Poonch, March 24
Though the departmental inquiry constituted by the Director, School Education, has not submitted its report, the Poonch police arrested a Class VIII student for allegedly stealing and leaking the question papers from Government High School at Mangnar in Poonch district.

As the question papers of Class VIII were leaked in Poonch on February 21, the Director, School Education, Jammu, had postponed the examinations.

Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, who also holds the portfolio of Minister for School Education, had ordered a probe.

Two persons found involved in the leak out of the question papers were suspended on the direction of Tara Chand.

As per the reports, the questions papers were leaked from Government High School, Mangnar, and were circulated to the students in Poonch.

The principal of the District Institute of Education Teachings (DIET) along with senior staff members rushed to the school after getting information of paper leak and found bundles of question papers opened in the school almira.

An FIR under Section 380 of the RPC was lodged and the education department had constituted an inquiry committee headed by Sudarshan Sharma, principal, HSS, Lassana, to probe the matter.

“The boy admitted that he had committed the crime. He said he wanted to get good marks in class VIII exams,” said Poonch SP Shamsheer Hussain in a press conference here today.

“In an initial investigation, we have not found the involvement of any other member of the school staff and a case has been registered against the student,” the SP said.

Sources in the education department said at least one employee of the department was involved in the incident.

A well-placed source in the education department disclosed that there were some administrative irregularities in the school which gave a chance to the real accused to do the crime.

“The departmental report will be submitted within 3 to 4 days,” sources said.

Katra, March 24
Eight persons were injured during blasting at the T5 tunnel in the Grah Morh area of Reasi on the Udhampur-Baramulla Railway Line project yesterday.

Police officials at Reasi said the incident took place at around 9.00 pm yesterday when blasting of mountains at the T5 tunnel in Grah Morh was on. As many as eight labourers received critical injuries during the blasting.

The injured have been identified as Bal Krishan (28), Sushil (27), Sanjay (20), Manoj (26), Rahul (35), Aman (20), Mahatama (20), Parshotam (35). All the injured persons are residents of Reasi.

Police officials added that the injured were immediately shifted to the Reasi Hospital for treatment and two of them were referred to the GMC in Jammu.

JAMMU, MARCH 24
The government is contemplating establishment of a state-level authority to coordinate and monitor development and maintenance of road infrastructure by the R&B, the NHAI and the BRO across the state.

This was stated by Minister for R&B Abdul Majid Wani at a function held at Magowali RS Pura to commemorate martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev and to pay special homage to Veer Chakra naib subedar Hans Raj, who sacrificed his life while defending the country in 1947.

Paying glorious tributes to the martyrs, Wani said freedom and liberties enjoyed by the citizens of the country today were earned through supreme sacrifices of such youth and we must imbibe the same spirit of sacrifice and patriotism to further the cause of nation building.

"All citizens need to make his contribution to strengthen the nation,” he said. 

Jammu, March 24
Governor NN Vohra will inaugurate the Octave-2013, a festival of the North-East, tomorrow. During the festival, various cultural groups from the north-eastern states will perform at the BSF auditorium in Paloura camp.

Addressing a press conference, DS Saroya, director, north zone cultural centre, Patiala, said the first Octave was held in 2006 in New Delhi to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the North-East to the rest of the country.

“The festival offers a platform to create awareness about the north-eastern states among the people of the country,” he said.

Saroya said over 250 folk artists representing eight states of the North East -- Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

The festival is being organised in collaboration with the North East Zone Cultural Centre, Dimapur, Border Security Force, and the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art Culture and Languages. 

JAMMU, MARCH 24
In connection with the celebrations of World Tuberculosis Day, a function was held at Rajouri. It was organised by the Tuberculosis Society, Rajouri, in collaboration with the state Tuberculosis Society.

Minister of State for Health Shabir Ahmad Khan was the chief guest on the occasion. Addressing the function, he said there is a dire need to raise public awareness about the spread of the disease, which can be treated and prevented. The government has taken up strong steps to control the disease and save millions of precious lives, he added.

The minister said the theme of World TB Day 2013 "Eradicate TB in my lifetime" lends immediacy to the mission to halt TB and underlines the fact that everyone can make it his or her responsibility to eliminate the deadly disease from the face of the earth in the foreseeable future.

