Rajouri October 29
A resident of Mirpur in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) who came to Mendhar in Poonch district to meet his divided family members and relatives died at Rajouri today.

Polce said Mohd Shafi, son of Jamal Din, came to Gursai village in Poonch district on Line of Control (LoC) permit to meet Mohd Jameel on October 15 for 27 days.

On October 26, the deceased came to meet another relative Mohd Farooq at ward number 2, Rajouri. On the intervening night of October 28 and 29, Mohd Shafi died due to a severe heart attack.

After legal formalities, police handed over the body to relatives to be sent back to PoK. At the time of filing this report and according to police sources, the body could not be sent to PoK as the Pakistan authorities did not respond to the Indian authorities after they were contacted on hotline.

The cross-LoC bus service operates every Monday between Poonch and Rawlakot in POK. On the occasion of Eid, Pakistan authorities have closed the bus service for 15 days.

“Only after Pakistan response, the cross-LoC point at Chakan-da-Bagh will be opened to hand over the body to Pakistan authorities,” said a police officer at Poonch.

Jammu, October 29
Ladies are heading for bangles shops and the cosmetics market. The looks of the bazaar can lead anyone to guess that Karva Chauth is round the corner.

With a huge variety of products available in the market, one loses count of the items bought upon a visit to the market one of these days.

The festival gives women a chance to explore the markets without bothering about the limitations of their pocket. As the day approaches, both the shopkeepers and the customers have a busy time.

The day on which married women pray for the happy and prosperous life of their husbands is observed by fasting for a day. Apart from this, ladies are dressed up like brides, and shop for cosmetics, dresses and bangles.

Shweta Gupta, who had come to get bangles for the day, said, “There are four days to go for Karva Chauth, but one cannot think of coming to the market on the last day as there is hardly any space there. The rates of the bangles and other products go up as the day comes nearer. So it is better to shop a few days before the festival.”

Mehandi artists and beauty parlour owners have a busy schedule, with customers going in for bookings weeks before the festival.

Tamanna, a make-up artist working with a salon, said, “This week is going to be very hectic as the customers start preparing for the day a week before the festival. On that particular day and the day before we do not attend even a single customer without the appointments.”

“It is like all the ladies have to dress up like brides on the special day and we get flooded with customers,” she added.

Kashmiri Pandits, who are known for their unique culture, are partaking Karva Chauth festivities too. Over a period of 22 years, the festival has got a space in the Kashmiri Pandit culture.

Nisha Dhar, a government employee, said, “I have been fasting on this day for the last three years. I like this festival as it is a day dedicated to the love and bonding between the husband and the wife. Earlier, it was not a part of our culture, but there is nothing wrong in adopting good things. All of my friends fast on this day and so do I.”

Jammu, October 29
Giving a new impetus to their struggle against the alleged unconstitutional and illegal elections of the Jammu University Research Scholars Executive Association (JURSEA), a group of scholars today went on a hunger strike in protest against the failure of the university authorities to accede to their demand for dissolution of the newly constituted body.

Raising slogans against the University authorities, the scholars demanded holding of open polls for the JURSEA, where all the scholars are given the voting right.

Talking to the media persons here, Anil Sharma, a scholar of Botany Department, said despite the scholars and students had been protesting for the last five days, the administration had yet not responded to their demands, including dissolution of the JURSEA panel and holding of fresh open elections with the participation of all the regular scholars of the University.

“It was a well planned conspiracy framed outside the University in convenience with the political leaders of the National Conference, who want to vitiate the peaceful environment of the University. These political leaders are perpetuating their party agenda on the campus,” he said.

The protesting scholars warned that they would continue their hunger strike till the authorities concedes their main demand for dissolution of the JURSEA panel.

Vice-Chancellor Mohan Paul Singh has constituted a high-level committee to resolve the issue. The members of committee, including Prof Jasbir Singh and Prof NK Tripathi visited the protesting scholars and tried to convince them for ending their strike.

“The Vice-Chancellor is making serious efforts to settle the issue. He has even offered that if the DRs of all the departments make formal representation individually to dissolve the panel, he would concede the demand for dissolution of the JURSEA panel but the protesting scholars are still adamant on their demand,” Prof Tripathi told The Tribune.

Meanwhile, the National Secular Forum (NSF) castigated the role of some scholars, who were allegedly trying to vitiate the peace on Jammu University campus at the behest of a political group.

The forum also took serious note of the allegations levelled by the scholars against the Vice-Chancellor and senior professors of the University and urged the authorities to take strict action against them.

“The protest launched by the scholars demanding re-conduct of the JURSEA elections is a calculated and pre-planned move to defame the University authorities at the behest of a political group that too for the sake of money,” senior vice-president, NSF, Surjit Choudhary said.

He said the University should take a serious look into the issue and strict action must be initiated against such scholars who are bent on disrupting the peaceful atmosphere of the university. 

