J & K news and discussion

Avinash R · Post by **Avinash R** » 13 Sep 2008 09:33

Nationalise Amarnath Yatra route: Rajnath
“Create a special area in the Valley for Kashmiri Pandits”

Wants parties to reconsider issue of abrogation of Article 370

Action demanded against those who dishonoured national flag

BANGALORE: Bharatiya Janata Party president Rajnath Singh on Friday demanded that the route of the Amarnath yatra be “nationalised” and a separate area carved out in the Kashmir Valley for the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits.

His 12-page opening address to the party’s three-day national executive committee meeting here devoted a page-and-a-half to Jammu and Kashmir affairs.

Mr. Singh suggested that “in the light of recent controversies” in the State, political parties should “reconsider” the question of abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution conferring a special status on Kashmir.

He defended his demand, saying the Centre should not find itself in a “vulnerable situation” if its intervention was required.

“Political parties should honestly reflect on this issue” to create consensus on abrogation of the Article. He suggested that the BJP was ready to take this issue off the back burner where it had been put since 1998 when the second Vajpayee government was established with the help of coalition partners who insisted on keeping this out of the common agenda for governance.

BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad, who briefed reporters on Mr. Singh’s speech, was unwilling to spell out what the party meant by “nationalisation” of the Amarnath yatra route. “Mr. Singh has made a proposal, its ramifications have yet to be thought out,” Mr. Prasad said.

However, the party president himself gave an idea of what he wanted. He pointed out that after the Ayodhya controversy the Central government “acquired” the disputed land, given the sensitivity of the issue. “The situation with the Amarnath Shrine Board issue is also somewhat similar to that,” he said in his presidential address that normally indicates the broad direction of party policy.

Those inside the committee meeting later told The Hindu that his remarks on the entire question of Jammu and Kashmir, Amarnath, a separate area for Kashmiri Pandits and abrogation of Article 370 were greeted with thumping of desks by the 200-strong members and invitees.

Mr. Singh said the message from the recent problems in the State was that “it is a fight between nationalists and anti-nationals.”

He demanded strong action against those who had dishonoured the Indian national flag during demonstrations in Srinagar and elsewhere in the Valley. He repeatedly suggested that the people in Jammu were the “nationalists” as they carried the Indian flag during their protests, while there were others who hoisted the Pakistani flag.

sum · Post by **sum** » 13 Sep 2008 10:40

Link

Crores wasted as Rlys abandons work on J&K link, goes back to drawing board

New Delhi, September 12 It’s now official. Indian Railways has decided to abandon a substantial chunk of the work it did over the past five years — spending around Rs 750 crore — on the Katra-Qazigund section in Jammu and Kashmir. It says “nobody” should be blamed for this massive waste of public money, and is now studying options for aligning the route afresh.

This section of the line was supposed to have been completed on August 15, 2007. Very little work has been done, however, and the Railways ministry is now talking of “survivability of the line” and “difficulties in construction” as justification. Besides the monetary losses, the delay may have pushed the project back by nearly a decade.

As first reported in The Indian Express, the ministry had recently asked Konkan Railways Corporation Ltd (KRCL), the agency constructing this section, to suspend work. A fresh order has now been issued, asking KRCL to stop work altogether. “We realized that contractors were sittling idle at our cost, and that is why we have now asked them to stop all work,” S K Vij, Member Engineering of the Railway Board and the man behind the rethink, said.

The order has also effectively scrapped the 359-metre high Chenab Bridge, touted as the world’s highest. Around Rs 150 crore of the projected cost of Rs 520 crore has already been spent. “The location of the Chenab Bridge will have to be changed, and moved around two kilometers upstream,” Vij said.

How does the Railways justify the huge waste of public money? Vij said: “You cannot hang on to Rs 150 crore and waste another Rs 2,000 crore on something which may endanger the survivability of the line.” The “geology of the area had not been studied thoroughly”, he said, and the Railways “were using conventional wisdom”.

Asked if this could have been prevented, Vij said, “We didn’t get time for planning.”

Himalayan blunder

Start, stop

• January, 2003: Work begins.

• August 15, 2007: Deadline for completion of project.

• September 2008: With 15% of work completed, Railways abandons project

What this means

• Works worth Rs 500-600 cr abandoned

• ‘World’s highest bridge’ shifted, after Rs 150 cr

• Railways have to deal with contractor’s claims for Rs 700 cr

What next

Options to modify alignment being explored. But there are fears the new alignment will touch just 8 major villages instead of the earlier alignment’s 50 villages.

500 crores used up just goes to rust??

