Jammu, December 2
The Department of Revenue has failed to demarcate the area for the Gharana wetland over the past two years. The Wildlife Department has thus failed to implement its ambitious project to convert it into a major tourist attraction and safeguard the habitat for migratory birds, which come here from across the world.

Encroachment over the past three decades has reduced the size of the area to mere 500 square metres, which is less than half of its original size.

Contrary to the 1,500-kanal notified land, only 115 kanal have been demarcated in the revenue records.

This despite the fact that the wetland reserve was declared Conservation Reserve through a notification issued in 1986. Sources said despite repeated reminders to the Revenue department to give possession of the land to the Wildlife department nothing is being done to resolve the issues with the help of local residents.

Approximately, 20,000 birds come here during the winter from Siberian Tundra, Central Asia and as far as East Europe. Normally, these birds arrive in December and stay till the end of February.

“Many villagers don’t like these birds as they damage their crops. The number of birds is decreasing every year and if steps are not taken, the site will no longer be feasible for the birds,” said an official.

Tahir Shawl, Chief Wildlife Warden said during a recent meeting the Revenue Department officials had indicated that the demarcation process would be started soon. “They told us that there were several issues involved at the site and the government has to formulate a uniform policy for wetlands across the state and that the process has been started,” Shawl said.

Every year over 50 species of bar-headed Geese, including some rare and endangered species, fly a distance of more than 1,000 miles over the Himalayas from their breeding grounds in Central Asia and other parts of the world to escape the cold weather to breed in the warm weather of Jammu.

Rajouri, December 2
Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah (BGSB) University, Rajouri, authorities have assured of strict disciplinary action against five engineering students who had allegedly hacked the data system of Information Technology Department of the College of Engineering and Technology (COET) few days back.

Principal, COET, Prof Asgar said, five students had collected information regarding supplementary ‘question paper’ prepared by a teacher of the IT department. Suspecting foul play, the staff members traced the accused students and data was found on their laptops on November 25.

Prof Asgar said, “We have lodged a written complaint with the police to teach them a lesson and to make them realise that they have committed a grave offence. We don’t want to spoil their future that is why no FIR has been registered against them.”

“We have constituted an in-house committee comprising four senior faculty members to probe into the incident; parents of the accused students have also called by the university authorities.” He said, “We are waiting for the report of the in-house committee. Stern action would be taken against guilty students.”

Sources said students of the fifth semester allegedly involved in the hacking controversy were detained and questioned ‘informally’ by the police. The accused include the son of an Associate Professor of Hospital Administration at the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, Srinagar.

Prof Asgar confirmed that the students belong to influential families from Jammu, Rajouri and Kashmir.

SP, Rajouri, Mubassir Latifi said, we have received a latter in which the university authorities have mentioned that they have constituted committee of senior members for inquiry and they would inform us. He said, “No FIR has been lodged against any student till now.”

Vice-Chancellor of the BGSB University, Prof IA Hamal said, “I am not in Rajouri, but a committee has been constituted for enquiry,” he said. 

Jammu, December 2
Unidentified gunmen opened fire at the residence of a contractor at Channi locality of the city at midnight. The shooting was to stop the contractor from taking up contracts of the Food Corporation of India (FCI).

The police has seized the weapons of the three Personal Security Officers (PSOs) deputed at the residence of the contractor for allegedly opening fire. They are suspected to have created that some other men had opened fire owing to business rivalry. The PSOs are being questioned about the firing.

Zaffar Tramboo, who runs a transport company at Channi Himmat, had lodged a complaint with the police that his house was allegedly targeted by some unidentified gunmen at 12:30 am today. The gunmen, according to the complaint, allegedly escaped from the spot despite the fact that three PSOs were deputed at the main gate of the house.

A police team, led by SDPO East, DSP Shamsher Singh Manhas, rushed to the spot.

Sources said Zaffar's son, Haseeb Tramboo had yesterday pulled out a revolver of his father's PSO on the FCI office premises at Bahu Plaza and pointed it at the members of a rival business group.

He had allegedly challenged them to stay away from a tender for carriage of goods. The police brought the situation under control but the businessman's son and the PSO fled the spot.

“Preliminary investigation into the case shows that the PSOs had fired from AK-47 three times to give an impression that some unidentified gunmen had opened fire. Forensic and ballistic experts seized bullets of AK-47 from a wall of the house," sources said.

The report of the forensic and ballistic experts is likely to come out in the next two days.

The police has ruled out possibility of firing from outside the house. "So far, there is no evidence which shows that the shots were opened from outside the gate of house. Weapons of the PSOs have been seized and they are being quizzed," sources said.

