Jammu, October 5
Saluting the patriotic people of Jammu for waging an agitation over the Amarnath land row despite heavy odds, VHP’s leader Praveen Togadia today asked them to take revenge of continued discrimination with the region through ballot in the upcoming Assembly elections.

Addressing a gathering here this evening, Togadia said people of Jammu should remember whatever happened with them in the recent months.

Complete shutdown for two months with swarms of people taking to streets not only forced the separatists in the Kashmir valley to go on back foot but New Delhi too had to bow before them, he added.

Togadia said: “Now the time has come for the people of Jammu to be masters of their destiny. Make it clear to Kashmir and New Delhi that from now on people of Jammu are not going to tolerate any discrimination. Be it the BJP, the NC or the Congress, force them to draft manifesto as per your aspirations and then ensure its implementation.”

“Why the major pie always to Kashmir? People should demand that budget allocations be made as per population in three regions of the state,” he said.

Recalling recent turn of events, he strongly castigated Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil for announcing compensation to the people in valley for the fruit, which never grew.

Describing economic blockade, a ploy of the separatists and Kashmir-centric parties to emotionally blackmail New Delhi, he said: “We also demand compensation for enormous losses suffered by the people of Jammu.”

He derided Governor N.N. Vohra for what he claimed “not comprehending correctly two different psyches of Kashmir and Jammu regions.”

“Single yardstick couldn’t be applied on two different sections. One which holds Tricolour and the other which holds Pak flag and talks about ‘Jehad and Azadi’,” the VHP leader said.

On tackling terrorism, Togadia said perpetrators of violence should be paid back in the same coin and weak-kneed approach of the political leadership won’t help the country.

Earlier, Togadia on behalf of the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti honoured kin of 12 ‘martyrs’ besides a youth Pawan Sharma (who lost his eyesight in police firing at Akhnoor) and gave them Rs 4 lakh each in the form of cheques and FDRs.

Among others samiti convenor Leela Karan Sharma, Brigadier (retd) Suchet Singh, Tilak Raj Sharma, Dr Jitender Singh, Narinder Singh and other members of the Samiti attended the function.

Srinagar, October 5
One militant was killed in an encounter with the security forces in Kupwara district today.

The security forces also apprehended two suspects and seized a large quantity of arms and ammunition during search operations in Baramulla and Ganderbal districts since yesterday.

A militant was killed in an encounter at Dever Mirgi in the Lalpora area of Kupwara district today. The police said further details were being ascertained.

The security forces recovered an IED weighing 3 kg , one detonator, four UBGL grenades and 19 AK rifle rounds at Batengoo, Sopore, in Baramulla district.The police apprehended two suspects and seized a hand grenade from them in the Kangan area of Ganderbal district today.

Udhampur: The security forces on Sunday evening eliminated two terrorists in an eight-hour-long encounter in the Chanuta area, 27 km from here. Two houses where terrorists had reportedly taken shelter were also burnt in the encounter.

Official sources said that the slain terrorists belonged to the Laskher-e-Toiba and one of them was a local who had joined this group recently.

The sources said the security forces launched a search operation this morning after getting information that some militants had taken shelter in a house at Khaila hamlet in Chanuta village. The police and the Army launched a joint operation to flush out the terrorists. As the security forces reached near the house, where militants had taken shelter, the ultras resorted to indiscriminate firing.

In the ensuing gunbattle lasting more than eight hours, two militants were gunned down.

One of the militants has been identified as Sabar, a self-styled commander of LeT. The security forces have cardoned off the whole belt and started combing operations. It is believed more militants were hiding in this belt. The sources said that a group of militants had managed to sneak into Udhampur. 

Srinagar, October 5
The examinations of Kashmir University and hundreds of marriage ceremonies scheduled to be held from today till October 7 have been postponed or cancelled in view of the indefinite curfew in the valley.

