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Landslide in Ladakh Region PM keen on dialogue with Pak: Soz Jamaat-e-Islami hails Gilani’s remarks on Kashmir |
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Visit of Amnesty Team 3 militants killed
in Pulwama Non-state subjects not to
be included
Elections to Jammu varsity students union soon
Militant’s designs exposed, ‘wife’ turns out to be minor
Decorated cop dubbed militants’ sympathiser
Burning of stubble goes on
Tour operators flay parties over entry fee
Govt harassing minorities, says BJP
Suicide bid: Girl dies, boy struggling for life
Kathua boy tops in school board class XII exam
Sugndhi, Ashna, Ishan top in CBSE Class XII exams
Make educational institutions schools of excellence, says CM
Two militants killed
BSF notices activity near LoC, opens fire
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Landslide in Ladakh Region Srinagar, May 19 He said on the receipt of information by the Army detachment at Changla Top, a team was rushed to the site immediately. It evacuated 73 civilians buried under the snow,including District Social Welfare Officer,Leh, Mohammad Latif,who was critically injured, to the Changla Army detachment where first aid was provided to them. Latilf who was given medical aid there succumbed to his injuries while being taken to a camp at Tangtse, the spokesman said. The body of another person, identified as A. Balakrishnan, was found buried under the snow when the search operations were resumed this morning. All evacuated civilians were provided transport by the Army and were taken to their destinations at Leh safely after recovering their vehicles. Meanwhile, While the water in the Jhelum was flowing much below the danger mark, a heavy rain during the past few days has caused damage in some parts of Kupwara. At least 47 labourers of a stone quarry trapped in the flood were rescued with the help of locals yesterday. Kupwara district received 44 mm rainfall yesterday, resulting in the flooding of the Kehamil, Khorhama, Kalaroos, Hayhama and Kohru nullahs. Six bridges and culverts were washed away in Batnaad, Shalgund, Malgund, Shumeriyal, Gundisana and Kalaroos villages of Lolab, cutting off several villages, an official spokesman here said. The Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Taj Mohiud Din, today visited several areas along the Jhelum to take stock of the situation. He was informed that water had started receding at Sangam and the level was well below the danger mark. He also interacted with the villagers. He also visited Ganda Bal, Lasjan, from where reports of a minor breach of the Jhelum bank were received. He inspected the spot and directed the engineers to undertake the repair work. |
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PM keen on dialogue with Pak: Soz The Prime Minister, according to state Congress chief and former union minister Saifuddin Soz, is “sincere and eager about the dialogue process”. Talking to newsmen here today, Soz said Dr Manmohan Singh believed in a vigorous dialogue process with Pakistan and the separatists. He opined that the “quiet dialogue” announced by Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram here last year “must be going on”. Soz held the Prime Minister was in favour of talks despite the Mumbai attacks. Soz felt the Hurriyat Conference should not wait for an invitation,but said their ideology must be appreciated. He hoped that they would be able to put forward their point of view. The state Congress President denied reports about his party’s differences with the National Conference, making it clear that there was a commitment to continue the alliance for six years. About differences within the state unit of the party, Soz said there was no factionalism, but some people were “disgruntled”. However, he was ready to solve issues of any Congress leader. On the party’s recent membership drive, Soz held that there had been a tremendous response from women and youth, particularly in the Kashmir valley. The youth and women were represented properly, he maintained, and added the massive response was “heartening”. Giving the details, Soz disclosed that Kashmir division registered 2.40 lakh members against the previous number of 83,000, while Jammu division registered 2.45 lakh members against 1.19 lakh earlier. The number in Kashmir would go up further as the drive was yet to be taken up in the Ladakh region, he added. |
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Jamaat-e-Islami hails Gilani’s remarks on Kashmir Srinagar, May 19 It has also reiterated its stand that the only acceptable solution was the implementation of UN resolutions and the establishment of peace between the two nations that was conditional to the everlasting solution of it in accordance with the wishes of the people. Welcoming Gilani’s statement, the Jamaat urged the Centre to take firm steps for the final resolution of the issue. The involvement of the Hurriyat leadership in the dialogue process was also necessary, a Jamaat spokesman said. The Jamaat-e-Islami always wished cordial relations between the two neighbouring nations and as such supported the ideas expressed by Pakistan High Commissioner Shahid Malik, the statement said. It sought early resolution of the Kashmir issue, the bone of contention between the two neighbouring countries, and added that it would alone bring peace and prosperity not only to the Indo-Pak subcontinent, but also to the Asian subcontinent. |
