2 killed, 22 injured in road accidents

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 27: Two persons were killed and 22 others injured, nine of them critically, in two separate road accidents.

According to police reports, two persons were killed and 16 others injured, four of them critically when a bus in which they were travelling skidded off the road and rolled down at Khap-a-Gala Nowa-Nath near Chowki Chora today.

The ill-fated bus bearing registration number JK02B-8527 was on its way from Poonch to Jammu when it met with accident.

Getting the report of accident, a police party from Chouki-Chora rushed to the spot and started rescue operation. All the injured were rushed to Akhnoor hospital where doctors pronounced one of them as brought dead.

The injured were later referred to Government Medical College Hospital where one more injured succumbed to his injuries. The condition of four of the injured admitted in the GMC Jammu was stated to be critical till reports last came in.

The deceased have been identified as Mohammad Khan, son of Mohd Shafi of Potha, Surankote and Mohd Shoukat, son of Alla Din of Nawa Mandi Mendhar.

The injured have been identified as Muneer Hussain, Mohd Sharif, Anant Ram, Mohd Shafat, Gulzar Ahmed, all the residents of Rajouri, Mohd Fazal, son of Mohd Hussain of Majori, Mohd Yousaf, son of Mir Ali of R S Pura, Nawbibi, Sharia Bibi, Badri Nath of Akhnoor, Baby, daughter of Gulshan Lal of Siot, Sudesh Kumari, wife of Bushan Lal, Satya Devi, wife of Duty Ram, all the residents of Siot, Sham Lal, son of Balak Ram of Sunderbani and his wife Shakti.

In another road accident, five persons were critically injured when a Maruti car in which they were travelling collided head-on with a speeding truck at Lagote near Kathua on Jammu-Pathankot National Highway this afternoon.

The Maruti car bearing registration number DL3SX-6000 was on its way from Jammu to Pathankote while truck number JK02F-2827 was coming from Lakhanpur to Jammu.

The injured were immediately rushed to district hospital Kathua where doctors referred them to Government Medical College Hospital Jammu in view of their deteriorating condition. The condition of injured was critical when reports last came in.

They have been identified as Kulwant Singh, his wife Surinder Kour and son Gagandeep Singh, Amandeep Singh, son of Avtar Singh and Balbinder wife of Avtar Singh, all the residents of New Delhi.

Meanwhile, body of one Ashok Kumar, son of Mast Ram of Sadyal was recovered from Thandi Kasi in Rajouri.

Kashmiris asked to receive yatra in traditional way

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 27: Baba Amarnath Yatri Niyas chief, Dr Rama Kant Dubey has asked the people of Kashmir Valley to come forward and help in smooth conduct of the yatra commencing from July 2.

In an appeal to the people of the Valley, he said such a goodwill gesture on their part will send a good message throughout the country and boost the tourist industry in the Valley which has received a lot of setback during the 12 year long turmoil.

He said the Kashmir being the abode of Rishi, Munis and Sofi, Sants is a pious land and its sanctity was eroded due to 12 year long blood shed in which hundreds of people lost their lives.

He expressed the hope that as a good will gesture, the people of the Valley will this year welcome the yatris with open arms by erecting banners and welcome gates enroute the Cave Shrine in the traditional way. This will be a turning point in the Kashmir situation and a bold initiative for restoration of the glorious period of the Valley that existed before 1989.

He said terrorists and foreign mercenaries are not the well wishers of any body. They on the behest of Pakistan killed hundreds of innocents as they have no sympathy with the local people of the Valley.

He also expressed the hope that the yatris will also reciprocate in the like manner and give all love and respect to the people of the Valley.

Dr Dubey while criticising the Government for not extending the date of registration counters onwards the June 25 said this way the right of the hundreds of Hindus intending to have the pilgrimage has been curtailed.

He reiterated his demand for opening of current registration counters for pilgrims at Jammu saying hundreds of Yatris are expected to throng Jammu without registration for their onwards sojourn to Holy Cave after July 2 due date for the yatra to start. They will face an embarrassing situation in case the Government does not open the current registration centres here, Dr Dubey said.

He said there is a mounting pressure of the various Hindu organisations on the Central Government in this regard and the decision will likely be taken in a day or two.

‘Being Muslims we have right to incline towards Pakistan’
Without Hurriyat, Vajpayee-Musharaaf summit will be futile: Geelani

By Dinesh Manhotra

JAMMU, June 27: With a hope that peace will prevail in this sub-continent people have been avidly waiting for the out-come of the much hyped summit between Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pakistani President General Parveez Musharraf but prominent separatist leader Sayed Ali Shah Geelani, on the other hand, does not see any reason to pin hope on proposed summit between two leaders scheduled to be held on July 14.

