Jammu, October 4
After the Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing Amandeep murder case, laid its hands on vital business records of Choudhary Nagar Singh, father of the main accused Jatinder Singh, aka Raja, in a raid yesterday, scrutiny of as many as 300 files and a computer started today at the SIT office.

Official sources said the SIT via a team of experts today started scrutinising as many as 300 files and a computer to know business dealings of Choudhary Nagar Singh.

“We anticipate a big development in a day or two,” said sources close to the SIT.

Several skeletons were expected to tumble out of the cupboard after the business records containing details of bank transactions and assets of Choudhary Nagar Singh were confiscated in the raid, sources added.

The database of the computer was also being put to scrutiny.

The SIT was also trying to locate Nagar and his brothers Ujagar Singh and Rakesh Singh but they continue to shuffle frequently to evade arrest and at the same time have been using pre-paid SIM cards for their cellphones.

Ever since the SIT obtained arrest warrants against the trio, they have been on the run.

Huge money was involved to allegedly change the course of investigation and now Nagar and his brothers have been trying hard to get the pre-arrest bail.

Sources said the whereabouts of the weapon of offence only be known after the SIT questioned Nagar Singh.

The pre-arrest bail application has been listed in the court of Second Additional Sessions Judge, Jammu, Vinod Chatterji Koul for October 6.

Sources said the famous Supreme Court lawyer and former union minister Ram Jethmalani, who had been approached by the influential businessman, so far has not given his consent to represent him and his brothers in the case.

Meanwhile, suspended SSP Manohar Singh, presently lodged at the Gandhi Nagar police station, is being treated strictly in accordance with law.

Lodged in a separate 12x16 room, the SSP has been provided with only a bedsheet and has no access to other comforts.

“He is getting the same food being served to other criminals lodged in the police station,” said sources.

Jammu, October 4
Junior doctors decided to go on indefinite strike from tomorrow onwards in protest against the alleged indifferent attitude of the state government towards their long-pending demands. The junior doctors remain off the duties across all health institutions in the Jammu region.

Convener of the Doctors Joint Action Committee (DJAC) Satyainder Singh today condemned the alleged negligent attitude of the government towards their issues. “We had given ultimatum to the government to address our grievances till September 30. However, the demands were not met with and now we are compelled to go on an indefinite strike,” he said.

The junior doctors have been demanding one-grade pay higher than plus two lecturers, integration of PG stipend with that of the house surgeon/ assistant surgeon, time-bound promotion for doctors after 5, 10 and 15 years, formulation of law that ensures action against the person assaulting any of health personnel on duty.

Earlier, the representatives of the DJAC have already called upon the Chief Minister, Finance Minister and Minister for Health Education in Jammu and Srinagar and have discussed their demands with them, Satyainder said.

He said: “After repeated reminders to the government in the form of token strikes and memorandums, the authorities concerned did not pay any heed to our demands. This time the strike would be complete and indefinite.” 

Jammu, October 4
Skyrocketing prices of essential commodities like vegetables have hit the common man hard. Earlier, when prices of vegetables increased people used to switch over to pulses but now with the increase in the prices of pulses as well, they have very little options left.

While tomato is available at Rs 30 per kg, lotus roots (Kamaldani) are priced at Rs 60 kg; potato at Rs 30 per kg, onion at Rs 30 per kg, peas at Rs 60 per kg kg and cauliflower at Rs 20 per kg. A major reason behind this is the increased prices of petrol and diesel, which is adversely affecting the entire economy.

“Skyrocketing price of vegetables and other essential items have made life very difficult for us,” said Ajay Pandita, a resident of Patoli.

“Everything has become out of reach for the common man. The prices of oil, vegetables, wheat, rice and even the education of our children has become unaffordable. The government should spare a thought for us,” rued Sonia Sharma, a resident of Shastri Nagar.

Similar was the plight of Ram Lal, who earns merely Rs 200 a day. “I cannot even think of purchasing vegetables do to such high prices.”

Leh, October 4
Leh Polytechnic College established six years ago is not matching the aspirations of the people, as the college still faces shortage of staff. Moreover, the makeshift building of the college is sharing the same campus and the entrance with the CRPF.

A group of students who are undergoing diploma course in tour and travels said, “Everyday we come to college with a hope that there will be classes today but after waiting for three-four hours we go back.”

They also rued that they had only one class in the month of September and do not have toilet facilities.

The college provides diploma course in civil engineering, computer engineering and tour & travel and has a strength of six lecturers.

Chief executive councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Tsering Dorjey said, “The college will shift soon in new building which is about to get completed.”

Eshy Lhamo, a student said, “We have been adopting all ways from student representations to strikes to attracting desired attention of the state authorities and the LAHDC to address our grievances but nothing favourable has happened.”