So, we are back to square one and no rail link to Kashmir??

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 13 Sep 2008 15:39

well the kashmiri mussalman elites who would have got the work contracts have made their
money. now what do they care. railways will weaken their economic hold on the valley.

ashish raval · Post by **ashish raval** » 14 Sep 2008 21:25

Why cant we try these rats for anti-national activities or shoot them with snipers whoever does it..
http://www.hindujagruti.org/news/5410.html

munna · Post by **munna** » 14 Sep 2008 21:27

What use is of trying when someone who physically attacked the parliament is our honoured state guest? Need I say more.

Bharati · Post by **Bharati** » 16 Sep 2008 02:01

Hizb militant, 4 security personnel killed in J&K encounters

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 16 Sep 2008 02:11

The ratio should be the other way round. Do the security personnel get BP jackets or are they still waiting to issues them to the troops?

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 16 Sep 2008 08:33

From The Hindu dated 16 Sep 1958

Mr. G.M. Sadiq, Leader of the National Democratic Conference, to-day strongly pleaded for taking concrete steps to bring about a greater “emotional integration” between India and Kashmir. Mr. Sadiq, who was addressing a Press conference here (in New Delhi) said that the concrete steps that should be taken immediately were the extension of the jurisdiction of the Election Commission of India and the Supreme Court to the entire State of Jammu and Kashmir. Along with this the permit system for entry into the State of Indian nationals should be “rationalised”. There should be free movement of Indian citizens from any part of India to Kashmir and from Kashmir to any part of India. Further, the High Court of Kashmir should be governed under the provisions of the Indian Constitution on the lines of other High Courts in the country.

jamwal · Post by **jamwal** » 16 Sep 2008 09:52

Most of soldiers in terrorist infested areas do have some kind of armour. But it looks bulky and strange. Nothing sleek or lightweight like the armour you see Americans wearing in Iraq/Afghanistan

http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/8073/rr1uf7.jpg

http://www.indiadaily.org/images/lt-col ... led_26.jpg

Manmeet · Post by **Manmeet** » 16 Sep 2008 20:34

Here is the picture of IMI tavour rifles in case not published before:
The first pics of IMI Tavors in Indian service have come out -- not in Army units, but local Jammu and Kashmir State Police's elite Special Operations Group (SOG). Kashmir Newz scooped the story though mistakenly calls them 'Indian [army] troops'

March 01, 2008: An Indian trooper holding an Israel made Travor Assault Rifle (TAR-21) at a market in Shopian south of Srinagar, summer capital of Indian administered Kashmir. The rifles developed by Israel for usage in urban warfare are part of India's strategy to modernise its army especially while dealing with insurgencies in the countries.

The J&K Police's SOG are a 1000-strong elite counter-insurgency force made up of police volunteers with years of COIN and anti-militancy experience. They are comprised of native Kashmiris (Kashmiris, Gujjars, Dogras, and Sikhs) and act as a police FLEX squad with specialized tactical intelligence and their own HUMINT resources. They are active in areas of largest threat in Kashmir.

What's unusual is that these civilian paramilitary units were the first Indian unit photographed using Tavors. The Ministry of External Affairs uses them in its incredibly secretive Special Operations Group (India's premier counter-terror and Himalayan SOF comprised mostly of Tibetans) and in Indian Army Para regiments.

The photos, showing the police with minimal kit on beat patrol, may be either for a show of force to local militants and/or field testing and familiarization. The SOF is a pretty secretive unit, and that they were basically showing the Tavors off in front of reporters (who no doubt will play up the Israeli angle) almost certainly is them playing mindgames with local terrorists. Regardless, the fact that Indian Police units are using it confirms a rumor previously reported about the Tavor will also start to be employed by front line police units.

Avinash R · Post by **Avinash R** » 16 Sep 2008 21:49

Terrorists chopped off my nose
9/16/2008 6:26:20 PM

Militants in Jammu and Kashmir are using torture to intimidate the people

Militants in Jammu and Kashmir are using torture to intimidate the people of the region.

Brutal accounts are emerging of how militants are doing whatever it takes to instill fear in the community.

One man told TIMES NOW how his ear was cut off after he refused to part with his mobile phone and SIM card.

Another women had her ear cut off because she refused to cook a meal for the militants. Militants did not stop at that, they kept beating her and she later died of her wounds in hospital.

On September 10 in the early hours of the morning a group of 3 militants entred the home of Manzoor Ahmed in Dessa in Doda District. They demanded his mobile phone and SIM card. Manzoor said he was poor and did not own a phone.