"The much touted summit between Musharraf Sahib and Vajpayee Sahib will be an exercise in futility if Kashmiris were not involved in the dialogue", Mr Geelani insisted.

In an exclusive interview with EXCELSIOR, former chairman of the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC), Sayed Ali Shah Geelani said that Kashmir was bone of contention between India and Pakistan and without solving this vexed problem improvement in their relations was impossible. "What so ever may be agenda of the meeting between Mr Vajpayee and General Parveez Musharraf but one thing is very much clear that they can not skip Kashmir in their discussion", he said, adding, "discussing Kashmir without involvement of Kashmiris will be trifling and futile exercise ".

"Being two sovereign states India and Pakistan have every right to hold bilateral discussion but how can they discuss Kashmir without involving people who have been representing wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiris", he stressed while emphasising on the need of involving Hurriyat Conference in the dialogue on Kashmir. "India and Pakistan have signed so many agreements vis-a-vis Kashmir but all these exercises provided futile as these attempts were made while blatantly ignoring wishes and aspirations of the people of Kashmir" , he said.

Mr Geelani, former chairman of the separatist conglomeration, still has not lost hope about getting audience with Pakistani President General Parveez Musharraf during his three days visit to India. "We have shot off a letter to the Pakistani embassy in this regard but have not yet received any reply", he disclosed while denying the news-item that Pakistani authorities have flatly refused to give them permission to meet Musharraf. He said that Hurriyat Conference has been hoping that Pakistani authorities would respond positively to its letter.

Hard-liner leader of the Hurriyat Conference reiterated that Kashmir was a disputed issue and India should recognise the fact that implementation of the United Nation resolution, which gives the right of self-determination to the people of the State, was only solution to the Kashmir problem. "There is no question of diluting our stand", he said and asserted that Hurriyat’s stand was unshakable and only implementation of UN resolution was the ideal solution to vexed Kashmir problem.

When his attention was drawn towards some clauses of the Resolution in which it was mentioned that Pakistan should vacate occupied Kashmir before plebiscite, Mr Geelani parried the query and said that according to the Resolution India will have to withdraw its bulk of forces from Kashmir. Interestingly Hurriyat leader was stressing on implementation of UN resolution but he made a guarded silence when he was asked whether he would ask Pakistan to liberate occupied Kashmir for implementing the said resolution.

Mr Geelani, who has been representing Jamit-i-Islami in the conglomeration of 23 parties, candidly admitted that differences have cropped up in the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC). "I do admit that there are some differences but these differences are of not serious nature", he said and stoutly ruled out division in the conglomeration.

Replying to question regarding sincerity of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee towards solving Kashmir problem, Mr Geelani said, "I don’t know what is in his mind. If India has realised that Kashmir is a dispute and time has come to solve this dispute under UN resolution then it is welcome step", he said and added that inviting Pakistani President was a welcome step. He, however, regretted that Indian leaders were still giving confusing statements. "India should shun its rigidity and unrealistic stand", he said.

When his attention was drawn towards statement of a prominent religious leader of Pakistan who has asked the militants groups to announce cease-fire due to the forthcoming summit, Mr Geelani expressed his reservation over the statement. "What is the fun of asking Mujahideens to announce cease-fire when security forces have been committing atrocities on people", he said.

Fire-brand Hurriyat leader openly defended stand of those who have been advocating merger of Kashmir with Pakistan. "Being Muslims we have every right to exercise our franchise in favour of Pakistan as Pakistan is a Muslim majority state", he said and disagreed with the term ‘secularism’.

ARTO conducts Rajouri tour

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 27: Mr Z M Samnani, Assistant Regional Transport Officer, Jammu with additional charge of Rajouri and Poonch districts alongwith Mr Atam Dev Singh Motor Vehicle Inspector conducted two day extensive tour of Rajouri district to assess the transport arrangements.

As per a release the areas visited included Sunderbani, Siot, Solki, Thandapaani, Kalakote, Sialsui, Palma, Kalar, Badoon, Rajouri and Shahdara Sharief. At various stations, the local people brought to the notice of ARTO inadequacy of transport arrangements especially during peak hours. The ARTO assured them that their genuine grievances will be redressed on priority.

Mr Samnani also attended District Transport Authority meeting on June 26 which was held under the chairmanship of Mr K A Khan, Deputy Commissioner Rajouri. Mr Haq Nawaz, Deputy Superintendent of Police (HQ) Rajouri and Mr Atam Dev Singh were also present.

