Omar fails to land in Jammu Cabinet Meet Postponed

Greater Kashmir

Syed Amjad Shah

Jammu, Jan 12: Thick fog caused postponement of the crucial cabinet meeting which was scheduled to be held here Wednesday as the Jammu-bound plane with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on board could not land at the Technical Airport.

Official sources said the special plane of the Chief Minister, who was returning from New Delhi after attending a high-level meeting there, reached Jammu at around 1:00 p.m but could not land due to poor visibility at the Airport.
“Dense fog had reduced the visibility at Technical Airport to a few meters and flight carrying Chief Minister could not land and was diverted to Srinagar,” a senior official at Jammu Airport told Greater Kashmir.
“The cabinet meeting was scheduled to be held at 3:30 p.m but the absence of the Chief Minister forced its cancellation,” official sources said.
The meeting has been now rescheduled at 6:30 pm on Friday.
On Tuesday, all flights were cancelled at Jammu Airport due to poor visibility.
Sources, however, said some of the Congress and National Conference ministers were also not in the town.
This cabinet meeting had gained importance after Omar’s statement that he would discuss with his cabinet colleagues the BJP’s plan of flag hoisting at Srinagar’s Lal Chowk on January 26.
Official sources said the cabinet had also to give its approval to the proposal of bringing two colleges of Music and Fine Arts under the control of universities of Jammu and Kashmir. A report by a special committee, constituted over Sawlakote power project, was also to be discussed in the meeting.

APD visit a drama:Shabir Shah ‘Initiate Meaning Dialoque’

Greater Kashmir

SYED AMJAD SHAH

Jammu, Sept 24: Incarcerated chairman of Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), Shabir Ahmed Shah, has described the recent visit of All Party Delegation to Jammu and Kashmir as a “drama.”

“Indian government should shun its ego and initiate a meaningful dialogue with Pakistan and people of Jammu and Kashmir to restore peace and normalcy in the sub-continent,” Shah told reporters at a Nursing Home here, where he was brought for a medical checkup. “The recent visit of All Party Delegation was a state managed drama to divert the attention from the real issue,” he said.

“To resolve Kashmir issue within the frame work of the Indian constitution is not possible”, he said. “India should implement the resolutions passed by the United Nations.”
“Economic and employment packages cannot resolve the Kashmir issue. Instead it needs a political solution,” he added.
Shah accused Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and its leadership of adopting double standards.
Referring to the statement of the BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, Shah reminded her about the commitments her party had made when it was in power.
“The then prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, on the floor of the house had expressed his desire to resolve the Kashmir issue during his life time. How can BJP forget that Vajpayee had appointed Jaswant Singh and KC Pant as interlocutors for holding talks with Hurriyat leaders. The peace talks with Pakistan were initiated by none other than Vajpayee,” he added.

New government takes oath under tight security

Greater Kashmir

Syed Amjad Shah
JAMMU, Jan 5: Three-tier security bandobast was made for the oath-taking ceremony of new Chief Minister for Jammu and Kashmir State and his cabinet members, for which national leaders like UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, External Affairs Pranab Mukhjerji besides others arrived to take part, this afternoon.
The tight security arrangements were made around the varsity to prevent any untoward incident here today. A large number of police and para-military troops were deployed in and around General Zorawar Singh Auditorium, University of Jammu (JU) venue of the ceremony.
Police had blocked all roads leading to JU. Restriction was imposed on the movement of vehicular traffic at many places. The traffic was diverted at many places in the city. All the vehicles from Bagh-e-Bahu were diverted to Gujjar Nagar Bridge and vehicles from Panama Chowk were diverted to Bikram Chowk and Ware House road.
The traffic restrictions imposed by the authorities resulted in traffic jams, which created problems for commuters.
"It took me more than two hours to reach Dogra Chowk from Indira Chowk," said Narinder Singh employee of a private company, who was caught in traffic jam.
Traffic restrictions were also imposed on the Jammu Airport road, Residency road and Raj Bhawan.
Additional para-military troopers and CRPF personnel were deployed along major roads, who thoroughly frisked vehicles.
Policemen were deployed on roof tops of buildings covering the venue and on the buildings near the Jammu Airport where UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was scheduled to arrive.
No policeman or personal security officers of VIPs was allowed to enter the auditorium with weapon, except for those who had already been deployed there.

