Avalanche alert sounded, GREF barrack buried
Snowfall blocks NH, Valley cut off

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 5: As there was no respite from the heavy snowfall and rain for the past three days, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which was partially reopened yesterday afternoon, got blocked at several places due to continuous snowing today.

The unprecedented snowfall also forced the Army authorities to once again sound all its units in higher reaches and Line of Control (LoC) across the State. Shortly after the alert was sounded, snow avalanche damaged a barrack and canteen of the GREF at Jawahar Tunnel.

However, no casualty was reported as the GREF personnel had left the barrack minutes before a huge snow avalanche came down from a nearby hill-top, an official spokesman said, adding snow storm and avalanche reports were also received from Waltengo Nar in Anantnag district where several huts of Gujjars were damaged.

In Bani area of Kathua district, one Dharmesh Kumar of Badnote, Malhar slipped to death into a nullah from slippery road.

The inhospitable weather conditions also snapped Srinagar’s aerial link with all the flights having been cancelled following poor visibility and snow at airport in the summer capital of the State. However, there was no impact on the Jammu-Delhi and vice-versa flights.

Danish Rana, Senior Superintendent of Traffic Police, National Highway said that due to continuous heavy snowfall the highway got blocked at several places today particularly at Jawahar Tunnel and Patnitop where snowfall was continuing till this evening.

The major portion of highway from Patnitop to Qazigund was covered by the snow and due to inhospitable weather conditions the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) personnel could not start road clearance operation for the whole day today, he said.

He disclosed that the number of stranded trucks carrying essential commodities to Kashmir valley has increased to 1100 at different places on the highway.

About 450 trucks have been stranded at Manwal while remaining at Udhampur, Chanderkote and Banihal. Similarly, about 200 trucks were stranded at Qazigund awaiting for the reopening of the highway to proceed towards Jammu.

He said that about 150 Srinagar-bound passengers also got stranded at several places on the highway and they would be given priority once the highway is reopened.

Due to failure of the Government, most of the stranded passengers particularly truckers have been facing shortage of eatables and other essential items.

The number of stranded passengers at General Bus Stand has also increased as no fresh vehicle was officially allowed from here. Even those who opted to reach Srinagar via air had to return from the airport after the announcement about the cancellation of all flights due to poor visibility and snow at Srinagar airport.

Reports said that some interior roads in Ramban, Kishtwar, Kathua, Doda, Rajouri and Poonch districts also got blocked due to landslides triggered by the rainfall and snow.

Meanwhile, a spokesman of Indian Meterological Department (IMD) has given forecast of snowfall and rains at many places across the State with warning of heavy snow at some places. He also disclosed that the inhospitable weather conditions will continue till February 8 due to western disturbances.

Two militants shot dead in Sunderbani sector
*Another infiltration attempt foiled

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Feb 5: Army and police today gunned down two hardcore militants in an encounter at Bindi Gala, about three kms inside Line of Control (LoC) in Sunderbani sector of this district.

Bad weather was hampering search operation in the area. Security forces and police, however, continued searches to eliminate or apprehend the remaining militants with reports suggesting that a couple of more ultras might be hiding in the area.

DIG Rajouri-Poonch range Prithvi Raj Manhas said troops of 18 JAK Rifles and police cordoned off Bindi Gala and surrounding villages yesterday after developing a specific input that a group of militants, who could either be infiltrators or part of a group which had gone to receive the intruders, were moving in the area.

Searches continued throughout the night but a contact with the militants was established this afternoon. After a heavy exchange of gunfighting, Army and police eliminated two militants without suffering any casualties on their side.

Identity of slain militants hasn’t been established so far but one of them was believed to be a foreign mercenary. From the possession of ultras, security forces and police recovered one AK-47 rifle, one Chinese pistol, two AK magazines, one pistol magazine, one radio set, two pithoo bags, some documents and eatables.

As it was heavily raining in the area and visibility was very poor, security forces suspended searches late in the night but were expected to resume the operation tomorrow morning as there were reports that one or two more militants were present in the area.

Bodies of the militants have been recovered from the spot but their identity was yet to be established. They were, however, suspected to be the activists of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit.

Sources said it was being verified as to whether the killed militants were infiltrators or not. If they were not intruders, they could be part of a group which had gone to receive the infiltrators and, therefore, the possibility of an infiltration attempt was not ruled out.

Security forces and police have alerted their pickets in Sunderbani belt to search the infiltrators.

