Jammu, November 3
Eight passengers were killed and 38 injured when an overloaded bus fell into the Chenab at Prem Nagar, near Doda, today.Sources said the bus (JK-02-P-7717) was on its way to Kishtwar from Jammu when the driver lost control over it, about 15 km from Pul Doda, resulting in the vehicle falling into the river.

They added that the bus,which had a capacity of 29, was overloaded. While seven passengers were killed on the spot, another died later. Of the injured, five were airlifted to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) here and others were brought to the hospital via road.

Sources said seven students of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya were among the injured. On receiving the information, the police started rescue operations.

Though some of the bodies were fished out of the river, efforts were still on to retrieve the remains of the vehicle. Those killed in the mishap included a constable of the JKAP 13 Battalion, Surjeet Singh, a resident of Baramulla; Suba Ram, son of Nath Ram, a resident of Atholi in Padder; Abdul Karim, son of Abdullah, a resident of Gandoh; Khursha Begum, wife of Qadira, a resident of Thatri; Rampal and Mohammad Sadiq.

Later, Sunita Raina, wife of Ranjeet Raina, a resident of Kishtwar, too, succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.

The driver of the bus, Kuldeep Singh, was also killed. A resident of Prem Nagar, Ajay Shan, whose grandmother was also travelling in the bus, alleged that though a police party reached the spot, there were no proper arrangements to shift the injured to the hospital.

Talking to The Tribune over the phone, Parbhat Singh, SSP, Doda, said: “Most of the injured have been taken to Government Hospital, Doda, while those who sustained severe injuries have been shifted to the GMCH, Jammu.” The SSP said: “It was the first time the driver drove on this route. It not only claimed his own life, but also resulted in a major mishap. It is a clear case of rash and negligent driving.”

Vijaypur (Samba), November 3
In protest against discrepancies in revised electoral rolls for the forthcoming panchayat elections and alleged bungling in works under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNGREA), a large number of Congress workers held a demonstration here today.

Though the Congress is a partner in the coalition government headed by the National Conference, the anger of the party workers against the state government has been increasing. Today’s protest in front of the office of the Block Development Officer (BDO) here shows that the gulf between the coalition partners has been widening. However, no senior leader took part in the demonstration.

The protesters raised slogans against the government and alleged that the names of a large number of voters had been deleted deliberately to benefit candidates of a particular party.They warned that they would intensify the agitation, if the discrepancies in the electoral rolls were not removed soon.

The workers also protested against the politicisation of works allotted under MNGREA.They alleged that instead of allotting works to genuine people, the authorities had adopted a pick-and-choose policy to appease supporters of a particular party.

In a veiled attack on the National Conference, the demonstrators alleged that some contractors known to be close to the ruling party had allotted the works which should have been given to unemployed youth in the rural areas.They also alleged bungling in the

release of funds under the Indira Awas Yojna and demanded a thorough probe.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Vijaypur Assembly segment is represented by National Conference stalwart and state Minister Surjit Singh Slathia, who,allege the Congress workers,has been deliberately ignoring them.

Jammu, November 3
The RSS today accused the UPA government of creating controversies by involving it in non-issues to hide its own misdeeds and incompetence to run the government.

To protest the tirade launched against the RSS, its state chief, Brigadier (retd) Suchet Singh announced protest rallies in all district headquarters of Jammu region on November 10.

Addressing mediapersons here today, Suchet said in a bid to hide its misdeeds, the Centre was trying hard to implicate the RSS in non-issues.

Reacting to accusations of the Congress that RSS top brass was involved in anti-national activities, he said the RSS was a forum recognised at the international level.

“We stand for stronger and united India,” he said, adding that the RSS was open for any debate and even ready for a probe by any investigating agency but the exercise should be fair and transparent.

He, however, appeared skeptical of the outcome saying that investigating agencies were influenced by political pressures.

The retired Army officer also took strong exception to derogatory remarks against the RSS.

