Chandigarh, February 16

A day after four children were charred to death in a fire tragedy involving a ramshackle van in Punjab’s Sangrur, police slapped murder charges against the driver and the owner-cum-principal of the school to which the vehicle belonged.

Confirming it, Sunam DSP Sukhbinder Pal Singh said school owner-cum-principal Lakhwinder and van driver Dalbir were arrested on the murder charge on the complaint of a girl’s father.

Meanwhile, a tearful adieu was given to the children at their native place in Sangrur on Sunday.

“The complainant has stated that on previous occasions, too, the school principal and the driver had been warned about the condition of an auto-rickshaw which they had provided for ferrying children,” the DSP said over the phone.“The complainant alleged that when the school van was provided, it was even riskier than the previous vehicle and the deliberate act on the part of the accused endangered the lives of children,” the DSP added.

When asked that the van was stated to be very old, the DSP said they have sought all records from the regional transport authorities.

“These should be available on Monday,” he said.

Earlier, police had booked the principal, school management and the van driver on charges of causing culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code. The murder charge was added later.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the apex religious body of Sikhs, has announced Rs 1 lakh to the next of kin of the each victim.

SGPC chief Gobind Singh Longowal demanded strict action against the officials whose negligence led to the plying of unfit vehicles on roads.

The children, who were charred to death inside the vehicle, included a nearly three-year-old girl visiting the school for the first time, police had said.

“She was fond of ‘paranthas’ and I had packed them in her tiffin,” said her inconsolable mother on Sunday.

The petrol vehicle, stated to be a 1990-model, fitted with an LPG cylinder, was bought by the school authorities on Friday and deployed to ferry children for the first time on Saturday.

The accident took place on the Longowal-Sidsaachar road, police had said, adding that 12 children were in the van at the time of the incident.

While eight children were rescued from the burning van by people working in nearby fields, four, including the three-year-old girl, were burnt alive, they added.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh too had ordered a magisterial probe into the incident while ordering the state Transport Department to launch a statewide checking of the road worthiness and fitness of all school buses.

He also ordered an ex gratia of Rs 7.25 lakh to each of the victim families. — PTI

Read: Punjab CM commends 14-year-old for rescuing 4 kids from burning van

According to police, the incident took place around 11 am at Sharifda village when Akash Kumar Koitiya (22), a jawan with the military police wing of the Army, started on his wedding procession.

A Dalit, Koitiya had recently finished his training in Bengaluru and was about to join his posting at Meerut. He was on leave for his wedding.

Despite police protection, the wedding procession of a Dalit Army jawan in Gujarat’s Banaskantha district was on Sunday pelted with stones by a group of people, allegedly from another community because the groom rode a mare.

According to police, the incident took place around 11 am at Sharifda village when Akash Kumar Koitiya (22), a jawan with the military police wing of the Army, started on his wedding procession. A Dalit, Koitiya had recently finished his training in Bengaluru and was about to join his posting at Meerut. He was on leave for his wedding.

“Earlier, we received threats from a few people from the Thakor Koli community that they would not allow the procession to pass through the village if the groom rode a mare. We gave a written request for police security after which 6-7 police personnel were deployed to accompany the wedding procession. However, after the procession started moving, a group of people started throwing stones. The groom narrowly escaped an injury and was taken to the police control room van. However, three of our relatives, including two women, were injured in the stone-pelting,” said Vijay Koitiya, the elder brother of Akash. Vijay, too, is with the Army and is posted in Jammu and Kashmir.

Following the incident, multiple police teams were rushed to the village. “At least 50-60 policemen joined the wedding procession as security convoy so that the groom and other baratis could reach the bride’s village, Sundha, in Palanpur taluka. The wedding went on without any incident,” said Dalpat Bhatia, a Dalit rights activist based in Banaskantha.

Taking cognizance of the complaint lodged by the groom’s family, an FIR has been filed at Gadh police station in Banaskantha against 11 people belonging to the Thakor Koli community.

The accused have been identified as Senji Koli, Shivaji Koli, Deepak Koli, Tushar Koli, Bhavan Koli, Vinod Koli, Ramaji Koli, Deepak Ishwar Koli, Bai Koli, Manju Koli and Jeetu Koli.

“The groom and his procession were attacked with stones by a group in the village who objected to him riding a mare. We provided security in advance and after the incident, more personnel were deployed. We have booked 11 accused under Indian Penal Code sections 323 (assault), 337 (causing hurt by rash act) 294 (obscenity), 506 (criminal intimidation) 147 (rioting) and 148 (rioting with deadly weapon) along with sections of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities Act),” said P G Rajput, officer in charge of Gadh police station. No arrests have been made yet, police said.

Our Correspondent

Kathua, February 15

Pakistan targeted the Indian forward posts and villages along the international border in the Hiranagar sector of the district with small firearms and mortars on Friday morning, forcing the Border Security Force (BSF) to retaliate in equal measure.

