J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Demolition drive in Srinagar
Srinagar, January 2
In the largest demolition drive undertaken in the past 15 years, the civic authorities here have demolished more than 80 illegal structures, mostly commercial, on Indira Gandhi Road which connects Srinagar airport to the city.

565 Haj pilgrims to be airlifted
Jammu, January 2
As many as 565 Haj pilgrims from Jammu division will leave for Jeddah between January 9 and 15, official sources said here today.

2 ex-MLAs held for graft
Jammu, January 2
Two former MLAs of the previous National Conference government have been arrested for alleged illegal gratification from the unemployed youths for providing government jobs to them.

Response to bandh lukewarm
Jammu, January 2
The VHP-sponsored Jammu bandh called today in protest against an act of sacrilege evoked a lukewarm response though affecting life in and around the city, official sources said.

Are ultras smuggling narcotics?
Srinagar, January 2
Are militants entering Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan bringing with them narcotics? According to defence sources, in a raid on a hideout in Trehgam in Kupwara district of north Kashmir yesterday, the security forces found a powdery substance raising suspicion that militants might be bringing narcotics with them along with weapons for distribution among Kashmiri youth.

Terrorism deters visitors to shrine
Jammu, January 2
Recent incidents of terrorism here and in Katra town in Jammu and Kashmir has led to fall in the number of visiting pilgrims to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine which recorded a three year low of 44.32 lakh visitors this year, 7.8 lakh less than in 2000, Vaishno Devi Shrine Board officials said today.

Illegal power users face action
Srinagar, January 2
To check the misuse of power Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department yesterday issued a warning to illegal consumers to get their connections regularised within a week or face penal action.

Havildar stabbed to death
Jammu, January 2
An army man was stabbed to death by miscreants in the outskirts of the city today, official sources said here.

BDO held for taking bribe
Srinagar, January 2
The Jammu and Kashmir Vigilance Organisation arrested Srinagar Block Development Officer (BDO) while taking a bribe of Rs 10,000 from a contractor here. The BDO Abdul Rashid, was caught while taking the bribe and the money was recovered from his possession, a spokesman said.

Demolition drive in Srinagar

Srinagar, January 2
In the largest demolition drive undertaken in the past 15 years, the civic authorities here have demolished more than 80 illegal structures, mostly commercial, on Indira Gandhi Road which connects Srinagar airport to the city.

The demolitions carried out by the Municipal Corporation and the Srinagar Development Authority since last evening led to protests today by those whose structures were razed.

“We have launched an intensive campaign against illegal constructions and encroachments on state land and roads. Nothing illegal will be spared,” Mr Mohammad Aslam Laigaroo of the corporation told PTI here.

He said in the initial stages Indira Gandhi Road would be cleared of illegal constructions but the drive would ultimately cover the entire city.

Mr Laigaroo said though most of the demolished structures were commercial outlets, unauthorised residential ones would be targeted after the winter.

“Alternative arrangements will be made for those living in the buildings before these are brought down,” he said.

Chairman of the Srinagar Development Authority Mir Naseem Ahmad said all encroachments on footpaths, roads and state land would be cleared. When asked why these structures were allowed to come up in the first place, they said some institutions had been lax in enforcing the rules due to the abnormal situation prevailing here. PTI

565 Haj pilgrims to be airlifted

Jammu, January 2
As many as 565 Haj pilgrims from Jammu division will leave for Jeddah between January 9 and 15, official sources said here today.

Pilgrims from different districts will arrive here and will leave for Srinagar on different dates, Divisional Commissioner Anil Goswami said, adding that from Srinagar, they would be airlifted to Jeddah in batches.

Giving details, he said 71 pilgrims from Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch would leave from Jammu for Srinagar by air on January 6 and the second batch of 71 pilgrims from Rajouri and Poonch districts would leave for Srinagar on January 7.

Another batch of 70 pilgrims would be airlifted to Srinagar on January 8, he said, adding that all 212 pilgrims would leave for the onward journey to Jeddah on January 9.

He said 211 pilgrims of Doda district and 63 of Udhampur district would proceed to Srinagar by bus on January 10 and 13, respectively.

