Peace can be achieved through development: CM

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Jan 25: Saying that the objective of peace and progress could be achieved through all round development, Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad has asserted that his Government’s attention was focused on economic reconstruction of the State and providing basic amenities to people.

"I have been pointing out that the target of peace and progress can be reached through overall development and that is why the efforts of my Government are concentrated on economic reconstruction and extending basic facilities to people’s doorsteps", Mr Azad said in a Republic Day message recorded for Doordarshan and Radio Kashmir here.

He assured the people that his Government was fully conscious of the problems faced by them and taking concrete steps to address them. He added that the scenario of reconstruction and development with emphasis on providing amenities to people at village level was discernible across the State.

The Chief Minister said that his aim was to see J&K among most developed States of the country. He said this objective demanded hard work and sustained toil to realize and called upon people of the State to make their contribution to fulfilling his mission.

"I seek your hand in transforming the darkness of poverty and ignorance into the light of progress and prosperity", Mr. Azad said and hoped that the State would soon attain new heights of development.

The Chief Minister made a special mention of liberal assistance provided by the Central Government to J&K for meeting its development needs and expanding public utility services. He said whether it was PM’s special economic package or the Planning Commission conceding the demand of the State Government for enhanced plan allocation, the Union Government headed by Dr. Manmohan Singh had made funds available in keeping with special requirements of Jammu & Kashmir. He referred to the stepping up of the State’s annual plan by Rs. 500 crore, making it Rs. 4500 crore for next fiscal. He noted with satisfaction that per capita income in the State had registered an increase by Rs. 5000 and the development investment by Rs. 4000 during the past five years.

Mr. Azad said that the last two years were revolutionary in so far as infrastructure development in the State was concerned, adding that the areas, neglected for decades, tasted for the first time, the fruits of development. He said during this period a new work culture was born and nurtured in J&K, resulting in the completion of even mega projects, like the Haj House in Srinagar, on time. He said the sectors of education, health, roads, drinking water and power witnessed a phenomenal progress in terms of infrastructure building and up-gradation.

The Chief Minister said that notwithstanding limited resources, about 88,000 people were provided employment during the past 5 years since the coalition Government assumed office. He said 40,000 more jobs were in the pipeline for the current year. He said a Cabinet sub-committee was constituted to suggest measures for addressing the problem of growing unemployment and formulate the employment policy for the State.

Recalling that on taking over as the Chief Minister two years ago, he had set out a goal of providing clean, transparent and corruption-free dispensation to the people of the State, Mr. Azad said that he was focused on this objective and appreciated people’s support to his war against corruption. He said a carrot and stick policy was adopted to encourage the honest and upright Government employees and punish the corrupt. He said the Accountability Commission and the Vigilance Organisation were strengthened to reinforce the monitoring and punishment apparatus even as the administration was made accountable.

The Chief Minister alluded to the promises made in the Common Minimum Programme of the coalition Government and said that almost all of these had been fulfilled. He specifically mentioned the creation of new administrative units and said although the Wazir Commission had recommended the creation of only 4 districts in the State, his Government went further and set up 8 new districts, 4 each in Kashmir and Jammu divisions, three sub-divisions and 12 tehsils. Likewise, he said, the Finance Commission was set up to address the complaints of discrimination between the regions and ensure equitable distribution of resources.

Complimenting the security forces, police and the people for the improvement in the security and human rights situation in the State, Mr. Azad said that violence was on decrease. He said 2007 was the first year in last two decades when no custodial disappearance took place. He said the violence showed a decrease by 34.5 percent over the preceding year and the decreasing trend was witnessed in the killings of civilians, political activists, SPOs and VDC members. He reiterated his Government’s commitment to upholding human rights and said that the erring Army, security forces and police personnel had been punished under the law.

The Chief Minister referred to the confidence building measures taken by the Central Government and made a special reference to the holding of three Roundtable Conferences by the Prime Minister and setting up of five Working Groups on Jammu and Kashmir. He said he had a detailed meeting earlier this week with the Prime Minister on the implementation of the recommendations made by the Working Groups especially pertaining to the facilitation of cross-LoC travel, rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, rehabilitation and education of militancy affected widows and orphans and problems of refugees of West Pakistan and PoK of 1947. He hoped that the internal situation in Pakistan would soon improve and democracy restored so that the peace process between India and Pakistan, temporarily slowed down by the recent developments in the neighbouring country, would be taken further.