The angry militants, belonging to Hizbul Mujahideen cut off his nose and then his arm. He fell unconsious and the Militants left after they thought he was dead.

In another instance last month, a woman by the name of Maqfooda Begum was in a field with her husband when 4 militants approached her. They demanded that she cook dinner for them. When Maqfooda refused the men cut off her ear and beat her up accusing her of being a police informant. She later died of her injuries.

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 16 Sep 2008 21:57

manmeet, those pics have been discussed to death on BRF sometime last year or early this year.

it may be still there in the misc pics thread.
regards !

sum · Post by **sum** » 17 Sep 2008 08:55

Rahul M wrote:manmeet, those pics have been discussed to death on BRF sometime last year or early this year.
it may be still there in the misc pics thread.
regards !

Yup...remember the abslute mayhem these pics created at the start of this year when posted....

These guys were tagged to virtually every possible IA unit there is in an attempt to ID them....The shoes, uniform, even they way they comb their beard was discussed to death to find out the unit they belonged to!!!!!

sum · Post by **sum** » 17 Sep 2008 08:56

The Ministry of External Affairs uses them in its incredibly secretive Special Operations Group (India's premier counter-terror and Himalayan SOF comprised mostly of Tibetans) and in Indian Army Para regiments.

Is SOG another name for the SFF?? I knew of only the SOG of the J&K Police...

Avinash R · Post by **Avinash R** » 17 Sep 2008 16:27

Security tightened in Jammu; additional CRPF troops deployed

Jammu, Sep 17 (UNI) In the wake of the serial blasts in Delhi on September 13, the security in and around the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir has been beefed up with deployment of additional

CRPF troops, following intelligence inputs that militants may strike here, sources said today.

''Heavy deployment of police, besides additional troops of the CRPF could be seen at various vulnerable points across the city, while searches have also been intensified,'' sources told UNI.

Avinash R · Post by **Avinash R** » 18 Sep 2008 19:03

Army foil militants' plan, defuse IED in J&K

Jammu, Sept 18 (PTI) Army troops today foiled militants' plan to trigger a blast and defused an improvised explosive device (IED) in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Troops of 12 Rashtriya Rifles defused a 2.5-kg IED which had been planted by militants in the Banihal area of Ramban district, a defence spokesperson said.

In another incident, police recovered and defused a live artillery shell in Meen Chadka village here, police sources said.

Police rushed to the village on being informed by villagers about a shell near a drain and defused it which they said might have come along with flash floods.

sum · Post by **sum** » 18 Sep 2008 21:24

Link

JAMMU: Faced with an economic blockade of the Valley by Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti, the Kashmir Traders Federation has said that it will snap all business ties with traders in Jammu region and instead buy products directly from other cities like Amritsar and Delhi. ( Watch )

"We have decided not to buy any product from traders in Jammu and instead buy products directly from other markets like Delhi and Amritsar," Chairman of the Traders Federation Jan Mohammad Koul told news agencies in Srinagar.

"We will not cooperate with the traders of Jammu anymore. We are not going to buy any goods from them ... we have decided to boycott Jammu traders," Koul said accusing the Centre of failing to provide protection to the traders of Kashmir.

"The situation in the aftermath of economic blockade of the Valley and attacks on minority community in Jammu has made it clear that it is part of a well-thought out conspiracy and the Centre is involved in it," Koul said.

Complaining that truck loads are not being allowed to move to Kashmir with the government being a mute spectator, he said the traders of Jammu have hurt their sentiments.

"We will continue our struggle for an alternative route to the Valley," he said urging heads of multi-national companies to open their depots in Kashmir forthwith keeping in view the sale of their products.

Meanwhile, the Centre is groping in the dark on how to calm the waves of violence that continue to rock Jammu and Srinagar over cancellation of the land allocation for Amarnath pilgrims, with reports of angry mobs lynching two cops at Jourian near Akhnoor on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will meet top leaders of political parties on Wednesday to discuss measures to calm the situation in the state and seek a consensus on how to end the impasse.

Is there a icon for "axing one's own leg"?

Not a peep in the media about the lynching of two cops??

jamwal · Post by **jamwal** » 18 Sep 2008 21:26

Last time I checked, Amritsar and Delhi were Indian cities....so was Jammu.
How can Kashmiris lower their standards, buying stuff from Kafirs when Land of pure is just a hop away?

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 18 Sep 2008 22:12

Business relations are hard to build as require certain degree of trust . Traders in ATQ and Delhi will be very apprehensive about the payment. KM are just spewing greenhouse gases only.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » 19 Sep 2008 04:18

Talk of secession alarming: concerned citizens

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Describing as “unquestionable” the legal validity of Jammu and Kashmir’s accession to India, intellectuals and defence experts have said there is no basis on which any change in the State’s political status can be considered.

