SPECIAL COVERAGE
CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI


THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

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

State way short of meeting national rural job target
Jammu, February 3
The state government has asked the Centre to increase the wages of the labourers engaged under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme, but the authorities in the state have failed to achieve the target fixed under this programme.

MLA blames Centre, state govt for plight of lakes in Jammu
Jammu, February 3
Working chairman of the Panthers Party and MLA, Ramnagar, Harsh Dev Singh has strongly condemned the neglect of the Mansar and Surinsar Lakes, in the matter of allocation of funds by the Union Government and sanction of an additional package of Rs 356 crore exclusively for the Dal Lake, in a meeting held at New Delhi yesterday.

Srinagar-Jammu highway closes after fresh snow
Srinagar, February 3
High altitude areas of Kashmir, including ski resort Gulmarg, today received fresh snowfall, even as the night temperature inched up in most parts of the Valley.



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EARLIER STORIES


Soldier runs amok, kills JCO
Jammu, February 3
An Army soldier ran amok and allegedly emptied his loaded INSAS rifle on a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) killing him instantly on a forward post along the Line of Control in the Jhangar area of Nowshera sector in Rajouri district. The incident occurred last night around 9 pm.

Power department workers protest, submit memorandum to Governor
Members of the PDD Daily Wagers’ Union clash with the police during a protest in support of their demands in Jammu on Friday. Jammu, February 3
Hundreds of daily wagers, belonging to the Power Development Department (PDD) took out a protest in the old city today and reiterated their demand for the regularisation of their services.

Members of the PDD Daily Wagers’ Union clash with the police during a protest in support of their demands in Jammu on Friday. Tribune photo: Inderjeet Singh

Now, Peerzada’s son clears Class XII with distinction
Srinagar, February 3
Amid a raging row over Education Minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed’s role in using unfair means to favour his son in a matriculation examination two years ago, his son, Imam Souban, has cleared the Class XII examination with distinction (387/500). An investigation by the crime branch is pending in the case.

ADGP turns to volunteers for snow clearance
Srinagar, February 3
Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Civil Defence, Home Guards and Auxiliary Police, DR Doley Barman has requested Civil Defence volunteers to assist the civil administration and people in snow clearance, in view of the forecast of snowfall in the coming days.

Cabinet panel on Hindu marriage registration gets extension
Jammu, February 3
After having failed to get a consensus on new marriage norms, the state government has extended the term of the Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC) constituted for examining various aspects of the draft of the Jammu and Kashmir Hindu Marriage Registration Rules, 2009, till February 29.

Milad celebrations: All roads lead to Hazratbal shrine
Srinagar, February 3
Despite objections raised by the Salfis and the Jamat-i-Islami, a sizeable section of the Muslims in the Kashmir valley continue to celebrate Eid-i-Milad-un-Nabi or the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad in their unique way.

Divergent opinions surface over conversion row
Srinagar, February 3
The controversial issue of conversion of Muslim youth to Christianity was initially raked up by separatist leaders and Muslim clerics of the Kashmir valley. But now it seems that the issue is gradually simmering down amid divergent opinions of the separatists and the Shariat court of Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu to have 4-lane bypass
Jammu, February 3
The winter capital will soon get a 40-km-long four-laned bypass road built at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore to help ease traffic congestion.

Army facilitates road clearance in snow-hit Bhadarwah
Udhampur, February 3
Continuing its public welfare initiatives, the 4 Rashtriya Rifles once again rose to the occasion and facilitated the road clearance by local Public Works Department (PWD) in the snow-hit Bhadarwah area of Doda district.

SPO with Lashkar links arrested
Jammu, February 3
The state police today arrested a Special Police Officer (SPO) from the Chakkan-da-Bagh crossing in Poonch district for allegedly having links with the Pakistan-based Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT).

Four killed, 12 hurt in road mishaps
Jammu, February 3
Four persons, including a Class X student were killed and twelve others were seriously injured in separate road mishaps in the Jammu region today.