The family, however, claimed that their house was allegedly targeted following "business rivalry". "The attack was clearly not aimed at hurting or killing someone but only to create panic among us," a family member said.

Senior police officers are tightlipped over the issue and they didn't respond to repeated phone calls.

Batote, December 2
New-age digital teaching through play-way method has been introduced in the some government schools of Chenani and Ramban tehsils here. The teaching method has been launched by Chenani-Nashri Tunnelway Ltd. (CNTL), a sister concern of the Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) Transportation Networks (ITNL). The company is constructing the 9-km long Chenani-Nashri road tunnel, as part of its Community Development Initiative (CDI).

Under the CDI the CNTL has donated a 'Digital Classroom with K-Yan' system to the Computer Laboratory of the Government Middle School, Batote, under its Parivartan School Improvement Intervention (PSII) mission.

The company has also donated nine computer systems with as many tables and chairs, a projector system and 100 desks to the school. Through K-Yan technology the students are taught lessons in mathematics, English, history, geography etc., with the use of multi-media-projector system in a new-age play-way method.

Consultant, ITNL, Col Randev Singh Parmar and Regional Anchor, IETSL, Nizam Bhat, handed over the system to the school Headmaster, Kanwerinder Singh.

The chief guest, CEO, Ramban, Vinod Kumar Soni and ZEO, Batote, Vijay Kumar Gupta, thanked the company for this goodwill gesture. Soni also inaugurated the kindergarten section at Government Middle School, Batote.

The company has also deputed Supriya Bhat and Aftab Ahmed to teach the students. The company has also provided similar facilities at Government Middle School, Mandlote, Kud and Government Girls High School, Chenani.

Company officials said a Skill Development School with a hostel facility for 20 students shall also be opened in Kud.

Jammu, December 2
After denying the U-19 basketball team from competing in the recently concluded 58th National School Games held at Rajasthan, the Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) is now planning to stop other weak teams for participation in important events to avoid humiliation due to their poor performance.

Sources said, Director, DYSS, Jai Pal Singh has asked the officials of the department to provide him the details of medals bagged by the state contingent in important events in the previous editions of coveted sporting event.

Sources said the Director was surprised to know that the state contingent had only won 10 medals in major competitions in badminton, fencing, judo, table tennis, lawn tennis, basketball etc. “Director Jai Pal Singh has not only taken serious note of this issue but also instructed the officers concerned not to send weak teams for participation,” a DYSS official said. “After basketball, the axe is likely to fall on other teams as well and their non-participation in the competitions cannot be ruled out,” he said.

“The order in this regard is likely to be issued within next couple of days because the department has made up its mind not to entertain week contingents any more. Further, Jai Pal Singh has also asked the officers to formulate a decisive strategy to improve skills of sportspersons in important disciplines,” he said. “From next year contingents will be sent only on merit basis after analysing the strengths and 
weaknesses of our teams,” he said.

Poonch, December 2
One person was killed and 10 others were injured, three of them seriously, in an accident near Sathra village on the Poonch-Mandi road today. The accident took place when a mini bus skid off the road in the morning. Abdul Jabbar (50) of Hayat Pura Mandi died while being taken to the hospital in Jammu.

According to reports, the mini bus (JK02Q 3814) was on its way to Poonch from Mandi at 8:30 am.

Most of the passengers were labourers.

Eyewitnesses said, the driver lost control over the vehicle while negotiating a sharp curve as a result of which the mini bus rolled down into 100-metre deep nullah.

Local residents took the injured to the District Hospital, Poonch. Doctors said the condition of four of the victims was critical and shifted them to the Government Medical Hospital, Jammu, for further treatment.

One of the victims succumbed to his injuries on way to the hospital in Jammu. He died at Bhimber Gali on way to Jammu.

Jammu, December 2
To create awareness among people about traffic management and to address their grievances, the traffic police held an interaction with residents today.

SSP (Traffic) Sujiet Kumar called upon local residents to follow the traffic rules and to promptly report violations to traffic policemen on duty around.

He directed traffic policemen to streamline the traffic in the New Plot-Janipur road, which witnesses traffic jams during the morning and evening rush hours.

The SSP said some initiatives were being taken to streamline the traffic movement in the city so that in the coming years, the situation was under control.

He appealed to the Matadors Union to pick the passengers from the stands and urged the residents to wait in the matador stands for an organised flow of traffic.

Residents, on the other hand, said the government needed to construct more roads and flyovers in the city and the traffic department should take tough measures against the violators.

Jammu West Assembly Movement (JWAM) president Sunil Dimple said the work on the four proposed flyovers in the city should be started immediately.

He demanded the construction of multi-storied parkings at Panjterthi, Super Bazaar, Shalmar and the bus stand.

