Jammu, December 23
Bikers from various parts of the region today partook some “seriousness” on the part of police towards the growing danger of fatal road mishaps, which claimed over 750 casualties in 10 districts of Jammu province in 11 months this year.

Motorbike-riding youth along with policemen, supported by industrialists, representatives of various transport unions and students, had turned up at Maulana Azad (MA) Stadium to take part in “road safety movement and to take pledge on road safety” for creating awareness among masses about traffic rules and minimise human loss due to accidents on roads.

The rally moved through Hiranagar, Samba, RS Pura, Nagrota, Gharota, Akhnoor, Talab Tillo Bohri and Bishnah. It culminated at MA Stadium here and marked the beginning of the police department’s “vigorous awareness campaign” to infuse a sense of responsibility among road users so that they follow road safety norms voluntarily.

The police made it clear that negligent driving and visible offences would be dealt with strictly as nearly “90 per cent road deaths had taken place due to human errors, that too, negligent driving”.

“A total of 753 people have lost their lives due to road accidents in Jammu region alone this year till November. Nearly two dozen road accidents took place every day, which claim two lives and render 18 people injured. A majority of these deaths were of two-wheeler riders driving without crash helmet. There is a need to educate people about traffic rules and we have to look at the issue seriously,” Dilbagh Singh, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu zone, said while addressing a gathering at MA Stadium.

Singh, along with Minister of State for Home, Nasir Alsam Wani, Director General of Police (DGP), J&K, Ashok Prasad and other senior police officers, reached the stadium on motorbikes to give a message for driving carefully and following road safety norms.

“Industrialists, transport unions, Army and students have extended overwhelming support to our campaign and it will grow in the days to come. After the two-wheeler rally, we will focus on curbing violations being made by taxi, mini-bus operators and other commercial vehicles,” the IGP said.

In his address, the MoS Home said the state government would ensure strict enforcement of laws to curb the number of fatal road accidents. “I want to assure people that the government would ensure strict enforcement of road safety laws and nobody will be spared when it comes to negligent driving,” the minister said while expressing serious concern over the rising number of road accidents in the state.

He also warned the traffic policemen that no complacency on their part would be tolerated. “Whenever we have received a complaint about the policemen indulging in malpractice or being complacent, we have initiated action. We will not spare anyone in near future either,” Wani said.

The state transport department had also organised a photo-exhibition and screening of a documentary on traffic violations and fatal road accidents.

Senior police officers, including IGP (traffic), J&K, Muneer Ahmad Khan, DIG Jammu-Kathua range JP Singh, DIG (traffic) Jammu, Shakeel Ahmed Beig and others also took part in the rally.

Srinagar, December 23
After The Tribune carried a report dated December 18 on chicken deaths due to suspected Ranikhet disease, the district administration has directed the State Animal Husbandry Department to inspect all the poultry farms of the Valley and undertake vaccination.

Divisional Commissioner Asgar Samoon today convened a high-level meeting of officers to review the unusual mortality of chicken in some areas of the Valley which include Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal.

The state animal husbandry department has been asked to constitute district-level inspection teams to ensure that the birds in government and private poultry farms are vaccinated properly and thereby no-objection certificates are issued.

The Director Animal Husbandry was also directed to ensure that day-old chicks are subjected to rigorous tests at Lower Munda at the time of import.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Baseer Ahmed Khan, Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Dr GN Qasba, Director Animal Husbandry Kashmir, Dr GR Mir, Director Sheep Husbandry Kashmir, Dr Javed Ahmed, Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman, Deputy Excise Commissioner, Tasaduq Jeelani, Deputy Director CAPD Kashmir, Shafqat Iqbal, President Poultry Dealers Association, Parvez Ahmed Wani and various poultry farmers of the Valley.

Jammu, December 23
A youth was killed and two others received critical injuries after a motorcycle they were riding was hit by a speeding tipper in Kaluchak area on the Jammu-Pathankot national highway on Sunday afternoon.

The deceased was identified as Sunil Kumar, 23, resident of Rattanuchak.

The police said Sunil, along with his friends Rakesh Kumar and Sheetal Kumar, both residents of Rattanuchak, were riding a motorcycle and met with an accident in Kaluchak area.

“Their motorcycle was hit by a tipper, which led to Sunil’s death on the spot. Cops admitted those critically injured, Rakesh and Sheetal, in Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) Jammu,” a police source said.

Jammu, December 23
A 30-year-old housewife today allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself at her residence in Rajeev Nagar area this afternoon.

The deceased, identified as Ritu Sharma, wife of Rajesh Kumar Sharma, was allegedly found hanging at her residence by her family members who raised an alarm and told the police about it.

The body of the deceased was sent to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) Jammu for autopsy. The police said a case had been registered and investigations had been undertaken. — TNS

Jammu, December 23
With just a day to go for Christmas, preparations for the festival are in full swing here. People of different religions and castes are busy with Christmas preparations including house decoration, planning of feasts and purchase of gifts for dear ones.