Felicitating the people on the 59th Republic Day, Mr. Azad said that the firm foundations of a democratic polity provided by the Constitution of the country, that came into force on this day in 1950, had made India a shining example of functional democracy across the globe. He said the people of the country were proud to be the citizens of the largest democracy in the world where everybody enjoyed equal rights and opportunities of progress irrespective of caste, colour or creed.

'750 backdoor appointments in Forest, 250 in IWDP, 25 in PCB'
Qazi: there was NC's, not Qarra's
intervention in Forest Deptt

From Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Jan 25: Beleaguered Forest Minister Qazi Mohammad Afzal today hinted at an ace up his sleeve when he revealed to media in the midst of a stormy session of Legislature that his predecessor National Conference (NC) Government had recruited hundreds of its favourites in Forest and allied departments through backdoor. He asserted that it was the Opposition NC, and not his fellow PDP Minister Tariq Hameed Qarra, who had "immense intervention" into his Forest portfolio and claimed that in August last year he had complained "this particular menace" to Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

While addressing a crowded news conference at IWDP headquarters here today, Qazi Mohammad Afzal sought a State Accountability Commission (SAC) investigation into the assets of all politicians who have been in public service since 1996. "This probe should begin from me and the National Conference leader Abdul Rahim Rather, who has been misleading Assembly with wrong figures, facts and statements", Qazir challenged the Opposition. He alleged that it were the Ministers of the former NC Government who had indulged in corruption, favouritism and nepotism while throwing all rules and norms of governance to winds, particularly in 1996-2002 regime.

Seeking to substantiate his accusation, Qazi claimed to be in possession of a note in which the senior NC leader and former Finance Minister, Abdul Rahim Rather, had purportedly recommended a group of eight party activists for appointment in Government service to his party and Cabinet colleague Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan "simply on the basis of their political affiliation". He asserted that he would soon lay "documentary evidence of such frauds" in the State Assembly.

Qazi claimed that Chowdhary Ramzan had got 750 of his favourites and party activists appointed in Forest Department, 250 in the World Bank-aided IWDP and 25 incumbents in the semi-autonomous J&K State Pollution Control Board (PCB) ---all through backdoor. He said that the incumbents in the IWDP had been initially appointed as casual labourers for 89 days and later clandestinely absorbed against substantive posts in regular Government service. "We know, they are all kith and kin of the National Conference leaders and I'm going to demand a thorough investigation into this scandal", Qazi said with a stress on backdoor appointments in IWDP and PCB during Dr Farooq Abdullah-led NC regime. He was categorical in his accusation that rules had been violated in making these appointments and "corruption" had been practiced rather brazenly.

"Those living in the castles of glass should not throw stones on inmates of concrete buildings", Qazi advised the Opposition leaders and dismissed NC's uproar over the Kundal Committee Report as a "political frustration." "They will get our answer to this political frustration in Ganderbal and Batmaloo (in the forthcoming Assembly elections)". He suggested that the NC leaders were selectively paranoid of him for he had defeated the party's Chief Ministerial candidate (Omar Abdullah) in Ganderbal and Qarra had made a dent in the NC stronghold of Srinagar by defeating late Ghulam Mohiuddin Shah's son in Batmaloo in the by-elections.

Qazi made it clear that there was no question of his tendering resignation from the Council of Ministers after getting three successive clean chits from Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. He said that Chief Minister had himself made it publicly clear that none of his Ministers was involved in any forest scandal. He said that in his August 2007 meeting with Chief Minister, he had complained of the National Conference's intervention into his portfolio but it had been misconstrued as an insinuation to his party and Cabinet colleague, Mr Qarra.

Without identifying any official, Qazi lamented that his orders and instructions had been ignored in Forest Department and SFC and even the minutes of the meetings he had taken with the officers had been found changed. He said it was because of this situation that he had approached CM and sought his support in "clearing mess in the Forest Department".

Qazi denied, rather firmly, that Kundal Committee had found any of the Ministers or officers involved in a scandal. "Neither MD (Aijaz Ahmed Bhat) nor Marazi have been found to have done a deal with anybody. MD has been arrested for possessing dual citizenship (of India and USA). They are not involved in any corruption", Qazi claimed. He said that Kundal Committee had pointed to 20 purported irregularities and the same had been sent to State Vigilance Organisation and Crime Branch for a detailed investigation. "We are very much ready for a detailed discussion on the (Kundal Committee) report but, unfortunately, Rather Sahib and his colleagues are bent upon creating chaos by a drama in the Assembly. They must fight this battle out in the people's court, rather than in Assembly".

