Rajouri, August 18
The murder mystery of Mohammed Shafi, said to be an informer of security forces who was kidnapped and murdered by a group of militants in the Thanamandi area of Rajouri district nine years ago, has been solved, police sources said.

On August 30, 2003, Shafi was kidnapped by militants at gunpoint from his house in Bhangai village, 6 km away from Thanamandi town. Shafi’s family had lodged reports with the local police station, but the case remained deserted for the past nine years.

Shafi’s family had lost all hopes of his life, but the murder mystery was divulged by Zareena Begum, who had taken divorce from son of accused Abdul Gani. Zareena said Shafi was murdered by a group of militants at her in-laws’ residence, according to reports.

When the incident came to light, Mohammed Sadiq, son of deceased Shafi, approached the local police with an application but failed to get a positive response. He lodged a compliant with the Rajouri-Poonch DIG. The DIG ordered an inquiry into the case and appointed a team headed by Deputy SP Operation Ayaz Shekh, reports said.

Talking to The Tribune, Shekh said after the detention of both the accused -- Abdul Rashid and Abdul Gani, they admitted to conspiring the murder of Mohammed Shafi.

“The accused have also identified the place where they had buried Shafi,” he added. The police investigation team dug his grave yesterday night after taking permission from the Rajouri District Commissioner. The grave was dug in the presence of the Thanamandi tehsildar, a team of doctors and some senior police officers. A skeleton, mirror, Shafi’s Identity Card, comb and shawl were recovered from the spot.

The police has booked both the accused under Sections 302 and 201 of the IPC and the investigation is on. Sources said both the accused were over ground workers of militants.

Jammu, August 18
Jammuites have been keenly waiting for the completion of the Abhinav Theatre, which is city’s only auditorium with all the facilities for stage performances. Renovation of the theatre is going on for the past few months.

Theatre lovers of the city have been missing the charm of watching the plays in the Abhinav as most of the plays are being performed at other auditoriums, which are not meant for staging theatrical shows.

Pranav Sharma, a resident of Talab Tillo, said, “The Abhinav Theatre has a charm of its own. When we used to see performances there, it used to be an holistic experience. I miss enigma of the theatre and hope that it becomes functional soon.”

Mohit Bral, a theatre lover, said, “The Abhinav Theatre for us means drama coming to life. Lights, sounds and over all effect had the power to transport us into another world where only the stage existed. Ever since the theatre has become defunct, I do not feel like watching plays. Though I go to watch the plays, the credit of bringing theatre into the lives of the people of Jammu will always go to Abhinav Theatre.”

Sumit Sharma, an eminent theatre artiste, who has performed over 200 times in the Abhinav Theatre said he is keenly waiting to perform in the renovated theatre.

Sharma said, “I have regards for the state government for sanctioning the money for renovation of the theatre. It will be a great experience to perform there again. I cannot express the feeling of performing in the Abhinav and I am sure that the same would be the case with other theatre artistes. Since childhood, I have performed over 200 times on that stage. It is the most ideal auditorium for theatrical performances located in the heart of the city.”

Khalid Bashir, Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, told The Tribune that the renovation work was underway and the people of Jammu would get a better auditorium in days to come.

He said, “Over Rs 5 crore has been sanctioned for the renovation. The renovated theatre would fulfils the criteria of an ideal auditorium meant for holding theatrical and other cultural events. The renovation work includes revamping of interiors, seating arrangement, fortification of the building and installation of latest equipment required to meet the parameters of international-level performances.”

“I cannot specify any time period, but it would be ready within few months,” Bashir added. 

Rajouri, August 18
The police today claimed to have traced a married woman who was kidnapped by a youth from the Sundarbani area of Rajouri district on July 13. Family members of the woman had lodged a complaint with the Sundarbani police station. “Rakesh Kumar, a resident of Sundarbani, had kidnapped the woman and kept her in the Bakshi Nagar area of Jammu,” the police said.

Sundarbani Sub Inspector Sandeep Singh Katoch said, “We have rescued the woman from Jammu, but the kidnapper has yet not been arrested.”

The police has lodged an FIR under Sections 366 and 109 in this connection and started the investigation.

Jammu, August 18
Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand along with a team of district officers today visited the remote border and rural areas of the state to take stock of the problems of residents and ensure speedy solutions.

In the day-long tour, public meetings were held at Naiwala, Laham, Kotmaira, Khunda, Nandwal, Channi Mana, Nikkian, Marchangi and Khour.

While addressing the gathering at Naiwala, Tara Chand said, “The government is alive to the requirements of people living in the remote border and rural areas of the state and development initiatives have been taken up in order to equip these areas with the required infrastructure.”

“The government with support from the Centre has launched mega infrastructure projects in the state and completion of these projects would address development aspirations of the residents of the state,” he added.

Tara Chand said, “The border migrant colony in Naiwala is one of the steps taken for the rehabilitation of border migrants and over 6,100 families have been accommodated in the colony.”

