Jammu, September 13
An angry mob of around 3,000 people clashed with the police in the border town of Poonch this afternoon, forcing the latter to resort to preventive firing.However, before the violence could be quelled unconfirmed reports said clashes left 15 persons, including six policemen, injured, one of them critically. Following the violence, the district administration clamped curfew in the town as a preventive measure.

Protesting against an alleged act of desecration in the US, the frenzied mob set a Gypsy of the Forest Department parked near a fire brigade station on fire and pelted stones at a bike, a car and mediapersons.

“As a preventive measure, the curfew has been imposed in the town and the Army, though not requisitioned as of now, has been alerted,” Poonch Deputy Commissioner KL Khajuria told The Tribune on phone. “If needed, the Army would be called in,” he added.

Trouble erupted this afternoon when a strong mob of around 3,000 persons assembled in the town and started marching towards Christ School, a missionary school, he said. After the police prevented them from marching towards the school, the mob turned violent and resorted to stone throwing, said the Deputy Commissioner. He added that to quell the violence the police opened a preventive fire and then tear-gassed the protesters. “In the police action two to three persons were injured,” he said.

Khajuria said the protesters had not sought any permission from the district administration. In Mandi tehsil, around 10,000 protesters had dispersed peacefully but here in the town they assembled all of a sudden and started a march towards the missionary school. The situation was tense but under control, he added. However, Poonch district SSP, Manmohan Singh said at least 15 persons, including some cops and a sub-inspector, had been injured in the clash.

Peaceful protests were also staged in Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Banihal, and Bhaderwah where the protesters shouted slogans against the US and castigated the alleged desecration of a holy book.

At Ramban the protesters, including women, staged a demonstration for nearly three hours while an angry mob burnt tyres at Batote on the Kashmir highway disrupting traffic movement for quite some time.

Reports said at Banihal though the protests initially remained peaceful, some mischievous elements raised pro-freedom slogans. At Chanderkote, Shia and Sunni communities together protested against the alleged desecration act.

Meanwhile, the winter capital also witnessed a protest here. A mob, mostly comprising youth, shouted slogans against the US.

Starting off from Talab Khatikan the protesters staged a demonstration at Shahidi Chowk near Gujjar Nagar but the police stopped them at City Chowk.

Meanwhile, communal tension broke out in the New Plot area of the city late this evening when a man belonging to a particular community was stabbed by some persons. The man was returning home after participating in an anti-USA protest rally over an alleged act of sacrilege in that country.

Police sources said additional forces were rushed to the area and the injured was shifted to a hospital. Police officials have appealed to masses to maintain calm and not react to rumours.

Srinagar, September 13
The state government today banned an international news channel, Press TV, after it aired a report about the alleged desecration of a holy book in the US that led to violent protests at many places in the Valley.

“The transmission of Press TV in Jammu and Kashmir has been banned with immediate effect,” state Chief Secretary SS Kapur told reporters here today. He said the move was prompted after reports of alleged sacrilege act involving a holy book in the US appeared on the channel.

The Chief Secretary said the concern shown against the proposed move of Pastor Terry Jones to desecrate a holy book was already being condemned the world over, including by the Indian government as well as the state government.

The good sense prevailed with the intervention of the US authorities that Pastor Terry Jones cancelled forever the proposed condemnable action, the Chief Secretary said while addressing mediapersons. He quoted a news item of Press TV in this regard.

However, he said it was surprising that only Press TV based in Iran showed an unknown individual without verification or authenticity indulging in the sacrilegious act, which seems to be a deliberate act and conspiracy to instigate people.

Kapur said he verified from the Broadcasting Ministry, Government of India, the authenticity of Press TV and was told that this channel was not at all listed among the registered channels being telecast in India.

He said, therefore, the District Magistrate, Srinagar, had banned the telecast of Press TV channel forthwith, which was being run and telecast without permission from the competent authorities. Describing the report of the channel as totally against public interest, the Chief Secretary said this unauthorised and unregistered channel had been banned in all other districts of the state forthwith. He said it seemed from the reports of the channel that there was a game plan to provoke and incite the sentiments of people for some nefarious designs.

The Chief Secretary said no other reliable channel of the world or of India had telecast such images of desecration. He said even if such an act had occurred at any individual level it was an act that was condemnable and the deliberate telecast of such images was also against ethics.

As a result of the rumours, a violent mob of people set ablaze a building of the branch of Tyndale Biscoe School at Tangmarg, the Chief Secretary said. He said peaceful demonstrations were also held at Kargil and Budgam. The contribution of Biscoe School in the educational arena of the state, particularly in the Valley, had always remained remarkable, he added. Therefore, burning the prestigious institution of Tangmarg imparting education to the people of the area was also an unwarranted act.

DGP Kuldip Khoda, Principal Secretary, Home, BR Sharma and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister BB Vyas were also present at the press conference.

Kapur also appealed to the media to extend cooperation to the administration in arresting such rumours being aired to further vitiate the atmosphere in the state.

