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HM proves point with blast
2 minor boys killed in grenade blast
Sarabjit a victim of mistaken identity: Spies
Mir opens front against PDP, NC
Sinha’s call to uproot terrorism
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Indo-Pak wall of hatred will fall soon: Beig
Rs 23-cr bridge over Chenab set for commissioning
At last, road repair work makes it near finish line
Justice at last for PVC awardee
Two drug peddlers arrested
SPS museum to get a facelift
Guv, CM greet people on Holi, Eid
Rally against BSNL
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HM proves point with blast
Srinagar, March 20 It’s not often that outfits like the HM, which draws their strength from locals’ sympathy, own up to a botched blast like yesterday, whose victims were innocent civilians, as it could alienate locals. Nonetheless, the HM took the responsibility soon after blowing up a section of flyover to send out message that it was far from being defanged, as many counter-insurgence officials had started believing after killing a number of its top commanders in recent years and reducing its cadre strength drastically. HM claimed that it intended to target a paramilitary set-up and gone on to brag that it killed “many soldiers,” evidently a plain lie. The police said all victims, one killed and 17 injured, were civilians. Adjacent to the Jahangir Chowk, where the explosion occurred, are all important power centres of the state, police headquarters, secretariat and the high court. A prolonged spell of peace in Srinagar and increasing boasts from officials as to how the city had become more secure than ever might have also incited militants to prove a point. IG SK Sahai had said two days back that the civilian killing in the city had come down by whopping 85 percent. "HM was long looking for doing something spectacular to revive its demorlised cadre. We had been getting better of them for months and now they have struck," an official told The Tribune. The police had killed its "explosive expert" Chota Jahangir on Tuesday in Awantipora and by triggering the powerful explosive yesterday they have tried to show that they still have resources. Experts believe such blasts would only weaken the HM’s base in long terms as even its overt sympathisers like separatist leader S.A. Geelani would find it hard to justify acts like these. A little-known militant outfit Al-Madina has also claimed responsibility for the blast. DGP Kuldeep Khoda was also in city today, holding meeting with senior officials. As a precautionary measure, the police has tightened up security in city. Meanwhile, the police and the Army gunned down a self-styled battalion commander of HM in Sumbal. The police said slain militant Muneer Ahmed Lali of Bandipora was wanted in several cases of killing and extortion. |
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2 minor boys killed in grenade blast
Udhampur, March 20 While security forces rushed to the spot to ascertain the real cause of blast, initial reports suggested that the incident occurred when an unclaimed grenade exploded in the forest. Reports said some boys of Gwari village of Gandoh area had gone to the forest with their cattle where they found an unclaimed bag. As they started fiddling with the bag, the grenade exploded, resulting in the death of the two boys. The deceased have been identified as Mohammed Afzal (14), son of Abdul Qayoom, and Kamran Ashraf (5), son of Mohammed Ashraf. Both were residents of Gwari village of Gandoh. DIG, Doda-Ramban, Himmant Lohia told the Tribune that police parties were rushed to the spot to ascertain the real cause of the blast. He said the incident was being assumed as an accidental blast and not a militancy-related incident. Police parties rushed
to the spot and the injured were shifted to the hospital. |
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Sarabjit a victim of mistaken identity: Spies
Jammu, March 20 “Our friend is innocent and we want him back safe,” this is how Indian spies, who before their release from jails in Pakistan, spent considerable time with Sarabjit Singh in Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore, reacted to news reports about postponing of Sarabjit’s execution. “The news report from Islamabad has given us a glimpse of hope that Sarabjit will now live long,” Babu Ram, former Indian spy, native of Nala Thanger village in Hiranagar, 85 km from Jammu said today. Babu Ram was released from Pakistani prison in 2006 after spending 15 long years in jail on charges of spying. Recalling his association with Sarabjit, Babu Ram said, “When I met Sarabjit Singh for the first time inside Kot Lakhpat jail I was convinced that Pakistani agencies had framed him under false charges.” He told me that he strayed into the Pakistani territory by mistake but was apprehended by Pakistani rangers and was booked on charges of spying. Later charges of plotting and executing serial bomb blasts in Pakistan were framed against him and was handed over death sentence. The investigators forced him to admit his crime on camera inside the jail and produced the same statement when trial was on against Singh. He said, “I and several other Indian prisoners lodged in Kot Lakhpat jail had made several attempts to persuade Sarabjit Singh that he was being framed by Pakistani agencies on false charges and he should not be misled by the false assurance given by the authorities that he would be released soon.” Another jail inmate Devinder Singh hailing from Sanoora village in Samba said, “We are now free but when we were in the jail we never expected we would be set free. I feel upset and dismayed that an innocent person like Sarabjit Singh has not been set free.” He and others said, “In reality it was simply a case of mistaken identity because in the initial stages Pakistani agencies were looking for one Manjit Singh who they claimed had been involved in the serial blasts.” They said when the Pakistani authorities failed to nail Manjit Singh they put the blame on Sarabjit to cover up their failure to nab the real culprit. They hoped that the way Gen Musharraf has deferred the execution of Sarabjit Singh it signaled change of mind of the Pakistan
