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Kidney Scam
2 Hizbul militants held
Army foils infiltration bid, kills 4 militants
Infiltrations belie official claim
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Anara Gupta CD: Board to submit report
Governor’s rule: Panthers to send memo to President
Bird flu fear creates panic
Sinha for fast restoration of Mubarakh Mandi
83,000 job cards distributed
Panthers call to expose coalition government
BSNL services cut off
Medicos seek minister’s help
Bird flu preparedness
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UP, Delhi Police teams search state link
Tejinder Singh Sodhi Tribune News Service
Jammu, February 2 While there are reports of the presence of a police team from New Delhi and Uttar Pradesh in Jammu to ascertain whereabouts of Poonam, one of the two wives of Dr Amit Kumar, the mastermind behind the kidney racket, there are also reports of a UP police team conducting raids at some of the private nursing homes in Srinagar as well. Highly placed sources informed that both the doctors allegedly involved in the kidney scam used to visit the valley to treat kidney patients. ”There are reports that both the doctors Dr Amit Kumar and Dr Upendra used to visit some of the private nursing homes in the valley to treat kidney patients in Kashmir,” said a senior police officer requesting anonymity. The presence of Delhi and UP police teams in Srinagar is seen as a move by the police to find out the involvement of Kashmir-based doctors with the two accused, who frequented the valley. Another team of UP police, which is said to be present in Jammu region, is believed to have raided few localities in Jammu to trace the whereabouts of Poonam, one of the two wives of Dr Amit Kumar. When contacted, inspector general of police, Kashmir ranger, S.M. Sahai told the Tribune, “I have no information about the presence of any police team in the valley, however if they approach us for help; we are ready to offer every type of assistance to them in investigating the case.”
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2 Hizbul militants held
Srinagar, February 2 The militants had reportedly taken shelter in the house of one Nissar Ahmed Bhatt. They were later handed over to the police. IGP, Kashmir range, S.M. Sahai and IG (Operations) CRPF, M.S. Gupta at a joint press conference said the successful operation leading to the surrender of the two militants had been conducted by the police and the CRPF. A police spokesman, however, stated that the two militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen surrendered before a joint police party of the Pulwama police and the Srinagar police, after a brief encounter at Wachi village. The militants have been identified as Gulzar Ahmad Mir, alias Nika Mir of Zainapora, and Showkat Ahmed Rather, alias Mustafa of Grawgund, in Pulwama district. The spokesman quoting the SSP, Pulwama, Nitish Kumar said the Srinagar police received specific information regarding the presence of militants at Wachi village on which an operation was jointly launched by the Srinagar police, the Pulwama police and the 55RR. As the police reached the target area, militants opened indiscriminate fire on them, triggering off an encounter, he added. However, after a brief exchange of fire, the militants were given an opportunity and asked to surrender. Sensing an opportunity, the militants readily laid down their arms and surrendered before the police, he revealed. One AK-56 rifle, three magazines, 80 rounds of ammunition, one pistol with magazine, eight pistol rounds and two grenades were handed over by the surrendered militants, the police said. Police sources said Nik Mir was the most wanted “A” category militant, who was also involved in the November 10, 2006, attack on Moulvi Abdul Rashid Dawoodi when he was entering the mosque at Tahab in Pulwama. He said that seven persons, including four minors, were killed in the incident and 33 persons, including Moulvi Abdul Rashid Dawoodi, were injured. Nik Mir was also involved in the firing incident on a police party of the DPL, Pulwama at Rakh Litter on February 2, 2007, in which four policemen were killed and three were injured, police sources added. The SSP said Showkat Rather had planted an IED at Hadin Gund Musa on October 24, 2007, which was detected and later diffused by the Police Bomb Disposal squad. |
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Army foils infiltration bid, kills 4 militants
Rajouri, February 2 The Army recovered three AK-rifles from the site of the encounter. The infiltrating party from the Pakistani side fled during the encounter. A Jammu-based defence spokesperson, Lt-Col S.D.Goswami, said four militants of the receiving party to receive infiltrators from the Pakistani side crossed over the fence and were trapped by the Army at 11.30 pm on Friday night. They were killed by the troops in an encounter. He further said the Army was carrying out search operations in the area and trying to ascertain the identity of the slain militants. However, local sources said the militants probably eight in number; four infiltrating from the Pakistani side and four from the receiving party, were trapped by troops of the Army and the police near Ghani village in the Krishna Ghati sector. They said four militants were killed in the encounter whereas the remaining militants were giving the troops and the police a tough time. Sources further said two Special Police Officers (SPOs) of the state police had also been killed in the operation which was still going on. DIG, Rajouri-Poonch police range, Prithvi Raj Manhas said he had reports that two SPOs were critically injured in the operation.
