With militancy picking up in South Kashmir, 2 CRPF men shot dead on Highway

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
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SRINAGAR, May 11: Close on the heels of the death of three Constables of Jammu and Kashmir Police in a guerrilla attack and 15 civilians sustaining injuries in a grenade attack in Shopian, militants on Monday gunned down two personnel of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in South Kashmir.

Informed sources told State Times that Assistant Sub Inspector Omkar Singh and Constable Tilak Raj of CRPF 90th Battalion were on duty to guard Army and paramilitary convoys on Srinagar-Jammu highway against militant attacks at Halmulla, close to Sangham Bridge, when three to four militants attacked them with two AK-47 rifles from behind. Both the targeted personnel died on the spot. The militants snatched away from them one Insas Rifle and one AK-47 rifle and fled away. However, they dropped the longer gun Insas in a stream which was later recovered by Police.

Hizbul Mujahideen spokesman, Baleeguddin, according to KNS, claimed responsibility of the attack on behalf of his organisation. He claimed that two CRPF men were killed and the militants escaped after snatching away their guns.

Deputy Inspector General of Police in South Kashmir Nitish Kumar, however, told State Times that it appeared to an action by Lashkar-e-Tayyiba. He said there was immediately no substantive clue or evidence but Police were investigating all possible theories. “We have observed that LeT has recruited some cadres but they are left with insufficient weapons. So, they have been attacking and killing Police or paramilitary targets mainly to snatch away their rifles. LeT alone has done such attacks on Bijbehara-Pampore patch of the highway in the last two years. So, we suspect LeT”, DIG said.

Residents of Halmulla, Marhama and Panjpora maintained that they had no idea about the group behind today’s broad daylight attack on the CRPF Road Opening Party. However, most of them invariably suspected it to be the handiwork of LeT’s Irshad group, which was known to have carried out such actions on the highway from Nowgam Srinagar to Bijbehara in the last three years.

Highly placed sources in J&K Police revealed to State Times that Hizbul Mujahideen, LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammad had reorganised guerrilla groups in South Kashmir’s Pulwama and Shopian districts. “As many as 13 youths have joined militant groups in Pulwama district alone in the last four months. In entire South Kashmir, presently 85 militants are active and 65 of them are well identified and listed”, said a senior Police official.

Another officer of the rank of Superintendent of Police said that militancy could increase further in Pulwama-Shopian-Kulgam belt. “
We are under instructions from the new government that nobody should be arrested or detained under PSA. We cannot subject any suspect to custodial interrogation even if we have strong evidences and clues of someone’s involvement with militancy. But still we believe that the funeral processions of the dead militants are the biggest stimulant of the militant cadres’ revival and reorganisation. Youths, particularly the younger ones and unemployed, get excited with Pakistani flags and separatist slogans. Some of them later want to pick up the gun”, said the officer.

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‘Hero’ of Shopian agitation booked for 'attempted murder'

Wife Shobi Jan narrates to judge how Shakeel Ahangar sprinkled kerosene oil on her to burn her to death

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
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SRINAGAR, May 8: In a bizarre development that can turn a many faces of Kashmir's separatist movement red, Police in Shopian have booked middle-aged Shakeel Ahmad Ahangar for allegedly attempting to burn his second wife to death. In 2009, Ahangar had virtually set the Valley on fire with his allegation that Police and security forces had "gangraped and murdered" his wife Neelofar Jan and unmarried sister Asiya Jan. Resultant street turbulence had left half-a-dozen civilians dead and hundreds injured.

Superintendent of Police in Shopian Altaf Khan confirmed that Ahangar had been booked in a matter of attempted murder on his second wife Shobi Jan’s written complaint in case FIR No: 67/2015 under sections 498-A, 323, 354, 342, 307 of Rabir Penal Code. He said that the investigation was underway and the accused could be arrested at an appropriate time.

According to Shobi Jan’s complaint dated May 5, 2015, filed with Police Station Shopian, Shakeel Ahangar, alongwith Manzoor Ahmad Ahangar and Auqib Ahangar sons of Abdul Gani Ahangar and Roomi Jan daughter of Abdul Gani Ahangar, subjected her to immense physical and mental torture on account of her parents' failure to carry dowry to her in-laws. Ahangar and his siblings allegedly sprinkled kerosene oil on her body during the night of May 4th and attempted to burn her to death.

