Jammu, July 28
At least four persons, including a policeman, were injured after nearly 3,000 youths, who had come to attend a “non-existent” recruitment rally of the BSF, turned violent and clashed with the police outside the BSF’s Frontier Headquarters at Paloura on the Jammu-Poonch highway here this morning. The angry protesters also blocked the highway for nearly an hour.

Trouble erupted around 8 am today when the job aspirants, mainly from Kathua, Samba, Poonch and Rajouri districts, started reaching Paloura to take part in the recruitment rally of the BSF at its Frontier Headquarters.

The BSF, on the other hand, claimed that it had never advertised for any such rally and all the recruitments to the security force were done through the Staff Selection Commission, New Delhi.

However, the youths, who had converged on the main gate of the BSF headquarters, claimed that there was an advertisement about the rally on the Internet. The situation took an ugly turn when security guards deployed at the gate did not allow the youths to enter the building saying that the BSF was not holding any recruitment rally on the campus.

The angry youths blocked the Jammu-Poonch highway, pelted the police with stones and clashed with it.

Meanwhile, a strong posse of police resorted to a mild lathi-charge to disperse the protesters. Four persons, including a policeman, were injured in the clash between the police and the protesting youths.

Talking to The Tribune, Additional SP, Jammu, Rajesh Sharma said, “The job-seekers had some confusion about the recruitment rally. Around 7.30 am, they all started arriving at the BSF Frontier Headquarters to take part in the rally. However, the BSF had no recruitment rally scheduled for today. BSF officers had told us that they were not holding any recruitment drive on their campus.”

“When we informed the youths that the BSF was not organising any rally, some of them started shouting slogans while others tried to block the highway,” said Sharma.

To pacify the protesters, the police assured them that a probe would be conducted into the entire issue. However, the unrelenting youths created a law and order problem, compelling the police to use a mild force, he said.

The protesters, on the other hand, claimed that a BSF recruitment form for taking part in the rally was available on the Internet. “We are shocked to know that no rally is being held,” said Sandeep Singh, who had come from Hiranagar tehsil in Kathua district.

Sources in the BSF said recruitment to the BSF was done through the Staff Selection Commission, New Delhi. “It seems the youths were misled by some disgruntled elements in Jammu city, who sold these application forms to them to make quick money,” they added.

Jammu, July 28
Protesting against the politicisation of the Central University of Jammu issue, activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarathi Parishad (ABVP) of Jammu University staged a protest on the university campus today and boycotted classes.

The activists visited various departments of the university and appealed to the students to join them in their protest against the inordinate delay in making the Central varsity functional.

Addressing the students, ABVP leader Aman Bali criticised the NC-Congress government for the delay in the start of the academic session of the varsity.

Another ABVP leader Arun Dev Singh said, “The demand for the appointment of a local as the Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Jammu is not an issue at all. The Vice-Chancellor can be anybody, a local or an outsider, but he must be a competent and experienced person”.

He added that if immediate action was not taken to make the varsity functional, the ABVP would intensify its agitation.

Srinagar, July 28
While welcoming the talks between the Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has stressed the strengthening of the cross-LoC trade between the two countries. He said gun or hostility was no way to seek a solution to political issues.

The Chief Minister was addressing a public gathering in the Chadoora area of Budgam district, near here, today.

“Dialogue in a peaceful and conducive tone is the only platform in this direction,” he said. He hoped that the two countries would continue to talk to find a solution to the Kashmir issue.

While appreciating the efforts of the two countries to further strengthen the state-related confidence-building measures, particularly expanding the orbit of the cross-LoC bus service and extending its benefits to the visitors and the pilgrims, Omar advocated for strengthening the cross-LoC trade between the two countries by converting it from the present barter trade to a normal banking-supported trade activity.

“We have stressed on this aspect on a number of occasions and will continue to urge the leadership of the two countries to accept this important demand of the state,” he said.

Terming peace as imperative to address the political issues and work out an amicable solution, Omar appealed to the people to help maintain tranquillity in the state and give the necessary fillip to his efforts in this pursuit. “Give me peace, I will strive to get all issues resolved and take its benefits to every household,” he said, adding that the development process and the requirements of life would not wait for the final resolution of the political issues.

