Jammu, September 11
The students of the Institute of Music and Fine Arts, Jammu, today boycotted their classes for the second consecutive day demanding to shift the institute to some other place as they are feeling unsafe given the bad condition of the building.

The university authorities, however, expressed their inability to shift the students to some other building citing fund shortage.

The students refused to attend the classes today and held a protest demonstration saying it was dangerous to sit inside the building.

A portion of the building collapsed yesterday as a result of which several musical instruments were damaged at the institute.

The students said there was a major water leakage in the building that added to the threat perception.

Prof Mohan Pal Singh Ishar, Vice-Chancellor, Jammu University, refused to oblige the students’ demand.

“Shifting the building to some other place is not an easy task. Construction of new building will cost Rs 40-50 lakh and we do not have availability of funds. Even if we shift the institute to some rented accommodation, where will the rent money come from? So the best thing is to get the repair job done soon,” the V-C said.

“I have taken a strong notice of the damage caused to the building and directed the registrar to go and supervise it. Things cannot be done overnight,” he said.

The students who boycotted the classes said, “We will not join classes in an unsafe building. The plaster keeps on falling and the water leakage is such that it is visible on walls. It was the musical instruments this time but we can become victim next time.”

Jammu, September 11
There is a growing sense of unease among students in various colleges of Jammu University these days as many cases of sexual harassment were reported of late.

In the past one week, there were numerous protest demonstrations at many colleges against incidents of sexual harassment. Two such cases came to the fore on the varsity campus only. The first was that of a student of Department of Mathematics while in the second, a faculty member of Law School alleged its Director of inappropriate behaviour. An enquiry committee has been set up to probe the second incident.

Geeta, a student of Science College, said, “For most of the girls, college campuses are becoming dangerous place since there are numerous incidents where female students and teachers are passed lewd remarks. Though we are supposed to report such cases but at times it is not feasible as it becomes fodder for gossip.”

Despite repeated requests by the authorities to report matters of harassment, students refrain from this since they want to avoid public attention.

Radhika, who is pursuing BSc from Gandhi Nagar College for Women, said despite maintaining a distance from miscreants, the number of cases where girls have been subjected to bullying by certain people in and around their colleges have increased over a period of time.

“I have seen girls being harassed to the extent that they stopped coming to college for days fearing for their safety. There is an urgent need to upgrade police presence outside colleges and make sure that such cases are dealt with sensitively and effectively,” said Aarti Sharma, a second-year commerce student.

An official with the Vice-Chancellor’s office said, “Though we understand the sentiments of students who are demanding immediate action against the Law School director, we have certain procedures to follow to ensure a fair inquiry. The inquiry committee has been set up and action will be taken against the director if found guilty.”

Jammu, September 11
Red-tape is taking its toll on the crumbling Mubarak Mandi complex, the royal residence of the erstwhile Dogra rulers. The Mubarak Mandi Jammu Heritage Society (MMJHS) has been waiting for the visit of an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) team to conduct a joint inspection on the complex prior to restarting the work which was stalled due to paucity of funds almost two years ago.

On July 20, the executive body of the society had unanimously agreed that no private agency would execute the work and the ASI would be given the task of renovation work. It was disclosed that the Centre had sanctioned Rs 24.51 crore, including Rs 16 crore under mega tourist destination scheme for restoration work on the complex.

“It was decided the ASI will start the renovation which was stopped due to non-availability of funds. We held talks with the ASI authorities in New Delhi. They will send a formal message to their Jammu circle which will undertake the joint inspection. The ball is now in their court,” MMJHS Executive Director Robin Singh Mehta said.

Mehta said they had been waiting for the visit of ASI team for joint inspection so that work could be started at the earliest.

“The Centre has released Rs 8.5 crore for the purpose (restoration work) and the remaining funds will be released in a phased manner,” he said.

Officials said some structures which were earlier in a bad shape had further suffered extensive damage due to rainy season this year.

“The complex has become a victim of official neglect. Had the government initiated timely restoration work, many historical structures could have been protected and brought to their original shape,” a source said.

