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He died saving his injured colleague
Ultras using Nepal route to infiltrate
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Decline in fratricide cases in Army
Vohra for restoration of Bhimgarh Fort
PDP begins campaign in Bhaderwah
Lok Sabha Poll
Former MLA Mir joins PDP
Task force to expedite road projects
Showers bring joy for some, tension for others
Bomai villagers happy over move to shift Army camp
Schools should not work for economic gain alone: Omar
Northeast folk artistes feel secure here
MC removes encroachments
I wanted to represent people in Lok Sabha, says Leela Karan
Govt working on drug policy
Preparation of electoral
rolls reviewed
Candidate files papers
Programme on skill development begins
Kashmiri Pandits meet Mufti
Diabetes mela on March 28
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He died saving his injured colleague
Dauri Samba, March 25 “The death of my son is the biggest loss to my family. He was a caring husband, loving father and obedient son,” said Rattan Chand Sharma, the inconsolable father of Rakesh Sharma. Rattan himself is a retired Army man Rattan said, “The day Rakesh’s elder brother joined the Army, his desire to wear the olive uniform grew and he left his studies midway to join the Army. It is a tradition in our family to send our sons in the Army and the tradition will continue.” Giving details of the incident, an Army officer, who accompanied the mortal remains of Rakesh Sharma to Jammu, said, “The Army had information about an infiltration attempt. Three terrorists were gunned down on the spot, while some managed to sneak into our territory. We followed their footmarks in snow. They fired on us in the thick jungle.” The officer added, “Rakesh was having a Pika gun and he eliminated one terrorist. But he was hit by two bullets in his legs and one of his colleagues also got injured. Despite injures, Rakesh went ahead to save his colleague. In the meantime, he eliminated another terrorist. But while rescuing his colleague he was hit by a bullet in his head and he died.” As the mortal remains of the martyr were brought to his native village Dauri, a pall of gloom descended on the village. The members of his family and villagers could not hold back their emotions. The martyr’s house witnessed heart rendering scenes, as his wife, mother, two children and other relatives were inconsolable. People in a large number gathered to pay homage to the martyr and they walked in a procession toward the cremation ground. “When he came on leave last time, he started construction work on a new house. He was yet to shift there, but destiny had something else in store,” said Rattan. Besides parents, Rakesh is survived by his wife Rajni, daughter Diksha (4) and son Sachu (2). “By sacrificing his life, he has not only made us proud, but also brought fame to the village,” said Narinder Shrama, elder brother of Rakesh, who is also a havildar in the Army. |
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Ultras using Nepal route to infiltrate
Jammu, March 25 Intelligence sources reveal that following increased vigil on the border the militants are using alternative routes like Nepal to infiltrate into India. “They come to Nepal on a valid passport, then after destroying their passports they infiltrate into India,” a source said. According to the sources, the terror infrastructure across the border that was made defunct following global pressure on Pakistan after the Mumbai attack is being revived and new batches of terrorists are being trained to infiltrate into India. “The recent spurt in violence along the LoC wherein Pakistani troops opened unprovoked and indiscriminate fire on the Indian positions was meant to provide a passage to trained terrorists,” a senior defence source said. The sources said they had wireless intercepts of communication between terrorists and their handlers (leaders) across the border, who wanted them to create disturbances in the upcoming parliamentary elections in the state and the country. “We have been conducting surgical operations to eliminate top and middle-level leadership of the terrorist outfits. Whatever their nefarious designs are, we are prepared to counter them,” IG, Jammu range, K Rajendra told the Tribune. The another reason for worry for the militant leadership across the border is that due to increased vigil by security forces along the border, the militants are facing a logistic crunch and are running short of ammunition and other stores. “Due to the increased guard on the border, the militants are not able to augment their logistics. So they are running short of weapons and those who are placed at the upper reaches are reluctant to come down,” a senior Army officer said. |
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Decline in fratricide cases in Army Jammu, March 25 As per a report published by the ministry, psychological tests have been made mandatory for recruitment in the armed forces. Based on a request projected by the integrated Headquarters of MoD (Army), a project titled “Development of new psychological test battery for the selection and trade allocation in respect of other ranks in the Indian Army” has been sanctioned by the Department of Defence Research and Development. It has two distinctive parts. “Psychological tests include cognitive and personality, to be administered at the time of recruitment, and secondly aptitude tests for allotment of trades at training centres” the report read. The first part of the project has been completed. Cognitive and personality tests were implemented from April 1, 2008, on a trial basis for six months. The analysis of the psychological tests, however, is under progress. Meanwhile, Udhampur-based northern command of the Army has also taken various measures to counter these kind of cases in forces deployed in the harsh terrain. A survey conducted by the Army found that continuous vigil, relentless counter infiltration and counter terror operations coupled with unresolved domestic problems become causative factors of stress in soldiers. As per official figures, after the implementation of various anti-suicides and anti-fratricides measures, there has been a remarkable decline in such incidents. In 2005, there were 44 cases of suicide and 10 cases of fratricide and in 2008 there were 34 cases of suicide and a single case of fratricide. “Concrete steps have been initiated by the Army based upon the in-depth analysis of past incidents and identification of windows of prevention. The major causes of these deaths are on account of martial discord and domestic reasons, other reasons include medical problems, failed love affairs and organisation reasons.” a senior Army officer said. Another major initiative taken was the training of counsellors. The Army categorises two separate categories of counsellors, who have been trained by specialists. So far the Army has trained 1,200 individuals for the purpose. Other measures taken include education of all ranks to understand stress and how to manage it; practice of yoga and other stress relieving techniques; increased emphasis on group cohesion and constant interaction among officers, Junior Commissioned Officers, other ranks and their families.
