Two booked for fraud in relief

Crime Branch has registered a criminal case against 2 persons for getting migrant relief fraudulently.

An official spokesman said that in verification conducted on the premise of a supply report it came to fore that a seasonal allow of Gujjars/Bakerwals was issued to at least one Hamida, son of Duda of Gudvail, Anantnag, for movement in different components of the State by Tehsildar Jammu.

The verification any revealed that the Hamida got himself registered as migrant vide "D" kind No. 077277 within the year 1995 and for getting the migrant relief, he got an account opened in Canara Bank, Shalimar Road, Jammu.

As per the documents of the bank, he was introduced by Shakeel Ahmed whose account was subsequently closed within the bank.

"The account gap kind bears the photograph of another person and not of Hamida. The photograph pasted on the migrant ration card bears the photograph of constant person whose photograph is pasted on the account gap kind within the name of Hamida", the spokesman said, adding "the migrant relief quantity has been withdrawn from the account from time to time".

During the course of investigation, the statement of Hamida was recorded and he deposed that due to his sick health, he had authorised his son Abdul Rashid to stick his photograph on the account gap kind and bank pass book on his behalf and Abdul Rashid was obtaining migrant relief from the bank.

Accordingly, a proper case beneath relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station Crime Branch.

survey on employment

Panun Kashmir holds seminar on invasion

Panun Kashmir (PK) organized a seminar on the topic Invasion & Accession of J&K –crucial & fateful days at Press Club here today.

The leaders academicians, journalists and prominent citizens belonging to the refugee and internally displaced communities from PoK , Kashmir Valley and Jammu province participated in the seminar to discuss the crucial days leading to invasion on the state by regular and irregular troops of Pakistan as also the historical facts of the accession of the state with India.

Those who spoke included Dr M K Teng, chairman of the Advisory Committee of PK, Prof Hari Om, historian, Yuv Raj Gupta chairman POJK Sangarsh Morcha, Mirpur, V K Sehgal, journalist and chairman SRVA and Dr Ajay Chrungoo chairman PK.

The seminar was organized as a step towards documenting unknown facts about the invasion of the state in 1947 and its accession to India, said Mahesh Kaul who acted as anchor of the programme.

Speaking on the occasion Dr M K Teng said that the details of the invasion of the state were available to the then leadership at the helm of affairs right from its preparatory stages towards the end of August 1947 and asked that why GOI did not act after the real invasion on ground started on October 27, 1947 and why the state was left undefended till actual accession took place.

He said as Indian state from very beginning left the Northern Frontiers of the country undefended and the genocide of Hindus in Mirpur, Muzaffarabad, Rajouri, Poonch and Kashmir Valley has been a result of this attitude.

Dr Ajay Chrungoo said that a conspiracy of Hindus genocide is still on and it has not been recognized so far. This game has been more gruesome than the holocaust of Jews or American Christians, he added.

Dr Chrungoo said what has befallen on the Hindus and Sikhs of the state in 1947 and subsequently in 1989-90 is continuation of the same ruthless and murderous game.

PK resolves to intensify struggle for homeland

Panun Kashmir on Amarnath Yatra

Pandits Warn Agitation

Kashmiri Pandits warn agitation against further delay in passage of Shrines Bill

Peeved over Government’s delaying tactics on passage of Kashmiri Hindu Shrines and Temples Bill, Kashmiri Pandits (KPs) today warned to launch a forceful agitation for fulfillment of the demand.

The decision was taken in a meeting of representatives of various KP organizations here. The meeting was organized by Pt. Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust, which has launched the movement in this regard for last one year.

The meeting was presided over by Roshan Lal Raina, ex director Horticulture and Yash Bhasin Founder Trustee Pt Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust, was special invitee on the occasion.

The speakers, while expressing their dismay over the Government’s negative attitude towards the demand said that the promises made from time to time during last over one decade by successive Governments have proved totally hollow. This has generated a lot of resentment among the community, they added.

They said the passage of Shrines Bill could prove a major Confidence Building Measure (CBM) among the community, which has been hounded out from Valley over 22 years back. But the Government’s stoic silence over the issue indicates that those at the helm of affairs are not interested in protecting the ancient cultural heritage of the Valley which dates back over to 5000 year old rich culture and civilization, they added.

To protest against the Government’s callousness the meeting in one voice decided to hold a protest on March 11, which will be followed by series of agitational programmes by the community.

The representatives of AIKS, JKVM, Panun Kashmir, ASKPC, K P Sabha, KHC, Prabandhak Committee Anantnag, SSK, Prabandhak Committee Kheer Bhawani Manzgam, Migrant Cell NC, BJP Migrant Cell, Geeta Satsang Ashram, KPC and JKNM participated in the meeting.

The meeting said sentiments of Pandits all over the globe are attached with their religious shrines in Valley and any delay in the passage of the Bill will send a wrong signal among the community.

Kashmiri migrant relief holders demonstrate

Kashmiri migrant relief holders and over-aged youth staged a demonstration in front of Press Club here today while three agitating youth tonsured their heads to register their protest against the Government's apathy towards them.

The protestors with placards and banners in their hands were demanding immediate enhancement of relief and compensation of ` 25 lakh in favour of displaced over aged youth.

Raising slogans against the State and Central Governments the protestors alleged that both have failed to solve the problems of the displaced youth who were totally dependent on cash relief. With Government's failure to solve problems the condition of displaced youth, totally dependent on relief, is becoming critical day by day, said Ravinder Kaul (Pappu Ji) who led the demonstration and volunteered to tonsure his head as mark of protest.

He said having no source of income it is totally difficult for the migrant youth who have already become over aged to make their both ends meet. "We appeal the Government to enhance the cash relief to ` 12,000 per month at an earliest'', he added.

The displaced youth from various camps including Jagti township and other camps participated in the demonstration. They warned to intensify agitation in case the Government failed to concede the demands at an earliest.

They said the youth who were from the age group of 18 to 25 years at the time of migration were the worst sufferers of the turmoil in Valley and they have a bleak future ahead in case the Government failed to concede their demands. "We are unable to provide better educational facilities to our children", said Ramesh Ji another youth who also got his head tonsured in protest. Chand Ji another youth who tonsured his head warned that they will launch agitation in case the demands were not settled''.

Meanwhile JCC, which also participated in today's protest demanded immediate solution of the demands. It, in an appeal to Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, urged him to keep his word regarding launching of recruitment drive in police at Jagti township and other camps.

The JCC, while expressing its compliments to J&K Bank authorities for opening of ATM in the township, expressed the hope that the Bank branch will also be opened in the camp soon.

Newly appointed migrant employees without salaries

Kashmiri Pandit Sabha (KPS) Ambphalla in a meeting here today held under the chairmanship of its president Prof A N Sadhu discussed various issues pertaining to displaced Pandits.

The meeting expressed concern over non payment of wages to the newly appointed KP employees in Valley for last six months. Terming it a serious lapse it urged the Government to take immediate steps in releasing the salaries of these employees so that their financial conditions do not deteriorate further.

The meeting also took serious note of the recent reports regarding change of names of some historical places and hillocks in the Valley. It said since these places have historical background apart from the sentimental attachments of the community, any such contemplation will have unpleasant impact on the restoration and consolidation of composite culture which is sought to be revived and strengthened by all the rational thinking people.

The meeting in an appeal to the Government urged it to take remedial measures of keeping the historical and heritage terminology intact. The Sabha however will appreciate any initiative aimed at restoring peace and normalcy in Valley.