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Jammu celebrates Accession Day Kashmiri Pandits hold a rally at the Dogra Chowk in Jammu on Tuesday to celebrate Accession
Day. Tribune photo: Anand Sharma
Anniversary of Kabaili Attack |
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Delay in Opening of Procurement Points
Forensic lab in dire need of staff
An outside view of the Forensic Science Laboratory in Jammu; and (right) a locked room at the Forensic Science Laboratory. Tribune photos
Fasting wife’s wishes saved my life, says mishap victim
Injured CRPF jawans get treatment at the GMCH in Jammu on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph
Natrang’s cultural festival ends
Arrested militants ran ISI’s communication centre in PoK
Six held with fake stamps
Uniforms, gifts given to students
Karva Chauth sees gold sales soar
Interlocutors visit Shopian
Central varsity for Ladakh demanded
Sixteen shopkeepers challaned
7 administrative officers shifted
Ladakh councillors take oath
Centre’s nod sought for prosecuting Armymen
Jamwal is JJSF president of SPMR college
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Jammu celebrates Accession Day
Jammu, October 26 The day began with a massive rally by schoolchildren which began from Mubarak Mandi, passed through Pucca Danga, Panj tirthi, Shalamar Garden and various bazaars of the old city before culminating back there. Children carried placards and banners hailing the day as ‘Vijay Diwas’ or ‘Accession Day’. A senior Congress leader, wishing not to be identified, said there was no need to celebrate the day as there was no requirement to insist on the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India. “It is a fact and there was no need to insist on it,” he said and added the party leadership took decisions in such matters. Notable in the functions and processions was the active participation of women, who despite a fast on the occasion of Karva Chauth today, showed solidarity with the nation. Shakuntala, a woman activist of an organisation, said when soldiers could fight the enemy in extreme circumstances, they could at least walk a few kilometres on an empty stomach in ‘service of the motherland’. Dineshwar Jamwal of the Duggar Vikas Manch, which made the 64-kg ladoo and later in the evening illuminated Mubarak Mandi with candles and torchlights, said they would make a 650-kg ladoo on the occasion next year. “The celebration idea began after anti-India speeches and statements coming from Srinagar directly questioned the state’s integrity with India. This is a reply from Jammu that we are an integral part of India,” said Jamwal. The 64-kg ladoo made by the Pehalwaan di Hatti was decorated with dry fruits, making a figure of 64. It was transported in an open auto-rickshaw. Sat Abrol, owner of the Pehalwaan di Hatti, said five persons made the material for the ladoo. It was assembled and decorated in the auto-rickshaw only, where it was carefully placed on a silver foil. The BJP had put banners in several parts of the old city, besides on chowks in the new city. The banners proclaimed celebrations of Accession Day. The Tricolour was hoisted at several places, as also at Shahidi Chowk. It organised the main function at RS Pura where all MLAs and senior leaders participated. State party president Shamsher Singh Manhas said the accession of the state was legal and final and the BJP would never let a further division of the country. The Panun Kashmir hoisted the National Flag at the Dogra Chowk. Speakers, including Ajay Chrungoo, Chairman of the Panun Kashmir, said the accession restored the continuity of the state with the civilisation of India. Another Panun Kashmir organisation led by Dr Agnishekhar organised a seminar today which coincided with the 335th Prayaan Divas of Pandit Kripa Ram Dutt. A seminar “Conspiracy to Distort the Truth of Accession” was addressed by Dr KK Pangotra, Dr Jeetinder Singh, BS Salathia, a former president of the Bar Association, Jammu. The Panthers Party organised rallies and functions not only in Jammu but also in Leh, Poonch, Rajouri, Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Udhampur and Kathua. Prof Bhim Singh, Chairman of the party, demanded the release of all political prisoners arrested under the Public Safety Act unconditionally on Accession Day. Maintaining that the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India was “full and final”, the Jammu Bar Association celebrated the day on the court premises.
