Srinagar, May 6
It was a dream come true for Dr Shah Faisal, resident of a remote village of Lolab in Kupwara district, who topped the Civil Services Examination conducted by the UPSC, the results of which were declared today.

Having passed his MBBS degree from the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Medical College, Srinagar, last year, Faisal had his eyes on the IAS examination. Soon after the declaration of the MBBS results he shifted to Delhi and had been busy preparing for the civil services exam since then. He was awarded a fellowship by the Zakat Foundation of India that funded his coaching.

The educated youth in Kashmir are rich in talent and there is a need to work hard, he commented after the declaration of the results. Faisal, who was in Delhi when the results were declared, urged the educated Kashmir youth to exhibit their talent by working hard.

His success story has not been achieved so easily, as the life was tough for his family after his father Ghulam Rasool Shah was killed by unidentified gunmen in 2003. The family had a tough life in remote Sogam village in the Lolab area of Kupwara district, about 100 km from here. He had all support of his mother, Faisal said, whose brother is also a doctor and sister is in the Education Department. His father’s death was the turning point in his life that prompted him not to be discouraged but achieve greater heights.

An official spokesman said today that Faisal had brought laurels to the state, particularly the Kashmir valley. It is to be mentioned here that in 1980-81 Khurshid Ahmad Ganai (now Principal Secretary to Chief Minister) was the first person from the state to achieve the second position in the civil services exam. His brilliance and proud achievement had brought laurels to the entire state. This record was maintained till today, but Faisal overhauled it by topping the IAS list 2009-10.

Now, Faisal has become the first from the state to achieve the first position in the civil services exams conducted by the UPSC. Not only people of Kupwara district but also of the entire state have expressed jubilance over the achievement of Faisal.

The Chief Minister has congratulated Faisal for his brilliant performance and bringing laurels to the state.

Srinagar, May 6
During the past three days, a good number of aspiring candidates have been lining up at the camp office of the Central University of Kashmir, which has started academic activities by offering admissions to postgraduate programmes in three streams here. 

The Central University of Kashmir, established last year, has started admissions to postgraduate courses in Business Administration (MBA), English and Information Technology for the year 2010-11. The admissions to these courses, according to a notification of the university, would be based upon the Central Universities Common Entrance Test (CUCET) being held on June 19-20 at 29 centres across the country. The test is being conducted jointly by seven Central universities, including the Central University of Kashmir.

There has been a good response and a decent number of candidates have applied for admission to these courses, said Dr Abdul Ghani, OSD (Administration) of the university, here. Through the common test, students in the Kashmir valley will get an opportunity to get admission to about 25 programmes offered by these universities, he added. Apart from admission to the postgraduate courses in the three streams, the Central university would also be having schools of health sciences and engineering and technology, a statement of the university said.

The proposal for establishing the schools of health sciences and engineering and technology was approved at the first meeting of the Academic Council of the University here. The school of health sciences would pave the way for launching the programmes in medicine, dentistry, nursing and physiotherapy, while the school of engineering and technology would offer various engineering courses.

This proposal was approved at the first meeting of the Academic Council of the Central university here on Saturday last. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Prof Abdul Wahid, Vice-Chancellor of the university, and attended by eminent academicians and practitioners, including Prof Jai Rup Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Punjab; Prof DS Rathore, former Vice-Chancellor, Agricultural University, Himachal Pradesh; MK Raina, a noted theatre personality; Prof Jameela Begum, University of Kerala; and Dr Abdul Gani, Special Officer at the Central University of Kashmir.

Being the apex academic body of the university, a number of decisions, including those regarding establishing schools and departments, launch of academic programmes and the future course of action, were taken by the council in the meeting. 

Jammu, May 6
Running short of cadre in the wake of waning local support vis-à-vis the changed strategy of the security forces to hunt militants down, various militant outfits in the restive state are now relying upon improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to “safely” inflict maximum damage.

“Statistics speak for themselves. This year, so far, the security forces have seized 33 IEDs but militants succeeded in detonating two others in both regions of Jammu and Kashmir,” defence sources told The Tribune. However, credit goes to the security forces, including the Army and the police, for timely detecting and defusing the powerful IEDs, they added.

Not going too far in the past, the BSF had lost DIG OP Tanwar in one such IED explosion in the Ballard border outpost on November 16 last year.

The sources said the security forces during various operations had seized 15 IEDs in the Kashmir valley till April 22 this year. But the militants succeeded in triggering two IED blasts, one at Tral on January 19 and another in Budgam on March 2 when they blew up a portion of the Kashmir rail line.