After a preliminary verification, Police filed FIR No: 67 with charge of attemted murder against Ahangar and the other accused persons. After the spot inspection, Police prepared a site plan and got the complainant’s statement recorded before a judicial magistrate under section 161 and 164 of Criminal Procedure Code. Shobi Jan narrated to the judge how Ahangar tried to kill her by sprinkling kerosene oil on her body. Her clothes were seized, sealed and resealed before the Executive Magistrate Ist Class Shopian for FSL examination.

Sources privy to the investigation revealed to State Times that Ahangar and his family members could be arrested any time in the next 24 hours. Senior separatist leader Shabir Shah's visit to Shopian on Friday deferred Ahangar’s arrest for a day.

Shakeel Ahangar shot into prominence in May 2009 when his wife Neelofar and sister Asiya were found dead in mysterious circumstances in Rambiara Nallah and he complained that the duo had been "kidnapped and subjected to gangrape by Police and security forces before the two young women were murdered”.

Ahangar’s allegations triggered off a massive street turbulence across the Valley, leading to torching of properties, shutdown for several weeks, violent clashes between the Police and demonstrators. Over six civilians died in the Police firing.

While the Valley observed bandh on calls of Majlis-e-Mashawarat Shopian and separatist leaders for several days, Shopian district headquarters remained shut down for business for about a month. After some investigation by Police and an inquiry by retired judge of J&K High Court, Muzaffar Ahmad Jan, the investigation was assigned to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The demonstrations led to the arrest and suspension of four Police officials including then S.P. of Shopian Javed Iqbal Matoo.

Omar Abdullah’s government hired the country's most expensive lawyer Harish Salve only to ensure that the detained Police officials did not get bail from any court of law. Interestingly, it was for the first time that Advocate General, other government advocates, Kashmir's separatist Bar Association and Mr Salve were on one page to block the deatainees' release on bail. Government had apprehension of a worse law and order situation if the accused Police officials were released.

Even as Ahangar, residents of Shopian, separatist leaders as well as some mainstream politicians, notably the PDP President Mehbooba Mufti, maintained in one voice that Police and security forces had committed rape and murder of the two women, CBI established in three-month-long investigation that they had been neither raped nor murdered. It concluded that Neelofar and Asiya had died by drowning in Rambiara while returning from their orchard in the evening. After exhumation of the bodies, it was established that the unmarried woman’s hymen was intact and she or her sister-in-law had not been subjected to any physical violence.

Giving clean chit to Javed Matoo and other detainees, CBI filed a voluminous charge-sheet against 13 persons, including 11 Shopian-based lawyers and doctors, for hatching up a conspiracy and trying to frame innocent Police officials in a false criminal case for ulterior motives. The case is under hearing with a CBI designated court in Srinagar.

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‘Hero’ of Shopian agitation, Shakeel Ahangar booked for ‘attempted murder'

Wife Shobi Jan complains he sprinkled kerosene oil on her body to burn her to death

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
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SRINAGAR, May 7: Shakeel Ahmad Ahangar of Bongam Shopian, who in 2009 alleged that his wife Neelofar Jan and unmarried sister Asiya Jan, had been “gangraped and murdered” by Police and security forces, is likely to be arrested in a serious matter of domestic violence and attempt to murder on Friday. On his second wife Shobi Jan’s written complaint, Police have booked Ahangar in case FIR No: 67/2015 under sections 498-A, 323, 354, 342, 307 of Rabir Penal Code.

According to Shobi Jan’s complaint dated May 5, 2015, filed with Police Station Shopian, Shakeel Ahangar alongwith Manzoor Ahmad Ahangar and Auqib Ahangar sons of Abdul Gani Ahangar and Roomi Jan daughter of Abdul Gani Ahangar did beat her up mercilessly while demanding dowry. They allegedly tried to burn her to death after sprinkling kerosene oil on her body during the night of May 4, 2015.

After a preliminary verification, Police filed FIR No: 67 with charge of attemted murder against Ahangar and the other accused persons. After the spot inspection, Police prepared a site plan and got the complainant’s statement recorded before a judicial magistrate under section 161 and 164 of Criminal Procedure Code. Shobi Jan narrated how Ahangar tried to kill her by sprinkling kerosene oil on her body. Her clothes were seized, sealed and resealed before the Executive Magistrate Ist Class Shopian for FSL examination.

