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ASI shot dead in Pulwama
J-K to install 35 quake warning tools
Search on for militants in Kupwara for 4th day
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Governor reviews security arrangements
Pak IED detected along LoC in Poonch district
Setback for Soz’s efforts to unite Cong warring factions
Parents’ association wants SIT to probe corporal punishment cases
Kashmir celebrates Parvez Rasool’s IPL debut
Women urged to actively participate in civic polls
India, Pak urged to free POWs on humanitarian grounds
Governor briefed on Beacon projects
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ASI shot dead in Pulwama
Anantnag, May 10 The 50-year-old ASI of the J&K Police was posted at the Police Lines, Pulwama. “The ASI was taken to the nearby District Hospital immediately, but he was declared brought dead by doctors at the Hospital,” a police report stated. Sheikh, a resident of the Batamaloo area in Srinagar, is survived by his wife, three daughters and a son. An eyewitness said the militants fired several shots at the police officer. “While three bullets hit the ASI, some of the shots hit a nearby vegetable shop; no civilian was injured.” The police report said out the three bullets, two had hit the ASI in the chest and one in the leg. The motorcycle-borne militants managed to flee the spot while firing several rounds in the air. Meanwhile, the police and the CRPF immediately cordoned off the area and a manhunt was launched to nab the militants. This is the second such incident at the busy Rajpora Chowk within a year. On July 3, 2012, unidentified gunmen had attacked a constable, Balbir Singh. He succumbed to his injuries on the way to a hospital in Srinagar. A similar attack was carried out the same day in the Yaripora area of Kulgam, where constable Mukhtar Ahmad Bhat lost his life. The militants had also decamped with the service rifle of Bhat.
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J-K to install 35 quake warning tools
Srinagar, May 10 It is being done by scientists at the Centre for Mathematical Modelling and Computer Simulation, Bangalore, in conjunction with experts at the Department of Earth Sciences and Geophysics, University of Kashmir. “Twenty seismometers will be installed in Kashmir division in the first phase while 15 seismometers will be installed in Jammu and Ladakh divisions in
the second phase. Six seismometers will be installed within one month from now,” said Prof Shakeel Ahmad
Romshoo, Head of the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Kashmir. Currently, only two seismometers are installed in the state. Srinagar, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Bandipora, Kupwara, Anantnag, Pulwama, Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar districts fall in Seismic Zone V. Scientists say the May 1 earthquake, which measured 5.4 on the Richter scale and had its epicentre in the Bhaderwah region of Doda district, is one of the implications of high-seismic activity (a large-scale movement of tectonic plates and hot molten rocks inside the Earth’s surface). “The Central government will provide phase-wise funding for installation of seismometers,” Prof Romshoo said. “The idea is to create a dense network of seismometers so that the movement of tectonic plates is predicted and thereby earthquake warnings can be given over a large period of time,” he said. Prof Romshoo said although it is highly unlikely that accurate forecasts of earthquakes could be made, the state which is vulnerable to earthquakes could be better prepared for such natural disasters. He said the state in general was threatened with a massive earthquake which will impact the Hindu Kush region, including Pakistan, Afghanistan and North India, and that the recent tremors which were felt in the state may be a strong indication of the same. Kashmir witnessed the biggest earthquake in 1555. Another massive earthquake has been predicted by scientists, as per Prof Romshoo, adding that, “We are currently in seismically active phase which lasts 15 to 20 years.” Experts at the University of Kashmir are also in consultation with National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, for installation of more seismometers. “Living in a vulnerable earthquake zone, scientific intervention has become the need of the hour to understand the seismic activities which is only possible through seismometers,” he said.
