Various functions held on Earth Day

Various functions were held in reference to celebration of World Earth Day nowadays.

K V Bantalab organized a perform at Bantalab. the target was to push an awareness among the scholars relating to the destruction caused to Mother earth and additionally its impending consequences. The programme comprised of debates, lecturers, skits, inter house faculty competitions etc. The scouts and guides of the faculty additionally participated with nice fan fare. Mrs Sushma Thapar referred to as upon the longer term voters to require leading role in organizing the celebrations.

Another perform was held at K C Public faculty within which three hundred students and academics participated. the aim of the rally was to awaken the folks of Jammu and make a way of responsibility towards the earth earth and its fragile atmosphere particularly in read of the threat of worldwide warming and depletion of earth resources.

The rally was flagged off by Dilbagh Singh IGP, Jammu within the morning from the Central Park of the historical Mubarak Mandi.

Earth Day was celebrated at GD Goenka Public faculty, Jammu also. varied activities were held in class premises. The Kindergartners created the badges on the subject of save Earth. category III-V had an ad creating competition and categories VI-X had an inspired writing competition.

In association of Earth Day a perform was additionally held at Army Public faculty Jammu Cnatt. today. A special assembly was conducted with an intention to inspire awareness and appreciation for earth’s natural atmosphere. All activities of the Assembly were centered on environmental problems. Mrs Sudhi Sahni gave the wonderful facts that are inflicting harm to the planet and created everybody gift ponder on the crucial would like of saving the Mother Earth.

Teachers and students planting saplings on the planet Day at Jammu on Saturday

Earthquake in Kashmir Valley

BJYM protests against Rajouri administration

World Heritage Day celebrated

Like other parts of the country, World Heritage Day was also observed in the Valley and in this connection a grand function was organized by Academy of Art, Culture and Languages,. Besides a seminar, the century old price less documents, rare manuscripts, Art objects miniatures and calligraphy specimen were exhibited on the occasion.

The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon was the chief guest.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Samoon highlighted the importance of organizing such functions and emphasized for preserving the historical and priceless centuries old monuments, documents heritage sites etc. He said "we should be proud on our rich heritage, which is rare in the world." He said, the State is very rich in natural heritage along the corners of the State. He said no doubt, several monuments have been renovated and restored in their original glory yet there are certain things on which we should focus now and it is the responsibility of the whole community, especially civil society members to come forward for giving protection to these.

He further said that during this year, 14 lakh evergreen plants, besides 14000 chinars free of cost have been planted throughout the Valley by involving the educational institutions and others. He said the chinar tree is our identification and nobody would be allowed to damage these trees.

Meanwhile Inspector General of Police SM Sahai advised the students to develop taste for the heritage and its preservation.

IGP Kashmir was speaking in a function organized by the Directorate of Tourism on World Heritage week at SKICC, Srinagar.

He said that the perseverance of heritage should not be misinterpreted as only to preserve old buildings but it is also about culture, traditions, language as well as cuisine. IGP stressed upon the students to take up the subjects of humanities besides science as that will give them better understanding of significance of preservation of heritage.

Director Tourism Farooq Ahmad Shah, Ex DG Tourism Saleem Beigh, Principal of Institute of Hotel Management, Srinagar also attended the function.

Buddhist Heritage in Ambaran Jammu

Dying Heritage of Srinagar

Fai tried Indian connections to escape American sentence

ISI's KAC chief told Virginia court that a UPA Minister was in touch with him before arrest 

ISI-sponsored Kashmiri American Council (KAC) founder-chairman, Sayyid Ghulam Nabi Fai, had made a sensational disclosure in his last-ditch effort to escape punishment in the district court of Fairfax in Virginia. He made unsuccessful attempts to project himself as a champion of the "Kashmiri freedom movement" and a "peace broker" between India and Pakistan. During this attempt, he claimed before court that a Cabinet Minister of Dr Manmohan Singh's UPA-II Government had met with him days before he was arrested in July 2011.

According to sources closely watching the court proceedings in Virginia, Fai made every possible attempt to claim that he was a "peace broker" between New Delhi and Islamabad, as also a "Kashmir freedom activist" rather than being ISI's agent to promote Pakistan's strategy on the Kashmir issue. He, however, failed to convince the judge. The judge even trashed 'certificates' issued by Indian nationals, including some prominent intellectuals, with the observation that this operation too had been engineered and executed on behalf of ISI.

