Sydney, Jan 4:
Somdev Devvarman recovered from his shock Chennai Open defeat against little-known compatriot Ramkumar Ramanathan to edge past Belgium’s Niel Desein in a tight opening round of the ATP Apia International Qualifiers, here today.
India’s top singles player, ranked 90th in the world, overcame the challenge of his 199th-ranked opponent 6-2 2-6 6-4 in one hour and 43 minutes.
His next rival is Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff, who dumped top seed Mikhail Kukushkin 7-6 (6) 6-2.
Somdev raced to a 4-1 lead after breaking his rival twice in the opening set. The only blemish was facing a breakpoint in the sixth game but he saved that with an ace and served out the set in the eighth game.
However, he did not get a good start in the second set as he got broken in the second game and was down 0-3. Desein went with the momentum and kept consolidating his lead and broke the Indian in the eighth game to make it one-all.
Somdev got start he needed in the final set as he broke the Belgian in the first game but let go advantage by dropping his serve in the second.
India’s Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna are competing in the doubles main draw. Paes and his Czech partner Radek Stepanek have been seeded second and their first round opponents are Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin from France.
Bopanna and his Pakistani partner Aisam-ul-haq Qureshi have been seeded third and they will open their campaign against Dutch player Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau from Romania.
The tournament is last ATP event before the Australian Open, season’s first Grand Slam, starting January 13 in Melbourne. (PTI)
Somdev moves to 2nd round of Australian ATP event Qualifiers
Braille Day observed at Blind School
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 4: Social Welfare Department celebrated 205th Birth Anniversary of Louis Braille at Residential School for Blinds, Roop Nagar.
The captivating cultural programmes by the visually challenged inmates of Residential School for Blinds left the audience spell bound.
Addressing the function, M. H. Bhatti, Director Social Welfare, Jammu said, nothing could have been a better tribute to the inventor of script for Blind, Louis Braille, then to make an effort to propagate the skill and endowed capabilities of the visually challenged so that they become a contributory human resource in real terms.
He detailed about the activities of the residential institute and said that Social Welfare Department has been working hard for the welfare of blinds and gaps, if any will be filled soon.
Residential School for Blinds, Roop Nagar, Jammu is a home for 25 visually challenged inmates where all the facilities like free Education, Boarding, Lodging, Clothes and other basic necessities of the life are provided to them.
The programme ended with the prize distribution among the participants and to inmates of the institution who brought laurel to institution in academic and other fields.
Police foils yet another bovine smuggling bid
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 4: In its continuous drive against the illegal trafficking of bovine animals, a Police Party of Police Station Ghagwal headed by Inspector Anu Sharma SHO P/S Ghagwal under the supervision, Munish Anand, Dy. SP HQ, has foiled yet another bovine smuggling bid. During routine Naka police intercepted and seized two vehicles in two separate incidents today. The two vehicles including one Mahindra load carrier bearing Registration No. PB32-P/0298 and one truck bearing registration No. JK02AG-5337 were intercepted during a naka checking on NHW at Jatwal which were carrying the bovine animals.
The vehicles were found loaded with four and 10 bovine animals respectively which were being transported illegally from Kathua towards Jammu. The driver of the vehicle, Abdul Rashid son of Mohammed. Yaqoob R/o Kansi Batta Tehsil & District Reasi who was driving Truck No. JK02AG-5337 and his associate Darbari Lal son of Sham Lal R/o Bagha Jana Tehsil R. S. Pura district Jammu have been arrested on spot and case FIR No. 02/2014 U/S 188 RPC, 2/3 PC Act has been registered against them for further investigation.
However, accused driving Mahindra load carrier No. PB32-P/0298 fled from the spot after hitting the vehicle with Railway Phatak at Ghagwal and accordingly case FIR No. 03/2014 U/S 188 RPC, 2/3 PC Act, 151 Railway Act was registered at Police Station Ghagwal and investigation carried on.
2 cops suspended
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 4: SP Doda, M S Chouhan today suspended two police officials for their prolonged absence from the duty.
