J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R    E D I T I O N

SPO, jawan arrested for killing youth in Poonch
Jammu, August 8
An SPO and a Territorial Army jawan picked up a mentally-challenged youth from Rajouri town, took him to a densely-forested area of Surankote tehsil in Poonch district and shot him dead in a fake encounter.

Renewed phase of protests
15 held for stone throwing in Srinagar
Srinagar, August 8
Nearly 15 persons have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the renewed phase of protests, including stone throwing on the security forces, in the old city area here. "We have arrested some persons involved in disturbing peace ... I do not remember the exact number, but it can be about 15," SSP, Srinagar, Ashiq Bukhari said.

Security forces arrest two youths for stone throwing in Srinagar on Monday. Photo: Amin War

Kapoor is advisory panel member
Jammu, August 8
Rohit Kapoor, an advocate and member of the J&K Juvenile Welfare Board, has been appointed member of the advisory committee on the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 2002.

SPO, jawan arrested for killing youth in Poonch
Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 8
An SPO and a Territorial Army jawan picked up a mentally-challenged youth from Rajouri town, took him to a densely-forested area of Surankote tehsil in Poonch district and shot him dead in a fake encounter.

This was disclosed today by the police, which said the two security personnel then misled the security forces and informed them that a top militant of the LeT had been killed in a joint operation of the police and the Rashtriya Rifles on the intervening night of August 5 and 6.

The accused SPO and the jawan are the residents of Hardi Mehrot village in Surankote. They engineered the encounter allegedly for promotion and rewards.

“The accused security personnel have been arrested. An FIR has been registered against SPO Noor Hussain and Territorial Army jawan Abdul Majeed. They are being interrogated,” said SSP, Poonch, Ashkoor Wani.

“The identity of the slain youth could not be ascertained as his face was mutilated due to multiple bullet injuries,” he said. “During the interrogation, the accused revealed that they picked up the youth from Rajouri town and engineered the encounter for promotion and rewards,” the SSP said.

Asked about the details, the SSP, and the DIG, Rajouri-Poonch Range, Rajesh Kumar, declined to comment, saying further investigation was in progress.

Earlier reports had said a dreaded militant, identified as Abu Usmaan, a Pakistan national and divisional commander of the LeT, was killed in a joint operation of the police and the Rashtriya Rifles on the intervening night of August 5 and 6.

In Rajouri, a senior Army officer said this evening that the Army along with the police had initiated a probe into the killing.

Addressing a press conference, the GOC of the Romeo Force, Maj-Gen JS Shergill, said the accused SPO and the jawan picked up the youth from Rajouri, took him to the Mehrote forests and killed him on August 4.

“They killed the youth on the Dhoba Wali road, near the Mehrote forests, and kept a pistol near his body,” said Maj-Gen Shergill.

The GOC said the accused security personnel called their Commandant on August 6 evening, seeking support on the pretext that they had trapped two militants in the forests of Surankote.

Based on this information, the GOC said, the Army cordoned off the area where the SPO and the jawan claimed the militants had taken up position.

“While the Army troops were laying a cordon, the duo fired into the air for sometime (to befool the troops) because by then they had killed the civilian. A diary was recovered from the deceased, which had a name, Abu Usman, a Lashkar militant, written on it,” he said.

“The Army had doubts about the incident and that was why we conducted an internal inquiry and handed over the jawan to the police,” he said.

In Srinagar, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said a case under Section 302 of the RPC had been registered against the duo.

fake encounter

• SPO Noor Hussain and Territorial Army jawan Abdul Majeed picked up a mentally-challenged youth from Rajouri town, took him to a forest area of Surankote tehsil in Poonch district and shot him dead on August 4
• They called their Commandant on August 6 evening, seeking support on the pretext that they had trapped two militants in the forests, said Maj-Gen JS Shergill, GOC of the Romeo Force
• During the interrogation, the accused revealed that they engineered the encounter for promotion and rewards, said SSP, Poonch, Ashkoor Wani

Renewed phase of protests
15 held for stone throwing in Srinagar

Srinagar, August 8
Nearly 15 persons have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the renewed phase of protests, including stone throwing on the security forces, in the old city area here. "We have arrested some persons involved in disturbing peace ... I do not remember the exact number, but it can be about 15," SSP, Srinagar, Ashiq Bukhari said.

