The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Labourer buried alive, 6 injured
Under-construction building collapses in Barnai area on the outskirts of the city; rescue operations on
Tribune News Service

Rescue operations being undertaken at the site of the collapse at Barnai on Jammu’s outskirts on Monday. Tribune photo: Anand Sharma

Jammu, July 29
A labourer was buried alive and six others were injured after an under-construction building collapsed in Barnai area on the outskirts of the city here this evening. The police said there was possibility of more people being trapped alive in the debris and the exact death toll or the number of those injured would be known only after completion of the rescue operation.

“The extension portion of Kangra Fort, a banquet hall, in Barnai area under the jurisdiction of Domana police station collapsed. A labourer died on the spot while six others received critical injuries,” the police said.

The police said the incident took place when slab work on the building was in progress. “One of the walls of the two-storeyed under-construction building suddenly collapsed while the remaining portion of the building caved in, resulting in the death of a labourer and serious injuries to six others as they came under the debris of the damaged structure,” the police said.

The injured were identified as Bhuvneshwar Kumar, resident of Chhattisgarh, Gopal Das, resident of Panj Garian in Akhnoor, Hira Lal, resident of Madhya Pradesh, presently residing at Muthi, Mool Chand, resident of Madhya Pradesh, Sohan Lal, resident of Chhattisgarh and Des Raj, resident of Bulla-da-Bagh in Kanachak, Jammu.

The police said they launched the rescue operation with the help of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel and locals. The injured were shifted to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu, where one of them was declared as brought dead.

Arvind Singh Sambyal, SHO Domana police station, said the rescue operation was in progress and there was the possibility of more people having been trapped in the debris.

“There is the possibility of more people being trapped in the debris. The rescue team is on the job and we will soon retrieve the bodies, if any, buried in the debris,” said the SHO. A case has been registered.

Banned tobacco products worth Rs 4 lakh seized
Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 29
In one of the biggest seizures of banned gutkha (tobacco) in Jammu, a team of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) today seized banned tobacco products worth Rs 4 lakh at the railway station. It was packed in 12 cartons and was being smuggled from Punjab.

A team of health wing led by health officer Dr Vinod Sharma conducted a raid on specific information and took possession of the product.

“It was a major haul of tobacco products which was to be sent to various parts of the district. We are seeking help of the police to investigate the issue further and take action against people involved in smuggling,” said Dr Sharma.

In April, Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather banned sale and transportation of gutkha in the state, under clause (a) of sub-section 30 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, which bans manufacture, storage, sale transportation, display or distribution of gutkha in the state.

Officials said clandestine consumption is still going on in the city, mainly due to illegal entry of the product from Punjab and Delhi via trains.

A notification had prohibited distribution of gutkha under whatsoever name and paan masala or zarda containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients by any name.

“We are making every effort to curb illegal sale of tobacco products banned by an order of the government. The fight is tough, because of some people who are illegally bringing such products to the state because of their demand here,” said Dr Sharma.

The municipal team also seized 12 kg of polythene bags at Panama chowk and imposed a fine of Rs 7,000 on the defaulters.

A total of 15 states, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Mizoram, Delhi, Sikkim and the Union Territory of Chandigarh have banned the sale, manufacture and distribution of tobacco products.

An NGO, Voluntary Health Association of India, had recently claimed that 26.6% population of the state is using tobacco products in one form or another.

Ban goes bust as polythene use rampant
Amir Karim Tantray
Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 29
Despite ban, polythene is being used and sold in almost every market in Jammu region as the authorities concerned have failed to implement the ban. Shopkeepers get polythene bags from various manufacturing units in the state illegally and use them as carry bags.

The polythene then gets mixed with waste coming out from houses and choked drains and streams, resulting in overflowing of rain water.

During the monsoon season, these polythene bags become a cause of worry for the residents as rain water sometimes enters their houses after coming out of drains. Though the Jammu Municipal Committee (JMC), every now and then, sends its teams for surprise checks and seizes polythene bags, shopkeepers continue to use polythene bags illegally.

"We go for regular market checks and impose fine on violators, yet many shopkeepers violate the ban. People must understand the hazards of polythene use and try to avoid using these bags,” said Jammu Municipal Committee health officer Dr Manoj Sharma.

People should use other kinds of bags, those made of cloth and paper, as it is good for them and the society at large.

Almost every day, Jammu Municipal Committee imposes fine on violators and seizes polythene in huge numbers, but it has never cancelled the licence of any shopkeeper found to be a regular violator.

