SPECIAL COVERAGE
CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI



THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
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J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R    E D I T I O N

Rs 5 lakh for Ramban protest victim’s family
Srinagar/Rajouri, July 31
The Cabinet today sanctioned ex-gratia relief of Rs 5 lakh for the family of Ravi Kant, a resident of Rajouri, who died on Tuesday at a hospital in Srinagar today. Kant, who was injured in a stone pelting incident in south Kashmir during recent protests against Ramban killings, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

Cabinet orders transfers of 19 IAS, KAS officers
Srinagar, July 31
The state Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here today, ordered the transfers and postings of 19 senior IAS and KAS officers. It also accorded sanction to the creation of one post of the Director, General Economics and Statistics, Jammu and Kashmir. Sonali Kumar, IAS, Principal Resident Commissioner, J&K Government, New Delhi, has been transferred and posted as the Chairperson, J&K Special Tribunal.

Parliamentary Standing Committee discusses problems of West Pak refugees
Jammu, July 31
Notwithstanding claims of the local Congress leaders to effectively project the demands of West Pakistani refugees before the Centre, a majority of the members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) on Home Affairs, were not aware that these displaced persons were being denied basic fundamental rights for the past six decades by the successive state governments.


YOUR TOWN
Jammu
Srinagar


EARLIER STORIES



Calling it a day: A view of the sunset on the outskirts of Jammu
Calling it a day: A view of the sunset on the outskirts of Jammu. Tribune photo: Inderjeet Singh

Mirwaiz opposes separate statehood for Jammu
Srinagar, July 31
Opposing the demand for separate statehood for Jammu region, chairman of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has said the division of Jammu and Kashmir may lead to unrest in the region.

Seizure of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat calendars
HC refuses to return finding on seized publication
Srinagar, July 31
Refusing to return the finding whether the publication of seized calendars and diaries of Syed Ali Geelani led Tehreek-e-Hurriyat amounts to “unlawful activity”, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has asked the police to proceed in its investigation in the case in a fair and transparent manner.

Panic grips Doda district after teenager’s murder
Doda, July 31
Panic has gripped the entire Doda district after the death of a 16-year-old boy in mysterious circumstances some days ago in the Navtas area of Thathri tehsil. People are living in fear as some miscreants have been throwing stones and opening fire on people during the night in many villages in the district.

Govt bias exposed on development front: BJP
Jammu, July 31
Chief spokesman of the state BJP Jitendra Singh today said the National Conference-Congress coalition government owed an explanation to the people of the state as to why the poverty rate during its tenure had risen from 9.4 per cent in 2009-10 to 10.35 per cent in 2011-12 and the number of people living below poverty line (BPL) in rural areas had risen from 8.1 per cent to 11.5 per cent.

3.35 lakh offer prayers at Amarnath cave shrine
Srinagar, July 31
As many as 3.35 lakh pilgrims have offered prayers at the Amarnath holy cave shrine since the yatra began on June 28. A total of 3,33,606 lakh pilgrims offered prayers at the cave shrine till last evening, an official said. Around 1,055 pilgrims offered prayers at the cave shrine till today afternoon.

Poonch shuts down over Amarnath pilgrim’s death
Poonch, July 31
A complete bandh was observed in Poonch district against the killing of a pilgrim from Sunderbani who was injured in a stone pelting in Kashmir. Activists of the Vishav Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal and other Hindu organisations held a protest against the killing and blocked the Poonch-Jammu highway.
A complete bandh observed in Poonch on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph
A complete bandh observed in Poonch on Wednesday

Army continues hunt for militants in Kupwara
Srinagar, July 31
The massive search operations continued along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara where six militants have been killed since Monday morning while trying to infiltrate into the Valley. Army units carried out search operations in the vast forests of Keran, Machil and Hafruda sectors near the LoC.

