Abhishek Behl, www.merinews.com
By killing a hard-core Laskkar-e-Taiba terrorist, Khalid-ur-Rehman in a pre-dawn operation in Doda today, the Jammu and Kashmir police added another feather to its cap.
THE JAMMU AND Kashmir police today received a shot in the arm, when it managed to liquidate Khalid-ur-Rehman alias Abu Omeira, all India coordinator of Lashkar-e-Taiba in a pre-dawn operation in Doda.
Rehman was a resident of Railway Colony, Bahawalpur in Pakistan and was considered to be one of the masterminds behind terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
Active for past 10 years in Kashmir valley, Rehman was the chief architect of fidayeen attacks and he was instrumental in number of suicide killings in the state.
Being an innovator and experienced terrorist, he was also responsible for starting infiltration through the sea route in the country and was also involved in all activities and operations of Lashkar-e-Taiba in the country.
According to reports, after receiving a tip off about the whereabouts of the Lashkar militant, the Doda police swung into action and cordoned off the target house. According to reports, when the police asked the terrorist to surrender, he opened fire on the police party and jumped out of the house. While trying to escape, he attempted to forcibly enter an adjacent house and threw a grenade on the door to break it open.
“However, before he could enter the house, the policemen shot him dead,” informed a police officer while adding that a woman Mishra Begum was killed due to grenade sharpnels. Terming it as a major victory Manohar Singh, SSP, Doda informed that Rehman had been active in J&K for past ten years and was involved in numerous massacres and fidayeen attacks.
“Fidayeen or suicide attacks were introduced by Rehman in the state,” said Singh, adding that he had been transferred to Doda two years back after Ghulam Nabi Azad assumed the Chief ministerial chair in the state. The aim was to increase the terrorist activities in the Doda district and this he did with remarkable alacrity.
Rehman was also engaged in recruitment and is said to have sent hundreds of youth to Pakistan for arms training, police said. Police also claimed that Rehman was behind the killing of DSP Shally Singh, a daring officer of J&K police in Doda, a month back. He is also said to have planned a failed assassination attempt on Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, during his visit to Doda few months back. The police had then arrested some political activists and managed to break into the terror cell and prevent the attack.
Similarly, the J&K police and even the intelligence agencies were caught on the wrong foot, when some arrested terrorists told them about infiltration from the sea route, which was obviously an innovation and said to be orchestrated by the deceased militant mastermind.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Resurgent militants attack army convoy in Kashmir, kill 2 jawans
Abhishek Behl and Aijaz Qazmi
Poonch, July 17—Substantiating the reports coming from different quarter that militants were trying to regroup in District Poonch, a group of militants today attacked an army convoy near totewali gali while it was on its way to Poonch killing 2 army jawans and injuring eight others sitting in a bus in the rear of the convoy.
Following the attack a fierce encounter ensued between the militants and the security men in which six sepoys including two Naiks were injured.
According to reports, the convoy had started at 1:30 in the afternoon from Biji and around 3 pm it was attacked somewhere between totewali gali and Bhatta Durian, on Surankote Rajauri road.
A militant, who was hiding alongside the road suddenly came in front of the convoy and fired indiscriminately in which army gunner Hare Krishna of 25 RR died on the spot, while critically injuring driver S Basant, who also succumbed to his injuries.
During the ensuing encounter which lasted for over an hour, eight army men were injured which included Naik Mohan of 25 RR, Sepoy Kali Subhash and Sepoy JK Bamari of 25 RR, Naik Khammiah and naik Govind of 40 RR, Clerk Braham Dutt of 169 Military Hospital, JCO Ashok Singh and Havaldar Ashok Joshi of 16 RR.
The militant attack comes in the wake of repeated reports that militants are trying to regroup and increase their activities in district Poonch and adjoining Mendhar which lies along the line of control.
Despite reports coming from different quarters that militancy was likely to be boosted in the area, the government and various security agencies have remained in a mode of denial over the heighten terror activities.
During the past few months, terrorists have managed to hit important targets in the state, particularly the attack on Dy Sp Yougal Manhas and killing of Dy SP Shally and this should have ringed the warning bells for the authorities.
Reports of militants trying to re-establish their network has been doing the round for the past several months and according to the local grapevine recruitment and indoctrination of local youth is on the prime agenda of different groups operating the area.
Security forces and government authorities have however denied the movement of terrorists despite acts of high profile violence. Sources said that if proper action was not taken to neutralize these groups than the situation could turn bad.
