Jammu, June 30
After blocking SMS services across the Kashmir valley to check rumourmongers and troublemakers from flaring up emotions in the already surcharged atmosphere, the government blocked the services across Jammu also today.

“As per the instructions of the Central government, we blocked BSNL’s SMS service across the Jammu region,” BSNL General Manager Sandeep Singh told The Tribune.

No reasons were citied in the official communiqué and till further orders from the Union government the SMS services would remain blocked, he added. Now, the ban on the SMS services existed in the entire state, Sandeep said.

Besides BSNL, six other private cellular companies ie., Airtel, Aircel, Idea, Vodafone, Tata Indicom and Reliance have also blocked their SMS services across Jammu since last midnight.

“Like our competitors, we were also asked to block SMS service across Jammu from last night immediately,” said a media PRO of a leading cellular company here. Cellphone services were suspended in Sopore and Baramulla last night.

The curbs have been imposed to prevent rumourmongers and troublemakers from worsening the situation, said a top Home department official, who insisted anonymity.

The government move reminded the people here of the Amarnath land agitation of 2008 when a similar ban was imposed across the state.

And, in November 2009 the Union Home Ministry had suspended pre-paid cellphone services in the restive state following intelligence reports that pre-paid SIM cards were being misused by the militants and other subversive elements. This move had affected nearly 38 lakh people in the state.

However, following the intervention of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah the pre-paid services with certain changes in the verification process for the subscribers were restored after a gap of nearly three months.

Jammu, June 30
Expressing grave concern over the prevailing situation in the Kashmir valley, the PDP said today that there was total anarchy and chaos in the state as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had lost control over the administration.

PDP general secretary Balbir Singh, while addressing a public meeting at Billawar in Kathua district, said the situation had been deteriorating with every passing day and the government seemed to be helpless in controlling it. “Omar Abdullah has proved to be an immature and failed Chief Minister,” Balbir said, adding that since the formation of the NC-led coalition in the state killings had become a routine affair as this regime had failed to protect lives of the citizens.

“In a short span of one-and-half years this regime has proved to be a failure as those at the helm of the affairs are not aware of the ground realities,” he said.

The PDP leader said since its formation the regime had been trying to hoodwink people by giving confusing statements. “Instead of addressing the problems of the masses, this regime was more concerned about befooling them,” he said.

Balbir also stated that with much fanfare the government had announced to give free ration to drought-affected farmers, but the decision was yet to be implemented. He said a majority of the farmers in the Kandi area of Kathua district had complained that the ration was not properly distributed in the their area.

Jammu, June 30
With the declaration of the first merit list of BA/BSc/BCom (first year), the admission process began from today. The second merit list would be declared on July 4.City colleges witnessed a huge inflow of the students and parents since morning, who were searching names in the merit list.

For some the list brought happiness and many returned disappointed.

“I was expecting my name in the first merit list, but the merit reached very high,” said Farooq Naiyak of Rajouri.

The list for boys and girls was declared separately at Government Sri Pratap Memorial Rajput College of Commerce. Where in the boys list, the cutout was 54 per cent, in girls merit list it was 53. College principal Anita Sudan said: “We have started admission process from today and the classes will commence as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, at Government Maulana Azad Memorial College, the cutout in Arts stream was 43.87 per cent.

In Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, the cutout was at 62 per cent in medical stream and 58 per cent in non-medical stream. It was 50 per cent in arts stream.

Meanwhile, in Government College for Women, Parade, in arts stream, the cutout was as 48.06 per cent and it was 58.26 and 61.02 per cent in medical and non-medical stream, respectively.

In Government Gandhi Memorial Science College (morning shift), the cutout was 45 per cent in medical with Botany, Zoology and Chemistry. In non-medical with computer application, it was recorded as 75.40 per cent whereas in non-medical with mathematics, the cut out was 60.40 per cent and in non-medical with Geography, the cutout was 78.67 per cent.

In non-medical with electronics, the cutout was 68.51 per cent and in non-medical with Geology, it was 61. 02 per cent.

However, in evening shift, the cutout was recorded as 45 per cent in BSc.

Jammu, June 30
Even as the authorities have announced to provide “foolproof” security to pilgrims during the Amarnath yatra, various organisations of the Sangh Parivar have threatened to resort to agitation if the state government failed to protect the devotees and the religious places of the minorities in the Kashmir valley.

The Sangh Parivar has taken a serious note of the reported attack on the buses of pilgrims at Baltal and attempt to set afire a religious place at Anantnag. An emergency meeting of various organisations of the Sangh was held here today to discuss the deteriorating situation in the valley, especially on the beginning of the yatra.

“Despite tall claims by the government to provide foolproof security arrangements, anti-national elements have succeeded in damaging a religious place and creating fear psychosis among the pilgrims,” said Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) state president Ramakant Dubey, who alleged that the ongoing violence in the valley was a deep-rooted conspiracy to disrupt the Amarnath yatra.

