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4 militants killed in fierce encounter
First swine flu case in Doda
One held with Pak SIM card, RDX |
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Pain of Partition lingers on
Shopian Case
Janmashtami celebrated
Kite-flying festival concludes
Minister apprised of college staff shortage
Kirti Chakra for martyred Kashmiri soldier
Central Varsity
Take steps to tackle swine flu, says BJP
Handicapped former VDC member awaits succour
Security tightened on I-Day eve
Pak flags hoisted, Tricolour burnt in valley
2 arrested for impersonation
Official sources said the impersonator, hailing from Bihar, had been identified as Raju Kumar, who had been appearing on behalf of Arun Kumar. A case has been registered.
Sikh youth found dead
in hotel
Medical camp
Pakistan army’s goodwill gesture
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4 militants killed in fierce encounter
Udhampur, August 14 According to the police, the slain ultras were planning to target Independence Day functions in Mahore and adjoining localities. Official sources said on a specific information about the presence of some militants, security forces started a search operation in the forest areas of Mahore bordering Kulgam district of south Kashmir. When security personnel reached the spot at Kund forest where militants were hiding, ultras resorted to indiscriminate firing with sophisticated weapons. The encounter started at five this evening and was still on till the filing of this report. As the encounter site is located in the remotest areas of Reasi district, exact detail of the encounter is yet to be reached in district headquarters. Sources, however, quoting initial reports, said identities of the slain militants had been identified as Tuffail, Nasir, Mudassar and Imran, all local militants belong to the HM outfit. |
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First swine flu case in Doda
Udhampur, August 14 According to reports, Suresh Kumar of Rinda village, Bhaderwah, who has been suffering from fever, cough and chest congestion, was detected as suspect of swine flu by doctors of Bhaderwah hospital. Suresh Kumar, who worked in a private company at Jammu, had gone to Bhaderwah about 10 days ago. For the past one week, he has been suffering from fever and cough. This morning he was taken to Bhaderwah from where he was referred to Doda hospital. As he was showing symptoms of swine flu, he was immediately rushed to Jammu for final checkup. Panic gripped in this mountainous as people got information about the first swine flu suspect. Jammu: Even as Technical Education Minister RS Chib took stock of the surveillance centre and isolation ward for the H1N1 virus at Yatri Niwas on the banks of Tawi river, the blood samples of seven more suspects were airlifted today to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) in New Delhi. It may be stated that out of the 34 samples just one girl from Nanak Nagar has tested positive. RS Chib, along with state epidemiologist RS Charak and chief medical officer Shahid Mughal today visited the Yatri Niwas, base camp for the Amarnath pilgrims on the extreme corner of the city. The health authorities converted the base camp into a makeshift surveillance centre for the H1N1 virus, besides establishing an isolation ward and an OPD so as to keep a check on the contagious virus. Action plan formulated
Srinagar, August 14 Officials said today that Medical Education Minister RS Chib presided over the meeting attended by VK Thakral, joint secretary, Govt. of India, who has been designated as the nodal officer for Jammu & Kashmir. The meeting devised an action plan to deal with H1N1 virus. Thukral was asked by state officials to designate one diagnostic centre for H1N1 influenza virus for Jammu as well as Srinagar, keeping in view the topography of the state Chib apprised Thakral of the steps taken to check the spread of the disease. The steps included the constitution of surveillance teams at Srinagar, Jammu and Leh airports, and rapid response teams in all districts. He said a full-fledged swine flu centre had been set up at Maternity Hospital, Sanat Nagar, Srinagar, and Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu. |
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One held with Pak SIM card, RDX
