The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Maintain constant vigil along frontiers: Governor Tribune News Service Jammu/Srinagar, January 27 Governor NN Vohra has observed that adversary elements operating from across the borders have not given up their malicious resolve to disturb and destabilise the country and exhorted the security forces to maintain constant vigil along the frontiers. After hoisting the Tricolour on the occasion of the 63rd Republic Day, at MA Stadium here yesterday, Vohra said the state police, Central Police Organisations and the Army have continued to brave all odds to safeguard the territorial integrity of the state. He said their devotion and commitment had led to a progressive decline in infiltration from across the Line of Control and consequent reduction in terrorism-related incidents. He lauded the brave officers and men of the security forces and paid homage to the brave soldiers, who laid down their lives for the country. Extending warm greetings to the people on the occasion, the Governor said on this memorable day, we must pay homage to the great national leaders who made many sacrifices and carried out a prolonged struggle to secure freedom for our country. He said in the past over six decades, despite serious challenges and constraints, the country has been able to achieve commendable progress in varied arenas. He said today India stands out for the strength of its growing economy and for its vibrant democracy, which is the largest in the world. The Governor said the disturbed situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the past years had adversely affected its growth and development. Nonetheless, the average annual growth rate and the year-to-year growth in tax collection have shown positive trends in the past four years. The level of capital expenditure has also been progressively increasing and is at about Rs 8,000 crore during the current financial year. He said after the turmoil faced in the preceding three summers, the spurt of economic activity during 2011 clearly demonstrated that progress can be achieved only when normalcy prevails. He said agitations and confrontations had already caused enormous human and economic losses and the recurring disruption of the educational system at all levels had done irreparable damage to the career prospects of our youth. He appealed to the leaders of all political parties, social, cultural and religious organisations, and all other segments of the society, in the three regions of the state, to join ranks for the resolution of all remaining issues through dialogue and discussion. Reasi: The 63rd Republic Day was celebrated with pomp and show in Reasi, where Minister of State for Power and CAPD Shabir Ahmed Khan unfurled the National Flag and took salute at the march past by contingents of the police, the IRP women, paramilitary forces and students of various schools. On the occasion, schoolchildren and local artistes presented a variety of programmes, depicting the culture, communal harmony and traditions of the country.
	Time to speed up development process, says Abdul Rather Ehsan Fazili/TNS Srinagar, January 27 Amid a shutdown in response to the separatists’ call, the 63rd Republic Day was celebrated across Kashmir division with the main function held at Bakshi Stadium here. The Minister for Finance, Abdul Rahim Rather, unfurled the National Flag and took salute at the marchpast. The contingents of the BSF, CRPF, ITBP, JKAP, JKP, IRP, Auxiliary Police, Fire Service, Forest Protection Force, Pipe Band and NCC cadets participated in the marchpast. Speaking on the occasion, the minister said it was time to introspect, assess and make resolutions for accelerating the development process. He said we need to introspect and overcome our weaknesses for the development of our state. He said peace is very imperative for any kind of development and congratulated the people for maintaining peace which created a conducive environment for promoting tourism and other economic activities. He said 12 lakh tourists had visited the Valley this year and 1 crore pilgrims paid obeisance at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine due to peace in the state, which brought cheers on the faces of those people who are directly or indirectly linked with the tourism sector. Similar functions were held at other district headquarters of Anantnag, Baramulla, Kupwara, Budgam, Ganderbal, Pulwama, Shopian, Bandipore and Kulgam.