Police, BSP at loggerheads over alleged killings

Kashmir Times

Syed Amjad Shah

JAMMU, Jan 1: Police and Bahujan Samaj Party is at loggerheads over the latter's claim of killing two of its activists in an incident of firing at the peacefully demonstrating supporters of BSP candidate Kamal Arora on the Jammu-Pathankote National Highway near Kunjwani in Jammu on Wednesday.
While police is dismissing the allegations of firing by referring as hypothetical assumption of BSP leaders, the state president of the party Tulsi Dass Langeh has sought a CBI probe into the entire episode. He has alleged that two of its activists were killed in Wednesday's alleged police firing on peaceful protestors.
The protestors had been seeking re-poll in Bishnah assembly segment from where its candidate Kamal Arora unsuccessfully contested the elections. In a meeting held today at its party headquarter; State president of the party Tulsi Dass Langeh alleged that police opened unprovoked firing on the "peacefully protesting activists of BSP".
He said that the activists had been demanding re-polling in Bishnah constituency against the alleged partial role of the 'returning officer'. While expressing concern over the killing, Langeh demanded a relief of Rs 10 lakh each for those killed in yesterday's alleged police firing and Rs 5 lakh each for the seriously injured supporters of BSP candidate.
Besides this, he further demanded immediate transfer of District Development Commissioner (DDC) and SSP (Jammu) Manohar Singh for their unskilled role to handle the situation. Later, he threatened that if their demands are not met, they would be forced to launch an agitation against the government. BSP leaders have identified the two killed persons as Bodhraj Yogi and Girdhari Lal both residents of Arnia.
Interestingly, none in the police is ready to buy this story of the leaders of BSP. Senior police officials maintain that one of the deceased persons Bodh Raj died of a heart attack and was not even injured during the mild lathicharge on the protesting BSP activists.
They added that even the postmortem report reveals that Bodhraj died of heart attack and not due to the alleged police firing. Official affirm that the other name Girdhari Lal, which is being mentioned by the BSP leaders is of a person who was not part of the mob which created a ruckus on the national highway and started pelting stones at the vehicles passing by.
Moreover, the two have been cremated peacefully and no FIR has been lodged anywhere in this respect. "Would the families not have protested if the two were killed in firing? How can one fake those killed during police firing?" added the official. He also clarified that protesters were cane charged with intent to disperse them for the restoration of vehicular traffic on the National Highway in Kunjwani.
When contacted SSP (Jammu) Manohar Singh said that Kamal Arora has been admitted at Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital for treatment because of his ailing health. He further said that Kamal Arora is yet to be released on bail and is still in police custody. Besides this, Singh averred that protesters were not fired at by the police and it is the rumours which are being spread across the state.
Protesters blocked NH in Kunjwani for four hours and disrupted traffic, when they were requested by the concerned SP to lift sit-in from the road, informed SSP Jammu, adding that they started pelting stones on the police which compelled them to cane charge the agitating mob. Instead of resorting to violence, they were advised to submit memorandum to the concerned Deputy Commissioner, police said.

Opposition corners govt over late funds release BJP, NPP members stage walkout

Greater Kashmir

SYED AMJAD SHAH

Jammu, Mar 29: The opposition members on Monday staged walkout from the assembly after they criticized the Coalition government for releasing the funds at the fag end of fiscal and blamed the ministers of promoting ruling party activists by approving works and ignoring them in matters of developmental activities in their constituencies.

