The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	DNA profiling confirms skeleton to be of missing Vijaypur boy Ravi Krishnan Khajuria Tribune News Service Samba, August 23 A woman conspired with her paramour and second husband allegedly to kill her nine-year-old son in Vijaypur tehsil of Samba district on March 30 this year. The DNA profiling of the femur bone recovered by the police (apparently of the missing boy Shubam Sharma), has matched with that of his mother, Veena Devi, and a paternal aunt.The police had also dug out a skeleton near the place where the femur bone was found. The boy had been reported missing since March 30 this year and the police suspected that he might have been murdered because his deceased father,Raj Kumar Sharma, had left a sizable property in his name. Though the boy had gone missing on March 30, his mother, Veena Devi, had lodged a missing report on April 2, inviting suspicion of a foul play, sources said. During questioning, Veena Devi stated that on the fateful day, she sent Shubam to the shop of a goldsmith, namely, Darshan Kumar at the Vijaypur market to recover some money, which he owed to her. “It was quite intriguing for us to note that the woman neither visited the police station again to enquire about her only son nor did she try at her own level to trace the boy,” said an officer. Further,Darshan had totally denied having seen or met the boy. Enquiries revealed that Darshan was having illicit relationship with Veena Devi who had now married Vinod Singh of Raika Jogian and both of them did nothing to trace the boy. Shubam’s father, who died of a heart attack a few years ago,owned two shops in the main market of Vijaypur, which Veena Devi had sold to a local influential person, in spite of clear directions from the court that she would hold the property purely as a guardian of the child. She not only sold the property but also used the money amounting to Rs 14 lakh for purchasing another property in her name. “How she managed a court order authorising her to dispose off the shops in the absence of any succession certificate is also a mystery,” said the officer. Relatives from the paternal side of child had long been suspecting a foul play in the disappearance of their nephew and had now directly levelled allegations of murder against Veena Devi and her second husband, Vinod Singh, in connivance with and at the instigation of certain elements in Vijaypur, including a journalist. Talking to The Tribune, Israr Khan, SSP, Samba, said: “We are gaining access to revenue papers pertaining to the sale of the property that ultimately led to the gruesome crime. Once the chain of evidence is properly linked to find out that it was a cold-blooded murder for the property, the formal arrest of all those involved shall be made”. z Though the boy had gone missing on March 30, his mother, Veena Devi, had lodged a missing report on April 2, inviting suspicion of a foul play, sources said.
	Non-inclusion in executive irks Youth Cong workers Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, August 23 Angered by the inclusion of some workers in the newly constituted executive committee of the Youth Congress (YC), dissidents today threatened to form a parallel committee in the state, if “genuine” workers were not included in the new body. The dissidents raised slogans at the first meeting of executive committee held here on Monday, under the chairmanship of All-India Youth Congress (AIYC) general secretary Arminder Raja. The national secretary of the AIYC, Chetan Chouhan, was also present.Those who were not included in the executive along with their supporters reached the venue of the meeting and resorted to sloganeering against the leadership for ignoring “genuine” workers. Some of them alleged that dubious characters were included in the list while “genuine” workers were ignored. Some of the dissidents showed the list containing the names of kin of politicians, who had managed to get a place in the new body. “What is the fun of conducting a talent hunt if the high command was to accommodate only the family members of the politicians in the Youth Congress,” said a leader, and cautioned that “genuine” workers would be demoralised. Sources in the Congress said Arminder Raja tried to pacify the workers, but in vain. As soon as Raja assured them that there were chances of a reshuffle, the agitating workers were pacified. He assured them that the YC was yet to be completely constituted and the “genuine” workers, who were excluded from the list would be included. He informed them that another list would be released in the first week of September to accommodate those excluded. The workers left the venue after the assurance by Raja, but made it clear that they would start a parallel body in the state, if the “genuine” activists were not included in the executive committee. It was also alleged that some activists, who had excelled in the talent hunt conducted by the party, were excluded from the list allegedly to accommodate some influential persons.
