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Indo-Pak relations have improved: Sinha
Forces on alert after infiltration bid
Infiltrations witness upswing after lull
Two more road mishaps leave 8 dead, 40 hurt
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Death of newborn in hospital triggers protest
Paediatrics block at SMGS soon
Amarnath board drops idea of crystal-made Shiv lingam
Sex Scam
‘Pay panel report injustice
to defence personnel’
PDP: Increase strength of traffic cops
Citizenships rights sought for refugees
Hizbul’s top gun held
Saudi citizen caught travelling without documents
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Indo-Pak relations have improved: Sinha
Srinagar, May 10 He said there was flexibility in the approach towards solving problems on both sides and hoped that restoration of democracy in Pakistan would further strengthen bilateral relations between the
two countries. In an hour-long interaction with the British High Commissioner in India, Sir Richard Stagg at the Raj Bhavan, Sinha expressed satisfaction that hostility towards India in Pakistan had decreased. An official spokesman said Sinha expressed happiness over Pakistan’s march towards democracy, saying it would help the neighbouring country resolve all its problems. Referring to the impact of the recent elections in Pakistan and Nepal, Sinha said polls under the international scanner had provided an opportunity to the people to express their will freely and fearlessly. The success of Maoists in Nepal demonstrated the “triumph of ballot over bullet,” while the apprehensions among the opposition in Pakistan about rigging also proved wrong. On the polls to be held in the state later this year, Sinha said it would unfold an opportunity to the people and parties to demonstrate their representative character. “Any claim to be the representative of the people of Kashmir is hollow unless that claim is supported by the people through an electoral process”, he observed. He said the coming elections held a prospect of resolving various issues and satiating the democratic urges of the people. Sinha also said that economic issues would dominate and prevail over the political problems in Indo-Pak region in the future. |
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British diplomats interact with BJP leaders
Jammu, May 10 Dr Nirmal Singh informed the visiting dignitaries about the continued existence of terrorist training camps in PoK and Pakistani Ranger’s latest attempt to push terrorists into the Indian territory. He said the non-seriousness of Pakistan to counter terrorism was reflected by the status of the joint terrorism mechanism set up between India and Pakistan. On the political side, Dr Singh said the root cause of all troubles in the state was the special status under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution which has adversely affected its economy and rendered its people poor and deprived. |
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Forces on alert after infiltration bid
Jammu, May 10 Defence sources told The Tribune that troops of 7 JAK Rifles under the Tiger Division seized a huge quantity of arms and ammunition, including 10 kg RDX, in Sujani forests on Friday night. They said acting on a tip-off, troops of the Tiger Division launched a search operation in Sujani forests and recovered 10 kg RDX, 135 rounds of AK-47 assault rifle, 111 rounds of Pika ammunition, 3 UBGL grenades, 2 detonators, 1 bayonet, and 1 radio set. The seizure came at a time when BSF troopers continue to search Bainglad area along the Indo-Pak border in Samba sector where they foiled an attempt by militants to sneak into the state during the intervening night of May 8 and 9. An officer of the Tiger Division said searches were on to see whether troopers could lay their hands on more caches of arms and ammunition in the forest area. He said intelligence reports indicated that being an election year, Pakistan’s ISI wanted to push more and more militants from the Samba sector. According to sources, the ISI had moved over 800 militants in different launching pads on other side of the IB, keeping them small groups. However, following futile intrusion bid on Thursday night, the BSF has mounted surveillance along the 187-km IB. Sources in the BSF said the barbed wire fence which had been cut by Pak militants was being replaced and a constant vigil was being kept, adding, that J.B. Sangwan, DIG (G) BSF, Jammu Frontier, visited the area and reviewed the situation. A report detailing the incident and the suspected role of Pakistan Rangers in providing cover fire had also been sent to the BSF headquarters in New Delhi, they added. Meanwhile, acting upon intelligence inputs, the state police had set up fresh check points on the border roads. The police has also beefed up its security apparatus in and around the Jammu and vehicles are being put to random check at various check posts. |
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Infiltrations witness upswing after lull
Srinagar, May 10 Official sources told The Tribune that infiltration figures have seen an upswing from 2006 after a relative lull of few years when Pakistan engaged with India in peace talks and was under international pressure to clamp down on terror camps. According to the Army, 341 militants in 2006 and 311 in 2007 entered India through Kashmir and Ladhak region. The police sources said a large group of militants, whose numbers vary between 60 to 80 in official estimate, belonging to several terror outfits have successfully sneaked through the dense forests in Kupwara district bordering Pakistan over two months back this year. The intensified vigil of security forces in north Kashmir, a preferred point for ultras to enter into Jammu and Kashmir due to its dense forests spreading across the districts of Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipore, is likely to have forced militants and their Pakistani backers to look for other spots like Sambha sector, which is International Border (IB) and whose permanent sanctity is accepted by both countries unlike LoC, to enter the state. Cold statistics may not tell the complete story, but the infiltration figures, which touched numbers of 700-800 as recently as 2000 and 2001, over the