Jammu, June 27
A 24-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped by four men at a deserted place in the Nud area of Akhnoor subdivision today.

Official sources said the victim, a resident of Panjgrain and mother of a child, was returning from a dispensary when Pappu, a minibus driver and a native of Badyala Chak, offered her a lift on his friend’s motorcycle. They took her to a lonely place near Nud, 10 km on the western side of Akhnoor on the Jourian road, and there Pappu and his three friends raped her, the sources added.

After committing the crime, the four accused threatened her of dire consequences if she disclosed it to anyone and fled, the sources said. The victim, who regained consciousness after some time, reported the matter to the Akhnoor police and lodged a written complaint against the accused, they added.

A medical test on the victim at the Government Medical College (GMC) here confirmed the gang rape, the sources said.

Confirming the incident, Additional SP (Rural), Jammu, Mohan Lal said the woman was on her way to her parental house from a dispensary when Pappu, a minibus driver, met her. He took her to an isolated place and he along with his three friends raped her, said the ASP.

Though two of the four accused, Suresh Pal, aka Sonu, who runs a CD shop, and Amin, alias Sunny, who has a tyre repair shop, both residents of Sole, had been arrested, two others — Ravi Kumar, a driver, and Pappu Sharma of Badyala Chak — were still absconding, he said.

A case under section 376, RPC, had been registered against the accused at Akhnoor police station. A police team headed by SHO Gian Chand Sharma was conducting raids on suspected hideouts to nab the two absconders, the ASP added.

Srinagar, June 27
At least three CRPF jawans were injured in a grenade explosion at Jehangir Chowk here this afternoon.

The police said suspected militants hurled a grenade on a patrol party of the CRPF, injuring three jawans. One of them was stated to be critical and admitted to the SMHS hospital here.

The explosion that occurred around 2.30 pm disrupted normal life and movement of traffic in the busy Jehangir Chowk, close to the High Court complex, Civil Secretariat and the Legislative Assembly complex. The police and paramilitary troops cordoned off the area immediately after the explosion and launched searches. However, no one was arrested and no militant organisation had claimed the responsibility for the attack.

Meanwhile, the police has recovered a human skeleton from a migrant house at Gundi Siligam village in the Aishmuqam area of Anantnag district. Inquest proceedings had been started, the police said. 

Srinagar, June 27
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has welcomed the resumption of talks with Pakistan saying dialogue was the only way to address issues and find out an amicable solution to the problems. He hoped that the talks between India and Pakistan would be put on fast track.

Addressing a public meeting in the Khansahib constituency of Budgam district, near here, today, the Chief Minister said gun had never solved problems. He said his government would take the initiative for the resumption of internal talks between the Centre and the separatists so that all issues pertaining to the state could be addressed. “Strengthening of both external and internal channels of talks to achieve permanent peace and tranquility in the subcontinent is 
the need of the hour,” he said and called for a sustained dialogue in 
this regard.

Omar held that everyone wanted to get rid of the gun culture and live in a conducive and peaceful atmosphere. He added that Pakistan was itself at present facing the atrocities of the gun. “Time is ripe enough to cultivate peace for harvesting prosperity,” he said emphasising on strengthening the dialogue process to settle all issues peacefully.

He said the police would gradually take over the prime responsibility of maintaining law and order in the state, replacing paramilitary forces. “This has already been discussed with the Union Home Minister during his recent visit to the state and 
the latter has also given clear indication in this regard,” the Chief 
Minister said.

Referring to development in far-flung areas, Omar said his government had flagged this sector as the top priority and measures were afoot to bring about a healthy change in the development scenario in rural areas. He said besides scores of rural development programmes for upgrading of basic amenities launched by the state government, Central assistance was also being sought to give a fillip to the development process in remote and far-flung areas.

He held that two former Chief Ministers of the state, Farooq Abdullah and Ghulam Nabi Azad, holding important portfolios at the Centre would be of great help to the state at this juncture.

One can revolutionise our health sector while the other could tap our state’s energy sector by providing power projects up to 25 MW in rural areas, Omar added.