NC minority cell holds meeting
Jammu, February 3
A meeting of the minority cell of the National Conference (NC) was held under the chairmanship of Harmohinder Singh, district vice-president of the NC, Srinagar, today.

Assault case: Three detained in Mendhar
Jammu, February 3
The police today detained three persons, including two Personal Security Officers (PSOs), for questioning in connection with alleged assault on a family in Mendhar town of Poonch district on January 31. Two persons had received injuries in the attack.

Two held with liquor
Katra, February 3
Two persons were arrested by the Katra police with liquor yesterday, which they were carrying to sell in a market at a higher cost.

2 girls commit suicide
Srinagar, February 3
Two girls allegedly committed suicide by consuming some poisonous substance in Kulgam and Anantnag districts, a police spokesman said today.






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State way short of meeting national rural job target
In the last five years, only 60% of MGNREGA work completed y Authorities fail to utilise funds allotted under the scheme
Dinesh Manhotra
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 3
The state government has asked the Centre to increase the wages of the labourers engaged under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme, but the authorities in the state have failed to achieve the target fixed under this programme. Hardly 60 per cent of the work taken under this national flagship scheme have been completed during the last five years.

Official documents have revealed that since the launch of the MGNREGA scheme in Jammu and Kashmir, targets under it were not achieved during the last five years. Furthermore, the authorities failed to fully utilise the funds allotted under the scheme, which is meant to provide employment opportunities to the rural population in the lean agriculture season of the state.

The MGNREGA scheme was launched in the state in February 2006 and initially it was implemented in three districts, namely Doda, Poonch and Kupwara. The scheme was further extended to Jammu and Anantnag districts during 2007-08. From April 1, 2008, the scheme has been implemented in all 22 districts of the state.

According to the official documents, in 2007-08, 8188 works were taken up but only 4259 were completed. Similarly in 2008-09, 12696 works were taken up under the scheme but only 7092 were completed. In 2009-10, 30139 works were undertaken and only 18892 were completed. In 2010-11, 55902 works were undertaken and just 36290 were completed. In the current financial year, the authorities have taken up 57081 works but only 22863 have been completed so far.

The situation in the underdeveloped and backward districts of Jammu province is the worst because not more than 40 per cent of the target has been achieved so far. Although the authorities claimed that works would be completed before the financial year was over, it is impossible to achieve the target due to snowfall in many parts of the region.

In Ramban district, the authorities have undertaken 1346 works during the current financial year but only 397 have been completed so far. Similarly in Reasi district 1372 works have been taken up, but only 532 have been completed. In Kathua district, 2989 works have been taken up and just 757 have been completed so far.

The authorities have also failed to fully utilise the funds sanctioned by the Centre for this scheme. The official documents say the current financial year has been particularly important for this scheme because the approved labour budget touched an all-time high of Rs 1426 crore. 

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MLA blames Centre, state govt for plight of lakes in Jammu
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 3
Working chairman of the Panthers Party and MLA, Ramnagar, Harsh Dev Singh has strongly condemned the neglect of the Mansar and Surinsar Lakes, in the matter of allocation of funds by the Union Government and sanction of an additional package of Rs 356 crore exclusively for the Dal Lake, in a meeting held at New Delhi yesterday.

Describing the Central government’s decision as the most blatant act of regional discrimination, Harsh lambasted the state government for its apathy and neglect towards the tourist resorts of the Jammu region and intentional non-projection of demands with respect to their development.

He charged the state government with projecting only the Valley-based projects and the utter neglect of the tourism in the Jammu region. He said figures indicated that of the 1.2 crore tourists, who had visited the state last year, 95 lakh were pilgrims, who had visited Jammu only. The MLA regretted that despite the huge inflow of tourists to Jammu, its tourism development had been given a hostile treatment.

Harsh added that he had personally taken up the matter, regarding the development of tourist infrastructure at the Mansar and Surinsar Lakes with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He claimed that the Prime Minister, in pursuance of his requests, had even written to the state government to have the Mansar and Surinsar Lakes included within the purview of the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority. He regretted that the state government didn’t comply even with the directions of the Prime Minister and chose to ignore the two lakes from the purview of the said authority.