Poonch, July 17—Substantiating the reports coming from different quarter that militants were trying to regroup in District Poonch, a group of militants today attacked an army convoy near totewali gali while it was on its way to Poonch killing 2 army jawans and injuring eight others sitting in a bus in the rear of the convoy.
Following the attack a fierce encounter ensued between the militants and the security men in which six sepoys including two Naiks were injured.
According to reports, the convoy had started at 1:30 in the afternoon from Biji and around 3 pm it was attacked somewhere between totewali gali and Bhatta Durian, on Surankote Rajauri road.
A militant, who was hiding alongside the road suddenly came in front of the convoy and fired indiscriminately in which army gunner Hare Krishna of 25 RR died on the spot, while critically injuring driver S Basant, who also succumbed to his injuries.
During the ensuing encounter which lasted for over an hour, eight army men were injured which included Naik Mohan of 25 RR, Sepoy Kali Subhash and Sepoy JK Bamari of 25 RR, Naik Khammiah and naik Govind of 40 RR, Clerk Braham Dutt of 169 Military Hospital, JCO Ashok Singh and Havaldar Ashok Joshi of 16 RR.
The militant attack comes in the wake of repeated reports that militants are trying to regroup and increase their activities in district Poonch and adjoining Mendhar which lies along the line of control.
Despite reports coming from different quarters that militancy was likely to be boosted in the area, the government and various security agencies have remained in a mode of denial over the heighten terror activities.
During the past few months, terrorists have managed to hit important targets in the state, particularly the attack on Dy Sp Yougal Manhas and killing of Dy SP Shally and this should have ringed the warning bells for the authorities.
Reports of militants trying to re-establish their network has been doing the round for the past several months and according to the local grapevine recruitment and indoctrination of local youth is on the prime agenda of different groups operating the area.
Security forces and government authorities have however denied the movement of terrorists despite acts of high profile violence. Sources said that if proper action was not taken to neutralize these groups than the situation could turn bad.
Monday, July 16, 2007
LoP and not LoC, says PM Manmohan Singh
Abhishek Behl, www.merinews.com,
merinews network
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Sunday called for a 'historic reconciliation of hearts and minds in our region' in a fresh peace overture to Pakistan. He urged that the Line of Control (LoC) dividing Kashmir should become a 'line of peace'.
THE ASPIRATIONS of all sections of people in each of the three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh would be taken into account while pursuing the development of a united State of Jammu & Kashmir. He also urged the people of the state to work towards making the line of control redundant.
Calling upon people of the state to join hands, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said when power flows to the grassroots and every community gets space, there is no sense of discrimination. “I appeal, therefore, to the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh to join hands in building a glorious future for all the young people of this beautiful state. Our dialogue with Pakistan seeks to end the bitter legacy of the last 60 years, and begin a new chapter in our bilateral relations.
The Prime Minister was speaking at Special function organized at the Jammu University to honour him with Honoris Causa. He was conferred with a Degree of Letters (Honoris Causa) by the Chancellor of the University of Jammu, Lt. Gen.(Retd.) S. K. Sinha, in Jammu yesterday.
Exhorting upon all the stakeholders to seize the chance of making history, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that time is ripe for making a genuine effort to build peace and create the conditions for a historic reconciliation of hearts and minds in the region. For sixty years, he said, “we have lived with tension and periods of violence, both internally and in our relations with Pakistan. You all know, better than anyone else, the tragic consequences of war, terrorism, conflict and displacement.”
Asserting that the LoC could be made redundant, the PM said that he hoped and believed that Jammu and Kashmir can, one day, become a symbol of India-Pakistan cooperation rather than of conflict. “As I have stated earlier, borders cannot be changed, but they can be made irrelevant. There can be no question of divisions or partitions, but the Line of Control can become a line of peace with a freer flow of ideas, goods, services and people. We could, for example, use the land and water resources of the region jointly for the benefit of all the people living on both sides of the Line of Control. Similarly, there are vast opportunities to jointly work together for the mutual benefit of our people,” he added.
Manmohan Singh also said, “It goes without saying that this can only happen once terrorism and violence end permanently. I have said this before and I say it again, real political power in a democracy comes from the ballot box, not the barrel of a gun. We are firm in our resolve to fight terrorism and to end the blackmail of terror in this peace-loving State. We are committed to winning the hearts and minds of all.”
merinews network
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Sunday called for a 'historic reconciliation of hearts and minds in our region' in a fresh peace overture to Pakistan. He urged that the Line of Control (LoC) dividing Kashmir should become a 'line of peace'.