During the course of proceedings, Fai claimed that he had remained "closely associated" with the Indian intelligentsia and the establishment in his attempts of enforcing ceasefire between the Indian security forces and the Kashmiri militants in the year 2000. He claimed that he had remained in touch with then NDA head and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee through his National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra and a New-Delhi based journalist, namely R K Mishra. He claimed that on the other side, he was in a liaison with the Hizbul Mujahideen chief, Syed Salah-ud-din, and some of Kashmir's radical separatist leaders like Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

Apart from working together for over a decade for Jamaat-e-Islami, Fai and Salah-ud-din were both residents of Soibug village in Budgam district. However, the ceasefire announced by senior Hizbul functionary, late Abdul Majid Dar, on July 24, 2000, proved to be shortlived when Salah-ud-din announced its withdrawal in a dramatic development within 12 days in a press conference at Hotel Holiday Inn in Islamabad.

Fai's most sensational disclosure came in his claim that a cabinet Minister of Dr Manmohan Singh's Government was "in touch" with him and had met with him just days before Fai was arrested near the American capital in July 2011. Sources said Fai neither identified the Minister nor the venue of the "secret meeting". Even the judge, according to sources, showed no keenness to enquire about the identity of the Indian Minister or his purported meeting with Fai. The judge, according to sources who are Kashmiri Muslims settled in USA, remained adamant that defendant Fai had been operating strictly according to the brief given to him by ISI and against the money provided by the Pakistani intelligence agency.

Insignificant financial contributions made to a number of American political leaders, including former President Bill Clinton and incumbent President Barrack Obama, during their election campaigns, were dismissed as part of ISI's strategy to influence the Senators, Congressmen and heads of the state on Islamabad's stand on Kashmir. Unconfirmed reports said that Fai even referred to a meeting with one of former Chief Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir about a decade ago but it was not confirmed by the sources present in crucial sessions of the hearing.

Surprisingly, those roped in by ISI to project Fai as a "Kashmiri rights activist" through their barrage of letters to the judge, included some officials of the Omar Abdullah government. One of them, a lady professor in Department of English at University of Kashmir, has written a strongly-worded letter to the judge, claiming therein that Dr Fai had been fighting for the cause of Kashmir's freedom from India and, thus, deserved, treatment of a freedom fighter. Interestingly, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah happens to be the Pro Chancellor and Governor N N Vohra as Chancellor of the University of Kashmir.

This teacher is reportedly the wife of a radical separatist leader. She has never hesitated in attending all of Fai's ISI-sponsored conferences in USA, Pakistan and other countries and has also strongly advocated the cause of Kashmir's separation from India on different television channels of India and foreign countries. Listed among Fai's beneficiaries, she is said to have acquired an expensive house in a posh locality of Hyderpora earlier this year.

Sources in the Indian establishment insist that a retired engineer, Jitender Bakhshi, was among some non-Muslims ISI wanted to attend Fai's international conferences to mislead the Americans that KAC was pursuing a secular agenda. He was roped in by a senior journalist and Jammu-based editor. Even the draft of a resolution at a conference in 2010 was drafted by Bakhshi alongwith the Jammu editor and a Srinagar-based columnist Ghulam Mohammad Zahid. Even in 2011, Fai, on behalf of ISI, had financially supported a conference organized by Muzaffarabad University. A number of 'intellectuals' and journalists from Srinagar and Jammu had participated in the conference held in last week of April 2011. Even after "adverse field reports", CID of J&K Government had chosen to remain a mute spectator to this activity.

Sources said that a recently constituted Special Investigation Team, headed by SSP Budgam Uttam Chand, would thoroughly investigate, in close coordination with IB, RAW, NIA and Enforcement Directorate, whether ISI's contribution to J&K-based media publications had remained restricted to buying opinion pieces of the journalists or it had also gone to providing substantial funding to newspapers and news agencies.

NHPC to invest Rs 2400 cr in J&K

World Health Day observed across State

World Health Day was observed across the State today.

World Health Day was celebrated at Acharya Shri Chander College of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Sidhra. On the occasion, seminar, skit and poster making competitions were organised. Dr SL Verma, Founding Principal of ASCOMS was the chief guest while Dr A Kumar, Director Principal and Dr VK Gandotra, Prof and Advisor Academics were also present. 

During the seminar, speakers from different specialities spoke on different aspects. In poster making competition, group headed by Nitika and Oshin were adjudged first while group headed by Poonam and Sakshi were conferred second ranking. Group headed by Shilpa and Harpreet bagged third ranking.

