Action recommended against several officials
Jan Commission submits interim report on Shopian incident

From Inayat Jehangir

SRINAGAR, June 21: The Justice Jan Commission, probing the rape and murder of two women in Shopian district last month, today submitted its interim report to the State Government recommending action under rules against some officials of the civil administration, police department and medical officers in the district for their conduct of the case which led to loss of evidence.

An official spokesman said "Justice Jan Commission enquiring into the Shopian case submitted its interim report to the Government late this evening, here today."

"The report is being examined by the State Government and suitable action as per the recommendations will be initiated immediately," the spokesman said.

He also expressed the hope that the Justice Jan Commission will complete its enquiry in the time-frame envisaged originally.

He further reiterated the Government's resolve to find the truth behind the tragic incident and dispense justice in a transparent manner.

Highly placed sources said Justice (retired) Muzaffar Jan has recommended action under rules against some civil, police and medical officials of Shopian district for the lapses in the conduct of the case of rape and murder of Neelofar Jan and her 18-year-old sister-in-law Asiya Jan on the intervening night of May 29 and 30.

The sources said the Commission was of the view that the conduct of some of the officials including doctors who conducted first post mortem on the victims and an official of the Forensic Science Laboratory had led to loss of crucial evidence.

The Commission, which was appointed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on June 3, submitted the interim report to the State Government after examining more than a dozen witnesses including then Superintendent of Police Javid Iqbal, doctors who conducted the post mortem and an official of the FSL Srinagar.

The commission had grilled the then SP for nearly six hours spread over two days to explain his conduct in the case. He was questioned as to why he did not attend to the case personally when the bodies of the victims were recovered and why he did not register an FIR in the case.

The FSL official was asked to explain why he did not counter-sign the report of the samples taken from the victims prepared by his laboratory, which was mandatory for processing the reports. The official had reportedly not put his signatures on the report for at least two days, thus delaying the investigations.

The Government transferred the Deputy Commissioner Shopian within three days of the incident while a week later SP was also transferred but latter's new posting as SP Ramban has led to criticism of the Government that the police officer has been rewarded instead of being punished.

Kashmir valley erupted into spontaneous protests following the rape and murder of the two women. The Police and civil administration initially tried to pass the incident off as death due to drowning.

Based on the feed back given by the officials, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while announcing the judicial probe, had said initial investigations pointed towards death due to drowning.

However, post mortem report and FSL report later ruled out death due to drowning and the Chief Minister, in interviews to some national newspapers, has admitted that the case was not handled properly.

While Shopian town is on an indefinite strike till the culprits behind the heinous crime are arrested, the Valley is also in agitational mode with hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference issuing programmes of protest for various sections of the society.

Omar, Ramesh review lake projects in Valley

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, June 21: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Union Minister of State for Environment and Forest, Jairam Ramesh today conducted a visit of the Valley lakes. They visited Dal, Nageen, Khushalsar, Anchar, Manasbal and Wullar lakes.

Mr Ramesh is here to review the projects under-execution for conservation of water-bodies in the State.

Immediately after his arrival, the Chief Minister along with Mr Ramesh visited various environment-related spots.

Mr Abdullah discussed measures of protection and preservation of water-bodies with special reference to Dal and other lakes with Mr Ramesh and highlighted the need for protecting them in larger interests of the State.

The Chief Minister emphasized that time has come to take holistic view for protecting heavenly environment of the State with active support of Union Ministry of Environment and Forest. He, along with the Union Minister, during the visit of various lakes, decided to take active steps for their revival and restoring their past glory.

He said even though various steps have been taken to protect the water-bodies, particularly Dal lake, an intensified programme is required to be launched to protect them. He called for appropriate steps for rehabilitation of the people whose bread and butter is connected with these water-bodies.

Mr Abdullah said his Government has already started a massive development programme to protect these lakes and informed the Union Minister that all these water-bodies are icons of our heritage, for which the entire people of the State feel concerned. He appreciated the concern of the visiting Union Minister for protection of environment in J&K, including water-bodies and forests.

The Chief Minister said J&K has been bestowed with a precious treasure of green gold in the shape of dense forests and his Government has accorded top priority to not only protect these forests, but also grow more trees on barren plateaus. For that matter, he said an intensified programme has already been taken in hand under which lakhs of saplings have been planted. He also informed the Union Minister about the steps taken by the State Government in protecting the grand Chinar and other royal trees of the State, adding a drive has been launched to grow Chinar trees at a massive scale.

'Mr Abdullah urged people to get proactively involved in the State’s drive to revive the glory of the Dal and other lakes so that "we safeguard the treasure of water-bodies bestowed on us by nature’'.

