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‘Denial’ of permission for samiti function
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Assembly Poll
Two militants, jawan killed
Protest lodged with Pak
Strengthen forces of non-violence: Mufti
‘Cross-LoC trade unconstitutional’
Eve-teasing on rise in Jammu
MC to rehabilitate slum-dwellers
Prices of vegetables, pulses hit the roof
Prices of essential commodities fixed
Fine arts institute victim of government apathy
Cong, NC mislead people: BJP
DGP inaugurates staff quarters
Exhibition on rare Quranic manuscripts
Lovers slit wrists
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‘Denial’ of permission for samiti function
Jammu, September 22 He has been identified as 35-year-old Jaswant Singh, a vegetable vendor belonging to the Ghagwal area in Samba district. According to sources, Jaswant was reportedly upset since morning and had met some local samiti leaders. He also asked for the mobile number of samiti convener Lila Karan Sharma. Later, he poured kerosene and immolated himself while chanting 'Bam Bam Bhole' at his shop in Ghagwal Chowk. Some CRPF men on duty came to his rescue and doused the fire with a blanket. He was immediately shifted to the Samba district hospital with 80 per cent burns from where he was referred to Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu. However, in view of his critical condition he was soon airlifted to the PGI, Chandigarh, in a state chopper. Lila Karan Sharma visited the GMC to inquire about the condition of Jaswant Singh. Sharma claimed that Jaswant told him that he was "giving his life for the Hindu cause". He said the samiti has extended a financial aid of Rs 10,000 to Jaswant’s family and assured all help in his treatment. Samba deputy commissioner Saurav Bhagat said the exact reason behind Jaswant taking the extreme step was yet to be ascertained as he was not in a position to give statement. He said the ADC had been asked to inquire into the matter and submit a report. He also informed that some family members of Jaswant had also accompanied him to the PGI, Chandigarh. The samiti was not allowed to hold a function at Abhinav Theatre - a government auditorium - on Saturday. The samiti was to felicitate the families of those who lost their lives during the two-month-long land agitation in Jammu. Meanwhile, on the second day of the samiti's shutdown call, a section of traders chose to keep their shops open. Some minibuses and Matadors were also seen plying. Educational institutions, including Jammu University, wore a deserted look due to the bandh call. However, the people heaved a sigh of relief after coming to know that the samiti has not extended its shutdown call as they would not have to reel under another spell of strikes and curfew. The city had observed a shutdown for 39 consecutive days from July 23 as the samiti spearheaded an agitation for the restoration of land to the Amarnath Shrine Board. The agitation was suspended on August 31 after the samiti reached an agreement with the Governor's panel. |
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Samiti not to contest poll
Jammu, September 22 The sangharsh samiti also smelt the foul play when a strong posse of the police and paramilitary force spoiled its felicitation function organised at Abhinav Theatre here on Saturday in the memory of those killed during the Jammu agitation. “The sangharsh samiti has no plans to contest the coming elections, but certainly we will create awareness among the people,” samiti convener Leela Karan Sharma said. Being a non-political umbrella organisation, the samiti would not contest the polls, but to ensure justice with the people of Jammu, awareness would be created among them, he added. When asked whether he would like to take a plunge into political battlefield considering his popularity graph, Sharma said, “It had never been my ambition. We just want to ensure that people of Jammu get justice and equal treatment.” Echoing similar views, samiti spokesperson Narinder Singh said: “To keep the faith of the people in the samiti, none of its member will contest elections, especially those who held negotiations with the government on the core issue.” Leela Karan Sharma, Tilak Raj Sharma, Pawan Kohli, Brig (retd) Suchet Singh and Narinder Singh were part of the negotiations. The samiti would soon discuss the issue threadbare, and we would devise means to educate the people of Jammu for the elections, he said. When asked whether the samiti’s awareness drive would be confined to the Sangh Parivar and its allied outfits only, Narinder Singh said the Sangh Parivar extended support to the cause of Jammu and whosoever joined the cause has to be appreciated. |
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Assembly Poll
Jammu, September 22 Two senior Panun Kashmir leaders Ajay Chrungoo and Kuldeep Raina today said: “We have not yet decided on the issue. We are waiting for the Election Commission to fix the poll schedule and after that we will decide whether to take part in the poll process or not.” However, All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference
