Jammu, September 13
Some students, allegedly backed by outsiders, allegedly assaulted a Ph D scholar resulting in serious head injuries and fractured ribs here today. Supporters of the victim locked the varsity gates for hours in protest.

The university administration expelled two students and suspended four girl students besides banning their entry on the campus till pending inquiry for violence on the campus. This followed strong protest by students and scholars who closed all the entry and exit gates of the campus in protest against the attack on the scholar and demanded strict action against the accused.

The authorities also banned the activities of the Progressive Students Association (PSA) with immediate effect. Professor Mohan Paul Singh Ishar, the Vice-Chancellor (V-C), Jammu University, constituted a high-level committee of senior professors headed by Professor Keshav Sharma, Controller of Examination, to probe into the matter.

The Registrar ordered that MS Bhatti of the Department of Political Science and Talib Hussain of the Department of Laws were expelled pending inquiry.

"Sakshi and Marvi Salathia, both from the Department of Political Science, and Sunandhini and Kathleen Kaur, from the Law School were suspended and their entry on the campus is banned pending inquiry," the order stated.

Sources said the police arrested Bhatti while Sunandhini, Marvi and Kathleen were detained for questioning. “A manhunt has been launched to arrest the absconding student Hussain and some identified outsiders who illegally entered the campus and assaulted the scholar besides damaging the university property," sources said.

Jammu, September 13
Two CT scan machines at the Government Medical College (GMC) have been lying defunct for over a month now. Most of the patients are being referred to the Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh (SMGS) Hospital. Even in emergency cases patients have to wait for hours to get scans done.

There are two defunct CT scan machines at the hospital are installed in the emergency block and the Radiology Department.

The CT scan machine at emergency block was damaged by rats, which cut its wires while an instrument needs to be imported from Germany to repair the machine at the Radiology Department.

Jammu, September 13
Kashmiri Hindus will observe September 14 as Martyrs’ Day to remember Tika Lal Taploo, the first person killed by militants in Srinagar.

A seminar ‘Battle of survival against growing fundamentalism in J&K’ will be organised to discuss the rise of fundamentalism in the state by Panun Kashmir (PK).

A special session on the recent communal violence in Kishtwar will be part of the seminar.

“Please join us to pay homage to our martyrs and the security personnel who laid down their lives to safeguard territorial integrity and sovereignty of India besides the victims of the Kishtwar violence,” said Kuldeep Raina, senior Panun Kashmi leader.

Since 1990, the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community has been observing the day to pay homage to its members who fell victim to what an ethnic cleansing campaign launched by Pakistan-backed militants.

“The rise of fundamentalist sentiment in the Valley displaced minority community since 1990 is the outcome of the appeasement policies followed by the state as well as the Centre which failed to deal with the rise of communal forces with an iron hand,” said MK Dhar, another leader of the Kashmiri Hindu community.

They alleged that some sections among the mainstream politicians were busy in playing the game of one-upmanship in competitive communalism and secessionism.

“What has the Kashmiri leadership, irrespective of party affiliations, done to address the concerns of the minorities? Linking deprivation with the return is a sinister design to further marginalise the community,” they said.

Jammu, September 13
Residents of the Jagti Township, a colony constructed for the displaced Kashmiri Hindus, today rued the non-availability of ration in the township.

Under the banner of the Jagti Tenement Committee (JTC), members of the community alleged that the officer concerned had said the government had stopped ration supply for the time being, without giving any reasons.

The members have said though half of the month has elapsed, still ration supplies have not been made available at different depots with the result they have been facing tough times.

The committee has said hundreds of families are dependent on the ration provided by the government and they have been facing many problems.

“It seems that the government considers the township as a concentration camp where 5,000 members have been dumped without basic amenities of life,” said JTC president Shadi Lal Pandita.

“Ration is being provided by the Central government to displaced Kashmiri Pandits as the state government cannot take any unilateral decision on the issue, thus, depriving them of ration,” said Pandita.

He also demanded immediate steps be taken to implement the Prime Minister’s employment package in letter and spirit by filling the remaining posts, affording job opportunities to educated youth.

