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Sopore youth’s custodial death
Human rights panel seeks report
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LeT militant held on Jammu outskirts
‘Chhari Pujan’ today
NC following discriminatory policies: PDP
Junior doctors continue strike, patients suffer
Central University of Jammu
Termite-damaged tree falls, 18 students injured
Focus on constructing, widening roads: Omar
‘Follow Gandhi’s ideology’
Dr Thappa gets additional charge of MS
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Sopore youth’s custodial death
Srinagar, August 3 There were reports of clashes between youth indulging in stone throwing and the police here.The clashes led to a complete shutdown.There was a heavy deployment of the security forces.All the shops and business establishments here and in other major towns of the Valley were closed and passenger transport was off the road. Educational institutions were closed and there was a thin attendance in banks and government offices.However, private vehicles and autorickshaws were plying in many areas. Sopore, Baramulla and Bandipore towns have been observing a strike for the past three days against the custodial death.The other major towns of the Valley, including Kupwara and Handwara in north Kashmir, Budgam and Ganderbal in central Kashmir and Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam also observed a strike today in response to the separatists’ call. All the shops and business establishments in the towns were closed and traffic was off the road. The strike call,which was given by the Geelani faction of the Hurriyat Conference, was supported by the moderate faction of the party and other organisations. Separatist leaders,including Syed Ali Geelani,Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and others were placed under house arrest to prevent them from visiting Sopore. While three policemen were suspended immediately after the death of the youth in police custody,the SP,Sopore, was transferred yesterday to ensure a fair probe into the incident. |
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Human rights panel seeks report
Srinagar, August 3 It has issued a notice to the state government through the DGP and the Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, seeking the report. The case would be taken up for further action on September 5, according to an SHRC order. The action was taken in view of media reports about the “gravity of the situation, alarming facts and incriminating circumstances” pointing to the prima facia custodial torture resulting in the death of Nazim Rashid, a resident of Krankshivan, Sopore. The youth’s death has led to tension in Sopore and other towns for the past four days. |
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Security beefed up in region ahead of Independence Day
Jammu, August 3 While securitymen in civvies have already been deployed at crowded places and busy markets, the police has set up additional check-posts in the city. Recently, the 16 Corps Commander, Lt-Gen JP Nehra, had stated that there were around 175 militants across the Jammu region. Police sources said forces inimical to peace, including militants, might try to disrupt the celebrations on August 15. “Every year, when national festivals draw near, we step up vigil against anti-national elements and in this connection, we have set up additional check- posts where the police is being assisted by the CRPF,” said a senior police officer. Policemen had also been deployed at the Parade Ground, including the mini-stadium, where the main function was held every year. Similarly, the security grid at the border had also been strengthened. While the BSF had intensified patrolling along the 198-km-long international border, the force had also alerted its posts, besides directing VDC members to keep a strict vigil, said the officer. In reply to a question, he said the police and other security agencies could not afford to remain off-guard in a sensitive state like Jammu and Kashmir. “We don’t have any specific intelligence inputs of a possible terror strike on Independence Day, but past experiences doesn’t allow us to remain complacent,” he said. Recent Mumbai blasts were an example for the security forces, so “we cannot take any chances with the security”, he added. |
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Security reviewed in Rajouri
Jammu, August 3 The meeting was attended by all sector commanders and senior officials from the civil administration, the police and intelligence agencies. Those who attended the meeting included the DIG, Rajouri-Poonch, R K Yadav, , the Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, G A Khwaja, the Deputy Commissioner, Poonch, A K Sahu, the SSP,Rajouri, VS Samyal, the SSP, Poonch, Ashkoor Ahmed Wani, besides other officers from the intelligence agencies. The conference deliberated on various issues concerning the prevailing situation and reviewed the security arrangements for the ongoing Buddha Amarnath Yatra and the forthcoming Independence Day celebrations. Various intelligence inputs were shared by the representatives concerned and it was observed that the coming days were crucial from the security point of view. Besides these, other issues of mutual concern such as Sadhbhavna projects, the construction and development of roads in border villages such as Kirni village and land cases were also deliberated upon. In his concluding remarks, the GOC stressed the need to maintain continuous vigil and alertness by all means and lauded the excellent cooperation between all the agencies which had resulted in achieving peace. |
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LeT militant held on Jammu outskirts
Jammu/Srinagar, August 3 An Army spokesperson said on specific information, a team of the Army and the police apprehended the LeT militant, Mushtaq Ahmed, alias Mustafa, alias Master, from the Belicharana area on the outskirts of Jammu. Mushtaq was a resident of the Budhan area in Reasi district. He was apprehended during the intervening night of August 2 and 3. He joined the LeT in 2004 and was active in Gool, Reasi and the adjoining areas of Rajouri and Poonch along with his other Pakistan accomplices, Haider, Abdullah, Abu Saad and Foreman, said the spokesperson. Mushtaq was trained in the handling of weapons, explosives and radio sets. He had a vast network of overground workers and sympathisers in and around Reasi district, who had been regularly providing administrative and financial support to the militants. He had escaped during an encounter with the security forces in 2008 and had been living here since then. Meanwhile, a militant was killed in an encounter with the security forces in the Handwara area of Kupwara district last night. Acting on specific information about the presence of militants in the Butshugni Kawnar forest area of Handwara, the police and the 21 RR of the Army laid a siege,the police said. The hiding militants opened fire at the troops, which was returned by the security forces, resulting in an encounter. |
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‘Chhari Pujan’ today
Srinagar, August 3 The traditional ‘Chhari Pujan’ will be performed at the Dashnami Akhara on the occasion of ‘Nag-Panchami’ here tomorrow, Mahant Deependra Giri said in a statement issued here. Meanwhile, the Amaranth yatra in south Kashmir has been progressing satisfactorily on both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes. RK Goyal, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, has said, as per the Meteorological Department, the sky will remain mainly clear on Thursday and partly cloudy on Friday, while there is a possibility of light rain on Saturday, rain or thundershower on Sunday and light rain on Monday. Goyal has again advised all the pilgrims to ascertain the weather conditions and get themselves medically examined before embarking on the pilgrimage.