Additional SP Nowshera Sanjeev Khajuria and SHO Sunderbani Mr Malik led police parties in the operation.

Only few days back, two militants and two Army jawans were killed and four soldiers including a Major were injured in an unsuccessful intrusion bid in Sunderbani sector.

The other day, Army and police killed three infiltrators in Mendhar sector of Poonch district. A police constable and a SPO were also killed in the operation.

Militancy an irreparable cause to cultural values in J&K: Soz

NEW DELHI, Feb 5: Union Water Resources Minister Prof Saifuddin Soz said the two-decade-old militancy in Jammu and Kashmir had caused irreparable damage to "cultural values" in the State and exhorted scholars and litterateurs to work for reviving cultural bonds.

"We see light at the end of the tunnel," Prof Soz, who is also a Congress Working Committee member, said at a function of the Kasheer foundation while releasing the first edition of literary magazine "Mirass" at the India Habitat Centre here last evening.

Dwelling on strong rishi-sufi bonds of the Valley, he said Kashmir has rich cultural heritage, which propagates the message of peace, love and brotherhood.

"There is an urgent need to take cultural achievement of people in Jammu and Kashmir outside the periphery of the State across the country."

The function was attended by Kashmir University Vice-Chancellor Prof Riyaz Punjabi, Prof Pankaj Bhan— Editor of Mirass and one of the founders of the Kasheer Foundation— and several prominent scholars, artistes and intellectuals.

Prof Punjabi, in his speech, said intermingling of Trika Shaivism with Islam resulted in the emergence of a new cult called Rishi cult, a synonym of Bhakti.

It was through rishis that Islam became a popular faith in the Kashmir valley, he added.

Prof Bhan referred to the role being played by the Kasheer foundation in promoting the rich cultural values of the State.

He said the foundation has brought out Mirass magazine as a vehicle of cultural expression. The purpose was to get over the perception of marginalisation and work towards mainstreaming the Kashmiri literature and culture.

He also referred to conferring of Jnanpith Award on veteran Kashmiri poet Prof Rehman Rahi. "This (the award) was the recognition of rich cultural and literary treasure in Kashmir, he added.

Later, veteran singer Dhananjay Kaul and Deepavali Wattal rendered several Kashmiri songs on the occasion. (UNI)

3 awarded life term in Kandahar hijack case

PATIALA, Feb 5: Three persons involved in the hijack of the Indian Airlines aircraft to Kandahar in Afghanistan in December 1999 were today convicted and sentenced to life by a city court on charges including murder and conspiracy.

Abdul Latif Adam Momin alias Abdul Rehman alias Patel, Yusuf Nepali and Dalip Bhujail were sentenced by sessions judge Inderjit Singh Walia, designated as the anti-hijacking court under provisions of IPC and anti-hijacking law. CBI had demanded capital punishment for Latif.

The ill-fated IC-814 was hijacked on December 24, 1999 while flying over Lucknow when it was on its way to Delhi from Kathmandu and the three were accused of helping the hijackers by arranging their stay, passport, tickets and with arms and ammunition.

During a week of suspense, five hijackers-Ibrahim Athar (brother of Jaish-e-Mohammed Chief Masood Azhar), Sunny Ahmed Qazi, S A Sayed alias Doctor, Z I Mistri alias Bhola and R G Verma alias Shakir-who commandeered aircraft to Kandahar negotiated with Indian officials with threats to blow up the aircraft and successfully got Azhar and two other dreaded terrorist released from jails in India for release of passengers.

Defence counsel contended that the three have been made a scapegoat.

While Nepali has been accused by the CBI as the person who handed over passport and tickets to the hijackers, Bhujbal was accused by the investigating agency of providing them with arms and ammunition.

CBI had charged 10 people out of which seven including the five hijackers were still absconding and are in Pakistan. An Interpol Red Corner notice has been issued against all seven.

Besides Azhar, the other two released in exchange were Omar Sayeed Sheikh (now in Pakistan prison for killing Wall Street Journal journalist Daniel Pearl) and Mushtaq Zargar, chief of Al-Umar Mujahideen militant outfit.

The Judge awarded the three life imprisonment for murder under section 302 and for using violence in aircraft after hijacking under Section 5 of anti-hijacking Act. They were also fined Rs 10,000.

Abdul Latif, Bhujbal and Yusuf Nepali were awarded seven years RI for attempt to murder under section 307, five year prison term for kidnapping and abduction under section 363 and also for wrongful confinement under section 342.