The Jammu Municipal Committee health officer said the law didn’t permit them to cancel the licence of a shopkeeper in the wake of use of polythene bags, but they impose fine.

“We impose Rs 100 to Rs 5,000 fine on violators. Today, we seized polythene, but people are not shunning this practice,” added Dr Sharma.

The menace is not limited to Jammu city alone, but it has reached other districts of Jammu region too, where the authorities are in deep slumber and haven’t started undertaking any action against the violators.

In places like Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Kishtwar and other districts, use of polythene has been continuing and the ban-enforcing authorities don’t carry out any checks. In some municipal areas, the municipal authorities go for check and impose fine, but in rural areas, no one complies with the ban and people use polythene as carry bags.

Paramedics seek clear policy
Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 29
Hundreds of paramedical students today gave the state government a three-day ultimatum, demanding a detailed policy on paramedical institutes in Jammu and Kashmir. Under the banner of the All J&K Paramedical Students Association, protesting students demanded conduct of regular examinations.

Association state president Dakshesh Sharma said students had to wait for nearly five years to get a diploma in paramedic science in J&K as the examinations are not conducted on time.

Sharma demanded issuance of No Objection Certificate (NOC) immediately so that they could apply for jobs.

“Despite directions of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to close down illegally running paramedical institutes in the state, they continue to defy the rules by admitting students without approval of the Health Department,” he alleged.

Private auxiliary medical training institutes (AMTIs) have been flouting guidelines with impunity in Jammu and Kashmir.

At the present moment, there are 66 government and private paramedical institutes in the state with an intake capacity of 13,646 students, but most of these, particularly private institutions, are running in rented buildings and without proper infrastructure.

Last year, the state government had constituted a committee to probe irregularities in the admissions, particularly issuance of selection letters by the institutes to the candidates in violation of norms.

The association alleged that paramedical institutions in the state had become money-minting machines, violating the norms created by the state medical faculty (SMF), Jammu.

Further, many private paramedical institutions are still admitting students more than the number of seats sanctioned by the department concerned, in total disregard of norms set by the government.

Intravenous injection proves lethal, kills youth
Ranjit Thakur

Rajouri, July 29
A question mark has again been put over the spurious drugs and fluids supplied by the state government's health department to District Hospital Rajouri after death of 23-year-old Waseem Khan of Thanamandi late last night after alleged administration of intravenous fluid of hospital supply.

The district health authorities have strongly refuted the allegations as reported in a section of the media. The Superintendent District Hospital Rajouri Dr Arun Sharma claimed that no such patient had been admitted in the hospital.

Dr Arun Sharma said, "The patient was treated privately as we have no record of his admission. I don't know where the fluid came from and who administered it."

The deceased Waseem Khan is brother-in-law of Sadiq Khan, District Mass Media officer. Hospital sources said intravenous fluid reaction cases have increased in the past week in the hospital, resulting in hospital authorities putting on hold the fluid supply and asking the drug controller to check the fluid samples.

Superintendent of the hospital Dr Arun said, "Following complaints, I have personally asked the drug controller to collect samples of fluid and put on hold supply of fluid in the hospital." Minister of State for Health, Shabir Ahmed Khan, said, "We are supplying the same fluid across the state and we have received no complaints yet."

PDD daily wagers protest, allege discrimination
Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 29
Casual labourers working in Power Development Department (PDD) have demanded regularisation of their jobs and alleged that the government is discriminating with the workers in Jammu region. Hundreds of workers staged a protest against the Omar Abdullah-led government at the Press Club today.

They alleged the process was completed in Kashmir and Jammu had been left out of the process and respective AEEs and Executive Engineers were not conducting verification process so that regularisation process could begin. State vice president, Akhil Sharma, said the state Cabinet had approved the mechanism for regularisation of daily wagers in 2009, with directions passed to the department to furnish details about the workers so that financial and legal issues could be sorted out.

“Then Principal Secretary Power, Sudanshu Pandey, had assured us that regularisation process will be started, but nothing has happened,” Mohinder Paul Sharma, general secretary, Jammu, said.

convergence Scheme
IGNOU partners get support from outside state
Vikas Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 29
In a significant development, the partner institutions of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) in J&K who had suffered huge financial losses owing to Convergence Scheme being kept in abeyance by the Board of Management of IGNOU, New Delhi, have now been joined by other institutions from outside the state to strengthen their cause.