It is distressing, indeed alarming, that seditious views which question India’s unity and integrity are being freely aired by a section of the intelligentsia; it is regrettable that the print and electronic media are giving undue space and prominence to these views, said a joint statement issued by this group of concerned citizens here on Thursday.

Reacting to the opinion expressed in some newspapers in favour of secession of the Kashmir Valley, the statement said: “India is a free and democratic country with a vibrant media and we are proud of it. But freedom of expression does not mean unbridled licence to flout the law of the land by airing or fanning seditious views.”

The group called upon the intelligentsia to use their power with wisdom and maturity. Irresponsible slogans could mislead people to take partisan positions without understanding the grave implications. “As patriotic Indians who strongly believe that the unity and secular democratic fabric of our republic must be preserved at all costs, we call upon the government to make it unequivocally clear at the highest level that under no circumstances will it and the people countenance any compromise with the integrity of the nation,” the statement said while impressing upon political parties to raise their voice and come out unambiguously against secessionism in any form.

No responsible government could ever compromise India’s territorial integrity by even contemplating the secession of Kashmir. If the Indian state was seen as weak enough to let Kashmir go, other States and disaffected groups within India would only get emboldened.

Secondly, as borders in the plains of north India were not defensible, Kashmir was vital for security, the statement said.

The signatories include Subhash Chandra, chairperson of the Essel Group; Major General (retd) Afsir Karim; Ajit Doval, former IB Director; M.J.Akbar, journalist; Anil Baijal, former Union Secretary; Admiral (retd) Arun Prakash; Air Marshal (retd) S.R. Deshpandey; Dhirendra Singh, former Secretary; G. Parthasarathy, former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan; Rajiv Sikri, former Foreign Secretary; C.D.Sahay, former RAW secretary; Lt. General R.K. Sawhney, (retd) Deputy Chief of Army Staff; Satish Chandra, retired IFS officer; Lt. General Shantanu Chaudhury, former Vice- Chief of Army Staff; the former Air Chief S.P.Tyagi; Ved Marwah, former Governor; Vijai Kapoor, former Lt. Governor of Delhi; and Vikram Sood, former RAW Secretary.

Vikas · Post by **Vikas** » 19 Sep 2008 09:30

economic blockade of the Valley and attacks on minority community

Thus spoke the idiotic Kettle....Why does it remind me of early 90's.

jamwal · Post by **jamwal** » 19 Sep 2008 09:43

sum wrote:Link
with reports of angry mobs lynching two cops at Jourian near Akhnoor on Tuesday.
Is there a icon for "axing one's own leg"?

Not a peep in the media about the lynching of two cops??

Cops being beaten up is a very old news, when the agitation was still going on. This article seems to be from early August.
Actually cops being beaten up WAS in news. But police baton charge on a religious gathering before that was not. ( That gathering was not even related to AYSS)
Jourian is the same place where local Hindus protected a mosque from damage by some hooligans. That was not in news either.

These KMs are just being melodramatic. There was shortage of everything in Jammu more than it was in Kashmir during agitation. These ***%$#% are just fence-sitters. They'll fall in any direction, whoever kicks them. Islam and Money are both equally attractive to this crowd.

jamwal · Post by **jamwal** » 19 Sep 2008 09:55

Should it be in Sukhoi 30 Thread??

Srinagar, Sep 18: The Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Thursday termed India’s deployment of Sukhoi-30 fighter jets in the Valley as ‘shocking’ and said such moves were not going to help in the resolution of Kashmir issue.
“Kashmiris cannot be held against their will by force or by using power. The issue can be resolved through peaceful means only. We have being saying it all along and we iterate it,” Mirwaiz said, while addressing a gathering at the historical Aali Masjid near Eidgah on the death anniversary of late Mirwaiz Muhammad Yousuf Shah.
“Both India and Pakistan are nuclear powers and they need to show responsibility. Any wrong move can be disastrous not only for them but also for rest of the sub-continent,” he said.
The Hurriyat chairman expressed satisfaction over the constitution of the Kashmir Committee by Pakistan parliament. “We are glad to know that they (Pakistan) have constituted a Kashmir Committee headed by Maulana Fazl-ur-Rahman. We hope all social and political groups in Pakistan will get united and expedite the process for the peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue.”
The Mirwaiz expressed concern over the situation in Jammu saying that people of a particular community who had been on the receiving end of the 2-month long agitation were being arrested and beaten. “India should realize the people’s movement cannot be crushed by force.”
He said a high level delegation of Hurriyat will be visiting Rajouri, Poonch, Doda and other districts of Jammu to take stock of the situation. “We are also opening our offices in all the districts to ensure people’s participation in the movement,” he said.
Mirwaiz urged the people to follow the programmes of Coordination Committee. He said special prayers would be held at the Dastageer Sahib shrine at Saraibala on Monday, the martyrdom anniversary of Hazrat Ali (RA).
The Hurriyat chairman paid tributes to the late Mirwaiz Yosuf Shah terming him as the torch-bearer of Kashmir’s freedom struggle. “The on-going movement dates back to 1931 when the people rose in revolt against the then Dogra rule,” he said.

