shariq's blog: January 2010

Reality of Realty
Irony at its peak
Militancy displaced lakhs of people in the Valley but the mass migration worked wonders for realty in Poonch
Shariq Majeed

A house in Jawahar Nagar area of Poonch town.

While Jammu and Kashmir battles bullets and bleeds, migration due to militancy has sent land prices spiralling in Poonch, one of the last towns on the Indian side.

Thousands of residents of rural areas, particularly Mendhar, Bufliaz, Surankote and Mandi, migrated to the comparatively safer frontier township.

Following the slow but steady migration, one kanal of land costs as much as Rs 1 crore in some localities of this township. Five years ago, the same land could be bought for somewhere around Rs 30 lakh.

In areas like Muhalla Jarnailley where one kanal cost Rs 10 lakh not very long ago, the current prices hover around the Rs 30-lakh mark. “I bought two kanals of land for Rs 3 lakh in Muhalla Jarnailley about 15 years ago. Now it is worth Rs 1 crore,” says Harbhajan Singh, a cloth shop owner and resident. “In some areas of Poonch town like bus stand area and Muhalla Qilla, the price per kanal of land are as high as Rs 1 crore.”

A view of Poonch town.

Sudesh Misri, who runs a local channel, has sold more than 40 kanals of land in Radio Station Mohalla. “Before militancy, the population of Poonch town was around 13,000. Presently, it is estimated to be between 60,000 and 65,000. The increase in population is solely due to migration of people from rural areas to this urban centre,” he says. “My ancestors were jagirdars (land owners) of Poonch during the British era. We once owned most of the lands in this border township and have been selling the same. Before militancy, one kanal would cost fetch around Rs 1 lakh but now prices vary between Rs 40 lakh and Rs 1 crore depending upon the location in Poonch town,” he says.

Mushtaq Khan, a government employee, migrated from Batta Durian area in Mendhar to Jarnailley Muhalla in Poonch fearing for the safety of his family. “We migrated from our native area to this place due to high incidence of militancy related incidents back home. I bought a kanal of land for Rs 2 lakh. Presently, it is said to be valued around Rs 50 lakh,” he says.

Land prices jump 50-80 times in villages, towns along Mughal Road
Shariq Majeed

EVEN as the Mughal Road project is yet to be completed, land prices along the road in Jammu region have skyrocketed.

A view of the Mughal Road.

The road is an alternative route to the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway 1A that is often closed due to avalanches and landslides. Work on the project started in 2005 and since then the prices of land have shot up by 50 to 80 times in smaller towns like Behram Gala, Bufliaz and the tiny town of Chandimarh that lie along the road.

Residents said the rate of one kanal land had increased by 50 to 80 times in villages along the road while in less inhabited villages like Poshana and Dugran, it had increased by five to 10 times.

The Mughal Road takes off from Bufliaz in the border district of Poonch and has smaller towns like Chandimarh and Behramgala besides villages like Dugran, Poshana on the Jammu side. It ends at Shopian in Kashmir province.

Muhammad Din, a farmer owning 20 kanals along the road says, “The rate per kanal of land was Rs 20,000 in 2004 but presently I have customers from Srinagar and Jammu who are ready to pay Rs 20 lakh per kanal.” But I won’t sell the land right now, he adds. “Let the Mughal Road open, the rates will register further increase since people will open shops and business establishments. We thank Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah for conceiving such a great project besides, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed for restarting the work on it,” he says. He said the road project once completed would boost trade in this backward region and would elevate the economic status of the people here.

Buyer Tariq Mehmood of neighbouring Rajouri district who bought 10 marlas land in 2002 in Chandimarh area said that few years back, before the road project started, he bought the land for Rs 1.2 lakh but now the same piece of land costs more than Rs 15 lakh!

“Not very long ago, we would eagerly wait for customers to sell our land for a price which is twenty times lesser than the current prices. Now, we get customers who are ready to pay any price for the land,” says Feroz Khan, a local contractor who also deals in property business. “Once the road opens, people will construct shops and other business establishments and will earn huge profits.”

Road map

CONSTRUCTION of the 84 km road from Bufliaz to Shopian costing Rs 639.35 crore (present estimate) is going on since 2005 and is likely to be completed by 2011. Presently 43 km road from Buffliaz to Pir-ki-Gali in this border district has been completed and made fair-weather, of which, 26.20 km has been double-laned.

