IG Crime orders PV in Budgam land conversion

DGP directs SSP to come down heavily on land mafia

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, Oct 16: Crime Headquarters of Jammu and Kashmir Police has taken cognizance of an exposè in STATE TIMES and ordered a time-bound Preliminary Verification of the reports of a large scale conversion of agricultural lands in violation of Agrarian Reforms Act and a chain of orders of a Division Bench of J&K High Court.

Vide his letter No: CHQ/Clt/15/K-972-15/23141-42, dated 15-10-2015, with a copy for information to Director General of Police, Inspector General of Police Crime, Munir Khan, has directed SSP Crime Kashmir to take notice, constitute a team of officers, hold a PV into the report of agricultural land conversion through illegal means at Ompora Budgam and submit his report of findings within 10 days.

"You are advised to constitute a team of officers and ascertain the factual position by initiating a PV into the matter and furnish a factual report within ten days positively. PV bearing No: PV (K) 129 of 2015 is allotted to the instant source report", IGP Crime has written to SSP Crime Branch Kashmir.

In its issue of October 15, STATE TIMES had exposed how scores of tippers had been employed by a land mafia for illegal and unauthorised conversion of agricultural lands by way of earth filling during previous night. While there are standing orders from a Division Bench of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court against conversion of agricultural lands, section 13 of Agrarian Reforms Act makes it clear that none other than Revenue Minister is competent authority for granting land use change under rules in Jammu and Kashmir.

In a related development on Friday, DGP K Rajendra Kumar directed SSP Budgam "to come down heavily on violators".

COMPLAINANT ATTACKED

Interestingly, minutes before DGP's direction, members of the land mafia allegedly chased and forced collision of their vehicle against the Duster of a complainant, namely Mohammad Shafi Qureshi, outside Tehsildar's office and 50 yards from Police Station of Budgam. Eyewitnesses said that Qureshi's vehicle, JK04C- 3435, suffered damage and he was beaten up. He rushed to Police Station where 5th FIR was registered against the group of the assailants.

"It was an attempt to murder. SHO has registered FIR and initiated action. The assaulter, Bashir Ahmad, was arrested", Qureshi said. Another member of the gang has been already arrested by Police after FIR against fresh violation was registered on Tehsildar's written order on Thursday. Sources said that the violation has taken place even after three undertakings and sureties in three different FIRs from the same land brokers at the same spot.

Police and Revenue officials claim to be "completely professional and impartial" but many of the residents allege that some of them had shut their eyes to such violations at Ompora and other places on periphery of Budgam district headquarters out of incompetency while as others were "hand in glove" with Police and Revenue officers. "When there's is public outcry or acute pressure for other reasons, these people are booked and detained. But everybody knows that they get VIP treatment in custody until they get bail. No challan has been filed against them despite the Police having proven cases against them", said a complainant.

END

[Published in today's STATE TIMES]

Burqa-clad man captured in dramatic shootout in Pulwama 

Two civilians injured; knife, grenade seized from vehicle 

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz 

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SRINAGAR, Oct 16: Police on Friday claimed to have seized alive a burqa-clad militant operative, alongwith a large size knife and a hand grenade, even as two to three militants managed to escape and two civilians sustained injuries in the shootout at district headquarters of Pulwama in southern Kashmir.

Residents and passengers of different destination gave conflicting versions as some of them maintained that the two civilians got injured in the Police firing and others claimed that they were hit in the firing from suspected militants. That the town of violent reactions remained calm after the firing, was an indication that the men who fired and escaped were militants.

Senior Superintendent of Police Pulwama Tejinder Singh told STATE TIMES that Special Operations Group of Pulwama District Police launched an operation to track the militants when it received information that three to four of them were in suspicious movement from Arihal to Pulwama. 

"Our men got suspicious about one particular Tata-Sumo in General Bus Stand and began questioning some passengers on board. They asked the passengers to come down for checking. A burqa-clad women with a male commuter responded to the command without reluctance. The SOG men got suspicious about another burqa-clad commuter on the front seat. They asked the passenger to come out and found him a male. Suddenly, one of the two or three militants from behind another Sumo opened fire from one AK-47 rifle. Our men ducked and took a shield but two middle-aged passengers sustained gunshot wounds. Police failed to retaliate for fear of civilian casualties and all the militants escaped", SSP said.

