Jammu, April 21
Using mobile phones for cheating in exams or getting question papers in advance is passé. Some students may not even come to an examination centre to take the exam, courtesy officials of the state Education Department.

The Jammu police late last night caught a girl student attempting a Class XII exam at the house of an employee of the Education Department who was engaged by the state Board of School Education (BOSE) on exam duty.

A senior police officer said acting on a tip-off the house of Dharampal, a helper of the Education Department, at Nai Basti was raided and he, along with code officer Dayal Singh, who was also present there, was arrested when Ujjawal, a resident of Paloura, was attempting the physics exam again. The exam was held earlier on April 17.

“Both accused have been removed from the posts of code officer and helper and further action will be taken by the Education Department. An unfair means case (UMC) has been registered against the girl student,” said Javed Iqbal, Joint Secretary, BOSE.

The police said the girl was taking the physics paper of Class XII at the house of Dharampal, where the other accused was also present. Rafiq Manhas, SHO, Gandhi Nagar police station, said, “The accused were arrested and a case under sections 420, 120-B, 161 and 165 of the RPC was registered against them.”

He added, “The accused took Rs 15,000 from the student to give her the answer sheet to write the paper again.” It is to mention here that the BOSE had appointed 26 code officers this year to conduct the exams.

Iqbal said, “I am shocked to hear that a helper is involved in such an incident. He has been involved in the illegal activity for many years.”

He further said after the incident BOSE officials decided to adopt a new technique from the next session where no code officers and helpers would be engaged for conducting exams.

A few days ago, the Miran Sahib police had arrested three persons for paper leak, while the alleged kingpin, Gurdev Singh, a teacher, was still absconding.

Jammu, April 21
Students of University of Jammu and its affiliated colleges need not visit the campus for enquiries as henceforth they will be able get information regarding examinations, revaluation and results at home through the Internet.

The examination wing of the university has started an online complaint cell and 13 e-mail addresses have been put on the website for the purpose.

For getting their complaints registered, the students have to send these directly to branch officers of the examination wing,including the Controller, Examination, two officers on special duty (OSD) and others.

The student-friendly step has been taken after observing difficulties being faced by the students for getting even minor information about examinations, revaluation and results.

Talking to The Tribune, the Controller, Examination, Prof G.M. Bhat , said: “Efforts are on to modernise the examination wing and the opening of the online complaint cell is just the beginning.”

“Now without wasting precious time, students can send us their complaints through e-mail and we will reply immediately to their queries,” said the Controller.

Prof Bhat added that besides the branch officer, he would also entertain the queries of the students.

The following is the list of e-mail IDs which would be used by the branch officers.

Srinagar, April 21
The police prevented a seminar being organised by the Human Rights Forum from being held here today. Senior leaders of various separatist organisations from Kashmir were to attend it and top leaders from the PoK and Pakistan were to address it telephonically.

The seminar on “The Role of Pro-Freedom Leaders vis-à-vis Kashmir Issue” organised by the International Forum for Justice/Human Rights Forum was being held at Hotel Taj in Budshah Chowk where the participants were prevented by arresting its chairman Ahsan Untoo and others.

Police officials said Untoo was prevented from holding the seminar that was to be telephonically addressed by the leaders of militant organisations, including the Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Toiba and the Hizbul Mujahideen, as the event was anti-national. Those scheduled to address the seminar telephonically, according to a spokesman for the forum, included Hafiz Syed, chairman of the Falah-e-Insanyat Trust, (Jamat-ud-Dawah), Syed Salahuddin, chairman of the United Jehad Council, Mulana Fazal-ul-Rehman, chairman of the Kashmir Committee, and Prime Minister of the PoK Farooq Hyder. “Many personalities from civil society and human activists throughout the world were participating in the conference. Also, some leading dignitaries of the Kashmir freedom movement, civil society and human activists of the world, especially from Pakistan and the PoK would have participated via a telephonic speech,” the spokesman said.

