Requirement of security forces, other aspects discussed
Complete voters’ re-verification ahead
of elections in J&K: EC

From Mohinder Verma

NEW DELHI, May 2: In the backdrop of reports that some Pakistani militants have acquired voter identity cards in Jammu and Kashmir, the Election Commission today directed the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the State to expedite the ongoing re-verification process and complete it before the Assembly elections in State due this year.

Authoritative sources told the EXCELSIOR that three-member Election Commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner, N Gopalaswamy had a detailed discussion with Chief Electoral Officer of J&K, B R Sharma with regard to poll preparations in the militancy-hit State and steps required to ensure free and fair Assembly elections.

Expressing concern over reports that some militants have managed voter identity cards in some districts of Kashmir valley particularly Handwara area, the Election Commission directed the CEO of J&K to expedite the ongoing re-verification of voters in Kashmir region and complete the process at the earliest in order to ensure that only genuine electorates exercise their right to franchise.

As a part of re-verification process, the Election Department in Jammu and Kashmir has already prepared photo-rolls of the voters in respect of Jammu and Ladakh regions besides two districts of Srinagar and Budgam in Kashmir region.

With clear directions from the Election Commission, the concerned authorities will have to prepare photo-rolls of electorates in the remaining districts of Kashmir region ahead of the Assembly elections.

"The election officials will cross check the photograph on the identity card with that on the photo-rolls before allowing electorates to exercise right to franchise", the sources said, adding "the innovative methodology will help in ensuring that only genuine voters participate in the elections besides detecting the forged identity cards which have been prepared by the anti-national elements".

Mr Gopalaswamy also directed the CEO to issue Photo Identity Cards to those voters who have not been issued the same so far, the sources said, adding out of about 64.50 lakh voters in Jammu and Kashmir, about 22 lakh are yet to be provided Photo Identity Cards.

The CEO is understood to have assured the Election Commission that very shortly the booth level officers will be directed to start collecting photo-graphs of the voters for preparation of Photo Identity Cards.

Laying thrust on protecting the right of each and every genuine voter, the Chief Election Commissioner asked the CEO to identify such documents which will be entertained by polling staff for verification of those voters who will not be provided Photo Identity Cards till elections, they disclosed.

Such documents could be Driving License, Permanent Account Number (PAN) Card and Gun License having photo-graph of the person possessing the same and State Subject certificates.

The Election Commission also discussed prevailing security scenario in the State in general and Kashmir region in particular in order to make assessment about the requirement of security forces during the elections, the sources revealed.

Though the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have already been used twice in Jammu and Kashmir—first in 2002 Assembly elections and second time in 2004 Parliamentary elections yet the Election Commission stressed the need to educate the voters about the same keeping in view the inclusion of around four lakh new voters in the electoral rolls.

The Commission also asked the CEO to ensure proper training to the election staff about handling of EVMs before the elections.

Jammu observes peaceful bandh against price hike

By Avtar Bhat

JAMMU, May 2: Normal life was put out of gear today as Jammu observed a peaceful bandh in support of Bharat bandh call given by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against the UPA Government’s failure to contain price hike.

However, the traffic, which was exempted from bandh call, plied normally on all routes. The bandh passed off peacefully as no untoward incident was reported from any part of the region.

All business establishments and industrial units in the city and outskirts remained closed for the day as the trading community voluntarily responded to the bandh call.

To express their anger against the price hike, the BJP and BJYM activists at various parts of Jammu region staged protest demonstrations and torched the effigies of UPA Government.

The irate partymen also shouted slogans against the UPA Government at Centre and blamed it for the price hike of essential commodities that has made the life of common man totally miserable.

All markets in the city including busy Raghunath Bazar, Kanak Mandi, Purani Mandi, Jain Bazar, Residency Road, Ware House, Jewel Chowk, Canal Road, Gumat, Link Road, Khatikan Talab, Kachi Chawni and Parade wore a deserted look as the shopkeepers downed the shutters of their business establishments in response to bandh call.

Total bandh was also observed in Kathua, Samba, Vijaypur, R S Pura, Bari Brahmana, Hiranagar, Udhampur, Chenani , Ramgarh, Reasi and Akhnoor towns today.

