CJ inaugurates fast track courts at Kangan, Ganderbal

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, May 24: The Chief Justice, Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Dr B P Saraf today inaugurated Fast Track/Circuit Courts at Kangan and Ganderbal.

The Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer of Kashmir Bar Association were present on occasion. The members of Bar Associations of Kangan and Ganderbal, District and Sessions Judge, other judicial officers and officers of tehsil administration were also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Justice said that Fast Track/Circuit Courts have been started with a view to provide quick and cheaper justice to the litigant public. He said people living in far flung areas will be greatly benefited with this scheme.

Bar Associations Kangan and Ganderbal welcomed the step of the Chief Justice of opening Fast Track Courts in these far flung areas.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Shabir Masoodi, senior advocate and President, Bar Association, Ganderbal said that the Chief Justice has given a new concept of Fast Track Courts to provide speedy justice at the door steps of the common man. He appreciated the efforts of the Chief Justice in taking pains to provide quick justice to the people.

The people present at the function highly appreciated the move of the High Court to provide these courts to the Kangan and Ganderbal areas which they hope will provide justice to the common man without any further delay.

The Registrar General of the High Court explained the scheme and the guidelines issued by the High Court in this behalf.

It may be recalled that Kashmir Bar Association has already welcomed the efforts of the Chief Justice to provide speedy justice to the common people by opening Fast Track Courts and Circuit Courts at various places. They have urged the Chief Justice to provide these courts in all parts of the Valley.

Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra

Excelsior Correspondent

Katra, May 22: The pilgrims traffic to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine has started picking up. On an average 20,000 to 22,000 pilgrims are daily visiting the holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi. During the first week of the current month, 10,000 to 12,000 pilgrims were daily reaching at the base camp, Katra for their onward journey to the holy cave shrine.

During the first fortnight of the current month, about 2.41 lakh yatries have darshan of the holy cave shrine. Of them, 2.33 lakh were from outside the state.

Meanwhile a total number of over 17.02 lakh devotees have paid their obeisance to the holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine since January 1st todate.

Whereas during the correspondence year of last year 15.64 lakh pilgrims had visited the shrine. Thereby pilgrimage has registered an increase of over 1.38 lakh this year so far.

With the continue influx of pilgrims to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine throughout the year, the hotel industry at Katra, the base camp for the pilgrimage has made a big highway, several posh hotels and number of guest houses have come up recent year. Besides this, Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, J&K Tourism Development Corporation and Dharamshallas run by various organizations are providing comfortable and less costly accommodation to the pilgrims.

Rs 26 cr earmarked for construction in Police Department
DGP recruits on-spot 66 youth in police force

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, May 24: The Director General of Police, Mr AK Suri recruited 66 tall well built youth during on-spot recruitment held at Ganderbal and Gund of Distt Srinagar to-day. 39 of them were recruited at Ganderbal and remaining at Gund. A large number of young aspirants had converged at the recruitment venues at Gund and Ganderbal.

The DGP later visited Police Training School, Manigam and inspected the ongoing construction activities in the training complex. He took salute at the march past and held darbar of the trainees, their instructors and officers.

Speaking at the darbar, Mr Suri recalled the sacrifices of valiant officers and jawans of police force who laid down their lives for the security and integrity of the country while fighting proxy-war unleashed by the enemy from across the border. Their sacrifices have glorified not only the name of police force but of the whole country, the DGP said and exhorted the trainees and policemen to take inspiration from the martyrs and work dedicatedly and valiantly to defeat the enemy designs. He stressed that every policeman should take part in SOG operations.

Mr Suri said that police have played a vital role in the proxy war and have been on the forefront in all counter-insurgency operations. "Over the last six months we have lost more than sixty police personnel. This toll is the highest among security forces engaged in anti-militancy operations", the DGP said.

Responding to the demands and issues raised at the darbar, DGP said that an amount of Rs 26.00 crore has been released for the current fiscal year by the Government for executing development works in Police Department and an equal amount will be provided for construction activities next year. By this amount barracks, lecture halls and other accommodation will be provided at the police training institutes to the satisfactory level.