Pak violates truce on border 14 times
Jammu, July 31
Pakistan has violated ceasefire along the India-Pakistan border in Jammu region 14 times between January 1 and July 31 this year. In the Jammu region, the Army guards the 224.5 km long Line of Control (LoC) and the 10 km long international border, south of Pir Panjal range from Poonch to Akhnoor.

BSF opens fire along Akhnoor border
Jammu, July 31
The Border Security Force (BSF) guards today opened preventive fire following some suspicious movement near a forward outpost along the 192-km long international border in Akhnoor sub-division of Jammu today.

JKPCC chief’s silence flayed
Jammu, July 31
The BJP has slammed Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Saifuddin Soz for, what it alleged, maintaining criminal silence, over the death of Amarnath pilgrim Ravi Kant Sharma.

Spurious Drug Scam
Scientific officer among several booked
Jammu, July 31
The Jammu unit of the crime branch of the police has booked an assistant scientific officer of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Srinagar, for preparing a false and fabricated opinion with respect to the supply of drug Maximizine-625 to the state Health Department.

Creation of new administrative units discussed
Srinagar, July 31
A meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee to discuss the creation of new administrative units was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand here today.





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Rs 5 lakh for Ramban protest victim’s family
Tribune News Service

Srinagar/Rajouri, July 31
The Cabinet today sanctioned ex-gratia relief of Rs 5 lakh for the family of Ravi Kant, a resident of Rajouri, who died on Tuesday at a hospital in Srinagar today. Kant, who was injured in a stone pelting incident in south Kashmir during recent protests against Ramban killings, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

A spokesman said the Cabinet under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah sanctioned Rs 5 lakh as extraordinary ex-gratia relief in favour of the next of kin of Ravi Kant of Ward number 1, Sunderbani, Rajouri. The Chief Minister had on Tuesday evening expressed deep sorrow at the death of Kant.

The cheque was handed over to the family in Rajouri by Minister for Planning Ajay Sadhotra, who was accompanied by Minister of State (MOS) for Health Shabir Khan, Congress MLC Ravinder Sharma, NC MLA Radhey Sham.

Massive protests were reported from Rajouri, Nowshera, Sundarbani and adjoining areas and the situation remained tense today. A complete shutdown was also observed by the traders in Rajouri and Poonch in protest against the death of the Amarnath pilgrim.

The body of Ravi Kant Sharma was brought to his native place at midnight. The administration had to deploy police personnel as protesters and family members came out on the roads when the body reached his village here.

The family members refused to cremate the body of the victim demanding action against the accused.

The body was cremated after an assurance by District Development Commissioner, Faqir Chand Bhagat, Sub District Magistrate (SDM), Nowshera, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu Division, Rajesh Yadav, and Superintendent of Police (SP), Rajouri.

helping hand

  • The Cabinet sanctions ex-gratia relief of `5 lakh for the family of Ravi Kant of Rajouri who was injured in a stone pelting incident during a protest in Ramban
  • The victim succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Srinagar on Tuesday.
  • Minister for Planning Ajay Sadhotra, who was accompanied by Minister of State for Health Shabir Khan, Congress MLC Ravinder Sharma, NC MLA Radhey Sham handed over the cheque to the family members in Rajouri
  • The body was cremated after senior officials assured the victim’s family that the guilty will be punished

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Cabinet orders transfers of 19 IAS, KAS officers
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 31
The state Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here today, ordered the transfers and postings of 19 senior IAS and KAS officers. It also accorded sanction to the creation of one post of the Director, General Economics and Statistics, Jammu and Kashmir.

Sonali Kumar, IAS, Principal Resident Commissioner, J&K Government, New Delhi, has been transferred and posted as the Chairperson, J&K Special Tribunal.

KB Aggarwal, Principal Secretary to the government, Higher Education Department, has been transferred and posted as the Principal Resident Commissioner, New Delhi.

Shantmanu, Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, has been transferred and posted as the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu.

