Udhampur, September 3
Mystery shrouds the disappearance of three young girls from the Bhaderwah area. The girls have been reportedly missing from their native place for the past one week. However, complaints in this regard were lodged only today.

Though the police has registered a missing persons’ report in this case, it is widely alleged that girls were “kidnapped” by militants of the Laskher-e-Toiba (LeT) to the Seoz Dhar valley, which is the centre point of the Bhaderwah, Ramban and Kathua areas.

The “missing” girls have been identified as Rubina Bano (23) of Shiva Doda, Rubiya (20) of Nalthi, Bhaderwah, and Zaituna Bano (16) of Padri, Bhaderwah.

Family members of the girls, who were initially hesitating to inform the police about their disappearance, have today lodged complaint in the police station concerned.

The family members were aware that their daughters have been “kidnapped” by the militants, but they have maintained silence due to the terror threat. It was only after when some locals inquired about the whereabouts of their daughters, they brought the matter to the notice of the police.

“Family members of the disappeared girls have lodged complaints in this regard,” T R Katoch, Bhaderwah ASP, told The Tribune. He, however, admitted that initial investigation suggested that the girls have deliberately gone with the militants, who have been active in this belt. He said the police had been investigating the incident to ascertain the real facts about this case.

Sources said the LeT militants active in this belt had taken the girls to their hideouts. Ashiq Hussain, one of the dreaded LeT militant, has reportedly taken Rubina Bano with him at his hideout in Seoz Dhar. Another reports said the disappeared girls were lured by the LeT militants and had been taken to safe heaven at Seoz Dhar.

Sources further disclosed that the militants had been luring young girls and involving them in subversive activities.

Jammu, September 3
The indefinite strike by employees of the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) entered its ninth day today.

Ashok Mehra, president of the SRTC Employees Union, Jammu, said the strike would continue till all demands were conceded. “We are going to the Press Club of Jammu with our families tomorrow and hold a rally which will conclude at Bikram Chowk.”

Both Jammu and Srinagar factions of the SRTC Employees Union are holding strikes to demand their salaries pending for the past four months as per the Sixth Commission report, besides CA/DA and departmental promotions pending for the past 10 years.

Srinagar: Hundreds of SRTC employees drawn from different districts of the valley converged at the SRTC head office here on Thursday. They took out a procession in the Lal Chowk area and resented the police action in which one person was injured yesterday. Holding placards the employees raised slogans against the apathetic attitude of the government.

The employees threatened that in case their demands were not fulfilled immediately there would be no other alternative than to intensify their agitation in which they would take to the streets along with their family members.

The agitating employees alleged that the promise to develop a transport nagar with a school and hospital had not been fulfilled so far.

Jammu, September 3
The Central University Andolan Samiti (CUAS) today served a four-day ultimatum on the police, warning it against using brutal force on students, who are holding peaceful demonstrations in support of their demand for establishment of the proposed central university in Jammu.

Pushvinder Singh Manhas, co-convener of the CUAS, mentioned that if the police continued to harass the students and use brutal force, the samiti would intensify the agitation.

He condemned yesterday’s police lathicharge on Balvir Kumar, Class IX student, at Akhnoor, and on students in GGM Science College.

Meanwhile, the Jammu State Morcha (P) has condemned the police for using force on peaceful demonstrations of students of various colleges.

It cautioned the police administration about such repressive actions, asking it to allow the students to hold peaceful protests.

Jammu, September 3
Members of the Jammu University Research Scholars Executive Association (JURSEA) today gheraoed the office of the Controller, Examinations, University of Jammu, demanding immediate declaration of the BA, B.Sc, B.Com part-1 and part-2 (Regular/ Private) results.

Condemning the working of the examination wing of the University of Jammu JURSEA president Vikas Sharma demanded declaration of the re-evaluation results.

JURSEA convener Rakesh Chib demanded the provision for re-checking/re-evaluation in the M.Phil examination and conduct of viva voce for M.Phil and Ph.D scholars within two months of submission of their dissertation/thesis.

Jammu, September 3
Two youths allegedly raped a woman in the Dayalachak area in Kathua district today.

Official sources said the 35-year-old victim, a native of Billawar and mother of three children, had come to her relatives’ house in Dayalachak, adding she was waiting for a bus on the national highway so as to return to her home in Billawar today.

However, she was approached by two mobikeborne youth, who claimed that they too were on their way to Billawar and offered her lift. She accepted their proposal.

Sources said the duo on their way to Billawar found an abandoned shop where they took the woman and raped her before fleeing from the spot. The victim, later, lodged a complaint at the Raj Bagh police station.

A case under has been registered at the police station and the victim has been medically examined by a team of doctors in the Kathua hospital. However, the police had picked up a suspect when reports last poured in.

SHO Raj Bagh police station Subhash Chander Bhagat confirmed the incident said that a hunt had been launched to nab the culprits.

Udhampur, September 3
To review the performance of banks, a District-Level Review Committee (DLRC)-cum-District Consultative Committee (DCC) meeting was held under the chairmanship of Udhampur ADC Nassar Iqbal Parae here today.

Parae called upon the bankers and officers of the line departments to work in coordination for sponsoring, sanctioning and establishment of viable economic generation units with a focus on economic status of weaker sections. While sponsoring and sanctioning such units, due care should be given on the viability of setting up units so that the unit holder is in a position to earn and could easily return the loan instalments.

To make the process of issuance of the Kissan Credit Cards (KCCs) easier for the farmers, it was decided in the meeting unanimously that such cases be settled within 15 days positively. Due care should also be taken in advancing loans to unemployed educated youth keeping in mind the scope and potential of setting up income generating units in their respective areas.