years do reflect the pattern and degree of Pakistani establishment support to Kashmiri militants. Officials say since India came close to war with Pakistan in 2002 after Parliament attack and the US pressure increased on it to abate terror camps on its side, infiltration figures came down drastically for three to four years. They say their numbers were not more than 100-125 in 2005 after which it continues to see a major upswing. As much as it is difficult for the security forces to stop infiltration across 740 km long Line of Control due to its arduous topography, Pakistani establishment is equally keen in keeping the violent pot of Kashmir boiling as they and their fellow ideologists in the valley believe that it gives them increased bargaining capacity with India in peace talks. “We believe that Pakistani patrons of Kashmiri ultras may reduce their support but they will never end it completely. They will always try to keep militancy alive in Kashmir by sending in human and other resources across to the extent that it compels us to engage them,” an official said. |
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Two more road mishaps leave 8 dead, 40 hurt
Udhampur, May 10 During the last 10 days, this is fourth road accident in this mountainous belt in which 60 persons have lost their lives. According to the police, the driver of the mini-bus lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a blind curve at Basbal on Doda-Baharat road this morning after which it rolled down into a deep gorge. Before the police reached at the accident site, locals started rescuing passengers. Three passengers died on the spot and one succumbed to his injuries while being shifted to the Doda hospital. Twenty-two passengers were traveling in the mini-bus. The police with the help of locals shifted all the injured to the Doda hospital. As conditions of some injured deteriorated, the district administration arranged chopper service and air-lifted six injured to the Government Medical College Hospital Jammu. According to reports, conditions of those shifted in Jammu Hospital were critical. The deceased have been identified as Shafiqa Begum, Ghulam Nabi, Bashir Ahmed and Anara Devi. Meanwhile, as a result of repeated accidents, angry residents have stepped up demand for punishing traffic cops posted in Doda and Kishtwar district. The Youth for Development of Kishtwar (YDK) has flayed the non-professional attitude of the traffic police. Baramulla: Four persons were killed and 12 others injured when a mini-bus they were travelling in fell into Jhelum river in Baramulla district this morning. The incident occurred when the driver lost control over the bus and it skidded off and fell into Jhelum river near Sopore in the district, the police said. Four persons died on the spot while 12 others were injured in the mishap, they said, adding the injured have been rushed to nearby hospitals. The bus was on its way to Sopore from Sumbal, they
said. — PTI |
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Death of newborn in hospital triggers protest
Rajouri, May 10 Family members and relatives alleged that the infant died, as the doctors did not attend to her. They held a protest demonstration this morning and disrupted traffic on the Jammu-Poonch highway at Gujjar Mandi chowk for more than an hour. The blockade was lifted only when the station house officer reached the spot and pacified the family members. The SHO also visited the hospital to investigate the matter. Sources in the hospital told The Tribune that Naseem Akhter, wife of Shoket Hussain of Samit was shifted to the district hospital at 11.30 last night after Naseem complained of intense labour pains. Not finding the lady gynaecologist in the hospital, the relatives went to her residence and appealed her to attend to
Naseem, they added. According to them, at first the gynaecologist turned down their request but after much persuasion she agreed to attend to Naseem, who later gave birth to a baby girl. However, this morning she died. The family members accused the doctors and para-medical staff of not attending to the baby properly. “Firstly, gynaecologist Dr Uma Gupta refused to attend to my wife and she agreed only when we exerted pressure. In a fit of revenge, she and para-medical staff at the hospital didn't attend to my baby,”
he added. Meanwhile, the doctors at the hospital went on one-hour strike to protest against the alleged misbehaviour by the relatives
of Naseem. They said they had asked the family members to shift the baby to Jammu as it was a case of premature delivery but the family members didn't take their instructions seriously and the baby died. The police sources said the SHO visited the hospital for investigating the matter. |
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Paediatrics block at SMGS soon
Jammu, May 10 The construction work was launched in September 2005, but it picked up speed only last year, after Azad pulled up JKPCC officials. In the absence of proper arrangements and due to the huge influx of patients, two to three children are accommodated on a single bed along with their mothers. Talking to The Tribune, Dr Rakesh Khajuria, administrator, GMC, said, “Apart from 200 beds, the block will have two ultra modern operation theatres and 30 beds for paediatrics surgery.” Sources said in the absence of a super-specialty in paediatrics, children including neonates, requiring suugery, were being operated under general surgery. However, after the paediatrics block comes up, it would be available in the winter capital itself. The new block would also be equipped with paediatrics emergency, paediatrics ICU, neonatal ICU, rooms for lectures, seminars and consultants. |
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Amarnath board drops idea of crystal-made Shiv lingam
