Concern at troop pull-out
From M L Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, June 22 — The state government and the police are worried over the delay in making suitable replacement for 40 battalions of troops, including men of the Rashtriya Rifles, withdrawn from Jammu and Kashmir following the armed conflict in the Kargil-Dras belt.

The Defence Ministry decided to deploy the forces engaged in carrying out operations against militants, especially foreign mercenaries, in the state on the border to meet any eventuality.

So far the ministry has agreed to send 26 battalions of paramilitary forces. Out of these 11 battalions are said to have reached the state. What worries the state government is that the withdrawal of troops from within the state may have an adverse impact on the security scenario in the state in the light of reports that more than 800 Pakistan trained militants and foreign mercenaries have sneaked into the state during the past two months.

The state BJP leaders,too, have voiced concern over the withdrawal of troops. The BJP leader, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, has called for deployment of additional companies of paramilitary forces in areas where the Army has been withdrawn.

Six battalions of the Rashtriya Rifles have been withdrawn out of 12 battalions in the troubled Doda district. In Poonch, Rajouri, parts of Udhampur and several areas of the Kashmir valley troops have been withdrawn and sent to the border.

Prof Gupta has demanded that the number of village defence committees (VDCs) be increased in Doda, Rajouri and Udhampur so that these can contain the activities of the militants.

Official sources say that state government has already crossed its financial limitations while recruiting special police officers to tackle militancy, but their number continues to be small, unabling them to make a dent in the militant outfits. Prof Gupta is of the opinion that a majority of SPOs have been posted in places where there is no need for them.

Senior functionaries agree it is imperative for the Home Ministry to restructure the security apparatus by deploying at least 40 battalions of the paramilitary forces. In case of any difficulty, the state government should have been given additional funds for raising at least five police battalions.

Another worry is that new battalions of the paramilitary forces will take more than a month to understand the topography of the region. In this connection, experts suggest that they be kept under the operational command of the state police.

The sources say the state government has renewed its request to the Centre to release funds for completing the process for modernisation of the police communication and transport system.So far not even 20 per cent of the Rs 190 crore funds have been released by the Centre. With the result, in many militancy-infested areas the police remains handicapped on account of poor transport.

Bid to kill 2 BJP leaders

SRINAGAR, June 22 (PTI) — Militants made attempts on the lives of two Bharatiya Janata Party leaders in Doda while a security jawan was killed and another critically wounded in explosions on the Srinagar-Kargil highway in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening.

Two foreign mercenaries and a woman were killed and two wounded in other militancy-related incidents in the state, an official spokesman said here today.

He said militants opened heavy fire on the houses of two BJP leaders, Mr Daleep Singh and Mr Amir Chand, at Battara and Gawari villages in Doda district of Jammu region.

However, police guards posted at their houses returned the fire and forced the militants to flee. No one was injured.

Both BJP activists were at home at the time of the attack.

Two Army personnel were critically wounded as militants exploded two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at Nunar on the Srinagar-Kargil national highway today. One of the soldiers succumbed to his injuries in hospital.

A woman lost her life and another person was injured when a land-mine exploded near the line of actual control in the Uri sector of Baramula district yesterday.

Two mercenaries of the banned Hizbul Mujahideen were killed in an encounter with security forces at Chandan Khalnar in the Machil sector of Kupwara district. Two assault rifles, two magazines and a grenade were found at the site.

Two persons were wounded in a shootout at Haigam in Baramula. Militants attacked an Army convoy which was on its way from Baramula to Srinagar at Haigam. The troops returned the fire and in the shootout a Maruti car came under fire, injuring two occupants.

Militants kidnapped a person from his house at Suzeth in Narbal area of Srinagar.

The police repulsed an attack on their picket and a post at Jullo and Chanyas in Doda district. No one was injured.

The police apprehended a Pakistan-trained militant of Al-Jehad from Pakherpora area of Badgam district in central Kashmir last evening.

Three top Kashmiri leaders, including Hurriyat Conference Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) chief Shabir Ahmad Shah, were placed under house arrest, official sources said here today.

Without giving any reason for the step, the sources said Mr Shah was placed under house arrest since 4.30 p.m. yesterday while Mr Geelani and his colleague Abdul Gani Lone, senior executive member of the Hurriyat, were placed under house arrest since 0400 hours today.

A posse of armed police had been deployed outside the residences of the three leaders.

Mr Shabir Ahah said he was to proceed to Gagangeer on the Srinagar-Leh highway to conduct a medical camp for Kargil migrants there.

The Hurriyat is spearheading an agitation against air strikes on Pakistan-backed infiltrators in Kargil, Dras and Batalik sectors.

Benevolent fund to help valiant heroes
From Tribune Reporters

JAMMU: — The Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Jammu, has decided to launch a fund collection drive for the welfare of the families of the martyrs who lost their lives in Kargil-Dras sector.

This was decided at a meeting of the chamber held here on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Mr Romesh Gupta. The members of the organisation pledged to provide all possible assistance to the martyrs' families.

The chamber constituted a 21-member committee for raising funds. Mr Gupta was authorised to nominate leaders of several trade associations so that funds could be collected immediately.

BHIWANI: Various government employees unions have decided to contribute their one-day salary for the families of the martyrs.

As many as 5,000 officers and employees of the Yamuna Water Services Circle, Bhiwani, have decided to donate blood for the injured. This was decided at a meeting of the union held here on Tuesday.

In another meeting, employees of the Bhiwani Central Cooperative Bank Employees Union have announced to contribute their one-day salary.

Members of the Indian Medical Association, Bhiwani, have decided to provide free treatment to the families of the martyrs.