According to police sources, Pakistan opened unprovoked fire from their Papuchak post being manned by 25 Chenab Rangers (Pak Rangers) and fired 210 rounds of small firearms and mortars targeting Indian forward posts and villages along the international border around 4 am on Friday morning.

The BSF’s 19 Battalion, guarding the border, retaliated from their Chadwan post to silence the Pakistan guns. The exchange of fire continued till 6.15 am, the sources said.

The police said there was no report of loss of life or injury on the Indian side but two dish antennas and three water tanks on roofs of houses of Vijay Kumar, Om Prakash and Mohinder Lal, all residents of Chann Tanda village, were damaged in the Pak shelling and firing.

Jammu, February 16

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has extended the 2G mobile data service and fixed-line internet connectivity wherever provided across the union territory till February 24, an official spokesperson said on Sunday.

However, the internet service providers (ISP) have been given directions to ensure access to 1,485 white-listed sites only and not to any social media applications allowing peer-to-peer communication and virtual private network (VPN) applications, he said.

“The directions shall be effective from February 16 and remain in force till February 24, unless modified earlier,” he said quoting an order issued by the Home Department.

The 2G internet facility on mobile phones was restored in Jammu and Kashmir on January 25 after remaining suspended since August 5 last year after the Centre announced the abrogation of Article 370 provisions and bifurcation of the erstwhile state into union territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

“Whereas, reports have been received from the intelligence and law enforcement agencies inter-alia bringing out the manner in which social media sites are being accessed through the virtual private network (VPN) applications, for coordinating terror activities as well as to upload provocative material aimed at disturbing the public order.

“It has also been reported that attempts have been made to disturb the public peace by spreading rumours to incite the general public over the last week which necessitated temporary suspension of the mobile data services for limited period of time by the authorised officers,” read the order issued by Principal Secretary, Home department, Shaleen Kabra.

With regard to mobile data service, he said ISPs would ensure access only to the 1,485 whitelisted sites and not to any social media applications allowing peer-to-peer communication and VPN applications.

“Data services shall be available on the postpaid mobiles and on prepaid SIM cards of such holders whose credentials have been verified as per the norms applicable for postpaid connections; and the internet speed shall be restricted to 2G only,” he said in his order.

About fixed line internet connectivity, he said, “Wherever connectivity has been provided with effect from January 14 and onwards, ISPs shall ensure that access is limited to the whitelisted sites and not to any social media applications allowing peer-to-peer communication and VPN applications.

“Internet connectivity shall be available only after mac-binding. It is further directed that all those who are provided access to the internet shall ensure that it is not misused for uploading the provocative material inimical to the interest of the state,” the order read.

Kabra said the access or communication facilities made available by the government by way of e-terminals or internet kiosks apart from special arrangements for tourists, students and traders would continue.

The inspector generals of police, Kashmir and Jammu, would ensure communication of these directions to the service providers forthwith and ensure implementation of the directions with immediate effect, the order said. PTI

I was J&K DGP when a massacre was reported in a remote village in Doda district. The then CM Farooq Abdullah insisted on accompanying me in a helicopter to the site. The events of the day are vivid in my memory, as also the quick and exemplary decision-making

Gurbachan Jagat

During my posting as Director General of Police in Jammu and Kashmir from 1997 to the end of 2000, militants were still very active in the state and there was a strong foreign hand in the form of infiltration from across the border. One of the most affected districts was Doda, which is bigger in size than the entire Kashmir valley. There were hardly any roads and the terrain was mountainous and forested. Militants crossing over from Pakistan regularly used one of the routes passing through Doda into the Valley.

It was a difficult area to secure, but the population there was supportive; and we had recruited a large number of special police officers (SPOs) from there to assist the security forces. These SPOs were substantially useful for gathering intelligence inputs.

However, because of lack of roads and a suitable transport system, sometimes it took a couple of days before the information regarding an incident was reported to the police.

I remember one such incident when information was received that about 21 persons had been massacred by militants in a village in Doda. By the time the information was conveyed to me at night, two days had already passed. The then Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, was camping at Patnitop, and in the morning I took the state helicopter and stopped at Patnitop to inform him about the incident. He insisted on accompanying me and we took off in a short while.

Although we had been given rough coordinates of the village, we were unable to locate it. In the meantime, a police team headed by a DIG (Rajendra Kumar, who became the DGP later) was proceeding on foot to the village.

While flying over the area, we noticed a farmer ploughing his land. Chief Minister Abdullah insisted that we land and ask for proper directions. The pilot expressed his hesitation because one could not rule out the farmer being a militant sympathiser. The presence or absence of militants in the area was also not known to us. However, we did land.