The court also awarded five year term for forgery under section 467 besides a fine of Rs 2,000. The trio was also given a three-year sentence for criminal intimidation under section 506 and also slapped with a fine of Rs 2000.

The accused were also awarded three years jail term under Section 25 of the Arms Act relating to possessing of illegal weapons besides being convicted under section 120-B relating to conspiracy.

The court proceedings were held inside the high security Central Jail.

Media persons were not allowed inside the jail here where the three conspirators Abdul Latif, Dalip Kumar and Yusuf Nepali are lodged since their arrest about eight years back in connection with the hijacking. The briefing was done outside the prison by the defence lawyers.

The Judge had on January 18 reserved the judgment for January 29 and then for today after the conclusion of the arguments in the case of the hijacking of Indian Airlines Kathmandu New Delhi flight IC-814 to Kandahar in Afghanistan in 1999. (PTI)

High level panel for jurisdiction, rank, powers
Jammu, Srinagar cities to have Police Commissioners

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Feb 5: The Government has appointed a high level Committee to study a proposal for appointment of Police Commissioners for Jammu and Srinagar on the pattern of metro and other major cities in India.

The Committee, headed by IGP Crime and Railways Dilbagh Singh, held its first sitting today. It has been asked to identify jurisdiction of the Commissioners, their powers and rank of the officers (to be appointed as Commissioners).

The Committee has DIG Jammu range Lalat Indu Mohanty and AIG (T&I) Rajesh Kumar as its members among others.

The proposal for appointment of Commissioners was mooted by the Government and Director General of Police (DGP) Kuldeep Khoda after mandatory requirement that the cities having Commissioners to cross population of 10 lakh each has been fulfilled.

Official sources told the Excelsior that the Committee has decided to study different powers of Commissioners by visiting the cities where such posts have been created including all four metro cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai besides Vijaywada, Cuttack and Bhubaneshwar. The latest City to have the post of Commissioner is Gurgaon.

The Committee was reportedly of the view that Commissioners in Jammu and Srinagar cities should be of the rank of IGPs as they will have control over law and order, crime, security, CID (both Counter Intelligence and Special Branch) besides other related wings of police, sources said.

Area of jurisdiction of the Commissioners is being worked out by the Committee. As far as Jammu is concerned, the area might spread to Bari Brahmana, Nagrota, Miran Sahib and Domana as boundaries. Entire area of Jammu and Srinagar Municipal Corporations will be under the control of Commissioners.

"The area of their control will definitely extend the jurisdiction of JMC and SMC but their boundaries are likely to be worked out after the visit of Committee members on spot", sources said.

The Commissioners, like their counterparts in metros and other cities, will have all magisterial powers like clamping Section 144, which restricts movement of people in a group of more than four, imposition of curfew, authority to order firing or teargassing on a violent mob besides other measures required to maintain law and order.

While in Mumbai and New Delhi cities, the Police Commissioners have the rank of Additional DGs. in Cuttack and Bhubaneshwar, they have the rank of IGs. In newly created post of Police Commissioner at Gurgaon, the officer has the rank of DIG while in Vijaywada (Andhra Pradesh), the Commissioner is of the rank of SSP.

In Jammu and Srinagar, the Committee members were of the view that the Commissioners for two capital cities should be of the rank of IGP. As per the proposal, the posts of two IGPs (Jammu zone and Kashmir zone) will remain intact. The two Zonal IGPs will have all routine control over all districts of the two divisions but not over the Commissioners, sources said.

They added that after studying the model of Commissioners in all major cities where the posts exist, the Committee is likely to recommend its own model depending upon conditions prevailing in the State.

The Committee will submit its proposals to the DGP which will be forwarded to the Government on whose direction the high level panel has been set up.

According to sources, the Committee is likely to complete its exercise within a month or two.

The appointment of Police Commissioners in the two capital cities will go a long way in not only effectively curbing crime rate and militants but will also strengthen Intelligence network and bring different police agencies, at least in two cities, under one command, they said.

Existing institutions require consolidation
4822 schools lack own buildings

By Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Feb 5: Notwithstanding huge investment in the education sector, the infrastructure deficiencies at both elementary and secondary education levels continue to paint a gloomy picture and remained an area of serious concern in the State.

