Zero Line (Chamliyal), June 24
Though there have been ceasefire violations and firing from the Pakistan side recently, the Pakistan Rangers talked about peace with India here today. Barely 600 yards from the shrine of Baba Chamliyal, 2nd Chenab Rangers Lieutenant Colonel Wing Commander Raja Shahid conveyed the message of peace and brotherhood to the people of India.

The officer from the Chenab Rangers avoided acerbic queries regarding the sudden spurt in unprovoked firing on the international border and the Line of Control (LoC) asking the mediapersons to stick to the Baba Chamliyal Mela.

“The atmosphere here is wonderful and I feel we should not spoil it”, responded Shahid to a journalist, who wanted to know about the sudden increase in unprovoked firing from the Pakistan side.

“We convey our message of peace and brotherhood to the people of India,” he said.

Shahid thanked the BSF for adequate arrangements to make the fair a successful one. “The arrangements are as wonderful as they were last year and I am glad that the BSF has given us and our people an opportunity to become part of this festival,” he said.

He said approximately 25,000 devotees had assembled at Saidawali on the Pakistan side of the border to celebrate the annual fair.

“The fair enhances mutual cooperation and trust between the two countries,” Shahid said, adding that “We look forward to more interactions in future as well.”

Shahid led a delegation of eight officers of the Pakistan Rangers, which was received by the Commandant of 72 Battalion of the BSF, Hemant Kumar, and other BSF officers.

However, a senior officer of the Pakistan Rangers’ Punjab sector Commander, Brigadier Mohammed Masud, could not come this year and hence DIG, BSF, SK Singh also stayed away from the meeting between the two border forces.

“On behalf of the people of India, we also conveyed them our message of peace and love”, said Hemant Kumar.

Later, the Pakistan Rangers offered a ‘chadar’ and sweets at the shrine of Baba Daleep Singh Manhas, called Baba Chamliyal in local parlance.

The BSF in return dispatched trolleys of ‘shakkar’ and ‘sharbat’ (soil and water) from the famous shrine. Devotees believe that ‘shakkar’ and ‘sharbat’ healed skin ailments.

Srinagar, June 24
Accepting that the state police is not trained to handle protesters in a professional manner, Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar said today that the government had to face embarrassing situations over the deaths of three youths in police action in the valley recently.

“The government had to face embarrassment over the killing of three youths in Srinagar. They died due to direct firing of tear-gas shells. Had the police been trained in handling protesters, it would not have fired tear-gas shells in such a manner,” said Sagar. He was speaking at a certificate distribution function organised by the Directorate of LifeLong Learning (DLL), Kashmir University, in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir State Council for Science and Technology.

“Unemployment is a burning issue in the state. Lack of skill development is our biggest problem. We lack technical staff,” said the minister, adding that “everything here is working on ad hocism”.

Sagar added that the state government on December 5 framed a comprehensive Sher-e-Kashmir Employment Policy. “But there isn’t enough awareness about it among the masses,” he said.

“The biggest challenge confronting education, especially technical and vocational education, is the unavailability of human resource which is conversant with the latest technology,” said Minister for Medical Education and Sports RS Chib.

He said, “If we have to overcome the problem of unemployment in the country, we will have to train 500 million persons by 2022.” He added that the establishment of 18 polytechnics in the state would be completed within two years.

Chib said the Central government had been requested to set up more than 100 ITIs at the block level. “Skill development centres will be established in public private partnership”.

Prof Riyaz Punjabi, Vice-Chancellor of the university, said, “Our education system is producing unemployables. Skill upgrading at different levels is essential.” He called for more employment opportunities for the youth.

Prof Neelofar Khan, DLL director, while highlighting the achievements and contributions of the Directorate, said, “It is our mission to reach out to far-off places with different skill-based programmes. The directorate was committed to helping solve the problem of unemployment by way of imparting quality skill-development education to the youth in remote areas.”

Zero Line (Chamliyal) June 24
On a day when India and Pakistan began the process of bilateral talks in Islamabad for improving relations, security forces of both countries kept the public away from Zero Line at the annual Baba Chamliyal Mela here today.

