Jammu, June 9
The loss of life and property in the cloudburst in Doda district last evening could have been averted had the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) taken timely steps and installed modern weather forecasting equipment in the state.

Even after the cloudburst of Leh last year in which nearly 179 persons were killed and about 400 injured, the state office of the IMD continues to be without any equipment to forecast a cloudburst.

Talking to The Tribune over the phone, Sonam Lotus, in charge of the state office of the IMD, said, “We are not well- equipped and can’t forecast a cloudburst. The equipment available with the department can forecast temperature and rain only”.

He added that, “We don’t have a Doppler Weather Radar in the state, which is an effective tool for the forecast of a cloudburst. Though we have written a number of times to the higher authorities demanding two radars each in Jammu and Srinagar, nothing has happened”.

Sonam said the state government was slow in taking action. “No one here pays any attention to weather forecasting. We get calls only about rain and nothing else,” he said.

“Though almost 24 hours have passed since the cloudburst in Doda district, we have not received any official information from the state government. I came to know about the incident from newspapers and TV channels. You can understand the situation”.

Sonam said they had issued a warning of heavy rain before the cloudburst in Leh, but they didn’t have even a weather forecasting station in Doda. “We are completely out of touch as of now and don’t have any information about the loss of life and property in the Doda cloudburst,” he said.

Explaining a cloudburst, Sonam said, “A cloudburst means 100 mm of rain per hour. It lasts for almost 15-20 minutes and affects 2-3 sq km area”. .

Prof Sanjay Sharma, Department of Environment Science, University of Jammu, said, “Though we can’t stop a cloudburst, its timely forecast can help minimise its impact.

The areas having more vegetation have lesser impact of a cloudburst.Hence, the government should think of a plantation drive, as plants check soil erosion”.

Jammu, June 9
In a breakthrough in the sensational Chopra murder case, the police arrested a former MLC of the National Conference, Trilochan Singh Wazir, his brother Ajab Singh and their associate Raju Simblia today.

Nagar Singh, another prominent businessman and contractor of the state, was also allegedly part of the conspiracy, the police claimed. “Rajinder and his family was murdered due to a business rivalry,” a senior police official handling the case said. He added that the victims as well as the accused had a rivalry over cement and foodgrains business in the state.

Three members of the family of prominent cement businessman Rajinder Bhushan Chopra, besides a driver and a servant were killed by a gang of contract killers at their bungalow in the posh Trikuta Nagar locality on the intervening night of September 17 and 18, 2006. Those killed were Rajinder Bhushan Chopra, his wife Madhu Chopra, their young daughter Saloni Chopra, besides their driver and a servant.

The police had earlier arrested nine persons belonging to the Pardi tribe based at Khejra village in Guna district of Madhya Pradesh for the murders. The police claims that the group of tribes headed by Sangram Singh committed the crime in lieu of money.

The fresh arrests were made today after a transporter, Surinder Singh, alias Kala, in his statement before the Judicial Magistrate (under Section 164-A of the CrPC ), made startling disclosures. Kala reportedly revealed that in August, 2006, Trilochan Singh Wazir, alias Talo, called him to his house at Gandhi Nagar.

“Next day when I went to the house of Tirlochan Singh Wazir, where four other persons, namely Ajab Singh, brother of Tirlochan Singh, Choudhary Nagar Singh, Sanjay Sharma and Raju Simblia, were present,” he said in his statement.

The accused, Sanjay Sharma, is still absconding. Sanjay had also allegedly murdered a contractor, Jeban, and a gangster, Billo, in the Ambphalla district jail. He was out on parole at that point of time.

Kala stated that they were discussing about the loading and unloading of cement. “At that point of time Ajab Singh was saying that RB Chopra creates problems for them during loading and unloading of cement”.

“Upon this, Trilochan Singh, alias Talo, asked Nagar Singh that Chopra was creating problems during loading and unloading of cement, besides during the FCI work. Thereafter, he and others sitting there asked Sanjay Sharma to eliminate Chopra and his whole family, assuring him of any amount of money for the work”.

“Meanwhile, Ajab Singh and Nagar Singh said they would spend any amount provided their names were not disclosed anywhere,” Kala said in the statement, adding that he left Trilochan Singh’s house, smelling a “conspiracy” being hatched. Nagar Singh is already in police custody in connection with the Amandeep murder case. The slain persons were brutally tortured by the assailants, as their legs and hands were tied and mouths gagged.

Senior police officers confirmed that Trilochan and his brother had been detained at Trikuta Nagar police station, where they were being questioned.

In March, sons of Rajinder Bhushan Chopra had rejected a demand for a CBI probe into the murders and had exuded faith in investigations being carried out by the special investigation team (SIT) headed by Farooq Khan, DIG, Jammu.

Tulmulla, June 9
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said here today that no one would be allowed to proceed towards the holy Amarnath cave shrine before the official commencement of the yatra on June 29.