Bukhari said the police would go after the protesters. "Anyone involved in stone throwing will be arrested," he said.

The arrests were made from the neighbourhood of the downtown in the last two days.

The family of an engineer,who was arrested during a raid last night, claimed no reason was given for his arrest.

Fresh protests have taken place in the old city here during the last three consecutive days against the alleged high-handedness of the police and the CRPF with residents and shopkeepers during Friday's demonstrations.

After remaining peaceful since October, stone-throwing youth reappeared on the streets of the old city on Friday in protest against the house arrest of moderate Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. — PTI

Allotment of Bridge Work
Vigilance books seven officials for fraud
Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 8
The State Vigilance Organisation today registered criminal cases against at least seven government officials for flouting the norms and causing a loss to the state exchequer. It conducted searches in Srinagar, Jammu and Faridabad simultaneously to collect evidences against them.

An official press note stated that Mohammad Subhan Najar, the then Managing Director of the J&K Project Construction Division (JKPCC); Nazir Ahmad Shah, then Chief Engineer, Roads and Buildings Department, Kashmir; MM Sharma, then Chief Engineer, Roads and Buildings Department, Jammu; Daleep Thusoo, then General Manager, Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC), Jammu; VK Channa, then DGM, JKPCC Unit IX, Doda; SK Seth, then DGM, JKPCC; Gopal Sharma, then Assistant Engineer, JKPCC, Doda, and Anil Kumar Sharma, proprietor of M/S AK Constructions Private Ltd, entered into a criminal conspiracy and the JKPCC arbitrarily and without inducing any competition awarded a contract for the construction of a balanced cantilever bridge over the Chenab at Pul Doda to AK Constructions Private Ltd.

“Mohammad Subhan Najar constituted a (technical) sub-committee comprising himself, Nazir Ahmad Shah, MM Sharma, Daleep Thusoo and VK Channa and it selected AK Constructions Private Ltd. without ascertaining its credentials and without assessing the actual equipment available with it for the execution of the work,” the press note said.

The construction work on the bridge started in November 2006 without an allotment order from the JKPCC, which was actually issued in February 2007.

“The then MD and the then GM of the JKPCC knowing well the aforesaid facts approved the issuance of an allotment order to AK Constructions Private Ltd in February 2007, four months after the work on the bridge had actually started, thereby indicating a nexus between the contractor and the JKPCC authorities,” it said.

“VK Channa released Rs 5.09 crore as mobilisation advance against the maximum permissible limit of Rs 2.43 crore in violation of the agreement signed between the JKPCC and Anil Kumar Sharma, proprietor of AK Constructions Private Ltd. Of this, Rs 2.16 crore is still outstanding against Anil Sharma. This resulted in a loss of Rs 1.14 crore to the JKPCC,” the press note said.

Gopal Sharma reportedly prepared false measurement books showing the construction of an excess length of a haul and approach roads, thereby, facilitating an excess payment of Rs 20.91 lakh to Anil Sharma.

2G SCAM
BJP steps up attack on Chidambaram
Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 8
Stepping up the attack on Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on the 2G scam, the BJP yesterday said not only the DMK, but also the Congress was involved in this biggest-ever scandal in the history of the country.

Addressing a public meeting organised by the state unit of the party in connection with its campaign against corruption, scams and black money, the national general secretary, JP Nadda, alleged that the Union Home Minister was aware of A Raja’s alleged corrupt deals.

“We have already lodged a complaint against Chidambaram with the CBI Director and in the days to come, we will expose other senior ministers of the UPA among the masses,” he said.

Nadda added that the party had decided to reach every nook and corner of the country to expose the Congress-led UPA government over the issues of corruption, black money and price rise.

“The UPA has become a den of corruption. We have been continuously raising our voice against corruption and it is due to our efforts that a number of UPA ministers and bureaucrats are in jail now,” he said.

Pointing out the CAG report on the Commonwealth Games, Nadda alleged that the involvement of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had been established in the scam. “Undue favour was given to a few blacklisted firms,” he said.