— TNS |
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NC following discriminatory policies: PDP
Jammu, August 3 Besides highlighting the differences between the Congress and the NC, the PDP expressed concern over the unending misery of the people. It said the state had been pushed into an unprecedented crisis due to “governance deficit” and the failure on the part of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to connect with the people. To support their charges, they pointed out the ongoing protests in the city over the delay in making the Central University of Jammu functional. “Why is the Central University of Jammu not being made functional? Why is the government adopting delaying tactics in this regard,” they said. The PDP leaders alleged that instead of addressing the issues of the people, the government had been using strong-arm tactics to stifle the voice of the people. They said it was due to the wrong policies of the NC that the state had plunged into an unprecedented crisis. “The performance of the government is only on paper as instead of addressing the genuine problems of the people, it is busy giving press statements or conducting photo sessions,” they said, adding that, “What to say of people, even the coalition partner Congress is not happy with its performance.” “We have pointed out repeatedly that the government has been pursuing a pick-and-choose policy in sanctioning additional funds and the boycott of the DDB meetings by the Congress legislators has vindicated our stand,” they said. The Congress legislators had boycotted the DDB meetings at Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar. At a DDB meeting, a minister belonging to the Congress, Manohar Lal Sharma, had said the constituencies represented by the Congress MLAs were being neglected. Sources said Sharma had expressed his resentment forcefully. Prominent among those who signed the press statement were former Rajya Sabha member Trilok Singh Bajwa, Ved Mahajan, Daman Bhasin, Falail Singh and others. |
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Junior doctors continue strike, patients suffer
Jammu, August 3 The junior doctors were demanding that the magisterial probe into the death of a Class XII student, Sukhbir Singh, be stopped. Sukhbir, who was stabbed by two students here on July 30, had died allegedly due to the negligence
of some junior doctors of the GMCH. The doctors also demanded stern action against former corporator and Congress leader Surinder Singh Shingari for allegedly provoking the members of Sukhbir’s family, which, they claimed, led to protests in the hospital on July 30. Following the strike call, the junior doctors of the SMGS Hospital, Shalamar Road, also abstained from duty and held protests on the hospital premises. However, the government had clearly told the doctors to return to work at the
earliest, sources told The Tribune. Meanwhile, patients and their attendants continued to suffer for the second day due to the doctors’ strike. Patients at the GMCH and the SMGS Hospital were the worst affected. “The doctors did not bother to attend to patients. Under such circumstances the patients are at the mercy of God,” said the attendant of a patient at the GMCH. He felt that the essential services, particularly health care, where patients were totally dependent on the doctors and the paramedical staff, should not be allowed to be disrupted due to strikes and protests. It may be stated here that the Jammu district administration has constituted a committee headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner Sheetal Nanda to conduct an inquiry into the incident. The committee has been asked to submit its report within 15 days. Meanwhile, a deputation of striking doctors called on Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma today and apprised him of its demands and the present situation. The delegation led by Dr Satyainder Singh urged the Deputy Commissioner to withdraw the magisterial probe and register a case against Congress leader Shingari. |
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Jammu University to rusticate habitual troublemakers: V-C
Jammu, August 3 Sahni said the “habitual” troublemakers could be rusticated from the university. The university authorities were preparing a list of “outsiders” as well as some university students, who often caused tension on the
campus. Addressing mediapersons here this afternoon, Sahni, after highlighting various achievements of the university, said, “We can’t allow chaos on the university campus. In the past few days, there have been attempts to torch the effigies of the Chancellor and the Pro-Chancellor on the campus. We will not allow it to happen at any cost.” The functioning of Jammu University, which was a state institution, could not be allowed to be disrupted over issues like the Central university issue, he said while referring to the frequent protests by some leaders on the campus. “We have to get over this culture of agitations on the campus as adopted by some elements,” Sahni said. To a question, the Vice-Chancellor replied, “I feel the time has come to deal with such habitual offenders. Burning the effigies of the Chancellor and the Pro-Chancellor on the campus is an assault on us and if they tried to do it again, besides dealing with them under the rules, the offenders would be rusticated from the university. “While a majority of the students are busy earning degrees and building career, there are a few troublemakers,” Sahni said, adding that the list of such elements was being prepared. The outsiders would be debarred from entering the varsity while the university students on the list would be dealt with as per the rules, he said. Sahni added that the authorities had no intention to gag the voice of
