The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	No witness records statement in Gagran firing incident Panel draws a blank for second time in probe into death of 4 persons Our Correspondent Pulwama, November 23 Justice (retired) ML Koul, who heads the one-man commission to probe the Gagran firing incident, said no witness recorded statement before him on the firing incident in which four persons were killed on September 7 this year. He said they had provided options to the witnesses to record their statements at room number 24, ground floor, civil secretariat, or at the Deputy Commissioner's office in Shopian. He said had the statements been recorded by the witnesses they would have started the legal procedure. But as the witnesses had failed to record their statements, the inquiry would take time. "We will issue another notification so that we can record the statements of the witnesses," said Justice Koul. He said he expected statements of 10 to 40 witnesses, which would be processed so that the inquiry could be started. The commission was set up to probe the Gagran incident by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on October 1. However, It is the second time that the commission was not able to record the statements of the witnesses as no one came to the commission. Earlier, the commission visited Shopian on October 20. The Shopian incident happened on September 7 this year in which four persons were killed. The killing led to protests in the district headquarters, resulting in the death of one more person. The probe * Justice (retired) ML Koul, who heads the one-man commission to probe the Gagran firing incident, said he expected statements of 10 to 40 witnesses, which would be processed so that the inquiry could be started * The commission was set up to probe the Gagran incident by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on October 1 * It is the second time that the commission was not able to record the statements of the witnesses as no one came to the commission. Earlier, the commission visited Shopian on October 20
	Hiranagar terror attack: Home Secretary visits police station Ravi Krishnan Khajuria Tribune News Service Jammu, November 23 State Home Secretary Suresh Kumar today visited the Hiranagar police station and sought call details of all police staff, including suspended Station House Officer (SHO) Raj Kumar Padha. The Home Secretary, who is the inquiry officer in the September 26 Jammu attacks case, sought the call details of the police station to know who had acted professionally and promptly to relay the information of the terror attack to the Kathua Police Control Room and who acted unprofessionally, said a source. The Home Secretary took the route used by the three fidayeens who stormed the Hiranagar police station and then an Army camp of 16 Cavalry on that day. At least 10 people, including four policemen and four soldiers, were killed in the attacks. The dead also included Lt-Col Bikramjeet Singh. In a day-long gunbattle inside the Army camp, the three terrorists were eventually killed by the Army. Following orders by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the Home Secretary has been probing the lapses leading to the attacks. “This morning, the Home Secretary along with other officials first reached the area close to the Chhap nullah in Haria Chak from where the terrorists had entered. He then travelled via Khanpur and Krandi before reaching the Jammu-Pathankot highway,” said a top police source. He travelled to Raj Bagh and Hiranagar Morh before reaching the Hiranagar police station where he requisitioned the entire police staff which was present on the day of the attack, including the suspended SHO, the source said. The Home Secretary questioned the suspended SHO and constable Sohan Singh, who was on sentry duty that day. Following the attack on the Hiranagar police station, the unprofessional approach of some of the police officials had come under the scanner. Chairing a closed-door meeting of the Unified Headquarters on September 27, the Chief Minister had said better coordination and prompt action could have prevented the terror strike on the Army camp in Samba. “The load carrier driver, Roshan Lal, whom the terrorists made to take them from Haria Chak to the police station at gunpoint, was also questioned by the Home Secretary,” the source said. Investigation * The Home Secretary sought the call details of the police station to know who had acted professionally and promptly to relay the information about the terror attack to the Kathua Police Control Room and who acted unprofessionally * Suresh Kumar questioned the suspended Station House Officer, Raj Kumar Padha, and constable Sohan Singh, who was on sentry duty on September 26 * He also questioned the load carrier driver, Roshan Lal, whom the terrorists forced to take them to the Hiranagar police station from Haria Chak at gunpoint
	Light rain, snow likely in higher reaches Srinagar, November 23 The state Weather Department today forecast light rain and snowfall over the next 24 hours in the higher reaches of Kashmir as minimum temperature settled above the freezing point in most of the region. "Light rain and snow may occur at isolated places over the higher reaches of the state," the Meteorological Department said in a forecast bulletin today evening. The forecast is valid till Sunday evening. The department said there would be a fall in night temperature during the next four days, even as the minimum temperature in most of the region remained above the freezing point last night. Mercury in the Srinagar city fell to a low of 0.8° C last night, an official of the Weather Department said. The day temperature rose to a high of 14.5° C. Pahalgam resort in south Kashmir was the coldest place in the Valley where mercury fell to a low of minus 0.8° C overnight, the official said. Kupwara town of north Kashmir was the only other place in the Valley where mercury fell below the freezing point and dropped to minus 0.7° C. In Gulmarg town of north Kashmir, the minimum temperature was recorded at 0.8° C. The coldest place in the Kashmir division remained Leh town of remote Ladakh region where mercury fell to a low of minus 5.4° C. In Kargil town, the second major population town in the thinly populated Ladakh, the minimum temperature was recorded at minus 1.8° C, the official said. — TNS