Singh said that the burqa-clad male was captured alive with a long size knife. A grenade fell from his hand or pocket which was also seized. He later identified himself as Tariq Ahmad Sheikh of Drachhu, a village bordering Pulwama and Shopian districts. With a "superficial gunshot injury", he was rushed to a Srinagar hospital for treatment. 

"Doctors described him as stable but we decided to interrogate him only next morning, after his complete recovery. He is currently under treatment in Srinagar. Other two civilians were treated at District Hospital of Pulwama. One was hit in his foot and another in her arm. They were identified as Riyaz Ahmad Khan and Rahti of Arihal village", SSP said.

DIG South Kashmir Nitish Kumar said that Police had launched an investigation. He said that the escapees were believed to be the local cadres of Hizbul Mujahideen. "It seems that on induction of one or two fresh recruits, militants had planned to attack a Policeman or CRPF cop to snatch away his gun. Things will become clear by tomorrow", DIG said.

Yet another Police official revealed that the Tata Sumo driver narrated the whole story during interrogation. He revealed that three militants and a fresh recruit had boarded the Pulwama-bound Sumo at Arihal. They disembarked at Pulwama. The driver got suspicious and after a while he was sure that the burqa-clad passenger on the front seat was a male after he paid cash of Rs 60 as fair. After 15 to 20 minutes, all the four suspected militants came back towards the same vehicle. Three of them behind another vehicle attempted to kill the SOG men when they were asking the burqa-clad passenger on the front seat to come out.

"After his sustained questioning tomorrow we may be able to say whether the detained person was a regular militant or just an overground worker. We have registered an FIR", DIG said. 

END

[Published in today's STATE TIMES ]

Budgam land mafia prevents Tehsildar from lifting illegal earth filling

Even after 3 FIRs and 3 sureties, brokers fill up agricultural lands at Ompora

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz 

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SRINAGAR, Oct 15: Even as senior Revenue and Police authorities took notice of the exposè in STATE TIMES and directed the Police and civil administration to initiate action against the people involved in conversion of agricultural lands through illegal means, members of the Budgam land mafia stopped Tehsildar from removing the massive earth dumps from the site in Ompora on Thursday.

Sources said a team of police and civil officials, which included Dy SP, SHO and Tehsildar of Budgam, reached the spot for implementing orders of their higher ups.Tehsildar Suhail Ahmad ordered cutting of the illegally laid roads through a swathe of agricultural lands. He also directed removal of the huge quantities of earth dumped illegally by scores of tippers during the night intervening Tuesday and Wednesday in violation of Agrarian Reforms Act and a slew of orders of a Division Bench of Jammu and Kashmir High Court.

Even as the officials erased two illegal approach links under supervision of Tehsildar, one known member of the land brokers network, identified as Bashir Ahmad, physically stopped the Police and Revenue officials from removing the earth filling. He physically got driver of the JCB down and threatened that the officials would have to face "dire consequences" if they removed the earth dumps from the site.

Eyewitnesses said that Police chose to remain a mute spectator and Tehsildar found himself completely helpless. One member of the group, namely Bashir Ahmad Paul, had been arrested by Police on Wednesday after FIR was filed on written orders of Tehsildar of Budgam. All others of the group are still absconding.

"This is all just an eyewash. Those very people who allowed them illegal earth excavation and transportation for unauthorised filling are now filing FIRs and showing as if they are implementing the High Court orders. They have already filed 3 FIRs against same people for same violation earlier this year, sought sureties from the detainees and helped them to secure bail and resume their illegal activity. What's the purpose of this drama? They are all hand-in-glove with one another", said one Ali Mohammad Bhat, a resident of Ompora.