Batote, October 29
Member of Legislative Assembly, Ramban, Ashok Kumar released an amount of Rs 18 lakh from his Constituency Development Fund (CPF) for the various development works in Dessa area of Doda district during his 5-day trekking tour.

He also sanctioned an Ambulance worth Rs 8 lac for the hospital at Ghei while welcoming 250 youths of the area into the Indian National Congress.

During his five-day extensive tour to Ghei, Mangal Thatha, Thana Nagri, Kothi, Gorkhan, Chanderbhatan, Bhaata, Kralan, Saras, Jartund, Gramri, Malan, Kunda and Shenkhli villages of the remote and backward Dessa area, he announced the release of Rs 5 lakh each for the construction of examination halls at the Lower High School, Malan and Middle School, Shenkhli; Rs 2 lakh each for the construction of the shelter sheds at Jartund and Kunda and Rs 3 lakh for the shelter sheds at Chanderbhotan, respectively.

The villagers thanked the MLA for providing a link road constructed upto Ghei under the PMGSY, getting their unelectrified villages illuminated with 1,700 solar lights and ongoing electrification under the RGGY. The major common demands of the Dessa area included the establishment of a big hospital, construction of more link roads and the availability of an air Ambulance to save the lives of the critically ailed patients during winters.

They also demanded the enhancement of the honorarium of the SPOs from Rs 3,000 (enhanced from Rs.1500 by GN Azad) to Rs 5,500, early sanctioning of the major water supply schemes and construction of the food storage godowns at Ghei and Malan or Bhaata.

Ashok has urged the state government to bring the 36 enchanting valleys with lofty peaks of Dessa area on the tourism map of J&K.

Jammu, October 29
Apple Kids International Pre-school, Bantalab, today honoured legendary mountaineer Chandra Prabha Aitwal and Suman Kutyal, an Everester and a prominent mountaineer of our country.

Ram Khajuria, general secretary of Mountaineering Association of J&K, highlighted the achievements of both the mountaineers. He apprised the gathering that Chandra Prabha Aitwal was the oldest active mountaineer of India at the age of 71 years and is among the only three climbers in the world who had scaled Nanda Devi, the second highest peak in India.

During a climbing career spanning four decades, Chandra Prabha has scaled 28 formidable peaks including Kamet, Satopanth, Kedar Dome and Gangotri. She attempted the Everest in 1984 and was unlucky to miss the peak due to miscommunication.

Hailing from Pithorgarh district and settled in Uttarkashi, Chandradidi has also scaled peaks in New Zealand, Japan and other parts of the world. She was conferred Padam Shri, Arjuna Award, Indian Mountaineering Foundation silver medal and Tenzing Norgay Adventure award for lifetime achievement. While hailing the achievements of Suman Kutiyal, Khajuria said she was a highly accomplished climber who scaled Saser Kangri and Mamostang Kangri, technically very tough peaks before scaling Everest in 1993. Arti Sharma, director of the school, presented mementoes to both the climbers. Prominent among the others present on the occasion included Rahul Sharma and Ramesh Khajuria, Directors of Sprawling Buds School, Vivek Chauhan, Amit Khajuria, Virender Magotra, Shawetica Khajuria, Navneet Gupta and Satish Bhan. — TNS

Jammu, October 29
Even though the state government is yet to take decision on granting reservation to women in the Block Development Councils (BDCs), the Mahila Congress today started its campaign to mobilise females to participate in BDCs elections.

The Mahila Congress has decided to cover the entire state through its campaign so as to exert pressure on the National Conference to take decision on the women reservation as early as possible.

Mahila Congress started campaign from Doda district where the state president, Indu Pawar, exhorted the women to actively participate in the BDCs elections to ensure adequate representation of women in these bodies.

Pawar tried to educate the women folk that the Congress had convinced its coalition partner National Conference to defer the BDCs elections because there was no provision of reservation of women in the BDCs.

Mahila Congress president further said that the Congress had decided that the party would not allow BDCs elections with incorporating provisions of reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and the women.

She said the stand taken by party reflected that the Congress was committed for the political empowerment of women. She said the Congress was the only party which was committed for the development and upliftment of the every sections of the society. 

Jammu, October 29
Harsh Mehra bagged top spot in speed hop in the U-14 boys’ today in the Jammu district rope skipping championship, which concluded at Baby Caterers hall, Rehari today.

Vasu Sawhney and Abhirash Sharma had to settle for the second and third position in the same age group.

In the U-17 boys’ category, Paras Mehra, Krishi Gupta and Abheet Sangotra claimed first three places respectively while in the speed hop U-19 boys’, Ankit Sharma secured the first position. Vansh claimed the second position and Ritik Kumar finished at third position.

In the speed hop U-11 girls’ category, Arpan Pandita bagged the top honours while Sudiksha and Rishika Sharma had to be contented with second and third spot, respectively.

