Solution For Kashmir

May, 30(KMW): Only 2 per cent of the people in Jammu & Kashmir want to be part of Pakistan. As much has been revealed by a first-of-its-kind survey that interviewed 3,774 inhabitants on both sides of the Loc. The study not only comes as a significant blow to hardliner Kashmiri separatists, but also makes the question of holding a plebiscite irrelevant. The survey also says that 58 per cent of Kashmir is willing to accept the Loc as a permanent soft border if it could enable a great degree of people-to-people contact and trade. Only 8 per cent voted against making the current LOC a permanent boundary. These are precisely the lines on which New Delhi and Islamabad had been working to resolve Kashmir when President Musharraf was in power, according to revelations made by Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri, who was foreign minister under Musharraf. According to Kasuri, 90 per cent of the spadework had been done on a Kashmir deal. This was before political turmoil in Pakistan, and then 26/11, interrupted the process. Squaring Kasuri's revelations with the poll conducted by a reputed international think tank - the London-based Chatham House - a solution for one of the biggest issues between India and Pakistan is within reach. There's plenty of reason for optimism here, as the evidence suggests that earlier talks between India and Pakistan had been on the right track. A template is already available for resolving Kashmir should New Delhi and Islamabad pick up from where they left off earlier. That's what they urgently need to do, putting the baggage of history behind them.

Army orders enquiry into alleged fake encounter

Srinagar, May 30 (KMW): Army today ordered a high-level enquiry into the alleged fake encounter in which three youths were killed on April 30 and said that proceedings will be "judiciously expedited”. “Based on the preliminary report of the Machhil encounter, received from Jammu and Kashmir Police late evening on 29 May, a high-level enquiry has been ordered by the Army," a defiance spokesman said. He said the enquiry will investigate all allegation, based on the report submitted by the police and efforts were on to "recall" the witnesses as their unit has been de- ducted.” We will judiciously expedite the proceedings as promised," spokesman Lt Col J S Brar said.” The only delay we foresee is the recalling of the witnesses who are involved in the incident, as the unit has de-inducted after competing its mandated tenure. However, efforts to get them back have already been initiated", he said.

Sonia arrives in Jammu amid tight security

Jammu, May 29 (KMW): Congress president and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi arrived here today on a whirlwind tour of winter capital city of Jammu and Kashmir.‘’Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand along with State Ministers and senior Congress leaders received Ms Gandhi at the Jammu airport,’’ a police official said. Security was beefed up in Jammu city with strategic deployment of security forces for protection of the leaders.‘ ’Three-tier security arrangements have been made around the venues,’’ a police official said. The Congress president, who is scheduled to inaugurate Gurjar Desh Charitable Trust Complex, would also meet party workers and discuss organizational matters to strengthen the party in the state, sources said. Ms Gandhi had postponed her scheduled visit to the summer capital city Srinagar.

India reiterates Saeed was the mastermind of 26/11: S M Krishna

Bangalore, May 29 (KMW): India said it still regarded Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed as the mastermind of 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai and went by Pakistan's assurance that it would not allow any part of its territory to be used for anti-India activity.External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said at a press conference here yesterday after inaugurating a passport service project that India had given enough evidence to Pakistan about Hafiz Saeed's role in the Mumbai terror attack.

Zardari 'disenchanted' with India's post-Mumbai handling

Islamabad, May 29 (KMW): Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has said that he is "disenchanted" with the way India handled the bilateral relations in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks as he expected New Delhi to "behave much more maturely"."I'm a little disenchanted with India. I expected the largest democracy in the world to behave much more maturely. We are facing a threat on the eastern and western borders," Zardari said in an interview with Newsweek magazine. “This new-age terror has created a phenomenon where a few people can take entire states to war. The fact that these people happen to belong to Pakistan or India or Bangladesh is immaterial. They are non-state actors, and states should behave like states," he said.

4 killed, 19 hurt in overnight rains in J&K

Jammu, May 29 (KMW): Four persons were killed and 19 others injured in different incidents when thunderstorm and rains lashed parts of Jammu and Kashmir, police said today. A 16-year-old girl Gulshan Akhtar was killed after she was struck by lightning in Dhanote area of Rajouri district last evening, they said.In another incident, Anju Devi, wife of an army jawan, was killed in thunder storm. While, shepherds Pawan Kumar and Daru Ram were crushed to death when uprooted trees fell on them in Keli village of Uddampur and Khadi village Kathua districts respectively, police said.Meanwhile, 15 people, including seven members of a marriage party, were injured when a roof of a house collapsed today due to heavy rains Kahog village of Kathua, authorities said, adding three children suffered injuries in a similar incident last night.

Hurriyat Conference, a terrorist organization says former J&K DGP

Jammu, May 28, 2010:The Hurriyat Conference is actually a terrorist organization and initiating any sort of dialogue process with them will hurt the national interest of India, said Jammu and Kashmir Former Director General of Police MM Khajuria.
Addressing a press conference here Friday, Khajuria said, "Separatists are actually the creation of Pakistan and are supporting terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. During his visit to the state, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh shouldn't talk to these anti-national elements."
"Actually these separatist organisations are creation of Pakistan and wants to sabotage the atmosphere in India," Khajuria added.
He said that India is heading towards dialogue process with Pakistan but Pakistan on the other hand has disowned all moves made by former President and military dictator Pervez Musharraf. "Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on May 5 told national Assembly that Musharraf's policies had extensively harmed the Kashmir cause and added that they are trying to overcome the loss inflicted over Kashmir," said Khajuria.
"Now, India should also clear its stand and should clearly say that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and the dispute revolves around the vacation of the part of state occupied by Pakistan which the unanimous February 1994 Parliament resolution mandated the government of India to get vacated," Khajuria added.
Speaking on the occasion Chairman Panun Kashmir Ajay Chrungoo said, "During Thimphu meet, PM Manmohan Singh said that there is a need to first address the trust deficit between the India and Pakistan; I ask PM to elaborate it that how it could be addressed."
"Any dialogue without inclusion of nation loving people will not be acceptable to we people. We haven't given mandate to any one to talk on behalf of us," Chrungoo added.
On the other hand, Head Gulab Singh chair Hari Om said, "India is taking the issue of 26/11 with Pakistan and is demanding action. It is good but the GOI shouldn't only stick to 26/11 issues. India has witnessed many such attacks before and after 26/11."
"The terrorism which started in J&K has reached to other parts of country and each and every citizen of the country is on terrorist's target. The war against terror is the people's war and this realization alone will ensure that political class is barred from any compromise on the vital issue of sovereignty, national security and territorial integrity of India," Hari Om added.

Pakistanis launch rival Facebook

ISLAMABAD, May 28, 2010: Pakistanis outraged with Facebook over "blasphemous" caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed have created a spin-off networking site that they dream can connect the world's 1.6 billion Muslims.

A group of six young IT professionals from Lahore, the cultural and entertainment capital of Pakistan, launched www.millatfacebook.com on Tuesday for Muslims to interact online and protest against blasphemy.

The private venture came after a Pakistani court ordered a block on Facebook until May 31, following deep offence over an "Everyone Draw Mohammed Day" page considered "blasphemous" and "sacrilegious".

"Millatfacebook is Pakistan's very own, first social networking site. A site for Muslims by Muslims where sweet people of other religions are also welcome," the website tells people interested in signing up.

Dubbed MFB, after Facebook's moniker FB, its founder says professionals are working around the clock to offer features similar to those pioneered by the wildly popular California-based prototype.

Each member has a "wall" for friends to comment on. The site offers email, photo, video, chat and discussion board facilities.

The Urdu word "Millat" is used by Muslims to refer to their nation. The website claims to have attracted 4,300 members in the last three days, mostly English-speaking Pakistanis in their 20s.