Harsh said Rs 1,100 crore, including Rs 356 crore sanctioned yesterday for the Dal Lake and Rs 386 crore for the Wullar Lake defied all logic.

Urging for an equitable share to the water bodies of the Jammu region, he sought adequate funds for the Mansar, Surinsar and Dalsar Lakes to ensure the balanced development of tourist destinations of the Jammu region as well. He said the issue would be vigorously and vociferously debated in the Assembly.

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Srinagar-Jammu highway closes after fresh snow

Srinagar, February 3
High altitude areas of Kashmir, including ski resort Gulmarg, today received fresh snowfall, even as the night temperature inched up in most parts of the Valley.

Snowfall started in the late afternoon, official sources said, adding that Jawahar tunnel, the gateway to Kashmir, also had snowfall prompting authorities to stop traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway.

The movement of traffic has been stopped temporarily along the Qazigund-Banihal axis on the highway, the only road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, they said.

The Met office has predicted moderate to heavy snowfall in most parts of the Kashmir Valley between February 3 and 7. The administration has geared up the machinery to meet any eventuality arising due to expected snowfall over the next four days.

The night temperature in most places, including Srinagar, registered an increase of several notches and moved above the freezing point for the first time in over a month.

The minimum temperature recorded in Srinagar was 2 ° C still four degrees below normal during this part of the season, a spokesman of the Met office said. Srinagar and other areas in the plains experienced drizzle on a heavy cloud day.Meanwhile, authorities issued a medium danger avalanche warning in areas close to the LoC in Kupwara district. — PTI 

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Soldier runs amok, kills JCO

Jammu, February 3
An Army soldier ran amok and allegedly emptied his loaded INSAS rifle on a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) killing him instantly on a forward post along the Line of Control in the Jhangar area of Nowshera sector in Rajouri district. The incident occurred last night around 9 pm.

Army sources said Naik Gopal Singh fired indiscriminately on Subedar Dilbagh Singh on a forward post in the Jhangar area killing him instantly. The slain JCO and the accused soldier belonged to the Sikh Regiment and were posted in Nowshera area.

Confirming the incident, an Army spokesperson said a court of inquest proceedings had been initiated by the Army.

“Accused Gopal Singh is in the custody of the Army and his service weapon, an INSAS rifle used in the crime, has also been seized,” he said.

The reason behind the extreme step taken by the accused has not been ascertained as yet, the spokesperson added. The slain JCO and accused soldier were natives of Punjab. — TNS

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Power department workers protest, submit memorandum to Governor
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 3
Hundreds of daily wagers, belonging to the Power Development Department (PDD) took out a protest in the old city today and reiterated their demand for the regularisation of their services.

The daily wagers also submitted a memorandum to Governor NN Vohra, seeking his intervention to resolve the issue.

Over 500 daily wagers assembled at busy Parade Chowk in the old city and raised slogans against the state government, alleging that it had backtracked from its agreement reached with their representatives. Former Power Minister Babu Singh also joined the protesters.

Shouting slogans against the state government, the protesters marched towards Raj Bhawan and staged an hour-long demonstration.

The protesters also had a minor scuffle with the policemen deputed there, as they were denied entry into Raj Bhawan.

“The government has only given us hollow assurances and it has miserably failed to meet the long-pending demands of daily wagers,” state general secretary of the PDD Daily Wagers’ Union Kulbushan Singh said.

The leaders also served an ultimatum to the government till February 7 and warned that they would force the permanent employees of the department to join the strike, if their demands were not fulfilled till then. 

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Now, Peerzada’s son clears Class XII with distinction
The minister is already in thick of controversy over ‘use of unfair means’ to help his son in Class X exam
Ehsan Fazili/TNS

Srinagar, February 3
Amid a raging row over Education Minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed’s role in using unfair means to favour his son in a matriculation examination two years ago, his son, Imam Souban, has cleared the Class XII examination with distinction (387/500). An investigation by the crime branch is pending in the case.

