NEW DELHI; The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Jammu and Kashmir government to ensure proper investigation of all cases arising out of communal clashes in Kishtwar last year and asked the Commission of Inquiry set up by the State government to submit its report on the incidents within three months.

A bench headed by Chief Justice P. Sathasivam also upheld the State government’s policy in awarding a higher amount of compensation to State subjects who are victims of the violence.

“The State government is directed to ensure due and proper investigation of all such cases registered in connection with the two incidents in question if such investigation has not been completed in the meantime and thereafter bring all such cases to a logical end in accordance with law by completion of the trial against the accused, wherever necessary,” it said.

Communal clashes had broken out in Kishtwar town in Jammu region on August 9, 2013, on the day of Eid allegedly after members of hindu group pelted on muslims while they was offering Eid prayers leaving three persons dead and dozens others injured. Property worth crores of rupees was set ablaze by the rival communities, forcing the government to impose curfew and seek army assistance in controlling the situation.

The government then appointed a Commission headed by Justice R.C. Gandhi, a retired judge of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court, to inquire into the incident.

“We, accordingly, request the Commission to complete its enquiry as early as possible, preferably, within a period of three months from today, if the final report has not already been submitted in the meantime. The government will naturally be duty bound to take all necessary and consequential steps on the basis of the said report as would be mandated in law,” the apex court said.

KISHTWAR; Indian forces have busted a 'militant' hideout and recovered a significant quantity of arms and ammunition in Kishtwar district.

A joint operation by Rashtriya Rifles Battalion (RRB) and Jammu and Kashmir Police led to the arms bust in the Athar area of Kishtwar district last evening, a defence spokesman said.

Three rocket-propelled grenades, 15 grenades, 14 of these Chinese ones, five magazines of AK-47 and 392 rounds of AK-47 were recovered from the site along with one handheld radio set.

Other warlike stores, among them one pouch, a blanket, one 'phiren', one woolen cap, one torch, four pencil cells, two walking sticks and dry fruits and toffees were also recovered during the search operation.

Indian Army and police have thwarted a major tragedy by effecting timely recoveries as the cache had the potential of causing large-scale damage to life and property, the spokesman added.

KISHTWAR; Government has admitted that the one-man Commission of Inquiry (CoI) appointed to probe Kishtwar riots has failed to submit report in stipulated time.

 In reply to a question of Congress MLA from Inderwal constituency, G M Saroori, who sought the status of Commission of Inquiry and payment of compensation to the victims, Chief Minister through a written reply in Legislative Assembly has admitted that after the lapse of more than six months the Commission of Justice (retd) RC Gandhi has failed to submit final report and missed another deadline of February 22.

 “The Commission of Inquiry constituted on August 23, 2013, to enquire into the incidents of violence and arson that took place on August 9, 2013 in Kishtwar has submitted only an interim report in December 2013 and the date of submission of the final report has been extended up to February 22,” the reply reads.

 In another part, the Chief Minister confirmed that government has not received the final report and was considering the interim findings received from the commission.

 “As the final report is yet to be submitted by the commission, certain interim findings made in the interim report are under considerations and do not pertain to the victims,” the reply reads.

However, in the answer it was also mentioned that an amount of Rs 1,84,11,563 has already been sanctioned and disbursed among 75 affected families and 45 relief cases are under process for payments.

 Pertinently, State government constituted one man Commission of Inquiry to probe into the circumstances that led to large scale rioting in Kishtwar and asked it to submit report within one month.

 Later the government appointed Qazi Sarwar, Additional Secretary to Government, Housing and Urban Development Department, as Secretary of the Commission, retired SSP, Reasi, Raghubir Singh and senior prostituting officer, Udhampur, P P Singh to assist the CoI.

 After taking four months and recording the statements of officials including then Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar and Superintendent of Police besides statements of more than 350 locals of Kishtwar and Padder, the Commission had submitted its interim report on December 20, 2013 and give clean chit to Minister of State for Home, Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo, who had resigned from the ministry in wake of allegations of his involvement in riots by the opposition. A day after receiving the interim report by CoI, Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo was re-inducted as a minister in State government on same portfolios.

 As per sources, “The Gandhi Commission in its interim report gave a clean chit to Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo, slammed different wings of the police, including the CID and administration for non-cooperation. It has held the former DC, DIG, SP, police personnel on ground duty and magistrates of violence-hit areas responsible for negligence of duty.

 It has recommended grilling of senior police officers for not registering an FIR into the case pertaining to attack on MoS Home Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo. The report also stated that Kichloo be treated as a victim and not accused.

 The commission has also advocated formation of mixed VDCs to strike a balance, sources said.