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Visit of Amnesty Team Srinagar, May 19 The KPSS apprised the visiting team about the apathetic attitude of the government towards the members of the community, who had been residing in the valley even after a majority of them migrated after the growth of militancy about two decades ago. The government was creating hostile conditions for them, the KPSS said and added that it was “one of the best examples of human rights violations”. While on the one hand, the state government claimed there were 808 Pandit families permanently residing in the valley since 1990,on the other hand, the administration sought “non-migrant certificate” from them for any purpose, the organisation president, Sanjay K Tickoo, said. Even if a Pandit produced all relevant records for sale or purchase of property within the valley, like telephone bills, electricity bills, voter ID-card, ration card or employment card, the authorities concerned refused to accept the same for want of “non-migrant certificate”, he stated. Meanwhile, the team also called upon the PDP President Mehbooba Mufti at her residence and discussed the prevailing situation. She hoped that the visit would help the process of reconciliation. Mehbooba informed the delegation about the party’s stand on the revocation of AFSPA and demilitarisation of civilian areas where militants’ threats had receded. She said the killing of innocents and preventive detention were a cause of concern for the party which was using all democratic channels to bring in a change in the situation. |
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3 militants killed
in Pulwama Srinagar, May 19 Acting on a specific
information the Army launched search operations in the village today. At
around 3.15 p.m, the militants there opened fire.The troops returned the
fire, resulting in the killing of three militants. Two AK rifles and a
pistol were recovered from their possession, defence spokesperson Lt-
Col JS Brar said. Those killed were identified as Latif Tedwa, a
“battalion commander” of the Hizbul Mujahideen, Rafiq Bhat and Imran. Jammu:
The security forces today gunned down two “divisional commanders” of
the Lashkar-e-Toiba under a joint operation carried out by the 26 RR and
31 RR of Army, CRPF and the police in the forest area of Jaura Khurd,
Gundoh, in Doda district. |
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Non-state subjects not to
be included Srinagar, May 19 This has been done in view of apprehensions by some individuals,a Census Department spokesman said here, and added any citizen could fill the NPR form anywhere in the country, but he/she had to specifically mention the permanent residential address of the village, town, district and state. His/her unique identify card would be accordingly issued. Accordingly, there was no scope that any non-state subject working in Jammu and Kashmir would be able to get any place in the state’s NPR. The form which he/she filled at the place of working would accordingly be transmitted to his place of origin and own state. The spokesman gave the specific example of the Governor NN Vohra, who had filled the form at Srinagar showing clearly his permanent address at Gurgaon. Accordingly, his Unique Identity Card would be issued for Haryana on the basis of his permanent address. The same shall be applicable to all other senior-level officers and employees who were non-state subjects and working here. |
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Elections to Jammu varsity students union soon
Jammu, May 19 Announcing this at a press conference here today, Vice-Chancellor Dr Varun Sahni called the students to end the week-long strike, saying there was never a proposal for a police post nor there would be as long as he was the Vice-Chancellor. The Vice-Chancellor addressed the media few hours after the protesting students obstructed a function in the Department of Budhist Studies and tried to gherao him when he came out of the function. Sahni said he had been accepting genuine demands of the students but the protest against the police post was baseless. “The police personnel on deputation with the university would not have the power to arrest anyone or register cases. They would be wearing the uniform of the Jammu University Watch and Ward Staff known as the University Guards,” he said. On the reason behind the deployment of cops, the VC said they were necessary for frisking outsiders and prevent anti-social elements entering the univesity. He said he was open to discussion on any demand put forward by students in a democratic way. “A group of students said the deployed cops has negligible presence of lady constables so we have requested the state police to increase women personnel on the