Jammu, May 25
Sewerage network is present in a very limited part of Jammu city and the rest of the city predominately depends on individual toilets and onsite septic tanks, resulting in sewage outflow into open drains leading to unhygienic conditions in localities.

This was stated by the Union Ministry of Urban Development in a report on Jammu.

According to the report, user charges were not levied for sewerage service, due to which there was no cost recovery of operations and maintenance (O&M) of sewerage service.

There is a lack of technical staff as no new recruitment was being done, it said.

Specialised training was not given at the lower level of officials. The staff lack knowledge of latest techniques, it added.

“There is no 100 per cent door-to-door collection of solid waste and only small percentage of the waste generated is collected. There is no awareness among citizens on segregation of waste at source. There is no treatment facility for solid waste collected in the city and the waste collected is dumped at the dumping site. Overall, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has not complied with the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Rules, 2000,” the report claimed. It further said: “People’s willingness to pay user charges is low. No technical training in the new methods of collection and disposal of waste has been given to the JMC staff.”

“Dumping of garbage into the drains reduces their carrying capacity. There is lack of a comprehensive storm drainage system for Jammu and the existing system faces severe flooding problem during the monsoon,” the report maintained. It suggested that there was an urgent need of complete planning and development of comprehensive drainage system for Jammu claiming that due to dumping of solid waste and inflow of household sullage the storm water drains get blocked and the system is inefficient.

“Encroachments on streets by shop owners and vendors further reduce the width of the roads. Absence of road expansion and adequate parking lots is leading to haphazard parking on streets and causing traffic congestion. Almost 30 per cent of the roads are not covered with lighting,” the central ministry report claimed. 

Anomalies detected in Union Ministry of Urban Development's report on Jammu

* People's willingness to pay user charges is low

* JMC staff not given any technical training in new waste collection and disposal methods

* There is lack of a comprehensive storm drainage system for Jammu and the existing system faces severe flooding problem during monsoon

* Encroachments on streets by shop owners and vendors reduce the width of roads

* Absence of road expansion and adequate parking lots lead to haphazard parking on streets and causes traffic congestion

* Almost 30 per cent of the roads are without lights 

Jammu, May 25
Good news for Jammu residents as the Met Department has predicted light rain and thundershowers in the region on Monday. The heat wave continued in Jammu with mercury soaring to 39º Celsius on Sunday, disrupting normal life.

The department, however, indicated that the heat wave may intensify later this week. “There is a possibility of thundershower and the maximum and minimum temperatures will be around 37°C and 25°C, respectively,” an official of the Srinagar Meteorological Department said.

“There will be partly cloudy sky on Tuesday and Wednesday, after which the heat wave may intensify,” he added.

The heat wave continued throughout the day and the roads in Jammu wore a deserted look, as people preferred staying indoors.

Some people, however, visited the Ranbir Canal to keep themselves cool. While some preferred sitting on the bank under the shadow of trees, many took a dip in the cool canal water and some enjoyed having watermelon and mangoes.

Jammu, May 25
Jodhamal Public School organised its investiture ceremony on the campus here today. Young leaders from Class XI and XII, including the head girl, head boy, house captains (Challenge House, Discovery House, Enterprise House, Invention House) and academic prefect, CCA, discipline and sports prefects/ vice-prefects, were formally inducted during the ceremony.

Brigadier RS Jamwal (retd) was the chief guest, while Trilok Singh Bist, Principal of the school, honoured the new head boy Anmol Mahajan and head girl Raggaad Rafiq of the secondary wing.

Deputy head boy Mayank Mahajan, deputy head girl Khushboo Khorana, neutral prefects-Vidushi Jamwal, Meenal Jain, Anmol Palak, Sarthak Sharma, Mehak Sharma, Samiksha Thusoo and Abhijeet Singh, vice-prefects and house prefects/ vice-prefects were also inducted to the office.

The Principal administered the oath to the student council, wherein the newly appointed leaders pledged to uphold the dignity of the school.