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Search on for militants in Kupwara for 4th day
Srinagar, May 10 The operation was launched on Tuesday morning by the Army and the police after a movement of militants was noticed in Bodnambal, Chowkibal forests. There has been no contact with the militants so far. “The search operation in the dense forests is on. No contact has been established with the militants since the operation was launched,” said a police officer in Srinagar. “Sniffer dogs are also searching the forests. After the militants crossed over, they trekked the Shamsabari high ridges. Before they could reach their hideouts in the Rajwar area, we got information about their movement,” the officer said. The Army says the troops of 6/11 Gorkha Rifles, 4 Kumaon and 16 Punjab and Paratrooper are maintaining a cordon around the forest area to ensure that all escape routes are plugged and the militants are not able to escape towards their hideout in the Rajwar belt. On Tuesday, the Army had used helicopters to track down the militants. During the searches, the Army had recovered four haversack bags from the forests which contained dry fruits, fried chicken, first aid and snow cutters. “The recovery of snow cutters shows that the group of nearly four to six militants had infiltrated from Pakistan recently,” said a police officer. The Army maintains that it was not sure whether it was a fresh infiltration or the militants were active in the area. “We are trying to find out whether it is a fresh infiltration,” said an Army officer in
Srinagar. |
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Governor reviews security arrangements
Srinagar, May 10 The Governor, who is the chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), stressed the need to effectively maintain close coordination among the functionaries of all the state government Civil and Police Departments concerned, Army, Central Police Organisations, SASB and all other agencies concerned for ensuring that all the required security-related arrangements are timely put in position. The meeting discussed issues relating to the general security scenario obtaining in the state, enforcement of an effective access control system at yatra base camps, regulation of flow of yatris across access control gates at Baltal and Chandanwari, and monitoring the onward movement of registered yatris towards the holy cave. Several other arrangements came up for discussion in the meeting. Vohra directed the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, to undertake a thorough review of all required arrangements to promptly meet any disaster situation and evolve a detailed standard operating procedure which would be followed by all stakeholders, including the district administration and security forces. He also emphasised the need to maintain close coordination among all agencies and departments to ensure an incident free yatra and asked the Principal Secretary Home and Divisional Commissioner to undertake regular periodic reviews of the arrangements being made for the yatra. Navin K Choudhary, CEO, SASB, made a presentation, particularly to inform the officers of the police, security forces and the Army about the directions passed on December 13, 2012 and April 18, 2013 by the Apex Court in a Suo Moto Writ Petition relating to the yatra. He informed the meeting that a total of 7,500 pilgrims would be allowed per day per route and as per the decision and no unregistered pilgrims would be allowed to cross the access control gates. The Governor directed the DGP and the divisional administration to put effective regulatory mechanisms in place to ensure that only those yatris who possessed valid yatra permits were allowed to undertake the yatra on the date and by the route for which they had procured yatra permits. Those who attended the meeting included MI Khanday, Chief Secretary; Ashok Prasad, Director General of Police; Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary, Home; D. K. Pathak, Special Director General CRPF; Maj Gen RR Nimbhorkar, GOC, Victor Force; Maj Gen Rajesh Arya, GOC, Hqrs 15 Corps; Air Commodore B Balachandran, Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station, Srinagar; Shailendra Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, and other senior police officers. |
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Pak IED detected along LoC in Poonch district
Jammu, May 10 “Around 12 noon today, an Indian patrol detected a Pakistani IED planted half a kilometre inside the Indian territory near the Deri Dabsi forward post in the Mendhar sector,” said an official source. The forward area is being manned by 5 Grenadiers. The IED believed to have been planted by militants with the active support of the Pakistan army was lying between the barbed fence and the Zero Line, said the source. However, a Defence spokesperson maintained that a suspicious-looking object was found in the area. “Not an IED, but a suspicious object was found. Experts are at the task,” he said. On January 15, GOC-in-C of the Northern Command Lt Gen KT Parnaik had admitted that “accidental blasts” in the Krishna Ghati (KG) sector of Poonch last year were actually mines planted by Pakistan. The accidental mine blasts last year had injured and killed Indian soldiers along the LoC in the KG sector. The Tribune had been regularly reporting about mines planted by militants with the help of Pakistani troops inside the Indian territory in the KG sector. The last such report had appeared in The Tribune on December 9. “We lodged a protest against the barbaric act of Pakistani troops (killing of two Indian soldiers in the Balnoi sector). We also told them (Pakistani troops) that they had planted mines in our area,” Lt Gen Parnaik had said on January 15 after an investiture ceremony.
