Jammu, May 6
A pall of gloom descended on Kootah village in tehsil Hiranagar of Kathua district today after a couple, along with their minor daughter, died of asphyxiation following a major fire that broke out in their bedroom due to electric shock and blast in a room Air Conditioner (AC) late last night.

The deceased were identified as Suresh Kumar, his wife Archana Devi and their one-and-a-half-year-old daughter Siddhi. Suresh Kumar happens to be the younger brother of local sarpanch (village head), Kootah Panchayat halqa, Kant Kumar Sharma.

“The couple had their dinner with other family members at around 10 pm last night before they went to sleep along with their daughter in their bedroom. Other family members raised the alarm when they noticed huge flames of smoke billowing from their room which was locked from inside at around 1.15 am,” one of the relatives narrated.

A police team from Hiranagar police station and a fire tender were rushed to the spot after they got the information about the incident and doused the fire. The couple and their daughter are believed to have died due to suffocation following electric shock which led to a major fire in the room.

“The deceased couple’s five-year-old son, Sadhvik, who used to sleep with his parents, had a miraculous escape in the incident as he went to sleep in his uncle’s room last night,” the relative said, adding that Suresh was found dead on his bed while the body of his wife, Archana Devi, was spotted near the door of the room.

Talking to The Tribune, DSP Mohan Lal Kaith, Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Border, Kathua, said, “The police has registered a case and started inquest proceedings under Section 174 of CrPC to know the cause of the death. Preliminary investigation reveals they have died to suffocation after a fire broke out in their room following electric shock and blast in the split AC.”

The SDPO said all the electronic goods including television, AC etc and furniture were reduced to ashes in the fire.

“We received the information at 1.40 am and a police team from Hiranagar police team led by SHO Hiranagar police station Ashwani Sharma was rushed to the spot. I reached the spot at 2 pm. The fire-fighting personnel controlled the fire and the bodies, which were half-burnt, were sent to hospital for autopsy,” he said.

Meanwhile, a wave of shock and grief gripped the Kootah area, where hundreds of people from the village and adjoining areas visited the family and attended the cremation.

Poonch, May 6
Protesting against Surankote police for its inaction over a theft case in Surankote town, hundreds of locals held a protest demonstration and blocked the Poonch-Jammu highway for over two hours. Members of Beopar Mandal Surankote joined the protest and closed their business establishments.

The protesters alleged that burglary and theft cases were on the rise in Surankote tehsil of Poonch district.

Ten days back, four-five thieves broke into a video hall (theatre) in Surankote and stole a projector and DVDs with other items. On the complaint of the theatre owner Jahangir Ahmed, police had registered an FIR, arrested five locals in the matter and freed them within no time.

Police had committed that the items recovered from the thieves would be returned to the owner of the theatre, but even after a gap of 10 days, nothing has been returned. Police has denied claims that it has recovered any stolen items, protesters added.

Hundreds of local residents and shopkeepers today assembled in Surankote town and held a protest. Shopkeepers closed their business establishments and blocked the Poonch-Jammu road from 8 am to 10.30 pm. Protesters also erected blockades at various places in the town.

This is not the first time that thieves have decamped with a huge booty from Surankote town. Some three months back, it was a regular phenomenon. A number of such incidents have been reported from the town.

“In broad daylight, burglars are looting the town, which has compelled us to come out on the roads. If the police fails to arrest the thieves, we will have no other option but to demand the transfer of the present police officers,” said another resident.

The protest continued for over two hours. The protesters also disrupted traffic.

SDPO Surankote Javid Mir rushed to the spot and assured the protesters that he would personally investigate the matter and additional security arrangements would be made in the town to nab thieves. Upon his assurance, shopkeepers opened their shops and traffic movement resumed.

Jammu, May 6
In a bid to prevent ouster of sportspersons from the state due to alleged lack of employment avenues, the proposed Sports Policy draft has recommended that all the corporations/boards and Apex Cooperative Institutions in J&K will be brought under the overall umbrella of the J&K State Sports Council.

Further, these organisations would be encouraged to adopt at least one game of their choice. The proposed draft had laid stress on the Public Private Partnership (PPP) claiming that it was the most significant criteria for continued growth rate of sports activities in the state. In order to meet such demands, various PPPs would be promoted for the implementation of infrastructure projects.

The deficit could be overcome by ensuring much more private capital investment. The proposed draft claimed that the effect of adoption of games by individual organisations would be four-fold.

Firstly, to promote sports culture in the units, which would have the effect of improving overall discipline, increase productivity and bring about close identification and a feeling of pride among the employees in these organisations. Secondly, it would give a tremendous boost to the promotion of sports by opening up facilities for training of budding sportsmen generating competition among them due to suitable incentives.

