Jammu, November 3
Binny, Bhau, Riaz, Raju Kabootarbaaz, Jeba, Sikander, alias Billo, Pinto Raina, BC (Brahmdev), Sanjay Gupta, alias Bakra, Mohinderpal Singh aka Pappi Simbalia. These gangsters, some of whom have turned militants, once called the shots in the underworld of the capital city here.

But over the years, they have either been killed in gang wars or in police encounters. With this, activities of gangsters have also plummeted considerably.

However, witness to the bloodiest of gang wars in the past, Jammu still has members of a couple of fringe groups.

“Certainly, the ugly face of open gang wars in broad daylight has disappeared from Jammu after the police launched a crackdown in early 90s. But still members of a few groups are active here,” official sources said. Many, however, changed their modus-operandi and became white-collar men, who now enjoy high status in the society.

It is an open secret that some of them, who jumped on to the political bandwagon and joined certain parties, even pump their ill-gotten money during elections.

A senior police officer said gangsters who changed their track after police crackdown in early 90s survived and in fact became millionaires after they changed their strategy.

Some of them have become contractors but those who continued with their criminal activities were liquidated either in gang wars or encounters.

The sources said with the eruption of militancy in 1989 vis-à-vis growing crime graph in Jammu, a baffled state police found itself in a tight spot.

Following a go-ahead from the higher ups, the then SSP Jammu Dayal Singh Salathia, decided to take the bull by horns. They said the officer had been given a free hand to deal with the criminals so as to restore the deteriorating law and order scenario in the city.

“They did make money in a short span, but met tragic deaths,” said an officer.

He recollected how Jeba of Akhnoor, a smuggler, was shot from point blank range in Akhnoor market by another criminal, Sanjay Sharma, who had also eliminated another gangster Sikander, alias Billo, inside Ambphalla district prison here in 1997.

Similarly, Riaz of Jullaka Mohalla, who later became self-styled area commander of Al-Jehad, was killed in an encounter in Gandhi Nagar.

However, another gangster Kaka Hussain, who later donned the role of an area commander of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), had opened fire in the Gumat area in 1991. Since then, he remains elusive to the police.

Mohinderpal Singh aka Pappi Simbalia - another gangster who brought Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) in the state - was gunned down by the Punjab Police in an encounter.

The officer said a few days ago, another criminal, Barkat Singh of Chatha allegedly involved in the murder of a cable operator, who had joined the KZF, was arrested from Amritsar.

“We also remember how an underworld gangster and a finance company proprietor, Sanjay Kumar Gupta, alias Bakra, was shot dead on November 25 in 2006, in the clinic of Dr Rattan Kudiyar in the Trikuta Nagar locality,” he said. The killing was part of a gang war.

Later, the police found that Bakra was eliminated by Mohan Jheer and his accomplice Vicky Thakur.

Once the member of Bakra gang, Mohan Jheer parted ways with Bakra following some dispute and eventually eliminated the latter. Jheer is presently lodged in Ambphalla prison.

Meanwhile, the officer said there were remote chances of the revival of gangs in Jammu. 

Rajouri, November 3
The globalisation has not left any corner of the world unaffected, but people of this small city still look for the emergence of organised cybercafes as a means of communication and education. This need has presently made them vulnerable to exploitation as some cafe owners have been charging exorbitant rates.

Experiencing the exploitation of one’s need, it seems that there is no check on cybercafés here. It is an additional business for a few shopkeepers here, who, along with their existing business, have kept a single computer in the name of a cybercafé. This “single system” has an Internet connection for which the owner charges a hefty amount. Adding to the “privilege” that these people are getting in the name of an Internet facility is connectivity, which is very poor.

Imran, a local graduate, says: “Nobody here is aware of cyber norms. I know the actual rates because I stay in Jammu. I have completed my studies there, but when I tell these people that you are charging three times more, they say these are the rates here”.

Criticising the government for neglecting the development of the area, he adds: “Rajouri is quiet famous for cases regarding militancy as a result of which the overall development and basic concerns like education and employment have taken a back seat”.

Nadia Khan, who is studying in Baba Gulam Shah University, says: “Rajouri district has high potential that is being neglected by the government and also by most of the locals because of their unawareness”.