campus,” he said. He said the university had about 120 guards of its own but it was difficult for them to keep an eye on the vast campus. He came down heavily on several self-styled leaders and organisations, who he claimed did not have the support of majority of students. “There are so many student organisations, mostly politically affiliated, and they have no work in the university. To regulate the system and to choose actual representatives of the students, he in consultation with Chancellor and Governor NN Vohra, of the university had decided to have a Jammu University Students Union. “The notification of the elections would be issued soon,” he said. Meanwhile, students continued their protests today. President of the Progressive Students Association Rahul claimed all students were participating in the strike. He said all student bodies had formed a united front called SSCAPP- Students Scholars Committee. He questioned the Vice-Chancellor’s claims, saying the police had written to the university to provide them arms and ammunition and equipment to manage crowd. Claiming he has copy of the letter, he said all that would cost the students only as the expenditure was tipped at Rs 70 lakh.
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Militant’s designs exposed, ‘wife’ turns out to be minor
Jammu, May 19 Ashraf (24), who belongs to Badgam in Kashmir, had crossed over to Pakistan at the age of 13. After attending several terror camps in the occupied Kashmir (PoK), he crossed back to the country via Saujian in Poonch on May 10 night with his wife, claiming he wanted to return to the mainstream. But a medical examination has busted his plans with the alleged wife turning out to be a 15-year-old virgin, Asima of Kota in Pakistan. Both insisted till the medical examination that they were married but the report busted their lie. Top Army and police sources confirmed to The Tribune that Mohd Ashraf had come under the garb of being a family man to later establish himself in the state and help the militant groups whose most commanders have been killed. “We were suspecting they were not married. They were lovers. The girl is basically from Kashmir. Her forefathers had migrated in 1947 to Pakistan. She was lured by him and both planned to settle here in the valley,” a senior official said. They kept claiming they were married about five months ago but when exposed admitted the truth. The police was investigating the matter further. Sources said this could be a new method of Pak-based militant groups to send persons here posing them as family man.
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Decorated cop dubbed militants’ sympathiser
Jammu, May 19 A decorated cop, Davinder Kumar has been declared absconder and a manhunt has been launched to arrest him. Interestingly, the absconding cop has received a number of commendation certificates for his role in anti-militancy operation and his services were appreciated by many senior police officers. Interacting with the media, Guddi Devi alleged that at the behest of a senior police officer, cops have been unnecessarily harassing her family. Narrating an incident that took place on the night of May 16, she said a group of cops forced its entry into her house at Larote village in Bhaderwah, despite the fact that there were only female members present in the house at that time. After that incident, she along with her younger sister Geeta Devi, brother Inder Singh and sister-in-law Saina Devi ran away from Bhaderwah. All of them had taken shelter in Jammu to protect their family from the wrath of cops. “Instead of asking us about our brother, the cops broke open a door and entered rooms where girls were sleeping, in search of him,” she said with tears in her eyes. A scared Guddi Devi, whose husband Sundar Lal was hacked to death by the militants in 1993, felt there might be some militant sympathisers in the police, who have been instigating senior cops against her brother. Countering allegations levelled by the police that her brother had sold a weapon to militants, she said, “We are ourselves victims of militancy and question of selling a weapon to militants does not arise.” She further added Davinder Kumar was on the hit list of militants for his role in eliminating more than 100 terrorists in Doda, Kishtwar and Bhaderwa areas. “If my brother has sold a weapon to the militants than why the government has deployed a security guard for the protection of our family?” she asked. Sisters of Davinder Kumar produced certificates of recommendation given to him by the Army and other agencies for his role in successfully conducting anti-militancy operations in many areas of erstwhile Doda district. The family members said that the then Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah and the then Defence Minister George Fernandes during their visit at Marmat Doda in 2002 had appreciated Davinder’s role as the Special Task Force (STF) in charge Marmat and had assured to give him one rank promotion. Family members blamed a senior police deployed at Doda for the whole episode and demanded a judicial probe to ascertain the truth.