"Let it be clear that I am a Minister and I shall continue to be a Minister. I will forcefully defend myself in and outside the Assembly", Qazi challenged the NC. Yet again, he sought to make it clear that not a single cubic foot of timber had been imported from any foreign country, either in his tenure as Minister incharge Forest or during the period of his predecessor, Mr Qarra. He reiterated that due to a many handicaps, including an order from Supreme Court, J&K Government had failed since 1997 to procure timber from its forests in proportion to the annual demand from consumers. On the other hand, private firms used to import one million cft of timber and sold it to the consumers on asking prices.

"It was because of this situation that Mr Qarra had formulated a proposal to import 3 lakh cft of good quality timber through SFC so as to provide it to our consumers on regulated rates and conserve our forest cover. When I became the Forest Minister and carried on this process, Mr Qarra's Finance Ministry raised certain procedural observations and the entire exercise stopped for want of necessary Cabinet approval. Where's the scandal in which we could be involved?" Qazi asked.

Justice Anand, Prof Mattoo, Taing among Padma awardees

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 25: Three sons of soil, Justice (Dr) Adarsh Sen Anand, former Chief Justice of India and former chairman of National Human Rights Commission, Jammu University Vice Chancellor Prof Amitabh Mattoo and Mohammad Yousuf Taing, MLC and former Secretary Culture Academy were among the noted personalities decorated with Padma awardees today.

While Justice A S Anand has been awarded Padma Vibhushan, Prof Mattoo and Mr Taing have been awarded Padma Shri.

Justice Anand has been awarded in Public Affairs category while Prof Mattoo and Mr Taing have been awarded in Literature and Education.

Other awardees include:

Padma Vibhushan

Asha Bhosle (Art)

P.N. Dhar (Public Affairs)

Pranab Mukherjee (Public Affairs)

E. Sreedharan (Science and Engineering)

Rajendra Kumar Pachauri (Science and Engineering)

Edmund Hillary (posthumous) (Sports)

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar (Sports)

Viswanathan Anand (Sports)

Lakshmi Narayan Mittal (Trade and Industry)

N.R. Narayana Murthy (Trade and Industry)

P.R.S. Oberoi (Trade and Industry)

Ratan Naval Tata (Trade and Industry).

Padma Bhushan

Amarnath Sehgal (posthumous) (Art)

Ustad Asad Ali Khan (Art)

P. Susheela (Art)

Ustad Rahim Fahimuddin Dagar (Art)

Sushil Kumar Saxena (Art)

Chandrashekhar Dasgupta (Civil Service)

K. Padmanabhiah (Civil Service)

V. Ramachandran (Civil Service)

Jasdev Singh (Commentary and Broadcasting)

Brijinder Nath Goswamy (Literature and Education)

Ji Xianlin (Literature and Education)

Kaushik Basu (Literature and Education)

Padma Desai (Literature and Education)

Ravindra Kelekar (Literature and Education)

Shayama Chona (Literature and Education)

Shri Lal Shukla (Literature and Education)

Srinivasa S R Varadhan (Literature and Education)

T K Oommen (Literature and Education)

Jagjit Singh Chopra (Medicine)

Nirmal Kumar Ganguly (Medicine)

Mian Bashir Ahmed (Public Affairs)

Lord Meghnad Desai (Public Affairs)

Y M Vorontsov (posthumous) (Public Affairs)

Asis Datta (Science and Engineering)

Sukh Dev (Science and Engineering)

Sunita Williams (Science and Engineering)

Vasant Gowarikar (Science and Engineering)

D R Mehta (Social Work).