“With the rapid urbanisation, many private players can flourish their business here, especially in the communication sector”.

A. Chawala, a telecom development engineer, said: “The locals should take an initiative and we are ready to help them. They should be aware of the Internet charges only then they can save themselves from exploitation”.

Meanwile, SA Watali, SSP, Rajouri, said: “There are no security reasons behind the lack of cybercafes. Our duty is to ensure the implementation of cyber norms which we ensure properly, but the setting up of cybercafés has to be done by people only”.

Jammu, November 3
Education is officially free in the state but students in government-run institutes have to pay in the names of funds one way or the other. In government educational institutions only such students take admission as cannot afford fees and other charges realised by private ones.

Instead of minimising the the financial burden of these poor students, authorities charge money from them under one head or the other despite the fact that huge funds spent annually on these students by the government.

In the name of printing charges, sports funds etc poor students are forced to shell out money. Interestingly, there is no uniformity in these charges

The indifferent attitude of the authorities can be gauged from the fact that recently higher-ups in Kishtwar district issued official orders for realising printing charges from the students for the byannual examinations. Instead of charging the same printing charges from all students, different education zones fixed different rates.

The Nagsani zone of Kishtwar district charged Rs 60 from each student as the printing charges while the adjoining Kishtwar zone charged just Rs 30. The The Dhrabshalla education zone of Kishtwar district has fixed Rs 40 as the printing charges for each student.

Parents alleged that the authorities have been charging money from the students without consent of the higher-ups, making poor students bear the brunt of this policy.

Jammu, November 3
Sonia, aged 19, can’t move out alone, or travel in a bus or go shopping all by herself. Eve teasers accost her, harass her and make her life miserable.

Not anymore though. Straight out of a martial arts training camp, this trouble is handled in five seconds. For, that is the time her coach trained her to flatten the teaser.

Like Sonia, many girls here have started learning martial arts to save themselves from goons and militants.

Thirty-two-year-old Sameer Singh, a martial arts expert and chief trainer at the Real Martial Arts Training Association (RMATA), has trained many girls in the art of self-defence and offence.

Sameer holds five DAN black belt (RMATA), three DAN black belt (Australia) and four chamber (Shaolin MS).

While showing his techniques during a camp at the Government College for Women, Sameer explained that how an attacker could be made senseless in few seconds and how to combat snatchers by using punch and elbow.

“There are more than 100 techniques of self-defence, especially for girls,” he said. He named his techniques as mixed martial arts, which he learnt by mixing jeet-kune-do, wing-chun, kickboxing, aiki-do, ji-jutsu, judo, karate and tae kwan do.

The martial arts expert has organised seminars and free awareness camps not only in Jammu & Kashmir, but also in other states. Now, he has planned to move to Punjab where crime against women has increased in the recent past.

“My ultimate goal is to prepare girls to face any untoward situation,” said Sameer, adding that he used to teach only what worked in real life.

“At the age of 15, I opted martial arts as my career and after a long span of 17 years, I feel I can make others capable of protecting themselves,” he said.

Gurinder Kaur, one of his students, said, “These techniques are enough to tackle eve-teasers. Girls are the main victims of criminals and they should learn these techniques to make their life safe”.

Another girl said now they did not need the help of any male member of their family while moving out of home. They had learnt sufficient steps to face unscrupulous elements, she added.

During an interaction with this correspondent, Sameer gave some tips on how to combat criminals with stick attack and suggested that never step backwards, but rush towards the attacker and try to lock the arms of the attacker.

“In a grave situation, if someone tries to attack with a knife, dupatta can be used to block the hand of the goon and then fold his leg with yours from the back and punch him on the face. These methods should be used only after getting fully trained,” advised Sameer.

Sameer has also started short courses of self-defence for girls and housewives to defend without athletic ability but only with natural strength.

Jammu, November 3
Defunct streetlights have added to the miseries of people in almost all colonies in Jammu, particularly in the Rehari, Janipur, Gangyal and Bohri areas. A number of street lights are lying defunct for the past six months for the want of petty repairs or replacement of bulbs.

Inadequate staff in the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) affects the efficiency of the administration, which is the main reason for keeping the defunct streetlights pending for repairs.

