DISSAPPEARANCE

MOTHER’S LAST WISH: "MISSING SON SHOULD SHOULDER HER COFFIN".

TAWQEER HUSSAIN
Sixteen years after his arrest, the whereabouts of Doru Islamabad youth is still unknown. The agency which affected the arrest has no knowledge about him and the National human rights commission believes, he might have joined the militant ranks.
According to the family sources, Fayaz Ahmad Sheikh s/o Late Mohammad Yasin Sheikh R/O Zamalgam Doru was picked up by the Rashtriya Rifles 1 during the intervening night of August 29/30 1994.
Narrating the woeful tale, the mother of the missing said, ‘’ that night he was sleeping at his grand father’s house close to them, the soldiers of the RR1 came at about 10:30 PM and picked him up’’.
‘’Next day he was brought to the village. He was in bad shape. They searched my house but could not find anything, he was taken back and this was the last time when I saw him’’ she added with tears roll down her face.
Due to this trauma we lost our father also in 1996, added Bilal Ahmad, the younger brother of the missing.
We rushed to the camp to release the Fayaz, but the soldiers denied his arrest’’ he added.
With moist eyes he continued to say that police first refused to register the case.
The traumatized parents sought judicial intervention in 1995. the high court directed the concerned SSP to ensure the registration of the case and an investigation into the disappearance. Accordingly FIR NO.62/99 under section 364RPC was registered in police station Doru.
A petition was also filled in the State Human Rights Commission. The commission issued notice to the state police. In its communication no. GB/EG/2001/7083; DATED March 27, 2001 addressed to DC Islamabad, the SSP said,
‘’ the report sought from the concerned SDPO reveals that there is nothing adverse against the subject’’. The SHRC recommended the ex-gratia to the next kith and kins of the missing.
Meanwhile the disappearance also filled in National Human Rights Commission. The NHRC in postal letter to the family members informed them that the commission sought a report from the Defence Ministry. The Defence ministry in its report admitted the arrest, however it reads he was then released. The letter further stated that the subject might have joined the militant ranks.
‘’ I have been appointed at the sheep husbandry department under SRO 143, but I don’t need the job I only want to see my brother’’ said Bilal Ahmad.
With uncontrolled weeping and in broken voice, the mother further said ‘’ I want to see my son before my death, so that he would give his shoulder to my coffin’’ she said and fainted.

DID OMAR FAIL TO DELIVER?

TAWQEER HUSSAIN
Hopes were generated among the general masses, when the youngest ever chief minister of J&K Omar Abdullah took oath on January 5 this year, it was seen as a welcome step as he being young could understand the problems faced by the young educated but unemployed people.
If the six months tenure of the coalition government is seen and examined, several questions emerge and eye brows raised over the performance of the government by the observers. The situation demands immediate attention of the Chief Minister, else people will come out on the roads in coming months. Now the question arises, Did Omar fail to deliver? Or is he being victimised by the political and pressure groups who don't want the state to be brought back on developmental platform.
Political analysts believe that it is too early to raise eye brows on the functioning of the six months old government as the tenure of young CM is witnessing protest after protest which keeps government on back foot. Just after three days of assuming the charge, the first blow to the new government was the killing of deaf and dumb person at the vicinity of the CM's residence in Srinagar. The incident started the present government's dark era. The killing was condemned by everyone. Then the process starts - Bandipora, Kupwara, Sopore, Shopian, Baramulla boiled and thus the whole Kashmir once again came to streets demonstrating against government. Fifteen civilians are killed so far in the recent crisis. With every killing questions are raised and hopes diminish.
The shifting of Bomai Sopore camp, where army personnel allegedly murdered two local youths although generated that hope again but the mishandling of protests by police and civil administration once again kept whole Kashmir on boil and government on its toes. Then came the darkest era of the six months in Omar led government. The double rape and murder of two Shopian girls, Asiya and Neelofer made Kashmir to come on streets to get justice. The first statement of CM Omar Abdullah asserting the deaths by drowning added fuel to the already burning Kashmir; however CM retracted later by saying 'something happened in Shopian.' Three days later when forensic experts confirmed rape and murder, forcing police to register the case, Omar did not take any action against the officers for misleading and misinforming him. Rather, he got angry with himself for not remaining quiet in that press conference.
"I should have said no comments when I was asked about the cause of death of two women," CM Omar Abdullah was quoted by Hindustan Times recently. It is quite astonishing how Omar swallowed such humiliation at the hands of his own officers and rather punishing them, he wanted to remain silent. The suspension of four police officers the then SP Shopian Javaid Iqbal, DSP Rohit Baskotra, SHO shafiq ahmad and SI Gazi Abdul Karim and their arrest by the orders of high court has somehow stabilized the situation, but question is still there, fifteen deaths in six months. Did Omar fail to deliver?
Political observers and analysts believe that until the administration both police and civil is not over hauled in the state no government can succeed in its mission of making Jammu and Kashmir a prosperous one. They believe that it is early to raise such question as every government took at least six months to review the older one and formulate the new strategies. "The chief minister cannot perform alone; he needs an honest team of officers both in civil and police. Other wise like other chief ministers, he will also be rated as one who made promises and sketched dreams that will never come true," says Farooq A Ganai a senior journalist and political analyst from Jammu. Referring to recent protests across Kashmir, Ganai said Kashmir has been witnessing the same since 1947 and the day butchers of the state and elsewhere in the world will stop selling red blood in green bottles, people have to suffer for one or the other reasons. "It is too early to answer such question, as every government takes at least six months to review his strategies and makes way for development" said Farooq Ganai.
Commenting about Omar Abdullah's vision, he said, Omar too had dreams to develop Kashmir, uplift youth and resume peace process, but those politicians who want to see Kashmir in news for all bad developments will not support him in development of the state. Omar's first six months rule has been divided into elections, code of conduct and protests and during this time, people have not seen the fruits of democratic government. Every government has pressure groups which work both for and against the government. But in Kashmir, pressure groups work only against the government and create fuss, thus hindering the development and democratic setup.
The leaders of Opposition, however, allege that the Omar led government has failed to deliver goods to the people and said that people are suffering in absence of even basic amenities. "Where are the Omar's big promises of providing good government to the people when they (masses) are suffering for even a drop of water to drink and power remains off in almost all the areas," they say. People don't want to hear about the dreams; they need immediate redressal of their problems.
However, a minister in the coalition government blames political parties for creating unnecessary hurdles in running the government by instigating people over even minor issues for getting political mileage out it. With allegations and counter allegations people of Kashmir are not going to be benefited at all, they need respite from what they are facing, unemployed needs to be given attention and those suffering for even basic amenities are to be given adequate supply of essential commodities. Omar Abdullah should feel the pain and agony of the people they are under going these days and should take immediate steps to bridge the gap between the officials and people.
Government officials should be made accountable and police should be asked to maintain restrain while dealing the law and order situation in the state. In short one should feel sense of responsibility, howsoever high he is and whatsoever post he is holding and the people should also contribute from their side while maintaining peace and let the government function smoothly.
http://www.kashmirtimes.com/archive/0908/090801/feature.htm