Jammu, August 14 The police claimed that with the arrest of the youth, a major terror strike had been averted. Kuldeep Raj of Kotli, RS Pura, had been arrested at a special police checkpoint in the Kanachak area, the Jammu SSP said. One kg of RDX, two detonators, one grenade, wires, Rs 20,000 in Indian currency and a Pakistani SIM card has been seized from him. The police had launched a hunt to nab his accomplices assigned the task of creating disturbances, the SSP said, adding that we had been getting intelligence inputs regarding the activities of militants and other anti-national elements and their attempts to strike in Jammu. The SP (Operations), heading the Special Operations Group, which arrested the accused, told The Tribune that Kuldeep had to deliver the consignment to someone in Jammu. A case under the Explosives Substance Act and Sections 120-B, 121 and 121-A had been registered against the accused. Police sources said during preliminary questioning, Kuldeep revealed that the consignment had to be used for a terrorist strike in Jammu city. The sources said Kuldeep had a Pak SIM card to communicate with his mentors across the border and also used to cross border frequently. Rajouri: Security forces averted a major tragedy after they seized 7 kg of IED at Maloot, near the Ujhan area on the Rajouri-Darhal road, late last night. However, the bomb disposal squad of the Army defused the seized IED today. Army sources said during routine search operations ahead of Independence Day tomorrow, the troops of the 48 RR seized the IED fitted with a solar charger. It is for the first time that an IED connected with a solar panel for its detonation was used by the militants to trigger blasts. Meanwhile, the Army unearthed a militant hideout and seized a cache of arms from Bagialdara, near Poonch, today. Army sources said troops of the Poonch Brigade unearthed a militant hideout during a search operation in the Bagialdara area, about 7 km from Poonch. A Chinese pistol, 110 pistol rounds and 120 AK-rifle rounds were seized from the hideout.
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Pain of Partition lingers on
Jammu, August 14 Noted writer Balraj Puri, who was into active journalism and social activism in 1947, recalled: “There was anxiety all over the state. The Maharaja was indecisive about signing the instrument of accession with India as he wanted to remain independent. His decision was well-received by the Muslim League in Kashmir as well as the Hindu Mahasabha in Jammu.” “On August 15, 1947, I was in Jammu. There was no ceremonial function or Tricolour-hoisting ceremony. We saw Pakistani flags swaying all over federal departments as Jammu was predominantly a Muslim area till the communal rights broke out,” he said. “Gandhiji squarely blamed negligence on the part of the Maharaja for the riots and mass exodus of Muslims from Jammu,” he said. “Later, Pakistan attacked the state and pushed infiltrators into its territory to forcibly subjugate it. India took up the issue with the UN Security Council and the rest is history,” he said. “We toured several areas of Jammu and tried our best to prevent communal tension from spilling over other areas,” he said. Sahitya Academy award-winning Dorgi poet Yash Sharma, who was in college at that time, said: “I was in Srinagar and environment there was peaceful. Commenting upon the communal riots causing bloodshed and inhuman acts, Gandhiji had said he sees a ray of hope in Kashmir.” “There were no formal national-flag hoisting ceremony but a function was held at Hazuri Baag. People were overjoyed as they were opposed to monarchy. There was a cultural extravaganza and people rejoiced at Independence.” Communal riots in neighbouring Punjab had a backlash in Jammu as senior citizen KM Saxena said: “It is said that nearly 36,000 Muslim families had to migrate from Jammu to Pakistan while 90,000 Hindus came to Jammu as refugees.” “Those who suffered because of Partition can in no way be compensated. The only true penance for our follies of 40s could be our vow never to repeat those follies ,” he said.
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Shopian Case
Srinagar, August 14 A team of officials headed by Shahdin Malik inspected the hospital’s lab and recorded statements and tried to reconstruct events leading to the preparation of the slides of victims vaginal swabs that were later changed. The SIT’s action comes even as the government has announced to hand over the probe to the CBI subject to High Court’s approval as it is supervising the investigation. The SIT has little worthwhile to show despite being constituted soon after actions of the local police came under public scrutiny for its alleged omissions and commissions after the bodies of Neelofar Jan and Asiya Jan were found on May 30. The attempts of the SIT headed by IG Farooq Ahmad have been solely based upon the presumption that police or CRPF personnel are likely culprits as it took blood samples of many of them, and hoping that the DNA profiles of some of them would match with that of sperms found in the victims’ sexual organs. That hope gone now and little else to show for, the SIT has been a failure so far, official sources said. Such has been its passiveness in such a sensitive case that it did not raid the hospital till yesterday or question the doctors, especially Dr Nighat Shaheen, who was responsible for collecting and sealing those samples, found to be fabricated by CFSL, New Delhi. The Division Bench of the High Court headed by Chief Justice Barin Ghosh would meet on August 18 to decide its next course of action.