"At night, it gets difficult to move around the streets or roads. One fears even to walk in the lanes," said Manju Khajuria, a resident of Rehari. "In the absence of street lights in our colony, we avoid to go on evening walks. Stray dogs also get active in the dark," rued Rattan Chard Sharma, a resident of Gangyal.

"Around one-and-a-half-year ago, many people were bitten by snakes and stray dogs during the evening hours in our colony, but after the installation of streetlights, no such case was reported. Now, the same problem has emerged again as a majority of the street lights are lying defunct and they have not been replaced so far," said Rakesh Kumar, a resident of Janipur.

"Around four months ago, street lights of lane number 2, Saraswati Vihar, Bohri, have become defunct and so far nobody came to rectify the problem," said Ramesh Koul, resident of the colony.

"We have been facing the incidents of thefts for quite a long time. In the absence of proper street lights, we are facing difficulty in night patrolling," said Raj Tickoo, another resident of the colony.

The residents of the area are demanding the immediate replacement of street lights in the colony.

Around Rs 14.20 lakh would be spent by the corporation for the installation of 710 streetlights in all 71 municipal wards this year. The corporation also spends Rs 30 lakh every year on the repair works only.

"We will install around 3,000 street lights this year in all municipal wards, along with the city. Out of them, we have also installed around 600 streetlights so far in the city and all are functioning well. Very soon, we will install 710 street lights," said the assistant executive engineer, electrical, JMC.

Accepting the problems being confronted by people on account of the lack of streetlights or defunct streetlights, mayor Kavinder Bushan Gupta said: "The corporation has only 71 lineman, one in each ward, who are working since 1980 when there were only 23 wards. The numbers of municipal wards have increased, but the workforce is the same as it was in 1980. This is the main reason which is proving a big obstacle in performing the duties timely."

"Due to the lack of adequate staff, both people and the corporation are suffering a lot. One lineman is working in each ward, whereas more are required for quick functioning," he added.

Jammu, November 3
Despite being the disputed and militancy-affected state, a large number of candidates from outside the state throng the city for pursing BEd degree.

Every year, the state witnesses around 20,000 to 30,000 aspirants who come from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Punjab to purse this degree here. This year around 23,000 candidates from outside the state are competing for 5,000 seats. There is only one government college and 74 private colleges affiliated to the University of Jammu which are offering BEd course here.

Around 20,000 seats are available for the course, out of which 16,700 seats have been filled so far. It includes 5,200 local candidates also.

“The admission is given on a merit-cum-choice basis. The highest merit for the admission touches 70 per cent and above. The candidates having 45 per cent marks in the general category are eligible for the admission and 40 per cent marks are reserved for the candidates who fall in any other reserved category,” said Rajeev Gupta, director colleges development, University of Jammu.

Despite knowing the fact that protests, demonstrations and militant attacks are a common phenomenon in the state, a large number of students have been thronging the state to get the degree.

A majority of the candidates maintained that they come to the state as they need not to clear any entrance examination here, whereas in their home they had to go through an entrance test for taking admission to this course.

Rakesh Choudhary, a candidate from Rajasthan, said: “Boys and girls who cannot become a doctor or an engineer opt for BEd. This is the last hope for the youth in Rajasthan. Here we get direct admission in any BEd college, but in Rajasthan we have to qualify the Rajasthan Pre-Teaching Education Test”.

Sushma Yadev, another candidate from Rajasthan, said: “BEd degree has proved a better way to get good marriage proposals. A girl with BEd degree gets better marriage proposals than other girls”.

The candidates who get admission to the course have to spend a huge amount for getting this degree. A student has to spend around Rs 70,000 to Rs 80,000 which includes admission fee, house rent and several other expenses.

“Besides admission fee, we have to hire an accommodation on rent. We have to spend money on food and transportation. It costs us more than Rs 80,000 for acquiring the degree,” said Hari Shanker Choudhary, candidate from Rajasthan who has appeared in the ongoing final examination of BEd.

The University of Jammu is charging Rs 24,750 as counselling fee from each candidate. In addition to it, candidates have to submit around Rs 4,000 to the heads of the selected colleges. The college fee starts from Rs 1,200 and it differs from college to college.