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Anniversary of Kabaili Attack
Jammu, October 26 A septuagenarian, Harbhajan Singh Teig, who lives in Nanak Nagar here, an area predominantly inhabited by refugees from the PoK, recalled that he was one of the refugees who were encouraged by the valiant Brigadier before he died fighting the raiders. Harbhajan Singh, son of politician Sant Singh Teig, said, “The death-knell had already been sounded after Pakistan’s invasion and the fall of Muzaffarabad on October 22, 1947. Our home was in Hattian Dupatta, about 20 km from Muzaffrabad towards Kashmir. On the morning of October 23, we crossed the Jehlum and assembled in Gardi village.” “Next day, horse riders brought the news that a caravan of nearly 1,000 people led by Sant Baldev Singh was murdered by the tribal attackers. They kept looting and butchering the people of Muzaffarabad city for two days,” Harbhajan said. “At Chakothi, we had a halt. Brig Rajinder Singh, who was leading about 100 soldiers in seven trucks, reached there. He was brimming with confidence. He exhorted us to stay put and then went ahead to take on the Kabailis,” he said. He added that, “His words were taken well. Many youths led by Ishar Singh and Sant Singh set up a country-made canon and put up resistance to the Kabailies.” “Half an hour later, nearly 15 soldiers came back in a truck. Its driver, Jaswant Singh, told us that most of the soldiers had either been killed or captured. Thereafter, they did not stop and hurried away,” Harbhajan said. He added, "On hearing the news, people started running in different directions. In the stampede. I got separated by my family and trekked up to Uri where I reunited with my family.” “There was complete anarchy in Kashmir. The administrative set-up had collapsed. The Kabailis had blown up the Mahura Power Station and the city had plunged into darkness. Pakistan had stopped the supply of essential commodities, besides disrupting the postal and telecom services,” he said with a tremor in his voice as if he is living through his past. Collecting himself, Harbhajan went on, “Fearing political ramifications, Kashmiri leaders did not allow even a single refugee family to stay in Kashmir. Kashmir was climate wise more suitable to us than Jammu.” “When we came to Jammu, again we saw human corpses and skeletons strewn along Tawi,” he said. Again a shudder shook him up. But, the brave man that he is, he did not leave his narrative open-ended. He concluded saying, “Sikhs and Hindus were a minority over there, so they were killed
and chased away. The same thing happened to the Muslims in Jammu.”
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Delay in Opening of Procurement Points Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service
Hiranagar (Kathua), October 26 The local administration in its order issued on September 27 this year had assured that procurement centres would be opened in different localities of Kathua district before the harvesting season but the order was not implemented on ground. A large number of paddy growers turned up for the Congress rally which was held at Dayalachak to bring this matter to the notice of Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Raman Bhalla. Although he tried to assure that steps would be taken in this regard, the farmers insisted the minister to make some announcement because middlemen had been taking benefit of their condition. “Due to non availability of storage facilities, we have to sell paddy to the middlemen at the price of Rs 800 per quintal, even though the government has fixed supporting price of paddy at Rs 1,030 per quintal,” said a disappointed farmer Garu Ram. Farmers asked the minister to direct officers of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to open procurement centres as early as possible so as to stop the middlemen from exploiting the situation. For the procurement of paddy, the government has fixed supporting prices between Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,200 per quintal depending on the variety of the crop. But due to delay in the opening of procurement points, middlemen have been purchasing the same at the rate of Rs 800 per quintal. Former minister and leader of the Kissan Movement, Babu Singh, who has been spearheading the agitation for paddy growers, regretted that it was all due to the wrong policies of the government that poor farmers were allowed to be exploited by the middlemen. “We had approached the government much earlier regarding problems to be faced by the farmers at the time of harvesting but decision taken by the authorities remains only on official documents”, he said. “We have given a week’s time to the government to implement its order of opening procurement points, otherwise we will take to the streets,” he warned.
