Chandigarh, April 8
The Army has found two hundred bulletproof vehicles procured by the Ministry of Defence from private vendors to be defective. The vehicles had been procured despite the Vehicle Research and Development Establishment, a DRDO laboratory, indicating certain limitations of the vehicles during maneuverability trials.

The vehicles, procured at a cost of Rs 32 crore, were meant for safe and swift movement of Army commanders in militancy-infested areas. The limitations, which compromised safety requirements, were not removed before placement of purchase orders. According to findings of the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Northern Command, which received 150 bulletproof vehicles (BPV) in September 2006 reported defects like reduced power and mobility due to excess weight of bullet proofing, weak suspensions, etc. The Eastern Command, which had received 50 BPVs, also reported similar defects.

Based upon recommendations of the Army headquarters after trials, the ministry had concluded a contract with Mahindra Defence Systems (MDS) in July 2005. The vehicles were delivered by August 2006.

The ministry had earlier issued requests for proposal to Maruti Udyog, Telco, and MDS for procurement of BPVs. Telco and MDS responded, offering Tata Sumo and Mahindra Rakshak, respectively. After defects were reported in the BPV’s , the Army stopped further procurement of these vehicles and started reviewing its general staff qualitative requirements (GSQR). The problems with which the BPVs were saddled included heavy weight - 2,660 kg against 1,590 kg for which their engines were designed, thereby lowering power and affecting the ability to negotiate steep gradients. These were found to be unsuitable for cross-country movements due to low ground clearance and also faced problems in negotiating mountain turns due to large turning radius.

Jammu, April 8
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has dashed off an official letter to union health minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss requesting him to accord Dental Council of India’s (DCI) recognition to three batches, consisting of 58 students, of Indira Gandhi Government Dental College (IGGDC).

It may be recalled here that uncertainty lurks over career prospects of these students pursuing their BDS course from Indira Gandhi Government Dental College without the DCI approval.

Ever since 2004 the dental college was established by the coalition government, 58 students were given admissions without DCI approval, which continue to haunt them even today.

Sources in the Health Department told ‘The Tribune’ that Azad has written a letter to Ramadoss requesting him to safeguard career prospects of these 58 students. Azad vide his letter number PS/HCM/08-10 dated March 31, 2008 has sought personal intervention of the union health minister into the matter.

The Chief Minister has requested Ramadoss to convince DCI for according approval to the dental college and all the batches with retrospective effect from 2004 instead of 2007.

It may be mentioned here that DCI had approved the fourth batch in 2007 triggering strong protests from 58 students of previous three batches.

Azad in his letter has strongly requested Ramadoss to ensure that these students should not suffer under any circumstances.

“Students were selected in a transparent manner by the competent authorities and hence should not be made to suffer under any circumstances,” read a portion of his letter.

Sources said, after secretary, Health and Medical Education, KB Jandial’s letter failed to evoke any response, Azad wrote the letter to the union health minister.

Jandial vie letter number ME-GAZ-10/05 dated February 14, 2008 had written a letter to the Secretary Health and Family Welfare Government of India.

In four-page letter, Jandial had also tried to drive home the fact that students were selected through Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BPEE) in a transparent manner.

He had also stated that militancy affected children from the Kashmir valley were also pursuing their academics from the Jammu dental college.

Since ‘hasty’ inception in 2004 on the initiative of the then state health minister, presently Congress MP Lal Singh, the dental college continues to experience teething problems.

Talking to The Tribune, some of the students of IGGDC said, “Assembly elections may happen anytime this year and if ruling combine fails to retain then things for us would turn worse from bad.”

“In absence of DCI approval to our batches, there would be no difference between us and roadside quacks,” they said, adding “We won’t be considered eligible for jobs in other DCI approved hospitals in the country.”

Udhampur, April 8
The Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) has started a campaign to mobile masses to convince the Centre to open the Sialkot-Jammu route.

The PDP had been demanding opening of the road so as to develop it on the pattern of the Wagha border from where people crossed over to the other side of the border.

The PDP has reason to raise its voice in support of opening the route as industrialists and traders of Jammu region have repeatedly been demanding trade with Pakistan.