Nearly 200 wards of retired police personnel have been absorbed in police force since January this year, the DGP disclosed adding a policy has already been prepared in this regard. He said the demand of provision of ration money to the followers as provided to other policemen has been sent to the Govt. for requisite action

He also inaugurated a basket ball court in the complex of 8th Battalion.

During his visit to Manigam, the DGP was accompanied besides others by IG (modernization), Mr MA Bhat, DIG Srinagar-Budgam, Mr K Rajendra and DIG Armed Mr Naveen Agarwal.

VHP for advanced registration counters
for Amarnath Yatra

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 24: Dr Rama Kant Dubey, state unit president of Vishav Hindu Parishad has demanded establishment of advance registration counters for Yatra to Shri Amar Nath Ji Shrine in all the states of India without quota system.

As per a release the VHP wanted to continue the current registration at Jammu city as usual in the past, which shall accommodate the Sadhu Samaj and other devotes also. They also called for enhancement in daily registration quota.

The VHP held that all the heavy and light vehicles coming from different states of the country should be permitted to ply upto Pahalgam and back. The vehicles should also be permitted to ply to Katra for carrying pilgrims to Mata Vaishno Devi, Sudh Mahadev, Shiv Khori and Budha Amarnath and other prominent shrines like Sukrala Devi, which shall improve tourist process in Jammu region thereby giving boost to economy of Jammu region.

The VHP also demanded special arrangements for Sadhu Samaj Yatra. It stressed that Amar Nath yatra base camp should be retained at Jammu city for all practical purposes as agreed to by the authorities.

The State Governor was requested to accept all the legitimate demands made through the memorandum dated May 11 last by VHP J&K State unit.

The VHP also highlighted various other demands and urged the authorities concerned to concede the same at an earliest.

Inviting Musharaff to New Delhi
Mainstream, separatist parties welcome move

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, May 24: All the major separatist as well as mainstream political parties of Jammu & Kashmir have welcomed the Government of India’s decision to invite Pakistan Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf for talks on Kashmir to New Delhi. Withdrawal of ceasefire too has immediately no adverse reaction as most of the political leaders say that it was only on papers.

The ruling National Conference President and the state Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah seems to be jubilant over the new political development. Even as he is, as usual, incommunicado for Srinagar-based Press, since last evening itself he has been hailing Vajpayee government’s "bold step" on different television news channels. According to him, it is a vindication of his opinion as he had been continuously stressing on the need to directly involve Pakistan in the grand political process. He describes the fresh Indian initiative as a right step in right direction and expresses optimism that it would lead to a meaningful resolution of the crisis.

As regards the withdrawal of ceasefire, Dr Abdullah told a private television news channel that it would make the security forces to proceed against terrorists who, according to him, had taken undue advantage of the unilateral ceasefire and intensified violence against civilians. He said that the ceasefire had worked only on borders but the common man in the hinterland had been exposed to grave threat of life.

Senior NC leader and Dr Abdullah’s Cabinet Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar described New Delhi’s decision as "yet another experiment". While insisting that neither India nor Pakistan were sincere in resolving the Kashmir imbroglio for ever, Sagar told EXCELSIOR that it had been Centre’s tradition right from 1953 to introduce one or the other political experiment in Kashmir which had become a laboratory for New Delhi. He said that whenever there was a legitimate move like the NC Government’s demand of greater autonomy, New Delhi had always backtracked and cold shouldered the genuine aspirations of the people of Jammu & Kashmir. He said that calling off the ceasefire was in itself New Delhi’s admission of the failure of an experiment which had been introduced without any application of mind and, as such, it was destined to fail.

Sagar said that New Delhi had the compulsion of inviting Gen Musharraf as it needed a smokescreen to wash off its failure of ceasefire. Neither Hurriyat nor any militant outfit, he said, had shown positive response to the unilateral ceasefire and, therefore, New Delhi had no option but to wind it up without facing criticism over the fiasco, he remarked.

