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Interlocutors visit Poonch
Roof of under-construction hostel collapses, 2 killed
Shortage of Teachers
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Multi-agency strategy effective in tracking ultras
Countering Calamities
Foggy weather
Broken windowpanes fall on college employees, 3 hurt
College holds Red Cross Mela
Jobless physiotherapists hold protest
Village in Bandipora gutted in fire
Woman consumes poison, dies
Curfew lifted, Valley peaceful
Body found from canal
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Exercise not Kashmir centric: Ansari
Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service
Jammu, December 18 After meeting with different deputations, former Central Information Commissioner MM Ansari, one of the interlocutors, admitted that the opinions of the people of Poonch was entirely different from those of residents of the Kashmir valley. He said a majority of the delegations made it clear that they wanted to live with India. Some of the deputations also demanded that the part of Kashmir, which was under the control of the neighbouring country, should also be liberated. They also stressed that the aspirations of all regions should be addressed while resolving the issue. As Dileep Padgaonkar is not much conversant with Urdu, Ansari replied all the queries of mediapersons. He said their exercise was “not Kashmir Centric”. “This problem will be solved through democratic and political means and no solution will be imposed on any region or section,” he added. Ansari assured the people that the wishes and aspirations of all regions and sub-regions would be addressed while formulating the formula for the solution of the problem. He said development was the main issue in this hilly border district. As many as 40 deputations of political, social, business and traders’ organisations met the interlocutors and put forth their viewpoints and highlighted the demands of border district of Poonch. A majority of the deputations rejected the demand for azadi and said the accession of the state to the Indian Union was final and complete. Besides giving their suggestions for the solution to the Kashmir problem, the deputations highlighted socio-economic backwardness of the district and demanded a special package for the growth of this border belt. Groups of ethnic and religious minorities living in the district highlighted the problems being faced by them. The deputation of the Sanatan Dharam Sabha led by Manjit Kumar demanded the minority status for Hindus living in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri. It stressed on the need for taking some effective steps for ensuring safety of the minorities living in this part of the state. It demanded an adequate share for the minorities in government jobs. Although the state unit of the BJP has boycotted the interlocutors due to their “controversial” remarks on Kashmir, the Poonch unit of the party met with the visiting team and put forth their demands. The deputations of the Congress, National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Refugee Manch, Ex-Servicemen Forum, Bar Association, Pahari Front and other groups called on them and highlighted their demands. Meanwhile, the Rajouri-Poonch United Front, an amalgam of various social, religious and political organisations, has termed the visit of the interlocutors as an eyewash. Interacting with mediapersons, convener of the front Vibodh Gupta, along with Mohammad Aslam Kohli, said the interlocutors were visiting only the district headquarters and ignoring the worst affected areas like Surankote, Mendhar, Thanamandi, Budhal, Koteranaka, Nowshere and Sunderbani.
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Roof of under-construction hostel collapses, 2 killed
Jammu, December 18 The victims have been identified as Rampal and Sanju, both in their mid twenties and residents of Orissa. The bodies were shifted to the GMCH for a post-mortem. Both of them were staying at the same building. The sources said incident took place when the labourers removed temporary pillars installed to give support to the newly laid slab, and it collapsed. “The structure was weak and it could not withstand the removal of the temporary pillars and fell on the labourers,” said Aalam Gir, another labourer and an eyewitness. He added that usually they only remove the shuttering after 15 days of laying the slab. Gir said, “We heard a loud noise and all of us were shaken. We rushed towards the site and started the rescue operation. But Rampal and Sanju had died before they could be pulled out of the rubble.” Meanwhile, a police party reached the spot and recorded the statements of other labourers. The contractor of the building fled and efforts were on nab him. Sameer Geelani, in charge of Narwal police post, said, “We have registered a case under Section 304-A of the RPC and are investigating the case.” The foundation stone of the building was laid by Minister for CAPD and Transport Qamar Ali Akhoon on October 9 last year. The PWD (Kargil) is the construction agency for it. |
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Students block highway
Raju William/TNS
Reasi, December 18 Almost all students from elementary to higher classes of the school had earlier protested on May 26 and this was their second protest. Due to the persisting shortage of teachers and the drinking water problem, the students blocked traffic on the NH-1C between Reasi and Pouni this morning in protest against the district education authorities and the district administration. Sanjeev, one of the protesting student, said the authorities concerned failed to act on their repeated requests for providing teachers and drinking water facility. “When we blocked the road earlier in May, the authorities assured us that the matter would be resolved within six days. But nothing had happened even after six months,” he alleged. Another student, Simran, said the problem had rather worsened in the last six months. “The only Urdu teacher in the school has been transferred. We have now only four teachers for the whole school. Our studies are suffering a lot due to the shortage of teachers. We fear getting poor results as the annual examination is just over two months away,” she added. Since the blockade caused inconvenience to a large number of pilgrims to the Shiv Khori shrine as well as daily commuters, Varinder Gupta, SHO, Reasi, had a tough time convincing the students that their demands had been conveyed to the authorities concerned and would be resolved in a day or two. However, the students called off the protest only after they were given an assurance in the presence of prominent people of the area. Kushal Kumar Sharma, Chief Education Officer, Reasi, said the availability of drinking water in the school was the responsibility of the Department of Public Health Engineering. He added that out of the seven sanctioned posts of teachers, one was vacant, while the other teacher was on leave and two others were on the census duty. “I have issued orders for those on the census duty to resume teaching, besides posting two more teachers who will be joining duty next week,” he added.