President. “We pray for better sense to prevail on the establishment in Pakistan so that an innocent person was not forced to die,” they said. |
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Mir opens front against PDP, NC
Tangmarg, March 20 Unhappy with the top leadership of
PDP, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and his daughter Mehbooba Mufti, for making it a party of the family, Mir is out to garner support of various mainstream leaders to work out a “viable alternative” to the two Kashmir-based parties. “I tried a lot to make reforms within the party, but did not succeed…,” he said in his first public meeting in his home constituency of Tangmarg in Baramulla district of north Kashmir here yesterday. He said there were continuing differences on “trivial issues” between the two main coalition partners, the Congress and the
PDP, defeating the very purpose of coming to the rescue of people. This public meeting aimed at “awareness among the public” on his fresh move followed his first large public meeting held in central Kashmir district of Budgam two days earlier. Another senior PDP leader and former minister Sarfaraz Ahmad Khan joined Mir, who was tourism minister in the Mufti
Sayeed-led coalition government during its first three years. Both the PDP and the National Conference were parties of two families, Mir opined. Among other things, he was unhappy with the PDP leadership for not supporting Shoaib Lone in the by-elections from Sangrama constituency in north Kashmir.
Shoaib was elected as an independent candidate defeating the PDP candidate from Sangrama constituency following the assassination of his father and former minister, Ghulam Nabi Lone, at the hands of unidentified gunmen at his official residence here in October 2005. Mir’s rebellion against the coalition partners and the opposition National Conference eyeing the next Assembly elections is to “provide an alternative” to the voters. He expected a respectable participation of the people in next elections in the event of the announcement of militant leadership not to use force to ensure poll boycott. This is also at a time when
religio-political organisation, Jamaat-e-Islami has decided not to participate in door-to-door election boycott campaign. |
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Sinha’s call to uproot terrorism
Jammu, March 20 He said defeating the scourge of terrorism was imperative for peaceful co-existence and prosperity of South Asian region, as the cult of violence has taken heavy toll on India and Pakistan. He was interacting with a group of elders from the border tehsil of Uri on their return from Operation Sadhbavna, organised by the Dagger Division of the Army, at Raj Bhavan here this morning. The Governor said India has been successfully facing the challenge of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir while the country, which was the epicenter of international terrorism has itself become its victim and is desperately grappling with it. Sectarian violence between Shias and Sunnis has also been taking place there, he said adding, “We wish them well and hope they too should enjoy the fruits of peace and democracy.” Governor Sinha said apart from military action against terrorism, “our invincible weapon for fighting this menace has been our unique and rich legacy of the spirit of Kashmiriyat.” He said the situation has improved considerably in the state though isolated incidents of violence continue to occur here and there. The Governor had a special word of praise for the people and security forces, who have made great sacrifices for peace and prosperity in the state. Lal Din of Chauranda, who had lost his wife and two children in 2005 earthquake, informed how the Army had helped him to cope with the tragedy and rehabilitation of their village. |
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Indo-Pak wall of hatred will fall soon: Beig
Srinagar, March 20 Addressing a public gathering at Sopore yesterday, the Deputy Chief Minister and senior PDP leader said the coalition government was working under Common Minimum Programme envisaging overall development and restoration of complete normalcy and peace in the state. He said the historic and landmark decisions taken by the coalition government during the last more than five years have helped improve the socio-economic profile of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He said the present government initiated revolutionary measures in education sector, opening 40 new degree colleges, upgrading dozens of schools and making higher education possible for the students close to the homes. Referring to the efforts towards resolution of Kashmir issue since the present government took over, Beig said opening of Srinagar-Rawalpandi and other roads not only strengthened people to people contact but also helped develop good relations between the two countries. He expressed hope that the wall of hatred between India and Pakistan would get dismantled soon and peace of bridge would be established. Speaking on the occasion, senior Congress leader and health and medical education minister Mangat Ram Sharma praised the people of Kashmir for maintaining communal harmony and brotherhood even during militancy. Saying that peace was essential pre-requisite for development and prosperity of a state, the minister called upon the people to extend full cooperation to the government in restoring complete peace and normalcy. He said to provide better healthcare facilities to the people of state at par with All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), two super specialty hospitals one each at Srinagar and Jammu are coming up.