(ASKPC) headed by Amarnath Vaishnavi has decided to take part in the elections. Latest reports said the ASKPC would field its candidates from some constituencies in the Kashmir valley. Its general secretary Hira Lal Chatha would be fielded from the Habba Kadal constituency that had as many as 17,000 Pandit voters. Since there are over 1.25 lakh Pandit voters in Jammu who are eligible to cast their votes for which a separate arrangement was being made, mainstream political leaders belonging to the Congress, the National Conference, the PDP and the Leftists from the valley have started campaigning for the support of the displaced voters. These parties have already their units working among the displaced families. Since there are apprehensions that the ensuing elections may witness poor percentage of polling because of the current fluid situation in the valley, which has 46 constituencies, the votes of displaced families are expected to tilt the scale in at least six constituencies in Kashmir. Top among them being the Habba Kadal constituency, where besides Hira Lal
Chatha, former chief secretary, Vijay Bakaya, Congress leader, Ashok
Bhan, and Bharat Raina plan to file their nomination papers. A number of Kashmir leaders belonging to the Congress, the National Conference and the Leftists are of the opinion that participation of voters belonging to the displaced families in polling was very important. One of them said Raman Mattoo had won the elections in 1996 as an independent candidate from the Habba Kadal constituency only because of the support from the Pandit voters in Jammu. They said if Kashmiri Pandit voters boycotted participation in polling it would simply strengthen the separatists and “such a boycott could be misconstrued as support for right of self-determination.” However, Chrungoo rubbished this “theory” and said “if we boycott the poll, we will do it out of our anger against the way the successive state and the central governments have given a raw deal to the displaced families.” Meanwhile, Hira Lal Chatha castigated the authorities concerned for not having accepted “our demand for grant of constituencies in exile for the displaced people.” Chatha said “We have been given only two constituencies and we can elect two representatives to the Assembly.” He said “During the recent revision in the elector rolls, a large number of voters belonging to the displaced families had either not been included and those who were in the rolls till 2002 poll having been dropped”. In support of his contention he cited the example of Habbakadal constituency where he said between 5,000 and 6,000 migrant voters had not been registered. |
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Two militants, jawan killed
Rajouri, September 22 In a separate incident of ceasefire violation, an Army subedar received injury in his eye after Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing from across the LoC in Salhotri sector of Poonch district. The Army authorities here maintained that both soldiers - one killed on Sunday and another today - died in an encounter with militants near the LoC. They claimed that two militants - in all four since Sunday - were killed by the troops in the same encounter today. The deceased soldier has been identified as naik Dope Yajo. On Sunday, in one of the biggest ceasefire violation since November 2003, after truce was implemented by the two countries, Pakistani troops had reportedly resorted to unprovoked firing to facilitate infiltration of a militant group, killing an Army solder sepoy Chiba of the 1 Assam Regiment by firing at the Indian forward posts of Kallas and FDL in Banda Chechian area of Poonch sector. The Indian troops had retaliated the firing, and in the ensuing encounter two militants (claimed by the Army) were shot dead. Three Indian soldiers were also injured in the incident. “Continuing attack on the Indian troops, this morning at about 8.30 am, the Pakistani army along with the militants trapped in the cross fire fired on our troops killing a army soldier Naik Dope Yajo of Nagaland. Indian troops retaliated the fire and in the ensuing encounter two militants (claimed by the Army) were gunned down”, an army source said. "The Pakistani troops fired with heavy weapons to push the militants into Indian Territory by giving them cover fire". Meanwhile, in a separate incident of ceasefire violation in frontier district of Poonch today, Army sources claimed that the Pakistani troops fired without any provocation injuring a subedar of the Gorkha Regiment. |
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Protest lodged with Pak
Jammu, September 22 “We held a flag meeting, in which we lodged a protest with the officers of the Pakistani army about the increase in the ceasefire violation from their side,” a senior army officer said, adding that “We gave them evidence of small arms firing by their troops on our position in Tarkundi forward position.” He said the protest was lodged both in verbal and in written. However, the Pakistani army had denied having any role in any of the cross border ceasefire violation and had blamed India for instigating the situation on the LoC. “As usual, they denied having their hand in the violation and they blamed us for attempting to spoil the situation at the Loc.” the officer said. Meanwhile, defence sources from Poonch informed that the Pakistani army had lodged a counter-protest blaming the Indian Army for violating the ceasefire. The Army has termed Saturday’s ceasefire violation as the major violation by the Pakistani side, after both the countries agreed for crossborder truce in November 2003. |
