The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Most schools in city without playgrounds Vikas Sharma Tribune News Service Jammu, December 11 Despite taking heavy fee and other charges from the parents of students, several small and large private educational institutions in the city lack playground facility, thereby fooling parents into believing that schools are maintaining physical and mental fitness of their wards. Sources said the private school industry had grown and flourished extensively in the city at a very fast rate, especially in the last couple of decades. As per data available from the Department of School Education, there are a total of 2,414 educational institutions (government and private) in Jammu district. Some of the parents while talking to The Tribune have expressed concern over shortage of playgrounds and urged the managements of schools to construct playgrounds. “Most of the schools do not have playgrounds due to the lack of space. A large number of schools are operating in small houses, hence do not have playgrounds. The situation has forced several schools’ authorities to use parks and residential streets as playgrounds that is creating problems for residents,” one of the parents said. “It is the duty of the department concerned to ensure that schools without playgrounds should not be allowed to function. Despite charging heavy fee from us, these institutions have failed to provide quality sports and extra-curricular activities to our children,” another parent maintained. “It seems as if the authorities are not willing to take action against these erring institutions. Most of the schools in the city have no playgrounds. School heads are unaware of the importance of physical training and games for students. They are only interested in minting money from the parents by charging heavy fees to strengthen their own infrastructure,” he claimed. When contacted, Tarsem Lal, Chief Education Officer (CEO), Jammu, said after the issuance of strict instructions from the government, there had been a check on the mushrooming of such institutions. “No doubt, lack of playgrounds in educational institutions has adversely affected the physical fitness of students, but after the government issued order recently, wherein it has clearly mentioned that the educational institutions have to fulfil certain criteria only then they will be recognised, situation has improved to a great extent,” the Chief Education Officer (CEO), Jammu, maintained.
	MIET beat Kathua GDC in table tennis Tribune News Service Jammu, December 11 The Model Institute of Education and Technology (MIET) defeated Government Degree College (GDC), Kathua, by 3-0 in the men section in the ongoing Inter-Collegiate Table Tennis Championship being played at the University of Jammu here today. In the first single, Sumit Mahajan beat Dalbeer Singh by 11-4 and 11-9, while Abhishek Arora toppled Pankaj by 11-5 and 11-6. In the last single, Kanav Sharma drubbed Narinder Singh by 11-4 and 12-10. In the second single, GDC, Udhampur, toppled GGM Science College, whereas GDC, Paloura, and Commerce College also scripted wins over their respective opponents to advance in the tournament. In the women section, Commerce College overcame the challenge of GCW, Parade, by 3-1.
	ZPEOs await independent offices to discharge duties Vikas Sharma Tribune News Service Jammu, December 11 The fate of newly created post of Zonal Physical Education Officer (ZPEO) in the Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) remains uncertain as the officials are still struggling to get independent office premises to discharge their duties. Sources said the Director-General (DG), Youth Services and Sports, Navin Aggrawal, had convened a meeting of all officials of the department, including ZPEOs, to have a general view of the overall functioning of the department. Sources added that the ZPEOs had apprised the DG of the hardships being faced by them in the absence of adequate infrastructure, but the vexed issue was yet to be sorted out. In order to bring centralisation in the DYSS, the state government had created 199 posts of ZPEO — 102 for Kashmir Division and 97 for Jammu Division — in 2006. The sources claimed that due to lack of proper planning, the sports department failed to provide a separate office complex to the newly promoted officials. “As far as Jammu city is concerned, there are a total of 15 zones and each zone is being head by a ZPEO, but unfortunately we lack everything, whether it is office premises or manpower,” one of the ZPEOs claimed. “Ever since the creation of the post of zonal officers, we are demanding a separate office for all the officers, but in vain. Besides conducting domestic activities in addition to the Centrally sponsored Panchayat Yuva Khel Krida Aur Abhiyan (PYKKA), it is difficult for a single officer to manage all that and that is why the post of ZPEO is important in this context,” he added. "The DYSS office at Gandhi Nagar is a perfect example of prevailing chaos where you can find more than one ZPEO sitting under one roof,” the official maintained. Tirath Ram, DYSSO, Jammu, could not be contacted for his comments despite repeated attempts. Number of Zonal Physical Education Officers Jammu Division: Rajouri (15), Kathua (13), Udhampur (12), Reasi (5), Poonch (11), Jammu (15), Samba (3), Doda (14), Ramban (4) and Kishtwar (5). Kashmir Division: Srinagar (7), Ganderbal (5), Budgam (12), Kupwara (13), Anantnag (11), Kulgam (7), Baramulla (18), Bandipora (5), Pulwama (7), Shopian (5), Leh (5) and Kargil (7).