Sarita Chouhan, Chairperson, J&K Special Tribunal, has been transferred and posted as the Secretary to the government, Animal and Sheep Husbandry Department.

MA Bukhari has been transferred and posted as the Secretary to the government, General Administration Department. Sheikh Mushtaq Ahmad has been transferred and posted as the Secretary, Higher Education Department.

Saurabh Bhagat, Chief Executive Officer, Economic Reconstruction Agency, has been transferred and posted as the Secretary to the government, Industries and Commerce Department.

Mohammad Ashraf Mir, Secretary, J&K Legislative Council, has been transferred and posted as the Secretary, Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.

The post of the Secretary, J&K Accountability Commission, held by Anita Koul, has been upgraded in status, an official spokesman said.

Mohammad Sayed Shah, Registrar, J&K State Information Commission, has been transferred and posted as the Director, Urdu Coordination Cell, Law Department.

Saugat Biswas, Additional Secretary, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Department, has been transferred and posted as the Managing Director, J&K Medical Supplies Corporation.

Shyam Vinod Meena, awaiting orders of adjustment in the General Administration Department, has been transferred and posted as the Additional Secretary, Public Health Engineering, Irrigation and Flood Control Department.

Mohammad Javid Khan, KAS, Deputy Commissioner, Shopian, has been transferred and posted as the Director, Industries, Kashmir, relieving Tariq Ahmad Mir, Director, Command Area Development, Kashmir, of the additional charge of the post of the Director, Industries, Kashmir.

Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Director, Rural Sanitation, J&K, has been transferred and posted as the Deputy Commissioner, Shopian.

Tahseen Mustafa, Chief Engineer, Roads and Buildings Department, Jammu, has been transferred and posted as the Chief Executive Officer, Economic Reconstruction Agency.

Mohammad Matloob Khan, Additional District Development Commissioner, Rajouri, has been transferred and posted as the Director, Rural Sanitation, J&K.

Javid Ahmad Shah, Joint Director and Ex-Officio Special Secretary, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, has been transferred and posted as the Managing Director, Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Limited.

Afroz Ahmad Mir, KAS, Director, Defence Labour Procurement, has been transferred and posted as the Secretary, Khadi and Village Industries Board.

Ravinder Singh, Secretary, Khadi and Village Industries Board, has been transferred and posted as the Director, Defence Labour Procurement.

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Parliamentary Standing Committee discusses problems of West Pak refugees
Dinesh Manhotra
Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 31
Notwithstanding claims of the local Congress leaders to effectively project the demands of West Pakistani refugees before the Centre, a majority of the members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) on Home Affairs, were not aware that these displaced persons were being denied basic fundamental rights for the past six decades by the successive state governments.

“A majority of the PSC members were surprised when I briefed them about plight of stateless West Pakistani refugees living in Jammu and Kashmir since 1947,” Labha Ram Gandhi, chairman of the West Pakistani Refugees Action Committee (WPRAC) said. Gandhi along with the representatives of refugees from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), Kashmiri migrants and victims of terrorism affected people held detailed discussions with member of PSC on Tuesday.

“Intervention of the PSC has rekindled hope among West Pakistani refugees because representatives of almost all political parties were present during the deliberations,” Gandhi said. He said the first-time elected representatives of all political parties were informed about these refugees and they assured to take some concrete step to solve this problem once and for all. He said the PSC members had sought a response from the state government on the issue of the refugees.

“Although political parties across the country are aware of the Kashmiri migrants and PoK refugees, they were not aware that West Pakistani refugees living in J&K,” he said. He added that the PSC members had admitted that denying basic fundamental rights to these refugees, majority of them Dalits, was a glaring example of human right violation in the state.

“It is really shocking that successive state governments have never projected our demands before the country. Some members were shell shocked when they were informed that despite living in J&K since 1947, West Pakistani refugees were still being denied the right to vote for Assembly, panchayat as well as urban local bodies,” Gandhi said.