Link

Avinash R · Post by **Avinash R** » 19 Sep 2008 17:58

Hideout busted in south Kashmir, war like stores recovered

Srinagar, Sep 19 (UNI) Security forces today busted a hideout and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition, including bombs, grenades and detonators in south Kashmir, official sources said today.

They said a joint operation was launched by security forces in the forest at Magam in south Kashmir district of Anantnag.

After a long search in the woods, security forces finally busted a hideout.

The arms and ammunition recovered included two UBGL, ten motor bombs, 36 hand grenade, one HERD 84 MMRL( destroyed on spot) and one detonator (destroyed on spot). However, no one was arrested.

Police station in north Kashmir attacked

Srinagar, Sep 19 (UNI) A police station in the frontier district of Kupwara was attacked with a hand grenade this afternoon, official sources said.

They said militants hurled a hand grenade towards the heavily guarded police station this afternoon immediately after Friday prayers were over.

However, it missed the intended target and exploded at a distance without causing any damage.

Security around the police station was further tightened, they said.

kshirin · Post by **kshirin** » 19 Sep 2008 19:06

Paul wrote:
Talk of secession alarming: concerned citizens

The signatories include Subhash Chandra, chairperson of the Essel Group; Major General (retd) Afsir Karim; Ajit Doval, former IB Director; M.J.Akbar, journalist; Anil Baijal, former Union Secretary; Admiral (retd) Arun Prakash; Air Marshal (retd) S.R. Deshpandey; Dhirendra Singh, former Secretary; G. Parthasarathy, former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan; Rajiv Sikri, former Foreign Secretary; C.D.Sahay, former RAW secretary; Lt. General R.K. Sawhney, (retd) Deputy Chief of Army Staff; Satish Chandra, retired IFS officer; Lt. General Shantanu Chaudhury, former Vice- Chief of Army Staff; the former Air Chief S.P.Tyagi; Ved Marwah, former Governor; Vijai Kapoor, former Lt. Governor of Delhi; and Vikram Sood, former RAW Secretary.

Mr. Rajiv Sikri was not a former Foreign Secretary, he resigned because he was passed over, he was Secretary in MEA.

Manmeet · Post by **Manmeet** » 20 Sep 2008 17:27

Here is a nice article written by Khushwant Singh in today's ht

Trespassers in Kashmir
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage ... trParentID

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 20 Sep 2008 17:36

While he correctly states that Indian frontiers must be protected at all costs, he talks of azadi as if that is really what it all is about. Geelani in his "We are Pakistan and Pakistan is us" speech demolished all such notions. It is about partition and Indian Muslims choosing Pakistan.

Give the Valley azadi it wants. But spell it out to mean only internal autonomy to manage its affairs. No more. India must retain its military presence to guard its frontiers against intruders. But at all costs, put an end to this sorry state of affairs.

AjayKK · Post by **AjayKK** » 20 Sep 2008 18:01

Avinash R wrote:
Police station in north Kashmir attacked

Srinagar, Sep 19 (UNI) A police station in the frontier district of Kupwara was attacked with a hand grenade this afternoon, official sources said.

Azadi seekers daily occurence : Assemble outside 'religious place' , run for cover, pelt stones , increas casualties ( of POLICE and CRPF)

Saturday's images

Holy Friday's images

G Subramaniam · Post by **G Subramaniam** » 20 Sep 2008 19:45

Gerard wrote:While he correctly states that Indian frontiers must be protected at all costs, he talks of azadi as if that is really what it all is about. Geelani in his "We are Pakistan and Pakistan is us" speech demolished all such notions. It is about partition and Indian Muslims choosing Pakistan.

Give the Valley azadi it wants. But spell it out to mean only internal autonomy to manage its affairs. No more. India must retain its military presence to guard its frontiers against intruders. But at all costs, put an end to this sorry state of affairs.

