Vaishnodevi

Spectrum
Sunday, January 18, 2004

Yatra goes hi-tech
S.P. Sharma

THE pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Vaishnodevi in the Trikuta hills has been made high-tech as the number of pilgrims touched the record figure of 54,00,296 during last year.

An increase of 9,68,118 pilgrims over the figure for 2002 has been achieved despite the terrorists, for the first time, targeting Katra town where four pilgrims were killed.

Now one needn't go through a cumbersome process to make arrangements for the pilgrimage. One can book a room, a seat in a helicopter to fly to the shrine from Katra and even make a booking for the pooja at the click of a mouse, from anywhere in the world.

To cope with the increasing rush of pilgrims, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has put up its own website www.maavaishnodevi.org for online reservation of various facilities during the pilgrimage.

The SMVDSB has entered into an agreement with the ICICI Bank to enable donations through the ATM network so that a devotee can now walk into any ATM of the bank and make offerings between Rs 51 and Rs 11,001. A "Money2India" scheme has been introduced for the NRIs.

Some senior officers of the SMVDSB recently participated in the World Tourist Market at London to particularly target the NRIs.

The offerings of gold and silver are now being converted into coins and souvenirs which will be sold to the pilgrims or any one desiring to purchase these from various outlets. The pure gold and silver coins carrying the image of the deities have been manufactured in the denomination of 5, 10, 20 and 30 grams at the India Mint, Mumbai, and the Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation (MMTC).

There has been a phenomenal increase in the number of pilgrims ever since management of the shrine was taken over by the SMVDSB in 1986, when only 13,95,832 devotees visited the shrine. The number gradually increased to 43,35,432 10 years later in 1996 and has now crossed the mark of 54 lakh.

According to Rohit Kansal, Additional Chief Executive Officer of the SMVDSB, an investment of Rs 150 cr has been made by the board in creation of infrastructure and facilities. A sum of about Rs12 crore is being spent towards payment of salaries to the employees and Rs3 cr are annually being given to the Mata Vaishnodevi University for the past four years which will start its courses in information technology, bio-technology, management and ancient India thought in the coming session.

The board has invested in the construction of about 10 school buildings.

The Deccan Airlines has stationed two helicopters with a capacity of 5 passengers each at Katra to fly the pilgrims to Sanji-Chhat in six minutes. Thereafter it is a level walk of about 45 minutes to the cave shrine. One can perform the pilgrimage in just about two hours in case the helicopter route is adopted, for which the one-way ticket costs Rs 2000. Otherwise, it takes about four and a half hours to climb the 12-km long hilly path to the shrine that rises from 2800 ft to over 5200 ft. and almost an equal time to return to the base camp at Katra.

The growth in the number of pilgrims has resulted in boosting the economy of the area and a large number of luxury hotels have come up at Katra to cater to the needs of the pilgrims.

Kansal says that the SMVDSB has decided to set up a spiritual growth centre at Katra with an investment of Rs 5 cr. An institute is also being set up for training the pujaris.

Besides, a bed strength of 700 is being added by constructing a new serai at Katra and 200 beds will be added to the shrine, where a dormitory will be constructed this year. An economy accommodation for 500 persons has been added at the Sarswati Dham complex near the railway station at Jammu.

The shrine board has introduced a battery operated car service for the old and handicapped pilgrims between Adh-Kawari and the shrine that covers the distance of 6 km in 15 minutes.

Pak woman

Dec.17, 2003                                                              M A I N   N E W S

Mobin finally gets to go home
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 16
Every knock at the door makes the young Mobin jump with joy as she is expecting a police party to escort her and her mother, Shehnaz Parveen to Delhi for being deported to Pakistan through diplomatic channels.

Mobin will be going to Pakistan for the first time. She was born in a jail here following the rape of her mother by an officer of the prison in which she was lodged on the charges of illegally crossing the LoC.

Shehnaz had completed her one-year jail sentence in 1996, but was unable to get repatriated following official wrangles. The problem got complicated with the birth of her daughter whom the Pakistani government refused to allow entry.

Due to the changed scenario as a result of the peace talks between India and Pakistan, the authorities across the border have given a green light for their deportation.

