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National Police Day
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The True
Heroes Failure
of MGNREGA scheme 2,000
quintals of HP seed potato reaches Ladakh Task force to uplift
handicrafts sector set up
Uncertainty over train
services in Valley Navratra
fest ends on a high note at Ramnagar Unrest
affects Dal Lake cleaning
SKUAST
signs MoU with Cornell varsity srinagar
diary
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National Police Day
Jammu, October 22 If people of the strife-torn Jammu and
Kashmir have paid a heavy price losing their kith and kin to the scourge
of militancy in the past two decades, then the Jammu and Kashmir Police
(JKP), too, has lost 905 police personnel, 475 special police officers (SPOs)
and 131 members of village defence committees since militancy erupted in
1990. Similarly, 3,841 personnel of other paramilitary forces have laid
down their lives in the line of duty in the state. On October 21, when
the men in uniform commemorated the National Police Day here, officers
of the JKP recalled how their colleagues sacrificed their lives caring
least about their safety. "Though their sacrifice can never be
compensated, we as a mark of respect presented gifts to families of
police martyrs of Jammu district, including five families, which lost
their members in the past one year," IGP Jammu zone, Ashok Gupta
told The Tribune. On October 21 every year, commemoration parades are
held in all police units as a mark of respect to brave men who
sacrificed their lives for the country. The arms are reversed and a
two-minute silence is observed in the honour of the departed souls. The
names of police martyrs of the state police and paramilitary forces are
read out to acknowledge the supreme sacrifice made by them. The history
of Commemoration Day traces back to October 21, 1959, when a patrol
party of the CRPF, led by SI Karam Singh, was ambushed by the Chinese
Forces at Hot Springs in Ladakh in which 10 troopers were killed, said
Gupta. The bravery and resultant sacrifice of the troopers fighting at
an altitude of 16,000 feet in extreme cold conditions is an epitome of
rare courage, he added. The ITBP sends a representative party of all
police forces of the country to Hot Springs in Ladakh every year for
paying homage to the martyrs. Few words written there are, "When
you go home tell them of us. For their tomorrow, we gave up our
today," recalls the IGP. In 2006, the Union government declared
that October 21 shall be observed as the National Police Day and
commemoration day parades shall be held throughout the country to pay
tributes to the martyrs. Though the JKP alone lost 905 officers and men
since 1990 when militancy erupted in the state, Gupta said during the
past one year, 49 police jawans, 14 CRPF and 13 BSF jawans attained
martyrdom while discharging their duties. It is a matter of great pride
for any force to make sacrifices for the country and the JKP has also
come a long way in tackling militancy, besides maintaining law and order
in the state, he says. "Every year on this day, we resolve to work
even harder with increased determination, vigour, dedication and bravery
to face future challenges," he adds.
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DSP Ghani Shyam attained martyrdom at SOG headquarters in a militant attack on December 27, 1999, while DSP Kuldeep Sharma died in an IED blast on August 10, 2000.
