Jammu, October 11
A month after his elder son switched to the Peoples Democratic Party, “ignored” veteran Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma today created a furore in the political circle after he shared the stage with PDP president Mehbooba Mufti.

Sharma is presently the senior vice president of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee and a member of the Coalition Coordination Committee (CCC), which was constituted by the Congress and the National Conference to set the agenda for the coalition dispensation.

Mehbooba today visited the border areas of Kathua, Samba and Jammu districts to enquire about the hardships being faced by the people who were forced to leave their homes and hearths due to shelling from across the border.

At Hiranagar in Kathua district, Mangat Ram Sharma shared the stage with PDP chief.

By sharing the stage with Mehbooba, the veteran Congress leader has give a clear message to his party leadership that he was not feeling comfortable in the present system.

On September 2, Sharma’s elder son Subash Sharma, in the presence of his father, had announced to contest election from the Kathua Assembly segment as a PDP candidate.

The father-son duo had addressed a joint press conference at Kathua on September 2 and had lambasted the Congress party for ignoring the leaders and workers who have given their lives to the party.

Sources close to Mangat Ram Sharma said he was going to join the PDP very soon along with his son.

Mehbooba, meanwhile, has called upon India and Pakistan to try peace instead of hostility which has brought miseries to the people of the region.

She said the latest violence across the international border comes at a time when both the countries should have utilised their resources to provide relief to the people of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir, which had been reeling under the unprecedented floods.

Expressing concern over the loss of lives and properties in the recent firing from across the border, she said it was very unfortunate that our country and Pakistan were wasting their energy and capabilities on “senseless war exercises” rather than addressing problems of the people.

Jammu/Srinagar, October 11
With the Pakistani aiming at the villagers along the 198-km-long international fence, the demand for providing land to the people living in the border areas in the safer zones has grown louder.

“They (political parties) have been promising it since 1996. In the coming Assembly elections they would again dole out the same promise, but the plots (in safer zones for border resident) remain a distant dream,” said Jhankar Singh of Kanachak village.

The people living the border villages have been asking for five marla plots in safe zones.

Singh alleged that the former UPA government played a “cruel joke” with thousands of border villagers.

Hari Lal, another villager, said the present shelling by Pakistan was more intense and extensive as compared to pre-ceasefire years.

“In the backdrop of the intense shelling by Pakistan, we strongly feel that our lives can be secured only if the government comes up with a plan to provide us a five marla plot in a safe zone, out of Pakistan’s firing range,” Hari Lal said.

Meanwhile, the state government has directed the Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Department to submit a comprehensive proposal to provide land to the people affected by cross-border shelling in safer places.

This was decided during a Cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday.

“The Cabinet directed the Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Department to submit a comprehensive proposal to the Cabinet for providing five marlas of land per family in relatively safe zone, adjacent to their present villages, to the people affected due to cross-border and cross-LoC firing in the state,” an official spokesperson said after the meeting.

The Congress, which had promised to provide five marlas of land to the border people in 2002, again raised the demand during a meeting at Vijaypur today.

The meeting was chaired by Hari Singh, vice president of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee.

While highlighting the hardships being faced by the border residents due to firing from across the border, the meeting demanded that the government should provide five marla plots to each family and also help them in construction of shelters.

Srinagar, October 11
The Army’s top officer in Kashmir today said the number of infiltration attempts by the militants last month — when the Valley was hit by the floods — was almost the same as in August.

After the September 7 floods, the Army foiled four infiltration attempts in Kupwara district, in which 12 militants were killed.

“The Infiltration number last month is almost the same as in August. A number of terrorists were killed in separate counter-infiltration operations in the Tangdhar, Keran and Machil areas last month. Wherever we have faced challenge, our jawans have responded to the situation. This clearly shows that the counter-insurgency grid is strong,” General Officer Commanding of Srinagar-based 15 Corps Lt Gen Subrata Saha told reporters after inaugurating a blood donation camp in north Kashmir today.

The Army officer, however, did not say how many infiltration attempts were successful.

Lt General Saha said the Army had successfully carried out many anti-militancy operations in September.

“The successful anti-terrorist operations were carried despite the Army being involved in rescue and relief operations after the floods,” he said.

Amid the ongoing tension on the border, the GOC said: “We understand that whatever happens on the LoC (Line of Control) is localised and should remain localised because these (ceasefire violations) are tactical actions and are best dealt with tactically.” He said the situation along the LoC in the Kashmir region was stable.

“There were two ceasefire violations, on September 30 and October 1 night and on October 3 and 4 night. We handled them tactically and our response was firm, focused and effect-based. And, that is the reason the situation is under control and has not gone out of hands,” the GOC of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps said.

Srinagar, October 11
The state Cabinet has put to rest speculations over the conduct of the annual examinations at the secondary and college levels in the wake of damage to infrastructure due to the floods.