The Chief Minister said the government was working with the Union Health Ministry on a proposal to double the staff in most difficult rural areas. The doctors and paramedical staff posted there would be provided remunerative incentives, including payment of allowances that would almost double their salaries.

Jammu, June 27
The state BJP has alleged that the ruling NC and the PDP are promoting the agenda of the separatists in the state “without thinking of the consequences.”

The BJP criticised the demand for troops reduction and the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) as desired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

BJP state president and MLA Ashok Khajuria said the life of the common citizens had no value in the eyes of the Chief Minister, the PDP leadership and the separatists.

“While the Defence Minister opposed the revocation of the AFSPA saying the situation in the state was not conducive, Omar pleaded for the withdrawal of the AFSPA at the Unified Command’s meeting,” Khajuria said. He alleged that Vice-President Hamid Ansari during his recent visit to the state had pleaded for the withdrawal of the Army and anti-terror laws. “By making such statements, the Vice-President has lowered the dignity of his office and tried to please the separatists,” he said.

The BJP leader said the recent decision of APHC chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to start an indefinite bandh in Kashmir for the withdrawal of the AFSPA would have serious repercussions. The people of Jammu would not tolerate if the government succumbed to the pressure of the separatists, he added.

Khajuria said the Union government had again discriminated against Jammu as Union minister Jairam Ramesh during his recent visit to the valley sanctioned Rs 1,700 crore for the preservation of lakes in the valley, but did not care about the lakes in Jammu. He warned the state government against any move to shift the Central university to Kashmir. 

Udhampur, June 27
The conductor of a passenger bus was killed and eight others injured when a mini-bus rammed into a dhabha near Ramban on the Jammu-Srinagar Highway today.

The driver of the mini-bus lost control and rammed it into the Zam Zam Hotel at Nehar, Ramban, the police said today.

Conductor of another passenger bus, who was standing outside the dhaba, was crushed by the vehicle, the police said. Bus conductor Lehar Singh died on the spot and eight passengers were injured. The injured were rushed to the sub-district hospital at Ramban.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, the police today recovered the body of a six-year-old boy, Khushvinder Singh, from the Chenab near Ramban. He was one of the 18 victims of a mini-bus accident at Prem Nagar in Doda on June 7.

The mini-bus had plunged into the Chenab on that day, killing 18 persons. Five persons had managed to escape from the vehicle.

Srinagar, June 27
Around 10,990 pilgrims had darshan at the Amarnath cave shrine yesterday when the pilgrimage via the traditional Pahalgam route began.

According to BB Vyas, chief executive officer of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), 7,000 pilgrims left the Baltal base camp, while another batch of 3,000 pilgrims commenced the yatra from the Nunwan base camp early this morning. He stated that 1,541 pilgrims also left Jammu today for Nunwan (Pahalgam) and Baltal base camps.

Vyas also informed that the work on improving the Chandanwari track was proceeding apace to facilitate the pilgrims undertaking the yatra through the traditional route.

He reiterated that no old or infirm person and children below the age of 12 years would be permitted to undertake the yatra on the Sheshnag route in view of the poor weather conditions and the difficult snow route. Women pilgrims had also been advised to avoid embarking on this route, at least for the next week or so, in view of the arduous nature and the condition of the track.

He also emphasised that registration slips were being checked at Nunwan and Chandanwari to ensure that no unregistered pilgrim was allowed to proceed on this route.

Vyas added that Badhur Walla Bhai from Surat in Gujarat, died at Pissu Top yesterday, while two others, Prema Kohili, wife of MJ Kohili from Thana, Mumbai, and Vinake Balla Ram, son of Balla Ram Kohili from Rajghar, Mumbai, also died at the SKIMS, Soura, yesterday. 

Jammu, June 27
A distress call to Neha Ghar - government-run welfare home for the distressed and delinquent women - by a city businessman got a shocking reply - “Sorry, we can’t come”.

The businessman, Ritish Gupta, alleged that officials of the welfare home at Kachi Chawni refused to help when he contacted them for a rescue of a woman in distress.

“I came across an illiterate woman in her early twenties near Manda last night. She looked nervous and could not communicate in Hindi or a local language,” he said.