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Forensic lab in dire need of staff
Jammu, October 26 This is not the only fact that makes one suspicious about the working of the FSL. Nearly 1,100 cases are pending with the FSL in the militancy-affected state. FSL sources disclosed to The Tribune that the laboratory at its two branches in Jammu and Srinagar had not recruited even a single person after 1983. Moreover, those who were recruited then had not got even a single promotion ever since. This state-operated highly valuable laboratory has been running without any permanent director for the past three years. As per rules, the director must be a person with a technical background. But an Inspector-General (IG) of the state police has been given the additional charge of director FSL here. A senior FSL officer said, “In J&K, where hardly a day passes without militancy-related activity, the lab doesn’t even have the facility of DNA and NARCO analysis. We have to send the samples to the CFSL in Chandigarh, which is the nearest, or other cities.” During a visit to the FSL here, it was found that a number of rooms were locked. On being queried, Deputy Director HC Bhagat said it was due to staff shortage. Bhagat said, “We have been provided with some modern machines to conduct the tests easily and shortly, but the department has totally forgot to provide us manpower and the machines are just gathering dust in locked rooms.” After meeting some more officers, it was revealed that a vital section of the FSL - fingerprint section - had only one scientific expert, but he had to handle work in both Srinagar and Jammu simultaneously. An FSL officer said the FSL here worked under the direction and guidance of the police department, but in other states or UTs it was under the direct control of the Central Government. He added a number of posts were lying vacant for the past many years, as many people retire every year, but the government has not yet started a new recruitment drive since 1983. Describing the posts, which are mandatory to be filled for its smooth functioning, he said, a peon, lab assistant, scientific assistant, section officer, assistant director and deputy director are necessary, but here only one person is running each section. Talking to The Tribune over the phone, Officiating Director, FSL, J&K, Arun Choudhary, who sits in Srinagar, said, “Yes, a number of cases are pending in the lab, but this is an outcome of shortage of staff and a legal suit is pending in the court over the promotion of FSL staff.” However, he failed to recall the exact number of cases pending with the lab, saying he had taken the charge recently.
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Fasting wife’s wishes saved my life, says mishap victim
Jammu, October 26 In the past, whenever any such mishap occurred here, the vehicle plunged into the gorge and thereby causing deaths of passengers. “We were on our way to Doda from the CRPF camp in the Channi Himmat area and suddenly about 6.30 am the bus overturned twice. But luckily it did not plunge into the gorge,” said Mohan Lal, a constable in the CRPF and resident of Sardulgarh village in Mansa district of Punjab, while getting treatment at the GMCH here. He added, “It was our luck or the fast being observed by our wives that saved us.” A CRPF officer said, “The incident took place when the vehicle’s brakes failed and the driver lost control over it. He was also injured in the mishap.” The injured, belonging to Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Assam and Andhra Pradesh, were first taken to the Dansal hospital for first-aid, from where they were referred to the GMCH here. A constable, Satish Kumar, 25, hailing from Andhra Pradesh, received a serious eye injury and was airlifted to AIIMS, New Delhi, for an immediate operation. Nine injured were admitted to the Disaster Control Department of the GMCH, while 11 others were relieved from the Dansal Hospital after first-aid. Those admitted to the GMCH were Head Constable Kuldeep Singh and Constable Mohan Lal, both from Punjab; Constable Kalu Lal Meena from Rajasthan, Constable Davinder Singh from Haryana; Constable Om Parkash from Himachal Pradesh; Constable Shridhar from Andhra Pradesh; Constable Manoj Sakhia and Constable Sunil Vasu from Assam. To know about their wellbeing, all senior CRPF officers, including the DIG, Doda, CRPF, Prabhat Singh, and DSP Parminder Kaur, visited the GMCH here. Another miraculous escape
In yet another incident, a BSF constable had a miraculous escape when his motorcycle met with a head-on collision with a bus at Lagate Morh in Kathua district this morning. He was going towards his home in Lakhanpur for Karva Chauth. Constable Sohan Singh, posted at Samba district, was immediately taken to the district hospital, Kathua and was later referred to the Civil Hospital, Pathankot. Till the filing of this report, his condition was said to be stable and he was out of danger. A case has been registered in this regard. |
