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Power supply partially restored in snow-hit Valley
Residents complain of poor snow-clearance operations
Restore essential services, CM tells officials
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Train services not suspended: Rail official
Snow damages 10 houses in Anantnag
25 ventilators lie defunct at GMCH
Army salutes three brave civilians from Ladakh
SPG reviews security at Katra
Trust formed by Geelani includes his son Naem
Governor summons session on Feb 10
PPP mode anti-people: Doctors’ body
shopian shooting
NSUI to resume stir for RTE Act
Parade GCW wins math quiz
Girl students allege manhandling by cops
From failed businessman to successful painter
Ex-serviceman’s death
MBBS scam
Man held for kidnapping, raping minor
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Power supply partially restored in snow-hit Valley
Srinagar, January 23 In Srinagar city, many areas were lit up on Wednesday evening following the repair work, although a few commercial areas in Lal Chowk, Budshah Nagar, Batamaloo and Jehangir Chowk faced erratic power cuts, which led to disruption in the work. Residents were put to inconvenience with ATM machines and traffic signals going out of order with no electricity back-up for long stretches. In offices too, the work was paralysed due to no power supply and consequently poor or no internet connectivity. However, in far-flung areas of Shopian, Pulwama and Kulgam districts of south Kashmir and Kupwara, Baramulla and Sopore districts of north Kashmir, the power supply in a majority of the areas was yet to be restored. The repair work suffered major setbacks in the border districts due to persistent snowfall there and also the road connectivity to these areas was not restored. “All our manpower is at work currently. It is, however, difficult to commute to remote areas. With improvement in weather, the power scenario in these areas will also change,” an official in the office of chief engineer, PDD, said. The power demand in Kashmir, as per PDD, increases especially due to domestic power consumption. As per the PDD estimates, as against the evening agreement power load of the department with the domestic consumers of 570 MW in the Valley, the actual power load is almost double at 1,050 MW. People have been constantly complaining that the Chief Minister, who is heading the PDD and monitoring the situation, has been unable to live up to the promise he made of ensuring regular power supply. “We only see the Chief Minister making promises on twitter of helping with the power situation, but there are no ground realities which support his assurances. This winter, when we have seen harsh cold and snowfall for long duration, the need for power supply has increased. But, there has been no augmentation in the power facilities in the Valley,” Irum Wani, a Srinagar-based social activist, said. The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries decried the state government for not making any serious efforts in improving the power situation in Kashmir. |
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Residents complain of poor snow-clearance operations
Srinagar, January 23 Although the main roads were cleared, the interiors mostly remain covered with snow, causing inconvenience to commuters. “None of the streets have been cleared of snow so far. It is the second day and we are facing a lot of problems. We can’t even walk properly,” said Waseem Ahmad, a resident of Habba Kadal. Other areas like Bemina, Barzulla, Zakura and Dargah also faced the same problems. The locals from these areas alleged that the authorities did not bother to visit any of these areas and check the snow-clearance operations. “We cannot take our cars out on roads because of the snow-clogged roads. This affects our daily routine as well,” Suhail Ahmad, a resident of Bemina, said. However, the officials said they were on job to clear the roads, but could not control a natural disaster in a jiffy. “It is not an activity, it’s a natural disaster. We are doing our work and our men are already at work,” said an official of the SMC. The SMC spokesperson said the corporation had deployed around 2,700 men in various parts of the city to clear snow off the roads. While priority was given to roads towards essential services like hospitals, main government offices and banks yesterday, today snow was cleared in remaining areas. Besides 2,700 men, around 21 machines, including robots, skid steers, caterpillars, hoppers and loaders were also pressed into service to clear snow. The SMC spokesperson said the grievance call of the corporation was also active to address the issues faced by city residents. |
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Restore essential services, CM tells officials
Srinagar, January 23 "The high spirit of responsiveness by the administration to public call at the hour of need is of paramount importance and denotes the dutifulness of government functionaries," the Chief Minister said. An official spokesman said the Chief Minister arrived here from Jammu to monitor and ascertain the progress on restoration of essential services like road communication, power and water supply and availability of edibles, fuel and healthcare at a high-level meeting of divisional officers. Omar impressed upon the officials to put in all efforts to mitigate the difficulties caused by the heavy snowfall, reportedly the highest ever in the month of January during the last 10 years. “You should monitor the restoration process thoroughly and conduct personal appraisal of the ground situation by visiting various areas, interacting with people and ascertaining their needs,” he told divisional-level officials. He also issued instructions for timely installation and operationalisation of dewatering pumps in low-lying areas so that people did not face problems due to the melting of snow. Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Shalinder Kumar, various Chief Engineers, and senior civil and police officials presented a detailed account of the measures undertaken to clear snow and restore essential services throughout the Valley. |