Jammu, May 25
The White Hotels, Vaishnodevi, received the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award. The honour in hospitality is given to establishments that have consistently achieved outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor, an international travel body. When selecting Certificate of Excellence winners, TripAdvisor uses a proprietary algorithm to determine the ratings.

Businesses must maintain an overall rating of at least four out of five, volume and regency of reviews. Additional criteria includes a business tenure and popularity ranking on the site.

Vivek Sharma, general manager at The White Hotels, said: “Winning the certificate is a true source of pride for the entire team and we would like to thank all our past guests who took time to complete a review on TripAdvisor.” “There is no greater seal of approval than being recognised by customers. With the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence based on customer reviews, the accolade is a remarkable vote of confidence to our business and our continued commitment to excellence,” Sharma said.

Kulgam, May 25
Two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants were gunned down during a gunfight today in Nowpora village of the Frisal area in Kulgam district of south Kashmir. Personnel of the police, the 1 Rashtriya Rifles of the Army and 90 and 18 Battalions of the CRPF cordoned off a house in Nowpora village around 11 am this morning.

"We had specific information about the presence of two militants inside the village sarpanch's house," said a senior police official from the area, adding that sarpanch Feroz Ahmad owed allegiance to the Peoples Democratic Party.

The police official said the militants were challenged after cordoning off the area, to which they retaliated, triggering a gunfight. "The gunfight lasted several hours and both militants were neutralised," said the police official.

Sources said the militants fired only a few gunshots and were probably low on ammunition. The sources said security forces blew apart the house using IED.

The slain militants were identified as Zubair Ahmad Bhat, alias Musab, a resident of Nowpora, and Ishfaq Ahmad Bhat, alias Amir, a resident of Chakoo in Shopian. The militants belonged to the Ayatollah, alias Maaz, sub-group of the Lashkar-e-Toiba.

Both militants had been active for a year or so and were believed to have been involved in the killing of a polling officer in Shopian in April on the eve of polling in the South Kashmir parliamentary constituency.

Local residents came out in large numbers when the police were trying to retrieve the bodies of the slain militants.

People threw stones on security forces, to which the police retaliated by firing in the air and throwing teargas shells.

Srinagar, May 25
The All-Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) today urged Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to rein in the extremist elements and ensure the safety of gurdwaras in the neighbouring country.

APSCC chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina said although a majority of people in Pakistan were taking care of gurdwaras, there were some elements who had carried out attacks on some gurdwaras in the recent past.

Raina said the APSCC had already written to the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee to lodge a complaint about attacks on gurdwaras and desecration of Guru Granth Sahib in Sheikhupura and Karachi in Sindh. The Pakistani Prime Minister was scheduled to arrive in New Delhi tomorrow to attend the swearing-in of the Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi.

“We want the Pakistani Prime Minister to speak on the issue during his visit to India so that members of the Sikh community across the world are satisfied. We appreciate the Pakistan Government for keeping Sikh historical shrines and gurdwaras in good shape and to our satisfaction and never allowed elements to sabotage these places of religious importance,” Raina said.

The APSCC appealed the Sikh community to remain vigilant as some elements were trying to provoke them for disturbing communal harmony in the state. Referring to communal violence in Poonch, the Sikh body appealed to people to maintain age-old relations and brotherhood in the border district at all costs.

Jammu, May 25
Ahead of the Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi’s swearing-in and his scheduled meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, the political class and intelligentsia in Jammu and Kashmir have pinned hopes on better bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries.

They are of the opinion that although the meeting between the two Prime Ministers is a “normal gesture” and there may not be any political talks, it will have diplomatic significance for both the nations as it may set the tone for more integrated talks in the near future.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took the lead in welcoming the meeting between Modi and Sharif when he recently stated, “Two very important steps have been taken -- one Modi inviting Sharif and the second, Sharif accepting the invitation. Both decisions, to invite and the acceptance, were not easy. We appreciate both decisions.”

Naeem Akhtar, chief spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said it was a positive beginning, but it was a long way for both countries to go.