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Vohra for restoration of Bhimgarh Fort
Jammu, March 25 He said the Vaishno Devi Board would provide Rs 25 for the restoration work. Modalities were discussed for the renovation and preservation of the historic fort and development as a tourist destination at a high-level meeting held under the chairmanship of the Governor here today. Addressing the meeting, Vohra emphasised the need for taking a holistic view for the time-bound restoration of the fort, adding that the project should gel with the broader framework of promotion of tourist circuits such as the Katra-Reasi-Shiv Khori circuit, and also linking the fort with tourism facilities at Salal, Aghar Jitto and Dera Baba Banda. It was decided that the entire effort would be multi-agency and multi-dimensional under the aegis of the state government Tourism Department for its timely execution and monitoring. He said efforts should be made to divert pilgrims visiting the holy shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, and halting at Katra, to the fort complex. Among those who participated in the meeting included Principal Secretary to Governor and Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB, B B Vyas, Secretary Tourism, Tanvir Jehan, District Development Commissioner, Reasi, Sanjeev Verma, Additional Commissioner, Jammu,. Sunita Sharma, Director Tourism, Jammu,. S. M. Sahni, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB, Varinder Slathia, Convener, INTACH, Jammu & Kashmir Chapter, Salim Beg and other senior officers. |
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PDP begins campaign in Bhaderwah
Udhampur, March 25 As the NC has announced not to field any candidate against the Congress nominee due to alliance between two parties, the PDP has pressed into service all its energy to wrest this segment from the Congress. The party today kick started a campaign on this seat. Senior party leader and three-time MLA Abdul Rehman Veeri and former Minister Peer Mohammad Hussain were deputed by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to kick off campaign from the home constituency of Azad. Keeping in view the importance of Hindu votes in this segment, three senior party leaders namely Ved Mahajan, Shanti Devi and Thakur Balbir Singh were also present on the occasion. Addressing a series of public meetings at Bhaderwah and Sartungal, PDP leaders highlighted backwardness of this constituency which was represented by the former Chief Minister. Veeri said the PDP had pioneered a political and economic agenda to full wishes and aspirations of all regions and sub-regions of the state. He further said the policies and programmes of the PDP were guided by the aspirations of all sections of society. He said during his three years tenure as Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had carved out a path of development and peace in this region and it was need of the hour to strengthen the PDP to further address problems of common masses. |
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Lok Sabha Poll
Srinagar, March 25 “It is only with the Third Front that people of Kashmir can expect some relief from the messy situation. We are exploring chances of a tie-up with the front so that Kashmiris get relief of the turbulent situation,” said Khalida Shah, president of the ANC, while addressing mediapersons here today. Referring to the relocation of troops from Bomai, Sopore, Khalida said it would better to shift the security forces units out of the state once they were found guilty of killing innocents. The ANC president said the party wanted her to fight the Lok Sabha elections, but the final decision would be taken soon. ANC vice-president Muzaffar Shah expressed disappointment over the “silence” of the Election Commission in responding to the allegations of malpractices during the Assembly elections. Meanwhile, senior NC leader and former vice-chairman of the Muslim Auqaf Trust Ghulam Nabi Kochak joined the ANC on the occasion today. Kochak was accompanied by Bashir Ahmad Malik, Ghulam Ahmad Yatoo, Shiraz Ahmad Malik and Sharief Ahmad Magray. |
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Former MLA Mir joins PDP
Jammu, March 25 Welcoming Mir into the party fold, the Mufti said his party had a vision of a prosperous and peaceful state. He hoped more people like Mir with a quest to work for the development and peace of the state would come forward and strengthen the party. He said the post Assembly poll arrival of several leaders and activists
from across the state into the PDP was the public acknowledgement of the fact that party
had a credible leadership and a pro-people agenda. Assuring his full support to strengthening the party at the gross-roots level, Mir said the policies and programmes of the party was the guiding force behind his decision to join the
PDP. “I aim to work for the betterment of people of the state, Banihal in particular. I believe the PDP has a platform where my objective can be achieved in a better way”, he added. |
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Demands of ‘Muslim migrants’ rejected
