Udhampur, April 13
At least four persons, including two women, were killed and 20 others injured when an overloaded mini bus skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge near Darmari on the Reasi-Mahore road.

The ill-fated vehicle was on its way to Mahore from Reasi when the accident took place. Ten of the injured were later air-lifted to Jammu by the Army for treatment.

Reports said the driver lost control, while negotiating a sharp curve, near Darmari.

Before the police reached the spot, locals and the road opening party (ROP) of the Army swung into rescue operations. Three passengers died on the spot, while one succumbed to his injuries later. The medical team of the 61 Rashtriya Rifles administered first aid to the injured and later shifted them to the hospital.

The deceased were identified as Fatoo (34), wife of Maqbool, resident of Shadual, Mahore; Iqbal (24) of Sajroo, Mahore; Rubina Begum (15) of Jamlan, Mahore and Mohammed Maqbool (45) of Shadaul, Mahore.

Deputy commissioner, Reasi, requested the Army to air-lift the injured to Jammu. Sources at the Medical College, Jammu, said the condition of six injured was critical.

The injured were identified as Naresh Kumar, Bashir Ahmed, Gulam, Moinuddin, Mohammed Maqbool, Gulzar Ahmed, Mohammed Hussain Batoi, Raja Begum, Sharifa Begum, Zulfi, and Irshad.

Akhnoor, April 13
It has taken 31 years for a concrete bridge to come up across the Chenab to replace the existing steel-girder span. What was envisioned to be done at a cost or Rs 77 lakh in 1977 was finally accomplished this year at a cost of Rs 23 crore.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would commission the new bridge at Akhnoor, that connects Jammu with the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, during his forthcoming visit to the state this month. It is the state’s longest bridge.

The new bridge, built by Project Sampark of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), would be an alternative to the existing steel-girder bridge, which is in constant need of repairs. A bridge at Akhnoor provides the shortest land route from Jammu to Poonch.

The old bridge was considerably damaged by unprecedented floods in 1992, BRO sources said. A Class-24 bridge as replacement was constructed by the Northern Railway in April ‘93.

However, over a period of time, certain defects were noticed in the bridge and as a precautionary measure, its load class was restricted to 18. The bridge remains closed to vehicular traffic for two hours daily for maintenance work.

According to information available with the BRO, construction of a 230-m long class-70 permanent bridge was sanctioned in May 1977 for Rs 77 lakh. The contract for construction was awarded to NBCC Limited and work 
commenced in 1978.

The contract, however, was cancelled in June 1985 owing to lack of substantial progress. Banka (India) Limited took up the remaining work in February 1985, but could not complete the task as the piers constructed were tilted. Work was abandoned in June 1994.

Sand and boulders inside the river channel made the setting up of the foundation very difficult. Frequent flash floods and high velocity of flow disrupted the work. The construction of piers at the midstream was impractical. An expert committee was formed during August 1995 which suggested in March 1997 that the bridge be constructed without midstream piers.

Work of the new 280-m long bridge started in April 2006 and was completed in a record time of about 20 months. It is located about a km upstream from the old bridge.

Rajouri, April 13
A few days after a newborn died in the corridor of the district hospital at Poonch, the government is probing the negligence on the part of the lady doctor who allegedly refused to attend to the baby and its mother.

The probe being conducted by a team comprising deputy commissioner and chief medical officer is likely to be completed within a fortnight.

Director health, Jammu, Dr Jasbir Singh said, "The probe will be completed within 14 days and the team will give its findings with necessary recommendations. If charges are proved against the lady doctor, we will take the severest action." He further said that to maintain the fairness of the probe, no one from the hospital staff has been included in the investigating team.

The newborn girl of Noor Jahan (32), wife of Mehboob Hussain of Salani in Mendhar, had died after the mother was allegedly forced to give birth to it in the hospital corridor and that too just five feet away from the labour room. The gynaecologist identified as Shahnaz Bhatti had not attended to the mother.