	shrc report on Unmarked Graves Omar for truth commission, Geelani rejects suggestion Tribune News Service & PTI Srinagar, August 23 In the wake of the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) finding that over 2,000 unidentified bodies are buried in 38 sites in north Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said there was a need for a truth and reconciliation commission to find out what happened in the last 21 years. “I have said this before I assumed governance and repeated it afterwards that there is a need for a truth and reconciliation commission. That commission should be assigned to find answers to the incidents of the past 21 years, both by militants and the security forces, which have raised questions,” Omar said yesterday on the sidelines of a function. Omar said he would also want questions raised by the SHRC to be answered. In its inquiry report, the investigative wing of the SHRC said it was “beyond doubt” that unidentified bodies buried in unmarked graves existed at various places in north Kashmir. “To make an immediate comment on it will not be appropriate for me. We also want to know as to who all are buried in those graves,” he said. Meanwhile, various security-related issues, including that of unmarked graves, were taken up at a meeting of the Unified Headquarters held here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. An official spokesman said those who attended the meeting included Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Madhav Lal, GoC, 15 Crops, Lt- Gen Sayed Atta Hasnain, the Director-General of Police, Kuldeep Khoda, and the Principal Secretary, Home, B. R. Sharma. Meanwhile, hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Geelani today rejected Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s suggestion for a truth and reconciliation commission to probe reports of 2,000 unidentified bodies in 38 unmarked graves in the Kashmir valley. Geelani asked how could such a commission be fair and impartial when the enquiry would be conducted by those “responsible for killings” in various parts of the Valley and demanded that an international body should conduct the probe. He alleged that all those killed and buried in the graves were innocent people killed by the security forces in the past 20 years. The Hurriyat leader said the unmarked graves had been found in those areas where there was a large presence of the security forces. He blamed the security agencies for the killings. Geelani also reacted sharply to the remarks of Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah that separatists were bent upon destroying Kashmir. He said the state and the Central governments were creating an explosive situation in the Valley. He added that the recent incidents of custodial killing in Sopore, fake encounter in Surankote, unmarked graves, arrests of youth in Srinagar downtown and other areas and the continued detention of political leaders were making the situation explosive. There is a need for a truth and reconciliation commission. The commission should be assigned to find answers to the incidents of the past 21 years, both by militants and the security forces, which have raised questions — Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister How can such a commission be fair and impartial when the enquiry will be conducted by those responsible for killings in various parts of the Valley — Syed Ali Geelani, Chairman of the hardline Hurriyat Conference
	No ex gratia for Mahanpur accident victims BJP, Panthers Party flay authorities for using different yardsticks Tribune News Service Jammu, August 23 The BJP and the Panthers Party have flayed the coalition government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for adopting different yardsticks in giving compensation to the victims of road accidents in the state. Senior BJP leader Nirmal Singh in a letter to the Chief Minister has expressed surprise that no ex-gratia had been given to the families of those, who were killed in a road accident at Mahanpur near Basholi last week. Singh, while expressing grief over the tragic road accident in the Surankote area of Poonch district in which 19 persons had lost their lives, said the government had announced an ex-gratia relief to the families of the deceased. He, however, said not even a single penny had been given to the victims. He added that those killed or injured in Mahanpur road accident belonged to the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), so the government should give them adequate compensation. Singh in his letter has urged the Chief Minister to consider the cases of Mahanpur road accident sympathetically and direct the authorities concerned to release the ex-gratia relief without further delay. The Panthers Party has also flayed the government for not giving compensation to the victims of the Mahanpur road mishap. A delegation of residents from Basholi today called on senior Panthers Party leaders at Jammu and apprised them about the apathetic attitude of the authorities towards the victims of Mahanpur road mishap. They recalled that on the day of the accident, senior civil administration officials had rushed to the spot and announced an ex-gratia relief, but no relief had so far been paid to the victims or their families. They pointed out that a similar accident occured in Poonch district where an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each was given to the kin of the deceased. They said different yardsticks had been adopted for different areas of the state as far as accident victims were concerned. The Panthers Party leaders assured the deputation that they would take up their cases with the higher-ups.
	Reconsider decision to de-reserve 800 posts: BSP Tribune News Service Jammu, August 23 The BSP has urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to reconsider the decision of the state Cabinet to de-reserve 800 posts in various government departments, which were part of the Prime Minister’s Employment Package for the displaced Kashmiri Pandits. In a statement issued here today, state president of the BSP Tulsi Dass Langeh said the decision of the state Cabinet to de-reserve 800 posts was a grave injustice to the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) who fall under the reserved category. Langeh said instead of de-reserving the posts, the government should appoint candidates of reserved categories on the posts. He said as per the reservation rules, out of the total 3,000 posts announced under the Prime Minister’s Employment Package, 800 posts were for the reserved categories.