Thirdly, it would prevent drain of sportsmen and women from the state because the scheme would open up more avenues of employment within the home state. Lastly, these corporations/boards would compliment the effort of the government by contributing in money and resources to augment sporting facilities in the state.

With an aim to open up more avenues of competition and to improve financial well-being of sports organisations and clubs, the draft said the government might consider to exempt sports competitions/events from payment of entertainment duty when the money was raised by the organisers, by ticketing the event.

However, the sports events like IPL shall not be exempted from payment of tax. The sports policy draft also suggested that the possibility to levy some cess on liquor of license fee would also be explored to raise adequate financial resources for the promotion of sports.

Apart, the department shall all along promote fairness and ethics in sports. All steps would be taken to check malpractices such as under reporting of age, doping, nepotism, favouritism, dilution of standards etc. Those found indulging in malpractices shall be debarred to get any facility from the state government, 
including awards, scholarships, honours and any other incentive. 

Jammu, May 6
BJP has charged the state coalition government with having a callous attitude towards the earthquake victims of erstwhile Doda district. This was stated by party general secretaries Kavinder Gupta and Bali Bhagat after their visit to Bhaderwah, the worst affected area in the district.

Gupta alleged that the neglect of people of the earthquake-hit district can be gauged from the fact that instead of visiting and consoling the affected people of the area, the state’s Chief Minister opted to enjoy holidays outside the state.

After interacting with some prominent citizens and senior party functionaries at Dak Bungalow Bhaderwah, the BJP team visited Govt Girls and Boys Hr Sec Schools, the newly constructed hospital building, more than 50 residences and three villages, Nalthi, Sartingal and Bhalla of the Bhaderwah block, to assess the quantum of damage caused by tremors in the area.

Both the senior BJP leaders alleged that due to this destruction, 26 persons were hospitalised in Bhaderwah. Eighteen of these persons had been admitted after they received shock and eight others, after they received severe head and other injuries.

“The Government Girls Higher Secondary School building has suffered extensive damage. The school has been closed down by the authorities after the destruction. There is immediate need to shift the school to another government building or to take steps to raise alternate fabricated infrastructure in the school premises to run the classes without affecting the studies of the students. In Bhaderwah city, the most affected area is Pasri Mohalla, where several multi-storeyed houses have been completely damaged and the families are putting up in one tent which has been provided by the local administration,” it was stated.

Jammu, May 6
The Jammu police has arrested a man on fraud charges, absconding for past few months, from Bathindi area of Jammu. According to SHO police station Channi Himmat Anaroop Sharma, Talib Hussain was arrested after an FIR was registered a few months back in the police station regarding fraud.

Sources said that Hussain has taken Rs 1.25 crore Bayana (advance) from a person and had committed to sell him a piece of land in Sainik colony area. But after taking money, Hussain was on the run and didn’t provide land.

Talib Hussain had applied for pre-arrest bail but the plea was rejected by sessions court some time back. After that, he was absconding. A few days back, he again applied for bail to the High Court. The plea was aagain rejected and he was arrested on Sunday evening. A case under section 420, 467 and 472 stands registered in police station Channi Himmat police station.

Jammu, May 6
Four persons were killed and two persons were injured in two different fire incidents in Kathua and Samba districts of Jammu region on Sunday night. In Kootah village of Hiranagar tehsil in Kathua district, three persons of a family including an 18-month-old girl died when fire broke out in their house due to short-circuit.

The deceased were identified as Sudesh Kumar (42), son of Uttam Chand, his wife Archana Devi (32) and their daughter Siddhi.

According to police, during preliminary investigation, it was found that fire broke out due to short-circuit near the air-conditioner.

“The voltage stabiliser of the AC was fitted on an iron almirah and due to a short-circuit, the fire engulfed clothes. It spread in the room, causing three deaths,” said Ashwani Sharma, SHO Hiranagar.

Uttam Chand and his other son had a narrow escape and received minor injuries. They were admitted in a local hospital for first aid. In another incident, Champa Devi, 38, died when fire broke out in her house at Riyal Samba.

Srinagar, May 6
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today announced three months free ration for earthquake-affected families of erstwhile Doda district in Jammu region.

In a statement issued here, an official said the Chief Minister, after chairing the meeting of the State Disaster Management Authority, also sanctioned a release of Rs 25 crore for the restoration of damaged public services infrastructure in the earthquake-hit areas.

“The Chief Minister also approved procurement of tents to be supplied to the affected families whose houses were damaged in the natural calamity that had hit districts of Doda, Ramban, Kishtwar and adjacent areas on May 1,” the official added.