Police spokesman said that SP Doda has placed Head Constable Pritam Kumar and Constable Surinder Singh under suspension for their prolonged absence from the duty.
Before suspension both the officials were told by virtue of notice. However, they did not return to duties.
An enquiry has also been ordered against them.
BJP Training Cell organizes workshop on elections
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 4: In order to educate the Party leaders and activists in the State about election related preparations for smooth and successful conduct of elections in conformity with the new election Code of Conduct, BJP Training Cell organized a one day workshop here today.
The workshop was presided over by State president of the Party Jugal Kishore Sharma. A three member team from New Delhi comprising of BJP Training Cell National Convenor, Alok Kumar, national media penal members Dr Sambit Patra and social media cum Training Cells member Kunal Kapoor were the panelists who conducted separate sessions of training followed by interactive interactions.
The workshop was organised under the supervision of BJP, Training Cell under State convenor, Rajiv Charak and co-convenoer Subash Bhagat.
In his inaugural address, Jugal Kishore Sharma said that in this era of information technology, it is essential that everyone should be abreast of latest innovative tools of information decimation in addition to traditional means of communicating with the public.
He said that the forthcoming elections are very crucial and given the public anger and disappointed with the Congress led UPA and good will of Narendra Modi, it is the duty of every Party man to utilize all the modern means to reach the people and mobilize their support.
To achieve the 2014 mission of BJP’s Government at the Centre, every worker should gear up for every available infrastructure for the same, Sharma expressed the hope that the workshop will prove to be of great boon for the Party.
Alok Kumar elaborated the intricacies of the present day Model Code of conduct as enforced by the Election Commission of India.
Dr Sambit Patra focused on electronic and print media management while Kunal Kapoor dwelled on social media.
Earlier, Jugal Kishroe Sharma, along with leader of Legislative Party Ashok Khajuria, National Executive Members, Dr Nirmal Singh and Shamsher Singh Manhas, State cells incharge Sat Sharma (CA), Alok Kumar, Sambit Patra, Kunal Kapoor and others inaugurated the workshop.
South Delhi ex Mayor Savita Gupta also participated in the workshop.
Mir for implementation of Insecticide Act
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 4: Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir has asked the enforcement agency to ensure the implementation of provisions of Insecticide Act 1968 in letter and spirit to make available quality tree spray oil to the orchardists of the State.
The Minister was addressing a joint meeting of officers of Agriculture, Horticulture, Law Enforcement Agency, SKUAST and Oil Spray Manufacturers. He also asked the Oil Spray Manufacturers to obtain registration from Central Insecticide Board and from Department of Agriculture as required under law.
The Minister also urged Director Research SKUAST and Director Horticulture to prepare spray schedule in respect of those products which are legally available to the farmers in market and ensure adequate publicity of the same through print and electronic media so that farmers are advised well in advance about the spray schedule.
The Minister further asked the law enforcement agency to intensify its campaign against sub-standard-misbranded products.
Man kills boy over illicit affair
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 4: Police today arrested a man for murdering a teenage boy in North Kashmir’s Sopore town after suspecting the victim of being in an “illicit” relationship with his daughter.
Panic had gripped Sopore town on Friday after body of Dawood Ahmed Wagay, a resident of Maharajpora in Sopore, was found chomped by dogs in an orchard in Chinkipora Gousia Abad. Police said the body had grave injuries possibly inflicted with sharp edged weapon.
Superintendent of Police, Sopore, Abdul Qayoom told Excelsior that they have arrested the accused Riyaz Ahmad Sheikh of Dregpora of Tehsil Sopore after tracing him by using technical and human sources and lodged a case against him under Section 302 CrPC.
“The accused man had suspected the victim of having illicit relationship with his daughter. On the day of murder, Sheikh came to his home in Sopore and took him outside and killed him,” Qayoom said.
The SP said the victim was a student of Sidiqia Model Public School Sopore.