	Bear enters village in Rajouri, caught Our correspondent Rajouri, November 23 A bear yesterday entered human habitation in Panhad village under the jurisdiction of the Rajouri police station. However, timely action by a wildlife team has reportedly saved the lives of a few villagers. Assistant wildlife warden Rajiv Sharma said Mohd Qasim, sarpanch of Panhad village, informed the wildlife team about the presence of the bear in the village at 8 am. The wildlife team reached the spot with a tranquiliser gun, a net, a rescue van and other required materials at 9.30 am. Villagers said fear had gripped the villagers after the news of presence of the bear spread in the village. They had locked themselves inside their houses and children were not allowed to go to the school. “After precautions taken by the wild life team, a net was erected near a cave where the bear took shelter. At 11 am, the animal was taken out of the cave with the help of the villagers. The animal was brought to the Wildlife Department office at Rajouri,” said Mushtaq Choudhry, head of the wild life team. Rajiv Sharma said the bear would be sent to the Manda Wildlife Sanctuary at Jammu. “The timely action by the villagers and the wild life team has averted a mishap,” he said.
	Suspended JNV student approaches police Shyam Sood Rajouri, November 23 One of the five students suspended for stealing food items from the hostel store of Nehru Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) at Hubi in Rajouri district moved an application to the police today. The suspended student has been identified as Raheem Lone, a resident of Kotranka. Raheem in his application to the police has said the other four students were eating fruit near the store of the school mess when they were beaten up by three teachers. He was also beaten up when he came out from his room to know what had happened. The suspended students have been identified as Raheem Lone, Tahir Azeem, Altaf Hussain, Sajjad Mir and Illyas Ahmed. Principal of the JNV Dinesh Kumar had on November 20 said all four students of Class X, who were caught red-handed by the chowkidar and suspended from the school on November 17, were handed over to their parents/guardians. Sajjad was suspended on November 22. Station House Officer (SHO) of the Kotranka police station Haji Bashir said Raheem had approached the police against the three teachers. "His (Raheem's) medical report is awaited and likely an FIR under Section 323 of the RPC will be registered against the teachers," the SHO said. The JNV principal had said, “Students and guardians later admitted their fault and promised to give in writing to the school administration on Friday (last) that in the future they will not resort to such activities. After giving in writing, they will be allowed to sit in the final examination in March.” But on the other hand, Mohammad Azam, Raheem's uncle, said neither the students nor their parents/guardians had approached the school administration for admitting their fault and agreeing to give in writing.
	Govt urged to probe recent recruitments in state depts Questions raised over Peer’s role as consultant to the SSB Bismah Malik Tribune News Service Srinagar, November 23 With the name of the former chairman of the Board of Professional Entrance Examinations surfacing in the MBBS scam, activists here today urged the government to also probe the recent recruitments made under the Service Selection Board (SSB) as the tainted official was appointed consultant to the recruitment body early this year. Jammu and Kashmir Right to Information (RTI) activists urged the government to look into recent recruitment process under the ‘Fast track employment programme’. Mushtaq Peer, a prime suspect in the MBBS scam, was appointed as consultant and Information Technology expert to the SSB. “There are major chances of huge money swindling in these recruitments as there were thousands of posts for which the basic qualification was Class XII,” RTI activist Raja Muzaffar Bhat told The Tribune. “The deserving candidates could be dropped from the selection list by these so called expert members like they had done previously with the MBBS selection list. At best, the state government should order a probe into the matter,” hat said. Under the ‘Fast track employment programme’, the SSB had been given the responsibility to fill nearly 20,000 non-gazetted posts in various public departments. “The interviews for a majority of these posts were conducted by these expert members. Why should we rule out that Mushtaq Peer may have done mischief as an expert, especially when so many posts were advertised by the Board after the announcement of the ‘Fast track recruitment programme’ last year?” Bhat asked. Sources said Chairperson, SSB, Shugufta Parveen had earlier complained to her higher ups about the alleged interference of Mushtaq Peer in the recruitment process. However, when contacted by The Tribune, Parveen refused to comment on the issue. Nearly three lakh candidates had applied for over 17,000 posts of teacher, laboratory assistant, library assistant, junior assistant and village-level worker. The written examinations for the said posts were conducted by the SSB on September 17. Earlier in February this year, the SSB had sold over 1.5 lakh forms costing Rs 200 each for 3,193 non-gazetted cadre posts in the state public departments.