In Kathua, normal traffic was also disrupted as the activists of Shiv Sena staged a demonstration on Jammu-Kathua road. The demonstrators raising slogans against the UPA Government held a demonstration outside the Deputy Commissioner’s Office in the town and torched the effigy of UPA Government.

However, traffic on Jammu, Pathankote National Highway plied normally.

At Udhampur, the BJP and BJYM activists took out a procession and staged a demonstration at Mukherjee Market in protest against the failure of Government to contain price hike. The demonstration was led by Pawan Gupta, BJP secretary and BJYM State chief Pawan Khajuria.

To protest against the rising prices of essential commodities, the BJP activists also took out a ‘Mashal Jaloos’ in Reasi this evening.

The Party activists also held a demonstration at Kachi Chawni under the leadership of district president, Rajesh Gupta and torched the effigy of UPA Government. The demonstration besides Mr Gupta was also addresed by Party general secretary, Shamsher Singh Manhas. Another demonstration was held by Shiv Sena activists at Rani Park in protest against the price hike. The irate partymen shouted slogans against the Government.

.Landslides toll mounts to 11
*4 more bodies recovered

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 2: With the recovery of four more bodies of labourers from the debris today, the death toll in the yesterday’s landslide near Chatroo in Kishtwar district has risen to 11.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Kishtwar, Riaz Ahmed Zargar said that operation to recover the remaining bodies was resumed at around 6 am and troops of 11 Rashtriya Rifles headed by its Commanding Officer (CO) Colonel Mukesh Brung extended all possible help to the police and civil administration teams.

During the six hours long operation, four more bodies of the labourers were recovered one after another amidst wailing of family members and relatives of the deceased, who had lost all the hopes of their survival with the death of their respective only bread winners.

With the recovery of four more bodies, the death toll in the tragic incident has risen to 11 and administration has officially declared that no labourer was left buried in the landslide, Mr Zargar said. He, however, added that the removal of debris continued till late this evening to do away with the apprehensions among some people vis-a-vis more labourers remaining under boulders.

Identity of four bodies which were recovered today was established as Dutwant Dahia, driver of GREF, Rajesh Sharma, son of Shrichand of Galhar, Mansoor Ahmed, son of Habib Malik of Chatroo and Bashir Ahmed, son of Abdul Karim of Kakarwagan.

All the bodies were handed over to the family members of deceased after post-mortem and other legal formalities.

Though the tragedy has snatched only bread winners of all the 11 families yet family of Fateh Din of Tregam, Kishtwar was the most unfortunate as it lost two young members Bashir Ahmed and Mohd Ashraf (real brothers), who used to feed 9 souls. Both the brothers were working as driver and conductor of a tipper of private contractor.

The angry people, who had gathered at the spot, alleged that only GREF authorities were responsible for the tragic incident as despite being aware of the fact that rocks alongside Kishtwar-Simpthan road are of loose strata they adopted semi-tunneling procedure for the widening of the road.

"We have made it clear to the civil administration as well as GREF authorities that if they (GREF) continue with this procedure, we will not sit quite and come on roads", Roshan Lal said, adding "we cannot remain mute spectator to the killing of labourers for the benefit of the GREF authorities".

Meanwhile, the district administration has released funds to the Tehsildars of Chatroo and Kishtwar for giving Rs 10,000 cash to each affected family as immediate compensation. "We will shortly finalize their cases for compensation under National Calamity Relief Fund (NCRF)", Additional Deputy Commissioner said.

He added that GREF authorities were also asked not to adopt any such procedure which could create such a tragedy in future otherwise they will be held responsible for any further loss of human life

NC warns Centre against 'selective' implementation of WG recommendations
We were taken for a ride for Cong's
election manifesto: Omar

From Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, May 2: National Conference President, Omar Abdullah, today warned the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre against "pick-and-choose implementation" of the recommendations of five J&K-specific Working Groups (WGs) and complained that Congress party had taken him for a ride for its election manifesto by involving him with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Round Table Conference. He asserted that Kashmir was essentially a political problem and its durable solution was not possible without involvement of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a crowded news conference on occasion of the senior PDP leader and one-time Minister Sonaullah Dar's admission into the National Conference (NC), Omar Abdullah asked the Centre to implement all recommendations of the WGs, constituted under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Round Table initiative on J&K. He made it clear that "pick-and-choose implementation" of the recommendations would not be acceptable to the participants, including NC. "I feel as if we have been taken for a ride to make Congress party's election manifesto. Let it be clear that I have participated in this process for the benefit of the people, not for a political party", Omar said and asked the Prime Minister to constitute a monitoring committee of the participant politicians which, according to him, would facilitate implementation of the WG recommendations on J&K.

