Jammu, August 2
The 10-day-long annual Buddha Amarnath Yatra started today with the first batch of 250 pilgrims leaving for Mandi tehsil in Poonch district.

Amid tight security, Jammu Divisional Commissioner Pawan Kotwal flagged off the pilgrims from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp here this morning.

Escorted by security personnel, the pilgrims, including 56 women and 10 children, were led by Baba Amarnath Yatri Niyas president Surinder Mohan Aggarwal.

Talking to mediapersons, Kotwal hoped that the pilgrimage would give a boost to the economy of border districts of Rajouri and Poonch as pilgrims from various parts of the country visited the shrine in Poonch.

Adequate security arrangements had been made to ensure a trouble-free pilgrimage, he added.

Meanwhile,the yatra will conclude on Raksha Bandhan on August 13.

Nearly two lakh pilgrims from across the country are expected to undertake the yatra in the next nine days.

Srinagar, August 2
The SP,Sopore, Altaf Khan, was today shifted in the wake of the death of a youth in police custody in the town on Sunday.

"In order to ensure a fair and impartial investigation into the incident, it was decided to transfer the SP, Sopore, with immediate effect," an official spokesman said after a meeting chaired by Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani to review the progress of the probe into the custodial death of Nazim Rashid Shalla, alias Anjum.

Khan was replaced by the SP, Ganderbal, Imtiyaz Hussain, with immediate effect, an official spokesman said.

"During the meeting, it was decided that the DIG, North Kashmir Range, Muneer Ahmad Khan, will be the overall in-charge of the ongoing investigation," the spokesman said.

He said the meeting, which was attended by the Director-General of Police, Kuldeep Khoda, and the Principal Secretary, Home, B R Sharma, also reviewed the progress of the magisterial enquiry being conducted by the SDM, Sopore, Muhammad Ahsan Mir.

Earlier in the day, a delegation of PDP leaders was given a hostile reception by Sopore residents on their arrival at Rashid's residence.

The residents raised slogans and threw stones at the leaders’ vehicles.

"Four vehicles were damaged before the PDP leaders decided to return," official sources said. A PDP spokesman said the agitators were demanding the removal of the SP and the DSP.

Meanwhile, Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Prof Saifuddin Soz, has expressed anguish over the custodial death.

In a statement issued here yesterday, Soz said, “I express my deepest anguish over the death of Nazim Rashid Shalla in police custody at Sopore. Whatever offence the slain youth was allegedly involved in, there is no justification for third degree methods that must have been used to extract information from the deceased. The perpetrators of the crime must be punished adequately.”

He said the least that was expected of the state administration was to institute an inquiry at the proper level outside the Police Department and punish the culprits within a month.

“That is the way to assuage the hurt feelings of the public,” Soz said. — PTI

Srinagar, August 2
Moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today threatened violent protests if the state government did not remove the restrictions imposed on the movement of separatist leaders in the Kashmir valley.

“We warn the government to remove the restrictions and let the Hurriyat Conference have the right to convey its views to the people. If the government continues with the restrictions, we will be forced to chart out such a programme, which can turn violent,” the Mirwaiz told reporters here.

He said if the Hurriyat leadership was placed under house arrest, the issue would be taken up by the people.

“So far, we have told the people to protest peacefully, but if restrictions are placed on us to impede our religious rights, as the Mirwaiz of Kashmir, I will have to call upon the people to come out to defend their religion,” he said.

Several separatist leaders were placed under house arrest by the government after a youth was killed in police custody in Sopore. The Hurriyat leader also extended his support to a call for a shutdown tomorrow,which was given by party hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani in protest against the custodial death. — PTI 

Srinagar, August 2
Terming Khidmat Centres as an important initiative to provide employment avenues to the educated youth, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today approved the constitution of a working group of Administrative Secretaries and the Jammu and Kashmir Bank authorities to work out a strategy for making the centres more viable, economically sound and efficient.

“These service centres will not only ensure substantial livelihood to the village-level entrepreneurs ,but also help in a big way in providing services to the people speedily,” he said. These centres could be utilised for service delivery under the social welfare, higher education, power development, consumer affairs and public distribution sectors effectively, he added.

Chairing a high-level meeting here this morning, the Chief Minister reviewed the progress of the centres. “You should study the successful utilisation of similar centres in other states and replicate it here feasibly,” Omar told the Information Technology Department. He added that the role of Jammu and Kashmir Bank in this direction should be more positive and result-oriented.

The Chief Minister emphasised the need for providing full assistance to the village-level entrepreneurs to make their ventures successful and facilitate public service in a better way. “You should work out the use of these centres for providing admission forms of higher educational institutions, collection of electricity bills, employment forms and other such services in the Social Welfare and Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution departments.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister for Information Technology Aga Syed Ruhullah presented the details of the initiatives taken by the Information Technology Department to strengthen the centres and popularise e-governance in the state.