Srinagar, September 13
As Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met the UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, and the Union Home Minister, P. Chidambaram, in New Delhi on the issue of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the state, fresh violence erupted in Kashmir claiming 14 lives and injuries to 45 others today. At least 113 police personnel, including two SPs were also injured, 41 of them seriously in the police action, while 52 persons involved in the mob violence had been arrested, DGP Kuldeep Khoda said here this evening.

Omar, at a Cabinet meeting here this evening, took stock of the incident of law and order breakdown in different parts of the state which were prompted by reports about the alleged incident of sacrilege in the US.

The Cabinet was unanimous in condemning the alleged act of sacrilege. It also expressed its complete understanding of the genuinely hurt sentiments of the people on this account. However, it was decided to make a fervent appeal to the people of the state not to take law in their hands while staging protests against the alleged sacrilege.

The DGP, addressing mediapersons here late this evening, said today’s violence, particularly in Budgam district, was instigated by the hard line APHC Geelani faction, spearheading the agitation over the past about three months. He said today’s violence that erupted due to the reports of the alleged sacrilege was part of the ongoing violence, as the APHC-Geelani faction had already indicated that violence would be increased after Eid. At least 52 persons had been arrested only in Budgam district, he said, adding that Imtiyaz Haider, a close associate of Syed Ali Geelani, who instigated people to assemble at various places for protests was yet to be arrested. The police had to open fire at 12 places to prevent any further damage while a heavy damage to private and public property had been caused since last night. “There were many targets that symbolised the government and the preventive action was successful,” the DGP said.

Asserting that necessary steps were taken to prevent further violence, Khoda said the protests in the backdrop of the report from Press TV channel, had also come in from various parts of the Jammu region, including Banihal, Batote, Bhaderwah, Rajouri and Poonch. 

Jammu, September 13
Even as naval divers from New Delhi searched for the missing medico in the Mansar Lake for the third consecutive day, success continued to elude them.

After Syed Zuhaib Rizvi, a final year MBBS student of Acharaya Shri Chander Medical College of Sciences, at Sidhra near Jammu went missing from the lakeside on May 14, his family approached Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who in turn had sought help from the Prime Minister’s Office.

“The operation is on. We are satisfied with the operations of the naval divers, who have been trying their best,” Zuhaib’s maternal uncle Shaukat Alamgir said. Yesterday, Deputy Commissioner, Samba, Mubarak Singh had come again at Mansar to supervise the search operation.

“The Block Development Officer and Naib Tehsildar have been camping here ever since the operation began on September 11,” said Alamgir. We feel the mental agony of the family would definitely cease as something would come out of this search operation, he added.

The aggrieved family has found support from social networking websites like Facebook and Orkut. A sustained campaign on these two websites to trace the missing medico from Kashmir eventually invited the attention of the state government as well.

On the fateful day, the police had found a wallet and other belongings of Zuhaib from the banks of the lake and since then he remains missing.

Though SSP, Samba, JL Sharma had told the media that Zuhaib had drowned in the lake, till date his body had not been recovered.

The medico’s father, an assistant executive engineer with the Power Development Department, had died way back in 1990, leaving behind his wife, son (Zuhaib) and a daughter.

Udhampur, September 13
Reacting to a misleading report in an Urdu newspaper about the alleged desecration of holy Koran in the US, members of the Muslim community organised protests at various places in Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar districts today.

The protests remained peaceful barring some stray incidents of tyre burning at Batote, about 15 km from the famous hill resort of Patnitop, on the NH-1A. This place witnessed the largest gathering of protesters in the three districts. As per official estimates, around 5,000 persons participated in the protest march that started from Bhaderwah Morh and passed through the main market before ending at the local mosque.

At Ramban town, more than 1,000 protesters led by Imam Gul Mohammad marched from the masjid market up to the Deputy Commissioner office. Around 300 protesters had gathered at Chanderkote on the NH-1A. A similar protest was organised at Banihal where around 600 protesters organised a demonstration at the main market. Protests were also organised in Doda, Kishtwar and Bhaderwah.

The markets remained partially closed till around 2.30 pm. The protesters burnt effigies of the US President, Barack Obama, at some places, but anti-US slogans were raised everywhere. The police authorities concerned had made elaborate security arrangements to ward off any untoward incident. Shops were reopened after the protests which, according to SP, Ramban, Mubassir Latifi, remained peaceful.

Srinagar, September 13
The Army gunned down three militants in an encounter in the forests of Bandipora district today.Speaking to The Tribune, Srinagar-based defence spokesman Lt-Col JS Brar said, “Acting on a tip-off, the Army launched a search operation to flush out militants hiding in a forest on the outskirts of Bandipora town.”

He said the search party confronted a group of hiding militants and asked them to surrender. However, the ultras opened fire in an attempt to break the security cordon and in the ensuing gun battle the three militants were killed.

The identity and group affiliation of the slain militants could not be ascertained, as the operation was still continuing when last reports were received.

“More details could be shared only after the encounter was over,” Lt-Col Brar said.