Serving officers still remember DSP Manjit Singh, who kept on fighting terrorists till his last breath on March 14, 2003 in Poonch. A group of militants had attacked Muharram procession. After receiving the information, Manjit Singh immediately rushed to the spot. On seeing police party, militants took shelter inside Anand Hotel and opened indiscriminate firing on the police team being led by Manjit Singh. The police officer while fighting terrorists got injured but he did not care and continued to command the operation till further reinforcement reached the spot. The brave officer later succumbed to bullet injuries. Another gallant officer, Dy SP Jagtar Singh attained martyrdom while fighting terrorists who had managed to infiltrate from across the border in Kathua district on October 2, 2002, while DSP Davinder Sharma was ambushed by terrorists on the Basohli road near Katli Morh on October 27, 2001. He fought back bravely, but succumbed to splinter injuries of an IED blast. In another act of exemplary bravery, DSP Shelly Singh, a young officer, attained martyrdom at Udrana in Bhaderwah while fighting a dreaded Pakistani terrorist, Abu Ukasha, on May 30, 2007. Despite knowing well that the terrorist was hiding inside a house, the officer while caring least about his own safety barged inside to take on the militant. In the ensuing gun battle he sacrificed his life. Similarly, Inspector Jahangir Akhtar fought bravely and lost his life in a terrorist attack on District Police Lines in Doda on September 14, 2001, and Sub-Inspector Ranbir Singh attained martyrdom at Raika forest in Jammu while fighting Pakistani terrorists on August 2, 2002. Another officer SI Vijay Singh took the bull by horns when he entered a house in Doda despite knowing that terrorists were hiding there. The militants threw a grenade and opened heavy firing killing the officer on the spot. The incident happened on July 18, 1992. Similarly, ASI Balvinder Singh sacrificed his life in a terror attack on the historic Raghunath Temple in Jammu on November 24, 2002. Another brave story is of a constable who single-handed took on militants in the Marwah area of Kishtwar district on April 21 this year. Bashir Ahmed was engaged as an SPO in 2004. He was instrumental in a number of anti-militancy operations in the Marwah area on the basis of which he was absorbed as a constable. On January 22 this year, he got specific information about a group of militants in Udarana village of Marwah and led a police party to the targeted location. While the cordon was being laid, militants opened indiscriminate firing. The brave constable fought with the militants and killed a dreaded terrorist, Tariq Ahmed, alias Azhar of Hizbul Mujahideen. Other militants managed to escape under the cover of darkness. The constable had become an eyesore for militants in the area and he was later attacked at Nawapachi in Marwah. He fought back bravely, but succumbed to his injuries. A follower in the JKP, Rukhsar Ahmed of Surankote, also left behind a story of raw courage and exemplary bravery. On August 6 this year, Rukhsar Ahmed was attached with the Army for anti-militancy operation. An operation was launched in Sangiote in Mendhar and Rushkar Ahmed was guiding the party from the front. Militants hiding in a cowshed threw grenade and opened indiscriminate firing. Rukhsar fought back bravely but succumbed to injuries he received in the ensuing gun battle. A constable also made the force proud when on October 1 this year he volunteered for room intervention where armed militants had taken shelter. Constable Daler Singh of Digdol in Ramban was attached with Special Operations Group in Srinagar where the SOG received information about a group of militants hiding in a house in Akhaal village in Ganderbal. A cordon was laid and the constable volunteered for room intervention. When the assault party led by Daler Singh entered the room they found that militants fleeing towards the adjoining paddy fields after breaking the window. Daler Singh and his fellow men laid a cordon around the fields and entered inside the crops upon which terrorists opened indiscriminate fire. One bullet hit Daler Singh but he cared least for his life and killed one militant. Subsequently, he kept engaging with other militants in the gunfight till reinforcement reached the spot. The constable later succumbed to his injuries.
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Workers still waiting to get wages Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Ramgarh (Samba), October 22 Not only are the job card holders not getting employment, some labourers engaged under the scheme are also yet to get their wages even six months after the completion of work. Some workers engaged under the MGNREGA scheme gathered at a function organised by the local administration in connection with the visit of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at the border village of Abtal on Wednesday. They were asked to reach the venue with an assurance that the issue of non-release of their wages would also be taken with the higher-ups. “What is the fun of giving wide publicity to the MGNREGA scheme when labourers engaged under this scheme are not getting their wages on time”, pointed out a job card holder on condition of anonymity. He alleged that instead of engaging genuine unemployed workers, the authorities had been engaging fake labourers just to pocket the funds sanctioned under this scheme, he alleged. “The MGNREGA scheme has virtually become a tool to accomplish political ends”, alleged a villager, claiming that political considerations were taken into account while engaging workers. Interestingly, the Congress, which is a partner in the coalition government was also not happy with the implementation of the MGNREGA scheme in Samba district. The Pradesh Youth Congress (PYC) organised a ane-day token protest against the half-hearted, slip-shod implementation of this scheme. “ The compulsory statutory provisions of 100 days of job to card-holders, a poor response to the card-holders' job demands, payment of unemployment allowance and full wages to card-holders denied work and payment within 15 days have more or less become hollow slogans in Samba district”, alleged PYC vice-president RS Pathania. He regretted that the visionary job guarantee scheme had failed to achieve the desired results, forcing the unemployed youths take to guns and stones. Majority of the people engaged under the MGNREGA scheme demanded that wages should be enhanced to Rs 200 from Rs 110 per day and there should be a proper mechanism of audit through gram panchayats to keep a check on corruption, wastage of public resources, besides keeping a tab on favouritism and discrimination in allotment of work. They also demanded that the payment of wages should be made through post office accounts as post Offices are more readily available in villages than banks.