	NC has always espoused cause of employees: Rana Tribune News Service Jammu, November 23 Provincial president of the National Conference Devender Singh Rana today highlighted the role of employees in dispensing policies and programmes of the government on the ground and said the party had always espoused their cause and satiated their aspirations. “Most of the demands pertaining to post-6th Pay Commission implementation in Jammu and Kashmir have been met by the Omar Abdullah-led government,” the National Conference (NC) provincial president said while addressing a day-long fifth state conference of the Jammu and Kashmir Trade Union Front here this afternoon. Rana referred to the personal interest evinced by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to ensure the release of arrears, rationalisation and removing of pay anomalies and other welfare initiatives. He said the welfare and well-being of the employees had always been the top priority for the National Conference. In this context, he referred to the measures taken by the earlier NC government led by Farooq Abdullah and said the present dispensation was carrying forward the agenda with renewed vigour. He described the workforce as the pillars of development and the employees as the backbone of the administration and hoped that they would continue to supplement efforts being made by the government to mitigate the difficulties of the people and enhance their quality of life. He said the National Conference was essentially a movement of peasants, workers, labourers and the down-trodden segments of society, which had withstood the test of times and served the people with a sense of commitment. The conference was also addressed by president of the Jammu and Kashmir Trade Union Front Abdul Gafoor Dar, Abdul Ahad Badroo, Syed Ghulam Rasool, Rajinder Kumar, Choudhary Arshad and Vijay Lochan.
	Students return from 16-day tour of South India Tribune News Service Jammu, November 23 Twenty-three girl students from Surankote Degree College and Poonch Degree College arrived home today afternoon after a 16-day tour to South India. A brief flagging-in ceremony in the evening. The girls belonging to remote villages of Surankote, Mandi and Poonch were on a tour of South India. The tour was organised by a Rashtriya Rifles battalion of the Army under the aegis of the Romeo Force. The tour included sightseeing, interactions and knowledge-building activities, creating invaluable moments for the students. The students visited Bangalore, Kanyakumari, Mysore, Ooty, Trivandrum and New Delhi. The girls met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former cricketers, Mohammad Azharuddin, Syed Kirmani and Anil Kumble, and the Princess of Travancore. They also met students from colleges at Trivandrum and Ooty and shared their cultures and values.
	Multi-tier security grid in place for Modi’s rally Security officers from Gujarat to visit the venue on Nov 30 Arteev Sharma Tribune News Service Jammu, November 23 A multi-tier security grid is being put in place in and around the MA Stadium, the venue for the BJP’s proposed “Lalkar rally” to be addressed by the party’s prime ministerial candidate and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. A high-level team comprising 30 to 35 senior security officers from Gujarat is likely to visit the venue a day ahead of Modi’s December 1 rally to take stock of the security arrangements. “Security agencies don’t want to take any chance vis-à-vis foolproof arrangements at the venue for Modi’s rally in the wake of serial blasts in Patna. The ground with a capacity of around 50,000 people is being sanitised thoroughly,” an official source said. He added that the venue has been divided into multiple zones which will be manned by armed personnel from various security agencies. Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel would look into the security to be made inside the stadium where Modi is to address the people, while the responsibility of security outside the stadium has been given to the Central Reserve Police Personnel (CRPF), sources said. They added that the venue has been sealed and all sports activities have been stopped till December 1. “As the stadium is located along the banks of the river Tawi, security agencies would also make necessary arrangements along the river bed. The public movement along the river near the stadium will also be curbed ahead of the rally,” a source said. It may be recalled here that terror outfits had managed to trigger serial blasts at the MA Stadium on January 26, 1995, in which the then Governor Gen KV Krishna Rao had a miraculous escape, while more than a dozen persons were killed and scores others were injured. The serial blasts were set off by a remote control during the Republic Day parade. In 2000, three solar-activated rockets programmed to hit the stadium were recovered by the police few days ahead of the Republic Day celebrations. Meanwhile, the district administration is busy giving “final shape” to the arrangements vis-à-vis traffic diversions and restrictions. “All the buses and other stationed vehicles will be shifted from the Jammu Bus Stand, located close to the stadium. No vehicle will be allowed to move towards the stadium from the Bikram Chowk, Canal head and the KC Morh areas,” a source said. “All the people visiting the stadium will be subjected to physical frisking at various points,” he added.
