Kalali (Surankote), Jammu April 22—Can you imagine a sixteen year old boy taking admission in class one and than going to school every day with zeal to learn. This unthinkable happened at village Kalali in Hill Kaka in the year 2003 after militancy was crushed by the Indian army during operation Sarp Vinash.
The tragedy, however, is that instead of attending school, sixteen year old Bashir Ahmed son of Abdul Ahmad of Kalali in Surankote is has been forced to hold a gun and guard his family while they are working in the fields.
Not only he, but children as little as 12-year are standing guard to protect their families from the wrath of the militants, who are keen to avenge the mauling of operation Sarp Vinash, launched by the Indian army.
“ I would have passed matric by now, if there was no militancy in the area but it was only after the militants were erased by the Army and local people that schools started”, said Bashir.
The decision to remove army pickets from the area is retrograde and this will result in massacres, he warned, adding that the children of Kalali have taken up guns as life is more important than anything.
Another child of the village Kalali, Qamran said that they waned to live like other children and enjoy life as they were doing, while army was present in
the area. He reiterated that fear has set in among the locals as they actively participated against the militants during the operations launched at Hill Kaka.
The tragedy is that these innocent hill children, more adept at taming the hillocks and playing with nature have become experts in handling sophisticated weapons. Some of them, a Kalali villager said can even tell what type of guns are being used after hearing the shots.
He further said that not only ordinary residents but the VDC members are also afraid due to the removal of army.
Here it must be mentioned that soon after the sun breaks, these children get ready for the arduous task of protecting their families. Weapons are checked, ammunition counted and a discussion is held about the proceedings of the day.
Thereafter, the families move out with the guard children as fields have to be tended and cattle need to be grazed, for these are the only two ways in which the people of Kalali and other villages fend for themselves.
The Hill Kaka area in which village Kalali falls was called mini-Pakistan, prior to operation Sarp Vinash, during which the Indian Army managed to uproot hard core terrorists, who had fortified themselves in this area.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Curse of partition undone after 50 years, lost brothers unite
Abhishek
RS Pura, Apr 12—It took fifty years for a family to undo the curse of partition but still the scars of that horrible event can not be erased even now.
The joy which went out of the lives of the family of late Chattar Singh living at Simble Camp, near the border town of RS Pura, returned when his long lost son came back to meet them from across the border, where he was left behind along with family members during the holocaust.
The family here is now headed by Chattar Singh’s son Harbans Singh, who now lives here in Simble camp.
With the improving relations between India and Pakistan, an increasing number of visitors from Pakistan many of whom are part of divided families are coming here to pick up the lost threads.
It was only after a sustained search which lasted half a century, that Harbans Singh’s brother, now known as Sheikh Abdul Aziz could find his lost family in R S Pura.
Yesterday, when Aziz came from across the border, he was given a emotional welcome not only by his family members here, but the entire Simble camp gathered to meet the visitor from Pakistan.
As soon as Harbans Singh saw his brother Aziz, he could not control himself and embraced his brother as to make for the lost fifty years, since they were parted in the melee of partition.
The tragic tale of this family begins from Poonch town, where the family headed by their father Chattar Singh lived in 1947.
Family members said that when the situation became volatile in the area which they lived, they joined a group of people coming to this side of border.
While coming to this side, Chatter Singh lost contact with his family members, due to the prevailing confusion caused by the rioters as a result of which he alone managed to reach Jammu.
Here, he reached Simble camp and after a prolonged search for his family, he married a local woman Harbans Kour and started a new family.
In the meanwhile, his three sons, who remained in Pakistan also settled there and adopted Islam and began life afresh there.
It was only few years back that Singh came to know that his family members had survived partition and were living there.
Thereafter, both families got in touch and started exchanging letters, and many a times plans were made and unmade to meet each other.
It was only after the relations between India and Pakistan improved that it become possible for Chattar Singh’s son Paramjeet Singh aka Sheikh Abdul Aziz to visit his lost family in India.
RS Pura, Apr 12—It took fifty years for a family to undo the curse of partition but still the scars of that horrible event can not be erased even now.
