Udhampur, October 10
The security forces have shot dead a self-styled section commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen and rescued five members of a family whom the terrorist had taken hostage after being encircled by security personnel in the Kashtigarh area of Doda. The slain militant has been identified as Liquat Ali, alias Juniad, who was active in this belt for the last four years and was involved in a number of killings and blasts.

According to the police, on specific information about the presence of two militants in the Desa area of Doda, personnel of the Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and the police started a joint search operation in the belt late last evening. After being spotted by the security forces, one of the militants managed to escape while another barged into the house of Noor Hussain Bhat and took five members of the family hostage to use them as shield to escape.

Subsequently, the security forces cordoned off the area and killed the militant. The family was rescued. The militant was repeatedly asked to surrender, but he opened fire on the security forces and was killed in the retaliatory action. Junaid was the backbone of the Hizbul Mujahideen in Doda and was wanted in several incidents of bomb explosions and shootouts. The security forces seized two AK series rifles, three magazines, two grenades and an IED from the slain militant.

Srinagar, October 10
As the CBI probe into the Shopian incident presses ahead, it is not the police or any security agency but doctors who are emerging as the real villains in the tragedy, which caused civil strife in the valley for weeks together.

With reports coming from New Delhi, where top forensic experts are studying the mortal remains of two women to find out the exact reason behind their deaths and whether they were sexually abused, not ruling out drowning as the cause of death, official sources here said they were stunned at the complete abdication of duty by teams of local doctors tasked with their post-mortems on May 30. And it is not only Dr Nighat Shaheen, who fabricated vaginal samples of two women, who is to blame.

The post-mortem report of Aasiya Jan had said the sharp injury on her forehead was the likely cause of her death, but her exhumed body showed that her skull was never opened, a necessity to find out if the injury indeed brought her end. “It was not professional work at all. They saw the injury and made a hasty conclusion,” an official conversant with the probe said. Neelofar Jan’s body bore no external injuries, and doctors said she might have died due to “neurogenic shock”, which hardly gives any clue in a case of criminal investigation.

Official sources said the doctors in all probability did not study their lungs as their bodies did not have incisions required to examine the vital body part. Lung’s examination is key to knowing if somebody’s death might have been caused by drowning or not. Though the Jan Commission has recorded statements of the doctors that they had conducted these tests and ruled out drowning.

The exhumed body of Aasiya, aged 17 years and unmarried, has already thrown up clues that she was never raped as her hymen was found intact. Earlier medical reports finding semen in their vaginal swabs, indicating rape, had already proved as good as redundant after Dr Shaheen’s, a Pulwama government hospital gynaecologist, confession to the CBI that she never took samples of Neelofar and Aasiya.

The CBI team had called leaders of the Majlis-e-Mashawarat, a collective body spearheading agitation against two women’s alleged rape and murder, while Dr Shaheen made the disclosure and they signed as witnesses. The sources said it was done to ensure transparency and denying separatists any chance to arouse public sentiments.

Jammu, October 10
As many as 300 junior doctors, who had been on strike for the past six days, today tendered resignations to the principal of the Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH) in response to the state government’s move of issuing a warning notice of termination to 15 doctors.

Taking a tough stand against the strike, the state government had last evening issued notices to 15 striking doctors. These doctors were mainly members of the Doctors Joint Action Committee, which is spearheading the strike.

“We can’t be cowed down like this,” said Dr Satyainder Singh announcing that if the government wanted to take away jobs of 15 doctors, we all would resign.

“Three hundred doctors tendered resignations today and more would follow suit tomorrow if the government did not budge from its stand,” he announced.

Satyainder said they would end the strike within half-an hour of the government’s announcement accepting their demands.

The doctors are on the strike since October 5 seeking salary as per the pay band-III, one higher grade as recommended by the SL Bhat Committee and postgraduate stipend equivalent to an assistant surgeon.

Satyainder also said the doctors were shocked at the attitude of the government of issuing notices to the doctors.

Srinagar, October 10
Governor NN Vohra has highlighted the need for a sound synthesis to optimally address the issues of identity, development and nation building so that the country resolutely marches ahead on the path of progress.