Contrary to the practice during the past few years, devotees on both sides of the border were kept 600 metres behind Zero Line where Pakistan Rangers brought “chadar” for the Chamliyal shrine and the BSF gave them a tractor-trailer full of sand and a water tanker.

On the last Thursday of June every year, the Mela is organised in memory of Baba Daleep Singh Manhas, also called Baba Chamliyal,who was said to have lived over three centuries ago and was murdered by a group of saints.His severed head fell at the place where the shrine is located on the Indian side while the body fell near the Saidawali post in Pakistan.

The Mela was held for three centuries. After Partition, its importance grew as it became a symbol of unity and a forum for cultural assimilation. It was discontinued only during the three wars fought between India and Pakistan.

“The border has not only partitioned the land, but also cut our hearts in two pieces. They have divided the shrine also. We come to meet our Pakistani brothers and sisters”, said a 77-year-old devotee,Harjinder Singh, who claimed his cousins who turned Muslims lived in Pakistan.

The Pakistan Rangers have been coming here regularly since 2003.People from both sides have been visiting the shrine to greet each other from a distance. Last year, a woman came from Srinagar and was seen waiving at her in-laws , who had come from Pakistan.

But this year, the BSF and the Rangers were strict in keeping the people away from Zero Line. While the Pakistani media is never allowed by the Rangers to come to the border, Indian mediapersons also reached Zero Line with great difficulty.

Sources said the Rangers had conveyed to their counterparts that they were not comfortable in the presence of mediapersons, who asked them questions regarding infiltration and unprovoked firing from across the border.

Jammu, June 24
Despite hot climate, colleges in the city are witnessing a huge rush of students seeking admission to various bachelors courses

The number of aspirants is increasing with every passing day. The last date for the sale and receipt of filled admission forms is June 26 and some colleges will declare the first selection list on June 30.

Government Gandhi Memorial (GGM) Science College has around 1,500 seats in the morning shift and it has sold around 1,000 admission forms in the last two days.

Similarly, Maualana Azad Memorial (MAM) College claims to have sold around 1,200 admission forms in the last two days while it has around 1,300 seats. The college has also conducted two counselling camps for arts and science streams to guide the students.

The rush of admission seekers in Government College for Women, Parade, and Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, was equally big. The students were full of enthusiasm about getting admission in colleges.

Almost all the colleges are expecting a large number of students to take admission this time as compared to the previous year. Some colleges are apprehensive that the number of students might go beyond the available seats.

While talking to The Tribune, the Principal of Sri Pratap Memorial Rajput Commerce College, Dr Anita Sudan, said last year the college admitted around 965 students while this year the number of students might cross 1,500 mark. The available seats in the college are 560. For increasing the overall result percentage, the college has also made the subject of Business Math optional from this year.

Expressing similar views, the Principal of MAM College, Prof Ajeet Aggral, said, “Last year around 1,300 students took admission to arts and science streams but this year the number might go beyond 1,300 seats.” He said besides imparting education in arts and science streams, the college would also offer BBA course from this academic session.

“We are waiting for the final approval. The university authorities have inspected the college and the government has also given permission to start this course in the college,” Ajeet said.

Sunderbani, June 24
At the sub-district hospital here lies an eight-day-old abandoned baby girl whose mother, a minor, has been missing from her house in Makol village for the past few days.

Speaking to this correspondent, the family of the unmarried girl alleged that she was sexually exploited while working as a domestic help with a family which shifted from the village and settled in Jammu.

After her father died two years ago, the victim left school.“ They ( her employers) took her along on the plea of educating her. We never knew what they were up to ,” said Veero.

“Her employer, Susheel, accompanied by his wife, Kunti, brought the minor to us after eight months--10 days before she delivered the baby,” said her mother,Veera, and added, “She has been missing since the day police took her for a medical examination. We suspect they ( her employers) have either killed her or sent her to some other place.”

Accompanied by her sister, Anjali alias Bindu, and a distant relative, Kishore, the victim visited several doctors in Jammu, but none agreed to help her in delivery, fearing she was a minor.

