Jammu, September 29
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Amandeep murder case today raided the office, an elite school and a house of a prominent businessman, Choudhary Nagar Singh, at separate places here and picked up three of his managers for questioning.

Official sources said a team led by DSP Mamta Sharma raided the Dreamland Society in Extension-4 Trikuta Nagar and picked up three managers of Nagar Singh for questioning.

Similarly, the SIT raided an elite school being run by Nagar Singh in Channi and his Gandhi Nagar house.

“We know that Nagar Singh and his brothers Ujagar Singh and Rakesh Singh have gone into hibernation and are not in Jammu, but we are conducting raids to build some pressure on them,” said a police officer. It may be stated here that despite summons served at his residence, Nagar Singh so far had not turned up before the SIT to face a probe.

Nagar Singh’s son Jatinder Singh, aka Raja, is the main accused in the case.

Later in the evening, suspended Jammu SSP Manohar Singh was brought to the Gandhi Nagar hospital for a medical examination.

Manohar Singh had complained of “illness” before Forest Magistrate Yahaya Firdous here yesterday and sought hospitalisation

In police remand for six days, Manohar Singh was brought in a Tavera vehicle by SHO, Gandhi Nagar, Rafiq Manhas to the hospital where Dr Avinash Abrol and a team of doctors examined him.

“Though he had been suffering from hypertension and diabetes, these were found to be under control. Hence he did not require hospitalisation and was sent back,” said Dr Iftikhar Ahmed Shapoo, Deputy Director Health Services.

CMO Dr Dawood said Manohar Singh’s blood sugar and ECG tests were within normal limits.

Meanwhile, the Forest Magistrate, Jammu, Yahaya Firdous, today sent main accused Jatinder Singh and co-accused Royal Singh of Mohalla Dalpatian to 10 days’ judicial remand. The SIT also produced suspended SP, South, Mumtaz Ahmed before the court of the Excise Magistrate, Jammu, for recording his statement under Section 164-A, CrPC.

However, the sources said the suspended SP did not say anything against anyone in his statement recorded before the court.

Srinagar, September 29
In stepped-up violence, unidentified militants shot dead three CRPF personnel and injured two civilians, including a woman, in the apple rich town of Sopore in north Kashmir today. The militants also took away two AK rifles from the jawans on duty after the shootout at the Sopore Bus Stand around 5.15 pm.

The three CRPF men of 179 Bn killed are havildar Des Raj from Mukerian, and constables Ramesh Halwa from Orissa and D Pratap.

The bodies after a post-mortem would be airlifted to their respective places from here tomorrow, a CRPF spokesman told The Tribune this evening.

The police said unknown militants fired on CRPF personnel of 179 Bn near the Sopore bus stand in Baramulla district, injuring three CRPF jawans and two civilians, including a woman. The three CRPF jawans later died. The two civilians injured had been shifted to the hospital, the police said.

In the stepped-up violence after a long spell of relative peace, five encounters have taken place between the militants and the security forces, three in Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipore districts in north Kashmir and two in Kulgam and Pulwama districts in south Kashmir since September 21. Nearly 12 personnel, most of them militants and a Major were killed in these encounters. Three militants of the Lashkar-e-Toiba were killed in an encounter with the security forces, while a woman also died in the exchange of fire in the Tral area of Pulwama district yesterday. Today’s attack in Sopore comes after a few incidents of pistol firing on security personnel during the past two months.

Meanwhile, the police and the security forces seized five IEDs from a hideout of militants at Wani Dursoosa in the Sogam area of Kupwara district yesterday. The police also apprehended a person and seized an IED weighing over 3 kg and a switch from his possession at the Bemina bypass here yesterday.

Jammu, September 29
Justice Sunil Hali of the J&K High Court, in a landmark decision, today allowed a writ petition holding that the family members of a deceased government employee, who dies in harness without assuming the permanent status in service, is eligible for seeking appointment on a compassionate basis.

The husband of Safia Begum, engaged as pharmacist in the Heath Department in 1991 on an adhoc basis continued till February, 2003, when he died after a massive heart attack. The petitioner, his wife, sought her appointment on compassionate grounds under SRO 43 of 1994 contending that her husband had died in harness.

Her case for compassionate appointment was recommended by the Block Medical Officer and Chief Medical Officer to the Director, Heath Services. However, the administrative department denied compassionate appointment, as her husband was not a permanent employee of the state government.

But the HC, while allowing the petition, observed: “Family members of the government employee who dies in harness can seek appointment under SRO 43 of 1994. The definition of government employee is not restrictive in nature but exhaustive. It connotes all categories of employees both permanent and temporary and does not confine itself to those employees who are appointed permanently in service. Even an adhoc/temporary employee is covered by the definition of government employee.” 

Jammu, September 29
Forty-eight hours after the 20-year-old girl from Shahdra Sharief village in Rajouri axed a militant to death and forced two others to flee without their weapons late on Sunday night, the government is yet to announce an award for her because the identity of the militant could not be established.