The joy which went out of the lives of the family of late Chattar Singh living at Simble Camp, near the border town of RS Pura, returned when his long lost son came back to meet them from across the border, where he was left behind along with family members during the holocaust.
The family here is now headed by Chattar Singh’s son Harbans Singh, who now lives here in Simble camp.
With the improving relations between India and Pakistan, an increasing number of visitors from Pakistan many of whom are part of divided families are coming here to pick up the lost threads.
It was only after a sustained search which lasted half a century, that Harbans Singh’s brother, now known as Sheikh Abdul Aziz could find his lost family in R S Pura.
Yesterday, when Aziz came from across the border, he was given a emotional welcome not only by his family members here, but the entire Simble camp gathered to meet the visitor from Pakistan.
As soon as Harbans Singh saw his brother Aziz, he could not control himself and embraced his brother as to make for the lost fifty years, since they were parted in the melee of partition.
The tragic tale of this family begins from Poonch town, where the family headed by their father Chattar Singh lived in 1947.
Family members said that when the situation became volatile in the area which they lived, they joined a group of people coming to this side of border.
While coming to this side, Chatter Singh lost contact with his family members, due to the prevailing confusion caused by the rioters as a result of which he alone managed to reach Jammu.
Here, he reached Simble camp and after a prolonged search for his family, he married a local woman Harbans Kour and started a new family.
In the meanwhile, his three sons, who remained in Pakistan also settled there and adopted Islam and began life afresh there.
It was only few years back that Singh came to know that his family members had survived partition and were living there.
Thereafter, both families got in touch and started exchanging letters, and many a times plans were made and unmade to meet each other.
It was only after the relations between India and Pakistan improved that it become possible for Chattar Singh’s son Paramjeet Singh aka Sheikh Abdul Aziz to visit his lost family in India.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Harried passenger demand renaming of Poonch-Rawalakote bus service
Abhishek Aijaz Qazmi
Poonch, Jammu, April 11—Notwithstanding the hype surrounding the Poonch-Rawlakote bus service, the Indian passengers are harried lot once they cross the Zero point and reach the other side of the border in Pakistan occupied Kashmir.
The Indian passengers, board the bus from Degree College, Pooch and once they reach Zero point on the line of control, they are dropped off to cross over to PoK, where they are made to pass through Pak Immigrations and Customs.
Once through these formalities, the elated Indian visitors are happy to reach Pakistan occupied Kashmir but the reality sinks in only when they do not find any connecting service to reach Rawlakote town, a distance of 48 kilometres from the Customs and Immigration office.
Neither a government bus service, nor private vehicles are available to the Indian visitors to reach Rawlakote, said Mohd Din, a resident of Mendhar, who was on a visit to meet his family members across the border.
Critical of the manner in which the passengers are being treated, Mohd Din said, “The Poonch-Rawlakote bus service should be renamed Poonch-Zero point bus service”, adding once the passengers reach PoK they are left to the mercy of elements.
The travellers were also critical of the Indian government over its refusal to ease the communication facilities with PoK. The problems are compounded by the fact that people from this this side can not make phone calls across the border to their relatives, said Farooq Din, another passenger, who returned from PoK, after visiting relatives.
“Our relatives do not know when we are coming as we can not contact them, as such they are not able to come to pick us after crossing the border”.
Once the passengers reach Pakistan, there is no one to receive us and it is after a great trouble that private conveyance is arranged, he added.
The passengers, however, appreciated the transport arrangements made by J&K government, which has provided JKSRTC buses to ferry the passengers across the border.
Here it must be mentioned that the Poonch-Rawlakote bus service was flagged off by UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi alongwith Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee in on June 20 in 2005.
Launch of this bus service was a long pending demand from the locals of both sides as it drastically rescued the travel time. Earlier the people intending to visit the other side of Kashmir had to go from Muzaffarabad.
Poonch, Jammu, April 11—Notwithstanding the hype surrounding the Poonch-Rawlakote bus service, the Indian passengers are harried lot once they cross the Zero point and reach the other side of the border in Pakistan occupied Kashmir.
The Indian passengers, board the bus from Degree College, Pooch and once they reach Zero point on the line of control, they are dropped off to cross over to PoK, where they are made to pass through Pak Immigrations and Customs.
