Helicopter services invite scrutiny
JAMMU, Feb 26 — The government today admitted in the Assembly that people of snow-bound areas of Kargil and Zanskar faced severe hardships in winter owing to non-operation of helicopter services.

BJP seeks more troops for Jammu
JAMMU, Feb 26 — Reiterating the demand to get Doda district in Jammu region declared a "disturbed area", the senior BJP leader and Member Parliament, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta today said that he would soon take up this issue with the Union Home Minister, Mr Lal Krishan Advani.

Saxena visits massacre sites
JAMMU, Feb 26 — Mr Girish Chander Saxena, the Jammu and Kashmir Governor visited the massacre sites at Bariyana in Udhampur district and Patta Mithiari Galla in Rajouri district yesterday.

Dharna against erratic power supply
JAMMU, Feb 26 — Residents of the Bakshi Nagar locality today staged a dharna here under the banner of the Jammu United Forum in protest against the failure of the state government to ensure uninterrupted power supply in the Jammu region.

Helicopter services invite scrutiny
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Feb 26 — The government today admitted in the Assembly that people of snow-bound areas of Kargil and Zanskar faced severe hardships in winter owing to non-operation of helicopter services.

During question hour, Mr Mohammed Abbas raised the issue of the problems of travellers from this remote belt and said that hundreds of passengers remained stranded within Kargil-Zanskar belt while those who had moved out were stranded in Srinagar, Jammu and other places.

The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, informed the House that he had approached the Defence Ministry in November 1998 with the request that special helicopter sorties be made operational to lift the stranded passengers to and from Kargil and Zanskar. He said some flights had been operated and he had requested the Defence Minister to again introduce helicopter services on the Srinagar-Kargil-Zanskar route till April 1999.

In reply to another question the Chief Minister said that the government had no plan to set up a hydel power project near Sharbal in Shopian subdivision in south Kashmir. One MC member, Mr Abdul Ahad Kar wanted the Government to utilise the water of the scenic Aharbal for generating electricity.

He was informed that a survey had been carried out but since the government had no funds the question of taking in hand a hydel project was not possible at present. The Chief Minister, however, said that whatever its financial position the Government will start work on the Bagliar power project from April 1999.

The House witnessed an animated discussion on paucity of degree colleges and higher secondary schools in different areas of the state. The issue was raised by Mr Abdul Gani Naseem of the National Conference.

The Education Minister, Mr Abdul Qayoom, said that except for Budgam district in Srinagar there were degree colleges in all other districts of the state. He said that at present the government had taken in hand consolidation of the existing colleges and schools and banned opening of new colleges and schools in the state.

This was followed by a spate of supplementaries.

With member after member asking supplementaries the Speaker, Mr Abdul Ahad Vakil, advised members not to waste the time of the House by asking more questions than was required. He said already 15 minutes had been spent on one question and members could get time to discuss the issue on other occasions. After 20 minutes the Speaker finally called a halt and refused to allow any more supplementaries. At this stage the Panthers Party MLA, Mr Harsh Dev Singh staged a walkout in protest against the ban on opening of new schools and colleges.

Three questions were deferred on account of incomplete information. The Speaker directed the Government to submit detailed information to the Assembly Secretariat in reply to questions. He said the Government should work hard and give correct information so that members were satisfied with the government reply. The Law Minister assured the Speaker that the government will abide by his suggestion.

The House took up for third day debate on the Governor's address. Yesterday the House witnessed pandemonium when Ms Mehbooba Mufti, leader of the Congress legislature party, hit out at the NC Government for its double speak. She went to the extent of accusing NC leaders of supporting insurgency in the beginning and even referred to Dr Farooq Abdullah's visit to Occupied Kashmir in 1974.

At this several National Conference members exchanged words with her. When Ms Mufti blamed the security forces for excesses on the people the BJP members were on their feet to protest. The NC and BJP members hit back blaming her father Mufti Mohammed Sayed, a former Union Home Minister, for the turmoil in Kashmir.

The Chief Minister is scheduled to reply to the motion of thanks on the Governor's address tomorrow.

The House was informed that since 1990, 130 temples, 35 mosques, three shrines and two gurdwaras were gutted or damaged in military related violence. Renovation and rebuilding of these religious places had already begun.

BJP seeks more troops for Jammu
From Kavita Suri

JAMMU, Feb 26 — Reiterating the demand to get Doda district in Jammu region declared a "disturbed area", the senior BJP leader and Member Parliament, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta today said that he would soon take up this issue with the Union Home Minister, Mr Lal Krishan Advani.

The BJP leader who recently visited Baiyana village in Arnas area of Udhampur district along with the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah where the militants had massacred nine innocent people, said that he would soon meet the Union Home Minister to update him on the security situation in the state.

