Jammu, October 23
While Mohammed Akbar Ganai, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Srinagar today visited the Rehari residence of Pawan Sharma from where his younger brother Rajnish Sharma was picked up on September 29, Pawan’s wife Shallu deposed before the Crime Branch.

However, a senior officer of the Crime Branch (CB) said so far no statement of any family member had been recorded and the CB was “familiarising” itself with the details of the case.

Talking to The Tribune, Pawan Sharma said Ganai along with a huge posse of police force today visited his Rehari residence where he talked to his wife Shallu for nearly an hour. The ADC also inspected the spot from where Rajnish had tried to escape, but in the process had sustained a fracture in one of his legs.

Photographers accompanying the investigation officer clicked photographs, but Shallu told him how Rajnish had a fall and sustained a fracture in his leg.

Instead of providing him medical treatment, the police took him into custody and shifted him to Srinagar, where he was tortured to death in custody, Shallu told Ganai.

She also claimed that she could identify the police officers, who had raided their residence on September 29 and treated Rajnish like a hardened criminal.

The visiting official had no answers to the acerbic queries of my wife, who asked him to ensure justice to us, said Pawan.

Meanwhile, in the afternoon Shallu and Pawan went to the Crime Branch office, where the former deposed before the officer concerned, a Deputy SP, Manhas, till 5 pm.

Pawan said he also demanded copies of the statements made so far by his mother Raj Kumari, his wife Shallu and Rajnish’s young widow Anchal Sharma, aka Amina.

The Crime Branch had asked me and my brother-in-law Koushal Sharma to depose before the officers concerned tomorrow, Pawan said.

Srinagar, October 23
While hardline APHC chairman Syed Ali Geelani made a dramatic appearance in Shopian after giving the police the slip amid a complete shutdown, at least 15 persons were injured in clashes between protesters and the police at different places here today.

Protests were held at different places in the city here after the Friday prayers in which at least 15 persons were injured. The police resorted to a lathicharge and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the demonstrators in Maisuma in the Central Lal Chowk area and in downtown localities around Jamia Masjid to quell the demonstrators.

Soon after the prayers, youths throwing stones took to the streets and clashed with the police at different places. The protests have resumed here after Geelani on Monday announced a fresh programme seeking a complete withdrawal of troops from the state.

He made the announcement merely a week after Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said there would be “a quite dialogue and diplomacy” with the Kashmir (separatist) leadership.

Geelani, averse to the dialogue process, had also announced a districtwise shutdown on Fridays across the valley as part of his “peaceful protest” for the withdrawal of troops.

Expressing sympathy with the people of Shopian that witnessed the alleged rape and murder of two women on May 29 last, Geelani had given a hartal call for the district today. This was also in support of his demand for the withdrawal of troops, which he had been pursuing for the past many days after restrictions were lifted over his house arrest.

The police had been raiding houses of many colleagues of Geelani and leaders of his faction here since yesterday to prevent him from proceeding to Shopian. He, however, giving the police the slip, appeared in Shopian and addressed a public gathering near Jamia Masjid this afternoon.

He announced a shutdown in Baramulla on next Friday as part of his programme in support of the demand for the withdrawal of the troops.

Udhampur, October 23
Traffic jams have become a regular feature on the Dhar Road of Udhampur . The area witnessed the worst-ever jam today as vehicles virtually crawled and traffic cops were helplessly watching it.

Resentment has been brewing among local residents against the repeated traffic jams. While on the one hand, the Dhar Road area which is part of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway has been encroached by the shopkeepers, on the other hand the traffic cops adopt a casual attitude in areas of less congestion. Although this area witnessed jams throughout the day, traffic virtually came to standstill during peak hours today.

“We could not even take our vehicles inside the lane due to the jam on the highway,” pointed out Rajnesh, a resident, who was parking his vehicle near the gate of the BSNL office. He regretted that the authorities had done nothing to allow smooth flow of traffic on this everbusy road. “Instead of monitoring the movement of vehicles, the cops were further compounding the situation due to their action,” he said, and added that during peak hours cops started checking the vehicles which further irritated the residents.

Jammu, October 23
After the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Jammu, issued a proclamation in the Amandeep murder case on October 20, drum beaters today read the court order in various parts of the city here.

YP Bourney, Jammu CJM, on October 20 had issued the proclamation directing absconders Nagar Singh and his two brothers, Rakesh Singh and Jaggar Singh, to appear before the court or the Special Investigation Team (SIT) by November 20.