He said the day offers an opportunity to focus on TB-related problems and solutions and to support worldwide efforts to control TB.

He said in tune with this year's theme, many organisations that have join hands globally in the Eradicate TB campaign have outlined targets that men, women and children can achieve to free the world from the clutches of tuberculosis. 

Batote, March 24
Although many villages in Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban districts have a high tuberculosis prevalence rate, yet the government efforts to control TB are inadequate in the area.

Assar block in Doda district has the most number of TB patients in all these districts. In Doda district, other TB-afflicted areas are Marmat, Bhagwa, Kastigarh blocks, Parihote, Thanda Pani, Baggar, Bajarni villages; Ukhral and Gool blocks in Ramban district ; Padder and Chatru tehsils in Kishtwar district.

According to the District Tuberculosis Officer, Doda, Dr Rakesh Bhagat, out of the total 342 TB patients, including 9 Multi Drug Resistant Cases (MDR), 58 are in the Assar block of Doda district.

The socio-economic factors like extreme poverty and large joint families are said to be the sole reason of TB prevalence in these areas.

According to the Medical Officer, TB Treatment Centre, Ramban, out of total 357 TB patients, 246 have completed their treatment and 111 are under the treatment.

Sources said the first District TB Centre was established in the Kishtwar town of the erstwhile Doda district in 1967 and the District TB Control Society (DTCS), Kishtwar established in 2001 has been governing all the activities under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme in all the three districts. 

Jammu, March 24
Darakhshan Andrabi, president, Socialistic Democratic Party, today said the forced displacement of the Kashmiri Pandits from their homeland has shattered them completely.

Addressing mediapersons, Andrabi alleged that KPs were living a miserable life away from their homes.

“The pain of being migrants is terrible for this educated and intellectual lot of Kashmiri society. Financial relief and temporary arrangements of providing flats to the community members has nothing to do with their permanent settlement. The government cannot project this as a substitute for the permanent settlement of the community,” Andrabi said.

Emphasising the need of increasing the monthly financial relief to the families of the displaced community in view of the increased prices of all commodities, the SDP president also demanded reservation in government sector jobs in the Kashmir Valley for KPs.

Andrabi termed the displacement of the KP community a misfortune for Kashmir, saying it had broader impact on the resolution of all issues concerning the state. 

Jammu, March 24
The Panun Kashmir (PK), a frontal organisation of displaced Kashmiri Pandits, today alleged that efforts are being made to distort the history of the Valley by changing names of historical and ancient places to erase the history of the Hindu era.

The organisation has expressed concern over the change of historical names of Hari Parbat and Shankaracharya hillocks as Kohi-Maran and Suleman Teng, a cultural symbol of Pandits for over 5,000 years.

During a meeting of the executive council which was chaired by PK convener Agnishekhar, the organisation urged the Centre to take notice of the recent events in the Legislative Assembly and the way political parties like the National Conference and the PDP behaved after the hanging of Parliament attack accused Afzal Guru.

“Political parties are trying to exploit the masses for their vested interests and are creating an environment of sympathy and moral support to the forces inimical to sovereignty and integrity of India,” Agnishekhar said.

He lashed out at the government for disarming the security forces and the police in the Kashmir Valley and equipping them with 'sticks' and 'catapults' to combat the terrorists, who recently killed number of security personnel.

“If the situation has improved to the extent that security forces are being disarmed, the government should withdraw security covers from all secessionists, political leaders and Cabinet ministers or disarm them,” he said.

Sanjay Dhatattreya, national coordinator, PK, urged the authorities to implement the rest of the Prime Minister's package and post the new recruits in Jammu province in view of the deteriorating security scenario in the Valley. 

Batote, March 24
Three persons died and two others were injured in separate accidents on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) in Ramban district.

Two cousins died when their Gool-bound shingle-loaded tipper rolled down about 200 feet off the NH-44 on the bank of the Chenab at Bhoom in Ramban.

The deceased have been identified as Jagdev Singh and Rassal Singh from Chadak Samroli in Udhampur.

According to PL Verma, Commandant, CRPF 84 Battalion headquarters, whose jawans were the first to launch rescue operation braving heavy rainfall, Jagdev was found dead on the spot.