Albeit Rajouri police buried the body today, mystery surrounds his identity as well as his accomplices. The police said it was still not established whether they were militants from across the border or not.

“The weapons, including AK 56 and AK 47, left behind strongly suggest that they were militants but it is yet to be established,” said SSP Shafqat
Ali Watali, in contrast to news reports that have identified the one killed as Uzafa Shah, a Lashkar-e-toiba area commander.

The SSP said they have circulated his picture in the region and have also shown the body to people for identification. “But no one has identified him or claimed the body yet,” he said.

The police said it was understandable that no one wants to take the risk of claiming the body, but it was surprising that no one could even identify him.

An FIR under section 307 (attempt to murder) and various provisions of the Arms Act has been registered.

Jammu, September 29
Hundreds of girls turned up for the police recruitment rally held for the post of sub- inspectors at the Gulshan ground in Jammu today. “There is lot of corruption in the system and if selected I would fight against this,” said Jyoti Sharma, a resident of Burnai, who had come to take part in the rally.

“To serve in the police force as an officer would be a dream come true for me, as my father was in BSF and wanted to see me in uniform,” she added. Authorities too were elated by the huge turnout of female candidates for the posts. “There is lot of enthusiasm in the girls from Jammu region to join the police force,” said DIG, Jammu-Kathua Range, Farooq Khan.

Many of the girls said they were not afraid of the militants and wanted to fight them. The Gujjar girl from Rajouri who killed a militant yesterday has become a role model for them.

“We are not afraid of terrorists and want to take them on. If the young girl Rukhsana can kill a terrorist in a remote village of Rajouri without having a weapon, then we can also fight against them,” said Meenakshi, another aspirant. “Girls are not meant for household chores alone, given a chance they can do well in the police force as well,” she added.

“More than 300 girls turned up for the rally today. Although physical standards and other tests are comparatively lesser for them, their enthusiasm was commendable,” said SSP Ashkoor Wani, who was a member of the selection board.

The DIG informed that the recruitment rally would be on for the next seven days. “Today was the first day and as many as 7,000 candidates turned up,” he said.

Jammu, September 29
The National Secular Forum (NSF) today hailed the Central government’s decision to grant two central universities to the state and expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for it.

Addressing a press conference here today, Vikas Sharma, state president of the NSF said though the Union government had decided to come up with two central

universities in the state, but there should not be any discrimination against either of the university regarding the allocation of funds and infrastructure. Extending support to the former 296 employees of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Sharma demanded their reinstatement.

Meanwhile, activists of the National Conference Students Union (NCSU) took out a procession welcoming the Centre’s decision of two central universities. ABVP activists also hailed the announcement of two central universities for the state.

Jammu, September 29
The employees of the State Housing Board today demanded implementation of he Sixth Pay Commission as well as the new pension scheme on the JDA/SDA pattern. They also demanded regularisation of daily-wagers, enhancement of wages and filling up of vacant posts. According to a statement issued here today, the workers are protesting against the anti-employees’ stance of the management.

Meanwhile, the ongoing dharna of the employees entered its second day today.

Leaders of the Employees’ Joint Action Committee have also extended support to the Housing Board employees.

Srinagar, September 29
Protesters took to streets and blocked the Srinagar-Chrar-e-Sharief road today alleging government failure in providing basic amenities to them, including neglecting repair of roads.

Alleging “step-motherly” treatment by the administration, the residents of Natipora accused the authorities of neglecting the repair work of Natipora-Nowgam main road that has been dug open for the past five months.

“While all the roads were repaired in the city and elsewhere, the Natipora-Nowgam road was deliberately left unattended. We are accorded given step-motherly treatment for not voting for the National Conference in last year’s assembly elections,” Abdul Rahim Khan, a shopkeeper, alleged.

Claiming that the dust around the area posed health hazard, Khan said, “Most of the people in the area complain of chest infection even after using masks.” Following the protests, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand directed authorities to speed up the repair work.

“In no case people should face hardships due to bad condition of roads,” he said. — PTI 

Jammu, September 29
An Army soldier allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle in the Ratnuchak area of Bari-Brahmana last evening, thereby taking the number of suicides by jawans in the winter capital to three in the past 10 days.

Despite remedial measures initiated by the defence forces the third such incident within a span of 10 days in and around “much calmer” Jammu compared to the Kashmir valley has left the authorities dazed.

Jawan Vibodh Bharti Raja of Tamil Nadu, posted with 85 Armoured Regiment,

shot himself dead at the Ratnuchak military station in Bari-Brahmana last evening, a police officer from the Bari Brahmana police station told The Tribune. Bharti was taken to a military hospital, where he was declared brought dead, he said. However, the reason behind the extreme step by the jawan could not be ascertained.

Later, his body was shifted to a hospital in Ramgarh where an autopsy was conducted today, he added.

While the Army has ordered a court of inquiry, the local police has also initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174, Cr PC.