“Some ice has been broken, but we expect a more integrated dialogue process between the two countries after the meeting. We are looking for, not immediately but later, a situation where the dialogue process is resumed to a level to have engagements on the Kashmir issue and confidence-building measures regarding cross-LoC movement and trade,” he said.

The PDP had won all three Lok Sabha seats from Kashmir, defeating its arch-rival and the ruling party, the National Conference.

“Modi has already stated that he would follow Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s path vis-à-vis relations with the country’s neighbours. It appears that he wants to start the dialogue process afresh,” Prof Rekha Choudhary, former head, department of political science, University of Jammu, said.

She said it was a positive development for both countries and good for Jammu and Kashmir as well. “It has also been the record of the BJP that whenever it comes to power, it wishes to have normal ties with neighbours. That was what Vajpayee did after the Parliament attack in 2001,” she said.

Political analyst and senior BJP leader Prof Hari Om believed that it was the first time any Indian Prime Minister had acted in the manner in which he ought to. “Modi has told the world that India is not a weak nation,” he said. He said there would be no change in the government’s position on Jammu and Kashmir after the meeting.

Ajay Chrungoo, president of the Panun Kashmir, said he did not expect any major political issue to be discussed in the meeting, but it would have diplomatic significance in the days to come.

“It is a normal gesture to a neighbour on such an occasion. We welcome it, but at the same time, I do not think that this is the appropriate time to hold any bilateral talks or discuss political issues with the neighbouring country,” he said.

Mahesh Koul, a university scholar, said, “Modi needs to be cautious while holding a dialogue with his Pakistani counterpart. I feel that he should not toe Vajpayee’s line on Jammu and Kashmir as Vajpayee did not hold talks with former Pakistani President Pervez Musharaf on territorial lines. The meeting is unwarranted, but the new Prime Minister should bear in mind that the nation’s interest is supreme.”

Srinagar, May 25
A senior government official, who was in charge of drafting a master plan for Kashmir’s flagship meadow resorts, has been “clandestinely removed” from the planning organisation and demoted, sources said.

Iftikhar A Hakim, Chief Town Planner, Town Planning Organisation, Kashmir, who had drafted the revised master plan for Pahalgam and criticised the previous plan, was transferred to Srinagar Development Authority (SDA).

The sources said the order was issued on Friday, the day the new master plan which he had drafted was published in The Tribune, and was posted as the Senior Town Planner.

“It is a demotion. From being a Chief Town Planner, where he was the head of a department, he has been posted as Senior Town Planner, where he has to work under the head of the department,” sources said.

Hakim was the Chief Town Planner, Kashmir, for six years and held additional charge as Chief Town Planner, Jammu. Hakim had held independent charge as the Chief Town Planner, Kashmir, last year.

During his tenure as Chief Town Planner, Hakim had drafted master plans for Gulmarg, Verinag, Yousmarg, Kokernag, Achabal, Dodhpathri and Mansbal tourist resorts. He drafted the revised master plan for Pahalgam resort. The sources said pressure related to the Pahalgam master plan had forced Hakim’s eviction.

Hakim had trashed the previous master plan and termed it as lacking “unbiased vision”. “It is benefiting a select group of entrepreneurs while ignoring the economic empowerment of local communities,” Hakim had written.

The Minister for Urban Development and Local Bodies, Nawang Rigzin Jora, said Hakim had been transferred to prepare the master plan for Srinagar.

“We have a deadline up to December to come up with a master plan for Srinagar. There is pressure from the court. Somebody has to take responsibility. Being the senior-most, Hakim has been entrusted the job of coming up with the master plan,” the minister said.

ASK a Kashmiri what he or she makes out of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif coming to India to attend Narendra Modi’s swearing-in on Monday and the instant response is: it should translate into something for them. Decode this sentence and find out the real meaning: let there be peace in the Valley. This land of forests and gushing rivers and lakes with shimmering waters has been experiencing untold misery for the past quarter century. It has lost thousands of young men and several thousand people have been rendered homeless in insurgency that has led them nowhere so far.