The restoration work was started in 2008 when Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was the Chief Minister of the state. The Centre had announced Rs 296 crore, including Rs 52 crore under 13th Finance Commission, for renovation of the entire complex after the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) submitted a detailed project report (DPR) on the complex.

The complex spreads over 14 acres of prime land in the heart of old city. The oldest building in the palace complex dates back to as long as 1824.

On September 8, prominent citizens, civil society members, social and trade organisations had constituted a 24-member Jammu Heritage Development Society to keep a vigil on activities of the government agencies on restoration of the Mubarak Mandi complex and other historical monuments.

Jammu, September 11
The Association of Elementary Teachers Training (ETT) Colleges has blamed the JK Board of School Education (BOSE) for failing to improve the standard of education in these institutions. This, the association said, allowed ‘education mafia’ to earn crores of rupees every year.

It said there was administrative inaction within the board when it came to making plans which has resulted in a mess in the education sector, particularly the ETT segment.

Under the banner of the Jammu Private Schools and ETT Institutes Association (Progressive), it said the board’s policy in delaying the issuance of no-objection certificate (NoC) was creating problem to people.

Referring to an order of the Education Department, association president Deep Singh termed it as an act of opportunism on the part of the state government and the board.

“These two notices which have dealt with the issuance of NoC show the apathetic attitude of the board. A number of ETT colleges are waiting for the approval,” Singh said.

The association has questioned the government for its constant failure to issue the ETT NOCs in violation of norms.

“Chairman of the school board never brought out healthy suggestions before the government resulting in confusion,” Singh alleged.

The association also criticised the recent decision of the government in deleting some of the clauses in the RTI Act while referring to the obsolete act.

It has also appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and state Congress president Prof Saif-Ud-Din Soz to work out a solution to the problem.

Jammu, September 11
An eight-year-old boy was allegedly sodomised by four youths in Rathua village of Domana area on the outskirts of the Jammu city. The accused are also said to have prepared a video of the act which they circulated locally.

Police said it has arrested three persons and a manhunt had been launched to nab the fourth accused who was absconding till the filing of this report. The accused have been identified as Kala Ram, Bunty Choudhary and Jaipaul, all residents of Rathua village.

The police said the victim’s father lodged a complaint alleging that four youths sodomised his eight-year-old son and prepared his video.

“The accused forcibly took the boy to some isolated place in the village and sodomised him there. They prepared his video and circulated in the village. The boy brought the matter into his father’s notice,” police said.

A case under Sections of the RPC and IT Act has been registered at Domana police station and investigations are on. 

Jammu, September 11
The government has decided to review the posting of doctors under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in the Jammu region. A report will be submitted by the Health Department next week with a view to rationalise the deployment of staff engaged in rural areas so that excess manpower could be attached to district, sub-district hospitals and primary health centres (PHCs).

Sources said the decision had been taken following a huge shortage of staff in hospitals recently past which were unable to cope up with the patient rush. Officials said many of the doctors engaged under the NRHM have been posted in areas where workload is very less and shifting them to various healthcare institutions would facilitate better patient care.

“It became necessary as NRHM doctors had no work at many places while others had to deal with hundreds of patients daily. A detailed report will be submitted by next week,” said Dr Madhu Khullar, Health Director.

Sources said many doctors posted under the NRHM seldom visit their areas of posting and were running their private practices. “The Health Department had been directed by the government to study ways to streamline the distribution of doctors and other staff,” Dr Khullar said.

The Union Ministry of Health was also unhappy with the functioning of field cells established at district level to monitor implementation of the scheme.

“We have asked the authorities to complete the procedure of appointments under the NRHM within one month to overcome the deficiency of staff including doctors in various hospitals, particularly in hilly and remote areas of the division,” said Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma.

Since the launch of this Centrally-sponsored scheme, an amount of Rs 592.61 crore has been released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Rs 87.12 crore by the state government.

Sources said further grants to the states under the NRHM would also depend on the progress made by them under the flagship programme.

Jammu, September 11
The senior members of the Dogra Brahman Pratinidhi Sabha today termed the elections being conducted for its next term as a farce. The members alleged that the election committee headed by Devki Nandan, has flouted all rules by rejecting the nomination papers of rival candidates and also declaring four of the five posts of the office-bearers as elected unopposed.

