MONDAY, JULY 21, 2014 DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU daily Excelsior blast and the Established 1965 Gaza reverberations in Kashmir Founder Editor S.D. Rohmetra K.N. Pandita and come out with condemnation of Israel sionist leaders and other ambivalent light spreading terror tentacle for the "barbarian" treatment of Palestini- or heavyweights why did not they use same T K Singh ntire valley has lapsed into the throes ans. methodology in denouncing Pakistan n a significant day when the nation was busy drawing atten- of great commotion over Israeli Incidentally, a road accident that hap- army's attacks on TTP in North Waziristan Malaysia suffers tion on the union budget presented by the new Indian gov- Ebombing of Gaza. These attacks are pened two days ago when a private car ran where fighting continues in full fury? Hun- resulting in the killing of hundreds of inno- into head on collision with an army pick up dreds of innocent people, women, children Oernment on 10 July 2014, a low intensity bomb blast took another tragedy cent Muslims mostly children and woman. vehicle on Srinagar- Baramulla road result- and men of that frontier area have been place in Pune and disturbed the atmosphere of the country. While Protest rallies have been brought out in ing in the tragic killing of seven civilians killed in Pakistani army's indiscriminate no outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack and the investiga- arely four months after the ill-fated towns and villages across the entire valley. besides two persons wounded, was seized firing and Pakistani air force's indiscrimi- tion is underway, authorities are initially perhaps reluctant to con- There is hardly a political party or leader sider it as a terror attack. However, the modus operand of the inci- Malaysian airliner MH370 suddenly disap- as an excuse for giving a call for one day's nate bombing. Lakhs of people of North that has not come out with strong condem- strike throughout the valley. Most of the Waziristan have fled their homes and dent (selection of symbolic place, usage of stolen vehicle, chemi- peared over the Indian Ocean on March 8 nation of Israel for these acts of brutality shops in Srinagar brought down their shut- hearths as a result of heavy bombardment cals. nut bolts and timers) signifies that the operation was possibly B and barbarity as they call them. last with 239 passengers on board including five ters. The mobs that gathered on the spot in by Pakistani army on their villages and carried out by an experienced outfit active in the city. Newspapers appearing from the valley the twinkling of an eye would have lynched habitats. Those who are killed are of the The incident was occurred close to the Dadgusheth Halwai Gan- Indians, another Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 whether in English or in Urdu, are stuffed the driver of the military truck if timely same faith as those who kills them. Kash- pati temple, at a parking area of the Faraskhana and Vishrambag with 295 persons onboard, including the crew with mews, views and commentaries that reinforcement had not arrived to protect miris should have raised their voice against police stations. Reports have suggested that this temple was likely pour contempt on Israel for its inhuman him. destruction of human and animal life in to be attacked by the Indian Mujahideen (IM) on 13 February 2010 members, was shot down probably by ground to behaviour. It is not surprising that though However, not adhering to the AFSPA North Waziristan. when the German Bakery (Pune) was exploded by a powerful bomb air missile forty miles from Russian border inside most of these carry the day to day news caveat, the police have picked up the driv- Three Lok Sabha members from Kash- about the happening in Gaza but at the same on the same day. Attack on holy places or targeting sacred sites has Eastern Ukraine. The Malaysian airliner was fly- er and remanded him to ten days police cus- mir moved adjournment motion to allow been a common tactics of terrorist in India. Attack on such symbol- time most of the commentaries and analy- tody. In the meanwhile prosecution of the the house debate Israeli attack on Gaza. ing from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur but when it sis are highly emotionalized. ic location by terror outfit was last observed when series of bombs case will begin as the police have launched They staged walk out, and in their press were exploded in and around the Mahabodhi Temple, Bihar on 07 was passing over Eastern Ukraine barely forty In political, academic and social circles FIR against the army driver; The GOC-in- conference demanded that India explain July 2013. Significant worshiping places attacked in the past include miles from the Russian border, it met with the in Kashmir, in educational business and C has expressed his anguish on tragic her policy towards Israel. Why did not they public relations