Kashmiri leaders have their own compulsions to sound like peaceniks and see a new beginning in the visit of the Pakistani premier to attend Narendra Modi’s swearing-in tomorrow evening. They want to be seen as the men and women whose firm belief lies in the fact that friendship between the two nuclear power neighbours can bring a solution to the Kashmir crisis and peace. In a sense, they are echoing the masses on the streets.

Anti-Pakistan rhetoric is a story of the past. It was very much in the government discourse during the National Conference (NC) government headed by Farooq Abdullah from 1996 to 2002. People were massacred. with militants killing people in their sleep and axing the aged and children, each time writing a new script in savagery. Those were harrowing times for people in Jammu and Kashmir.

Things have changed a lot. Chief Minister and NC working president Omar Abdullah and his arch-rival, Mehbooba Mufti of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have hailed the visit of Nawaz Sharif. Both of them are on the same page. Not only that, separatists are looking forward to bonhomie between the two countries. Apart from their faith that peace and friendship with Pakistan can bring about a massive change in the security situation in the state, there is an unending aspiration of the people on the streets that things should improve so that they can live in an atmosphere free from violence and tension.

The Kashmiris’ wish for friendly relations with Pakistan is rooted in the fact that they know it better than their leaders that who was and is the real trouble-maker in the Valley. The trouble, that started in 1989, uprooted Kashmiri Pandits and deprived a sense of security to the populace in the Valley, was due to gunmen whose support came from across the border. Combined with the failure of the local leadership in stalling this death and destruction phenomenon, it brought more troops into the Valley to control the situation. These troops were given extraordinary powers under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act to deal with an extraordinary situation. So, Kashmiris know because of whom they are victims of this sort of an unacceptable phenomenon. But, they are silent because there still is fear of the gun and the grenade.

If Pakistan so wishes, it can control its men with arms and leave Kashmiris alone. That is the sincere belief of the people in the Valley. They have paid a huge price for the turmoil that they have suffered for the last 25 years. Their economy is a shambles and their social fabric has been torn. There are half-widows -- women whose husbands are missing and who have no idea whether they are dead or alive -- and other ills that have come up in Kashmir, particularly drug addiction.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has rightly cautioned that much should not be expected from the first meeting of Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif. But, a beginning can be made. That is how Mehbooba Mufti, too, has seen this. It is a good thing that the two leaders are meeting and Kashmiris will be the beneficiaries, provided Delhi and Islamabad walk on the path of friendship and peace. The two countries cannot always be in a state of war because of multiple reasons. The friendship can be a lasting affair. Kashmir must be discussed. The dignity of life of Kashmiris can be restored if they are allowed to live in a violence-free atmosphere. For that, both Delhi and Islamabad will have to walk some miles by reducing physical borders to just lines on the map. Can Narendra and Nawaz do this?

Jammu, May 25
Shattered by the worst-ever defeat of the party, Congress workers are training guns on party ministers for “encouraging corruption and fostering transfer industry” in the state, which according them was the main cause of debacle in the Lok Sabha elections.

As introspection started at all levels to single out causes of the crushing defeat, Congress ministers are facing criticism for their style of functioning.

While the meeting of the executive members of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) is likely to be held very soon, party workers have been utilising other platforms to mount pressure on the leadership to expose non-performing ministers.

During a function, held here to observe death anniversary of former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi last week, Congress workers minced no words in attacking its ministers.

They shifted all blame on party ministers for the worst-ever defeat of the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

Party workers alleged that ministers, who have been enjoying power for the last five and half years, have miserably failed to implement party’s agenda in the government.

“Except encouraging corruption and fostering transfer industry in their respective departments, Congress ministers have done nothing for the common masses,” a veteran Congress worker shouted in the meeting and observed that people have taught a lesson to the party in the Lok Sabha elections due to “misdeeds” of its ministers.

JKPCC spokesperson Ravinder Sharma admitted that there was strong resentment among workers against the prevailing corruption in the system.

Armed with figures and statistics of previous three elections, party workers have been mounting pressure on the leadership to take action against those ministers who failed to ensure the victory of party candidates in their respective constituencies.