Similarly, the security forces seized 18 IEDs till March 29 from various areas of Poonch, Rajouri, Kishtwar and Reasi districts in the Jammu region.

The seizure and detection of 33 IEDs from two regions of Jammu and Kashmir amply reflect the shift in their (ultras’) strategy, said the sources.

The security forces do plant landmines during tension on the border to ward off the enemy but the Pakistan terror outfits bother little about humanitarian laws, said a senior officer in one of the counter insurgency forces.

Sharply reacting to the claims of the United Jehad Council (UJC) -- an umbrella organisation of various militant outfits -- the officer said it had scant regards whatsoever for human lives.

A large number of IEDs were detected well in time and defused by the security forces with great risk to the lives of soldiers so that common people did not get killed or suffered fatal injuries, the officer said.

The UJC, while reacting to an appeal of the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society in a section of the media, had reportedly claimed that they did not attack populated areas and landmines were planted by militants only in no-man’s land.

There have been 17 IED cases in the Kashmir valley and 18 in the Jammu region in the current year alone till now where militants planted IEDs in public places, including roads, girls’ schools, government hospitals and railway tracks etc.

Jammu, May 6
The Congress Seva Dal, a frontal organisation of the Congress, today levelled allegations of corruption against ministers, including belonging to the party, and endorsed the demand of an MLC for constituting an independent commission to probe how ministers in the present and previous governments amassed huge wealth.

The Seva Dal not only charged ministers with adopting corrupt practices but also regretted that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was not taking action against his ministers indulging in corrupt practices.

Addressing a seminar at Nagrota, state chairman of the Seva Dal Balwinder Singh Sambyal minced no words in attacking ministers of the present government. “There is rampant corruption in the government as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has failed to keep a check on his ministers,” he said. He pointed out the only noticeable achievement of the government was that it had legitimised corruption in the state.

Sambyal endorsed the demand of senior Congress leader Abdul Gani Vakil, who sought the constitution of an independent commission to inquire into wealth allegedly amassed by ministers in the present and previous governments. Vakil himself was the Social Welfare Minister in the previous government headed by Ghulam Nabi Azad. “Irrespective of the party affiliation, we demand that all ministers, who have been indulging in corrupt practices, should be exposed before people,” he said and stressed upon the need for accountability and transparency in the government.

Sambyal regretted that ministers in the coalition government, belonging both to the Congress and the NC, had failed to come up to the expectation of the masses because they were more interested in amassing wealth than addressing the issues of people. “Congress activists, who worked overtime to ensure the victory of their leaders, feel cheated by the behaviour of the party ministers,” he said.

The Seva Dal chief regretted that instead of listening to the grievances of people, the present government had been trying to befool people by making false promises. He especially mentioned that during the last 15 months nothing concrete had been done to address the day today problems of the people.

“Due to the autocratic style of the present government, the alienation of the people has been increasing and the problems of masses have been compounding with every passing day,” he said. Sambyal told the party workers that the matter would be brought to the notice of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi.

The Seva Dal chief, however, lavished praises on former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad for taking revolutionary steps during his tenure. He suggested the present government to follow the path carved out by Azad for the development of the state.

Jammu, May 6
A statement of BJP’s newly appointment national spokesman Tarun Vijay has caused embarrassment to the local unit of the party as many Jammu-based groups have flayed the party for adopting “double standards” on vital issues concerning the state.

Stunned by the statement , the local BJP unit has landed in a piquant situation as the party can neither openly own his statement nor local leaders can wash their hands off it.

Although the senior party leaders have officially refused to react, insiders said the state BJP had taken serious note of ignoring local leaders while issuing such a statement.

Sources said Tarun Vijay during his visit to Srinagar did not take the local unit into his confidence and issued a statement which was contrary to the stand earlier taken by the party. The BJP has been stating repeatedly that Kashmir is facing a law and order problem and it should be treated in a similar manner. But Vijay said in Srinagar that “nothing can surpass the humanitarian values of the Kashmiri society, which was a beacon light for the Indians. We trust the best of the solutions to all issues can be found through a humanitarian path, not by bullets.”

Sources in the party said the local unit had brought the matter to the notice of the party high command and suggested that they should be taken in confidence before giving such statements which cause embarrassment to the party in the Jammu region. The statement of Tarun Vijay has been reportedly sent to the party high command.