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Strengthen forces of non-violence: Mufti
Srinagar, September 22 Addressing a meeting of workers here today, Mufti said it was the top-most imperative in view of a growing atmosphere of violence in the sub-continent and beyond. “Kashmir should not be allowed to slide back into a whirlpool of violence simply for its inability to respond to the new situation of opportunity thrown up by the return of political movement here into a non-violent mode”, Mufti said. Mufti said the reiteration of a peaceful approach by Kashmiris should be recognised as their strength. He said: “Unfortunately in the past, it had been misconstrued as our weakness leading to severe distortions in our relationship with the federation. That will never be allowed again by the people as was demonstrated by the recent events”. The PDP chief said the bomb attacks in New Delhi and Islamabad which caused innocent deaths needed to be seen in the larger perspective of Kashmir having decisively rejected violence as a tool of political emancipation. Paying tributes to the civilisational value system of Kashmir, Mufti said it was this strength that had inspired Kashmir to show the way to the sub-continent yet again even though its own body remained mired in pain and agony. Mufti said at a time when the forces of destabilisation, disruption and hate were creating havoc from Kabul to Kolkata, Kashmir had resurged with its timeless message of tolerance and civilised conduct to express its aspirations. Reacting to reports about the Indo-Pak meeting of the joint working group on cross-LoC trade, Mufti said this made a good beginning and expressed hope that the leaders of both the countries would make a formal announcement on the opening of cross-LoC trade routes, when they meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Council meeting at New York next week. |
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‘Cross-LoC trade unconstitutional’
Jammu, September 22 He, however, clarified that this was his personal opinion and the samiti had nothing to do with it. Addressing a press conference here today, Sharma said: “Signing an agreement with Pakistan for cross-LoC trade through Muzzafarrabad is equivalent to relinquishing our claim on Pak-occupied Kashmir, which is against the resolution of the Parliament, as per which, undivided Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India.” “India can carry out trade with Pakistan across the international border but not across the LoC”, Sharma said, adding that he would depute a team of lawyers to look into the legal aspects of the case. Sharma said the two-day shutdown would serve as an eye-opener for the state government. He claimed that there was a complete shutdown despite “attempts by the police to persuade the traders and transporters to carry on with their routine work.” On the samiti's future course of action over the alleged delay in the implementation of the agreement, Sharma said they were in touch with the government and the process was underway. The formal orders regarding it were expected to be issued in a few days, he added. Denying reports of any differences with the Jammu Bar Association, Sharma said the Bar had fully supported their two-day shutdown call. He also urged the people not to call the samiti leaders for felicitation as they had to sort out various matters relating to the agreement. Sharma said the families of those who lost their lives in the agitation would be felicitated at a function this month. Sharma also informed that they were sending four people, whose eyesight was damaged during the land row agitation, to the LV Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad for treatment with help from a Delhi-based
organisation, Saksham. |
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Eve-teasing on rise in Jammu
Jammu, September 22 Girls are being physically harassed by such elements everywhere, whether its roadsides, colleges, schools or bus stops. “Though the trend is on the rise, hardly in less than one percent cases, girls and ladies report the matter to the police or register an FIR,” said Manohar Singh, SSP, Jammu. He further said, “The crime of this nature is increasing every year. Last year only, one percent cases had been registered and this year it is on the rise. We are helpless, as we cannot take any action against the guilty till the matter is reported to us. The civil society needs to step in to encourage girls and ladies to report such matter immediately to the police station so that this rising trend is curtailed.” Considering that the civil society was responsible for the rise in this