Three drum beaters engaged by the SIT read the proclamation in the local Dogri language asking the absconders to appear before the CJM or the SIT within 
25 days.

“If they fail to turn up before the CJM or the SIT, strict action would be initiated against them,” they announced.

The drum beaters had put up copies of the proclamation issued by the CJM conspicuously on their drums and attracted crowds wherever they went. The drum beaters performed their job at Gole Market, outside Nagar’s Gandhi Nagar residence, outside JP World School being owned by the businessman and at Khalsa Chowk in Nanak Nagar.

DIG, Jammu-Kathua range, Farooq Khan, who heads the SIT, said the exercise, if needed, would be repeated again.

He said the SIT had been able to move ahead into the investigations with useful information provided by people from society.

Jammu, October 23
For the second-day today, activists of the Jammu Joint Students Federation (JJSF) held a protest against discrimination by the State Public Service Commission (SPSC) in the appointments of lecturers.

According to a statement issued here, under the banner of the JJSF, the students of Government Gandhi Memorial (GGM), Science College, SPMR Commerce College and GGM Evening College boycotted classes and staged a protest in front of their respective colleges.

The students alleged that the commission had published a list of college lecturers in various subjects but a majority of candidates selected in the list were from the Kashmir valley.

While addressing the gathering, Partap Singh Jamwal, state vice-president, JJSF, said: “In these lists, most of the selected candidates are from the valley. In the subject of chemistry, 23 candidates have been selected out of which 16 are from the valley and seven from Jammu.However, in botany , 19 candidates have been selected, out of which 16 are again from Kashmir and three from Jammu which further establishes discrimination.”

He appealed to the state government to show transparency in the selection procedure.Otherwise, the JJSF would launch an agitation.

Udhampur, October 23
Even as the Udhampur Police is waiting for the post-mortem report for further probe into the death of two youths, residents of Hastrayaran village of Jib today warned that they would take to the streets if the culprits were not brought to book.

Villagers alleged that the police had been adopting a casual approach in the case.

Balwant Singh Mankotia, MLA, Udhampur, criticised the casual approach being adopted by the authorities and demanded that the probe be expedited to arrest those behind the killing of the youths. Mankotia also demanded that a special team be constituted to investigate the case.

The badly-mutilated bodies of the driver and the cleaner of a truck were found near Jajjar Kotli on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway on October 21. The dead have been identified as Rakesh Kumar and Kuldeep Kumar, both residents of Hastrayan village. They had gone missing after their truck collided with a car on October 14. After the accident, both of them had gone missing and it was alleged that they fled after the accident.

It was after seven days of the accident that their badly-mutilated bodies were found. The bodies with multiple injuries were also burnt.

After the recovery of the bodies, their family members had staged a demonstration and demanded an investigation into the incident.

Jammu, October 23
Health care services came to an abrupt halt in Acharaya Shri Chander College of Medical Sciences (ASCOMS), a private hospital on the outskirts of Jammu, today after doctors went on a strike in protest against the alleged manhandling of one of their colleagues during the  intervening night of October 21 and 22.

The agitating medicos, however, called off the strike after the hospital authorities conceded to their demand and lodged an FIR against the accused at the Sidhra police post.

Following the death of a terminally ill female patient, one of her attendants allegedly manhandled Dr Ashwin Bawa on the intervening night of October 21 and 22.

“Though the hospital management had sorted out the issue, it appeared that Dr Bawa was incited by others and the medicos went on a lightening strike today,” Dr SS Soodan, Director Medical of the ASCOMS, told The Tribune.

The cancer patient, aged over 60 years, was terminally ill and the family had been informed about the remote chances of her survival, he said. On their demand, an FIR was lodged at the Sidhra police post, he added.

On the intervening night of October 21 and 22, Dr Bawa, a postgraduate student, and senior resident Dr Monica were attending on the patient when she died, he said. The family was mentally prepared to accept the reality, he added.

It may be stated here that in the wake of the ongoing strike by doctors in various government hospitals in the winter capital, a majority of patients have been visiting the ASCOMS for treatment.

Srinagar, October 23
Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather today said the government was calling off its talks with the striking doctors and accused them of “going back on their word” and speaking in “contradictory voices”.