The number of aficionados may be growing, but the community is a drop in the ocean of the 2.5 million Facebook fans in Pakistan and there have been some scathing early reviews of the start-up.

Neither has Facebook been immediately reachable for comment.

"We want to tell Facebook people 'if they mess with us they have to face the consequences'," said Usman Zaheer, the 24-year-old chief operating officer of the software house that hosts the new site.

"If someone commits blasphemy against our Prophet Mohammed then we will become his competitor and give him immense business loss," he told a foreign news agency, dreaming of making "the largest Muslim social networking website".

Once signed up, members are a click away from debate on the bulletin board.

For example, "Enticing Fury" wrote: "The reason is that this forum must be reserved for ALL MUSLIMS OF THE WORLD and not only Pakistan. So using the word MILLAT is very good!

"Well-done guys. You have made a great alternative for the whole Muslim ummah (nation)!"
                     

Lt Gen fudged records against junior in Kargil war

New Delhi, May 27 (KMW): The Armed Forces Tribunal has ruled that a Lt General of the Indian Army had fudged records of the 1999 Kargil war against a Brigadier and played down his achievements, denying him a medal and promotion. Lieutenant General Kishan Pal, had in April 1999, dismissed reports by his junior officer, Brig Devinder Singh, about Kargil intrusion and conveyed wrong information to the then Army Chief. He had also underplayed Brig Singh's achievements during the war.

‘First’ Kashmir survey produces ’startling’ results

Kashmirmediawatch, May 27,2010 

A survey which a British academic says is the first systematic attempt to establish the opinions of Kashmiris has produced “striking results”.
Robert Bradnock interviewed more than 3,700 people in Indian- and Pakistani-administered Kashmir to assess their views on various issues.
One of the key questions put to respondents was how they saw the future of the territory.
Nearly half of those interviewed said they wanted independence.
Another question asked for their views over the continuing insurgency.
Dr Bradnock – an associate fellow at the Chatham House think-tank in London – says that the survey has produced startling conclusions, especially in relation to the future of the territory.
No ’simple fixes’
It revealed that on average 44% of people in Pakistani-administered Kashmir favoured independence, compared with 43% in Indian-administered Kashmir.
“However while this is the most popular option overall, it fails to carry an overall majority on either side.
“In fact on the Indian side of the Line of Control [LoC] – which separates the two regions – opinions are heavily polarised,” Dr Bradnock told the BBC.
The Kashmir insurgency has raged for 20 years
The survey found that the “overwhelming majority” of people want a solution to the dispute, even though there are no “simple fixes”.
Dr Bradnock said that in the Kashmir valley – the mainly Muslim area at the centre of the insurgency – support for independence is between 74% and 95%.
But in the predominantly Hindu Jammu division to the south, support is under 1%.
Other findings include:
·    80% of Kashmiris on both sides of the LoC say that the dispute is important to them personally
·    Concern over human rights abuses stands at 43% on the Indian side and 19% on the Pakistani side
·    Concern over unemployment is strong across the territory – 66% on the Pakistani side and 87% on the Indian side
·    Few are optimistic over peace talks – only 27% on the Pakistani side and 57% on the Indian side thought they would succeed.
Dr Bradnock said that it was “clear” that a plebiscite on the future of Kashmir – along the lines envisaged in UN resolutions of 1948-49 – is “extremely unlikely to offer a solution today”.
“The results of the polls show that that there is no single proposition for the future of Kashmir which could be put to the population… and get majority support,” he said.
“The poll offers no simple fixes but offers signposts – through which the political process, engaging India, Pakistan and wider Kashmiri representation – could move it towards resolution.”

Afzal Guru seeks transfer from Tihar to Kashmir

New Delhi, May 26 (KMW): Parliament attack death row convict Afzal Guru has approached the Delhi government seeking his transfer from the Tihar jail here to a prison in his home state of Jammu and Kashmir. After receiving the application, the Delhi government has sent it to the Jammu and Kashmir government for its opinion."We have received an application from him recently in which he sought transfer from Tihar to his home state of Jammu and Kashmir. We have sent the application to the Jammu and Kashmir government for its opinion," a senior Delhi government official told KMW today. Guru, a resident of Sopore in the Kashmir Valley, sought the transfer stating it is very difficult for his family to come to Delhi regularly to meet him. He has been lodged in Tihar jail for nearly nine years.

Hizb militant arrested, hideout busted in Poonch

Jammu, May 26 (KMW): A Hizbul Mujahideen militant was arrested in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said here. Mohmmad Azam, son of Pakistani based commander and a class 12th student, was arrested from Sabzian area near the Line of Control in Poonch district last night, they said. Mohmmad Akbar, father of Azam, had crossed over to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir for arms training in 1992, they said.On a tip off from Azam, a cache of arms were recovered near the LoC in Poonch by 40 Rastriya Rifles and police.The recoveries included 2 pistols, 40 pistols rounds, one 81mm mortar, one wireless set, one Decta phone, 20 AK rifles among other things.Two associates of Azam were also arrested by the police, they said, adding that trio have been sent to Joint Interrogation Centre.

Pakistan to lift ban on Facebook, YouTube

Islamabad, May 26 (KMW): Pakistan is to lift a ban on Facebook and YouTube in the next few days, after blocking the websites over "sacrilegious" content, the country's interior minister said today.
The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) banned access to Facebook and YouTube and other links, and restricted access to Wikipedia, last week in view of what it called "growing sacrilegious content".
Interior minister Rehman Malik said today that pages containing blasphemous material would remain blocked, but the ban on popular sites including Facebook and YouTube would be lifted in the next few days.
"We discussed this matter in the cabinet meeting today. I told my colleagues that blocking the websites was not the right thing," Malik told KMW.

CRPF jawan arrested for 'molesting' girl

Srinagar, May 25 (KMW): A CRPF jawan was today arrested for allegedly molesting a girl in Pulwama district of south Kashmir, police said.
The arrest was made following a written complaint by villagers that they had caught the two in a compromising position in Kakapora, 25 kms from here, they said.
CRPF jawan Mehrazuddin and the girl have been sent for medical examination, they added.