Jammu, September 13
Employees of the state government, who had to shuttle between the twin capital cities due to Darbar Move, today accused the Kashmir Police of harassing them.“Yesterday, policemen stopped at least 50 vehicles, including a bus, carrying state government employees from Jammu to Srinagar at Pantha Chowk, and did not allow us to reach our destinations on the pretext that a curfew had been clamped,” a Civil Secretariat employee told The Tribune over phone.

Some women colleagues posted in various departments like the Assembly Secretariat and the Deputy Chief Minsiter’s Secretariat were also travelling with us. We were returning to Srinagar for resuming our duties, but the policemen not only stopped our vehicles at Pantha Chowk but also used a filthy language in front of women employees, he alleged.

Another employee said even the policemen, including two sub-inspectors, refused to accept our identity cards, which had been authorised by the General Administration Department (GAD), to be used as curfew passes. Today also, some of our colleagues were harassed by the police at various places in Srinagar.

The employees belonging to the minority community today met Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, Revenue Minister Raman Bhalla and Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma and conveyed to them the harassment they had to face, he said.

The ministers requisitioned DGP Kuldeep Khoda to the Civil Secretariat and asked him to look into the matter and at the same time to ensure a hassle-free movement of the Secretariat staff and other employees to their offices in Srinagar. Government offices in Srinagar have been witnessing a thin attendance these days because of the turmoil in the Valley.

“Besides harassment, around 2,000 employees, who have been lodged in various hotels and lodges in Srinagar, are not getting proper hygienic food,” said another employee.

Jammu, September 13
The state branch of the Indian Association of Paediatrics (IAP) organised a continued medical education (CME) programme on management of persistent diarrhoea in children here today.

Renowned paediatric gastroenterologist Prof BR Thapa was the guest speaker. Dr Thapa is the son of the soil and head of the paediatric gastroenterology unit at the PGI, Chandigarh.

Speaking on the occasion, he threw light on the persistent diarrhoea in children and its management. He stressed on the role of breast feeding, initiation of cereal-based complimentary diet at right time, personal hygiene, judicious use of antibiotics, low osmolarity ORS and zinc supplementation in the prevention of persistent diarrhoea.

He further said bottle feeding was the single most important factor leading to acute and persistent diarrhoea. He emphasised the role of nutrition in management of persistent diarrhoea as it not only prevents malnutrition but also helps in controlling the disease.

Dr DB Sharma, head of the Department of Paediatrics, Acharya Shri Chander College of Medical Science (ASCOMS) and Dr Rekha Harish, head of the Department of Paediatrics, SMGS Hospital, and GMC Jammu, chaired the session.

Other senior paediatricians and consultants who attended the function included Dr UC Lahori, Dr Kumkum Sharma, Dr AS Sasan, Dr DR Sarmal, Dr NK Pargal, Dr GS Saini, Dr SS Slathia, Dr Romesh Khajuria, Dr Kewal Samotra, Dr Ashu Jamwal, Dr Sunil Dutt Sharma and Dr Vishal Tandon.

Jammu, September 13
Seeking the attention of the government, the National Secular Forum yesterday expressed concern over the lack of infrastructure at Degree College and government schools in Samba.

Addressing a press conference here, president of the association Vikas Sharma said, “A team of the forum visited the college and it was disappointed to note that it was running science courses without laboratories.”

He said a large amount of money was being charged from students in the form of development funds but the development was almost invisible on the ground.

“Besides a college, government schools in Samba are also being neglected,” he said. He alleged that the government was not paying attention towards education in Samba.

He further alleged that Samba was an industrial hub but the government did not have any policy to check pollution, which was increasing day by day.

Jammu, September 13
J&K Police Cricket Tournament for the physically challenged got underway at MAM Stadium here today. Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda was the chief guest on the occassion.While addressing a gathering, the DGP said the state police had always been ready to boost the morale of the physically challenged players to provide them a platform to exhibit their talent and potential.

Earlier, DIG, Jammu, Farooq Khan presented the welcome address in which he gave summary of the tournament.

Ram Dass Dubey, secretary, J&K Federation of Deaf and Dumb, appreciated the role of the Police inculcating enthusiasm among the physically challenged players to take part in the sports events and provide them a platform to prove their abilities.

Meanwhile, the DGP distributed uniforms alongwith the cricket equipment to all the participating teams on the occasion.

Addressing a press conference here yesterday, IGP, Jammu, Ashok Gupta said, “Three teams of differently abled people will participate in the tournament and the matches will be held from September 13 to 15.” The participating teams include Jammu Warriors XI, Jammu Daredevils XI and Jammu XI.

“After the final match, a match between the two teams from Residential School for Blind, Jammu, shall also be played. The teams include Jammu challengers-A and Jammu challengers-B,” he said.

“Our endeavour is to provide a platform to the players for exhibiting their talent and potential,” he said. He added, “The players, who perform exceptionally well in the tournaments, will be sponsored by the J&K Police in national and international events.”

Gupta said players belonging to the age group between 15-35 had been participating in the tourney. “For constituting the teams, help was sought from philanthropic social organisations working for the welfare of physically challenged people,” he said.