	NPSU supports striking candidates for jail warden post Tribune News Service Jammu, December 11 The National Panthers Students Union (NPSU) today came in support of the candidates for the post of jail warden in the Prison Department for the release of final selection list. Led by NPSU state president Partap Singh Jamwal, scores of activists joined the hunger strike of the selected candidates outside the Press Club. Partap described it as a crime saying that "the government is hell bent on benefiting the anti-national activists by polices like rehabilitation of terrorists in the state, but the candidates who have appeared in the interview for the post of jail warden three years back are deprived of their basic rights as their list is still awaited". He said the genuine crusade of the selected candidates was also supported by the National Panthers Party and it would came in their support in the coming days if their demands were not met. The candidates, who had appeared in the interviews for the post of jail warden in the Prison Department, have been on a hunger strike for the last 10 days.
	Man arrested after 5 years Jammu, December 11 The Bakshi Nagar police today arrested a person, who had been evading his arrest for the last five years. The arrested person has been identified as Rajinder Kumar, resident of Barn, Kot Bhalwal, presently residing at Dabba, Kana Chack. He was involved in a case registered under Section 341/323 of the RPC at the Bakshi Nagar police station. — TNS
	Medical camp for thalassemics on Dec 14-15 Tribune News Service Jammu, December 11 Shri Maharaja Gulam Singh (SMGS) Hospital will organise a medical check-up camp for 200 thalassemia patients on December 14 and 15, in which some renowned doctors of the country will participate. A conference will also be held on new alternative medicines developed in the world. The check-up camp is being organised by the Indian Academy of Paediatrics in collaboration with the J&K Thalassemia Welfare Society, working for the welfare of patients affected with the disease. During the two-day event, renowned doctors VP Choudhary, Narendra Aggrawal and JS Arora will provide necessary medical assistance to the patients. Giving information, Dr Sanjeev Dingra of the Paediatrics Department, SMGS Hospital, said the aim of the two-day event was to provide best medical advice to thalassemia patients. "We hope that the check-up camp will help the patients, who have to live with the disease throughout their life. A seminar will also be organised on the issue," he said. Dr Dingra said there were more than 200 people affected by Thalaseemia in Jammu and Kashmir who could benefit from the camp. "In order to eradicate this disease we need to spread more awareness among people. Before getting married, couples get their horoscope matched, but to avoid any such future problem they should even get their blood tests done," Dr Dingra said. Patients affected with this genetic disease have to undergo regular blood transfusion, giving rise to host of health problem. Affected by a genetic disorder, the body of a thalassemic either stops producing red blood corpuscles (RBCs) or they start getting destroyed at a faster pace. The only way to know if you are carrying this genetic disorder trait is to have a special blood test, which can identify the gene.
	Petition in high court over state’s R-Day celebration Tribune News Service Srinagar, December 11 Stating that J&K is the only state in India which has its own constitution, a state resident has approached the J&K High Court with a petition seeking directions to the government to celebrate the state’s own Republic Day besides the Republic Day of India. Concerned about the “non-furling and non-use” of the state flag by the constitutional authorities in the state, petitioner Abdul Qayoom Khan has also sought directions for hoisting the state flag on every car or official building or properties used by the constitutional authorities under the J&K Constitution. Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in India which has its own constitution apart from the Constitution of India. The state adopted its own constitution on November 17, 1956, and for formulating the same, the J&K Constituent Assembly was created in 1954. The J&K Constituent Assembly ceased to exist after it adopted the constitution of the state on November 17, 1956. Stating that the constitution adopted by the people of J&K on November 17, 1956, was not being implemented in letter and spirit, Khan, a former Chief Conservator of Forests, in his petition has prayed that the government be told to declare November 17 as Republic Day of Jammu and Kashmir. “The issue raised relates to the non-use of ‘state flag’ by all the constitutional authorities, including the Governor, judges of the high court, Cabinet ministers, and on the properties belonging to the state of J&K,” read the petition, filed through senior lawyer Zaffar Shah. By not caring to unfurl or hoist the state flag by the constitutional authorities, he says, feelings are hurt, apart from the fact that it (non-hoisting) constitutes serious breach of the provisions of law. ‘Non-use’ of state flag Concerned about the “non-furling and non-use” of the state flag by the constitutional authorities in the state, the petitioner, a J&K resident, has sought directions for hoisting the state flag on every car or official building or properties used by the constitutional authorities under the J&K Constitution