Taking a cue to the statement of Tarun Vijay, Jammu State Morcha leader Capt Anil Gour said the BJP leaders had been exposing themselves by such acts. “Earlier, it was only the National Conference and the Congress leaders who used to speak one language in Jammu and other in Kashmir but now the BJP is also following the same line,” Gour said and alleged that the BJP for political gains has always exploited sentiments of residents of Jammu at national-level but never take any initiative to mitigate woes of the people. “Even during the tenure of the NDA-BJP failed to remove discrimination with Jammu region,” he said.

The Jammu Central University Morcha (JCUM) has also flayed the BJP for selling interests of Jammu people for political gains. “ The BJP - the so called champion of the cause of Jammu gets its representatives elected from this region with the promise to safeguard dignity and honour of the people but after getting power the party started hobnobbing with anti-Jammu forces,” JCUM stated.

Jammu, May 6
The sensational double murder of two transporters at Narwal market on February 5 has taken a turn, as the investigating officer, Vijay Choudhary, SHO, Trikuta Nagar police station, who has arrested several accused, has been transferred to the General Railway Police (GRP).

The transfer of Vijay has raised many eyebrows, as it is widely alleged that he has been shifted under ‘political’ pressure.

Although senior police officers termed Vijay’s transfer as a routine departmental affair, police sources said the officer was shifted to appease some influential politicians.

A senior police officer told The Tribune that the SHO was close to solving the double murder case, as the challan had been produced before a local court against the accused. “The persons involved in the case are very influential and they have managed to get the SHO transferred out of Trikuta Nagar police station,” alleged the officer.

It may be stated here that the feud between the two factions of transporters over the issue of transporting goods in Narwal Transport Market took an ugly turn on February 5 night and transporters Gurnam Singh and Rajinder Singh were killed by some persons.

Meanwhile, the SHO has not joined duty at the GRP here. “I can’t speak over the issue and it will be better if you talk to senior police officers in this regard,” said Vijay. Vijay is not an isolated case and police officers have even been transferred earlier in such cases.

In another incident, Rafiq Manhas, at present the SHO of Gandhi Nagar police station, was transferred from Trikuta Nagar police station, four years ago when he was investigating the infamous Chopra murder case in which five persons were killed. “Rafiq was close to solving this sensational case when he was transferred under political pressure,” said the senior police officer.

In a recent incident, Paramjit Singh, SHO, Miran Sahib police station, who was investigating the much publicised question paper leak scandal, was transferred to the District Police Lines, Jammu, about one month ago. It is to mention here that Paramjit had arrested a number of persons involved in the scandal.

SSP, Jammu, Basant Rath said, “No officer was transferred under any kind of pressure. There were in fact some reasons behind transferring the SHOs.” He, however, added that police officers had to face pulls and pressures while performing duty. 

Jammu, May 6
Realising the gravity of the situation, the government has decided to explore the possibility of lifting water from the Chenab as a long-term measure to meet the increasing requirement of potable water in the ever-expanding winter capital.

In this regard, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand yesterday issued

instructions to departments concerned and asked them to get a blueprint for the project.

It may be stated here that the project at an initial cost of Rs 400

crore had been put in the cold storage and later the government stated it had become unviable.

Speaking at a joint meeting of officers of various departments to review their functioning, he said the project would be submitted to Asian Development Bank for funding through the Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA).

He said considering the fast depletion of sources and increasing

demand for potable water, a long-term plan for overcoming this problem had become imperative.

Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla, MLA, Jammu East, Ashok Khajuria, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr Pawan Kotwal,besides top functionaries of the Jammu Municipal Corporation, the Jammu Development Authority, the ERA, the NBCC, the PHE and the Traffic and Transport Departments attended the meeting.

Referring to the preliminary project report formulated earlier, the

Deputy Chief Minister asked the PHE Department to work in close coordination with ERA and provide all information gathered earlier about the proposed project. He also suggested seeking the services of best consultants available nationally.

The Deputy Chief Minister also reviewed the status of drinking water augmentation and other projects being executed by various departments, including the ERA, the NBCC and UEED, besides the preparations made by the functionaries to ensure that people did not face any inconvenience on account of the essential services during the summer.

Reviewing the execution of laying of sewerage and PHE lines by ERA, the NBCC and UEED, the minister called for close coordination to ensure that the works were completed in a time- bound manner and restoration of the dug-up lanes was not delayed. He asked the Divisional Commissioner, who is the Chairman of the Coordination Committee constituted by the government to regulate the works of agencies involved, to ensure that the work of laying of lines in the old city localities went smoothly without causing any inconvenience to the public.