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Burning of stubble goes on
Kullian (R S Pura), May 19 The state government had earlier issued an advisory to farmers not to burn stubble. During a visit to the Jammu-Suchetgarh highway today, a Tribune team found the stubble burnt in fields on the main road. Though there was no fresh fire, it seemed the stubble was burnt at night to avoid any action by the authorities. During an interaction with a number of farmers and labourers, this correspondent observed that they were in a hurry to ready their fields for the sowing of paddy. To avoid any delay, they termed it as the easiest and cheapest way. Though aware of the fact that the burning of stubble might decrease the fertility of the land, the farmers are in no mood to adopt other methods. “I think it is necessary to kill unwanted and harmful pests left out of the last crop”, said Harsharan Singh of Kullian village. The experts believed that farmers in the region needed to be told about the ill-effects of stubble burning. Mahender Singh, an agricultural scientist at Sher-e-Kashmir University for Agriculture Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) said: “The J&K Agriculture Department should impose a complete ban on stubble burning in the state as the neighbouring states like Punjab and Haryana have imposed. It will not only prove environment-friendly,but also minimise fires”. A senior official of the Agriculture Department said they had issued an advisory to the farmers for not burning the stubble and if farmers were still doing so, then the department was helpless because it had no power to take action.
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Tour operators flay parties over entry fee
Jammu, May 19 Addressing a press conference, Capt Anil Gour, chairman of the state chapter of the IATO, said: “It is most surprising that those people who consider themselves as leaders of the masses are again pushing the entire state into a morass of political and communal brinkmanship, forgetting that in this process the remaining tourist season will be ruined.” He pointed out that Jammu and Kashmir was not the only state in the country which had been levying an entry tax on all tourist commercial vehicles entering the state. “To supplement their revenue all states are doing this all these years and the state government has In an obvious reference towards the BJP for raking up this issue, he said: “The neighbouring states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, which are ruled by this party, have been levying entry tax since the past many years.” “Punjab charges Rs 3,000 per day and Himachal Pradesh levies a flat monthly charge of Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 irrespective of the fact that the vehicle is going within the state for only a few days”, he said. Gour also defended the decision of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) for charging registration fee for langar. “The SASB has been doing yeoman service for the smooth conduct of the yatra ever since its formation and all decisions taken by the board are without any bias with only the safety and comfort of the pilgrim in view”, he said, adding, “the fee of Rs 25,000 levied on the langars has Rs 10,000 as refundable security deposit and Rs 15,000 as sanitation charges,” he said. “It is necessary to charge for sanitation as the SASB has to employ labour to clean the area after the conclusion of the yatra”, Gour added. The IATO requested all political parties to refrain from spreading false information and also trying to create any sort of upheaval
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Govt harassing minorities, says BJP
Jammu, May 19 “Some black sheep in the administration have been trying to accomplish the unfinished agenda of the militants,” alleged BJP legislative party leader Chaman Lal Gupta while addressing a joint press conference with former president Daya Krishan Kotwal, Koushal Kotwal and Ramesh Arora. “Since the formation of this regime, efforts are being made to demoralise the nationalist forces living in Doda and Kishtwar districts,” he further alleged, adding a number of cases had come to the notice of the party where police officers were found harassing families of those who had played a dominant role in containing the militancy. Daya Krishan Kotwal, a leader from Bhaderwah pointed out that authorities had been disbanding Village Defence Committees (VDCs) in a systematic manner despite the fact that its members had played important role in protecting minorities. Kotwal warned that if such policies of the government continued minorities would be left with no option but to migrate to safer places. |
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Suicide bid: Girl dies, boy struggling for life
Jammu, May 19 The girl was declared brought dead by doctors and the condition of the boy was stated to be critical. Sources said Shashi Bala of Muthi in Domana, who runs a beauty parlour, allegedly committed suicide, while her boyfriend Kaka Ram, who runs a STD booth near the girl’s house, was saved with the timely efforts of doctors. The sources added that this morning, both girl and boy consumed some poisonous substance and tried to commit suicide as their family members were against their relation. The police said immediately after getting information, a police party was rushed to the spot, which took the duo to Government Medical College and Hospital. However, Bharat Sharma, SHO, Domana police station, said: “No suicide note has been recovered from the spot and we are trying to ascertain the facts. Inquest proceedings under Section 174, CrPC, have been initiated in this regard and a case has been registered against the boy.”