The matter was raised by MLA Harshdev Singh of Panthers Party who alleged that the minister of state for finance and planning, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma released funds for new work in his constituency without taking him into confidence.
He said the funds for the work were released two days back, which is fag end of current fiscal.
Terming the release of the fund during the end of this fiscal as a ‘grave financial indiscipline’, he asked the finance minister Abdul Rahim Rather to take action against the junior minister.
Speaker Muhammad Akbar Lone directed the government not to utilize the funds released if any, for the new work.
He also asked the government to involve the concerned members in developmental activities in their respective constituencies.
MLA Jugal Kishore of BJP said the ministers were busy in promoting their activists. He and other BJP members alleged that the ministers were looting the state exchequer to promote the ruling party workers.
Meanwhile, minister for Industries S S Salathia, who was replying to a question, got offended on the remarks of the opposition and entered in verbal duel with Jugal which prompted BJP and Panthers Party MLAs to stage a walkout.

PDP to boycott rest of Budget Session Assembly Has Become Dewan Khana: Baig

Greater Kashmir

SYED AMJAD SHAH

Jammu, Mar 29: Accusing the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of adopting a `vindictive’ approach towards the opposition and taking the House non-seriously, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Monday declared that the party’s legislators would boycott the proceedings of the state legislator for rest of the session.

“Keeping in view the non-serious and juvenile approach of Chief Minister, our party has decided not to attend the proceedings of House for the reset of the session”, former deputy Chief Minister and senior PDP leader, Muzaffar Hussain Baig told media persons, soon after his party staged a walkout from the assembly today.

“House has become a ‘Dewan Khana’ of the chief minister”, Baig said adding it was unfortunate that the chief minister was showing non-serious attitude towards the day-to-day business of the assembly.

“What is the fun of attending the proceedings of the Assembly when the Chief Minister who is leader of the House is more concerned about playing games on his cell phone instead of taking interest in the proceedings”, Baig regretted.
“It is a mockery that the Chief Minister of a sensitive State like Jammu and Kashmir has been taking functioning of the Assembly so casually”, he said and added that the Assembly is the highest institution of the democratic system and the Chief Minister should not have taken the proceedings so lightly.
Coming down heavily on the chief minister for not responding to the important issues being raised in the House, Baig said, “Due to the casual approach adopted by the government, we have decided that our party would not attend the rest of the budget session”.
He said that PDP has raised important issues like release of funds and additionalties to the constituencies being represented by the PDP MLAs. “However, we are not getting any response from the Government every time we raise the issues of public importance”.
“It has become policy of the government to discriminate with some specific areas for political reasons”, he said.
Charging the government with adopting discriminatory policies in releasing additionalties, he said that instead of working in a democratic manner, attitude of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is “totally autocratic.”
“What to say of releasing additionalties for the development of the constituencies represented by opposition especially by the PDP, the Chief Minister even threatened not to release funds to the state’s areas represented by PDP MLAs”, he said.
“The money with the state government is not ancestral property of any public representative including the chief minister”, Baig said and added that it is the public money and is to be used for the public welfare.

Mufti joins walkout
Former Chief Minister and PDP patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed joined his party legislators, here Monday, to stage a walkout from the assembly over withdrawal of security to Ex-MLA Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Mir.
Mufti arrived in the House, a minute before, his party colleagues were preparing for a walkout. He was seen proceeding towards his seat from where he immediately joined his colleagues to stage a walkout.
Though Mufti attended the proceedings of the House, several times, during the ongoing session, he avoided tojoin walkouts and protests, till today.

Govt cancels Ladakh festival

Greater Kashmir

SYED AMJAD SHAH

Jammu, Aug 24: In the wake of 200 deaths and widespread destruction of property due to cloudbursts in Leh, the government has decided not to celebrate the popular Ladakh festival, this year.
The government, sources said, decided not to celebrate the festival as token of respect to the victims and the bereaved families. The annual Ladakh festival is organised for 15 days from September 1 to 15 every year. In this festival, lamas from different monasteries participate in events including archery, polo, and mask dances.
The famous festival, depicting traditional heritage of Himalayan district, has remained a great attraction for the tourists, especially foreigners.
Besides performances by local artists, large number of people, wearing traditional dresses and jewellery, depicting the unique culture of the region took part in the festival

278 persons detained under PSA: Sagar ‘11 Separatists Serving Detention For Subversive Activities’

Greater Kashmir

SYED AMJAD SHAH

Jammu, Mar 20: Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Sagar on Saturday said that directions have been issued to the police officials not to re-arrest any persons released after serving detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA). He said 278 persons were serving detention under PSA in various jails.