Jammu, March 25 These migrants, who have been protesting before the RRC office for the past two days, are demanding ration cards, allotment of two room flats and fresh registration of 200 pending cases. Objecting to the word “Muslim migrants”, RRC Vinod Kaul said they should call themselves “Kashmiri Migrants” instead. “Since it is election time, these people, who had appeared before him in year 2003 during elections, then again during the Assembly elections this year, have resurfaced this time before the Lok Sabha elections for free relief,” he said. Kaul questioned the authenticity of their claims saying, “All genuine migrants came to Jammu in early 90’s. The CID verification too proved that the AKMM members never migrated.” He further added that the head of the AKMM was a wealthy man and was running a gas agency in Jammu. Kaul said this organisation though claimed to have filed 200 files for fresh registration, it cut the number of cases down to 50 when he enquired about them. Though the RRC assured them that he would look into the 50 cases, he said, “How can there be new registration of migrants when militancy has come down drastically in the valley and the Assembly elections took place without bloodshed. They can go back and stay in their homes in the valley instead of looking for easy relief money.” |
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JU overspent crores on auditorium
Jammu, March 25 This has been revealed in a report of the Auditor General (AG) Srinagar, a copy of which is with the Tribune. The report also points out that lakhs of rupees were overspent on account of poor planning alone. Besides complaining about shortage of books in departmental libraries and the central library, students and scholars rue that scholarships are not disbursed in time. They have also been demanding a scholars’ room as well as computer labs and the Internet facility in departments and hostels. The construction of the auditorium complex housing an art gallery, a museum, a seminar room and a cafeteria was approved by the UGC at an estimated cost of Rs 14 crore. The UGC had sanctioned Rs 13 crore, while the state government gave the balance amount. The report says the complex was completed in November 2007 and Rs 18.90 crore was incurred on it. But the varsity showed Rs 13 crore as the amount spent in the utilisation certificate sent to the UGC, understating the expenditure by Rs 5.90 crore. Similarly, the report says due to poor planning, an additional expenditure of Rs 2.29 crore was incurred. Changes in design and drawings as per the suggestions of the project committee resulted in a huge cost overrun of the Rs 4.81crore. University registrar GS Samyal could not be reached for comments despite repeated attempts. However, the varsity’s reply in the report maintains that since the UGC’s share was Rs 13 crore only, the expenditure in the utilisation certificate was restricted to that amount accordingly. “The architect prepared the bill of quantities after soil testing, whereas during actual execution the soil was found loose, which caused the excess expenditure,” the varsity maintains. |
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Task force to expedite road projects
Jammu, March 25 The Chief Minister was reviewing the progress of these road projects at a high-level meeting here today. Omar said the expansion of the twin cities of Srinagar and Jammu called for a holistic and integrated approach to addressing civic demands, upgrading basic amenities and managing traffic and transport. “A scientific approach is required to address all issues that have crept in due to unbalanced growth and extension of cities during the last many years”, Omar said. He added that a policy to correct the wrongs and accommodate justified demands should be put into place for providing basic amenities to people. “We have to think of satellite cities for Srinagar and Jammu to accommodate the futuristic civic requirements and growing population and economic activities”, the Chief Minister said. He said while executing road projects a realistic approach should be adopted for providing compensation to the affected though their rehabilitation should be a priority. The Chief Minister told the R&B Department to speed up clearance of land and property acquisition cases. A separate collector would be exclusively provided for the Syed Mirakshah road so that compensation cases could be cleared within the shortest possible time and work on road projects was carried forward meticulously. |
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Rain brings down temperature
Srinagar, March 25 The Met Department said the maximum temperature in the summer capital was 12.7 degree C today, which was more than two degrees less than the normal. “We are expecting rain and snow in the next 24 hours in Kashmir,” an official forecast. All places in the valley received rain with Srinagar getting 2.6 mm, Qazigund 4.2 mm, Pehalgam 6.0 mm and Kupwara 4 mm. Though winter this time has been a bit warmer than the previous year, with temperature soaring above normal most of the days, March has seen the return of cold to some extent. Locals said it had snowed in March and even in April in previous years. “There has not been much snow this time. We expect one more spell of snow,” a Srinagar resident said. However, Met officials said they had no indication of any impending snow. |
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Showers bring joy for some, tension for others