“Except the BJP, the PSC members of other political parties were not aware of the West Pakistani refugees,” he said.

As many as 32 members took part in the deliberations. Other prominent members of the PSC included LK Advani, Lalu Parshad Yadav, Rajiv Partap Rudy, Naveen Jindal, Dr V Metray and others. It is first time after 1947, that the plight of West Pakistani refugees was projected before such an important national forum.

Although PSC comprised members of all parties, the BJP has managed to steal the show as it was all due to the initiative of the party that the representatives of West Pakistani refugees was allowed to be part of the delegation.

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Mirwaiz opposes separate statehood for Jammu
Tribune News Service

Mirwaiz Umar FarooqSrinagar, July 31
Opposing the demand for separate statehood for Jammu region, chairman of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has said the division of Jammu and Kashmir may lead to unrest in the region.

In a statement here, Mirwaiz said the “demand for a separate Jammu state by some Jammu- based communal elements is inflammatory, which may lead to unrest in the region and disturb communal harmony.

This step will lead to hatred and may increase tension between different groups and identities supportive of communal harmony, Mirwaiz said.

He also took exception to the recent statement of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah wherein he had talked about giving more powers to the Ladakh region of the state.

“This statement is unfortunate, as giving further powers to Ladakh will pave the way for the division of the state and create an uncertain situation in the region,” he added.

The Hurriyat Conference has said Mirwaiz would lead the Eid prayers at Eidgah grounds in Srinagar. In a statement by the Hurriyat, the local administration has also been appealed to ensure water, electric supply and other facilities at Jamia mosque during the holy days of Jumat-ul-Wida (Friday following) and Shab-e-Qadr.

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Seizure of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat calendars
HC refuses to return finding on seized publication
Ishfaq Tantry
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 31
Refusing to return the finding whether the publication of seized calendars and diaries of Syed Ali Geelani led Tehreek-e-Hurriyat amounts to “unlawful activity”, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has asked the police to proceed in its investigation in the case in a fair and transparent manner.

It, however, said the petitioners were free to approach a local magistrate for release of the seized material.

The directions were passed by a single bench of the High Court in a petition filed by chairman of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani and his associates in 2011, wherein they had challenged the seizure of calendars and diaries by the police, which had been published by the conglomerate’s constituent body, Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, Kashmir.

The calendars and diaries, published for 2012, were meant for public distribution by the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, which was floated by Geelani in 2004 after he had parted ways from Jamaat-e-Islami, Kashmir.

“There is reason to desist from embarking on an exercise to analyse the material in question to find out its meaning and import. In the circumstances, it would not be proper for this court to deal with the merits of the case and try to find out whether the publication and distribution of the seized material, having regard to its contents, amounts to unlawful activity,” Justice Hasnain Masoodi observed in his orders today. He refused to return the findings on whether the publication of the seized material amounted to unlawful activity.

The court had reserved its final orders in the petition on April 11.

The petitioners had submitted that the publication of calendars and diaries by the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat does not attract the offence under the Unlawful Activities Act as there was nothing in the calendars and the diaries aimed at spreading hatred.

“In case, such an exercise is made and a finding returned against the stand taken by the petitioners, they would be seriously prejudiced. As they have admitted publication and distribution of the seized material, nothing more would be required to be proved against them,” Justice Masoodi observed, while adding that the “court must desist from examining the merits of the case.”

“Instead of scuttling the investigation at its onset, (it must) allow the investigation office to proceed in the matter in a fair, transparent and dispassionate manner,” the bench observed.

“In the event such an application is filed, it shall be dealt with and disposed of on its merits, unmindful of the observations made herein,” the bench observed while disposing of the petition.

What the petition said

The 2011 petition prayed before the High Court that the FIR registered by the police against four Tehreek-e-Hurriyat activists at the Islamabad police station with regard to seized calendars and diaries be quashed.