Replying to the discussion on the Demand for Grants of the departments under his charge in the Legislative Assembly Saturday, Sagar said the Public Safety Act was being used against persons, who were threat to the public safety and integrity of the state and was being used only in cases, where it was required to be used.

“We have issued directions that a person released after being detained under PSA shall not be rearrested”, he said. Earlier, in a written reply to the cut motion moved by the PDP MLA Nizam-ud-Din Bhat, Sagar said 278 persons were under detention in various jails within and outside the state under PSA. “These include 88 locals, 88 foreigners, 38 illegal border crossers, 6 Bangladeshi nationals, 11 separatists and 47 criminals as on February 1, 2010,” he said and added that only foreign detenues are detained in the jails outside the state while all the state-subjects were lodged in the jails within the state.
The House was informed that at least 15 persons (11 militants, 1 OGW and 3 separatists) have been booked more than once under PSA. “However, 139 PSA detenues have been released from January 1, 2009 to January 1, 2010 in the state”.
“No political leader in minor offences have been detained under PSA and all persons detained were deeply involved in terrorism and subversive/disruptive activities and their detention has been confirmed only after the competent authority had satisfied itself as to grounds of their detention”, he said.
In view of the security scenario of the state and to prevent certain persons from acting against the security of the state, he said, it was necessary to have such a law for the time being.

Bill on inter-district recruitments in current session: Government NC, PDP Members Censure Reservation System; Altaf Clarifies ST Stand

Greater Kashmir

SYED AMJAD SHAH

Jammu, March 20: The Government has decided to bring a bill in the assembly banning the controversial inter-district recruitments in the state.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar Saturday told the assembly that the bill will be introduced in the House on Monday. “It (bill) has become necessary in view of the concern voiced by legislators and also to protect the rights of youth,” he said.
Earlier in the day, main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and two of the ruling National Conference (NC) legislators staged a sit-in and later walked out of the assembly demanding introduction of a bill on the issue.
The agitating legislators also objected to the reservation of eight percent jobs in the Kashmir Valley for the Scheduled Castes (SC) candidates. They said the reservation for these candidates, when the community had no presence in the Valley, denied job opportunities to the local candidates.
“We will not allow our youths to suffer because of the reservation of jobs for the outsiders. The district posts should be filled up by the candidates from the district concerned only,” the legislators said before joining a sit-in in the well of the house.
NC members Mir Saifullah (Kupwara), Kafeel-ul-Rehman (Karnah) and Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan (Handwara) joined the protest by PDP members Abdul Haq Khan, Javed Mustafa Mir and Independent MLA Engineer Rasheed to press for abolition of the existing inter-district recruitment system. They were demanding an assurance from the government on bringing the bill on the issue in the house during the current session.
The members even staged a sit-in for some time near the well to press their demand. They were shouting slogans ‘Backward districts Ke Sath Zulum Bandh Kar;’ Inter district recruitment Bandh Karo’.
The members however, returned to their seats after the minister for law and parliamentary affairs, Ali Muhammad Sagar assured them that the matter was under consideration of the House and the Bill, pending from the last session, would be tabled in the House during the ongoing session, most probably on Monday.
When the members of PDP and NC were demanding tabling of the Bill, they came under criticism from Jammu based parties, who were heard shouting that the Bill was not in the interest of the unemployed youth of the state.
As the members were protesting, forest minister Mian Altaf Hussain got up to clear the stand of ST Community over the issue. “ST community has its own quota in the recruitment process which can not be shared with the SC category”, he said. The people falling under ST category are the worst sufferers of the prevailing system, he added.
Later participating in the discussion of grants, Choudhary Aslam of Congress also came in support of Mian Altaf and said that the quotas of ST and SCs shall not be mixed.
MLA Zanskar, Feroz Ahmad Khan, said that the ST community was united over the issue and “no one will be allowed to snatch our right”.