Consensus between Separatist & Mainstream Politics: Dr. Syed Nazir Gilani

Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik on Friday 21 May appealed the people to remain committed to the struggle and not to be swayed by the hollow slogans of mainstream political parties. He asserted that the international community has realized the importance of solving Kashmir issue in order to bring peace and stability to the region. The veracity of this view point needs to be examined.
On the same day while commemorating the 20th death anniversary of late Mirwaiz Moulvi Farooq and 8th death anniversary of late Abdul Gani Lone, NC leader and Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ali Muhammad Sagar  has urged both factions of Hurriyat, Yasin Malik  and Peoples Democratic Party, that they have to evolve a ‘consensus’ over Kashmir issue. He has said “It is the question of one crore 20 lakh people including Jammu and Ladakh regions. Stubbornness is no solution”.
At one point in the early 1990s Syed Ali Geelani. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Shabir Shah, Yasin Malik in particular and many others in general were all part of APHC and committed to a political agenda adopted on 31 July 1993. An invitation by NC in May 2010 to all these and other leaders (PDP) to evolve a consensus on Kashmir is a serious political statement and it should not be allowed to go waste as a ‘hollow slogan’. JKLF leaders have felt the need to advise the people that “there is need to safeguard these sacrifices. The day isn’t far when Kashmiris will get  freedom”. The leaders want the people to continue to stand at guard and possibly do nothing on their part. They have failed to explain the manner and content of the ‘freedom’ and how far they see it from Srinagar, Jammu, Muzaffarabad and Gilgit is not clear.
Is there a need for a dialogue among Separatists and Mainstream political parties or not, is the moot question. Hurriyat leaders of present or previous style and the mainstream politicians should not walk away from their common reference to each other and merge into their respective India and Pakistan references altogether. The present and future historian would not err to conclude that these political leaders worked hard to keep their India-Pakistan references and in this regard only made hollow statements to remain visible for their respective corners. As suggested by NC leader they should seek to evolve common consensus in the best interests of their people.
National Conference, PDP, Congress, CPI (M) or any other mainstream political party has a serious role to play. NC has made a valuable contribution at the United Nations in February 1948 and has made an additional contribution by differentiating that Government of Kashmir has signed an Instrument of Accession and not Instrument of Merger with the government of India. Hurriyat or other such parties outside this fold and opposed to mainstream political parties have failed to make a strong case to convince us that it was safe to rely upon their understanding of Kashmir case. An overwhelming Pakistan and at times an Indian reference without any due regard for the fact that they have to advance the best interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir (all people) as equal people under the principle of self determination is very dangerous.
Unless the two factions of Hurriyat, JKLF and other parties within their thinking vicinity have given up the UN character of the right of self determination of the people of Kashmir, it has to be accepted that UN Resolutions on Kashmir don’t accept every Tom, Dick and Harry as a leader. These resolutions have set a test of ‘Principality’ for a leader. National Conference and Muslim Conference have already been referenced in these Resolutions as representative parties. It does not however, mean that the test of ‘principality’ has been sealed in any manner at that point in history.
Government of Jammu and Kashmir has a crucial role because it has been the government that entered into a two bilateral agreements, first with Pakistan and then with India. NC has continued to maintain that
Accession is provisional and has to be ratified. Government of India too has accepted at the UN Security Council that the accession of 27 October 1947 was provisional and remained subject to a final ratification or rejection by the people of Kashmir.
Until a final determination on the question of this provisional accession with either India or Pakistan and Independence is obtained, it is the duty of the government of Kashmir that it makes sure that government of India continues to honour the three features of accession agreement, namely, protection of ‘life’, ‘honour’ and ‘property’. Indian army has been admitted into the territories of the State to ensure the protection of ‘life’, ‘honour’ and ‘property’. Some may feel free to argue and waste time that there is no accession. But the best way around it is to put the terms of the agreement to test and regain the initiative as a party in the agreement. Government of Jammu and Kashmir could even consider to pull out of this agreement as well.
It is not only the ‘Separatist’ camp but even the various governments in Pakistan have been hurting the Kashmir case. Majority of our leaders in Separatist camp have a poor and unreliable understanding of Kashmir case. On the one hand they seek a resolution in accordance with UN Resolutions on Kashmir and on the other they don’t seem to have any clue in regard to the role of the government of Jammu and Kashmir in arranging and concluding the process of ‘Plebiscite’ in Kashmir under these UN Resolutions.
It is right time that the ‘Separatist’ camp walks a step away from ‘hollow slogans’ and takes up the offer of NC leader to start building a consensus on the basics of Kashmir case. Government of Pakistan and government of India need not feel threatened about this desire among the leaders of Kashmir. The need to build a consensus is embedded in UN Resolutions on Kashmir. The best and enduring reference for any Kashmiri leader should be the best interests of the people of Kashmir and not a disproportionate lunge towards India or Pakistan. It is also the right time that government of Kashmir starts regaining its initiatives as party to two separate agreements of August and October 1947 with the governments of Pakistan and India. It should seek to enforce its role under UNCIP Resolutions as well.
Author is London based Secretary General of JKCHR – NGO in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations.  Email dr-nazirgilani@jkchr.com
 

Sonia Gandhi to visit J&K on May 29

Jammu, May 23 (KMW): UPA Chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi will visit Jammu and Kashmir on May 29, a party spokesman said here today. Ms Gandhi is scheduled to will visit Jammu and Srinagar during her daylong tour, the spokesman told KMW.The UPA Chairperson will inaugurate a tribal cultural center of Gujjars in Jammu and address a ''select gathering'' at a function organized by the nomadic community, the spokesman said. In the afternoon, Ms Gandhi will fly to Srinagar and lay the foundation stone of a colony for the Dal Lake dwellers.The Government had decided to rehabilitate Dal Lake dwellers on the outskirts of Srinagar. About 11,000 Dal dwellers would be shifted out of the lake where they had set up their clusters.In the evening, Ms Gandhi will fly back to New Delhi, the spokesman added.

Girls get arms training to fight militants: Kashmir

Kashmirmediawatch
Rajouri (Jammu and Kashmir), May 21: Girls in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri District are being imparted special arms training by the police to counter militancy in the State. The Rajouri police personnel gave training to these young girls, who generally lead sheltered lives at a special camp here on Thursday, so that they are able to defend themselves.” The training that we are getting here, we have learnt how to use AK-47 rifles and .303 rifles," said Tazzim Akhtar, a trainee at the camp.” We live very far off. It's a forest area. We have our parents at home and our mothers sit at home alone, and with this we will be able to protect them," said Razia Begum, another trainee at the camp. Last year, a teenaged girl, Rukhsana Kauser, who is now a special officer with the Jammu and Kashmir Police Force, along with her sibling, overpowered a Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist, snatched his rifle and fired at him, killing him on the spot and injuring another in Kalsian village, about 217 kilometers from Jammu. (KMW)

Musharraf plans return to Pakistan, politics

Washington: Pakistan's former president Perez Musharraf has said that he planned to return from exile and re-enter politics, and did not rule out a new bid for the presidency.
Musharraf, who has mostly lived in London since losing power following 2008 elections, visited Washington this week and met quietly with prominent Pakistanis at an elite hotel.
In an interview with CNN, Musharraf said he intended to return to politics, although he did not set a time frame.
"I certainly am planning to go back to Pakistan and also join politics. The question already of whether I am running for president or prime minister will be seen later," he said.
Officials in Pakistan earlier said Musharraf had applied to register a new party with electoral authorities, setting the stage for a political comeback. (Agencies)

Hurriyat sets preconditions for talks

Srinagar, May 21 (KMW): Asserting that there was no 'open' or 'quiet' dialogue going on between separatists and the Union government, moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq today set preconditions for initiating talks with the Centre to resolve the Kashmir issue. “If government of India is serious about holding talks for resolution of Kashmir issue, it should release all political prisoners unconditionally, revoke all black laws like Armed Forces Special Powers Act, withdraw troops and announce a comprehensive political package", Mirwaiz told a gathering at Eidgah martyrs graveyard here this evening. "If these measures are initiated and India shows seriousness to carry forward the dialogue for resolution of Kashmir issue with pro-freedom leadership, we as well as the people of the state are ready for talks," the moderate Hurriyat Conference Chairman said.

BSF involved in Kashmir violence: Canada

New Delhi, 21 May 2010 :(NDTV):In a startling attack, the Canadian High Commission has accused the Border Security Force (BSF) of human right violations.
Canada has apparently denied a visa application by a retired BSF constable Fateh Singh Pander.
The reason given for denying the visa is that the BSF is a violent paramilitary unit that is involved in human rights violations and excessive violence in Kashmir.
The Ministry of External Affairs has said it has taken up the matter with Canadian authorities.

Muslim protest against Facebook

Mumbai, May 21 (KMW): Muslims in the city today protested against the social networking website 'Face book' for hosting a competition by inviting users to draw a caricature of Prophet Mohammad. In a protest meeting held at Minara Masjid at Bhendi Bazar and at Hindustani Masjid at Byculla in South Mumbai, various Muslim organizations demanded for a permanent ban on 'Face book' and chanted slogans against the website operators.The protest meeting at Minara Masjid, conducted by Raza Academy, demanded ban on Facebook and asked the government to take action against the organizers of the competition. Protesters blocked traffic at Bhendi Bazar.  Hindustani Masjid noted Islamic scholar Maulana Abdul Jabbar Kadri said, ''we cannot tolerate such things which hurt the sentiments of millions of Muslims across the world''. The competition, called Draw Mohammed Day, was announced on April 20 and was scheduled to be held on May 20.Protests have been organized in several parts of the city against the competition.