Sources said the institutes had written a letter to the IGNOU Vice-chancellor and convergence unit head.

"We are compelled to draw your attention towards the complete disinterest and neglect of our students of July 2011 and January 2012 academic cycle, with confirmed IGNOU enrolments, in approved IGNOU programmes, under IGNOU Convergence Scheme," said the letter.

"There has been absolutely no response from the IGNOU Vice-chancellor's office or convergence unit head in the matter for the last 12 months, despite our repeated meetings, requests, reminders and despite our timely submissions of all academic records pertaining to unduly pending results," it was stated.

"It is completely regrettable that IGNOU Convergence Unit lies in a state of suspension for more than 12 months, with two zero academic cycles, resulting in untold damage to investment of time, resources and livelihood aspirations of nearly 4.5 lakh students enrolled in more than 540 IGNOU partner institutions across India," claimed the letter.

Sources added that barely after three years of introducing the Community College Scheme, it was decided in a Board of Management meeting held on May 31, 2012, that community college scheme be subjected to a thorough time-bound review, which may take six months and till then, all its actions/functions be kept in abeyance. Further, it was only on July 19, 2012 - after nearly three months of the aforesaid crucial board meeting - that this decision of the board members was communicated, by e-mails to all the partner institutions across the country.

"It is rather strange that neither the members of this review committee nor their findings have been made public till date. Lack of transparency raises question marks on the intent and credibility of the review for which the IGNOU Community College operations have been "in state of abeyance" since July 2012 till endless time," said the letter.

Pertinently, The Tribune had earlier reported that the fresh admissions for all programmes of IGNOU for July 2012 cycle under Convergence Scheme in 325 partner institutions all over India including 25 in J&K had been kept in abeyance owing to the decision of the Board of Management of IGNOU in its 113th meeting.

Tehsil status sought for Budhal, Khawas
Our Correspondent

Rajouri, July 29
Workers of the Youth Congress have lodged a massive protest against the recommendations of the Mushtaq Gania Committee in which Budhal and Khawas have been given a block-level status, instead of Tehsil status, which was a long-pending demand of the locals.

Assembly Youth Congress president Dharal, Advocate Showkat Ali said the people of Budhal and Khawas had demanded a tehsil status, but successive governments ruled the state and turned a blind eye to the problem.

He said we were disappointed once again by the government's decision in which Budhal and Khawas had been given a block-level status.

Lambasting the state government's decision and threatening to launched an agitation, he said, “If demands of poor people of Budhal are not considered, they will not allow to open any sub-divisional office,” he added.

He not only apposed the government's decision, but also slammed MLA Dharal Zulfiqar Choudhary for misguiding the local people for petty and false political interests.

Meanwhile, under the banner of the youth Congress, Dharal Assembly president Showqat Ali also launched an awareness camp where youth were trained about various Centrally-sponsored schemes which were not implemented on ground.

“People are being deprived of various Centrally-sponsored schemes in the area owing to interference of the local MLA,” he added.

“I make a fervent appeal to the youth to join the youth Congress and become the pillar of democratic system under the Congress regime,” he said.

Buddha Amarnath yatra to pass through Shiv Khori
Our Correspondent

Katra, July 29
The district administration, Reasi, and Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board are making all efforts to attract more devotees to the Shiv Khori shrine. Keeping in view, the Buddha Amarnath yatra has been diverted through Shiv Khori this time.

The Buddha Amarnath Yatra, which is commencing from Jammu on August 1, will pass through the Shiv Khori cave shrine. After attending morning prayers, the yatra will proceed for Sundarbani to reach Rajouri and will then leave for Poonch for the deity worship.

This was stated by Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, District Development Commissioner, Reasi, who was chairing the meeting of senior officers at Reasi.

The DDC said this is for the first time that the yatra was passing through the Shiv Khori cave shrine in Ransoo area of Reasi district, adding that, efforts were to attract more devotees to the Shiv Khori shrine. In order to ensure better facilities to these yatris, the DDC instructed officers of the departments concerned to provide uninterrupted power supply, drinking water facility parking, temporary toilets, medical aid and proper security arrangements. He asked the officers concerned to coordinate and make all efforts for ensuring comfort of yatris.

As per an estimate, additional 2,000 yatris daily would be visiting the holy cave during the annual Buddha Amarnath yatra from August 2 to August 12.

The DDC said this was one step forward towards promotion of religious tourism in Reasi as there was high potential of tourism in Reasi and this year, the number of yatris visiting the Shiv Khori shrine was expected to be 25 lakh.