Cautioning the government against playing with the religious sentiments of people, the VHP leader reminded the authorities about the 2008 Amarnath land agitation and warned that people would not hesitate to take extreme steps if the authorities failed to ensure the smooth conduct of the yatra.

The BJP in an emergency meeting also took note of the attack on the religious place and buses carrying pilgrims. The party has decided to hold protests tomorrow at all the district headquarters against the failure of the coalition government to keep a check on the activities of anti-national forces in the state.

BJP state president Shamsher Singh Manhas said it was the constitutional duty of the government to maintain law and order in the state and also to ensure safety of every Amarnath pilgrim.

“The yatra is not a mere pilgrimage undertaken by 4-5 lakh pilgrims, but it symbolises the oneness of the country and Jammu and Kashmir being the integral part of India like any other state. Also the fact that the state is accessible to every citizen like other parts of the country,” he said.

The Bajrang Dal also alleged a nexus between the state government and separatist leaders to sabotage the annual Amarnath yatra.

“All Kashmir-based parties, be it separatist or mainstream, are unitedly working to sabotage the yatra as these groups are creating hurdles in the way of the smooth conduct of the yatra,” the Bajrang Dal added.

Jammu, June 30
Instead of acting on her complaint, the police has allegedly been trying to brainwash a sexually victimised girl into marrying the accused.Twenty-two-year old Shakshi (name changed), a student of BA II, today alleged that the police was acting like a “family court” and trying to convince her to withdraw charges against the accused and get married with the person who allegedly had been raping her for four years.

Shakshi said, “She is fatherless while her mother is a heart patient and is the only breadwinner of the family.” Pleading social insecurity, she said she was lured into a physical relation on the promise of marriage.

They had been into a relation for the last four years, the victim said and claimed that during this period she aborted pregnancy twice. She said she wanted strict legal action against the accused for exploiting her emotionally and physically.

On June 27, Shakshi, a resident of Chandan Bihar, Muthi, lodged a complaint against her estranged boyfriend, a resident of the same locality, at Muthi police station. He is a computer operator with the Assam Rifles and is at present posted in Manipur.

“After a few days of friendship, he promised to marry me and started exploiting me physically. On my insistence, he took me to a temple and applied vermillion in the parting of my hair,” she said. “To keep me in good faith, he also got some pictures photographed with me there,” she added.

“Recently he raped me on June 17 and thereafter deserted me and started despising me,” Shakshi said. She added, “He was on leave these days and had probably gone back to his place of posting.”

“The police has been trying to convince me to marry him,” Shakshi said and added “that man does not deserve to be a husband. Today, it’s me; tomorrow it will be some other girl. He should be punished as per the law.”

The SHO concerned said a case had been registered. However, he refused to divulge the sections under which the case had been registered.

Udhampur, June 30
Pilgrims undertaking the Machhail yatra in the far-flung Paddar valley in August may look forward to helicopter services as the Kishtwar district authorities have written to the Jammu Divisional Commissioner regarding it.

According to Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Guldev Raju Bhagat, the matter has been taken up at the divisional level and the final decision will be taken after the permission from the Divisional Commissioner. He said two private companies might be asked to provide helicopter services for pilgrims.

Last year, a private travel agency was permitted to run this service, but it failed to enthuse pilgrims due to high fare as well as lack of proper facilities. The agency charged Rs 8,000 for to and fro journey between Machhail and Gulabgarh.

Sewa Ram, convener of the Sarv Shakti Sewa Sansthan, that organises the yatra, said all these conditions would be part of an agreement with the prospective company providing the services.

The Machhail yatra holds a lot of religious importance since it flourished for the past 30 years. The journey on foot from Gulabgarh, which is the base camp for pilgrims, is quite arduous up to the shrine of Maa Chandi. The rush of pilgrims over the past decade has increased. It is estimated that 50,000 pilgrims visit the shrine every year to pay obeisance.

Jammu, June 30
The Jammu Joint Students’ Federation (JJSF) has threatened to launch an agitation if government delays appointment of a Vice-Chancellor for the Central University.

While addressing a press conference here today, JJSF state president Pushvinder Singh criticised the dilly dallying tactics of the state as well as Central Government for appointing the Vice-Chancellor of the newly announced Central University for Jammu.

He alleged that it was a tactic to debar the students of Jammu from getting the benefits of a Central University. — TNS

Jammu, June 30
Following parleys with the state government this evening the Jammu and Kashmir Oil Tankers Owners’ Association called off its strike promising to resume normal fuel supplies to the Kashmir valley from tomorrow morning.

On an average the association dispatches 24 lakh litres of petrol, diesel, kerosene oil and even ATF to the Kashmir valley daily through a fleet of 200 tankers. “Yes, the Oil Tankers Owners’ Association has withdrawn its strike and from tomorrow morning normal supplies to Kashmir will be resumed,” Jammu Divisional Commissioner Pawan Kotwal told The Tribune.