J&K police raises 120-member VDC to counter terrorism along IB

Jammu, May 21 (UNI) In a bid to counter increased attempts of infiltration from across the border, the Jammu and Kashmir police have raised well-equipped and trained Village Defense Committees (VDC) comprising 120-member to strengthen security along the international border (IB) from Lakhanpur to Akhnoor.

They have been trained to handle sophisticated weapons and asked to be more vigilant. They have been asked to actively perform their task around their localities situated in the bordering belts.

The VDC members, who underwent a specialised training session organised by the state police, this morning displayed their skills of shooting and fighting terrorism at Satowali firing range in bordering R S Pura sector, some 25-km from here.

''As the infiltration attempts were on rise along the international border for past sometime, a new squad of VDC members have been raised that will cooperate with the police and the paramilitary troops in countering terrorism, Superintendent of Police(Rural) J S Johar told UNI at the firing range.

Mr Johar said VDC members have been trained for handling weapons, besides using Wireless Local Loop (WLL) phones which have provided to them to pass on vital information.

''Around 15 VDC members have been re-activated along the border in Hiranagar sector and as many as will maintain vigil in different villages of R S Pura belt,'' a senior police officer said.

He however, maintained that VDCs have been revamped, to strengthen security in their respective villages situated along the stretch of 170-km of international border from Akhnoor to Lakhnapur.

''The trained VDCs were called here at Satowali firing range to display their talent of handling arms and fighting militants,'' a police officer said, adding the VDCs were issued .303 rifles and WLL phones as per the policy and the requirement.

The number of VDCs set up along the bordering villages included 28 in R S Pura, 10 in Arnia, seven in Bishnah, one in Miran Sahib, 15 in Hiranagar, 18 in Samba, while rest of the committees are in Akhnoor, Kanachak, Domana and Rajbagh areas.

''The VDCs would not only maintain vigil but also carry out patrolling especially during night in their respective areas and viz a viz maintain liaison with the police pickets along the border,'' he said.

17 cross sides in Karvan-e-Aman Bus

Srinagar, May 20 (KMW): Seven guests from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) arrived here today while five people of Kashmir crossed over to other side in the Karvan-e-Aman Bus operating between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad.Official sources told KMW that seven guests from PoK, including a woman arrived here after crossing the Amen Setu Bridge on foot at Kaman Post, the last Indian military post on the LoC in Uri Sector this afternoon. As many as five residents of the Kashmir valley crossed over to other side to meet their relatives for the first time. This was for the first time after three weeks that five residents of Kashmir crossed over to the other side. They said five residents of PoK, who had come here in previous buses, also returned to their home.

18 killed in Karachi violence

Karachi, May 20 (KMW): Violence once again returned to Karachi with at least 18 persons, including a four year old boy, being murdered in a wave of ethnic and political killings across the city. It is worth mentioning here that the killings took place just a day after all coalition parties vowed to work together to establish peace in the city as well as in the whole Sindh Province. Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has directed all law enforcement agencies to take concrete steps to check the widespread violence. He asked the Karachi city administration to keep a tight vigil on miscreants and increase the deployment of security officials and Rangers across the country’s financial capital. “Some miscreants are out to disturb the law and order situation in Karachi for ulterior motives and their designs would be foiled by the coalition parties with the cooperation of citizens,” The Dawn quoted Shah, as saying. Shah also met a delegation of the Awami National Party, led by Amin Khattak, and assured the leaders that persons behind the killings would be nabbed soon. Provincial Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza and Karachi police Chief Wasim Ahmad were also present during the meeting.

LeT trained Shahzad to fight in Kashmir

Washington, May 20 (KMW): Pakistani-American Faisal Shahzad, arrested in connection with botched Times Square car bombing plot in New York was trained by LeT in a terrorist camp in Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir to be infiltrated into the Indian side, a top commander of the terror group has said. But, the 30-year-old son of a former Pakistani Air vice Marshal wanted to go to Afghanistan to fight US troops.Shahzad, financial analyst in Connecticut, visited Pakistan in mid-June 2006 to receive training at a camp belonging to LeT, according to the commander at Let’s main base of operations in Dulai, a village 25 km south of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir."Shahzad came to us for training... He stayed with us for three months and we provided him with the basics. Then he went back to the US," the commander was quoted as saying by the Canadian magazine Maclean which did not named him.

Two Pak militants of LeT killed in Doda

Jammu, May 19 (KMW): Two Pakistani militants of the Lashkar-e-Toiba were today gunned down by security forces in an ongoing encounter at Joura in Gandoh area of mountainous Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir today, a senior army officer here said.’ Two LeT militants from Pakistan were killed in fiercely fought gun battle at Jorah in Gandoh area of Doda this afternoon,’’ an army officer told KMW. Bodies of slain militants, identified as Abu Maz and Abu Anaz, were recovered, the officer confirmed, adding two AK assault rifles were also recovered from the site of encounter.

India, Pak to remove mistrust through business cooperation

New Delhi, May 19 (KMW): Setting aside political differences, India and Pakistan have decided to change public perception and remove the existing mistrust between the two countries through promotion of trade and business ties. A two-day meeting of top Indian and Pakistani CEOs and entrepreneurs here, which concluded today, proposed several steps to aggressively pursue the benefits of economic cooperation and identified several sectors having the highest potential for bilateral cooperation. These include energy, agriculture, healthcare, information technology and education.

Two jawans killed in militant attack along LOC: Military

JAMMU, May 18 (KMW): Two army jawans were killed and 3 injured when unidentified militants, who sneaked into Indian Territory, attacked an Army patrol party's vehicle along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. The militants attacked a vehcile of Army's patrol party at Nangi post when they were moving between two posts in Krishna Gati sub-sector in Poonch district at around 1645 hours, Brigadier General Gurdeep Singh of 16 Corps said. The ultras then opened fire killing 2 jawans killed and wounding 3 others, he said. Troops guarding the LOC fired back but the militants managed to escape back towards Pakistan side. Security along the LOC has been further enhanced after the incident, he said.

Head of Pak Kashmir committee welcomes Krishna's visit

Peshawar, May 18 (KMW): The upcoming visit to Pakistan by Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna will help promote peace in the region, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam leader Fazlur Rehman said today.Rehman, who heads the Kashmir committee of the national Assembly or lower house of parliament, expressed his firm belief in peace talks between Pakistan and India."We will welcome S M Krishna to Pakistan as meaningful dialogue is in the interests of both neighbouring countries," he told reporters. The proposed talks will take forward the peace process though it would be more appropriate to involve the Kashmiri leadership from both countries in the parleys so that the Kashmir issue can be resolved in accordance with their wishes, he claimed.