institutions, Israeli bomb- killings in the road accident. raise a similar issue in State Assembly when Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, Ajmer, 11 October 2007; Mecca tragedy. The news of tragic air crash was twittered ing in Gaza is the talk of the town. In None among political leaders in the val- it was in session about the brutal attack of Masjid, Hyderabad, 18 May 2007; Nurani Masjid, Malegaon, 08 by concerned authorities in Ukraine and in Kuala mosques and congregations, long litany of ley tried to look at this accident from cir- Pakistani army and air force on the masses September 2006; Jama Masjid, Delhi, 14 April 2006; Sankat complaints and wrong doings against Israel Lumpur. We convey our deep felt sorrow on the cumstantial point of view. The police of people in North Waziristan? Obviously Mochan temple, Varanashi, 07 March 2006; Ram Temple, Ayod- and her western supporters is exuded to arrived at the site of accident within min- they are using double standards for identi- hiya, 05 July 2005; Akshardham temple, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, 24 loss of human lives and pray for peace to the soul arouse public hatred against Israel, a coun- utes and took photographs of the damaged cal cases. They are trying to send a mes- September 2002. of the departed persons. Entire Malaysia is try thousands of miles away from Kashmir. vehicles and proceeded with investigation sage to prove their allegiance to the Mus- The explosive that injured five persons on July 10 was planted Not only that, three Lok Sabha mem- drowned in deep sorrow and whatever quantum into the accident. It launched FIR and lim cause. on a bike stolen from a court premises in Satara, 120 Km from Pune. bers from PDP of Kashmir tabled adjourn- picked up the driver of the truck. In any case, Israeli action in Gaza has It belongs to one Dada Rajage who serves in Police of sympathy is extended is too little to bring com- ment motion and demanded that the house None among local political leaders provided the separatists and secessionists and claimed that the motorcycle was vanished on 25 June 2014. hold debate on Israel's brutalities in Pales- appealed to the people to observe restraint in Kashmir a veritable handle to have a crop Analytically, from the date of bike-lifting, the perpetrators took 15 fort to the disturbed minds of the next of kin of tine. But when the three-member team did and let police or traffic authorities conduct enough days to orchestrate and execute the operation. While it is deceased persons. not succeed in forcing the Lok Sabha to of protests, violent as well as non violent, inquiry into the accident and establish the in order to further inject hate-India poison under investigation that the bomb was assembled and planted in Ukrainian authorities suspect it an act of terror- hold a debate on the issue of their choos- facts of the event. Then alone one can say ing, they walked out of the session in into the minds of Kashmiri youth. Satara which has lesser security apparatus than Pune, usage of stolen ism. A day earlier, one of its air force planes was who has been at grievous fault. After the BHP Government took the bike in bomb blast is often occured in India. Earlier on 13 July 2011 protest and charged Narendra Modi gov- If the slogan of "Indian dogs go back" hit by a missile. Ukraine is in a state of turmoil for ernment with not respecting the sentiments reins of the Government in its hands, even a stolen bike was similarly utilised for attacking particularly the or "Hindustani fauj murda bad" is raised by the smallest mishap or the plainest Kash- Zaveri Bazaar when a series of bomb blasts took place in different of the Muslims and not giving due urgency the mobs that had gathered on spot, verily more than a year. Pro-Russian separatists have mir related narrative by a responsible cen- parts of Mumbai leaving 26 death and 130 injured. Interestingly, the to a situation in which the blood of inno- these have a different undertone other than launched massive attacks on Ukrainian national- cent Muslims is shed. the element of anger exuded at the tragic tral minister is interpreted in anti-Kashmiri vehicle used in the recent blast was lifted few days advance and the ist forces. A Ukrainian spokesperson said that in We do not discount the human element deaths that have occurred. parameters. Angry crowds setting the tents former (Zaveri Bazzar) was stolen just few hours before the explo- in these protests whether on the ground in In contrast to this surcharged atmos- and kitchen on fire in Sonamarg is report- sions. recent past the Russian Government has clan- Kashmir or in the Parliament. Separatists phere on account of Israeli attacks on Gaza, ed to be the handiwork of CRP. This distor- destinely passed on war weapons to Ukrainian and secessionists of all hues have tried to which, as we said, has received immense tion of facts reminds one of the big canard Before IM became in