Even the road construction is complete on a 41-km stretch from Shopian side in Kashmir province. The road is being constructed from Bufliaz (28 km from the district headquarter of Poonch district) through Behramgala, Chandimarh, Dugran, Poshana, Pir Ki Gali and Hirpura to Shopian. The road being an alternative to the Srinagar-Jammu Highway will connect Rajouri, Poonch districts in Jammu province with Kashmir region.

Win some, lose some
Shariq Majeed

Mass migrations due to militancy cause land prices to jump seven times in 15 years in Rajouri

The story so far…

BELA Colony came up in the heart of this border township because of mass migration from semi-urban areas on the outskirts of Rajouri after militancy erupted in the 1990s. Migrants from semi-urban areas, including Thanamandi, Darhal, Chandi-marh and Bufliaz, built houses in the riverbed, later taking the form of a colony. The unplanned colony on the banks of the Rajouri nullah and some houses constructed in this river’s bed gets its name from the fact that it can be washed away by flashfloods even of moderate intensity.

MASS migration due to militancy was a nightmare for residents but quite the opposite for the realty business in Rajouri town. Due to shortage of land, even the riverbed is on sale in the town. Bela Colony came up there — nicknamed Suicide Colony because of threat to life and property due to annual flooding — and people are still buying land in it, resulting in price growth.

For Muhammad Qasim Lone of Thanamandi, the killing of his elder brother Master Gulzar by militants in 2001 forced him to migrate from there to Rajouri. Initially, when he thought of buying land to build a house, he couldn’t find any, which forced him to buy land in Suicide Colony.

“After my elder brother was killed, I began to fear for my and my family’s life. I migrated from my native place and approached many property dealers to get me land at a good location in Rajouri but nothing materialised. With no solution in sight, I purchased eight marlas at a cost of Rs 40,000 a marla in Suicide Colony,” said Lone. “Recently, my brother-in-law Muhammad Yousuf also bought four marlas for Rs 60,000 a marla.”

Muhammad Shafiq, who has been living in Suicide Colony ever since he migrated from Thanamandi in 1994 after militancy started in the area, bought 2.5 marlas and built a house. “I bought a marla for Rs 8,000 but these days one marla in my neighbourhood ranges between Rs 50,000 and Rs 60,000,” says Shafiq. “There is great risk to this colony due to floods and every year water enters our houses, but people still are buying land here.”

“This colony is prone to floods since majority of the houses were constructed in the riverbed, forcing it to change course of flow. Every monsoon, water enters the houses of the hapless people who are living there at their own risk,” says Abdul Qayoom Dar, retired police officer and social worker. “When this unplanned colony was coming up the government didn’t do anything but now since the thousand of lives are at risk, it should act.” He further said that the only option available with the government was to take flood control measures.

Thousands of bogus votes cast in Rajouri
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Rajouri, November 23
In the absence of proper verifying process, thousands of bogus votes were cast in all four constituencies of Rajouri district, which went to polls today.

The Tribune team, which visited the constituencies (Rajouri, Darhal, Nowshera and Kalakote), found children (below 18 years) casting votes. Even those who didn't qualify to vote from the constituency voted without fear.

At Nadiyaan polling station, 16-year-old Asgar Ali of Reikibaan came to cast the vote of his brother Rashid Hussain, (who is in Srinagar pursuing engineering course) bearing number 356 in the voter list.

When asked why he is doing it, he replied: "Though not eligible, why should I waste my brother's vote?"

Around hundred non-state subject voters, especially labourers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, also cast their votes today across the four constituencies.

A labourer from Dharbanga district in Bihar, who didn't disclose his name, cast the vote of one Naresh Kumar having number 596 in the voters' list at Dhandidaar polling station of Rajouri assembly segment.

"Though I know it is illegal to cast other person's vote, it hardly matters when I am getting money for it," a non-state subject labourer said asking not to be named.

Meanwhile, this correspondent, who is from Bhadarwah tehsil in Doda district and doesn't qualify as a voter here, managed to get a voting slip of one Ghani Shyam having number 548 in the voters' list at Government Higher Secondary School (Boys) Rajouri, but didn't cast the vote because it would have been illegal.

These are not isolated cases where bogus voters managed to cast votes. There
have been reports of thousands of such people (non-qualifying and underage),
who voted illegally.

Talking over the phone, B.R. Sharma, chief electoral officer, said: "We will verify
these reports."

Regarding non-verification of the identity of the voters by the election staff, he added that there are 17 different documents by which the identity of the voters could be verified.