Omar Scold Umar on Kashmir’s ground reality: Dr. Syed Nazir Gilani

Omar Abdullah and Umar Farooq have decided to nudge into each other’s ribs in public interest. One has accused the other that “separatist leadership was putting poor people before the bullets to safeguard their own vested interests”, and the other has blamed the first for being “unaware of Kashmir’s ground reality as he was busy making his career outside the state when Kashmiris were being maimed and killed”. Mir Waiz Umar has further added that “Economic development isn’t possible without political stability and it won’t come till Kashmir issue is resolved according to the aspirations of people of Jammu and Kashmir”.
Both are wrong in their blame game and their respective political disciplines have nothing satisfactory to offer to the real man and woman living far remote from the two habitats of Nagin and Gupkar. Neither of the two remains in fact fully knowledgeable about the ground realities that have continued to exist in the broad spread of the State of Jammu and Kashmir since 1846. Ground reality in fact includes death of a generation, unemployment, hunger, disease, living below poverty line, life in villages, farmer and his school going children, the scare health care, the rugged travel facilities and scant opportunities for the majority (except an elite class that surfaced after 1990) and common minimum programme to abuse the trust of people by the ‘separatist’ leaders and the ‘ruling’ party alike are the real ground realities. 
The disturbing ground reality in fact is that the first generation of separatist leaders have returned to their private businesses, sought perks and privileges in India and Pakistan and some have decided to settle down in foreign countries. If Mirwaiz Umar cares to look at the early register of Hurriyat leaders domiciled in Islamabad, Pakistan a majority of them decided to pack up their politics and are very comfortably either back in their towns in Kashmir or have used the Kashmir slogan to seek settlement in Saudia, US, UK, Germany, Greece, Switzerland and many other countries around the world. Other noble and pious leaders of the early days ‘appointed’  to run the first Kashmir Embassy in Delhi (Kashmir Awareness Bureau) have also decided to return to their old government jobs. It has been all about careering making so far.  Poor people need to be there to be put before the bullets during a march to Martyrs’ Graveyard and Eidgah and for long queues to form the life line of the electoral process to put Omar Abdullah into power.
In fact the poor people for whom Omar Abdullah has expressed his concern and the massacred and other violated for whom Umar Farooq is so concerned do not fit in the political jigsaw puzzle of either of the two. Politics of the two has no relation with the real life and habitat of Kashmir.
Umar Farooq is wrong at core to begrudge the common man an ‘economic development’, if at all Omar Abdullah would ever dedicate his time and politics to achieve it. One needs to bear in mind that the present government of Omar Abdullah has been voted into a responsibility by the free will of real people. There has been an expression of political stability. As a start to appear credible in his claim Umar Farooq should induct a democratic regime in his factions of Hurriyat and dare to surrender the protection of security forces and police who have otherwise remained involved in “killing people, raping women and destroying residential places”. The role of these security forces in protecting a class of leaders and going mad after the life, liberty, honour and property of the ‘poor people’ presents a serious moral dilemma. Rewards and consequences of death are different for Umar Farooq and Omar Abdullah as compared to the ones faced by the poor people in general.
Omar Abdullah has used the concern of poor people for his self serving cause. If separatist leadership “was putting poor people “ in the harm’s way”, “to safeguard their own vested interests” it is his duty as elected representative of these people to ensure that bullets are not released on the chests and backs of these people. He is there to protect life and other interests of the ‘poor’ and ‘rich’ alike. It is a reality that neither of the two (Omar and Umar) have ever experienced the life of a ‘poor’ Kashmir and it is unfortunate that the poor is the enduring fodder of their political strategy.
Umar Farooq should understand that economic development is much more important than the political stability. Economics touches every household in every part of Kashmir and politics at the end of the day is the luxury of a special class. The poor people have a right to move from a routine process of life to enjoy a quality of life.
Unless we endeavour to empower the common man and woman in Kashmir there is every risk that Omar and Umar may trade us off to India or Pakistan in the same manner in which we were sold off by the British to Maharajah in March 1846. It took Kashmiris 31 years when in October 1877 they raved courage to present a memorandum of demands to the Viceroy.
Umar Farooq has said that “economic development won’t come till Kashmir issue is resolved according to the aspirations of people of Jammu and Kashmir”. One would like to lavish all praise and all support to this opinion if he were a Kashmiri of ‘common circumstances’. He does not represent in any manner the common reflex of general poverty and trauma that has hit Kashmir from 1846. Unfortunately the two families have continued to remain beneficiaries of all tragedies of our history.
It goes without an iota of dispute that separatist leaders have never taken on board the aspirations of the people in their routine politics, dialogue with India, travel to Pakistan or for their alleged yes vote to ‘Secret Deal’ done on Kashmir which is lying in the drawers of the foreign office of Pakistan. If Umar Farooq has the case of “killing people, raping women and destroying residential places” dear to his political discipline the best way out remains to challenge the chief minister in a court of law for criminal responsibility and abetment in the violation of human rights. Involvement in human rights violation makes him (Omar) and other members of his cabinet (party members and administration) amenable to international jurisdiction for arrest in any country of the world including India and Pakistan.
Umar farooq has thrown the caution out of the window when he has accused Omar Abdullah of “organising Grameen Mela by getting people who are on the payrolls of the government”. Every Kashmiri has a right to work for a living and it entails that he will be on a payroll. Our judiciary, bureaucracy, teachers, doctors, civil servants and many others all remain on payroll. It is a fact that some politicians in the separatist camp continue to remain on the payroll of their parent departments in the government. Wife of a leading separatist leader based in Islamabad used to travel after every 6 months to Kashmir and receive her accrued salary from the education department in her district. Government of India and the government of Kashmir would encourage the greed by turning a deaf ear to such cases. Common Kashmiri has no choice but to wait for occasions when one or the other cahlo or mela brings him a daily wage. Let us not begrudge the poor a morsel of bread in the evening.
The government, separatists and the poor man all have to be on a payroll of their respective kind. More so, common citizen’s payroll is duly guaranteed under article 19 of J & K Constitution and separatists should force the government to honour it.
Author is London based Secretary General of JKCHR – NGO in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations.  Email dr-nazirgilani@jkchr.com

Army busts militant hideout in Kashmir

Srinagar, May 17 (KMW): The army Monday busted a militant hideout in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district in an ongoing operation against the guerrillas, an official said.
A defence spokesperson told KMW that troops had killed 11 separatist guerrillas in Operation Thunder Strike launched 12 days ago.
‘Operation Thunder Strike was launched by the army on May 5 in the forests of north Kashmir and as part of this operation the troops early today (Monday)busted a hideout and recovered huge quantity of arms and ammunition,’ defence spokesperson Lt. Col. J.S.Brar said.
‘Our troops recovered 10-AK-47 rifles, one RPG gun, three 303 rifles, over 100 grenades, mines and improvised explosive device (IED) stores,’ he said.
Brar added that the operation in the area continued.

Govt bans 100 terror outfits

New Delhi, May 17 (KMW) : In a move indicating toughening of stand against terrorism, the government has banned more than 100 terrorist outfits from all over the world that are linked to Al-Qaida. These include terror outfits like the Islamic Combatant Group of Morocco, Egyptian Islamic Jihad, Uzbekistan's Islamic Movement, Indonesia's Jemaah Islamiyah, Libya's Islamic Jihad Group and the International Islamic Relief Organisation of the Philippines. India had already been keeping a watch on these outfits in accordance with UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. The Union Home Ministry, which has named these organisations in its revised list of banned outfits, has also for the first time identified the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) as one of the terrorist organisations. Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) and International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) are already on the list. The list also already includes terrorist outfits like SIMI, LeT, JeM, HUJI, HM, LTTE, ULFA, NDFB, Tahrik-e-Furqan, Al Badr, Jamiat-ul-Mujahidden, HuM, Harkat-ul-Ansar, Al-Umar-Mujahideen, Jammu and  Kashmir Islamic Front, Deendar Anjuman, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) and Maoist Communist  Centre.

Nuclear capable Agni II test fired from Wheeler Island

Balasore, May 17 (KMW) India today test fired the nuclear-capable intermediate range surface-to-surface missile Agni-II from the launch complex four of Wheeler Island off the Orissa coast.
Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur on sea sources said the missile was test fired at 0915 hours and it met all the mission objectives.

The flight test of the missile was conducted by a team of the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) and the Defence Research Development Organisation scientists provided the logistic support.

ITR sources said today's trial was the user trial of Agni-II to confirm the missile's readiness.

On November 23 last year, the missile was tested after sunset for the first time but it failed to fulfil the mission objectives.

Carrying a payload of nearly 1000 kg, the missile could neutralise a target at over 2,000 km range. The range could be further enhanced to 3,000 kms depending on the payload.