	Atal, Advani missing from party posters Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, November 23 The exclusion of BJP prominent leaders from the banners of the “Lalkaar” rally, put up by the state unit of the BJP in Jammu city, reflect a generation and ideological shift in the Saffron party. Missing pictures of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani give a message that the Vajpayee-Advani era in the BJP is over. Similarly, the exclusion of Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Pandit Prem Nath Dogra, both icons of the Jan Sangh, from the banners is an indication of an ideological shift in the BJP. Local party workers are disappointed with the exclusion of the images of prominent leaders, especially of Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Pandit Prem Nath Dogra, from the banners of the rally to be addressed by BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on December 1. The BJP drew its strength, centralised character and ideological homogeneity from the ideology of Mookerjee to whom the party usually project as “first martyr” of independent India. The BJP ideology revolves around Mookerjee who had entered the state of Jammu and Kashmir in 1953 against the orders and wish of the then “Prime Minister” of the state Sheikh Abdullah (the grandfather of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah). During that period, the Chief Minister of the state of J&K was called as Prime Minister. As a permit was required to enter J&K at that time, Mookerjee was arrested for violating the rules and he died as a prisoner on May 23, 1953. From 1953 to date, the BJP and its predecessor Jan Sangh, every year observe the death anniversary of Syama Prasad Mookerjee as Martyr Day to reaffirms the party’s commitment against the special status being granted to Jammu and Kashmir. Pandit Prem Nath Dogra is another inspirational personality for the BJP who had launched the Ek Vidhan, Ek Pradhan and Ek Nishan movement in Jammu in early 1950s against the special status being granted to Jammu and Kashmir. It was result of that agitation that many central laws were implemented in the state. “The absence of pictures of Syama Prasad Mookerjeeand Pandit Dogra from the Lalkaar rally banners is a clear indication that party want to give a message of an ideology shift in its approach,” said a veteran leader who worked under the leadership of Pandit Prem Nath Dogra in early 1950s. He said party workers took inspiration from these two leaders to continue their struggle for total integration of J&K with the rest of the country. Workers disappointed Local party workers are disappointed with the exclusion of the images of prominent leaders, especially of Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Pandit Prem Nath Dogra, from the banners of the rally to be addressed by BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on December 1
	Darpora residents allege funds misuse in school construction Amin Masoodi Kupwara, November 23 Residents of Darpora and its adjoining villages in the Lolab valley of Kupwara district have demanded a thorough probe into the alleged misappropriation of funds in the construction of a Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan school in the area. They have alleged that instead of raising a new building for the school, the contractor, in connivance with senior officials of the Education Department, had renovated the old building at Asthanbhati and projected it as the new school building. An amount of Rs 18,80,000 lakh was sanctioned for the construction of the building and the contractor had withdrawn Rs 8 lakh as the first instalment, sources said. “The old building was constructed by the contractor a few years ago for keeping poultry birds. Two Zonal Education Officers in Sogam had earlier refused to accept the building for the school but after their transfer, the contractor, in convince with some senior officials of the department, changed the look of the old building and projected it as a newly constructed school building,” said a local. The locals said even after the renovation, the contractor may have incurred an expenditure of Rs 7 or 8 lakh. “It is a sheer misuse of the government exchequer and injustice to the people of the area. The contractor should be blacklisted for misleading people and the officials who are hand in glove with him must be given stern punishment under the law,” said a senior resident of adjoining Lalpora village. Chief Education Officer (CEO), Kupwara, Ghulam Mohidin Wani said, “Following the Deputy Commissioner’s instructions, I have constituted a two-member committee comprising principals of Higher Secondary School, Sogam, and Higher Secondary School, Tikipora. I have already seized all records pertaining to the construction of the school.”
	Air warriors return home after cycle expedition Jammu, November 23 A team of 30 air warriors of the Jammu Air Force Station today returned home after a 550-km cycle expedition to Dharamsala. The expedition was organised to mark the Air Force anniversary and the silver Jubilee of the 130 Helicopter Unit. Wing Commander Suresh said the warriors finished the task without any mishap. Air Commodore PE Patange, Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station, Jammu and Mamta Patange President AFWWA (L) received the team at the guard room. —TNS
	58,403 cases settled in National Lok Adalat Tribune News Service Srinagar, November 23 To reduce pendency and draw attention of the public towards the effective alternative dispute-resolution method, a National Lok Adalat was organised at the Jammu and Kashmir High Court today. In J&K, the National Lok Adalat, being held across the country, was held at both wings of the High Court at Jammu and Srinagar by the J&K High Court Legal Services Committee. At Jammu wing, the National Lok Adalat was inaugurated by Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court MM Kumar, who is also the patron-in-chief of the J&K State Legal Services Authority. Justice Virender Singh, who is also the executive chairman of the J&K State Legal Services Authority, and other judicial officials were present. At Srinagar wing, the Lok Adalat was inaugurated by Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir. In both wings of the High Court and in 22 District Legal Services Authorities, 58,403 cases were settled and a total compensation of Rs 29,26,55,656 crore was awarded to victims of road accidents. Despite freezing temperature in Leh and Kargil districts, a large number of litigants participated in the Lok Adalats.