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Janmashtami celebrated
Jammu, August 14 Bhajans and Kirtans continued in all temples and people paid obeisance to Lord Krishna in large numbers. A heavy rush of devotees was seen at Raghunath Temple. The entire Jammu city wore a festive look as the markets were decorated. The police was deployed at Bahu Fort, ancient Raghunath Temple and Ranbireshwar Temple to meet any eventuality.
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Kite-flying festival concludes
Jammu, August 14 An array of traditional and designer kites soared high in the sky. Kite flying itself is celebrated with great enthusiasm on Janmashtami in Jammu when children and grownups are seen atop flying colourful and pictorial kites. Jammu DC Pawan Kotwal, who inaugurated the kite-flying and display festival, congratulated people on the occasion and said: “Such festival will help revive the tradition of kite flying in Jammu. It is a cultural sport that attracts people from all age groups and adds enthusiasm and fun in the festive mood.” While sharing his experience, Kotwal said the entire activity of making good ‘manjha’ and kite fighting remained a treasured-childhood memory. Director Tourism SM Sahni said the government was doing its best to promote such cultural festivals, adding that during the festival, traditional kite flyers and makers from Ahmedabad, who are displaying their talents, would be awarded for the best traditional kites. |
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Minister apprised of college staff shortage
Udhampur, August 14 During a visit of Minister of Higher Education Abdul Gani Malik, a BJYM deputation headed by state unit president Pawan Khajuria apprised him of the problem, demanding immediate appointment of teachers. He pointed out that new courses like biotechnology had been introduced but basic infrastructure for such subjects was yet to be established in these colleges. The minister assured the deputation that steps would be taken to solve these problems. Earlier, addressing a meeting of teachers of PG College for Boys and Women College, Udhampur, the minister called upon the teachers to dedicate their services for the welfare of students. He said they should do their utmost in shaping the future of students.
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Kirti Chakra for martyred Kashmiri soldier
Srinagar, August 14 The Army said paratrooper Shabir Ahmad Malik, who was from Ganderbal district, was awarded Kirti Chakra, equivalent to Mahavir Chakra, for showing exemplary courage while fighting militants. On March 21, he was tracking an infiltrating column of terrorists. As he observed suspicious movement he alerted his “commando buddy”. An overwhelming volume of fire from three directions injured his buddy. Malik crawled under overwhelming fire and rescued his comrade and killed two terrorists in a hand-to- hand combat, the Army said. Despite sustaining severe gunshot wounds, he refused to be evacuated and kept motivating his troop mates. Malik finally succumbed to his injuries but not before eliminating two hardcore terrorists
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Central Varsity
Jammu, August 14 While addressing a press conference at the Geeta Bhawan, Pushvinder Singh, co-convenor of the CUAS, said after being arrested by the police yesterday, they were warned to be booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA), if the agitation was not stopped immediately. The co-convenor warned the state government that they would continue the agitation till the Central University opens in Jammu. Invitations for I-Day function burnt
Udhampur: As part of their ongoing agitation against the shifting of proposed Central University from Jammu to Srinagar, students of Udhampur today burnt official invitation to participate in the Independence Day function. As the Central University Andolan Samiti-a conglomeration of various social, political, religious and traders organisations, has given a call for the boycott of the Independence Day function, students this evening came on streets in large number and torched the invitations. Students appealed the common masses not to attend the function as mark of protest against step-motherly treatment meted out to the Jammu region. Students and other agitating organisations have decided to organise a parallel Independence Day function in Udhampur. Agitating students have announced to beat the government in organising the Independence Day function on their own. During corner meetings, students blamed the authorities for the present situation and pointed out that the Centre has already sanctioned the University for the Jammu region and land for that has been already earmarked. They regretted that the coalition regime has been unnecessarily creating confusion on this issue and trying to divide the people just for political gains. While giving a warning to the Jammu-based ministers, agitating students asked them to protect interests of their region. |
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Take steps to tackle swine flu, says BJP