Jammu, May 10 Not going too far down the memory lane dry ice episode is still fresh in the minds of devotees. The SASB, last year, had allegedly purchased dry ice to ensure longer life of the ice stalagmite. However, the SASB ended up in a strong controversy inviting sharp criticism from the people, who had felt betrayed. The two-month long annual pilgrimage, which attracts lakhs of pilgrims from across the world and abroad, would get underway from June 18. Reliable sources said the SASB had been pondering over the possibilities of installing a crystal-made Shiv lingam outside the cave shrine where devotees can offer prayers to the Lord Shiva with traditional rituals using incense sticks. In fact a team of SASB officials had been dispatched to the cave shrine to look into the proposal and forward its report to the SASB chairman Lt Gen S.K. Sinha (retd). Talking to The Tribune, SASB CEO Dr Arun Kumar said, “In fact the proposal had been under active consideration of the SASB and we discussed it threadbare but eventually dropped the idea.” There are instances in religious places across the world where crystal-made idols have been installed, he said adding that the SASB, however, has decided against it. “But keeping in mind religious sentiments, the SASB would not oppose if devotees want to install idols of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati outside the cave shrine,” he added. To a query, he said, use of incense sticks and other inflammable material inside the cave shrine has already been banned. |
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Sex Scam
Jammu, May 10 Sharma had reportedly alleged that Tara Chand and former minister and PCC chief Peerzada Mohd Syed were involved in the Srinagar sex scam. Even before he was served a show-cause notice by PCC chief and union Minister for water resources, Prof. Saifuddin Soz, Sharma had blamed the electronic and print media for distorting facts. However, newspaper clippings and audiocassettes had been sent to the authorities concerned which lend credence to the allegations levelled by Sharma against Tara Chand. The Congress high command has one worry. If strong disciplinary action is taken against Sharma, it could affect the election prospects of the Congress in three Assembly constituencies in the Akhnoor sector. The party’s bigger worry is that the sex scam was likely to come up for hearing before the full Bench of the state high court in Srinagar, where a number of Congress leaders face charges of their involvement in the sex scam. Indications are that the party high command may accept an apology from Sharma in order to prevent the poll prospects of the Congress. Reports said in case the party leadership was not satisfied with the reply to the show-cause notice from Sharma, he may not be given the Congress mandate for contesting the Lok Sabha election from the Jammu-Poonch constituency. But the party high command would try to avoid a situation in which Sharma is forced to quit the organisation. The BSP leadership has started eying senior Congress leaders with a view to strengthen its base in the Jammu region after rebels from the BSP floated the National Bahujan Party. |
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‘Pay panel report injustice
to defence personnel’
Jammu, May 10 Addressing a meeting of the Rashtriya Sainik Morcha here today, Lt-Gen Anup Singh Jamwal (retd) said the pay panel report had meted out grave injustice to the Army personnel. Attended by retired officers of the Army, the Navy and the IAF, the participants after a threadbare discussion made certain recommendations to remove bitterness among serving and retired personnel. Apart from other things, participants felt that rank, pay and appointment should be additionally given to officers, junior commissioned officers and other ranks while military allowance for JCOs and others should be increased. They said similarly additional infantry allowance should be given to infantry personnel. |
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PDP: Increase strength of traffic cops
Jammu, May 10 “Traffic police arrangements across the state, especially along the National Highway 1-A and 1-B should be reviewed on priority basis and more traffic posts shall be established to keep a check on overloading and over-speeding of the vehicles plying on the highway,” he said in a statement issued here today. “The terrain of the national highway is accident-prone and in such a situation the government has to take strict measures to ensure safe driving”, he said. |
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Citizenships rights sought for refugees
Jammu, May 10 “If Muslims who migrated from China to Kashmir to escape the Communist wrath in 1952 and from Tibet in 1958 could be granted citizenship rights on “compassionate” grounds, why can’t the same yardstick be applied to the refugees from West Pakistan,” asked state BJP vice-president Prof Hari Om. He held the Congress responsible for the miserable plight of West Pak refugees. “The Centre should grant them citizenship rights so that they could exercise their right to vote in the assembly and municipal elections,” he added.
— TNS |
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Hizbul’s top gun held
Srinagar, May 10 Police sources today said they nabbed Shahid-ul-Islam, alias Shabir, district commander of the HM on Friday night, after they received a tip-off about his presence in a hideout. His arrest comes as another blow to a crippled HM which has been left without many commanders to run its operations in the valley. In another operation, the police along with the 50 Rashtriya Rifles carried out a search operation at Darbal Wuyan in Srinagar and seized one AK rifle, one magazine, 30 rounds and 14 kg explosive material. However, no arrest had been made so far.
— TNS |
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Saudi citizen caught travelling without documents
Srinagar, May 10 Official sources said Noor-ul-haq Hussain was rounded up by troops in the Chowkibal area in North Kashmir yesterday and handed over to the police. He could not produce his travel documents, which he said he had lost, and claimed he was on a visit to the valley on valid papers. Kupwara SSP Vijay Kumar said they had restrained the man from moving till they could check his antecedents from the passport office, which would open on Monday. The SSP said they have not registered any case so far and they would take any further action only after getting report from passport office. The Saudi national said he had come to Kupwara to visit his friends. The police is suspicious of him as foreigners are required special permit to visit border areas. |
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