Shutdown in Srinagar; clashes in Baramulla
Kumar Rakesh/Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Grenade attacks on candidates' houses

Some militant hurled a grenade towards the house of Abdul Rashid Ganai, Panthers Party candidate for the Kangan constituency, at Arhama, the police said. In another incident, militants hurled a grenade and fired towards the residence of Mohammad Abdullah Dar, candidate of the Democratic Nationalist Party in Sopore. The grenade exploded in the premises of the house but no harm was caused.

Srinagar/Rajouri, November 23
Srinagar observed a complete shutdown today as its neighbouring Ganderbal district went for polls while Baramulla in south Kashmir, where two youths were killed in firing yesterday, saw day-long clashes between protestors and security personnel.

Large number of protesters collected in Khanpora in old Baramulla town, which has traditionally been more restive, and they tried to march through the area. They raised pro-freedom slogans and lashed out at authorities for the death of two youths yesterday.

Locals said security forces in the old town prevented crowdfrom marching and lathicharged and fired tear gas shells. Though there was no official count of injuries, locals said over 30 locals were injured in clashes. Official sources said at least 10 of their men were also injured.

The summer capital of the state remained shut throughout the day as security personnel threw a cordon around city to ensure that there is no unwanted movement of people to adjacent Ganderbal. Separatists' call for Ganderbal march was foiled today.

Meanwhile, supporters of political parties and independent candidates clashed in three assembly segments in Rajouri district, which went for polls today.

In Darhal constituency, NC supporters of party candidate Choudhary Liaqat allegedly hurled stones at the polling station in the Badi Darhal area, prompting the BSF personnel manning it open fire in air to control the situation. Five persons were injured in the incident, reports said. In Kalakote assembly segment, there were reports of violent clashes between supporters of NC candidate Rashpal Singh and independent candidate Ashok Sharma. At Brow polling station in Kalakote, four persons were reportedly injured in clashes between supporters of the NC and independent candidate. At Taryath polling station also, security forces had to fire in air to control the supporters of the same candidates.

There were reports of clashes between supporters of Singh and Sharma at Bandi polling station. At a polling station in Jawahar Nagar area of Rajouri constituency, supporters of independent candidate Muhammad Sharief Tariq and BJP candidate Vibodh Gupta resorted to stone pelting disrupting polling for about an hour.

Two families vie for Rajouri pie
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Rajouri, November 22
It is all in the family. Father Haji Taj Khan and son Shahzad Khan would compete as independents for the Rajouri constituency, which goes to polls tomorrow.

Uncle Muhammad Aslam Khan and his nephew Shabir Ahmed Khan of another family would contest on the National Conference and Congress tickets, respectively.

Whereas Haji Taj Khan, a businessman, having election symbol 'Book', is contesting election on development plank, his son Shahzad Khan, a graduate, with election symbol 'ceiling fan' is focusing on issues concerning youth.

Even as Shabir Ahmed Khan, a Congress candidate is highlighting development of the constituency and promising the same if voted by the people, his maternal uncle and former MLA in the previous Assembly Muhammad Aslam Khan is focusing on lack of development during the previous Congress and PDP coalition government with a promise that he will bring fast track development of the assembly constituency.

He is also selling autonomy as an issue.

There are 23 candidates in fray for this assembly constituency. Of these 23 candidates, 13 are fighting elections as independents, highest number across all the constituencies in the state.

Border people to cast vote without fear
Tribune News Service

Jhangar-Nowshera (Rajouri), November 22
It will be different election for the thousands of people living along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Nowshera area.

Unlike 2002 elections, when they were transported by the local election authorities from the migrant camps at various places in Nowshera after being dislocated from their native places near the LoC, this time around these people will cast their votes from their homes.

There are roughly about 5,000 voters in these areas of Laam, Ladoka, Kalsiyaan, Bhawani, Ser and Makri.

Elated Ajay Kumar, resident of Sarya near LoC, says: "This time we will cast our votes from our homes."

However, Kumar said the successive governments have done little for them. "We have been dislocated more than four times since Independence, no one cares for us. Every time we constructed our houses, they are destroyed in shelling. The government has not compensated us for the losses we suffered due to tension along the LoC," rues Kumar. But we hope the representative we elect will do something for us, he adds. Another resident Sat Paul Sharma, former Sarpanch of Jhangar, echoed similar views.

Border people to cast vote without fear
Tribune News Service

Jhangar-Nowshera (Rajouri), November 22
It will be different election for the thousands of people living along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Nowshera area.

