J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Top heavy police set-up ‘dismays’ CM
Jammu, December 10
The Chief Minister, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, has expressed deep “dismay” over the excessive number of senior police officers in Jammu and Kashmir.

Sonia listens to quake hit
Tangdhar, J&K, December 10
After spending a chilly night with the quake survivors of Uri, UPA chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi today arrived here to listen to the grievances of the people and take steps for their redressal.

4 pilgrims die as bus overturns
Jammu, December 10
Four Vaishno Devi-bound pilgrims were killed and 31 injured when the bus in which they were travelling, turned turtle near Moori, 12 km from Katra, on the Jammu-Katra road today.

Support to Pervez’s idea worries BJP
Jammu, December 10
The state unit of the BJP has expressed concern over the way valley-based political leaders, including those heading the mainstream organisation, have “endorsed” Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s suggestion in favour of self-governance and demilitarisation of Jammu and Kashmir.

Top heavy police set-up ‘dismays’ CM
Our Correspondent

Jammu, December 10
The Chief Minister, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, has expressed deep “dismay” over the excessive number of senior police officers in Jammu and Kashmir.

During his recent interaction with members of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries the Chief Minister told the industrialists that a small state like Jammu and Kashmir could ill afford to have 250 SPs when there were only 14 districts in the state. He said there were more than five officers holding the rank of Director-General of Police. Even states with bigger population, area and resources in India did not have such a large force of senior police officers.

A senior police officer while confirming the observations of Mr Azad said, “At present out of 250 Superintendents of Police, 50 were without posting.” He explained that a few months ago officers were elevated to the rank of SPs more than the sanctioned number with the result 50 SPs could not be allotted any work.

The officer said a move was afoot to elevate six DIGs to the rank of IGs when there were only three vacancies. He said prior to the rise of militancy in the state in 1989, the total police strength was 30,000 and during the past 16 years the number had swelled to over 70,000.

Justifying elevations of scores of officers to the higher ranks, the police officer said without it the promotion avenues would have been sealed causing resentment among the police force.

The Chief Minister also suggested to the industrialists to generate jobs for the unemployed youths. He told them that “there is about 50 per cent surplus employees in the government sector when there was no work.” He made it clear that the government was not in a position to give jobs to all unemployed youths and it was for the private sector to increase employment avenues.

Sonia listens to quake hit

Tangdhar, J&K, December 10
After spending a chilly night with the quake survivors of Uri, UPA chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi today arrived here to listen to the grievances of the people and take steps for their redressal.

On her arrival at the helipad here by a special Indian Air Force (IAF) chopper at 9.45 a.m. Ms Gandhi headed straight for Kandi village where the quake victims had gathered.

The Congress chief listened to the victims patiently and gave on the-spot directions to the state government officials in this regard.

After spending about 15 minutes at Kandi, she left for Chitterkote, another quake-hit village in the area and known as “Sarhad ka Taj (crown of the border)”.

There also spoke with the survivors and heard their problems. Several victims gave her applications regarding employment, relief, rehabilitation and many other demands.

From there, her cavalcade moved ahead to Dringla village, but stopped enroute to Teethwal at Tarboni, a Sikh village.

As she was seen going to the quake victims and speaking to them individually, the villagers of Chillana in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) had gathered on the other side of the LoC to have a glimpse of the Indian leader.

Teethwal is among the five points which were recently opened by India and Pakistan for quake survivors to meet each other and exchange relief material.

Ms Gandhi later drove to Nechian and met the victims there also.

The UPA chairperson was accompanied by PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, AICC general secretary Ambika Soni, AICC secretary Harcharan Singh Josh, besides several senior civil and police officials.

Later, she boarded the chopper to Srinagar on her way back to New Delhi.

Srinagar: Ms Gandhi also flagged off about 500 orphans and affected children of Jammu and Kashmir for higher education in Pune, Maharashtra.

She interacted with the 500 children who would be relocated for their educational rehabilitation in Pune.

The educational programme, organised by Bharatiya Jain Sangathana, will be held at the Wagholi Educational Rehabilitation Centre in Pune.

Of the 500 children, 106 were from Uri, 232 from Tangdhar and the remaining from other parts of the state. — UNI

4 pilgrims die as bus overturns
Our Correspondent

Jammu, December 10
Four Vaishno Devi-bound pilgrims were killed and 31 injured when the bus in which they were travelling, turned turtle near Moori, 12 km from Katra, on the Jammu-Katra road today.

According to the police, 20 injured passengers were rushed to Government Medical College in Jammu while the others were taken for first-aid to Katra.

The dead include Bimla from New Delhi. The police is still ascertaining the identity of the other three deceased. Among the injured were some women and children who were on a visit to the Mata Viashno Devi shrine.

It was not known whether the accident took place because of some mechanical fault or the driver lost control over the steering.

Support to Pervez’s idea worries BJP
Our Correspondent