New Delhi, May 19

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is probing the role of Lashkar-e-Toiba chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani in subversive activities in the state.The NIA named the two in its preliminary inquiry, which precedes the filing of a case. It also named Naeem Khan, who was seen on television during a sting operation purportedly confessing to receiving money from Pakistan-based terror groups.The others named in the preliminary inquiry were Farooq Ahmed Dar, alias ‘Bitta Karate’, and Gazi Javed Baba of the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat. The five-member NIA team arrived in Srinagar on Thursday to question those named in the preliminary inquiry and to collect documentary evidence against them. The LeT chief is based in Pakistan.In a preliminary inquiry, the NIA can ask those named in the case to appear before it but cannot force them to do so, or arrest them.The NIA team will be reviewing evidence collected in connection with the burning of schools last year after the Hizbul Mujahideen’s poster boy, Burhan Wani, was killed in an encounter with security forces on July 8. — PTI/TNS

Youths clash with security forces

A knife-wielding protester in Srinagar on Friday. Tribune Photo: Yawar Kabli

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 19

Protest demonstrations leading to clashes between youths and security forces took place in downtown Srinagar after Friday prayers while clashes were also reported from some other parts of the Valley during the day.Soon after the Friday prayers, youths took to the streets in the Nowhatta area where the main mosque, Jamia Masjid, is located. The masked youths indulged in stone-throwing on the police and CRPF, triggering clashes. The protesters were chased away by the forces while shops were closed in the area.All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who delivers Friday sermon at the Jamia Masjid, was kept under house arrest at his Nigeen residence since early morning preventing him from offering Friday prayers, a spokesman said.Protests were also held in the Lal Chowk area of Anantnag in south Kashmir in which some miscreants tried to enforce a shutdown in the area. The police reached the spot and chased away the miscreants with the help of traders, the spokesman said. He added that normalcy was restored and the markets opened.Demonstrations, called jointly by separatist leaders against the detention of Asiya Andrabi, who heads the Dukhtaran-e-Millat, were also held in some other areas, including Sopore and Hajin towns of north Kashmir and Pulwama in south Kashmir.Restrictions in Srinagar todaySrinagar: The authorities have decided to impose restrictions in areas falling under the police stations of Nowhatta, MR Gunj and Safakadal in Srinagar on Saturday. “The decision was taken as a precautionary measure to avoid any untoward incident,” an official spokesman quoting District Magistrate, Srinagar, Farooq Ahmad Lone said on Saturday. The restrictions are being imposed ahead of the 27th death anniversary of Moulvi Mohammad Farooq, father of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. The separatists have announced to organise a rally to commemorate Moulvi Farooq and former APHC leader Abdul Ghani Lone on May 21. TNS

The acquittal of all the accused in the Orbit bus case is unlikely to surprise anyone familiar with the cosy police-politician relationship in Punjab. Efforts were made right from the start to win over the victim’s family members and witnesses. None of the 34 witnesses the prosecution produced could be of any use in sending the accused to jail. It is a familiar, recurring story. In fact, a conviction would have come as a surprise. People in Punjab have over time got used to acquittals and clean chits in high-profile cases — prominent being those of the Badals (disproportionate assets case), Capt Amarinder Singh (Amritsar Improvement Trust case) and Bikramjit Singh Majithia (drug case). An obliging prosecution not only decides to lose the legal battle but also refuses to challenge an adverse verdict. Witnesses turning hostile are seldom proceeded against for perjury. To avoid the ignominy of an acquittal, the investigating and prosecuting agencies now choose to withdraw cases from courts. The Orbit case has raised issues which can have consequences for the justice system and public faith in it. A serious charge of murder and molestation of a minor girl was brought against the staff of a private bus. The Badals, then in power, used the money power to buy the witnesses’ silence and save their own transport company. If it was an accidental death since no one saw the girl being molested or pushed out of the bus, why was compensation as high as Rs 24 lakh awarded or is it the company policy to pay so much in every accident case? Is a government job offer made to the family of each accident victim or was it a special arrangement for cases involving Orbit buses?   Anyway, the private company owners and staff have got away lightly even though a girl travelling in their bus met with a tragic end. A law of torts in a more civilised society would have imposed a hefty penalty on the erring company. Here private culpability has been covered with a private arrangement. The present dispensation did once talk of conflict-of-interest legislation but that was perhaps during the initial euphoria over government formation. 