Responding to the demands of potable water and regular power supply in the colony, Tara Chand directed the engineers concerned to ensure that residents get required supply of potable water and tankers be pressed into service. He called upon the authorities to augment the existing water resources and explore possibilities of new measures to meet requirements of the residents.

At Laham and Kotmaira meetings, the Deputy Chief Minister said, “In order to equip rural belts of the area with modern infrastructure, two cluster model village projects have been launched at Pargwal and Pallanwala. In order to address the healthcare need of over 31 villages of the Pallanwala cluster model village, Rs 30 lakh has been sanctioned for a mobile dispensary, which would begin functioning within a fortnight.”

Tara Chand sanctioned a community hall for the twin villages. He also issued directions for boring 15 shallow hand pumps and installing public supply points as per the need of the area.

Jammu District Development Commissioner Sanjeev Verma, Superintendent Engineers of PWD (R&B) and PHE, senior sectoral officials and engineers of different departments accompanied Tara Chand. Block president Puran Singh and working president Suram Singh were also present during the meetings.

Katra August 18
With a view to carry the BJP’s ongoing week-long special membership drive to the remotest parts of the state, the BJP national executive member & J&K state chief spokesperson Jitendra Singh today visited Netar village in Bhamla area of the Reasi district to lead party activists.

Singh is also party’s district incharge for Reasi.

Addressing the party workers, Singh said the BJP was a natural choice for those who were nationalist in their outlook.

He added since a large number of ex-servicemen from the area had joined the party fold in spite of several temptations offered by the ruling party. He said that BJP was not a mere political party but a school of thought which was patriotic in nature and hence large number of ex-servicemen after having served the motherland half of their life find it a natural political choice.

Singh said that while the BJP mandal and district office bearers from the region would take up issues such as upgradation of the village schools, improvement in power supply and drinking water facility with the administration.

He said the village leaders would also have to learn to protest against politicians who after getting elected discriminate against their electorate simply to please their ‘Kashmir-centric’ masters.

Singh said the week-long membership drive from August 17 to 24 offered them an opportunity of mass contact with residents.

Pandit Hem Raj, Master Sunder, Capt Daya Ram and Thakur Baldev Singh also spoke on the occasion. Capt Chaman Lal, Capt Kher Singh, Karnail Singh, Narsingh Dayal, Lal Singh were among those present on the occasion. 

Jammu, August 18
A free medical camp was organised by the Border Security Force, Paloura Camp, Jammu yesterday in remote border village of Badiyal Brahmana. Free medicines were distributed to the patients. About 500 people from Badiyal Brahmana and neighbouring villages, including aged people, men, women and children, took benefit of the medical camp.

Villagers expressed gratitude to the BSF for taking up this noble cause. The camp was inaugurated by Manish Aul, Commandant BSF, Dr KK Gautam, CMO and Dr Neha Kaul Sharma, LMO, examined the patients. Jai Karan, Deputy Comandant; MS Khair, Deputy Comandant; Balkar Singh, Assistant Comandant and Inspector Mohan Singh also participated in the camp.

BSF regularly holds such camps for border villages and renders valuable help to the population.

Jammu, August 18
The Post Graduate Department of Mathematics, Government MAM College, Jammu, organised an inaugural function for a two-day national conference on algebra-analysis and their applications. Professor Mohan Pal Singh Ishar, Vice-Chancellor, University of Jammu, was the chief guest and Professor Nalini Kohli, director colleges, Higher Education Department, was the guest of honour on the occasion.

Prof Ishar emphasised that colleges should come forward for organising such conferences and he congratulated the principal and his team for their initiative. He said the conference would provide a forum to the active researchers and scholars to exchange ideas and information and present latest results in mathematics. It would give an insight into new discoveries of mathematical techniques, he added.

Prof Romesh Chander, principal of the college said the main objective of the conference was to discuss the challenging issues and applications of algebra.

The algebra and its analysis plays an important role in computer science and technology, industry, decisional theory, biological, physical and chemical sciences, he added.

Prof TM Karade from Nagpur University delivered a keynote address while Prof BS Komal acted as observer during the conference.

The other dignitaries who presented the invited talks during the conference included Prof DD Somashekara,University of Mysore; Prof JN Sharma, NIT Hamirpur; Prof SB Singh,Head and Professor, Punjabi University, Patiala; PK Sharma, Associate Professor, DAV College, Jalandhar; SK Yadav, Moti Lal Nehru College, Delhi; Satish Verma ,SGTB Khalsa College, Delhi and others.

Jammu, August 18
A Dogri play ’Jitmal’ was staged by Samooh Theatre at police auditorium today. The story revolved around, Jitmal (1426-74), a God-fearing man. He asked a land-lord for some land for farming, who instead gave him a barren land, that too on the agreement that one fourth of the produce will be taken by the latter.