The pilgrims from Doda would leave for the onward journey to Jeddah on January 12, while the pilgrims from Udhampur would be airlifted to Jeddah on January 15. Besides, 79 other pilgrims from Rajouri would also leave for Srinagar on January 13 and later proceed to Jeddah on January 15, Mr Goswami said. PTI

2 ex-MLAs held for graft

Jammu, January 2
Two former MLAs of the previous National Conference government have been arrested for alleged illegal gratification from the unemployed youths for providing government jobs to them.

The former MLAs were arrested by the Vigilance Department of the state on the direction of the Jammu, Anti corruption judge.

A complaint was filed by Mahant Magal Nath of Bhakshi Nagar area of the Jammu city against two formers legislators Satpal Lakhotra (National Conference) of Raipur Domana segment and Prem Lal (BJP) of Hiranagar segment and his private secretary Dharm Vir alleging that they had collected money from his disciples on the pretext for providing them jobs.

An investigation by the Vigilance Department reportedly established a case against the two legislators and their private secretary for demanding and accepting illegal gratification.

As per the FIR against the accused, the former MLAs and their accomplice also collected ornaments and other valuables from the victims as security. UNI

Response to bandh lukewarm

Jammu, January 2
The VHP-sponsored Jammu bandh called today in protest against an act of sacrilege evoked a lukewarm response though affecting life in and around the city, official sources said.

The bandh was supported by the ABVP, the RSS, the Shiv Sena and the Gau Raksha Samiti (GRS), protesting the sacrilege in the city’s Jullaka mohalla area yesterday.

Shops and business establishments continued to function as usual and traffic was normal in most parts of the city, the sources said.

The bandh was more successful in the old city areas where shops remained closed and people sat on a dharna demanding probe into the reported incident.

There were no reports of any untoward incident from any where in Jammu city, a police spokesman said. PTI

Are ultras smuggling narcotics?

Srinagar, January 2
Are militants entering Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan bringing with them narcotics?

According to defence sources, in a raid on a hideout in Trehgam in Kupwara district of north Kashmir yesterday, the security forces found a powdery substance raising suspicion that militants might be bringing narcotics with them along with weapons for distribution among Kashmiri youth.

They said the packet had been sent for testing and a report was expected within a week. PTI

Terrorism deters visitors to shrine

Jammu, January 2
Recent incidents of terrorism here and in Katra town in Jammu and Kashmir has led to fall in the number of visiting pilgrims to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine which recorded a three year low of 44.32 lakh visitors this year, 7.8 lakh less than in 2000, Vaishno Devi Shrine Board officials said today.

“This year’s pilgrim flow of 44.32 lakh was the lowest in the past three years recording a dip of 7,85,175 what was in 2000”, the officials told PTI here.

As many as 5,056,919 pilgrims visited the cave shrine in 2001 while a record 5,217,175 had ‘darshan’ in 2000, the officials said. PTI

Illegal power users face action

Srinagar, January 2
To check the misuse of power Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department yesterday issued a warning to illegal consumers to get their connections regularised within a week or face penal action.

A spokesman for the power department said people not abiding by the directions or found indulging in power theft would be dealt with severely and the punishment would include arrest and fine.

The warning comes in the wake of reports that a large number of people indulged in power theft in the state which led to damage to power transformers and very low voltage. PTI

Havildar stabbed to death

Jammu, January 2
An army man was stabbed to death by miscreants in the outskirts of the city today, official sources said here.

The army personnel Hav Ram Vir Singh was stabbed several times by the assailants near the Sainik Colony area of the city this afternoon.

The victim died on the spot while the assailants fled, the sources added. A case has been registered and a hunt is on to nab the culprits. PTI

BDO held for taking bribe

Srinagar, January 2
The Jammu and Kashmir Vigilance Organisation arrested Srinagar Block Development Officer (BDO) while taking a bribe of Rs 10,000 from a contractor here.

The BDO Abdul Rashid, was caught while taking the bribe and the money was recovered from his possession, a spokesman said.

He said after receiving a complaint from the contractor that the BDO was demanding Rs 10,000 as bribe for allotting him a work order, a team headed by Deputy Superintendent of Police, Vigilance Srinagar laid a trap. A case had been registered. UNI