Dominique Lapierre (Social Work)

Inderjit Kaur (Social Work)

Suresh Kumar Neotia (Trade and Industry)

Baba Neelkanth Kalyani (Trade and Industry)

K. V. Kamath (Trade and Industry)

Shiv Nadar (Trade and Industry)

Vikram Pandit (Trade and Industry)

Padma Shri

Gangadhar Pradhan (Art)

Gennadi Mikhailovich Pechinkov (Art)

Pandit Gokulotsavji Maharaj (Art)

Hans Raj Hans (Art)

Helen Giri (Art)

Jatin Goswami (Art)

Jawahar Wattal (Art)

John Martin Nelson (Art)

Jonnalagadda Gurappa Chetty (Art)

Kekoo M. Gandhy (Art)

Madhuri Dixit (Art)

Mangala Prasad Mohanty (Art)

Manoj Night Shyamalan (Art)

Meenakshi Chitharanjan (Art)

Moozhikkulam Kochukuttan Chakyar (Art)

P.K. Narayanan Nambiar (Art)

Pratap Pawar (Art)

Sabitri Heisnam (Art)

Sentila T. Yanger (Art)

Sirkazhi G. Sivachidambaram (Art)

Tom Alter (Art)

Yella Venkateswara Rao (Art)

Barkha Dutt (Journalism)

Rajdeep Dilip Sardesai (Journalism)

Vinod Dua (Journalism)

B Sivanthi Adithan (Literature and Education)

Bholabhai Patel (Literature and Education)

Bina Agarwal (Literature and Education)

K S Nisar Ahmed (Literature and Education)

M Leelavathy (Literature and Education)

Nirupam Bajpai (Literature and Education)

Srinivas Udgata (Literature and Education)

Sukhadeo Thorat (Literature and Education)

Surjya Kanta Hazarika (Literature and Education)

Vellayani Arjunan (Literature and Education)

Kaleem Ullah Khan Mango (Plantation and Grafting).

A. Jayanta Kumar Singh (Medicine)

Arjunan Rajasekaran (Medicine)

C.U. Velmurugendran (Medicine)

Deepak Sehgal (Medicine)

Dinesh K. Bhargava (Medicine)

Indu Bhushan Sinha (Medicine)

Keiki R. Mehta (Medicine)

Malvika Sabharwal (Medicine)

Mohan Chandra Pant (Medicine)

Rakesh Kumar Jain (Medicine)

Raman Kapur (Medicine)

Randhir Sud (Medicine)

Shyam Narayan Arya (Medicine)

Surendra Singh Yadav (Medicine)

Tatyarao Pundlikrao Lahane (Medicine)

Tony Fernandez (Medicine)

Colette Mathur (Public Affairs)

Bhavarlal Hiralal Jain (Science and Engineering)

Joseph H. Hulse (Science and Engineering)

Kasturi Lal Chopra (Science and Engineering)

Sant Singh Virmani (Science and Engineering)

Kailash Chandra Agrawal (Social Work)

Karuna Mary Braganza (Social Work)

Kshama Metre (Social Work)

Kutikuppala Surya Rao (Social Work)

Madan Mohan Sabharwal (Social Work)

Sheela Barthakur (Social Work)

V R Gowrishankar (Social Work)

Vikramjit Singh Sahney (Social Work)

Yousaf Ali Musaliamveettil Abdul Kader (Social Work)

Baichung Bhutia (Sports)

Bula Chowdhury Chakraborty (Sports) and

Amit Mitra (Trade and Industry).

Sher-i-Kashmir medals for 11
27 officers get President's medal

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 25: DySP Shelly Singh, who was killed in an encounter with militants in Doda district last year, was today decorated with President’s Police Medal for Gallantry posthumously.

State’s Intelligence chief, K Rajendra Kumar, IGP CID was honoured with President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Services. He was the lone awardee in this category. Mr Rajendra was seriously injured in a fidayeen attack at Srinagar aimed at Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in 2006 when he was posted as IGP Kashmir. Besides IGP Kashmir, he had also served as DIG Udhampur-Doda, Rajouri-Poonch and Srinagar range.

Besides Shelly Singh, Selection Grade Constable Farooq Ahmed and Mohammad Iqbal, both posted in Anantnag district, have also been awarded President’s Police Medal for Gallantry.

It may be recalled that Shelly Singh was deputed from here to Doda on a specific input about the presence of a top militant. He laid down his life while fighting with the militants on May 30, 2007.

Prior to Doda encounter, he was instrumental in several successful operations against the militants at different places.

Police Medal for Gallantry has been given to Abdul Gani Mir, SSP Anantnag, Randeep Kumar, SP Operations Doda, Bushan Singh Manhas, SHO Batote, Harmeet Singh, SDPO Sumbal, Shabir Ahmed, Inspector, Nisar Ahmed, ASI, Dewan Chand, head constable, Sunil Singh Jasrotia, Inspector, SOG Jammu, Jasbir Singh and Chain Singh, SIs.