Mobin is keen to meet her "maamu" Mushtaq Ahmed, who had taken up the matter with the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan which has succeeded in persuading the Pakistan government to allow the mother and her child to return.

They had to be shifted to New Delhi for being handed over to the Pakistan High Commission yesterday, but now it might take some more days to complete the papers. They will be repatriated through the Wagah border, sources said. A police party consisting of two women constables and a sub-inspector will escort them to Delhi.

Shehnaz belongs to Abuwala village in the Punjab area of Pakistan. She strayed into India from Malni village in the Bhimber area of the PoK in 1995 when she wanted to commit suicide because of some family problems. Army personnel spotted her in the river and took her into custody.

She was taken to the Wagah border on June 21, 2001 for repatriation, but the Pakistani authorities did not allow her to enter that side since Mobin was accompanying her.

On the orders of the high court, the state government made a fixed deposit of Rs 3 lakh in the name of the girl. Mobin was studying in a local school where she has learnt to read and write Hindi.

Pak woman raped in J&K jail

Aug.14, 2003                                                             M A I N   N E W S

Waiting for deportation to Pak since '96
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 13
She was imprisoned for one year in 1995 on the charge of entering Indian territory without valid documents in the Poonch district from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). She has been waiting for deportation for the past about eight years as the Pakistani authorities are reluctant to accept her along with her India-born daughter on the grounds of legal technicalities.

This is the story of Shehnaz Parveen and her eight-year-old daughter, Mobin Kesar, born in a prison in the Poonch district following her alleged rape by a jail officer who was facing trial for the offence.

Virtually a broken woman, Shehnaz told this correspondent today that she would present herself in the high court in case the authorities did not expedite her repatriation to Pakistan.

She belongs to Abuwala village in Punjab district in Pakistan. She strayed into Indian territory from Malni village in Bhimber district of PoK in 1995, when she wanted to commit suicide because of problems at home. Army personnel spotted her on the river bank and took her into custody and she was interrogated for three days. She was later handed over to the police and her case was presented in a court at Naushera in Poonch. She was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment and a fine of Rs 500 by the court.

A jail official allegedly raped her at Poonch. Mr Veerana Aivalli, the then DGP (Prisons), visited her in jail and got an FIR registered against the official. Mr A.K. Sawhney, who had been pleading her case, said the trial of the official was at an advanced stage.

She was shifted to the district jail at Jammu, where the girl was born. The Pakistani authorities were insisting that they were willing to take her back without the girl.

After the completion of her deportation papers, she was taken to the Wagah border for being deported on June 21, 2001, but the Pakistani authorities put their foot down and did not allow her to cross over. The Pakistani authorities said they would not allow the India-born child to accompany her on their soil.

A visibly upset Shehnaz today said she was dying to return to her family in Pakistan, but would not leave the child behind. She said her brother, Mushtaq Ahmed, had taken up her case with the human rights commission in Pakistan.

She said she was surviving here on a monthly interest of Rs 1750 on a fixed deposit of Rs 3 lakh in the name of her daughter, Mobin, by the state government on the orders of the court as compensation for the illegal detention of the girl. She said she was better in jail as she was facing many problems outside.

Mr Sawhney said although the woman was to be released from jail after completing her jail term in 1996, the authorities continued to keep her in jail till 2001 without any court order. To regularise her detention, she was retrospectively shown in records as arrested under the Public Safety Act. The high court quashed her detention and as an exceptional case, ordered a compensation for her daughter who had to spend about six years in jail with her mother for no fault of hers.

Mobin has learnt to read and write Hindi at a local school. She is studying in Class II.

PoK trade opens

Nov.8, 2005                                                                   M A I N   N E W S

Pak police fires into air as LoC opens
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

The Pakistani police lobs tear gas shells to check restive quake survivors from crossing the border at Tritinote village, Pakistan, on Monday. They had gathered to catch a glimpse of their dear ones living in Jammu and Kashmir. — AP, PTI

Chakan-da-Bagh (Line of Control), November 7
It was an emotional moment on the LoC between India and the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) here this morning as relief material for victims of the killer earthquake was exchanged between the two countries.