Jammu, August 2
Two students and a constable were injured in a cane charge and a clash on the Jammu University campus here today.

The students belonging to the Central University Joint Action Committee (CUJAC) were protesting against the delay in making Central University of Jammu functional.

As soon as the students assembled near the Fountain Plaza with an effigy of the Union HRD Minister, Kapil Sibbal, the police cane charged them, causing injuries to two students, said sources.

The sources said the university administration had requisitioned the police to prevent the students from burning any effigy on the campus.

The injured students were identified as Mohinder Pal Singh Pandu, president, CUJAC, and Harsh Choudhary.

Earlier, a constable also received injuries in a clash with the students.

Meanwhile, the Progressive Students Association took serious note of the cane charge and boycotted the classes on the campus. The Jammu Joint Students Federation also condemned the action. The students also took out a march towards the Vice-Chancellor’s office and raised slogans against the police and the university administration. 

Srinagar, August 2
Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs AR Rather has asked engineers of the Rural Development and Irrigation Departments to dovetail their programmes for the construction of water storages in Karewa, Karapora, to provide irrigation facilities to farmers as a shot-term measure.

He said Karewa, which had now developed into a huge orchard area, needed irrigation facilities to increase the production of fruits and other agricultural produce.

During his tour to Pakherpora, Chraripora, Shankerpora, Dalwan and Malapora, the minister was accompanied by the District Development Commissioner, Budgam, Mohammad Rafi, executive engineers of the PHE and Irrigation Departments and officers concerned of other departments.

He instructed the engineers to enhance the storage capacity of the existing water tank at Chraripora, adding that the tank should also be fenced and covered with a transparent rooftop.

During the tour to Malapora, the minister ordered the construction of a causeway to link Malapora with Gooso village. He said all the possibilities would be explored to revive the Malapora Irrigation Dam for which a Rs 45-crore comprehensive project had been formulated by the engineers for approval by the Central government.

The dam would provide irrigation facilities to thousands of kanals in Karewa on its completion.

Earlier, the minister, along with officials of the district administration of Budgam, reviewed the arrangements for the annual Urs of Hazrat Syed Ali Aali Bulkhi at Pakherpora. The Urs,which is scheduled to commence from August 14,would continue for seven days. He directed the officers concerned to make foolproof arrangements for the celebrations, adding that the pilgrims should be provided all the requisite facilities.

Jammu, August 2
Patients are complaining of lack of proper treatment at the Orthopaedics Department of the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu. They say they could not find a doctor or paramedical staff to attend to them. Parveen Gupta, a patient, said “I was admitted to the Ward No. 11 of the Orthopaedics Department for about a week. No paramedical staff came there to administer vaccines or give medicines to me. Then I got myself shifted to the Ward No. 2. Even here my condition continues to be the same.”

Poonchu Ram, a patient from Sunder Bani in Rajouri, said, “I am lying here for the last 11 days, but no hospital employee has come to attend to me.”

“I was operated upon in the hospital but the surgery was unsuccessful,” he said. “I need another surgery. Due to my financial condition, I cannot afford to go to a private hospital,” he added.

Other patients lamented that when their condition deteriorated their attendants could not find paramedical staff to attend to them. There were some who were awaiting surgery for the past more than 15 days.

Facilities like public conveniences in the hospital are also in a pathetic condition. There are no separate toilets for women in the wards. The toilets lack doors and cleanliness.

When the Tribune team visited the wards of the Orthopaedics Department around 3:30 pm today, there was no paramedical staff in their chambers. Also, no doctors was present there. The head of the Orthopaedics Department, Dr Sudesh Sharma, said he was not in the hospital. He, however, said, “There is only one paramedical employee in the three recovery wards of the department.”

“The department is facing an acute shortage of manpower,” he said, adding that, “Patients’ complaints are genuine, but we are helpless.”

Jammu, August 2
In a petition filed before the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC), the Trade and Industry Cell of the state BJP today opposed the proposed hike in power tariffs for domestic, commercial and industrial sectors by 50, 70 and 90 per cent, respectively.

Addressing a press conference here, Choudhary Vikram Randhawa, state convener of BJP’s Trade and Industry Cell, said any hike in power tariffs would adversely impact the competitiveness of the industry and trade, which was facing locational disadvantages in the state. “The proposed power tariff hike, if implemented, will prove disastrous for the industry. A majority of industrial units will have to close down, thus further compounding the unemployment problem,” he said.

Randhawa said the state government had always promised subsidised power to the industrial sector and due to which a number of large, medium and small industrial units had emerged in the state. Despite the promise, the power tariff had been increased a number of times, that too without any subsidy or benefit to the industrial sector. “The Power Development Department (PDD) is attributing the proposed tariff hike to high transmission losses, non-recovery of arrears from government departments, un-metered power supply, surplus staff and other factors,” he said.