The Congress, which had contested elections on three Lok Sabha seats of Jammu and Kashmir as a part of its pre-poll alliance with the National Conference, was routed as it failed to even open its account.

Party candidates suffered humiliating defeats even in the constituencies being represented by Congress ministers.

“Besides a strong Modi wave, behaviour of Congress ministers also contributed to the crushing defeat of party candidates,” a Congress leader said.

The Congress had contested the Jammu-Poonch, Udhampur-Doda and Ladakh parliamentary constituencies composed of 41 assembly segments.

Out of these 41 segments, the party managed to get lead only in 12 segments.

The BJP which won these three seats got lead in 25 segments, while PDP was the front-runner in two segments. Independent candidates also dominated in two segments. 

Jammu, May 25
Getting into poll mode, Member of Legislative Assembly from Bishnah Ashwani Sharma today demanded statehood for the Jammu province, saying the move would help end discrimination with the region.

Jammu and Kashmir is scheduled to go for Assembly polls in the latter half of the year. “Separate state for Jammu, abrogation of Article 370 and implementation of the Delimitation Commission can end discrimination with the region,” Sharma said while addressing a “Sangarsh” rally at Arnia.

The legislator also raised the issue of border farmers and urged the government to resolve the problems concerning the community.

“We have been raising the issue of providing compensation to farmers, whose land has been for taken for border fencing, in the state Assembly as well as at in meetings of the District Development Board. Time has come when the government must act and solve the problems faced by farmers (living in the border areas),” he said.

Sharma also said the educated youth of border areas of the state have not been provided with much of the employment opportunities and asked the government to hold a special recruitment drive for them so that they can get equal share of employment in all the sectors.

He further demanded a degree college for Arnia and upgrading of the primary health centre (PHC), Arnia, to sub-district hospital.

Sharma told people that efforts were being made to develop the Arnia town and under the Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme, the Municipal Committee Arnia has extended help to 124 below poverty line families.

The legislator also assured people that drainage system in the town would be improved soon and a mini sport stadium will be also constructed for the promotion of sports activities. 

Jammu, May 25
Newly elected Lok Sabha members of the BJP were felicitated today in an impressive function here. It is for the first time in the political history of Jammu and Kashmir that the BJP has won three seats out of the total of six Lok Sabha seats of the state.

Also, it was the first time that the BJP registered a victory in Ladakh, where Thupstan Chhewang beat his nearest competitor by 36 votes to emerge winner.

All the three newly elected parliamentarians —Jugal Kishore Sharma, Jitendra Singh and Chhewang — were felicitated by the state unit of the party today.

Speaking on the occasion, the trio assured people that they would highlight issues relating to the common masses of Jammu and Kashmir in Parliament.

They also said victory of the BJP was a victory of nationalist forces in the state.

Jammu East MLA Ashok Khajuria, former state presidents Dr Nirmal Singh and Shamsher Singh Manhas, former Jammu Municipal Corporation Mayor Kavinder Gupta, Mahila Morcha state president Priya Sethi, Ashok Koul, Bali Bhagat, Yudh Vir Sethi, Chander Parkash Ganga, Sat Sharma and Rajesh Gupta were present on the occasion. 

Jammu, May 25
The ruling National Conference (NC) seems to have stopped working in the Jammu region with the party’s office at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan here wearing a deserted look.

All the political activity of the party remains confined to the Valley and not even a single meeting has been held at the provincial office of the NC here since the Lok Sabha elections ended.

All the top NC leaders of the Jammu province are either camping in Srinagar or are yet to come out of their respective constituencies.

After its worst-ever parliamentary poll debacle, the NC working president and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah invited feedback from internet savvy people and also started meeting people at his Srinagar office to know the reasons behind the defeat.

The NC lost all the three parliamentary, it was contesting on, in the Valley.

But neither Omar nor any other senior NC leader has so far turned towards the Jammu region, where from the party won six Assembly seats during the 2008 Assembly elections.

Sources in the NC told The Tribune that so far there was no communication from top leaders of the party to have any introspection sessions in the Jammu region.