Although the civilians on the either side were not allowed to come near the LoC, but hundreds of anxious, people donning spotless white dresses, converged in Titrinote village on the PoK side in the hoping to have a glimpse of their separated relatives on this side. The security forces of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir fired into the air to prevent them from coming nearer the LoC as they started growing restive.

As the time passed, the number of people on the other side of the LoC considerably swelled and more were seen approaching there from the hills across.

Civilians on the Indian side in Poonch were stopped by the Army, about 3 km away from the crossing point. People on both sides returned disappointed as they were kept away from the LoC.

A large number of media, including foreign, had converged on both sides to cover the friendly gesture that was taking place after 58 years of Partition.

It was a chance meeting of at least two relatives who had come to witness the historic occasion on either side when Mohammad Abbas Khan, a lawyer practising in the district courts at Poonch and his first cousin Sardar Mohammad Jagir Khan embraced each other with tears rolling from their eyes.

Jagir Khan informed his cousin about the death of some of their relatives due to the earthquake last month.

Senior civil and military officers of both sides exchanged the relief material at the zero point on the LoC that was marked with a thin white ribbon. The trucks carrying relief material reached the LoC where it was loaded into the Pakistani trucks.

Although 25 truckloads of relief material was offered by the Divisional Commissioner, Mr B.R. Sharma, but the Deputy Commissioner of Rawlakot (PoK), Mohammad Farooq, accepted only tents,blankets and medicines and not the 17 trucks that were carrying rice, flour and sugar. As many as 300 tents and 3000 tarpaulins have been handed over in the first consignment of relief. The second exchange of relief would take place next week, as the crossing point would be opened once a week.

India and Pakistan had decided to open five points on the LoC to facilitate relief work in the wake of devastation on both sides, but only one point here was opened today. The other points at Uri and Tangdhar will be opened on November 9 and 10.

It was a feat for mediapersons on both sides as the ceremony started with Brigadier A.K. Bakhi and his Pakistani counterpart Tahir Naqvi exchanging white flags. Thereafter, mediapersons of both sides were allowed to mingle without any restrictions of crossing the LoC. The Indian mediapersons freely moved into the PoK territory, while the journalists from the other side were also allowed to cross the white line to have a feel of the occasion.

The Divisional Commissioner said that procedures were being finalised for crossing of the people from either side to meet their relatives. Application forms for this purpose will be made available in the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Poonch. A hotline has been established between the post commanders on both sides.

Babur Ghumman was excited when he put his one foot on the Indian side of the LoC. He said that he would now be able to claim that he has visited the Indian side of Jammu and Kashmir.

He wished that the LoC is removed once for all with no restrictions on the people on both sides to visit either side. He said that people in PoK had appreciated the gesture of the two governments opening five points for the exchange of relief. Mr M. Musa, a DSP of the PoK police at Bagh, said that the people on his side were eager that the manmade barriers should break soon.

Tahir Khan, who had come all the way from Lahore to witness the occasion, said that although the exchange of relief by both sides was a symbolic occasion, but it was a big leap forward in relations between the two countries.

He said that people from far-off places, including Rawalpindi and Texla (about 300 kms away), had converged on the PoK side in the hope of meeting their relatives on the Indian side. They were keen that the friendly gestures should continue. Mohammad Jagir Khan, with fears in his eyes, said that he was grateful to god who provided him the occasion to meet his cousin after 34 years. They had last met in 1971.

He said that there was large-scale destruction in the PoK where bodies were still buried under the debris. The international aid was not coming forthcoming. Jehangir, a resident of Abbaspur, said that many of his relatives died due to the earthquake. More than 400 persons were killed in the village and about 85 per cent houses were destroyed.

PoK bus (June 21, 2006)

Emotional moments mark
flagging-off of bus to Rawalkot
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

Poonch, June 20
It was an emotional moment for Farida Begum as Rawalkot-bound bus, she boarded, started its journey from here this afternoon after being flagged off by UPA Chairperson Ms Sonia Gandhi.

She had reasons to get emotional as she was undertaking the journey to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) for first time to meet her parents and relatives from whom she was separated 41 years ago in 1965.

Incidentally, bus service from both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) has been inaugurated on World Refugees Day.