Chairman of the separatist conglomerate, All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Professor Abdul Gani described the Indian move as New Delhi’s realisation of the fact that talks with anybody would fail until Pakistan was directly involved in the political process. He hailed Government of India’s decision to invite Gen Musharraf to New Delhi for talks on Kashmir. However, with reference to the withdrawal of ceasefire, Professor Gani said that it was immaterial as, according to him, it had never been witnessed on ground. He told EXCELSIOR that the Hurriyat executive would soon deliberate over the new delopment and come out with a formal reaction.

Prof Gani, nevertheless, emphasised that no solution was possible until the principal party to the dispute — people of Jammu & Kashmir — would be associated with the process. He sounded pessimistic, fearing that the "whole process appears to have been hijacked".

Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) supremo, Shabir Shah, sounded optimistic that his demand of involving Pakistan directly with the peace initiative had been endorsed by the Government of India. He said it was a big achievement for the Jammu & Kashmir people that India had accepted Pakistan as a party to the dispute and the state a disputed territory. He was hopeful that the process would lead to a logical conclusion. He too said that the revocation of ceasefire had no significance as it had existed merely on papers.

CPI(M) state secretary Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami told EXCELSIOR from New Delhi that Vajpayee had taken a realistic step as Musharraf held the control of all separatist and militant organisations. He, however, stressed on the need to continue the parallel Delhi-Srinagar peace initiative led by Centre’s interlocuter K C Pant. "Delhi-Islamabad initiative can not be a substitute for Delhi-Srinagar talks", Tarigami asserted. He described it as utterly unfortunate that Hurriyat Conference was not responding positively to the Indian initiative and it had shown no inclination for its contribution to peace and resolution of the crisis which had already taken a big human toll during last 12 years in the state.

A CPI(M) Press release, however, expressed anguish over withdrawal of ceasefire as, according to the party, it could have been made "more effective to serve the purpose of peace, rather than withdraw it".

President of Jammu & Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee, Mohammad Shafi Qureshi, told EXCELSIOR from his New Delhi residence that inviting Gen Musharraf to New Delhi was a welcome decision but from its day one Vajpayee Government had failed to prove that it was serious in solving the Kashmir problem. "I can’t doubt their sincerety but there has never been seriousness in NDA Government’s Kashmir-related policies", he said and described the unilateral ceasefire as a meaningless step.

A spokesman of the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s Jammu & Kashmir Democratic Party said that his organisation was in favour of "practical ceasefire from all the side". He said that the Centre’s ceasefire reflected some positive signs on ground in the first month but with the passage of time it started diminishing. Consequently, an average Kashmiri grew indifferent to its extension or termination. He alleged that the ruling NC establishment played a very negative role and it left no stone unturned for the failure of ceasefire. He claimed that the NC government’s negative role pushed the militants to wall and they failed to respond to the ceasefire positively.

While commenting on Vajpayee’s invitaion to Gen Musharraf, the PDP spokesman said that if the same was intended to resolve the Kashmir problem permanently, in an honourable and practical manner, it could be termed as a bold and welcome step. He implored India and Pakistan to ignore the beaten tracks and past acrimonies and take positive and constructive steps "so as to arrive on a permanent, honourable and practical solution".

Prominant counter-insurgent and NC’s MLC, Javed Hussain Shah described cessation of ceasefire as a reassuring step which, according to him, would stop further bloodshed and killing of innocent people in Jammu & Kashmir. Shah said that he had been repeatedly advising the Centre that the unilateral ceasefire would prove an exercise in futility as it would only facilitate the militants to unleash trouble for the hapless common man. He said it was too late but still good that the Centre has withdrawn the ceasefire in order to boost its initiative of peace.

Jammu & Kashmir Muttahida Quami Mahaz and Jammu & Kashmir Insaf Party also hailed New Delhi’s decision to terminate ceasefire.

Reacting to the lifting of ceasefire, Chief Patron of the separatist Kashmir Mass Movement Fareeda Behanji said that the security forces had never stopped operations. She claimed that more than 500 militants had been eliminated, most of them in fake encounters. In a statement, Freeda said that Kashmiris were not surprised even a bit on announcement of the lifting of ceasefire which, she asserted, never saw the light of the day.