Plans to use Facebook to seek public feedback Traffic Police’s Innovative Move

SYED AMJAD SHAH

Greater Kashmir

Jammu, Dec 29: Going innovative, the traffic department is planning to take advantage of the reach of the community site face book- to seek public feedback for streamlining the traffic system across the state.
The Traffic Police is planning to open a departmental account to register complaints and seek suggestions and information, especially from the youth for better regulation of traffic, Inspector General of Police (Traffic) Hemant Kumar Lohia told media persons here today
About 950 precious lives have so far been lost in different mishaps across the Jammu and Kashmir State in 2010, the traffic police is looking forward to use public feedback to reduce such incidents in future,” he said
He said the people would be able to lodge their complaint and make suggestion on the Facebook page of traffic police. They would also be able to inform police about the mishaps and traffic jam and various other things which would help to improve traffic system across the state, he added
Claiming that the department is also looking forward to modernize its system of working, Lohia said, the traffic police would soon have four hi-tech intercept vehicles- two each for Srinagar and Jammu to improve surveillance and efficiency in tracking down the violators. Capable to keep eye on an area of 1.2 km and costing Rs 30 Lakh, the camera fitted vehicle will be connected with the server in the police control room and simultaneously with the traffic police control room. It would also help to apprehend criminal and anti-social elements, he said adding that six more such intercept vehicle would be procured in due course of time.
He also referred to the electronic signal system and said that the department has already submitted a proposal to the government in this regard. These signals would help improve lane driving as the drivers often take wrong turns and change their lanes leading to mishaps.
Lohia said that traffic police challaned 12, 000 vehicles for violating traffic rules during the year. He however regretted off the one million vehicles plying on the roads of the state and every one is violating traffic rule.
Referring to the unregistered vehicles, he said that around 300 vehicles are running on the roads without registration number, posing a threat to the security of life and property of the people.
“The police have been kept on alert and asked to seize vehicles plying without registration as-and-when they (vehicles) are spotted,” the senior traffic police officer said.
He added “We have given an December 31 ultimatum to all the people including police to register their vehicles with the Regional Transport Office (RTO) and in case of non compliance, the traffic police would challan these.”
Advocating stern action against those violating traffic rules, IGP Traffic said that the people are making mockery of the rules and there is a need to frame strict rules to check such violations.
IG Traffic Lohia said that the department has recommended to state law commission to revise the rules for increasing the punishment for negligent driving and violation of road safety rules from 2 years to seven years.
Making a dig at transporters, he said if they do not make any mistake why are they making hue and cry over the registration of cases in the event of huge loss of life.
Referring to the Road Safety Week (RSW) being organised by traffic police from January 1-7, he said, the week long activities would witness active involvement of NCC cadets drawn from various schools. These cadets would help traffic police in educating people about the traffic rules, he added.
He claimed traffic police was trying its best to solve the problem of traffic and reduce the chaos-and-confusion on the roads.
For this purpose, he said, the department has taken number of steps and also submitted a proposal to the government for construction of nearly 16 foot bridges across Jammu city.
Advocating the idea of ‘vehicle-pooling-system’, the IGP Traffic said that the people should adopt this concept as it would not only reduce burden on the roads but also help to strengthen social fabric

Special IRP battalions to deal with `abnormal situation’

Greater Kashmir

Syed Amjad Shah

Jammu, Jan 3: The Director General of Police said that five battalion of Indian Reserve Police (IRP), recruited recently, are being provided special training, body gears and weaponry to deal with the “abnormal situation” in Kashmir valley.

Describing year gone as the “highly challenging” for the J&K Police, the DPG said the 2828 cops, and 1351 CRPF personnel were injured while dealing with the unrest in Kashmir valley, adding that 59 police personnel had been rendered disable for police department due to critical injuries. “91 civilians were killed while 545 others had received in the summer unrest,” he added.

Khoda, who was reviewing the ‘performance and deficiencies and also to introspect’ the department’s functioning in 2010, remarked, “To counter such a violent situation and to maintain law and order, five IRP battalions are undergoing training in different police training schools so that the department could deal the abnormal situation effectively.”

“The recruits of upcoming 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 IRP Battalions would be given special body gears to wear as it would reduce injuries while dealing with the abnormal situation,” he added, while saying that these recruits would be equipped with less or non-lethal weapons.

