J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Army brands ex-SPO as militant
Rajouri, October 1
The Army is in the process of claiming the surrender of a former special police officer by branding him a militant in the Darhal area here, police sources said on Sunday. Police sources added troops posted in Darhal arrested former SPO Farooq Ahmed, son of Hakim Din of Palyarni,a few days back and now are in the process of terming him a militant and organising a ceremony for his official surrender.

2 militants held, 2 AK-47 rifles seized
Srinagar, October 1
The police arrested one suspected of militancy and recovered arms and ammunition during searches here today. A consignment of arms was seized and one person arrested from the Shalteng area on the outskirts of Srinagar, a police spokesman here said.

PCI for body to regulate electronic news channels Jammu, October 1 The Press Council of India favours a body to regulate growing electronic news channels in the country on the lines of the print media.               Dr Lalit Mangotra

Students help defuse tension
Udhampur, October 1
While almost all political groups have been trying to cash in on the prevailing communal division in Reasi town, students of educational institutions came forward to spread the message of brotherhood and harmony.

Enough foodgrain stocks for winter
Srinagar, October 1
Sufficient stocks of foodgrain and essential commodities have been stocked in the twin districts of Leh and Kargil in the Ladakh region to meet the winter requirements of consumers.

Army brands ex-SPO as militant
Tribune News Service

Rajouri, October 1
The Army is in the process of claiming the surrender of a former special police officer (SPO) by branding him a militant in the Darhal area here, police sources said on Sunday.

Police sources added troops posted in Darhal arrested former SPO Farooq Ahmed, son of Hakim Din of Palyarni,a few days back and now are in the process of terming him a militant and organising a ceremony for his official surrender.

"Farooq's father Hakim Din had served as head constable and was allegedly gunned down by militants after his retirement for masterminding the killing of two militants in his house", the sources said. "After his father's killing, Farooq was engaged an SPO under SRO-43".

Farooq worked as SPO and was disengaged after some time due to continuous absence from duty. Farooq went out of the state to save his life after he received threats from militants who were after his life because his father had engineered killing of two militants.

But defence sources claim that Farooq was a Pakistan-trained militant and had surrendered along with one AK rifle, two AK magazines, two hand grenades, one radio set ,besides other items.

Farooq was arrested by the Army and was in their custody for the past some days. During this period he was taken to the valley for verifying his alleged militant contacts, the sources added.

Officiating SSP, Rajouri, Tej Ram Katoch said the Army authorities had informed him about the "surrendered militant". However, he said, Farooq was not handed over to the police.

2 militants held, 2 AK-47 rifles seized
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 1
The police arrested one suspected of militancy and recovered arms and ammunition during searches here today.

A consignment of arms was seized and one person arrested from the Shalteng area on the outskirts of Srinagar, a police spokesman here said. The arrested person has been identified as Shaheen, resident of Theed Harwan, near here, from whose possession two AK-47 rifles, one wireless set, seven grenades, two pouches and some maps were recovered. "The maps related to the porous parts of the LoC and the tracks on the LoC used for infiltration", the spokesman stated. He added that the weapons were being transported from Dangerpora Sopore to this place possibly for a strike.

PCI for body to regulate electronic news channels
Tejinder Singh Sodhi
Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 1
The Press Council of India (PCI) favours a body to regulate growing electronic news channels in the country on the lines of the print media.

Speaking to The Tribune, member of the PCI, Dr Lalit Mangotra, said, “This is an official stand of the council that there should be a regulatory body of the PCI on the same lines for the growing electronic media in our country.”

He said the PCI had been proposing to the Government of India to constitute a regulatory body for the electronic media. “It has become a matter of discussion and dispute that one aspect of the media (print) in our country is regulated whereas the other media (electronic) has no regulation”.

The PCI has expressed concern to the Government of India on the delusion of truth by the electronic media and creating sensationalism in its content. “Electronic media wants to take credit by being the first one to report an incident. But while doing this, they sometimes forget to report facts, thus creating a misconception amongst the common masses,” said Dr Mangotra.

Trial by media is another area of concern where the PCI is worried. “Media trial is a matter of great concern. They make a suspect a convict and if the same person is proved to be innocent by the court of law, electronic media cannot restore his lost prestige,” he said.

Though personally Dr Mangotra is in favour of sting operations in a much responsible and professional way, he feels sting operations should not be used as a tool to malign an innocent person.

“The sting operation conducted by the reporter of a private channel in Delhi showing a teacher involved in flesh trade, turned out to be a hoax and fabrication. Media should not indulge in such campaigns and those doing such things should be severely punished, he said.

Dr Mangotra said, “In my personal opinion, a short duration ban on news channels deliberately tarnishing image of innocent people is not sufficient. The damage caused to the image of a Delhi teacher in a so-called sting operation has damaged her reputation once and for all. The social and emotional stigma she had to undergo is beyond compensation, but at least the news channel should be made to compensate her adequately”.

Students help defuse tension
Tribune News Service

Udhampur, October 1
While almost all political groups have been trying to cash in on the prevailing communal division in Reasi town, students of educational institutions came forward to spread the message of brotherhood and harmony. Students belonging to different castes, creeds and religions took it upon themselves as citizens to defuse the tension.

On the eve of Gandhi Jayanti, students pledged to work for strengthening communal harmony.

Today's peace march by students contributed in strengthening the message of peace in Reasi town which witnessed ugly scenes of communal clash when India won Twenty20 World Cup.

Enough foodgrain stocks for winter
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 1
Sufficient stocks of foodgrain and essential commodities have been stocked in the twin districts of Leh and Kargil in the Ladakh region to meet the winter requirements of consumers.

Disclosing this at a meeting held here on Thursday, the minister for consumer affairs and public distribution (CAPD), Taj Mohiuddin, impressed upon the authorities concerned to stock the full quantity of foodgrain up to October 10, which would suffice in the region till June next year.

The meeting was told that nearly 1.50 lakh quintals of foodgrain, including 71,984 quintals of wheat, 64,544 quintals of rice and 9,095 quintals of sugar, were stocked at various sales depots in the region for distribution among the consumers during winter. In addition, 22.66 lakh litres of kerosene had also been stocked in the two districts for distribution.