THE ASPIRATIONS of all sections of people in each of the three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh would be taken into account while pursuing the development of a united State of Jammu & Kashmir. He also urged the people of the state to work towards making the line of control redundant.
Calling upon people of the state to join hands, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said when power flows to the grassroots and every community gets space, there is no sense of discrimination. “I appeal, therefore, to the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh to join hands in building a glorious future for all the young people of this beautiful state. Our dialogue with Pakistan seeks to end the bitter legacy of the last 60 years, and begin a new chapter in our bilateral relations.
The Prime Minister was speaking at Special function organized at the Jammu University to honour him with Honoris Causa. He was conferred with a Degree of Letters (Honoris Causa) by the Chancellor of the University of Jammu, Lt. Gen.(Retd.) S. K. Sinha, in Jammu yesterday.
Exhorting upon all the stakeholders to seize the chance of making history, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that time is ripe for making a genuine effort to build peace and create the conditions for a historic reconciliation of hearts and minds in the region. For sixty years, he said, “we have lived with tension and periods of violence, both internally and in our relations with Pakistan. You all know, better than anyone else, the tragic consequences of war, terrorism, conflict and displacement.”
Asserting that the LoC could be made redundant, the PM said that he hoped and believed that Jammu and Kashmir can, one day, become a symbol of India-Pakistan cooperation rather than of conflict. “As I have stated earlier, borders cannot be changed, but they can be made irrelevant. There can be no question of divisions or partitions, but the Line of Control can become a line of peace with a freer flow of ideas, goods, services and people. We could, for example, use the land and water resources of the region jointly for the benefit of all the people living on both sides of the Line of Control. Similarly, there are vast opportunities to jointly work together for the mutual benefit of our people,” he added.
Manmohan Singh also said, “It goes without saying that this can only happen once terrorism and violence end permanently. I have said this before and I say it again, real political power in a democracy comes from the ballot box, not the barrel of a gun. We are firm in our resolve to fight terrorism and to end the blackmail of terror in this peace-loving State. We are committed to winning the hearts and minds of all.”
Friday, July 13, 2007
Freedom from cyber crime: No reply, no buy, no spam
Abhishek Behl, www.merinews.com
In an era when cyber crime is rising drastically, one should be extra careful while replying to unknown mails and subscribing to journals, magazines etc.
BEWARE. Before clicking on any email just take your time and see to it that you are clicking on a message which comes from a secure source. Not taking this precaution will make you susceptible to the guile of thousands of cyber criminals waiting to misuse your identity or sensitive data. This in turn can set you back from a million to a few hundred rupees.
The cyber criminals are using highly sophisticated techniques to play with an individual’s need thereby motivating them to part with personal and proprietary financial information.
According to a study conducted by Dr James Blascovich, professor of Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara cyber criminals use common emotions like fear, lust, and greed to methodically steal money, information and data.
Email is the most potent tool being used by the cyber criminals to prey upon millions of unsuspecting internet users, who are bombarded with unsolicited mail, some of which often promises bank loans, free credit cards and company of beautiful females and so on and so forth.
Even the most smart internet user is beguiled and charmed into the email offensive as cyber criminals are knocking at the doors using different psychological approaches to motivate the potential users.
There are emails which have a stamp of authority like ‘must complete and submit’, ‘your unique code’; then there are mails which are friendly and say ‘mail from family or friends’, ‘is it you’; the lure of greed is also thrown in, with emails offering free downloads; emotions, love and loss is another aspect of human personality which is attacked with mailers like ‘another week alone’, ‘want a beautiful friend or lonely woman needs company.’
In addition, there are other aspects like cultural affairs, auction frauds, lottery scams, sexual promises that are used to lure a prospective victim to make the kill.
The smart cyber outlaw knows that these enticements will play with the psychological moderators, which include legitimacy and familiarity and help them in netting the prey. In addition, gullibility, lack of rational decision-making and all around knowledge make the net users more prone to crime.
According to the study, a person may be an expert computer user but he might not be well versed with business practices and this can happen in the reverse direction too. If the scam-spam mail looks familiar and legitimate, then the recipient’s doubts are allayed and he is ready to fish in the troubled waters.
Likewise, if the spam mail is promising goodies, then a promotion oriented person is enticed whereas if the message is one concerning with avoiding loss, then a prevention-oriented person is likely to open and use it. Here it must be mentioned that sometimes even opening the email can beset the user with trouble in the form of a virus or a pernicious software download.