Police Medal for Meritorious Services has been given to Hemant Kumar Lohia, DIG Anantnag range, Vijay Singh Samyal, SSP Vigilance Organisation, Jammu, Baldev Singh Manhas, Director Prosecution, Police Headquarters, Amarjeet Singh, SP Police Training Welfare School (PTWS) Jammu, Mazhar Hussain Shah, DySP Headquarters, Doda, Shahzada Parveen, DySP IRP 4th battalion, Shabir Ahmed Shah, Inspector, police station Saddar, Srinagar. Bal Krishan Koul, Inspector PHQ Jammu, Ghulam Qadir Magray, SI (Mechanical), CID Headquarters, Jammu, Abdul Rashid Khan, head constable, CID (Special Branch) Kashmir, Isher Singh, head constable SSG, Kashmiri Lal, head constable Jammu and Dev Raj, head constable, PTS Kathua.

SSP Vijay Singh Samyal has also served as SSP Udhampur, Doda and SP Operation, Jammu. Besides, this was his second stint in Vigilance Organisation.

The State Government tonight also announced Sher-i-Kashmir Police Medals for Meritorious and Gallantry Services.

Sher-i-Kashmir Police Medal for Meritorious Services have been given to Dr Shesh Pal Vaid, IGP Jammu, Javed Riaz, AIG Personnel, Police Headquarters, Ghulam Hassan Bhat, SSP Vigilance, Kashmir, Shadi Lal, Principal Private Secretary to DGP and Mohd Akram, Inspector SOG.

Sher-i-Kashmir Police Medal for Gallantry Services have been given to Gulshan Akhter, Inspector, Syed Fayyaz Ahmed, Inspector, Mohinder Pal, Selection Grade Constable, Kamaljeet Singh, Constable, Attar Samad, Sub Inspector and Abdul Qayoom, DySP, Special Striking Reserve (SSR) Rajouri.

UP serial blast mastermind gunned down in Kishtwar

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 25: Police and security forces today gunned down a top militant of Harkat-ul-Jehad Islami (HUJI) outfit, who was a mastermind of serial blasts in Uttar Pradesh last year, in a fierce exchange of gun-battle at village Dulligam in Kishtwar district.

DIG Doda range Farooq Khan told the Excelsior that police and Rashtriya Rifles launched a joint search operation at Dulligam in wee hours of this morning after developing a specific information that HUJI supreme commander Bashir Ahmed alias Sabba Hajia had taken shelter in a house along with his body-guards.

Police and security forces surrounded the hide-out early today and asked Sabba to come out and surrender. However, the militant and his body-guards shifted to another hide-out in upper reaches and started firing on security personnel, who retaliated.

Exchange of firing between the two sides continued for more than one hour in which Sabba was killed while his body-guards managed to escape. Security forces didn’t suffer any casualties in the operation.

Mr Khan termed the killing of Sabba a major success of police as the militant was mastermind of serial blasts in Varanasi, Faizabad and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh in November last year.

One rifle, 3 magazines, ammunition rounds, satellite phones, radio sets, explosive material and important papers have been recovered from the slain militant.

Sabba had masterminded the serial blasts in UP for which he had also deputed two local youths—one each from Kishtwar and Banihal—to Uttar Pradesh. Both local youths had since been arrested and handed over to UP police.

Sabba had joined Harkat-ul-Ansar in 1992 and crossed into PoK where he received training in arms.

From 1995 to 1998, he trained hundreds of new recruits in two major militant HUJI training camps in Jungle Mangal (PoK) and Manshera (Pakistan).

Sabba became master trainer and was an expert in making and handling of IEDs besides being trained in jungle warfare and handling of sophisticated weapons, he said adding in 1998 he crossed into this side from PoK and was actively involved in militant activities in Kashmir valley and Doda district.

Ahmed had also establish HUJI as a powerful organisation in the State and was involved in several killings.

The name of Ahmed, who was also known as Sabah Hijaji, came up during the interrogation of two HUJI militants —Sajjad and Tariq Kashmiri alias Akhthar, arrested from Doda town in December last year for planting explosive devices at three courts in Uttar Pradesh.

The two had claimed that Ahmed was the mastermind of the serial blasts in the State and the consignment of ammonium nitrate and RDX was provided by him.

They said they got direct orders from Hijaji in Doda area.