Senior members, including Akshay Kumar Raina, Sunil Kumar Sharma, DK Khajuria, Parshottam Sharma, Gyan Chand Sharma, Ram Lal Panotra, Lekh Raj Sharma and Surak Prakash, questioned Nandan’s way of working.

The members alleged there was a nexus between the election committee and the outgoing team of office-bearers.

The only rival candidate left in the fray was Rajesh Sharma (Bittu), for the post of president. The members claimed that his nomination was not rejected because of his close contacts with high-up authorities in the ruling coalition parties.

However, the election committee members and the outgoing office bearers’ team have been openly regretting the decision of retaining the candidature of Rajesh Sharma.

The nomination papers of about 20 candidates were rejected on without any purpose while another 28 candidates were manipulated through coercion to withdraw their nominations. Several senior members of the sabha have already expressed their apprehensions about the elections being rigged and a conspiracy being hatched to defame the Brahman community.

Katra, September 11
The District Development Commissioner, Reasi, Nirmal Sharma, has assessed the pace of the development work carried out at Ransoo, the base camp of the Shri Shiv Khori Shrine in Reasi district today.

In a meeting with the officers of the line departments, the DDC discussed various issues pertaining to the development of the shrine including a master plan of Ransoo village, construction of a helipad, approach road, a bus and taxi stand, creation of an amusement park, and allied facilities for the pilgrims at the base camp and the shrine.

Addressing the meeting, Nirmal Sharma stressed the need for proper development and maintenance activities at the shrine to cater to the huge rush of pilgrims and asked the officers to take development works as per the land use prescribed in the master plan. She also inspected under construction building of the Shiv Khori Shrine Board in the town and asked for its time-bound completion.

During the meeting, the director tourism apprised that under the Special Task Force Scheme, an amount of Rs 10 crore has been earmarked for raising tourism-related infrastructure in the area which included bus and taxi stands, widening of main bazaar with concrete paved path. A project of Rs 7.8 crore has also been approved under centrally sponsored scheme to construct ten huts, five cafeteria, a park and public convinces for the promotion of tourism in the area.

The construction works of a 35 mt long motorable bridge at Theote on the Ransoo- Triyath road at the cost of Rs 65 lakh and construction of a PHC building at Ransoo are at its completion stage. The construction work of an approach road to the helipad is in speedy progress and likely to be completed before March, 2013.

Those who were present at the occasion are RS Mehta, the director of tourism Jammu; HC Jerath, a superintendent engineer at PHE, and other officers of various departments of Jammu.

Jammu, September 11
Raj Kumar Salhotra, a TGT teacher from Kendriya Vidyalaya No.1, Jammu, was conferred with the coveted National Award For Teachers- 2011 by the President in a recently concluded event held at the Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.

Raj Kumar has been dedicated to his profession for the past 28 years as a mathematics teacher in the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan. Previously, he has won the KVS Incentive Award at the national level for his outstanding services in the field of education and contribution towards the moral, physical and cultural development of students and service to the community. He had trained many students for various competitions such as National Children Science Congress and Mathematical Olympiads.

Jammu, September 11
The National Information System on Agricultural Education Network in India (NISAGENET) is organising a two-day workshop from today in Jammu. The aim of the workshop is to help share information on the agricultural education.

The workshop is being hosted at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu (SKUAST-J). The SKUAST-J is a linked institute with NISAGENET.

NISAGENET, which is a web portal, provides information on academics, infrastructure facilities, budget provisions, manpower, research and development activities of all the agricultural universities and deemed universities of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

The workshop will cover the data upload status with regards to agriculture, veterinary science, home science, agricultural engineering, biotechnology and other related disciplines. Nodal officers from different states will be participating in the workshop.

Jammu, September 11
The employees of the Power Development Department (PDD) have urged the government to clarify its stand on the decision to trifurcate the department.

The chairman of the Provincial Power Employees Union, Shakti Gupta, said, “We have urged the government to come up with a white paper on the issue. The government should clear its stand on the trifurcation of the department as confusion is prevailing among the employees.