The government this evening announced a compensation of Rs 10,000 and Rs 25,000 each depending upon the nature of injuries sustained by seven drivers, who were attacked by mischievous elements in Kashmir in the past one week.

Kotwal said the government had also agreed to provide security cover to convoys of oil cargos from the Jawahar tunnel to Kashmir, including Pahalgam.

Association president Anan Sharma said the government agreed to provide us the security and also handed over cheques of compensation to the victims, who were attacked in Kashmir.

Chief Secretary SS Kapur also talked to me over the phone and on July 2 we would be having a meeting with Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Naseema Lanker in Srinagar wherein our security-related concern would be addressed by the government, said Sharma.

The government had also agreed to compensate us for tankers damaged by the unruly mobs in Kashmir in the past one week, he added. For the past one week we had been demanding security for our tankers and drivers, who were being attacked in Kashmir, said Sharma. Though the state machinery initially failed to take cognisance of our grievance it was good that it finally brought its act together, he added.

It may be stated here that following attacks on 35 oil cargos and injuries to drivers by unruly crowds in Kashmir, the Oil Tankers Owners’ Association stopped fuel supplies to the valley this morning.

On June 21, a tanker and its driver Bachiter Singh from the Simbal camp were attacked at Batmaloo. The driver sustained injuries in his eyes. Similarly, driver Kewal Kumar was beaten up mercilessly and his tanker was torched at Khannabal.

Another driver Ranjeet Singh Billa of Kunjwani was dragged out of his

tanker at Ganderbal and thrashed severely.

The driver sustained a fracture in his arm and had to be hospitalised. Likewise, driver Gurdev Singh of Gadigarh, too, had to bear the wrath of mischievous elements. He also sustained fractures in his legs.

Udhampur, June 30
Residents of panchayats Kundra, Bhabber, Tanda, Upper Pai, Lower Pai, Sirla, Panada, Damaldi and Najadi have demanded a public transport service in the area so that commuters do not face hardships and travel in private modes of transportation.

In a meeting under the chairmanship of Mohammad Yaseen on Monday various issues concerning the residents, including public transport, were deliberated. The panchayat representatives demanded an SRTC bus service from Jammu to Dera Bhabber via Ambgharota/Rabta at 4 pm which should return the next day at 6 am so that students and employees could avail of the service.

The meeting demanded that Government High School at Kundra be upgraded to senior secondary level, besides construction of its boundary wall. The villagers also felt that a computer lab should be provided in the school.

In Sirla panchayat, Panada, Moda Damaldi, Moda Najadi and Danjakote Anji villages are facing a shortage of water and electricity. The meeting demanded that proper water and electricity should be supplied to them. 

Jammu, June 30
The National Secular Forum (NSF) today opened a Guidance Bureau-cum-Information Centre for admission seekers of various postgraduate courses at the University of Jammu.

The bureau was inaugurated by MLC TS Wazir, who was the chief guest, while Prof Shohab Malik, HoD, Urdu, was the guest of honour.

Speaking on the occasion, Wazir appreciated the initiative taken by the NSF activists to provide information and necessary guidance to admission seekers coming to the university.

NSF state president Vikas Sharma said besides providing guidance to admission seekers, the bureau would try to solve various problems of students.

The activists also distributed pamphlets with information related to the admission process.

Srinagar, June 30
Electoral rolls are being updated regularly to ensure entries of new voters and deletion of dead and non-eligible ones as foolproof mechanism is being put in place across the country to ensure maximum public participation in the electoral process.

This was informed by Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla while talking to mediapersons at the conclusion of a two-day annual conference of the Chief Electoral Officers here today.

He said several steps had been initiated for creating awareness regarding the importance of the elections in the democratic set up, besides thwarting unfair means.

He said in Jammu & Kashmir cent percent electronic photo rolls would be completed in near future adding that 62 per cent voters have been covered under the Electronic Photo Identity Cards (EPIC).

Chawla said as many as 516 million people have been covered under EPICs and by the end of the next financial year 100 per cent eligible voters across the country would be provided with this facility. He said for greater participation of Armed Forces in the election process, postal ballot system (proxy voting) will be further improved.

The CEC also stated that the conference also deliberated on various issues that included expenditure on elections and create greater awareness among the masses about the electoral process. 

Jammu, June 30
The Municipal Veterinary Officer along with the field staff conducted a drive against adulteration of milk in the areas of Asia Hotel Chowk, Satwari, Gangyal, Digiana, Shastri Nagar and Gandhi Nagar yesterday.

According to a statement issued here, 65 milk cans were checked and out of these 11 were lifted and sent to laboratory for quality check.

A fine of Rs 1,750 was also realised from erring milk vendors. Besides, the team also visited meat shops in CPO Chowk, New Plots, Janipur, Roop Nagar, Paloura, Akhnoor Road and Muthi areas. An amount of Rs 800 was also charged from defaulters for selling unstamped meat. — TNS