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Rs 23-cr bridge over Chenab set for commissioning
Jammu, March 20 Governor Lt-Gen S.K. Sinha (retd) on visited Akhnoor yesterday and inspected the state-of-art bridge over River Chenab completed at a cost of Rs 23 crore. The bridge has been completed within a record period of about 20 months. The work started in April 2006 and was completed last month. The work on this bridge had been taken up way back in 1979 and had to be abandoned due to technical snags. Again in 1986, the construction was taken up but could not proceed forward due to technical reasons. Ultimately, the BRO took over the job and accomplished it last month. The bridge is all set for commissioning. The unique feature of the 280-m bridge, which makes it first in the country, is that its pair to pair distance is 160 metres. The end spans of the bridge are 60 metres long each. The overall width of the bridge is 12 metres with two lanes and footpath on each side. It has been constructed using segmental construction technique and is supported with bearings. It has four shock transmission units imported from France to take care of shock effect or earthquake. According to BRO engineers, the segmental construction is a very useful and effective technique of construction and has been used for construction of many bridges having deep gorges and fast flow of current. This technology is adaptable to very demanding construction sites. The faster pace of construction, least impact on the environment, least disturbance to the flow and appealing aesthetics of bridge makes this technique unique in many ways. This technique could be used widely in hilly terrain where banks are high, foundation strata is difficult for sinking of wells and flow of current is very high. Dwelling on other features of the bridge, the engineers said the design of the super-structure was in such a manner that it could resist the ultimate moments at each section. |
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At last, road repair work makes it near finish line
Chauki Chaura (Jammu), March 20 But the Azad-led government has given much importance to this pending work, which is likely to be completed in two months time. The repair and double-laning of this leftover stretch from Godar in Kalidhar to Chauki Chaura in Akhnoor on Jammu-Rajouri highway (managed by Border Roads Organisation) was going on for the last about a decade on snails pace. The work of this stretch along the road was reportedly placed on low priority for receiving funds by the previous central government, but after Azad took over the reins and his party leading the coalition government at New Delhi, the funds started to flow. After the funds reportedly started flowing from the Central government, the repair work of this stretch gathered pace and is likely to be completed within next two months. Present status of this stretch along the road is that the double-laning has been completed from here to near Kalidhar temple. “We have repaired and double-laned the road from Chauki Chaura to near Kalidhar Temple and even it has been metalled. If things go as per the plan, it is likely to be black topped within a month or two,” a BRO official said. He further said so far as the remaining stretch is concerned it is being metalled and after that will be black topped by June this year. “It used to be a nightmarish experience to travel through this stretch. We used to close the windowpanes of the vehicle while traveling through this stretch since dust used to billow into the vehicle. The road posed high risks during rainy season as well due to slippery conditions,” said Farooq Ahmed Dar, resident of Kheora in Rajouri and businessmen who shuttles between Jammu and Rajouri frequently for business related work. “However, things have changed for better. We are hoping that this repaired double-lane stretch will be black topped soon.” Senior Congress leader and local MLC Ashok Sharma, who has raised the issue of dilapidated condition of the stretch on several occasions in the legislature, said the completion of the repair work and double-laning of this stretch speaks of the pace at which development activities are going on in the state. “Previous NDA regime blocked the funds for this project but it is due to the tiresome efforts of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad that our government at the Centre is providing adequate funding for the road,” he said. |
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Pipes laid but villagers still thirsty
Rajouri, March 20 People of Gharisyan, Dhindian, Dhanore, Chowdhary Naad and Danidhar villages continue to suffer due to water shortage. Residents complained that even as the Water Supply Department (WSD) had fitted water pipes, water was hardly supplied. They said the department supplied water through tankers and that, too, after a gap of
3 to 4 days. “The WSD hardly supplies water through the water pipes. It supplies water through tankers and that too in insufficient quantity,” complained Shama Begum of Chowdhary Naad, who along with her grand daughter was filling water in buckets and other utensils. The WSD authorities said these villages were being supplied water through water pipes from Ujjain water source, but due to the huge population load between the water source and these villages, water was being pumped by villagers near the water source. The authorities said this was the reason that villages did not get an adequate
