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Republic Day Message
8 MLAs, several BJP workers arrested
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300 party workers in guise of pilgrims arrested
Security Build-up
Vigilant cops let this UP man cross Ravi bridge
Vijay Kant Chauhan, a resident of Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, with his motorcycle in Kathua on Tuesday. He is on his way to hoist the National Flag at Lal Chowk on Republic day. Tribune photo: Anand Sharma
Eleven selected for state awards
Take part in dialogue, Omar asks separatists
Army School celebrates R-Day
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Republic Day Message
Jammu, January 25 Greeting the people on the eve of 62nd Republic Day, in a broadcast, the Governor said for achieving peace, progress and prosperity, the government and the Opposition as well as all religious, cultural and social organisations in the state would need to work closely. He observed that the people of Jammu and Kashmir had suffered the consequences of violence for a long time. We must recognise that issues involving contrary positions could not be resolved through violent agitations, he added. The Governor said the time had come for us to commit that all contentious issues would be resolved peacefully through conciliation and meaningful dialogues. He said recognising the importance of the dialogue process, the state government had been, from time to time, supporting the Centre’s various initiatives in this regard. In the recent months, the Central government had established task forces for the Ladakh and Jammu regions, appointed a three-member team of interlocutors and announced an eight-point formula for addressing some of the pressing issues relating to Kashmir. The state government had welcomed all these moves, he added. Wishing the people of the state a happy 2011, the Governor expressed optimism that the coming time would see the resolution of all contentious issues and bring sustained peace and normalcy to the state. He wished Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and all members of his Council of Ministers success in their endeavour to deliver good governance and take the state speedily forward.
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8 MLAs, several BJP workers arrested
Jammu, January 25 The police was taken by surprise after hundreds of Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha
(BJYM) workers hiding in various localities surfaced all of a sudden and took to the streets. Joined by the local party workers, these BJYM workers, who came mostly from Western and Southern parts of the country, trooped towards Parade, the venue of the rally. Though the whole city had been fortified and crackdown was continuing, a large number of BJYM workers had managed to sneak into Jammu. Shouting patriotic slogans, they emerged from the lanes and
bylanes, as they were staying at the houses of the local party workers. Stunned by the sudden emergence of such a large number of party workers, the police swung into action and tried to arrest them, but to no avail. After a four-hour drama, the BJYM workers courted arrest at Parade. At some places the party workers also entered into a scuffle with the police. To foil any attempt by the party to hold a rally, the police had also sealed the BJP headquarters at Kacchi
Chowni. A large number of party workers, who had gathered on the premise of the BJP office, tried to take out a procession, but were arrested. Before their arrest, the party workers clashed with the police. To avoid any untoward incident, the government had imposed a ban on the BJP rally. At Parade Ground, some BJP workers smashed windowpanes of some structures and vehicles. Shouting slogans like “Vande
Mataram”, “Lal Chowk Jayenge, Tiranga Wahin Pharayenge” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” hundreds of BJYM workers flooded the city roads. The
Jammu-Pathankot and Jammu-Srinagar highways were closed for vehicular movement. At Bikram
Chowk, a group of BJP workers tried to block vehicular movement, but their attempt was foiled by the police. The BJP workers also burnt an effigy of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. At the Jammu Airport, eight MLAs of the BJP staged a dharna on the road this morning after they were not allowed to board a
Srinagar-bound flight of Jet Airways. The MLAs were told by the police that their bookings had been cancelled, which infuriated the legislators, who sat on the road. However, they were arrested and taken to a guest house in Gandhi
Nagar. Similarly at Samba, Akhnoor, Vijaypur, Bishnah, RS Pura and other areas, a large number of BJP workers took out processions but were not allowed to proceed towards Jammu city. Sources in the police said the traffic movement, particularly on the
Jammu-Srinagar highway, was suspended as a precautionary measure in view of the BJP’s plan to hoist the National Flag at Lal Chowk in
Srinagar. The state government declared a holiday in schools and colleges, which remained closed today.
Udhampur: In an early morning crackdown, the police arrested around 300 BJP workers in Reasi district, including 100 workers who had sneaked into
Katra, the base camp of the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, in the guise of pilgrims. Though rumours to this effect were doing rounds here for the past some days about the ploy of the BJP workers to hoodwink the police,
SSP, Reasi, Kesav R. Chaurasia yesterday dismissed any such thing happening. He claimed that a strict watch was being kept to detect the BJP workers adamant on going ahead with their plan to reach
Srinagar. But today’s development belied his claim. Sources said around 100 BJP workers from Gujarat and Maharashtra had reached Katra in small groups. The police got the whiff of it and swooped on them, as they started heading for Srinagar in private vehicles bearing the party flags. They raised slogans like “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”. They were kept in the building of local Government High School. |
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300 party workers in guise of pilgrims arrested
Udhampur, January 25 Though rumours to this effect were doing rounds here for the past some days about the ploy of the BJP workers to hoodwink the police, SSP, Reasi, Kesav R. Chaurasia yesterday dismissed any such thing happening. He claimed that a strict watch was being kept to detect the BJP workers adamant on going ahead with their plan to reach Srinagar. But today’s development belied his claim. Sources said around 100 BJP workers from Gujarat and Maharashtra had reached Katra in small groups. The police got the whiff of it and swooped on them, as they started heading for Srinagar in private vehicles bearing the party flags. They raised slogans like “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”. They were kept in the building of local Government High School. As per the official version, 72 workers were taken into preventive custody at Katra. In a simultaneous action, the police arrested around 200 workers, including the Reasi district unit president of the BJP, Kabla Singh.