	Women empowerment a priority for govt: Omar Addresses beneficiaries of Umeed scheme, aimed at empowering rural women Tribune News Service Udhampur, December 11 Describing comprehensive development of women important for building a healthy, progressive and prosperous society, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said growth would be lopsided if women were not fully under its focus. Addressing beneficiaries of Umeed scheme here this afternoon, the Chief Minister said empowerment of women was the key to solving various issues confronting them and evolving a mechanism to ensure their holistic development in society. The Umeed scheme has been launched under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) for the empowerment of women. Omar Abdullah said that his government was fully aware of addressing women issues in a befitting manner and various measures had been initiated in that direction besides effecting reservation of women in Panchayat Raj institutions. He said while women’s welfare was under focus through various schemes being implemented by the Social Welfare Department, healthcare issues of women and children were looked after across the state through schemes carried forward by the Health Department. The Chief Minister said under the Umeed scheme, a target has been set to empower economically and socially 9 lakh women belonging to poor and vulnerable rural households in the state. “We have targeted to organise 90,000 women self-help groups and their federations at village and block levels to address their socio-economic problems and empower them to overcome all difficulties,” he said, adding that under a phased approach, 143 blocks and 4,098 gram panchayats would be covered under the Umeed scheme during the next five years. Eight districts will be covered in the first year and 14 districts in the second year. The Chief Minister expressed satisfaction over the pace of progress of scheme and hoped that the programme would get a fillip in the coming years. “I have witnessed the enthusiasm and bravery in the women of Jammu and Kashmir. The fast progress of the scheme and dedication of its members and the government officials associated with it is indicative of the bright success of this programme in the state. Target plan Under the Umeed scheme, launched under the National Rural Livelihood Mission, a target has been set to empower 9 lakh women belonging to poor and vulnerable rural households in the state 143 blocks and 4,098 gram panchayats will be covered under the scheme in the next five years. Eight districts will be covered in the first year and 14 districts in the second year.
	Govt plans ordinance on Right to Education Tribune News Service Jammu, December 11 With an aim to provide free education to children across the state, the Education Department is planning to bring an ordinance on the Right to Education. “In order to provide free education to all children in the state, a proposal for an ordinance would be put before the Cabinet soon,” Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, who also heads the education department, said during a high-level meeting here yesterday. He said detailed discussions were held since the draft was put in the public domain and the Education Department has taken suggestions from all quarters to frame the ordinance. Tara Chand directed the Secretary, School Education Department, Hirdesh Kumar to finalise the ordinance, so that the matter is taken up in the next Cabinet meeting for final approval and early issuance. “The state law has gone beyond the central provisions and the Right to Education would be available to every child in the state between the age of four and 14 years,” the Minister said.
	Guv , VCs discuss ways to improve campus infrastructure Jammu, December 11 Vice Chancellors of four different universities of the state today called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here and discussed various varsity matters with him. While Prof Sudhir K Jain, Vice Chancellor, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), briefed the Governor about the on going infrastructure projects on the varsity campus, Prof IA Hamal, VC, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, apprised him of the various academic and extra curricular activities being taken up by the institution. Prof Talat Ahmad, VC, University of Kashmir, and Dr Sudhir S Bloeria, VC, Central University, Jammu, discussed various issues pertaining to their respective institutions with the Governor.
	Mercury plummets to -11.4°C in Leh, Gulmarg receives fresh snow Tribune News Service Srinagar, December 11 With mercury plunging by several degrees during the daytime across the region, severe cold has gripped Kashmir valley. Gulmarg resort in north Kashmir received 3.8 millimeters of snow during the day, an official of the J&K Meteorological Department said. The maximum temperature in Gulmarg rose only to 2.8 degrees Celsius while the minimum temperature dropped to minus 3.8 degrees Celsius, the official said. The sky remained overcast in Srinagar city throughout the day and the maximum temperature was recorded at 6.5 degrees Celsius, six notches below yesterday’s. The minimum temperature dropped to minus 1.4 degrees Celsius overnight here. The official said light rain and snow would occur at some places on the higher reaches of the state in the next 24 hours. Kashmir is inching towards a harsh winter in less than a fortnight. Leh town in the remote Ladakh region, which remains cut-off from rest of the state for most of the winter, recorded a low of minus 11.4 degrees Celsius while in the nearby Kargil town the mercury dropped to minus 4.8 degrees Celsius, the official said. The night temperature in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam resort plunged to a low of minus 4.5 degrees Celsius, making it the coldest place in the Valley. The minimum temperature in south Kashmir’s Qazigund town fell to minus 3.3 degrees Celsius while in north Kashmir’s Kupwara town mercury fell to a low of minus 1.8 degrees Celsius.