The controller of examination, KU, A.M. Shah in a message said due to prevailing situation, the examinations scheduled to be held from today till October 7 had been postponed. He said new dates would be announced later.

Hundreds of marriage ceremonies had also been either postponed or cancelled.

Air tickets and roll number slips of candidates appearing in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examinations would be considered curfew passes in Kashmir.

The IGP for Kashmir range said air tickets of people scheduled to travel during the curfew period would be treated as curfew passes. They would be allowed to travel to the airport to catch their flight, he said.

Similarly, tickets of those arriving here would also be considered curfew passes, he said.

The IGP said the roll number of those candidates appearing in the UPSC examination today would also be considered as curfew passes and they would be allowed to reach their respective examination centres.

He said curfew passes for doctors and other paramedical staff had already been issued to superintendents of all hospitals.

The police chief in Kashmir said arrangements to issue curfew passes for mediapersons had been initiated. — UNI

TNS adds: A police spokesman said the state administration had taken adequate measures to ensure that the requirement of the people in terms of treatment to sick, movement of essential supplies is maintained.

“Ambulances were detailed for ferrying sick persons with attendants from the residences to hospitals and back. Similarly, adequate number of curfew passes were provided to the employees, individuals dealing in supply of essentials in the curfew bound areas,” the spokesman said.

Around 300 vehicles carrying Srinagar-bound passengers who were held up at Satani Nallah were given police escort to ensure their safe passage, the spokesman said.

Srinagar, October 5
All local newspapers failed to hit the stands today as the authorities imposed an indefinite curfew in the Kashmir valley to prevent separatists from organising a march to Lal Chowk tomorrow.

Although the newspapers were printed last night, these could not be delivered to the readers due to the restrictions imposed by the authorities.

This is the second time this year that the newspapers have failed to hit the stands on account of the curfew.

The dailies could not be published for nearly one week from August 25 after curfew was imposed to prevent a similar march by separatists to Lal Chowk.

An official spokesperson said the authorities have issued curfew passes to journalists, allied staff of newspapers and some distributors to ensure that the newspapers are printed and distributed from tomorrow.— PTI

Jammu, October 5
After leading the 63-day-long Amarnath land row agitation, the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti appears set to play a key role in the Jammu region in the coming days as well.

Disillusioned with the political leadership, particularly during the land row, the people of Jammu have pinned high hopes on the samiti. People’s high expectations can be gauged from the number of letters the samiti receives these days. These include request for jobs and other personal issues.

In view of growing public sentiment, the samiti is seriously contemplating its role in the fight against “discrimination” with Jammu.

Making its intention clear to take up cudgels for Jammu's cause, the samiti has already resented the “biased” selection list of the CET and asked the JK Board of Professional Entrance Exam (JKBPEE) to cancel the list and hold fresh examinations. The samiti went on to suggest the Kashmiri people to boycott the colleges in Jammu in the wake of the former snapping trade ties with Jammu.

Samiti convener Leela Karan Sharma said though the samiti would not be contesting elections, it would guide the masses in choosing the “right kind of people” to represent them in the state Assembly elections. “We will ensure that the people who get elected voice Jammu's concerns and fight for its cause on the floor of the House. As delimitation doesn't seem possible as of now, this is the only way to get the justice for Jammu,” he averred.

The samiti would also explore the possibilities of avoiding the division of vote as far as possible. However, the samiti is yet to take a decision as to how it would proceed in its new role of the torchbearer of the electorate.

Jammu: Seems the fairer sex is being treated unfairly. In a blatant ignorance towards modesty of the fairer sex as well as safety measures, most of the hospitals across the city do not have women guards to thwart any untoward incident.

The Government Medical College (GMC) and its associated hospitals, including SMGS hospital, have hired a security agency - Dogra, for managing the hospital’s security.

Although police posts have been set up in both the hospitals, women cops don’t seem to act tough and are not manning entry and exit points in the hospitals.