Major reshuffle in civil, police admn on cards: Cabinet Meets Today

Kashmirmediawatch; News
Srinagar, May 11: The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will chair a crucial cabinet meeting at Civil Secretariat here on Wednesday. Informed sources told Kashmirmediawatch that the state cabinet will meet here on Wednesday held at 5.30 pm and employees’ demands and transfer policy will dominate the agenda. “The three-member-committee will deliberate on how to make the transfer policy more efficient and effective,” they said. “Since it is the first cabinet meeting after the re-opening of Move offices in Srinagar, focus would be on a government agenda for six months ahead.  The employees’ demands will also come up for discussion and there is every likelihood that the cabinet will finalize the roadmap about resolving employees’ issues,” they said.
Likely to order large-scale reshuffle in civil and Police   administration, sources said adding, some high profile post lying vacant are also expected to be filled up.

India, Pakistan Foreign Mins to meet on July 15

New Delhi, May 11 (KMW): Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan will meet in Islamabad on July 15 to work out the methodology for carrying forward the stalled dialogue between the two countries.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna will travel to Islamabad for discussions with Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to ''discuss all issues'' and carry forward the dialogue between the two countries.

This was decided during the 30-minute telephonic conversation between the two foreign ministers today.

The External Affairs Minister, who called up his ''esteemed friend'' Mr. Qureshi, was invited by him to visit Islamabad. Mr. Krishna accepted the invitation and both will meet on July 15.

Home Minister P Chidambaram is also expected to meet Pakistan's Interior Minister Rahman Malik on June 26 during his visit to Pakistan to attend the SAARC Home Ministers' Conference.

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir are also expected to meet the same day to lay the groundwork for the meeting between the two Foreign Ministers, sources said.

Speaking to reporters after the telephonic conversation, Mr. Krishna said the talks between him and Mr. Qureshi would cover ''all outstanding issues.'' ''The Foreign Minister of Pakistan has invited me to Islamabad on July 15. So, I am planning to visit Islamabad for my talks with Foreign Minister Qureshi. I am looking forward to the talks,'' he said.(KMW)

General strike cripples life in Kashmir

Srinagar, May 10 (KMW): Life was today crippled in the Kashmir valley on a general strike call given by the Kashmir Bar Association (KBA).
The strike call was supported by almost all separatist organizations.
The KBA had called the strike in protest against an alleged conspiracy to change the demographic complexion of the state, collapse of state judicial system in mitigating the sufferings of political détentes and inter-district recruitment bill, which was passed by the state Assembly in the last session at Jammu.
Shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was also off the roads in the summer capital, where the darbar move offices, including the seat of the government, civil secretariat, reopen here today after functioning from Jammu, winter capital, during winter months.
Work in government offices, banks and financial institutions was affected due to the strike.
The educational institutions wore a deserted look as students and teaching staff stayed away in response to strike call.
Work in courts was also paralysed as lawyers and other judicial staff stayed away from work.
A report from Anantnag said that complete shut down was observed there and other south Kashmir district with all shops and business establishment remaining closed.
Traffic was also off the roads and majority government offices, banks and educational institutions remained shut.
Business and other activities remained crippled in Baramulla and other north Kashmir towns due to strike.
Work in government offices, banks, educational institutions and courts were also affected.
Similar reports were received from other parts of the valley.

Asiya Andrabi invited for UK conference

Srinagar, May 10 (KMW): Chairperson of Dukhtaran-e-Milat Asiya Andrabi has been invited by Tehreek-e-Kashmir, United Kingdom for a International Kashmir Conference that would be organized on the silver jubilee celebrations of the organisation. According to an official communiqué of TeK, the organization founded in June 1985 by Kashmir is living in UK to wage a peaceful campaign for the right of self-determination for the people of Jammu Kashmir at international level, is organizing an International Kashmir Conference on 18 July 2010 at Birmingham. Prominent leaders from Pakistan administered Kashmir; Kashmiri leaders from Europe, USA, Middle East, Britain and European members of Parliament have also been invited to the event.

Exiting westerly to light up east

Vinson Kurian
Thiruvananthapuram, May 10
A prevailing western disturbance over Jammu and Kashmir has moved away eastwards only to light up east and north-east India in fresh weather activity.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of thunder squalls at some places over Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarkhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Sikkim, the north-eastern States, Orissa and Chhattisgarh during the next two days.
MOISTURE INCURSION
The IMD blamed this on incursion of moisture taking place in the region under the influence of the strong south-westerly to south-south-westerly winds from the Bay of Bengal.
A supportive but constantly shifting north-south trough on Monday ran down from Bihar to north Orissa across Jharkhand.
Another north-south trough tracked from Marathwada down to the south Tamil Nadu coast across Karnataka and Kerala.
Meanwhile, at least two US-based forecasting models saw weather activity peaking over southeast Arabian Sea and adjoining equatorial Indian Ocean and south-west Bay of Bengal during May 18 to 26.
MJO PHASE
This is despite the forecast of a dry phase of the Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) wave intervening, according to the National Centres for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) and the Climate Prediction Centre (CPC) of the National Weather Services.
This has led a few experts here to wonder if this would go to precipitate the onset of the southwest monsoon, since only it has the residual strength to keep the activity going even in the presence of a ‘dry phase' of the MJO.
The current ‘wet' (and alternating) phase of the MJO wave would last until around May 19, which would afford the monsoon system sufficient fuel to fire away on its own strength, these experts feel.
Experimental Global Forecast System (GFS) model of the IMD too sees activity building around extreme southwest peninsula from around May 17.
FRESH WESTERLY
A fresh western disturbance was awaiting its turn over north Pakistan and adjoining Jammu and Kashmir to move further east into the west Himalayas.
It has induced the formation of an upper air cyclonic circulation over central Pakistan.
The fresh western disturbance is likely to affect western Himalayas during the next four days.
Satellite imagery on Monday morning showed the presence of convective (rain- or thundershower-causing) clouds over Jammu and Kashmir in the north and Manipur and Mizoram in the northeast.
Low to medium clouds (partly clouded conditions) were seen over east Bihar, West Bengal, Sikkim, remaining parts of western Himalayas and the Northeastern States.
Towards the south, convective clouds rose high over Lakshadweep, south interior Karnataka, Rayalaseema and southeast Arabian Sea.
Low to medium clouds were seen over Konkan, Goa, south Andaman Sea, remaining parts of western Himalayas, the Northeastern states and south peninsular India.
Forecasts valid until Thursday spoke about the possibility of fairly widespread rain or thundershowers over Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh and scattered over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.
They will be scattered over Jammu and Kashmir and isolated over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarkhand. Isolated dust storm or thunderstorms may occur over Punjab and west Rajasthan during the next 24 hours.
Isolated rain or thundershowers may occur over Konkan, Goa and Madhya Maharashtra during the next two days while they would be scattered over Kerala, coastal and south interior Karnataka, Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Andhra Pradesh, north interior Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are likely to witness isolated thundershowers.
Meanwhile, heat wave conditions prevailed over some parts of Vidarbha, Telangana and Marathwada and isolated pockets of Gujarat and Orissa.
The highest maximum temperature of 46.1 deg Celsius was recorded at Chandrapur in Maharashtra during the 24 hours ending Monday morning.

