Jammu, November 1
Breaking his silence on the ongoing controversy over the election of the Jammu University Research Scholars Executive Association (JURSEA), Vice-Chancellor Prof Mohan Paul Singh Ishar today rejected the demand for dissolution of the newly appointed panel.

The Vice-Chancellor also asked the protesting scholars not to flare up the issue.

“How could I disqualify the JURSEA panel if the committee constituted for conducting fair elections had declared it the winner? They could not file nomination papers on time which resulted in the rejection of their nomination papers. There must be some ground before me to disqualify the panel,” the VC said while speaking to The Tribune.

Some varsity scholars who could not file nomination papers on time on October 25 had been sitting on hunger strike near the Vice-Chancellor’s office for the last four days. They have been demanding immediate dissolution of the new panel and fresh notification for holding open election for the Jammu University Research Scholars Association (JURSA). The election was scheduled to be held on October 31.

The VC also rebutted the allegations of the protesting scholars that the Election Committee had declared the existing JURSEA panel as elected unopposed under the influence of the ruling National Conference in the state.

Four members of the Election Committee comprised Prof Jasbir Singh as election commissioner, Prof Mohammad Munir Alam as returning officer, Prof Shalinder Singh as presiding officer and Prof Neeru Sharma as observer. The JURSEA term is one-and-half years.

“We have nothing to do with any political party. All these accusations are false and baseless. There was no question of giving any favour to anyone. They failed to file nomination papers on time and the Election Committee declared other group as the winner. We have already made an appeal to students not to aggravate the situation and end their stir,” the VC said.

He said the university had decided to hold open elections for constituting the JURSEA panel next time.

“We can not accept the demand of holding immediate open elections for JURSEA by dissolving the existing panel. It is lengthy and a time-consuming exercise,” he added.

The VC said the process involved formulation of bylaws, seeking consensus from all stakeholders and finalisation of electoral rolls. “So far, only the departmental representatives (DRs) of 32 departments had the voting rights. At the time of open elections, all the scholars (around 1,000) of the university will have the voting right,” Prof. Ishar said.

The protesting scholars continued their hunger strike and blamed the varsity authorities for turning a deaf ear to their demands. “Varsity Registrar Prof Naresh Padha held discussion with us but he expressed his helplessness on dissolution of the new panel. The authorities are in no mood to accept our demand ,” said Anil Sharma, a scholar whose nomination paper for the post of president was rejected.

Jammu, November 1
Markets in Jammu were flooded with mehendi designers from Rajasthan on the eve of Karva Chauth adding more colour to the festive mood.

These designers arrived here on Monday for a week ahead of the festival season.

Mehendi artist Roshni, mother of three, has come along with her husband and children to Jammu.

“We come to Jammu every year on this occasion. We earn a good amount during these three or four days as it is a very important festival here and all women get mehendi work done on their hands,” says Roshni.

She says, “The Arabic mehendi designs and tattoo mehendi is a hit among girls this year as everyone wants to look different. The traditional mehendi styles have become cliché.”

Moreover, people are not worried about prices and are ready to pay any sum to get good designs, she says.

Prices of mehendi designs go higher as the day approaches near. The rates also depend upon the locality where these designers are sitting. Various mehendi festivals were held by different clubs and showrooms in the city today. A Karwa Chauth mela was organised by the Amar Singh Club where mehendi stalls, clothes, gift items and fast food were put for sale.

“The purpose of the Karwa Chauth mela is to give women a hassle-free atmosphere for preparation. It is very difficult to go out in the market today as the markets remain flooded ahead of the festival,” a stall owner at the club said. — TNS

Jammu, November 1
Jammu once used to be quite a conservative city when it came to experimenting with looks. Not anymore.

Come wedding season and a host of beauty parlours in the city are abuzz with bustle as there is a significant increase in footfall during this time around. Girls are increasingly experimenting with their looks keeping in view the ongoing bridal season.

“Days are gone when turmeric face packs would make a bride. Now people are more conscious about how they appear. Our bookings start one year ahead of the season. The rush is so huge that we have to refuse so many bookings,” said Shivani, owner of Shelz Beauty parlour.

“This time around, the regular maroon colour is not in vogue. People are experimenting with colours that match their bridal dresses. Subtle vibrant eye makeup is being preferred by brides this season,” Shivani added.