Palak Sawhney bagged the first place in speed hop U-14 girls’ while Kashish Jamwal and Arpita Razdan bagged the second and third position, respectively. In Speed Hop U-17 girls, Tanya claimed the first position while Riya Digra and Pragya Razdan bagged the second and third place, respectively.

In the speed sprint U-14 boys’ category, Pranav Dogra bagged the first place whereas Vasu Sawhney claimed the second and Sudhanshu Sharma bagged the third place. In the speed sprint U-17 boys’ category, Deepankar Gupta, Prajwal Dutta and Manik claimed first three places respectively.

Similarly, in the speed sprint U-19 boys’ category, Rahul Dogra, Adarsh Gupta and Abheet Sangotra claimed the first three places respectively while in endurance U-14 boys, Shagun Bali, Sudanshu and Kapil Gupta secured the first, second and third positions, respectively.

In endurance U-19 boys’, Paras Mehra and Akshit Ghai claimed the first and second position, respectively.

In the free style event, Sudanshu Sharma, Akshit Dogra and Harsh Vardan bagged the first three places, respectively while in double U-19 boys’, Ayush Sharma and Rajiv claimed the first and the second place, respectively.

In the relay girls, the team of Reema, Vanshika, Samiksha Kapoor and Divya Anand fetched the first place while Arya Koul, Jeevika Raina, Praguni Goel and Riya Digra claimed the second place.

The tournament, wherein 160 athletes participated, was organised by Jammu District Rope Skipping Association under the aegis of Jammu and Kashmir Rope Skipping Association. 

Jammu, October 29
The Kathua District Rifle Association is going to organise the 4th J&K State Shooting Championship at Rajiv Gandhi Memorial College Shooting Range, Kalibari in Kathua from November 9 to November 12 under the aegis of the J&K Rifle Association (JKRA).

The decision in this regard was taken in a meeting of the JKRA held under the chairmanship of IGP Dilbag Singh and the working president, JKRA. The meeting was attended by Sudhir Kumar, treasurer, KS Jamwal, senior vice-president, Sohan Lal, vice-president, Pankaj Sharma, Pankaj Dogra, Taranjeet Singh Toni, KK Bakshi, Sharat Chander Singh and chief coach Rajesh Virdhi.

The championship will be declared open by Minister for Youth Services and Sports RS Chib while Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand would preside over the closing ceremony on November 12.

Meanwhile, the members have also decided to honour all shooters of the State who bagged medals in the recently held north-zone and national-level shooting competitions in the valedictory function.

Sohan Lal has been appointed as the organising secretary, while Principal Police Training School, RK Bhat, Pankaj Dogra, Sharat Chander Singh, KK Bakshi will be members of conduct committee.

The competition will be held in .177Air Rifle and Air Pistol in sub-junior, junior, senior of boys’ and girls’ section and team events. 

Jammu, October 29
Simula XI and Ishar XI registered convincing victories over their respective opponents in the ongoing Eid-Diwali Milan T20 Cricket Cup being organised by Jammu and Kashmir Police Department in collaboration with Simula Software at M A Stadium here today.

In the first match, Ishar XI got the better of Friends XI by a huge margin of 71 runs in a one-sided contest. Batting first, Ishar XI posted a challenging total of 163 runs in the allotted 20 overs losing 4 wickets in the process.

Sandeep Singh was the top scorer with 67 runs with the help of six boundaries while Vishavjeet Singh contributed 37 runs with 4 fours and a six. For Friends Club, Romario and Toffy shared 2 wickets each.

In reply, Friends Club skittled out for a paltry 92 runs to lose the match by 71 runs. Justin was the top scorer with 33 runs whereas Toffy and Ranchan contributed 11 and 9 runs respectively. Pavit Singh and Vishavjeet Singh were the wreckers-in-chief for Ishar XI with a scalp of 3 wickets apiece. Amrit clinched 2 wickets. Sandeep Singh was adjudged the man of the match.

In another match, Simula XI toppled Young Star XI by a thumping margin of 80 runs. Batting first, Simula XI rode on a brilliant knock of 90 runs by Shashi Kumar to post a formidable total of 199 runs in their allotted quota of overs.

Shashi struck as many as 13 boundaries in his swashbuckling while Irshad and Atul contributed 28 and 13 runs respectively. Vikas and Abhimanyu snared 2 wickets each for Young Star Club.

Young Star, in reply managed to score only 119 runs in the allotted 20 overs for the loss of 7 wickets. Abhimanyu (18), Fazal (15), Sahil (14) and Zorawar (12) were the notable contributors.

For Simula XI, Hilal Rather and Varun took 2 wickets each while Mohit and Vikram chipped in with 1 wicket apiece. Shashi was declared the man of the match for brilliant batting display.

The tournament is being organised under the overall supervision of Dilbag Singh, IGP Jammu and chairman of Organising Committee. DIG JP Singh, SP Ramesh Angral, Hilal Rather, Rajesh Dhar and Rajesh Gill (organising secretary) are the members of organising committee.