Jammu, August 14 Arora said a BJP team, which met various agencies in hospitals and took stock of the situation, found that rumours were being spread and the government was doing little to dispel them. “People are in panic. No team of doctors have been stationed at the entrance points for pilgrims at Katra and tourists points in Kashmir to educate them,” he said. |
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Handicapped former VDC member awaits succour
Bani, August 14 Girdhari Lal fell from a snow-covered hillock on a wintry night in January, 2005. The incident left him handicapped for any sort of physical work and he now can barely move around his courtyard with the support of crutches. While the Army and the government have turned their backs on him, the ill- fated family is being looked after by neighbouring "Muslim brethren." A resident of the predominantly Muslim-inhabited area, Saili village in Bani tehsil of Kathua district, Girdhari like other villagers stood up against militancy that erupted in the area in 2002 and fought it alongside the security forces shoulder to shoulder. "I did not get any compensation. Local Muslim brothers contributed Rs 1.5 lakh for the surgery of my leg. They still help me with money and ration . Without their help my family would have starved and I might have died for want of medical treatment," he said, adding that "I quit the VDC and deposited the weapon with the Bani police thana in 2005." The elder son of Girdhari, Ashok Kumar (12) and daughter Kanta Devi (9) are studying in the sixth and third standards, respectively. However, his five-year-old son Gagan Singh has just started going to school. "How would we sustain their educational expenses?" asked his wife, adding that "we don't have much agricultural land. My husband cannot do any physical work as doctors have placed metal plates in his leg" "Militancy was at its peak in the hill region. The newly deputed Army was quite alien to the topography of the area. Being locals, we had to lead the Army patrol parties without caring that we could be the first casualty if militants come across," said Girdhari. "We were all five members in the VDC. I used to get Rs 475 after every two months. It was not a matter of money. We were concerned about our country. Our priority was to eliminate militancy and we succeed in that by helping the Army eliminate several terrorists," he averred and added that the area was now free of militants. When the matter was brought to the notice of Kathua DC Sanjeev Verma, he said: "I will certainly take up the matter with the SSP to make sure that Girdhari Lal gets relief."
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Security tightened on I-Day eve
Srinagar, August 14 A spate of grenade-throwing incidents in the run-up to August 15 has alerted the security network, with DGP Kuldeep Khoda making it clear that security would be foolproof. Roads leading to Bakshi Stadium have been blocked and snipers have been placed at vantage points to meet any eventuality while a large number of police and CRPF personnel patrol streets. Separatist outfits as usual have called for a strike tomorrow and shops are likely to be closed and traffic almost out of roads, something which suits security personnel also as they have fewer people and vehicles to deal with. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will unfurl the Tricolour as state’s Chief Minister for the first time and the admirers of the young politician are eager to know what he says on the occasion. The vehicles, especially those coming to Srinagar, have had to go through security checks as intelligence has warned that militants would try to smuggle explosives in the capital to carry out subversive activities. |
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Pak flags hoisted, Tricolour burnt in valley
Srinagar, August 14 Security personnel swung into action after over 200 youth took to the streets outside Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar shortly after Friday prayers, burst crackers and clashed with the police personnel, official sources said. Chanting slogans - “Long live Pakistan” and “We want freedom”, the youth pelted stones in retaliation to the teargas and canecharge triggering clashes, the sources said. As the situation became tense, security reinforcements were rushed to the spot to check violence from spreading to other areas. The sources said Pakistani flags were also seen hoisted on electric poles and trees at two places in Ganderpora locality of Eidgah in downtown Srinagar and several places in north Kashmir, Baramulla and Sopore townships, including Ningli and Batpora, early this morning. However, the flags were immediately removed by the police patrolling the areas. — PTI
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2 arrested for impersonation
Jammu, August 14
Official sources said the impersonator, hailing from Bihar, had been identified as Raju Kumar, who had been appearing on behalf of Arun Kumar. A case has been registered.
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Sikh youth found dead
in hotel
Jammu, August 14
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Jammu, August 14
Bani, August 14
