New dimension to tussle in NC
JAMMU, Nov 11 — The recent raids on Ansari Motors, owned by brothers of the Housing Minister, Maulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, and the demolition of two houses constructed by the Minister for Information, Mr Ajat Shatru, have added a new dimension to the tussle between ruling party leaders and bureaucrats on the one hand and among colleagues of Dr Farooq Abdullah on the other hand.

J&K opts for English medium
JAMMU, Nov 11 — English as the medium of instruction is being introduced in state-run schools from primary stages and science and mathematics in English from standard six from the next academic session, bringing the government education system at par with private institutions in Jammu and Kashmir.

Pak, Indian troops killed in firing
JAMMU, Nov 11 — A Pakistani soldier and an Indian jawan were killed in exchange of shelling in the Siachen glacier and the Battalick area of the frontier region of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday, a Defence spokesman said here today.

J&K treasuries to be computerised
JAMMU, Nov 11 — The government treasuries in Jammu and Kashmir will be computerised in a phased manner.

Lawyers stay away from courts
SRINAGAR, Nov 11 — Work in lower courts here came to a standstill today following the arrest of an advocate by the special operations group of the police on Monday night.

New dimension to tussle in NC
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Nov 11 — The recent raids on Ansari Motors, owned by brothers of the Housing Minister, Maulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, and the demolition of two houses constructed by the Minister for Information, Mr Ajat Shatru, have added a new dimension to the tussle between ruling party leaders and bureaucrats on the one hand and among colleagues of Dr Farooq Abdullah on the other hand.

Reports said the Maulvi talked to Dr Farooq Abdullah on the phone who was in London reported to have assured him that he would look into the matter soon after reaching Srinagar.

Dr Abdullah has been in the state for the past 10 days and no consideration has been shown to Ansari Motors. The Chief Minister said at a public function in Jammu recently that the government would act against tax evaders.

He said Ansari Motors had made a representation to the government that the sales tax assessment had been wrong and he had agreed to get the case re-examined.

Dr Abdullah defended the government's action in demolishing the two houses which the Minister of Information, Mr Ajat Shatru, son of Dr Karan Singh, had built in the green belt in Srinagar.

He said the minister should have sought the approval of the Housing and other departments. At the same time he said he was intrigued as to why the agencies concerned had not acted when Mr Shatru had started construction of the two houses. Soon after the houses were demolished Mr Ajat Shatru announced that he would file an FIR against the Minister for Housing, Maulvi Ansari, a charge of having acted illegally. He also stated that in case he was convinced that the demolition had the approval of the Chief Minister, he would quit the Cabinet.

Reacting, the Chief Minister told reporters in Jammu recently that the minister's statement was premature and advised him and other colleagues not to rush to the press.

Informed sources say the groupism the Council of Ministers is the creation of two lobbies — one pro-Abdullah and the other pro-bureaucracy. During the past two years it has been witnessed that senior bureaucrats have enjoyed more powers than ministers. This has been possible because of total trust Dr Abdullah has reposed in certain senior bureaucrats.

Those who have watched the tussle from close quarters feel that there is no need for the Opposition in the state since the role is being played by colleagues of Dr Abdullah.

J&K opts for English medium

JAMMU, Nov 11 (PTI) — English as the medium of instruction is being introduced in state-run schools from primary stages and science and mathematics in English from standard six from the next academic session, bringing the government education system at par with private institutions in Jammu and Kashmir.

Till now, all subjects except English were being taught in vernacular upto standard eight in government schools.

The decision to introduce English medium was taken at a high-level meeting of the Education Department chaired by Minister for School Education, Mohammed Sharief Tariq here last evening, officials said.

The state government has also decided to reduce the entry age in schools which was five plus till now. This will permit working parents to send their wards to schools at an early age.

A common syllabus for all classes will be introduced in the state to establish parity between education standards of private and government institutions.

Pak, Indian troops killed in firing

JAMMU, Nov 11 (PTI) — A Pakistani soldier and an Indian jawan were killed in exchange of shelling in the Siachen glacier and the Battalick area of the frontier region of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday, a Defence spokesman said here today.

The Pakistani soldier was killed during the exchange of artillery fire in southern side of the Siachen glacier this morning, he said.

Artillery fire was also exchanged in northern side of the glacier today without any casualty or damage on either side, he said.

An Indian jawan, who had received splinter injuries during artillery shelling by Pakistani troops in the Batallick area yesterday, succumbed to his injuries in the hospital, he said.

An exchange of fire was also reported in the Kaksar and Kargil areas of Ladakh today, he said.

Reports from International Border, Jammu division, said there was intermittent exchange of fire between Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistani rangers in Regal, Londi, Khora and Suchetgarh border outposts during the night without any casualty on Indian side.

SRINAGAR: Six persons, including five militants, were killed while a leader of the Youth National Conference escaped an attempt on his life in Jammu and Kashmir since Tuesday.

A BSF spokesman said three foreign mercenaries were killed and two BSF jawans injured in an encounter at Shankerpora-Wanibal on the outskirts of Srinagar today.

Official sources said two civilians were also injured and some houses gutted during the encounter.

Two militants were killed in an encounter with security forces at Shanoo village in Doda district of the Jammu region last night, an official spokesman said here today.

Two AK assault rifles, a wireless set and six grenades were seized from the killed militants, he said.

Militants shot dead an auto-rickshaw driver in the Karan Nagar area of Srinagar last evening.

He said militants fired at the house of block secretary of Youth National Conference, Mohammad Sultan Wani, in Bangil-Tangmarg village of Baramulla district last night. Wani escaped unhurt in the attack.

The police guards deployed at his house returned the fire, foiling the militants’ "design", he said.

Security forces smashed a militants hideout at Kanthpora in Kupwara district and seized some arms and ammunition.

J&K treasuries to be computerised
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Nov 11 — The government treasuries in Jammu and Kashmir will be computerised in a phased manner.

This was stated by Chief Secretary Ashok Jaitley while presiding over a meeting of the Committee of Secretaries here today.

He said information technology was being introduced in a big way to speed up the pace of development and monitor progress of various schemes. All departments had been asked to prepare an action plan within two weeks so that a draft could be submitted to the Cabinet for approval.

The Chief Secretary said district employment exchanges too were being computerised, alongwith offices of the state employees life insurance. During the meeting, the Director of Information, Mr S. Panday, said the Information Department would be linked with the Internet within a month.

He emphasised the need for quantum jump for the operational staff to learn computers. He said training programmes would be organised at different levels. The capacity of the internal telephone exchange in the civil secretariat would be doubled shortly.

It was also decided that direct Srinagar-Jeddah flights would be operated from the summer capital.

Lawyers stay away from courts

SRINAGAR, Nov 11 (PTI) — Work in lower courts here came to a standstill today following the arrest of an advocate by the special operations group of the police on Monday night.

The advocate, Mohammad Younis Bhat, was arrested by the special operations group from his Chattabal residence on November 9, which sparked protests by the lawyers fraternity, official sources said.

The High Court Bar Association, while demanding immediate release of the advocate, alleged that he was arrested "to keep him away from pleading a case."

Condemning the arrest, lawyers remained away from courts and no case was put up in the lower courts in the city today, the sources said.