The Baba Amarnath and Baba Buda Amarnath Yatri Niyas, an organisation of the VHP, had announced to begin the yatra on June 14.

He said the state government would not allow anyone to proceed towards the holy shrine before June 29 when the annual pilgrimage would be started by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB).

Omar was speaking to mediapersons after paying obeisance at the Khir Bhawani temple here.

He said he would not like to go into the issue of the VHP’s plans, but asserted that stretches of the track were still under snow.

“According to my information, Mahagunus Top is still closed.However,we will try to start the yatra on schedule,” he said.

Responding to questions on the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, the Chief Minister said it could be possible only when members of the community felt confident about their return to the Valley.

“We are making efforts for their return, but the community has to be ready for it. They should feel assured and confident about their return,” Omar said.

He added that militancy in the state was at its lowest ebb.

“ Panchayat elections have been conducted peacefully and all communities like Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs have participated. This should be a ray of hope for them (Pandits) to return,” the Chief Minister said.

When asked why wages were not being paid to the Kashmiri Pandit youth even five months after joining the service, Omar said he had directed the Inspector-General, CID, to expedite the verification of such youth.

The Chief Minister said some influential persons and religious leaders were against the passage of the Protection of Temples and Hindu Shrines Bill in the state Assembly.

“When we were in the Opposition, the party had tabled the Bill. Unfortunately, some important leaders from the Hindu community have expressed concern about it. They said the passage of the Bill could create a situation like 2008 in the state,” Omar said, adding, these leaders had called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to put pressure against the passage of the Bill.

Tulmulla (Ganderbal), June 9
Communal harmony was at display at the famous Hindu temple of Khir Bhawani today where Kashmir Pandits were warmly greeted by members of the majority community.

As thousands of Kashmiri Pandits came here to take part in the Mela Khir Bhawani from different parts of the country , local Muslims offered them pots of milk. The festival is held every year after nightlong prayers by devotees invoking the blessings of Goddess Ragnya, the patron deity of the local Pandits.

“It has been a tradition since time immemorial that Muslims used to offer milk in earthen pots to the devotees. We are keeping alive the centuries-old tradition of communal harmony in the Valley,” said Sajad Ahmed, a resident of Tulmulla village.

After the onset of militancy in the Kashmir valley, only a handful of Pandits used to visit the temple every year, but this time more than 50,000 of them from different parts of the country are expected to take part in the festival.

The members of the majority community not only welcomed the Kashmiri Pandits but also made arrangements for their stay and provided them items for performing prayers and other things. “Where else can you find a Muslim selling ‘Pooja Samagri’, pictures of Hindu gods and goddesses? This happens only in Kashmir and we are thankful to the members of the Muslim community for making the day more special for us,” said Brij Nath Kaul, who had come from New Delhi, where he had migrated 22 years ago.

Meanwhile, the Governor, NN Vohra, and the First Lady, Usha Vohra, today paid obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum of the Khir Bhawani temple and prayed for peace, harmony, progress and prosperity in the state.

Jammu, June 9
On the occasion of Mela Khir Bhawani, hundreds of devotees paid obeisance to Mata Ragneya Devi at the Bhawani Nagar temple here today. A replica of the centuries-old Khir Bhawani shrine of Tulmulla, Kashmir, the temple at Bhawani Nagar here was constructed by Kashmiri Pandits after their mass migration from the Valley in 1990. Since then they have been gathering at the temple site, particularly on Jesht Ashtami to seek the blessings of Goddess Ragneya, as was a practice for them before their migration.

Since early in the morning, braving hot and humid weather, a large number of devotees thronged the temple to have a darshan of their “Isht Devi”, seated on a platform raised from the base of a serpentine-shaped spring.

The local administration had made adequate security and other arrangements for ensuring a smooth darshan of the deity.

Chanting typical Kashmiri bhajans in praise of the Goddess, the devotees also performed a yajna and traditional puja by lighting hundreds of earthenware diyas and candles. They were also seen immersing sugar candies, flower petals and milk in the spring. Late in the evening, a “samohik aarti” was also held for the restoration of peace in the state.

“Since 1990, I have been religiously visiting the replica of the Khir Bhawani temple here on the occasion of Jesht Ashtami. I have been craving to visit the Khir Bhawani temple of Tulmulla in Kashmir, the original seat of Mata Ragneya, all these years,” said Asha Rani, a resident of the Sarwal locality.

Ajay Raina, an activist of the Khir Bhawani Mela Prabhandak Committee, said here that the government should declare a holiday in the Jammu province on the occasion as was done in the Kashmir region every year.

Jammu, June 9
Even as Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Saifuddin Soz has distanced himself from a ‘controversial’ statement of PHE and Irrigation Minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din on the National Hydroelectric power Corporation(NHPC), opposition parties have stepped up their attack on the Congress for the minister’s ‘irresponsible’ remarks.