The main speakers in the seminar here included chairmen of both factions of the APHC, Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and JKLF chairman Yasin Malik. Ahsan Untoo, chairman of the International Forum for Justice, was arrested by the police around 9.30 am about one hour before the seminar was scheduled to begin, said an employee of Hotel Taj. All movement towards the hall on the second floor of the building were prevented. “The hall is closed and we have been asked not to allow anyone to enter the hall,” said the employee. A large number of police personnel were deployed at the entrance to prevent separatist leaders from gathering for the seminar. Others arrested included Javed Ahmad Mir of the JKLF, Mukhtar Ahmad Sofi and Haji Farooq Ahmad Wani.

The forum, meanwhile, has condemned the arrest of Ahsan Untoo, who had been released after a prolonged detention last year.

Those who were to telephonically address the seminar included Mulana Fazal-ul Rehman, chairman of the Kashmir Committee, Prime Minister of the PoK Farooq Hyder, Shah Ghulam Qader, Speaker of the PoK, Munwar Hassan, Ameer Jamat-e-Islame, Pakistan, Abdula Rasheed Turabe, Ameer Jamat-e-Islame AK, Majeed Nezame, Chief Editor Nawai Waqt, Prof Hafiz Syed, chairman of the Falah-e-Insanyat Trust, Gen R Hameed Gull, Dr Syed Nazir Gilane, general secretary of the JKCHR, Abass Mir of the PPP, Syed Salah-ud-Din, chairman of the MJ Council, Amman-ul Allah Khan, chairman of the JKLF, Sheikh Tajmul, Islam intellectual, Rauf Kashmire Ameer, JKLF, Jameel-ul Rehman, general secretary the UJC, Almas Khan, Ameer KLM, Engineer Mehmood, human activist, Mehmood Ahmad Sager, chairman of the APHC AJK, Farooq Rehmane, chairman of the JK Freedom League, Sheikh Yaqub, chairman of the JKPL, Abdul Hameed Lone, freedom leader, Showkat Hussain DPM, Rashid Wani and Ershad Malik, UK.

Jammu, April 21
With the police of Gurdaspur and Kathua indulging in a blame game over the intrusion of two heavily armed Pakistan terrorists, the latter may have laid its hands on the photographs of the fleeing ultras, who belong to the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT).

Further, the security forces comprising the Kathua police, Territorial Army, CRPF and the SOG today continued with their search and combing operation in a much wider area of Rajbagh covering an area of 20 sq km from the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway up to the international border, including the Ujh river.

They even ventured into Bomial and Tinda outposts in the neighbouring Punjab’s territory to hunt down the Pakistan terrorists. However, success has eluded them so far.

“We have got two photographs (probably of the two ultras) and now we await the confirmation of the identity of the militants,” SSP, Kathua district, Gareeb Dass told The Tribune. “Searches are on and there is a remote possibility that the terrorists may have managed to cross the Jammu-Pathankot highway to reach Udhampur and Doda districts,” said the SSP.

He further said the security forces were concentrating on a few houses along the Ujh river to locate the ultras. “It is very much possible that the terrorists, whose tactics resembled those of the LeT terrorists, might have taken shelter on gunpoint,” he added.

The SSP said it appeared that the terrorists might have intruded from Simbal Skole in the state into the Gurdaspur area.

The other day there was a heavy firing from the Pakistan side in the area and we also heard that a major portion of the border fence was damaged, he added.

Regarding the number of terrorists, the SSP said we had sighted two of them but their number could be more, even up to five.

To a query, he said, “Though we had reports about six individuals from upper reaches of Doda, Billawar and Barnota going missing from their houses, the two militants were from Pakistan.” “We are also verifying the whereabouts of the six individuals who have gone missing,” the SSP added.

“Once the identity of the terrorists were confirmed from the photographs, we would also show them to villagers who had sighted them,” he said.