Karnataka ex-minister arrested on Hallappa for alleged rape

Shimoga (Karnataka), May 9 (KMW): Former Karnataka minister Hallappa was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Sunday evening for allegedly raping his friend’s wife.
He was arrested following interrogation.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had earlier given Halappa time till May 10 to appear before it, as it wanted to question Halappa for rape case against him.
Hallappa appeared for questioning before the Superintendent of Police of Shimoga on Sunday morning.
Police have slapped charges of rape, wrongful confinement and intimidation against Halappa, who has denied them.
Meanwhile, the Shimoga court is to hear Halappa''s anticipatory bail plea on May 11.
On May 3, Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa had announced a CID probe after Halappa, who is from the Chief Minister’s home district of Shimoga, resigned on May 2 following a Kannada media report on the alleged incident that took place in November 2009.
Chandravati, the alleged rape victim, filed the complaint. She, her husband Venkatesh Murthy and a lawyer called on State Director General of Police Ajay Kumar Singh at his residence and filed a report against the minister.
She filed a complaint under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Meanwhile, Murthy also released a CD to media, which contains visuals of Halappa in his house. 
Yeddyurappa and Halappa have accused the opposition of trying to malign the BJP''s image in the state through this case

82-year-old Indian yogi claims good health after fasting 65 years

NEW DELHI, May 9 (KMW):It may sound humanly impossible, but meet "miracle man" Prahlad Jani, an 82-year-old Indian, who claims to have eaten not a single grain of rice or consumed a drop of water for the past 65 years.
Jani, also known as Mataji, has in fact surprised doctors across the globe who have found that the monk's body is performing absolutely well on different medical tests even at this age which is not usually observed in a normal person taking regular diet.
In a recent interview with a local TV channel, Jani has claimed that he has not taken any food or water for over 65 years and by practicing a special type of yoga, even a normal person can survive without food and water.
In the same program, another yogi from India's northern Himalayan region also confirmed that with the help of the special yoga, normal people can survive without food or water.
These practices come handy for people who pray in Himalaya for years without much food, he said.
To find out the truth, a team of 30 doctors conducted several tests on Mataji for 15 days starting from April 22, 2010.
"During the tests we found that in Prahalad Jani's bladder, the amount of liquid fluctuates even when he does not pass urine," local media quoted a member of the team of medical experts, which conducted medical tests on Mataji, as saying.
Fifteen days of medical tests on Mataji were completed on Thursday at 15:30 p.m. and all reports of medical tests were normal. And this is an old man at the age of 82 years.
Dr. G. Ilavazahagan, director, Defense Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS), and neurologist Sudhir Shah, while briefing reporters about Mataji's medical reports, said different tests at different time were conducted as per the protocol set up by partners.
"We did blood tests for hematology, bio-chemistry, hormone profile and the reports were in the pre-determined safety range throughout the observation period as per the protocol," said Dr. Shah.
The doctors said Jani's nerve conduction studies revealed normal nerve function, which is not likely in a person of his age.
"Mataji's EEG is also normal and we are analyzing data during meditation if there are any changes," Dr. Shah SA.

PPP demands speedy trial in Tabinda Ghani, Asrar Dar and Romana Javaid’s Case

Srinagar: May 08, 2010(KMW): Since past few years, Valley of Kashmir, the land of Sufis and saints witnessed first time in the history murders of youth in a typical Crime Style. The most shocking murders were the Romana Javaid’s (Student) murder, student of 11th standard daughter of Dr. Javaid by one Shoab Daryl, Nazir Mahajan’s murder by his own son, Asrar Dar’s (Student) murder by his own friend, Tabinda Ghani’s Brutal rape and murder by Bihari Laborers, Sakina Qadir’s (Student) murder by one Irfan Ahmad Bhat, Shabir Ahmad Sheikh’s murder for just Rs.600. These glaring examples amply prove that Kashmir is slowly become another Bihar and people of Kashmir especially youth are getting influenced by Biharis’ crime culture due to huge population of Biharis in Kashmir Valley.
People’s Political Party (PPP), Chairman, Hilal Ahmad War, called an advisory council meeting and discussed this issue threadbare. A resolution was passed in the meeting whereby PPP Chief, Hilal Ahmad War demanded that the Govt. should order speedy trial in the aforesaid murder cases in order to punish these killers who have committed heinous crimes which Kashmir never witnessed in the past. The conviction of these killers would convey a message to other criminals that there is no room for such crimes in Kashmir.
PPP believes once speedy trial starts and court passes sentence to the Killers of Asrar Dar, Romana Javaid, Tabinda Ghani, Sakina Qadir, Shabir Sheikh, Nazir Mahajan etc, this landmark judgment will regenerate the faith of the common man of Kashmir on the judiciary system who has otherwise lost his faith in the justice system .The common man of Kashmir is emotionally attached with these cases. The common man of Kashmir is expecting a model and harsh punishment to these killers in order to save Kashmir from witnessing any such brutal crimes in future. PPP believes that these cases are not State vs Killers but Kashmiri masses vs Killers. Therefore any delay in this regard could trigger a fresh mass agitation in Kashmir because these cases are being watched and monitored by common man of Kashmir, particularly youth.

Bar Kashmir Bandh Calls On Monday

Srinagar, May 08, (KMW): High Court Bar Association Saturday called for shutdown on May 10 against the ‘census manipulations’, SC clause in job bill and ‘failure of judiciary’ in mitigating the sufferings of Kashmiri detainees.
The bandh call, given for the day the government durbar opens in the summer capital, has been supported by both factions of the Hurriyat Conference, and other groups.
Speaking at a press conference here, president of the HCBA, Mian Abdul Qayoom, denounced the functioning of the state’s courts as a “drama” saying that people were being harassed the most where they should have got protection.
“A farce being enacted here, not justice for the countless victims who have been put behind bars for demanding their rights,” Qayoom said.
“The government does not tire of telling the assembly that only 100 persons are detained under the PSA, while the fact is that the Act was invoked against 728 persons since 2009 till January 2010, and 412 persons are still in jail under the Act,” he said.
“Moreover, 147 persons have been jailed under the PSA since January alone,” he said.
“The PSA had been formulated against forest smugglers, but now it is being used as tool of political vendetta,” he said. “Over 50,000 people have been arrested under this act in the past 20 years.”
“The courts are not unaware of the oppression being wreaked on the people in Kashmir, but the judges are unmoved. The High Court is considered to be a standard-bearer of freedom, but even this highest institution of justice is a mute spectator,” he said.
Citing the example of the chief judicial magistrate in Bandipur, wom he likened to Nadir Shah, Qayoom said that the magistrate had framed laws of his own to persecute those involved with the Kashmir movement.
The HCBA president targeted district magistrates for “misusing thier position” and invoking the PSA on the flimsiest of pretexts.

“The faith of the people in the judiciary has been eroded due to the conditional ties in the orders passed by the judges in PSA cases and related issues,” he said.
“Stays on PSA charges are so vaguely and ambiguously worded that the police has no problem in re-arresting detainees supposed to have been released by the courts,” he said.
Referring to the convictions in the Lajpat Nagar blast case, Qayoom said that the judge himself had admitted to being immense pressure.
“How come some of the accused were released after 14 long years and some convicted and sentenced when the evidence in all the cases was similar?” he said.
“A non Kashmiri politician agitated the case of the Maqbool Shah - who spent 14 years in jail – but no leader in the state bothered to utter a single word on the injustice,” he said.
“The judiciary here has been paralyzed, and its sanctity is being violated,” he said.

3 militants killed, 60kg explosives seized in north Kashmir

J&K, May 08, 2010(KMW):  Three militants, one of them belonging to Hizbul Mujahideen, were killed today in separate gunfights with security forces who busted three ultra hideouts seizing 60kg explosives besides a huge cache of arms in north Kashmir.
Two militants were killed in a fierce gun battle with security forces in Shah Nagri Forest in Handwara, some 80km from summer capital Srinagar, officials said.
Security forces, acting on specific information that some militants were hiding there, cordoned off the area, they said.
As the troops zeroed in on the militants, they opened fire triggering a gunfight in which two ultras were killed.
The identity and group affiliations of the slain ultras were yet to be ascertained, the officials said.
A Hizbul Mujahideen militant was killed and a policeman wounded in the exchange of fire between security forces and ultras at Mahore in Jammu division's Reasi district.
The gunbattle, in which a police constable was wounded, was still on as another militant was believed to be trapped in the area, police said.
The injured policeman was airlifted to Jammu city for treatment.
In another encounter at Kakote in Doda district last night, police head constable Abdul Rashid was injured.
The militants escaped under the cover of darkness, the officials said adding a hunt had been launched to apprehend them.
Security forces busted three ultra hideouts in the valley and seized a large quantity of arms and ammunition, the officials said.
Sixty 60kg of explosives, 17 grenades, a rifle, seven detonators and 37 gelatine sticks were recovered when a LeT hideout was smashed in Kishtwar district.
The hideout was located in a cave in Nadigam forest area, 270km from Jammu, the officials said.
A hideout each was smashed in Tral belt in southern Pulwama and in Kangan area in Ganderbal district.
The seizure included two rifles, five rockets, several hand grenades, an Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL), an IED fitted on a gas cylinder, a Pak-made pistol and an AK magazine with 14 rounds.
Hizbul militants barged into a house at Akhal village, 45km from Srinagar, last night and shot dead a 27-year-old man.
The brother of the deceased was a Hizbul militant who had surrendered before security forces last year.
He was killed to apparently avenge the surrender of his brother.