Taj had said three days ago that the NHPC was behaving like East India Company in Jammu and Kashmir and exploiting the water resources of the poor state.

“The Congress owes an explanation over this irresponsible utterance by Taj Mohi-ud- Din, as he is a senior minister in the coalition government. His obvious target was the Centre, which owns the NHPC,” said Dr Jatinder Singh, chief spokesman for the state BJP.

Taking a dig at the Congress leadership for not contradicting Taj’s allegations, Jatinder Singh said the statement had exposed the hypocracy of the party. “A minister belonging to the Congress is blaming the NHPC for exploiting the natural resources of the state despite the fact that the party is running the government at the Centre,” he quipped. “Taj has made this irresponsible statement only to keep the National Conference in good humour,” he added. He regretted that Congress leaders had been behaving like “activists of a regional party”.

Speaking about Taj’s statement, Panthers Party chief Bhim Singh alleged that successive state governments led by Kashmir rulers were responsible for exploiting the natural resources of the Jammu region. “The Jammu region is full of natural resources, which the successive state governments have been exploiting,” he said. He added that the people of Jammu had a right over these natural resources for the economic growth of this neglected region.

Meanwhile, Soz has distanced himself from Taj’s statement. “I have not read the full text of Taj Mohi-ud-Din’s statement. I need some time to react,” he said, adding that Taj had given the statement as a minister and not as a Congress leader. “Our party’s stand is very clear on these issues,” Soz said.

The PCC chief said he would discuss the issue with the minister as well as the NHPC. Congress sources said a faction of the party had brought the matter to the notice of the high command. “A clipping of Taj Mohi-ud-Din’s statement has been dispatched to the top leadership,” they said, adding that the minister had given the statement to strengthen his base in the Kashmir valley.

Jammu, June 9
Following an increase in the number of fire incidents, the Forest Department has launched a drive to control forest fires and appealed to the people living near such areas to cooperate to protect forests.

The Chief Conservator of Forests, Jammu, SC Sharma, today held a series of meetings in the Kalidhar area to sensitise the staff for a quick response to control forest fires.

He pressed into service a vehicle of the department fitted with public address system to create awareness among the people of the area.

Similarly, a programme was also held for people’s participation in fire control at the battalion headquarters of the 129TA of the Eco- Task Force at Bajalta (Tutan Di Khui).

The programme was attended by a number of newly-elected sarpanches and panches from the adjoining areas of Surinsar, Sandhi, Deon, Kana-Chargal and Tutan Di Khui, besides a number of local people and the forest staff.

The Conservator of Forests, East Circle, Jammu, Suresh Gupta, who was the chief guest, appreciated the efforts of the ETF jawans, who were working in the area.

Col Roy, Commanding Officer of the Eco-Task Force (ETF); DFO, Jammu, Khwaja Qamar-ud-Din and BL Parimoo of the Environment Awareness Forum, also addressed the gathering.

The programme was organised by Major Devinder Singh of the Eco-Task Force and BS Salathia, DFO, ETF. — TNS

Jammu, June 9
Terming the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) as the “All-India Corrupt Congress”, the national general secretary of the BJP, Vijay Goel, today alleged that Manmohan Singh was a “dummy” Prime Minister and it was the Gandhi family, which was running the show.

Addressing a press conference here today, Goel, a former Union minister, said the UPA government at the Centre was the most “corrupt” government since Independence. “The Prime Minister has no authority and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi has no accountability,” he said.

He demanded that the Prime Minister and Sonia should apologise over the recent police crackdown on Baba Ramdev and his followers.

He termed the incident as unfortunate and alleged that those raising their voice against corruption in the country were being sent to jails.

“The Congress-led UPA government today resembles a rudderless ship. There is no sense of direction and the captain does not seem to have the steering wheel in his hands. The Prime Minister, though vested with the responsibility to command the ship, does not have the authority of the captain,” he said.

“It seems that the UPA dispensation has set-up the Prime Minister as a camouflage to facilitate the behind-the-scenes political manoeuvring by the real powers-that-matter,” he added.

In an obvious reference to former Telecommunication Minister A Raja and chairman of the Commonwealth Organising Committee Suresh Kalmadi, he said one Cabinet minister of the present government was already in jail, while a senior Congress leader was also put behind bars on corruption charges.

He announced that the BJP had decided to intensify the ongoing campaign against corruption to expose the anti-people regime.

On the recent cross-voting episode, Goel said there was nothing to say on the issue.

“I am here to discuss corruption at the national level, especially in the current UPA regime, and I have nothing to do with what the BJP has done in Jammu and Kashmir,” Goel said while referring to allegations that the BJP legislators had taken a huge amount of money in exchange of cross-voting. “I would not discuss such petty issues,” he added.