	Pakistan Rangers return livestock of RS Pura villager Ashutosh Sharma Tribune News Service Jammu, August 23 Livestock of Mohammad Shafi of Katiyal Kalai village in RS Pura were swept away in flash floods in the Tawi to the other side of the international border recently, but the same were returned by the Pakistan Rangers in eight days. On the evening of August 13, Shafi was returning home with his livestock. While they were crossing the Tawi, at least 18 buffaloes and two cows were washed away in a flash flood to the other side of the border, which is nearly 7 km from the village. However, the Pakistan Rangers returned the livestock on August 21 following the initiative of the BSF. Shafi, a milkman belonging to the Gujjar community, said: “I was heartbroken as I did not expect Pakistan to return my livestock. But on the insistence of a few villagers, I took up the matter with the BSF and eventually I got 16 buffaloes and 2 cows back. I was told that two buffaloes were drowned .” “I am thankful to the BSF and the Pakistan Rangers. Without their help, I would have suffered a huge loss,” Shafi said. Earlier, whenever livestock, besides other belongings of the villagers living along the banks of the Tawi,were washed away in the floods, they were never returned by Pakistan. Likewise, if cattle from Pakistan crossed over to the Indian territory, the BSF would give them to the villagers here. “It is unprecedented that out of 20, they returned 18 cattle. It has never happened before,” JS Oberoi, DIG, BSF, said. “Manish Aul, Commandant of the 122 Bn of the BSF, immediately took the initiative and held a flag meeting with the Pakistan Rangers to apprise them about the lost cattle. Citing humanitarian reasons, he requested the Wing Commander of the Pakistan Rangers to make an effort to search and return the cattle to their owner at the earliest,” he said. “The Pakistan Rangers returned the cattle to the BSF in the presence of the police and the civil authorities and they were subsequently handed over to their owner,” he said. He added that the BSF was always committed to save life and property in the border areas. Goodwill Gesture On August 13, at least 18 buffaloes and two cows of Mohammad Shafi were washed away in a flash flood to the other side of the border The Pakistan Rangers returned the livestock on August 21 following the initiative of the BSF Earlier, whenever livestock and other belongings of the villagers living along the banks of the Tawi, were washed away in the floods, they were never returned by Pakistan
	Lashkar hideout unearthed in Ramban, arms recovered Tribune News Service Udhampur, August 23 The security forces yesterday unearthed a hideout of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) in the dense Sarnihal jungle near Pathalan village, about 11 km from Banihal town in Ramban district. As per an Army spokesperson, a well concealed natural cave type double-storied hideout was busted by a joint column of the Rashtriya Rifles, under the aegis of the Counter Insurgency Force (Delta) and the police. A cache of weapons, ammunition, explosives and logistic stores was recovered from the hideout. These included one pika machine gun, three countrymade single-barrel rifles, 1,404 rounds of pika ammunition, 3,717 rounds of AK, 41 Chinese grenades, 13 rocket-propelled grenades (RPG), five AK magazines, six RPG chargers, one binocular, one hand-held radio set, 34 electric detonators, 36 rounds (belted) of the universal machine gun, three bombs (High Explosive) of 60 mm mortar and seven rounds of an unidentified weapon. Besides, four blankets, 20 kg rice, five kg assorted condiments and one cooking utensil were also recovered. It is believed that the hideout had been constructed by the dreaded LeT Divisional Commander, Ayaz Ahmed Malik, alias Abu Musa, who was gunned down along with his associate, Zulkernain, by the security forces on April 24 this year. The stockpile of weapons and explosives revealed the degree of preparations by the terrorist group, which according to the spokesperson was an indicator of the lethality with which they could have carried out an attack. Meanwhile, the Army foiled an infiltration attempt along the Line of Control in the Balnoi area of the KG sector in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district today. “This morning, a group of four armed militants tried to intrude into our territory from the Jhanda post in PoK by opening fire,” said official sources. They said the Indian troops also retaliated and the exchange of fire continued for around half- an-hour. After the exchange of fire, the intruders retreated, the sources added.
	Ex bank employees list demands Tribune News Service Jammu, August 23 The Punjab and Sindh Bank Ex-employees Association has asked the management of the bank to give preferential treatment to all its former employees. The first meeting of the Punjab and Sindh Bank Ex-employees Association was held today in which various issues pertaining to the ex-employees were discussed. Deliberations were made in the meeting to activate the association to look after the interest and welfare of the members. It was resolved to take up the issues with the management of the bank to give preferential treatment to all its ex-employees and also extend welfare measures to them, especially towards medical and health care system. Further it was also decided to take up the matter with the management for extending the liberal credit facilities to deserving ex-employees, who want to set up their own business establishments. GS Bali, Balbir Singh Soodan, Teeraj Singh, Gurjeet Singh and HS Raina addressed the meeting.