	Panel to look into semester, credit system in colleges Tribune News Service Jammu, December 11 The state government has constituted a 12-member committee to work out the modalities for adopting the semester system and choice-based credit system in degree colleges. The committee comprises Secretary Higher Education Department; Dean Academic Affairs, University of Kashmir; Dean Academic Affairs, University of Jammu; Dean Colleges Development Council, University of Kashmir; Director College Development Council, University of Jammu; Nodal Principal, GGM Science College, Jammu; Nodal Principal, AS College, Srinagar; Principal GDC Boys, Anantnag; Principal GDC Boys, Baramulla; Principal SP College, Srinagar; Principal MAM College, Jammu; and Principal GCW Parade, Jammu. An official spokesperson said several professional and technical institutions in the country have already adopted semester system which was working satisfactorily. “The universities in Kashmir and Jammu have also adopted semester system at the postgraduate level. Most of the higher education institutions in Western Europe and North America also follow a semester based system,” he said. The spokesperson said the examination conducted at the end of the year had limitations in assessing the ability of students. There was a tendency among students to skip major portion of syllabi and concentrate on only certain topics to pass the examination, he added. “The annual examination usually leads to cramming of superficial information. Such pattern often insulates the students from quest for knowledge, excitement of discovery and joy of learning,” the spokesperson said. He further emphasised that to involve students in the overall learning process, it was felt necessary to shift to “choice-based credit system”. The system, he added, was divided into three segments - class lectures, tutorials and laboratory work. In case of subjects not involving practical, the dissertation or project work is prescribed. Feedbacks and suggestions have been invited from all the stakeholders and the general public on the subject. The suggestions would be considered by the committee before making recommendations.
	STP row: Take lessons from UK and China, hoteliers tell state govt Tribune News Service Srinagar, December 11 After having been told to stop commercial activities at their hotels for not following the standard sewerage procedures by the government, the hoteliers have urged the state government to take “lessons from UK and China” as to how to take care of ecological concerns. “The government needs to take lessons from Britain to understand and grasp how they managed London’s sewerage from entering the Thames without shuttering hotel business. It might also learn from the Chinese and Japanese experience in their cleaning of the Yellow River and the Smirnykh River, respectively,” said M Afzal Parray, hotelier and former president, Chamber of Commerce & Industries, Kashmir (CCIK). The hoteliers have been opposing the directive to install individual sewerage treatment plants (STPs) while demanding that the government should set up common STPs under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme. The Chamber of Commerce & Industries, Kashmir had earlier appealed to the government to allow hotels having less than 30 rooms to function without STPs as against the present limit of 19. Tariq Rashid Ghani, joint secretary general, J&K Hoteliers Club (JKHC), said the hoteliers were equally concerned about the ecological issues and barely installing STPs in hotels would not resolve the ecological problems facing the Valley. “Right from the beginning, the Jammu and Kashmir Hoteliers Club made all efforts to convince the policy-makers that merely installing sewerage treatment plants by the hotel owners was not going to solve the problems confronting the environment in the state when the effluents of the huge populace in the valley would still go untreated to the water bodies directly,” the joint secretary general of J&K Hoteliers Club said.