Regional Red Cross Society and Hrideya Deep Ashram, organised a free medial camp at Lower Ratnu Chak to mark the World Health Day. The camp was inaugurated by Anil K Padha, secretary, Regional Red Cross Society and was presided over by Swami Hridaya Nand Giri. During the camp, over 460 patients were examined and free medicines jointly contributed by BEE ENN Charitable Trust and Hridaya Deep Ashram were distributed.

World Health Day was observed at Government Middle School, Phinter, Billawar, where students from various schools participated. A seminar on "Health for All" was organised where number of speakers threw light on the importance of the topic. A rally was also organised on the occasion. 

Guru Nanak College of Education, Jallochak, celebrated World Health Day by organizing the visit of its students to Saint Edward Public School, Sarore, thereby spreading the message of healthy mind and body in today’s stressful living environment. On the occasion, students performed various health education informative programmes elaborating the noble cause of blood donation. Sunita Jamwal, Principal of the college was the chief guest while the whole programme was organised by Anita Gupta.

On the eve of World Health Day, a seminar on the theme "Save the Girl Child" was organised by Red Cross and Education Department at Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Kathua, in which students from various schools participated. On the occasion, Zahida Parveen Khan, District Development Commissioner, Kathua was the chief guest, who while speaking appealed the people to cooperate in eradicating this social evil, which is posing serious threat to the sex ratio. Officers from civil administration were also present on the occasion.

Health Department Ramban in collaboration with Ramban Police organised rallies to mark World Health Day, in which hundreds of students participated.

Eco Sanitation Welfare Council in collaboration with Guru Harkrishan Public School, organised a seminar on "Eco Sanitation--A way to Healthy life" and an awareness rally, to celebrated World Health Day. On the occasion, Commissioner, JMC, KL Khajuira, was the chief guest while Balbir Singh, Principal of the school and galaxy of senior citizens were also present.

Yogathon, unique nation wide initiative by the Art of Living was performed at GGM Science College, KC Public School, NITS Polytechnic, Miran Sahib, Heritage School, MHAC Nagbani, Vaishno Devi College of Education besides Kot Bhalwal and Amphalla jails to commemorate World Health Day. Hundreds of people participated.

An awareness rally "To Save Girl Child" was organised at Government Higher Secondary School, Nagri Parole to celebrate World Health Day. The rally commenced from the school premises and passed through various streets, in which staff members and girls students participated.

IPS Kidzee, Kathua organised a Medical Check up camp to celebrate World Health Day, in which Dr Mohinder Lal, Dr Reva, Dr Raj Kumar, Dr Vikas Pandu, Dr Dimple and Dr Ravinder, examined the children.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Dr Asgar Hassan participated in a "Walk for Good Health" organised by World Health Organization in association with Valley Citizen Council from Nehru Park, today to commemorate World Health Day. People from all walks of society including officials from civil administration also took part in the rally.

Kerosene Firewood burning in Kashmir poses more health problems

Red corner notice likely after investigations

Govt sets up SIT to expose Fai's agents, pursue pending cases against him

 In a major decision aimed at exposing separatists, individuals, NGOs and other organisations supporting United States based Kashmir separatist Sayyid Ghulam Nabi alias Fai, a resident of Soibugh, Badgam, the State Government today constituted a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to investigate all pending cases against Fai and unearth identity of persons, who had received hawala money from different channels at the behest of separatist leader.

Uttam Chand, an IPS officer, presently posted as SSP Badgam, would head the SIT, official sources said, adding that other members to the SIT would be nominated soon. The Government has directed the SIT to start its task soon to unravel the entire nexus of Fai operating in Jammu and Kashmir and hawala funds received by various individuals including separatists, journalists, intellectuals, NGOs etc from the US based separatist leader.

The SIT would submit its report in the minimum possible time.

Sources said a red corner notice could be issued against Fai as police was in possession of enough material against him to prove his involvement in fanning terrorism and using various channels to fund several individuals and organisations with hawala money.

They added the evidence against the Kashmiri separatist leader would be sent to the Ministry of External Affairs, which could pursue the case of his extradition to India after he served two years imprisonment awarded to him by a Virginia Court in the United States recently.

Sources said the Badgam SSP had been made head of the SIT as Fai was a native of village Soibugh in Badgam district and a Public Safety Act (PSA) warrant issued against him by the then District Magistrate in Badgam in 1980 for his involvement in anti-national activities was still pending against him in police records. After the issuance of PSA warrant, Fai had fled the Kashmir valley and reached Saudi Arabia before finally settling in the United States where he had floated Kashmir American Council (KAC), which was brazenly back by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Fai had used the ISI funds to sponsor various NGOs, Kashmiri separatist leaders, journalists and other individuals and organisations to espouse the cause of Pakistan sponsored militancy in the Valley. As reported, hawala funds running into several crores had been routed through different channels by Fai for his supporters in Jammu and Kashmir and other States to carry out anti-India campaign, allege fake human rights violations to defame security forces and propagate the cause of Pakistan over Kashmir.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters today, Director General of Police (DGP) Kuldeep Khoda said: ``"the cases against Fai will be carried forward and investigated to reach to their logical conclusion".