Even replying to an unsolicited email can cause serious problems as software can steal your entire proprietary data and financial information, which can be really dangerous.
When the enemy is so clever, then a user might ask-what is the fix for this problem and how can a cyber criminal be kept at bay. The answer lies simply in accepting the fact that everyone including the smartest people using the net can easily become victims of this fraud.
While you are asked to unsubscribe from a spam, just remember that you have never signed up initially to receive these mails and these have been forced down your throat, albeit digitally.
Don’t publish your email on any discussion forum or website but if still you want to join any forum then get yourself an additional email account for this purpose.
Use a separate email account for signing up for journals, magazines, trade fairs and similar such services.
Don’t unsubscribe from an email message immediately and keep it in a separate folder for some weeks in order to review it.
Please remember never to reply to spam and also do not buy anything from spammer, if you do not want to lose your money, identity and peace of mind at the hands of the cyber criminals.
In an era when cyber crime is rising drastically, one should be extra careful while replying to unknown mails and subscribing to journals, magazines etc.
BEWARE. Before clicking on any email just take your time and see to it that you are clicking on a message which comes from a secure source. Not taking this precaution will make you susceptible to the guile of thousands of cyber criminals waiting to misuse your identity or sensitive data. This in turn can set you back from a million to a few hundred rupees.
The cyber criminals are using highly sophisticated techniques to play with an individual’s need thereby motivating them to part with personal and proprietary financial information.
According to a study conducted by Dr James Blascovich, professor of Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara cyber criminals use common emotions like fear, lust, and greed to methodically steal money, information and data.
Email is the most potent tool being used by the cyber criminals to prey upon millions of unsuspecting internet users, who are bombarded with unsolicited mail, some of which often promises bank loans, free credit cards and company of beautiful females and so on and so forth.
Even the most smart internet user is beguiled and charmed into the email offensive as cyber criminals are knocking at the doors using different psychological approaches to motivate the potential users.
There are emails which have a stamp of authority like ‘must complete and submit’, ‘your unique code’; then there are mails which are friendly and say ‘mail from family or friends’, ‘is it you’; the lure of greed is also thrown in, with emails offering free downloads; emotions, love and loss is another aspect of human personality which is attacked with mailers like ‘another week alone’, ‘want a beautiful friend or lonely woman needs company.’
In addition, there are other aspects like cultural affairs, auction frauds, lottery scams, sexual promises that are used to lure a prospective victim to make the kill.
The smart cyber outlaw knows that these enticements will play with the psychological moderators, which include legitimacy and familiarity and help them in netting the prey. In addition, gullibility, lack of rational decision-making and all around knowledge make the net users more prone to crime.
According to the study, a person may be an expert computer user but he might not be well versed with business practices and this can happen in the reverse direction too. If the scam-spam mail looks familiar and legitimate, then the recipient’s doubts are allayed and he is ready to fish in the troubled waters.
Likewise, if the spam mail is promising goodies, then a promotion oriented person is enticed whereas if the message is one concerning with avoiding loss, then a prevention-oriented person is likely to open and use it. Here it must be mentioned that sometimes even opening the email can beset the user with trouble in the form of a virus or a pernicious software download.
Even replying to an unsolicited email can cause serious problems as software can steal your entire proprietary data and financial information, which can be really dangerous.
When the enemy is so clever, then a user might ask-what is the fix for this problem and how can a cyber criminal be kept at bay. The answer lies simply in accepting the fact that everyone including the smartest people using the net can easily become victims of this fraud.
While you are asked to unsubscribe from a spam, just remember that you have never signed up initially to receive these mails and these have been forced down your throat, albeit digitally.
Don’t publish your email on any discussion forum or website but if still you want to join any forum then get yourself an additional email account for this purpose.
Use a separate email account for signing up for journals, magazines, trade fairs and similar such services.
Don’t unsubscribe from an email message immediately and keep it in a separate folder for some weeks in order to review it.
Please remember never to reply to spam and also do not buy anything from spammer, if you do not want to lose your money, identity and peace of mind at the hands of the cyber criminals.
Interstate bus operators add to Blueline woes
Abhishek Behl, www.merinews.com
While the Blueline buses in Delhi have terrorized the people on roads by killing many of them, there is another set of bus operators working clandestinely and giving sleepless nights to interstate travellers.