They took Rassal to the District Hospital in the CRPF ambulance, where he succumbed to his injuries.

In another incident, a boy died on the spot and two others were injured injured when their Chanderkot-bound taxi rolled down into a 150-feet gorge near Hillar village today.

The link road is under-construction and no vehicle is allowed to ply on it yet. The deceased has been identified as Purshotam Singh (14), whereas the injured persons are Uttam Singh (15) and driver Vikram Singh (29).

Jammu, March 24
To promote sports, the state government in the draft of the sports policy has made it compulsory for each student to choose one sport up to the school level.

The Department of Youth Services and Sports will take time-bound measures for the implementation of the J&K State Sports Policy. It will act in collaboration with various departments of the state and sports associations, universities in this regard.

According to the draft of the Sports Policy, all departments, education or youth services and sports, the J&K State Sports Council and sports associations will prepare an annual calendar of activities, including championships at district and state level and help the Sports Council in preparing an annual plan for the state and districts.

The universities, colleges and schools, which show good performance in any game, shall be developed into sporting hubs. Every school will be encouraged to focus on at least two games for the confidence building of students.

The Sports Council is planning to introduce modern management practices in all the districts as the Sports Administration is becoming more and more complex.

The government will ensure that the sports officers’ posts are included in the J&K State Allied Services, and sports officers for Divisional Headquarter or District Head Quarters are selected through the J&K Public Service Commission in consultation with the J&K State Sports Council.

The draft further stated that the Sports Council would be strengthened as it has sports activities 
in all 22 districts of the state. An engineering cell for the development and maintenance of stadiums, a legal cell, an IT Cell and cooperative services and officers would work in the Sports Council Cadre or on the deputation.

The department will maintain an interactive website that shall contain all necessary up-date information, new schemes of the department, a database on the latest designs and measurement of playfield, records of championships at state, national and international level, international participants and medal tally in national competitions.

Rajouri, March 24
The Rashtriya Rifles Battalion, under the aegis of the Uniform Force Headquarter, organised an inter-panchayat Holi dangal at Jhangar today.

As many as 20 youths from Jhangar, Kalsian, Laroka, Makari and Sariyah area of Naushera Tehsil participated in the competition.

Rashtriya Rifles Battalion Commanding Officer was the chief guest. He said the competition was a good platform for players to show their talents. These kindsof activities would enhance self-confidence of theyouth and further strengthen the bonding between the panchayats.

He distributed prizes among winners and participants of the wrestling competition.

Participants thanked the Army for giving them an opportunity to showcase their sporting skills of wrestling. 

Jammu, March 24
President of the Mountaineering Association of J&K BR Sharma released the calendar of activities of the association of for 2013-14 here today.

The calendar included 11 trekking expeditions, two mountaineering expeditions, an adventure camp, two sport climbing courses, a judges and route setters’ course and three preparatory camps before the participation of the state team in the zonal and national climbing competitions.

The association will also host the first Sub Junior North Zone Sport Climbing Competition at Sprawling Buds School, Jammu and the state team will compete in the zonal and national sport climbing competitions.

The association will also conduct the state championship and nine district climbing competitions. It will also organise the mountaineering expedition to Matho Kangri peak in Ladakh.

The district sport climbing competitions of Srinagar, Anantnag and Pulwama district will be held at the newly-constructed Sport Climbing wall at TRC, Nowgam. The other six district competitions of Jammu, Udhampur, Reasi, Rajouri, Samba and Kathua will be conducted at Sprawling Buds School, Chinore, Jammu.

Prominent among others present on the occasion included Ram Khajuria, general secretary, Yogeshwar Kumar, vice president, Ram Singh and Nissar Ahmad, joint secretaries, Shamsher Singh, treasurer, MD Naqqash and Navneet Gupta.

Jammu, March 24
The Natrang in its Sunday Theatre Series staged a comedy play ‘Hawa Hawai’ at Studio Theatre here today. It was based on a short play written by KM Mishra and directed by Sumeet Sharma.

