‘Fencing gives severe blow to enemy’s designs’
Pak shifts focus on rivulets to infiltrate terrorists

From Mohinder Verma

GOL PATAN/NEW KANACHAK, Nov 2: Fencing at two Border Out Posts of Gol Pattan and New Kanachak has given a severe blow to the Pakistani rangers as infiltration routes around these outposts have totally got plugged due to fencing.

According to senior officers of Border Security Force (BSF), fencing on border around these two posts has come in the way of nefarious designs of Pakistan and that is why they (Pakistani rangers) have shifted their focus on other areas particularly rivulets to get terrorist infiltrated into this side.

"After fencing there has been no infiltration from the area around these two Border Out Posts (BOPs)", the BSF officers said, adding "there has been anguish among Pakistani rangers about our this step and to lessen their frustration they have been suddenly resorted to firing".

When asked, they said that areas around these outposts were selected for fencing in first phase keeping in view renowned infiltration routes in these areas and added that they (Pakistani rangers) know that it is difficult to fence rivulets that is why they have shifted their focus towards rivulets. "We have received inputs that Pakistan is now trying to got terrorists infiltrated into this side via rivulets and in few attempts they succeded", they further said,

"Nodoubt manning of rivulets is not difficult task yet there remains many problems", they said, adding "vigil has been stepped-up along rivulets to thwart every possible attempt to send in armed mercenaries across the border.

They are of the view that once this fencing task is completed the infiltration would completely stopped which will definitely give a big jolt to on-going proxy war in this State. "We have also plans to plug the vulenerable points of inflitration in Chicken Neck area", they disclosed and stated that the top priority is being given to the fencing work in vulenerable and renowned infiltration routes.

A number of unmanned towers were shown to visiting EXCELSIOR correspondent by the BSF personnel on both sides of border. "Both Pakistani rangers and we have towers at different points to keep check on each-others activities", the officers said, adding "but still they are not being manned due to fear of loss of lives".

About the target hit by the Pakistani rangers to flood lights, they said "random hit might me there but no focus hit" and added that it is difficult to target lights due to lesser height of the lights. "Flood lights have become a morale booster for our jawans who are considering it as an additional weapon to check infiltration and other sabotage acticity", they further said.

One of the BSF Constable on duty at BOP New Kanachak said "with the help of these lights there is now no difference between day and night for us" and added that earlier due to darkness they could not keep vigil on whole stretch of border.

Regarding putting of electric current through barbed wires, the BSF officers said "at present we don’t have any such plan about the passing of current" but made it clear that they will certainly do something like that.

Replying to another query, they said that due to continous firing there has been panic among the villagers who are also finding it difficult to properly cultivate land and added that villagers have been apprehending break out of war.

"After fencing at some places, villagers were looking happy to little extent and hoped that after completion of fencing work they would heave a sigh of relief", the officers said.

Tribals represent India’s rich cultural heritage

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 2: A three-day seminar on " The Tribal and Marginalised communities in North India with Special Reference to the Himalayan Region" commenced here today.

Organised by the Post-Graduate Department of History, University of Jammu and the Centre for Regional Studies for Jammu and Ladakh, it is being attended by prominent professors and scholars from various parts of the country. Twenty eminent delegates from different prestigious Universities and other institutions connected with tribes, were present. Faculty members, scholars and students of the History Department and many others academicians, scholars, administrators and prominent citizens from Jammu and Kashmir State were present in the seminar.

In his inaugural speech, the Minister for Labour and Sports, Mr Harbans Singh said that tribes and marginalised communities are important segment of our people who have been making significant contribution to the society.

He said these sections of the society must be pulled out from backwardness and schemes launched for their upliftment and bringiing them to mainstream through more education and empowerment. Policy of reservation for ST and SC should continue, he stessed.

The Minister said the State Government have initiated a number of development schemes for the welfare and development of tribals without disturbing their cultural identity in Jammu and Kashmir. The objective is to ensure their all round development and secure their active participation in the overall development of the nation.

The Minister of State for Rural Development, Mr Ajay Sadhotra, who was guest of honour, said the tribals are playing a crucial role in the socio-economic and cultural development in India.

He pointed out that his ministry of Panchayats and Rural Development is intimately connected with all such communities and is committed to their full socio-economic development in Jammu and Kashmir. Already a number of programmes have been launched in this respect, he pointed out.

