Budgam in throes of sectarian unrest

DDC convenes meeting of respectable citizens

SAS

SRINAGAR, Dec 20: In order to broker peace between two Muslim sects in central Kashmir’s Budgam district so that peace and normalcy is restored in restive Budgam villages, District Development Commissioner (DDC) Budgam, Mohammad Rafi, today convened a meeting of responsible persons from both the sects to discuss the measures in tackling sectarian strife, triggered by the surfacing of a porn MMS clip, involving a local youth, who belongs to a Muslim minority sect, on December 15.

The DDC convened a meeting of responsible citizens, including youth, at a Conference Hall here this afternoon. The meeting was attended by senior PDP leader and former minister, Aga Syed Mehmood Al-Moosvi, Moulvi Abid Hussain Ansari, members of civil society, some residents of restive villages of Nasrullahpora, Warpora, Dahpora, Sepdan, Bemina, Qadipora, and other villages. Senior officials of district administration, including SSP Budgam, Uttam Chand, were also present on the occasion. Senior journalists Ahmed A Fayaz and Syed Ali Safvi also attended the meeting.

The meeting condemned the incidents and discussed various measures to restore peace and normalcy in the district. The representatives of both the sects unanimously demanded stern action against the main accused involved in the porn clip. They assured the district administration that they would ensure that no untoward incident of this nature takes place in the district.

On the assurance of villagers and respectable citizens, it was decided that the persons, who have been arrested for allegedly fomenting trouble, would be released.

The villagers also assured the district administration that divisive elements would be reined in.

The representatives of both the sects also apologized for whatever had happened over the passed five days.

SSP Budgam, Uttam Chand, speaking on the occasion, said that the district police had prepared a list of “lumpen elements” and “we are keeping close watch on them”.

Referring to the Budgam Degree College incident where youths of the Muslim majority sect were harassed, the SSP said that such incidents would not be tolerated.

“Strict action will be taken against those who indulge in such activities,” he said.

Pertinently, several villages of Budgam district have been reeling under severe police restrictions for the last five days following violent protests by villagers against a pornographic MMS clip, showing a local youth in a compromising position with a girl inside his truck

The matter took an ugly turn when some residents of Nasrullapora village marched towards nearby hamlet of Dahpora and pelted stones and ransacked the house of the main accused. The tipper of the accused was also torched. After the incident, police and paramilitary CRPF were deployed and curfew was imposed in half a dozen villages of Budgam district.

Meanwhile, rumour mongers enjoyed a field day and escalated the tension between two Muslim sects. Several attempts, according to sources, were made in different areas to attack the nearby villages.

The tension escalated yesterday afternoon when, according to the sources, some youth belonging to Muslim majority sect were roughed up by some youth near Budgam.

Soon after the word spread, two Muslim minority villages –Sepdan and Qadipora - were attacked allegedly by groups belonging to the majority sect in late evening. The sources said that attackers pelted stones and smashed window panes of a house at Sepdan crossing.

Following the incident, police and CRPF personnel were heavily deployed in Sepden area. DDC Budgam, SSP Budgam, and SHO Budgam arrived on the spot to pacify the situation.

The police and CRPF personnel continued to be deployed in the area when last reports came in.