THE ORDEAL for an interstate traveller particularly those travelling to the Holy Shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in Jammu and Kashmir starts as soon as he reaches Lal Quila, the abode of former Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and now the front office of a number of travel operators having offices in the vicinity.
Within seconds of reaching the place, the gullible travellers are hounded by the touts of different travel agents, who offer you the latest rates for buses to different cities. Risking their lives to catch hold of the potential customers, these youngsters do not mind jumping head on to the rickshaws and cars and luring the customers towards their travel agencies.
Mind you; there is no fixed fare for a journey, a person can be made to pay double the amount paid by someone in the adjacent seat and traveling the same distance. Recently during a trip, Rakesh Sharma, a Delhi based businessman talking to merinews said that he was made to pay twice the amount which was charged from the gentleman sitting next to him.
The issue here is not only the money but the manner in which the passengers are treated with royal disdain without any care for their comfort. As no bus timings are followed by these travel operators, the passengers are made to sweat in the heat and grime of Chandni Chowk’s pollution.
Recounting her experience of a horrendous bus yatra on way to the Vaishno Devi Shrine, Pallavi Sharma, said that they boarded the bus at 8 pm in evening and were excited to leave for Jammu. However, the hurry to leave Delhi turned into an endless wait as the bus operator refused to budge from the place till all the seats were filled up. “We heaved a sigh of relief as the bus started moving but to our horror the bus continued to move about suspiciously on the roads of Delhi,” she said, adding that it was only after the driver picked up passengers from Majnu Ka Tila that it started its journey outside Delhi.
Torment for the passengers did not end here, her sister Puja said, “Instead of taking the highway the bus driver decided to take a detour via Bhalswa dairy which was another horrible experience. There being a huge garbage dump in the area the stench was unbearable,” she added.
Here it must be mentioned that majority of the buses operating on the Jammu-Delhi route are doing so without valid papers. This is one of the reasons that some of the drivers take roads where even angels fear to tread, says Mohd Shahid of Delhi, while recounting his experience of travelling from Jammu to Delhi in private bus. The bus started from Lal Quila and after traversing through various Delhi routes took state highways which are not on the routine map. The bus passed through Ludhiana, took Rahon Machiwara route and passed through similar routes, and all this he said was done perhaps to avoid the authorities.
Not averse to putting the lives of passengers in danger, these drivers often indulge in rash driving in order to cover the time which has been often wasted while looking out for passengers.
A veteran traveller on this route, Amarjit Singh said that drivers often try to cover as much as 250 kms in two hours during the night which often proves to be fatal on the Indian roads.
Asking the government to come down heavily on these operators, he demanded that authorities should put a check on the movement of interstate buses run by private operators. He, however, also said that there were some scrupulous travel operators also, who are playing by the book and ensure the comfort of the bus passenger.
While the Blueline buses in Delhi have terrorized the people on roads by killing many of them, there is another set of bus operators working clandestinely and giving sleepless nights to interstate travellers.
THE ORDEAL for an interstate traveller particularly those travelling to the Holy Shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in Jammu and Kashmir starts as soon as he reaches Lal Quila, the abode of former Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and now the front office of a number of travel operators having offices in the vicinity.
Within seconds of reaching the place, the gullible travellers are hounded by the touts of different travel agents, who offer you the latest rates for buses to different cities. Risking their lives to catch hold of the potential customers, these youngsters do not mind jumping head on to the rickshaws and cars and luring the customers towards their travel agencies.
Mind you; there is no fixed fare for a journey, a person can be made to pay double the amount paid by someone in the adjacent seat and traveling the same distance. Recently during a trip, Rakesh Sharma, a Delhi based businessman talking to merinews said that he was made to pay twice the amount which was charged from the gentleman sitting next to him.
The issue here is not only the money but the manner in which the passengers are treated with royal disdain without any care for their comfort. As no bus timings are followed by these travel operators, the passengers are made to sweat in the heat and grime of Chandni Chowk’s pollution.
Recounting her experience of a horrendous bus yatra on way to the Vaishno Devi Shrine, Pallavi Sharma, said that they boarded the bus at 8 pm in evening and were excited to leave for Jammu. However, the hurry to leave Delhi turned into an endless wait as the bus operator refused to budge from the place till all the seats were filled up. “We heaved a sigh of relief as the bus started moving but to our horror the bus continued to move about suspiciously on the roads of Delhi,” she said, adding that it was only after the driver picked up passengers from Majnu Ka Tila that it started its journey outside Delhi.