“The reason is that the NC was contesting the Lok Sabha elections only on three seats in the state and that too from Kashmir valley. On two seats of Jammu, NC was supporting the Congress party as per the pre-poll alliance,” a source said.

“It is expected that NC president Farooq Abdullah may visit Jammu in coming days, but the date is yet to be finalised,” the source added.

After the defeat there were talks of revamp in the party, but NC leaders from Jammu are confident that this process would remain confined to the Valley.

“The Jammu unit is not party to poll debacle as we were not contesting on any of the seats in the region. Even if something needs to be done, first people responsible for loss in Kashmir will have to face it,” a senior NC leader said on the condition of anonymity.

All eyes are on the top NC leadership as to how they come out of the poll debacle and turn the fortunes ahead of the Assembly elections.

Srinagar, May 25
Moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today issued a “policy statement” in which he urged the leaders of India and Pakistan to move forward “boldly” to start a full-fledged peace process and solve the Kashmir issue for “once and for all”.

Chairman of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq urged Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to “urgently work towards a just and lasting solution” to the Kashmir issue.

Mirwaiz welcomed any immediate steps, “symbolic or otherwise”, that might improve the relationship and build confidence between the two countries. He emphasised that the Kashmir issue must not be “ignored or brushed aside”.

“Precious time should not be wasted before moving towards a search for solutions,” he said in an mailed statement titled as moderate amalgam's "policy statement".

“There must be a serious and result-oriented process of a dialogue. For this to happen, India and Pakistan must engage the people of Jammu and Kashmir as an active and true partner in search for peace. For any lasting solution, Kashmiris must be involved,” Mirwaiz said.

He said efforts must be focused on finding a solution that “accommodates the needs and interests of all parties” and upholds the aspirations and right to self-determination of the people of Kashmir.

The separatist leader said “vital opportunities to gift a peaceful future” to the coming generations should “no longer be consumed in domestic politicking”.

“Let all political parties of India, Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir make a peaceful resolution to the Kashmir issue their shared agenda,” he said.

Srinagar, May 25
Chairman of the hardline Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Geelani today called for a shutdown in Shopian district on May 30. Geelani gave the shutdown call on the fifth death anniversary of two Shopian women, allegedly raped and killed. He has appealed to people to hold prayer meetings.

The women were found dead in a stream in Shopian in 2009 amid allegation that they were raped and killed.

However, an official investigation claimed the women had drowned.

Separatist leaders have rejected the investigation. 

Jammu, May 25
After utilising their “services” in the Lok Sabha elections, the state unit of the BJP seems to have “abandoned” the five re-inducted MLAs, who were earlier expelled from the party for alleged cross voting.

The decision of the state unit to not include these legislators in the list of participants for Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony on Monday is a clear indication that the party wants to get rid of these MLAs.

A 15-member group state BJP leaders today left for New Delhi to participate in the oath-taking ceremony, but none of these “tainted” MLAs was in the group.

Sources in the BJP said the party high command had asked the state unit to send a list of nearly 20 leaders who would participate in the oath-taking ceremony.

“The party has deliberately ignored these tainted MLAs as there is feeling among the party leadership that taking these MLAs in the function will give a wrong impression,” a source said.

“The party leadership has decided to gradually sideline these legislators because their services have already been utilised during the Lok Sabha elections,” the source added. Some of these MLAs have expressed their desire to be a part of the oath-taking ceremony, sources said.

After the cross voting episode in the Legislative Council elections on April 13, 2011, out of 11 legislators, the BJP had expelled seven on charges of casting votes in favour of the National Conference and Congress candidates. 

Jammu/Poonch, May 25
A soldier ran amok this afternoon and shot dead two colleagues with his service weapon at a forward post along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Digwar sector of Poonch district before turning the barrel on himself.

The incident happened at the Madaan Post in the Durga sub-sector of Digwar sector on the LoC around 1.10 pm.

The soldiers who were killed were identified as subedar Chamail Singh of Kathua and havildar Ranjot Singh of Jammu and their alleged attacker, who later committed suicide, as sepoy Darshan Lal, also of Jammu.