"The investigation will include issuance of red corner notices and other steps which are required to be taken in this regard", he said.

On whether the SIT would deal with the issue of Fai and his activities in Jammu and Kashmir, the DGP said, "(it is meant for) Fai and other associates, who will figure during the course of scrutiny of records of various international activities which have taken place".

"We have to sum up these operatives who are connected in the situation in J&K. We have to carry forward cases of these people", he said, adding "these people have figured prominently over the years in the cases whether it is Hafiz Saeed, Syed Sallahuddin and Ghulam Nabi Fai and others".

"We have also found that there are certain activities of theirs in the past which required to be further probed into-- including Fai's", Mr Khoda said.

Asked if the Government will take action against those people in the State, who wrote in support of Fai to the US Court, the DGP said, "We have certain records available which indicated his (Fai's) anti-national activities in the past before he disappeared from here in the early 80s".

He said, "during the course of investigation, SIT will find out whatever action is to be taken under laws that will be taken-- we cannot pre-decide these issues-- as to who has what role.

"We have to see who is culpable and who is not culpable-- all this is based on the evidence which comes forward-- which comes to notice during the investigation-- scrutiny of records and also understanding the legal implications of those actions," Mr Khoda said, adding, "I will not bind them (SIT) with any sorts of any do's and don'ts-- let us see how it proceeds". 

Meanwhile, knowledgeable sources revealed that Fai had told FBI agents in March 2007 that he had never met anyone who identified himself as being affiliated with the ISI. But confronted by the prosecution counsel with irrefutable evidence during his prosecution, Fai confessed having met with at least 4 ISI handlers and talked to them 4000 times during 2008. Two ISI officials, who had been in regular touch with Fai, have already been identified as Sohail Mehmood alias S Mir and Tauqeer Mehmood Bhat.

Fai had also claimed that he had not been receiving funding from Pakistan nor was he pushing Pakistan's Kashmir cause in political, intellectual and academic circles in the Untied States. But Centre for Research Politics, a US-based centre has interviewed Congressman Dan Burton, who was perhaps the first US Congressman to fall in the net of Fai. Pakistani English daily Dawn of February 10, 2012 quoted a columnist as saying: ``in July 2011, Burton was revealed by an FBI investigation to have received tainted election funds ultimately traced to the military intelligence services of Pakistan, apparently as a quid pro quo for "supporting to Pakistan's position on Kashmir". 

These funds were routed via Fai headed KAC. Subsequently, Burton's office donated the funds to charity. Burton had long been portrayed as a "good friend of Pakistan" and, over the course of many years, regularly issued pro-Pakistan and anti-India statements, both of which ceased following the revelations regarding the funds from Pakistan. 

FBI sources have made more revelations of American personalities receiving Fai's largesse. He gave $ 250 a piece to former Vice President Al Gore, Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), former Sen. John Sununu (R-N.H.) and President Barak Obama during Obama's 2008 presidential bid, $ 500 a piece to Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Reps. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) and Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.). 

He gave $1,000 to the then -Sen. Bob Kasten (R-Wisc.) and $ 2,000 a piece to Reps. Jim Moran (D-Va.) and Joe Pitts (R-Penn.). Fai has also given $ 9,500 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and $ 250 to both the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. 

A press release of East Virginia Attorney's office of March 30, 2011 stated that Fai repeatedly submitted annual KAC strategy reports and budgetary requirements to Pakistani Government officials for approval. For instance, in 2009, he sent the ISI a document entitled "Plan of Action of KAC / Kashmir Centre, Washington, D.C., for the Fiscal Year 2010," which itemized KAC's 2010 budget request of $ 658,000 and listed Fai's plans to secure US Congressional support for US action in support of Kashmiri self-determination.

The Bloomberg Business Week of March 30, 2011, reported prosecutors saying in a court filing that a search of Fai's home, office and a storage facility turned up documents detailing the council's Washington strategies, including budget requirements for contributions to members of Congress and trips to Kashmir for lawmakers, money for opinion pieces distributed to the media, and money for seminars and conferences.