	Newly-wed couple killed, 5 injured in road mishaps Tribune News Service Srinagar, December 11 A newly-wed couple was killed and five others were injured in road accidents in road accidents in Kashmir. A police spokesman said Zahid Ali Mir, a resident of Kadipora in Anantnag told the police that his sister Sabia Parveen and brother-in-Law Irshad Ahmad went to Ashmuqam in their car. “Police launched a search for the couple. Later on, the police found a red-colour Alto car in a gorge on Pahalgam Aru road in the district,” he said. “The couple was found dead in the car. Their bodies were handed over to their relatives for last rites. A case has been registered in this regard at the Pahalgam police station,” he added. A Tavera vehicle hit and injured two persons at Yaripora bridge which falls under the jurisdiction of Kulgam police station, the spokesman said. “Both the injured were shifted to hospital for treatment. The Kulgam police have registered a case in this regard,” he added. In another incident, a Santro collided with a Swift car near Karpora, resulting in injuries to the Swift driver Ashok Kumar of Durga Nag in Srinagar. The injured was shifted to the SMHS Hospital for treatment. A case has been registered in this regard. A Maruti car bearing registration number Jk04-8542 hit a policeman, Mohammad Maqbool, near Parimpora bypass. The injured was shifted to hospital for treatment. The Parimpora police have registered a case in this regard. An unknown vehicle hit a woman, identified as Sara Begum of Badigam-Nagbal, in Yaripora in another accident. “The injured woman was shifted to hospital for treatment. The Yaripora police have registered a case in this regard,” he said.
	KU winter vacation likely from Dec 25 Tribune News Service Srinagar, December 11 The winter vacations at the University of Kashmir are likely to begin from December 25. Though the management is yet to issue any official notification in this regard, official sources said the vacations would be two months long in the wake of extremely cold winter conditions prevailing in Valley. There has been no upgrade in the heating facilities at various classrooms, laboratories of the varsity for one year, especially when the students and faculty members have been critical of the charcoal heaters which are the only means of heating arrangements at present. "With temperature slipping to sub-zero level, the heating arrangements are very poor in the varsity. Except for the offices of higher management officials and the heads of departments (HoDs), the majority of classrooms here are without adequate heating arrangements. The problems turn worse when the annual semester examinations are also held in the same season," Mudassir Ahmad, a mass communication student said.
	Government initiates steps to provide safe drinking water Jammu, December 11 Emphasising the role of the Communication and Capacity Development Unit (CCDU) in ensuring safe drinking water and sanitation in the state, Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Sham Lal Sharma today said the government will further strengthen the unit to achieve its objectives in a more professional way. Addressing a press conference here today, the Minister said that Central Government has earmarked five per cent share of the overall budget of the PHE Department for the purpose of creating awareness among the masses about the sanitation and usage of water and to set up an exclusive body, namely the CCDU, to implement this component. He said the functioning of the CCDU will be further toned up, so that it can reach out to the grass roots level to educate people about the sanitation and judicious use of water. The Government has also framed the Village Water Sanitation Committees in every panchayat village across for this purpose. Replying to a question on the scam in the CCDU before he took over the PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control ministry, Sharma said: “The matter has been handed over to the Crime Branch for further investigation.” — TNS
	Yogeshwar new SRCS treasurer Tribune News Service Jammu, December 11 Governor NN Vohra has appointed Dr Yogeshwar Gupta the Honorary Treasurer of the State Red Cross Society (SRCS) for two years. Earlier, Dr Gupta has worked in various capacities, including nodal officer of the National Rural Health Mission, in the State Health Department.
	Governor releases Dogri short stories, comic books Tribune News Service Jammu, December 11 Governor NN Vohra today released a short stories book and two Dogri comics at a function at Raj Bhawan. The books have been translated and published by the Dogri Sanstha Jammu with the help of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. The Governor congratulated the sanstha for its excellent work. He said the short stories book would promote Dogri and make its literature known all over India and abroad. He set up the sanstha in 2012 to oversee the translations of the selected Dogri works into English and Hindi. The volume of Dogri short stories has been translated into English by Suman Sharma and the cover page of the book has been designed by TS Batra. Two comics, published on the format of the Amar Chitra Katha Publications, are titled, “Pukhrooain Diyan Kahaniya” translated by Shashi Pathania and “Dukhi Sher” translated by Narinder Bhasin. Navin K Choudhary, Principal Secretary to the Governor; Khaleed Bashir, Secretary of the J&K Academy of Art, Cultural and Languages; Ravi Magotra, I/C Director, Radio Station, Jammu; Mandeep Bhandari, CEO of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board were also present at the function.