Rather said at a press conference this evening that they would take all possible measures under the law to deal with the striking doctors and put in alternative patient-care arrangements.

However, Rather accompanied by Medical Education Minister RS Chib, Mubarak Gul, political adviser to the Chief Minister, and Devinder Singh Rana, adviser to the CM - who were all part of a six-member committee constituted by the government to negotiate with the striking doctors - stopped short of saying whether they intended to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against the strikers.

“ESMA is very much a legal provision. But I can’t say if we will invoke it,” he said. Rather said they wanted the doctors to resume their work and trust the time-bound promises made by the government. “We sought time till October 31. But they demanded that we meet their demands first. It was not possible.”

Sources said the faculty in medical colleges were sympathetic to the doctors’ demand and might throw their lot behind them if government pressed ahead with punitive action.

He said top government officials were holding meetings to put in place alternative health care arrangements and announcements to that effect might be made by late evening.

Demanding improvement in their pay grades and hike in stipends, the Junior Doctors Association (JDA) in Jammu went on an indefinite strike from October 5 and their Kashmir counterparts followed suit from October 9, crippling health services in government hospitals across the state.

Rather admitted that the doctors’ demands had some validity, but said they left the government with no option but to call off talks and look for other options.

He said he had held first meetings with the JDA on August 16 after reading media reports about their strike plans. “I and my colleagues assured them that their demands would be looked into before the darbar move. They agreed, and we were working on it when doctors in Jammu went on strike followed by those in Kashmir,” he said.

Rather said the striking doctors never spoke in one voice and never agreed about their response, resulting in continuing deadlock.

He said the committee held talks with them for the last three days and was told by their leaders that they would get back to them with their response. “Different leaders came at difference times. It was frustrating,” he said.

Striking doctors on their parts have accused the government of negotiating in threatening tone.

They have blamed government’s lack of sensitivity and dismissive attitude towards their demands for the failure of talks.

Srinagar, October 23
Only hours after Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather said the government was left with no option but to take action against the striking junior doctors, the government ordered punitive action against them here late this evening.

The action with the immediate effect, according to an official spokesman, included the suspension of 26 doctors doing postgraduate courses, reverting 12 assistant surgeons from the Medical Education Department to the Health Department, and reverting 13 registrars and demonstrators to the Health Department.

While taking a serious note of the problems being faced by the people in different institutions of health services due to the strike by the Junior Doctors’ Associations of Jammu and Srinagar, the action had been taken, the spokesman said.

Earlier, the Finance Minister, who headed the government committee comprising ministers and senior officers, on resolving the crisis said the government during the meetings on October 21 and 22 had assured the doctors that their genuine demands would be fulfilled within eight days and thereafter there was no reason to continue the strike. But after seeking more time for discussions among their ranks, the striking doctors today categorically stated that they would not withdraw the strike. Therefore, the government had no option but to take strict action against them under law, he told mediapersons earlier in the day.

Meanwhile, the health services continue to remain affected across the state due to the ongoing strike by junior doctors. The protesting doctors allege indifferent attitude of the state government towards their long-pending demands. “The doctors in the state have been put under pay band-II, while in rest of the country they come under pay band-III. We have been put on a par with the employees who come in the fourth-class grade. This is the way our services are being honoured,” say junior doctors. They said: “The government is playing with our dignity and this should be stopped.”

One of the senior doctors at the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), while terming the demands of junior doctors ‘genuine’, said: “Work has been badly affected in the hospital due to the ongoing stir and poor patients are the worst sufferers.”

He said: “The strength of senior doctors is less as compared to 550 junior doctors at the SKIMS. So, the functioning of the OPD has also been affected. Normally, six or seven doctors are on duty at the OPD,but now there are hardly one or two doctors managing the affairs.”

Due to the strike, patients are being left unattended outside emergency wards and in general wards. “We had to admit our patient in Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital, but they aren’t allowing us in. Where shall we go?,” Fayaz Ahmad of Boniyar-Uri said.

Jammu, October 23
A month after Major Akash Singh, a resident of Shiv Nagar here, attained martyrdom while foiling an infiltration bid from across the LoC in the Mendhar sector, the local Municipal Corporation passed a resolution today naming a road, leading to his house, after him.

The MC’s General Function Standing Committee today approved that a bust of Major Akash Singh would be installed in the colony, besides a memorial gate as a mark of respect to the brave soldier. The road from Top Sher Khani to Rehari Chungi would now be called Major Akash Singh road.