Torment for the passengers did not end here, her sister Puja said, “Instead of taking the highway the bus driver decided to take a detour via Bhalswa dairy which was another horrible experience. There being a huge garbage dump in the area the stench was unbearable,” she added.
Here it must be mentioned that majority of the buses operating on the Jammu-Delhi route are doing so without valid papers. This is one of the reasons that some of the drivers take roads where even angels fear to tread, says Mohd Shahid of Delhi, while recounting his experience of travelling from Jammu to Delhi in private bus. The bus started from Lal Quila and after traversing through various Delhi routes took state highways which are not on the routine map. The bus passed through Ludhiana, took Rahon Machiwara route and passed through similar routes, and all this he said was done perhaps to avoid the authorities.
Not averse to putting the lives of passengers in danger, these drivers often indulge in rash driving in order to cover the time which has been often wasted while looking out for passengers.
A veteran traveller on this route, Amarjit Singh said that drivers often try to cover as much as 250 kms in two hours during the night which often proves to be fatal on the Indian roads.
Asking the government to come down heavily on these operators, he demanded that authorities should put a check on the movement of interstate buses run by private operators. He, however, also said that there were some scrupulous travel operators also, who are playing by the book and ensure the comfort of the bus passenger.
Friday, July 06, 2007
Climate change devours Amarnath lingam
Abhishek Behl
The melting ice-lingam in the Amarnath cave shrine is just a signal of the things to come. It calls for long term plans to address the issue instead of stop-gap arrangements.
THE MELTING of the holy Shiv Lingam for the past few years at the Amarnath cave shrine has been an agonizing event for most of the devotees, who make the arduous trek to the holy shrine fighting the elements. But, from another perspective this also sends a message that Shiva-the supreme lord is not happy with human beings and is not willing to give darshan. The ice lingam at the Amarnath caves used to remain frozen for months in the previous years but extreme changes in climatic conditions have made it impossible for the phenomenon to continue. The holy ice lingam which is formed every year due to a natural process has been melting prematurely due to the extreme heat being witnessed in the area for the past few years.
Notwithstanding the simple fact that global warming has initiated a number of climatic changes, the controversy surrounding the melting of the ice lingam at the Amarnath Cave shrine has become a perennial feature. This controversy will linger on till the yatra is over like it has been happening for the past few years. Putting the responsibility for the melting of the lingam squarely on the State Government, Chief Executive Officer (Ecology) of the Shri Amar Nath Shrine Board, Arun Kumar in an interview said that this happened due to delay in the transfer of land for preserving the ice lingam. Governor SK Sinha, who also presides over the Shrine Board, however, blamed the weather for the melting of the holy lingam, adding, that he had witnessed it in full during an earlier visit.
Last year also, a huge controversy had broken out over the alleged tampering with the ice-lingam at the cave shrine, which had forced the authorities to order a judicial inquiry into the matter. It is not beyond comprehension that religious sensibilities are hurt, when a pilgrim is not able to have darshan of the very deity for which he/she has travelled thousands of kilometers. But it must be accepted that that humans are very much responsible for the melting of this lingam. It is worthwhile to mention that June 26 night was one of the hottest nights in the Kashmir valley when the minimum temperature was recorded at above 22 degree Celsius.
The temperature inside the cave rises not only due to the increasingly warm days in the area but also due to human activity which includes burning of candles, incense sticks as well as the heat generated from human bodies. A warning must be read into the study conducted by the High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) and Snow and Avalanche Studies Establishment (SASE) last year which said that the glacier cover of the Amarnath cave has receded by 100 meters. Since, Amarnath shrine is part of a natural glacier it is important that this pilgrimage respects the biotic environment of the area and it remains undisturbed.
Putting aside the controversies, the time has come for the Amarnath Yatra Shrine Board, J&K government and State Pollution Control authorities to take necessary steps to prevent the melting of the holy lingam which is also a signal of the damage done to the environment. A concerted effort by the stakeholders can ensure that pilgrims from all over the country and even from abroad do not have to face the specter of a vanishing lingam. The state government and Shrine Board should get in touch with DRDO and put in place a technological system which will ensure that temperature is kept at freezing point inside the cave. At the macro level the government of Jammu and Kashmir will have to act fast and check the increasing depletion of state forests which is one of the prime reasons for extreme variations in weather.
Pollution caused by the pilgrims also acts as a major problem in the area and the State Pollution Control Board has an important role to play in this regard. It must educate the pilgrims and also ensure that the leftovers do not create an ecological crisis in the area.