NDS releases Dogri translation of Urdu novel ‘Yehi Sach Hei’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 4: Nami Dogri Sanstha (NDS) released the Dogri translation of Urdu Novel— ‘Yehi Sach Hei’, written by famous Urdu writer Anand Lehar, in a function held here today.
Translated by Deepak Aarsi, a renowned Dogri writer, the book was released by MLA Ashwani Sharma, who was the chief guest on the occasion.
Senior Advocate, Sunil Sethi, was the guest of honour, Programme Head, Radio Kashmir, Jammu, Ravi Mangora, was the special guest while renowned singer, Prof Anupama Sharma, was the special invitee.
The function was presided over by senior Advocate UK Jalali whereas former Advocate General, Rattan Lal Basotra, read the paper on the book highlighting the various aspects of the novel.
Addressing the gathering, the MLA stressed the need for translation of various novels and books of Urdu language in Dogri. Talking about the book, he said the novel reflects the present conflict of the society and also contains the solutions of various problems.
Others guests also spoke on the occasion.
Alleged ISI agents discharged at stage of framing charge
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 4: Principal Sessions Judge Jammu, Kartar Singh has discharged Rakesh Kumar, Ramnik Singh, Pinka Kumar and Joginder Singh, all alleged agents of ISI, at the stage of framing charge.
According to the police case, on May 16/17, 2013 BSF jawans noticed some movement on the border from Pakistan side. On noticing unidentified intruders, they were challenged but they ran back after throwing a small packet wrapped with black tape. From the packet, BSF jawans recovered two mobile phones with two SIM cards in each.
Later, the mobile phones along with SIM cards were handed over to police, which registered a case and started investigation. During the course of investigation, Rakesh Kumar, Ramnik Singh and Pinka Kumar were arrested and interrogated and they disclosed that they had met thrice a person namely Jagga, who had connection with ISI and on his instructions they hatched a conspiracy to spread terrorist activities in the State. After investigation final report was submitted in the court.
After hearing both the sides, Principal Sessions Judge observed, “in order to frame charge against the accused the court has to satisfy itself that there is prima facie evidence against them in order to connect them with the commission of alleged offence. In case there is prima facie evidence, the accused are required to be charged otherwise they are to be discharged”.
“In order to come to the conclusion as to whether there is prima facie evidence, roving enquiry is not to be conducted by the court and only the evidence gathered during investigation has to be taken into consideration”, the Court said, adding “the only incriminating evidence against the accused is the interrogation report which has been placed on record by the investigating officer. The interrogation reports of the accused reveal that they are Pak agents and were working for ISI and used to indulge in smuggling activities”.
“Interrogation report is not admissible in evidence as it is hit by Section 25 of the Evidence Act. Except this there is no other evidence against the accused. The interrogation report relied upon by the prosecution is of no use”, the Court said while discharging the accused of the alleged offence.
CEC consults private schools to improve education system in Leh
Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Jan 4: To improve the school education system and look forward the feedback on SAMPARK’s proposition as well as suggestions, the Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC, Leh Rigzin Spalbar, convened a consultation meeting with the principals of private schools of Leh district at Council Secretariat today.
Addressing the meeting the CEC informed that LAHDC was approached by SAMPARK Foundation, a Delhi based organization, proposing to help with a 5 year project aimed at transforming the way of teaching and learning taking place in Leh schools. The project envisages extensive capacity building of teachers in skills related to pedagogy as well as management and seeks to improve existing planning and review mechanism as well.
The CEC said that before signing the MoU, LAHDC intended to consult with the private schools and know their view points and suggestion to implement the programme collaboratively in Leh district for the larger interest of improving the education standard. He said that the inputs and partnership was important for a collaborative growth and the private schools were also expected to contribute to the fulfilment of certain social obligation and equitable development in education.
The principals of private schools put forth their view points and valuable suggestions and assured the CEC that they will provide every possible support in implementing this programme in Leh district.
Earlier, G.M Shiek Director TISS gave a brief introduction on SAMPARK’s proposed intervention and programmes.