Farida Begum said she never expected that road would reopen in view of bitter relations between India and Pakistan.

Other passengers also described the bus service as a dream come true. Most of the divided families are living in border districts of Poonch and Rajouri.

Passengers of the bus from PoK arrived before the bus from here was flagged off. They were taken into the immigration office at Chakan-da-Bagh on the LoC for clearance of documents.

The passengers from this side were greeted by Mrs Gandhi and presented with roses and souvenirs before they boarded the bus for Rawalkot in PoK. Those, who arrived from PoK were surprised to see Mrs Gandhi receiving them with warmth.

Chakan-da-Bagh that was notorious for infiltration of terrorists from Pakistan now has become a symbol of bolstering people-to-people contact between India and Pakistan.

Amirullah Khan and his wife Naseem Akhtar, who boarded the bus for Rawalkot, said that they would propagate the message of love and end of bloodshed in the state.

They said they would meet their relatives in Mirpur, Rawalkot and Muzaffarabad and stress for the end of the gun culture.

Zaheer Bhatti and his wife Shakeela said the bus service was a dream come true for them. Bhatti said he himself was a victim of terrorism as his mother Saifa Begum was killed by militants in his house at Rajouri in 2004.

Abdul Majeed said that he was travelling to PoK for the second time. Earlier, he travelled to PoK via the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route.

The Wagah-type gates on both sides of LoC were opened as the passengers reached there.

The entire area around Chakan-da-Bagh, which was mined by troops to prevent infiltration of terrorists, was de-mined by Army engineers to pave the way for the construction of 10 km road from Poonch town and other facilities for the passengers on LoC.

PoK bus

June 21, 2006                                                              M A I N   N E W S

Sonia flags off bus to Rawalkot
Urges separatists to join talks
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

Poonch, June 20
The UPA Chairperson, Ms Sonia Gandhi, today urged the separatists to take part in the roundtable discussions initiated by the Congress- led government at the Centre that was committed to solve the Kashmir issue with "an open mind".

Ms Gandhi, who was addressing a public meeting in this border town after inaugurating the passenger bus service between here and Rawalkot in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), said all sections in Kashmir should participate in the roundtable conferences to put forth their viewpoint.

She did not name the Hurriyat Conference that has abstained from the two roundtable conferences held so far, but said those people should understand that peace was imperative for prosperity and development of the state that has seen bloodshed for the past 16 years.

Ms Gandhi hoped that everyone would come forward in future as the Centre and the state were keen on solving the Kashmir issue. "No path towards peace will emerge without a dialogue. We want that peace and development are restored in the state," she said.

She described the introduction of the bus service as yet another step towards pulling down the walls of hatred and animosity. Such confidence-building measures (CBMs) were a bridge towards friendship between the two countries. Reopening of roadlinks had helped in removing mistrust. She said India was taking more CBMs to ease tension between both countries.

The Defence Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, said the opening of road links was among the CBMs that were aimed at avoiding conflicts and creating a friendly atmosphere among the two countries.

Saying that President Pervez Musharraf has assured to check cross-border terrorism, he hoped that he would stick to his words.

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said the peace process had been strengthened and carried forward by the UPA government with firm commitment for peace and friendship with Pakistan. The opening of the Poonch-Rawalkot road would go a long way in creating an atmosphere of peace.

Earlier, amidst emotional scenes, the passenger bus service between this border town of Jammu and Rawalkot in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) was flagged off by Ms Gandhi.

There was enthusiasm among the people as Ms Gandhi flagged off the bus. The venue of the flagging-off ceremony was shifted here from Chakan-da-Bagh on the Line of Control (LoC) in view of the terrorist threats.

The flagging off the bus from Rawalkot to Poonch by PoK Prime Minister Hyat Khan did not evoke any hype as no Pakistani minister or senior officer participated in the function. Indian mediapersons were also not allowed to reach Rawalkot to cover the event.

While the bus from here carried 30 passengers, the one that came from Rawalkot had 57 persons on board.

Ms Gandhi said the fortnightly bus service was bound to strengthen the relationship between the two countries. It was a happy occasion that would provide the divided families and friends on either side of the LoC to meet. The roadlinks between J&K and PoK would soon be opened for trade. She presented roses and souvenirs to the passengers who boarded the bus here.

