Jammu, October 13
Political groups of the Jammu region are not optimistic about the appointment of three interlocutors by the Union Government on Jammu and Kashmir, as they believe it is an eyewash to hoodwink the people.

The groups argued that the government ought to have decided on the recommendations of previous committees before making the appointments.

“What has happenned to the recommendations of earlier interlocutors and committees constituted by the Centre from time-to-time for fulfilling people’s aspirations?” asked Panthers Party leader Harsh Dev Singh, and added “they were most probably just gathering dust”.

Harsh also questioned the credibility of the three experts appointed by the government. “Are they aware of the geography, topography, ethnicity, languages and other aspects of the state?” he asked and wondered “I don’t think these appointments would serve any purpose”.

Echoing similar views, Prof Hari Om, a former Head of the Department of History, Jammu University, observed that the exercise would prove futile as experts had already expressed their opinions on the issues. He, however, suggested that the aspirations of religious minorities should be addressed and these experts should have an interaction with a cross- section of society.

The groups opined that instead of the appointment of new interlocutors, the government should look into recommendations of earlier committees. “With much publicity, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had appointed working groups, but no action has been taken on the recommendations of these working groups”, Harsh Dev Singh said, and regretted that instead of addressing aspirations of the people, the government was taking “ridiculous” steps.

“I don’t think there is any reason to appoint new interlocutors before giving political power to the Jammu region,” argued Nirmal Singh, BJP leader and professor in the Department of History in Jammu University.

He, however, suggested that functioning of these interlocutors should not be confined only to the Valley.Rather the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Ladakh, too, should be taken into consideration.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) observed that such exercises were aimed at just diverting the government’s failure. “The government should take steps that have some positive impact,” argued Surinder Choudhary, general secretary of BSP.

Jammu State Morcha leader Anil Gour said, “Let us see how these interlocutors would work”. He, too, sounded not optimistic about them.

Srinagar, October 13
The hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Geelani today described the Centre’s appointment of a three-member team of interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir as a futile move, while the moderate faction, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chose to be cautious.

Describing the appointment of the three interlocutors — Dilip Padgaonkar, M.M Ansari and Radha Kumar — as a futile exercise, Geelani said India was “non-serious” in its approach to resolve the Kashmir issue. He said the party would not enter into any dialogue with the Centre unless its five-point proposal was accepted by the Central Government. He had put forth the formula in August before joining the dialogue process for resolving the issue. The five conditions included accepting Kashmir as a dispute, withdrawal of troops from Jammu and Kashmir, revocation of special powers to the security forces, unconditional release of all those arrested and action against those involved in the Macchil encounter.

However, the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chose to be cautious in its approach with the Mirwaiz saying that he would discuss the issue with his colleagues at a meeting of the executive council of the party. He said it was a political problem and his faction had sought the appointment of political leaders as interlocutors.

JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik pointed out that there was need to address the issue politically which could have been possible only with the appointment of political leaders as interlocutors. Referring to his meeting with the parliamentary delegation, Malik said he had conveyed to the delegation the significance of the political nature of the Kashmir problem. 

Jammu, October 13
Dr Agnishekhar, convener of the Panun Kashmir, at an all-India meet of the party activists, urged the participants to be ready for any sacrifice for achieving the desired goal of a homeland.

Panun Kashmir activists from different parts of the country, especially from Noida, Karnataka, Delhi, Chandigarh, Panchkula, Indore, Bhopal and Palampur, participated in the meet.

The first session of the meet was presided over by Kamal Hak from Noida. The second session was chaired by Shiban Khaibri and Sanjay Raina, both senior activists of the Panun Kashmir. The speakers threw light on the policy, planning and programmes of the party.

Meanwhile, Vijay Kautse was elected as the president of the Panun Kashmir, Kamal Hak from Noida its national spokesman and Vijay Handoo from Ghaziabad as the vice-president of the party.