Sources said Ahmed had also planned to carry out yet another serial blasts in Mumbai and had also conducted reconnaissance at Gateway of India, Andheri, Oberoi Hotel and Navi Mumbai for planting the explosive devices.

However, Ahmed changed his mind and decided to carry out serial blasts in various courts of Uttar Pradesh to get back at lawyers who refused to take up cases of militants.

Faizabad court premises was witness to an altercation between lawyers and HUJI militants. The local Bar Association had banned its advocates from taking up their cases.

While the court premises in Varanasi was a witness to the beating of one Waliullah Khan, the main accused in Sankat Mochan Temple explosions, lawyers in Lucknow had also manhandled two Jaish-e-Mohammad militants, who were planning to kidnap Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

None will quit: Mehbooba
NC seeks Governor’s intervention

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Jan 25: The Opposition National Conference today took sought the Governor’s intervention to get two coalition Government Ministers—Tariq Hamid Qarra, Incharge Finance and Qazi Mohd Afzal, Incharge Forests—removed from the Cabinet.

On the other, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has categorically ruled out resignation of the two Ministers saying Law Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig has categorically stated that they hadn’t been indicted in Kundal Committee report.

"You are our head of the State and at the apex of our Legislative hierarchy. We request you to intervene to make the Government see its obstinacy and concede a very legitimate democratic demand which we are within our right to raise as electoral representatives of the people", a memorandum submitted by NC Parliamentary Party through Leader of Opposition Abdul Rahim Rather to the Governor this afternoon, said.

All NC legislators including MLAs and MLCs met Governor Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha for half an hour and submitted him a memorandum. They were with the Governor for half an hour.

"Our Legislature Party has been pursuing the matter in both Houses of Legislature. But the ruling coalition continued in obstinacy—even suspending and bodily removing out members from the Houses and indulging in other bullying tactics", the memorandum said.

It added that in the interest of fair and transparent investigations, the two Ministers involved in the scam should be immediately divested of their Ministerial berths to make a credible investigation possible.

"But it is not possible to hold an honest inquiry while the accused Ministers continue to sit at the helm of administrative pyramid", it asserted.

The NC memorandum said although action has been taken against some officers but "main fountain of this unsavory scandal" in Forest Department was clearly Forest Minister Qazi Mohd Afzal himself and his predecessor, Tariq Hamid Qarra, presently the Finance Ministers. The Government was trying to shield them , it alleged.

"It is clear that until the two Minister are sitting pretty in their powerful Cabinet berths, no meaningful action can be taken even against the accused at lower rungs, because the Department which has to deal with the cases, will always feel the weight of their Ministerial clout and influence. Thus, the whole murky affair is being allowed to dissolve in thin air", the memorandum said.

Meanwhile, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti told the Excelsior that NC was targeting Mr Qarra and Mr Afzal due to "political considerations".

"Mr Qarra has created a dent in NC’s strong bastion in Srinagar making Batmaloo, which he represents, a model constituency while Qazi Afzal has done massive work in Ganderbal, which was unheard of in 50 years. Mr Afzal is only accessible MLA in Ganderbal", she asserted.

Ms Mufti said that PDP has become a real threat for NC in the Valley which the latter was "unable to digest". She charged the NC with shying away from the debate.

Troops' deployment in Kashmir lowest: Sinha

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 25: Governor Lt. General (Retd) S K Sinha today cautioned against security forces lowering their guard, saying that terrorist infrastructure in PoK is intact and conditions in Pakistan are most volatile, having risk of spilling over to our side.

In his telecast on the eve of 58th Republic Day anniversary, the Governor while greeting the people, said: ‘‘we cannot lower our guard, whether on the borders or in the interior’’.

Lt Gen Sinha said the ratio of deployment of troops, Army and para military, to population in the State, excluding militancy free Ladakh, is 1 to 40. This is less than 1 to 37 in Waziristan in Pakistan and 1 to 28 in Tibet. He, however, added that once peace is restored in the State and infiltration from across the border ceases, the Government and the Army, will be only too happy to return the troops deployed for internal security back to barracks. In that event reduction in the strength would be considered. However, he said, that would not apply to troops guarding our borders with Pakistan and China.

Cautioning against the challenge of terrorism, which has taken international dimensions, the Governor said that the neighbouring country has been the epi-centre of international terrorism, where from terrorism has been exported to its two neighbours. Almost all acts of terrorism across the world have Pakistan connection, and now Pakistan itself has become the worst victim of that great menace. ‘‘This shows terrorism is a monster, which ultimately eats the hand that feeds it,’’ he added.