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National highway cleared as spell of heavy snow ends in Valley
Srinagar, January 23 A high-impact western disturbance system had caused the moderate to heavy to very heavy snowfall at different places in the region for nearly 24 hours. An official of Beacon, which is tasked with maintenance of the highway and major roads, said snow was cleared from the 296-km Srinagar-Jammu highway by noon. The highway was closed yesterday after four feet of snow accumulated on it. Chief Engineer, Beacon, Brigadier R K Sharma said the highway was cleared by 12 noon while all major roads under Beacon were cleared for traffic. The official further said the Srinagar airport has also been cleared of snow after overnight efforts by Beacon officials and flights started landing from 1 pm. A traffic official said vehicles stranded along the highway were allowed to move while one-way traffic would be allowed to move on Friday. In Srinagar, major roads were cleared of snow and the electricity supply was restored to many parts. The Meteorological Department said light rain and snowfall may occur at isolated places over the state during the next 24 hours till Friday evening. It said weather was likely to remain dry in the state on Saturday and
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Woman entrepreneur shows how to clear snow
Srinagar, January 23 Gazalla Amin, CEO and founder of Fasiam Agro Farms, an aromatic oils company, has imported a snow-clearance machine from Denmark called "Snow buster", which is an effective tool to clear the snow from small and narrow roads, lanes and bylanes in residential areas. Gazalla led a group in venturing out amid heavy snowfall when the rest of people preferred staying indoors today to tackle one of the major civic problems which the Valley faces, accumulation of snow in narrow lanes and bylanes where the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and the local administration fail to reach. The group reached various localities of Srinagar, including Rawalpora, Hyderpora in uptown Srinagar and the busy commercial area of Dalgate to try the "Snow buster" machine on the Valley roads for the first time. "The machine proved really effective. It clears 15-20 metres of snow at any given time. Snow buster runs on petrol and the machine we imported has a power of 5.5 horse power. 1 litre of petrol is consumed in 1 hour and 45 minutes. The machine has eight gears," Manjeet, a group member and manager at Gazalla's company, said. Gazalla, who has been vocal about the corporate social responsibility of Kashmiri entrepreneurs and was recently elected as an executive member of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI), suggested that these "snow buster" machines could be purchased by local mohalla/residential colony committees, which could hire local workers to operate the machines. "It will be a blessing. Not only will it get people rid of the problems, but also generate employment avenues for people," Gazalla said. Her idea has been welcomed by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation Commissioner, GN Qasba, who said he would ask each of the municipal wards to purchase a "Snow buster" machine and it was an encouraging step that people were taking responsibility to address the community problems. |
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Train services not suspended: Rail official
Anantnag, January 23 Most of the locals as well as national media houses had reported that the train services were suspended in Kashmir following the season’s heaviest snowfall. The Weather Department maintained that it was the heaviest snowfall in more than 10 years. Railways Controller for Kashmir Nand Lal termed it unfortunate that despite all their efforts there had been negative reporting about the train services. “Amid heavy snowfall we made sure that train services in Kashmir remain up and running,” he said. “The Qazigund-Banihal train plied despite one and a half feet of snow on the tracks,” he said. He accepted that the frequency of the trains was curtailed to some extent as trains were moving at a slow speed. “That too was yesterday, while we had to run a service engine ahead of trains. Today, trains are moving at normal frequency and speed,” he said. Meanwhile the Jammu-Srinagar national highway was thrown open today for a one-way traffic. “Commuters were told to cross the Jawahar Tunnel by 11:30 am,” said a senior traffic official. He said stranded vehicles were being cleared on a priority basis. |
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Snow damages 10 houses in Anantnag
Srinagar, January 23 All injured were shifted to Sub-District Hospital, Bijbehara. The houses were damaged in the Kokernag, Achabal, Sirgufawara and Mattan areas of Anantnag district, the spokesman said. Meanwhile, 12 families comprising 42 members were evacuated from avalanche-prone areas of Kulgam district yesterday, he said.