Organise international wushu event in Srinagar, assn urged
Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 29
Director Vigilance and Chairman of the Wushu Association of J&K (WAJK), Sheikh Owais Ahmed, today visited Gulmarg and interacted with national campers, coaches and supporting staff during the ongoing national wushu camp.

The camp is being organised for preparing the Indian Wushu team for the 12th World Wushu Championship slated to be held in Malaysia, World Games in Cali (Colombia) and World Combat Games in Russia.

Ahmed informed that the matter would be taken up with the state government and the Sports Authority of India for establishing Gulmarg as the high altitude centre for national campers.

The Wushu Association of J&K had conducted the annual general meeting and elected office-bearers of the Wushu Association of the state.

The meeting was presided by Owais Ahmed who interacted with the the office-bearers of the association and district units of the Wushu Association of J&K.

General secretary Kuldeep Handoo presented the report for 2013-14 and also brought the calendar activities for 2013-14 in the House.

The Wushu Association of J&K had requested the Wushu Association of India for organising the international event at the Indoor Stadium, Srinagar, in May 2014.

During the election, Haji Qayoom Peerzada, Divisional Sports Officer, Kashmir, J&K State Sports Council and Mohammad Islamuddin, Joint Secretary Wushu Association of India were the observers from the J&K Sports Council and the Wushu Association of India, respectively for the smooth conduct.

Army runs schools for nomads in Rajouri

Rajouri, July 29
The Rashtriya Rifles Battalion, located at Samote, is running schools for children belonging to Gujjar and Bakkerwal communities, under the aegis of the Counter Insurgency Force (Uniform) at Ichni, Banj and Makkidhar villages of Rajouri district.

Due to the migratory pattern of these communities, school-going children are the main sufferers who remain absent from their schools for five to six months.

The Rashtriya Rifles Battalion is running schools for children of the Gujjar and Bakkerwal communities at an altitude of 9,000 feet to 12,000 feet, where these families are temporarily staying in their deras. At all these places, more than 30 to 40 students are being benefitted.

The Commanding Officer said it was very difficult for the Army to convince parents of these children to send their wards to schools run by the Army as they considered that their cattle grazing would be affected. With due counselling of the parents and the adverse effect of discontinuity of studies highlighted, the parents started sending their wards to the schools run by the Army.

A noble gesture shown by the Army is bound to yield good results and assist the young children in quest of a bright and better future in the present competitive world. — OC

Army distributes books, furniture to schools
Our Correspondent

Rajouri, July 29
The Army today distributed books, sports items and furniture to schools located in far-flung areas of Kalakote area in the border Rajouri district under the operation ‘Sadbhavana’.

The aim of the project is to uplift standard of education and provide facilities in the remote areas. The project was initiated on the request of teaching staff of the schools and local population. This project will help in improving the standard of classrooms.

A total of 43 desk, benches, 50 library books and 15 sports items and kits were provided to the Government Middle School, Dhalyote, and Government High School, Tattapani, in Rajouri district.

The headmaster of Government Middle School, Dhalyote, and the principal of Government High School, Tattapani, expressed their gratitude to the Army and added that with the availability of desk and benches, students would not be sitting anymore on the floor and school would have better environment for study.

Students, too, were excited and motivated with the availability of sports items and books in their respective schools. The event was attended by officers of the Rashtriya Rifles, Kalakote, Dhalyote sarpanch and others.

Pakistan epicentre of global terrorism: PK
Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 29
Panun Kashmir (PK) said western countries had now realised that the epicentre of global terrorism was Pakistan and steps should be taken to destroy the terror infrastructure.

PK, a representative body of displaced Kashmiri Hindus, has welcomed the recent statement of the French Defence Minister.

The political affairs committee (PAC) of the PK held a meeting to deliberate upon its responses to the emerging political scenario in the state. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Prof ML Raina, chairman, Political Affairs Committee.

Speaking on the occasion, PK president Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo said the Defence Minister of France had openly expressed his concern regarding the certain developments in Pakistan, including the concentration of terrorists.

"His statement that everyone knows that terrorists continue to be present in Pakistan and the international terrorist networks take advantage of the certain relays’ is an eye opener. The Indian stand that the 26/11 perpetrators were sponsored by Pakistan has also been confirmed by French,” Chrangoo said.

Virender Raina, national spokesperson, PK, said there was an increased awareness among the western leaders over the dangers of terrorism emanating from territory of Pakistan.

