Rajouri, November 24
In a setback to the Congress party ahead of the Poonch-Haveli by- election general-secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) and a frontrunner for the Congress mandate from this constituency Yashpal Sharma resigned from the party on Friday in protest against decision to nominate Jahangir Mir to contest the election.

Sharma will now contest as an independent and filed his nomination papers saying that “The party high command ditched me”.

Not only this 11 Congress party councillors in the Poonch Municipal Committee, also resigned from the party in support of Sharma, in protest against indifferent attitude of the party high command.

The party has fielded Jahangir Mir for Poonch byelecton and he filed his nomination papers for the election on Thursday. The Poonch Assembly constituency will go to polls on December 12.

Sharma told The Tribune over telephone from Poonch, after filing his nomination papers, the party deceived him by not fielding him. “I am a winning candidate from this seat since I secured 27,631 votes in 2002 elections and lost by just 341 votes from Ghulam Muhammd Jan of the National Conference. Even they (party high command leaders) know I will win this seat, but despite this they denied me ticket”, claimed Sharma.

After filing nomination papers as an independent Sharma also addressed a rally organised by his supporters and exhorted them to work for his victory and give befitting reply to the Congress functionaries, who played major role for making party high command give ticket to the other aspirant.

Observers said the decision of Sharma to fight the election as an independent might tilt the balance towards National Conference candidate Aijaz Jan, who was trying to retain the seat after it fell vacant following his father Ghulam Muhammad Jan’s death.

Srinagar, November 24
Lieut General Mukesh Sabharwal today took over as General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Srinagar-based, 15 Corps, also known as Chinar Corps.

Lieut General Amarjit Singh Sekhon, who commanded the corps for more than a year, passed the baton to Sabharwal, and he would be assuming charge of Director-General, Military Operations, the Army said. Level of violence in the valley came down significantly during his tenure.

Before the change of guard, both Generals paid tributes to martyrs at the War Memorial in Badami Bagh cantonment, the headquarters of 15 Corps.

Gen Sabharwal is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and was commissioned into Rajput Regiment on June 13, 1971. During his career spanning 36 years, he had varied command and staff experience.

He also took part in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war in Jammu and Kashmir and commanded a battalion in the high altitude region of Ladakh. He also led Kupwara-based 28 Infantry Division on LoC and has been actively involved in counter infiltration and anti-terrorists operations in the state.

Gen Sabharwal has also attended the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, the USA and US Army War College, Pennsylvania.

Jammu, November 24
Sant Singh Tegh,a freedom fighter, had wished his last rites be performed at his native place Hattian Dupatta, near Muzaffarabad, in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

He had not been able to go there since the Partition in 1947.

When he passed away this September at the age of 100, his sons ensured his last wish was fulfilled.

While cremation was done here, the mortal remains were immersed at Domel, the confluence of Jhelum and Kishen Ganga in PoK on November 7.

According to Nanak Partap Singh, the Toronto-based son of Tegh, both the Pakistan and PoK governments welcomed them when they sought permission and visa.

A state function was organised at Hattian Dupatta which was presided over by PoK Prime Minister Atiq Ahmed Khan.

It was attended by ministers, officials and local people. Some of the relatives of Tegh, who were stuck there and had converted to Islam, were also present.

Partap told The Tribune here today they had not expected such a number of people to participate in the immersion (of mortal remains) ceremony.

"At best we thought some of our converted relatives might come, but we were overwhelmed by the natives there led by the Prime Minister himself," he said.

Tegh was a noted freedom fighter and an associate of late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. He was one of the founder members of the National Conference.

Prior to partition he was known as Sher -e-Pahar (lion of hills). In India he was given the title of ‘Tegh’. He commanded respect of all sections of society and political parties.

Tegh’s attempt to go to his native place was turned down by the Pakistani authorities in 1960s.