According to Government’s latest report for the financial year 2007-08, a total of 4822 primary, upper middle, high and higher secondary schools continue to be without own buildings across the State while 1474 existing buildings remain in dilapidated conditions.

The intensity of infrastructure deficiencies at elementary education level can be gauged from the fact that 4119 primary schools and 628 upper middle schools have been without own buildings for the past several years. Though 1474 primary school have been provided with the buildings yet their condition remained dilapidated and failed to receive any attention from the Government.

Moreover, students of 4052 primary and 1541 middle schools have not been provided with even drinking water and toilet facilities.

As far as secondary education level is concerned, 68 Government high schools and 7 Government higher secondary schools have been running in the private accommodations while 125 high schools and 101 higher secondary schools even lack drinking water and toilet facility thereby exposing the tall claims about infrastructure development in the education sector.

The survey indicated that due to visible improvement in indicators like enrollment ratio and reduction in drop out rate retention there will be lot of pressure on the existing education infrastructure during the 11th Five Year Plan.

Even the Committee on Universalisation of Secondary Education of the Central Advisory Board of Education as well as Mid Term Appraisal report of 10th Five Year Plan conducted by the Planning Commission have called for a major initiative for expansion and improvement in the infrastructure of school education sector.

Keeping in view the huge infrastructure deficiencies at elementary and secondary education level, the report stressed the need to give a focused attention on consolidation of existing institutions instead of expansion as opening of more and more educational institutions without adequate infrastructure and logistic support can become counter-productive.

The report also suggested that Public Private Partnership Investment mode should be adopted for strengthening elementary and secondary education in the State.

Though 3.67 lakh ‘out of school’ children were identified before the launch of flagship programme Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan in the State which was aimed at achieving the objectives of universalisation of elementary education in the State, 1.08 lakh students are still out of the reach of the schools.

The proportion of out of school children is highest in Kupwara, Budgam, Srinagar, Anantnag and Doda districts, the report said, adding proportion of out of school children among Gujjars, Bakerwals and Gaddies is around 22.7 per cent as compared to 7.62 per cent of other communities. The percentage is more than 35 per cent among girls in these communities.

9 AEEs promoted, 14 X-Ens shifted

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 5: The Government has issued orders of promotion of nine Assistant Executive Engineers (AEEs) as incharge Executive Engineers while 14 incharge X-Ens have been transferred and posted in the Power Development Department.

Those promoted are-Romesh Kumar Sharma, Ashwani Kumar, Gurbachan Singh, Shoban Kumar, Kuldeep Krishan Raina, Suraj Parkash Gupta, Yudhvir Gupta, Bawinder Kundal and Habib Choudhary.

Consequent upon the above, the following adjustments/ transfers and postings of the Incharge Executive Engineers (Electric) have been made.

S K Moza, I/C Executive Engineer has been shifted from P&D Circle Srinagar and posted to STD-I Srinagar vice V K Sharma who has been sent to ED-I Srinagar. Karam Chand has been shifted from P&D Srinagar to STD-III Kathua, N K Gupta from EPD Leh to JKPCC Jammu vice Sudershan Singh Jamwal, who has been sent to R&B Jammu.

Romesh Kumar Sharma, promotee has been posted to P&D Circle Srinagar, Ashwani Kumar to Workshop Division Jammu, Gurbachan Singh will report to Chief Engineer P&D J&K Jammu till further orders, Shoban Kumar to EPD Leh vice N K Gupta, Kuldeep Krishan Raina posted as Technical Officer to Chief Engineer P&MM J&K Jammu. He will join on retirement of R L Khajuria on 29-2-008. Suraj Parkash Gupta has been posted to ED Anantnag, Yudhvir Gupta as P&D Circle Srinagar, Bawinder Kundal to TLMD -II Jammu while Habib Choudhary has been posted to ED-IV Srinagar against available vacancy.

Army jawan commits suicide

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 5: An Army jawan, posted on guard duty at a force’s camp in Doda district, allegedly committed suicide using his service rifle this morning.

Naik Krishen Kumar of Bihar regiment was found lying in a pool of blood at Sarna Army camp in Bhaderwah district at 1130 am by jawans and officers of the camp who rushed to the spot after hearing sounds of bullet, official sources said.

A bullet had pierced through his right shoulder and come out from his chest, wounding him critically, they said adding Kumar was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed.

The jawan took the extreme step using his AK rifle.

His body was handed over to the Army authorities after a post-mortem.