On September 22, havildar Sunder Singh, a resident of Haldwani in Uttarakhand, had shot himself dead with his service rifle at the Sunjwan military station on the outskirts of the winter capital. A soldier of 20 Kumaon Regiment, he had been posted with 36 Infantry Brigade at the Sunjwan military station.

Similarly, on September 20, another jawan grenadier Devinder Singh of Army’s 21 Grenadiers Regiment had allegedly committed suicide by consuming some toxic substance in the Sunjwan cantonment area. However, defence sources attributed the root cause of such incidents to domestic problems being confronted by stressed jawans.

“We have been conducting regular yoga classes and meditation camps, besides granting liberal leave to the jawans,” they said. Frequent interaction between officers and jawans, recreational facilities and counselling by qualified psychologists also formed the part of remedial measures, they added.

Jammu, September 29
The state government has taken the issue of incursions by the Chinese army in Ladakh seriously and will take steps “soon” to ensure these do not recur.

The state government will send “patwaris” and “chowkidars” to the inaccessible areas of Ladakh, where the reported attempts of incursion have taken place, to make a revenue record of land.

“After receiving reports that the Chinese army has made incursions and threatened our shepherds, we have taken the issue seriously. Though talks are regularly held between the armies of both nations, we will soon take certain measures to counter their moves to occupy our land,” Minister for Revenue and Relief Raman Bhalla told The Tribune on the sidelines of a function in Jammu.

He said the place where the incursions took place and the Chinese army had painted rocks and boulders red, the Deputy Commissioner concerned along with the SDM was rushed to the place, which is 370 km away, to take the stock of the situation.

“We have decided to send patwaris and chowkidars to the area regularly to make a complete revenue record of the area,” Bhalla said.

He said the government had also proposed to the Union government to set up permanent “dhoks” (mud huts) for the nomad shepherds who went to the region during their annual migration.

The issue was in the notice of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and he had taken up the matter with the Union government.

“When the news came that they threatened our shepherds we took the issue with the Union government and it was under their active consideration,” Bhalla said, adding that “rocks and boulders that the Chinese had painted red have been painted black by the local population.”

Asked to comment on the apex committee formed to monitor the proper implementation of the Prime Minister’s Relief and Rehabilitation Package and the return of Kashmir Pandits to the valley, he said, “Despite opposition from some vested interests, we have already received 15,000 applications from Kashmiri Pandit migrants wanting to return to the valley,” Bhalla said.

Jammu, September 29
According to the vice-chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences Dr Harbans Singh, early sowing during the Rabi season in dryland areas would result in higher yields. He has suggested that sowing should be done with the receding monsoons and winter rain should fall on the standing crop.

During the Kharif season, out of 533 districts, 150 districts in 10 states were declared drought hit. “Out of 36 meteorological divisions, only 13 received normal or excess rainfall. Overall rainfall deficit was 29 per cent,” he said.

“To make up for the loss of Kharif season, 15 to 20 per cent more yield through early sowing of Rabi crops, especially wheat, with subsidised inputs like seeds and fertilisers, is required,” he added.

The VC said sowing of wheat in Jammu division should be done from November 1 to 25; from November 1 to 14 long-duration variety like CPAN3004 should be sown while from November 15 to 25 medium-duration varieties like PBW154, PBW343, PBW502, WH542 and RSP303 should be sown.

In the intermediate zone, sowing should be done from the last week of October to mid-November with HS240 variety and from November 7 to 15 with PBW-154 variety.

However, early sowing in dryland (rain-fed) areas of Jammu division would depend on the rainfall received during the last week of September and first week of October.

“Rainfall of 1.5 to 2.0 cm in the subtropical zone and 1.0 to 1.5 cm in the intermediate zone during the fortnight will ensure early sowing of Rabi crops, including cereals, oil-seeds and pulses. To further reinforce this strategy, moisture after each rainfall should be conserved well in time,” said Dr Singh.

Besides, sowing should be done with seed-cum-fertiliser drill to ensure proper germination even under surface-deficit soil moisture by placing the seeds at uniform depth in moist zone.

“The use of seed-cum-fertiliser drill is a must for improved scientific cultivation of crops, which needs special attention from the ministry of agriculture of the state government,” the VC said.

He has suggested that under the prevailing situation, dryland technology needs to be adopted by the farmers with timely input of seeds, fertilisers, plant protection chemicals etc.

Jammu, September 29
To celebrate the week of “Joy of Giving”, Childline, an NGO, organised a painting competition in Government High School, Gandhi Nagar, today. Raman Bhalla, Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, inaugurated the competition. He appreciated the participating students.

Around 67 students of class VI, VII and VIII from 108 government and private schools of the Gandhi Nagar zone participated in the competition. Of these students, 30 students were selected by the NGO for further participation in a city-level painting competition at Rajinder Park on October 3.

There were different themes for the competition, including a child in need of shelter, a child ill and alone, a child abandoned or lost, a child being beaten or abused and a working child being denied wages.