*CM questions timing of ceasefire violations

Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, June 13: Pakistan Army today resorted to heavy shelling and firing on the Line of Control (LoC) in Balakote and Mendhar sectors of Poonch district reminding the people of dark days of August and September last year when several civilians were injured and their houses damaged in shelling from across the LoC.
Several mortar shells fired by the Pakistani troops fell in the houses triggering panic among the villagers, some of whom had to take shelter in the bunkers and other safer locations. Pakistan Army suffered at least two fatal casualties and damage of half a dozen bunkers at Pakistani village of Nakyal opposite Tarkundi in Balakote in retaliatory firing by the troops, official sources told the Excelsior.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah voiced concern over the ceasefire violations by the Pakistan Army and called for maintaining ceasefire agreement of India and Pakistan.
Describing ceasefire violations by Pakistan as `matter of concern’, Omar told reporters here after a function in Jammu University that there had been ceasefire violations by Pakistan Army, which resorted to heavy firing and shelling this morning. Some of the shells landed in the houses of the people, he said.
To a question as to whether Pakistan Army was trying to test the resolve of new Indian Government or the firing was related to first visit of new Defence Minister Arun Jaitley to the Kashmir Valley beginning tomorrow, Omar quipped: “this is a matter of speculation”. However, he said, the ceasefire agreement should be maintained on the LoC for peace.
Questioning timing of ceasefire violations on the LoC, which came a day ahead of Jaitley’s first visit to Kashmir after taking over as the Defence Minister, Omar asked: “is it a coincidence that the Defence Minister is visiting J&K, for his first visit, to review security situation tomorrow”?
He said that the ceasefire violations in Rajouri and Poonch areas were significant as some of the shells had landed in civilian areas.
“Significant ceasefire violations have taken place in Rajouri and Poonch with reports of some shells having landed in civilians areas. Some livestock perished,” he said.
“To what extent this is an effort to test the resolve of this new Government — to what extent this is time primarily because the Defence Minister is visiting J&K tomorrow and is also visiting some forward areas — that will be a matter of speculation,” Omar said.
“On my side, I can only appeal that calm be maintained along LoC,” he said.
The Chief Minister said, “This ceasefire is one of the biggest Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) that has been given to the people of J&K by both the Governments of India and Pakistan. We will appeal that this ceasefire is maintained.”
Maintaining that ceasefire has been a continuous affair, Omar said, “Ceasefire violations, unfortunately, are not new phenomenon. They have regularly occurred along the International Border (IB), more so, along the Line of Control (LoC)”.
Sources said Pakistan Army started firing on entire LoC from Mendhar to Tarkundi at 8.30 am using mortar shells, Under Barrel Grenade Launchers (UBGLs), rockets, small and heavy arms targeting forward villages of Langiot, Basooni, Gohlad and Balakote in Mendhar tehsil triggering panic among the people.
Entire Bhimber Gali sector comprising Mendhar, Balakote, Hamirpur and Gambhir was activated by the Pakistan Army from 8.30 am to 12 noon today shattering virtual peace prevailing on the LoC, excepting few infiltration attempts, since September last year. While firing and shelling in Mendhar sector stopped at 10 am, it continued in Hamirpur and Gambhir sectors till 12 noon.
The people, who had started shifting towards their fields were taken aback by sudden spurt of shelling, which they had not witnessed after September 2013 and started rushing back towards their houses. Some of the people took shelter in the bunkers, constructed within the premises of their houses while others ran towards safer locations.
Several shells fell in the houses of the people at Langiot, Basooni, Gohlad, Rahalian, Parole and Balakote causing damage to them and killing or injuring their cattle.
The shells fell in the houses of Nazir Hussain, Sarpanch of Langiot, Mohammad Sajjad at Basooni, Mohammad Azeem at Gohlad and Mohammad Sadiq at Balakote. Walls of the house of Sadiq were damaged while one cattle of Sarpanch Nazir Hussain was killed. Cattle in some other houses, where the mortar shells and rockets fell, were also injured, sources said, adding there were, however, no Army or civilian casualties or injuries on Indian side today in Pakistan Army’s firing or shelling today.
There were reports that at least two Pakistan Army jawans were killed in retaliatory firing by the Indian troops and at least six bunkers were damaged in Nakyal area opposite Tarkundi sector of Mendhar. Pakistani ambulances were seen in Nakyal carrying dead Army jawans. There was no official confirmation of casualties of the Pakistan Army.