Sanjay Dattatreya, Rajinder Kaul, Rahul Kaul, Rahul Razdan and Veer Wangoo were elected national coordinators for North Zone, National Capital Region, West Zone, South Zone and Youth Affairs, respectively.

Prof MK Raina was elected as the chairman of the Political Affairs Committee, Shiban Krishen Khaibri as the chairman of the Press and Media Committee and RK Koul as the chairman of the Finance Committee. The core committee as well as the Jammu Working Council of the party was also announced on the occasion.

Jammu, October 13
The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) yesterday demanded affixing a travel fare list to every public transport vehicle.

According to a statement issued here, the demand was raised at a meeting of district office-bearers held under the chairmanship of state general secretary of the NSUI Arjun Singh Pathania.

Pathania said the fare list should separately describe the fare for students and reduction made in the list.

Activists of the NSUI also discussed the problems being faced by students. It was noticed that most of the public buses and minibuses did not have rate lists and charge invariable fare from the students.

It appealed to the authorities to ensure that public transport vehicles had a travel-fare list affixed to it, including concession for students. They demanded that the transport department should publish helpline numbers to take care of traveller’s complaints. 

Jammu, October 13
Two coaches of Jehlum Express, 1078, (Jammu-Pune) derailed at the Jammu Tawi Railway Station here this evening. Luckily, no one was injured in the mishap, as the train was shunting to the washing track.

Though the Divisional Traffic Manager, Jammu, GS Singh, did not reveal the cause of the mishap, he said, “Three employees of the Northern Railways were suspended immediately after the mishap and an inquiry marked in the incident.”

He added that two pointsmen and one shunting official had been suspended and action would be taken against others if found guilty during investigations.

Almost nine trains were affected due to the incident, as they would be running five to 10 hours behind the schedule. Even the pilgrims of Mata Vaishno Devi would suffer, as the navratras festival is going on and most of them preferred rail services to come to Jammu.

A senior railway official told The Tribune that the Jehlum Express was shunting to the washing track around 5 pm and before it could be shunted, two of its rear coaches derailed. Luckily, no passenger was boarding the train, otherwise, a major tragedy would have occurred. This train was scheduled to leave for Pune at 9:40 pm, but now it would run a few hours late. He added that an Accident Relief Train (ART) had already moved from Pathankot and it would lift the derailed coaches so that the rail traffic could be restored.

The trains running behind the schedule are the Kranti Express, DMU, Pooja Express, Sialdah, Jabalpur Express and others. A large number of railway engineers were sent to the spot to repair the track and put the coaches back on the right track.

Though no senior official of the Northern Railways divulged the cause of the mishap, sources said it might have occurred due to the problem of interlocking. After the mishap, the washing of all trains was affected, as the washing track was completely blocked.

Till the filing of this report, the railway engineers were working hard, under the flashlights, to fix the damaged track. However, it might take them three to four hours to repair it.

Srinagar, October 13
Life was affected across the Kashmir valley today in response to a bandh call given by the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference, while the curfew was lifted from several places except some areas of Baramulla district.

The Hurriyat faction led by Syed Ali Geelani had given the bandh call as part of its calendar of protest programmes against the recent killings and disappearance of about 10,000 people. The authorities had yesterday imposed the curfew across the Valley to prevent the “Hyderpora Chalo” march of the separatists.

All shops and business establishments were closed and passenger traffic was off the road in response to the call. There was thin attendance in government offices and banks and educational institutions were open.However, private vehicles and autorickshaws were plying normally in several areas.

Meanwhile, at least five persons, including three schoolchildren, a civilian and a policeman, were injured in clashes at different places here and in Baramulla town this afternoon. The three children were injured when stone throwers targeted a school bus at Badamwari here in which windowpanes of the bus were also damaged. A civilian, Mohammad Umar Baghwan, was injured in police action during clashes at Rainawari here. A policeman was injured in a clash with protesters in the Khanyar area of Srinagar city. 

Jammu, October 13
The review meeting of Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma with the Chief Medical Officers and the Medical Superintendents from the Jammu province today left a few questions unanswered.