Recently, this correspondent witnessed one such incident where a female attendant was allegedly manhandled and dragged by a guard at the hospital as she did not have a pass. The incident took place on September 19 at around 12.45 pm at the entrance of the labour ward at SMGS hospital.

Inquiries from paramedical staff suggested that such brawls were the order of the day. They further disclosed that guards dealt with women in an offensive manner.

“Abuse or minor scuffle is a common scene at the entrance of the labour ward at the hospital,” they added. If a woman being unaware of the pass tries to go inside the hospital, the guard instead of cautioning her, will drag the latter”, a nurse pleading anonymity said.

Another lapse on part of the authorities was that security personnel did not wear any nameplate, making it difficult for the aggrieved to establish their identity before filing a complaint. Another startling fact, which came across the reporter, was that metal detectors were not installed at entry points in both the hospitals.

Meanwhile, principal, GMC, Rajinder Singh said: “We will take up the issue with the police and higher-ups as funds and manpower are proving a major constraint”.

Khour, October 5
Former Speaker Tara Chand has appealed to the people to vote the Congress to power in the upcoming Assembly elections.

Addressing an election rally in the Chhamb constituency he said his party would seek the mandate on basis of its achievements made in the past six years, especially during the tenure of former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

"People were struggling for the implementation of the Wazir Commission report but the Azad government provided much more than the recommendations made by the committee." Tara Chand said.

He said the construction of the second bridge over the Chanab which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh earlier this year was a dream come true for the people of Akhnoor and Khour blocks and the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri.

He said the Congress-led government in the state had initiated the construction of a Rs 59-crore migrant colony in Gurha Jagir in Akhoor that would rehabilitate 6072 migrant families.

During Congress tenure three high, five middle and hundreds of primary schools in the constituency were upgraded and several new schools opened.

He also highlighted various "achievements" of the congress led government in the state and the Centre.

Targeting the BJP, he said the party tried to exploit the people on regional and communal lines for their vote-bank politics, claiming that it was the intervention of the Congress leadership that led to the resolution of the land row.

He blamed the PDP for the increased unemployment in the state as "the government could not enrol 70,000 persons in government jobs as the PDP withdrew support."

Srinagar, October 5
In a major reshuffle in the administration, the government has transferred 60 KAS officials, including 40 senior ones.

An official spokesman said today the transfer and posting orders were issued yesterday.

He said Muhammad Yaseen Shoru, special secretary, Labour and Employment Department, was transferred and posted as Registrar, Jammu and Kashmir Special Tribunal, vice Abdul Majid Wani, who has been posted as Additional Secretary to Government, Labour and Employment Department.

He said Syed Iftikhar-ul-Hassnain, ADC, Pulwama, was transferred and posted as Additional District Development Commissioner, Ganderbal, while Faqir Chand Bhagat, RTO, Jammu, was transferred and posted as additional district development commissioner, Reasi.

A majority of those transferred included ADCs and additional secretaries.— UNI

Jammu, October 5
Underage drivers are having a free ride these days. They don’t bother about rules and regulations and traffic cops turning a blind eye has become a norm.

Whizzing past majority of the vehicles has become a fashion among school going children, who are not old enough to get a valid licence.

“It’s a common sight. Students wearing school uniforms speeding away on their scooters and bikes,” a schoolteacher says on the condition of anonymity.

“These teenagers love to flaunt their vehicles,” she adds.

The authorities from various schools said they had taken measures to discourage students from bringing vehicles in schools.

However, they rued, these steps had failed to elicit much response. They also held the parents responsible increasing menace.

“When objected, students park their vehicles at nearby parking space. And in such a situation, we can do little,” says a principal of a public school.

“Something must be done about underage driving. Many road accidents can be averted if teenagers are not allowed to drive,” says Sumit Mehra, who owns a garment shop near a reputed school.