One document found in the course of search, called for $ 100,000 for contributions to members of Congress in 2009, prosecutors said. Fai, who admitted the conspiracy took place from 1990 until July 18, 2011, said he submitted annual budget requests of about $ 500,000 to $ 700,000 to officials of the Government of Pakistan, including the ISI. Seminars/conferences and travel and hospitality and gratification to the participants of seminars/symposia/conferences were undertaken by KAC with all frugality. 

For example in connection with participants from India to the 11th annual conference of KAC, a national newspaper quoting from the footnotes of Attorney's report had said, "Mirwaiz Umer Farooq was supported and controlled by the ISI. Fai invited Attiya Inayatullah to KAC conferences at the ISI's direction. Gautam Navlakha was introduced to an ISI General for recruitment by Fai at the ISI's behest". Navlakha is a civil rights activist in India. Prominent among those who wrote a letter in support of Fai to the US District Judge seeking leniency were Rajmohan Gandhi, Ved Bhasin, Karen Parker, Zaffer A Shah, Zahid G Muhammad and Hamida Bano. 

According to an overview of the KAC conference sent to the media after the 2009 event by Fai, Ved Bhasin was quoted as advocating for Kashmir as an independent state in South Asia. 

"The only solution is an independent state in South Asia. The status quo is not a solution, the division of the State is not a solution," reported Kashmir Images of 22 July, 2011 quoting Ved Bhasin. Prof. Hamida Bano was among Fai's beneficiaries but inclusion of Jatinder Bakhshi, rather a non-descript Kashmir Pandit migrant entity remained a mystery. 

One Zaheer Ahmad, a Pakistani American identified by FBI as Fai's accomplice in securing funds from "straw donors". They would be reimbursed later on from funds coming from ISI. Dependable sources said that Ahmad was in Pakistan at the time when Fai was arrested. After learning about Fai's arrest Ahmad avoided returning to the US. 

But then in November 2011, news came that he had died of a sudden heart attack. The news of his death was hushed up and nothing more was told about the circumstances in which he died. Sources alleged that it could have been the handiwork of ISI because Ahmad, an old time ISI agent was privy to a number of persons directly and indirectly involved in Faigate.

The Telegraph of 21 July reported that several Indian journalists and activists had also accepted the invitation from the group to take part in seminars in the US, which involved business class travel and "some luxury". Sources said journalists such as Kuldip Nayar, Dileep Padgaonkar, Harinder Baweja, Ved Bhasin, Rajmohan Gandhi and activists Rita Manchanda and Gautam Navlakha and politician Subramanian Swamy had attended some of these seminars. Bharat Bhushan, who writes on India-Pakistan relations and is a former journalist with The Telegraph, declined to deny or confirm if he participated in any event organized by the group. 

Siddharth Varadarajan, National Bureau Chief of The Hindu, said Fai invited him to attend a seminar in 2009. "But I declined," Varadarajan said. What aroused Varadarajan's suspicion was Fai having listed India's envoy to Washington Meera Shankar as one of the speakers at the event. "I checked with my sources on how come she was attending? They told me she wasn't," Varadarajan said. 

Veteran journalist Dileep Padgaonkar said he did not remember the year now but he "quite liked the meeting and did not suspect any hanky-panky". The journalist said he felt there was a need to put forward the Indian point of view even if the outfit was pro-Pakistan. "We had no idea about Fai's connections. I wouldn't have gone had I known or had there been even the faintest of suspicions (about the source of the KAC funds)" he added.

In the news bulletin of April 7, Zee news said that the NGO Committee of ECOSO had rejected the application made by Fai in 1999 for grant of ECOSOC status. Indian member-delegate to NGO Committee had some doubts. Soon after a Delhi-based NGO, Asian-Eurasian Human Rights Forum (AEHRF) applied for the same status in 2000. 

Pakistani delegation blocked Indian NGO's application on one pretext or the other for a couple of years, and finally, Fai, with ISI prompting, approached the representative of AEHRF in New York to persuade the Indian member to accept mutual agreement. The AEHRF representative turned down his request, and till date, AEHRF's application continued to be deferred by the NGO although it has answered more than a hundred questions put to it during past 12 years.

The Brussels branch chief of Fai's Kashmir Centre, namely Barrister Tramboo, was extraordinarily active to garner support against Ema Nicholson's report on Kashmir assigned to her by the European parliament. Fai with all his paraphernalia and a damage controlling team from ISI entrenched in Brussels and maneuvered successfully the watering down of the original report through money power. This is the same Tramboo, who, in order to settle his multi-million outstanding transaction case with the J&K government (probably the Tourist Department), was offered legal assistance by a Supreme Court advocate of Kashmiri origin in return of a hefty amount of fee.