— TNS
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It’s time to relive ‘horror’ stories in Kashmir valley
Srinagar, January 23 Those tales had frightening characters like the abominable snowman, the mythical “Yach”, “Ranthus”, “Ram Ram Chock” and substituted conventional lullabies to discipline children and put them to sleep. While the rest of the world still debates whether the snowman, called the Yeti, ever existed, locals in not far-off villages of the Valley swear to the God that they have seen one. “Yes, it is short, covered with hair all over and walks upright. Its arms are even shorter and the face is also covered with thick hair. I saw one in the forest when it was snowing very heavily and I was rushing home many years ago. It crossed my path, but did not harm me,” said Mir Muhammad, 70, a resident of Anderwan village in Ganderbal district. Mothers till some years ago used to tell the stories of the “Ranthus” to ensure children did not venture out of their homes during winter nights. “Ranthus” is something all of us have heard about, but never seen. It is believed to be a female demon that comes down from the mountains in search of food and to lift children during winter months,” said Fatima, 69, the matriarch of an extended family in one of the local villages. “Elders said it could imitate the human voice and that is why we were told not to answer a knock on the door or heed a call to come out of the home during the winter nights even if the caller sounded like an aunt or uncle,” she added. The most interesting of all these, but least seen mythical characters is the “Yach”. “It is believed to be an animal of the size of a fox or a large cat that visits homes during heavy snowfall and utters a peculiar cry. We were told by elders that the “Yach” has a removable cap-like structure with magical powers. Anybody who succeeded in taking away the cap from the Yach’s head would have all his worldly wishes fulfilled in a minute,” said Ghulam Muhammad Rather, 48, a farmer in Haripora village of Ganderbal district. The scariest of these grandmother horror stories is about the “Ram Ram Chock”. “Ram Ram Chock” is a djinni or an evil spirit that uses a light similar to that of a lantern or an oil lamp during pitch dark winter nights to lead wayward travellers to its cave. There are people who swear of having seen those moving lights during dark nights especially around the local graveyards. “When I grew up, I learnt it is phosphorescence emitted by some elements found in nature,” said Bashir War, a retired veterinarian. Whether it is the abominable snowman, the “Ranthus”, the “Yach” or the “Ram Ram Chock”, the older generation of Kashmiris still adore these characters of their grandmother stories. “Believe it or not, I now realise how handy must the “Ram Ram Chock” and the “Yach” have come to our parents and grandparents when there was no television, no cinema and no internet or when not many could even afford a radio set to entertain their children,” said businessman Muhammad Shafi Bhat.
— IANS |
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25 ventilators lie defunct at GMCH
Jammu, January 23 The double Bench of the commission, consisting of Rafiq Fida and Amolak Singh, while admitting the petition expressed displeasure over the finding that out of the total 28 ventilators available in the GMCH, Jammu, only three ventilators are in working condition and the remaining 25 have been lying non-functional for the last three years. Terming it as a gross violation of the ‘right to health and medial care’ of the people, the double Bench of the rights commission in its order stated that the government was under statutory obligation to provide medical care to its people without the distinction of caste or colour and issued a notice to the Secretary, Health and Medical Education, and Principal of Government Medical College, Jammu, to submit the status report before the commission in the case. The commission has fixed February 20 as the next date of hearing in the case. In response to an RTI application filed by a Jammu-based activist, Deepak Sharma, the authorities at the GMCH, Jammu, had recently admitted that out of the 28 ventilators available in the GMC, only three were in working condition, while the remaining 25 ventilators have been lying non-functional for the last more than three years. Deepak had expressed serious concern over the sorry state of affairs in the institution notwithstanding the state receiving the top-most award in healthcare services. Describing it as a gross “human rights violation”, the activist had later filed a complaint with the State Human Rights Commission. Double Bench admits petition by RTI activist
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Security beefed up in city for R-Day, PM visit