The employees’ interests should not be overlooked while taking any decision to change the present working system of the department on a corporate pattern.”

Gupta also urged the principal secretary of the power department to intervene in the issue and alleged that certain irregularities had surfaced while giving promotions to the employees.

“The DPC conveners of both regions are requested to publish the actual number of posts, which are lying vacant in the cadre of the technical Class IV,” he added.

Gupta said, “The posting of Residents of Backward Area (RBA) and Actual Line of Control (ALC) should be made in their respective districts to which they belong.

They should not be adjusted on other place of posting against their counterparts from the open category.” 

Jammu, September 11
The distance education directorate yesterday announced the results of the second semester M.Ed examinations for the current session.

Dr Jaspal Singh Warwal, the former in-charge of the M.Ed wing, considered the results good as 250 students, 50% of the total candidates, had secured first position this year. Meenakshi Gangyal, a topper of the last semester for M.Ed distance education, scored second rank this year with a total score of 765 out of the maximum score of 1100.

Meenakshi, a resident of Nowshera, Rajouri, is the first in her area to get a coveted degree in the field of education. Despite teaching at the Degree College, Kolalote, Rajouri, she aspires to become a professor at the Jammu University and wants to pursue PhD in the same field. 

Jammu, September 11
In a week-long free composite spirometry test conducted at the Aishwarya’s Ayurvedic Centre, New Plot, Jammu, as many as 80 patients were examined and given free consultation.

The spirometry (meaning the measuring of breath) is the most common of the pulmonary function tests (PFTs), measuring lung function, specifically the measurement of the amount (volume) and speed (flow) of air that can be inhaled and exhaled.

According to Dr Aaishwarya Sawhney Gupta, the organiser of the camp, “The aim of the camp is to screen the patients for lung diseases and to impart the knowledge of managing or treating these diseases.”

Jammu, September 11
The Tithwal Brigade organised a 10-day industrial awareness tour, under the Operation Sadbhavana, for 25 old people from the remote border villages, along the Line of Control, in Nowshera.

The tour was flagged off today from Nariyan by Col KM Singh, Officiating Commander, 163 Infantry Brigade. It is aimed to instill a sense of awareness among the local people and provide them a glimpse of the developed areas.

Keeping the aim of tour in mind, the emphasis was given on selection of individuals. Apart from age and experience, the individuals were selected on the basis of their grasping power and ability to take initiatives to apply innovative ideas in their respective areas.

The members would also visit historical and other places of interest in and around Varanasi and Lucknow.

Jammu, September 11
The J&K team produced a clinical performance just when it needed the most as it held its nerves to seal a thrilling 3-1 win over the Mohun Bagan via a penalty shoot out in the second goodwill football match played at the GGM Science College Ground here today.

Both teams managed to score a goal each in the stipulated time and the winner was decided through a tie-breaker wherein the Mohun Bagan succumbed under the pressure. The Mohun Bagan players had missed three penalty shoot chances. The J&K team grabbed the opportunity with both hands and scored three goals out of four penalties to secure a nail-biting win.

The goal scorers in the penalty shoot out for the winning team included Rohit Kumar, Zubair Ahmad, Khalid Qayoom and Yasin Rashid. Shahnawaz missed the target. For the Mohun Bagan, the only goal in the penalty shoot out was scored by Munish. The star performer of the match was the J&K team’s skipper Vikramjeet.

With that win, J&K levelled the two match series 1-1 and also took revenge of its 0-4 defeat against the formidable team in the inaugural match played at Bakshi Stadium, Srinagar.

The atmosphere at the venue was electrifying as the contest proved a real cliffhanger with fortunes fluctuating from one team to the other. Both teams exhibited tremendous football skills in front of a capacity crowd who watched the exciting tussle with abated breath.

A total of four yellow cards were also shown to the J&K players. They were Rohit Kumar, Khalid Qayoom, Zubair Ahmad and Shahid Mushtaq.

The Sports Minister, R S Chib, was the chief guest on the occasion who announced a cash prize of Rs 1,21,000 on behalf of the J&K State Sports Council besides Rs 21,000 for the J&K team’s goalkeeper Vikramjeet Singh for his fabulous saves. The J&K Bank also announced a cash award of Rs 1,00000 for the winning team besides Rs 20,000 for Vikramjeet Singh.

