpteen instances, including that of a young girl, Vijay Kumari from Chachwal village in Samba district. Today she is 29 years old and confined to a wheelchair. She, like other young children, had dreamt of making big in her life, but Pak Rangers shattered all her dreams. One stray bullet from across the border pierced her tender left shoulder and exited from right. Now a wheelchair has become her life-long companion. She had gone to agricultural field along with her father when Pak Rangers fired. She was just 11 and a class VI student at the time of the incident in 1997.

Once a bubbly girl, Vijay Kumari now harbours repentance and a deep sense of animosity towards Pak Rangers.

Rano Devi, a mother of four young children from Kaku-de-Kothe in Arnia area, said intense Pak firing and shelling since July 16 had a negative impact on her children. “Now, any loud noise frightens them. Whatever little life we see during the day comes to a freeze in the night,” she said.

Pakistan Rangers had fired several 82 mm mortars on Kaku-de-Kothe, which is barely 300 to 400 metres away from the Zero Line.

“This year from January onwards till date, 20 Army men, five BSF personnel and 10 local policemen have been killed in the line of duty in Jammu and Kashmir. Recurrent ceasefire violations by Pakistan on the LoC and the international border have undoubtedly left behind bruised souls in forward areas,” said a senior police officer. “They certainly needed a soothing touch. They are the real torch-bearers of democracy,” he added.

Flora, Abdulian (RS Pura), August 25
Even as the network of Pakistani cellular companies appear on cellphones in the forward villages along the international border in the RS Pura Sector, no network of BSNL and other private cellular companies has added to the woes of villagers, who have been bearing the brunt of Pakistani shelling.

Pakistani cellphone network of companies like U fone, Zone and Telenor appear on Indian cellphones in the forward villages, but network of Indian cellular companies, including BSNL, remains elusive. “In such a war-like scenario, we have been virtually left at the mercy of God. It seems that the government considers us cannon fodder of enemy guns,” said Kulwant Singh of this village.

“Leave aside mobile network of BSNL, the administration and the police have also not provided any helpline numbers to us,” he added. Sohan Lal, another farmer, said, “While there is no mobile network of BSNL, none from the administration and the BSF asked us to vacate the village and move to safer areas.”

Last night Pakistan shelled this village with 15 mortars (82 mm mortars) that critically injured a man, woman and killed a buffalo.

“The situation is grim and at the time of any eventuality, including death and injuries in Pakistani shelling, we could not contact anyone. We have been pushed into the medieval age,” said Mukesh Kumar, a youth.

”The administration has also not deputed any staff in forward villages, which can keep a track and inform it on day-to-day basis,” he added.

However, this correspondent, who had been noting down Army’s Helpline numbers (landline) in forward villages, dialled two such numbers.

The first one was not attended despite complete rings, but the second number was promptly attended.

The Army man at the other end said the number was meant for Shamka village, but none of the villagers so far has sought any help.

“We are ready to help distressed villagers, but none of them have sought any help so far,” he said.

Srinagar, August 25
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national general secretary Ram Madhav called on Governor NN Vohra here today.

Before arriving in the city, the BJP national general secretary, as per an official statement, visited the Indo-Pak border area where residents of over two dozen villages have been affected by incessant firing from across the fence.

Over 10,000 affected villagers, including children and elderly persons, have been accommodated in the temporary camps in Arnia and RS Pura, the statement added.

The BJP national general secretary urged the Governor to take immediate action for ensuring that the villagers living in these camps were provided all the basic amenities, including the required medical facilities.

The Governor informed Madhav that he would speak about the matter with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. 

Srinagar, August 25
Concerned over the increasing number of educated youth joining the militant ranks in Jammu and Kashmir, the police are contemplating a “multi-pronged strategy” to arrest the trend.

“The strategy is being devised in the back drop of reports pouring in regarding hectic induction of youth for militant activities. It requires an appropriate response and, therefore, a plan (including short term and long term measures) needs to be prepared,” a top police official has written to the security agencies recently.

The police official has also asked the security agencies to identify the issues that lead individuals to the path of militancy.

Of late, there has been a rise in the number of educated youth joining militant organisations in the state.

According to the reports, many of the 15 youths believed to have joined militant ranks this year were well educated. The latest Kashmir Police estimate puts the number of militants in the Valley at 120.

In the Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district two of the six youngsters, believed to have joined militancy in the recent past, were enrolled as postgraduate students.

Sources said those who joined militant ranks in north Kashmir included Sameer Wani (26) of Duroo; Riyaz Mir (21) and Adil Mir (22), both residents of Brath Kalan Sopore; Ashiq Wani, a resident of Lolipora Pattan; and Mehraj-ud-Din Bhat and Ishfaq Lone from Andargam Pattan.

“Aadil Mir and Ishfaq Lone were studying at a Bhopal university before they went missing. Aadil was pursuing MA Economics before he went missing in May and Ishfaq Lone was enrolled as an M Phil student. They are now active in north Kashmir,” said a police officer.

Sources said another newly recruited militant was masters in science.

The trend of educated youth joining militant ranks has been a concern for the security agencies. Few months ago a local militant from south Kashmir, who was pursuing post graduation course, died in an encounter.

Senior police officials, however, maintained that militancy was on a decline in the state.

“While the recruitment of even a single educated youth in militant ranks was a concern, the militancy overall is on a decline,” a senior police official said.

“The number of locals who have joined militancy is not alarming. In the past two years around 30 youths have joined militant ranks and it is not a huge number,” he said.

The General Officer Commanding of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps Lt Gen Subrata Saha had recently said the trend of educated youth joining militancy was disturbing.

“Any youth joining militancy is disturbing. And if educated youth are joining, it is more disturbing. To that extent yes, it certainly causes concern to us. It certainly encourages us to take initiatives to keep the youth more meaningfully engaged,” Lt General Saha had told reporters earlier this month.

Srinagar, August 25
Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Mubarak Gul today expressed anguish over the killings of innocent people in Gaza.

The Legislative Assembly also observed a two- minute silence to condole the innocent killings. “We strongly condemn the brutal killings in Gaza by the Israeli forces,” the Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly said.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly sought cooperation from the members in smooth conduct of current Assembly Session. 

Srinagar, August 25
Former chairman of the state Legislative Council Abdul Rashid Dar called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here today.

Dar, as per an official statement, discussed with the Governor problems related to the balanced growth and development of Anantnag district and adjoining areas. — TNS