	Tributes paid to 1971 war martyrs Our Correspondent Poonch, December 11 Rich tributes were paid to the soldiers, who lost their lives capturing the Nangi Tekri post during the 1971 war, here today. During a function organised at the Martyrs Memorial to commemorate the Nangi Tekri Capture Day, Major General VP Singh, GOC, Ace of spades, among other senior officers of the Army paid tributes to the solders, who laid down their lives to capture the most dominating post in the Krishna Ghati sector. “Nangi Tekri is the most dominating feature on the LoC, which our soldiers captured from Pakistani soldiers in 1971 war. It was a thrilling experience and every Indian soldier feels enthusiastic when he hears the name of Nangi Tekri,” Maj Gen VP Singh. The officer, meanwhile, said the Army was vigilant to foil any infiltration bid along the fence. “Pakistan always tries to push ultras into J&K, but we are vigilant enough to foil any such attempts,” he said.
	Govt plans to bring ordinance on Right to Education Tribune News Service Jammu, December 11 With an aim to provide free education to children across the state, the Education Department is planning to bring an ordinance on the Right to Education. “In order to provide free education to all children in the state, a proposal for an ordinance would be put before the Cabinet soon,” Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, who also heads the education department, said during a high-level meeting here yesterday. He said detailed discussions were held since the draft was put in the public domain and the Education Department has taken suggestions from all quarters to frame the ordinance. Tara Chand directed the Secretary, School Education Department, Hirdesh Kumar to finalise the ordinance, so that the matter is taken up in the next Cabinet meeting for final approval and early issuance. “The state law has gone beyond the central provisions and the Right to Education would be available to every child in the state between the age of four and fourteen years,” the Minister said. He added that the law would enable free and compulsory schooling to the children till the completion of elementary education with special provisions for children from weaker sections of the society. Tara Chand, on the occasion, also reviewed the pace and progress of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) in the state. Secretary, School Education, Directors of the RMSA, the SSA and the School Education, Jammu and other senior officials of the department were present on the occasion. Meanwhile, taking strong note of embezzlement of funds under the SSA in Baramulla district, the Deputy Chief Minister directed the suspension of ZEOs Dangerpora, Asifa Ara and Mohammad Shafi Wani, besides Principal, Higher Secondary School, Dangerpora, Bashir Ahmad Mir. Junior assistants Rifat Rashid and Zahoor Ahmad Shah and in-charge Headmaster, Middle School, Yamberzalwari, were also put under suspension. The minister also ordered the suspension of Maqsood Ahmad of Middle School, Yamberzalwari. In the preliminary inquiry, misappropriation to the tune of over Rs 70 lakhs was established.
	Mir reviews sewage treatment project Tribune News Service Jammu, December 11 Minister for Tourism Ghulam Ahmed Mir convened a high-level meeting to review the ongoing project to set up sewage treatment plants in Jammu and Srinagar cities. Officials told the Minister that the sewage treatment project for both capital cities was being put into operation in a phased manner. In the initial three phases in Srinagar, the Boulevard area, Dalgate Buchwara, Gagribal, Nehru Park, Khonakhan, Abi-Buchwara, Khayam, Nowpora , Khanyar, Nigeen, Saderbal, Ashai Bagh, Nishat, Shalimar and Harwan have been covered. In Jammu city, the Jewel Chowk, Chand Nagar, Residency Road and Kathkian Talab areas have been covered.
	DGP removes red beacon from his official vehicle Says the SC order will be implemented in letter and spirit Tribune News Service Jammu, December 11 Following the Supreme Court ruling that red beacon should be used only by the high constitutional dignitaries, the Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP), Ashok Prasad, today removed the beacon from his official vehicle. The DGP also ordered the officers to use blue coloured lights as per the directions of the court. Prasad, while interacting with the mediapersons, said the direction of the apex court will be implemented in letter and spirit by the police and other enforcement agencies. “We will ensure that the directive is implemented properly and necessary instructions have been passed to the officials. Every officer should follow the directive given by the court,” the officer said.