Jammu, January 23 All the vehicles entering the city from outside the state and other district headquarters are being frisked thoroughly, while ‘suspected’ persons had been under surveillance. Additional deployment of security forces, including paramilitary and police jawans, has been made in the city and on its outskirts to ensure foolproof celebration of the Republic Day. “Security has been stepped up near the airport, railway station and bus stand to defeat the ulterior motives of anti-social elements. We have been maintaining a tight vigil on the movement of suspects,” a senior police official said. The official said the security agencies were working in complete coordination and police jawans had been asked to remain on alert in view of the Republic Day celebrations and the visit of the Prime Minister, who was scheduled to inaugurate the Indian Science Congress at the University of Jammu on February 3. The entry to Maulana Azad Stadium, the main venue of R-Day celebrations, has been banned. “We have alerted all check posts and nakas on main roads within the city and highways, where vehicles are being subjected to thorough frisking,” the official said, adding that although there was no specific terror threat, but they didn’t want to take any chance. “There is no room for any complacency and we will intensify our vigil,” the official said. Meanwhile, security agencies launched a "frisking operation" at the General Bus Stand yesterday, while the police have tightened the security at the railway station. |
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Kashmir put on alert ahead of R-Day
Srinagar, January 23 The J&K police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have stepped up patrolling in the city to keep an eye on the situation. Despite heavy snowfall on Wednesday, the security forces were seen stopping passengers at scores of places in the city for frisking. The security men also frisked the private vehicles. The night patrolling has also been enhanced in the sensitive areas of the city. “Though there is no specific input on any possible militant attack, everything has been put in place to ensure that the Republic Day celebrations pass off peacefully, Inspector General of CRPF Pradeep Kumar Singh said. There is a general alert and the security men are keeping an eye on the situation, he added. Security has been beefed up on the Srinagar bypass from Parimpora to Pantha Chowk, which had witnessed many deadly attacks last year, to thwart militant attempts to disrupt the Republic Day function. Apart from heavy deployment of the CRPF and J&K police personnel on the stretch, bullet-proof mobile bunkers of the Army and the CRPF continue to patrol the area. The security men also carried surprise search operations in various parts of the city and other parts of the Valley. In Srinagar, a surprise crackdown was conducted at Regal Chowk, Shergadi, Bulbul Bagh Barzulla, Rajbagh and Shaheed Gung localities. In fact, the security officials said a three-tier security managed by the J&K police and the CRPF personnel would be deployed in and around the function venue - Bakshi Stadium in a few days. The security forces have already started sanitising the adjoining areas around the stadium. Reports from various districts of north and south Kashmir said the security in other major towns had also been enhanced.
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Tributes paid to Subhas Chandra Bose on 117th birth anniversary
Jammu, January 23 Jugal Kishore Sharma recalled the contribution of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who established the Indian National Army, known as the Azad Hind Fauj, as a movement to free India from centuries-old slavery of Britishers. Sharma dwelt on the life of Netaji and the significant contribution made by him towards awakening every Indian to revolt against the foreign rule in the country. Ashok Koul said despite a number of restrictions imposed, Netaji was able to establish the Azad
Hind Fauj. State Cells Prabhari Sat Sharma gave a brief sketch of those who participated in the independence struggle and paid rich tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Rajiv Charak, Kulbushan Mahotra, Sanjay Khanna, Vinod Kumar, Varinder Verma, Som Dutt, Sunny Sehgal, Sahil, Saroj Gupta and others were present. Meanwhile, floral tributes were paid to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 117th birth anniversary at the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) headquarters. Senior vice-president, PCC, Dharam Pal Sharma, former MP, presided over the function. The J&K Freedom Fighters Association also celebrated the birth anniversary of Subhas Chandra Bose. The function was organised by Ved Gandotra, president of the association, wherein Kiran Wattal, Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), was the chief guest. Kiran Wattal hoisted
the national flag, followed by the presentation of colourful cultural items by students of New Modern Higher Secondary School, Gummat. Principal of the school Rajinder Singh, Sukhminder Singh, Gajan Singh, GS Charak, Charanjit Singh and Harinder Singh were present on the occasion. |
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Army salutes three brave civilians from Ladakh