The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Examination (JKBOSE) yesterday declared the results of Class XII examinations which were held in November last year. Out of 49,956 candidates appeared in the examination, 29,460 have cleared it, registering a pass percentage of 59 per cent. The results are unique as 146 candidates have secured top 10 positions while 6,632 candidates have got distinction by securing more than 75 per cent marks.

This has raised many an eyebrow as the result of Imam Souban’s Class X examination of 2009, though declared, remains in question as an inquiry is pending for the use of unfair means. “Normally, the answer sheets are kept for six months and after that these are destroyed”, said an official of the Board. He added that answer sheets pertaining to use of unfair means are maintained for investigation and any proven case of unfair means results in disqualification for three to five years.

The issue of unfair means, overtly for political reasons, came to the fore after a Jammu-based NGO, had in a representation to the Governor in October 2010, referred to it, who, in turn, had written to the Chief Minister for further clarification.

Following the developments and reports in a section of the media, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday called Peerzada in Jammu and at the same time referred the case to the crime branch of the state police for further investigation.

“It is evident that there is a case of impersonation”, said an official of the education board while adding that this could have been at the level of staff outside the Board. The reports have also suggested that the two handwritings in the Urdu answer sheet of the candidate in his Class X examination could have been managed at the level of examination centre.

The crime branch officials have already raided the premises of the education board at Bemina here early this week and seized certain records for further investigation.

The issue has led to a political row in the state with leaders of different political parties taking varied stances. 

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ADGP turns to volunteers for snow clearance
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, February 3
Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Civil Defence, Home Guards and Auxiliary Police, DR Doley Barman has requested Civil Defence volunteers to assist the civil administration and people in snow clearance, in view of the forecast of snowfall in the coming days.

Doley appreciated the Civil Defence volunteers for their contribution and dedicated work exhibited by them while extending assistance to the civil administration, in snow clearance in the Valley during the recent snowfall. She encouraged the Civil Defence volunteers to provide assistance with same dedication and spirit in future.

Meanwhile, the ADGP directed the DIG, Home Guards, Civil Defence and Auxiliary Police, Kashmir, to deploy two specialised and trained search and rescue teams comprising 10 personnel each of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and directed them to remain stationed at the Civil Defence Control Rooms of Kupwara and Anantnag, in order to immediately assist the district administration, in conducting rescue operations in case of heavy snowfall. The ADG has asked the respective Deputy Commissioners to utilise the services of the SDRF teams and the Civil Defence volunteers in case of any eventuality or emergency.

The Civil Defence, in collaboration with the divisional administration has imparted disaster preparedness training to youth and students in first aid, fire fighting, search and rescue.

Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Hassan Samoon has given instructions to the Disaster Management Cell to take up disaster preparedness training programmes for schoolchildren, on a mass scale as well as training of doctors in mass casualty evacuation so that the community is prepared to face any emergency.

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Cabinet panel on Hindu marriage registration gets extension
Arteev Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 3
After having failed to get a consensus on new marriage norms, the state government has extended the term of the Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC) constituted for examining various aspects of the draft of the Jammu and Kashmir Hindu Marriage Registration Rules, 2009, till February 29.

The General Administration Department (GAD) issued a formal order here yesterday. The state Law Department had brought certain amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Hindu Marriage Registration Rules, 1980, on March 2, 2009, making registration of all Hindu marriages compulsory.

It, however, faced a strong opposition from various Hindu organisations and political parties, including the BJP, which alleged that the proposed rules were framed only to “harass” a particular section of society.

“The term of the Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted for examining various aspects of the draft of Jammu and Kashmir Hindu Marriage Registration Rules, 2009, is being given extension till February 29,” the official communiqué said.

On August 13 last, the CSC held a meeting with representatives of social and religious organisations, prominent citizens and legal luminaries to seek their viewpoint on the draft.

The Committee comprises Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Sagar, Minister for Health Sham Lal Sharma, Minister for Industries Surjeet Singh Slathia, Minister for Higher Education Abdul Gani Malik and top functionaries of the state government.