Khushwant singh is really talking about autonomy and JK already has this

CRamS · Post by **CRamS** » 20 Sep 2008 19:55

G Subramaniam wrote:
Gerard wrote:While he correctly states that Indian frontiers must be protected at all costs, he talks of azadi as if that is really what it all is about. Geelani in his "We are Pakistan and Pakistan is us" speech demolished all such notions. It is about partition and Indian Muslims choosing Pakistan.

Khushwant singh is really talking about autonomy and JK already has this

Not really. If you combine that with his 'extremists on both sides' and love of TSP, what this would mean is joint India TSP administration of the valley. MMS is for this, but given that he will have tough time selling that, the issue is stalled. KMs have internal autonomy even now. Its the TSP factor that makes this problem so intractable from India's PoV. Abnd accepting joint soverignty over the valley which TSP will accept and MMS will offer essentially means slow motion surrender of the valley.

jamwal · Post by **jamwal** » 20 Sep 2008 22:17

AYSS had organised a public meeting in Abhinav Theater in Jammu city to provide financial help to kin of people who died or were seriously injured during agitation. They were stopped from doing so by J&K police at the last moment. People who tried entering the premises were forcibly stopped from doing so. Police used lathicharge, tear-gas and firing in air to push back the crowd. Many people including a mahant was injured when a bullet fired at his car grazed his head.
Strange thing is that Abhinav Theater is managed by an official of Additional Secretary rank and till today there was no announcement barring AYSS from holding the function.

AYSS has called for strike for 48 hours starting from tomorrow to protest against unreasonable actions of state authorities.
Looks like everything is back to square one again.

jamwal · Post by **jamwal** » 23 Sep 2008 01:02

Trader attempts self-immolation in Jammu and Kashmir

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/unc ... 98490.html

Jammu, Sep 22 (IANS) A man attempted self-immolation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district Monday, the second day of a shutdown called by the Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti over the closure of a theatre where they were to hold a function.Jawant Singh, 28, a vegetable trader in Chagwal town of Kathua, 60 km from here, poured kerosene on himself and then set himself ablaze, a police official said.

“He shouted ‘Bum, Bum Bhole’ (praise to Lord Shiva) as he set himself on fire,” an eyewitness told IANS on phone from Chagwal.

“He has sustained 80 percent burns and on the advice of doctors in the Jammu Medical College Hospital, we are air-lifting him to the Post Graduate Institute (PGI) in Chandigarh for specialised treatment. A chopper has been arranged,” the police official said.

The two-day shutdown called by the Samiti saw a partial response in the state’s winter capital Jammu. Banks, government offices and some educational institutions functioned normally.

“Some public transport also plied on the city roads and private vehicles plied normally,” an official said.

The Samiti had called for a two-day shutdown Sunday and Monday as the administration in Jammu had sealed the Abhinav theatre here. The Samiti was to have held a function at the venue Saturday to compensate the next of kin of those who were killed in the two-month long agitation for the restoration of forest land in Baltal to the Amarnath Shrine board, which manages the annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine.

Reports from neighbouring Samba district said the shutdown call met with marginal response.

Arun_S · Post by **Arun_S** » 23 Sep 2008 21:42

All India Radio: Kargil News Bulletins ...

News Services Division has started broadcast of two News Bulletins from AIR, Kargil Station from 5th September, 2008. The five minute bulletins in Purgee are broadcast daily at 7:30 p.m. and 10.00 p.m.

With the installation of a new 200 KW transmitter, AIR, Kargil will have a wide coverage area in the region. The new Bulletins meet the requirement for getting authentic news and the developments which take place in the region.

With these, the total number of Regional Bulletins and FM Head Lines had gone up to 448.

jamwal · Post by **jamwal** » 24 Sep 2008 00:57

Jammu is at the front again!

Jammu is at the front again! When it comes to India's honour we cannot step back. When separatists and their sympathizers claim India is colonizing Kashmir, by giving a 40 acre barren uninhabitable tract of land to the SASB, India steps back, but Jammu doesn’t. We launch a satygraha to uphold the sovereignty of the Republic in its own territory. We are told that we are narrow-minded religious zealots and communalists. We tell them we are not armchair secularists like them – we are true practical practioners of secularism. Come and see Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and Buddhists rise as one for a cause -- that is not of a religion – it is for a nation that should not be dictated to by those who seek to break it.