A few days before the arrival of the festival, people including shopkeepers started preparing for the day. Meanwhile, administrators of churches in Jammu are finalising arrangements to celebrate the festival to the fullest. Churches are being decorated with buntings and Christmas trees. Bakery points are being decked up with Christmas cakes and an array of eatables is on display.

Namita Gupta, mother of two, said, “Though the Christmas celebrations are not part of our custom, for happiness of our children, we do decorate the Christmas tree and cut a cake. They have seen these things on television and their school. Thus, we do it for them.”

“Everything is very easily available in the market. Be it the gift galleries or the local shops in the city, Christmas gifts are available everywhere and we even go to the church on this special day,” she added.

The city business flourishes, even on the outskirts, as the day brings good business for shopkeepers selling cakes, flowers and Santa Claus dresses for children, youngsters and elders. Those in the business of cakes and gift galleries often clock a windfall.

Jammu, December 23
The Panun Kashmir today said the return of the Kashmiri Pandits was not possible till the causes of religious cleansing 
and genocide were acknowledged.

Addressing a meeting here today, Panun Kashmir chairman Ajay Chungroo said, “The return and rehabilitation of the religiously-cleansed Kashmiri Hindus to Kashmir is not possible till the cause of genocide (of Kashmiri Hindus) is not looked into. Kashmiri Hindus were not the victims of natural calamities like earthquakes and floods but of communalism and separatism unleashed by Kashmiri Muslim theo-fascist forces to change the demographic character of the Valley.”

“Since Kashmiri Hindus were the upholders of the Indian nation and the constitution in Kashmir, they were targeted selectively and this has been admitted by the Chief Minister in his recent statement in New Delhi.”

Chungroo said, “How is it possible to restore Kashmiri Hindus in Kashmir when all forms of freedom available in democratic societies are absent in Kashmir and there is a competitive secessionism going on here.”

He appealed to the Kashmiri Pandit community and Indian nationalists to participate in the national convention to celebrate the Homeland Day on 28th December at the Green Land Palace, Muthi, to send a message of resurgence and confidence for the reclamation of the ancestral homeland in Kashmir. 

Rajouri, December 23
Rajouri police has busted a fake rubber stamp-cum-forged document racket and seized more than eight forged rubber stamps of various government departments meant for official use and also arrested three people including a forest protection force employee in Thanamandi area of district Rajouri.

Thanamandi police team had stopped a passenger vehicle (Tata Sumo) for regular checking on a naka a few days back in the area of the district Rajouri which was on way from Thanamandi to Rajouri and recovered eight rubber stamps inside the vehicle.

Upon interrogation of the driver, Mohammed Shafiat, son of Mohammed Jamil of Bindi Jamola, he disclosed details about rubber stamps, sources said. A police team has arrested the kingpin Waqar Qureshi, son of Mohammed Mushtaq Qureshi of Shadra Sharif, who works in forest protection force at Rajouri.

A source said police had recovered eight forged rubber steps of various departments including Executive Engineer, PWD Rajouri, Punjab Police Academy Stamp, Town Planner, Rajouri and Poonch range, President Municipality Rajouri, Range Officer Social Forestry, Jammu Range, Deputy Director, forest protection force Rajouri, Junior Scientist Pollution Control Board Rajouri and Poonch.

A specially constituted team has also raided Prakash Stationers, stamp maker from Pakka Danga area of winter capital Jammu and arrested the owner identified as Manleshwar Gupta, son of Om Prakash Gupta, police said.

Sources said Waqar is also an architect and he used these stamps for providing departmental clearance like NOCs in many project works in the area. Police has also recovered some files.

SP Mubassir Latifi, talking to The Tribune, said, “We have busted a big fake rubber stamp racket in the area. However, investigation is still on and hopefully, there would be more arrests soon.”

Jammu, December 23
As a part of its coaching-cum-competition programme in climbing, the Mountaineering Association of J&K today selected six students, including two girls, of the Shining Star Academy, Muthi, for an intensive training regime.

The competition was held at the Tenzing Norgay Sport Climbing Wall at the Sprawling Buds School, Chinore.

Pallavi Sharma was selected in the women’s category. Shilpa was chosen in the sub-junior girls’ category.

Other climbers who are selected are Aman Dogra and Rohit Koul in the sub-junior boys’ category and Hardev Singh and Rohit Kumar in the boys’ category.

A total of 28 climbers of the Shining Star Academy and the Sprawling Buds School participated in the competition, which was organised under the supervision of Sonam Sidharth, a senior sport climber.

With today’s selection, the total number of climbers chosen by the association in various age groups from various schools of Jammu has reached 73, including 18 girls.

Anil Kumar, a national climber, was the Route Setter-cum-Belayer of the competition who was supported by Rashmi Sharma of the Shining Star Academy and Ritesh Sajgotra, Sudha Qazi and Karuna of the Sprawling Buds School. 

Rajouri, December 23
Member of Parliament from Uttar Pradesh and Islamic scholar Allama Moulana Ubaidullah Khan Azmi released a book titled ‘Dastaan-i-Peer Panjal’ written by Choudhary Liaqet Ali in Rajouri today.