Jammu, April 21
The Army Chief, Gen VK Singh, on the second day of his three-day visit to the state, today reviewed security at the Northern Command headquarters in Udhampur.

Accompanied by his wife, Bharti Singh,President of the Family Welfare Organisation (FWO), General Singh arrived in Udhampur today after visiting Leh and Srinagar.

He addressed officers of the Udhampur and Nagrota garrisons,impressed upon them the strengths and core competencies of the Army and enjoined them to inculcate the deepest sense of professionalism whilst working for the nation.

He also highlighted the rich traditions and the value- system base and stressed the need to remain focused on the job at hand while preparing for all contingencies.

In a detailed interaction with Lt-Gen BS Jaswal, GOC-in-C Northern Command, he reviewed the security situation in the state.A lunch was hosted in his honour.Bharti Singh, President of the FWO, interacted with the wives of all ranks and spoke about the high traditions and the dedication of Army wives.

Later, the Army Chief left for Nagrota on the last leg of his visit.

Srinagar, April 21
Intermittent rain during the past four days in the Kashmir valley and snowfall in the upper reaches have led to a rise in the water level in rivers and streams.

Various parts of the city were flooded even as the Weather Department forecast that rainfall and bad weather conditions would continue for the next 36 hours.

The Srinagar-Leh highway that was reopened to light traffic on Saturday was blocked due to heavy snowfall on the Zojila Pass today.

According to the Weather Department here, at least 42.4 mm rainfall was recorded in Srinagar during the past 36 hours. The rainfall and the snowfall brought down the day temperature. Today’s temperature was recorded at 13.5 degrees Celsius, seven degrees below normal.

Srinagar, April 21
Separatist Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has its eyes on the forthcoming SAARC summit in Bhutan, hoping that the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan would come out with concrete steps to ensure peace in the region. It has sought the restoration of a meaningful composite Indo-Pak dialogue to ensure peace in the subcontinent in near future, describing Kashmir as a “sensitive issue” which led to wars between the two countries.

This came up at an executive council meeting of the APHC held at its party headquarters under the chairmanship of the Mirwaiz here today. Other members who attended the meeting included Abdul Ghani Bhat, Bilal Lone, Agha Syed Hassan, Masroor Abbas Ansari, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza and Musaddiq Aadil.

The meeting, which expressed concern over the alleged human rights violations at the hands of security forces, also decided to hold a “silent protest” in Pratap Park here on Saturday to express solidarity with those under detention and against the day-to-day rights violations.

Srinagar, April 21
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said benefits of reservation, development projects, welfare programmes and employment packages will be visible only when there is an overall improvement in the field of education and greater thrust is being laid on this important sector of socio-economic development.

Speaking at the annual function of the All-Kargil Students Union, Srinagar (AKSUS) at the College of Education, here yesterday, the Chief Minister said the government was striving for development in all areas and greater attention was being accorded to the far-flung areas. He said that greater focus was being laid on improving educational infrastructure in the rural and other far-off places.

Omar said accommodation facilities for students of areas like Kargil was being given due consideration and added that two hostels each for girls and boys had been set up at Bemina. He said library, recreation and communication facilities would also be made available there in due course of time.Coaching and career counselling would also be given due thrust.

He said connectivity was essential for the overall development of an area and said a survey was being conducted for the construction of a tunnel across the Zojila Pass.

Srinagar, April 21
Kashmir University is joining one billion people across 200 countries world over to show its concern about the deteriorating conditions of Mother Nature by celebrating Earth Day tomorrow.

It is organising a number of events that will feature a variety of activities like interactive exhibitions that highlight the research work of the university related to earth sciences, debates on various relevant themes among the students, campus cleaning and other activities.

“The aim of organising various activities on the day is to inculcate in us a deeper appreciation for all that Mother Nature has given us,” said Vice-Chancellor Riyaz Punjabi. He said combating the degradation of land and water resources and climate change was a priority area at the university.