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Natrang’s cultural festival ends
Udhampur, October 26 Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, PK Pole was the chief guest on the occasion. Written and directed by Balwant Thakur, this multi-lingual play aimed at seeking peace through an effective participatory presentation of theatre. Over 8,000 people witnessed the captivating performance that Thakur designed in a manner that the audience itself identified with it. The play began with local problems and to make it much realistic to the people, the situations and the characters were changed in every performance. Issues like gender inequality, alcoholism, over-population, domestic violence and the decay of human concerns were highlighted in the beginning and later with a young man, symbolising the youth, emerging in the scene. The central young character, wanting to emulate his counterparts in developed nations in the world, is shattered as he fails to make any headway in the present situation in the country despite making all efforts. The play succeeded in conveying how due to dirty politics young minds were becoming victims of negative thoughts. But the play ends on an optimistic note with the young character pledging to rise above small issues to touch new horizons. The artistes performed well showing their experience of stagecraft that kept the audience spellbound. The cast included Dimple Sharma, Pankush Verma, Mohit Sharma, Rohit Verma, Rahul Singh, Tajasvi Sharma, Rajani Bhatti, Divya Kohli, Vikram Sharma, Ishfaq Anwar, Mohammad Yaseen and Kuldeep Mehra. The lighting and sound effects were designed and executed by Suraj Ganjoo and Shummy Kalotra. The show was managed by Sunit Kumar, Shashi Sharma, Raj Rahi and Rajinder Thakur.
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Arrested militants ran ISI’s communication centre in PoK
Jammu, October 26 The duo also passed on “instructions” of the United Jehad Council (UJC) chief Syed Salahuddin to the militants operating in the region. They have disclosed during interrogation that they had been sent as a desperate measure by the ISI and the UJC to revive militant groups, particularly the Hizbul Mujahideen, in Poonch, Rajouri, Kishtwar and Doda districts in the region. But before they could do anything, the alert Special Operation Group (SOG) nabbed them from the Jammu Railway station on Saturday last. “Abdul Waris, alias Tauseef Illahi, a resident of Kishtwar and confidant of Salahuddin, and Musarat Hussain Zargar, alias Firdous, a resident of Gandoh in Doda, used to communicate directly with various militant commanders operating in the Jammu division from Poonch to Kishtwar,” said a senior SOG officer. In fact, Waris had been handling a dedicated communication network set up by the ISI at Zaffarwal in the PoK for terrorists operating in the Jammu region, particularly in Poonch, Rajouri, Kishtwar and Doda districts, he added. Waris and Zargar crossed over to the PoK for arms training in 1998-99 and besides being experts in handling arms and ammunition, the duo had been trained in information technology for ciphering-deciphering messages for terrorists and the ISI, the officer said. “In fact, sending them to Kathmandu in a PIA flight and then facilitating their entry into Gorakhpur in India, from where they boarded a Jammu-bound train was all a well-knit plan of the ISI and the UJC to ensure their safe journey to Jammu and then to Doda district,” he added. Since the security forces had been maintaining a strict vigil at the LoC, the ISI didn’t want to push them into Jammu like ordinary militants, the SOG officer said. He added that the duo had spent over a decade running the communication centre at Zaffarwal and hence the ISI wanted them to reach Doda safely. After suffering heavy losses in the recent times the Hizbul Mujahideen had been left with nearly 20 cadres operating in the Marmat, Chatroo and Gandoh areas of Kishtwar and Doda and the duo being locals from Gandoh and Kishtwar were assigned the task of reviving the outfit. The ISI had trained them over the years and they had become experts in information technology, including wireless radio communication, Internet, SMS, cellphones etc, the officer said. “The ISI, we all know, has placed supporting terminals at several places in the PoK to aid the network,” he added. “Terrorists operating in the Jammu region use Kenwood radio sets and satellite phones and hence the terminals on the other side of the LoC play an important role in communicating with their handlers,” he said. We were also trying to ascertain “D2”, a code name to a location in the PoK, he added. It has also come to light that before coming to India the duo had been in constant touch with militant commanders operating in erstwhile Doda district. During interrogation Waris disclosed that he used to meet UJC chief Salahuddin once or twice every month to keep him abreast of the “developments” and