She opines that Jammuites are no less than their counterparts in metro cities when it comes to making style statement. People are ready to splurge money to look good, she says.

“Brides of all faiths come here. Among Muslim brides, the draping of dupatta is different. Most of the brides wear lehenga and which are green, rusty and dark in colour,” she adds.

A normal bridal or pre-bridal package starts at Rs 10,000. Many big brands have opened their franchise saloons in Jammu in the last few years which again has added to the style quotient of people here.

The traditional Dogra culture has still much influence on people’s way of dressing here.

A makeup artist says the girls here are getting back to the traditional dresses to look different on wedding days. Tamanna, a make-up expert, claims that people in Jammu have become more demanding in the last few years.

Jammu, November 1
The Udhampur police yesterday arrested three kidnappers allegedly involved in luring and molesting a minor girl from Rajasthan through social networking site Facebook.

Sources said a minor girl from Rajasthan was lured by one Vishal to come to Jammu through Facebook and offer prayers at the Vaishno Devi shrine. He later with two of his associates convinced her to visit Patnitop citing a huge rush of pilgrims on the eve of the Navratras.

The three took the girl to Patnitop in a Tata Safari. On way, they started molesting and harassing her near Kud. A police party from the Kud police station noticed them and approached the girl who narrated her story.

In the meantime, the accused managed to flee from the spot in the same Tata Safari. The abducted girl was shifted to the women cell of the Udhampur police and subsequently handed over her parents.

The police later arrested all the three kidnappers based on reliable information. They have been identified as Someshwar Singh alias Vicky, Gurnam Singh alias Ansh, both residents of Nanak Nagar, and Vipin Jamwal alias Vishal of Bablian in Gangyal. The vehicle used for kidnapping has also been seized.

Katra, November 1
The moment the visitors step out of their vehicles at Katra bus stand, they are greeted with heaps of garbage, stinking drains and potholed roads. If this much is not enough, dozens of beggars flock around them to add to their woes.

Thousands of pilgrims arrive at Katra every day while on their way to the Vaishno Devi shrine.

Sunil Bodh, a pilgrim from Shimla, said, “The authorities concerned must take appropriate action. It becomes tough to come out of the bus stand, especially for children.

Raj Babu Singh, a pilgrim from New Delhi, said, “I came here along with my family to pay obeisance at the Vashno Devi shrine. The condition of the bus stand is terrible and I will never like to board a bus from here again.”

Ajay Gupta, a local businessman, said, “No one can stand here even for a few minutes. Its condition leaves a bad impression of the city among people coming from other states.”

Over 30,000 pilgrims arrive daily at Katra bus stand during the peak season.

Jammu, November 1
The School Games Federation of India (SGFI), which recently formulated new terms and conditions for inclusion of important sports/games in the upcoming 58th National School Games, has issued strict instructions to all the sports departments across the country, including the state, to ensure maximum participation of contingent in important disciplines.

The Tribune had earlier reported that the SGFI had formulated new terms and conditions in a bid to curb the practice in future.

Sources said the SGFI had expressed concern over the poor performance of state contingent in the important disciplines like badminton, swimming, table tennis, judo, football, hockey and cricket.

Sources said the Department of Youth Services and Sports, J&K, had been directed by the federation to focus on improving skills of the state players by conducting maximum competitions.

Sources said the SGFI had issued clear instructions to the DYSS not to entertain the individuals with ulterior motives, who were indulging in creation of the sports associations, and then by using their influence get it affiliated to misguide both the innocent parents and the sportspersons.

Sources said the SGFI had asked the sports department to ensure that the respective affiliated unit of the federation should conduct the national school competitions for three years in coordination with the respective national federation, under the aegis of the SGFI.

Sources said the grace period of the three years will commence from the date of submission of the proposal for inclusion in the SGFI calendar or the first year of organisation of the national school competition.

When contacted, Ashok Kumar, Deputy Director, Youth Services and Sports, J&K , who is also the vice-president of SGFI, told The Tribune, “The department will leave no stone unturned to select the best contingent for the upcoming National School Games.”

“The new guidelines, issued by the SGFI, will certainly help us to tighten noose around individuals with ulterior motives,” he said.