Jammu, January 23 Jigmet, whose career in the Army was cut short after he lost his eyesight and both hands in a mine accident during training, did not resign himself to fate but made efforts to strengthen people from his region. Aware of the problems and requirements of his less privileged brethren, Jigmet was able to provide valuable advice to the Army in initiating welfare schemes that have proved “extremely beneficial” to the locals. Meanwhile, the courage and grit displayed by Stanzin and Nima against adversity is inspiring. Employed as porters on the formidable Siachen Glacier, Stanzin and Nima’s assignment was challenging and fraught with danger. On December 5, 2012, while operating a trolley, Nima accidentally fell into a 200-foot-deep crevasse. There was only one way to save him and it required someone to lower himself down into the treacherous crevasse and physically extricate him. Undaunted by the grave danger, Stanzin volunteered for the task and after a gruelling effort, extending to over 20 hours, was able to extricate Nima from the jaws of death. The exceptional tenacity and grit displayed by Nima in remaining calm and composed for over 20 hours in the deep crevasse in sub-arctic temperatures earned him an award. Stanzin’s heroics, however, were not limited to extricating Nima. On May 28 last year, two soldiers were buried alive under an avalanche. Just like an earthquake is invariably followed by aftershocks, avalanche too triggers a series of avalanches in the same area. Despite being aware of this, as also the fact that any delay in rescue of the buried soldiers would cause their death, Stanzin put his life to risk and rushed to the site. After digging frantically, he succeeded in extricating the soldiers alive. For his exemplary acts of courage, Stanzin was awarded by Lt General Chachra. |
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ReT teachers hold protests, submit memorandum
Jammu, January 23 The protesting ReT teachers blamed the state government for paying no heed to their "genuine" demands and threatened to gherao the state legislative Assembly during the upcoming Budget Session, which is likely to begin in the second week of February, if their demands were not met by then. The main protest in the city was held in front of the Divisional Commissioner office here where the protesters assembled under the leadership of provincial president of the forum Rajesh Singh Jamwal and district president Subash Chander. They submitted a memorandum to the state government through the Divisional Commissioner. The main demands raised by the protesting teachers included an immediate issuance of regularisation orders in favour of education volunteers converted into ReT teachers, who were regularised in November last year, inclusion of five-year ReT teacher period in service for seniority benefits, release of salary of regularised ReT teachers under the SSA in various districts as they have not been paid for the past several months and suitable transfer policy for ReT teachers besides benefits of SRO-43, old pension scheme in favour of ReT teachers appointed before January 1, 2010, release of salary of female ReT teachers regularised under the KGBV scheme and release of salary of third teachers. |
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SPG reviews security at Katra
The Prime Minister is scheduled to inaugurate the Katra-Udhampur rail link on February 2 and the Indian Science Congress at the University of Jammu on February 3. Earlier, the rail link was to be inaugurated by the PM during his one-day visit to the Jammu region on
February 3. Official reports said the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Special Protection Group (SPG) today morning reached Katra along with senior officials of various security agencies and visited Katra Railway Station. The DIG reviewed the security scenario and sought detailed report of deployment of policemen. “The SPG team was here to explore the possibilities of the inauguration function which can be held at the Katra or the Udhampur railway stations. Hence, both sides were visited and the team will submit its report to the PMO office. This was an early security review visit and will be followed by an advance security liaison meet and other preparations in the coming days,” said a senior official. The SPG team later visited Udhampur Railway Station and held a detailed meeting with senior Army, Air Force and police officers at Air Force Station, Udhampur, before leaving for Delhi. PM’s schedule
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Trust formed by Geelani includes his son Naem
Geelani’s elder son Naem Zaffar and his son-in-law Altaf Ahmad Shah are among the eight trustees of Mili Trust, formed on December 13, 2013, reveals the trust deed exclusively accessed by The Tribune. The names of the trustees had not been revealed so far even as the transfer of property to the trust snowballed into a major row between Geelani and his former organisation, Jamaat-e-Islami, which claimed the property’s ownership. Naem, a doctor by profession, was living in Pakistan for a decade before making a surprise return to Kashmir in November 2010, immediately after a massive summer agitation led by Geelani, chairman of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference, fazed out. The controversy surrounding the trust began last week when Geelani announced that he had handed over his residence and office building at posh Hyderpora locality on the city outskirts and a publication house to an autonomous Mili Trust. The separatist leader is the ‘founder trustee’, “the expression shall mean and include his legal heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives and assigns,” the document reveals. Geelani had boasted of donating the property as his “stand for accountability”. “It is unfortunate and a tragedy that our leadership was always exempted from accountability,” Geelani said last week while announcing the handing over of the property. The Jamaat-e-Islami, to which Geelani was affiliated for several decades before forming his own party, rebuffed the separatist leader and claimed the ownership of the donated property, saying the party will be “authorised to take any decision” about it after Geelani’s death. The Jamaat further said it would send a delegation to Geelani to resolve the property dispute, however, Geelani left for New Delhi. The other six trust members include Geelani’s close aides Mohammad Ashraf Khan, alias Seharai, Shah Wali Mohammad, Raja Mehraj-ud-din Kalwal, Mohammad Akbar Khanday, alias Ayaz Akbar, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, alias Peer Saifullah, and Mohammad Yousuf Sofi, alias Mujahid. |