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2,000 quintals of HP seed potato reaches Ladakh Srinagar, October 22 Governor NN Vohra has expressed satisfaction over the timely arrival of the potato seeds for distribution to the farmers, an official spokesman here said. On the Governor’s suggestion, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had requested the Himachal Pradesh government for the supply of potato seeds for distribution to the affected farmers. A team of officials of the Agriculture Department of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh, had gone to Keylong in Himachal Pradesh for arranging the supply of the potato seeds to Leh. This seed stock has been gifted by the Himachal Pradesh government. The Governor during his three-day visit to Leh from August 25 to 27, in the aftermath of the floods in Leh district, had stressed the need for the preparation of a pragmatic area-wise time-bound action plan for the complete restoration of agriculture, horticulture and allied sectors affected by the floods. In this context, he asked Vice-Chancellor of the SKUAST-Kashmir, Dr Tej Partap, to urgently visit the Ladakh region with a team of the scientists concerned to provide guidance for the restoration efforts. During the visit of the Vice-Chancellor, the affected farmers had, inter alia, urged for the supply of high- quality potato seeds. As a sequel to this, on the instructions of the Governor, who is also the Chancellor of the SKUAST-K, Dr Partap had pursued the matter for arranging potato seeds from Keylong in Himachal Pradesh.
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Task force to uplift handicrafts sector set up Srinagar, October 22 The Chief Minister said this at a meeting held here to look into various aspects of government intervention required to revive the handicrafts sector and ensure social security to artisans. The meeting discussed matters pertaining to improving access to credit by artisans under the Micro Enterprises Scheme, capacity-building, enhancement in stipend to trainees, raw material, marketing , the Rehber-e-Dastkar Scheme, design and production diversification, an artisan colony and exemption from VAT. “The government wants to rejuvenate the handicrafts sector and ameliorate the lot of artisans, besides protecting and upgrading this speciality of the state,” he said. The Chief Minister directed the department concerned to devise a method so that the artisans were able to directly market their products, particularly in Delhi and other metropolitan cities. This would help reduce the chances of exploitation of poor artisans by middle men, he added. Omar said the artisans should be encouraged to sell their products in outside markets by empowering them with required facilities so that the benefits percolated directly to poor artisans. He added that he had already constituted a task force under Chief Secretary SS Kapur and asked to submit its report within three months suggesting measures and recommendations for the uplift of artisans and the handicrafts sector. The Chief Minister said the involvement of the finance and planning departments and Jammu and Kashmir Bank in the task to concretise the proposal for the uplift of the handicrafts sector and the artisans was imperative as the economic component to deal with the problems confronting this sector was of essential nature. He said besides Kashmir, Jammu division and Ladakh too had traditional handicrafts activities, which also needed to be properly focused for development and upgrading. He directed the task force to reach out to the artisans in all areas and ascertain their difficulties while formulating the report.
