J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Bhim Singh ‘manhandles’ poll observer
Jammu, April 28
The Panthers Party has got involved in another controversy in the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency with the party chief, Mr Bhim Singh allegedly manhandling an election observer last evening.

Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference Chairman Sajjad Lone addresses a rally in Rajwar, Handwara, on Wednesday. He is the first leader to have addressed a public rally in Rajwar since 1989. — Photo by Amin War

Troops kill youth due to mistaken identity
Srinagar, April 28
A youth was killed and another was injured when Army troops opened fire on them mistaking them for militants at Devaspora in frontier district of Kupwara yesterday, official sources said today.

Artificial limb centre for Jammu hospital
Jammu, April 28
Government Medical College Hospital, which was recently upgraded to the level of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, is all set to have an upgraded and full-fledged Regional Centre for Artificial Limbs, the third such facility in India.

NC MLA’s guard found dead
Jammu, April 28
A security guard of a National Conference MLA and former minister was found dead under mysterious circumstances at the leader’s residence in Jammu today, police sources said.

Bhim Singh ‘manhandles’ poll observer
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 28
The Panthers Party has got involved in another controversy in the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency with the party chief, Mr Bhim Singh allegedly manhandling an election observer last evening.

Mr Bhim Singh, who is contesting the election, allegedly manhandled Mr C.K. Nandan, an election observer, following an altercation over the impounding of party’s vehicles engaged in poll campaign. The police has registered a case. Polling for the Udhampur constituency will be held on May 10.

Four policemen, including an ASI, deployed for the security of the observers at Dak Bunglow in Udhampur, have been placed under suspension and the security official of Mr Bhim Singh has been sent to the Police Lines.

The loudspeaker-fitted vehicles of the party were impounded as these were making announcements in the town allegedly without proper permission.

A day earlier, a taxi driver and security personnel of the Udhampur district chief of the Panthers Party were arrested on the charge of molesting a woman while the leader was campaigning in a village.

Mr Bhim Singh today urged the Election Commission to withdraw the election observers from Udhampur town and station them at Kathua, where the Returning Officer of the constituency was operating from.

In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr Bhim Singh accused the election observers at Udhampur of protecting the interests of the ruling Congress and acting as its “agents”.

Meanwhile, Mr Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, the president of the Panthers Party, has demanded the removal of Mr Nandan as election observer, whom he accused of functioning in a “biased” manner. 

Troops kill youth due to mistaken identity

Srinagar, April 28
A youth was killed and another was injured when Army troops opened fire on them mistaking them for militants at Devaspora in frontier district of Kupwara yesterday, official sources said today.

The sources said three youths, identified as Kaisar Ahmad Rather, Javed Ahmad Lone and Sajad Ahmad Lone were walking past an Army camp on the intervening night of April 26 and 27. As soon as they reached Devaspora, where Army personnel had laid an ambush, troops mistook then for militants and opened fire on them, they added.

Javed Ahmad Lone was killed on the spot while Kaisar Ahmad sustained critical injuries, the sources said, adding that the third person did not suffer any injuries and was apprehended by the troops. — UNI

Artificial limb centre for Jammu hospital

Jammu, April 28
Government Medical College Hospital, which was recently upgraded to the level of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, is all set to have an upgraded and full-fledged Regional Centre for Artificial Limbs, the third such facility in India.

The Jammu and Kashmir Governor, Lt-Gen S.K. Sinha (retd), who visited the medical college today, said machinery and equipment worth Rs 50 lakh sponsored by the Indian Red Cross Society had been procured from Geneva. The regional centre was being developed on the pattern of similar centres at Bangalore and Vellore. — PTI

NC MLA’s guard found dead

Jammu, April 28
A security guard of a National Conference MLA and former minister was found dead under mysterious circumstances at the leader’s residence in Jammu today, police sources said.

Soom Raj of the Special Service Bureau was deployed at the house of NC MLA Ajay Sadhotra. The guard did not join his duty this morning. When his colleagues tried to wake him up, he did not respond, the sources said, adding that doctors later declared him dead.

The police also ruled out any militancy angle to it and said there was no mark of injury on his body. — PTI