“ On our way back, she developed labour pains. So, we headed to Hotel Shivam where she delivered a baby girl at night. We thought we would abandon the baby”, said Anjali.

However, her cousin Kishore “committed a blunder by not abandoning the child at a secluded place,but on the roadside where she was noticed by passersby.”

“Meanwhile, Kunti, the wife of the minor’s employer, informed the police. We were summoned to the police station, but let off after questioning,”Anjali said.

“Susheel and Kunti are blaming Kishore, but he is innocent,” Veero intervened, and added “I will sell off everything to ensure that Susheel and Kunti are sent to jail. They have cheated me. The incident has defamed us.People are treating us like outcasts.”  When contacted, the police said there had been no breakthrough so far in the case.

Srinagar, June 24
The State Haj Committee has unanimously elected Chief Minister Omar Abdullah as its chairman at its meeting here today.

The meeting was chaired by the Secretary, Haj and Auqaf, Ajaz Iqbal. MLC Jehangir Hussain Mir proposed the name of the Chief Minister for the chairmanship while former minister Haji Nisar Ali seconded the proposal.

Omar is the first Chief Minister to be elected the chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir State Haj Committee. Later, Omar chaired the first meeting of the committee and took stock of its functioning and measures afoot to make befitting arrangements for the Haj 2010.

Various matters pertaining to the Haj arrangements and facilities to the Hujaj-i-Kiram were discussed in detail. The Chief Minister approved Rs 2 crore for the early completion of a Haj House at Bemina so that it was fully utilised for providing adequate facilities to the pilgrims.

Omar also asked the committee to provide cellphones to the Khudam-ul-Hujaj so that they were available to Hajis. He also asked for finding out a mechanism for selecting Khudam-ul-Hujaj from all districts to help ensure their proper service to the Hajis during Haj days.

Jammu, June 24
Naresh Gupta, father of Shalin Gupta, today broke his silence over his son’s murder and raised questions over the transfer of an SP and an SDPO, who were investigating the case. He also appealed to people to raise the issue to ensure speedy justice for them.

Gupta, who had been keeping mum over the issue and avoiding the media for the past 13 days, finally broke his silence today and accused senior police officers of trying to save the culprits by transferring SP (South) Abdul Razak Khan and SDPO (South) Kulwant Singh Jasrotia. The then acting SHO of Gandhi Nagar police station, Ajit Singh, was also transfered after the incident.

“The officers, who were investigating the case and had helped us in finding the body of my son, had been transferred for some obvious reasons. The police is under some pressure, it is doing such kind of things,” alleged Gupta at his house.

He demanded that the transferred police officers be reposted to their earlier positions. He also appealed to people to raise the issue to ensure speedy justice to them.

“The public has played an important role by holding protests and carrying out rallies in the city for the sake of my son. Now, again there is a need to organise rallies so that we get speedy justice,” he said.

Meanwhile, witnesses in the case have given their statements against the accused in court here.

Jammu, June 24
Though more than four months have passed after the appointment of the vice-chairman of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) Advisory Board, the ruling coalition has failed to appoint other members of the board due to political reasons. The coalition partners, Congress and NC, was to give a list of 15 members each for the newly constituted advisory board but they have failed to prepare the lists.

Although both parties are giving excuses for the inordinate delay in the appointment of the members, sources said it was all due to lack of consensus that no decision had been taken.

As the vice-chairman belongs to the Congress, the NC wants more number of members on the board. Furthermore, within the Congress, leaders of factions have been pressuring party leadership to appoint their loyalists as members of the advisory board.

To win over the members of OBCs in the state, the Omar government, with the initiative of the Congress, constituted the advisory board for the community on the pattern of the advisory boards for Gujjars and Bakerwals and Schedule Castes (SCs). Kuldeep Raj Verma, a Congress leader, was appointed the vice-chairman of the board on February 15.

While constituting the advisory board the government had announced that it would be made functional soon and other members appointed as early as possible. However, even after four months no action had been taken.