Sources said Indian troops replied Pakistan Army’s firing effectively to silence their guns and prevent further damage to civilian areas on the Indian side. Firing and shelling from Pakistan side stopped only after the Indian troops retaliated.
Yesterday, an Indian Army soldier was killed and three others were injured in a targeted IED blast, which was triggered with a remote control from Pakistan side at Tarkundi in Mendhar sector of Poonch district. Later, Army Major KK Bhatia and four other jawans were injured in a mine blast while sanitizing the area in the same sector.
Sources said at about 10 pm last night, a group of militants had also tried to infiltrate inside the Indian territory from Langiot but the alert troops spotted the intrusion bid well in time and thwarted the plot. The militants were forced to retreat due to alertness and effective firing by the troops.
Sarpanch Nazir Hussain told the reporters at Langiot after the firing came to a halt that such a heavy shelling by the Pakistan Army was witnessed for the first time since August-September 2013 hostilities between Indo-Pak troops. He said mortar shells and rockets landed in several houses including his own killing his buffalo. He said some cattle were injured while couple of houses were damaged in the shelling.
Another civilian, Sajjad Hussain hoped that this would be last spell of the shelling or otherwise, they would have to shift to the bunkers and other safer locations to save themselves.
It may be mentioned here that Indo-Pak hostilities had reached at its peak in entire Poonch sector in August and September after the killings of five Indian Army jawans in Sarla battalion area of Poonch on August 5. Several Army jawans and civilians had suffered fatal and non-fatal casualties in the firing. There had been heavy loss of life and damage on Pakistan side. The hostilities had also spread to the International Border.
The talks between the DGMOs at Attari border in Amritsar and flag meeting between BSF and Rangers had led to halt of firing from both sides.
Sources said there had been no hotline contact or flag meeting between Indo-Pak troops on the LoC so far despite last two days incidents of blasts and shelling.
Meanwhile, top Army officers met at 120 BG Brigade this evening to devise strategy to meet with any kind of situation on the LoC and to give effective reply to Pakistan firing and shelling if the enemy troops didn’t mend their ways.
Army spokesman Col Manish Mehta said Pakistan Army carried out unprovoked firing using semi automatic, automatic weapons and mortars in BG sectors in morning.
“Our troops gave befitting reply,” he added.
Meanwhile, Army paid rich tributes to Sepoy Shankar Lal, who attained martyrdom in the IED blast at Tarkundi yesterday, in a functions organised in Rajouri. Wreaths were laid on behalf of General Officer Commanding (GOC) White Knight Corps and other senior officers to honour the soldier.
After tributes, mortal remains of the soldiers were sent to his native village at Jaipur in Rajasthan. Last rites of the soldiers were performed at village Phulera, Jaipur this morning. Local officers of Army, civil and police administration and political leaders apart from large number of local people joined the cremation.

Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, June 13: Defence Minister, Arun Jaitley, accompanied by top Army Commanders is arriving on two days visit to Kashmir to assess and review the security situation in the State and along the borders with Pakistan and China.
This will be Jaitley’s first visit to Kashmir after taking over as Defence Minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi led NDA Government at Centre. The Defence Minister will be accompanied by Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh and Army Chief- Designate General Dalbir Singh Suhag during his two day visit to Kashmir.
The Minister is arriving on Saturday morning and will straightaway go to the BB Cantt headquarters of 15 Corps where he will be briefed by the top Army officers about the security situation. He will also hold meetings with the top security officials of the State and intelligence agencies who will brief him about the security situation.
Jaitley is meeting Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Governor N N Vohra who will also brief him about the security situation and steps taken by security forces to maintain calm in the State. The Minister is visiting forward posts on Sunday morning before leaving for New Delhi.
The Minister will be briefed about the State of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir by the Northern Army Commander, Lt General D S Hooda and the Jammu and Kashmir based three Corps Commanders of 14, 15 and 16 Corps, Lt General Rakesh Sharma, Lt General Gurmeet Singh and Lt General K H Singh, soon after his arrival.
Jaitley will review the security situation along the Line of Control and International Border with Pakistan and Line of Actual Control with China. The Minister will be briefed about the infiltration attempts by militants from Pakistan occupied Kashmir into Jammu and Kashmir.
The Minister will be briefed about the strengthening of the counter-infiltration grid along the LoC over the years that has led to the decline of infiltration of militants from the PoK into Jammu and Kashmir. Security agencies said that this year not a single militant has succeeded in infiltrating into Jammu and Kashmir despite few efforts in Rajouri and Poonch sectors of the LoC.