In the play, Suresh was a middle-class man who was working hard to meet his daily requirements. One day, he read a news report that scientists are making a two-seater aircraft which will be economical to a common man. Excited by the news, he decided to sell his old scooter and seek some loan so that he could purchase the aircraft and raise his lifestyle. He was day-dreaming of flying in the air with his family and his friends and relatives were jealous of him.

Suresh told the same to his family and a close friend Vinod. He narrated the unique features of the plane to them and they got amused by his plans. But when he again read the news till its end, he came to know that the aircraft will be ready in the next 40 years.

Finally, he asserted that one should concentrate on all important points as little knowledge is dangerous.

Pawan Verma as ‘Suresh’ was successful in generating the required humour in the play with his fine acting skills. He was equally supported by Sumeet Sharma as ‘Vinod’, Sajra Qadir as ‘Shakuntla’, Rhythm Mishar as ‘Munni’ and Gopi Sharma as ‘Chintu’. Ankush Lakhnotra designed and operated the lights whereas the music was coordinated by Uplaksh Singh Kotwal. The show was coordinated by Mohammad Yaseen.

Jammu, March 24
Hayrana notched up a thrilling last-ball win against Jammu and Kashmir in the fifth and final North Zone leg match in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy being played at Bansi Lal Cricket Stadium, Rohtak.

For J&K, debutant Syed Sagar and Bandeep Singh struck brilliant half centuries but their efforts were gone in vain. Sagar contributed 36-ball 74 with the help of seven fours and five sixes while Bandeep made 39-ball 52 runs studded with three sixes and five fours.

Earlier, J&K decided to bat first after winning the toss and set a competitive target of 167 runs for nine wickets even after a batting collapse. At one stage, J&K was tottering at 40/7 in 9.1 overs before Sagar and Bandeep did the rescue work. Both shared an invaluable 109-run partnership that saw J&K to surpass 150-run mark.

In reply, Haryana also suffered setbacks in the earlier stages but Joginder Sharma played a defiant knock to put his team in a commanding position to emerge winners. He scored quick-fire 35-ball 75 runs, including five sixes and seven fours.

Syed Mushtaq Ali Twenty20 Tournament

J&K : 167/9 in 20 overs

Haryana : 168 in 20 overs

Jammu, March 24
Wrestlers of the J&K Police emerged overall winner at the State Wrestling Championship concluded at Indoor Sports Complex, MA Stadium here today. The tournament was organised by the J&K State Wrestling Association.

Minister for Industries and Commerce Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo was the chief guest. He gave away the winners trophy to the JKP wrestlers in the presence of Dushyant Sharma, former president of the Wrestling Federation of India and general secretary of the J&K Wrestling Association.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest appreciated the efforts of the J&K Wrestling Association for organising the tournament and assured that the government would provide all necessary support to the wrestlers of the state. He said the budding wrestlers of the state would be recruited in the J&K Police.

Prominent among others present on the occasion included Imtiyaz Ahmad Zargar, youth president of the National Conference, Doda, Inderjeet, vice president of the National Conference, Kishtwar, Ashutosh Sharma, general secretary of the J&K Olympics Association, Nariender Mahajan, executive member of the WFI, and Ajay Vaid, treasurer. 

Jammu, March 24
Sindhiya bagged a gold medal in the epee individual event (U-14 women age group) in the ongoing State Fencing Championship being held at Hotel Ashok, Katra in Reasi district.

Mansi had to be contended with a silver medal while Arushi and Riya clinched a bronze medal each. In the foil individual event (women), Koefeeka fetched the yellow metal while Neha struck bronze. Bharti and Aurshi clinched bronze medals in the event.

Similarly, in the U-20 women epee individual event, Rupali and Gazal claimed gold and silver medal respectively whereas Ashnita and Akansha had to settle for a bronze medal each.

In the U-20 men foil individual event, Ranvijay and Nihal Singh clinched gold and silver medal respectively while Raja Amir and Anil Sharma bagged a bronze medal each.

In the men epee individual event, Pankaj fetched a gold medal while Mirza Mir Beig got a silver medal. Bronze medal went to Bhisham and Vir Sangram Singh. Anees got a gold medal in the U-12 foil men individual event while Abhishek had to be contended with a silver medal. Bharti and Saksham got a bronze medal went each.