take “instructions”. |
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Six held with fake stamps
Jammu, October 26 SHO, Janipur police station, Jai Paul Sharma said acting on specific information raids were conducted and six persons were arrested and 25 stamps of senior officers and 13 identity cards were seized from their possession. The arrested persons were identified as Vijay Kumar Verma, an employee of the Geology and Mining Department, Ajit Kumar, an employee of the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), Sanjeev Chadha, a property dealer, Shiv Kumar, Manjeet Kumar and Bharat Bushan, alias Jagga, all businessmen. Narrating the modus operandi of the accused, the SHO said the accused used fake identity cards to execute land deeds and obtain fake SIM cards, as some fake stamps seized from their possession were in the name of the RTO, the electoral officer and some officials of the Civil Secretariat. Jai Paul added that they were trying to nab the other accused also.
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Uniforms, gifts given to students
Jammu, October 26 According to a statement issued here, the Director of School Education, Zahida Khan, and the Chief Education Officer, Natha Ram Dhingra, were among prominent guests present on the occasion. Sarishta Sharma, who was awarded the Best Teacher Award this year by President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on Teacher’s Day, extended gratitude to the School Education Department, Director of School Education and CEO for providing support and cooperation to run the school administration smoothly. The uniforms distributed to 275 students were sponsored by the Principal from her own award money. Sweets and stationary material were also distributed among the children by the school authorities. Speaking on the occasion, Zahida Khan lauded the efforts of Sarishta Sharma and congratulated her team members for setting high standards of quality education. A cultural programme was presented by the schoolchildren. Later, the students attended a flag-hoisting ceremony outside the school where MLA Chaman Lal Gupta unfurled the Tricolour and distributed gifts and refreshment among the children. |
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Karva Chauth sees gold sales soar
Jammu, October 26 Most of the jewellers claimed to have received around 70 per cent sale of gold products today. To lure customers, many jewellers offered heavy discount on purchase of gold and diamond products. While talking to The Tribune, Vijay Saraf, President of the Lakhdata Bazzar Business Welfare Association said, “The sale of gold items, particularly of ‘mangalsutra’, was comparatively higher than the previous year’s sale on Karva Chauth.” Jeweller Vicky Gupta said the main reason for the high sale of gold items was the rising trend of presenting gold products as gifts to wives on the occasion. Most of the customers purchased ‘mangalsutra’, bangles and chains with diamond lockets. Rohit Jandyal, a customer, said, “I always purchase a gold item on Karva Chauth as a present to my wife. Besides making my wife happy, purchasing gold items is one of the best medium of investment, which gives more benefit than the bank.” |
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Srinagar, October 26 The interlocutors, headed by eminent journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, met Shakeel Ahmad Ahanger, husband of Nilofar and brother of Aasiya - the two women whose death on May 30 led to widespread protests across the Valley. “The interlocutors told me that they had been sent by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister P Chidambaram and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to know about the tragedy that befell us last year,” Ahanger said after the meeting. He, however, said that he made it clear to the panel that he did not expect justice from the system. Padgaonkar said the visit to Shopian was a humanitarian gesture and the interlocutors wanted to hear the side of the bereaved families. “There was no political dialogue ... we only wanted to hear them and it was a humanitarian gesture to reach out to the families of the two women,” he said. Asked about his views on the incident, Padgaonkar said, “It would not be right for me to comment on it. I have heard their side of the story as we always do.” The head of the panel said several delegations called on them during the day in Srinagar which included “a large number of students, teachers and young professionals”. “We also interacted with a delegation of minorities and Sikhs,” he added. Meanwhile, one of the interlocutors MM Ansari has left for New Delhi due to his prior engagements. “He has a series of meetings to attend in New Delhi,” Padgaonkar said. Educationist Radha Kumar will hold an informal interaction with Valley-based journalists in the morning before moving to Jammu in the second leg of their first visit to Jammu and Kashmir.