Shakeel Ahangar shot into prominence in May 2009 when his wife Neelofar and sister Asiya were found dead in mysterious circumstances in Rambiara Nallah and he complained that the duo had been kidnapped and subjected to gangrape by Police and security forces before the two young women were “murdered”.

Ahangar’s allegations triggered off a massive street turmoil which left half a dozen civilians dead and hundreds injured across Kashmir. While the Valley observed bandh on calls of Majlis-e-Mashawarat Shopian and separatist leaders for several days, Shopian district headquarters remained shut down for business for about a month. After some investigation by Police and an inquiry by retired judge of J&K High Court, Muzaffar Ahmad Jan, the investigation was assigned to Central Bureau of Investigation.

Even as Ahangar, residents of Shopian, separatist leaders as well as some mainstream politicians maintained that Police and security forces had committed rape and murder of the two women, CBI established in three-month-long investigation that they had been neither raped nor murdered. CBI concluded that Neelofar and Asiya had died by drowning in Rambiara while returning from their orchard in the evening. After exhumation of the bodies, it was established that the unmarried woman’s hymen was intact and she or her sister-in-law had not been subjected to any physical violence.

CBI filed a lengthy charge-sheet against 13 persons, including 11 Shopian-based lawyers and doctors for hatching up a conspiracy and trying to frame innocent Police officials in a false criminal case for ulterior motives. The case is under hearing with a CBI designated court in Srinagar.

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Mother of two cubs, leopard brought down dead from tree top by AK-47 in Budgam

Wildlife officials say predator was man-eater, residents claim leopard groups of Damodhar Karewa, Abhinav Gupta caves have never harmed human beings

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, May 1: On an order issued by the State Wildlife authorities in controversial conditions, Police have shot dead a female leopard, who was mother to two cubs, in Ichhigam village, close to the district headquarters of Budgam in Central Kashmir on Thursday. The common leopard weighing around 100 kg, which was brought down from the top of a 70 ft tall popular tree with AK-47 gunshots, is officially declared as endangered species and stands protected by virtue of its inclusion in the top critical schedules of the State and the Central wildlife law.

Wildlife Warden (Wetlands) Imtiyaz Ahmad Lone claimed that the female leopard was a "man-eater" as it had killed a girl in Beerwah area of upper Budgam sometime back and the big cat had grown as a threat to the life of human population. He said that the men of Police Station Budgam shot dead the leopard, hiding under the foliage of a tall poplar tree, after a team of the Department of Wildlife Protection failed in "repeated attempts" to tranqulise and seize the animal alive.

"I issued the order of killing this leopard after getting reasonably convinced that it was the same predator which had killed a girl at Sutaharan and injured over a dozen men in another attack at Hayyatpora in Beerwah area. I issued the order only after it was under law approved by Chief Wildlife Warden (Deepak Khanna)", Mr Lone told State Times. He said that the animal was lawfully destroyed after burial in a deep pit so as to ensure that nobody takes out it's precious skin or organs for trade, trophy or other purposes. He said even on attacking and injuring a human being, the leopard needs to be declared as "man-eater" and killed as after such an experience it prefers to target humans rather than the animals, like dogs, cows and deer it usually sustains on.

"Over 10,000 people had gathered around the spot. Their hysterical actions frightened the leopard. Our team fired tranquiliser dots but it was too high to be hit. Thereafter we were left with no option than to kill her with a rifle", Mr Lone said.

However two senior officials, who have served in Department of Wildlife Protection insisted on condition of anonymity that the endangered animals cannot be shot dead in this manner. "It's a serious violation of the wildlife law. We can issue order of elimination only after getting substantial evidence of the animal being a man-eater. The attack on a girl has happened long back at Sutaharan which is 25 Km from Ichhigam. Those injured in Hayyatpora, 20 km away, were attacked in self defence by the leopard who was later lynched to death and hanged in an extremely objectionable manner", said a former official. He suggested that the leopards seen in Beerwah were a different group.

Mr Lone maintained that the same animal had attacked men around Beerwah. He, however, admitted that the people of Hayyatpora lynched a leopard in unlawful manner as it had only intruded into a stable and killed 13 sheeps of one Habib Sheikh.

"Two teams from our department were on the look out for the man-eater. We are sure it alone had killed a girl at Sutaharan. We laid cages with bait at several places in Budgam-Beerwah belt but it couldn't be seized alive", he said. He disclosed that Range Officer Wildlife had taken note of the objectionable pictures and written to SHO Beerwah that a criminal case should be registered under law against the people who had killed and put a leopard on exhibition on the day when a civilian died in Police firing in Narbal last fortnight.