The Chief Minister also passed directions to the officials concerned to ensure finalisation of damage assessment report by visiting each affected household so that mobilisation of financial support for reconstruction and repair of damaged houses takes place on fast track.

He directed for preparing a case for financial support to the affected families in the pattern of relief provided to affected people in Ladakh and said it should be submitted to the Central Government as early as possible. 

Jammu, May 6
“Call it transgression, incursion or intrusion, the fact is that even after a fortnight, Chinese troops are sitting on your chest and are also showing arrogance. People may say that the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Army, which are first and second lines of defence along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), were caught unawares in the strategic Ladakh region, but the fault lies with New Delhi’s incoherent policy towards China,” says a senior retired Army officer, who had a vast experience of serving in the region.

It may be stated here that the Army chief General Bikram Singh today briefed Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on the Chinese misadventure.

“New Delhi had always made its forces to ‘understand’ three things, namely honour agreements of 1993 and 2005 to keep tranquility and calm on the Sino-Indian border; China shouldn’t be provoked and no attempt be made to evict them forcibly from Indian territory,” he adds.

The retired officer regretted that under such “constraints”, the Army and the ITBP guard the LAC.

“Such a subservient approach has to be shed and the government should get into the mode of iron fist in velvet glove,” he says.

China is in occupation of vast area of Indian territory in Jammu and Kashmir and it also continues to hold Sum Dorong Chu, north of Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, which it had intruded in 1987.

Though Daulat Beig Oldi sector where Chinese intruded on the intervening night of April 15 and 16 is a plateau surrounded by barren mountains at a height of 17,000 feet, the fact cannot be denied that they entered 19 km inside the Indian territory, he says.

The officer further asks why only Chinese troops enter the Indian territory because of differing perceptions of the LAC and Indian troops don’t go astray.

“If that is the case, difference of perception about the LAC should apply to both sides,” he quips.

Instead of retreating from our land, China is telling us to dismantle our bunkers in sharp contrast to its own infrastructure on the other side of the LAC, he adds.

A top source in the Army confided in The Tribune that Ministry of Defence had been alerted about the Chinese incursion on April 17 without wasting any time.

“In fact, the Army had dashed off a secret report to the Ministry of Defence and had made some six-seven suggestions of options available with it,” says the source.

The 3,488-km-long LAC between India and China runs through states of J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, out of which 646 km is in Kashmir region. 

Jammu, May 6
Kashmiri Pandit youth have demanded that Chamel Singh, a resident of Pargwal in Akhnoor subdivision who was brutally killed in Pakistan’s Kot Lakhpat jail on January 15, should be declared as a martyr on the pattern of Sarabjit Singh.

“We appreciate the decision of the Punjab and the Central Governments for bestowing martyr status on Sarbjit Singh, who was treacherously murdered in the Lahore jail. We demand a similar status for Chamel Singh, who prior to Sarbjit Singh met the same fate in Pakistan,” said Veer Wangoo, north zone coordinator of youth for Panun Kashmir while interacting through webcast from NCR Delhi with the host of youth activists gathered in a conclave at Jammu.

He urged the people to send memorandum, emails, faxes to the President of India against the discrimination with the family of late Chamel Singh.

He also urged both the Governments of India and Pakistan to ensure safety and security of all prisoners in the Pakistan jails till they were expatriated to their respective countries. 

Jammu, May 6
Presentation Convent School defeated Shastri Memorial School by 2-0 in badminton in the U-14 age group in girls section today in the district-level inter-school competitions in multi-disciplines being organised by the Department of Youth Services and Sports, Jammu.

The event was held at the Indoor Sports Complex, MA Stadium. In the second match, KC International School beat Adarsh Niketan by 2-0, while Model Institute of Education and Research (MIER) had the last laugh against Devan Devi School. In another match, MHC Nagbani School trounced Army Public School, Domana.

In the U-17 age group, KC Public School beat GD Goenka School, Devan Devi School beat Carmel Convent School, Army Public School, Nagrota, beat SOS School, MHAC Nagbani beat Shastri Memorial and KC International School beat Government Higher Secondary School, Canan Road.

In the U-14 football, Heritage Public School drubbed SOS School by 3-0 via a tie-breaker. The goal scorers were Gourav Koushal, Arian Sethi and Amitabh. In the U-17 age group, SRML School beat KC Gurukul School, Delhi Public School beat MIER and KC Public School beat SOS School.

In hockey (U-17 boys), SOS School defeated St Peter School and Gole Gujral Higher Secondary School beat Guru Harkrishan Public School. In U-14 boys, Army Public School, Miran Sahib beat Simbal Camp High School by 2-0.