The security agencies will also discuss the militant plans for infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir during this summer ahead of elections and counter strategy adopted by the security agencies. As per intelligence reports around 600 highly trained militants, mostly from the Lashkar-e-Toiba, Al Badar, Hizbul Mujahideen and the Jaish-e-Mohammad, are waiting at launch pads in the PoK near the LoC to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir.
Last year, Army had lost 12 jawans and 41 were injured in 149 ceasefire violations and firing incidents by the Pakistani army on forward posts along LoC in Jammu and Kashmir aimed at infiltrating militants into the State.

ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI, June 13:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written to his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif, saying he looked forward to charting a “new course” in the bilateral relations in an atmosphere “free from confrontation and violence”.
Responding to Sharif’s letter of June 2, Modi has said that “a relationship between India and Pakistan defined by peace, friendship and cooperation would unleash enormous opportunities for our youth, secure a more prosperous future for our people and accelerate progress across our region.”
He also condemned the terror strike in Karachi earlier this week and conveyed his “deepest condolences” for the loss of innocent lives in this “senseless and barbaric” attack.
Modi said he was encouraged by discussions with Sharif during his visit to Delhi on bilateral relations and the convergence on views.
“I look forward therefore to working closely with you and your Government in an atmosphere free from confrontation and violence in order to chart a new course in our bilateral relations,” he said according to text of the letter released by Pakistan today.
Sharif had written to Modi expressing satisfaction over his visit to Delhi for attending the swearing-in of the new Government on May 26. The two leaders had then held talks to discuss the future of the bilateral relationship.
He thanked Sharif for attending the oath taking ceremony.
“Your presence and that of other leaders from our region not only added a special sheen to the event, but also a celebration of the strength of democracy in our region and a reflection of our collective hopes and shared destinies,” he wrote.
In the letter, Modi also wrote, “I also take this opportunity to condemn in the strongest terms the terrorists attack in Karachi and convey my deepest condolences for the loss of innocent lives in this senseless and barbaric attack.”
He thanked Sharif for the letter which he wrote and also for the gift of sari that he sent for his mother, saying it was “a gesture that she has deeply appreciated”.
Meanwhile, on a day Pakistani troops shelled Indian positions, Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh today briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the security situation, including ceasefire violations, operational preparedness of the force and its requirements.
The urgent need to upgrade infrastructure in areas bordering Pakistan and China was also flagged by the Army Chief in his first substantial presentation, that lasted for about three hours, to the new Prime Minister.
Army spokesperson termed the briefing “broad-based” in which all major security issues and challenges were touched upon by Gen Singh.
“It was a detailed review of the security situation, including the internal security situation in North (Jammu and Kashmir) and the Northeast. The status of operational readiness was also discussed besides the future challenges,” he said.
The issue of ceasefire violations on the LoC is also understood to have figured in the briefing, which significantly took place on a day when Pakistan shelled Indian positions in Poonch sector of J&K.
Army sources, however, said Gen Singh’s briefing to the Prime Minister was not because of today’s ceasefire violation. It was scheduled for an earlier date but was rescheduled for today because of the death of Cabinet Minister Gopinath Munde.
The Army Chief pressed on the need to develop quality roads and other infrastructure in the border States and “deficiencies” facing it also came up in the briefing.
Official sources said Gen Singh reiterated Army’s opposition to removal of AFSPA from J&K, a demand pushed by the State Government, saying time for it has not come yet.
In the power-point presentation, he also touched upon the insurgency in Assam and other Northeast states.
Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh and Army Chief-designate Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag, who is presently the Vice-Chief, and Defence Secretary R K Mathur were also present in the meeting. (PTI)

Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, June 13: To discuss the return module for displaced Kashmiri Pandits, Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitely and Home Minister, Rajnath Singh are likely to meet the prominent Kashmiri Pandit leaders in Union Capital next week.
According to highly placed sources, the Union Government before finalizing the rehabilitation package for displaced KPs has desired to meet the prominent leaders of the community.
The Union Government has sought the names of the KP leaders from Relief organization which has short-listed 33 prominent Pandit leaders from Jammu and other parts of the country in this regard and submitted them to Union Home Ministry, sources added.
Sources said the meeting was likely to be held in next week and both Union Home Minister and Finance Minister will like to have detailed discussions with the community leaders on the issue.