The book was launched during a religious conference on Mujadid Alif Sani Sarhindi at the Eid Gah Masjid in which thousands of people participated. Ubaidullah Khan said the book was a good attempt of exploiting the Peer Panjal area. All India Muslim Personal Law Board members Molana Mohammad Farooq Naqashbandi, Mufti Imran Hanfi Molvi Mohammad Ismaiel Larvi, Molana Abdul Khaliq Nayeemi, Molana Dil Mohammad and Molana Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din also were among those present on the occasion.

The book has acknowledged the contribution of people of this region to various fields and has thrown light on their socio-economic status and lifestyle. It also talks about social evils and its impact on society. — OC

Rajouri, December 23
District Development Commissioner, Rajouri, Saugat Biswas, who is also chairman of the District Red Cross Society, saw off a contingent of 15 students, including eight girls, for the inter-state National Youth Exchange Programme being held at Amritsar.

The programme being organised by the Indian Red Cross Society, Punjab, at Amritsar will take the students through a plethora of activities such as debating on social issues like drug abuse, and HIV/AIDS, on-the-spot painting competitions, paper reading, extempore or speech, written and oral quizzes, various indoor games and yoga.

A rally will also be conducted on current social issues. The inter-state meet of the juniors would provide the participants a unique opportunity for community living.

The participants will be taken around various places of interest such as Golden Temple, Durgiana Mandir, Jalian Wala Bagh and Wagha Border in and around the historic city. 

Jammu, December 23
A Dogri book titled ‘Sevadhani’ written by Superintendent of Police (SP) Headquarters Shailender Singh was today released by the founder Vice-Chancellor of the Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU), Masood Chowdhary, along with the Director, The Business School, University of Jammu, Prof Versha Mehta, and Master (retd) Krishan Lal.

Chowdhary, while releasing the book, lauded the efforts of SP Shailender Singh to highlight the ill-effects of social evils such as child labour. He said it was a good attempt made by him and asked the society to come forward to eradicate the menace of child labour.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu Zone, who was the special guest on the occasion, was all praise for the SP for showing his sensitivity towards social issues.

The story revolves around a child born in a poor family in a remote hilly village who ends up working in a restaurant in a big town. The writer talks about the inhuman treatment meted out to the child by his employer.

Jammu, December 23
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has verbally agreed to let the J&K Football Association (JKFA) host the prestigious Federation Cup in August next year.

With the decks cleared, the association will now approach the state government in a bid to get the necessary aid for conducting the event.

Sources said AIFF president Praful Patel during the recently held meeting at New Delhi on December 20, had assured JKFA president Thakur Zamir Ahmed that the federation would allot the coveted tournament to them if the state authorities would show their keenness to host it.

They said after the successful hosting of the Santosh Trophy National Football Championship in 2008, the JKFA had submitted a proposal before the AIFF to host the Federation Cup in the state. The sources said the football association in its proposal had told the apex football body that the infrastructure it possessed was good enough to conduct the tournament smoothly.

While confirming the development, the JKFA president told The Tribune, “AIFF president Praful Patel has assured us verbally that they’ll allot the prestigious championship to J&K. He said a lot depended on the state authorities, whom we are going to meet soon to discuss the modalities besides getting a green signal to host the championship.”

“The last time J&K had hosted the Federation Cup was in 1986 in Srinagar. We have been waiting for a long time to push our case forward before the AIFF to host it again. With the kind of infrastructure we have, I am hopeful that the state government will not let us down and give its necessary nod to host the coveted championship after 26 years,” he said.

He said hosting the national championship in the state would help in improving the image of sports here and budding footballers would get an excellent opportunity to interact with star players representing various prestigious football clubs of the country.

“The matches in the Federation Cup will be played at venues in both provinces (Jammu and Kashmir). Though, the infrastructure for hosting national-level tournaments at present is satisfactory but we are optimistic about getting more support from the authorities for its improvement for the betterment of the game,” he said.

Jammu, December 23
Lupin Cricket Club (LCC) scripted a 29-run victory over Young XI Rehari to advance into the next round of the ongoing General Baj Singh Memorial Twenty20 Cricket Tournament being played at Badhori near Bari-Brahmana here today.

Batting first after winning the toss, LCC scored 122 runs for the loss of eight wickets. In reply, Young XI had lost all its wickets for 92 runs in 18.1 overs.

Vinod was the top scorer with 33 runs while Rajesh and Rakesh contributed 26 and 24 runs respectively from LCC. From Young XI, Shugal took two wickets while Rishu, Sanju and Raghu shared a wicket apiece.

For Young XI, Mahesh was the top scorer with 13 runs. Dinesh bowled a splendid spell to clinch four wickets for LCC while Kamal and Rakesh shared two wickets each. Dinesh was adjudged the man of the match. The match was officiated by Jagjeet Singh and Rajan Jamwal as umpires while Deepak Jamwal was the scorer.