The matches were officiated by Harcharan Singh, Amarjeet Singh, Harvinder Singh, Jagjit Singh, Mandeep Singh, Gurdeep Singh, Sanjay Khajuria, Gagan and Ravinder Singh.

Earlier, the tournament was declared open by Ved Parkash, deputy director, Youth Services and Sports. DYSSO, Jammu, Tirath Ram was also present on the occasion. 

Jammu, May 6
Nav Vidya Higher Secondary School, Dhalote, got the better of Modern Institute, Sumb, in the summit showdown to clinch the U-14 kho-kho title in girls section in the sports meet organised by the Sports Development Society, Samba.

In the boys section, Modern Institute drubbed Nav Vidya Higher Secondary School, Dhalote, to claim the title. In the U-17 Kho-Kho (boys), Nav Vidya Higher Secondary School, Dhalote overcame the challenge of Parveen Model Public School, Supwal, in the summit clash, while in girls section, Nav Vidya Higher Secondary School, Dhalote, beat Markoli Club to bag the top honours.

In the U-14 boys kabaddi event, the title went to Modern Institute, who trounced Nav Vidya Higher Secondary School, Dhalote, in the finals. In the U-14 kabaddi (girls), Modern Institute defeated Nav Vidya Higher Secondary School, Dhalote.

The tournament, in the disciplines of kho-kho and kabaddi, was held at Nav Vidya Higher Secondary School, Dhalote. In all, 25 teams drawn from various schools and clubs participated in the tournament. Chet Ram Sharma was the chief guest on the occasion, while Balbir Singh Thakur was the guest of honour. 

Jammu, May 6
The inter-school tournament of Miran Sahib Zone in multi-disciplines commenced here today. About 250 players are competing in the sporting event which was declared open by Kiran Raina, principal, Police Public School, Miran Sahib and Sarita Padha, Zonal Physical Education Officer (ZPEO), Miran Sahib.

The tournament is being organised by the Department of Youth Services and Sports under the overall supervision of Tirath Ram, DYSSO, Jammu.

Results:

U-17 Kho-Kho (girls):

Government Boys High School (GBHS), Mian Fateh, beat GHS Kotli Shah Abdulian, GBHS Simbal Camp beat Boys High School, Brij Nagar, and JK Police Public School beat GHS Simbal Camp.

U-14 Kho-Kho (girls):

JK Police Public School beat Government Middle School (GMS), Rattian, GMS Chwalla beat HS Kotli, Mian Fateh, and Indian Public School beat GHS, Badyal Brahmana.

U-14 Kabaddi (girls):

GHS Badyal Brahmana beat GHS Kotli Mian Fateh and GMS Kirpind beat JK Police Public School.

U-17 Kabaddi (girls):

GHSS Miran Sahib beat GHS, Simbal Camp, GBHS Simbal Camp beat GHS, Badyal Brahmana, GHS, Simbal Camp beat GHS, Kotli Mian Fateh and GHSS Miran Sahib beat JK Police Public School.

U-14 Volleyball final (girls):

Army Public School, Miran Sahib beat GBHS Badyal Brahmana.

U-17 Volleyball final (girls):

Army Public School, Miran Sahib beat JK Police Public School.

The matches were officiated by Kulbir Singh, Hardeep Kour, Kulbeer Kour, Harcharan Singh, Harmeek Singh, Gourav, Anit Kour, Nisha Sharma, Narinder Kour, Mulk Raj, Surinder Kour, Parmeet Singh, Gurmeet Singh and Ravinder. 

Jammu, May 6
Gymnast Palak Kaur has once again made the state proud for being selected in the Indian Rhythmic Gymnastics Team for its participation in the 6th Seniors Asian Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship and 32nd World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship to be held at Tashkent (Uzbekistan) and Kiev (Ukraine), respectively.

Palak Kaur, a student of class XII, secured second rank during the selection trials held at Indoor Sports Complex, MA Stadium and also became the youngest member of the squad.

The trials were conducted by the J&K Gymnastics Association under the aegis of the Gymnastics Federation of India. The other members of the squad comprised Nishtha Shah from Maharashtra, Prabhjot Kaur Bajwa from Punjab and Madhura Tambe from Maharashtra.

Inderjit Singh from Chandigarh and Mahendra Chamburkar from Maharashtra, both vice-presidents of the Gymnastics Federation of India acted as the members of the selection committee. Besides, a jury comprising international and national qualified judges evaluated the performance and gave their expert judgement for preparing a ranking list of the participating gymnasts of the country.