Jammu, March 2
A bomb hoax inside the Jammu and Kashmir State High Court complex here this morning sent the police into a tizzy besides creating panic among litigants, lawyers and judges.

Official sources said, an anonymous caller rang up Registrar General Advocate MK Hanjoora this morning at 11 am informing him that a bomb has been planted inside the high court building.

Hanjoora immediately informed Chief Justice Barin Ghosh, who requisitioned the police, they said, adding that a team of senior police officers, including IG Security Ashok Gupta, SSP, security, Johny Williams, SSP, Jammu, Manohar Singh, SP, north, Randeep Kumar, rushed to the court complex.

Sources said, the three-storied building has been vacated and the police teams, along with sniffer dogs and metal detectors, were pressed into service to recover the bomb.

However, after a hectic effort that lasted till 2.30 pm nothing was recovered.

As soon as the news spread judges suspended their work and the litigants were moved out of the building.

Immediately after receiving a call from the state high court, the police teams rushed to the spot and after evicting the people we systematically launched an anti-sabotage check, said IGP, security, Ashok Gupta.

Apparently, it was a hoax call but considering presence of judges and a big number of litigants and lawyers, we took no chance and thoroughly checked the entire premises, said the IGP.

Jammu SSP said, “The caller has not been identified as yet but we have sought call details from the BSNL authorities to nab the culprit.”

Jammu, March 2
Stating that the level of violence in the state has declined to a great extend, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told the Assembly today that around 800 militants were still active in the state and out of which only 30 per cent were Kashmiris.

“The reports that I get suggest that around 800 militants are still

active in the state, and out of which 30 per cent are locals,” Omar told the House while replying to the Governor’s address.

He also proposed that the Centre should consider giving a safe passage to foreign militants, who were willing to return to their country of origin.

Reiterating his stand that the government would consider the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and the Disturbed Area Act if the situation continues to improve, he said he would stand by his commitment made to the people.

“Militancy-related violence has decreased and now the private sector is ready to invest in the valley. The coming of Essar was a step forward,” Omar told the House.

The Chief Minister said he wanted all issues to be resolved amicably through dialogue. “We have kept our doors open and we are inviting everybody to come and talk to us, talk to New Delhi and to Islamabad so that the gun culture stops in the valley,” Omar said.

He said while resolving the Kashmir dispute the Central government could not ignore Pakistan as it controlled a large chunk of Kashmir. “Relations with Pakistan have to be improved. We want good relations with them as a large chunk of Kashmir is under their occupation. People-to-people contact have to be increased,” Omar said.

He said the volume of the ongoing trade between the two parts of the divided Kashmir had to be increased. “The trade should not be mere symbolic,” he said.

Srinagar, March 2
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today stressed a comprehensive and integrated plan to make tourist resorts in the state more attractive with improved facilities of power, accommodation and other related amenities. He also hinted at setting up an autonomous sports body for promoting sports in the state.

Declaring open the three-day second annual Gulmarg Global Skiing Derby organised by the Tourism Department at the famous ski resort, the Chief Minister said the tourism industry was the mainstay of the state economy, providing employment to thousands of people directly and indirectly. He said he was happy to see skiers of international repute participating in the event at Gulmarg. He added that Gulmarg offered the best slopes to enjoy skiing.

The three-day event is being organised by the Tourism Department, while the Winter Games Federation of India has approved this event. It is being sponsored by Aegis-Essar Group. It is for the first time that a renowned multinational company has come forward to sponsor such an event.

The highlight of the event is a free ski run (Derby) from Mount Apharwat to Gulmarg. Twenty-nine participants from countries like the USA, France, the UK, Switzerland, Russia, Bulgaria, Italy, Australia and Canada are taking part in the event.

Srinagar, March 2
A five-member delegation of the European Union Commission led by Daniele Smadja currently on a fact-finding mission to the state began its visit to the Kashmir valley today. The delegation had already met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, other senior government functionaries and leaders of the mainstream political parties in Jammu.

In its tour to the valley, the delegation is scheduled to meet a cross section of the society, including the government officers and the separatist leadership. The delegation had a detailed meeting with the representatives of media here today. The delegation was on a fact-finding mission to the troubled state, media persons were told.

The delegation includes Lars-Olof Lindgren, ambassador of Sweden, Bruce Bourdon, political counsellor, embassy of France, Ion de la Riva, ambassador of Spain and Jan Kreuter, deputy head of the mission in embassy of the Czech Republic. In his meeting with the visiting delegation the Chief Minister sought cooperation of the EU in capacity building in the state to address the unemployment problem and increase the opportunity for the youth.

He asked the commission members to use their influence for withdrawing the travel advisories for the state issued by some European countries as the situation here had significantly improved. He highlighted the importance of tourist industry in the economy of the state and urged the commission to work for sending more tourists for conventional and adventure tourism.

The PDP president, Mehbooba Mufti, who also met the delegation in Jammu yesterday, said the reiteration of trust by the state people in the democratic means for the resolution of the state’s problems had opened a new window of opportunity for amicable and permanent settlement of the Kashmir issue.

Jammu, March 2
Relatives of a young housewife, who delivered a female infant and now has remote chances of survival, today accused gynaecologists of SMGS Hospital of negligence.

