Date:08/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/08/stories/2008080856521200.htm

National

Situation in Jammu improves, curfew relaxed

Luv Puri

Leaders of communities determined to keep harmony, says Prime Minister; Samiti welcomes dialogue initiative

— PHOTO: PTI

STRUGGLES INTENSIFY: Women protesting against the cancellation of order on land transfer to the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, in Jammu on Thursday.

Jammu: A day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s initiative to resolve the controversy in Jammu and Kashmir over the Amarnath land row, there was a clear-cut improvement in the situation here.

The attention has been diverted to the much-awaited dialogue process to be initiated with the Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYSS) on Saturday. An all-party delegation is expected to take stock of the situation here and meet the SAYSS members.

Protests did take place on Thursday in the Jammu region, but the situation was by and large under control and peaceful, in sharp contrast to the flare-up of the last few days.

Curfew was relaxed in Jammu city, Baderwah, Udhampur and Samba towns for varying time intervals. However, it remained in force till evening in Kathua, where a person died in Army firing on Wednesday. His body was cremated on Thursday.

Vehicles plied on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway as essential supplies were rushed to various parts. “I can confirm that whatever vehicles had reached Lakhanpur (the entry point to the State) last [Wednesday] night have safely reached their destinations today [Thursday]. The situation has clearly improved though the Army is deployed in sensitive spots,” DIG of Police for Jammu-Samba-Kathua, Abdul Qayoom Manhas, told The Hindu.

The Prime Minister’s initiative to resolve the issue has been welcomed by the SAYSS, which is spearheading the agitation against the cancellation of order for transferring land to the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board.

SAYSS spokesman Tilak Raj Sharma said, “We have a clear agenda and we will definitely respond positively to any dialogue offer. The Samiti believes in democratic ways and is fully convinced that resolution of any problem comes through dialogue, but dialogue without a proposal is meaningless.”

On the four-member committee appointed by Governor N.N. Vohra to hold talks with the Samiti, Mr. Sharma said, “Neither we will call them, nor we will go to them. However, there is no harm in listening to their proposal if they have any.” Sources told The Hindu that the committee would pick up the thread from the talks between the Samiti members and the all-party delegation.

The Prime Minister has noted with satisfaction that despite the initial aberration and efforts by some anti-social elements, Hindu and Muslim leaders of Jammu are determined to keep communal harmony. In a statement issued by social activist and journalist Balraj Puri on Thursday, following his telephonic talk with Dr. Singh on Wednesday night after the all-party meeting, Dr. Singh has been quoted as saying that besides the burning issue of land allotment, long-term causes of regional tensions in the State should also be attended to.

The Prime Minister further said that the blockade of the Kashmir valley would not be allowed to be succeed, according to the statement.

Yasin Malik hospitalised

Shujaat Bukhari reports from Srinagar

The police on Thursday forcibly removed Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik and admitted him in a hospital following deterioration in his health on day three of his fast.

Thousands of people took to the streets after he was arrested at Maisuma. They protested against alleged atrocities on Muslims in the Jammu region.

The condition of Mr. Malik, who began his fast on Tuesday to protest against alleged attacks on Muslims in the Jammu region and economic blockade against Kashmir, deteriorated on Thursday.

A team of doctors from the Medical College declared that his condition was critical as he had not taken any medicine for ailments.

“He is a heart patient and his blood pressure has gone down as he did not take any medicine. He needs immediate medicare facility,” said G.Q. Allaqaband, a leading physician.

Srinagar and most parts of Kashmir witnessed a spontaneous bandh for the second consecutive day to protest against the alleged atrocities on Kashmiris in Jammu. At several places protesters and police clashed.