	Suspected honour killing Youth ‘murdered’, girl struggles for life Arteev Sharma/TNS Nayalki (Samba), January 27 In a suspected case of honour killing, a youth was allegedly murdered and his girlfriend left battling for life after they were stabbed by some “unidentified persons” in Nayalki village, on the Jammu-Pathankot national highway in Samba district today. The police, however, claimed that the youth, a jilted lover, had stabbed himself to death before inflicting grievous injuries on his girlfriend, as the girl had refused to marry him. The youth was identified as Rajkumar, 22, while the girl was identified as Sonia Devi, 17, both residents of Nayalki village. The duo belonged to the Bhagat community and the members of the girl’s family were reportedly unhappy with their relationship. The youth died while he was being shifted to a hospital. The girl was taken to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu, where her condition was stated to be critical. The incident took place around 6.40 am today when the youth and the girl were spotted by some villagers in a pool of blood near the girl’s residence. SSP, Samba, Israr Khan told The Tribune, “The girl, who received 15 to 16 wounds on her body, in her statement told the police that the youth attacked her before stabbing himself to death.” The SSP said, “We are working on each and every aspect of the incident and a case of honour killing cannot be ruled out. The girl, however, has said her family was unhappy with their relationship and she had told the boy that she couldn’t marry him. The boy, in a fit of anger, inflicted several wounds on the girl with a sharp-edged weapon.”
	IAF airlifts 190 trapped civilians to safety Ravi Krishnan Khajuria Tribune News Service Jammu, January 27 Carrying on with its rescue operations in sub-zero temperature to help people in distress, the IAF today airlifted as many as 190 persons who were trapped in the snow-hit Kishtwar district for over a week. “After suspending the operations yesterday due to bad weather, the IAF’s MI-17 choppers were back to business today. The 130 Helicopter Unit of the IAF, commanded by Wing Commander Sandeep Singh, launched fresh operations in the snow-hit areas of hilly Kishtwar district early this morning,” Defence PRO, SN Acharya, told The Tribune. A total of 190 civilians were airlifted to safety from Inchan and Navapachi areas of the district, he added. Flying officer Rahul, Warrant Officier RR Mishra and Sergeant D Das also took part in the rescue operations, said Acharya, who also accompanied the team to Navapachi. Nearly 300 civilians were trapped in Sondar, Dachhan, Marwah, Warwan and Navapachi areas of the district since January 7. At least 121 persons were airlifted on January 25 and today the MI-17 chopper airlifted the remaining 190 persons to safety despite poor visibility, blowing snow waves and minus 9 degree Celsius temperature, said Acharya, adding that the operations ended around 4.45 pm. Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Hussain Malik informed The Tribune that with today’s sorties the IAF has airlifted all the stranded people from Inchan and Navapachi areas of the district. The operations were launched on a request by the state government to ferry people stranded in highly snow-hit areas of Sondar, Dachhan, Marwah and Navapachin in the district since January 7. The IAF had earlier rescued 2,188 passengers, including 1,613 civilians, between the two capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar on January 21. Popularly known as CONDORS, the 130 Helicopter Unit had first launched a major air operation on January 9 to reach out to the snow-trapped people with essential supplies and medicines.
	National highway opens to traffic Was closed yesterday due to leakage from LPG tanker Jammu, January 27 The vehicular traffic was today restored on the 300-km-long Jammu-Srinagar national highway, a day after it was closed due to the LPG leakage from a tanker. “The highway has been reopened for the vehicular traffic and situation has been defused by the controlled release of the LPG from the tanker by late last night,” SP, Ramban, Anil Magotra said. Magotra, who supervised the operation till late last night, said an expert team of Hindustan Petroleum arrived at 6 pm and with controlled technique the entire LPG tanker was emptied by late night. “Later the entire stretch was washed by water tenders,” he said, adding that the power supply and mobile services were still disconnected and other fire triggering devices had been banned in the area. The leakage of the LPG was reported last afternoon from the 12,000-litres tanker when it reached the Nashri area on the highway. The LPG tanker of Hindustan Petroleum was on its way to Srinagar when the incident took place at Nashri, 125 km from here. — PTI
	Infiltration bid foiled Sweets exchanged at the Line of Control Tribune News Service Jammu, January 27 Alert BSF jawans shot dead an intruder along the International Border (IB) in Pargwal island of Akhnoor sector yesterday. “Around 6.15 am yesterday the BSF jawans of the 86 Battalion observed an intruder near the Mala Bela area of Pargwal Island. They asked him to surrender, but he didn’t obey and tried to escape to Pakistan, compelling the jawans to open fire. He died on the spot,” said a senior BSF officer. The Pak Rangers later accepted the body of the unidentified intruder, added the officer. “It has happened for the first time that the Pak Rangers accepted the body of an intruder,” he said, adding that the intruder’s body was handed over to the Pak Rangers in the presence of the local police. Meanwhile, India and Pakistan troops also exchanged sweets on various points along the IB and the Line of Control (LoC) to mark the Republic Day celebrations. The Pak Rangers and BSF officers exchanged sweets at the Border Outpost (BoP) Octroi in RS Pura sector yesterday. Officiating Commandant of the 135 Battalion of the BSF Manoj Karki gave away sweets to his counterpart Major Mukhtiyar of the 12 Chenab Range. The officers also exchanged greetings on the occasion. According to reports, the India Army and Pakistan Army also exchanged sweets at the Chakan-da-Bagh on the LoC in Poonch district.