The relatives of the victim had alleged that gynaecologist even didn't hear their repeated pleas to admit the patient in the labour room. They alleged that the baby died because of the intense cold in the corridor.

Udhampur, April 13
Keeping in view, the forthcoming visit of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to Jammu, Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) has stepped up its campaign for the implementation of the recommendations of the working groups constituted by the Prime Minister for solving the Kashmir problem. Dr Manmohan Singh will visit Jammu on April 25.

Addressing a public meeting at Mahore this afternoon, former Chief Minister and patron of the PDP Mufti Mohammad Sayeed demanded that recommendations of the working groups be implemented to solve the problems of the people.

He demanded that the recommendation of a working group headed by C. Rangrajan on "Economic Construction" be implemented as early as possible.

As this group has recommended handing over of some hydroelectric projects to Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Sayeed demanded that 340 MW Dulhasti Hydroelectric project be handed over to the state for its economic growth.

Addressing the people in this backward area, Sayeed stressed on the need to make institutional arrangements to create equal opportunities of development in all regions and sub-regions of the state.

He said that his party was committed to strengthen unity among all regions of the state but there should be no regional disparity. "After the formation of a coalition regime in 2002, many steps were taken to remove regional imbalances,” he said but hastened to add that a lot more needed to be done to remove backwardness of some sub-regions.

“I am in favour of making an institutional arrangement wherein there is a constitutional guarantee of fair deal for all regions and sub-regions", he advocated and added that devolution of powers was a must for equitable development. He was of the opinion that decentralisation of power would encourage peoples' participation in governance and other developmental activities.

"Since its formation, the PDP has been advocating devolution of power to empower the common man and ensure his participation in democratic institutions," he said adding, "Creating an atmosphere of harmony where people live with honour is our main aim."

Quoting L.K. Advani’s book "My Country My Life", PDP patron said that it has exposed how the National Conference had betrayed the people of Jammu and Kashmir for its lust of power.

"We are not for getting power by sacrificing the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir," he asserted.

"The PDP, through its policies and programmes, convinced both India and Pakistan to take Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and accelerate the peace process in the sub-continent," he said.

Srinagar, April 13
The Army has identified a militant whom it killed in a joint operation with the police yesterday as Shabir Ahmed Bhat, alias Manzoor, and said he was a commander of the Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit.

Security forces killed him in an encounter in Pulwama district in south Kashmir and said he was an 'A' category militant in police records. The police recovered one AK rifle and ammunition from him.

Meanwhile, forces in Bandipore arrested one man, who is suspected to be an overground worker for the Jaish outfit, and recovered two grenades from him.

They said Faiyaz Ali was stopped at a naka and had been helping out militants for several months. Bandipore is a relative stronghold of militants and a number of outfits, including LeT, JeM and Al-Badr, have their cadres there.

The reports of recent infiltration of over 60 militants in the forest area encircling north Kashmir districts of Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipore have only heightened the sensitivity and security 
precautions.

However, militants have been unable to carry out any major subversive 
act so far.

Srinagar, April 13
The police in the summer capital will start a verification drive of persons living here which would help them in managing the security scene here in a better way.

A senior official said the drive assumes importance in the view of the coming elections and the "outsiders" controversy raked-up by extremists like S.A.S. Geelani.

SSP S.A. Mujtaba told The Tribune that the exercise is a part of normal policing and stressed that it should not be linked with the "outsider" issue. They will verify the details of everybody, he said, adding that it does not matter who is from where.

Srinagar is on the hit list of militants who, official sources said, are eager to carry out subversive activities here to attract attention. The approaching elections, which are scheduled for later this year, have also added to their desperation as the prevailing state of relative calm would only encourage politicians and the electorate to take to hustings with an increased gusto.

Official sources said their drive of verifying people's antecedents would also be handy in sending out a tough message to overground sympathisers of militants, which would create further pressure on them.

Residents have largely welcomed the move as they believe it would help identify anti-social elements. "As people come here for work from different places, one never knows about their real character. There are cases of some of these workers running away with valuables," Mohd Nawaj, a local said.