Jammu, March 25 While the farmers whose standing wheat crop is ready to be harvested were worried, the other farmers who had grown vegetables expressed happiness as their crop was wilting due to lack of rainfall. “Yesterday’s rainfall has brought respite to us as our standing vegetable crop, including tomatoes, was wilting due to lack of water,” said Shamsher Singh, a farmer, from RS Pura sector. Speaking to The Tribune Prof JP Sharma, head of the Department of Vegetables Science and Floriculture Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and Technology, said: “The rain has brought respite to the farmers in the region, ending the dry spell.” He said the rain would bring out a positive outcome for the farmers who grow vegetables and cash crop. “In one way the rainfall has brought respite from the aphid disease whose spores were flying the air and infecting the standing crops, this brief spell of rainfall would help wash down the aphid into the ground,” Sharma said. Meanwhile, officers at the Meteorological Department said the recent rainfall was because of the western disturbances and would continue for a day or two as the regions sky was overclouded. |
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Bomai villagers happy over move to shift Army camp
Bomai (Sopore), March 25 Two youths were killed and another was seriously injured in the firing on February 21when a large number of people were returning from the nearby shrine of Sheikh Hamza Makhdoomi on the annual Urs in Tujar village. The incident led to widespread demonstrations in the area and elsewhere in the valley with the residents demanding action against the guilty and shifting of the Army’s 22 RR camp from the area. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday last announced to shift the camp following government and Army inquiries into the incident. “The process of shifting the camp has started and it would be completed within the stipulated time”, said the officials at the district headquarters in Baramulla. The whole process is to be completed by March 26, the officials added, while Army personnel were seen preparing to shift from the area. Meanwhile, a defence spokesman said here yesterday, “Since the Army camp at Bomai was located with Government Higher Secondary Girls School, to address the concerns of girl students and their parents, it has been decided to relocate the camp at a suitable alternate site.” The camp has been shifted to Wadoora, another village in the neighbourhood, much to the satisfaction of over 15,000 residents of Bomai, who have been up in arms against the Army camp in their village. The coordination committee of residents has welcomed the decision. It further extended its deadline for mass migration by six days in case the camp was not shifted. However, the announcement of shifting the camp has brought little hope to the families of the victims. While Mohammad Amin Tantray of Bomai village and Javed Ahmad from Sopore town were killed, Nazir Ahmad of Bomai village was seriously injured. He is at present undergoing treatment at the SKIMS Hospital here.“He is undergoing treatment and is not able to speak yet….”, said his mother Shakeela while sitting in her mud house. Nazir was returning after taking Class X exam as a private candidate, she said. Tantray, another student, had appeared in the Class XII exams recently and its results are yet to be declared. He was working as a labourer to support his poor family, said his sister Afroza. |
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Schools should not work for economic gain alone: Omar
Jammu, March 25 Omar said this while speaking at the annual day function of GD Goenka Public School here yesterday. The Chief Minister said imparting quality education to children and nurturing them properly should be the mission of schools, as it would enable the students to take future responsibilities as able and qualified citizens. “In no way, schools should be established for commercial purposes. Economic gain, political purpose or earning fame should not be the motive behind setting up educational institutions”, Omar said. He added “the same will jeopardise the future of students as well as the state”. Stressing on all-round development of children in schools, the Chief Minister said extra-curricular activities should go hand-in-hand with academic curricula. “While scientific and technical education is imperative in present day global spectrum, the participation of students in games, athletics, cultural events and theatre is also equally important”, he said. Omar said teachers had the responsibility of motivating students to utilise their spare time in outdoor activities like playing, touring, reading and social activities. “It has been observed that children nowadays spend most of their time watching television or playing video games. We have to modify this trend for the larger interests of students and human resources development”, he said. |
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Northeast folk artistes feel secure here
Jammu, March 25 “Initially, the artistes were reluctant to come here, fearing that the state is a militancy-prone area as projected by the media. But here, we found that this state is more peaceful than some of the seven-sister states of North East,” Cheraw Lakuki, troupe leader from Mizoram told The Tribune. “There have been wrong notions about the law and order situation prevailing in this state. But on our arrival, all our misconceptions were cleared as we moved freely and did not feel any kind of fear or threat,” Willykit, an artiste from Mehgalaya, said. The artistes said, on their return, they would definitely act as ambassadors of peace to project the real picture of this beautiful state. The folk dance festival was jointly organised by the J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages in collaboration with the North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala. The visiting artistes performed folk dances like Lai-Haroba, Tamang Selo, Bordoishikla and Dhol Cholam at Ramkote and Udhampur towns. |