Sources said that as Narendera Modi Government has kept the rehabilitation of displaced Pandits top on its agenda, it has started the ground work on the subject.
Sources said that meeting between Central Ministers and KP leaders was likely to be followed by a high level meeting of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi with Rajnath Singh, Mr Jaitely, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah and top level officers of Central and State Government.
Sources said that Mr Jaitely may discuss the issue with Omar during his visit to summer Capital tomorrow.
Sources said that over Rs 5800 crore worth revised package under which Rs 20 lakh will be paid as compensation to per KP family with construction of clusters at district headquarters is under the active consideration of Union Government and the final decision will only be taken by it after seeking opinion of KP leaders.
Sources said the prominent KP leaders whose names have been recommended by the State Government to discuss the issue with Home Minister and Finance Minster included heads of three factions of Panun Kashmir including Dr Agnishekhar, Dr Ajay Chrungoo and Ashwani Chrungoo, prominent columnist, Dr K N Pandita, Vijay Bakaya, MLC, Dr R L Bhat senior vice president JKVM, K K Khosa president KP Sabha, Moti Kaul president AIKS, Vijay Raina, president KSD, R K Raina senior VP, ASKPC, H L Pandita, secretary Congress, Kundan Kashmiri, president KPC, Anil Dhar of NC, R K Bhat, president YAIKS and some representatives from camps and non camp areas.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 13: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today announced that increase in the retirement age of faculty members of Universities and Medical Education was under active consideration of the Government to help these institutions maintain standards of teaching and retain highly experienced faculty.
Addressing a conference of Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers conference at University of Jammu this afternoon, Omar said it has been observed that due to disparity in retirement age of the faculty of Centre Universities and other Universities in the State, it has become difficult for the State Universities to retain their qualified and experienced faculty.
“Similar is the case in the Medical Education Department. Therefore, the Government is actively considering enhancement of the age of faculties of State Universities and Medical Education,” the Chief Minister said.
He regretted that propaganda is being created against the Government that it was taking new initiatives after the defeat of coalition candidates in the Parliament elections.
“We are not bothered about this false propaganda as our objective is to benefit the people of all sections of society and we will continue to do this irrespective of all false propaganda. We have taken historic steps in the past and will take such measures in present and future also,” he added.
Meanwhile, announcing the initiative of the coalition Government to give service benefits of first five years of their stipendiary service to the Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers and make it transferable, Omar said that this move of the Government would benefit over 55,000 ReTs and creating job opportunities for educated youth.
The Chief Minister made this announcement at the ReT Educational Conference at SKICC here this morning in which Deputy Chief Minister, (Incharge School Education), Tara Chand, and other Ministers were also present.
Omar said the Government has observed that these two demands of ReTs were justified and should be accepted to accrue benefits to them and strengthen the system of education delivery in the rural areas. “This would not only help the ReTs to grow and develop but create a continuous process of creating vacancies of ReTs in the rural, remote and backward areas for the educated youth”, he said and received standing ovation from the hundreds of ReTs participating in the Conference, when he made this announcement.
The Chief Minister made same announcement in Jammu today afternoon at another ReT Conference at Zorawar Singh Auditorium in Jammu University.
Addressing the conferences, the Chief Minister highlighted the role of teachers and said that they are architect of future and in their hands is the destiny of nation. “Teachers fraternity in general and those imparting education at elementary levels are builders and protectors of the future of a nation. You lay the strong foundation for a healthy society and your responsibility and service are stupendous”, he told the teachers.
Omar Abdullah referred the launch of ReT in the tenure of Dr. Farooq Abdullah led Government and said that since then it has served in a best way to ensure good education in the rural and far flung areas. He said ReT scheme was best designed to suit the local requirements. He said the scheme withstood the challenges and proved a success. He expressed the hope that it will get further fillip in the years to come.
Referring to various initiatives taken by the Government for the welfare of Government employees, the Chief Minister said that the Government is actively considering the enhancement of retirement age of the universities faculty and medical education faculty. He said there is also a proposal under active consideration of the Government pertaining to creation of contingency employees in the education sector.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand presented the background of these two demands and said that for being justified, the Chief Minister and the State Cabinet are on the same page to accept these and help in ameliorating the lot of ReT teachers community and help enhance the reach of children in far flung, rural and remote areas to educational facilities being provided by the Government.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that during the last year about 20,000 promotions at various levels have been effected in the School Education Department to remove stagnation and provide better opportunities of growth and development to both teaching and non-teaching staff. He said the process is continuous in this regard.