Hundreds of local residents who had gathered to witness the historic event cheered as the bus of the J&K Road Transport Corporation flagged off at 12.15 pm.

The bus service restored after a gap of 58 years will cover the 39- km distance between here and Rawalkot and will be a big relief for the families that were divided due to partition of the country.

However, the buses will not cross the LoC and the passengers will be transshipped after clearing of documents at the immigration centre. The J&K Bank has established a currency exchange counter at Chakan-da-Bagh, which is the entry point into the Indian territory on the LoC.

This is the second bus service linking the divided Kashmir. The first one between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in April last year.

Fifteen of the passengers in the bus that left from here were residents of PoK who had crossed from various points in Mendhar and Poonch following the earthquake of October 8. Tight security arrangements were made not only in the town, but also in the entire district.

Migrants

April 10, 2003                                                            M A I N   N E W S

Jammu migrants twice cursed
First bullets, now government apathy
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 9
About 400 families of Hindu, Muslim and Sikh migrants from terrorism-hit districts of Rajouri, Poonch and Doda in Jammu division are living in a miserable condition on the banks of the Tawi at Belicharana here.

They migrated here about four years ago when terrorists indulged in a large-scale massacre of innocent persons in these districts. However, no government has so far paid a penny as compensation to these migrants.

Most of them are earning their livelihood by working as labourers. The women collect sand and other construction material from the Tawi to make both ends meet.

These migrants are sore that the focus of the government and the media are on the Kashmiri Pandit migrants who have also shifted here under the same circumstances. They allege that the government is discriminating against them because they belong to Jammu division.

They were not even being registered as terrorism-related migrants by the relief and rehabilitation organisation which acted promptly when the exodus took place from the valley.

Amar Nath Sharma, who is the president of the union which has been formed by the migrants of Rajouri and Poonch, said they were living in shanties on the river bank without any electricity or drinking water facility, whereas crores of rupees were being spent on the civic amenities of the Kashmiri migrants. He said the migrants of Rajouri and Poonch have been running from pillar to post for relief and rehabilitation, but their pleadings have fallen on deaf ears.

He said a couple of migrants have died because of snake bites as these reptiles move around in the area even during the day time. Not even a single hand pump has been installed for them and they have to drink the contaminated water of the Tawi. Two handpumps have been installed near the shanties where the migrants from the Doda district are putting up. There is even no school for the children from these three districts. The management of the Khalsa High School in the city adopted certain children, but no help came from the government.

Mr Sharma demanded that the migrants from the three districts should be treated at par with those from the Kashmir valley who were being given cash doles, free ration and other facilities. The government has built pucca rooms for them with electricity and water connections. Community halls and schools have also been opened in the camps of Kashmiri migrants.

He said during the National Conference regime, Dr Farooq Abdullah, and the present Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, have said that they will be treated at par with other migrants, but nothing has been done so far.

Ghulam Qadir, a migrant from Darhal, said he fled from his village along with his wife and three children out of fear when terrorists started indulging in bloodshed in the area every day.

He lamented that Central Ministers and leaders of the state visit only the camps of the migrants from the valley and there was no one to take care of them.

He said the government had so far failed to implement the orders of the Supreme Court which had directed that all migrants should be treated at par. The Panthers Party leader, Mr Bhim Singh, had filed a petition in the court for this purpose. Begum Jehan and Sabuja had similar tales of woes as they cooked food outside their shanties.

They said they would not return to their village until the situation normalised. They were not willing to return even if the authorities provided police security in their village. They said terrorists had been striking despite the presence of the security forces in Indh, Pulwama and scores of places in Poonch, Rajouri and Doda.

Javed Iqbal Khan, a migrant from Gandoh in Doda district, said only 83 of the nearly 250 families from the area were being provided ration by the government.

The migrants residing at Belicharana pointed out that cash doles amounting Rs 3.36 crore were being paid to Kashmiri migrants every month, besides a free ration worth Rs 65.40 lakh. The Central Home Ministry was also providing funds for improvement of facilities in their camps.