Shakil A. Romshoo, organising secretary of the Earth Day celebrations at the university, said the reckless exploitation of land and water resources in the region was putting tremendous strain on the sustainability of earth resources.

Jammu, April 21
Terming Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) as a boon for the socio-economic transformation of rural masses, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats Ali Mohammad Sagar today directed officers of his department to prepare lists of all job seekers. He further directed the officers to ensure issuance of job cards to the beneficiaries and provide them jobs within 15 days after the issuance of job cards.

While addressing a gathering after inaugurating the model village Garnai in Udhampur district, the Minister reiterated the commitment of the coalition government in providing basic amenities to rural and remote habitations. He further called upon the people to come forward and avail maximum benefits under MNREGA near to their doorsteps.

He exhorted upon the officers of his department to ensure percolation of benefits of the scheme at grassroot level for the larger interest of poor sections of society.

Sagar said last year the state had registered different works under MNREGA amounting to Rs 182 crore, while a target of expending Rs 560 crore had been earmarked to the current financial year so that maximum villages were brought under the ambit of this scheme. He asked the Udhampur DDC to monitor the progress of development works taking place in the rural areas under different schemes of the department so that works were executed in a time-bound frame with no compromise on quality of works.

As residents of the model village informed the Minister about the scarcity of drinking water in their locality, the Minister directed the Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur, to take up this matter with the authorities concerned.

Complimenting the villagers of the area for having unique facilities in the model village like Common Facility Centre (CFC), Rural Information Centre (RIC), children park, play ground, passenger shed, internal roads, lanes and drains and shopping complex, the Minister said more money would be pumped in to create additional infrastructure in this village.

Jammu, April 21
Justice J. P. Singh of Jammu and Kashmir High Court today dismissed a writ petition wherein Rekha Rani had questioned the selection of Sanjeev Kumar and Madan Lal as Rehbar-e-Taleem teaching guides for Primary School, Surth, in Kathua district on the ground that the state had erred in selecting them, ignoring the merit of the petitioner who had figured at serial No 1 of the merit list.

Justice Singh while disagreeing with the submissions of the petitioner’s counsel held that the writ petition was not maintainable, being barred by delay and latches, in that,it would be imprudent to upset the respondents’ selection at this stage, after a period of more than nine years.

The state did not dispute the placement of petitioner at Sr No 1, but contested her claim to selection and engagement, inter alia, on the ground that she had not furnished proof of her residence at Ramkote and had rather enclosed with her application, the permanent resident certificate of her husband without any documentary proof of the marriage, thus forcing the officials to reject her selection being lacking in the necessary eligibility condition for selection as Rehbar-e-taleem guide.

Jammu, April 21
The Jammu Joint Students Federation (JJSF) framed a body of Model Institute of Engineering and Technical (MIET) College at Kot Bhalwal today.

Sanjay Thakur was appointed as president of the body, Ayaz Khan as senior vice-president and Aditya Hans as working president. Darshan Dogra was appointed as chairman, Javed Khan as secretary, Rohit Chib as joint secretary, Sahil Kumar as general secretary and Ankush Kumar as press secretary.

Ankush Sharma was appointed as treasurer, Sahil Gupta as coordinator, Kamal Verma as organiser secretary, Aman Raina as discipline secretary and Ankit Arora as cashier.

This unit was constituted by Dushant Kumar, junior joint secretary, JJSF, under the guidance of Partap Singh Jamwal, state vice-president, JJSF.

Jammu, April 21
Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages honoured noted Pakistan-born Canadian Urdu poet Ashfaq Hussain at KL Saigal Hall in Jammu yesterday. The programme was part of a series whereby prominent literary figures would be invited for face-to-face interactions as part of the ongoing cultural dialogue at the academy.

Hussain spent his early life in Karachi and has been living in Canada since 1980. “Urdu poetry and literature were my passion and that is why despite leaving my homeland I continued to write in Urdu. It satisfies my intellectual yearnings for the language,” the poet said while interacting with Urdu poetry lovers.