Bar Association continues protest

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 24: To continue its protest against the establishment of Fast Track/Circuit Courts by the High Court authorities the Jammu Bar Association today held a meeting at Mubarak Mandi.

The proceedings of the meeting were conducted by the vice president of the Association, Mr K C Sharma. The speakers expressed their anguish over the conduct of the HC authorities.

They were critical of the Information Department of J&K State which issued false and uncalled for statement speaking for Panches, sarpanches, some muffasils bars and secretary of the Bar Association, Jammu on behalf of the authorities.

They blamed the Department for issuing such statements spreading falsehood in public.

They demanded judicial inquiry in the matter as to how and on whose behest it has issued such statements.

They further said the Government and the High Court authorities are not supposed to join hands in creating disunity amongst the rural and urban people.

Speaking on the controversial schemes the speakers said that making or changing of laws in a democratic system is not the job of an individual but there is legislature for that.

They urged the Court authorities to immediately withdraw the scheme instead of prolonging the stalemate and controversies.

Defence Accounts Auditor bailed out in graft case

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 24: Special Judge Anti-Corruption Jammu, Vikas Kant Gupta has granted interim bail to Raj Kumar, Senior Auditor of Defence Accounts, who was arrested by CBI for accepting and demanding the bribe amounting to rupees 15,000 from a supplier of Computers as a commission.

The Court directed CBI prosecutor, S K Bhat to make available the case diary and also intimate further progress of the investigation. "The accused shall assist the investigation as and when directed to do so so that he shall not try to win over the witnesses or destroy the evidence.

This interim bail was granted upto May 30,2001 on furnishing bail bond and surety bond in the amount of rupees 20,000 each.

According to the report, CBI had received a written complaint from Rajesh Gupta, proprietor of Computers Supply firm and upon the same a trap was laid. The accused was caught red handed while accepting rupees 4000 as bribe in cash and a bearer cheque for rupees 11000 from the complainant. The residence of the accused was also raided and the team found FDRs worth rupees 11 lakh besides currency notes of rupees two lakh. Some incriminating material was also raided from his residence.

In the interim order, the Judge said that the accused was arrested on specific allegations of demanding and accepting bribe, but on that account nothing has been done by the investigating agency. Sofar the question of disproportionate assets are concerned, the accused is only required to explain the portion of his disproportionate assets. " The court didn’t think that his detention is required further and in these circumstances, he will be released from the custody", the court held.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 24: Traffic on Jammu-Kathua National highway was disrupted today for hours together when the lawyers of Samba Bar besides other prominent citizens held a dharna to protest against the strike launched by Jammu Bar.

The dharna was held in response to the call given by Joint Action Committee of Mufassil Bars of Samba, Bishhan, R S Pura, Akhnoor, Hiranagar, Basholi and Bani with the active participation of public representatives, Panches and Sarpanches. The protesters while raising slogans against Jammu Bar for creating problems to the common masses, termed the strike of Jammu based lawyers as illegal and anti-people.

Addressing the public gathering, Samba Bar president Sukhdev Singh Samyal said that few lawyers of Jammu with their own vested interests were creating hurdles in the implementation of scheme of fast Track/circuit Courts aimed at dispensing quick and cheep justice in the far-flung areas of the State.

Singh warned such lawyers to refrain from stooping too low by which the image of judiciary and legal fraternity has been lowered for their petty interests. The Samba Bar chief, however, urged the saner Jammu lawyers to reconsider the impact of Jammu Bar strike on the common people and prevail upon the few agitating lawyers to withdraw the strike in the larger public interest.

Terming the strike as ill-conceived, Singh said that Jammu lawyers have not served any lesson from the past when some disgruntled elements launched a strike against two local judges of High Court. Was that strike justified, Samyal asked.

He declared that rural people will accept nothing less than "total delinking" from Jammu.

Among others who addressed the meeting included Pawan Dev Singh of National Conference, Krishan Dev Sethi of Congress, Manjit Singh, Sarpanch of Nanga, Satish Dutta and Advocate K D Singh.