In the said meeting 72 cases were approved for grant of route permits in respect of different types of vehicles, which included 35 mini buses, Tata-407 and one Tempo Excel Mini bus for plying on different routes, 16 Tempo Travelers of All J&K Roads, 9 Tata-Sumos for J&K Roads, 5 M/Vans for all J&K roads, three tippers for state roads, two autorickshaws for rajouri city and one Ambassador Car for J&K roads. Only one case was rejected for want of requisite formalities.

The Deputy Commissioner made some minor changes in the routes keeping in view the urgency of making adequate transport arrangements on these routes to avoid over-loading especially on roof tops during peak hours.

The matter regarding over-charging on Rajouri-Thannamandi route was also discussed in the meeting. The ARTO assured the Deputy Commissioner that whenever he will receive any complaint in writing from the general public or any other agency with regard to charging of excess fare by the operators of any particular vehicle, action with regard to suspension/ cancellation of route permit of that vehicle will be initiated immediately.

People pinning hopes on Vajpayee-Musharraf summit: Sagar

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, June 27: The Minister for Works, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar has said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have suffered immensely due to the continuous turmoil and are yearning for peace. He said they are praying for the success Vajpayee-Musharraf summit talks so that peace is restored in the State which has witnessed a lot of blood-shed.

Addressing a public meeting at the remote Darpora village in Delina area of district Baramulla yesterday, Mr Sagar said the people of the State are pinning lot of hopes with the outcome of the upcoming summit meeting as they are fed up with the violence and want to live in peace. "Let both the leaders display their wisdom so that the summit proves a milestone in putting an end to the hostilities between the two countries and they move towards progress and development," he said and expressed the hope that the summit would also prove a good omen for the State, which has witnessed enough death and destruction. Mr Sagar expressed optimism that the proposed summit would put an end to the innocent killings in the State. "The killings must be stopped and such a peaceful atmosphere should be created that nobody, whether a civilian, a militant or a security forces personnel gets killed," he said and added that some people with vested interests were, however, bent upon derailing the peace process.

Mr Sagar said even the people who once vowed of armed struggle are now talking of a peaceful solution and have expressed their willingness to talk to the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee. "And some of them are even ready to contest elections to grab power," he said and added that these are the people who are responsible for the killing of thousands of Kashmiris and brought miseries to them. Mr Sagar said the State was facing a war like situation and in such circumstances the security forces do sometimes over-react at some places when they are targetted by the militants. He, however, called upon the security forces to exercise maximum restraint, especially while dealing with the civilians, as they are the worst sufferers of the situation. The Minister also cautioned people not to get swayed away by the propaganda of the anti-national elements who are bent upon disturbing peace in the State. "Everybody wants to destroy the people of the State and nobody is interested in their welfare, so we have to be highly cautious in such circumstances," he said.

Mr Sagar lashed out at the detractors of the National Conference Government and accused them of resorting to unfound criticism of the Government without having any concrete welfare programme for the people. He said despite facing various odds, the Government is making strenuous efforts to extend basic amenities to the people in each and every corner of the State. "The achievements recorded by the NC Government speak for themselves and we do not need anybody’s certificate for the same as people know what we have done for them," the Minister said.

Responding to the problems raised by the people of the area, the Minister said that the Water Supply Scheme at Delina is coming up at a cost of Rs 80 lakh and it would be commissioned shortly. He also ordered upgradation of Delina-Darpora road.

The Minister during his visit inspected a number of PHE and R&B schemes at Mohalla Chakpora, Baliharan, Hatrath, Singhpora, Sheeri, Narwaw, Zandfaran and Fatehgarh. He issued on the spot instructions for installation of a tube well at Sheeri, handing-over the macadamisation work of Baramulla-Baba Reshi road to Mechanical Engineering Department and installation of additional public taps at Hatrath.

The Minister was accompanied by Mr Mujahid Mohammad Abdullah, MLA Baramulla besides the senior officers of the PHE, R&B, Irrigation and Flood Control and Mechanical Engineering Departments.

Shankaracharya visits Amarnath cave; offers prayers for peace

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, June 27: His Holiness Shri Jayendra Saraswati, Shankracharya of Kanchipuram Muth today flew to the holy cave of Amarnath and offered prayers at the Ice Shiv Lingam. Shankracharya prayed for peace and prosperity for the country.