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Multi-agency strategy effective in tracking ultras
Reasi, December 18 However, it has been officially put on record that a meticulously planned and coordinated operation executed at multiple locations extending from Dehradun in Uttarakhand, Nurpur in Himachal Pradesh and Bihota in Marmat, Doda, lasting for over five days, led to the arrest of four terrorists, Javed Qureshi, Tanveer, Jameel Ahmed Wani and Ghulam Nabi. Subsequent to their arrest, the terrorists were taken to the higher mountain reaches of the Marmat area and a huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered last night. Senior police officials in Doda said the Rashtriya Rifles and the state police deployed in Marmat had continuously tracked the four terrorists by deploying additional forces, including temporary operating bases, in the higher mountain reaches. This had made the movement, survival and sustenance of the militants nearly impossible. An effective intelligence network was developed that facilitated a daily check on their activities, the officials said. The intensity of domination and operations by the security forces denied the terrorists an opportunity to construct hideouts for sustenance during winters. Having come under tremendous pressure, the terrorists decided to move out of the area to places in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh as casual labourers to evade the security forces. However, this could not fool the elaborate intelligence network of the security forces and the intelligence agencies in the area, said the officials.
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Katra declared Civil Defence town
Tribune News Service
Reasi, December 18 Additional DGP, Home Guards, Civil Defence, S. Gopal Reddy announced this at Katra today. Presiding over a general awareness function organised by the Civil Defence unit, Udhampur, at Government Higher Secondary School, Katra, Reddy announced the appointment of the Chief Civil Defence Warden and the Deputy Chief Civil Defence Warden for the town. He said natural disturbances like landslides and stone shedding had been occurring in the hilly terrain of the area, resulting in loss of life and property. The Civil Defence activities would cover such calamities and accordingly chart out modalities for minimising their impact. Reddy added that to make the Civil Defence movement more vibrant in the holy town, a comprehensive plan would be chalked out in consultation with the authorities of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji Shrine Board and the district police. To start with, a week-long awareness training programme for the Civil Defence volunteers would soon be organised at Katra. Appreciating the efforts for initiating the Civil Defence activities in the town, DIG, Udhampur-Reasi Police Range, GS Salathia highlighted the role of the Civil Defence Organisation in educating the general masses about the diverse issues of pubic interest, disaster management and community policing. SSP, Reasi, Anand Jain and SSP, Udhampur, Surinder Gupta, who were present on the occasion, acknowledged the importance of mobilising people in helping the civil administration in a big way in the event of natural or man made disasters.
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Army, BSF intensify night patrolling along LoC
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria Tribune News Service
Jammu, December 18 “Though the Army is always alert, we change our strategy according to the situation. Since visibility has decreased because of foggy weather conditions, we have deployed more soldiers along the LoC,” said sources in the Army. The sources said approximately 200 to 250 militants were waiting at various launch pads close to the LoC. The night patrolling had been intensified along the LoC, especially at vulnerable areas and special focus was given to the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, they added. “Because of poor visibility, more soldiers armed with night vision devices and sophisticated weaponry have been deployed at the LoC,” said a senior Army officer. “While taking advantage of the foggy weather conditions, they (ultras) can try to intrude from any place. And keeping this in mind, we have already fortified the border with more soldiers,” he said. Sources in the BSF said it had also intensified night patrolling along the international border. “We are giving special attention to forward areas in Kathua, Samba, RS Pura and Kanachak,” they added. “Our jawans have increased foot patrolling during night and we are also using sophisticated gadgetry procured recently for the purpose,” the sources said. “There are militants on the other side of the border and during nights we do observe their movement in the Pakistan army vehicles. They are shuttled from one area to another in search of an opportunity to push them to this side,” they added.