The participants have also expressed their concern over casualness of the lecturers or teachers posted at Government Higher Secondary School and Middle School, Jagti, for not attending their duties regularly which has affected the academic career of students.

“The pot-holed road from Kandoli Nagrota to Jagti has made the masses to suffer hard. Vehicular movement has been restricted on the road, adding to the difficulties of the inmates of the migrant camp,” said Rajinder Dhar, a member of JTC.

Jammu, September 13
The Rashtriya Rifles battalion located at Jangalwar dedicated a science laboratory to the students and staff of Higher Secondary School, Binoon, at a ceremony held at the school today.

Binoon village falls in the Bonjwah region of Kishtwar district. Army officials said the Army had launched a programme to promote education and help poor students of far-flung areas Keshwan, Saroor and Bonjwah of Kishtwar district. During last winters, the Army had conducted coaching classes for students of the region in English, mathematics and science.

This initiative of the Army was appreciated by the local residents. Commander of the Rashtriya Rifles at Kishtwar inaugurated the laboratory.

He also emphasised upon the importance of education. He said similar projects to improve the quality of education will also be undertaken in other parts of the district.

He said more than 100 students were sent to the Pacific University, Udaipur, for technical and higher studies.

The ceremony was attended by a large number of villagers, teachers and parents of students and sarpanchs, who were highly appreciative of the Army’s efforts and requested the Army officials to undertake such projects on a regular basis.

Jammu, September 13
The Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneur Development Institution (JKEDI), in association with the Halqa Jandrah panchyat, organised an employment awareness programme for youth and members of 14 panchayats of the Dansal block at Jandrah village.

The participants were given detailed knowledge about various employment schemes run by the state government, especially focusing on the flagship Sher-e-Kashmir Self Employment Scheme.

Speaking on the occasion, JKEDI regional officer Majid Manjoor asked the youth to avail the benefits of these schemes which were available for every educated youth (18 to 37 years of age) of the state.

Majid replied various queries raised by the participants regarding age, qualification, documentation and other formalities for availing these employment schemes.

Halqa panchyat sarpanch Anil Sharma thanked the JKEDI for organising the camp. He said such employment awareness programmes held in remote areas such as Jandrah were fruitful for the rural youth.

Anil also urged the participants not to remain confine only for government jobs, but must look forward to build their own enterprises and provide employment to other deserving persons. 

Batote, September 13
Weather played spoilsport as it prevented Chief Minister Omar Abdullah from inaugurating Government Degree College in Ramban and interacting with the All-Women Self-Help Groups under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) at Mantlai in Udhampur yesterday.

Security officials of the administration, organisers, public and mediapersons of Ramban and Udhampur districts were disappointed with the cancellation of the programmes as they were waiting for the CM since morning.

The reason cited for the cancellation of the programmes was bad weather due to which the CM’s helicopter could not take off from Srinagar and above the Pir Panjal Range (PPR) near Banihal.

Omar accompanied by Higher Education Minister Mohd Akbar Lone, his deputy ML Sharma and Ramban MLA Ashok Kumar was to inaugurate the college building where so far five batches of students have graduated since 2006.

“It was disappointing as students were eager to welcome the CM. I wish the programme is rescheduled soon,” said SS Bhalwal, Principal, Degree College, Ramban. “If the CM arrived for the function, many of our problems related to faculty, students and basic facilities would have been solved,” he said.

Jammu, September 13
The Indian Art Centre Organisation today organised the Basohli painting exhibition at Government College for Women (GCW), Gandhi Nagar.

Many students admired paintings and gained the knowledge about the Basohli art.

Basohli, a small town of Kathua, is widely known for its paintings called Basohli paintings. Immortalised by its artistic eminences, Basohli today is a metaphor for a vigorous, bold and imaginative artistic style. These paintings are considered the first school of Pahari paintings which evolved into the much prolific Kangra paintings school in mid-eighteenth century.

The major attractions of the exhibition were world famous paintings of Jammu, Basholi and Kangra schools, promoting and popularising the Jammu dogra art heritage.