— PTI
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Central varsity for Ladakh demanded
Jammu, October 26 “The education sector is most underdeveloped in Ladakh as compared to other regions of the state. Therefore, students from here go to other places for education. It becomes quite expensive and problematic,” the association said in a statement. — TNS |
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Sixteen shopkeepers challaned
Udhampur, October 26 The checking squad also realised a fine to the tune of Rs 2,400 on the spot from the defaulters. The squad checked a number of establishments in Gol Market, Bus Stand, Mukharjee
Bazar, Salathia Chowk and Main Bazar. Samples of ghee and sweets were also collected from the sweet shops for their purity check. The officials destroyed a quintal of fruits, vegetables and sweets as these were found unfit for human consumption. |
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7 administrative officers shifted
Srinagar, October 26 Altaf Ahmad Khan, Collector, Land Acquisition, Circular Road Project, Srinagar, had been transferred as Deputy Secretary, Social Welfare Department, while Farida Bhat, Deputy Secretary, Power, had been posted as Deputy Secretary, Tourism. Dhananter Singh, Under Secretary, Higher Education, would swap posting with Narinder Kumar, Under Secretary, Power. Nazir Ahmad, Under Secretary, Tourism, had been posted as Staff Welfare Officer, General Administration Department, relieving Ashok Kumar Koul, Under Secretary, General Administration Department, of the additional charge of the post
— TNS
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Ladakh councillors take oath
Leh, October 26 District Principal Sessions Judge Ajaz Ahmad Mir administered the oath and Deputy Commissioner Sanjeev Verma delivered the welcome note. Among the dignitaries present were Tourism and Cultural Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora and Lobzang Rinchan, president of the Ladakh Buddhist Association. However, the Congress won a two-thirds majority in the 30-member general council, while the BJP could secure only four seats.
— OC |
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Centre’s nod sought for prosecuting Armymen
Jammu, October 26 “The J&K Home Department has sought sanction from the Central government for the prosecution of Armymen under the AFSPA in 41 cases since 1990,” a senior Army officer of Northern Command said. A total of 41 cases have been received by the Central Government since 1990. Out of this, 36 cases had already been investigated. “No prosecution sanction has been accorded by the Central Government so far. Out of 36 cases investigated, sanction was not accorded in 14 cases, two were settled and a case was referred back to the state government,” the officer said. He said the remaining 19 cases were under process at the Army Headquarters and the Defence
Ministry. — PTI
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Jamwal is JJSF president of SPMR college
Jammu, October 26 The election was held on the college premises under the supervision of Principal Anita Sudan. Jamwal defeated his opponent Manpreet Singh by nine votes. Jamwal got 29 class representative (CR) votes out of 49 votes. For the post of general secretary, Vishal Sadotra got 27 votes and defected his opponent Kanwal Jeet Singh by five votes. Lovkesh was elected the vice-president of the college unit.
— TNS |
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Jammu stressed its integration with India by celebrating the 63rd anniversary of the Instrument of Accession Day with much pomp and show today.
With an increase in the crime rate, the importance of the Forensic Science Laboratory
(FSL) has also increased, as all states heavily rely upon it while solving any serious crime.
Jammu, October 26