supply of water. Ashok Kumar Gupta, superintendent engineer, WSD, Rajouri, admitted that there was shortage of water in these villages. “We have proposed improvement of water supply projects in the town and its adjoining villages. These would cost Rs 31.70 crore and the project is awaiting approval,” he said. |
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BSF men on Holi-day
Suchetgarh (Indo-Pak border), March 20 Hundreds of locals joined BSF soldiers in their Holi celebrations at the International Border. “It was like being at home. The locals made us feel like family. Since the ceasefire was announced, we celebrate every festival here with religious fervour and gaiety,” said M.K Meena, a BSF soldier. The soldiers said such type of celebrations helped them to relax. “We man the border 24 hours as the Pakistani side is always on the lookout to push in infiltrators,” they said. “Such type of programmes not only relax us, but also give an opportunity to the local population to intermingle and know about their forces,” Pawan Kumar, BSF spokesman said. Soldiers said with the participation of the local population, they had forgotten the agony of remaining away from their loved ones on festival days. “It always hurts a lot when you are away from your loved ones, especially on festivals. We miss them but for us, duty comes before family.” said Pravinder Kumar, a BSF soldier. The locals who participated in the Holi celebrations said, “We want to express our solidarity with these soldiers. By celebrating festivals with them, we want to prove that they are a part of our family,” said Hira Lal, a villager. |
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Justice
at last for PVC awardee
Katial (R.S. Pura), March 20 The state government at its recently held Cabinet meeting had decided to raise the honorarium of gallantry award winners in the state on par with the honorarium given in other states. “It was a long battle and finally we came out as winners,” Param Vir Chakra-awardee Capt Bana Singh told The Tribune. On June 26, 1987, naib subedar Bana Singh led his platoon on the Siachen glacier at a height of nearly 5,000 metres against a Pakistani post. The Qaid post that Bana captured in Siachen was a strategically important picket for the Pakistan army. “We decided to take revenge from Pakistan as they had killed our officers and jawans,” Bana said. He added: “We conquered the post amid heavy artillery fire and hosted our tricolour there.” The post was later named as the Bana Singh post. He was awarded the Param Vir Chakra on January 26, 1988. Much to his relief, the state government has decided to increase his honorarium from Rs 2,000 to Rs 1.25 lakh per year.
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Two drug peddlers arrested
Udhampur, March 20 Acting on reports that a number of youth in this hilly belt are taking to drugs, the police has constituted special teams to nab those who have been supplying tranquilisers and drugs in Doda and adjoining areas. SHO, Bhaderwah, Farooq Khan, who supervised today's operation told The Tribune that on a specific information, the police intercepted two youth who were moving towards Bhaderwah this morning. While searching their belongings, the police recovered huge quantity of tranquilisers and intoxicated drugs from their possession. |
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SPS museum to get a facelift
Srinagar, March 20 The new building which would replace the old museum complex would house rare collections of art, archaeological treasures, paintings, textiles, natural history, anthropology, numismatics and old armoury. Azad said the new museum building would be the first in the state, if not the country, whose foundation had been laid 60 feet below the ground. He said 624 concrete piles had been erected under ground to support the four-storey structure. The museum was established in 1898 by the then maharaja. Subsequently, it was developed into a highly-rated museum with prized collections, including rare manuscripts and ancient coins and tools. The museum building being very old had suffered major damages during the October 2005 earthquake and had to be closed for public. The museum has 80,000 artifacts. |
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Guv, CM greet people on Holi, Eid
Jammu, March 20 "These festivals falling on the same day is a good omen; I pray for peace and tranquility in the state which has been a shinning example of pluralistic ethos,” General Sinha said in a message. In a separate message, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad hoped that these festivals will
bring in a new festive season of peace, progress and prosperity for the state. |
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Rally against BSNL
Rajouri, March 20 Joginder Gupta, vice-president, Municipal Committee, Sunderbani, told The Tribune that the telecom services remained disrupted most of the times during the past few months. |
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