As reported, a warrant under Public Safety Act (PSA) issued by the District Magistrate, Badgam on August 4, 1980 against Fai for his involvement in anti-national activities in Kashmir. However, he deserted the Valley before he could be detained under the PSA and since then hasn't returned to India.

Documents available with police and Intelligence agencies revealed that it was Fai, who had sown the seeds of subversion and anti-national activities in seventies before deserting Kashmir in 1980. He started his activities from the United States in nineties with the help of Pakistan and its agencies including the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Fai along with United States based one Angana Chatterjee had tried to win over a controversial female Indian writer through all possible means including money to raise the issue of human rights abuses in Kashmir and defame security forces especially Army with a view to champion the cause of Kashmiris.

The female writer had recently been in news for sharing platform with a separatist writer in the Kashmir Valley and a Public Interest Litigation had also been filed against her in the court for registering a case of sedition. The Intelligence input revealed that the conspiracy by Fai was made in February 2011. The conspiracy was now part of official Intelligence documents.

``Dr Fai had funded an American Television channel reporter, Dr Rachel Maddow and made him to visit Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) in February 2011 to shoot certain programmes in which PoK citizens were shown claiming human rights violations in Kashmir'', sources said.

Sohail Mehmood alias S Mir and Tauqeer Mehmood Bhat, two top officers of Pakistan's Intelligence Agencies (ISI) were in regular touch with Fai. They had generated all resources for a ``100 hour vigil'', a programme sponsored by Fai held at Pennsylvania, United States in which many speakers had alleged human rights violations in Kashmir.

Sources said there were many more Indian writers, intellectuals, journalists, NGOs and other individuals and organisations with whom Fai was in regular touch and managed to win over them to carry out Pakistani propaganda on Kashmir issue.

Fai had worked as General Manager in `Azan' newspaper at Srinagar, which, according to sources, was also used in seventies for fanning subversion in Kashmir and instigate Kashmiri people against India. He had tried to float a militant outfit, Muslim Students Military Force but hadn't succeeded in giving a formal shape to it as he deserted Kashmir on issuance of PSA warrant against him, sources said.

14,359 hectares forest area encroached

China freezes assets of 6 ultras

Tacitly pointing finger at its close ally Pakistan, China today froze assets of six absconding terrorists of a separatist outfit in Xinjiang, the native province of Muslim Uyghurs, and called on foreign countries to arrest and hand them over to it.

Chinese police today published a list of six militants, who were stated to be native Uyghurs.

Without directly naming Pakistan, a statement issued by the Chinese Ministry of Public Security said they had spent some time in "a certain south Asian country", where they reported to have undergone training in terror attacks, suicide bombings and knife attacks.

All six are "core members" of the banned East Turkistan Islamic Movement, (ETIM), it said.

"The ministry hoped that foreign governments and their law enforcing departments would help to arrest the six and hand them over to Chinese authorities," an official of Ministry was quoted as saying by state-run Xinhua news agency.

"The group is the most direct and real threat China faces for its security", he said.

Asked at a media briefing here today whether the Public Security statement referred to Pakistan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hong Lei said the question should be referred to relevant Ministry.

But at the same time he said ETIM is a US Security Council listed terrorist organisation and "it is universally recognised in the international community as an organisation has engaged in lot of activities of crime and violence".

ETIM is not only at serious threat to China but also endangered peace security of "relevant countries and the region", he said.

"Fighting ETIM is an important part of the international campaign against terrorism. The international community should unite as one to jointly fight terrorism," he said.

This is the second time in a month that Pakistan’s reference surfaced in connection with the Xinjiang militants.

Last month Nur Bekri, Chairman of Xinjiang regional government said here on the sidelines of the Parliament session that China had found "thousand one links" with terrorist groups in Pakistan.

"We have certainly discovered that East Turkestan activists and terrorists in our neighbouring states have a thousand and one links. The Pakistani government has also expressed the willingness to maintain China’s sovereignty and core interests in fighting terrorism against China," he has said.

ETIM has carried out some brutal attacks in Xinjiang against the people of main land Chinese Han community, whose growing presence is resented by native Uyghurs, a Turkik speaking Muslim community.

Last July, the local government of Kashghar, a city bordering Pakistan occupied Kashmir, (PoK) said some of the terrorists who took part in the town were trained in Pakistan terrorist camps.

The six "terrorists" who were named today were all core members of the terrorist group the ETIM, the Public Security Ministry statement said and sought the help of the foreign Governments in helping to arrest them and hand them over to Chinese security forces.