The BJP state spokesperson, Ramesh Arora, who had been opposing the draft, alleged that it was a part of the conspiracy to harass a particular section of society.

Quoting the Supreme Court ruling, he said the state governments had been directed that all marriages, irrespective of the religion, be compulsory registered. “The proposed draft remained silent on marriages related to Muslims, Christians and other communities as no rules have been framed for them,” Arora said.

The BJP leader said the powers of registration were given to tehsildars and naib tehsildars, whose offices were already known as “hubs of corruption”.

“Instead of vesting these powers with tehsildars and naib tehsildars, these powers should be delegated to the heads of local bodies, including sarpanches, to make the process easier,” he maintained.

On February 14, 2006, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre and the state governments to amend the marriage law or frame rules and notify them within three months. 

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Milad celebrations: All roads lead to Hazratbal shrine
M Aamir Khan

Srinagar, February 3
Despite objections raised by the Salfis and the Jamat-i-Islami, a sizeable section of the Muslims in the Kashmir valley continue to celebrate Eid-i-Milad-un-Nabi or the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad in their unique way.

What is distinctive about the Milad celebrations in Kashmir is that both men and women are seen thronging the shrine of Hazratbal from early morning of the first Rabiul-Awwal of the Islamic calendar that began on January 25.

While the orthodox Muslim groups oppose the veneration of Sufi shrines and maintain that Islam nowhere sanctions the celebration of the birthday of the Prophet, Muslims here in the Valley as elsewhere in the subcontinent and in major parts of the Muslim world, except Saudi Arabia, have been celebrating the birth anniversary of the Prophet for several centuries.

For Kashmiri Muslims, the Hazratbal shrine on the banks of the picturesque Dal Lake continues to remain the centre for Milad celebrations. People have been thronging the shrine, which houses the sacred hair of the Prophet, from January 25 and the celebrations will end on the 12th Rabiul-Awwal (February 5). On February 5, it is likely to attract more than two lakh devotees and also on February 10, i.e. the Friday after Milad, as per the past practice.

According to historian Mohammad Ishaq Khan, the most unique feature of Milad in Kashmir is the public exhibition of the holy relic, each time after five daily prayers in the shrine on the day of Milad. The display of the holy relic is considered to be an un-Islamic practice by the orthodox Muslim groups.

Professor Khan said Milad celebrations in the Valley began in the 18th century. “While special religious gatherings on this day are marked by prayers and loud singing of panegyrics of the Prophet, Kashmir holds the distinction of celebrating the Eid-i-Milad-un-Nabi in accordance with the tradition that developed in the Valley from the dawn of the 18th century," he said. 

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Divergent opinions surface over conversion row
M Aamir Khan

Srinagar, February 3
The controversial issue of conversion of Muslim youth to Christianity was initially raked up by separatist leaders and Muslim clerics of the Kashmir valley. But now it seems that the issue is gradually simmering down amid divergent opinions of the separatists and the Shariat court of Jammu and Kashmir.

While some groups have even taken a U-turn over their stance, others have stopped talking about the issue.

After the Shariat court ordered a lifetime ban on four Christian missionaries last month, on the allegations of luring the Muslim youth to Christianity, chairman of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani spoke out against the decree.

Opposing the Shariat court’s order, Geelani said banishing the pastors was “no solution”. Pertinently, last year, the separatist leader had appealed to the local Ulema (religious heads) to fulfill their “religious responsibility and defeat the heinous conspiracy”. He has even said his Hurriyat faction would take the Ulema into confidence and devise a strategy to save the “nation from this cancer (conversions to Christianity)”.

However, after the Shariat court’s order, Geelani softened his stance and said it was the duty of the Muslims of Kashmir to reach out to the youth, who were turning to Christianity. His latest comments clearly pointed to the fact that he did not want to associate himself with the Shariat Board, which is considered as pro-Indian by the 
separatists.