They said an alternative four-way circular road from Amphalla, Manda, High Court and Janipur should be started from Roop Nagar and Bantalab to ease the traffic rush.

The SSP assured that immediate steps would be taken by his department to solve various traffic problems in the city.

Other officials who addressed the awareness camp included traffic inspectors Satinder Singh, Rajesh Kumar, Vinod Kumar and Vedparkash. 

Poonch, December 2
The Nangi Tekri Battalion under the aegis of the Krishna Ghati Brigade organised a ‘Fauji Mela’ at Jhullas today. Krishna Ghati Brigade Commander Brigadier TS Sandhu was the chief guest on the occasion. Thousands of villagers visited the fair.

The event showcased the synergy between the Army and the local administration and provided an opportunity for the local populace to interact with officials of the Army and the civil administration to express their grievances.

Main attractions of the fair were a dog show, horse show, medical camp and an exhibition of arms and equipment.

In addition, kiosks of the Zonal Sainik Welfare Information Cell, banks and departments of Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry were established, which provided information to locals. Free medicines were also given to the needy.

The mela attracted a large number of ex-serviceman, students of local schools and other local residents. Students and Army jawans presented cultural shows to enthral the audience.

Poonch SSP Shamsheer Hussain, in his address, lauded the efforts of the KG Brigade in restoring normalcy and in uplifting the local populace by developing infrastructure under Operation Sadbhavana. 

Jammu, December 2
A coaching-cum-competition workshop in mountain climbing was organised by the Mountaineering Association of J&K at Maharishi Vidya Mandir, Sainik Colony, here today.

Earlier, out of 32 students of the school, the association had selected 11 climbers for further coaching.

These included Ankit Mehta, Rajiv Salgotra, Smaksh, Ankit Sharma, Isha, Bhargav Khajuria, Rahul Raj, Raghav Verma, Tushar, Harpreet Kour and Manvi Jamwal.

The camp was conducted by Anil Kumar and Shashi Kant under the supervision of Sonam Sidharth. General Secretary of the Association Ram Khajuria and Sprawling Buds School director Rahul Sharma were among those present on the occasion.

Jammu, December 2
The Young Star Cricket Club (YSCC) and the Rainawari Cricket Club (RCC) notched up emphatic wins to enter the quarterfinals of the J&K Police Friendship Cup being organised jointly by the J&K Police, the Young Star Cricket Club and the Simula Software at MA Stadium here today.

In the first match, the YSCC toppled the Atman Cricket Club (ACC) by 47runs. Batting first, the YSCC accumulated 144 runs for the loss of four wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Sahil Balwal played a fine knock of 65 runs with the help of nine boundaries and a six. Bansi Lal and Pardeep Bali contributed 39 and 13 runs respectively.

For the ACC, Narinder took three wickets while KK took one wicket. However, the ACC failed to chase the target by managing only 97 runs in 15.4 overs. Raman and Saleem made 23 runs each while Noshad contributed 22 runs.

For the YSCC, Sumit was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets while Sumit scalped two wickets. Varun, Bansi Lal and Manjeet shared a wicket each. Sumit was declared the man of the match.

In another match, the RCC got the better of the Bhawani Cricket Club (BCC) by five wickets.

Jammu, December 2
The Young Rovers toppled the Param Football Club by 3-1 goals in the inaugural match of the Christmas Soccer Championship which got underway at the GGM Science College ground here today.

Rakesh Roshan drew first blood in the 18th minute. Vishal and Rahul Verma then struck in the 23rd and 45th minutes respectively to make it 3-0.

The Param Football Club finally managed to strike a goal in the 59th minute through Arun.

The match was officiated by Rajeev Dass, Honey Singh, Saudagar Mattoo and Clint Mattoo. Earlier, the tournament was inaugurated by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dilbagh Singh in the presence of DIG JP Singh.

The tournament is being organised by the Christian Sports Organisation in collaboration with the J&K Police and the J&K Football Association (JKFA).

Jammu, December 2
The Waryam Club will take on the Kathua Club in the summit showdown of the 17th Waryam Memorial Hockey Championship being organised by the Waryam Hockey Club under the aegis of the Hockey J&K.

In the first semifinal, the Waryam Club beat the Pritam Club by 7-0 goals. Salil Raina, Matinderpal Singh, Gursharan Singh, Smiley, Lofty, Chani scored a goal each for the winning team while Amardeep Singh scored two goals. In the semifinals, the Kathua Club beat the Government Degree College to enter the finals. Digvijay of the Kathua Club scored a goal in the 62nd minute of the second half. The matches were officiated by Narinder Singh, Harmik Singh, Ruchika Sharma, Amarjeet Singh, Ramanjot Singh, Kulwant Singh and Rajesh Sharma. — TNS