While he could not give us clear directions, Dr Abdullah asked him to accompany us in the helicopter. Much against our wishes, we managed to squeeze him in and took off. After sometime, he pointed out the place to us and we landed. Villages in these areas were not a compact group of houses; these were spread over several adjoining hills.

At the site of the crime, there was no presence of any living human being — only an abandoned dog was sitting there. We entered a mud house and found bodies of men and women strewn all over and the smell of death and putrefaction hanging over the place. It was a macabre scene.

Meanwhile, we enquired about the DIG’s location because further action could be taken only upon his team’s arrival. We proceeded towards the DIG’s location, which was at quite a distance, and found him and his team coming up through a dry mountainous stream. We landed there again and discussed the incident with the DIG, who was walking with a bandaged foot due to an injury sustained by him. He was/is a courageous person. We realised it would take another two days for them to reach the spot.

After some discussions and on the insistence of Dr Abdullah, we decided that the police party would be split into groups of four-five persons each and airlifted to the site. It was a hazardous task to fly to the same spot, land and then come back for the next group, specially because we were unaware of militants’ absence or presence near the site or near the place where we had landed. Finally, the last group also left by helicopter, leaving behind only the two of us — the then Chief Minister and myself. Both of us were unarmed and standing at an unknown and isolated location. We looked at each other, smiled and must have prayed. However, even in the midst of that lurking danger, Dr Abdullah continued with his unending flow of jokes and short stories. He did not mention the situation even once and kept on narrating stories from his vast repertoire.

Finally, the helicopter came back and we took off for Patnitop.

Through this unconventional decision, the DIG and his team reached the crime scene early and coordinated with other security forces. This was a display of courageous and astute leadership, coupled with a concern for the welfare of the police personnel. I am sure the lesson must have gone home to the police officers and policemen who took part in that operation. I had already discussed the issue with the DIG and left for Jammu to prepare for whatever the next day would bring in — never a dull moment!

— The writer is former chairman of UPSC and former Governor of Manipur

Srinagar, February 13

The Central Reserve Police Force will dedicate a martyrs’ column on Friday to the memory of the 40 jawans killed in a suicide attack in Pulwama.

On February 14, last year, the attack was carried out by local suicide bomber Adil Dar of Jaish-e-Mohammad, who rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into a CRPF convoy at Lethpora in Pulwama on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, killing 40 personnel and injuring dozen others.

On the first anniversary of the blast, the J&K zone CRPF is organising a solemn ceremony at the CRPF training centre, Letpora, Pulwama. “A martyrs’ column will be inaugurated at the solemn function at Lethpora,” Special Director General, CRPF, J&K, Zulfiqar Hassan told The Tribune.

The martyrs’ column is located close to the spot where the deadly bombing took place. “The names of the CRPF jawans who died in the attack are inscribed on it and the idea is to pay homage to them,” Hassan said.

A blood donation camp would also be held at Letpora. — TNS

Memorial to 40 CRPF jawans killed in Pulwama attack to be inaugurated on Friday

Srinagar, February 13

A memorial to the 40 CRPF personnel killed in the Pulwama terror attack in February last year will be inaugurated at the Lethpora camp on Friday, a top official said.

“It is a way to pay homage to the brave jawans who lost their lives in the attack,” Additional Director General of CRPF Zulfiquar Hasan said on Thursday here after a visit to the site where the memorial has been erected.

The names of all the 40 personnel along with their pictures will be part of the memorial along with the motto of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) — ‘Seva and Nishtha’ (Service and Loyalty).

“It definitely was an unfortunate incident and we have learnt our lessons now. We were always extra alert during our movement but now an extra layer of alertness has been added to it,” Hasan told PTI here.

The supreme sacrifice of the 40 jawans has furthered increased “our resolve to eliminate enemies of the country”.

“We fight with extra vigour during an encounter with terrorists and that is why we were able to eliminate the entire Jaish-e-Mohammed commanders immediately after the attack on our jawans,” he said.

While he refused to spell out the precaution that is taken during troop movements in the aftermath of the February 14 attack, officials in the security establishment said the movement of troops is now done in coordination with other security forces and the Army.

The Ministry of Home Affairs had also allowed the CRPF to carry its troops by air to avoid the possibility of any such attack.

The Jammu and Kashmir Government had imposed a ban on plying of private vehicles on two days in a week to facilitate movement of troops. The order was later rescinded after the situation became normal.

The process of bullet-proofing of vehicles carrying the troops was expedited and more and more bunker-type vehicles were seen on roads carrying the jawans.

The memorial has been set up inside a CRPF camp adjacent to the place where Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist Adeel Ahmed Dar, driving an explosive-laden car, blew himself next to a convoy of security forces killing the 40 personnel.

Almost all the conspirators behind the dastardly attack have since been killed with the last one being Qari Yasir, the self-styled chief of Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group, who was killed last month. — PTI