Professor R R Sharma, Vice Chancellor of Jammu University, complimented the Post-Graduate Department of History for arranging a detailed discussion on the issues connected with tribal and marginalised communities in the northern Himalayan region. He expressed the hope that the deliberations of the seminars would result in fruitful strategy and recommendations for their accelerated welfare.

He pleaded for providing them basic amenities for drinking water, education facilties and health care to tribal and other disadvantaged population in the country.

In his keynote address, Dr Kumaresh Chakravarty, an eminent academician and former DUTA president, spoke about the important role of various tribes in enrichment of cultural and social life of the people in the country.

While ensuring a series of steps for advancement of tribal communities, it is essential to preserve and promote their traditional cultural values and social mores. Tribal people have sense of cultural values, dignity and patriotism and they have to be more actively involved in socio-economic development of the nation.

Earlier, Prof Jigar Mohammed, Head, Department of History, JU, while welcoming the participants in the seminars, said the idea is the hold serious interaction for detailed study all the social, economic and cultural aspects of the tribal communities.

He said invariably practice in the past was to write history from above making it a narration of kings or nobles but now attempt will be made to study history from below therein incorporating the life of the common people, he added. This seminar will be to focus attention of tribal and marginalised communities in the northern Himalayan region.

The programme started with lighting of traditional lamp and Swarsati Vandana.

Dr Suman Jamwal of the History Department conducted the proceedings of the seminar While Ms Mrinalani Atrey presented vote of thanks.

At the working session chaired by Prof I H Sidiqqi from Aligarh Muslim University, five papers were presented on different aspects of tribals. Prof Sidiqqi underscored the importance of theme of the seminar and lauded JU for organising it.

Dr Ashok Jerath, Station Director Radio Station spoke in this afternoon session about the deities of different tribes in the north Himalayan region. Prof M L Bhatia of Delhi University dealt the subject of Diversification and dispersal of shawls industry in 18th century, Mr Phuntsog Ladakhi touched the subject of rich language of Ladakh.

Mr M M Khajooria, former DGP presented his paper on Gujjar and Bakerwal communities of Jammu and Kashmir while Dr Gurcharan Singh also spoke at length about the Gujjars’ socio-cultural life and economic development.

‘PDP committed to provide viable alternative of NC’
Farooq’s war cry is gimmick to divert attention: Mufti

Excelsior Correspondent

BISHNAH, Nov 2: Criticising Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah for, what he alleged, repeatedly giving provocating statements, president of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mufti Mohammed Sayed today said that war-cry of Dr Abdullah was nothing but a gimmick to divert attention of the people.

"Except promising moon Farooq Government has not done for the betterment of the people", he said while addressing a largely attended public meeting at this town. "There is wide-spread resentment among masses against National Conference as their miseries compounded due to anti-people policies of the Government ", he said and charged the Government with hatching conspiracies to divert attention of the people.

"With a hope that democratic elected Government will solve their woes, inhabitants of this State, braving militants threats, expressed their faith in ballot during the last Assembly elections", Mufti recalled but lamented that instead of providing healing touch of the wounds of the residents of this violence plagued state, National Conference further increased alienation of the people many fold due to its wrong policies.

Pointing towards the statement of Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah in which he has demanded decisive war with Pakistan, Mufti said that Farooq Abdullah war cry was nothing but a gimmick to divert attention of people. "People asking NC leaders about achievements of their Government during the last five years. Keeping in view the increasing pressure of the people Chief Minister has been raising bogey of war to divert their attention", he said and cautioned people against nefarious designs of Farooq Abdullah.

"At which capacity Farooq Abdullah is demanding war with Pakistan. He is neither Prime Minister nor Defence Minister", Mufti challenged authority of the Chief Minister for demanding war. He, however, advised the Chief Minister to remain in his limitation. "It is better if he (Farooq Abdullah) concentrate more on heeding woes of this militancy plagued state", he said.

Giving reasons for formulating a region out-fit, Mufti said that national political parties failed to provide alternative of the National Conference. "We formed PDP to fill the political vacuum created due to unholy nexus between NC and Congress and NC and BJP", he said and asserted that PDP was not for power but to provide alternative of the National Conference.

"I have enjoyed power for more than 20 years. We are not for power but to change fate of the people", he asserted and exhorted the people to join PDP to throw out worst ever corrupt State Government.

PDP general secretary, Mr Ved Mahajan, in his address, criticised the State Government for meting out step-motherly treatment with Jammu. He said that people of Jammu region were discriminated in every sphere of lives.