The Lead District Manager, Udhampur, revealed that various banks had advanced Rs 1,667.49 lakh among 1,211 beneficiaries in the district against yearly target of Rs 7,590.79 lakh during the first quarter of the current fiscal.

Udhampur, September 3
With the Doda Legislative Council seat election slated for September 15, senior Congress leaders have started lobbying to enter the Upper House. The Legislative Council seat from Doda fell vacant following the election of Mohammad Sharief Niaz to the Assembly.

Sources in the Congress said that Jugal Kishore Sharma and Naresh Gupta have been staking claim to this seat, with the party announcing to nominate a member of the minority community.

Niaz won the Assembly byelection in April from Bhaderwah, which was vacated by Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on his election to the Rajya Sabha.

Former minister Jugal Kishore Sharma is considered a confidant of Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad whose suggestions will be given serious consideration by the party while deciding the candidate for this seat.

Sharma has been camping in Delhi and is in touch with senior leaders of the party. Although Sharma has lost the Assembly elections from Reasi by a small margin, the party leadership may accommodate him due to his influence in Reasi, Udhampur and Ramban districts.

As far as Naresh Gupta is concerned, he is also an Azad loyalist. He is currently the president of the district Congress.

Other prominent Congress leaders, Swamiraj Sharma, Mukund Ram Sharma and Satish Bandhari, are also lobbying for this seat.

Jammu, September 3
A BSF officer committed suicide allegedly by shooting himself with his service weapon in the Chadwal area of Kathua district today, the police said. Sushil Gogray, Assistant Commandant of the BSF, shot himself dead with his pistol at the Manyari post near the LoC in Kathua district.

The reason behind his taking this extreme step could not be immediately known. A case has been registered in this regard.

Gogray, who originally belongs to the 112 battalion of the BSF, was presently attached to the 4th battalion of the force.

Jammu, September 3
Residents of various localities in Jammu west had to face hardship as they were subjected to an unscheduled electricity cut of more than 10 hours today. The residents had to remain without electricity supply as the Gladni Grid Station that supplies electricity to most parts of the Jammu region developed some technical snag.

Sources said Papu Mistri, technician of the Power Department, was seriously injured and shifted to the hospital while he was repairing the technical snag and received the shock. Officers said that they were trying to restore power.

Jammu, September 3
Two policemen were killed at Tota Morha Dorimal village in Thanna Mandi tehsil, Rajouri, when militants attacked a joint patrol party late last night.

Shafkat Wattali, Rajouri SSP, said: “After getting information about the presence of militants in the area, a joint patrol party was rushed to the village,” adding that the area was cordoned off by the security forces and the encounter started.

The militants started firing on the patrol party, killing two policemen on the spot. The deceased have been identified as Aijaz Ahmed, constable, from north Kashmir’s Baramulla district and Khan Mohammad, special police officer, from Kalakote in Rajouri.

Jammu, September 3
Residents of Poonch and Rajouri districts are a worried lot with the Army initiating the process of withdrawal of more than 15,000 troops belonging to 39 Mountain Division from the area. The Army, however, has said that it is a routine movement and it has nothing to do with the demand of the PDP and the separatists for demilitarisation of the state.

“Militants were earlier afraid to come to our villages due to the presence of the security forces, but now that the troops are being withdrawn we fear the ultras may increase their activities in the area,” said Gafur Ahmed, a resident.

Members of the village defence committees (VDCs) who have been assisting the security forces in carrying out anti-insurgency operations too are worried as they fear that militants might now take revenge.

“The VDCs have been playing an active role in anti-insurgency operations. We also assisted the Army in ‘Operation Sarap Vinash’ in hill Kaka in 2003 when more than 60 terrorists were killed. Since then VDC members are on a hit list of militants,” said VDC member Ajaz Hussain, adding that “after the Army is removed we would become sitting ducks.”

“Yes, people in the area are afraid as they have apprehensions that the withdrawal of a large number of army personnel from the area would make them prone to militant atrocities,” Rajouri SSP Shafkat Wattali told The Tribune.

Wattali said that people of the area took up the issue with the IGP, Jammu range, on his visit to the area and the latter assured them that proper security would be provided to them. “There is a security grid in place in the area and we won’t let the militants have an upper hand here,” Wattali said.

Srinagar, September 3
Jagdish A Singh, member of the Virginia Human Rights Council, US, during her recent visit to Kashmir, shared a few moments with The Tribune.

After finishing her schooling at Batala, Jagdish went to the US for further studies, graduating in guidance and counselling. Living in the US for the past 42 years, Jagdish feels proud to be born in India and a citizen of the US. Prior to her appointment in the council in 2004, she did community work. Jagdish’s term for the council has been extended for four more years, with normal duration being four years.

“It is a great honour. Your work counts even if your intention isn’t get noticed,” says Jagdish, who is also the president of the Citizens First, a non-profit family organisation, formed in 2003. The objective of the organisation is to help helpless people all over the world.

About problems being faced by women and children in Kashmir over the past two decades, Jagdish said: “I didn’t have complete knowledge. This is one of my purposes of visit. Women and children, suffer everywhere. My heart goes for them. Once I return, I might be able to discuss such problems with Congressman Bobby Scott and senator Plark Warner. I am hopeful that something would come out”.

“Till the time I didn’t visit Kashmir, I had depressed impression about Kashmir. I knew what is happening in Kashmir. I was worried about people here, the difficulties and atrocities they face, she said.