Tara Chand said about 20,000 vacancies of teachers and ReTs have been identified and referred to recruiting agencies for selection. He said efforts are on to create about one lakh more vacancies in the education sector for the youth of the State.
The Director of Education, Kashmir and the Director of Education, Jammu presented the welcome address at the two venues while the vote of thanks was resented by the Director RMSA.
Meanwhile, J&K ReT Teacher’s Forum has welcomed the announcement of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand to include 5 years ReT period of the teachers for seniority and promotion benefits.

Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 13: Notwithstanding repeated commitments made before the Planning Commission of India during Annual Plan presentations and Memorandum of Association with the Union Ministry of Urban Development, Jammu and Kashmir’s Urban Reforms Report Card has not shown any change during the past several years. Out of 23 mandatory reforms, only 16 have been completed till date while as the rest of the same continued to remain partially completed.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission (JNNURM), whose primary objective is to create economically productive, efficient, equitable and responsive cities through set of defined measures, Jammu and Kashmir like another other State of the country was required to carry out urban reforms as contained in the guidelines of the scheme.
The reforms were required to be undertaken at the State and Urban Local Bodies level in two parts—mandatory and optional as per the timeframe fixed by the State Government in the Memorandum of Association signed with the Union Ministry, they said, adding these reforms were linked by the Union Ministry with the financial assistance to be provided under JNNURM.
However, the State has failed to carry out all the reforms till date despite the fact that repeated commitments were made in this regard before the Planning Commission of India during the Annual Plan presentations that too by none else than the Chief Minister.
“During the Annual Plan presentation for the financial year 2010-11 before the Planning Commission of India on June 18, 2010, the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah had mentioned that the Government was committed to urban reforms in a phased manner over a period of two years as agreed with the Union Ministry of Urban Development”, sources informed.
The Chief Minister even mentioned that the road map is ready for carrying out urban reforms as required under JNNURM, they said, adding again during the Annual Plan presentation for the financial year 2011-12 on June 15, 2011, the Chief Minister had reiterated this commitment.
“But the commitments have turned out hollow with the passage of time as the Reforms Report Card of Jammu and Kashmir as prepared by the JNNURM Mission Director of the Union Government has not shown any improvement during the past some years”, sources.
They disclosed that out of 23 reforms, the State has fully carried out 16 reforms while as rest of the reforms continued to remain partially implemented during the past several years, adding out of maximum 230 scores the State has achieved 188 scores despite the fact that commitments were made about 100% reforms.
Elaborating further, sources said, “as far as Urban Local Bodies level reforms are concerned, achievement has been made with regard to three points—internal earmarking of funds for services to urban poor, provision of basic service and shift to accrual based double entry accounting”, adding “in these reforms, the State has achieved 43.5 score out of 60 score (10 score for each reform)”.
However, the performance vis-à-vis reforms related to property tax, 100% O&M cost recovery in water supply and SWM and e-governance continued to remain dismal and static, they said, adding “in these reforms the State has achieved 2, 4 and 7.5 scores respectively”.
As far as State level reforms are concerned, the State has performed much better by achieving 65 scores against total 70 while as in the optional reforms at the State/ULB level, State has scored 79 points as it has not carried out structural reforms and encouraging public private participation.

NEW DELHI, June 13:
Against the backdrop of heavy shelling on the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, India today reminded Pakistan that maintenance of peace and tranquility on the border is a “pre-condition” for having a normal relationship between the two countries.
Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh said it has been India’s endeavour to establish peaceful and friendly relations with all neighbours, including Pakistan.
“On firing, I will like to reiterate that peace and tranquility on the border is of the highest importance in establishing the pre-condition for such peaceful and normal relationship,” she told reporters.
“Maintenance of peace and tranquility on LoC is one of the most important CBMs between India and Pakistan. That remains and will remain the case,” she said.
Singh was referred to the heavy shelling by Pakistani troops in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir and asked where it leaves the process of building relations with the neighbour through ‘sari’ and ‘letter’ diplomacy, a reference to exchange of letters between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart Nawaz Sharif.
“Our policy towards neighbours has always been to work towards peaceful and cordial relationship. So ‘sari’ and letter diplomacy helps that,” she said.
The Foreign Secretary was also asked whether India and Pakistan had established contact as was decided during meeting between Modi and Sharif here last month. “We will, by and by,” she replied. (PTI)