Rajouri, July 14
The residents of Godar Maal in Potha area, located on the outskirts of this town, lodged a strong protest against two soldiers for allegedly beating up a couple today.

Around 150 protesters blocked the Mandi Chowk, disrupting vehicular traffic for around an hour. They dispersed only after Rajouri SHO Zahid Shaheen Mirza reached there and pacified them.

They alleged that two soldiers of JAKLI - Abdul Rasheed and Muhammad Tariq - who were home on leave, beat up Jia Bi and Sher Ali of the Potha area. The soldiers were accompanied by other male members of their family.

“The soldiers’ father had bought some land near the forest area. Soon, they started encroaching upon the forest land. Now, they are not allowing residents to go to forest to get water. They are also preventing us from rearing cattle there,” said Munshi Khan, brother of victim Sher Ali.

“We lodged an FIR against the culprits, but even the police is not helping us and the accused are still at large,” he said.

The Rajouri SHO said an FIR had been registered against the accused for allegedly beating the couple. However, he said the family of the accused had lodged a counter FIR against Sher Ali and his family members for resorting to violence.

Srinagar, July 14
Twentyseven persons were injured in accidents across the valley. An Army vehicle hit three special police officers (SPOs) in Sheeri, leaving one of them, Mohammad Maqbool, battling for life. All injured have been removed to the district hospital in Baramula for treatment and Maqbool was referred to SKIMS. The driver of the Army vehicle has been arrested.

In another accident, the police said a matador (JK05-4627), which was on the way to Sopore, overturned near Saidpora causing injuries to 10 passengers. The injured have been hospitalised and the condition of at least two persons are serious.

In another accident, at least 14 labourers hailing from Bihar were injured when the bus (JKR-2239) they were travelling in met with an accident near Hawal.

Srinagar, July 14
Though no official word on the transfer of J&K DGP Gopal Sharma is out yet, sources have confirmed that he is likely to take over as Commissioner, Delhi Police. His name, they said, is before the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) for final approval after the initial clearance.

Sources said it would take at least a week before a final decision is taken, though names for the next DGP have begun doing the rounds.

Official sources said Kuldip Khoda, a ’74 batch IPS officer and serving as ADGP, Intelligence, is being seen as the one likely candidates to succeed Sharma. His proximity to CM Ghulam Nabi Azad is one reason, which though goes in favour of Vigilance Commissioner Ashok Bhan, a ’76 batch officer.

Sources said the state government is considering names of Khoda, Bhan besides that of PS Gill, also a ’74 batch officer and presently posted as ADGP, Armed Police.

All the three officers have vast field experience. 

Chandigarh, July 14
Reacting to a news-item, “Suicide by BSF jawan”, published in these columns on July 10, the additional director-general, BSF (west), has clarified that the condition of constable Satinder Singh of 54 Battalion is stable and he is out of danger.

Second-in-command (operations) S.S. Soodan, in a communique to The Tribune, has said the constable sustained injuries from “his own fire” on July 9. As he is in the hospital, they are yet to ascertain from him whether it was an accidental fire, he adds. “Uncorroborated news is detrimental to the reputation of the BSF, especially issues like suicide in armed forces,” Soodan said. — TNS

Jammu, July 14
Security personnel have been deployed in strength in the city in view of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’ visit here tomorrow. He will be conferred the degree of doctorate of letters (D.Litt) by the University of Jammu.

CRPF and state police personnel have been deployed on the route from the IAF station to the university and Raj Bhavan. — TNS