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Security Build-up
Lakhanpur, January 25 He was spotted arguing with the police on what the entire hoopla was about. A considerate CRPF jawan tried to explain to him the cause of the blockade. Trying his best to understand why the National Flag could not be hoisted at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, Vikas asked why schools had been closed and why children were not allowed to go out by their parents? He said, “I am getting increasingly sick in this place. Every other day there are strikes and closures. And now even this bridge has been blocked. We had a cricket match in the school today. We had also planned a Republic Day party.” Vikas said he managed to sneak out of his house, evading his ever-vigilant parents and the elder sister. “No other friend was allowed to come out by their parents. So, I have come to the bridge to ask officers and politicians why they don’t let us study and play in peace.” The innocence of Vikas exemplifies the misery of several residents of Lakhanpur, Kathua and Pathankot who have to cross the bridge daily to go for work, education or occasionally, to meet relatives and participate in happy or sad occasions. Sanjana Kaur of Kathua was another resident who was upset over the prevailing conditions in the state. She, along with her family, was stopped from crossing the Ravi bridge. “A death has occurred in a close family relation in Dinanagar, a town between Pathankot and Gurdaspur. But we can’t go. It is a loss of face for us,”she lamented. Deepak, a resident of Chandigarh, tried in vain to cross the river under the bridge. But the cops did not allow him. “I had come to attend a family function here and wanted to go back to Chandigarh to attend my college, but am stuck here,” he said. The District Magistrate, Kathua, Zahida Khan, said no one would be allowed to enter or leave the state. But ambulance services and funeral processions were exempt from the restrictions.
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Vigilant cops let this UP man cross Ravi bridge
Lakhanpur, January 25 The motorcycle decorated with the National Flag and patriotic slogans looked apart today as Vijay pulled it across the Ravi. The vigilant cops too let him pass through and he was soon speeding towards Jammu when The Tribune caught up with him. “I am going to Lal Chowk. I would hoist the National Flag there, as I am an Indian citizen and do not represent any political party.” Badly bruised while crossing the Ravi and tired due to the week-long journey that he began from his hometown, Saharanpur, Vijay has vowed celibacy and to devote all his life to the propagation of the ideology of Bhagat Singh. |
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Eleven selected for state awards
Jammu, January 25 Syed Rasool Pompur, a poet, Mishal Sultanpuri, a Kashmiri poet and writer, and Wali Mohammad Batt, a historian, have been selected for their achievements in the field of literature. Krishna Kumari, a traditional folk artist, has been selected for her contributions to performing arts. Abhay Rustum Sopori, a santoor maestro and music composer, has been awarded for excellence in the field of art and craft, while Dhruv Lakra, CEO, Mirakle Couriers, has been selected for his works on social reforms. Kuldeep Handoo, a Wushu player, has been selected for being the outstanding sportsperson, while Mohammad Saleem Pandit, principal correspondent, Kashmir, Times of India, and
MK Bangroo, a journalist, have also been selected in the category of outstanding mediapersons. Dr Ghanshyam Dev Gupta, Professor and head of the Radio Diagnosis and Imaging Department at the Government Medical College Hospital, Jammu, and Jigmet Takpa, IFS, conservator of forests (Wildlife), Ladakh/Project Director, LREDA, Leh, have also been selected for rendering meritorious public service. The winners will receive a cash reward of
Rs 51,000, a medal and a citation. |
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Take part in dialogue, Omar asks separatists
Jammu, January 25 “The institution of interlocutors created by the Union government to initiate interaction with all shades of opinion should be utilised earnestly to find out a solution to the issues,” he said and appealed to the separatists to rise to the occasion and play their role in bringing about peace and tranquillity in the state. “I hope that you (separatists) will become part of dialogue and contribute towards a better future of the state,” he told the separatists. In an address to the people on the occasion of Republic Day (to be broadcast and telecast from Radio Kashmir and Doordarshan on January 26), Omar reminded them of the loss of precious lives and property during the period of militancy and in the five months of turmoil. He said violence and law and order situations had never solved any problem. “The brave and lively societies resolve their issues amicably in a peaceful atmosphere,” he said and called for joint efforts for peace and welfare in the state. Omar said during my electioneering for the 2008 Assembly elections “I have sought the cooperation and vote from people for the development and progress of the state, but soon after taking over as Chief Minister, I utilised every opportunity to highlight the resolution of political issues politically”. “It was me who vehemently and categorically took up the political issue of Jammu and Kashmir with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi at a huge public rally stressing on addressing these issues politically. Not only this, I utilised other important forums to call for focusing on the political issues of Jammu and Kashmir in a conducive and political atmosphere,” he said. “While I thanked the Union government for a liberal financial assistance on the development front, I emphasised the need for a sustained and meaningful dialogue to address the political issues of the state,” Omar said. He added that unabated efforts of his government in this direction had started yielding positive results.
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Army School celebrates R-Day
Jammu, January 25 The students presented group songs and aerobics keeping with the spirit of Republic Day. Principal of the school KCS Mehta was honoured for being an “ideal principal” on the occasion by the students’ development committee, while the arts teacher of the school was conferred with the title of “ideal teacher.” The students, who excelled in different fields of activity during this academic year, were also awarded in the function. |
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Governor NN Vohra today urged all segments of society in the three regions of the state to join hands to build a strong, stable and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir and make it a model state for the entire country.
After a high-voltage drama unfolded in the winter capital here last evening, hundreds of BJP workers courted arrest today in various parts of the temple city, where normal life moved at a snail’s pace.
Lakhanpur, January 25
Jammu, January 25