“A flock of transporters were passing remarks on her and anything could have happen to her. So I reported the matter to a warden at Neha Ghar but I did not get any response. After my repeated insistence the official called up her secretary but of no avail and she denied help,” Gupta said.

“I approached officials of Child Line, Jammu, and they informed the police at Pucca Dunga. They also helped in discovering the woman - as she had left the place where she was found,” he said.

“The officials of Neha Ghar should have taken cognizance of the matter as they are supposed to bring such cases into the notice of the police as and when they occur,” Gupta said.

However, warden of the welfare home Sharda said: “The woman spent a night at Neha Ghar after the police brought her here. We accommodate a woman only when we are directed by the police or court.”

Meanwhile, SHO, Pucca Danga, Ragveer Singh said: “The woman is still putting up at Neha Ghar and she has not revealed any details about her whereabouts so far.”

Electricity transformers and paper worth lakhs of rupees gutted in two separate incidents of fire in Gangyal Industrial Estate here yesterday.

Official sources said, “A fire broke out around 11.24 pm in an electricity transformer manufacturing unit and within no time it engulfed the entire unit.”

After an hour-long operation two fire engines and 15 firefighters controlled the blaze, they said. Three partners -- Rakesh Sharma, SB Sharma and late MR Sharma - all residents of Kailash Nagar in the Canal Road area -- were running the unit.

The cause of fire was attributed to a short-circuit. An officer of the Fire and Emergency Services Department confirmed the incident and said the fire caused a loss of Rs 1.50 lakh of raw material.

In another incident at the industrial estate yesterday, a printing press owned by Ravi Kumar was gutted in a fire around 7.41 am.

A fire engine and eight firefighters were pressed into service to control the fire.

However, it took three hours for the firefighters to control the blaze because they had to salvage paper as well.

Srinagar, June 27
The Pandith clan of Kashmir feels exalted following the appointment of Farah Pandith as US Special Representative to reach out to the Muslim world.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced the appointment of Kashmiri-origin Pandith to the post for engaging the 1.5 billion Muslims across the globe.

Bhagaat-e-Barzallah, the house where Farah Pandith’s parents used to live before they migrated to the US in 1969, has attracted attention overnight, as her relatives celebrated the success of their kin.

She is the first Kashmiri woman to have attained such a height, Maheen Pandith, a cousin of Farah, said today.

“We received this great news only yesterday. We all are very happy. We are really proud to have a sister like her,” Maheen said. Describing Farah as a born leader, she said the entire clan was excited over her achievement.

Originally belonging to the apple-rich town of Sopore, 55 km from here in Baramulla district, Farah Pandith’s mother had migrated to the US, a year after Farah was born here.

Maheen said Farah stayed with the family in their Sopore house during her two visits to India in 1984 and 1992.

Pandith’ family in Sopore is known to be quite influential. — PTI

Jammu, June 27
Mystery shrouds the death of a 24-year-old married woman, who allegedly consumed poison at her in-laws house at Badyala Chak village in Akhnoor subdivision today.

Official sources said Nisha Devi allegedly consumed poison at her in-laws house in Badyala Chak around 3 am.

Her husband Parveen Singh shifted her to the subdistrict hospital in Akhnoor in a serious condition where she died after some time. The sources said even earlier Nisha had attempted to commit suicide.

Though the father of Nisha, Balbir Singh of Manwa in Akhnoor, alleged that her in-laws used to harass her, her father-in-law and mother-in-law had died long ago. Her in-laws’ family had only her husband Parveen Singh and his elder brother, they said.

After a post-mortem, the body was handed over to her parents for last rites. — TNS

Rajouri, June 27
A domestic help allegedly committed suicide after being “mentally tortured” by his landlords in the Danidhar area, near here, today.

He has left a suicide note in his pocket in which he had reportedly held his landlords responsible for the extreme step by subjecting him to “mental torture” for the past 12 years.

Police sources said Ahmed Khan (45), who hails from the Chandimarh area in Poonch district, allegedly committed suicide by consuming some poisonous substance at his landlords’ residence here today. He was working as domestic help with Manzoor Khan of the Danidhar area.