He said that the cops would be provided body protectors, poly carbonate shields, poly carbonate lathies, helmets and visors. Referring to the non-lethal weapons, Khoda said the police personnel would also be equipped with stun grenades, leaser guns, teaser guns, gas guns, anti-riot rifles, and pump action guns to reduce civilian killings.

The DGP maintained that the Police are focused to reduce the “unnecessary civilian causalities” and also to safeguard the security personnel involved in dealing with the law and order situation.

He disclosed that a total of 207 persons were detained for pelting incidents and out of them, 55 had been booked under Public Safety Act (PSA).

Sharp decline in militancy related incidents: Khoda 8987 militants, 5057 civilians killed in 10 yrs

Greater Kashmir

Syed Amjad Shah

Jammu, Jan 3: With the consistent improvement in the situation, the militancy-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir have shown a sharp decline since last ten years, though the attempts of infiltration were higher than pervious year.

Giving an account of the last ten years, the DGP said that a total of 20, 984 incidents had been reported across the state while 8987 militants were killed in counter-insurgency incidents.

“As many as 949 militants surrendered, 5054 civilians were killed and 2647 security personnel had been killed in militancy related incidents,” he maintained.

He said that in 2010 the police have recorded ‘lowest ever’ number of militancy-related incidents in comparison to the record of last ten years from 2001

In 2001, the DGP said, 4536 militancy had taken place across the state, while in 2002 the incidents were slightly less i.e. 4038.

He said that 3401 militancy related incident took place in 2003, in 2004 these incidents further recorded decline to 2565, 1990 incident took place in 2005, 1667 incidents in 2006, and 1092 incidents in 2007.

In 2008, the DGP said, 708 incident were occurred, in 2009 only 499 incidents were reported, while in 2010 least number of militancy related incidents were registered i.e. 488, since last ten years.

While 2020 militants were killed in 2001, he said, in 2010 only 232 militants were gunned down by the security forces, especially state police.

“The militancy related incidents and the number of militant active in the state have shown a decrease with the mounting pressure of the police and other security related agency on them,” he added.

He said that 47 civilians were killed in 2010, while in 2001 their number was 1098 in the militancy-related incidents. “The highest number of 190 militants surrendered in the year 2006 while 20 gave up their arms in 2010,” he maintained.

Everyone knows harsh realities of political killings: DGP Police chief endorses Bhat’s statement, says `killers’ and `killed’ buried in same graveyar

Greater Kashmir

Syed Amjad Shah

Jammu, Jan 3: Jammu and Kashmir police chief Kuldeep Khuda Monday said that every one in Kashmir knows the harsh realities of political killings and it was the right time for the ‘right thinking’ and ‘truth speaking’ people to come forward and tell ‘reality’ to the people, which will be helpful for restoring peace in trouble hit-state.

“Senior Hurriyat leader spoke truth and had vindicated our stand. The right thinking and truth speaking people should come forward so that people know about the reality. They should tell people about truth and it could prove helpful for restoring peace and normalcy in Kashmir,” the Director General of Police (DGP) said while addressing a press conference here today.

He was reacting to a question on the statement of senior Hurriyat leader Abdul Ghani Bhat that top separatist leaders were killed by “our own people”.

“Everyone knew the harsh realities of political killings in Kashmir. He (Prof Bhat) revealed what everybody knows. I do not know what is the reason for him to say this at this moment? But this is the truth,” he remarked.

The DGP said the Hurriyat leader had vindicated the police stand. “He has said what we had been saying all along. The person involved in the killing of Mirwaiz Farooq is also buried in the same ‘martyrs graveyard’ where the senior Mirwaiz was laid to rest. Both killers and killed are martyrs for them,” he maintained.

During a seminar, Bhat had told that senior Mirwaiz Farooq, father of moderate Hurriyat chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and Peoples Conference chairman Abdul Ghani Lone were killed “by our own people”.

The DGP remarked, “We had always maintained that militants were killing leaders of rival factions. When a separatist leader himself makes this disclosure, all I can say is that our stand has been vindicated.”