crime, Meenakshi Bhatt, a post graduate student of Jammu univesity said, “Mostly girls have remained silent on it because they always remained fearful that if they raise their voice, society will blame them instead of punishing the responsible person.” Nirmala and Siyda, both post-graduate students of Jammu univesity quoted an event in which a boy in a minibus harassed a girl and all passengers remained mute spectators instead of punishing that boy. They said, “We don’t expect anything different form the society and it is better for us to remain quit.” Kriti Sharma, SHO, Women Cell, Canal Road said, “ Rarely such cases have been registered by the girls in the police station and we have always taken steps whenever they identify the guilty.” She further said, “The Women Cell is made for them, they should come forward and raise their voice against it, so that we can register the case and take action. As long they will remain silent, we won’t be able to help them.” Vinod Bhat, a BA student, said, “It is a matter of grave concern because, unfortunately, we have such elements in our society. Awareness should be generated among the masses at large scale, especially among the younger generation. Girls should not tolerate it, instead they should oppose it
fearlessly.” |
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Paswan lays steel unit stone
Srinagar, September 22 The steel plant will have an annual capacity to produce 1.60 lakh tonnes of steel and will be completed by the end of next year. Production at the unit will start in 2010. Speaking on the occasion, Paswan said the steel-processing unit was coming up over 25 acres of land and would start production by January 2010. Paswan said the unit would be expanded after becoming operational. He said the unit was being set up in the valley with a view to cover backward areas under the industrialization programme. He said the initial cost of the upcoming steel unit would be enhanced from Rs 90 crore to Rs 150 crore. He said the unit would provide direct employment to 500 persons and indirect employment to 4,000. Paswan also announced that semi-skilled and unskilled work force in the unit would be engaged locally. He said the unit would have 40,000 tonnes annual capacity TMT Bar Mill, 60,000 tonnes annual capacity cut-to-cut length line for GP coil unit and 60,000 tonnes annual capacity corrugation line for GC sheets unit. Counselling the youth to be part in the industrialization process, Governor N.N. Vohra said the Central and state governments were providing incentives for the growth of industries in the state. “The 2004 industrial policy offers wide-ranging incentives to entrepreneurs and industrialists”, Vohra added. Vohra said the industrial growth centre, Lassipora, spread over an area of 6,000 kanal would provide employment to over 4,500 people. He said Rs 250 crore were being invested for industrial growth in the centre. Complimenting the Centre and the union steel ministry for setting up a steel processing unit in the valley, Vohra said the plant would help meet the steel demand of the valley, besides assuring employment to a large number of people. Adviser to Governor H.H. Tyabji; chairman, SAIL, S.K. Roongta; principal secretary to Governor B.B. Vyas; MD, SIDCO, senior officers of SAIL among others were present on the occasion. |
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MC to rehabilitate slum-dwellers
Jammu, September 22 The slum-dwellers have converted many areas in Jammu, including B.C. Road, Paloura, Talab-Tillo, Bakshi Nagar, Rehari, Muthi, Bhagwati Nagar, Kassim Nagar, into shanty towns. In the first phase of the project, the JMC has worked out the plan for slum dwellers of the Rajiv Nagar area under which 608 families would be rehabilitated. The project would contain 38 four-storied buildings with 16 two-room sets. The central government has allocated funds to the tune of Rs 14.25 crore and an amount of Rs 5 crore has already been released to the JMC. The JMC has been asked to complete the first phase of the rehabilitation project within a period of 15 months. However, sources informed that the construction work on the project had already been delayed by eight months as it was scheduled to start in February this year. Another such project that was under consideration of the central government is a rehabilitation project for slum-dwellers of Kassim Nagar, B.C. Road and Bhagwati Nagar at their respective place. “We have taken a similar project in hands in which the slum-dwellers of Kassim Nagar, B.C.Road and Bhagwati Nagar will be rehabilitated at their own places,” an official of the JMC said. He said an amount of Rs 8.75 crore had been sought by the corporation. Mayor Kevinder Gupta said: “The Corporation has decided to initiate this project. It is a low-budget scheme for the rehabilitation of slum-dwellers, and the work has been allotted to the National Building Construction Corporation.” |
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Prices of vegetables, pulses hit the roof
Jammu: Sky-rocketing prices of all essential commodities have stolen away the smiles from the faces of the common people.