SSP Budgam Fayaz Ahmad Lone has already dispelled the impression of the Police being "hand in glove" with the land brokers. According to him, it is primarily the responsibility of the Revenue Department to stop such violations of land use and implement the High Court orders against conversion of agricultural land for residential, commercial or industrial purposes. "When we receive a complaint, we book these people under FIR and get them arrested. They get bail and indulge in the same activity. Execution of surety and other undertakings is the job of Revenue officials", he said the other day.

Residents told STATE TIMES that none of the families of the land owners, namely Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, Ali Mohammad Bhat and Mushtaq Ahmad Wani, came forward to stop the officials' action. In fact, Mushtaq Wani has filed a complaint to the authorities against the illegal earth filling and land use change. "Only one land broker was seen stopping the Revenue officials in presence of Police from removing the earth dumps", said an eyewitness. He alleged that Tehsildar, SHO and Dy SP surrendered and went back without removing the illegally dumped earth from the spot.

"None of the officials questioned if the front land owners had no objection to lifting back of the earth dumps, how could the brokers who have no locus standi, stop officers from discharging their duty", Ghulam Rasool Wani of Ompora said. "It's clear that once this matter gets cool, these brokers will use the same earth dumps for levelling during a night and sell the plots. This way they raise the colonies on paddy lands and change the land use without permission of the Revenue Minister who is the only competent authority by law to grant such permission".

Only one member of the land grabbers network has been detained by Police while as others were seen attempting to get him released on bail.

END

[Published in today's STATE TIMES ] 

Conversion of agri land continues in Budgam in violation of law, High Court order

Fleet of tippers by night fills up agricultural land near Budgam Railway Station 

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, Oct 14: With brazen violation of the Agrarian Reforms Act and a host of orders from a Division Bench of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, conversion of agricultural land for residential and commercial purposes is going on under the nose of the District administration in Budgam. A fleet of over 30 tippers was used by a land mafia during last night to fill up agricultural land of over 50 Kanals which is being developed for an unauthorised residential colony at Ompora village near Budgam Railway Station.

After STATE TIMES published pictures on social media on Wednesday, Tehsildar of Budgam got an FIR registered by Police Station Budgam and one of the accused persons arrested even as the residents allege nexus between a local land mafia, Police and the Revenue authorities.

"It is a huge nexus. Simple paddy land at this site costs Rs 17-20 lakh a Kanal. After the earth filling, same land is sold at Rs 45-50 lakh per Kanal. While as the expenditure on earth filling is around Rs 3 lakh, around Rs 2 lakh per Kanal is paid as bribe to Police and Revenue officials. Thus conversion means benefit of around Rs 30 lakh each Kanal. That's why everybody in the government shuts his eyes and risks even contempt of the High Court orders", one Manzoor Ahmad Wani on behalf of the residents explained to STATE TIMES.

Another resident Ghulam Rasool made a sensational revelation. "Police and Revenue officials have already registered three FIRs in January, April and May for this violation so as to prove that they are working and are not part and parcel of this scandal. The accused get enlarged on bail and resume their illegal job within days. Not a single case has been challaned. The complaints sent to Chief Secretary, Divisional Commissioner and DGP are gathering dust as nobody has spine to touch the Naib Tehsildar who has been continuously posted in Budgam for over 25 years and become a billionaire".

"NT has been suspended three times but it takes him just weeks to get himself reinstated and posted back to Humhama or Budgam. Whole government knows that he has got hundreds of Kanals of Kahcharai land grabbed by land mafia near Industrial Estate of Ompora where another unauthorised colony is being developed. Huge amounts of this illgotten money go to different influential people and government officers", another resident revealed. All the residents interviewed by this newspaper, however, described Tehsildar Suhail Ahmad as an honest and hard working officer.

Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir Dr Asgar Samoon did not respond to phone calls from this newspaper.

After the pictures of the fresh earth filling appeared in social media, Tehsildar of Budgam Suhail Ahmad visited the spot. On his return, he said: "Yes, that's right. I myself observed fresh violation and massive earth filling on this site. I immediately sent a written direction to SHO Budgam to file a fresh FIR. He has now filed case FIR no: 287/2015 under sections 188, 427 and 447 and got one of the accused, Bashir Ahmad Paul, arrested".