Eyewitnesses in Ichhigam and adjoining villages claimed that a big leopard with two cubs had been spotted in movement at several places in last two months. They said the predator group seemed to have taken shelter on western side of Damodhar Karewa outside the fencing wall of Indian Air Force base and Srinagar Airport. Ghulam Mohammad Dar of Khanpora Budgam said that these leopards had not attacked anybody in the whole area.

Mohammad Yousuf Dar of Beerwah town told State Times that residents would routinely spot 6 leopards, sometimes in a group, in the last 4 years. "We see them four to six times a month regularly. Their shelter is in the famous Abhinav Gupta caves atop a hillock over Beerwah. It is less than 500 metres from my home. Once I spotted a leopard just 20 ft from me. I turned my torch on it and it ran away. They eat dogs and sometimes cows or sheep but they never attack humans", Mr Dar said. He said on December 5 last year, one of the 6 leopards was captured in an iron cage by officials but it escaped. Ten days later, it's body was recovered from a stream. "It had perhaps jumped down the slope and died while escaping", he said.

According to Mr Dar, residents of Hayyatpora killed another leopard, without reasonable provocation last fortnight. "If two of the leopards have been killed and a cub has been captured in Goripora, only three of this group are now left at Abhinav Gupta caves. I don't think the leopards spotted around Srinagar Airfield and the one shot dead in Ichhigam do belong to the Beerwah group", he maintained.

Official statistics in Central Kashmir mention that only two leopards died due to "natural death" while as 26 were chased away from April 2014 to March 2015.

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J&K welcomes cancelation of licence to 9,000 NGOs

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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JAMMU, April 28: Civil society at large has demanded blanket ban on all dubious NGOs and other such organisations in Jammu and Kashmir which have been receiving funds from different departments and organisations of the State and the Central governments, besides foreign countries, without any accountability. It has been observed over the years that this ill-gotten money is either swindled completely by the NGO operators or spent on anti-national activities.

“Some of them have done a little bit of work and their vested interest is not apparently at work. But their number is not more than three or four. Government officials say over 50,000 fake NGOs have been registered in J&K in the last 25 years. One can say without fear of contradiction that 99% of them are a fraud. They exist only on papers. Many of them manage to siphon huge amounts of money in social, cultural, educational, environmental and health sectors”, said a Professor of the University of Kashmir on the condition of anonymity.

“These people maintain friendly relations with officers, bureaucrats, Police, security and intelligence agencies. They do public relation jobs for different individuals, including politicians. Even if somebody submits a written complaint against them, there’s no action. It’s a well-knit nexus”, added the academic.

On social media, hundreds of youngsters have been demanding White Paper on the activities of the NGOs who have been receiving funds from the State or the Central governments or the foreign countries. As of now, none of the government departments maintains a data base of the NGOs, though Police and CID sometimes prepare brief notes on the profile of the NGO operators and their apparent activities.

Intelligentsia across the board believes that the White Paper could differentiate between the fake and the genuine NGOs. “Why should the genuine social activists object to the suggestion of a White Paper on the NGOs and a detailed public account of their funding and spending?”, said a Jammu-based advocate. He, however, sounded pessimistic with regard to the role of Police and pointed out that senior Police officers themselves have provided huge funds of Civic Action funds, provided by Government of India, to some Srinagar-based Christian Missionary Schools in total violation of rules, regulations and norms.

“Their only purpose is to keep the prestigious school managements in good humour so as to ensure admission to the children of the influential politicians’ and bureaucrats’ families”, said the advocate. He demanded a CBI inquiry into the working of the NGOs and trusts operating in violation of different norms and guidelines in J&K.

On social networking sites, hundreds of people have appreciated the move of cancelling the licence of 9,000 fake NGOs as also keeping the US-based Ford Foundation and Greenpeace on security watch list. “Does any of those operating or claiming to operate in Kashmir fall under the cancellation move ... The rules change viz-a-viz Kashmir, even his (Modi’s) lieutenant (MOS) & ex army chief  [VK Singh]has been sponsoring such NGO's , civil & political persons in Kashmir as an official policy”, one Manzoor Wani of Kashmir posted on Facebook. His insinuation is reference to Army’s Technical Support Division which is known to have secretly funded different individuals, trusts and NGOs in the last 12 years.