Unlike 2002 elections, when they were transported by the local election authorities from the migrant camps at various places in Nowshera after being dislocated from their native places near the LoC, this time around these people will cast their votes from their homes.

There are roughly about 5,000 voters in these areas of Laam, Ladoka, Kalsiyaan, Bhawani, Ser and Makri.

Elated Ajay Kumar, resident of Sarya near LoC, says: "This time we will cast our votes from our homes."

However, Kumar said the successive governments have done little for them. "We have been dislocated more than four times since Independence, no one cares for us. Every time we constructed our houses, they are destroyed in shelling. The government has not compensated us for the losses we suffered due to tension along the LoC," rues Kumar. But we hope the representative we elect will do something for us, he adds. Another resident Sat Paul Sharma, former Sarpanch of Jhangar, echoed similar views.

Now NC uses spiritual leaders to woo voters
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Rajouri, November 20
After the PDP used the services of pirs and faqirs for wooing the voters, it is its bette noire National Conference now which is following the suit.

Spiritual leader Mian Bashir Ahmed Larvi, who holds a good influence among the Gujjar and Bakkarwal (nomads) voters, comprising one of the main chunk of the voters, urged the voters to vote for the NC for their better future. Gujjars and Bakkarwals comprise roughly 38 per cent voters in this constituency.

Larvi, at a rally organised by the NC here today, said: "You consider me your pir (spiritual leader), so as your spiritual leader, I am telling you that you must vote for the National Conference. I assure you that the new government, which is going to be that of the NC, will do justice to you."

Touching the religious note, he reminded the people that it was Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah who constructed the Hazratbal shrine, where the holy relic (Mo-e-Muqaddas) was placed.

Striking emotional chord with the locals, who have great love and reverence for the shrine of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah (Shahdara Sharief), Mian Sahab, as he is popularly called by his followers, said the shrine was also constructed during the NC regime.

"You must elect the NC candidate (Muhammad Aslam Khan). If you elect him, we can catch him if he does something against your interest," Mian Bashir told a gathering of about 1,000 persons.

One of the Gujjars who attended the public meeting, Choudhary Nissar, told The Tribune that "Mian Sahab's words are taken seriously by the Gujjar community. Since he asked us to vote for the NC, we will respect whatever he said, and will vote accordingly."

Clarifying that Mian Bashir was not only a spiritual or a religious leader, Farooq Abdullah said: "He (Mian Bashir) is a political leader and has been an MLA and minister in my father's government. He is a community leader (of the Gujjar community) also."

More than a week back, Mehbooba Mufti had used the services of spiritual leader Baji Mussafar Hussain Shah to woo the voters in predominantly rural and backward constituency of Kalakote.

Here, getting visa is easier than permit
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Poonch, November 19
As all major political parties claim to reunite the divided families and has made it a major issue in the elections here, there have been several cases where people after waiting for travel permits had applied for a visa and even returned, but were yet to get the permits.

Nargis Khatoon Rizvi, wife of Haidar Sheikh of Mandi, applied for a permit in 2005 to travel through the Uri-Muzaffarabad road to meet her cousin, Murtaza Hussain Rizvi, who went to live in the Baag tehsil of PoK in 1965. After waiting for the travel permit for more than six months, she applied for a visa in March, 2006, and got it
within a month.

"After getting the visa, my mother crossed over to Pakistan through the Wagah border on April 13, 2006, and after staying there for about five months, she returned", her son, Syed Zaffar Yaseen, said.

"She again applied for a visa in September, 2008, and got it within 10 days. She crossed to Pakistan through the Wagah border on October 12. Even as she has travelled to Pakistan twice on a visa, she is yet to get the permits she had applied for. This speaks volumes for the problems in getting a travel permit", he added.

This case indicates that though political parties may claim uniting the divided families by "pushing" the government to make travel procedures on permit through cross the LoC easier, but getting a permit is still the most difficult thing.

In fact, a large number of people who have their relatives across the border, after the roads between the two countries were opened, were hoping that permits will make their travel to PoK much easier, but that never proved to be the case.

A few of them who kept on waiting for months together for travel permits have finally applied for Visa. They, after getting the Visa, crossed over to PoK and have returned, but were yet to get the travel permits.

Sources reveal that getting permission for travelling across through the opened border points is not an easy task as it involves innumerable verifications done by both Indian and Pakistani agencies. Poonch and Mendhar Assembly constituency in this frontier district have highest number of divided families in the state.