Mr Ramesh expressed his appreciation for the concern of the Chief Minister for protecting environment of the State.

Govt to offer incentives to medics in rural areas: Azad

Excelsior Correspondent

BHADERWAH, June 21: To meet the dearth of specialists, assistant surgeons and paramedical staff in the health institutions in remote and far-flung areas, the Government is contemplating to enhance the honorarium of medics posted in these areas. Besides, possibilities are also being explored to recruit local paramedical staff for smooth functioning of the health centres in inaccessible areas.

This was disclosed by Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad at a meeting of all HoDs, district and sectoral officers to take stock of ongoing development works in Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts here today.

Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry also attended the meeting.

Mr Azad asked the officers of the Union Health Ministry to bring down the criterion under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) for establishing PHCs, CHCs, Health Sub-Centres and Medical Aid Centres in hilly areas. This, he said, would bring the hilly regions having scattered population under the ambit of NRHM.

Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma apprised that there is one ambulance for every 50 km in plain areas and for every 15-20 km in hilly areas. He also called for utilizing the services of ASHA workers efficiently for promoting institutional deliveries.

Mr Azad reviewed the status of hospital buildings at Bhaderwah, Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban and Trauma Centre at Thathri.

Enquiring about the status of various road projects in Bhaderwah, Doda and Ramban, the Union Minister stressed early completion of these projects so that people do not face any problem. He was informed that forest clearance was the main bottleneck in construction of various roads under PMGSY in the erstwhile Doda district. He also directed the concerned authorities to start the work of Kaljugasar road in Gandoh and Ganpat bridge in Doda within a week’s time.

Mr Azad took stock of ration supply in the district and directed the concerned authorities to properly monitor the distribution and quality of food grains being supplied to consumers in rural areas.

Meanwhile, Mr Azad along with the Ministers and officers visited Bhaderwah Fort, which was earlier used as a jail and is now being developed into a museum. They also visited the north campus of Jammu University at Sungli, Bhaderwah and reviewed its status.

He distributed certificates to the mountaineers of Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering, Bhaderwah for their successful expeditions.

Later on way to Jai, Mr Azad inspected Kapra garden, Balote hut and herbal garden developed in the tourist resort.

Yatra set to receive record pilgrims

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, June 21: Despite the traditional Pahalgam-Chandwari route still being closed, this year's annual yatra is all set to break record of number of yatris as thousands of pilgrims are flocking the shorter Baltal route for paying obeisance at the holy cave shrine of Shri Amarnathji in South Kashmir Himalayas, official sources said here today.

"More than 13,000 yatris arrived at the Baltal base camp today and most of them are likely to proceed towards the shrine tomorrow," the sources said.

They said the fresh arrivals of the pilgrims at Baltal base camp included 3137 yatris who had reached Pahalgam base camp yesterday.

The total number of yatris who have been registered at Baltal base camp so far, has gone up to 65,756 in just six days of annual yatra, the sources said, adding another batch of 2518 yatris arrived at Pahalgam base camp today but they will be directed towards Baltal base camp tomorrow morning.

The number of yatris having darshan of naturally-formed ice-lingam inside 13,000 feet high cave is rising every day but authorities are allowing only a certain number of pilgrims everyday depending on the weather conditions.

As many as 10,058 pilgrims performed the yatra yesterday as the weather was sporting but only 6,000 pilgrims were allowed to proceed to the holy cave as rain was forecast for latter half of the day.

More than 7,500 yatris performed the yatra on first day, June 16, followed by nearly 7,000 more the next day.

The traditional Pahalgam-Chandanwari route is still closed and is likely to be opened on June 25 and SASB officials are hopeful that this year will break all previous records of number of yatris performing the yatra.

"If the present average of nearly 8,000 pilgrims per day continues, we will be having more than six lakh yatris visiting the holy cave shrine this year. This will be the highest number of pilgrims visiting the cave since the yatra began more than a century ago," an official said.

The highest number of pilgrims visiting the Shri Amarnath cave shrine was in 2007 when the duration of the annual yatra was extended to two months. A year earlier nearly four lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave.

Even last year, when the yatra was affected by Amarnath land row agitation in both Jammu region and Kashmir valley, nearly four lakh pilgrims performed yatra.

The official said the average number of yatris to the holy cave shrine would increase by at least 40 per cent every day once the traditional route is opened this week.

"We can be having around 12,000 yatris performing darshan everyday provided the weather holds good throughout the yatra period," the official added.

A large number of yatris are proceeding to Kashmir valley without registering at Jammu base camp established by the SASB. The Board in its daily bulletin over the past few days has put the number of yatris leaving from Jammu for Baltal under 2,000 per day but the number of pilgrims arriving at the base camp has been four to five times higher.