Paintings of the Basholi art and Kangra style were up for sale and art classes were also organised for encouraging children.

College principal Kiran Bakshi was the chief guest who also inaugurated the function. The chief guest appreciated the work done by this organisation and stressed that more such organisations should come forward to impart training to the children.

The Indian Art centre is developing and propagating the world famous Indian miniature art.

The chief organiser of the show was Poonam Bhalgotra and organiser artist was MK Wadhera. Others who were present include Ritu Wadhera artist, Neetu Kumari Jr artist, Aditi Rakwal Jr artist, Major Chetna Sharma Jr artist and Vandna Jr artist.

MK Wadhera said, “The purpose of this exhibition is to promote the dogra art and create awareness among the children for the miniature art.”

A 15-day camp from September 18 to October 2 is also being organised on the college premises where students can learn this art under the guidance of MK Wadhera. The students were seen registering their names for the same.

Jammu, September 13
Northern Region Transmission System-II (NRTS-II) general manager (in-charge-projects) SK Sharma inaugurated Hindi pakhwada at the regional headquarters of Powergrid in Jammu today.

DGM (finance) Pramod Kumar, DGM (vigilance) Paramjit Singh, DGM (ES) Tarun Bajaj, DGM (C&M) HK Kaushal, DGM(F) B Dash, chief manager (HR) Stanley Mathews, and other senior officials were present at the event.

The messages of Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Powergrid CMD RN Nayak, and NRTS-II Executive director JP Singh were also read on this occasion.

In his brief speech, SK Sharma highlighted the efforts of Powergrid in usage of Hindi and appreciated its employees for earning recognition from various official agencies for exemplary work in the usage of Hindi.

He said computer facilities in Hindi at all sites. The progress made in use of Hindi in different departments had shown positive results and now, employees were keen to correspond in Hindi.

He called upon the officials to organise Hindi workshops from time to time and motivate the employees to work in national language.

The Hindi Pakhwada is being organised in all site offices of the region comprising Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. A number of programmes such as essay competition, poetry recitation, debates in Hindi are being organised during the fortnight amongst the employees and their family members. — TNS

Jammu, September 13
A poetic and musical treat was offered to the audience by the Dogri Sanstha, Jammu, at KL Sehgal Hall here today.

The occasion was a Ghazal Sandhya in which musical compositions by veteran composer Sham Saajan, based on the poetry of leading Dogri Ghazal writers Deepak Aarsi and Susheel Begana, were presented by singers Sargam Pant, Neelam Langeh, Subhash Langeh and Sham Saajan.

A large number of Dogri and music lovers formed the audience which included writers, artistes and prominent citizens. Anjali Sharma, Assistant Director, Doordarshan Jammu, was the chief guest.

The Dogri Sanstha, Jammu, also honoured Anjali Sharma for her contribution towards development and propagation of Dogri by starting announcements in Dogri and children programme in Dogri in Radio Jammu during her short stint as in-charge director.

All compositions were based on classical ragas, appropriately chosen to suit the mood of the poetry, which made this programme a special event.

Karan Malhotra on tabla and Sanjay Pashi on Guitar gave excellent accompaniment to the signers.

Anjali Sharma said the most appropriate method of popularising poetry is through music. She complimented the sanstha for organising the programme and Sham Saajan for putting his heart and soul in the musical compositions.

Dogri Sanstha president Prof Lalit Magotra said this was first programme in a series of programmes to be presented by the sanstha. — TNS

MEET VIRAT KOHLI

Another draw on September 15 at the Buddha International Circuit (BIC), Noida

10 winners will get a chance to dine with Virat Kohli

Ramban, September 13
Four of a family died on the spot when the car in which they were travelling in rolled down a gorge at Kela Mod near here in the wee hours. The driver of the Bramulla-bound car had fallen asleep.

The victims, including three women, have been identified as Parvinder Singh, 42, his wife Satinder Kaur, 39, and her sister, Salinder Kaur and his sister Ranbir Kaur.