On Wednesday evening, SSP Budgam Fayaz Ahmad Lone told STATE TIMES that stopping conversion of agricultural land into residential and commercial purposes was primarily the responsibility of the Revenue Department. He said Police had a limited role in preventing these violations. As regards the Ompora violation, SSP Budgam maintained that Police filed FIR and got the kingpin arrested immediately after learning about it. He confirmed that dozens of tippers had been employed during last night for illegal earth filling on agricultural land in Ompora.

Both SSP and Tehsildar said that the land owners failed to produce necessary permission of land use change if any issued by the competent authority (Minister of Revenue). Subsequently, officials attached to Personal Section of the Revenue Minister Javed Mustafa Mir maintained that the Minister or his predecessors had not granted any permission of land use change at Ompora Budgam.

According to section 13 of Jammu and Kashmir Agrarian Reforms Act, nobody other than Minister of Revenue is competent authority to grant land use change.

Interestingly, conversion of agricultural land in Budgam has been going on also in blatant violation of a host of orders of the DB of Jammu and Kashmir High Court in the PIL filed by an NGO, Human Watch International. Judges Muzaffar Hussain Attaar, Janak Raj Kotwal, Mohammad Yaqoob Mir besides Mansoor Ahmad Mir, have issued different orders to DCs to ensure that no agricultural land was converted anywhere in the State.

In March this year, DB comprising Mr Justice Attaar and Mr Justice Kotwal slapped notices of contempt of court on Deputy Commissioners of Anantnag, Pulwama, Srinagar, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Kupwara, and Shopian. The direction followed as the Deputy Commissioners failed to file the compliance and the status report as directed by the court on previous date of hearing.

In December last year, the court had directed all the Deputy Commissioners to comply with November 25, 2014 order, warning them of contempt proceedings over failure.

On November 25, the court had directed all Deputy Commissioners to “faithfully” follow statutory provisions and its directions on conversion of agriculture land and file fresh status report. The court had already passed directions for implementing the Land Revenue Act, Agrarian Reforms Act, J&K Alienation of Orchards Act 1975 and other applicable Acts.

The Acts, as observed by the court, empower the Revenue authorities to stop the conversion of the land for other uses such as construction of houses, etc., and take action against the violators. Same DB termed the compliance report filed by the Deputy Commissioner Baramulla as mere “eye wash” and warned contempt proceedings against him over the failure to comply with its orders.

Subsequently, DCs filed fresh compliance reports.

Under the law, the land on which violation of Agrarian Reforms Act has taken place, shall vest in the State.

END

Two teenagers injured in Pulwama encounter; 2 militants trapped

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
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SRINAGAR, Oct 13: Two local militants of Hizbul Mujahideen are believed to be trapped in an encounter in Bijbehara area of South Kashmir even as one of them got critically injured and two civilian teenagers sustained gunshot wounds in the beginning of the operation by Police and security forces.

Informed sources told STATE TIMES that Special Operations Group of Awantipora District Police and troops of Rashtriya Rifles 55 Battalion launched a cordon-and-search operation at Dogripora, near Sangham, in Pulwama district in the evening after receiving a tip off about the presence of two militants at a hideout. In the very beginning of the operation, fierce exchange of gunfire took place between the security forces and the holed up militants who made sustained attempts to escape.

During the encounter, 13-year-old Iqra Jan and 17-year-old Owais Ahmad Dar got hit. They were quickly evacuated and rushed to Sub District Hospital of Bijbehara. On examination, doctors found them stable but referred them to SMHS Hospital of Srinagar for better medical treatment.

Large number of the residents, including women and children, gathered and engaged the Police and security forces in ding-dong clashes. Exchange of brickbats and baton charge between the residents and the security forces for some time marred the beginning of the operation.