All these indications suggest that the time has come for a concerted action. While in the short run, the melting lingam can be saved by using technology but permanent solutions are needed to reverse the havoc wrought by us on mother Earth. Whatever has been done cannot be undone but the melting lingam every year is sending the message that we have to act fast and find a remedy. Or else there is the danger that like the holy lingam the human race might melt into oblivion due to its own follies.
The melting ice-lingam in the Amarnath cave shrine is just a signal of the things to come. It calls for long term plans to address the issue instead of stop-gap arrangements.
THE MELTING of the holy Shiv Lingam for the past few years at the Amarnath cave shrine has been an agonizing event for most of the devotees, who make the arduous trek to the holy shrine fighting the elements. But, from another perspective this also sends a message that Shiva-the supreme lord is not happy with human beings and is not willing to give darshan. The ice lingam at the Amarnath caves used to remain frozen for months in the previous years but extreme changes in climatic conditions have made it impossible for the phenomenon to continue. The holy ice lingam which is formed every year due to a natural process has been melting prematurely due to the extreme heat being witnessed in the area for the past few years.
Notwithstanding the simple fact that global warming has initiated a number of climatic changes, the controversy surrounding the melting of the ice lingam at the Amarnath Cave shrine has become a perennial feature. This controversy will linger on till the yatra is over like it has been happening for the past few years. Putting the responsibility for the melting of the lingam squarely on the State Government, Chief Executive Officer (Ecology) of the Shri Amar Nath Shrine Board, Arun Kumar in an interview said that this happened due to delay in the transfer of land for preserving the ice lingam. Governor SK Sinha, who also presides over the Shrine Board, however, blamed the weather for the melting of the holy lingam, adding, that he had witnessed it in full during an earlier visit.
Last year also, a huge controversy had broken out over the alleged tampering with the ice-lingam at the cave shrine, which had forced the authorities to order a judicial inquiry into the matter. It is not beyond comprehension that religious sensibilities are hurt, when a pilgrim is not able to have darshan of the very deity for which he/she has travelled thousands of kilometers. But it must be accepted that that humans are very much responsible for the melting of this lingam. It is worthwhile to mention that June 26 night was one of the hottest nights in the Kashmir valley when the minimum temperature was recorded at above 22 degree Celsius.
The temperature inside the cave rises not only due to the increasingly warm days in the area but also due to human activity which includes burning of candles, incense sticks as well as the heat generated from human bodies. A warning must be read into the study conducted by the High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) and Snow and Avalanche Studies Establishment (SASE) last year which said that the glacier cover of the Amarnath cave has receded by 100 meters. Since, Amarnath shrine is part of a natural glacier it is important that this pilgrimage respects the biotic environment of the area and it remains undisturbed.
Putting aside the controversies, the time has come for the Amarnath Yatra Shrine Board, J&K government and State Pollution Control authorities to take necessary steps to prevent the melting of the holy lingam which is also a signal of the damage done to the environment. A concerted effort by the stakeholders can ensure that pilgrims from all over the country and even from abroad do not have to face the specter of a vanishing lingam. The state government and Shrine Board should get in touch with DRDO and put in place a technological system which will ensure that temperature is kept at freezing point inside the cave. At the macro level the government of Jammu and Kashmir will have to act fast and check the increasing depletion of state forests which is one of the prime reasons for extreme variations in weather.
Pollution caused by the pilgrims also acts as a major problem in the area and the State Pollution Control Board has an important role to play in this regard. It must educate the pilgrims and also ensure that the leftovers do not create an ecological crisis in the area.
All these indications suggest that the time has come for a concerted action. While in the short run, the melting lingam can be saved by using technology but permanent solutions are needed to reverse the havoc wrought by us on mother Earth. Whatever has been done cannot be undone but the melting lingam every year is sending the message that we have to act fast and find a remedy. Or else there is the danger that like the holy lingam the human race might melt into oblivion due to its own follies.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Fake currency charge stumps PoK visitors
Abhishek Behl, Merinews
Two visitors from Pakistan already wary of visiting India had a nightmarish experience when they crossed over to this side of the border. Suspected of bringing in fake currency the duo was released only after tasting the hospitality of security forces.
THOSE LIVING in Pakistan particularly in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) always dream of visiting Jammu and Kashmir to meet their relatives and friends, long separated by the curse of partition. The shared burden of history and three wars between India and Pakistan have almost made it impossible for people on both sides of the border to meet each other.