Once through these formalities, the elated Indian visitors are happy to reach Pakistan occupied Kashmir but the reality sinks in only when they do not find any connecting service to reach Rawlakote town, a distance of 48 kilometres from the Customs and Immigration office.
Neither a government bus service, nor private vehicles are available to the Indian visitors to reach Rawlakote, said Mohd Din, a resident of Mendhar, who was on a visit to meet his family members across the border.
Critical of the manner in which the passengers are being treated, Mohd Din said, “The Poonch-Rawlakote bus service should be renamed Poonch-Zero point bus service”, adding once the passengers reach PoK they are left to the mercy of elements.
The travellers were also critical of the Indian government over its refusal to ease the communication facilities with PoK. The problems are compounded by the fact that people from this this side can not make phone calls across the border to their relatives, said Farooq Din, another passenger, who returned from PoK, after visiting relatives.
“Our relatives do not know when we are coming as we can not contact them, as such they are not able to come to pick us after crossing the border”.
Once the passengers reach Pakistan, there is no one to receive us and it is after a great trouble that private conveyance is arranged, he added.
The passengers, however, appreciated the transport arrangements made by J&K government, which has provided JKSRTC buses to ferry the passengers across the border.
Here it must be mentioned that the Poonch-Rawlakote bus service was flagged off by UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi alongwith Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee in on June 20 in 2005.
Launch of this bus service was a long pending demand from the locals of both sides as it drastically rescued the travel time. Earlier the people intending to visit the other side of Kashmir had to go from Muzaffarabad.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Hill Kaka warriors feel orphaned, rue decision to fight terrorists
Poonch, Jammu,India—They defeated the nefarious designs of the terrorists in Hill Kaka and fought neck and neck with the Indian Army during the operation Sarp Vinash but now they are feeling orphaned.
The people of Kalali, Do Phalli, Chapra and Telgi Katha-all villages enroute Hill Kaka are ruing their decision to fight the highly trained terrorists enconsced there. The reason for the desolation of these people is the reported movement of the troops from these villages, where army pickets had been set up to provide security to people since 2003.
According to sources, !6 Rastriya Rifles which was posted in the area has been shifted and as a result the villagers have been left to fend for themselves. Perturbed over the shifting of Army pickets from the area, around 120 Village Defence Committee members, who took an active part in anti-insurgency operations allege that they are being treated as cannon fodder by the government. “We fought against the terrorists alongside the security forces and because of our support terrorists were crushed in the area”, they said in unison, adding that they have become easy targets as army has left the area.
“We fear a Kalakote like massacre in the area as the army has moved out like it happened there”, they assert. Most vulnerable among these villagers are the 20 women VDC members, who are trained in handling and using the weapons. These women feel that absence of army will definitely give an upper hand to the militants and allow them to set up base here.
A resident of Dophalli, Razia Begum said “I have fought against terrorists when I should have been tending the family and the household all because we had faith in the Indian establishment”, adding “we feel orphaned in the manner we have been left at the mercy of terrorists”.
During the crucial fight in Hill Kaka it was our men and women, who provided crucial information to security men, which led to a resounding victory for the Indian Army. The residents of the area warn that the absence of armed forces in the area could be very dangerous not only for the people but strategically as well. “If the terrorists return, they will hit us hard”, said an angry Imtiaz Ahmed, a VDC member, who has worked extensively against the terrorists.
Listening to the fears of these people, it can be safely assumed that if the faith of these people is lost than India will be losing their most strategic asset and best friends which she got in the militancy infested country.
The people of Kalali, Do Phalli, Chapra and Telgi Katha-all villages enroute Hill Kaka are ruing their decision to fight the highly trained terrorists enconsced there. The reason for the desolation of these people is the reported movement of the troops from these villages, where army pickets had been set up to provide security to people since 2003.
According to sources, !6 Rastriya Rifles which was posted in the area has been shifted and as a result the villagers have been left to fend for themselves. Perturbed over the shifting of Army pickets from the area, around 120 Village Defence Committee members, who took an active part in anti-insurgency operations allege that they are being treated as cannon fodder by the government. “We fought against the terrorists alongside the security forces and because of our support terrorists were crushed in the area”, they said in unison, adding that they have become easy targets as army has left the area.