While the Shariat Board stood by its decree to banish the pastors, chairman of the moderate Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq too seems to have distanced himself from the controversy. The Mirwaiz, who is a product of a local Christian missionary school, too had appealed to the Ulema to make unsuccessful the plans of “anti-Muslim elements”. But after the Shariat court’s decree, he has not spoken on the issue again.

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Jammu to have 4-lane bypass

Jammu, February 3
The winter capital will soon get a 40-km-long four-laned bypass road built at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore to help ease traffic congestion.

The Samba-Jammu southern bypass road project, to be built at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore, is in the offing to deal with traffic congestion and provide better transport facility, Minister of State for Road and Buildings Javed Ahmad Dar said here.

The road, starting from Raya Morh in Samba district on the Pathankot-Jammu National Highway will touch the villages of Bishnah, RS Pura border town, while Diyaren village in Jammu will be its last point.

The land survey of the project has already been completed, he said.

The Divisional Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners will start early acquisition process of the land coming under the project, he added.

As many as 15 small and major bridges will be constructed to complete the first phase of the project, the minister said.

The second phase of the road will be extended up to Nagrota for which another 20-km road would be constructed to connect the Pathankot-Jammu National Highway with the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway at Nagrota via RS Pura and Akhnoor. — PTI 

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Army facilitates road clearance in snow-hit Bhadarwah

Udhampur, February 3
Continuing its public welfare initiatives, the 4 Rashtriya Rifles once again rose to the occasion and facilitated the road clearance by local Public Works Department (PWD) in the snow-hit Bhadarwah area of Doda district.

The unexpected snowfall during the season had adversely affected the road communications which are the lifeline of people in this mountainous area. The snow-cutting machine is an essential utility apparatus that helps in restoring movement of traffic.

On receiving a request from the PWD, a team of the Army’s vehicle mechanics was immediately dispatched to repair the machine.

Junior Engineer, PWD, Ajit Kumar thanked the Army for the timely assistance. “No mechanic to repair the snow-cutting machine is available in Bhadarwah. In the absence of Army’s help, the much needed work to clear the roads would have been delayed in the prevailing circumstances,” he said.

In a life-saving act yesterday, an Army jawan of 4 Rashtriya Rifles located at Bhadarwah volunteered to donate blood on the request of Arif Hussain of Udrana village, Bhadarwah, whose wife Rifat Ara was battling with life at the District Hospital, Doda. — TNS

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SPO with Lashkar links arrested
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 3
The state police today arrested a Special Police Officer (SPO) from the Chakkan-da-Bagh crossing in Poonch district for allegedly having links with the Pakistan-based Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT).

Two Pakistan originated SIM cards were recovered from his possession.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Poonch, Yougal Manhas told The Tribune, “The police got information from its source that a SPO had links with the ISI and the LeT. He was posted at Chakkan-da-Bagh, the trading point between India and Pakistan.”

The SPO was identified as Mohammad Rafi, a resident of Poonch.

The ASP said the police recovered two Pakistan SIM cards on frisking him. “He was put under sustained interrogation and disclosed that he had also received fake currency from across the border,” ASP Manhas said.

“He has already handed over the fake currency to someone else,” the officer said, adding that the arrested SPO was in touch with his handlers across the Line of Control (LoC).

The SPO also disclosed that he had concealed a weapon in the area, which was smuggled to the Indian side in a truck engaged in the cross-LoC trade.

Sources said the SPO had links with Hafiz of Surankote, who was arrested by the Srinagar police last month, in connection with a fake currency racket.

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Four killed, 12 hurt in road mishaps
Tribune News Service

A woman, who was injured in a bus accident at Nandani, being shifted to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Jammu on Friday.
A woman, who was injured in a bus accident at Nandani, being shifted to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Jammu on Friday. A Tribune photograph

Jammu, February 3
Four persons, including a Class X student were killed and twelve others were seriously injured in separate road mishaps in the Jammu region today.

The police said a father-son duo was killed after a Tempo overturned in the Budhal area of Rajouri district. The deceased have been identified as Chaman Lal and his 19-year-old son, Anil alias, Neelu, residents of Khaos village.