The family of the martyr was sore over the attitude of the government, as no elected political leader or senior bureaucrat visited the family when the Army officer laid down his life fighting infiltrators. It was only after media reports that some senior leaders visited them offering condolences. Major Akash is survived by his wife, a four-year-old son and a two-year-old daughter.

Mayor Kavinder Gupta stated in a press note this evening that another memorial would be erected after freedom fighter Sher-e-Pahaar Sardar Sant Singh Tegh.

The MC also approved the institution of an award in the memory of Dr RS Modi, a former Health Officer of the MC. The MC also agreed to rehabilitate Rampura shopkeepers, besides installing the photos of former Mayors in the Assembly hall and the computerisation of the municipal records.

Jammu, October 23
A two-day-long advanced training programme for the farmers organised by NABARD in association with the Krishi Vigyan Kendra concluded yesterday.

The advanced training programme on cultivation of vegetables which started on October 21 was organised at RS Pura campus of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu.

In his address, chief guest and general manager of NABARD, Jammu, PN Sarangal said growth of farm sector was poised to register an increase from the current level of 2.5 per cent to 4 per cent.

“NABARD is associated with agricultural universities, the Krishi Vigyan Kendra and other agencies for assessing appropriate technologies to improve and increase productivity and transfer of technologies,” he added.

He further informed that NABARD had set up a farmer technology transfer fund with a capital of Rs 25 crore out of its operating profit for conducting capacity building programme for farmers, adoption of technology, extension services, exposure visits and other related activities.

Srinagar, October 23
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here today asked the industrial sector to benefit from the changed scenario to boost the handicraft and industrial sector to reach the vast market outside.

Inaugurating the 55th Annual Industrial Exhibition at the Kashmir Haat (exhibition grounds) here this afternoon, Omar assured the government’s all possible help to strengthen the handicraft sector, which is well known in the national and international markets.

He stressed the need for constituting a trade fair authority for working out time for conducting the exhibition. He said the renewed efforts of the concerned would revive the past glory of the exhibition which used to be an important event and attracted people from far-flung areas of the valley.

There was a huge difference between the Surajkund Mela in Haryana and the annual International Trade Fair of India at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, Omar said and hoped that the Kashmir industrial exhibition would be upgraded to the level of Surajkund Mela.

“We have to change our approach and develop it”, he said, adding that the timing for the exhibition was not ripe as the tourist season was already over.

Speaking on the occasion, SS Slathia, Minister for Industries and Commerce, announced that the exhibition at the Kashmir Haat would be held twice every year.

Srinagar, October 23
Stressing on the popularisation of low-cost poly-houses developed at the university and adoption of rice-wheat rotation for ensuing feed and fodder requirements, Prof Anwar Alam, vice-chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology [SKUAST], said the same would go a long way in enhancing the economic base of the farming community.

He was addressing a two-day- long Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) meeting of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Pombay and Malangpora, respectively.

Prof Alam called upon scientists and field functionaries of the development departments to think beyond the routine process. He said, “Develop packages and programmes and set a target of livelihood which would enhance the economic base of the farming community for their social security and economic betterment.”

The vice-chancellor said, “In view of harsh winter, measures for environmental control are to be initiated and adoption of rice-wheat rotation is needed for feed and fodder requirements.” He asked programme coordinators of both kendras for popularisation of low cost poly-houses to be developed at the university.

MA Lone, District Development Commissioner, Kulgam, asked scientists and field functionaries to take research in farmers field seriously so that visible impact was found on the ground.

He asked farmers to take advantage of latest technologies developed by the university for enhancing their production and productivity.

Jammu, October 23
An earthquake of magnitude 6.3 on the Richter scale hit Jammu and Kashmir early today.

However, there was no report of any casualty or damage to the property. According to Dr GM Bhat, geologist at the Jammu University, the epicentre of the quake lay 180-km in the northwestern Hindukush mountain range. Shockwaves were also felt in Jammu, but were mild in nature, he added. Dr Bhat, however, said chances of devastation in Jammu and Kashmir were remote.

Residents ran for safety as doors and windows of buildings rattled due to the quake. Reports from Kashmir said panic gripped the border town of Uri in Baramulla district.

For nearly two hours residents did not return to their houses in fear as the area had suffered extensive damage in a massive earthquake on October 8, 2005 that killed 1,000 persons.