Disclosing this here on Tuesday, Dr Ramesh Khasa, Secretary, said the IMA would issue identity card to their families. He said the members of the branch have sent Rs 51,000 to the National Sainik Kosh. A blood donation camp would also be organised, if necessary, he added.

He said the doctors of the local Civil Hospital have also announced to contribute one-day salary for this noble cause.

In an emergency meeting held here on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Mr Raj Singh, state Vice-President, HUDA Public Health Karmchari Union, employees of the union decided to contribute their one-day salary for the welfare of the families of the martyrs of Kargil.

Officers and employees of the Board of School Education, Haryana, have decided to give financial help to the next of kin of the Kargil martyrs and donate blood for the wounded soldiers, board Secretary Mange Ram Sharma told reporters here on Tuesday.

SIRSA: The local unit of the Indian Medical Association has decided to provide free medical services to the family members of late Krishan Kumar of Tarkanwali village in the district, who laid down his life while fighting in Kargil.

The association has also donated Rs 10,000 as assistance to his family.

Members of the Youth Club Shahid Bhagat Singh took out anti-Pak procession in the city and burnt the effigy of the Pakistan Prime Minister.

ROPAR: Staff members of the District Rural Development Agency, headed by the ADC (Development) here on Tuesday decided to donate their one-day salary in the Punjab War Heroes Family Welfare Fund.

ROHTAK : Officials and employees of the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) of Rohtak and Jhajjar districts have decided to contribute their one day's salary for the Chief Minister's relief fund created for the welfare of soldiers killed and injured in the military operation in the Kargil sector.

At a meeting held here last morning to condole the deaths of the officers and jawans of the defence forces, the nigam employees resolved to donate one day's salary for the welfare of such soldiers, through the relief fund of the Haryana Chief Minister.

Earlier, the employees paid tributes to the soldiers who had sacrificed their lives while defending the borders of the nation against the aggression sponsored by the Pakistani Army. The employees resolved that they were ready to provide maximum help to the dependants of the martyrs.

The Chief Engineer, Rohtak Zone, Mr S.R. Piplani, Superintending Engineer, Mr M.P. Tyagi and the Public Relations Officer, Mr. D.B. Sharma, were among those who paid their homage to the martyrs. A two-minute silence was observed as a mark of respect to the deceased. Mr. Piplani appealed to the people to come forward and give maximum help to the bereaved families. The employees belonged to the HVPN offices located at Rohtak, Jhajjar and Bahadurgarh.

Other offices of the nigam also held similar meetings to condole the deaths of the soldiers in the ongoing operation at Kargil.

Jammuites’ tale of woes
From Kavita Bhargava

JAMMU: People of the district are facing an acute water shortage these days. Every summer water taps go dry and people have to wait for long hours to get even a bucket of water, that too in a temperature which shoots up to 47°C.Despite the fact that the people of the district and surrounding areas have been facing this problem for so many years now, the state government has done nothing to solve it.

During the past fortnight, people living in various colonies like Roop Nagar, Sarwal Colony, New Plot, Bantalab etc staged protest demonstrations and even blocked the traffic on the main roads, demanding a regular water supply. Water scarcity is so severe in some areas that people do not have water even to cook food. The irregular water supply has become a common problem.

On the one hand when common masses in the city are facing an acute water scarcity, there are certain VIP areas like Gandhi Nagar, Trikuta Nagar, Talab Tillo where there is no shortage of water and it is supplied almost throughout the day. But the old city gets only morning water supply which too is quite irregular.

The people of the district allege that as the annual darbar has been moved to Kashmir, the state government is not concerned about the plight of the people here for the next six months.

Even though the state government had recently announced that it was seriously contemplating to formulate a new water policy for maintaining and streamlining the available natural water resources of the state, nothing much has been done to implement the policy till now.

According to the date available, there is a shortage of 18 million gallons of water per day in Jammu city alone. Its daily requirement is of 60 million gallons.

Mr Ali Mohammad Sagar, Minister for Public Health and Engineering, however, says the drinking water shortage in old and new city areas has cropped up with the mushroom growth of unplanned colonies on the outskirts of the city. The state government, he says, is working in the direction on the outskirts of the city. The state government, he says, is working in the direction to streamline things.

* * *

One can well imagine the plight of people when there is no electricity and water supply in the city. But that is what is happening in the district as it is having frequent power cuts. In fact, there is not a single day when there is no power cut in any locality of the district. There is a regular power curtailment for two hours in the morning. Besides the regular power cuts in the evenings, which are thrice a week in every locality, a number of unscheduled curtailments have also added to the already existing long tale of woes of Jammuites.

Power Development Department (PDD) officials say as the total requirement of Jammu Division is 532 MWs and the present availability is 2,300 million units, they are left with no option but to go for power curtailment. Besides, there are power thefts also which has led to power cuts.

Only recently a meeting was called by the Minister of State for Power Development, Syed Abdul Rashid, in the city to review the development in the power sector. The minister said the state government was actively considering a scheme of laying underground power supply lines which would eliminate the malpractice of power thefts. The meeting also discussed in detail a number of difficulties being faced by the field staff. The problems of damaged transformers, load shedding, power thefts, non-payment of dues, electrification of new villages and recovery of revenue were also discussed in the meeting.

* * *

For the convenience of pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, the newly constructed and renovated building of Ranbir Yatri Bhavan was inaugurated here recently by the Minister for Information, Mr Ajatshatru Singh.

The bhavan, which is being managed by the Dharmarth Trust, was constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 60 lakh. The bhavan comprises 36 air-conditioned rooms with attached bathrooms, a dining hall and all other facilities.

Mr Ajatshatru Singh, who is also a member of the trust, said accommodation would be made available to the pilgrims at cheaper rates.