Technical education seems to neglected by the LAHDC as the council has been organising free residential tuition for metric and higher secondary students at every block of the district funded under Councillor Constituency Development Fund.

Jammu, October 4
Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla today assured inclusion of Kashmiri Sikhs in the steering committee and equal share of PM’s package for all Kashmiri Migrants.

While addressing the gathering of displaced Kashmiri Sikhs in a meeting held here, the Minister assured that Kashmiri Sikhs and Kashmiri Muslims would be included in the steering committee, which would be framed soon by the government.

He said: “The PM’s employment package is for all Kashmiri migrants, including Kashmiri Pandits.” Bhalla said all displaced Kashmir migrants who had migrated from the valley in 1990 and those displaced Kashmiri people who had migrated from the far-flung areas of the valley and were living in the valley would be considered under the PM’s package.

He assured that he would urge the government for enhancing the cash assistance for all migrants and also for giving age relaxation to over-aged educated Kashmiri youth.

While assuring immediate implementation of PM’s employment package, he said a 15-member committee had been constituted by the government to find out proper procedure for the recruitment process of Kashmiri youth.

Clarifying confusion and fear of the people, the minister assured that those who would be appointed by the government would be posted in district headquarters and in tehsil headquarters only and not in far-flung areas of the valley.

Bhalla said efforts were being made to complete Jagti Township in three months and all Kashmiri migrants would be given accommodation there till they return to the valley.

Welcoming the approval of PM’s package in the Cabinet, Prem Singh Raina, president of the Kashmiri Sikh Displaced Forum, expressed disappointment over non-inclusion of Sikh member in the Apex Committee constituted by the state government to monitor the proper implementation of the PM’s package.

He demanded that those Kashmiri migrants who would return to the valley should be given Rs 25 lakh instead of Rs 7.50 along with job to one family member, enhancement in cash relief upto Rs 10,000 per family, allotment of quarters at Jagti Township and release of House Rent Allowance. 

Srinagar, October 4
For the third consecutive day today, tension gripped parts of Baramulla town following the death of a 12-year-old boy during clashes after Friday prayers.At least nine persons, including five policemen and an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), were injured in the clashes today. Shops and business establishments remained closed even as agitated mob pelted stones on the police.

Irfan Ahmad Lone of Drangbal locality died while another youth received a bullet injury when protesters clashed with the police on Friday. The group was protesting against the continued house arrest of APHC leader Syed Ali Geelani and the arrest of other separatist leaders.

Geelani was released after 95 days of detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA) on September 8 and has been kept under house arrest since then. Notably, he has called for a protest tomorrow against the death of the boy.

A police spokesman here said stone-pelting by some youngsters was restricted to the two bridges in the town and they showed great restraint while dealing with the situation. He added that 24 policemen were injured yesterday and five, including an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), were hurt today.

However, transport services remained unaffected.

According to a notification issued by the District Magistrate, Baramulla, the Additional Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ashraf Shuntoo has been appointed incharge of the inquiry into the circumstances that led to the death of the boy Irfan Ahmad Lone allegedly due to a smoke gas shell lobbed the by police.

While officials claim that the boy was killed due to a heart attack, residents allege that he was hit on the head by a tear-gas shell.

Anybody witness to the incident has been asked to record his or her statement before the inquiry officer during office hours from October 5 to 10.

Meanwhile, the opposition PDP has rejected a magisterial enquiry "attributed to tear smoke shell" describing it as hogwash.

A PDP spokesman said the state government had "made a fine art of cover ups" from the series of excesses in Kashmir ever since it came to power.

Udhampur, October 4
To counter the “greater autonomy” proposal of the ruling National Conference (NC), the Opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has started an aggressive campaign to “educate” the masses about its “self-rule” proposal as a solution for the Kashmir problem.

As part of its strategy, the party has decided to concentrate on erstwhile Doda comprising Kishtwar, Ramban and Doda districts. After the visit by PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, party workers have started workshops and debates at the block level to seek the opinion of the common masses on the proposal.

Mehbooba Mufti during her day-long visit to Doda last month, had tried to remove some misconceptions about the proposal of her party. She educated the party workers about self-rule and asked them to take this proposal before the masses for discussions.

Subsequently, district president of Doda Sheikh Mujib Ali has organised various meetings in different areas of Bhaderwah.

As people have reservations about the self-rule proposal, party leaders have been trying to call representatives from all sections of society to these workshops and seminars in a bid to evolve a consensus. “We are not imposing our proposal on the masses,” said Sayed Asgar Ali, MLC of the party. “We have been putting this proposal before people to seek their opinion,” he said.

Asgar Ali said in the days to come, the party would hold workshops and seminars at grassroots levels to remove all misconceptions. He claimed that people have so far given an encouraging response to the proposal of PDP.