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Governor summons session on Feb 10
Jammu, January 23 The Governor has called upon the members of the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council to assemble at the Central Hall of the Legislature Building in the new secretariat to hear his address to both Houses under the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 55 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir. After the said address, each House will meet as a separate body at the time specified by the respective presiding officers. The Governor approved the state government’s proposal in this regard today. |
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PPP mode anti-people: Doctors’ body
Srinagar, January 23 In a statement issued here today, DAK president Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan said that the PPP mode would lead to privatisation of government hospitals and poor patients would suffer at the hands of private players. “The PPP mode is anti-people and anti-poor. The government functionaries are promoting it with a sole motive to mint money from private firms. These private parties will be using government hospitals for earning money and draining poor patients thus adding to their miseries,” Hassan said. “This will not only
affect patient care but will tell upon training of doctors. Our skilled people will be used for running these machines and trainees will not be allowed to use these machines,” he added. The DAK president said the association would agitate against the privatisation of government hospitals and would start an awareness programme in general public against this conspiracy. |
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Judicial panel adjourns proceedings
Srinagar, January 23 "The petitioners were not present and the government has not yet issued the formal orders for engaging the public prosecutor for Shopian as the prosecutor for this case. I adjourned the case till February 13," said Justice ML Koul, who is conducting the probe. He said the public prosecutor for Shopian had been instructed to discharge the duties of prosecutor before the commission, but had not received the formal orders so far from the government. Four persons were killed at Gagran in Shopian district, 55 km from here, on September 7 on the day when orchestra conductor Zubin Mehta performed here. The Chief Minister had ordered a judicial probe into the killings after the CRPF claim -- that all deceased were militants -- was contested by residents of Shopian. While the police admitted there was no record of involvement in militancy of the three deceased local youths, it maintained the fourth youth was a Pakistani militant. — PTI
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NSUI to resume stir for RTE Act
Jammu, January 23 "The state government has failed to implement the basic and most important RTE Act in the state and we have decided to take the lead in this regard by resuming the suspended agitation for the implementation of RTE Act," Fairoz Khan, NSUI national secretary told mediapersons here. He demanded that a university campus should be set up at the hilly district of Ramban keeping in view the long-pending demand of the students. "We will intensify our struggle till the administration accepts this demand," the NSUI leader said. |
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Parade GCW wins math quiz
Jammu, January 23 The competition was organised by the Department of Mathematics of GGM Science College. In all, nine teams drawn from different colleges of the Jammu region participated in the competition with two students in each team. Principal of the college Dr NK Resutra was the chief guest, while Dr Ashok Bhagat was the guest of honour. The proceedings of the competition were conducted by Dr Sunil Gupta. Later, prizes and certificates were distributed among the winners by the chief guest. The vote of thanks was presented by Dr Shally Gupta. |
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Girl students allege manhandling by cops