Rifat Mohidin

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 17

Educational Institutions set up by the Army are gaining popularity among the people here as nearly 15,000 students are studying in these schools which continue to function smoothly despite uncertain atmosphere in the Valley.Established in 1983, the most prestigious school is Army Public School (APS), Srinagar. It is a part of a chain of 134 schools across the country that are run by the Army Welfare Education Society.  The school has about 1,000 students, mostly locals, on its rolls.“The APS is primarily meant to provide education to the children of Army men hence 90 per cent seats are reserved for them. Rest of the seats are for children of civilians. However, APS, Srinagar, is the only Army institute in the country where 60 per cent students are locals,” said school principal Sandeep Marattha.“Earlier, we had the Academic Performance Index (API) of 32 per cent but now ours is the only school which has crossed the 300-mark and hit 322.86 per cent API. I have got the best principal award continuously for two years,” he said.During the 2016 unrest, when all educational institutions in the Valley remained closed for more than five months, the APS, Srinagar, located in the high-security zone of Army Headquarters in Sonwar, was the only institution which functioned normally.“Parents want to send their children here but we have our limitations and we accommodate accordingly. We do not compromise on education of the children. Our students have become doctors, engineers and study in IITs. Many of our students from Kashmir have also joined the Army,” said another officer, who looks after the school.There are 20 Army Goodwill Schools in all districts having on rolls at least 15,000 students. These are run by the Ministry of Defence. The schools have produced talents such as kickboxing champion Tajamul Islam, officials said.The first Goodwill school was set up by the Army in Uri in 1999 and since then more schools have came up across the Valley. This week, the Army set up another school in volatile Kulgam district which has been named after Lt Ummer Fayaz, the young Army officer who was killed by militants recently.

APS set up in 1983

• Established in 1983, Army Public School (APS), Srinagar, is part of a chain of 134 schools across the country that are run by the Army Welfare Education Society
• The school has about 1,000 students, mostly locals, on its rolls
• There are 20 Army Goodwill Schools in all districts catering to at least 15,000 students

Amir Karim Tantray

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 10

The weekly Poonch-Rawlakote cross Line of Control (LoC) bus service was today suspended, following firing and shelling from the Pakistan army in the Chakan Da Bagh area in Poonch district.“Due to shelling from Pakistan side, the bus service was suspended today for security reasons,” said Poonch SSP Rajiv Pandey.Every Monday, the bus carries passengers from this side to POK. Trade is carried out through this route from Tuesday to Friday.The suspension has cast a shadow on trade as well as the service may not resume tomorrow too.“We are prepared to go ahead with the trade. A day before we have to receive goods trucks at the trade centre so that their checking is done before allowing them to move to the other side, but today we decided not to put their lives at risk. If everything remains fine, we will be able to go for trade in the morning and checking will also be done at that moment,” claimed Tanvir Ahmed, Trade Felicitation Officer (TFO), Poonch.In the past two days, Pakistan targeted the trade centre which forced the authorities to stop the bus service.The cross-LoC trade has come under the scrutiny of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing its link with the Hawala money trail.

Army gives relief for damaging house

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 10

The Army today paid compensation to a resident of Hiranagar whose house was damaged due to field firing in ranges.Giving details, the Defence PRO, Jammu, said the station commander of Basholi and Janglot Garrison handed over a cheque for Rs 17,600 to Ratno Devi, resident of Kadater village (Parangoli), of Hiranagar tehsil, as compensation for damaging the house.The sarpanch of the village and other eminent persons were also present. The locals were thankful to the Army for the gesture.Keeping in view the plight of the distressed family, Rising Star Corps resolved the case of compensation, the PRO added.

Hafiz Saeed. File photo

Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 12

The US today imposed sanctions on terrorist organisations based in Pakistan, including an organisation run by Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed’s Jamaat-ud-Dawah.In another development, Daniel Coats, Director of the US National Intelligence, told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing that tension between India and Pakistan can only come down if Pakistan moves forward on the Pathankot probe.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)The developments came as a relief for India that has long been asking the world to take strict action to curtail the funding of various Pakistan-based terror groups that routinely carry out attacks. “These sanctions seek to disrupt the financial support networks of terrorists based in Pakistan who have supported the Taliban, Al-Qaida, Islamic State, and LeT for recruiting and funding of suicide bombers and other violent insurgent operations,” said John Smith, director of treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. He said the US would “aggressively target extremists in Pakistan” and their fronts, including “charities which are used as vehicles to facilitate terror activities”.The statement of Coats has given a significant backing to a demand that India has been making for a long time —- talks and terror cannot go together and Pakistan needs to act against those who are behind the Pathankot attack.“Easing of the heightened India-Pak tension will probably hinge in 2017 on a sharp and sustained reduction of cross-border attacks by terrorist groups based in Pakistan and progress in the Pathankot investigation,” Coats said.Both these developments also assume significance in light of the fact that the Trump administration will soon announce its Afghanistan policy. India and Pakistan have been vying for strategic influence in the region.