Voters pin high hopes
Tribune News Service

Poonch, November 17
The voters are hoping that their representatives will take care of their basic needs like development of the area, improved education facilities, healthcare, water and power supply.

"We don't expect miracles from the representative we elect this time around. We are just hoping that at least he should bring development of the area and also voice our problems. Unemployment is a huge problem here so we expect that he will help in getting employment for the unemployed educated youth", said 110-year-old Billu Khan who was waiting to cast his vote outside the polling station at Traranwali (C) in Bufliaz of the Surankote constituency.

Mehfroz Khan, who was casting vote for the first time, at the same polling station felt elated."We are poor people and have not seen development at all. We are lacking basic amenities. As a student, I would expect that our representative will fight for getting a degree college at Bufliaz so that we can at least go for higher studies".

It was not only the first-timers who had a hope for a better future, but people who had come to vote for the second time, too, expected good results coming out of the whole exercise in an honest representative.

The enthusiasm among the voters regarding the elections process was on expected line, but coming of a blind youth for voting summed up everything. "My two sisters and I are blind. Till this date we didn't get anything from the government. I came to vote to fulfil my duty without any expectation from any one. I hope that whosoever he will be, but he will fulfil the aspirations of the people of our area", said Sharief Khan, a blind.

Massive response in Poonch
Naveen S. Garewal & Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Women queue up for their turn to vote at a polling booth in Poonch on Monday. — Tribune photo by Anand Sharma

Poonch, November 17
The first phase of polling in the three Assembly segments of Poonch district received an overwhelming response indicating "a vote for change". People came out and voted with vengeance in the three segments of Poonch, Mandher and Surankote, averaging above 60 per cent polling in these areas, substantially higher than the 2002 poll.

The large poll percentage in a multi-cornered contest is being viewed as an anti-incumbency vote with a hope to bring in clean and new faces that will perform.

Mandher: 73 pc
Surankote: 63 pc

Initial figures that may still go up slightly on account of some reports that are yet to be received from far-flung areas put Mendhar with 73 per cent polling as one of the highest in the state. Poonch recorded 73 per cent polling and Surankote that still has pockets of militancy reported 68 per cent polling.

After nearly two decades of militancy in the state, the people have voted with the hope that the next government will now focus on some development. The 2002 poll had seen 40 per cent poll in Surankote and 60 per cent in both Mendhar and Poonch.

Most political parties have remained unsure about the pulse of the people and have gone all out to lure the voters. The parties reportedly have doled out huge amounts of money to influence the voters, but many incidents have gone unreported due to inaccessibility of many remote areas. Both the PDP and the National Conference (NC), who are hoping to form the next government, have reportedly used means other than fair to garner votes.

The polling has been by and large peaceful, barring minor skirmishes. In one such incident, workers of the PDP and the NC came to blows over non-functioning of an electronic voting machine (EVM) at the Kotan polling station near Mendhar town. Seven persons, including presiding officer Shakeel Ahmed, were injured in the clash. Similarly, four more were injured in a clash at another polling booth in Darana village of Mendhar tehsil. Yet, more incidents of damaging an EVM at the polling station in Suralia and polling station in Naroal were also reported in Mendhar constituency.

Unaware about the model code for conduct of elections, five government employees, including the presiding officer, landed themselves into trouble and were later arrested after they were found to have stayed at the house of a close relative of a PDP candidate last night. All of them have been booked under the Section 17 of the Public Representation Act at the Gursai police station for the breach of an official conduct in connection with the elections. Some disruptions were also reported from Dhargloon "B", Harni and Poonch.

The current poll in the Jammu province is being contested on the issue of development. The people have openly expressed their displeasure with many sitting legislators, who they say have "ignored the development of the area and made corruption an acceptable thing in the area." With the elections having been taken place in a free and fair manner here today, it is expected that the "vote for change" will bring in many new faces that "reflect promise for the area".

Former militants choose path of democracy
Naveen S. Garewal & Shariq Majeed write from Daraba (Surankote)

The first phase of polling held in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir today saw people reject the gun and express their faith in the democratic process. Not only did people from the three constituencies of Surankote, Poonch and Mendhar (that went to poll today) defy the militant dictate for a boycott, but many former militants actively participated in the poll process and caste their votes in hope for a brighter future.