Lt Gen Sinha said Pakistan is not only in a web of terrorist violence but also sectarian conflict, ethnic antagonism and political instability. ‘‘The lesson we need to learn from all this, is to fight unitedly the monster of terrorist violence and the demon of religious fanaticism. We must reinforce our faith in our rich heritage of Kashmiriyat, to successfully counter this menace’’, he maintained while wishing the people of Pakistan to come out of the grave crisis they were embroiled in.

‘‘We wish they overcome their present trauma and enjoy the fruits of peace, prosperity and democracy. While wishing them well, we must draw appropriate lessons from the happenings in Pakistan. Terrorism is a monster that eats the hand that feeds it. Both the USA and Pakistan sponsored international terrorism in Afghanistan, based on religious fundamentalism. It rebounded on the USA on 9/11 and on Pakistan in the current turmoil there. The USA has the resources and resilience to withstand the terrorist onslaught. Pakistan does not have the same capability,’’ the Governor said.

He lauded the valour of security forces in carrying out their difficult task in the State and said they have been showing immense restraint while dealing with the situation. He said that unlike helicopter gunships and artillery being freely used in Baluchistan, Waziristan, Iraq and Afghanistan, there has not been a single instance of the use of such weapons in the State. He also referred to the safe passage and rescue of devotees held hostage by militants in a mosque in Kulgam village without any damage to the mosque. Almost at the same time on the holy day of Eid, terrorists attacked a mosque at Sherpao village in NWFP killing 54 people and damaging the mosque. Terrorists have also been attacking and damaging holy shrines in our State, notably Chrar-e-Sharief and Raghunath Temple.

‘‘This shows how anti-religion they have been, though they claim to be Jehadis. Not only that, they have also been slitting throats of innocent civilians including in one case of a child, four and a half years old. Even a hard core separatist leader and their arch supporter, has condemned such barbaric acts as un-Islamic,’’ he said.

General Sinha also paid tributes to the people of the State for facing the brunt of terrorism with courage and fortitude. He said with their unflinched cooperation, there has been a turnaround in the situation and incidents of violence have substantially reduced. These came down from 1684 in 2006 to 1056 in 2007.The number of people who got killed came down from over 10 a day, during the peak year, to less than 2 per day. ‘‘This considerable improvement has been possible due to the success and sacrifice of our Security Forces and the assistance of the people. I salute the memory of the martyrs of our Security Forces and our innocent civilians who fell victims to terrorist violence. We can now see the light at the end of the dark tunnel’’, the Governor said.

He added that the State is marching towards peace, progress and prosperity as several initiatives have been taken to ensure development of all the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir. In 2007, massive development measures were kick started, the link of which had never happened before. 2006 should see this gigantic effort flowering improving the quandary of life of our people. He said a crusade is also on against corruption to ensure that funds for development do not get siphoned off.

BSF jawan commits suicide

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 25: A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan today allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle in Samba district here.

Head Constable Prem Massi of 112 battalion of BSF took out his rifle and fired on himself during his duty on Mawa border outpost along the International Border in Samba district, official sources said.

After hearing the gun shots, his colleagues rushed to the spot and saw him lying in a pool of blood, they said, adding he was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.

The jawan hailing from Gurdaspur area of Punjab, had attempted suicide last year also, they said adding, a case has been registered.

Mob damages hospital vehicles, 5 held

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 25: At least five persons were arrested and three injured in police lathicharge after a mob turned violent and resorted to damaging hospital property at Rajouri today.

The trouble started after Director Health Services, Jammu Dr Jasbir Singh had gone to Rajouri on an official tour. A deputation of the people from Rajouri town’s Ward No. 7 met director and demanded on the spot inquiry and action against the two doctors for the alleged negligent death of a young woman during a delivery case on January 19.

The director assured the deputation that he will be taking the meeting of all the senior medical staff members of the district hospital and an action in this regard will be taken. The people kept waiting for the outcome in the hospital premises. After the meeting was over, the director remarked that he will be sending a team of senior Medical Officers from Jammu to hold an inquiry into the case.

On the casual response of the Director, Dr Jasbir Singh the people turned violent and started abusing him and the entire staff there. The situation turned explosive. A few of them tried to hackle the director and other senior Medical staff members. They however, managed to slip away sensing trouble. Irate mob then resorted to damaging hospital property including a Hospital Gypsy and an ambulance besides ransacking furniture.