He said the UPA government had become the mother of all scandals and the time had come when it should be taught a lesson. He blamed the government for the price rise, which had made the survival of the common man difficult.

Delay in making Central varsity functional
BJP threatens to launch people’s movement
Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 8
BJP legislators have reiterated the August 25 deadline given by the party to the Central and state governments to make the Central University of Jammu functional, failing which it will launch a people’s movement.

Addressing a press conference here today, Leader of the BJP Legislature Party Jugal Kishore Sharma, along with MLAs Choudhary Sukhnandan and Sham Choudhary, said the delay in making the Central varsity functional showed the discriminatory attitude of the Central and state governments against the Jammu region.

He said though a Central university was promised for the Jammu region long ago, the government established a Central university in Kashmir, which had already conducted two academic sessions. On the contrary, the Central University of Jammu had not started functioning till now.

Sharma added that the discrimination against the Jammu region was visible in all actions of the state and Central governments. “Be it road connectivity, setting up of colleges, electrification of villages, government jobs, the Jammu region has always been discriminated against. The delimitation of the Assembly constituencies has been done in a manner that it affected the interests of the Jammu region,” he added.

The start of the Central university in Jammu was being obstructed, said Sharma and pointed to the delay in the appointment of Vice-Chancellor of the university.

He said the BJP would not allow the governments to play with the careers of the students and the aspirations of the people of the Jammu region.

Bloeria takes over as Central varsity V-C
Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 8
Dr SS Bloeria, former Chief Secretary of the state, took over as the first Vice-Chancellor (V-C) of the Central University of Jammu here today. An IAS officer of the Jammu and Kashmir cadre, Bloeria is a former Army officer. He served in the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles from 1966 to 1972 and took part in the 1971 war with Pakistan.

An alumnus of Scindia School, Gwalior, Bloeria is a science graduate. He also holds a masters degree in history and is a Ph.D. A graduate of the National Defence College, New Delhi, he takes keen interest in military history and national security matters.

During his career, he held the important posts of the Deputy Commissioner, Jammu; Development Commissioner, Ladakh; Divisional Commissioner, Jammu; Principal Secretary to the Governor; Secretary in the departments of Food, Civil Supplies, Transport, Forest, Public Works, Health and Medical Education.

He has been the Managing Director of the Jammu and Kashmir Small Scale Industries Development Corporation, and the Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation, as also the CEO of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. He has also been on deputation to the Central government as Joint Secretary, J&K Affairs, Home Ministry and Director, Enforcement.

Bloeria was posted as the Special Commissioner, Rajouri and Poonch districts, in 1990-1992, with specific responsibility to keep the area free from militancy. He was the Home Secretary in 1995 and 1996 when the parliamentary and Assembly elections were conducted in the state after a gap of almost 10 years. His last assignment was of the Chief Secretary from November 2002 till his superannuation in September 2005.

In July 2008, when Governor’s rule was imposed on the state, Bloeria was appointed the Adviser to the Governor. He was instrumental in successfully handling the Amarnath land agitation and later the Assembly elections.

He has authored three books, “The Battles of Zojila-1948”, “Pakistan’s Insurgency and India’s Security” and “The Dying Terrorism”.

Panun Kashmir peeved over delay in setting up Central varsity
Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 8
The Panun Kashmir (PK) has expressed concern over the alleged delaying tactics adopted by the Central and the state governments in setting up the Central University of Jammu and has decided to support the pro-Jammu groups, protesting for the cause.

Addressing a press conference here today, PK president Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo said initially such a university was supposed to be established in Jammu, but the Kashmir-centric state government, due to its discriminatory attitude towards Jammu made every effort to scuttle the move.

“In view of the deliberate delay, the PK has decided to support the agitation launched by various organisations,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof ML Raina, Chairman, Political Affairs Committee, said the agitating students of the Jammu region had been forced by the callous attitude of the state government to take to the streets and voice their strong feelings.

“It is unfortunate that brutal force is being used to silence their rightful and genuine voice. This wilful delay in conceding the genuine demands of the students has caused a negative impact on their academic session and careers,” said Raina.

He said the demand of the people of Jammu to appoint a local academician as the Vice-Chancellor of the Central University was regarded by the Panun Kashmir as genuine, which it supported strongly and firmly.