They all belonged to the D Company of the 17 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI). JAKLI also operates under the 93 Infantry Brigade, also called Poonch Brigade. The fratricidal killings sent a shock wave among the men in olive green in the 93 Infantry Brigade.

Ahead of Modi’s swearing-in, the Army and the BSF had been put on high alert on the LoC and the international border in view of the increased threat of forced intrusion bids and mischief from across the border.

Soon after the incident, senior Army officers, including the 93 Infantry Brigade Commander, Brigadier SK Acharya, rushed to the spot.

Jammu-based Defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Mehta said, “One soldier shot at two of his colleagues in the Poonch sector at 1315 hours today when reports last came in. The accused soldier subsequently turned his weapon on himself and ended his life.”

“Senior Army officers have rushed to the spot to investigate. The Army has also ordered a court of inquiry to ascertain the facts,” added the spokesperson.

A senior Army officer described the incident as a clear case of fratricide.

However, reliable sources divulged that this afternoon, sepoy Darshan Lal and havildar Ranjot Singh had heated arguments and in a fit of rage, Darshan Lal fired at Ranjot from his service weapon, killing him instantly.

Hearing the gunshots, subedar Chamail Singh rushed to the spot and sensed the situation, they said, adding that Chamail tried to disarm Darshan Lal and in the melee, the latter allegedly fired at Chamail, injuring him grievously.

Consequently, Darshan allegedly kept his service weapon below his chin and pressed the trigger, ending his life.

In the meantime, soldiers rushed to the spot and found two of their colleagues dead while Chamail was breathing, said the sources.

They immediately put Chamail on a stretcher and started trekking down the hilly terrain to reach the nearest road on foot, that took at least an hour, from where they shifted subedar Chamail to the 425 Field Hospital in Poonch in an ambulance. However, doctors at the hospital pronounced him brought dead. 

Srinagar, May 25
The Army today said no infiltration had taken place from across the Line of Control (LoC) so far this year in the Valley and added that it was geared up to tackle any challenge from the militants in the summer months.

GOC-in-C of the Northern Command Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra pays tributes at the Chinar Corps War Memorial in Srinagar on Sunday. — PTI

“No infiltration has taken place. We are prepared and our counter-infiltration grid is in place. The troops are alert…. The situation along the LoC is well under control. There is peace. We are vigilant. We are aware and ready to face all challenges that are going to come in the next few months,” General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Northern Command Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra told mediapersons on the sidelines of a function here.

The GOC-in-C said this when asked about infiltration this year and Army’s preparedness during the summer when militants try to sneak into the Valley.

He said besides the LoC, the situation was peaceful in the forward areas of the Valley as well, which he visited while reviewing the security situation.

The Northern Command chief, during his visit, also held a meeting with Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and briefed them about the overall security scenario.

During the meetings, important issues such as the location of field firing ranges and the civil-police-military relations also came up.

Lt General Chachra, before concluding his two-day Kashmir visit, paid floral tributes at the Chinar Corps War Memorial inside the Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar.

“I paid my tributes to the gallant warriors of the Chinar Corps who had laid down their lives for the safety and integrity of this country. It was their sacrifice that is taking us forward today. It cannot be forgotten and we shall remember them. They will be a motivating factor for the times to come,” the Army officer said.

Kupwara, May 25
The authorities today imposed curfew like restrictions in Kalaroose village of Kupwara district following the death of a National Conference supporter, who was injured during group clashes on May 17.

Mohammad Shafi Ganie, 31, had received head-injury in clashes between the supporters of the NC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and was undergoing treatment at Sheri-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, Srinagar.

The police have registered a case in this regard and arrested five persons, including two government employees.

As soon as the news of Ganie’s death reached the village, the authorities enforced strict restrictions to prevent any untoward incident.

“A case has been registered against 16 persons, five of them have already been arrested. We have formed special teams to nab rest of the accused and I am hopeful they will be behind bars in a few days,” said officiating Superintendent of Police (SP) Fayaz Ahmad.