"As the security situation is deteriorating in Jammu region, we will also raise the demand to increase the number of security forces deployed in the region. Besides, the matter regarding reimbursement of the salaries of VDC members would also be taken as they have not been provided any salary for the past 7-8 months.

Terming the emerging security situation as "dangerous," Prof Gupta stressed the need to smash the overground apparatus of the militants, which he said, was finding many sympathisers amongst ruling party workers.

Alleging that the state government had vested interests in continuation of militancy in the state, he said there were many anti-national elements in the state government itself.

Citing an example, Prof Gupta said the former Governor Gen K.V. Krishna Rao, during his tenure, had ordered dismissal of about 96 state government employees for their alleged nexus with the anti-national elements. But the said employees are still continuing with their respective jobs and no action has been taken against them. Even some top bureaucrats of the state had a nexus with militants in the past, he said.

Referring to the improved security scenario Prof Gupta said it was only due to the efforts of the Centre that "almost normalcy" could be restored in the valley.

Making a scathing attack on the state government for its alleged failure on 'various fronts', the Doda MP said the Farooq, government had failed to contain militancy, government jobs are on sale, corruption is thriving and discrimination with Jammu region still persists. He said various posts in state government were being filled illegally by the ministers of the National Conference.

Criticising the callous attitude of the Farooq led National Conference government towards displaced families from militancy effected areas of Jammu region mainly Prankote, Gool, Rajouri, Surankote and Poonch, he said the families were unable to return to their homes and the government did not do anything for them so far.

Demanding an enquiry into the forest fires in Doda district, he said a commission of enquiry should be constituted and facts brought before the public.

Army gives artificial limbs to 26 villagers
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Feb 26 — The Army has provided artificial limbs to 26 villagers, who were rendered handicapped due to landmines and accidents in border areas of northern Kashmir. These limbs were given at the Nevedac Prosthatic Centre, Chandigarh, recently.

This assistance is part of the "sadhbhavna operations" launched by the Army with assistance of Rs 3 crore by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Lieut Gen Krishan Pal, GOC, 15 Corps, told newspersons at the Badami Bagh Cantonment here this morning.

Out of the total sum, Rs 1 crore was being spent on Ahgam village in Pulwama district that witnessed heavy damage in an encounter between the Army and militants in April last year. The Army had since adopted the village and was being reconstructed as a model village.

The GOC said so far 81 persons had been identified in different areas of the valley, who would be provided with artificial limbs at a cost of about Rs 7,000 each. A fresh batch of 21 other victims had already left for Chandigarh for getting artificial limbs.

He said there was also a need for constructing hostels in the border areas for orphans so that they got better education facilities.

As part of the "sadhbhavna operations", the Army had also taken up seven projects under border area development for providing better medical facilities, veterinary assistance, community centres and education. These include two villages each in Gurez in Uri Sectors and three villages in the Keran sector of Baramula and Kupwara districts in North Kashmir. Aragam village in the Bandipore area of Baramula district had also been taken up for the purpose. The amount provided by the Centre would be spent on the purchase of goods while labour and other assistance would be provided by troops.

Saxena visits massacre sites
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 26 — Mr Girish Chander Saxena, the Jammu and Kashmir Governor visited the massacre sites at Bariyana in Udhampur district and Patta Mithiari Galla in Rajouri district yesterday. Militants had gunned down 13 persons including women and children, in these two districts in separate incidents on the intervening night of February 19 and February 20, 1999.

Expressing his condolences with the kin of the victims, Mr Saxena assured them that the security arrangements in the area would be further strengthened and no effort would be spared in tracking down the perpetrators of these barbaric crimes. He urged them to maintain communal harmony and help the government in defeating the nefarious designs of the terrorists, who were bent upon disturbing the peace and forcing the people to migrate and instil fear and dissension among them. He told the relatives of the victims that the government, which had already sanctioned cash relief, would also take care of the education of their children.

The Governor later held discussions with the officers of security forces and the civil administration of Rajouri district and Udhampur regarding the security situation and related matters. He also flew to Reasi and listened to the grievances and demands voiced by delegations of the local people.

Dharna against erratic power supply
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 26 — Residents of the Bakshi Nagar locality today staged a dharna here under the banner of the Jammu United Forum in protest against the failure of the state government to ensure uninterrupted power supply in the Jammu region.

The protesters shouted slogans against the power authorities and the Chief Minister's "anti-people" policies.

Mr Bansi Lal Gupta, president of the forum, alleged that the power development authorities were paying no heed to their demands.

He demanded immediate shifting of chief engineer and other staff members of the PDD, and taking effective measures to check erratic power supply.