"Successive National Conference governments have adopted discriminatory policies towards Jammu region", Mr Mahajan said, adding, "Jammu has more potential of power generation but State Government has allotted less money for Jammu".

Launching a scathing attack on BJP for maintaining a criminal silence over woes of Jammu people, Mr Mahajan regretted that power curtailment has been increased from 5 hours to 12 hours but BJP leaders, who have been claiming to leaders of Jammu, have not uttered even a single word in the Assembly. He alleged that both BJP and Congress leaders have surrendered themselves before NC leaders for their petty political interests.

Senior PDP leader, Mr V K Vaishnavi, in his address, exhorted the people to adopt agitation path to force the worst ever corrupt State Government to solve their woes. " This Government is virtually deaf you should come on streets to put their demands in its ear", he exhorted the people. Mr Vaishnavi also accused the State Government of adopting divide and rule policy.

State vice-president of the PDP, Mr Ashok Sharma, who has organised this rally in Bishnah, highlighted problems being faced by the inhabitants of this border tehsil. He accused the NC leaders of mismanaging distribution of free rations for the people living below poverty line. Mr Sharma said that border residents of this tehsil have been living in hellish conditions but authorities have not time to solve their grievances.

Pointing towards the road of the Bishnah Bus-Stand, Mr Ashok Sharma said that this road was laid 20 years back but no repairing has been done since. He also highlighted problem of irrigation, water and power supply.

Mr Trilok Singh Bajwa, Baldev Singh Slathia, Sukhvinder Singh, Mrs Surjit Kour, Ashok Jogi, Devinder Sharma, Balwan Singh, and many other leaders addressed the rally.

Earlier, Mufti Mohammed Sayed was accorded rousing reception in the town which was once considered as strong hold of Congress. Mufti recalled his association with Bishnah tehsil and said that prominent leaders of the state were elected from Bishnah.

A large number of local youth joined PDP in the presence of Mufti Mohammed Sayed.

Lt Gen Yadava inaugurates conference on ‘Trauma:
Missiles and Explosive

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 2: Organised by the International Trauma Anesthesia and Critical Care Society (Indian Chapter) three days conference on Trauma Missiles And Explosive was inaugurated today by Lt Gen JBS Yadava, GOC 16 Corps.

About 150 delegates including medical professional from the armed forces as well as from various medical colleges and institutions from all over the country are participating in the conference cum workshop. The conference will be conducted for three days. The venue of the conference will be hotel Asia on November 2 and 3 and Military Hospital Jammu on November.

Addressing the inauguration session, Brig Y V Suri, VSM, president of the International Trauma Anesthesia and Critical Care India said that "in the present day circumstances Missiles and Explosives injuries are not more restricted to armed forces but have become a global phenomenon". He said, "theme of the conference is Trauma: Missiles And Explosive’ which is appropriate for the present situation and of interest not only to Surgeons and Anesthesiologists but to almost all practitioners of medical science and para-medical staff, associated professionals and the population without any territorial boundary".

Lt Col D C Aggarwal is the chairman scientific committee in the conference cum workshop.

Maj Gen S S Nesergi and Dr M N Gupta were chairpersons in the scientific session. Dr Harbans Lal, Scientist E, TBRL Chandigarh deliver lecture on Missiles and Explosives: Damaging Effects while Colonel M S Chhabra, senior advisor Orthopedics Base Hospital Lucknow delivered lecture on Missiles Injuries-Every One’s Concern.

No new cases to be sent to Fast Track Courts

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 2: The State High Court in a significant direction has directed that henceforth, no new cases, including challans and suits shall be transferred to the Fast Track Courts, which were set up by the then Chief Justice Dr B P Saraf.

The Registrar General Hakim Imtiyaz Hussain, in a notification has directed that no new challans, suit or any other case in the regular courts shall be transferred to the courts which were set up as " Fast Track Courts" in the recent past.

All Police challans shall be presented before Chief Judicial Magistrate Jammu who will transfer the same to the subordinate courts in accordance with the CrPC. Similarly, all suits be filed before the Principal District Judge Jammu who shall transfer the same as per CrPC, the notification said.

The CJM and Principal District and Sessions Judge have been directed to comply with strictly the provisions of CrPC and CrPC.

The decision to reverse the clock back was taken in pursuance to the demand and 78 days strike of Jammu Bar Association against setting up of "Fast Track Courts" contrary to the scheme of the Centre.

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