	Gulmarg to host winter sports fest in Feb Tribune News Service Srinagar, November 23 The state Tourism Department is going to organise the Winter Games Festival at Gulmarg in the first week of February. The information was given out at a review meeting of the department held yesterday in Srinagar under the chairmanship of Tourism Minister Ghulam Ahmed Mir. Besides, the Winter Games Federation of India is also organising a National Skiing Championship in February next year, the meeting was told. While reviewing preparations, the minister said men and machinery be kept ready en route to Gulmarg and any deficiencies be addressed immediately. He said adequate staff should also be maintained for ski patrolling and snow safety officers be placed. Mir asked the Cable Car Corporation to gear up its ski-lifting operations, besides directing for procurement of snow mobiles and spare parts. He also called for procurement of snow-making machines to extend the winter sports season in Gulmarg. Mir said helicopters used for heli-skiing could also be utilised during rescue operations. He also stressed devising an efficient waste disposal mechanism and maintaining a clean and healthy environment during the entire sports season. Mir said the state government was willing to provide incentives to the tune of Rs 5 to 7 lakh to any interested private entrepreneur, who wished to take-up ski-related activities at Gulmarg and popularise them. He said the government endeavoured to attract as many people to participate in various winter sports activities at Gulmarg. He also called for honing up the skills of ski-trainers, for which he advised the department to send them abroad for further training. Preparations for event * Tourism Minister Ghulam Ahmed Mir on Friday said men and machinery be kept ready en route to Gulmarg and any deficiencies be addressed immediately *The minister stressed devising an efficient waste disposal mechanism and maintaining a clean and healthy environment during the entire sports season
	NCSU office-bearers elected Srinagar, November 23 The National Conference Students Union (NCSU), the student wing of the National Conference, was today reconstituted at a function held at the Nawai Subh complex, the party headquarters. NCSU newly-elected provincial president Imran Pandit, Additional General Secretary Mustafa Kamal, Higher Education Minister Mohammad Akbar Lone, party provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani and Political Secretary to the Chief Minister Tanvir Sadiq were present at the function. The newly-elected provincial committee of the NCSU include Imran Pandit, Adnan Majid Dar as senior vice-president, Rakif Aija Khan and Rasik Bhat as general secretaries, Rashid Iqbal Kohli as joint secretary, Ramis Masood as publicity secretary, Aamir Yousuf as organiser, Shabir Ahmed as organiser secretary, Rohid Bashir and Quratul Ain as spokespersons. — TNS
	Pistol found on Indo-Pak border Jammu, November 23 After a tip-off by a villager, the Border Security Force today seized a pistol from an agricultural field near the Indo-Pak border in Hiranagar tehsil of Kathua district. The old and rusted weapon was spotted by a farmer, Tara Chand, while working on his field in Chak Changa village, said a BSF source. “The farmer was working on his field located between the barbed fence and the Zero Line when he found an old pistol apparently buried by some smugglers. He immediately informed the BSF personnel at a nearby post who seized the weapon,” the source said. Smugglers and terrorists from across the border used to either dump or throw drugs and weapons on this side of the Zero Line for their ‘conduits’ so as to deliver them to subversive and anti-national elements. — TNS
	Nine injured in road mishaps Tribune News Service Srinagar, November 23 Nine persons were injured in road accidents across the Valley in the past 24 hours. Seven persons were injured when a Tata 407 passenger vehicle they were travelling in turned turtle near the grid station Hutmurah, Anantnag, in the jurisdiction of the Mattan police station, a police spokesman said. He said all the injured had been admitted to the Dub District Hospital Seer and the police had registered a case in this regard. In another incident, he said a motorcycle skidded off the road at Drood, Tangmarg, injuring motorcyclist Mushtaq Ahmad Bakshi, a resident of Check Charat, Kunzar. The Baramulla police have registered a case in this regard, the spokesman said. In another mishap, Zahida Bano, a resident of Wodhipora, was injured after a vehicle hit her in Wodhipora.