Security: not even a rupee sanctionedNew Delhi: The government is yet to sanction a single rupee for fortifying military bases across the country, notwithstanding the demand by the three services for Rs 2,000 crore to plug the gaps in their security in the wake of the Pathankot terror attack. A total of 3,000 sensitive bases, including 600 highly-sensitive installations of the Army, Navy and the Air Force, were identified by the forces to revamp the security infrastructure. The Army has spent Rs 325 crore from its “internal” funds, but the government is yet to give a rupee to the three services for it, official sources said. PTI

Marks left by mortar shells fired allegedly by Pakistan on the wall of a government school building at Lam village in the Jhangar sector, in Jammu on Thrusday. PTI

Islamabad, May 11

Pakistan on Thursday summoned India’s Deputy High Commissioner here to “condemn” the alleged ceasefire violation by India along the Line of Control in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir that killed a man and injured three others.The Foreign Office said in a statement that Indian security forces violated the ceasefire along the LoC in Tandar, Subzkot, Khuiratta, Baroh, Bagsar, Khanjar sectors in PoK early today.It said the alleged Indian firing killed a civilian while three others, including a woman, were injured.“The Director General (SA & SAARC), Mohammad Faisal, summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner, J P Singh and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violation by the Indian occupation forces on the night of 10th and 11th May,” it said.The Foreign Office said the “deliberate targeting” of civilians is contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws.“The Director General urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire understanding; investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC,” it said.An official at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad said Singh conveyed to Faisal that the “cross-border firing was initiated by Pakistani troops to give cover to terrorists” and “Indian troops responded only in self-defence.”     “We have noticed increased movement of terrorists along the LoC,” the official quoted Singh as saying.India and Pakistan often trade fire along the LoC, resulting in deaths and injuries on either side of the border.The intensity has increased in recent months as tensions have run high between the two sides on a number of issues, most recently over the death sentence given to an Indian national on spying charges by Pakistani military court.Kulbhushan Jadhav was sentenced by a Field General Court Martial to death. But the trial and the sentencing of Jadhav was carried out under utter secrecy and Pakistan has refused India consular access for at least 16 times. — PTI

Map showing proposed China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC)

Beijing, July 6

China is planning to launch a road and rail freight service to Pakistan through the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a move which could raise concerns in India.The new line will start from Lanzhou, capital of northwestern China’s Gansu Province, travelling through Kashgar in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to the Gwadar Port of Pakistan, Xu Chunhua, director of Lanzhou International Trade and Logistic Park, was quoted as saying by state-run Xinhua news agency.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)However, it has not been specified when the service will be launched. In May last year, a rail and road cargo service opened between Lanzhou and Kathmandu. Xu said the cargo service has been welcomed by south Asian countries. In 2016, the bilateral trade between China and Nepal was over 3 billion yuan (about $440 million), and the volume is forecast to hit 10 billion yuan this year.  India has objected to the $46 CPEC, which is part of the Silk Road.  — PTI Map showing proposed China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC) Beijing, July 6 China is planning to launch a road and rail freight service to Pakistan through the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a move which could raise concerns in India. The new line will start from Lanzhou, capital of northwestern China’s Gansu Province, travelling through Kashgar in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to the Gwadar Port of Pakistan, Xu Chunhua, director of Lanzhou International Trade and Logistic Park, was quoted as saying by state-run Xinhua news agency. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) However, it has not been specified when the service will be launched. In May last year, a rail and road cargo service opened between Lanzhou and Kathmandu. Xu said the cargo service has been welcomed by south Asian countries. In 2016, the bilateral trade between China and Nepal was over 3 billion yuan (about $440 million), and the volume is forecast to hit 10 billion yuan this year.  India has objected to the $46 CPEC, which is part of the Silk Road.  — PTI