Such precedence in the matter of appointments in Kashmir had already been established for the last several decades.

The Panun Kashmir had appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to urgently intervene in the matter so that the genuine demands of the students were accepted.

Contractual college teachers threaten to continue stir
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 8
The Jammu and Kashmir Contractual College Teachers Association (J&KCCTA) has threatened to continue its stir in support of its demands. Representatives of the striking teachers had launched a hunger strike at the Press Enclave here on July 29 in support of their demands, which included job security and facility for advance research.

Talking to mediapersons here today,Mohammad Maqbool, president of the J&KCCTA, blamed the government for its delaying tactics, which had forced the teachers to launch a relay fast.

Nearly 30 representatives, including male and female teachers, teaching various subjects in colleges across the Kashmir valley, have been on a relay fast for the past 11 days. This has led to the suspension of classes for the past about a month even as the permanent teachers are attending to their duties.

Over 850 contractual college teachers have been working in various colleges of the Valley for the past about 15 years.

Giving the details, Mohammad Maqbool said before launching the relay fast, a memorandum related to the problems and issues being faced by the youth was presented to all the authorities concerned, which included the Governor, the Chief Minister and the Education Minister,but no action was taken.

He also flayed the claims made by the government that 60 to 80 per cent of the syllabi had been covered in colleges. “How could this be possible in just a month. The classes started in mid-April,” Maqbool said.

There was enough time for the government to accept our demands, so that the precious time of the students was not wasted, he added.

Setting up of Urdu academy
Urdu lovers hail CM’s decision
Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 8
The Department of Urdu, University of Jammu, and the Rasa Javedani Memorial Literary Society today hailed the decision of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to set up an Urdu academy in the state.

At a function held here today, Head, Department of Urdu, Prof Shohab Inayat Malik, said the establishment of the academy would help the development of the language in the state.

“It would be a great pleasure for Urdu lovers of the state. If Kashmiri, Dogri, Pahaari and Gojri academies are also established, these languages would also flourish,” he added.

He thanked the Chief Minister for meeting the long-pending demand of Urdu lovers.

Prof MA Wani said the Urdu academy was the need of the hour.

The speakers present on the occasion highlighted the struggle of Ved Bhasin, Prof Shohab Inayat Malik, Amin Banjara, Anjuman-e-Faroge Urdu, Adbi-Kunj, Anjuman-e-Taraqi-Urdu Hind and other literary organisations, which rendered their support to the Rasa Javedani Memorial Literary Society and the Department of Urdu to establish an Urdu academy.

Others who spoke on the occasion included Prof Sukhchain Singh, Dr Mohammad Reyaz Ahmed, Dr Chaman Lal Bhagat, Dr Abdul Rashid Manhas, Asser Kishtwari, Ravi Thakur and Pyarey Hatash.

Rally against UPA Government
BJYM activists leave for Delhi
Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 8
Led by their state president Munish Sharma, a large number of activists of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) left for New Delhi today to join their counterparts from other parts of the country for a rally-and-gherao programme tomorrow against the Central government’s alleged corrupt practices and other sensitive issues.

BJP state president Shamsher Singh Manhas along with other leaders of the party flagged off the buses carrying the BJYM activists from Maheshpura Chowk here.

Manhas said the BJP had been launching various programmes against corruption, price rise, unemployment and black money, which had shattered the faith of the masses and brought shame to the nation and caused resentment among the educated youth of the country.

He said the UPA government had crossed all limits of corruption as scams were coming to light daily.“The 2G scam, the Commonwealth Games scam, the Adarsh Society scandal, the Antrix Multimedia scam, among others, have been making headlines everyday. Today, a common Indian is worried about corruption, but the UPA government is least concerned about punishing the guilty and was rather trying to shield big fish,” he said.

Manhas said the rally would coincide with the anniversary of the Quit India Movement by Mahatma Gandhi on August 9, 1942. He added that the youth of the country should corner the government on the issues of corruption, price rise and unemployment.

Sharma said the rally had been planned to exert pressure on the Union government to punish those involved in corrupt practices. Dr Jitendra Singh, Chander Prakash Ganga, Sat Sharma, MLA Choudhary Sukhnandan, Harinder Gupta, Balbir Ram, Ayodhya Gupta and Praduman Singh were prominent among those present on the occasion.