The barren land produced a big harvest due to Jitmal’s toil but the land-lord did not keep the terms of his agreement and Jitmal committed suicide in protest against the feudal set-up and autrocracy.

The artists who performed the play included Mahesh Puri as Bawa Jittmal, Suneedhi Sharma as Bua Kodi , Kanika Sharma as Jojan, Tapeshwar Dutta as Mehta Veer Singh, Sheel Manhas as Malli, Rahul as Positive Image and Vimal Koul as Negative Image. The play was written by Gian Singh and directed by Ravinder Sharma. — TNS

JAMMU, August 18
The Kathua police has arrested a bootlegger and recovered illicit liquor from his possession. The police conducted a raid at Mirpur Jaggu village and apprehended Mangal Dass, alias Munna, of Mirpur Jaggu and recovered 20 litres of illicit liquor from his possession.

A case under Section 48- A of the Excise Act has been registered at the Kathua police station.

Meanwhile, the police apprehended Ravi Sharma of Kathua from Hatli Morh, Kathua, and recovered 1210 no capsules of Par-van-Spas from his possession, whereas his associate Manga Ram of Kathua managed to flee from the spot after throwing the bag. During search of the bag, the police also recovered 35 bottles of Corex. The police has launched a manhunt to nab the accused. A case under Section 8/21/22 of the NDPS Act has been registered at the Kathua police station and the investigation is on. Suspect Manga Ram was earlier detained under the PSA. — TNS

Jammu, August 18
International Wushu player of J&K, Inspector Kuldeep Handoo accompanied the Indian Wushu team for participation in the 8th Asian Wushu Championship which is being held at HO Chi Minh City, in Vietnam from August 17 to 26.

Besides Kuldeep, Mohammad Islamudin, Vivek Samania, M Sachidananda Singh and Navneeta have also accompanied the national team, which was flagged off by RK Naidu, Regional Director, Sports Authority of India (SAI), Bhopal.

The team: Sanshou (Men and Women); Manoj, Santosh Kumar, M Bimoljit Singh, Pawan Gupta, Bhabajit Chowdhary, O Joy Singh, Sanjeev Kumar, Y Sanathoi Devi, K Arun Pama Devi, Pooja Kaddian, I Bijeta Chanu and Vishakha Malik.

Taolu (Men and Women); L Rattan Singh, Anjul Namdeo, S Somorjit Singh, M Sadananda, H Deewan Singh, M Gyandash Singh, Y Sapna Devi, L Sanatombi Chanu, S Choabi Devi and Kh Bidyashwori Chanu.

Jammu, August 18
Opening batsman Javed Mir struck a fine century while Sameer Ali took a five-wicket haul to fashion UCC Reds to script a narrow win by 10 runs against ACC Blues today, in the ongoing Parvaiz Qureshi Memorial Invitational Cup Cricket Tournament, being organised by Kashmir wing of Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) at Kashmir University Grounds.

After winning the toss, UCC Reds chose to bat first and posted a formidable total of 216 runs in the stipulated 35 overs for the loss of six wickets. Javed Mir scored a cracking ton containing six delectable hits to the fence and four mighty heaves for the maximum. Huwaid Ronga also chipped in with a handy 28 runs to the total. For ACC Blues, Mohammad Ashraf claimed three wickets while Ishtiaq and Muddasir took one wicket apiece.

ACC blues, in reply, managed to score 206 runs for the loss of nine wickets in their allotted quota of overs. Abid Showkat played a gutsy knock of 61 runs while Ishtiaq Ahmed contributed 41 runs. Sameer Ali was the pick of the bowlers for UCC Reds with an impressive five-wicket haul.

Rouf, Showkat and Huwaid claimed shared a wicket each.

The match was officiated by Javed Dawarial and Sameer Ahmed as umpires while Javed Ahmed maintained the scorebook. ACC Reds will now lock horns with WCC Blues in the next match to be played at the same venue.

Jammu, August 18
Going ahead with its network expansion, the J&K Bank today opened another computerised business unit equipped with financial products and services at Gole Gujral in Jammu.

Political adviser to the Chief Minister Devender Singh Rana inaugurated the branch at Gole Gujral in the presence of bank president and Jammu (Central) Zonal head OP Sharma, vice-president Arvind Gupta and a gathering of customers and public.

Rana said, “The J&K Bank is pride of the state. It is the corporate face of the state with the best employees under the dynamic leadership of chairman Mustaq Ahmed.”

Recalling his long association with the bank, Rana lauded evolution of the bank over the past two decades to become one of the fundamentally strongest banks of the country. He appreciated the commitment of the bank to reach all corners of the state exhibiting its zeal to sustain the economy.

Rana said, “This is an opportunity for the residents of the area to take advantage of all the financial services offered at their doorstep by the J&K Bank. They should also utilise the employment generation scheme SKEWPY and Kisan Credit Cards.”