public domain, capitalize on the situation in Gaza. rebels who are fighting a war against Ukraine's media hype in Kashmir, the disappointing propagated by even well educated and well While Ali Shah Geelani, the Jamaat-i- news of burning of scores of tents and groomed people of Kashmir that it was it allegedly operated as extremist wing army and civilians. It will be remembered that Islami stalwart, has equated Israeli bomb- destroying kitchens of pilgrims at Governor Jagmohan who advised Kash- Moscow managed to grab Crimea on the plea that ing of and attacks on Gaza strip with Indi- Sonamarg, a station in the pilgrimage to miris to leave the Valley because "he want- (sleeper cell) of SIMI under the aegis an army perpetrating "oppression and Shri Amarnath holy cave, has been totally ed to destroy the majority community". people there opted for Russia. tyranny" on Kashmiris, Hurriyat (M) underplayed. The Governor has made an The people of the valley would be well leader Mirwaiz Farooq has demanded that of foreign outfit such as Lashkar-e- Whosoever has fired a missile on the airliner appeal to maintain communal harmony and advised to understand that Palestinian issue Muslim countries impose economic ban on has committed the grave crime of genocide. It is allow pilgrims to perform their religious has been hanging fire ever since World War Toiba (LeT). The presence of LeT in Israel. duty in complete peace. In several towns in the valley, and also I. The issue came up forcefully as early a true that there is not any ban imposed on over- Killing of human beings and unleash- time when Kashmiris had not even heard the city was initially established when in parts of Srinagar city, security forces and ing violence against unarmed civilians is land flights in Ukraine and other world flights have the police had to resort to strong preventive the name of Palestine or Israel. World pow- the height of barbarity. No society in ers have tried to broker peace between the three youths were arrested from Pune been flying through this route. How come the measures to diffuse the tense situation the world will tolerate it much less the Indi- two warring sides but without any tangible attackers could not make a distinction between a caused by public rallies and demonstra- an society which traditionally and histori- tions. cally believes firmly in the philosophy of success. Kashmiris ought to try to find out Cantonment and Kondhwa areas in passenger airliner and a war airplane? When they Influential news papers in the valley non-violence. how Middle East Muslim countries led by were so accurate in targeting the plane by a mis- have put questions to BJP-led government But we would like to put a question to Saudi Arabia have been responding to the June 2002 in connection with the 1993 in Delhi to clarify its policy on Palestine Palestinian issue in historical terms. sile, they should have known that it was a normal the fire brand Kashmir separatist-seces- Mumbai bombings that killed above passenger aircraft and did not deserve to be tar- geted. It is a very grave violation of human rights 350 people and injured1200. and will be punished by no less a grave punish- The disaster continues The recent explosion directly or indirectly exposed the lapses of ment. One fails to understand how come the Dr Bharat Jhunjhunwala The River would have yet wholly. immediate vicinity but more security or lack of coordination among the state police stations. The carried this soil and trees to the This was not to be the end of rainfall in mountains some dis- owner of the lost vehicle filed FIR on 27 June 2014, however actions attackers violated international air traffic rules year has passed since the plains. After all, the Gangetic the story. The Mandakini joined tance away. A similar heavy rain horrendous Kedarnath which may help in averting the incident were not taken in time. The according to which the Malaysian airliner was pre- Plains from Haridwar to Ganga the Alaknanda at Rudra Prayag appears to have happened at effort to trace the vehicle travelling from Satara to Pune through Adisaster took place last Sagar have been made by the car- and then the two together faced Kedarnath which is located a cisely on the scheduled route and did not make June yet there is no respite. The CCTV camera was only initiated post incident. Had appropriate rying of such material by the the dam made by the Srinagar short distance away from Tehri. action been taken in advance as early as police received the com- any violation. Entire humanity is shocked on this char dham yatra has been repeat- Ganga and her tributaries. But hydropower project of GVK. Note that the heavy local rainfall edly cancelled. The rains have plain then the terror plot could have been thwarted with the arrest tragic happening and it has wrecked the con- this was possible only if the riv- The Company initially reduced occurred in the middle of June of perpetrators. been much less than