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Setback for Soz’s efforts to unite Cong warring factions
Jammu, May 10 Soz was scheduled to address a public meeting at the Dodu-Basantgarh area on May 12 but his visit was cancelled due to “unavoidable” reasons. The “cancelled” meeting was significant because some Congress leaders, who owe their allegiance to Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, were keen to make the programme a grand success. Although Soz loyalists claimed that the visit was postponed and would be rescheduled, insiders in the party said it was all due to the pressure of some senior leaders that the JKPCC chief decided not to visit that area. Sources said Soz loyalists had vehemently opposed the decision of the JKPCC chief to visit Dodu-Basantgarh. “Soz was very particular about visiting Dodu-Basantgarh to give a message of unity but his coterie is more interesting in projecting its own men in all areas”, a source said, adding that the decision to cancel the meeting had given a wrong message to the party cadre. Soz will now arrive in Jammu on May 11 but instead of proceeding to Dodu-Bastangarh, he will stay here to hold discussions with his loyalists. Earlier, Soz was scheduled to visit the Dodu-Bastangarh area on April 26 but the programme was rescheduled for May 5 and then for May 12. The sources said Soz, after his reappointment as the JKPCC president, has been trying to bring unity among the warring factions but his loyalists have been sabotaging all such efforts. “Instead of taking all groups together, Soz’s loyalists want to establish their own men in the constituencies dominated by their detractors”, a sources said. |
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Parents’ association wants SIT to probe corporal punishment cases
Jammu, May 10 According to the members, a group of parents had met the IGP on May 1 on the alleged high handedness of private schools as well as their insensitivity towards wards of those parents who were voicing their concern on the issue. The parents informed the IGP that the issue of corporal punishment was not handled by the police department with care and sensitivity. They said as a result, more and more cases were coming to light while many others go unreported. The association members claimed that on the directions of the IGP, they met the DIG, Jammu, and apprised him of the matter. The DIG has forwarded the matter to the SSP, Jammu, and directed him to accompany the parents to the schools where such cases were reported and sort it out. The parents also claimed that in spite of all efforts being put in by them, the schools continue to demand annual charges and other fee which the J&K High Court had put a stay on. Parents also alleged that they were contacted via mobile phone to demand the fee despite of the fact that the matter was sub-judice. Parents also alleged that some of their complaints were not being dealt with by the police. The association members claimed that the Juvenile Justice Act and the Supreme Court guidelines to eliminate corporal punishment in schools suggest that such cases are to be dealt with utmost care and FIRs must be filed immediately and the matter should be investigated within seven days. |
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Kashmir celebrates Parvez Rasool’s IPL debut
Srinagar, May 10 “I am happy that I finally got a chance after a long wait. I would like to dedicate my debut performance to the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir and all well-wishers across India,” Rasool told The Tribune over the phone from Pune. The 24-year-old cricketer from Bijbehara in south Kashmir during his IPL debut for Pune Warriors took the wicket of South African all-rounder Kallis, who plays for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Even as Pune Warriors lost the game, Rasool said his performance was appreciated by all, including Kallis and KKR captain Gautam Gambhir. “I am looking forward to more chances so that I continue to perform well. I am also eagerly looking forward to playing for Team India in the future,” he added. Rasool is the first cricketer from the Valley to have bagged an IPL contract. He had remained in the news recently after he took a seven-wicket haul against Australia while playing for Board President XI during a practice match in Chennai in February. Meanwhile, sounds of firecrackers were heard from many parts of the Valley after Rasool took the wicket of Kallis that led to a flood of tweets and comments on social networking websites. “Finally Parvez Rasool gets a game in the 2013 IPL. Come on Parvez make us proud. Good luck…. Well done Parvez Rasool. Great name for your first scalp,” tweeted Omar Abdullah. Others too made obvious their joy on Facebook and Twitter. “Keep it up Rasool, and make us proud,” wrote a fan while another commented: “You are alone a full team for Kashmiris, we will cheer for you.” While there was no let-up in appreciation, some fans also came up with some words of advice over Rasool’s batting as he managed to score one run only. |
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Women urged to actively participate in civic polls
Jammu, May 10 While addressing party workers of the Purmandal block in connection with the local bodies elections, she said the Congress had formulated a number of programmes for the uplift and empowerment of women. She reminded the gathering that it was all due to the Congress’ efforts that 33 per cent seats were reserved for women in the urban local bodies and panchayats. Highlighting the achievements of the party, she said the Congress had formulated a comprehensive agenda for inclusive development. “The policies and programmes of the party are aimed at the overall development of all sections of society but special emphasis has been laid on women and weaker sections,” she said. She said the J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) under the leadership of Saifuddin Soz had set a deadline for holding the local bodies elections and the party had made preparations for that. She said the JKPCC chief had repeatedly made it clear that the Congress was committed to the devolution of powers and strengthening the local self government. “We will take every possible step to strengthen the local self government because it is the top-most agenda of the party,” she said.