the students. Getting tough
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Central University of Jammu
Jammu, August 3 In a press statement issued here yesterday, the morcha criticised Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal for reportedly recommending the name of a former state bureaucrat as the interim Vice-Chancellor of the Central varsity to President Pratibha Patil. The university had already lost two academic sessions. The morcha said Sibal at a meeting with its delegation on July 18 had agreed to appoint a local academician as the Vice-Chancellor of the Central varsity. “It seems ridiculous that a government is unable to find an academician of competence to head an institution already in demand and in news. Unlike a democrat, politician and visionary, which a minister is supposed to be, Sibal has shown no respect for the democratic values. He believes in crushing the voice of people ruthlessly,” read the statement. Appreciating the role of Jammu people, especially the students, in the struggle for making the Central university functional, the morcha leaders warned the Central and state governments not to test the patience of the people. The statement was jointly issued by morcha leaders Rajinder Jamwal, Udey Chand, Prof Virinder Gupta, Rampaul Sharma, Balwinder Singh, Kuldip Chib, Mohinderpal Singh Pandu and RR Raina. |
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Termite-damaged tree falls, 18 students injured
Jammu, August 3 The injured students were rushed to Government District Hospital, Rajouri, while two critically injured students were referred to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu. The seriously injured students were identified as Nashi (12) and Sakina (12), both residents of Rajouri town. Both the students suffered head injuries and were undergoing treatment at the emergency ward of the
GMCH. |
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Focus on constructing, widening roads: Omar
Srinagar, August 3 Omar said this while inaugurating a 38.5-km Lethpora-Panthachowk loop road project at Lethpora on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway near here today. He said his government had focused attention on constructing, upgrading and widening roads across the state to improve connectivity and link far-off areas with the main highways. Omar said the inter-district road projects and main highways were receiving the concentrated attention of the government. “Boring tunnels in various areas to link the inaccessible and far-off areas and make travel easy and faster between various districts is also being given attention,” he added. He said there was an understanding between the state and the National Highways Authority of India to upgrade the national highway and fast-track the construction of the four-lane, 400 km Lakhanpur-Srinagar National Highway. The 38.5 km Lethpora-Panthachowk loop road project consisting of five loops, five km Lethpora-Ladhoo, 8.8 km Pampore-Ladhoo, 6.7 km Ladhoo-Khrew-Wuyun, 6.9 km Wuyun-Sampora and 10.9 km Wuyun-Panthachowk has been constructed at a cost of Rs 33.23 crore. The carriage way width of the road is 6.5 metres. It has a bridge with a 7.5- metre span, one crossway, 55 number slab culverts, 21,000-metre pucca drain and 1,820- metre long breast wall. The project has been undertaken by the Economic Reconstruction Agency under Asian Development Bank funds. |
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‘Follow Gandhi’s ideology’
Jammu, August 3 State president of the Gandhi Global Family SP Verma said this while addressing district coordinators of the organisation of the Jammu region here yesterday. He said the members of the organisation had to play a vital role in propagating Gandhi’s ideology throughout the country. “It is a matter of pride that the Father of Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, has emerged as a beacon of peace for the rest of the world. Since we are the successors of the Father of Nation and his ideology is our heritage, we are duty-bound to study his ideology and preach it as well,” he said. Verma said under the leadership of its president, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Gandhi Global Family was extending its branches worldwide. “Its membership shall remain open till August-end and its elections shall be held next month,” he added. |
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Dr Thappa gets additional charge of MS
Jammu, August 3 Dr Thappa has relieved Dr Romesh Gupta, MS of Government Medical College, Jammu, of the additional charge. Similarly, Dr AK Sharma has been given the additional charge of the
MS, Government SMGS Hospital, vice Dr Romesh Gupta. Dr Gupta will now be MS, Government Medical College.
— TNS |
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