The party has also decided to print the main points of the self-rule proposal on the membership cards issued to workers. During the on-going membership drive, workers will be given the cards on which the main points are printed.

And in every workshop and seminar, PDP leaders have been comparing their self-rule proposal with the greater autonomy resolution prepared by the ruling National Conference.

Rajouri, October 4
One person was killed and two others were seriously injured when a bear attacked them in the Chikkri Ban area of Poonch district on Friday.

Local sources said the bear attacked the two brothers — Maqsood Ahmed, Muhammad Din — and their neighbour — Muhammad Sharief — when they were working in their fields in the Chikkri Ban area of Poonch district. Maqsood died on the spot while Sharief and their neighbourer received serious injuries.

Both the injured were admitted to hospital.

Meanwhile, Forest Department sources said the marked increase in the number of wild animals in the forests of the Loran and Sawjian area due to militancy, wherein poachers are scared to illegally kill wild animals inside the forest as militants are also hiding in them. 

Udhampur, October 4
While approving Rs 62.88 crore annual plan for the year 2009-10 for Udhampur district, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stressed on the need of transparency and accountability in government’s functioning.

Addressing the meeting of the District Development Board of Udhampur, the Chief Minister exhorted upon the officers to take legislators of their respective areas into confidence.

Elaborating on it he said this can be done by sharing the details of government sponsored schemes being executed by different departments in the sectors providing basic amenities and other social and welfare schemes.

He asked the public representatives to monitor the development works and welfare schemes and send feedback. “If anything goes wrong on ground in implementation, apprise us so that corrective measures are immediately taken,” Omar said emphatically.

Stressing for judicious use of funds and execution of works in a transparent manner, Omar Abdullah, called upon the officers to achieve the optimum results in stipulated time frame adding that special focus would be laid on to complete the works within the available working period in the current financial year.

The Chief Minister said in order to speed up the development works in towns and upgrade the civic amenities, he would call separate meetings of the presidents of Municipal Councils and Committees at Jammu and Srinagar to work out a comprehensive plan.

To monitor the physical and financial achievements registered by the districts, the respective chairmen of District Development Boards would take a review at district level during the month of November, this year, he said.

Omar added he himself would conduct the review meeting during the month of January, next year. 

Kandi-Koteranka (Rajouri), October 4
A special police officer (SPO) from Hindu community and a married Muslim woman who were in love committed suicide today after facing stiff opposition from society.

The couple allegedly ended their lives by shooting themselves in Khandigali area of Kandi here last evening. Sources said Shareefa Begum, 24, a married woman of Morah area and the SPO Sanjeev Kumar who was presently posted in Gadyog area, were in love for the last five years, allegedly killed each other on October 3 after society offered stiff opposition to their frequent meetings.

Shareefa Begum was a mother of a three-year-old girl Gudiya. Sources revealed that Sanjeev allegedly gunned down his lover with his father’s .303 rifle and later pumped two bullets into his body killing his lover and himself on the spot in a forest area at Khandigali area on October 3.

“The duo used to meet in forest area. However, the villagers spotted the lovers on several occasions and didn’t approve of it. Taking note of this the in-laws of woman started keeping a close watch on her. Since the duo faced lot of opposition from their respective families, their meetings were restricted to forest area,” said a local source.

“On October 2, the boy was spotted by the in-laws of the woman after which he went missing. Next day the woman was missing. The bodies of the duo were recovered by the police from the forests of Khandigali area at around 8 pm.”

The police had recovered .303 rifle belonging to the father of the deceased boy from the spot. He added that the lovers had died on the spot, with boy having two bullet injuries in abdomen and back whereas girl has just one bullet injury. 

Leh, October 4
The state government has taken a strong objection to the Army’s claim that the police could not proceed against its officers in a manhandling case.

According to the state government authorities, civilian and police officials were allegedly manhandled by Army personnel while they were returning after demolishing an “unauthorised” structure of the Army at the picturesque Pangong lake in the Ladakh region.

Countering the claims in an affidavit filed in Jammu and Kashmir High Court, the state government had readied its reply which pointed to “gross irregularities” in the Army’s claim that its officers could not be prosecuted by the state police as the Ladakh region fell within the ambit of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

The state government will now be informing the High Court on October 15, the next date of hearing, that Ladakh district is not within the ambit of the AFSPA and that no one was permitted to violate the law, official sources said.

The dispute erupted as police secured a non-bailable warrant against three Army officers, including a Major General, from Chief Judicial Magistrate in Leh for allegedly manhandling civilian officials, who were returning from the Pangong lake after demolishing the alleged illegal structure erected by the Army in 2005.

Army, while seeking a stay on the non-bailable warrant against the three officers, had informed the High Court that Section 4 of the AFSPA barred the state police from taking any action against them until permitted by the Centre. — PTI