last year but er was allowed to flow freely and the opening in the gates to quick- which it the hottest period of the Ignoring it as a serious threat, in its report science of world community. Scared by a situation the mountains are angry because was free of obstructions. Such ly fill up the reservoir. The water year and evaporation was at its of insecurity in flying over the scheduled air route the Government has not taken was not to be. The sediment-and- level in the reservoir reached its maximum. submitted to the union government on 11 July 2014 emphasised that any steps to rectify the policies tree laden water hit the 30 meter highest level around 4 am on The Tehri Hydro Develop- the attack was not designed to inflict massive causality but could be over eastern Ukraine, Air India and Jet Air, two that led to the disaster. high barrage of the Phata-Byung 17th June. Then the Company ment Corporation has claimed an attempt by some outfit to illustrate its existence. While the state international airlines of India have decided to The India Meteorological hydropower project being made suddenly opened the gates to that the Tehri Reservoir captured police (possibly to protect its reputation or cover up security glitch- Department holds that the excep- avoid the corridor while travelling to Europe or the by LANCO. The gates of the bar- reduce the level. This water a large flow coming from Bha- es) consider it as a minor strike, however the National Bomb Data tionally heavy rains were the cul- rage were blocked by trees and a flowed downstream like a huge girathi River. It has calculated Centre (NBDC) of (NSG) confirmed that US. International community should take serious prit. The data tell a different sto- reservoir quickly formed behind Tsunami wave. The company that the flow at Haridwar would the blast was triggered by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) note of this incident and bring home to all that ry, however. The rainfall record- the barrage. This led to washing had deposited huge amounts of have been 21,500 cumecs if the that perhaps could cause severe injuries. The IED was assembled ed in the measuring station in the away of the bridge at Sitapur just muck on the riverside without Tehri Reservoir had not been with deadly electronic detonator, digital timer, nine-volt battery, ball such irresponsible acts will cause serious disrup- vicinity of Kedarnath on June above the barrage. The Ravi taking adequate protection there. This would be higher than bearings, ammonium nitrate and other unconfirmed explosives 17th was: Chamoli 76 mm, Joshi- tion in global air system Chopra Committee set up by measures such as making stone the previously highest recorded chemicals in a plastic bag. math 114, Tehri 169, Jakholi 108 Ministry of Environment on walls and securing them with flow of 18,700 cumecs in 1924 After visiting the site of accident where relief and Rudra Prayag 92 mm. In The entry of Pune in the terror map of India was not only attrib- orders of the Supreme Court tells wire mesh. As a result the water and would have caused huge utable to the infamous German Bakery explosion (13 February teams are trying to douse the flames and remove comparison other areas of that people coming down from scoured the river bank and car- damage to Haridwar. The contri- Uttarakhand received much 2010) or Jangli Maharaj Road serial blasts (01 August 2012). The dead bodies, reports have come in that Ukrainian Kedarnath were trapped on the ried the muck with it and deposit- bution of Tehri Dam in moderat- city was earlier known for having a strong presence of Student Islam- heavier rain: Mukteshwar 237 other side. They could not cross ed downstream. Once again the ing the flood cannot be denied. authorities are convinced that the missile was mm, Bambasa 230, Champawat ic Movement of India (SIMI) extremists in the past, and this band the Mandakini due to the bridge water level rose. Water and muck But the bigger question is that outfit is considered to be the parent organisation of IM. Before IM 222 and Uttarkashi 207 mm. getting washed away. entered hundreds of houses and this huge flood itself appears to fired from ground and by none other than the pro- became in public domain, it allegedly operated as extremist wing Nearby regions of Himachal The Mandakini jumped over people were displaced. The be a result of the increased evap- Russian separatists. If this story is to be believed, Pradesh received yet more rain: the barrage and started to flow National Highway 58 was closed oration from the Tehri Reservoir. (sleeper cell) of SIMI under the aegis of foreign outfit such as then it is a sad state of affairs that Moscow has Chhachrauli and Bilaspur both again. But soon it faced another for 2 weeks. These devastations To claim that Tehri has moderat- Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). The presence of LeT in the city was initial- received 270 mm rain on that day. ly established