Earlier, whenever the prices of the vegetables increased people used to opt for the pulses till such time the prices of the vegetables stabilised. But now the price rise has affected all commodities equally. These essential items is becoming out of reach of the common people due to steep rise in prices. The monsoon being the main season of vegetable production, prices used to remain the cheapest during this season. But this year despite the bumper production, the prices have touched the highest index. The government seems to have helplessly left the price regulations to the market forces. Rajesh Jain, a resident of Kanak Mandi said, “I am a class IV employee and half of my monthly salary goes in purchasing the vegetables and pulses every month. The government should do some thing to check the price rise immediately.” Anil Sharma, a vegetable vendor said, “My daily earnings have got effected due to price rise. Earlier, I used to purchase about 7 to 8 varieties of vegetables for Rs 2,500 daily, but now I get only 3 to 4 varieties of vegetables for the amount. Moreover, around 150 to 200 customers visited my ‘rehri’ daily but now barely 100 customers purchase vegetables. Around 30 per cent of the vegetables purchased rots up daily due to non-purchase by the consumers.” |
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Prices of essential commodities fixed
Rajouri, September 22 The committee fixed the rates of various commodities, such as - mutton at Rs 120 per kg; chicken and broiler chicken at Rs 90 and Rs 60 per kg respectively; cheese at Rs. 95; curd at Rs 90 per kg; buffalo and cow milk at Rs 17 and Rs 16 per kg respectively; and eggs at Rs 36 per dozen. Addressing the meeting, the deputy commissioner directed for the market checking operation to prevent profiteers from indulging into unscrupulous business practices. |
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Fine arts institute victim of government apathy
Jammu, September 22 The reason being the “indifferent attitude” of the state government as a result of which the institute has turned into a virtual “mess” in the absence of funds and space. According to official sources, the institute offers 90 prescribed seats in eight disciplines of bachelor in music and fine arts degrees. In music, as of now, the institute is offering courses in vocal, violen, tabla and sitar whereas in fine arts, it is imparting education in sculpture, painting, applied art, artistry and aesthetics. With the criterion of 45 and 50 per cent marks required for admission in music and fine arts respectively, only one student got admitted in music whereas nine students got themselves enrolled in fine arts since the admissions started. Experts in the field of art and culture maintained that over the years, students had started showing lesser interest in the field owing to official apathy coupled with lesser avenues of employment for the graduates. Pleading anonymity, a faculty member said students had got oriented towards professional courses which could give them financial security. “The new generation is very creative and energetic but is also equally concerned about career options. So its opting for other lucrative jobs too”, he said. It is learnt that the administration of IMFA had been updating its administrative body, the J&K Academy for Art Culture and Languages (JKAACL) from time to time. But, the lackadaisical approach of the latter proved harmful for the institute resulting into its present day situation. Resultantly, during the June-July this year, the IMFA was handed over to the Jammu University. The institute is housed in a crumbling ancient building - Poonch House along the Canal Road. Apart from drastic dearth of space, the IMFA is also running short of equipments. Meanwhile, institute principal Abhinaya Khemu blamed the media for “publishing news stories denouncing the institution”. Khemu said: “The admission process is still going on and we can carry on with a batch of even five students”, she asserted. |
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Cong, NC mislead people: BJP
Jammu, September 22 Addressing a press conference here today, state BJP vice-president and spokesman Prof Hari Om blamed the Congress and the NC for playing with the people’s sentiments. “The Congress, NC and the PDP have reduced the people of Jammu to nullity in the state polity and the BJP shares this grouse against the successive governments in the state”, Prof Hari said. He said the reorganisation of the state on a provincial-basis was the only solution available for meeting the needs of the people. Prof Hari said: “The population and area of Jammu is far more as compared with that of Kashmir. The Kashmiri leadership has managed to get 46 seats in the house of 87.” “Kashmir sends three members to the Lok Sabha at 9.61 lakh voters per seat whereas Jammu sends two members at 15.59 lakh voters at one seat. In the Assembly, Kashmir sends 46 members at 62,673 voters for one seat whereas Jammu sends 37 member at 84,270 voters per seat”, Prof Hari said. Prof Hari said had the Congress-led government implemented its July, 2006, decision, Kashmir would have got 58 seats as against the existing 46 and Jammu would have got 46 as against the existing 37. He urged to increase the difference in the number of Assembly seats between Kashmir and Jammu from the existing 9 to 12. |