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India, Pak urged to free POWs on humanitarian grounds
Jammu, May 10 “An eye for an eye attitude would make the whole world blind. I strongly feel that the time has come for both countries to show their philanthropist side by releasing each other’s prisoners of war,” said Nirmal Kaur, wife of subedar Assa Singh, a POW of the 1971 Indo-Pak war. Nirmal Kaur said her husband was caught in the Chhamb sector of Akhnoor. She said she had come to know that he was alive when he (Assa Singh) himself had appeared on a Radio Pakistan broadcast from Karachi and Rawalpindi on December 19 and 20, 1971, giving information of his well-being. “Since then, I have made every possible effort to see him home alive but my efforts didn’t yield any positive dividends,” said
Kaur. She expressed regret over the state government dragging its feet on the sensitive issue. “No one from the state government bothered to soothe our frayed nerves. I didn’t even get moral support from the government, leave aside any financial help,” she said. She also lashed out at
the Centre for what she dubbed a “totally insensitive” approach to a sensitive issue. “In the past, many Indians who were freed from Pakistan jails confirmed his presence in various prisons but the Union Government never took up the issue of the 54 POWs in right earnest with Pakistan,” said Kaur. Bansi Lal, son-in-law of rifleman Gopal Dass, another POW of the 1971 war, felt that both countries, in a bid to remove trust deficit and strengthen bonhomie, should begin by giving amnesty to the POWs of the 1971 war. “The POWs are languishing in jails for more than four decades now. They are also human beings and their freedom should also be a top priority of the Union Government like it handled with urgency and care the 1989 kidnapping of Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of the then Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed,” said Lal. Jaspal Singh Mangal of the Missing Defence Personnel Relatives’ Association, who has been fighting for the Indian POWs said India should have a clear-cut policy on POWs. Against the backdrop of Sanaullah’s death, the relatives of Indian POWs feared more murderous attacks on Indians in Pakistan prisons. |
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Governor briefed on Beacon projects
Srinagar, May 10 The Governor lauded the good work being done by the Border Roads Organisation in developing and maintaining the road network in the difficult and hilly terrain of the state. — TNS
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A police officer was today shot dead by militants in Pulwama district of south Kashmir.
The police said suspected militants came riding a bike and shot Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Farooq Ahmad Sheikh.
in the state last week, Jammu and Kashmir has got into a high-alert mode and will be installing 35 seismometers in various areas of Srinagar, Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Jammu and Ladakh to predict seismic activity.
Army troops and the Special Operations Group of the police continued to search for militants in dense forests near the Line of Control in Kupwara for the fourth consecutive day today.
When Parvez Rasool took cricketing legend Jacques Kallis’ scalp during his Indian Premier League
(IPL) debut last evening, everyone right from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to the common man erupted in joy. While sounds of firecrackers were heard at many places across the Valley, Rasool later dedicated his debut performance to the J&K state.
Despite Pakistan being constantly in a denial mode vis-à-vis 54 Indian prisoners of war and the gruesome murders of Indians prisoners, Sarabjit Singh and Chamel Singh, in Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore and of a Pakistani prisoner, Sanaullah
Ranjay, at Kot Bhalwal Jail, Jammu, families of Indian prisoners of war (POW) today appealed to New Delhi and Islamabad to release each other’s prisoners of war on humanitarian grounds.