It also prayed before the HC to direct the police to release over 1,000 calendars of the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat and diaries of 2012 which the police had seized from men who were distributing them. The petition had also sought directions to the police authorities not to register any further FIRs against Tehreek-e-Hurriyat men in this regard

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Panic grips Doda district after teenager’s murder
Tribune News Service

Doda, July 31
Panic has gripped the entire Doda district after the death of a 16-year-old boy in mysterious circumstances some days ago in the Navtas area of Thathri tehsil. People are living in fear as some miscreants have been throwing stones and opening fire on people during the night in many villages in the district.

According to eyewitnesses, some masked men have been roaming around freely.

Some villagers alleged that these masked men were village defence committee members who carried arms with them and were creating panic in the area.

“We are yet to establish who is behind these attacks. We have increased patrolling and have alerted all police force to crack down on miscreants,” said Aijaz Ahmad Zargar, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Headquarters, Doda.

The DSP said rumour mongers were increasing the fear among people.

On Monday night, a teenage boy, Shameem Ahmad, was killed when he was standing outside his house in Navtas village. Eyewitnesses said he was hit by a bullet and the cartridge of the bullet was recovered from the spot. The police has not so far been able to ascertain who killed Shameem.

“The police has started the investigation and alerted all police stations, police posts and informers but nothing concrete has come out so far. Investigation into Shameem’s death is going on but we are yet to reach any conclusion,” the DSP said.

Inderwal MLA Ghulam Muhammad Saroori, under whose constituency the area falls, has expressed concern over the death of the teenager and has told the police to arrest the killers.

In another case, on Tuesday night, some miscreants threw stones at a house at Udyanpur village in Doda tehsil around 9.30 pm when men of the village were offering prayers at a mosque.

“They were two masked men and had some sort of ammunition in their hands. When an elderly person, Muhammad Shafi, tried to stop them, they hit him with a stone and opened fire as well, but the man received only a minor injury,” an eyewitness told The Tribune.

After receiving information, Station House Officer (SHO) of the Doda police station rushed to the spot but the miscreants managed to escape.

People of the area demanded early action against the miscreants.

“Despite the huge presence of the Army and the police, few miscreants have taken the entire district to ransom. The administration must take strong action,” said Ashiq Hussain, a resident of Doda.

Hussain said the miscreants were also making attempts to kidnap children but they had not got any success so far.

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Govt bias exposed on development front: BJP
Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 31
Chief spokesman of the state BJP Jitendra Singh today said the National Conference-Congress coalition government owed an explanation to the people of the state as to why the poverty rate during its tenure had risen from 9.4 per cent in 2009-10 to 10.35 per cent in 2011-12 and the number of people living below poverty line (BPL) in rural areas had risen from 8.1 per cent to 11.5 per cent.

He was citing Planning Commission’s latest data and said the details of financial allocations clearly exposed the government’s regional discrimination with least regard for the socio-economic indicators that normally determine any poverty alleviation programme.

The state BJP chief gave the example of the recent allocation of Rs 35 crore to Srinagar district under the Special Area Development Programme in addition to the annual plan outlay, even though the BPL population in Srinagar district is only 6.51 per cent as compared to 11.97 per cent in Jammu district.

While the National Conference is following its appeasement approach as the elections draw near, it is the coalition partner, Congress, which would have to pay the price at the hustings, he warned.

He said, according to the Economic Survey 2012-13, Jammu district was spread over an area of 2,636 sqkm while Srinagar district’s total area was only 294 sqkm. He added Jammu district has a population of 15,26,406 as compared to 12,69,751 in Srinagar.

To counter the claims of the government that Srinagar district was not receiving funds under the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and other Centrally sponsored schemes in various sectors, Singh said it was on record that Srinagar district had already been provided funds from Asian Development Bank, besides funding under several urban schemes on the pattern of Jammu district.