Omar admitted that economy and security were important components but the problem of Kashmir, according to him, was "essentially political" and thus required a fundamentally political resolution. He argued that no solution of the Kashmir problem in absence of the participation of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in a peace process would be possible. He asserted that his party had projected Greater Autonomy as a solution of the Kashmir problem and reiterated that any other solution acceptable to the people of the State would also be acceptable to the NC. He dismissed PDP's self-rule, demilitarisation and dual currency as "hollow slogans" and claimed that these were aimed at seeking some votes in the forthcoming Assembly elections.

When journalists insisted to know whether he was advocating the Hurriyat slogan of tripartite talks (a dialogue process involving New Delhi, Islamabad and the Kashmiris), Omar said that there were many methods of involving the people. He said that involvement of the PoK Kashmiris by Islamabad and that of the people of Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh by New Delhi was just one of the methods and emphasized that this exercise should be left to the wisdom of India and Pakistan.

Asked whether the senior separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani's condemnation of terrorism after 18 years and the senior NC leader Dr Mustafa Kamal's visit to the families of two Hizbul Mujahideen commanders in Pattan---again first time in 18 years---were precursors of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission or political expediency, Omar said that the changing situation was unfolding with "many serious questions". "The question of missing persons is all too important. Some people put the figure at 10,000. Out of Government, I find it somewhere around 4,000. Men in Government view only 150 persons. Such questions can not be answered until there is a Truth and Reconciliation Commission", he said and believed that the riddle of unnamed mass graves in Uri would also be solved by the same Commission. He said it was encouraging that Pakistan too was publicly in favour of such a Commission.

Responding to a journalist, Omar said that NC had already written to the Election Commission of India that the Elector's Photo Identity Cards issued in Jammu & Kashmir in the last several years were not acceptable to his party as recovery of such I-cards from a number of militants killed in gunbattles was proof of the fact that the same might have also been obtained by large numbers of non-state subjects. He said it was ECI's responsibility to either issue fresh I-cards after proper verification of the voters or evolve some other credible mechanism to ascertain the voters' identity.

Omar said that contrary to the hype created by both Congress as well as PDP, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had not transferred Dul Hasti power project to the State. He said that the Centre was now asking for Rs 25,000 cr as the NHPC-owned project's price which was not affordable for the State. "Our contention is that J&K has already suffered huge losses in 50 years due to New Delhi's sharing of waters of three rivers with Pakistan under Indus Water Treaty. State Government should assess these losses on a table with the Centre and deduct the same from the sum of Rs 25,000 cr demanded", Omar added.

The NC president made it clear that Dr Farooq Abdullah would be the Chief Ministerial candidate of his party in the forthcoming Assembly elections. He said that media would be duly informed in case Dr Abdullah happened to review this decision which, according to him, was the result of party's mandate to the NC patron. He added that Dr Abdullah was one-odd politician in the State who had not also immense knowledge and exposure of governance but was also equally acceptable to the people of all three regions of Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh.

Speaking briefly on the occasion, Dr Abdullah called for an investigation into the alleged custodial killing of a youth in Handwara area and said that such incidents had ridiculed Prime Minister's and Chief Minister's claims of zero tolerance of human rights abuse in Jammu & Kashmir.

When journalists referred to NC's in-house clash in Jammu last week, Omar said that a delinquent Jagjeet Singh Jagga had been suspended for six years. He claimed that the atmosphere was turning in NC's favour in Jammu division. On this occasion, PDP's former general secretary and a former Minister, Sonaullah Dar, was admitted back into NC after his 23-year-long alliance with Gul Shah's ANC and Mufti Sayeed's PDP. In 1984, Dar was among a group of 12 MLAs of the NC who had pulled down Dr Abdullah's Government and installed G M Shah as the Chief Minister. Shah inducted him as Minister incharge Industries and Commerce. After Sadiq Ali and Sheikh Abdul Rehman, Dar is the third senior leader of PDP who has returned to the NC.