Following his dream, Javaid Ahmad Khan, a resident of south Kashmir elevated himself from simple party worker of Nationalist Congress Party to the J &K vice president portfolio. He has recently been nominated as the youngest ever consultative member of food Corporation of India. In a candid conversation with Journalist Tawqeer Hussain, he talks about his life and the future plans in NCP and the work ahead of FCI.
About yourself:
I am Resident of Doru Shahabad In Anantnag District. I started my early schooling at my native place and later I completed my graduation from government degree college Anantnag.
Why politics as career?
I joined the politics some six years before and today I am the state Vice president of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). From my early school days I dream of becoming the politician as I found this profession as the only stage were one can address the problems of common man. I always felt that the genuine grievances of common masses are not heard so I decided to join this political fray.
You have recently been nominated as the consultative member for the Food Corporation (FCI) of India. What is your prime task?
First of all I would like to thank Almighty Allah for this honour. From last 18 years no body from Kashmir represented FCI and this year I got the chance to represent Kashmir and Ladakh and I became the youngest ever consultative member In the FCI history. My prime task is to make the availability of rations easier to the people and also to check the availability of rations in the government stores. So far I with the help of state and centre government have opened so many ration stores for the public convenience and In the near future more such stores are on cards. At FCI we are planning to open five more big Godowns in the Kashmir valley so as to minimise the ration shortage in the valley especially during the winter season.
You have also contested the assembly election 2008. What happened in that?
Smiles, yes I contested but I lost. That time people did not know me completely and In the near future I am going to make my presence felt.
Your future plans
As FCI member, we are planning to open more store in the valley so that people can get the ration on their door steps. But as NCP Vice President, I have started a membership drive in south Kashmir and in two days I have registered ten thousand members. I am also making public appearances in the wake of coming Panchayat elections.

INNOVATION

With no formal education, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, of south kashmir solved his problem and made an innovation which made him honoured by receiving prestigious SRISTI SAMMAN award from the national innovation foundation of india. In candid conversation with journalist TAWQEER HUSSAIN, he talks at length about his life and innovation.
Tell us some thing about yourself?
I live at Tangpawa Sagam Kokernag; a village 30kms away from the
district headquarters Anantnag. I have never been to the school due to
the economic backwardness. Due to this reason I remain engaged to the
to the agriculture sector and also worked as daily labour in others
fields.
About your innovation?
My innovation “singing lantern” is the perfect requirement for our day
to day need. The singing lantern comprise of radio, light which runs
both on electricity and also can be charged by the solar light. It
also contains a mobile charger and a sound sensor which works in a
range of 10 meters.
How this idea of making singing lantern came in to your mind?
Since I worked in the fields’ all along the day and some times,
particularly during the autumn season I used to work in my fields till
late night. I always used a traditional lantern as the source of light
to work in odd hours. The slight wind makes the lantern off which not
only annoyed me but also disturbs my work. I always thought of
replacing it with something which can bear the wind. So one day I
modified this lantern and I fixed the battery in it in the space
provided for the oil. The wick was replaced by the bulbs and it
worked above my expectations.
What made you to put other three things in it?
I always remain adhered to the radio, no matter what the programme is.
This thing made me addict to carry a radio set all along with me. Once
I was working on my innovation, I simply tried to insert the radio
things in it and it worked. Then I fixed a mobile jack port in it
which gets the DC current from the battery and it works as the mobile
charger. When I tested it was I was successful. I was so happy that I
jumped on. Next day when I showed this apparatus to my village
friends, they named it singing lantern and soon I also endorsed this
name.
Did you received help from any quarter?
Initially I did all the things on my own. But one day I found the team
of National Innovation Foundation of India (NIF) Ahmadabad and Grass
Root innovation and Augumentation Network (GIAN) Cell University of
Kashmir Srinagar looking for the new innovators. I showed them my
lantern and they encouraged me lot. Later I went to the GIAN Cell and
where its Director Dr. G M Bhat and the Technical Officer Dr. Shabir
Ahmad helped me lot. They forwarded my file to the NIF and also
applied for the patent license. I also got the SRISTI SAMAAN AWARD
for this innovation from the NIF. Last week I received a communiqué
from the NIF that I will get the patent in the next month.
Your future plans.
Right now I am waiting for the patent license for this singing
lantern. I am also working to make the manual Generator.