Meanwhile, due to the strike launched by the Jammu Bar, people were suffering a lot. Some of the petitioners, who contacted this office, regretted that while Fast Track Courts were being opened in Kashmir valley with no strike by the lawyers there, why does Jammu lawyers continue with the strike against these courts. If the opening of Fast Track Courts was not in the interest of the lawyers or litigants as is being claimed by Jammu Bar, then the same should have applied for lawyers in Valley. Interestingly, there is no such strike and everyone appreciates opening of such courts, which have been so far opened in four places in Kashmir, the petitioners pointed out.

Cease fire makes no difference for border people
Palanwalla turned into a ghost town

Excelsior Correspondent

PALANWALLA, (Akhnoor) May 24: Extension or calling off cease fire makes no difference for the people residing near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Chamb Sector where from mass migration has taken place during the Kargil war after the border skirmishes between the India and Pakistan increased.

Like the announcement of unilateral cease fire by Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee last year its withdrawal has also made no difference for these people this time who are passing a refugee life in the camps over 20 kilometers from their homes and hearts for over last two years now.

Though these migrants are craving to return their homes at an earliest but fear of Pak shelling which has snatched their peace of mind still haunts them.

All the border villages in Chamb Sector right from Palanwalla township look deserted with no hustle and bustle which used to be there during the days of normalcy. The buses ply upto Palanwalla but without passengers as local people who have since bid good buy to their villages are putting up as refugees at Devipura, Ramnagar, Naiwala and Thandi Choi camps for safety of their life and limb.

The tiny township of Palanwalla which was a hub of business after Jorian and Khor towns on this side of LoC is a ghost town now with all houses and shops lying deserted. Among over 100 shops in this border town lying on both sides of the road baring two or three all are closed.

The two Government schools HSS and Middle School Palanwalla which once used to remain overcrowded with students are also lying closed giving the impression that life never existed in this township. Same is the fate of the Government Dispensary the concrete building of which is being used by birds as nests.

Hundreds kanals of agriculture land falling in this belt right from Khounda to Panchtoot, Palatan and Milan Di Khoi have turned barren as no crops were cultivated here for over last two years due to the routine shelling by Pak troops in past which also claimed many civilians lives besides damaging property.

At Palanwalla a cluster of shops are a testimony to what extent the shelling from across the border has created havoc here. The splinters of Pak shells which hit the town have ripped apart this shopping complex making deep holes in the building and shutters.

Though all people from Palanwalla have shifted to Devipur camp near Akhnoor, in some families one or two members are staying back to look after their cattle whom they could not shift to the camps due to shortage of fodder and water there.

The same is the condition in the villages of Panchtoot, Palatan, Milan Di Khoi, Badwal, Gigadiyal, Hamirpur and Milan Di Khoi which have been deserted by their inhabitants. The fear of Pak shelling haunts us every time and we apprehend that it is difficult to migrate from here in case of any eventuality, said Balwan Singh exservicemen from Palanwalla. "I have never seen this though I served the Indian Army upto 1981 and fought 1965 and 1971 wars".

"We had many expectations after Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee took as Prime Minister of India he said, adding, people thought that he is the leader who can solve the problem, but he too could not prove upto to our expectations,".

The Government of India should take a drastic step and also did not hesitate in declaring declare war with Pak to teach her a lesson, he said.

Pakistan which has been stabbing us in back over last 12 years can not fight the war even for a week with India, he said and added that Government of India should not show any leniency towards her now.

These were the views of all the migrants living in different camps from this belt. "We got no benefit from the six month long cease fire as we could not cultivate our land nor return to our villages," said Joginder Singh of Panchtoot.

The Government should settle the issue once for all as how long people will bear this he said, adding you call it a life we die hundred times a day.

However Mr Sham Lal Verma of Palanwalla said inviting Pak military ruler Mr Parvez Musharaf for talks the Centre has taken a bold step. But in case the Pakistan rejects the proposal for peaceful solution then we should not hesitate in teaching that country a lesson once for all.

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