Over 12 former militants cast their vote in Surankote, once considered to be a hot bed of terrorism. Muzamil Khan, a former area commander of the dreaded Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) told The Tribune that most militants were disillusioned with the path of violence and realised that they had been "misled" by Pakistan-based security agencies. "We all want to lead normal lives without the fear of death in an encounter haunting us", he said.

Muzamil, who was one of the first to cast his vote at the Government Middle School, Daraba in the Surankote constituency was barely 15 years old when he was abducted by the HM while he was grazing his cattle. He was forcibly taken to Pakistan, where he was given training in the use of arms and explosives for 9 months before being sent back into India. A year later, in 1997, he was promoted as the area commander.

Today, totally disillusioned with the "false promises" and fed-up with "jihad", he like many other former militants not only participated in the poll process, but also actively campaigned for one candidate or the other with the hope that once the next government is in place, all such former militants would be rehabilitated. Muzamil was an active campaigner for the People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Mumtaz Bhukhari.

Many militants, who crossed over into Pakistan have families both in India and Pakistan. They feel that once a democratically elected government comes to power, it will work towards easing tensions and hostilities with Pakistan. This, they say may eventually enable them to unite with their families. "My wife Rani Malik and daughter Kaki are still in Gujranwala and I have not heard about their well being", Muzamil said with moist eyes.

These former militants, who were inducted into the main stream in Jammu and Kashmir, after they surrendered before the security forces, many along with their weapons, said the government had failed to live up to its promise of providing them jobs and rehabilitating them.

"We don't have much choice, but our only hope is to be optimistic and think that once peace returns in the state, we too will get our share in betterment", says another former militant, who did not wish to be identified.

At the Bagial Dhara polling station, yet another militant Mohammad Hussain was the third in queue to cast his vote. He said he regretted becoming a militant, but added "I too was forcibly taken by a group of militants from my house and I did not have the choice to return. But in 2004, I surrendered. Those 5-6 years of playing hide and seek with the security forces was a nightmare I want to forget", he said hoping that others too would take cue from him and bid adieu to gun.

POLLS 2008: JAMMU & KASHMIR
Simplicity rules in Poonch
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Poonch, November 14
The campaign ends tomorrow in Poonch district, which goes to polls on November 17, and the parties are busy giving final touches to their political plans.

These outfits are targeting even those who can't come to rallies; hence 'nukkad' meetings and door-to-door campaign are the order of the day in three Assembly constituencies --- Poonch-Haveli, Mendhar and Surankote. Besides, the leaders along with workers brave threat from militants by campaigning late into the night, even in rural pockets where security remains a cause of concern.

"I start at 6 am and address more than 12 public meetings before going door to door in the night hours," says sitting Surankote MLA and NC candidate Mushtaq Ahmed Bukhari, while taking a round near Seri Chauhana at around 10 pm. The area was once a hot bed of militancy and the terror factor looms large till date.

"In this scattered and low density population, people expect to be requested for their votes in person. So, after I address public meetings, I am also personally meeting voters in the hinterland along with my supporters from the area," he says.

Besides banners and posters, the Congress campaign uses rhymes and slogans to reach out to voters for garnering support for senior Congress leader and former MP Choudhary Muhammad Aslam, who is also a prominent Gujjar leader in the areas like Bufliaz, Chandimarh and Surankote town.

In the same constituency with predominantly Muslim voters, BJP candidate Abdul Aziz Bhat uses a hired small passenger vehicle fitted with loud speaker to address the voters. He stops at every habitation along the road in Surankote and starts giving speeches even if there are no listeners. The candidates in Poonch-Haveli and Mendhar too have put in their hearts into the campaign before it ends.

M A I N N E W S

NC goes PDP way, gives money for vote pledge
Naveen S. Garewal and Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Mendhar (Poonch), November 12
When it comes to contesting and winning elections, political parties have no qualms. Money, muscle or cashing in on innocence and religious sentiments comes easy. Taking a cue from the People's Democratic Party (PDP) that has been taking help from religious leaders in its campaign, some candidates of the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference (NC) is also using both money and religion to secure an edge.

Over the past few days, supporters of Javed Ahmed Rana, NC candidate from Mendhar segment in Poonch district, have scanned voter lists to identify the poorer sections among the electorate. "Once identified, these people are approached and offered money ranging from Rs 500 onward for a vote. Those who accept the money are made to pledge their vote by swearing on the Koran", a relative of a beneficiary has disclosed.