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Kathua boy tops in school board class XII exam
Jammu, May 19 Marred by paper leak and mass copying scandals, the Class XII result of BOSE showed dismal figures with only 45 per cent of the over 43,000 students passing the exam. Private schools fared little better than government schools by having 48 per cent pass students, whereas government schools managed to get pass percentage of 43 per cent only. The results declared today afternoon again had girls outshining boys by securing pass percentage of 48 per cent whereas boys could succeed to get only pass percentage of 43 per cent in the Jammu province, which consists of 10 districts. The pass percentage of Chetan Chalotra, a student of RSJN Higher Secondary School was 94.9 per cent, Parul Chhibber of Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Mubarak Mandi, secured pass percentage of 92.8 whereas Farhat Shamim Khan, a student of Government Girls Higher Secondary School secured pass percentage of 91.6 per cent. Out of General English, biology, chemistry, physics, economics, education and political science subjects the highest pass percentage of 79 per cent was secured by the students in mathematics whereas the lowest was recorded in history which was 30 per cent. In mathematics, Supriya Sharma of SD Memorial Public Higher Secondary School secured top position by getting 100 per cent marks. Bupin Sapru of SPHR Secondary School and Supreeti Mahajan of RSJN Higher Secondary school, Kathua secured top honour in chemistry and physics subjects, respectively by getting 98 per cent marks in each. In biology, the top position was clinched by Sheetal Sharma of Shiksha Nikatan Higher Secondary School who secured 98 per cent marks whereas in General English, the top position was secured by Kapilashiv Bazgalia, a student of SRML Higher Secondary School by getting 95.3 per cent marks. Dinesh Kumar of Government Higher Secondary School Gho-Manhasan secured top position in economics by securing 91.3 per cent marks. In Education, Sammer Firdous of Sir Syed Memorial Higher Secondary School, Behrote, secured top position by getting 97.3 pass percentage. In political science Mehak Sharma of Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Mubarak Mandi, secured 95.3 per cent marks. As many as 43,448 students appeared for the examination in which 19,610 students qualified the examination whereas 5,898 students failed to qualify the examination and 17,940 students got re-appear. Around 557 students got distinction and 445 students got first division. The second division was secured by 356 students whereas 265 students succeed in getting third division.
