Conserving endangered Pir Panjal mountain goat

Markhor conservation gets fresh lease of life
Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Protection Department has decided to develop Markhor Recovery Project at a cost of Rs. 10.72 cr. The said amount was received from the Public Works department, Mughal road project as 5% of the project cost on account of the construction of Mughal Road passing through the Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary. 
Launching of the Markhor Project will go a long way in conserving this rare species and preserving its habitat spread over the Pir Panjal Range of the Valley.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests, supporting the State’s demand of utilisation of funds deposited under Compensatory Afforestration Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) of the Government of India, has given approval to the Markhor Recovery Plan formulated by the Wildlife Department for development of the Markhor Habitat in the Hirpora Limber, Lachipora Wildlife Sanctuaries and Kazinag National Park.
The State government has already extended the area of the Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary by 150 sq km and notified the Kazinag National Park. The National Park is the habitat of critically endangered Markhor, the mountain goat, which is also listed in the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). The park is also home to several other endangered wild species like Musk Deer, Asiatic Black Bear, Brown Bear, Himalayan Palm Civet etc. 
As per the 2004 census, Markhor has a population of around 280 to 330 in Kazinag, Boniyar Hirpora areas of Kashmir Valley and Poonch district of Jammu region. A comprehensive Species Recovery Programme for Markhor was set as a precondition for the revival of Mughal Road.
The funds available with the Wildlife Department will be utilized for activities like fencing, habitat improvement, afforestation, soil and water conservation, development of infrastructure like guard huts, staff quarters, check- posts, measures for mobility and communications, fire protection, anti-grazing / anti-poaching activities, construction of nature trails and inspection paths, publicity and awareness, eco-development activities and ecotourism etc, besides regular census and survey of Markhor and other important wildlife species found in the Markhor habitats.

Gujjars are of Turk Origin: Study

TRCF writes Turkey Embassy for joint study
A latest study revealed that the word “Gujjar” has been originated in Turkey and initially used by Turks of Central Asia in third millennium BC. In Turkish language the word “Gujjar” was spelled as “Göçer” which stand for a dominant ethnic group who were later turned into a seasonal pastoralist nomad , said a report based on the study conducted by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation a National Organization working on Gujjars of Indian States.
Releasing the study , Dr. Javaid Rahi, National Secretary of Tribal Foundation said that new research has proved that the Gujjar race had remained a most vibrant identity of Central Asia in BC era and later ruled over many princely states in northern India for hundred of years and left their imprints in the Himalayan ranges and inscribed them in such a way that they could not be destroyed even after thousand of years.
The study further revealed that the 5000 year history Gujjars unexpectedly resembles with the tribes of Turkic origins who left for Koh-e kaf during the era of Christ along with their, camels and other domestic animals. 
The study further said that in Jammu and Kashmir state “Turk” is one of the important cast (Gotra) of Gujjars and hundreds of Turk Gujjars are residing in different districts of Kashmir Valley.
Study said in Gojri there are a number words which are Trkish origin thereby linking the Gujjars history with Turks. Even this is surprising that the Tribal Folk-Art and Costumes of Nomadic Gujjar still resembles with that of Trakish tribe.
The anthropological study said that the physical feature and facial expressions of Gujjars amazingly resembles to that Turkish Tribals.
The study further said that one Göçer (Gujjar) Khan, of Turkistan was a commander in Babur’s army and he had done a remarkable work in binding various ethnic groups.
Dr. Rahi further told that the Foundation is in correspondence with and seeking help from Turkic mission in India regarding conducting a genetic survey of Gujjars to establish their roots in Central Asia from where they are believed to migrated different parts of the world especially to the sub continent.
The study further said in Central Asia places like Gurjarni, Gujari Pil, Gujreti are named after the name of Gujjars clan or Gots linking this ethinic group with its routs. 
The study suggested that the scholars, anthropologists and
historians of the countries like Turkey , Georgia, Iran, Pakistan, India etc. should come forward and should study this connection through anthropological, archaeological and historical evidence.
The conclusion of the study stressed for an inter-disciplinary and indepth research at national and international level with the help of these countries. so to study the rich culture of these nomads.