Addressing a public meeting at Jindyal village bordering Reasi district, Mufti stressed on the need of opening more routes on the border to facilitate free movement of people on both sides.

“The opening of the Sailkote-Suchetgarh and the Jhangar-Nowshere routes would further help in normalising relations in the sub-continent”, Mufti said, while addressing a public meeting at Jindyal village. “I will ask the Union government to bring the matter before the new Pakistani government to open these routes as early as possible.” “Opening of the route between two cities would boost economy of both Jammu and Sailkote and facilitate trade between industrialists of both the cities,” he said.

Mufti further demanded that the Suchetgarh route should be developed on the pattern of Wagha border from where visitors can go across the border. He said with the opening of this route, not only trade would flourish but it would facilitate pilgrims who visit Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. He stressed on the need of easing restrictions to allow citizens of Jammu and Kashmir to move freely on both sides of the border and hoped that the restrictions would soon be removed.

Srinagar, April 8
Chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has stressed the need for futuristic approach in formulating and executing development schemes to ensure speedy implementation and prompt benefit to the people.

Reviewing the status of 10 MGD Rangil Water Supply scheme here today, the Chief Minister asked officials to think few decades beyond the starting point of a development project so that its utility did not end in a short period.

The Rangil Water Supply Scheme, estimated to cost Rs 27.15 crore, would provide potable water to residents of various areas on the northwest outskirts of Srinagar city. Out of the total length of about 51 km, pipes had been laid over 37.5 km of which 22 km were test checked, an official spokesman said.

The Chief Minister directed the concerned officials to speed up work on this scheme so that it is completed at an early date and people get improved water supply facility. He asked the executing agency to ensure pipe alignment particularly in the vicinity of Parimpora-Pantha Chowk by-pass in such a manner as would not be affected by the road upgradation work.

Minister for PHE, irrigation and horticulture Mohammad Dilawar Mir, chief executive officer Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) Pankaj Jain and other senior officers attended the meeting.

Jammu, April 8
Senior police functionaries have been assured that the Central government would, while examining the sixth pay commission report, consider the demands of IPS officers with regard to restoration of pay parity with IAS officers.

This assurance is said to have been given by the Union home minister, Shivraj Patil, to the delegation of Central IPS Officers Association led by A.P. Maheshwar, Inspector general, CRPF.

The association members met the Union home minister recently and submitted a memorandum which listed their grievances over what the officers called “downgrading DGs and DIGs” as far as the monthly pay packet was concerned in the six pay commission report. Police sources said today that Patil assured the association members that he would recommend suitable enhancement in the pay-scales of officers right from DGs to DIGs down to constables.

The association members had demanded that there was no case for any “edge” to any service over the IPS and hence absolute parity at all levels was justified. Another demand the members put forward during their meeting pertained to the parity in all pay bands and grade pay for the All-India services at all stages of career and the existing pay-scale of DIGs (Rs 16,400-450-20,000) should be placed in the proposed pay band PB 4 with grade pay of Rs 9,000.

The eligibility period for the post of DIGs should remain 14 years. They also demanded that deputation to the posts of DIG and IG in the central paramilitary forces should be retained at the current level.

Srinagar, April 8
Expressing concern over the delay in cross-LoC trade, president of the PDP, Mehbooba Mufti, has sought opening of more routes between the two sides, to facilitate hassle free movement of people to pave way for peace in the region.

The PDP is also working on a road map accommodating aspirations of the people in all three regions of the state - Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir.

This was revealed by Mehbooba Mufti at a press conference here today on her return from Pakistan, where she had gone to attend a two-day Pugwash meet, on Kashmir. She said the state had a major role to play in view of its historical background for ensuring peace not only in South Asia but in the entire Central Asian region.

During her maiden visit to Pakistan, Mehbooba held meetings with the PPP co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari and former prime minister, Nawaz Sharief.

Mehbooba said she conveyed to the Pakistan leaders that things had moved in a positive direction for stronger Indo-Pak relations, but the “message that Kashmir came in the way was not correct.”

She said as routes across the LoC had been opened about four years ago, the restoration of trade-links was still awaited as she sought Pakistan to take positive steps in this direction.