Two of the arrested persons have been identified as Mohammad Ashraf Bhat and Haroon Ahmad.

Meanwhile, the deceased was buried amid a tight security at a local graveyard.

Ganie was an employee of the Forest Protection Force and was considered to be a staunch NC supporter.

NC leader and Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Mir Saifullah also visited the bereaved family and expressed his condolences.

This is third such death in Kupwara after the Lok Sabha results were declared on May 16. Earlier on May 17, two persons, Abdur Rashid Bajad and Abdul Rashid Ganai, were killed when a police vehicle overturned in Warsun village of Kupwara district amid clashes between the PDP and the Peoples’ Conference supporters.

Jammu, May 25
Jammu and Kashmir has not constructed a single kitchen-cum-store during 2013-14 under the centrally sponsored mid-day meal scheme. This was revealed in the recently held meeting of the Programme Approval Board to consider the annual work plan and Budget 2013-14 of J&K for the mid-day meal scheme. The meeting was held at New Delhi under the chairmanship of Rajarshi Bhattacharya, Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development.

Hirdesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, School Education Department, J&K, gave an overview of the implementation of the scheme in the state, besides highlighting the initiatives taken by the government to improve its effectiveness.

Gaya Prasad, Director, Elementary Education, Department of School Education and Literacy, presented an analysis of the performance of the state in the implementation of the scheme during the first three quarters of 2013-14.

He said there was a mismatch in utilisation of foodgrains and the cooking cost in districts such as Reasi (-21 per cent), Rajouri (-16 per cent), Srinagar (23 per cent), Pulwama (30 per cent) and Kargil (19 per cent).

Negative closing balance of the cooking cost and funds for honorarium to cook-cum-helpers at the end of the third quarter was also reported.

The poor coverage under the School Health Programme can be gauged from the fact that only 11 per cent of the students enrolled were screened. There is no medical emergency/contingency plan in case of any untoward incident.

The director said there was delay in release of funds from the state to schools. He claimed that the central government had released adhoc grant on April 22, 2013, and the first instalment on July 17, 2013.

The balance of the first instalment was released on February 18, 2014.

In reply, as per information provided by the state government, the adhoc grant had reached the schools in some of the districts on June 29, 2013, and on July 24, 2013, in other districts.

The first instalment reached the school level in some of the districts on September 25, 2013.

Rajouri, May 25
A young housewife, who was allegedly tortured and burnt with acid by her in-laws and husband in Rehan Chaddan village of Rajouri, on yesterday approached senior police officers for justice.

The incident happened in February. The woman was kept in captivity and denied medical help.

Sources said the woman was rescued by her father from her in-laws house in April and taken to a hospital at Jammu. They said the Rajouri police had refused to lodge a complaint against the accused persons when the woman’s family approached the Piri police post immediately after she was rescued.

Doctors at Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu, have advised amputation of the woman’s legs and fingers of her hands, in the absence of medical help for more than three months.

The sources said Tazim Akhter was married to Abdul Razak of Rehan Chaddan village under the jurisdiction of the Rajouri police station.

In February, Tazim gave birth to a baby girl. After the childbirth, the victim alleged she was tortured by her husband and his parents and told to bring more dowry. She said she was tortured even during her pregnancy.

On February 18, the victim’s in-laws threw acid on her.

Tazim told Assistant Superintendent of Police Shiv Kumar that she managed to save her face but the acid fell on her feet and hands causing her severe burns.

The victim somehow managed to send a message to her parents and was rescued by them in April.

Taking note of domestic violence, Rajouri Superintendent of Police (SP) Mubassir Latifi has directed the Rajouri police to register a case against the accused and ensure their custody within 24 hours.

On the directions of the SP, a case under Sections 307/342/109323/498A of the RPC has been registered at the Rajouri police station.

Station House Officer Yash Pal Sharma said a police team had been dispatched to arrest the accused named in the FIR. The victim’s husband, Abdul Razak, his parents and uncle have been booked for the crime.

While talking to mediapersons, the district superintendent of police said if found guilty, action would also be taken against policemen who refused to lodge the victim’s complaint.