Budgam continues to remain tense

Don't fall prey to divisive forces: Aga Hassan, Shabir Shah appeal to people

SYED ALI SAFVI

BUDGAM, Dec 17: Curfew continued to remain in force for second consecutive day in parts of Budgam district, disrupting normal life in the areas, even as fears of sectarian strife mounted in the curfew bound villages.
Police and para-military troops are heavily deployed along Mirgund-Nasrullahpora-Chandipora road, restricting public movement in the area. The forces are also deployed at Dahpora, Nasrullahpora, Tekipora, Mirgund, Qadipora, Pymus, and Pathanpora villages.
A strong contingent of police has been deployed at Tekipora, Mirgund, just one and a half km away from the offices of DDC and SSP. The 200-strong police contingent have almost blocked the main road and are preventing even the pedestrians to move beyond Mirgund crossing.
According to sources, police today stopped senior separatist leader and Democratic Freedom Party president, Shabir Ahmad Shah, at Mirgund crossing and did not allow him to proceed to Nasrullahpora.
However, another senior separatist leader, Aga Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi, who is also a senior Shia cleric and heads Anjuman-e Sharie Shian - a Shia religious body - was allowed to go to Dahpora to lead the funeral prayer for a 16-year-old girl who died of cardiac arrest late last night.
The sources also said that the police had partially lifted the restriction yesterday evening, but some of the houses in Dahpora were attacked allegedly by residents of nearby villages following which the curfew was re-imposed in the areas.
Talking to Kashmir Times, SSP Budgam, Uttam Chand, said that situation has been brought under control.
“Situation is normal now. We had a meeting with senior citizens of the areas yesterday and they have cooperated with us,” he said.
Asked why the restrictions have not been lifted, he said, “Restrictions have been imposed as a precautionary measure. There are elements which will try to create trouble that's why we have asked our men to remain stationed there. The situation is under control.”
Pertinently, authorities had imposed curfew in several villages of Budgam district Thursday evening following violent protests by villagers against a pornographic MMS clip, showing a local youth in a compromising position with a girl inside his truck.
The residents of Nasrullahpora village had marched towards nearby hamlet of Dahpora and pelted stones and ransacked the house of the main accused involved in the clip. The protestors, according o eyewitnesses, torched the tipper of the accused and set ablaze the clothes of his family members and looted the belongings.
Meanwhile, Aga Syed Hassan and Shabir Ahmad Shah have appealed people not to fall prey to the campaign by divisive forces.
In a press statement issued here, Shah alleged that deliberate attempts were being made to discredit the age old Shia-Sunni brotherhood and harmony and to create a wedge between the two communities.
He said attempts to destabilize Shia-Sunni harmony were made even in the past also.
“Only the individuals involved in the act should be held responsible and punished and it should have nothing to do with the community,” Shah said.

Curfew imposed in parts of Budgam after protests over porn clip

Truck of main accused torched, house ransacked; DC, SSP chip in to defuse crisis

SYED ALI SAFVI

BUDGAM, Dec 16: Curfew was imposed in three villages of central Kashmir’s Budgam district following violent protests by villagers against a pornographic MMS clip, showing a local youth in a compromising position with a girl inside his truck.
Pertinently, this is the second incident of this nature to occur in the district in a month.
After the objectionable video surfaced at Nasrullahpora, adjacent to Budgam district headquarters, yesterday, the irate residents marched towards nearby hamlet of Dahpora and pelted stones and ransacked the house of the main accused involved in the clip. The protestors, according to eyewitnesses, torched the tipper of the accused and set ablaze the clothes of his family members and looted the belongings.
As the situation went out of control, large contingents of police and paramilitary CRPF personnel were deployed in the area and curfew like restrictions were imposed by the authorities in three villages – Nasrullahpora, Dahpora, Tekipora – to prevent further damage, loss or injury and prevent the issue taking a sectarian hue as the accused belongs to Muslim minority sect.
The Budgam police had arrested the accused last evening from Dahpora and a filed a case of rape under section 376 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC).
“The accused has been arrested and a case under section 450, 67 IT, 292, and 376 has been registered against him,” Uttam Chand, SSP Budgam, told Kashmir Times.
SHO Budgam said that the youth had circulated the video clip to his friends. He said that although the girl’s identity has not yet been ascertained, but as per the video clip she appears to be “mature”.
Meanwhile, DC Budgam, Mohammad Rafi, and SSP Budgam visited the curfew bound village of Nasrullapora this afternoon to defuse the crisis. They interacted with the respectable citizens and sought their support in restoring normalcy in the area.
“The villagers assured them that they will ensure that peace and stability are restored in the area,” SHO Budgam, who is stationed at Nasrullapora from last evening, told KTNS. “Situation is under control now and the restrictions have been partially lifted.”
Pertinently, on November 14, as valley was celebrating Children’s day, a video showing a minor school girl in a compromising position was distributed to the mobile users.
The irate protestors had ransacked the house of the main accused. A case of rape under section 376 was registered and the main accused was arrested.
Significantly, the first incident of a similar nature had taken place in August 2006 in the district.
On August 5, 2006 a video showing a minor girl in compromising position surfaced in the town. The video was shot at a local private school and had been shot by the younger son of a senior government employee, posted in the district, and running the school.
The case, however, was taken to a Sharia Adalat (religious court) of Aga Syed Hasan Al-Moosvi, president of Anjumani Sharie Shiayan, a Shia Muslim religious body.