Vital maps seized from ultra
College student’s links with JeM comdr surface

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, May 2: Involvement of a young girl, who had just passed BA Part-II examination from Kashmir University, has surfaced in militancy during preliminary questioning of a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militant arrested by Special Operations Group (SOG) here this morning.

Police sources said the young girl Meema alias Simran alias Simi daughter of Ghulam Mohd as well as her mother Zooni were said to have "close links" with Jaish ‘divisional commander’ Dawood alias Saqib alias Intezaar, a resident of Gujranwalla, Pakistan, presently operating from Mendhar.

Simran was reported to have married Dawood sometime back, sources said.

They added that involvement of Simran and Zooni has surfaced in militancy during questioning of Mohd Arif Mughal son of Inayat Hussain, a resident of Narol, Mendhar in Poonch district, who was apprehended this morning from Old JIC Naka near Paloura on Jammu-Akhnoor road.

Arif Mughal was cousin of Rubina Kousar, a young girl from Mendhar, who had married slain Jaish ‘divisional commander’ Qari Saifullah, who was gunned down by SOG Jammu at Janipura last year.

Arif was arrested by a SOG team headed by SP Operations Jammu, Mubassir Latifi under the supervision of IGP Jammu K Rajendra, DIG Jammu Farooq Khan and SSP Jammu Alok Kumar. From his possession, police recovered a mobile telephone with number 9419438632, two SIM cards, maps of India, United States and Israel besides some important locations of Jammu and some letters written by Dawood to Simran.

Dawood, it may be mentioned, had taken over as Jaish ‘divisional commander’ for Mendhar after the killing of Qari Saifullah and was reported to be operating from Pir Panjal range.

Police said the links between Dawood and Simran were established from the documents recovered from the possession of Mughal. In the letter, he had passed on several directions to Simran and asked her to strictly adhere to them. Police said Simran’s mother, Zooni Begum had already served a four year term in jail in connection with the murder of a CID head constable, which she had got executed through Jaish militants. The letter, written in clear Urdu by Dawood, addressed Simran as his wife.

Dawood is most wanted militant in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri. Sources said police was trying to ascertain how far Simran was involved in militancy. Efforts were on to arrest and interrogate her.

Meanwhile, Mohd Arif Mughal has also been shifted to an unknown place for sustained interrogation to extract his purpose of visiting Jammu. His visit here assumed significance as he was in possession of maps of some important locations.

His questioning was expected to give vital clues to the SOG, sources said. Mughal happened to be cousin of Rubina Kousar, who was arrested by police after the killing of Qari Saifullah as documents (recovered from the Qari) had established that he had married Kousar. Kousar was sent to jail and was later bailed out.

SDPO Bakshi Nagar M L Kaith and SHO Nowabad Inspector Kulbir Honda have registered a case against the arrested militant at Nowabad police station.

MLA faints, Minister goes sick

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, May 2: Member Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Billawar Dr Manohar Lal became "unconscious", while Minister of State for Power Babu Singh got sick and stayed away during the annual District Development Board meeting here today.

A top official in the administration attending the meet told the Excelsior that MLA, Dr Manohar Lal suddenly developed some problem at around 4.15 pm when he was standing and speaking during the meeting. It was intense hot day today and he started feeling giddy and fell down. The fellow officers gave him support and offered water. They also sprinkled water on his face but he got ‘fainted’ and went unconscious.

The proceedings were suddenly stopped with this development and the MLA was immediately shifted to hospital. He regained consciousness there in the hospital. After providing treatment for some time he was discharged from hospital at around 6.15 pm.

Veteran Congress Minister for Health and Medical Education Pt Mangat Ram Sharma chaired the meeting which started at 10 am and continued till 6 pm.

Minister of State for Power, Babu Singh was the first who also developed health problems at around 12.15 pm during meeting today. He started vomitting and had to be shifted to hospital. After providing treatment, he was sent to his residence in Kathua. He could not attend the meeting later. Mr Singh was not keeping well for the last few days, the sources said.

Mehta, Mir appointed JKBL EDs

Exelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, May 2: In order to strengthen the top management cadre, Dr Haseeb A Drabu, Chairman J&K Bank, today ordered elevation of two presidents, A K Mehta and Abdul Majeed Mir to the post of Executive Directors.

The orders were issued after the Reserve Bank of India approved their names as Executive Directors of the Bank. The State Government had earlier given its approval for the elevation.