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3.35 lakh offer prayers at Amarnath cave shrine
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 31
As many as 3.35 lakh pilgrims have offered prayers at the Amarnath holy cave shrine since the yatra began on June 28. A total of 3,33,606 lakh pilgrims offered prayers at the cave shrine till last evening, an official said. Around 1,055 pilgrims offered prayers at the cave shrine till today afternoon.

The official said a fresh batch of 540 pilgrims left for the holy cave shrine from Chandanwari, 506 from Sheshnag, besides 461 yatris from Baltal for the cave shrine.

The Baltal route is preferred by those who wish to return to the base camp in a day. The Chandanwari route, which is longer, is preferred by the elderly and hardcore devotees, who believe that Lord Shiva took the same route to the cave shrine.

Thirteen pilgrims have died so far this year due to cardiac arrest, the official said.

The Amarnath yatra is scheduled to conclude on August 21 on Raksha Bandhan.

Chhari Mubarak (holy mace) will commence its journey from the Dashnami Akhara here to the cave shrine on August 16. While pooja at the holy cave shrine is scheduled on August 21, the holy mace will return to Dashnami Akhara on August 23.

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Poonch shuts down over Amarnath pilgrim’s death
Our Correspondent

Poonch, July 31
A complete bandh was observed in Poonch district against the killing of a pilgrim from Sunderbani who was injured in a stone pelting in Kashmir. Activists of the Vishav Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal and other Hindu organisations held a protest against the killing and blocked the Poonch-Jammu highway.

Shops, schools, business establishments and government offices except the Deputy Commissioner’s office remained closed in the district, including Surankote and Mendhar on the call of the VHP and Bajrang Dal.

In Poonch, a massive protest rally was also organised. The protesters raised slogans against the Chief Minister and Minister of State for Home, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, for their failure in giving protection to the pilgrims.

The deceased identified as Ravi Kumar of Sunderbani had gone to pay obeisance at the cave shrine but was injured in stone pelting. He was admitted to the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) at Srinagar where he succumbed to his injuries.

The protestors demanded compensation, government job for one of the family members and protection to the Amarnath as well as Budha Amarnath pilgrims.

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Army continues hunt for militants in Kupwara
Majid Jahangir/TNS

Srinagar, July 31
The massive search operations continued along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara where six militants have been killed since Monday morning while trying to infiltrate into the Valley. Army units carried out search operations in the vast forests of Keran, Machil and Hafruda sectors near the LoC.

Sources said while the exchange of fire had stopped in Keran and Machil sectors, intermittent firing between the militants and Army was continuing in Hafruda forests.

“The intermittent firing is continuing in dense Hafruda forests where militants are believed to have been holed up after crossing the LoC. The operation is in progress,” said an Army officer. The area has been cordoned off to prevent any militant from escaping.

Sources said the troops had recovered bodies of four militants who were killed in the Machil sector of Kupwara on Tuesday. The troops of the 56 RR were conducting searches in the sector, he said. The troops have also extended search operation in Awatkul Meelyal Kralopora in Kupwara as they suspect that the militants might have holed up inside the area.

General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Srinagar-based 15 Corps Lt Gen Gurmeet Singh had said on Tuesday that militants were infiltrating into the Kashmir region from across the LoC.

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Pak violates truce on border 14 times
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria/TNS

Jammu, July 31
Pakistan has violated ceasefire along the India-Pakistan border in Jammu region 14 times between January 1 and July 31 this year. In the Jammu region, the Army guards the 224.5 km long Line of Control (LoC) and the 10 km long international border, south of Pir Panjal range from Poonch to Akhnoor, while the BSF mans the 191.5-km long international border from Paharpur on the Punjab border to OP Chenab in the Chicken Neck area of Pallanwala.

Having remained peaceful over past two to three years, the state has been witnessing a spurt in Pakistan-sponsored militancy as well as in ceasefire violations this year.