Budgam sitting on environmental time bomb?

17 brick kilns, 27 stone crushers function illegally, 54 licenses issued in 3 yrs

SYED ALI SAFVI

BUDGAM, Nov 27: Central Kashmir’s Budgam district has also been dubbed as “Buthgam” (village of brick kilns) for its ubiquitous brick kilns that have virtually brought this district on the verge of environmental catastrophe.

In brazen violation of environmental laws and in absence of regulatory guidance, mushroom growth of brick kilns in the district has been threatening the environment and posing a threat to public health.

According to official sources, at least 17 brick kilns and 27 stone crushers are running in the district without license, making a mockery of the district administration.

As per the official statistics available with Kashmir Times, 10 brick kiln owners have been running their business in Budgam Tehsil without any license for the last several years. These illegal brick kilns include two each at Chandipora, Chitroo Dangarpora, and one each at Ichkoot, Waterwani, Hardu Batapura, Labertal, Putlibagh and Wahabpora.

Similarly, as per the official statistics, seven brick kilns are running illegally in Chadoora tehsil, including three at Rakh Shalina, and one each at Qanoongopora, Beegam, Yari Kalan, and Kathigund.
Pertinently, throwing all environmental norms to the wind, the authorities issued license to 54 brick kilns in a span of three years from 2007 to 2009, which include 31 in Chadoora tehsil, 18 in Beerwah tehsil, and five in Budgam tehsil.

According to official sources, Budgam district has a total of 204 brick kilns. However, unofficial sources place this number between 300 and 350. Significantly, finance minister Abdul Rahim Rather’s home tehsil - Chrar-e Shraief, and recently carved out tehsil of Khag are the only two tehsils in the district which have been spared by brick kiln mafia.

Environmentalists are concerned about the mushroom growth of brick kilns and stone crushers in the district. Worried, they have warned that unless urgent solutions are prescribed and implemented to keep a check on brick kilns, Budgam may be sitting on an environmental “time bomb”.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Budgam district administration had in April this year, identified 44 brick kilns for “violation of relevant laws and rules”. However, the much-talked about drive against the brick kilns came to a sudden halt, reasons best known to the authorities.

The official statistics further reveals that there are 27 stone crushers functioning without license in the district. Of the 27 illegal stone crushers, 16 are at Lasjan, 10 at Rakhshalina, and one at Shalina.

The unchecked, mushroom growth of brick kilns and stone crushers speaks volumes about the callous attitude of the district administration that has miserably failed to put the brakes ecological vandalism.

According to official sources, a section of government officials are working hand in glove with the brick kiln mafia.

Is govt discouraging people from using RTI Act?

Halfhearted implementation of RTI Act -IV

* RTI Application fee is Rs 50 in J&K, Rs 10 in other states

* Photostat charge is Rs 10 per page in J&K as against Rs 2 in rest of India

SYED ALI SAFVI

SRINAGAR, Nov 2: The RTI Act was enacted to bring transparency and accountability in the government and bureaucracy, and to enable the common man to monitor the functioning of departments. However, the state government seems hell bent on dissuading people from using the Act.

The state government has fixed very high RTI application fee and photocopy charges as compared to other states, thereby discouraging people from filing RTI applications.

The RTI application fee is Rs 50 in Jammu and Kashmir while in other states of India, it is a mere Rs 10. Similarly, photocopy charge is Rs 10 per page as against Rs 2 per page in rest of India.

Despite Chief Information Commission’s recommendation and chief minister, Omar Abdullah’s assurance vis-à-vis slashing of RTI application fee and Photostat charges, nothing has been done so far.

Chief Information Commissioner, GR Sufi, said that some sections in the bureaucracy are under an impression that high fees would reduce the quantity of applications.