when three youths were arrested from Pune Canton- allowed such lethal weapons as ground to air mis- obstruction in the barrage of the took place not because of the ed the flood after having caused I have checked with residents of Singoli-Bhatwari hydropower rains or the bursting of Chorabari it in the first place is like a doc- ment and Kondhwa areas in June 2002 in connection with the 1993 siles and tanks to be given in the hands of the the area and they have told me project being made by Larsen lake but because manmade tor claiming to have saved the Mumbai bombings that killed above 350 people and injured1200. insurgents. We do not buy this story as long as that rainfall during those three and Toubro. Once again the gates obstructions to the flow of the life of a patient after he went into On 11 March 2001 police arrested one Sajid Sundke, the Pune unit eventful days was not exception- were blocked by stone and trees. Ganga made by hydropower a coma due to wrong drugs chief of SIMI with four associates for inciting communal riots in definite proof is not produced. But we are certain- al at all. Such rainfall has taken Here the Mandakini cut the companies. administered by the same doctor Ganj Peth and Ghorpade Peth. Another Mujaheed Geelani, resident ly disappointed on the fact that it has become place many a times. So heavy mountain on one side and bye- It is possible that the rainfall earlier! of Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir suspected to be the key rainfall was not the culprit. passed the barrage. The water in the immediate region of There is overwhelming evi- operative in the Mumbai train blast on 11 July 2006 was also sur- awfully dangerous to fly over the war torn zone in The real cause of the disaster would normally flow straight in Kedarnath was higher than the dence that the disaster was due rendered to the Pune police on 27 July 2006. Subsequently, the Ukraine. This is a dastardly act of cowardice and was the explosions make for the channel. It started to flow like larger region though this cannot to human activities especially making roads and tunnels for Maharashtra ATS has busted an IM module in October 2008 by no words will be strong enough to condemn it. We a snake hitting the two sides one be conclusively established hydropower projects. Our fore- arresting four operatives from Kondhwa area in Pune. hydropower projects. These after the other because it came because there was no gauging fathers had made a similar mis- convey condolence to the Malaysian Government explosions loosened the topsoil As the city has strong presence of IM and the modus operandi out of one side of the barrage. station here. The Tehri Reservoir take. They had cut the forests to of the attack was similar to the past terror strikes carried out by the of the mountains. Previously The cutting action was aggravat- appears to have contributed to get fuel for baking bricks. The and to the bereaved families. part of the heavy downpour outfit, the needle of suspicion points toward IM. Nevertheless, secu- ed by muck deposited by LAN- this. Across the world it has been land became angry. Silt flowed rity officials leaving no stone unturned are also finding any connec- would seep into the hills taking CO on the river bed. The river found that large reservoirs lead into the rivers and raised the lev- tion of the incident with Hindu terror activists and left wing extrem- Ad hoc-ism still persists cue from the roots of the trees. eroded this muck from the river- to an increase in rainfall. The el of the riverbed. This led to The downstream flow would be side and deposited it into the Aswan area in Egypt had its first grand cities like Mohenjo Daro ists which has the capability of carrying out such attack or making n a judgment passed by the State High Court in both slowed down and reduced. riverbed. This led to raising of rains after the Aswan dam was facing repeated floods ultimate- such explosives. While it was fortunate that the attack was triggered The explosions changed this the water level in the river. The built. A report by National Aero- ly leading to its abandonment. by a low intensity explosive which does not claim any live, securi- February this year, the State Government was chemistry. The topsoil started to combined impact of the snake- nautics and Space Administra- We are making similar cruel ty establishment may not rule out that the attack could be a dry run directed to stop ad hoc appointments and reg- flow with the rainwater and trees like flow and raising of water tion of the United States says that actions against the hills today. for next lethal terrorist target in the same city. I got uprooted and were carried ularize the incumbents at higher posts for which level led to villages like Chan- the Three Gorges Dam in China We will have to face the (The author is an Assistant Professor at the Department of National into the Mandakini. Security Studies in the Central