When terrorists strike at us, when they take our children hostage, when they line up and shoot our people in cold-blood whether in Samba, Kaluchak, Dudu, Doda or Chinore – places that may not mean anything to the rest of India – it is because Jammu is India’s battleground and we bear all this so that you may see your cricketers make history (sic)!, so that you can dance away all day for two bronze medals for one billion of you, so that you can bother about the antics of your godmen, so that you can worship with rolling tongues your heroes and heroines. No, Mubbassar Lattifi, injured twice in anti militancy operations will never be your hero! Mamta Sharma of the Special Operations Group who bottled up the terrorists at Chinore before the army arrived will never be your heroine, that unknown SPO (euphemism for a temporarily recruited police helper getting a measly Rs 3000 a month) who single-handedly trailed a terrorist 20 kms in the jungles of Doda will never be your hero. For you ignorance is bliss because you do not want to be disturbed from your comfort zone

Yet we bear all. We see communal cleansing and forced migration of people who are not afraid to call themselves Indians. We see outright discrimination against us everywhere. We lose a say in the democratic setup because we cannot get more assembly seats though we have more voters. We see our children seek education elsewhere because they are edged out from an unfair selection system, then we see them seeking employment elsewhere, because there is little chance of them getting it here. We see the revenue we pay the state go elsewhere – all this because we can’t annoy Kashmir, can we?

For 60 years we have borne all this. India, what did YOU get in return? Indians are called “Indian dogs!” The tri-colour is trampled and burnt at every whim of the separatist. You pour resources which could have helped your own people. Its time the bluff is called. Wipe away your image of a weak nation. As for us, we’ll always be there where you’ll need us, because Jammu knows how to sacrifice. Jammu has always been at the front.

http://jammumatters.com/all-articles/77 ... front.html

Arun_J · Post by **Arun_J** » 24 Sep 2008 08:26

Geelani complained of chest pain last night. Let's hope that the GOI ships him to Muzaffarabad for treatment this time. Apparently, he is not used to Srinagar's "changing climatic conditions". :o)

From Kashmirtimes.com

Geelani advised complete rest
KT NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR, Sep 23: Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani has been advised complete rest by the doctors.
According to report carried by local news agency KNS, ailing Geelani complained of chest pain last night and he felt difficulty in breathing.
KNS quoting Pir Saif-u-Allah of Hurriyat Conference (G) said that three doctors were called for the treatment of Geelani, who advised him complete rest.
Pir Saif-u-Allah said that the condition of Geelani is stable and he has requested the Imams and people of the valley to pray particularly for his health.
He said that Geelani chaired the meeting of KCC despite his illness. Saif-U-Allah said Geelani was kept under house arrest for 17 consecutive days and yesterday he visited Shopian. Changing climatic conditions in valley were described as one of the reasons for Geelani's illness.

Avinash R · Post by **Avinash R** » 24 Sep 2008 09:53

2 top Lashker commanders killed, hideout busted in Kashmir

Srinagar | Selasa, Sep 23 2008 IST

Two top commanders of the Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed, while a hideout was busted in the Kashmir valley overnight, a police spokesman said today.

He said the Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police, 45 battalion CRPF and 13 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) laid a joint naka on old bridge at Sumbal in Ganderbal district.

The naka party challenged two people, moving under suspicious circumstances, he said, adding however, they immediately started firing on the naka party with automatic weapons while trying to escape.

The security forces retaliated and in the fierce clash, the two militants were killed. They were later identified as Tahir Alias Abu Tahir, self-styled divisional commander (DC), and Abdullah alias Abu Maaz, district commander for the Pattan area.

He said Tahir was involved in a number of militancy-related incidents, including killing of Commanding Officer (CO) of 29 RR, Gurbir Singh, at Behrampora in 2006.

The spokesman said security forces unearthed a hideout and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition, including two AK rifles, six magazines, 60 rounds of ammunition, four grenades, two wireless sets, one mobile phone, one Pakistani army map, one rugsack and two pouches.

Arms and ammunition recovered in Doda

Jammu | Selasa, Sep 23 2008 IST

Security forces today recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition after they exchanged firing with the armed militants in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, official sources here said.

''One AK magazine, one wireless set, seven detonators, 10 grenades, seven hand grenades and 14 rounds were recovered from the site of the encounter,'' the sources told UNI.

''The patrol party early this morning came across with the militants near Rai Nallah following a fierce gun battle,'' the sources said, adding the militants, however, managed to escape.

Avinash R · Post by **Avinash R** » 24 Sep 2008 10:05

Under different central schemes Rs 1000 crore spent on J&K roads

Srinagar | Selasa, Sep 23 2008 IST

Under different centrally sponsored schemes, an amount of Rs 1000 crore has been spent for construction of better road connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir.