“They are under the wrong impression. If a person gets benefited from RTI Act, he can even pay Rs 1000 as application fee,” Sufi said.

He said that after assuming office, he has been asking the state government to slash the application fee and Photostat charges.

“Since the first day, I have been advocating this. I have written many times to the government and even openly said in public that it would have been proper to keep Rs 10 as application fee,” he said.

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat, convener J&K RTI movement, questioned the reason for fixing Rs 50 as application fee.

“RTI enables people to seek information. It (RTI) is not meant for revenue generation,” he said.

“Jammu and Kashmir is a conflict zone. Our economy has been badly shattered. By charging high application fee and Photostat charges, the government is actually discouraging people who want to seek information under RTI Act,” Muzaffar said. “RTI Act 2004 was a week act, but it had one plus point. The then government had fixed Rs 5 as application fee.”

He said the government of Haryana had recently reduced application fee and Photostat fee from Rs 50 to Rs 10 and from Rs 10 to Rs 2 respectively.

Muzaffar said that a delegation of RTI activists from Kashmir valley and Jammu had called on the chief minister, Omar Abdullah, in January this year.

“We urged him (CM) to get the application fee and Photostat charges reduced and keep it at par with other states,” Muzaffar said. “The chief minister readily agreed and assured us that he will take up the matter in the cabinet, but nothing has been done I this regard.”

Muzaffar said that most of the PIOs and APIOs have no idea about the modes of payment of application fee.

He said that he and his colleagues have faced some technical problems on ground as far as depositing of application fee is concerned.

“There are five modes of payment of application fee, but none of them is proper. For example, Rs 50 stamp paper is sold at Rs 70 in Kargil so the applicant has to pay Rs 20 more than the amount of actual fee,” he said. “Similarly, Rs 50 stamp paper is sold at Rs 55 in other districts.”

He said Indian Postal Order (IPO) of Rs 50 is also not available at all post offices.

“IPOs are only available at district post offices or central post office,” he said. “Even purchasing a bank draft form is not feasible at times. Some times you have to wait hours together in banks.”

Muzaffar said that his organisation had suggested cash as a mode of payment.

“Cash will be the best mode of payment. For that government needs to publish separate receipt books for RTI. Separate account should be created by public authorities at tehsil and district level,” he said.

Govt not keen to conduct workshops; PIOs, APIOs of 3 districts yet to receive trainings

Halfhearted implementation of RTI Act - III

SYED ALI SAFVI

SRINAGAR, Oct 24: The RTI Act in the state has turned into a classical case of much ado about nothing with the state government showing minimum interest in promoting and fully enforcing the law in the state.

More than 31 months have passed since the enactment of the RTI Act in the state, the government has done little to train Public Information Officers (PIOs), Assistant Public Information Officers (APIOs) and to conduct workshops at district and tehsil levels in the state.
According to the RTI Act, the state government is duty-bound to conduct awareness programmes, workshops to aware public about the law. The Act also obligates government to encourage public authorities to participate and organise awareness programmes and workshops at their levels.

“The government may, to the extent of availability of financial and other resources, develop and organise educational programmes to advance the understanding of the public, in particular of disadvantaged communities as to how to exercise the right contemplated under the Act,” reads Section 23 (1) of the J&K RTI Act 2009.

According to reliable sources, the state government has received lot of funds for giving trainings to PIOs and APIOs and to conduct workshops at tehsil, district level to aware people about the Act.

The law was enacted to empower people, but most of the people are still unaware about the benefits of the Act, courtesy government’s reluctant attitude towards sensitising and awaring people about the rights and usage of RTI Act.

“Not a single RTI workshop has been organised independently by district administration at district level in the valley,” said an RTI activist.

According to sources, the state government has not provided money to district headquarters for conducting RTI workshops for general public.

“The RTI Act is of no use if the common masses are not made aware of the benefits of the Act,” said a senior state bureaucrat.

The sources said last year state government had allotted Rs 5 lakh to Institute of Management and Public Administration (IMPA), which is the nodal agency for implementation of RTI training, for giving training to PIOs and APIOs in every district. However, not a single penny has been allotted for conducting RTI workshops for general public.