There were hopes that trade would be start within two to three months.

Replying to questions on the present security scenario in the state, Mehbooba reiterated the PDP demand on the withdrawal of troops from civilian areas. She held that even as the number of militants had reportedly declined to hundreds from thousands, there had been no decline in the number of troops deployed across the state.

She said the Kashmir issue had not been resolved since the past six decades which had led to the killing of over 1 lakh people.

Udhampur, April 8
A self-styled divisional commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) outfit was killed in a joint operation of the Jammu and Kashmir police and the Rashtriya Rifles this morning.

The slain ultra was identified as Ghulam Hassan, alias Shamim Thool, a local of Doda district who was active in Bhalesa, Gandoh, Thatri and adjoining localities. He was involved in many terrorist incidents.

With the elimination of Ghulam Hassan, the police claims to be have wiped out pro-Pakistani Hizbul Mujahideen outfit from the Gandoh area of Doda district.

“We were tracking him for the last 10 days after getting information about his movement in this area,” DIG, Doda-Ramban, Hemant Kumar Lohia told the Tribune.

Sources said the police launched a cordon and search operation in Batyas area in Gandoh tehsil of Doda district on Monday night. 

Udhampur, April 8
Responding to the repeated complaints of the people, Udhampur chief education officer (CEO) Vijay Mohan Raina has issued an official order imposing a blanket ban on selling of books and other related materials in the premises of schools.

The CEO has also warned to derecognise or cancel permission of all those private schools if found selling books of private publishers.

With the commencement of new academic session, private educational institutions have opened counters to sell books and other material to the students. It is allegedly that management of the private schools are forcing the parents to buy expensive books and other material for their wards.

As the publishers have offered huge commissions to the school managements for prescribing expensive books, private institutes allegedly forcing the students to purchase those books which have no relevance to their studies.

For the last one week, parents have repeatedly brought this matter to the notice of the authorities of the Education Department to keep a check on the loot of private educational instructions.

The CEO constituted a team, which inspected some private schools and found that majority of these institutes have been selling expensive books of private publishers to get commission.

Taking serious note, the CEO issued an order and imposed ban on selling books in the premises of the educational institutes.

Srinagar, April 8
In Kashmir they are saying March has followed April. If the previous month was unusually warm and temperature hovered several degrees above normal, things have turned around this month. A spell of drizzle, if not torrential rains, has made it much colder April and the temperature has been below normal, the Met department said.

A weather official said Srinagar's maximum temperature was 14.6 degree C today which is 3 degree less than the normal 18 degree C. The department considers decimal figures in complete number and anything above 0.5 is regarded as one. Pehalgam almost shivered last night with minimum temperature at 3.5 degree. The minimum temperature in Srinagar was 6.8 degree.

Light rains continue to affect lives in valley and its measurement was 0.4 mm in Srinagar and 1.2 in Pehalgam. Met officials have predicted rains and snow in the valley in coming 24 hours.

Sun continued to elude people in the valley and conditions remained largely overcast. Prevailing conditions have also resulted in people getting affected with flu. 

Katra, April 8
For the first time in 60 years, Hindus from Jakababad and Kashmir districts of Sindh province in Pakistan are currently in Jammu and Kashmir to pay a visit to Mata Vaishno Devi. Having arrived at Katra yesterday, the group of 52 Hindus undertook the journey to the shrine in the Trikuta hills this morning chanting hymns in a euphoric state.

Seen as a direct result of improving relations between the two countries, especially after a democratically elected government came into being in Pakistan, the visit to the Vaishno Devi is seen as much more than a dream come true for most devotees. Equally enthusiastic response has come from the people of Katra and employees of the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board that has provided a VIP status to these devotees from Pakistan.

Senior police officials told The Tribune that adequate security had been provided to the Pakistani visitors who under took the journey today morning.

SP Katra Ashok Sharma told mediapersons while some security measures have been taken, but no restrictions have been imposed on Pakistanis.

Brajesh Kumar, one of the Pakistani pilgrim told media persons, 'We will pray to Mata Vaishno Devi for an end to differences between India and Pakistan and more friendly relations between the two countries so that it's easier for the pilgrims to travel.”