During the meeting held at the Directorate of Health Services, incomplete data and contradictory statistical figures regarding several centrally-sponsored schemes were tabled. In certain cases the health officials had not compiled the data. Jammu too was one of such districts that lacked a written record of certain schemes. Though the district development commissioners complained that doctors were doing private practice during duty hours and those appointed in remote areas were not regular, neither responsibility was fixed nor measures for strengthening the supervisory mechanism were discussed in the meeting.

Some district development commissioners complained against doctors appointed under the National Rural Health Mission (NHRM). During discussion, a CMO concerned replied that a show cause notice had been issued to a doctor. The minister responded saying, “I know that the doctor visits hospital only once a week.” The CMO, Ramban, who had been asked to table the test report of water samples in the wake of the outbreak of waterborne diseases recently, came without the report and had to face the minister’s ire.

Srinagar, October 13
Members of the High Court Bar Association held protest demonstrations inside the Sadder Court complex here today demanding the release of three office bearers, including president Mian Abdul Qayoom.

The protesting lawyers held a sit-in protest and took out a march inside the court complex demanding immediate release of Qayoom, secretary GN Shaheen and Mohammad Shafi Reshi. It was alleged that Qayoom and Shaheen were not being released in spite of the court orders.

The lawyers, who are on a boycott of the courts for more than 100 days now, announced to continue with the boycott until the Bar members were released. — TNS

Jammu, October 13
Eliezer Joldan Memorial College, Leh, organised a symposium on “Men’s Contribution in Balancing Environment” here today.

According to a statement issued here, the symposium was organised on the college campus and 15 participants spoke on the topic.

Deachen Chorol, a student of B.Sc-II, stood first, while Stanzin Tamchos of BA-I and Sonia Thapa of B.A-III secured second and third places, respectively, in the symposium. Consolation prizes were given to Stanzin Angmo of B.Sc-I and Marjuma of B.Sc-II.

Prof Sonam Yagzes, Prof Deskyong Namgyal and Prof Tashi Ldawa were the adjudicators. Dr Youdhvir Singh, principal of the college, was the chief guest of the function.

While addressing the students, Dr Youdhvir said, “Desire is the root cause of all evils, including degeneration of environment”. 

Jammu, October 13
The Delhi Public School today created a giant rangoli painting of 6,000 sq. ft. in the form of “Shera Mera Dost”, to generate the atmosphere conducive to the success of Commonwealth Games.

The rangoli painting was created on the school premises. ML Mehra, Senior Superintendent of Police was the chief guest on the occasion. The school authorities claimed that the painting was probably the biggest of its kind in the country on this subject.

The idea for the painting was conceived by Rohini Aima, headmistress of the school, to further the cause of sportsmanship in the XIX Commonwealth Games 2010 being held at Delhi.

Besides few Art teachers, headed by Suresh Sharma, around 100 students, staff and parents created the painting.

Meanwhile, Kanwar Iqbal, a student of Government Medical College made a mark in the rangoli competition, held as a part of “Display your Talent” 2010-11.

Yesterday, he stood first in Collage Making Competition and today he again clinched the top position in Rangoli Competition.

The Inter-Collegiate/ Departmental rangoli contest was organised by the Department of Students’ Welfare, University of Jammu.

Shivali Rani, a student of Department of Environmental Sciences; and Bharti Devi, a student of Department of Zoology, University of Jammu, clinched the second and third prize, respectively.

The participants used different mediums such as coloured saw dust, pulses, rice and gulaal and created the images of Ganesha, Goddess Kali, Navratri Dandia, Peacock and Swastik. Earthen lamps and candles adorned the rangolies.

Sylvia A Sahni was the chief guest on this occasion. She appreciated the talent of the young participants.

The certificates of merit were awarded to Preeti Sharma, a student from Government Women College (GCW), Parade; Shafali Gupta from The Business School; and Arushi Kartik from The Law School, University of Jammu; Sakshi Sharma from Government Degree College, Reasi; and Surbhi Andotra from Government Women College, Kathua.