Srinagar, November 3
Even as no curfew restrictions were imposed in any part of Kashmir today, life was adversely affected in the Valley due to the closure of shops and business establishments in response to a strike call of the Geelani faction of the Hurriyat Conference.

All shops and business establishments in main markets of the city were closed while passenger buses plied on some routes here and on inter-district routes in other major towns.

However,shops in the interior of the city and in many markets of other major towns of the Valley were open. Educational institutions, government offices and banks were open, though there was thin attendance in many schools.

A group of protesters indulged in stone throwing at Maisuma near Budshah Chowk in an attempt to disrupt traffic on the main road here today.They also tried to attack a police vehicle.However, they were chased away by the security forces. Traffic was also restored on the road. With the annual examinations nearing, the schools have been functioning normally for the past one month following the intervention of the government and separatist organisations. 

Jammu, November 3
Even as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been repeatedly saying that the situation in the Kashmir valley has improved considerably during the past one month, the patron of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, today said the state government was not taking action to solve people’s problems.

In a statement here today, the PDP leader said: “Expecting the people to give peace a chance is a noble, but unrealistic wish in view of the use of harsh methods by the state government.” Kashmir never failed to respond to the requirements of peaceful methods for expressing its aspirations, but the state instead of reaching out to the people had created more and more tragedies through its actions, he said.

He said the “discourse” on Kashmir was once again focusing on abstracts and theories instead of 
acting on the problems faced by the people.

“Words would not suffice where action is required,” he remarked, and said even the eight-point programme formulated by the government a month ago seemed to have disappeared from the “discourse”.

“It seems the government has reverted to its familiar mode of forgetting about Kashmir after it got off the news headlines,” he added.

“Good intentions have to be followed by matching action and unless that is done, it would only fuel alienation, trust deficit and cynicism,” he said.

The Mufti said while the government had set an agenda to review the AFSPA,the reduction of troops and release of prisoners, in practice, the reverse of these was being done. Referring to the statements of the government, the Mufti said rather than paving the way for any resolution, these created more confusion.

“While more and more people are being imprisoned, the government reportedly has plans to establish more police stations in the rural areas,” he said.

Jammu, November 3
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has restrained the authorities from deporting an aged Pakistan national, who came to his native Pekhri village in Samba district recently on a cross-LoC permit issued by the Pakistan Government, till further orders.

The order was passed by Justice Mansoor Ahmed Mir on a petition filed by 83-year-old Hashmat Ali, who had migrated to Pakistan in 1947 and did not want to return.

It was submitted in the petition that Ali was born at Pekhri village in Samba prior to 1947 and the father of the petitioner, Choudhary Ali alias Mali, was the owner of big plots in Patwar Halqa Pekhri of Samba tehsil.

The petitioner married Mariam Bibi prior to 1947 and out of that wedlock had two children. While Ali migrated to Pakistan in 1947, his wife, along with the children and other relatives, continued to stay in Pekhri. Advocates Surinder Kour and M L Malik appearing for the petitioner pleaded that Ali was an aged person and suffering from various ailments and so it was difficult for him to look after himself in Pakistan. They urged the court to issue directions to the authorities concerned not to deport Ali.

After hearing the petition, Justice Mir issued notices to the Union of India through the Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs, the state of Jammu and Kashmir through the Chief Secretary, the Commissioner/Secretary, J&K Home Department, the DGP, J&K, the DIG, Jammu, the Deputy Commissioner, Samba,the SSP, Samba, and the SHO,Vijaypur police station in Samba district, returnable within four weeks.

Justice Mir also directed the respondents not to deport the petitioner till further orders. — PTI 

Jammu, November 3
A man, in an inebriated condition, tried to end his life by coming in front of two mini-buses at the BC Road here today, the police said.

The drunkard, looking like a beggar, came twice in front of two mini-buses and then fled the scene. No case was registered against him.

Sources said similar incidents had taken place earlier as the bus stand area was proving to be a hub of drunkards. — TNS