Sources said that the fresh Hizbul Mujahideen entrants Lateef Ahmad Dar s/o Ghulam Hassan Dar of Dogripora and Adnan of Brah Bandna were believed to have got trapped. However, some of the residents insisted that one of the holed up militants could be Ashfaq Ahmad Dar of the same village. A pool of blood around the hideout was an indication that one of the militants had got critically injured.

Deputy Inspector General of Police in South Kashmir, Nitish Kumar, confirmed that one of the holed up militants was believed to be critically injured as there was a pool of blood around the hideout. He said that a tight siege had been laid to the village, denying the holed up militants any chance to break the cordon.

DIG told STATE TIMES that Adnan of Brah Bandna and Lateef Ahmad Dar of Dogripora were believed to be trapped. He said firing had subsided from either side but that was essentially no indication to establesh that the holed up militants had escaped or died. "We will resume the search operation in the morning as Dogripora would remain under tight cordon for the whole night", DIG said.

An unconfirmed report said that Army also pressed into aerial surveillance one unmanned aerial vehicle to track the movement of the holed up militants.

Meanwhile, late night reports said that three civilians were injured in CRPF shootout near Awantipora.

END

Two teenagers injured in Pulwama encounter; 2 militants trapped

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
--------------
SRINAGAR, Oct 13: Two local militants of Hizbul Mujahideen are believed to be trapped in an encounter in Bijbehara area of South Kashmir even as one of them got critically injured and two civilian teenagers sustained gunshot wounds in the beginning of the operation by Police and security forces.

Informed sources told STATE TIMES that Special Operations Group of Awantipora District Police and troops of Rashtriya Rifles 55 Battalion launched a cordon-and-search operation at Dogripora, near Sangham, in Pulwama district in the evening after receiving a tip off about the presence of two militants at a hideout. In the very beginning of the operation, fierce exchange of gunfire took place between the security forces and the holed up militants who made sustained attempts to escape.

During the encounter, 13-year-old Iqra Jan and 17-year-old Owais Ahmad Dar got hit. They were quickly evacuated and rushed to Sub District Hospital of Bijbehara. On examination, doctors found them stable but referred them to SMHS Hospital of Srinagar for better medical treatment.

Large number of the residents, including women and children, gathered and engaged the Police and security forces in ding-dong clashes. Exchange of brickbats and baton charge between the residents and the security forces for some time marred the beginning of the operation.

Sources said that the fresh Hizbul Mujahideen entrants Lateef Ahmad Dar s/o Ghulam Hassan Dar of Dogripora and Adnan of Brah Bandna were believed to have got trapped. However, some of the residents insisted that one of the holed up militants could be Ashfaq Ahmad Dar of the same village. A pool of blood around the hideout was an indication that one of the militants had got critically injured.

Deputy Inspector General of Police in South Kashmir, Nitish Kumar, confirmed that one of the holed up militants was believed to be critically injured as there was a pool of blood around the hideout. He said that a tight siege had been laid to the village, denying the holed up militants any chance to break the cordon.

DIG told STATE TIMES that Adnan of Brah Bandna and Lateef Ahmad Dar of Dogripora were believed to be trapped. He said firing had subsided from either side but that was essentially no indication to establesh that the holed up militants had escaped or died. "We will resume the search operation in the morning as Dogripora would remain under tight cordon for the whole night", DIG said.

An unconfirmed report said that Army also pressed into aerial surveillance one unmanned aerial vehicle to track the movement of the holed up militants.

Meanwhile, late night reports said that three civilians were injured in CRPF shootout near Awantipora.

END

Kashmir, Jammu traders seek stringent action against business saboteurs

Business alliance urges PDP to review coalition with BJP

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz 

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SRINAGAR, Oct 12: In a significantly positive development, traders in the polarised Kashmir and Jammu provinces have disowned the saboteurs of peace and business and demanded stringent action against the miscreants involved in attacking truckers and passengers on Srinagar-Jammu highway.

JCCI chief Rakesh Gupta, flanked by KCCI President Mushtaq Ahmad Wani, asserted that the law enforcement agencies should arrest and prosecute all the miscreants involved in spreading rumours and engineering attacks on the hapless drivers and conductors.