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Sugndhi, Ashna, Ishan top in CBSE Class XII exams
Jammu, May 19 Sugndhi and Ashna both secured 95.2 per cent marks whereas Ishan secured 87.6 per cent marks. Meanwhile, the total pass percentage of Delhi Public School was 90 per cent and KV No-2, Jammu Cantonment, secured pass percentage of 83 per cent. Ishan Koul, a student of Air Force School, Satwari, brought laurel to his school by topping in the non-medical stream of Class XII CBSE examination, by scoring 87.6 per cent marks. While talking to The Tribune, Ishan said that he knew it earlier that he would top the examination in the school. The total pass percentage of the school was 97 per cent. “I was expecting to top and would have been disappointed if I had not got it. Now I aim to become an engineer,” said Ishan. He added,“ Engineering is passion for me from the beginning and Computer Science is my favourite subject.” Even his parents Ashok Koul, who is a government employee, and mother Sunita Koul, who is a teacher in the same school, too were expecting from the beginning that Ishan would secure top position in the exam. “From the beginning of the academic session, I gave full attention to my studies. Preparation as per schedule and revision of the lessons helped me to get top position in the class and also in the school,” said Ishan. Ishan said that he achieved success only due to the cooperation of the Principal and teachers of Vikesh Sandhar School. “The credit of my success also goes to my parents who always encouraged and helped me and to my Chemistry tutor Rashmi Khajuria,” said
Ishan.
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Make educational institutions schools of excellence, says CM
Jammu, May 19 “Various youngsters from Kashmir have proved their mettle by topping and figuring in the selection lists of the Indian Administrative Service and other examinations”, he said, adding “boys and girls of the state are set to achieve new highs in the coming years”. The Chief Minister was addressing a public gathering here after inaugurating the Degree College Complex, constructed at a cost of over Rs 5.75 crore at Thana Mandi in Rajouri district yesterday. Omar emphasised on providing required faculties in degree colleges, adding that the infrastructure alone could not help achieve the goals set in the sector of higher education. Underlining the importance of skill development and enhancement of employability among the educated youth, he said besides 18 modern polytechnic colleges, 140 ITIs were being established in the state, of which around 60 to 70 would come up in Poonch, Rajouri and adjacent districts. He urged youths to seek technical education and get easily absorbed in the job market. Omar said over 70 per cent population was living in rural and far-flung areas and government functionaries had to reach them for their all-round development. “Education is the sector receiving focus of the government”, he added and told the Education Department to implement the schemes as per the schedules ensuring benefits to students.
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Two militants killed
Jammu, May 19 Sources said one of the killed was Abdullah Anas, who had been active since 2004, a senior Army officer said. The other militant was identified as another “divisional commander” of LeT, Abu Maaz, a resident of Pakistan who had been active since 2003. The officer said that after getting information about the movement of terrorists in the forest area, the security forces cordoned off the area and evacuated civilians. Later, a heavy exchange of fire took place between the militants and the security,resulting in the killing of the two militants. Two AK-47 rifles were recovered from the spot, a senior army officer said. Meanwhile, a special police officer who was injured in the encounter died in the hospital. |
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BSF notices activity near LoC, opens fire
Jammu, May 19 They further said immediately after noticing suspicious movement, troops fired a few bullets in the air at Karol Krishna and Bobiya border outposts of Hiranagar Sector today. A search operation was also launched. However, nothing suspicious was found in the area, the sources added. In the yesterday’s incident at Poonch, the jawans who attained martyrdom were identified as a Lance Naik Yogesh and a Lance Naik Atul. SSP, Poonch, Manmohan Singh said four other jawans, who had been injured during the attack, were getting treatment in a hospital and their condition was stated to be stable. The SSP added, “The searches are regularly going on in the area but nothing suspicious has been found as yet.” The sources said after the last evening’s incident, the whole area had been cordoned off by the Army, the police and SOG to conduct raids at several places.
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Seventythree persons caught in a massive landslide in the Ladakh region yesterday were rescued by the Army while two others died.
Jammu, May 19
Kullian (R S Pura), May 19
Jammu, May 19
Presentation Convent School, Gandhi Nagar, secured 100 per cent result in the Class XII Central Board of Secondary School
(CBSE) examination declared today.Sugndhi Malgrotra of Presentation Convent School, Ashna Kumar of Army School Kaluchak and Ishan Koul of Air Force School,
Satwari, secured top positions in their respective schools.
Srinagar, May 19