Rajouri, January 23 Some of the protesting girls alleged bias on the part of the selection committee that included Deputy Commissioner (DC), Superintendent of Police (SP), district youth and sports officer, chief education officer and Additional Deputy Commissioner. The girls said on January 16 they had presented the same cultural item before the selection committee. “If the selection committee had any objection, they must have pointed it out then and there only. We have spent a lot of money on our dresses and wasted almost a month on the preparation of the cultural item and the selection committee rejected it in the 11th hour. This is unfair,” the girls said. To lodge their protest, the girls locked the gates of the DPL and raised slogans against the DC, SP and other members of the selection committee. The girls alleged that some of the policemen posted at the gate misbehaved with them and also slapped a few girls in full public view. These girls later met Mahesh Khajuria, Principal, Government Girls Higher Secondary School, and demanded action against the "guilty" policemen. About a month ago, Deputy Commissioner Hemant Kumar Sharma had convened a meeting of district officials and representatives of various private and government schools. He had directed the school authorities to prepare cultural items based on patriotic songs, national integration, etc. Today, during the final rehearsals, the selection committee rejected cultural items of a few schools saying they were not prepared as per the directions issued by the Deputy Commissioner. Khajuria said the girl students had approached him alleging manhandling by the policemen at the DPL gate. “The school staff will meet the SP tomorrow along with a written complaint of manhandling by the students,” the principal said. While interacting with mediapersons, the DC denied any misbehaviour with the girl students by policemen. |
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From failed businessman to successful painter
His only regret is that people in Jammu and Kashmir have little awareness about art and the government has done not much to promote painters, who have been forced to look towards other states in the country for recognition and promotional activities. Kamlesh Kumar Gandhi, who had participated in 30 national and international camps in different parts of the country, has 15 solo shows to his credit in India and abroad and is an inspiration to hundreds of budding artists in the state, who flock his small gallery in the posh Gandhi nagar area of Jammu. “Since childhood I had an interest in colours, but earning livelihood overshadowed my quest to play with colours. Then about a decade back, I suffered losses in my air-conditioner manufacturing business. Rather than losing heart, I diverted my energy to enrich my hidden talent. Thus began my journey,” said Gandhi, surrounded by some of his beautiful works at his small rented gallery. To name a few, Gandhi’s works have been admired by Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, and collected by Roerich International Gallery, Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, TATA Steel Ltd, Newton Consultancy Pvt Ltd, USA, Raj Bhawan, Jammu, 3-D International, Bahrain, Art Select, Dubai, UAE and SRG Group, Gurgaon, Haryana. “Today human beings are totally cut off from their traditions and roots. Our customs, traditions, beliefs and culture control our senses and my works connects persons with that part of life,” Gandhi said. He normally uses bright colours to showcase forests, meadows, mountains and nomadic life in full glory with special focus on the heritage of Jammu region. However, Gandhi is disappointed with the way the state deals with talented artists and in the absence of any help from the government they have been forced to become commercial painters. “To sustain ourselves we have to take a commercial route. Big businessmen, government and private bodies and hotels decorate their walls with paintings and the only way for the artists to earn their livelihood is by selling their works to them,” said Gandhi. |
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SI among three cops suspended
Doda, January 23 The 72-year-old ex-serviceman, Raja Ram of Bungam Tagood tehsil, Kishtwar, allegedly died of acute depression after he was insulted and assaulted by a Sub-Inspector and two constables at Dadpath police post for not coming out of his vehicle during a checking at a naka at Tagood about a week ago, sources said. The protesters had kept the body of the ex-serviceman on the road for more than five hours yesterday till senior police and civil officials assured them of action in the matter. Meanwhile, Baseer Ahmad Khan, Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar, had ordered a magisterial probe into the incident and directed the SP, Kishtwar, to place the in charge, Dadpath police post, Sub-Inspector Madan Lal, and constables Shabir Ahmed and Suresh Kumar under suspension. Ashkoor Wani, DIG, Doda-Ramban range, said, “Yes, we have suspended the three policemen, but no FIR has been registered against them”. — OC
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Crime branch opposes fresh bail plea
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, January 23 The crime branch, while opposing Peer’s bail plea, had submitted in the objections that he had not produced fresh grounds. In its objection before the anti-corruption court here today, the probe agency said Mushtaq Peer being an influential person might try to win over the prosecution witnesses if granted bail at this stage.
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Man held for kidnapping, raping minor
Rajouri, January 23 Sources said Mohan Singh had kidnapped the 16-year-old girl of Budhal with the help of his three aides of the same locality. The police today brought the girl to The District Hospital, Rajouri, for medical examination. Police sources said after the medical report, the girl would be produced before a Magistrate for recording her statement tomorrow.
— OC |
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