He said during the past 62 years the issues of identity, development and nation building had been coming up in one or the other form, in various parts of the country. Vohra held that India being the largest multi-religious, multi-lingual, multi-regional, multi-racial and multi-cultural society, challenges arising could be resolved in the light of the imaginative provisions of the Constitution.

The Governor said this while inaugurating the three-day 35th All India Sociological Conference on “Identity, Development and Nation Building”, organised by the Department of Sociology and Social Work, Kashmir University, here today. Around 750 sociologists, scholars and academicians from across the country are participating in the conference.

Vohra said sustained good governance had to be ensured at all levels and people provided with the basic amenities like literacy, employment, shelter, drinking water, basic sanitation, health care etc to ensure social and economic justice. He pointed out that the spirit of democracy was deeply rooted in the state, as elsewhere in the country, which provided an ideal setting for amicably discussing and meaningfully resolving all existing and emerging problems.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the political system in India had recognised and allowed the celebration of different identities, symbols and marks. “We have been able to weave the fabric of a composite Indian culture and society,” he said adding that the national identity of the country reflected different shades and colours. The Chief Minister said nation building was a concept that involved the process of constructing a national identity by using different resources.

Jammu, October 10
Various wings of Jammu University (JU), student organisations as well as students themselves have expressed apprehensions about the future of Jammu University in the wake of the proposed central university here.

Though they agree that students will get better opportunities after the central university is established, they fear it will steal the limelight from Jammu University.

“Jammu University will no longer remain on top and the first preference of students will be the central university. Meritorious students will definitely get admission there and rest of the lot will then apply to Jammu University. This will affect the standard of education in the latter,” said Prof MA Malik, head of the geology department, Jammu University.

On the other hand, Vikas Sharma, president of the Jammu University Research Scholar Executive Association, said since the number of seats in the central university would be limited, Jammu varsity would not lose its sheen.

“The academic standard of the central varsity will certainly have an edge and they will have visiting faculty from all over the world. The facilities and study pattern will also be higher and there will be more job-oriented courses,” opined Anuradha Goswami, a faculty of Distance Directorate Education.

Under these circumstances, the Jammu University would certainly have to upgrade its facilities. “The faculty there will get better pay package and relaxation in age limit up to 65 years. If Jammu University has to stop its best faculty from shifting, it will have to incentivise them on a par with the central university,” said Prof Kulwant Kaur, head of political science department, Jammu University.

Jammu, October 10
Going without salary for the past more than five months finally took a toll on 49-year-old Patras Masi, a painter with the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC), who died today due to lack of money for medical treatment. A couple of months back, his son was expelled from school as he could not pay his fees.

Patras was suffering from some chronic diseases and had been undergoing treatment for some time now. But, for lack of funds, his family could not continue with the treatment.

“He was the only breadwinner of the family. Due to lack of funds, we could not carry on with his treatment,” said Jyoti Masi, his sister.

“My mother cannot speak since her childhood, but by gestures she is saying that the government is responsible for the death of my father,” said Boby Masi, son of the deceased.

He said his mother was also not well and had been hospitalised several times, but due to the non-availability of money her treatment had to be stopped.

“It was my turn to die, but destiny took away my son,” rued his father Fakir Masi (75). “The government should take care of the family now as they are almost starving,” said Seema, a relative.

Meanwhile, managing director SRTC Anoop Kannaw said: “We would look into the case and deal as per rules.”

Jammu, October 10
Five days after the Jammu youth - Rajnish Sharma - died in police custody on October 5, his body was finally cremated at the Jogi Gate crematorium here today.

As many as 400 people, including Divisional Commissioner Dr Pawan Kotwal, IGP Jammu zone Ashok Kumar Gupta, SSP Basant Kumar Rath and leaders of BJP, VHP and other Hindu organisations were present at the funeral.

“Following state government’s assurance of stern action against the guilty on the basis of second post-mortem report, compensation of Rs 3 lakh, two jobs and protection to the family, we cremated the body,” said Pawan Sharma, elder brother of the deceased.