Jammu, November 1
As a part of the ongoing vigilance awareness week celebrations, the Power Grid Corporation of India, North Region-II, Jammu, yesterday organised a debate competition at Delhi Public School.

The topic of the competition was ‘Would the proposed Lokpal Bill eradicate corruption from the country’. The principal of the school, S Sonar, welcomed the chief guest and appreciated the contribution of the powergrid in the growth of the country’s economy.

Paramjit Singh DGM (vigilance) stressed on the fact that the future of the country rests on the young shoulders and if these shoulders are strong enough to throw away the corrupt practices, the country is bound to prosper and grow by leaps and bounds.

The chief guest, KR Suri, general manager (O&M), powergrid, highlighted various achievements of the powergrid and stressed upon the audience to use the power judiciously and help the corporation in maintaining a strict grid discipline.

Jammu, November 1
A protest rally was organised by various organisations today under the aegis of Jan Jagriti Manch (JJM) on the eve of 28th anniversary of 1984 Sikh riots, demanding punishment for the perpetrators of the alleged massacre.

The rally commenced from the Gole market in Gandhi Nagar area wherein the protestors raised placards against the perpetrators of 1984 massacre.

After passing through Khalsa Chowk and Shiva Chowk, the rally culminated at Bahu Plaza.

All India Sikh Students Fedration president Paramjeet Singh, while addressing the gathering, termed the 1984 massacre as the government-sponsored genocide, which was pre-planned by the Congress leaders.

Expressing concern over the delay of justice, he rued that it was unfortunate that the perpetrators of genocide were roaming free in the world’s biggest democracy.

JJM general secretary Mohinder Pal Singh termed the communalism as a dangerous weapon to divide the masses and diverting the attention from real issues.

He said before the 1984 massacre, the Delhi Municipal Corporation had maintained a list of Sikh localities which were later targeted by the rioters.

Bhai Kanaya Nishkam Seva Society chief organiser Mohinder Singh, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Kistri Jatha president Tajinder Singh Premee and Nirbho Nirvair Organisation president Harjeet Singh and Puneet Kour were also present on the occasion.

Jammu, November 1
The two-day long inter-block rural competitions, under the Centrally-sponsored scheme, Panchayat Yuva Khel Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA), concluded at Zorawar Singh sports stadium in Reasi today.

About 300 boys and girls drawn from the four blocks of Reasi namely Arnas, Mahore, Pouni and Reasi participated in the event, which was held in the disciplines of volleyball, kabaddi, kho-kho, wrestling, judo, athletics and badminton.

Reasi block emerged as the overall champion followed by Pouni block and Arnas block, who had to settle for second and third spot, respectively.

Earlier, the tournament was inaugurated by the senior superintendent of police, Reasi, Raghubir Singh. Mohammad Aslam, district social welfare officer, Reasi and Arshad Khan, district treasury officer, Reasi were also present on the occasion.

The competition was organised under the overall supervision of Dr Swarn Singh Chib, District Youth Services and Sports Officer, Reasi.

Final results:

Volleyball (boys): Arnas A block (1st), Arnas B block (2nd) and Reasi B block (3rd). Kabaddi (boys): Pouni A block (1st), Mahore block (2nd) and Pouni B block (3rd). Kabaddi (girls): Pouni A block (1st), Reasi A block (2nd) and Reasi B block (3rd). Kho-kho (boys): Reasi A block (1st), Pouni A block (2nd) and Reasi B block (3rd). Kho-kho (girls): Reasi block (1st), Arnas block (2nd) and Pouni block (3rd).

Athletics:

100m sprint (boys): Mukesh Kumar (1st), Jasbir Singh (2nd) and Sunil Kumar (3rd). 200m: Kewal Kumar (1st), Pardeep Kumar (2nd) and Kaka Singh (3rd). 100m (girls): Pooja Devi (1st), Mehnaz Mir (2nd) and Renu Devi (3rd). 200m: Kiran Bala (1st), Riya Manhas (2nd) and Jyoti Devi (3rd).

Shotput (boys): Balwant Singh (1st), Mohammad Rariq (2nd) and Balvinder Singh (3rd). Shotput (girls): Sheema Begum (1st), Kiran Bala (2nd) and Poonam Rani (3rd).