Four Incharge PPs transferred

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 5: SSP Jammu Parminder Singh today ordered transfers and postings of four Incharge police posts.

Sub Inspector Rajesh Gautam has been transferred from Janipura police station and appointed as new Incharge police post Panjtirthi in place of Sub Inspector Gurpreet Singh.

Sub Inspector Ravi Singh has been transferred from Trikuta Nagar police station and posted as Incharge Pallanwalla police post vice Sub Inspector Naveen Angral.

SI Angral has been posted as Incharge Fallain Mandal police post.

Sub Inspector Som Raj has been transferred from Pacca Danga police station and posted as Incharge Gajansoo police post.

Bachchan down with fever

JAIPUR, Feb 5: Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan is down with cold, throat infection and mild fever and his family’s plan to celebrate son Abhishek’s birthday here has been dropped.

"Amitabh returned from Shimla yesterday where he was shooting for a film. He has cold, mild fever and some throat infection as well. Thus there will be no birthday function," Samajwadi party general secretary and family friend Amar Singh told reporters at the Rambagh Palace hotel here today.

"It will take Amitabh two more days to recover. We are in touch with his family doctors (in Mumbai) and even a local doctor is being consulted," he said.

Sixtyfive-year-old Bachchan is here with wife Jaya and daughter-in-law Aishwarya to celebrate the birthday of Abhishek, who turned 32 today.

Abhishek is in Rajasthan to shoot for Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra-directed film "Dilli 6". (PTI)

Kashmir valley cut off for fourth day

SRINAGAR : Kashmir valley remained cut off from rest of the country for fourth consecutive day today as there was no let off in snowfall, leading to closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and cancellation of all incoming and outgoing flights scheduled this morning.

All incoming and outgoing flights scheduled for this morning from Srinagar international airport were cancelled owing to the bad weather, airport sources said.

The schedule flights between Kashmir and rest of the country did not operate yesterday due to poor visibility and heavy snowfall.

Authorities pressed its men and machines to clear the snow on the runway but continuous snowfall hampered the operations.

About seven-feet of snow had accumulated on the ground on the either side of the Jawahar tunnel, the gateway to Kashmir valley till 0830 hours today.

Continuous Heavy snowfall was hampering the operations to clear the arterial road.

About 1150 vehicles were stranded along the highway. About 450 trucks carrying essential commodities were stuck at Manwal and 650 other trucks were also held up at Udhampur, Chanderkote and Banihal, sources said.

Besides, about 50 light motor vehicles and a few buses were also held up at different points on the highway, they said. A few other trucks were stranded at Qazigund awaiting reopening of the highway to return to Jammu, they said.

Fresh snowfall triggered avalanches at various places between Qazigund and Banihal while rains triggered shooting of stones from a mountain at Panthal, 140 kms from here.

The authorities sounded an alert last evening following season’s heaviest snowfall in the Valley, asking people living in avalanche-prone areas to move to safer areas.

Families living in six houses at Panchqam Nad in Kulgam district have been shifted to safer locations while two houses were damaged at Beigam in the district, officials said, adding there was no report of any loss of life.

The snowfall and measures taken to clear snow from roads in the valley were reviewed at a meeting of Divisional Disaster Management Committee here today, the sources said.

They said 19 machines were pressed into service in Srinagar and Budgam districts to remove snow from the roads and traffic on all other routes was plying.

About power supply, the sources said all grid stations are functioning normally and power supply was fully restored barring some remote areas.

Meanwhile, Kokernag tourist spot in south Kashmir was the coldest place in the valley with the minimum temperature dipping to minus 2.6 degree Celsius. It recorded nearly 50 mm of snowfall till 0830 hours, Met office said.

Srinagar, summer capital of the state, recorded 25.1 mm of snowfall till 0830 hours with minimum temperature dipping to minus 0.4 degree Celsius, a spokesman of weather office said.

He said Pahalgam recorded 28.6 mm of snow and minimum temperature of minus 2.3 degree Celsius while minimum temperature in Kupwara in north Kashmir was minus 2.4 degree Celsius. The district recorded 7.5 mm of snowfall.

Batote, Banihal and Qazigund recorded 36.8, 23.8 and 29.2 mm of snowfall respectively till 0830 hours, the spokesman said adding the minimum temperature at these places was minus 0.4, minus 0.7 and minus 1.2 degree Celsius respectively.

He said Bhaderwah recorded 55.5 m m of snowfall. (PTI)