A K Mehta, a Post-Graduate in Science had joined bank in 1972 as Probationary Officer. During his 36-year career, he served the bank at operational level, general management and sales and services front. Prior to his current responsibilities, he was president Human Resource and Country Head, Financial Service Division.

After his elevation, Mr Mehta said, "Although we are doing well at operational and other levels, but my priority will be to use all our resources including the human capital to their maximum. This will help us to achieve an ascending but sustainable growth to be the leaders at the market place within J&K and outside".

Majid Mir, a Commerce Graduate from Kashmir University had joined the bank as Probationary Officer in 1971. During his service career, he has served the bank on key positions at all the operational as well as administrative levels. During his service Mr Mir remained associated with important assignments at bank, which include Balance sheet, Credit, Foreign Exchange, Treasury and Risk Management. Since October 2005, he was presently serving the organization in the capacity of president (Risk & Finance) and as Chief Financial Officer.

"It is a great pleasure for me to serve this great institution in the capacity of Executive Director, but at the same time it has motivated me to take this bank to new heights. Our prime goal will be to work hard to the best of our abilities for the further growth of the bank."

Meanwhile, Abdul Rouf Fazili (Executive Director) and Nisar Ahmed Koul (president) were given a warm send off at the Bank's Corporate Headquarters, who retired from services of the bank on April 30.

Fazili served the bank for over 35 years while as the service period of Koul extended beyond 37 years.

Dr Drabu and Chief Executive of the bank appreciated the role these executives played in taking the bank to the present heights.

Meanwhile, Muneer Ahmad, vice president and Ghulam Nabi Dar, Senior Executive Manager of the bank also retired from the services on the same day.

UGC releases Rs 40 cr for 4 colleges

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 2: The persistent request of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to the Centre for releasing financial assistance for construction of 4 colleges (2 each in Jammu and Kashmir divisions) through 100 percent UGC funding has borne fruit. Over Rs. 40.50 crore have been earmarked for construction of four new Colleges in the State by the University Grants Commission. Out of the total estimate, about 50 percent funds would be released during current financial year for upcoming colleges at Uri, Bijbehara, Ramban and Billawar.

Secretary UGC R K Chouhan today said that the guidelines of the Eleventh Five Year plan laid major thrust on widening the accessibility of higher education opportunities. Under this plan, he said there is a proposal of opening 30 Universities throughout the country. Keeping in view the border location of J&K, one such university has been granted to it, which will ensure that the benefits of higher education reach weaker and minority sections of the society. He stressed for clubbing the different schemes at micro level to a single major scheme so that bottlenecks are removed in one go and work can start on the scheme at the earliest. He said that in the present age of globalization and privatization, the thrust of higher education has shifted to quality education and job oriented course. On liberal funding, he informed that usually UGC funding, is about Rs 5 to Rs 6 crore for each college at national level but in J&K, the percentage is much higher.

On Foundation Training Courses, Mr Chouhan agreed to provide training to Principals in Bangalore.

This was disclosed at a high level meeting convened under the chairmanship of Secretary UGC here today.

Chhatisgarh girl traced in Basohli

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, May 2: A minor girl allegedly kidnapped from Chhatisgarh State of Central India, was recovered from tehsil Basohli in district Kathua today.

A police spokesman said that 16-year-old Seema, daughter of Raj Kumar of Balgi village in district Korba went missing on April 4 this year. Later, the family members came to know that the girl has been kidnapped by a youth, Anantraj of Bhilai who was putting up in the same village for the last some months.

On April 13, the parents of the girl lodged a kidnapping report and the message was flashed to all the States. From Chhatisgarh police, a message was received by Jammu police that boy alongwith girl was in the State. Later, a clue was found that a painter alongwith a girl was putting up in Basohli for the last few weeks. The police took them into custody and was questioning.

Later, after confirmation from Chhatisgarh police the boy was finally arrested. Today a police party from Chhatisgarh arrived here and the boy and the girl were handed over to them. The girl was taken to hospital for the conduct of medical examination.

SSP Kathua, J P Singh disclosed that on the basis of information provided by Chhatisgarh police boy and girl could be traced with the help of locals. Both of them were handed over to police of that State. He said the boy claims that he had married to that girl. The girl is still minor and a case of kidnapping stands registered against the accused boy in Chhatisgarh.