He said displaced Kashmiri Pandit community was the direct victim of terrorism and ethnic cleansing in Kashmir. Therefore, we express our satisfaction over the stand of the West in the context of global fight against terrorism.

Villagers examined for implantations at Army camp
Our Correspondent

Batote, July 29
The Rashtriya Rifles, under the aegis of the CIF (Delta), conducted a screening camp for special persons for implanting artificial limbs and hearing aids for the needy in collaboration with the Pritam Spiritual Foundation Charitable Trust at the Gundoh helipad in Doda district today.

As many as 43 villagers including children from Gandoh, Halaran, Chilli and Gosti were examined by doctors of the trust so that artificial limbs and hearing aids could be fit in them some other day.

At the camp, 180 other local patients were examined by the Army doctors.

Kishtwar prays for peace at Iftaar party
Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 29
Kishtwar-based Rashtriya Rifles Sector organised an Iftaar party on Sunday to strengthen sense of belongingness with ‘Awam’ and develop the spirit of brotherhood and communal harmony among locals.

In the grand Iftaar meet, people from all religions prayed for peace and harmony, not only in Kishtwar, but throughout the world.

Brigadier Sameer Bhadauria, Commander Sector 9, Rashtriya Rifles, Salim Mohd, Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar, Sunil Gupta, Superintendent of Police, Tanveer Ahmed Kichloo, district president, National Conference, Sunil Sharma, district president, BJP, Asgar Ali Pir, district president, PDP, Umar Malik, district youth president, PDP, Kishtwar, were among prominent personalities who attended the function.

Bansi fashions Surya Risers’ win over TCI Cheetahs

Jammu, July 29
Bansi played a scintillating knock of 40 runs off just 28 balls to set up a thumping win for Surya Risers over TCI Cheetahs in the ongoing Jammu and Kashmir Corporate Premier League (JKCPL) being played at MA Stadium.

Earlier, batting first, after winning the toss, TCI Cheetahs set a target of 121 runs for the loss of seven wickets, which in reply, Surya Risers chased with consummate ease in 18.2 overs losing six wickets in the process.

Feroz Ahmed remained top scorer with 32-ball 39 runs while Majid Dar made 21-ball 24 runs. Manik Gupta and Imran Bazaz contributed 13 and 10 runs, respectively. For Surya Risers, Nitin Mehra took three wickets for 15 runs whereas Rompi Sharma chipped in with two wickets.

Anoop and Inderjeet Singh shared a wicket apiece. In reply, Surya Risers did the needful in 18.2 overs. Bansi Lal made highest 28-ball 40 runs. Bansi Lal was adjudged the man of the match. — TNS

Yoga assn gets new office-bearers

Jammu, July 29
Deepak Handa was unanimously re-elected president of the Jammu and Kashmir Yoga Association (JKYA). Ramesh Mahajan was nominated as the patron-in-chief while Dr Ashutosh Sharma as the working president of the association.

Anshuman Sharma was elected general secretary whereas Rajiv Chunni was elected senior vice-president of the association.

The vice-presidents of the association are Surinder Pathak (Jammu) and Altaf Bukhari (Kashmir).

Farida Akhtar and Mukesh Sharma were elected as the joint secretaries of Kashmir and Jammu wing, respectively while SS Gill was elected as the treasurer.

The executive members of the association included HS Chib, Dr Nirmolak Singh, RC Thakur, S Ravinder Singh, Tanvir Ahmed, Sunil Sharma, Vikas Gupta, Tarun Singh, Mushtaq Ahmed, Raj Kumar and Sarabjeet Singh. — TNS

APS Sunjuwan lift rugby title
Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 29
Army Public School (APS), Sunjuwan, got the better of Jammu XI by 25-15 in the summit clash to clinch the U-14 girls in the two-day Jammu District Rugby Championship organised by the Jammu District Rugby Association at Green Field Ground, Gandhi Nagar.

APS Sunjuwan dominated the proceedings from the word go as Jammu XI could not get their momentum going.

In the U-14 boys category, Jammu XI and APS Sunjwan have secured a berth in the semifinals. The semifinals and final will be played tomorrow at the same venue followed by the prize-distribution function.

Symposium organised on biodiversity conservation
Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 29
A large number of students participated in a symposium on biodiversity conservation organised by Government Girls High School, Bhour camp. The function was presided over by Headmaster Devinder Kaur.

The principal appreciated the talent of participants and expressed her hopes on students that they would play an active roles in conservation of environment.