In Kashmir division, during 2007-08, 1404 km roads were mettled and 552.66 km black topped while as 1731.14 running meters of bridges and 2.89 lakh square feet buildings were constructed besides 34 motorable bridges were completed at a cost of Rs 51.35 crore.

Besides 16 road schemes were completed at a cost of Rs 64.20 crore while as 15 schemes at a cost of Rs 15.37 crore are being completed this year in the valley.

In Jammu division, during 2007-08, 504 km of fair weather roads were constructed as 751 km roads were mettled and 346 km black topped. In addition, 2133.50 running meters of bridge work and 2.57 lakh square feet buildings were also constructed besides completion of 20 motorable bridges and 24 foot bridges at a cost of Rs 54 crore.

He said in the cities of Jammu and Srinagar Rs 10 crore each have been spent on upgradation and improvement of city road.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 26 Sep 2008 03:11

Something we wanted here!

Deccan Chroncile, 25 Sept 2008

LOC is Line of Commerce

New York Sept. 25: India and Pakistan declared on Wednesday that trade across the Line of Control will begin on October 21 this year while modalities for the opening of the Skardu-Kargil road will be discussed. The decision, coming after the first meeting between the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, and Pakistan’s new President, Mr Asif Ali Zardari, envisages cross-LoC trade on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalkot roads.

It was also decided to open the Wagah-Attari road link and Khokrapar-Munabao railway route to all permissible items. Both countries will also continue “interaction between Planning Commissions to develop mutually beneficial cooperation, including in the energy sector”.

A joint statement issued on Wednesday by Dr Singh and Mr Zardari after they met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, acknowledged that the peace process initiated by both India and Pakistan has been “under strain in recent months”. Terror and ceasefire violations remained high on the agenda, sources said. The one-to-one meet was held at the Millennium Plaza Hotel here.

Hours before the meeting, Mr Zardari tried to play to his domestic gallery by telling Pakistani media that “Kashmir remained the core issue”. But he did not raise the issue of UN resolutions that call for a plebiscite. Prior to the meeting, Mr Zardari hugged an unprepared Dr Singh and hailed the Prime Minister for “changing the face of India.” “You are the leader of modern India,” Mr Zardari said to Dr Singh.

Avinash R · Post by **Avinash R** » 29 Sep 2008 18:29

9 terrorists dead in ongoing anti-terror operation

Monday, September 29, 2008

Srinagar, PTI: With the recovery of two bodies of terrorists early this morning, the death toll in the ongoing operation to track town terrorists in high-altitude areas of Kashmir valley has gone up to nine, a defence spokesman said.

Bodies of the two slain terrorists were recovered from Kangan, 40 km from here, the spokesman said.

"The identity and group affiliation of the deceased are yet to be established," he said.

The operation was launched on Thursday following information that a group of terrorists was moving from Bandipora to Kangan in Ganderbal district. Many terrorists are believed to be trapped in the area, according to officials.

So far, seven suspected foreign terrorists were killed in fierce gunbattles at Lawantaz forest in the jurisdiction of Kangan police station.

While three terrorists were killed on Thursday, four ultras were gunned down on Saturday in the biggest operation against the terrorists in the recent months. An army jawan was also killed during the operation.

"There might be some more splinter groups in the area but we have enough troops to take on them," an army official had said commenting on the operation.

The rise in terrorist activities in the upper reaches of strategically important Kangan, 40 kms from here on Srinagar-Leh national highway, in the past few months also prompted the authorities to go after the terrorists to secure the area, sources said.

The army and the local police parties scaled the area from both sides - Bandipora and Kangan, while helicopters were used for para-dropping soldiers in the high-altitude areas to flush out the terrorists.

Avinash R · Post by **Avinash R** » 29 Sep 2008 18:36

ramana wrote:Something we wanted here!
Deccan Chroncile, 25 Sept 2008
LOC is Line of Commerce
India and Pakistan declared on Wednesday that trade across the Line of Control will begin on October 21 this year while modalities for the opening of the Skardu-Kargil road will be discussed.

This will only help the terrorists to hide fake currency, arms and ammuntition in trucks and even terrorists and send them directly into india. For them less burden since no borders to cross, no fences to cut, no villagers to face who are ever ready for revenge, no police or security forces to face.

Another thing these trucks themselves will become soft targets.
The samjautha train was fire bombed by paki terrorists.
The tourist reservation centre in j&k which used to issue travel documents to people going to PoK was attacked and was burnt.
The same thing will happen here.
Highly retrograde step in the fight against terrorism.