The police contingent then resorted to lathicharge. The mob pelted stone on police. At least seven persons including four police personnel were injured in the clash. Five people were taken into custody by police. A police spokesman said that mob tried to attack director but he was rushed out of the troubled area alongwith other senior Medical Officers. A case has been registered in this connection.

It may be recalled that 30-year-old Rehmat Bi, wife of Mohd Rafi resident of Ward No. 7 Rajouri was brought to district hospital Rajouri on January 18 evening after Labour pains. She was operated upon by two doctors at around 1 am (midnight) but both the woman and baby died during surgery. Massive protest was held after woman’s death on January 19 and mob had damaged hospital property on that day demanding action against doctors. The CMO had assured probe and the people were waiting for the response from higher authorities. Today, they turned violent again after cold response from the director. An inquiry has already been ordered by the Health Minister Mangat Ram Sharma into the incident which will be submitting its report within 10 days.

Govt announces State Awards

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Jan 25: The Government has announced State Awards on the eve of Republic Day for bravery, promotion of literature, performing arts, arts and crafts, sports, entrepreneurship and social reforms and empowerment.

For bravery Tabasum Mumtaz children category of Satrina Kangan Ganderbal would be awarded a medal and citation and scholarship of Rs 500 per month up to matric and Rs. 1000 per month in post matric classes which may be continued during any professional/ technical course which the awardee may pursue.

The awardee for literature are Shiv Nath of Jammu (Dogri/English), Tashi Rabgyas of Sakti Leh (Bodhi) and Prof. Rasheed Nazaqi of Bandipora (Kashmiri). The awardee would get cash prize of Rs 51,000 a shawl worth Rs 10,000 and citation each.

For performing arts cash award of Rs 51000 with a medal and citation would be given to Khadim Hussain of Balti Bazar Kargil (Artist/Singer) while as Uttam Kumar of Udhampur would be awarded Rs 51000 cash with a medal and citation for excellence in arts and crafts (painter).

For social reforms and empowerment two NGOs namely Sehyog Jammu and Help Foundation/ Shehjar Srinagar would be awarded cash prizes of Rs 51000 with a medal and citation each.

For meritorious public service Sudhanshu Panday Divisional Commissioner Jammu and Ghulam Ahmad Peer Deputy Commissioner Anantnag would receive cash award of Rs 51000 with a medal and citation each.

Under outstanding sports persons category three awardees would be given cash award of Rs 51000, a medal and a citation each. These are Mithun Manhas of Jammu (Cricketer) Mehraj-ud-Din Wadoo of Srinagar (Footballer) and Arun Malhotra of Jammu (Footballer).

For exemplary industrial entrepreneurship M/s Kashmir Kesar Mart (Food Processing) of Srinagar and M/s Hall Mark SIDCO Complex Bari Brahmana Jammu would be awarded Rs 51000 cash a medal and citation each.

The Government has also announced special awards for Dr. Rafiq Masoodi, Secretary J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages and Surinder Kumar Spolia Physical Education Teacher. They will receive Rs 51000 cash award, a medal and a citation each.

Ahead of R-Day, four IEDs detected,
defused in Kashmir valley

Srinagar : Four improvised explosive devices were detected and defused by police in Kashmir valley today, frustrating militants' plan to set off a series of explosions on the eve of the Republic Day.

The IEDs - planted by militants on the main roads at Rawalpora in Srinagar, Drugmullah in Kupwara, Arampora in Sopore and Chenad in Baramulla districts - were spotted by the security forces and later defused by the experts of bomb disposal squad, a police spokesman said.

He said the first IED, weighing about five kilograms, was detected on the main road outside a private school at Drugmullah on Srinagar-Kupwara road.

Minutes later, two more IEDs were found by police under a culvert at Chenad crossing in Baramulla and Arampora on Sopore-Kupwara road which were later neutralised by the experts, the spokesman said.

He said an IED was spotted on the main road at Rawalpora on the outskirts of the city this evening.

The bomb disposal squad was rushed to the spot to neutralise the IED, the spokesman said.

The timely detection of the IEDs scuttled militants' plan to set off a series of explosions on the eve of the Republic Day, the spokesman said. Police and security forces have been put on high alert across Kashmir valley to ensure peaceful celebrations of the day. (PTI)