Although the opening of borders at Uri in Kashmir and Poonch in Jammu has allowed the people to realize their dream of meeting each other but the hardened attitude of the establishment on both sides of the border has often been a bugbear for the visitors.
Recently, two visitors from Pakistan occupied Kashmir recently had to face the wrath of investigating agencies fuelled by a shared sense of mistrust and suspicion. When Ashiq Khan and Liaqat Khan, both residents of Kotli in PoK crossed over to this side of the border in Poonch they were thrilled as a grand reception was awaiting them in Mendhar. However, the moments of bliss proved momentary courtesy the Immigration and Customs authorities, who asked the duo to stay put as they were suspected of bringing in fake currency.
The authorities were not moved even when the visitors told that this currency worth Rs 990 in ten rupee notes, was handed over to them by a designated bank at the Pakistani Customs and Immigration point. The duo was made to sit throughout the day at the Immigration point and in the evening they were handed over to Police authorities in Poonch.
While authorities were taking their own time to investigate the matter, both Ashiq and Liaqat feared the worst if anything came out against them during the checks. Talking later to the media persons, the duo said that they were thinking of a long term in jail and prayed to god for an early sorting out of the matter. Their calls were perhaps answered by God, when the branch manager of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, who was brought in by Poonch police verified the antecedents of the currency and told that it was original.
It was only after the local bank officials informed that the currency was not fake that the duo was released by the police late in the night.
SHO of Poonch, Nisar Khan, when contacted admitted that the duo had been arraigned on the suspicion of bringing fake currency but they were released later. He said that the since the currency proved to be original no case was made against them.
Not ready to take the risk of travelling in the thick of the night, the visibly shaken Ashiq Khan and Liaqat Khan called it a day in Poonch. During an interaction with locals, they said “This was one of the most harrowing days in my life and I pray to god the same should not happen to anyone both in India and Pakistan.”
Although people in both India and Pakistan are ready to forget the past and move on to future but it seems that the officials on both sides are frozen in history, said Ashiq Khan, adding “if we don’t move on history will never forgive us.”
Two visitors from Pakistan already wary of visiting India had a nightmarish experience when they crossed over to this side of the border. Suspected of bringing in fake currency the duo was released only after tasting the hospitality of security forces.
THOSE LIVING in Pakistan particularly in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) always dream of visiting Jammu and Kashmir to meet their relatives and friends, long separated by the curse of partition. The shared burden of history and three wars between India and Pakistan have almost made it impossible for people on both sides of the border to meet each other.
Although the opening of borders at Uri in Kashmir and Poonch in Jammu has allowed the people to realize their dream of meeting each other but the hardened attitude of the establishment on both sides of the border has often been a bugbear for the visitors.
Recently, two visitors from Pakistan occupied Kashmir recently had to face the wrath of investigating agencies fuelled by a shared sense of mistrust and suspicion. When Ashiq Khan and Liaqat Khan, both residents of Kotli in PoK crossed over to this side of the border in Poonch they were thrilled as a grand reception was awaiting them in Mendhar. However, the moments of bliss proved momentary courtesy the Immigration and Customs authorities, who asked the duo to stay put as they were suspected of bringing in fake currency.
The authorities were not moved even when the visitors told that this currency worth Rs 990 in ten rupee notes, was handed over to them by a designated bank at the Pakistani Customs and Immigration point. The duo was made to sit throughout the day at the Immigration point and in the evening they were handed over to Police authorities in Poonch.
While authorities were taking their own time to investigate the matter, both Ashiq and Liaqat feared the worst if anything came out against them during the checks. Talking later to the media persons, the duo said that they were thinking of a long term in jail and prayed to god for an early sorting out of the matter. Their calls were perhaps answered by God, when the branch manager of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, who was brought in by Poonch police verified the antecedents of the currency and told that it was original.
It was only after the local bank officials informed that the currency was not fake that the duo was released by the police late in the night.
SHO of Poonch, Nisar Khan, when contacted admitted that the duo had been arraigned on the suspicion of bringing fake currency but they were released later. He said that the since the currency proved to be original no case was made against them.
Not ready to take the risk of travelling in the thick of the night, the visibly shaken Ashiq Khan and Liaqat Khan called it a day in Poonch. During an interaction with locals, they said “This was one of the most harrowing days in my life and I pray to god the same should not happen to anyone both in India and Pakistan.”
Although people in both India and Pakistan are ready to forget the past and move on to future but it seems that the officials on both sides are frozen in history, said Ashiq Khan, adding “if we don’t move on history will never forgive us.”
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