“We fear a Kalakote like massacre in the area as the army has moved out like it happened there”, they assert. Most vulnerable among these villagers are the 20 women VDC members, who are trained in handling and using the weapons. These women feel that absence of army will definitely give an upper hand to the militants and allow them to set up base here.
A resident of Dophalli, Razia Begum said “I have fought against terrorists when I should have been tending the family and the household all because we had faith in the Indian establishment”, adding “we feel orphaned in the manner we have been left at the mercy of terrorists”.
During the crucial fight in Hill Kaka it was our men and women, who provided crucial information to security men, which led to a resounding victory for the Indian Army. The residents of the area warn that the absence of armed forces in the area could be very dangerous not only for the people but strategically as well. “If the terrorists return, they will hit us hard”, said an angry Imtiaz Ahmed, a VDC member, who has worked extensively against the terrorists.
Listening to the fears of these people, it can be safely assumed that if the faith of these people is lost than India will be losing their most strategic asset and best friends which she got in the militancy infested country.
Majority community forces construction of mosque in Mendhar
Jammu, Mar 24—Curfew was clamped in the border town of Mendhar and Army was called on duty as violence erupted over the construction of a mosque.
The tension was aggravated when a mob of three to four thousand men from majority community forced its way on the disputed site and started work of the mosque.
Earlier, the already tense situation in the town turned violent today as people from majority community fought pitched battles while trying to enter a disputed site.
Several shots were fired by the police in a bid to stop the crowd from starting construction work on the site. Both sides indulged in stone pelting for close to an hour and around forty persons including 30 policemen were injured.
According to eye witnesses, all the efforts of the police to pacify the mob turned futile as people forced their way on the site and construction work was commenced as security men turned mute spectators.
A mehrab and a room were constructed as part of the mosque today and three to four hundred persons are still present at the site till last reports came in.
Adding fuel to the communal flare up, local MLA Javed Rana turned up with a large entourage and paid Namaz-I-nafal and also announced a grant of Rs 50000 for the construction of the mosque.
As per sources, the disputed site comprises of 14 Kanals and 7 marlas out of which ten kanals belong to one Mahesh Chander, who belongs to the minority Hindu community.
1 kanal and seven marlas of this land belongs to one Mohd Ibrahim and rest 3 kanals is state land.
Sources here revealed that this was basically a land dispute between two above said persons and has been given a communal touch with the purpose of grabbing the land.
As per reports, Deputy Commissioner Poonch Mohd Ramzan Thakkar, SSP Poonch Jagjit Kumar and Additional SP Tahir Bhat are camping in Mendhar to defuse the situation.
The tension was aggravated when a mob of three to four thousand men from majority community forced its way on the disputed site and started work of the mosque.
Earlier, the already tense situation in the town turned violent today as people from majority community fought pitched battles while trying to enter a disputed site.
Several shots were fired by the police in a bid to stop the crowd from starting construction work on the site. Both sides indulged in stone pelting for close to an hour and around forty persons including 30 policemen were injured.
According to eye witnesses, all the efforts of the police to pacify the mob turned futile as people forced their way on the site and construction work was commenced as security men turned mute spectators.
A mehrab and a room were constructed as part of the mosque today and three to four hundred persons are still present at the site till last reports came in.
Adding fuel to the communal flare up, local MLA Javed Rana turned up with a large entourage and paid Namaz-I-nafal and also announced a grant of Rs 50000 for the construction of the mosque.
As per sources, the disputed site comprises of 14 Kanals and 7 marlas out of which ten kanals belong to one Mahesh Chander, who belongs to the minority Hindu community.
1 kanal and seven marlas of this land belongs to one Mohd Ibrahim and rest 3 kanals is state land.
Sources here revealed that this was basically a land dispute between two above said persons and has been given a communal touch with the purpose of grabbing the land.
As per reports, Deputy Commissioner Poonch Mohd Ramzan Thakkar, SSP Poonch Jagjit Kumar and Additional SP Tahir Bhat are camping in Mendhar to defuse the situation.
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