F.C. Bhagat, regional transport officer, said as per rules, children in the age group of 16 years to 18 years could get a learner’s license issued only for vehicles that did not have the gear system. He said the department was issuing learner’s licences after following due procedure.

When contacted, Parminder Singh, SSP (Traffic), said the traffic cops strictly implement the juvenile traffic norms.

Jammu, October 5
The International Resource Cell (IRC) that was started with much fanfare last year in the Danwantri Library of Jammu University (JU) has failed to deliver what it was promised at the time of inception.

With an objective to share knowledge, learning experience of international issues and provide a forum and space where international resources could be accessed, discussed and disseminated, the IRC was inaugurated on November 22, 2007, after getting approval from the university council.

According to reliable sources, the IRC, which is funded by British Council, has not enrolled even a single person from outside against the claims of the university authorities at the time of its inauguration. Apart from it, students are hardly encouraged to visit the place as most of them do not know about the existence of the IRC. A glance into the attendance register of the IRC speaks volume about it.

Located on the ground floor in Dhanvantri Library, as of now, the IRC houses books on international issues, besides technology related to videoconferencing, film screenings and DVDs on important films and documentaries.

Going by the provisions, one can procure relevant material in consultation with the trained IRC team. The special team is also supposed to assist users in finding relevant and up-to-date information through search facilities on databases, online newspapers, magazines and publications. But nothing of that sort is presently going on in the IRC.

Sources told The Tribune that the ICR had not held any activity after a documentary film was screened on Women’s Day on March 8 this year. Leave aside any trained IRC team, they said there was no staff for the IRC as convener, co-convener, coordinator and even attendants had been given additional charge to manage its affairs.

President of the Jammu University Research Scholars Executive Association (JURSEA), Vikas Sharma said, "Such departments are opened in university just to attract media attention during ceremonial ribbon cuttings. After that nobody takes pain to ensure their functioning."

Sharma asked the authorities concerned to make sure the functioning of the IRC and efficiently serve in the field of academic excellence.

In charge librarian Naresh Padha said “The IRC witnessed a slack period, but now we have geared up to hold activities from October 15 till the academic year ends.”

Regarding staff he said, “Though IRC does not has exclusive staff, but efficient people are manning this section of the library,” adding that, “We have mooted out proposal for the appointment of exclusive staff for the ICR.”

Jammu, October 5
President of the SAD (Amritsar) Simranjit Singh Mann has strongly condemned clamping of curfew in Kashmir.

Mann said the government had “violated” the fundamental rights of the people of Kashmir who wanted to hold a peaceful gathering.

Meanwhile, Mann held late Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, responsible for ‘messing up’ the Kashmir issue. “He created a mess by taking the Kashmir issue to the United Nations,” Mann told The Tribune.

He demanded that UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should come out with a statement over the ‘mistakes’ committed by Nehru.

“If the first Prime Minister of the country took the issue to the United Nations and agreed to hold a plebiscite in Kashmir, then why the present government is denying the right of self-determination,” Mann said. “Last time I visited the valley, the authorities expelled me for speaking truth,” he said.

Katra, October 5
Residents of this holy town accorded grand reception to Olympics bronze medallist Sushil Kumar, who was here to participate in the fourth "Mission Dosti" wrestling contest organised in connection with the on-going Navratra festival.

On the sixth day of the Navratra festival, Sushil Kumar was the star attraction. Hundreds of people came from Katra, Reasi and adjoining localities to participate in the procession organised to accord reception to Sushil Kumar.

Wearing traditional Dogra turban with ‘chunri’ of Mata Vaishno Devi, Sushil Kumar was taken out in an open jeep followed by a large number of people. Wrestlers from Pakistani also accompanied Sushil Kumar.

Sushil Kumar was feliciated by the members of the Indian Style Wreslting Association and Navratra Festival Committee at Vivekanand Stadium. The Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board also felicitated Sushil Kumar for bringing laurels to the nation in the Beijing Olympics.