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DGP inaugurates staff quarters
Srinagar, September 22 The office-cum-residential quarters of ASP
Sopore, constructed by the Police Housing Division at the cost of Rs 28 lakh on the bank of Jhelum river, was inaugurated at
Tullibal, Sopore in Baramulla district. The DGP also inspected alternate accommodation for security forces and inaugurated mess-cum-dinning hall and a
three-storey barrack constructed under the modernisation plan. A two-storey barrack, mess dinning hall, laboratory block and administrative block of the district police constructed at the cost of Rs 1
crore, and eight units of upper subordinate quarters constructed at the cost of Rs 48 lakh were inaugurated at
Kuklangam, Handwara in Kupwara district. The DGP also inaugurated two
double-storey barracks made at the cost of Rs 40 lakh by the Police Construction Division for alternate accommodation for security forces under modernisation plan as security forces had been and are being vacated from different civilian buildings. Speaking on the occasion, Kuldeep Khoda said the Centre and the state government was providing liberal funds for construction of accommodation for all police offices of the state police. He also chaired a meeting of police officers, including IGP Kashmir, DIG, north Kashmir range and district SP at
Handwara, and discussed security situation of the district. |
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Exhibition on rare Quranic manuscripts
Srinagar, September 22 Speaking on the occasion after inaugurating the exhibition, Kashmir divisional commissioner Masud Samoon appreciated the efforts of the academy for preservation of centuries-old manuscripts. He stressed the need for expediting to digitalise the work of preservation of manuscripts so that they could be preserved for all generations to come. An eminent litterateur and the former secretary of the academy, Mohammad Yusuf Teing, was the special guest on the occasion. A galaxy of scholars, writers and intellectuals of Kashmir were also present. Teing said all the lovers of calligraphy must visit and witness this first of its kind exhibition, in which the rare centuries-old manuscripts written by renowned calligraphists and scholars of the world would be exhibited. He said the main attraction, according to him, was an oldest available manuscript of holy Quran in Kashmir, calligraphed by Fateh-ullah Kashmiri in 1237 AD, that was around 83 years before Muslims assumed political power in Kashmir. This contained the Persian translation also. The main attraction of the exhibition is a manuscript of a Persian, calligraphed with the nail of a thumb, popularly known as Khat-e-Nakhun. This manuscript is a marvel of calligraphy. Its margin is decorated with illustrations of men, birds, animals and beasts. |
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Lovers slit wrists
Jammu, September 22 Official sources said Sunny Sharma (24) of Bishnah and Sonu Jamwal (21) of Babliana slit their wrists at the latter’s residence. They said Sunny reached Sonu’s house this morning where both attempted to end their lives. Sources said after Sonu’s family members rejected Sunny’s marriage proposal, the latter in a fit of rage smashed the windowpanes of Sonu’s house and slit his wrists. Seeing blood oozing out of Sunny’s hands, Sonu also slit her left wrist. The panicked family members of the girl informed the police and both were shifted to the Gandhi Nagar hospital from where they were referred to the Government Medical College. Sources informed that Sunny and Sonu had been in love from quite some time. Sunny was serving in the Army for the past three to four years and recently left his job fearing that Sonu’s family might marry her to someone else. While Sunny is a Brahmin, Sonu belongs to the Rajput caste. Their families had been opposed to their marriage. Meanwhile, doctors at the Government Medical College said the condition of both of them was stable. Sources said Sunny’s and Sonu’s families had a minor scuffle at the hospital but police timely intervention by the police prevented the situation from taking an ugly turn. A case has been registered at the Satwari police station. |
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