There are reports from other constituencies of similar practices being followed there. In one specific case, poll managers of Rana approached a youth in Nar Nakka, near Harni, about 17 km from Mendhar, and offered him money. When the youth (a Muslim Rajput) gave the money to his family, they rebuked him, forcing him to give away the money to the poor and further directed him to stay away from voting.

Mendhar is predominantly a Muslim constituency comprising nearly 40 per cent Muslim Gujjars and 60 per cent paharis. Rana himself a Gujjar is confident of getting the votes of his community, but feels a threat from the paharis, as his main rival from the PDP belongs to the latter. Rana comes from the Kalaban area and enjoys the support of his community. His main opponent Rafiq Khan from the PDP hails from Harni and is equally popular with his people.

Mendhar that goes to polls in the first phase on November 17 remains devoid of any development. There are 77,853 voters here, out of which there are 39,023 males.

One of the three Assembly seats in the frontier district of Poonch, Mendhar has remained a highly militant infested area and continues to report militant activity. People here are now looking for development, better amenities and implementation of schemes like the National Rural Employment Guarantee (NREGA) and the execution of schemes under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.

Interestingly, PDP leader Rafiq Khan, too, has reportedly been playing an emotional card with the voters from his community. He has reportedly been urging his community members to not only vote for him but also cough up the salary of one member of each family, that he will spend to ensure his victory and in lieu when elected will safeguard the interests of the paharis.

The Congress has fielded Poonch district president Abdul Majid Khan, who is also from the pahari community, is not likely to make much a difference instead of eating into the votes of the PDP candidate, who happens to be from his own community.

M A I N N E W S

POLLS 2008
Jammu & Kashmir
Dipping into faith
Naveen S Garewal and Shariq Majeed
Tribune News service

Kalakote (Rajouri), November 11
Mehbooba Mufti knows faith fires people. Especially the innocent and the ill-informed.

That's why she has reached out to "pirs and fakirs" to secure a pledge of support for the People's Democratic Party in the backward areas of Rajouri.

Thousands of followers of Sufi saint Syeed Mussafar Hussain Shah have vowed "not to let her down" in the elections.

They have little choice. Shah's message to them is as simple as it gets: "You always come to me and I have always used my miraculous powers to heal you. But, remember, the next time you come to me, I will be able to determine if you voted for Khalid Qureshi or someone else. If my powers tell me otherwise, I will break all religious ties with you. I now want you to raise your hands and take a pledge in the name of Allah that you will press the button for the PDP candidate".

At a gathering today, about 3,000 people sat like ones transported as the PDP chief started her speech with a one-liner: "What can I tell you more than what you have already heard from 'Baji Sahib' (Shah)?" Almost spantaneously, almost everyone in the near-euphoric audience raised their hands in affirmation.

Caught between militancy and security "crackdowns", residents of Kalakote barely manage to feed themselves in this predominantly rural constituency. Mostly illiterate, they are farmers and nomads, including "Gujjars" and "bakkarwals", who work on their small lands or as manual labour.

Development is unknown here. PDP leader Ashiq Hussain Bukhari says, "People here desperately need a healing touch and some development to bring them at par with other areas of the state". Even though a thermal plant was set up here over a decade ago, it remains non-functional. First it was not commissioned as the area was highly militant-infested and, later, the last Vidhan Sabha simply ignored the area as the sitting legislator (Rashpal Singh) belonged to the National Conference."

Mehbooba says she has the mantra for development. Seeking support for Khalid Qureshi, her party candidate, she said, "If you strengthen that hands of Mufti Sahib (Mufti Mohammad Sayed), he will ensure development and prosperity. The NC has done nothing for the common people".

She lays out promises thick and fast: regional councils for Poonch and Rajouri, decentralisation of power, and "empowerment" of the people of Poonch and Rajouri.

A politician's staple, but she must be aware that if something is going to help her, it will be something entirely different —the pull of faith...

M A I N N E W S

Major, cop killed in gunbattle
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Thannamandi (Rajouri), July 20
On the heels of militants blowing up an Army convoy killing at least nine soldiers and injuring at least 20 others at Narbal in Kashmir valley, the militants struck again killing a Major and a head constable of the Special Operation Group (SOG) of the state police last night at Kunda village, near here. Two jawans and a constable of the Indian Reserve Police (IRP) were severely injured in the attack.

The deceased have been identified as Maj Bhanu Pratap Singh, a resident of Jaipur, posted with 43 RR, head constable Anjeeb Rana of Doda posted with the SOG, Rajouri, while Gyan Prakash and Ravinder Singh of 43 RR and Zaffar Javed, an IRP constable of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, have been injured.