6,000 attend Army recruitment rally
Tribune News Service

Doda, August 8
Over 6,000 candidates from Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Udhampur and Reasi districts participated in an Army recruitment rally, which concluded at Reasi yesterday. The rally was organised by the Army under the aegis of the Headquarters Counter- Insurgency Force (Uniform), Reasi.

The Army officials said the aim of the rally was to provide employment to the youth belonging to the far-flung and remote areas of the region. It was organised for the first time at Reasi and the response was overwhelming. The successful conduct of the rally spread over five days showed good coordination among the civil administration, the Army and local people.

Besides the huge turnout, the rally was noteworthy for being incident-freedue to proper administrative and security arrangements put in place by the Army Garrison. A large number of candidates were selected for a written examination scheduled on August 28.

Kashmiri Pandits call on Governor

Srinagar, August 8
A five-member delegation of the Kashmira Vahini called on Governor NN Vohra and presented him a memorandum of demands of the Kashmiri Pandit community. The demands included speedy implementation of the Prime Minister’s Special Employment Package for the migrant youth.

The delegation also sought redressal of the grievances of those who had already been appointed, enhancement of cash relief to the migrants, protection and propagation of the Sharda script, facilitation of visits of devotees from Jammu and Kashmir to the Sharda Mata Temple located in the PoK and urgent measures for the protection and conservation of the Hindu temples and shrines in the Kashmir valley.

State Chief Secretary Madhav Lal, Principal Secretary to the Governor, RK Goyal, and Relief Commissioner Vinod Koul were also present on the occasion. — TNS

Chhari Mubarak leaves for Amarnath shrine
Tribune News Service

Mahant Dipendra Giri offers prayers to Chhari Mubarak at Dashnami Akhara temple in Srinagar on Monday. — PTI

Srinagar, August 8
Chhari Mubarak or the holy mace of Lord Shiva, led by Mahant Deepinder Giri, left from its resting place at the temple complex at the Dashnami Akhara here today for the Amarnath cave shrine.

With this, the annual pilgrimage, which began on June 29, has entered the final phase.

After night halts at Pahalgam, Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panjtarni, the holy mace will reach the cave shrine on the morning of August 13 on the occasion of Shravan Poornima, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan.

Governor NN Vohra, who is also the Chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, will lead special prayers on the occasion of the conclusion of the yatra.

Nine injured in Doda road mishap
Tribune News Service

Doda, August 8
Nine persons, including two minors, were injured when the Matador they were travelling in collided with a Tata vehicle, near the Home Guard Lines, here today. The accident took place around 8 am. The drivers of both the vehicles lost control while negotiating a sharp curve.

The injured, including Chhotu (7) of Khellani and Umar Sultan (3) of Bhalwana, were rushed to District Hospital, Doda, with the help of the police and local residents. The Medical Superintendent of the hospital said no one sustained serious injuries.

The other injured were identified as Neelma Devi (35) of Mangota, Marmat, Bashir Ahmed (45) of Kastigarh, Javed Hussain (58) of Gadi, Manzoor Ahmed (20) of Gadither, Suran Singh (35) of Khellani, Riaz Ahmed (35) and his wife, Naveeda Begum (30) of Bhalwana.

‘Amend Lokpal Bill’
Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 8
The All-Jammu and Kashmir Movement for Peace and Justice yesterday demanded that the Lokpal Bill presented in the Lok Sabha needed to be amended as it had fallen short of expectations of the people of the country.

In a statement, president of the organisation Kuldeep Kumar Rao said, “Kepping Prime Minister, parliamentarians and the higher judiciary out of the purview of the proposed law is likely to make the Lokpal a weak institution”.

Kapoor is advisory panel member
Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 8
Rohit Kapoor, an advocate and member of the J&K Juvenile Welfare Board, has been appointed member of the advisory committee on the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 2002.

This Act empowers the committee members to visit radiodiagnostic centres, laboratories and clinics to check the compliance of its provisions. They can also recommend the cancellation of the registration of a laboratory or a clinic. Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma is the chairman of the advisory committee.