Kasab’s death sentence would not hinder talks with Krishna: Qureshi

Islamabad, May 8 (ANI):  The death sentence awarded to Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone surviving November 2008 Mumbai carnage gunman, would not affect any future talks between New Delhi and Islamabad, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said.
Talking to reporters here, Qureshi clarified that the Mumbai special anti-terror court’s judgment against Kasab would not hinder the proposed talks between the foreign ministers of the two neighboring countries.
He said the date and venue of the meeting would soon be finalized.
Qureshi said Pakistani experts were yet to review the judgment in the Kasab case.
It may noted that during their meeting on the sidelines of the XVIth South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit in Thimpu last month, both Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani had mandated their respective foreign ministers and foreign secretaries to meet and work out the modalities for resuming deliberations between the two estranged countries.
Condemning the ghastly Mumbai terror attacks, in which 166 people were killed and over 200 injured, Qureshi said Pakistan has also been a victim of terrorism.
“Those who lost their relatives in terror incidents in the country could feel the pain of people who suffered in the Mumbai attack,” The Daily Times quoted Qureshi, as saying. (ANI)

Policeman injured in mistaken firing incident in Doda

Jammu, May 8 (KMW) :A Selection Grade Constable of the Jammu and Kashmir Police was seriously injured in a cross-firing between the two police parties conducting anti-militancy operation, in mountainous Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Two separate teams of police personnel conducting anti-militancy operation mistakenly engaged each other in a gun-battle due to ''an error of judgment'' in the forested Gandoh area of Doda district.
The policemen understood the mistake only after some ammunition were fired, the officer said, adding, ‘‘one policeman, identified as Abdul Rashid Khandey, was seriously injured in the firing incident.'' ''However, the detailed report on how the mistake happened is awaited,'' the officer said, adding the wounded constable was shifted to the Government District Hospital Doda for treatment.

5 militants, 2 soldiers killed in north Kashmir encounter

Baramulla, May 7 (KMW) Five militants and two soldiers of Rashtriya Rifles (RR) were killed in a fierce encounter going on in the woods at Rafiabad in north Kashmir. A defence ministry spokesman said troops of RR launched a search operation in the woods at Hapatnar, Rafiabad, in Baramulla district last evening following a tip off about the presence of militants there. However, when the troops were moving towards a particular area in the dense forest, militants opened fire with automatic weapons and also fired rockets. Troops also retaliated and in the fierce encounter that ensued, four militants and two soldiers were killed. Official sources said reinforcement was rushed to the area from nearby camps and entire forest area was sealed from all sides to foil any militant attempt to escape. They said one more militant was killed today and operation was still going on when the reports last came in. On May 5, an Army officer Major Yogendra Rajbar, a resident of Dehradun and rifleman Uttam Singh were killed in a fierce encounter in north Kashmir district of Bandipora. However, militan

Paid Agents Create ‘Indiscipline’: Geelani

Srinagar, May 07, (KMW): Describing those creating “indiscipline” during peaceful protests as “paid agents,” the chairman of the Hurriyat (G), Syed Ali Shah Geelani, today strictly forbade provocative anti-India slogans.
“We want peace, not anybody’s death,” Geelani told a heavy gathering in Shalimar chowk after Friday prayers today.
“Paid Indian agents enter into our demonstrations when the Hurriyat calls for peaceful protests, and disrupt law and order, besides raising provocative slogans, like "bharat teri maut aayee, lashkar aayee, lashkar aayee"; giving the police and the paramilitary forces the justification to use violence,” Geelani said.
“We have launched a movement against the forcible and unlawful occupation by India, and youth will have to desist from all forms of provocative slogans,” he said.
Geelani said that Kashmiris would not accept any solution thrust on them by India and Pakistan.
“Talks between India and Pakistan will not succeed, nor tensions in the subcontinent subside, unless Kashmiris are taken into confidence,” he said.
“A solution to the Kashmir issue can be found only strictly according to the aspirations of Kashmiris,” he said.
Endorsing the recent statement by the head of Pakistan’s Kashmir Committee, Geelani said: “We are not terrorists, but we want our demands fulfilled, which is our right, and for which we have sacrificed lakhs of youth.”
Geelani said that Kashmiris would have to be on their guard against “conspiracies like the four-point formula, internal autonomy and status quo.”
Announcing to continue his campaign for troop withdrawal, Geelani said that lakhs of kanals of land were under the army’s illegal occupation an that it (the army) was planning to take over 52 lakh kanals more in Shopian where 3 lakh young trees were being chopped down.

BJP opposed to Indo-Pak talks till Islamabad ends 'Proxy war'

Hyderabad, May 7 (UNI) Terming Pakistan as 'epicentre of terrorist strikes across the globe,' senior BJP leader and MP M Venkaiah Naidu, today said that New Delhi should not hold talks with Islamabad till the later stopped ''aiding and abetting terrorism from across its eastern border with India.

He told a press conference here that the arrest of Pakistani American Faisal Shahzad after his failed mission to detonate a car bomb in New York's Time Square should be an ''eye opener'' to United States, which was providing aid and arms to Pakistan to fight terrorism on its Western border with Afghanistan.

''Talks with Pakistan will have no meaning unless Islamabad stopped aiding and abetting terrorism'' on its eastern borders with India, which had been the worst victim of Pakistan's ''proxy war'' which has lost in ''actual wars,'' he lamented.

Stating that India should mount pressure on the US to stop aid and arms to Pakistan, the BJP leader said, adding that the Manmohan Singh-Government should mobilise the International community's support to 'expose' the involvement of Pakistan-based terrorists in terror strikes across India, including Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi.

Geelani Calls For Peaceful Protests

Srinagar, May 06, (KMW): The chairman of the Hurriyat (G), Syed Ali Shah Geelani, on Thursday called for peaceful protests after Friday prayers tomorrow against the death sentence to two Kashmiris in the Lajpat Nagar blasts case, continued detention of political leaders, and the growing incidence of human right violations in Kashmir.
Geelani stressed on keeping the protests totally peaceful, and asked youth to refrain from acts that gave the police and the paramilitary forces the excuse to unleash violence.
Geelani, who visited a tear gas shell victim at the SKIMS, said that the police targeted peaceful demonstrations here with toxic shells meant for the war zone, which led to the loss of innocent lives and came under the purview of war crimes.
“Human rights organizations should take strong note of the practice,” he said.
The Hurriyat (G) chairman also visited the ailing daughter of his detained colleague, Ghulam Nabi Sumjhi, in Bijbehara, and flayed the “stone-hearted administration” for keeping the leader in jail despite court orders and the abject condition of his family.
Geelani reacted sharply to the statement by the minister for rural development, Ali Sagar, saying that the NC leader wanted to strengthen “Indian secularism” in Kashmir, and that the majority in the state was being turned into a minority under a deep conspiracy.