"The group is the most direct and real threat China faces for its security" a spokesman of the Ministry of Public Security said.

The Ministry said the six named have participated in the organisation, planning and execution of terrorist acts against Chinese targets within and outside the country.

ETIM is still conducting propaganda and instigation among members of the "three evil forces" of separatism, extremism and terrorism who live in China, and attempts to stage terrorist acts, the statement said.

The six were identified as Nurmemet Memetmin, Abdulkyum Kurban, Paruh Tursun, Tursunjan Ebibla, Nurmemet Raxit, and Mamat Imin Nurmamat, all Uyghurs from Xinjiang.

Nurmemet Memetmin, 47, was one of the founders of the ETIM in 1997.

He set up a terrorist training camp in a South Asian country in 1997 and acted as a military instructor there, Xinhua reported.

He had trained dozens of terrorists, some of whom later became ringleaders, military instructors and core members, it said.

He sent an ETIM member Memtieli Tiliwaldi to China in 2007 after which he along with other militants staged a series of murders, bombings and arsons in Kashgar, Xinjiang in July 2011, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries of civilians and police officers.

Abdulkyum Kurban, 30, is currently a propaganda chief of the ETIM.

He has been inciting extremism and terrorism since 2009 exhorting people to conduct suicide bombings and hack civilians with cleavers.

Paruh Tursun, 40, and Tursunjan Ebibla, 31, were accused of participating in the ETIM and instigating terrorist acts.

Nurmemet Raxit, 42, was accused of recruiting terrorists, assisting with the production of terrorist propaganda videos and providing funds for terrorist acts.

Mamat Imin Nurmamat, 29, had plotted arsons and murders in Shache, Xinjiang in July 2009, which were discovered and stopped by Chinese police.

He received terrorist training in a South Asian country and recruited new members for the ETIM in a Southeast Asian country after he left China.

World Aids day at Kashmir University

World Tourism Day in jammu kashmir ladakh

ASI celebrates World Tourism Day

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) celebrated World Tourism Day at Akhnoor under the theme "Tourism Linking Cultures, an opportunity to highlight Tourism’s role in bringing the cultures of the world together and promoting global understanding through travel". Students from schools and colleges and local public were present during the celebration.

On the occasion, Sushma Chauhan, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Akhnoor, was the chief guest who inaugurated a photo exhibition at Akhnoor Fort.

The students from various schools presented colourful cultural programmes and mesmerized the gathering with their performances.

Speaking on the occasion, YK Kanotra, Deputy Superintending Archaeological Chemist, ASI, appealed the general public especially young generation regarding role of tourism and culture heritage and also to preserve rich heritage and save the same for the next generation.

HK Gupta, Assistant Superintending Archaeological Chemist, ASI and KCS Mehta presented awards to the students of Army Public School and Anubha Singh Rawal, Headmistress.

At last, HK Gupta presented vote of thanks.

NITS Polytechnic celebrates World Tourism Day

The Department Tour and Travel, NITS Polytechnic, Indira Nagar today celebrated the World Tourism Day by organising cultural show and highlighted the relevance of Tourism Day.

Inder Puneet Singh Johar, Director, Holidaywallas, was the chief guest while Director NITS Polytechnic, Er Savinder Gupta presided over the function. Nidhi Pathania Dutta, Research Scholar, SHTM, University of Jammu was the guest of honour on the occasion.

Students presented cultural items included folk dances, songs, play, etc on various themes of tourism promotion and its relevance. They also delivered speeches to aware youth about tourism industry, its scope and role in the promotion of economy of State.

While speaking, Mr Puneet shared his experience of tourism industry with students and advised them to know more and more about tourist places in Jammu and Kashmir for its promotion at national and international level. He also stressed upon the students to choose tourism industry as it has vast scope in the present era.

Er Savinder lauded the efforts of Department for organising such wonderful informative programme and advised the students to take benefits of such functions.

Research Scholar Nidhi also boosted the morale of students by giving data about growth of tourism industry in recent years.

Earlier, Priyanka Sharma, welcomed the guests while Tarun Mehta gave the vote of thanks.

Hotel and Restaurant Association also organised function on World Tourism Day at Government Girls High School, Katra.

Additional SP Katra Mohan Lal was chief guest.

While speaking, he said highlighted about the tourism sector and appealed the youth community to know more about tourism industry and its scope.

Students also delivered speeches on "Tourist Places in Jammu and Kashmir and their significance" on the occasion.