The Cabinet last evening decided that all examinations would be held in March next year, much to the dismay of the students and private institutions.

An official spokesman said the annual examinations of the undergraduate classes of the colleges in Kashmir division and the winter zone colleges of Jammu division would be held in March next year and not in October-November 2014.

The Cabinet also decided that same examination schedule would apply to Kashmir division and the winter zone of Jammu division in the School Education Department.

“The decision was taken in view of the damages caused to the infrastructure of schools and higher education institutions in the state by the floods,” the spokesman said after the Cabinet meeting.

The students of the final year of the undergraduate courses have expressed their apprehensions over the wastage of time ahead of the admission to postgraduate courses at the University of Kashmir, which usually begins in March-April every year.

Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, who also holds the portfolio of School Education Department, had yesterday said the annual examinations would be held by the end of the year.

“The annual exam for Class I to IX and Class XI in the Kashmir valley will be conducted in the last week of October. The Class X and XII exams, which are being conducted by the State Board of School Education, will be conducted in the first week of November 2014,” an official spokesman had said after the meeting chaired by the Deputy Chief Minister.

Some of the colleges and schools in Srinagar and elsewhere suffered damage to infrastructure during the recent floods, though a majority of the educational institutions were unaffected.

The Private Schools United Front (PSUF) has criticised the government’s decision of postponing all examinations in the Valley, affecting lakhs of students. It said despite a lesser number of schools getting affected, the government had put in jeopardy the academic year of the students.

“90 per cent of the school students and 80 per cent of all college students were not affected by the floods, but the government has en masse postponed all exams,” said GN Var, general secretary of the PSUF. 

Srinagar, October 11
The state Cabinet has put to rest speculations over the conduct of the annual examinations at the secondary and college levels in the wake of damage to infrastructure due to the floods.

The Cabinet last evening decided that all examinations would be held in March next year, much to the dismay of the students and private institutions.

An official spokesman said the annual examinations of the undergraduate classes of the colleges in Kashmir division and the winter zone colleges of Jammu division would be held in March next year and not in October-November 2014.

The Cabinet also decided that same examination schedule would apply to Kashmir division and the winter zone of Jammu division in the School Education Department.

“The decision was taken in view of the damages caused to the infrastructure of schools and higher education institutions in the state by the floods,” the spokesman said after the Cabinet meeting.

The students of the final year of the undergraduate courses have expressed apprehensions over the wastage of time ahead of the admission to postgraduate courses at the University of Kashmir. — TNS

Khanpur (Ramgarh sub-sector), October 11
Since the Pakistan Rangers started shelling civilian areas along the international border (IB) in Jammu, Salam Din is a worried man.

With more than 70 buffaloes and cows, he is unable to move from his forward village, Khanpur in the Ramgarh sub-sector close to the IB, which is in the line of fire from October 3.

Though the government has established relief camps for people affected by border firing, hundreds of members of the Gujjar community are finding it difficult to move out of their homes despite intense shelling. They have no place to shift their cattle, forcing them to risk their lives to stay put in mud houses.

As livestock is the centre of their economy, they are anxiously waiting for peace on the border, but are angry about the way Pakistanis have destroyed their lives.

“Where will we go? It is impossible to shift the entire cattle daily to avoid being killed by shells as there is no alternative place. Relief camps cannot accommodate them all. There is no help from the government. Many people want to permanently shift from the village,” said Salam Din.

Members of the Gujjar community, also known as Dodhi Gurjars, are mostly Muslims who settled in villages along the IB during the last three decades and are main suppliers of milk to Jammu and other towns in southern districts.

“Earlier Pakistan Rangers used to target villages with bullets. It is for the first time that they directly targeted our homes with 81-mm mortars. We are caught in politics between India and Pakistan. We want to sell milk and live in peace,” said Ruksana Bibi of Kanachak village in the Akhnoor sub-sector.

Some community members have more than 100 cattle. In relief camps, there is no provision for water and fodder for such a large number of animals.

The situation of nomads along the Line of Control is the same. Bakkerwals and Gujjars are facing the brunt of the conflict between India and Pakistan.

Till 2003, the Army had restricted the entry of tribals in pastures near the border in districts like Poonch, Rajouri, Jammu, Kathua and Samba. The ceasefire led them to settle down close to the border.

“One cow costs more than Rs 50,000. The government gives Rs 5,000 in case a head of cattle dies in cross-border firing. Keeping in view past experience, after promises are made, the government forgets to help us when the situation is normal,” said Maroof Gujjar.

Katra, October 11
A two-day “Save the Trikuta Mountains” awareness campaign was organised by the International Volunteer Foundation (IVF), Jammu, and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University at Katra today.

The campaign was organised to educate the tourists, shopkeepers and locals about their responsibilities towards the environment.