Army sources claimed that on specific information, a joint team of the Thannamandi-based 43 RR and the Rajouri SOG launched a search and destroy operation in Kunda near here on Saturday night. After cordoning the area, a search party led by Major Bhanu reached a dhok (temporary shed used by nomads in higher reaches) owned by Gulzar Begum of Shahdara Sharief area and knocked at the door. Begum who was inside the dhok at that time was allegedly used by militants, reportedly belonging to Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), as their shield, sources added.

Even as the militants refused to open the door, Major Bhanu insisted on the militants, reportedly five in number, to open the door and release the woman held hostage by them. As soon as the troops broke open the door, militants fired on them and in the ensuing gunbattle Major Bhanu and head constable Rana died on the spot.

While trying to escape from the dhok, militants lobbed a grenade on the troops in which two jawans and a police constable received severe injuries.

The Rajouri SSP while confirming that a Major and an SOG personal lost their lives in the operation said militants managed to escape after inflicting causalities on the security forces.

Meanwhile, security forces have cordoned off the area and have launched search and destroy operation to nab the militants.

Probe reveals youth committed suicide
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Rajouri, June 20
More than a year after a youth was found dead inside a police station at Buddal police station under mysterious circumstances, the magisterial inquiry ordered by the state government has reportedly confirmed that the youth had actually committed suicide. The inquiry has also reportedly found the negligence on part of local police officials.

Sources in the district administration who accessed the inquiry report submitted by the inquiry officer to the state government confirmed that youth Abdul Rasheed arrested by the police on charges of murder who died inside a police station had committed suicide and was not murdered by the police. However, the inquiry officer has reportedly found that the police personnel deployed at the police station as also its SHO were negligent since they couldn't prevent the incident to happen, they added.

Rasheed along his two brothers Sakhi Mohd and Muneer Hussain, was picked up from his village on May 8 last year in connection with the killing of Kashmir Singh and Chain Singh, of the same village, who were beheaded by unidentified gunmen, while cutting wood in Kala Gawa forests in the Daryal area on April 21 last year.

After the police had arrested them following their alleged established involvement in the murder of the two, Rasheed had asked the cops to open the lockup as he wanted to use the washroom. "Before entering the washroom, he managed to take along a knife from the kitchen just close to the washroom. After some time a police constable went inside the washroom where he found Rashid lying in a pool of blood", sources had said.

Later, Rashid was shifted to local hospital from where doctors referred him to district hospital at Rajouri. He died on way to the hospital, the sources added.

The then SSP, Rajouri, Farooq Ahmed Khan, had ordered the immediate suspension of in charge of Budhal police station and the guards on duty. The deputy commissioner, Rajouri, Sheikh Rafiq, had ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident.

Confirming that the district administration has received an inquiry report from investigating officer, a senior officer told The Tribune that the district administration would recommend action against the then SHO, Buddhal Police Station.

Pak 'fires' twice in a day
BSF constable killed, another injured
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Rajouri, July 22
Violating the four-year-old ceasefire yet again, the Pakistani troops allegedly fired twice in a day at a forward Indian post of Doba in Sawjian area in Poonch injuring two BSF soldiers last evening. Out of the two, BSF head constable Bhanwar Singh died this morning.

According to intelligence sources, firing took place on Monday morning and evening and both the times, the Pakistani troops tried to give cover to militants, who made attempts to infiltrate into India through the Doba post manned by the 192 Battalion of the BSF.

In the morning firing, though BSF soldier Ganga Dhar suffered injuries, the intelligence sources claimed that the BSF foiled the infiltration bid.

In the evening incident, Bhanwar Singh, belonging to Rajasthan, suffered serious injuries. "The head constable was immediately shifted to the Army hospital in Poonch in critical condition where he died in the wee hours. His body is being flown to his village in Rajasthan," intelligence sources said.

Even as the security officials claimed that the troops had foiled the infiltration attempt at Doba post in the evening, intelligence sources claimed that two militants managed to infiltrate into the Indian side.

Immediately after the firing, security forces launched a search operation in the area to nab the militants, who managed to sneak, the sources added. The Army sources claimed that the Army troops posted in the area during a search operation today apprehended Pakistani-trained militant Shamas-ud-Din of Nowgam from near a forward post of Jabri, about a kilometer from the Doba post from where two militants had allegedly infiltrated into the Indian territory.

Troops had shifted the militant to respective unit headquarters for further questioning.