KN DESK; Heavy snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir’s upper reaches has resulted in the closure of the historical Mughal Road, which connects Shopian district with the Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu region. Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag road has also been closed due to heavy snowfall in the area.

Official sources said that the Mughal Road was closed for vehicular movement last night following a 3 inch snowfall at Pir Ki Gali area.

The roadblock has also hit the business of almost all the trades in genera,l and hotels and restaurants in particular.

Following heavy snowfall at famous health resort, Sinthan Top, transport was suspended on Kisthwar-Sinthan highway, (1B), which connects Anantnag district of this south with Kishtwar and Doda districts of Jammu region.

“Fresh snowfall was recorded in the area due to which the traffic on the road was again suspended,” an official said.

On the other hand, in view of the impending western disturbance hitting Kashmir and Ladakh regions, reports said that MeT department had Monday predicted moderate to heavy snowfall on Wednesday and Thursday.

Reports said that Metrological department officials said that the Ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir received fresh snowfall this morning.  “The resort recorded a minimum temperature of minus 0.7 degrees Celsius as compared to previous night’s 1.2 degrees Celsius,” they said.

Reports of fresh snowfall were also received from Sadna on Kupwara-Tangdhar road, Z-Gali on Kupwara–Machil road and Farkein on Kupwara–Keran road. The authorities have directed for suspension of traffic on these routes.

Reports said that Deputy Commissioner Kupwara has restricted the movement of vehicular traffic from Karnah to Kupwara, Keran to Kupwara, Machil to Kupwara and vice-versa to “ward off any untoward incident.”

“This order will remain in place till weather improves,” the spokesman said.

Locals in these areas have also been advised not venture out during night hours in view of apprehensions of avalanches.

The officials said that tourist resort, Pahalgam in south Kashmir, recorded a temperature of 2.8 degrees Celsius and received a rainfall of 11.6 mm.

They said other parts of Kashmir witnessed rains following which the mercury remained several degrees above the freezing point.

KISHTWAR; 01, Sep 2013: Scores of people staged a protest in Chowgam Qazigund against police for booking the Imam of the area under Public Safety Act.

Reports said that Imam Jamia Masjid Chowgam Qazigund, Hafiz, Syed Kifayat from Dhandal Doda was arrested by police for his alleged role in instigating people against Kishtwar communal violence.

People said that Imam is innocent and he was targeted on the behest of few political workers having affiliation with the ruling party. “We demand his immediate release as he is innocent. The day Chowgam witnessed protests against communal violence in Kishtwar area, Imam Hafiz Kifatyat had gone to his native village in Doda. He is innocent and has nothing to do with all these protests,” Hafiz Abdul Rehman Ashrafi of Darul Aloom Syed Almarsuleen told CNS.

Reports said that Imam has been booked for instigating people to protest and indulge in stone pelting. A police official told CNS that Imam Kifayat goaded people in Chowgam and soon after his arrival in the area, “we arrested him and slapped PSA on him,” he said adding that he was booked vide FIR number 152/2013 under section 147,148,149,295,307,336 and 427. “We have shifted him to Khutwa Jail,” he said.

People of Chowgam warned that Imam would not be released they would start an agitation against the police.

Earlier the violence broke out between the hindus and muslims, after hindus attacked on muslims on the day of Eid soon after they (muslims) concluded their Eid prayers.

KISHTWAR/DODA; 01, Sep 2013: An earthquake of moderate intensity today shook Kishtwar and Doda districts in Jammu region, triggering panic among people.

The quake, measuring 3.4 on the Richter scale, jolted the region at around 8.04 AM, Met office said.

There were no reports of any loss of life or damage to property, officials said. Panic-stricken people rushed out of their homes as the quake struck.

Yesterday, a tremor, measuring 2.9 on the Ricther scale, had hit the area.

KISHTWAR; 24, Aug 2013: Former judge of Jammu and Kashmir High Court justice R.C. Gandhi will hold a time-bound judicial inquiry into the communal riots that rocked Kishtwar district in Jammu province on August 9.

Late on Friday night, Jammu and Kashmir government announced the appointment of Justice Gandhi while issuing a special notification under Jammu and Kashmir Commission of Inquiry Act, 1962. He would have to complete the judicial inquiry and submit a report to the government within one month.

The notification said that the judicial inquiry would “inquire into the circumstances which led to the violence and arson and the consequent loss of life and property in District Kishtwar; enquire into the administrative lapses, if any, while handling the situation; and fix the responsibility of the persons, involved in acts of violence, arson and the loss of life and property”.

A Government Order was simultaneously issued to rescind a previously issued order which had assigned the inquiry to a senior IAS officer and the Divisional Commissioner of Jammu Shant Manu.