	Artists hold demonstration at Kala Kendra Tribune News Service Jammu, August 23 Seeking a probe into the recent appointments in various departments, the students and alumni of the Institute of Music and Fine Arts (IMFA) today staged a protest against the administration of the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages. The demonstration was held at the Kala Kendra here, where artists, who are the pass outs of the IMFA, denounced the functioning of the academy and demanded immediate allotment of studios to painters, sculptors and other artists at the Kala Kendra. “The academy should be trifurcated so that there is no hindrance in the development of artists belonging to the fields of art, culture and languages,” the protesters demanded. They also demanded that action be initiated against secretary of the academy and some other officials for allegedly making biased appointments in various departments of the academy from 2006 onwards. “Many officials working in the academy have been appointed on the basis of forged degrees and documents. We demand a high-level enquiry into it,” said Ashwani Sharma, president of the IMFA Alumni. Sharma said only an IAS cadre official should be appointed as secretary of the academy.
	Hazare’s supporters seek Lokpal Bill in state Tribune News Service Jammu, August 23 With the number of anti-corruption and pro-Anna demonstrations increasing in the city, various political organisations and social groups, besides students continue to protest in support of Anna Hazare. While the state enjoys a special constitutional status in the country, protesters here have been demanding that a law on the pattern of the Lokpal Bill be enacted in the state. The support for Hazare’s crusade against corruption has been coming in the form of candle-lit marches, dharnas, fasts and campaigns on social networking sites as well. Plays highlighting the menace of corruption are being staged and poets and writers here have been writing poems and coining slogans in favour of Hazare. Dr Liaqat Jafri, who wrote a poem on Hazare, says, “The air was filled with pessimism till Anna came and took the centrestage. I am inspired by the old man’s resolve. He has revived the hopes of the common man in the country.” “Now, the youth is discussing politics and considering an old man in dhoti and a Gandhi cap as their icon. Isn’t it a miracle?” he said,and added the state also needed a strong Lokpal Bill. Meanwhile, residents and shopkeepers of the Tallab Tillo area observed a day-long fast in Hazare’s support . Those who participated in the fast included members of the Morning Walkers Association, inmates of the Swami Vivekanand Kanyakumari Kendra, Jammu, staff and inmates of the SOS Home, members of the Pragati Manch and staff of the NITCO Road Line, Jammu. The protesters were carrying banners and placards. They raised slogans against the UPA government and asked it to fulfil Hazare’s demands without delay. Kulbushan Mohtra, a protester, said, “More such protests will be organised in support of the movement launched by Hazare and Baba Ramdev against corruption, if the government does not accept their demands”. JL Kotwal, another protester, said, “The movement is the second Sampooran Kranti, another war against exploitation and injustice in the country”.He demanded that the state Legislature should immediately enact a law on the pattern of the Jan Lokpal Bill, as proposed by Hazare. Kotwal demanded that a state Lokyukta be appointed under a strong law.
	Frequent road mishaps worry commission Tribune News Service Srinagar, August 23 The House Committee constituted to look into causes of frequent road accidents in Doda district has expressed concern about frequent road mishaps in the state. The committee, which met here today under the chairmanship of CPM leader MY Tarigami, while expressing sympathies with the families of the accident victims of the Poonch road accident, directed the Deputy Commissioner to furnish a report about the causes that led to the mishap, showing the details of the relief measures. The committee also deliberated upon the reports submitted by its members, including GM Saroori, Abdul Majid Wani, Ashok Kumar, Sajad Ahmad Kichloo and Aijaz Ahmad Jan, an official spokesman said. The committee decided that it would submit its interim report in the forthcoming session of the state Assembly.
	Two militants killed in Handwara encounters Tribune News Service Srinagar, August 23 Two militants were killed in encounters with the security forces in the Handwara area of Kupwara district today. The police said a militant was killed in an encounter with the security forces at Dard Haji in the forest area of Handwara in Kupwara district today.The police and the Army had launched a joint operation in the area on Sunday night.A woman, Saleema Begum, was killed while her husband, Abdul Rashid, was injured in the crossfire between the militants and the security forces yesterday. In another encounter between hiding militants and the security forces, a militant was killed in the forest area of Lachipora, near Handwara, this afternoon. Acting on specific information about the presence of armed militants, the security forces launched a joint operation to flush out the militants and in the ensuing encounter,a militant was killed, the police said.
	Poppy husk recovered from train Tribune News Service Jammu, August 23 The Railway police recovered 13 kg of poppy husk from the Sealdah Express last evening. On specific information, a special team headed by Station House Officer Rajinder Kumr Bhardwaj was deputed to search the train. During the course of the search, a bag lying unattended in a coach of the Sealdah Express was recovered. On checking,it was found that the bag contained 13 kg of poppy husk. The police has started investigations.