Almost a year has passed, there are still three districts in the valley – Anantnag, Pulwama, Baramulla - where PIOs and APIOs have not yet received training.

“We give one-day training capsule to PIOs and APIOs at district level. Hopefully by the end of December, all districts will be covered,” Associate Professor at IMPA, Dr Jehan Ara Jabeen, who gives training to PIOs and APIOs told Kashmir Times.

She said that the central government has been very liberal in funding RTI trainings.

“DoPT is the funding agency for all these courses. Government of India (GoI) has lot of money available for RTI, but the problem is that there are no takers,” Dr Jabeen said. “Most of our training courses are sponsored by GoI.”

She said that the training programmes in districts are only attended by PIOs and APIOs.

“On an average 40-45 PIOs/APIOs attend training programmes in districts,” she added.

Even after 31 months, govt yet to publish RTI user guide

Halfhearted implementation of RTI Act - II

SYED ALI SAFVI

SRINAGAR, Oct 23: The experts attribute partial implementation of RTI Act 2009 to inadequate training coupled with “non-serious attitude” of the public authorities vis-à-vis RTI Act.

Even as the Act obligates state government to compile a RTI user guide in the officical language of the state within 18 months from the commencement of the Act, the state government has not yet come out with such guide even after over 31 months.

Moreover, the government has not published a single pamphlet or advertisement in newspapers, as required under the Act, in the official language to create awareness about the RTI Act.

“The government shall, within eighteen months from the commencement of the Act, compile in the official language of the State a guide containing such information, in an easily comprehensible form and manner, as may reasonably be required by a person who wishes to exercise any right specified in the Act,” reads Section 23(2) of J&K RTI Act 2009.

“In absence of the user guide - which would have information like how to file RTI application, application fees, commission’s address etc – most of the people are still unaware about the benefits of the act,” said Raja Muzaffar, convener J&K RTI Movement. “It speaks volumes about government’s non-seriousness in fully implementing RTI Act in the state.”

When contacted, commissioner/ secretary General Administration Department (GAD), Mohammad Sayeed Khan, said that the guide would be ready within four months.

“CIC (Chief Information Commission) has entrusted the work of translation to university of Kashmir (KU). The translation is in process and will be completed within three to four months,” Khan told Kashmir Times.

Asked about the reason for delay in publication of the guide, Khan said that there was need for orientation and sensitization before compiling a guide.

“This is one of the responsibilities of CIC. They can not only pass directions,” he said. “You are right. It (user guide) requires special focus.”

Muzaffar Bhat said: “It needs political will to implement RTI Act, but unfortunately that seems missing in case of Jammu and Kashmir.”

Associate Professor at IMPA, Dr Jehan Ara Jabeen, who gives training to Public Information Officers (PIOs) and Assistant Public Information Officer (APIOs), said that for the optimum implementation of the RTI Act in the state, Section 4(1) of the Act, which calls for voluntary disclosure, should be properly implemented in all the departments, corporations etc.

“I believe it is the responsibility of public authorities, head of the departments to ensure implementation of Section 4(1). It is not to be done by PIOs,” she said. “Implementation of Section 4 will drastically reduce the number of RTI applications.”

“In rural areas, people mostly seek information regarding BPL list, implementation of NREGA, etc. If these informations are readily available with the concerned departments then people not need to file application for it,” said an RTI activist.

Pertinently, only GAD, Police department and to some extent IMPA have put necessary information, as required under RTI Act Section 4(1), on their respective websites. Websites of other departments, corporations are silent on proactive disclosure.

But even that is not enough. The law says that every information should be disseminated widely through notice boards, newspapers, public announcements, media broadcasts, internet or any other means.

“Unfortunately, even the public authorities have not taken RTI act seriously,” said Dr Jabeen. “Unless Section 4 is implemented, it will be difficult and moreover time consuming for PIOs or APIOs to compile information every now and then,” she said.

She said that state government has to have a separate component for RTI Act in the budget.

“There are some technical flaws. Suppose, information to a BPL applicant is to be given free of cost as per the act, but the PIOs don’t know where to deduct the expenditure from. Because there is no separate budget for such expenditures,” she said.