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Infiltrations belie official claim
Rajouri, February 2 Just today, reliable intelligence sources disclosed that four infiltrators "successfully" managed to sneak into this side near Ghora Post in Mankote sector of the frontier district Poonch. They said that infiltrators crossed over to India in the wee hours. They further said infiltration of the four militants was facilitated by the Pakistan's army during the exchange of fire with the Indian army. Intelligence sources further said that the infiltration had occurred in the area manned by the Gorkha Regiment. They further said the intelligence agencies had already informed the army unit regarding the possibility of infiltrators attempting to sneak through their area of responsibility but despite that the infiltrators managed to infiltrate. Intelligence sources claimed that about a week back, a group of five to six infiltrators had managed to successfully sneak to this side whereas one of the infiltrators was killed by the Army in Keeri Battla sector in the Sunderbani area of this border district. Two army personnel had also sacrificed their lives while foiling the infiltration bid. They said after a few days the same militants were spotted by the villagers in Khour block of Akhnoor Tehsil in Jammu. The intelligence sources may be confirming infiltrators managing to successfully infiltrate to this side, but the army authorities here remain tight-lipped about such attempts. A defence spokesperson told TNS on phone from Jammu that no such attempt had taken place. “The infiltration attempts will be there, but the Army is competent enough to foil such attempts.” |
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Anara Gupta CD: Board to submit report
Jammu, February 2 The police had requested the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to constitute a board of scientific experts so as to look afresh into the contradictory reports of Hyderabad and Chandigarh forensic science labs. The pornographic CD had rocked the winter capital in 2004, which also involved some politicians and bureaucrats in the sleaze. Official sources said, baffled over two conflicting reports, the special investigating team (SIT) of Jammu and Kashmir Police had requested the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to constitute a board of scientific experts so as to look afresh into the contradictory reports of Hyderabad and Chandigarh forensic science labs. The Hyderabad lab in its report had given a clean chit to the former beauty queen while Chandigarh lab had claimed that the girl in porn CD had resemblance with Anara Gupta.
“The SIT has sought the opinion of the board on two conflicting reports and its remarks on the porn CD, of copy of which had been dispatched to it,” said a senior police officer on the basis of anonymity. “The police officers, who remained associated with the case, have also been under the board’s scanner,” he added. Sources said the board has completed its report and it would be forwarded shortly to the SIT working under the supervision of SSP Jammu Parminder Singh. Two separate FIRs vide number 25 and 165 were registered at the Women Cell and Bari-Brahmana police station, respectively. Soon after the porn CD scam rocked the state, the police had kept Anara and her family under alleged illegal confinement at Women Cell for about 11 days. The girl, minor at the time of scam, had been allegedly exploited by a television cable operator Narinder Kohli on a false pretext of making her a Bollywood star. |
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Governor’s rule: Panthers to send memo to President
Jammu, February 2 Stating this here today, leader of the Panthers Party in the Assembly Harsh Dev Singh alleged that the recent events on the floor of the House, which included adoption of grants of 25 departments and the finance bill within a span of 10 minutes and that too without a debate, discussion and ministers' reply, demonstrated the “level of jungle raj in the state”, which called for imposition of the Governor's rule. He said the government was afraid of facing the opposition charges on the floor of the Assembly and hence it resorted to an “unprecedented” procedure by rushing through all the grants without giving time to the opposition to raise vital issues pertaining to the plight of refugees, unemployed youth and the back door appointments in various government departments. Harsh Dev Singh said, “The government had faced an embarrassing position soon after the tabling of the Kundal Committee Report in the Assembly” and hence it opted for adjournment of the House sine die 10 days before the budget session was to end. This “unconstitutional and unprecedented step” was taken to spare the government of facing further exposure on “massive irregularities in the Forest Department and the forest corporation.” He said the state government in general and ministers in particular had violated the commitment that was made in the roundtable conference and the meetings of the working groups on the transfer of employees and officials. It had been resolved that officials would not be transferred before completing a two-year term but during the last several months several thousand employees were reshuffled even before completing one-year term. He added all these “ills could be ended once the state was placed under the Governor's rule.”