In another road mishap, a woman was killed while nine others received critical injuries when a bus rolled down into a gorge in Nandani, on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway. The dead woman was identified as Shanti Devi, wife of Surat Singh, a resident of Kathua.

The injured were shifted to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu, where the condition of three was stated to be critical.

A Class X student, identified as Rahul Kumar, a resident of Tokriya, Kanachak, was crushed to death after his motorcycle was hit by an over-speeding truck in Kanachak.

In another incident, three persons, including a woman received injuries, in a head-on collision between two cars in Nagrota, 13 Km from here. The injured were identified as Bishan Dass, a resident of Katra, Subash Chander and his wife, Samriti, residents of Prem Nagar in Doda district. They were admitted to the GMCH, Jammu.

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NC minority cell holds meeting
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 3
A meeting of the minority cell of the National Conference (NC) was held under the chairmanship of Harmohinder Singh, district vice-president of the NC, Srinagar, today.

While addressing the meeting, Harmohinder emphasised on the need for constituting a Minority Commission in the state to protect the rights of minorities in the state. He hoped that the Constitution of the Minority Commission would help in solving the problems of the minorities in the state. He appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take some effective step in this direction.

The meeting also thanked the Chief Minister, who is also the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Jammu, for appointing Mohanpal Singh Isher, a Sikh minority community member, as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jammu.

Kirpal Singh, Kulwant Singh Bhatti, Daljeet Singh, Kuldeep Singh, Harbans Singh Ishar, Rajinder Nath Koul, Sheetal Dogra, Ravi Singh, Davinder Kour and others attended the meeting.

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Assault case: Three detained in Mendhar
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 3
The police today detained three persons, including two Personal Security Officers (PSOs), for questioning in connection with alleged assault on a family in Mendhar town of Poonch district on January 31. Two persons had received injuries in the attack.

Sources said two PSOs, identified as Gyas-ud-Din and Mohammad Ibrar, and a government teacher, Mohammad Imtiaz, were detained for questioning.

Five persons, including a brother of a Member of Legislative Council (MLC), were allegedly involved in the incident. Hundreds of people, belonging to all sections of the society had observed a peaceful shutdown in Mendhar town on Wednesday in protest against the “assault” on a family and had demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.

The family had alleged that some miscreants forcibly entered their residence and tried to outrage the modesty of women present there.

The district administration had sought two days for conducting an inquiry and initiating action against the responsible persons.

Two die under mysterious circumstances

Mystery shrouded the death of a girl and a woman in the city and its outskirts during the past 24 hours.

The police said a woman, identified as Sheetal Gupta, 35, a resident of Rampura, fell unconscious on the Tawi bridge and was shifted to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu, where the doctors declared her as brought dead.

Similarly, a teenage girl, identified as Vaishali Devi, daughter of Romesh Singh, resident of Goh Manasa, died in the GMCH where she was admitted late last evening.

The police, however, said the girl had consumed some poisonous substance.

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Two held with liquor
Our Correspondent

Katra, February 3
Two persons were arrested by the Katra police with liquor yesterday, which they were carrying to sell in a market at a higher cost.

On a tip-off, the Katra police team headed by SHO Pradeep intercepted two persons near the Kalika Temple on the Jammu-Katra road. On frisking them the police recovered 180 pouches of liquor. The arrested persons have been identified as Amjaz Khan and Om Parkash, both residents of Doda. A case under Section 48 of the Excise Act and Section 188 of the RPC has been registered.

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2 girls commit suicide

Srinagar, February 3
Two girls allegedly committed suicide by consuming some poisonous substance in Kulgam and Anantnag districts, a police spokesman said today.

A 24-year-old girl ended her life last night by consuming some poisonous substance at her residence in Watoo village in Kulgam.

He said another young girl, hailing from Khulchor village in Anantnag district, died on way to a hospital after consuming poison yesterday. Suicides among youngsters have shown an alarming increase over the past couple of years with over 50 such cases being reported in the Valley last year. — PTI

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