“We have to move simultaneously on both fronts to seek prosperity and lasting peace together,” he said. He added that a peaceful atmosphere was a prerequisite to settle the issues.

The Chief Minister referred to the Public Service Guarantee Act saying empowering the people to give them the right to public services was a historic moment.

Meanwhile, PDP patron and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and CPM state secretary MY Tarigami have also hailed the confidence-building measures announced by the Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan.

Jammu, July 28
Angry over irregular power supply, residents of the Narwal Pain and Satwari areas blocked the Satwari-RS Pura road today.

A large number of protesters blocked traffic and shouted slogans against the state government for its failure to supply adequate power to the areas. However, a police party led by SDPO Mohan Lal Kaith and assisted by SHO, Satwari police station, Abid Rafiqi dispersed them.

The protesters comprising women, men and children alleged that officials of the Power Development Department (PDD) were not addressing the problem. “The unscheduled power cuts have made our lives miserable. Our area is the worst affected. If the Power Department does not take immediate steps to restore regular power supply, we will intensify our agitation,” said Surinder Singh, a protester.

Jammu, July 28
Charging the Congress-led UPA government with adopting pro-separatist policies, BJP Mahila Morcha president and TV celebrity Smriti Irani said today that the “anti-national” Hurriyat leaders were more special to the Union government than the nationalists.

Interacting with mediapersons, Irani said the meeting between Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and the Kashmir separatists before her official meeting with the Indian Foreign Minister had exposed the UPA government.

Irani was here to attend the inaugural session of a three-day Mahila Morcha training camp. She said the Pakistan government’s policies towards India had never been clear, though its inimical intentions were always well known.

“Pakistan has always played a dubious role during all these years. The visit of the Pakistan Foreign Minister has exposed the soft and toothless approach of the Congress-led UPA government towards Pakistan, which has caused terrorism and destruction in our country,” she said.

She cited the example of Pakistan’s non-cooperative attitude in the investigation and prosecution of the Mumbai blasts accused, who were roaming freely in that country.

Giving details of the training programmes of the Mahila Morcha, she said such programmes were being organised throughout the country to make the morcha activists aware of the ideology and basic principles of the organisation.

Srinagar, July 28
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged rape case of Kulgam district has detained a man on the charge of instigating a woman to blame the Army.

A senior police officer said the man identified as Ghulam Hassan was detained yesterday after it emerged during the investigation that he had instigated the 32-year-old woman to blame the Army.

“We are trying to ascertain the motives of the man for instigating the woman, but so far there is nothing to suggest that he might be linked to any separatist outfit,” the officer said. The officer said the investigation had also revealed that the woman was facing some marital problems as she had not been able to conceive even after three years of marriage. “On the day she had disappeared, she had quarrelled with her husband and left home. After wandering overnight, she met Ghulam Hassan while on her way back home and he asked her to blame the Army,” the officer said.

Earlier last week, the husband and the mother-in-law of the woman claimed before the police that she suffered from mental illness and was at her home on the day she claimed she was sexually abused. — PTI

Srinagar, July 28
Governor NN Vohra has emphasised the need for large investments for undertaking research in the pharmaceutical sector to indigenously produce medicines and vaccines at affordable prices for the effective management of communicable and non-communicable diseases.

He was addressing a function organised by Dr Khuroo’s Medical Trust here last evening to celebrate the 30 years of the discovery of Hepatitis E. The Governor said the medical scientists and researchers need to carry forward their researches with sustained vigour so that India could produce the latest and the newest medicines and develop new vaccines to control epidemics.

Referring to the momentous lead provided by the insightful researches done by Dr MS Khuroo three decades ago, which paved the way for the discovery of, what is today called Hepatitis E Virus, he said this was the result of a highly qualified scientist pursuing his enquiry with dedication and hard work.

He added that all great discoveries and inventions were the outcome of sustained commitment and insight as demonstrated by Dr Khuroo. He congratulated Dr Khuroo for his outstanding continuing contributions towards the discovery of Hepatitis E. He hoped that Dr Khuroo’s group of medical scientists would take the research to its logical conclusion.

Referring to the millions killed by waterborne diseases, the Governor underscored the need for attaching the highest priority to providing safe drinking water to every household. He also called for generating awareness about polluting water bodies.