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Bird flu fear creates panic
Jammu, February 2 Two migratory birds (bar-headed geese) were found dead in the wetland and the wildlife department has hurriedly sent the samples to the high security animal disease laboratory (HSADL). Speaking to The Tribune, regional wildlife warden Naseer Ahmed Kitchloo Said, “Yes two migratory birds have so far died. But we are not sure about the reason behind their death. Adding, he said, “We have sent the samples to animal disease laboratory and the result is awaited.” When asked to comment where the birds might have died of bird flu, he said, “It may be possible and we need to remain vigilant. A red alert has been sounded there and we have been collecting blood samples of other migratory birds and sent the same to various laboratories to confirm the presence of avian virus.” The wildlife department has put its team on an alert and the department says it was geared up to tackle any such outbreak in the region. “Last time when there was a similar situation in Maharashtra, we were fully prepared to counter that, now this year also our department is fully prepared to counter any such scare,” Kitchloo said. A total of around 10,000 bar-headed geese come to Jammu every year after they migrate from colder places during winter and return on the onset of summer season. The state animal husbandry department has also made elaborate arrangements to counter any such outbreak in the state, as the department has increased surveillance at various places to check the inflow of infected poultry birds into the state. When contacted Director, Animal Husbandry, Dr. S.P. Sharma told The Tribune, “We are in the field monitoring the birds, we tour interior areas in the region and collect samples from there, and as such there is nothing to panic, we are continuously monitoring the situation.” He said that the department was all set to counter any such outbreak of the disease in the region as the department has increased its vigil in the region. “All our logistics are in place and we are in a state of readiness to counter any such scare.” But he said no report of the presence of the bird flu had so far been reported in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. “We collected 4000 samples for testing and so far we have received 3800 reports from which no positive report on the presence of avian virus has so far been reported,” He said. He said if there was any scare of the disease the department was all set to counter any such outbreak.
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Sinha for fast restoration of Mubarakh Mandi
Jammu, February 2 He was addressing a high level meeting after visiting various heritage complexes of Mubarak Mandi, Dogra Art Museum and Archives library in Jammu to monitor the restoration work initiated by INTACH and ASI under the supervision of Mubarakh Mandi Heritage society Jammu. Accompanied by minister for higher education Gulchain Singh Charak and other state officials, Governor said the Mubarakh Mandi heritage complex would not only attract tourists from across the county but also from the world over once it was restored. “After its restoration the priority should be maintenance of the complex, as it is the pre-requisite for attracting all kind of tourists to visit this heritage complex,” Sinha said. A heritage hotel, sound and light show for tourists besides entry ticket for visitors with the pre-recorded phone guidance would be available for visiting tourists, he added. He said to make the complex more tourists friendly a cable car connecting the complex with Bahu fort should be laid. Gulchain Singh Charak informed the meeting about the steps taken by the society for the restoration and preservation of the complex.
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83,000 job cards distributed
Srinagar, February 2 This was disclosed by director, Rural Development Department, Kashmir, M.A. Bukhari today on the completion of two years of launching the nation-wide scheme. Bukhari said it was on this day in 2006, that the scheme in its first phase was launched in 200 districts of the country, including Kupwara, Doda and Poonch districts. He said the scheme was being launched in the remaining districts of the country and in the state from April this year. With this, all existing wage employment schemes like the Sameen Guarantee Rozgar Yojna (SGRY), the National Food for Work Programme (NFFWP), etc. would be subsumed in the NREGS which would be the flagship wage employment scheme at the national-level. Various functions regarding completion of two years of the implementation of the scheme were organised in various districts of the valley. Bukhari said besides, providing assured wage employment to rural households, the scheme was aimed at creating durable community assets and checking the rural labour migration. He said the scheme ensured guaranteed wage employment of 100 days per year to every registered household. |
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Panthers call to expose coalition government
Jammu, February 2 Addressing party workers in Patniyal, Marh, Ranjitpura today, party chairman Bhim Singh, who has embarked upon “haq insaf yatra”, has urged the people of Jammu, particularly Pakistani refugees to oppose, expose and depose what he claimed “the most corrupt and authoritarian rule of the Congress-PDP combine.” “Not only the Congress and PDP but the NC too has been acting hostile to the interest of people of the Jammu region,” he said. He added, “The NC and Congress are responsible for enacting the Resettlement Act and many other laws, which were against the interest and security of the people of Jammu.” Singh said, “Even after 60 years of Independence, refugees from Pakistan continue to languish in the state in absence of fundamental rights and they would continue to suffer as long as Kashmiri leadership continues its dictatorship shredding rule of law and democracy.” Bhim Singh urged Governor Lt-Gen S.K. Sinha (retd) to invoke Section 92 of the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution and promulgate President’s rule so that free and fair assembly elections could be held. He also appealed the Hurriyat Conference to avail the opportunity so that they could become legitimate representatives of Kashmir. |
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BSNL services cut off
Rajouri, February 2 Subscribers of both BSNL's mobile services, pre-paid and post-paid, said they were being harassed by the telecom company through its poor services. Post-paid subscribers said they were also being charged for the poor services. “BSNL's mobile services are inadequate. Most of the time, during the day, the services remain disrupted. It is difficult to make a call from a BSNL mobile,” said Rahul Sharma, a resident of ward no 7. |
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Medicos seek minister’s help
Jammu, February 2
The admissions for first batch were made in 2004. Sharma assured them that the issue would be taken up with Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad for addressing their grievance at the earliest.
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Bird flu preparedness
Rajouri, February 2 District authorities said during the meeting, the DDC asked the officers to arrange awareness camps in different blocks to generate public awareness regarding bird flu. All district heads of different departments were apprised about bird flu to prevent occurrence of the dreaded disease. |
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