Randhawa announced the new team of the Trade and Industry Cell on the occasion. It included Jai Ram Sharma and Bansi Lal Gupta as co-conveners and Romesh Mahajan, Beli Ram Sudan, Parveen Pargal, Inderpal Singh, Vivek Shingal, Yash Sharma, Rakesh Gupta and Gopal Gupta as executive members.

Jammu, August 2
The working of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) here was badly affected following a strike by junior doctors and interns in protest against a magisterial probe into their alleged negligence that resulted in the death of a youth, Sukhbir Singh, on July 30.

Sukhbir, a Class XII student, was stabbed to death by two students outside a coaching centre at Shastri Nagar. The angry doctors suspended all services and threatened to continue their strike for 48 hours.

They were demanding that the magisterial probe be withdrawn and adequate security arrangements made at the GMCH.

Yesterday, family members and relatives of Sukhbir, led by ex-corporator and Congress leader, Surinder Singh Shingari, had gheraoed the office of the GMCH Principal, demanding action against the doctors, who allegedly didn’t attend to Sukhbir in time.

The district administration had constituted a committee headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner Sheetal Nanda to conduct an inquiry into the incident. The committee has been asked to submit its report in 15 days.

However, after the hospital management intervened, the doctors resumed the emergency services.

The doctors, however, made it clear that they would not resume their duties in wards and OPDs till the district administration withdrew its decision to hold the probe.

Jammu, August 2
A sapling plantation drive was launched today at the Jammu Tawi Golf Course, Sidhra, by Minister for Tourism and Culture Nawang Rigzin Jora by planting a jamun sapling.

The minister was accompanied by Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Pawan Kotwal, who also planted a sapling followed by the Director, Tourism, Jammu, RS Mehta.

Metha apprised the minister about the plantation of saplings on the golf course to give it adequate wood coverage.

He added that this would also add to the beauty and sylvan setting of this prestigious project of the Tourism Department. The Jammu Tawi Golf Course is spread over 1,385 kanals.

At present, nine holes of the golf course are complete.

The minister also took stock of the progress in the completion of the project. He along with the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, and officers of the department took a round of the golf course and expressed his satisfaction on the maintenance and condition of tees, fairways and greens.

The minister directed the officers to complete the back nine holes under progress by or before March, 2012. He also desired that a massive plantation of fruit and flowering trees be started to give the entire golf course an arboreal and aesthetic look. He also reviewed the construction of the club building, which after completion will have the international-level facilities. The minister was informed that the building would be completed in two years and the construction work of the same would be started soon.

Jora also inspected the ongoing works at Peer Kho Shrine. He inspected the Tourist Reception Centre and other ongoing works being executed by the M&W Wing of the Tourism Department, which would be completed at an estimated cost of Rs 3.5 crore.

Jora expressed his satisfaction at the progress of the works at the shrine, which was one of the most popular pilgrim destinations of Jammu. He further directed the officers to expedite the completion of the works.

Deputy Director, Tourism (Publicity), Jammu, Deputy Director, Tourism, Jammu, Deputy Director, Tourism (M&W), Jammu, Assistant Director, Tourism (M&W), Jammu, in-charge golf course and other officials of the Tourism Department were also present.

Jammu, August 2
The Jammu and Kashmir Daily Wagers Joint Action Forum, Jammu province, has decided to go on a two-day strike on August 5 and 6 in response to a call given by the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) of the government employees.

Gurnam Salathia, provincial president of the forum in a statement here today expressed concern over the indifferent attitude of the state government towards their long-pending demands.

“The government has miserably failed to frame a policy for the regularisation of daily wage workers, who have been working in various departments for about two decades,” Salathia said and added, “The government had earlier agreed to our demands on two occasions, February 19, 2009 and May 14, 2011.”

He said the forum would stage demonstrations at all the district headquarters and in Jammu, the workers of the forum would assemble at the Press Club in Jammu on these days to register their protest.

Jammu, August 2
A rumour about two girls having crossed over to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) from Poonch district early today kept the security forces on tenterhooks.

The police and the Army have outrightly denied the rumour about Fareeda Akhtar (19) and Zarina Akhtar (20), residents of Chringari Mohalla in Mendhar tehsil, having crossed over to the PoK, said official sources. Chringari Mohalla is a forward village on the LoC.

SSP, Poonch district, Ashkoor Wani, termed the report as baseless and concocted. “I checked with my officers and intelligence agencies. There is no truth, whatsoever, in the rumour,” he said.

An officer of the 16 Corps admitted that the rumour was doing the rounds in a forward village, near Shahpur, north of Poonch, but he did not confirm it. “Nobody saw the girls crossing over to the PoK, but we are also checking the facts,” he said. — TNS