	80-yr-old dies after cops stop ambulance for half an hour Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Srinagar, December 11 An 80-year-old man from north Kashmir died allegedly after the ambulance in which he was being ferried to a super-speciality hospital in Srinagar was stopped by traffic policemen in the presence of a mobile Magistrate for nearly half an hour because of a siren on the vehicle. The J&K Government has ordered a probe to ascertain the facts and take action to punish the “guilty” officials. Abdul Rahman Dar, a resident of Yansoo Handwara, was being shifted to a Srinagar hospital from a Handwara hospital on Tuesday when traffic policemen, led by mobile Magistrate, allegedly stopped the ambulance at Selu on the Handwara-Sopore highway. “The elderly patient was admitted to the Handwara hospital on December 9 and had chronic renal failure with heart ailment. Yesterday, the patient was being shifted to the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences after his condition deteriorated, but the ambulance was stopped for half an hour at Selu, reportedly because of the siren,” the Medical Superintendent of the Handwara hospital, Dr Rouf Ahmed, said. The family of the deceased alleged that the traffic policemen on duty broke the siren of the vehicle and refused to let it go for nearly 30 minutes. “We were made to wait even though we pleaded with the traffic policemen on duty that the critically ill patient was being ferried to the Srinagar hospital. They also smashed the siren of the ambulance and did not allow us to go,” said the son of the deceased, Abdul Hamid, who was accompanying him in the ambulance. The ambulance was later allowed to go and the patient was shifted to SKIMS. “The doctors at SKIMS told us that the patient could have been saved if he had reached on time,” he added. The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted that it was unacceptable. “Will ask my IG in Kashmir to collect the facts in this matter and take action immediately to punish any guilty personnel,” Omar tweeted. The Inspector-General, Traffic, Muneer Khan, said the traffic police had nothing to do with the incident. The police official in north Kashmir said the mobile Magistrate had given a different version about the incident. “The Magistrate said the vehicle had a siren. There was no patient among the three occupants in the vehicle,” police sources said.
	Man gets 1-yr jail for rash driving Jammu, December 11 A local court yesterday awarded one-year imprisonment to a driver facing trial in a case of rash and negligent driving leading to the death of a pedestrian. The Judicial Magistrate, Class I, Kathua, also imposed a fine of Rs 2,000 on Dharm Singh, a resident of Fatehgarh. A pedestrian, Santosh Gupta, a resident of Kathua, was killed due to Dharam’s negligent driving, a police spokesperson said. — TNS
	Decision to declare 45 villages backward biased: Forum Doda, December 11 The Jammu and Kashmir Residents of Backward Areas (RBA) Forum has termed the Cabinet’s decision to include 45 forward area villages into backward areas as biased. The forum said the government was trying to appease 45 villages at the cost of 1,178 backward villages. In a press release issued here, the spokesman of the forum, Tanha Khalid Jahangeer, said the Cabinet which met on Monday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah accorded sanction to the inclusion of 45 villages of different districts in the backward areas list which was a cruel joke upon the people of backward areas. The forum leader said the government had accepted its failure of not developing backward areas. They said this was a dangerous decision for RBA people because the government was adding the number of people and not enhancing the reservation quota. The forum advisor for Chenab Valley Region, Hamitullah Wani, said there was a dire need to create an exclusive policy for the development of backward areas and the government should come forward with the first step of constitution J&K Backward Area Advisory Board in the state. Ikhlaq Malik, executive member of the forum, said the government was not serious to develop the backward areas. The forum leaders warned that if the government did not take a decision to enhance the reservation from 20 to 32%, they will launch an agitation. — OC
	Increase in LPG prices anti-people: PDP Tribune News Service Srinagar, December 11 The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has termed the increase in LPG prices as “anti-people and unwarranted”. The party also rued frequent power cuts in the summer capital and other parts of the Valley. Demanding immediate rollback in prices, former Finance Minister Tariq Hammed Qarra in a statement said the hike in prices of cooking gas reflected that the government was against the common man who was already facing the brunt of an unprecedented inflation. “The National Conference-led government has miserably failed to give any relief to people in the state over the last five years. Now, the NC’s bad policies have taken a heavy toll on the people’s patience,” Karra said. A faulty distribution system of LPG in the Valley had made people suffer and the government was unsuccessful in reforming the system, he added. “It is ironical that in the harsh winter conditions people have to face tremendous problems in availing LPG cylinders as there are not enough gas outlets in the Valley,” he said. Besides, people were paying hefty monthly electricity bills and the power situation was grim in Kashmir, he said. “Omar Abdullah has miserably failed to do any good on the ground. Ration depots are running dry and prices of all essential commodities have gone up and there is no reformative action,” he further said.
	MBBS exam venue changed to GMC Tribune News Service Srinagar, December 11 The venue for the MBBS annual examination has been changed from the University of Kashmir to the Government Medical College (GMC) after three years. The decision was approved by the Vice-Chancellor of the university. KU has been the venue for the examination since 2010 after the then Examinations, Controller, AM Shah, had decided the examinations to be held at the varsity. The former Examinations Controller had observed certain irregularities in exam surveillance during a surprise examination inspection at GMC, Srinagar. The venue was later changed to KU where a surveillance team monitoring the examination.