The influx of tourists to the Vaishno Devi shrine and accumulation of non-biodegradable garbage in gorges continue to worsen the condition of the Trikuta Hills.

Students, staff of the university and IVF representatives and volunteers took part in a rally and walked towards Bhawan today afternoon. They spread awareness about the regular use of dustbins, proper disposal of polythene bags and avoid throwing plastic bottles in the gorges. The students distributed pamphlets among the tourists and shopkeepers. — OC

Doda, October 11
The police and the Army have recovered a huge cache of arms, ammunition and explosives from a hideout in the Malgot area of Kishtwar district. The operation was launched after a tip off about a militant hideout at Malgot.

After a sustained search for over three days and using all tracking equipment, security forces recovered one 51/52mm mortar, one 7.62mm Self-Loading Rifle, two Pakistan-origin pistols, one hand-held Kenwood radio set, 415 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 12 rounds of 0.380mm ammunition, six mortar bombs, 12 UBGL grenades, 10 hand grenades, three 7.62mm rifle magazines and two pistol magazines.

The recovery of the hideout has given a major blow to militant outfits and once again displayed total domination by the Army and security forces in the hinterland of Kishtwar. — OC

Srinagar, October 11
The Army today organised a blood donation camp to help the flood-affected people of the Valley. The camp was organised in the north Kashmir with the help of District Hospital, Baramulla.

An Army spokesman said both the Army and locals donated blood at the camp, inaugurated by General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps, Lt Gen Subrata Saha.

The spokesman said the GOC expressed his gratitude to the doctors, paramedics and the donors who had gathered at the event.

“The purpose of the camp was to help patients who need blood transfusion at Baramulla and Srinagar after the floods,” he said.

The spokesman said a number of hospitals had earlier approached the Army to contribute to the ever-growing requirement of blood for undertaking various types of surgeries on flood victims.

The first such camp was conducted at the JAKLI Regiment Centre at Rangreth on October 4 and the second camp was conducted at the Badami Bagh Cantonment on October 10.

Meanwhile, another mega blood donation camp was organised today under the supervision of the Rashtriya Rifles Battalion in Baramulla. The camp was inaugurated by General Officer Commanding of the Baramulla-based 19 Infantry Division Maj Gen Anil Chauhan.

“A total of 170 soldiers and officers from various units of the Baramulla station donated blood voluntarily. Maj General Chauhan also donated blood,” an official said. 

Pulwama, October 11
Epidemic threat looms large over many villages of Pulwama district as thousands of dead chicken lay scattered in collapsed poultry farms for more than a month now.

The stagnant water in the paddy fields around the villages is only adding the impending danger.

Sethar Gund, Kazi Gund, Gundi Bagh and Kisrigam village are stinking. The dead chickens are found scattered in and around poultry farms in these villages.

Many residents complained that they were suffering from fever, chest and gastrointestinal infections. “In every house there are at least two or three persons suffering from infection of various kinds,” said Gulzar Ahmad Dar, whose three children are undergoing treatment.

In Sethar Gund village, there were 45 poultry units with a production of more than 75,000 chickens per hatch. All the units were damaged, either completely or partially, in the recent floods.

“Most of the birds were washed away while some birds were trapped and died subsequently,” said Shabir Ahmad Dar, a resident who lost 3,000 birds in the deluge.

The flood water has receded a month ago, but the dead chicken still lay scattered in the paddy fields. The decaying birds have also piled up in the poultry farms, making the area vulnerable to various contagious diseases.

Dr Tarun Deep, an epidemiologist from the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, said it was a “potential epidemiological threat” that must be removed as soon as possible. The authorities concerned should take immediate steps for burial of the dead chicken.

Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama, Sajad Ahmad Khan said he would direct the municipal authorities to immediately clear the villages of the dead chicken.

Doda, October 11
Chain Singh, who made the country proud recently by winning a bronze medal in the men’s 50m rifle at the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, received a grand reception today at his home in Chainser (Gandoh) village of Doda.

Hundreds of people, his family members, officials from the administration, police and representatives of the panchayats gathered at Gandho and gave him a rousing reception.

Exuding pride, love and affection, locals danced to traditional tunes, hailing the shooter.

Chain Singh joined the Army as a Sepoy in March 2007.

Eyeing the 2016 Olympics, Chain Singh told the media at Gandho: “I feel proud to be the first shooter in Jammu and Kashmir to win a bronze medal in the Asian Games despite all odds.”

“I belong to a village where people still have no mobiles phones and no road connectivity,” he said.

“Our youth is talented, but they lack opportunities. The government should provide more opportunities to them,” he said.

He said determination, hard work and dedication was his key to success and advised the shooters to learn the basics of the game.

Chain Singh demanded better road connectivity in the area and other facilities like mobile services in the remote and neglected areas of Doda.