Rajnish and 25-year-old Anchal Sharma, aka Amina Yousuf, had married before a Jammu court on August 21 and the same day solemnised their marriage at the Arya Samaj Mandir in Janipur.

However, on September 29, police had raided Pawan’s rented accommodation in Rehari and arrested Rajnish, who later died under mysterious circumstances in Ram Munshi Bagh police station on October 5 evening.

However, Anchal has been insisting upon a CBI probe. “I want justice, which is possible only through a CBI probe,” she said.

“My father Mohammed Yousuf Mirazi and two brothers, Tariq Ahmed and Javed Ahmed, besides police officers, who connived to kill my husband, should be brought to justice,” she added.

A magisterial probe has already been ordered while three policemen, including SHO Ram Munshi Bagh police station, have been suspended.

Jammu, October 10
The All Jammu and Kashmir Jat Baradari has accused the police of “highhandedness” towards the family and relatives of Nagar Singh, whose son Jatinder Singh is the prime accused in the Amandeep murder case. It also said the police was harassing members of Jat community known to Nagar Singh.

Addressing a press conference here today, Piara Singh, president of the baradari and former MLA, said the police was harassing Jat families while investigating the Amandeep murder case. “We denounce the highhandedness of the police towards the relatives of Nagar Singh and other members of the Jat community, who have nothing to do with the case,” he said.

Piara Singh alleged the Jat families, who were associated with Nagar Singh, were being mentally harassed. “The police is humiliating these families,” he said. He accused the police of deviating from the case and targeting business establishments of the Jat community members.

Piara Singh blamed certain elements were trying to add a communal twist to the case. “What happened in the Chopra murder case. The police is still clueless about the murder of four members of the Chopra family,” he added.

Former minister and PDP leader Manjeet Singh said, “We don’t want to save the accused. If anybody has committed a crime, he should be severely dealt with as per the law. But the police is trying to hurt the business interests of Nagar Singh and this cannot be tolerated.”

He alleged that the life of Nagar Singh was in danger. He was ready to cooperate with the police and had applied for bail.

“Nagar Singh and his brothers feel that the police might try to eliminate them. They too want to cooperate with the police in investigation. But due to fear they first applied for bail,” Manjeet Singh said.

Others present on the occasion were TS Bajwa, a former MP, Gharu Ram, a former state minister, and Kulwant Singh Bhatti, a senior Sikh leader.

Jammu, October 10
A local court today sent three suspended police officials, including former SSP Manohar Singh, allegedly involved in the Amandeep murder case, to 14-day judicial remand.

Jammu Chief Judicial Magistrate YP Bourney sent Manohar Singh, former Gandhi Nagar SHO Mirza and sub-inspector Satnam Singh to 14-day judicial remand.

Following court orders, all three officials were shifted to high security Central Jail in Kot Bhalwal on the outskirts of the city.

They were produced before the court by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). Though the SIT insisted upon further police remand, counsels of the accused officials opposed the SIT’s request.

The suspended SSP also filed another bail application before the Jammu Principal Sessions Judge in FIR 247 registered under Section 201 and 120-B, RPC, at the Gandhi Nagar police station.

Subsequently, the court directed the prosecution to produce report on October 13.

Satnam Singh, who also filed a bail application in the same court, alleged that he was being subjected to third-degree torture by the SIT. He also alleged that the SIT forced him to sign some written papers.

Udhampur, October 10
As part of the Indian Air Force Day celebrations, a cross-country event - run-for-fun - was organised at the Air Force Station, here today.

Station Commander Group Captain PM Vithalkar flagged-off the run from the Air Force Station Sports ground. All personnel, families and children participated in the event with great enthusiasm.

In the inaugural address, Vithalkar appreciated all the participants and emphasised on the importance of such activities as it helps in developing a feeling of togetherness, camaraderie, team spirit and physical fitness. He also complimented all personnel at the Station for their wholehearted efforts for the event.

According to Col DK Kachari, PRO Northern Command, as many as 850 personnel, ladies and children took part in the event. People from all walks of life turned up in large numbers to encourage the participants.