On return from the cave holy Shrine, the Shankracharya was received at Nehru Helipad by the Governor, Mr. Girish Chandra Saxena, Acting Chief Minister, Mr. Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Shah and the Chief Secretary, Mr. Ashok Jaitly.

Later, Shankracharya met the Governor at Raj Bhawan. The Chief Secretary was also present. He briefed him about the arrangements made for the Amarnath yatra this year and said that a large number of yatris are expected to join the pilgrimage.

Earlier on his arrival at Srinagar airport, his holiness was received by the Minister for Information and Transport, Mr. Ajatshatru Singh.

4082 shelters constructed under IAY

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, June 27: Under Indira Awas Yojana (IAY), one of the most effective poverty alleviation centrally sponsored schemes, the State Government has provided 4,082 shelters to the below poverty line families during the last fiscal year at a cost of Rs. 3.57 crore.

The number of constructions taken up during the year were 6,602, which included upgradation of the 629 houses already possessed by the beneficiaries. Similarly, of the total 4,082 completed works during the year, 426 shelters were exclusively renovated.

Of these, 3,008 houses were constructed in Kashmir division including Leh and Kargil districts. While 970 families were benefited in Anantnag district, 655 got the dwelling units in Baramulla district, 441 in Pulwama district and 402 in Kupwara district.

Similarly, 1,074 shelters were provided to the homeless families in six districts of Jammu division, of which, the highest 336 houses were constructed in Udhampur district, whereas 219 and 167 families were benefited in Jammu and Kathua districts respectively. In the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, 97 and 76 shelters respectively were provided to the BPL families, whereas 179 houses were made available to the rural poor in hill bound Doda district. An amount of Rs 1.59 crore was spent against the total availability of 1.99 crore.

The objective of the scheme is to enable the BPL families to lead a respectable life by having a worthwhile roof on their heads. The scheme also envisages special provisions for empowerment of women as well. Under the scheme it is provided that the ownership of the house be preferably entitled to the female member of the family.

The scheme emphasises on engaging local labour technicians and utilization of local raw material to serve the purpose of dealing with the problem of unemployment in the rural areas. The same helps the department to generate mandays during off agriculture season. Similarly, utilization of local raw material such as bricks, lime stone plaster makes the project cost effective and economical.

PHE employees list demands

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 27: PHE Employees Federation in its meeting held under the leadership of Mr Bakshi Singh chairman of the Federation discussed various demands of the employees of the Department.

As per a release, the meeting demanded regularisation of daily wagers, release two and half days extra pay, fixation of service norms for PHE employees, amendment in SRO 380, creation of permanent vacancies against new water supply schemes, continuation of services of daily wagers who have been engaged after 1994 and all PHE daily wagers be paid at the rate of Rs 60 daily.

Mr Bakshi Singh, has expressed his resentment against the delaying tactics of State Government who he alleged has failed in conceding the genuine demands of the PHE employees.

Mr Singh briefed the office bearers that a reminder has been given to Works Minister, Mr Ali Mohammed Sagar for settling the demands of workers yesterday.

General secretary of the Federation, Mr Subash Chander has urged the State ARI Department to make necessary amendments in SRO 380 (promotion rules) earlier so that the pending promotions of the PHE employees be redressed in routine manner.

He said the Government has totally made a discrimination by denying the two and half days extra pay to PHE Department while the same has been released in favour of employees of PDD and Health departments.

3 criminals arrested from Dayala Chak

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, June 27: The police arrested three alleged criminal in connection with attack on a youth at Dayala Chak.

A police spokesman said that those arrested have been identified as Surinder Singh alias Chidi, son of Karnail Singh, Major Singh, son of Sansar Singh of Pachoke Chak and Ram Nath alias Pappu of Gadyali. Remaining two were evading arrest and Hiranagar police was conducting series of raids to trace them.

The action was taken by police after one Ashok Kumar, son of Chuni Lal lodged a report with Police Station Hiranagar that Naveen Khajuria of Kathua who had constructed a shed and some rooms at Dayala Chak near Petrol Pump, after raising boundary wall was planning to construct some rooms there as lot of material sand bricks etc. were lying there.

On the intervening night of June 25 and 26 when the complainant alongwith Sushil Kumar was sleeping in the room, Surinder alongwith his associates entered the room with criminal intention at Dayala Chak and attacked their victims. After severely beating them the criminals escaped. While fleeing Surinder fled with .12 bore gun belonging to Naveen Kumar, which was lying in the room.

The police registered a case under Section 491/ 147/382 RPC against the accused persons and nabbed three of them from their respective hideouts.

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