“Boys are coming in a large number for the course, whereas around 25 per cent to 33 per cent girls take admission to this course every year,” said Prof Rajeev Gupta.

The newly elected president of the Chambers of Commerce and Industries (CCI), Jammu, YV Sharma (58), has said the cross-LoC trade needs to be converted from a barter system to a trade where money is involved. He speaks to Tejinder Singh Sodhi about his plans:

Q. How do you feel after being elected as the president of the CCI after a gap of almost 15 years?

A. I am happy and delighted that the business community has once again shown its faith in me. I would try to do my best to live up to its expectations.

Q. The elections of the chambers were held after a gap of almost 10 years whereas the tenure is only two years, what do you say?

A. It is unfortunate that it took so long for the democracy to restore in the chambers. Now as the democratic process has set up again, I would ensure that the process continues and the elections are held at the stipulated time.

Q. What would be your priorities after assuming the office?

A. The business community is facing various problems. The government departments that deal with businessmen should give them respect as the community is the wealth creator of the nation. There are various issues of the community regarding income tax, commercial and sales tax that need to be resolved.

Q. The CCI played a key role in starting the cross-LoC trade, but it is not so successful. What measures would you take in this regard?

A. I would take steps that are necessary in the interest of the trading communities of both sides. We would ensure that the trade works as per international standards.

Q. There are various lacunas in the cross-LoC trading system, what would you do to fill those loopholes?

A. We would request the government to plug all loopholes. The trade needs to be converted from a barter system to a trade where money is involved and both sides need to open branches of their banks on either sides.

Q. Recently some traders involved in cross-LoC trade were arrested for funding militant outfits through hawala transactions. What steps would you take that such things don't happen?

A. These things bring a bad name to the business community. We would ensure that the national interests are kept paramount. We have never supported nor would we support any such trader who is found indulged in anti-national activities. The law has to take its course and such traders, if found guilty, should be punished as per the law.

Q. The industry in Jammu has suffered a blow due to the withdrawal of the central excise refund package. What would you do for that?

A. We would request both the central and state governments to restore the package as the industry in Jammu has suffered a major blow and many units have been closed down due to the withdrawal.

Q. What about trader's duty towards the government?

A. Certainly, there are various duties of the trader community towards the government like filing of returns. I would ensure that the trader community adheres to its duties. However, first they need to be educated. Our team would see that before the implementation of any new law by any government department, the trader community is fully educated about those laws.

Katra, November 3
Pilgrims to Vaishno Devi may not be able to enjoy properly the service of battery- operated cars for some more time.

Out of the 20 such cars, which were pressed into service in 2004 to ferry passengers from Adhkumari to the "darbar", about 12 are off the track since June 15 as the contractor has not been able to get them registered.

The cars are meant exclusively for elders and differently abled persons, who can avail the service at a payment of Rs 100 per person. Since battery-run cars are comfortable, they became popular among pilgrims. However, in the absence of adequate cars, most of such pilgrims can be seen using alternatives means like palanquins, ponies and chopper service for reaching to the "darbar".

Earlier, due to the non-fulfillment of the registration documents of all battery-run cars, they were stopped from plying on October 15. Only eight cars are put back to the service after they were registered.

"I am too tired that I can't even move a single step. I was hoping to avail the service of this car, but only a few cars are plying and there are already many pilgrims waiting for their turn," rued Lacman Dass of Delhi. The shrine board should keep it in mind that they should first get the vehicles registered and after pressing them into service, he added.

Another pilgrim rued, "Even after five months, the authorities are not able to get the vehicles registered. It seems Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) is not bothered about the issue".

MK Bhandari, additional CEO, SMVDSB, said, "These vehicles are being run by a private firm on a contractual basis. We have already warned them to get their vehicles registered at the earliest. Some of them have already been registered by the Regional Transport Office (RTO) and rest will be registered in the coming days".

Phonetically speaking, it is a tough task to locate the Departments of Geology or Zoology on the Jammu University campus. That has been general feeling of the visitors, including scribes.

In the absence of proper signboards, visitors are normally guided to the ``world of animal kingdom’’, if they venture to know about the whereabouts of the ``land of rocks’’. Last week, this writer also encountered a similar kind of experience while trying to locate the Department of Geology at Jammu University.