Meanwhile, Verma claimed that the board had been functioning smoothly and many steps had been taken for the welfare of the OBC community. He, however, admitted that the appointment of other members was necessary to make the board more representative and effective.

“The leadership of both parties have to take a decision on the appointment of members,” he said. Verma said during the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the Kashmir valley he took up the issue of OBCs in the state with him. He reiterated his demand for the grant of 27 per cent reservation to OBCs in the state as prevalent in other states.

Srinagar, June 24
All is set for the first-ever car rally, named as “Mogul rally---in the footsteps of Jehangir” via the historic Mughal Road in which 40 participants will be flagged off from the Royal Springs Golf Course (RSGF) here tomorrow. After traversing about 1,100 km, including the 84- km-long Mughal Road strip, the first group of rallyists will reach here on Saturday evening.

The scrutiny of 60 vehicles, including 40 rally cars and 20 of the organisers, was held here today. In all, about 150 persons would be traversing for the next two days of the event being jointly organised by the State Tourism Department and Jammu and Kashmir Bank to explore more tourist destinations in the state. The idea was mooted at the prize distribution function of the Raid- de- Himalaya here last year with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah showing keen interest in adventure tourism.

The rally is being conducted by the Himalayan Motor Sports Association headed by Vijay Parmar, which has been conducting international rallies since 1998 on the Manali-Leh-Srinagar axis. “This is for the first time that the rally is being conducted from Srinagar and covering the historic Mughal Road,” said Mohammad Ashraf, a well-known figure in adventure sports and former Director-General Tourism Department. He has been associated with car rallies since 1988 when the first- ever Great Desert Himalyan Rally was organised on the Delhi-Rajasthan-Manali-Leh-Srinagar route. The practice was discontinued due to the eruption of militancy in the state.

Through the event, the State Tourism Department will focus on exploring newer areas for tourism potential. The new areas on this route are the Daksum-Kishtwar stretch on the extreme south of Kashmir and Bafliaz-Dobjan stretch of the Mughal Road that connects Kashmir division with the Rajouri-Poonch areas of Jammu division. “These are the most scenic areas and are full of interesting tourist spots”, said Ashraf, adding that the rally would help in exploring these areas. 

Jammu, June 24
The World Women’s Awakening Organization (WWAO), J&K Chapter, today celebrated Rutt-Rahade festival at Balika Niketan, Ved Mandir. In the festival, the young girls of Niketan were taught about the importance of “Rutt-Rahade”.

The function was organised under the leadership of Sneh Bali, national general secretary and convener of the W.W.A.O. The programme commenced with putting the neck part of pitcher in the soil. The girls sow the seeds of pulses and crops grown in this season.

Later, a colourful rangoli was also made, around the Rahadas.Speakers apprised the inmates of Balika Niketan about the cultural importance of Rutt-Rahade festival.

They said the festival brings not only mutual love and harmony among the womenfolk of society but also teaches the girls about the importance of the rich cultural heritage of Duggar Pradesh.

Prof Sarla Kohi, president, W.W.A.O., exhorted the womenfolk to come forward to preserve the rich cultural heritage of Dogras which symbolises universal brotherhood. She said that festival was also celebrated as a testimony of the crops of season.

Nowshera, June 24
Tension gripped the town this afternoon after the death of a cow in the border village of Jhangar yesterday.Shopkeepers at the main market put up the shutters when the villagers reached the town along with corpse in a tractor-trailer.

Soon, the number of protesters swelled and they blocked the highway by burning condemned tyres.

Villagers belonging to a particular community said the bovines of Bhola Ram had gone missing and one of the cows was found dead in the fields of a person belonging to another community.

The main market at the tehsil headquarters remained closed till evening and protesters demanded prompt and strict action against the accused.

They were pacified by police and civil administration officials. ASI at the Bhowani police post, Mohd Shariq, said:" The cow was not hit with any sharp- edged weapon. It died after being hit with a lathi”. Meanwhile, Mohd Aslam, son of Shah Mohd, and Quyoom, son of Alam Deen, have been taken into preventive custody.”