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MC removes encroachments
Jammu, March 25 The staff of the MC’s enforcement wing seized goods from unauthorised rehries and those placed on footpaths and streets by shopkeepers in these areas. On a complaint by allottees of government quarters on the BC Road, a toilet constructed on government land over the edge of the nullah, which has become a nuisance and health hazard for quarter residents, was demolished. An unauthorised room was also demolished by the enforcement staff at Dogra Hall. The MC team further evicted unauthorised occupants from three garages and took over their possession by locking the garages. Meanwhile, a shop was also sealed for the non-payment of rent dues amounting to
Rs 9,730. Meanwhile, Municipal Commissioner Mubarak Singh has appealed to the shopkeepers on the MC premises to clear their rent dues to avoid stringent actions like sealing of their premises and cancellation of allotments. He also appealed to the shopkeepers not to encroach upon foothpaths and streets. |
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I wanted to represent people in Lok Sabha, says Leela Karan
Jammu, March 25 Clarifying his stand to enter in poll fray, he said: “I have taken the decision to join active politics and entered into poll fray because I wanted to represent Jammu in the Parliament.” When it comes to political party, he opted for the BJP. He justified his step saying that he could not join the NC for being a Kashmir centric party, the PDP for its Hurriyat agenda, the Congress for surrendering to separatists, the Panthers for its confused policies, so the only option left for him was to join the BJP which according to him is the only party which has fought for the rights of Jammu. |
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Govt working on drug policy
Jammu, March 25 This was stated by state chief secretary SS Kapur while addressing the inaugural session of a two-day consultative workshop on Formulation of Drug Policy at Indian Institute of Integrated Medicine, organised by the State Health Society here today. He said a policy had to be worked out which was not only rational but cost-effective, practicable and affordable to the people of the state. He urged upon the medical fraternity to come up with a sincere solution that would be people-friendly as they were the ultimate beneficiaries of the policy. He told them to exhibit more responsibility while prescribing medicines to the people as this is the noble job which demands utter care to serve the needy. Experts, including Dr Krisantha Weerasuriya, Dr H Sudershan and Rakesh Kumar Rishi, were among the guest invitees who were scheduled to present their viewpoints. |
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Preparation of electoral
rolls reviewed
Jammu, March 25 During the visit, electoral rolls of all four Assembly constituencies were evaluated and helplines were set up in both offices of Assistant Election Returning Officer and District Election Officer to facilitate the voters. The District Election Officer apprised the roll observer of the preparedness of district administration regarding polling staff, EVM training, appointment of zonal and sectoral officers, physical verification of polling stations and transport plan for the forthcoming Parliamentary elections in the state. |
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Candidate files papers
Jammu, March 25 Later, while addressing a mediapersons, Kashyap said people had realised that the only alternative to the NDA and the UPA was the BSP and the BSP chief and UP Chief Minister would be the Prime Ministerial candidate. He said the party president would address a mass gathering in Jammu on March 30. |
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Programme on skill development begins
Jammu, March 25 Forty participants representing Jammu, Udhampur, Reasi, Rajouri, Doda and Srinagar districts will attend the programme. Abdul Kabir Dar, CEO, State Medicinal Plants Board, who was the chief guest on the occasion, informed the participants that the government was providing enough support to the entrepreneurs in this area and the participants should take benefit of these programmes and schemes. |
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Kashmiri Pandits meet Mufti
Jammu, March 25 The main points highlighted were filling of 6,000 posts from among the youth of the displaced community, passage of a temple Bill, enhancement of cash relief, special drive for recruitment of youth in IRP battalions of the state police. Mufti Mohammad Sayeed assured the delegation of taking a policy decision in this connection. |
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Diabetes mela on March 28
Jammu, March 25 According to a press note, besides a series of lectures for common public and audiovisual programme, blood sugar test, nerve test by machine and ECG will be conducted. |
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