Jammu, May 6
Some 50 odd ASHA workers from remote areas of Ramnagar and Mjalta, associated with the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), were agitated over getting late entry to the ‘performance award function’ at the imposing Zorawar Singh Auditorium here today. Hours later, the same group came out with a pledge to work harder for securing a place in the list of awardees next year.

To improve its efficiency, the Department of Health and Family Welfare for the first time awarded 41 employees for their distinguished services in different capacities. The award included a citation and a reward ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000.

Thirteen ASHA workers namely Khursha Begum, Nusrat Banoo, Sushma Devi, Trishla Rani, Kunti Devi, Tanveera Begum, Tazeem Fatma, Safia Begum, Satya Devi, Sharifa Begum, Surinder Kaur, Naseem Akhtar and Makhanu Devi were awarded by Health Minister Sham Lal in recognition of their ‘hard work’ and ‘good conduct’.

Awards were also given to two safai karamcharis namely Markis Massih and Ravi Massih for excellence in work, besides nursing orderly Hardish Kumar, ambulance driver Ram Pal and theatre boy Akhtar Hussain for working with sincerity and dedication.

Rajeev Sharma, 60 per cent disabled and working as senior assistant in the CMO office, Doda, was awarded amid a thundering applause for his outstanding services.

For performing 200 appendicectomies, 3,000 laparoligation, 200 NSV and 181 laparoscopic surgeries, Dr Rajinder Singh at present posted in the District Hospital, Gandhi Nagar, won a cash prize of Rs 20,000, besides a citation.

Other doctors like Dr Kamal Zadoo, Dr Chander Parkash, Dr Rajnish, Dr Khalid Mehzoor and Dr Charu Vaishnavi were also honoured by the minister. Dr Vaishnavi has done 369 institutional deliveries in the rural setup.

Fareeda Parveen and Munish Gupta, in charge assistant drug controllers at Jammu and Udhampur, respectively, were also awarded. Fareeda had conducted 2,058 inspections and collected Rs 18.21 lakh during last year whereas Munish conducted 834 inspections and realised Rs 5.24 lakh. His efforts helped curb the menace of drugs in the holy town of Katra.

Pharmacists -- Chamanl Lal, SK Anand, Fazal Din and Rajinder Kumar -- honoured for assisting several major and minor operations.

Other awardees were PMA Surinder Singh, theatre assistant Mohammad Yousaf Wani, head assistant, NRHM, Maharaj Krishan Pandita, SO, Planning, Suresh Salhotra, senior lab technician UK Padha, besides junior staff nurses Kirna Chouhan, Niko Sharma and women multi-purpose health workers Suresh Kumari and Sarvinder Kour.

Addressing the gathering, the minister exuded faith that such initiatives would definitely promote work culture.

In the function that was attended by all senior officials of the department, block medical officers from all over the province had come along with their staff to make the event a ‘grand success’.

In view of space constraint some retired employees of the department were not allowed entry into the auditorium, while a large number of employees were seen sitting on the floor.

Srinagar, May 6
Expressing concern over the fact that scores of physically challenged people could be seen begging almost in every nook and corner of the city, Nazir Ahmad, general secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Handicapped Association (JKHA), said their was a need to check the menace.

“It needs to be probed. These people can be seen in large numbers collecting alms and using different tactics to compel passersby to help them monetarily. But as it gets dark, they all vanish. This needs to be investigated for the common good of society,” said Nazir, who is himself physically challenged.

He demanded reservation in jobs, residential quarters, space for office, free education and medical care, ramps in all educational institutions, tricycles, soft loans, facilities to market their product and reservation in the state Legislative Assembly.

A resident of Garoora-Bandipora said there were around 1.5 lakh physically challenged people registered in the state. “Mostly, people were rendered physically challenged due to cross-firing and some of them were kidnapped by militants and rendered physically challenged.”

He expressed dissatisfaction over lack of rehabilitation schemes available to them. He was of the opinion that a lot of hue and cry was raised over the grant of 33 per cent reservation for women. “No one speaks about the representation for the physically challenged. We are an ignored lot. Neither civil society nor the government comes forward to look into our grievances. We are supported by none,” said Nazir. He added that the association formed in 2002 had been working for rehabilitation, employment and compensation for the physically challenged.

Nazir said in the absence of rehabilitation schemes the physically challenged people were left with no option but to ask for alms. “Let the government and voluntary organisations join hands and come forward in our support. We need a proper and effective support system so that we too are a part of society and contribute to its well-being and development. We don’t want to be looked down upon or considered a burden on society.”

Jammu, May 6
A local court in Akhnoor today granted bail to all three accused, allegedly involved in a recruitment scam of permanent porters in the Army.