Stamps Exhibition in Srinagar

Rarest stamps of the world to be exhibited in Srinagar after 35 yrs 

In one of a rare kind of exhibitions to be organised after a span of 35 years, Jammu and Kashmir Department of Post would be showcasing a rare collection of one lakh stamps brought from all over the world tomorrow. Each of the stamps worth lakhs of rupees right now have been put in around 400 frames which would be put on display through a four day long exhibition.

Besides, Jammu and Kashmir will be the first state to produce My Stamps, where the common people will get to post their pictures on the stamps, which they could collect on the spot.“Customised My-Stamps, is surely expected to draw a lot of crowd to this exhibition. Especially, college, school students who as a means of putting their school buildings, mottos, taglines on the stamps and making it as a peculiar display,” John Samuels, Chief Post Master General, J&K told KTNS.

For making its venture My-Stamps a hit, the Department is contemplating to set up seven cameras at the venue, so that the visitors get to have a tailor-made stamp on the spot itself.The cost of one My-stamp is Rs 300 for students. For various institutions on the other hand, the stamp costs have been put higher.This unique stamps exhibition would also be displaying the oldest stamp of the world called” Penny Black” which got its name due to its black colour and the worth of a single penny at that time, when I came into being in 1840.

According to Samuels, the worth of Penny Black currently in few lakhs, and this should give the interested people an insight into the history of stamps the world over and their origin.The stamps displayed, specific to Jammu and Kashmir, would be from pre-independence period, especially Maharaja’s rule. Besides, traditional stamps have been brought from countries like UK, US and France to be exhibited during this four day long philatelic exhibition.

“United Nations (UN) has its own stamps which should also interest  a  lot of students and other people here,” General Postmaster said.The Department of post has specified a day for the letter writing competition, wherein  the school children are supposed to write a letter to their mothers. The best letters, would be acknowledged with cash prizes.“Letter writing spirit, cannot die down as it is not only a necessary but a novel means of communication. Though technology has invaded almost all means of communication, however the spirit of writing letters should not fade away, particularly among our children,” Samuels added.

What is more is that the children who have designing skills can try out designing stamps , the best of which shall be displayed on 14th November, Children’s Day.Besides, there are going to be some amusing stamps ranging from Harry Potter, James Bond, Bollywood to Mother Teressa.With an aim to bring Post Office closer to your doorstep, the Department of post would be  making available mobile vans to all those who are keen on having a look at the historically significant stamps could be taken to the venue.Besides, the Department of Post has already roped in hundreds of school children, Department of tourism and many allied departments to make this four day long historic event a success.

Jammu Kashmir Travel Advisories

J&K to take up travel advisories issue with foreign countries

Chief minister Omar Abdullah today said his government will take up with different countries through centre the issue regarding travel related advisories.

European countries had issued the advisories to their citizens not to visit Kashmir due to the disturbing conditions.

Omar was talking to reporters on the sidelines of sports function at Sher-i-Kashmir Indoor Stadium here today. Chief minister said the situation in Kashmir has improved and things are returning to normal. “People from all the countries should visit Kashmir as they can now move freely given the improvement in the situation,” he opined.

Chief minister said the countries that had issued the advisories should think once again as the situation has improved a lot here. “Before some years a local was afraid to go to Aru-Pahalgam but these days tourists can go to every corner of valley without any fear,” he said.

Replying to a question about the work culture in valley, he said that work culture got a major setback during the last two decades but now the improvement is visible. “We are hopeful that this improvement will continue,” chief minister said.

“Our work culture has suffered a lot a for last 20 years but now the trend is changing and the improvement can be seen on the ground level,” Omar said adding that he was  waiting for one  good season, so that  remaining works are completed.

To a question as to why government did not organize any national event in valley three years before, chief minister said situation in Kashmir was not suitable to organize any tournament at that time.

“Before few years we were not having any law or order problem in valley but the militancy related incidents were prevalent in the state,” Omar said adding that tournaments could not be held in valley due to law and order problem.

Appreciating the players who are participating in table tennis championship, which is held after the gap of 24 years in the valley, Omar said, “It is just a beginning.”

Omar said that nobody might have thought that the Sher-i-Kashmir Indoor Stadium would be used again for the sports activities. But now time has changed and people are coming to valley to play.

“It was unfortunate that this stadium (Sher-i-Kashmir indoor) was occupied by the security forces in the past. Then it was converted into passport office but now it will be used only for sports activities,” he said.

He assured up gradation of sports stadium. “In coming time sound and lighting system would be improved further and players would not face any difficulty while playing in this stadium,” Omar assured.