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Uncertainty over train services in Valley
Srinagar, October 22 The train services in the Valley have been halted for more than two months due to security concerns and Railways and security officials maintain that they are uncertain about when the services will start chugging again. Trains connecting North Kashmir with South of the Valley were stopped on July 31 after protesters burnt down the Sopore railway station and damaged tracks at several places. Upendar Singh, chief area manager, Northern Railways, said security clearance is the main issue. “We have no idea that when it will restart as security clearance remains the main issue,” Singh said. “Tracks have been damaged at many places, including on bridges, and some stations have also been damaged,” he said. He said railways had suffered losses to the tune of Rs 6 crore due to the closure. Railway property worth lakhs of rupees was also damaged during the protests. The 116-km rail link, which was constructed at the cost of Rs 2,270 crore, connects North Kashmir's Baramulla district with South Kashmir’s Qazigund. The Baramulla-Qazigund train passes through 15 railway stations, which include Qazigund, Sadura, Anantnag, Awantipora, Pampore, Kakapora, Budgam, Nowgam, Bijbehara, Mazgam, Panzgam, Sopore, Hamre Pattan and Baramulla. Most of the stations fall in the areas which have witnessed violent protests in the past five months. Showkat Ahmad Malik, SSP, Railways, said the issue is being discussed at the senior level. “We cannot have a time frame about when it will restart, but we are working on it,” he said. Before the protests began in the Valley on June 11, the train connecting the Valley’s two distant parts was teeming with passengers. Last year in June, the train service was stopped after people protesting over the death of two women at Shopian pelted stones at the train at Bagh-e-Mahtab on the outskirts of Srinagar district. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had inaugurated the rail services in the Valley last year amid much fanfare.
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Navratra fest ends on a high note at Ramnagar Udhampur, October 22 Local MLA Harsh Dev Singh was the chief guest on the occasion, while former MLA Ashok Sharma was the guest of honour. SDM, Dudu-Basantgarh, Amit Sharma, tehsildar, Ramnagar, Sanjeev Sharma, chairman, Akhand Jyoti Committee (AJC), Rajiv Jandial, general secretary, Sanjeev Jandial, members of the AJC, various officers of the local administration and representatives of various social organisations and political parties were also present on the occasion. On the final day, proceedings started with the “aarti” of Pingla Devi. It is estimated that over 1 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave shrine of Pingla Devi during the festival. The main event was the final of dance completion in which Pratiksha Gupta got the first prize, while Avantika Vats was first runner-up. Satikshi Sharma, Ocean Kharka and Saloni Thakur were declared joint second runners-up. Students of Keshav Vidya Kendra, Bharti Vidya Mandir and Rising Pillar Public School enthralled the audience with dance performances. Individual dance performances by Shreya, Avantika, Nitish Kharka and Gourav Sharma were equally applauded by the audience. The chief guest extended greetings to the people on Navratras and prayed for peace and communal harmony in the state and the country. He appreciated the efforts of the management of the festival, especially the locals, for holding the event in a smooth way. He also complemented the participants who made the audience enthralled by their performances. He also lauded the role of the founder of the AJC, late OP Jandial, who started organising Pingla Devi Yatra in 1987. The 5th annual OP Jandial Memorial Award was given to the J&K Society for Youth and Masses for rehabilitation of drug addicts. The award has been instituted in memory of OP Jandial and is given to any organisation engaged in social upliftment and development. The award carries cash prize, a memento and a citation. Besides, the annual Akhand Jyoti Award was given to Master Hans Raj, Ajay Gudha, Sat Pal and Wasim Sajaad Bhat. |
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Unrest affects Dal Lake cleaning Srinagar, October 22 This information was given to Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand during his inspection to the lake area here recently. Employees and workers engaged in the maintenance work of the lake were not able to perform their duties, he was told. During the inspection, functioning of weed-cutter machines, pace of civil works and other beautification projects undertaken for the conservation of the lake and its surroundings were reviewed. Irfan Yaseen, vice-chairman of the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA), gave resume of various works undertaken for the protection of the water body. He informed that since April this year, as much as 80,000 cubic meters de-weeding, 12,000 cubic meters dredging and 40,000 square meters patches extraction has been carried out. Exhorting the officers to speed up the pace of Dal development works, the Minister directed for augmenting the work force and machinery