Gian Chand Sharma, SHO, Akhnoor police station said: “The court has granted bail to the three accused, including the Defence Labour Officer, involved in the recruitment scam.”

Earlier, the accused were sent to police remand for two days by the court on May 4.

The police had caught the Defence Labour Officer (DLO) and his two touts red-handed, with an amount of Rs 1.07 lakh graft, which they had allegedly taken for the appointment of four youths of Doda as permanent porters in the Army.

The police further said the recruitment was being held on May 3, at Tanda in Akhnoor subdivision.

The DLO, Khurshid Ahmed, a resident of Bandipora, and the two touts namely, Dalip Koul, a resident of Habbakadal, and Vijay Kumar, a resident of Doda, were arrested by the police and booked under Section 420 of the RPC at Akhnoor police station.

Jammu, May 6
Pakistani troops opened fired at a forward post on the LoC in Mendhar sector of Poonch district this morning. It was the second such incident in less than a week’s time in the area. According to official sources, Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing in Chajjaman area on the LoC this morning.

“At around 7.15 am a brief fire came from across the LoC in Chajjaman area in Mendhar,” ASP Mendhar, Vivek Gupta told The Tribune.

However, the authorities concerned denied it. “No such incident has happened at the LoC in Mendhar,” said an Army official. Meanwhile, the security forces busted a hideout in Reasi district and recovered some arms and ammunition from it. Sources said, acting on a tip off security forces busted the hideout in Gulabgarh area of Reasi district. Troops of 58 Rashtriya Rifles and the police had participated in the operation, revealed the sources.

Jammu, May 6
Shri Maharaja Ghulab Singh (SMGS) Hospital celebrated its 70th foundation day, here, today. The Minister for Medical and Technical Education, RS Chib, was the chief guest. MLA, Jammu East and chairman of the hospital development committee, Ashok Khajuria, was the guest of honour.

Accompanied by the hospital staff, the minister and the MLA garlanded the bust of Maharaja on the premises of the hospital and lauded his role in the state.

“Every effort is being made to reduce the patient load at Government Medical College and Hospital as well as its associated hospitals, including SMGS Hospital,” the minister said and added, “The government has already released Rs 140 crore for the upcoming superspeciality hospital.”

Replying to a question over the sewerage treatment plant, the minister said a proposal involving an amount of Rs 1.99 crore was with the government.

The address of welcome address was given by principal of the hospital, Dr Rajinder Singh, and the vote of thanks was delivered by medical superintendent of the hospital Dr Romesh Gupta.

Srinagar, May 6
Though the police and the Revenue Department have taken steps to curb drug trafficking in the valley, especially in South Kashmir,considered to be the hub of the illegal trade, peddlers have now roped in boys and women.

Two days ago, the police arrested a 13-year-old boy with 500 gm of charas in Anantnag district. Last evening, two women drug peddlers were arrested from the same district and 1.35 kg of charas recovered from their possession.

“Umar Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Marhama village, who was arrested with 500 gm of charas worth lakhs in the international market is the youngest drug peddler to have been arrested in the valley,” a senior police officer told The Tribune. He said this was the first time that a minor had been arrested for possessing drugs.

“ The two women drug peddlers who were also arrested yesterday with 1.35 kg of charas have been identified as Meena and Taja Begum,residents of the Parimpora area,” the officer added.

“ We cannot check bags of schoolchildren and it is also not possible to have a woman police officer everywhere.The drug smugglers are taking advantage of this and using children and women,” said the police officer.

Though the police has destroyed poppy crop in many parts of the valley, the cultivation goes unabated. “We have seen that in recent years, there has been an increase in the area under poppy cultivation, especially in South Kashmir, and in the past few days with the help of the Revenue Department, we destroyed crop on a large area, but still there are some untraced areas,” said an officer of the Narcotics Department.

Srinagar, May 6
The heavy rain that lashed the valley for several days, resulting in the flooding of several low-lying areas, stopped today. Though State Flood Control Department officers said they had not issued any formal flood warning in the areas, there was panic among residents.

“Though the water level had almost touched the danger mark at several places, there was no reason for panic,” said an officer. The department had taken measures to ensure that there was no loss of life, if the situation took a turn for the worse.
In the recent past, there have been many occasions when the Jehlum had breached the danger mark causing the flooding of several areas in Srinagar city and other low-lying areas in the valley.

“The situation has worsened in the past few years. There have been rampant encroachments on the banks of the river and water channels have been blocked.So, it has further aggravated the situation,” the sources said.