Last week, Government of India cancelled licences of nearly 9,000 NGOs for violation of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). In an order, the Home Ministry said that notices were issued to 10,343 NGOs for not filing annual returns for the year 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12.

The notices were served on October 16, 2014 saying that the NGOs should file their annual returns within a month specifying amount of foreign funds received, sources of such funds, for which purpose they were received and the manner in which they were utilised. Out of the 10,344 NGOs, only 229 replied. There was no reply from the remaining NGOs leading to cancellation of their registration.

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Mufti’s maiden safari to Sher-Bakra sanctuary

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, April 27: With his first extensive tour of the summer capital after taking over as Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has added some symbolism to his grand plans of development and governance. Of the 25 public places he visited with a thick entourage of officials and some Ministerial colleagues on Monday, at least six were picked up from the list of the iconic religious and spiritual centres managed and controlled by his political adversaries.

During his whirlwind passage through Srinagar, Mufti made it a point to mark his attendance not only at the historic shrines and monasteries of the revered Muslim saints but also at the traditional politico-spiritual seats retained by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah’s and Mirwaiz Maulvi Farooq’s dynasties.

At Hazratbal, repository of Prophet Mohammad’s holy relic and a grand mosque, Mufti paid obeisance and held an interaction with the Wakf management. He ordered improvement of facilities, beautification of a vast area around the shrine complex and made an inspection of the marble cladding of the minaret being laid with an estimated cost of Rs 3.60 crore. Pilgrims have been complaining inordinate delay in completion of the work and poor quality of workmanship after the crest of a dome came down crumbling a couple of years back.

During his first tenure as Chief Minister and head of the PDP-Congress coalition, in 2003, Mufti had given management of Hazratbal and several other shrines in the hands of a government-controlled Wakf board. Late Sheikh Abdullah, who has played key role in developing Hazratbal as a major religious centre for decades, retained the Wakf control which was automatically inherited by his political successor Farooq Abdullah.

However, it was none other than Mufti’s coalition partner Ghulam Nabi Azad who got a vast area around the shrine cleared for development and beautification during his regime in 2006-07.

Hazratbal has the distinction of being one-odd religious centre on which the militant-backed Kashmiri separatists failed to gain control in the last 25 years. It was occupied by militants twice but both times, its structures and the holy relic survived. Even as Army provided safe passage to the holed up militants in 1993 and avoided bloodshed, the Jammu & Kashmir Special Operations Group killed around 30 militants outside the shrine in an operation in 1996.

Mufti’s second significant destination was Jamia Masjid---the politico-religious seat of the Mirwaiz dynasty, currently represented by Chairman of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. Insiders revealed that Chief Minister’s visit to Jamia Masjid precincts became possible only after a series of conversations between the government functionaries and Mirwaiz Umar’s Awami Action Committee.

As expected, Mufti issued instructions for underground cabling of the wires and improving the facilities at Wazu Khana. Presently, the wires are cluttered shabbily on the electric poles, affecting the ambience. He asked Chief Engineer to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the historic Mosque.

Chief Minister issued directions to Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation Tufail Matoo to identify land for construction of a community-cum-marriage hall to facilitate the people residing in the areas adjoining the Jama Masjid.

During his visit to the revered shrine of Sultan-ul-Aarifeen Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom in the foothills of Hari Parbat, near the famed Badam Wari, Mufti instructed Director Tourism Farooq Shah to come up with a plan of mini-ropeway connecting the base to the top of the hill where J&K Tourism Development Corporation has set up a restaurant.

However, contrary to a many expectations, Mufti did not commit anything on the relocation of a paramilitary CRPF company which had occupied the vantage position in 1990. Residents, pilgrims and tourists have been demanding relocation of the camp and the historic Mughal fort’s development as a tourist destination. It provides a pan0ramic view of entire Srinagar city.

Mufti also paid obeisance at Khanqah-e-Mou’lla, the seat and monastery of the 14^th century’s revered saint and preacher Ameer-e-Kabir Mir Sayyed Ali Hamadani. He also performed his afternoon prayers on the premises of the ornate shrine situated on the right bank of river Jhelum and covered by densely-populated neighbourhoods of downtown Srinagar, popularly known as Shehr-e-Khaas.