to make up the losses. He personally checked working sheets and operational books of harvesters engaged in removing weeds. While inspecting civil works undertaken around the lake, Tara Chand said work on prestigious parapet wall has been started after a span of 40 years to further enhance glamour and landscaping around the lake. He directed engineers to immediately repair the wall wherever it has been damaged and stressed on undertaking immediate repairs of viewpoints. The wall is extended around the lake from SKICC to Nishat Garden and from the Ishber area to Naseem Bagh. He also called for starting a beautification drive around the parapet wall and the railing. The Minister advised LAWDA authorities to install illumination points on the entire road along the lake to further enhance its charm and unique ambience. |
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RM College of Education celebrates annual day Jammu, October 22 Various cultural items, including Rajasthani folk dance, solo dance and solo song were performed by students of the college. The function started with the presentation of the annual report by principal PK Dhar. Appreciating the college for producing good teachers, the chief guest laid stress on the need for moral education and the role of a teacher in crafting the personality of a student. The minister underscored the importance of such programmes for the overall development of a student. The function was presided over by Dr Rajiv Gupta, Director, CDC, while Dr Jitender Khajuria, Joint Director CDC, was the guest of honour. All guests were welcomed by Rameshwar Mengi, chairman of the college. Mementos were presented to the guests. Prizes were distributed among the meritorious students of the college. |
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SKUAST signs MoU with Cornell varsity Jammu, October 22 Cornell University has the distinction of having 40 Noble Laureates affiliated to it as faculty members. The articles of MoU have provisions to give new dimensions to research and academics in agriculture, veterinary and allied fields. The MoU will strengthen linkages through university personnel visits and exchanges between the SKUAST and Cornell University to facilitate international academic exchange and collaborative research activities. The purpose of entering into an MoU with Cornell University is to exchange scientific information and develop specific cooperative projects and programmes since significant opportunities exist for cooperative research at the collaborating institutions. In a statement, the varsity said it would encourage productive relationships and exchanges in all agriculture-related fields through exchange of faculty members as well as students.
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Waiting for bus to school
While the transport facilities remained off the road for most of the days during the past four months of violence, many students had to face difficulties in reaching their schools. Most of the transport services could not operate smoothly due to the stone-pelting threat. But this did not dampen the spirits of students keen to get educated. On normal working days, students wait at bus stops in such areas for transport facilities (See photo). In the case of a complete shutdown, they have to walk down two to three km every morning or in the afternoon between their homes and schools. Rly services suspended
For the past about three months, the rail services over a distance of 120 km across the Valley, between Qazigund in south Kashmir and Baramulla in the north, have remained suspended. The regular, cheap and fast services had changed the lives of many people associated with trade, business and commerce and, above all, the employees during the past two years. Many employees had been commuting between two ends of the Valley and done away with the practice of temporarily putting up at their places of work, miles away from their homes. As the railway services in Kashmir completed two years earlier this month after the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh flagged off the first train on October 11, 2008, it stands suspended for the past three months due to the turmoil. Over 5000 persons had been availing the services every day, and they all hope for the early restoration of services. (Contributed by Ehsan Fazili) |
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Some of the officers and men of the JKP, who exhibited exemplary courage and took on gun-wielding militants, are still being remembered for their bravery.
DSP Parveen Sharma bravely fought a group of militants at Sheshnag in Anantnag during Amarnath pilgrimage on July 20, 2001, before sacrificing his life and in similar fashion, DSP Gulbadan Si.ngh Bhau took on terrorists in their hideout in Kupwara district on the fateful day of May 12, 1998.
Though the recent turmoil had a lesser impact on the functioning of schools in rural areas according to the government, schools in far-flung areas were affected one way or the other. With no dearth of schools, both private and government and those under various schemes like the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), students in many rural areas need transport facilities to reach their schools.