University of Jammu.) they were qualified. Contrary to the court orders drapuri getting washed away has led to less rainfall in the inevitable consequences. and contrary to the norms of good governance, PWD and several other Government Departments Need for more trains to Katra RTI Act continued to follow the policy of ad hoc-ism and Sir, ice are attracting heavy rush of passengers Sir, stop gap arrangement instead of doing justice to underlines the need of more trains and and Advisory or warnings The operationalization of Udhampur- This has reference to the article 'Right to Information: the incumbent for the higher position. DMUs along the Katra Jammu track to cater to Katra Railway track is a dream come true f or the surge in rush of passengers.The passengers harmonise conflicting interests' DE July 16. Sir, Disappointed at irresponsible attitude of the the millions of devotees from across India,who from Udhampur to Jammu are put to much Come hot summer and many get drowned in had to psss through the ordeal of looking for The author has lucidly explained the need to create syner- rivers and canal in an effort to keep cool with a administration, the Court has directed the Chief inconvenience as they find no seat to sit gy among the stakeholders viz Government, State Informa- buses for Katra Vaishno Devi after deboarding on.Moreover,the facilities in the DMUs too dip. Har Ki Paudi in particular on Tawi although Secretary to file an affidavit declaring that earlier trains at Railway Station Jammu.Though Shri tion Commission and information seekers in order to make the river looking silent in flow proves a death need to be upgraded by way of providing more RTI Act more effective. In case that does not happen and the orders of the court in regard to not making ad hoc Vaishno Devi Shrine Board had made elabo- comfortble seats, opening more counters for inherent contradictions not resolved the Act will lose its impor- trap. Elsewhere its route of flow, it takes away appointments have been implemented. rate arrangements for their stay and journey to tickets and providing clean and hygienic tance further. The Act had lost much of its efficacy when it many lives. A few days back likewise Chenab and fro Katra,pilgrims had to deboard the trains claimed two picnickers who tried to have a dip This is not the first instance of its kind. The atmosphere in the trains to make the journey of was amended by the Government. In its earlier format it had and search for buses fort their comfortable stay passengers a memorable one.The government enough teeth to bite, and people had reposed faith in it. Though in the river. Although it is not possible to post High Court has in the past also passed stric- and onward journey to Katra to have darshan also need to conduct survey in view of heavy faith is still intact, it has to be protected to ensure that the Act police personnel or Fire fighting personnel to tures against the administration for adopting and blessings of Vaishnodevi ji,sometimes they rush of passangers to upgrade the Jammu-Katra does not lose relevance in coming times. prevent such mishaps, yet warnings in Hindi, The suggestions made in the write up for common man were put to much inconvenience and discom- track from single to double track to cater to the English and Urdu languages could be fixed on irresponsible and lackadaisical attitude towards fort ,especially in times of strikes,bandhs,traf- who wish to make good use of the Act, should be taken into the banks at vulnerable points that without prop- growing number of passengers in near account by the Information Commission. Opening a helpline its orders and instructions. Resorting to ad hoc fic jams etc.Now they would enjoy a hassle free future.The government also needs to expedite er safety measures bathing and swimming could journey and scenic beauty of nature enroute is a must. Besides, the public should be made aware of its and stop gap policy is giving space to corrup- the work on Katra Banihal track in order to proper use. There is no protection for whistle blowers. Though prove dangerous. This type of warnings plus Jammu Katra track.The track completed at a tion. We appreciate High Court’s insistence that achieve the cherished objective of joining no unsavoury incident has been reported so far, precaution is patrolling could prevent many fatal drowning. huge cost, is no doubt, an engineering Kashmir with the rest of the country. must. Many whistle blowers have lost their lives in many parts Shall authorities act in the matter? ad hoc-ism should be discarded once for all marvel,which speaks volumes about the skill Yours etc.... of the country. Yours etc .... and fair deal given to Government functionaries and technological know how of our engin- Ashok Sharma, Yours etc... Anil Kalsotra neers.The reports that the nrw AC Train Shree at all levels. Flat No 4,Housing Colony, Nitin Bakshi Akhnoor Shakti Express and DMUs pressed into serv- Udhampur. Jammu