Controlled by Mirwaiz Umar, Shehr-e-Khaas has been the hub of pro-Pakistan and secessionist political activity, militancy and stone-pelting demonstrators since 1990. Mufti asked Director Tourism and other authorities to introduce navigation tourism which would carry pilgrims and tourists directly through The Jhelum to shrines of Khanqah-e-Mou’lla, Bulbul Shah Sahab, Rehbab Sahab and other pilgrim tourist attractions.  He also asked for renovation and beautification of the already retrieved Aali Masjid in Aalikadal area of downtown Srinagar.

Chief Minister also carried out an inspection of the historic Iddgah Grounds, also under the control of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. Mirwaiz’s slain father Mirwaiz Maulvi Mohammad Farooq is among hundreds of the civilians and militants, killed during the last 25 years of the Kashmir conflict, who stand buried in a section of the Iddgah grounds, called Mazaar-e-Shuhada or ‘Martyrs Graveyard’.

Even as Iddgah Grounds have been developed with structures and landscaping by Mufti and Azad in 2003-08, many of Kashmir’s separatist political congregations have taken place here. During his visit, Mufti ordered the authorities to initiate another programme of comprehensive development including drainage facility and electrification.

First time in last several years, Mufti’s tone and tenor was completely different from his speeches and statements which made him appear “soft” to separatist politicians, militants and stone-pelting youths. All through his visit, which came in days of the arrest of prominent separatist leaders like Masarat Aalam and Mushtaq-ul-Islam, Mufti made no reference to the secessionists. For many, it carried a statement that governance and development were the only priorities of his government.

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Akbar Lone differs with party colleagues like Rana and Rather

NC divided over AIIMS for Jammu

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, April 26: Senior National Conference leader, MLA from Sonawari and former Minister and Speaker of Legislative Assembly Mohammad Akbar Lone has virtually snubbed his party colleagues, including Devender Singh Rana and Abdul Rahim Rather, for supporting demand of different political and non-political organisations for establishment of a major hospital on the pattern on All India Institute of Medical Sciences [AIIMS].

Without mentioning anybody’s name but with clear insinuation to Rana and Rather, Lone reportedly told Kashmir News Service on Sunday that “some short-sighted NC leaders” had toed the Jammu-based organisations’ line over the demand of AIIMS to Jammu without any discussion in the party’s Working Committee. According to Lone,” some leaders of the National Conference have lately been promoting this perverse mind-set”.

 “Unfortunately some short-sighted NC leaders have been compromising the party's stand in this behalf. Our party did not protest when the Centre sanctioned an IIT [Indian Institute of Technology] for Jammu. Whether the party should join the controversy over AIIMS should have been discussed in the Working Committee but that has not been done. The party high command needs to take immediate notice of this issue and sort out the mess before late”, Lone has been reported to have told KNS.

 “The proposed AIIMS is being setup in the valley. Some political groups have been trying to raise a controversy around it, their argument being that the Centre should sanction a similar institute for Jammu. These groups have been promoting an unhealthy competition between two regions of the state, in the name of equitable development. They have been pursuing this policy for decades. This has caused deep psychological split, so much so that Kashmir and Jammu have virtually become two states within one geographical unit,” Lone is quoted to have said.

“These groups were up in arms when the government of India sanctioned Central University in Srinagar. What has shocked me more is that some leaders of the National Conference have lately been promoting this perverse mind-set. They have joined the campaign for a separate AIIMS in Jammu. There is no doubt that all regions, in fact all districts and sub-districts of the state should grow equally. But this by no means justifies the demand that everything that comes to the state should come in pairs. It is sheer parochialism, which undermines the state's unity and integrity. The National Conference is committed to unity of the state and harmony among its different regions”, Lone has said.

Meanwhile, in a related development, Rather denied to have told the correspondent of a Jammu-based newspaper that in his meeting with Governor N.N. Vohra, he had said that NC wanted an AIIMS in Kashmir but not at the cost of the one in Jammu.

“The words put in my mouth are figment of imagination and I still wonder why such a statement has been attributed to me, as I never and nowhere stated what has been carried by the newspaper”,  Rather said in a statement. “More painful was the fact that it has been carried by a newspaper which is known for its objectivity and credibility”, he said. According to him, when a reporter called him to know as to what had transpired in his meeting with Governor, he told him that he would say nothing beyond what had been given out to media in NC’s official press release. He said that the NC delegation simply demanded an AIIMS for Jammu while hailing the one sanctioned for Kashmir.

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