Rekha Kumari (24) of Ghou Manhasan had a normal delivery on February 26, but she started bleeding and had to be operated on for postpartum hemorrhoids, claimed Ajay Mehra, Rekha’s cousin.

She was hospitalised in unit No. 4 of Dr Rajni Koul, he added.

He said to stop her bleeding doctors removed her uterus and on the evening of February 28 she slipped into a coma and regained consciousness the next day.

“Without disclosing anything to us doctors took her to the operation theatre today again and now they are telling us that she had a remote chance of survival,” said Mehra.

They have given up the hopes telling us to take her home, he said.

However, doctors out-rightly rejected the allegations terming them as false and frivolous.

Dr Rajni Koul said, “She was admitted in my unit on February 26 but gynaecologists from another unit performed the surgery next day on February 27.

Requisite treatment in such cases had been given to Rekha as well but she is now in a state of DIC (when blood stops clotting), she added.

Despite giving her requisite treatment, the patient is very serious. Her platelet count has reduced, she said.

Though it’s rare but it can happen to any expectant, whether rich or poor, said another gynaecologist on the condition of anonymity.

Rekha had reverted but her condition deteriorated again, she said.

Principal, Government Medical College, Jammu, Dr Rajinder Singh refused to give his comments saying that he has no authority over SMGS Hospital.

Administrator, GMC and Associated Hospitals, Jammu, Dr Rakesh Khajuria, who has the additional charge of SMGS Hospital, said such incidents happened one in hundred patients.

It’s a part of complication and can happen to anybody and hence question of doctors’ negligence doesn’t arise at all, he added.

Jammu, March 2
Members of legislative Assembly of the BJP today staged a walkout after they tried to storm the well of the House as they were unsatisfied with the government’s reply over the issuance of passbooks to the farmers in the Jammu region.

BJP MLA Choudhary Sukhnandan, who raised the question regarding this issue, was not satisfied with the answer of the government. He accused the government of undue delay in issuing the passbooks to farmers for availing credit facility.

Other members of the party also stood up in support of his allegations that the government had so far only distributed less than 5 per cent passbooks to the farmers of 154 villages in the Jammu region for availing the facility.

After creating noisy scenes the party members staged a walkout, amidst noisy scenes, they blamed that the government had not even covered 5 per cent of the villages out of 154 villages and the minister concerned was giving misleading information in the House. However, the Finance minister AR Rather said the passbooks were being issued to the farmers and as of now nearly 7.19 lakh farmers had been issued the passbooks.

The Assembly also witnessed noisy scenes after PDP MLA Sofi Abdul Gaffar was not satisfied with the reply of the government over the up gradate of the receiving stations. The PDP members alleged that they were not given the time to ask their supplementary.

Jammu, March 2
Eight militancy-affected Hindu families have filed a contempt case against the government seeking justice, which has eluded them since 2001. It may be recalled here that in August 2001 armed militants had killed 13 poor shepherds belonging to the Hindu community in the Sarote area of Ladder village in Kishtwar district.

Despite a high court judgement in June last year in favour of the affected families, the state government has failed to provide government jobs under SRO 43 to the next of kin of eight Hindu shepherds.

The SRO 43 has a provision wherein the government provides jobs on compassionate grounds to the families of militancy victims, besides rehabilitating families of slain militants.

Though the then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed had given appointment letters to the five affected families in April 2003, justice was denied to the remaining eight families.

Jammu, March 2
The CBSE class X and XII examinations began today. Students stepping out of examination halls had a smile on their faces.

Sources in the regional office of the board said around 6,000 class X students and 4,000 class XII pupils took the examinations here at different centers.

Students of class X appeared for the information technology (IT) / introductory computers paper whereas students of class XII appeared for the paper of chemistry.

Varenya Raina, a student of Class X, JKPS School, said: “The paper was easy and simple. I am happy with the pattern of the paper. I am expecting a similar pattern for the other papers too. Similar views were expressed by other students.

Class XII students complained that the chemistry paper was quite lengthy. Vikram Aditya, of KV1, Gandhi Nagar, said: “Though the paper was easy it was quite lengthy. Three hours were not sufficient for completing such a lengthy paper.

“The paper was conceptual and fully based on the textbook. I have attempted all questions, now I am worried for other papers”, said Diya Koul, another student of Class XII Students were seen discussing the question papers outside examination centres.

Srinagar, March 2
Books of diverse character ranging from story books for children to serious topics like human rights, academics to advanced courses; competitive examinations to cuisines like wazwan are on display at three-day international book fair that started at the University of Kashmir campus today.

In addition to Springer, others who have set up their book stalls include Taylor and Francis Group, New Delhi; Tata McGraw Hill, New Delhi; Orient Blackswan, New Delhi; Sheikh Mohammad Usman, Srinagar; Wattan Publications, Lal Chowk; Perfect Book Mart, Srinagar; Pal Grave Macmillan, Delhi; S Chand, Jallandhar; Toha Enterprises, Srinagar; Yaqoob Brothers, Hazratbal; Naseem Book Trust, Srinagar; Naveen Publications, Delhi; Narosa Book Distributors, New Delhi; Cambridge University Press, Delhi; and Kashmir Book Depot, Srinagar.

Imtiyaz Ahmad of Wattan Publications, Srinagar, says that the have displayed books for competitive as well as basic entrance exams.