	Governor hosts ‘At Home’ Tribune News Service Jammu, January 27 Governor NN Vohra hosted ‘At Home’ on the occasion of the 63rd Republic Day at Raj Bhawan lawns, here last evening. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Mohammad Akbar Lone, chairman of the Legislative Council Amrit Malhotra, several ministers, advisers to the Chief Minister, legislators, leaders of various social and political organisations were among those who attended the At Home. The At Home was also attended by Army Commander of the Northern Command Lt Gen KT Parnaik and senior civil, police and security forces’ officers, Vice-Chancellors of various state universities, mediapersons and prominent citizens from all walks of life. The Governor and his wife, Usha Vohra, interacted with the invitees and exchanged Republic Day greetings and pleasantries with them.
	First Lady for awareness against female foeticide Jammu, January 27 As part of the Republic Day celebrations, the Youth Services and Sports Department organised a cultural programme for women at General Zorawar Singh Auditorium here today. The First Lady, Usha Vohra, who was the chief guest at the function, lauded the organisers for presenting a cultural programme. Complimenting the Youth Services and Sports Department for organising the programme, she said extra-curricular activities help in bringing out hidden talents among children and provide them confidence to meet future challenges successfully. Referring to a skit “Save Girl Child” presented by Jain Taruni Mandal, she emphasised the need for enlarging awareness against female foeticide to restore gender balance. She said stringent punitive action needs to be taken against those medicos who conduct sonography tests to determine the sex of the foetus. She said girls are as important as the boys and they must be looked after well, educated and given their due place in the society. She added one of the possible reasons for female foeticide is the evil practice of dowry which needs to be discouraged and eliminated. The First Lady gave away prizes to various educational institutions, NGOs and other organisations for presenting a scintillating cultural programme comprising Dogri, Kashmiri, Ladakhi, Punjabi and Gojri folk songs and dances besides skits. — TNS
	15 Corps bags maximum honours Tribune News Service Srinagar, January 27 The Srinagar-based 15 Corps or Chinar Corps has won maximum laurels in the list of awards which have been declared on the occasion of Republic Day 2012. A defence spokesman said the Chinar Corps Commander, Lt-Gen SA Hasnain, has been awarded the prestigious and only Uttam Yudh Seva Madal (UYSM) announced this year. Overall, the Corps has been conferred an Ashok Chakra, two Kirti Chakras, one UYSM, three Ati Vishisht Seva Medals (AVSM), six Shaurya Chakras, four Yudh Seva Medals (YSM), 40 Sena Medals (SM) for gallantry, nine Sena Medals (distinguished) and 14 Vishisht Seva Medals (VSM). The nation’s highest peace time gallantry award, the Ashok Chakra, has been conferred posthumously on Lt Navdeep Singh while Lt Susheel Khajuria (posthumously) and Lt-Col KD Singh have received the coveted Kirti Chakra. The award winners have been conferred these medals for recognition of their valour, courage, exceptional devotion to duty and meritorious service. Three General Officers, Maj-Gen Gurdeep Singh, GOC CIF (V), Maj-Gen RV Thodge, GOC, CIF(K) and Maj-Gen SK Chakravorty, GOC 28 Inf Div, have been awarded the AVSM.