“There are some external forces who want to create wedge between the people of the state; who carry such incidents to divide us, but we won’t allow them to succeed in their nefarious designs,” Gupta said. "These are politically motivated attacks aimed at creating disturbance. Government should unveil all the mischievous characters and bring them to justice", JCCI chief Gupta demanded.

Condemning the attacks on Kashmir-bound truckers in Udhampur, the businessman alleged that these were "politically motivated attacks on truckers aimed at creating disturbance" in the peaceful atmosphere of the state.

“We have to remain vigilant and united and do not have to surrend before these forces. We want to protect each community and believe in co- existence,” he asserted. He said it was for the first time that traders in both regions were on one page to defeat the saboteurs of peace and business atmosphere. He demanded that the forces behind the agitation must be made accountable and unmasked.

“Government should trace out the disruptive elements and punish and prevent them from their nefarious designs,” the JCCI President said.

Gupta accused that government has failed to give protection to the people of J&K. “Political leadership is not serious to prevent such external forces from carrying out such attacks. But JCCI will take every possible step to ensure security of Kashmiri drivers in Jammu for the smooth conduct of trade between the two regions,” he said.

He said such incidents could lead to trifurcation of the state which will have a negative impact on the J&K economy. “I told the DGP that such incidents could have serious repercussions in the future. We have to respect each other’s religious sentiments and trust on each other and defeat attempts aimed at dividing us. We have learnt lessons from 2008 when we lost everything,” he said.

 He said while as economy of the state was already in doldrums, certain agencies wanted to push us in worst situation so that J&K won’t become economically independent and self-reliant. “We are already dependent on Indian government and are out with a begging bowl.”

Wani said Mr Gupta was in Srinagar to express solidarity with the Kashmiri truckers who had been attacked in Udhampur. Both chambers said they would fight all such elements jointly who want to dilute the identity of the permanent residents of Jammu & Kashmir by debating on sections of the constitution.

In a related development, Kashmir Economic Alliance alleged at another news conference that BJP and its ideological allies were attempting to spoil Valley’s fruit industry with a turmoil in the thick of season. It advised Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed and his PDP to review their alliance with BJP for power.

As the apple harvesting season is at its peak in Kashmir province, traders smelt a "deliberate plan" to sabotage fruit industry through mob attacks like the one in Udhampur.

“As Diwali is nearing, the demand for Kashmiri apples has been surging. Presently 1000 to 1500 trucks laden with fruit are dispatched to different Indian markets. But some miscreants are trying to sabotage this fruit industry,” KEA President Showkat Chowdhary alleged. He said Kashmiri traders would not remain silent if Kashmiri drivers were any more attacked in any part of the Jammu region again.

Chaudhray clainef that the attacks were carried out deliberately to sabotage the fruit industry of Kashmir. He

warned strong reaction if Udhampur-like incidents were repeated in the Jammu region.

Asking chief minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed to clear his stand, Chowdary said that these attacks were being carried out under the RSS agenda. “PDP government should come clear to either stop these forces from attacking Kashmiris or pull out from the government, which is backed by the RSS,” Chowdhary said.

He threatened that Kashmiri traders would go for complete boycott with their Jammu counterparts if Jammu traders failed to condemn and stop attacks on Kashmiris in their region.

“This is the last warning to the government as well as to miscreants. If safety of Kashmiris is not ensured, it will have serious repercussions from our side as there are 80 percent truckers from the Jammu region, who also ply on Kashmir roads,” Chowdhary warned.

He demanded that strict punishment should be given to the culprits and all those involved in attacks must be booked under PSA.

END 

http://news.statetimes.in/kashmir-jammu-traders-seek-stringent-action-against-business-saboteurs/

[Published in today's STATE TIMES]

PDP MP Karra says Sangh Parivar is burning J&K for Bihar elections

'Consequences of economic blockade will be disastrous for Jammu'

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz 

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SRINAGAR, Oct 10: Senior PDP leader and Lok Sabha member from Central Kashmir, Tariq Hameed Karra, on Saturday held the coalition partner BJP and the Sangh Parivar squarely responsible for the rising communal tension, including last night's attack on Kashmiri truck driverd in Udhampur, and warned that consequences of an economic blackade to the Valley could be dangerous for Jammu.