Out of the 13 truce violations by Pakistan in the Jammu region till date, 10 violations took place in June and July alone, including four in June and six in July. India and Pakistan had mutually brokered a truce deal on the borders in November 2003.

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BSF opens fire along Akhnoor border
Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 31
The Border Security Force (BSF) guards today opened preventive fire following some suspicious movement near a forward outpost along the 192-km long international border in Akhnoor sub-division of Jammu today.

“At 5 am our border guards observed some suspicious movement near Sidharwan border outpost in Akhnoor sub-division. Consequently, they opened preventive fire,” a BSF spokesperson said. He said the border guards had fired 25 rounds in the area.

During a search operation, the border guards found an axe as well as footprints, he added.

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JKPCC chief’s silence flayed
Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 31
The BJP has slammed Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Saifuddin Soz for, what it alleged, maintaining criminal silence, over the death of Amarnath pilgrim Ravi Kant Sharma.

In a statement issued here today, senior BJP leader Nirmal Singh said, “The JKPCC chief was very prompt in shifting blame on the BSF for unfortunate incident of Gool in which four persons lost their lives but he has not uttered a word of sympathy for the bereaved family of Ravi Kant Sharma.” He accused the Congress of indulging into vote bank politics.

“Soz’s silence on the brutal murder of Amarnath pilgrim exposes double standards of this party”, he alleged.

Meanwhile various social, political and religious organisations have condemned killing of Ravi Kant Sharma and demanded adequate compensation for the bereaved family.

The All Jammu Hotels & Lodges Association (AJHLA) has condemned the death of Sharma who was on his way back home from the Amarnath yatra.

Shri Ram Sena (SRS) state president Rajiv Mahajan has demanded imposition of the Governor's rule in the state and dismissal of the coalition government for its failure to provide security to the Amaranth pilgrims.

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Spurious Drug Scam
Scientific officer among several booked

Jammu, July 31
The Jammu unit of the crime branch of the police has booked an assistant scientific officer of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Srinagar, for preparing a false and fabricated opinion with respect to the supply of drug Maximizine-625 to the state Health Department.

The crime branch, Jammu, has registered a case under Section 420, 167,193 and 120-B of the RPC and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act against the assistant scientific officer, FSL, Srinagar, Abdul Gani Bhat and others. In a statement issued here by the SSP, crime branch, Jammu, it was said the spurious drug, Maximizine-625 (tablets), were supplied to the Health Department by M/s Lifeline Pharmaco Surgicals and its sample was sent to the FSL, Srinagar, for a chemical analysis.

The assistant scientific officer, FSL, had furnished a report that amoxicillin trihydrate and potassium clavulanate were found present in the samples but when the same was tested at the drug testing laboratory, Dalgate, Srinagar, it was found that amoxicillin trihydrate was not present.

In order to have a definite and conclusive opinion, another sample of the same drug was sent to the CFSL, New Delhi, which reported that amoxicillin trihydrate was not present in the samples.

The SSP, crime branch, said it transpired from the perusal of the scientific analysis reports that Abdul Gani Bhat had intentionally prepared a fabricated opinion with respect to the drug, thereby deceiving the investigating agency in order to shield the accused from the process of law, in connivance with some other interested persons in the case, including the officers/officials of the FSL, J&K, for extraneous considerations, thereby abusing his official position. — TNS

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Creation of new administrative units discussed
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 31
A meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee to discuss the creation of new administrative units was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand here today.

It was decided to invite objections and suggestions from the general public, which should reach the General Administrative Department within two weeks, an official spokesman said.

This was the first meeting of the cabinet sub-committee, which was constituted by the Cabinet on July 24 in view of the recommendations of the Mushtaq Ganai Committee for creation of new administrative units.

The meeting was attended by the Minister for Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies, the Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Minister for Agriculture Production, Minister for Higher Education, Minister for Planning and Development and Labour Employment and Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. Secretary, GAD, Sheikh Mushtaq Ahmad was also present in the meeting.

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