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Broken windowpanes fall on college employees, 3 hurt
Jammu, December 18 The windowpanes of the whole building have reportedly been smashed by monkeys. Students said the windowpanes had not been replaced for the past several years. “Even though it’s winter, the windowpanes have not been replaced. We have to face difficulties during rains and winter,” said a student. “The danger of injuries from the pieces of smashed windowpanes hanging loosely looms. They can fall even in case of a small tremor,” he said, adding that the college needs immediate repairs as its entire building was in a shambles. Arti Bakshi, principal of the college, said it was a ‘trivial’ and ‘oft-repeated’ thing in the college.
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College holds Red Cross Mela
Jammu, December 18 Tanveer applauded the effort of the college for organising the mela. Kiran Bakshi, principal of the college, said the mela was organised to instill a sense of responsibility among students towards society. Stalls to spread awareness about blood donation and AIDS, first aid kit and on-the-spot blood group analysis were put up by the Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu, Indian Red Cross Society and the Jammu and Kashmir Aids Prevention and Control Society. Dr TR Raina, head of the Department of Blood Transfusion and Medicine, GMCH, was also present on the occasion.
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Jobless physiotherapists hold protest
Jammu, December 18 “The government has policies and money for militants, but not for the educated youth,” said media convener of the association Dr Gagan R Charak. “In over 26 days of the agitation, several physiotherapy doctors and students have fallen ill due to dust and chill, while others are suffering from depression and neurotic behaviour,” he said. “One of our leaders, Dr Akash, is now suffering from neurotic symptoms due to his manhandling by the police. There are other doctors and students who foresee a bleak future. They are also depressed over the prospect of their career and poverty at home,” he added.
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Village in Bandipora gutted in fire
Srinagar, December 18 “Most of the houses and other structures, including the mosque, in the village have been gutted in the fire. However, there are no reports of any casualty in the incident,” the spokesman said. He said fire tenders from nearby Dawar were rushed to the spot but they proved to be little help as most of the houses were made of wood and mud. The spokesman said relief material had reached the affected village and was being distributed among the victims. Speaking to The Tribune, Aamir Ali, coordinator of the Natural Disaster Management Cell, said, “Around 35 houses in the village were gutted in the fire. The relief material was rushed to the area immediately and the victims were shifted in temporary accommodations.” Meanwhile, an Army spokesman said the timely action by the Army units deployed in the area saved many lives. “The fire gradually engulfed a large part of the village. Seeing the smoke billowing, an Army column immediately reached the village with fire fighting equipment and medical team,” he said. The village was cordoned off and measures initiated to douse the fire. Several lives and property were saved in the process. The Army spokesman said additional teams were also deputed to assist in crowd control and evacuation of civilians from the house in the near proximity of fire. The timely and courageous action of the Army troops helped in controlling the ferocity of the fire, and thereby saving 10 houses in the village and preventing loss of life and property. “The follow up aid is being provided to the displaced villagers in terms of rehabilitation stores to include tents, tarpaulins, bedding and blankets. The villagers are being provided meals and medical treatment as required. A monetary assistance of Rs 25,000 was distributed by the Army as immediate relief,” he said.
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Woman consumes poison, dies
Jammu, December 18 Shobha Rani was shifted to the GMCH from the Hiranagar Hospital yesterday under critical condition where she died after two hours, the police said. However, the reason behind the incident was not yet known, the police added. A case under Section 174 of CrPC has been registered.
In another incident, a woman sustained severe burn injuries at her house in the Purmandal area of Samba district yesterday. Gayatri Devi was preparing meal in her kitchen when she had an epilepsy attack and sustained severe burn injuries, the police said. She was alone at her house and her neighbours informed the police, which shifted her to hospital in Samba, from where she was referred to the GMCH here. The condition of the injured is said to be critical. |
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Curfew lifted, Valley peaceful
Srinagar, December 18 The authorities had yesterday imposed the curfew in areas falling under the jurisdiction of seven police station in the city. A police spokesman said the mourning processions were held in various districts of the Kashmir valley except in the Abi Guzar locality in central Srinagar where the authorities had imposed the curfew. “Day passed off peacefully. There were no reports of any untoward incident from any place. The situation remained normal and under control throughout the Valley today,” he said.
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Body found from canal
Jammu, December 18 The police said the deceased appeared to be in his mid-forties and the body bore no injury marks. The body had been
sent to the Government Medical College and Hospital for conducting a post-mortem. A case has been registered under Section 174 of CrPC. |
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