Jammu, September 11
The annual Inter-Collegiate Badminton Tournament organised by the Directorate of Sports and Physical Education, University of Jammu, got underway at the Gymnasium Hall here today.

On the inaugural day, the MAM College and the New Age College registered wins in their respective matches in the men section while the GGM Science College, the MIET and the Government SPMR College of Commerce scripted wins in the women section.

Earlier, the competition was declared open by the Director Sports and Physical Education, Prof Dhian Singh Bhau.

Results:

Men: New Age College beat SVNS Degree College, Kathua by 3-0 (Ankit Sharma bt Mohinder Singh 21-08, 21-12; Dheeraj Sharma bt Narinder Sharma 21-19, 21-15 and Mithilesh bt Rohit 21-10, 21-12)

MAM College bt GCET, Jammu by 3-2(Ashwani bt Kanav 24-22, 20-22, 21-11; Deepak lost to Anit 10-21, 16-21; Deepak and Ashwani lost to Anit and Kanav 16-21, 16-21; Nihal bt Mohit 21-16, 21-18 and Arun and Ashwani bt Sahil and Arjun 21-15, 21-11).

Walkovers: MIET got walkover GDC Bhaderwah; GDC Udhampur got walkover SRS Degree College; GDC Mendhar got walkover GDC Akhoor; GDC Rajouri got walkover RK Degree College and GDC Reasi got walkover GDC Thanamandi.

Women: SPMR College of Commerce beat GCET by 2-0 (Prabhjyot Kour bt Kamkshi 21-02, 21-02; Prabhjyot and Moukshi bt Parul and Shagun 21-04, 21-13).

Jammu, September 11
The Param Volleyball Club defeated the Chetan Volleyball Club by 3-2 sets in a thrilling exhibition match played at Sarore village here today. The Param Club started off in a brilliant fashion by winning the inaugural set by 21-16. The Chetan Club also responded well by winning the next set with a thumping margin of 21-13. With 1-1, both teams preferred to play cautiously.

The Param Club then stretched their lead further with 21-17 win in the third set but their opponents had other ideas. The Chetan spikers unleashed a flurry of smashes to unsettle their opponents. The set score read 21-18.

The decider proved a cliffhanger with both teams played desperately in a bid to emerge victorious but it was the Param Club, which eventually had the last laugh with a margin of 15-12. — TNS

Jammu, September 11
The Vikas Cricket Club (VCC) registered a win against the Krishna Bulls to lift the title trophy of the Super 8 Cosco Ball Cricket Tournament held at the Boys Hostel Ground, Reshamgarh Colony.

Vishu and Nitin of the Vikas Cricket Club were adjudged the man of the match and the man of the series respectively. Munish Sharma, state president, BJYM, was the chief guest who distributed prizes among the players. The organisers of the tournament were Imran, Prashant Sharma, Robin Bakshi and Ankit Sharma. — TNS

Jammu, September 11
The Crime Branch has booked three persons, including a woman, for cheating some persons by promising them a government job in the police department in lieu of money, but no such jobs were provided to them.

The accused were identified as Nazir Ahmed of Lal Bazaar in Srinagar, Rattan Lal and his wife, Pinky Devi, residents of Ranjitpura in Gole Gujral, Jammu. Nazir used to introduce himself as a Superintendent of Police (SP), posted at the Police Headquarters, Jammu.

The official spokesperson of the Branch said that Ajit Singh of Sialsui village, Rajouri and others made a complaint with them. He had alleged that three persons identified as Nazir Ahmed, Rattan Lal and Yog Raj met him at Anand Nagar, Jammu and assured him to provide a job in the police department in lieu of money.

“He was told to inform some more willing aspirants. All complainants had deposited their hard earned money in the bank accounts of the accused and also paid cash to them. The account numbers were provided by the accused themselves,” the spokesperson said.

During the course of an enquiry, it was found that the complainant and other aggrieved persons had deposited an amount to the tune of Rs 25,20,000 in different accounts of the accused persons who had assured them jobs in the police department.