Katra, November 1
Agriculture Department organised a farmers’ awareness camp at Talwara in Reasi today.

The camp was organised in association with the Actech Company, Noida.

The chief agriculture officer, Reasi, RK Safaya said the department was providing possible assistance to the farmers.

He said the department, in order to promote the agriculture technology, was providing quality seeds and other agriculture equipments to the farmers.

He advised the farmers to avail the benefits of various schemes like Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), micromanagement, technology mission and the Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) launched by the department for boosting of agri­-production and to cooperate with field extension agency in implementing all the programmes.

Sub-divisional agriculture officer, Reasi, Vijay Bhagat said irrigation pump-sets, four tractors, one power tillers, 70 foot sprayers were provided to the farmers in 1997.

He said 50 polygreen houses and 70 vermi compost units were established in the Reasi block.

He said the department shall provide Rs 1 crore as the incentive subsidy to the farmers on account of these purchases.

Jammu, November 1
Rakesh Singh and Rajinder Kumar of Jammu district bagged two gold medals each in the U-19 and U-14 age group, respectively today in the divisional-level inter-district athletics meet being organised by the Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) at University of Jammu ground here.

Rakesh clinched the gold medal in long jump and triple jump while Rajinder secured first position in 100 m sprint and long jump.

Detailed result:

U-14 (shot put): Kajal Singh (1st); Makhan Singh (2nd) and Madan Lal (3rd).

long jump: Rajender Kumar (1st); Amarjeet Singh (2nd) and Muzafar Farooq (3rd).

100m: Rajinder Kumar (1st); Sajjad Ali (2nd) and Shahzad Ahmed (3rd).

400m: Bushan Kumar (1st); Kulbir Singh (2nd) and Pankaj Sharma (3rd).

600m: Sajid Ali (1st); Vinod Kumar (2nd) and Abhishek (3rd).

U-17 (shotput): Gurdeep Singh (1st); Liaquat Ali (2nd) and Ashish Sharma (3rd).

Long jump: Rahul Sharma (1st); Surinder Singh (2nd) and Yash Pal (3rd).

Triple Jump: Yash Pal (1st); Ashish Kumar (2nd) and Arjun Kumar (3rd).

100m: Rohan Din (1st); Anil Kumar (2nd) and Inderjeet Singh (3rd).

400 m: Arjun Kumar (1st); Prabhjot Singh (2nd) and Parveen Chand (3rd).

U-19 (long jump): Rakesh Singh (1st); Mohammed Shabir (2nd) and Amit Slathia (3rd)

Triple jump: Rakesh Singh (1st); Abhishek Jamwal (2nd); Anil Singh (3rd).

100 m: Krishan Murari (1st) Irshad Ali (2nd) and Amit Slathia (3rd).

400 m: Daleep Sharma (1st); Sunny Deol (2nd) and Raj Kumar (3rd).

5,000 m: Sahil Sharma (1st); Sanjeev Kumar (2nd) and Raj Kumar Sharma (3rd).

Jammu, November 1
The 39 Wing of Air Force team bagged the overall championship in the annual inter-unit sports championship conducted at Air Force Stadium, Udhampur.

Group Captain, Devendra P Hirani, Station Commander, Air Force Station, Udhampur was the chief guest, who gave away the winners trophy to the team.

The chief guest lauded the efforts of all the participants in the sporting event.

He also congratulated 15 players who were selected to represent the station in the upcoming Western Air Command (WAC) Sports Championship 2013.

The championship was held in the disciplines of football, volleyball and basketball.

Jammu, November 1
Sainik School Nagrota emerged overall champions of the Jammu Sahodaya Athletic Meet hosted by the school at the mini stadium, held from October 30 to November 1.

Eleven schools affiliated to the CBSE from Jammu region participated in the athletic meet. Raman Bhalla, Minister for Revenue,Relief and Rehabilitation was the chief guest.

The minister commended the performance of the Sainik School athletes and mentioned that the alumni of the school were doing extremely well in all fields and the school is an asset to the state.

Earlier KCS Mehta, principal, APS Akhnoor presented welcome address and lauded the role of Sainik School Nagrota as an active member of the Sahodaya Schools Complex.