No 'Jehad' in Kashmir, I was misled in Pak: HM militant

Plan disclosed, India can face another attack 
56 militants infiltrated in Valley, 32 killed: Army  
Pak militant, arrested on Saturday from Gurez sector warned the army of another Mumbai-like terror attack which can be launched by the terror operatives anytime.
A huge cache of arms and ammunition was also recovered from his possession, Army spokesperson Brig Gurmeet Singh said at a press conference on Saturday. 
According to the sources, as many as 120 militants have entered Indian borders. Out of these, 31 militants have been neutralized so far. About 89 militants are continuing with the mission to conduct another Mumbai-like blast in India.
The Hizbul Mujahideen militant, identified as Syed Moin-ul Shah, hails from Pakistan's North West Frontier Province and underwent training in Mansera. He was caught while trying to return to Pakistan. Moin-ul Shah said, ‘We had a huge cache of arms and ammunition with us. We intend to conduct more attacks in India. We were all trained in Pak.'
The arms and ammunition – which include 10 AK-47s with 13,000 rounds, 32 Kg explosives, 14 RPG shells and 445 grenades – were recovered on a tip-off from the nabbed militant, from Gurez sector. Describing the situation in Kashmir as normal, a Pakistani militant of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) said he and others were misled that people here were not being allowed to offer prayers, women are molested and youths tortured by the Indian Army.
''I wanted to go back to my country as after visiting a number of areas here soon after my infiltration, I found people busy in their daily work,'' said the HM militant Syed Mainullah Shah, son of Badshah Rawan resident of village Katanpanjeer of Dir District in NWFP of Pakistan, who was arrested by troops in south of Shamasbari in Gurez sector about 10 days ago.
Talking to newspersons at the headquarters of 15 Corps here this afternoon, he said, ‘‘There is absolutely no Jehad.'' He said in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) people are being urged to join the Jehad (holy war) in Kashmir where Muslims are not allowed to offer prayer, women are raped and molested, youths tortured and put in jails.
I too decided to join the Jehad here and contacted a HM militant,'' he said, adding he received training with other militants in the forest area across the border.
He said different organisations, including HM, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad, Harkat and Pir Panjal Range (PPR) are running training camps in Pakistan and PoK.
However, there was no Taliban militants in these camps and they are getting training in Afghanistan, he said.
Shah said there are three courses--21 days, 40 days and three months-- in these camps.
He said ''We were also told in the camps about grave situation and Human Rights (HR) violations being committed by the Indian security forces.
''We crossed into this part of Kashmir through snow-bound mountains from PoK,'' he said, adding there were 31 militants. Eight militants and guides were killed under a snow avalanche.
Army claimed that thirty-two militants out of fifty-six, who had infiltrated into Kashmir Valley this year, were killed in separate encounters in north Kashmir’s Kupwara and Bandipora district. 
“Twenty six militants had infiltrated through Drangyari and Hafruda forests in the Shamsbari range (Kupwara) and a group of 31 entered via Gurez sector in Bandipora. While twenty militants were killed in Kupwara, 12 others have been gunned down in Gurez,” Brigadier General Staff (BGS) of Army’s Srinagar-based 15 Corps, Brigadier Gurmeet Singh told reporters at the corps headquarters at Badamibagh here.
Besides the killings, the Brigadier also claimed that six militants, one porter and snow clearance man have been killed in avalanche that struck them in the Gurez sector. 
“The bodies are still buried under the snow,” said he, adding 89 avalanches were reported in the north Kashmir so far since January.  
Reports reaching Press Bureau of India said that the Brigadier claimed that 53 militants including the 32 infiltrators were killed in the valley this year. 
Army also presented a Hizb militant before the media whom the Brigadier claimed was arrested in Gurez sector and was part of the infiltrating group. 
“On the militant instances, army has recovered huge war like cache including 10 Ak 47 rifles, 12,876 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, RPG Launcher, 14 RPG shells, four UBGLs, 445 UBGL grenades, 06 Chinese, 21 rifles grenades, 32 kgs of explosives and other ammunition and detonators,” said Singh. The weapons were later displayed before the media. 
The arrested militant has been identified as Syed Moinullah Shah alias Wahid son of Badasha of North west province, Pakistan. 
After queried by the Brigadier, the militant, “big catch,” said that cadres belong to four militant outfits including Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jash-e-Mohammad and PEPR, a little known outfit.
“A group of 120 including 31 militants, 45 porters and snow clearance men infiltrated through Gurez,” said the militant, while responding to the questions.  
Regarding his arrest, the militant said that brother of the person, with whom he had entered the valley, took him directly to the army camp while as he had promised to manage his return safely to Pakistan. 
“I gave him Rs 1000 for getting rations and other things required during the travel through the difficult terrains and while I thought he was taking me towards the border area, I landed in an army camp,” he said. 
The arrested Hizb cadre categorically rejected the any connection exists between militants operating in Kashmir and Taliban fighters. 
“The militant outfits working in Kashmir have no connection with Taliban,” said the militant who army said stayed here for twelve days before his arrest. 
Gurmeet Singh, Brigadier General Staff, also claimed that the army was keeping a close track on the movement of the surviving militants and asserted that “they will be killed in near future.” 
He said that infiltration attempts were earlier than ‘expected’ this year. “The militants are being pushed into this side,” he said. The Brigadier also ruled out any possibility of Taliban presence in Jammu and Kashmir. “There is no conclusive evidence about the Taliban presence in Kashmir,” Gurmeet Singh said during the sidelines of the press briefing.