In a strongly worded statement, Karra asked the Government to take stern action against the radical Hindutva elements, who he said, seemed to be "hell bent upon vitiating the atmosphere in the State for vested political interests". 

“BJP and its allies in Sangh Parivar should understand that choosing J&K as a turf for playing perilous games for electoral gains in Bihar would have disastrous consequences as J&K is a sensitive state and any fresh trouble in the area would have huge diplomatic implications,” Karra said.

"The elements trying to foment communal trouble in Jammu region, should realize that they will be causing immense harm to the economic interests of the Jammu region by their diabolic actions", Karra added.

“By trying to choke supply lines to Kashmir, the Sangh Parivar will be responsible for countermining the economy of Jammu region, which is predominantly dependent on Kashmir’s huge consumer market,” he said and added that such disturbing acts could also fuel a wave of backlash in Kashmir, which is struggling to cope up with the tragedies of turmoil and uncertainty.

Karra demanding booking of the people responsible for the Udhampur attack under Public Safety Act and other anti-terror laws. He contended that the petrol bomb attack on unsuspecting truckers was an act of terrorism and the persons responsible for it should be booked under the anti-terrorism law.

END

[Published in today's STATE TIMES]

Ruckus in Assembly over Udhampur incident 

○ Govt sending 4 family members of injured truckers to Delhi

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, Oct 10: Before the brief autumn session of the State Assembly ended with a bad note on Saturday, opposition National Conference members created a pandemonium over last night's attack in which miscreants have torched a truck and left its Kashmiri driver and conductor injured.

Led by MLA Abdul Majid Bhat Larmi, NC's members at tge beginning of the Question Hour expressed concern over the midnight attack on the Kashmiri truckers and demanded stern and immediate action and arrest of the people involved in the incident. The injured truckers are residents of Uranhal and Botengo villages, both in Larmi's constituency of Homeshalibug in Kulgam district.

Minister of Horticulture Abdul Rehman Veeri, who replies on behalf of Minister incharge Home Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, responded to the uproar and informed the House that the Police had quickly rescued the two injured persons, Showkat Ahmad and Zahid Ahmad. Another driver Rameez Ahmad escaped unhurt.

Veeri said the two injured were rushed to hospital in Udhampur and later driven to Jammu for specialized treatment. He said three of the accused persons, identified as Bala Bahadur Singh, Sunder Singh and Sunil Singh, were arrested and manhunt was launched to arrest five others of the accused.

Veeri said that DGP had flown to Udhampur and a matter of attempted murder had been registered in FIR No 368 under sections 307, 336, 437, 147, 148, 120B and 427 RPC.

Not satisfied with the Minister's statement, opposition walked out in protest. NC's Ali Mohammad Sagar said the Mufti government had no courage to admit that the accused were from the coalition partner BJP. He alleged that BJP was provoking Kashmir and vitiating the atmosphere by resorting to communal tactics. Independent MLA Engineer Rashid termed the accused in the case as terrorists and insisted the state government had no will to proceed against them.

Later, an official release said that IT experts had also examined the CCTV footage which established involvement of the arrested persons. Security has been enhanced along National Highway and in Udhampur town.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Anantnag Muneer-ul-Islam, who is currently also officiating as DC Kulgam, told STATE TIMES that both the injured truckers had been airlifted to Delhi and admitted in Safdar Jung Hospital. He said that the District administration acquired and handed over four air tickets to two each members of the victims' families who would be ferried to Srinagar on Sunday morning to catch Srinagar-Delhi flight of Go Air at 7.30 a.m. 

He said that he also provided Rs 20,000 to the four passengers in addition to Rs 50,000 for each injured from the Red Cross fund. Besides, Government had also made all arrangements of transportation and boarding and lodging in 3 reserved rooms of J&K House as long as their presence in New Delhi was necessary to look after the injured at the hospital.

END