Recalling his association with legends like Faiz Ahmad Faiz and Ahmad Faraz, Hussain said he had written many books on the two great poets of the subcontinent. Noted among his books on Faiz Ahmad Faiz and Ahmad Faraz are; Faiz Ek Jaiza (1977), Faiz Habib e Amberdast (1992), Faiz ke Maghrabi Hawaley (1993), Faiz- shakhsiat aur fun (2006), Ahmad Faraz: Yadoon Ka ek Sunehra Waraq (2008). His poetic work includes Aitabar (1979), That Day Will Dawn (1985), Neendar Nal Rishta (1986), Ham Ajnabi Hain (1992) and Aashian Gum Karda (2009). Meanwhile, Hussain recited many of his ghazals to the audience. Hussain said: “The progressive movement has ended but progress can’t. That is why I consider my poetry progressive in nature and think it would remain so because literature can’t be static.”

“Roots grow where they belong and I am a strong advocate of the fact that languages flourish more in their homelands than anywhere else,” the poet said. “Poetry is something that knows no boundaries and is perhaps the only part of literature which influences public opinion regardless of country, nation or state affiliations,” he said. His wife Narjis Zaidi was also present on the occasion.

The programme was presided over by former HoD Urdu Department, University of Jammu, Prof. Zahoor-ud-Din, while other noted personalities like CPM MLA Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami, Director Information Khwaja Farooq Ahmad Renzu, Director Doordarshan, Srinagar, Rafeeq Masoodi, Director Radio Kashmir, Srinagar, Rafiq Raaz, Director Libraries and noted poet Khalid Bashir, Director Doordarshan, Jammu, Naseem Khan, Director Radio, Jammu, Javed Iqbal, president Dogri Sanstha, Lalit Magotra, and noted painter, writer and theatre artiste ND Jamwal and Mohan Singh were also in the audience.

Secretary, Cultural Academy, Zafar Iqbal Manhas welcomed the guests.

Jammu, April 21
Keeping in view the forthcoming local bodies’ elections, the BJP has returned to the discrimination plank to influence voters in the Jammu region and revive the shattered confidence of the party cadre.

After the party’s debacle in the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP cadre has been demoralised in the Jammu region so the party has been desperately looking for an emotive issue to mobilise its workers.

The issue of alleged discrimination against the Jammu region dominated the first executive committee meeting of the newly elected state unit of the BJP. Instead of taking up other important issues for discussion, BJP leaders have repeatedly raked up the discrimination issue and blamed successive state governments for meting out step-motherly treatment with the Jammu region.

BJP state president Shamsher Singh Manhas defended the decision of the party to make discrimination a poll plank in the forthcoming local bodies’ elections. “For us, discrimination against the Jammu region is always on the top of political agenda. It is not a new issue for the party,” Manhas said. He reiterated his allegations that the Jammu region had been discriminated against in all spheres of life by the successive state governments. “What is wrong in raking up the issue,” he asserted and made it clear that the party would not hesitate from making the issue a poll plank in the elections scheduled for September.

After the 2008 Assembly elections, the BJP has been losing its ground rapidly in the Jammu region. Despite winning all-time high 11 seats in the Assembly elections, the party had lost both Lok Sabha seat from the Jammu region in the 2009 polls, which was a clear indication that its vote bank had been eroding.

The decision of the party to again rake up the discrimination issue is being viewed as another attempt by it to regain its lost ground. The BJP has been facing a challenge not only from the Congress but from the Panthers Party, which has virtually hijacked its the pro-Jammu agenda.

In the just-concluded Budget session, three-member Panthers Party group had outwitted 11 members’ team of the BJP in highlighting “discrimination” against the Jammu region.

Even on the controversial Inter-District Recruitment Bill the Panthers Party had managed to take credit for the exclusion of Scheduled Castes (SCs) from the Bill despite being the fact that the BJP was fighting for the same in the streets.