Srinagar, June 8
Medics in the Kashmir region are divided over the allegations of molestation against senior officials of Health Department, including its Director.

While one association of doctors has appealed to medics and paramedics to observe “black day” on Monday against the alleged molestation of a nurse by four officials of the Health Services Department, an amalgam of several doctor associations termed the allegations as “concocted, baseless and malicious”.

The police had filed a case against the accused, including Director, Health Services, Kashmir, Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman, following a complaint by a nurse, in which she had accused the officials of molesting her.

The police have said the initial investigation “negates” the allegations.

The complainant, who appeared before the media yesterday, had alleged that the police were harassing her after she filed the case against the officials.

Sources said the police have so far examined the CCTV footage and recorded statements of witnesses, who have not “corroborated” the allegations.

Doctors Association Kashmir urged medics and paramedics to wear black bands against the “shameful and monstrous act”.

“This shocking incident has sent shivers down our spine and we are speechless. It is difficult for females to work in the Health Department where officials are misusing their position to exploit them on one or the other pretext,” the association said in a statement today.

The association also demanded an immediate arrest and removal of the accused officials from their positions and an independent probe of the allegations.

However, an amalgam of several doctors and paramedic associations refuted the allegations of the nurse saying they were convinced that allegations were “totally concocted, baseless and malicious”.

“We want to inform people of the state that tremendous progress has been made under Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman. He has streamlined the Health Department and has enormously contributed to its growth,” the amalgam representatives told reporters in the city here.

The amalgam representatives alleged conspiracy against the Director.

There is a vested lobby, which has been affected by his stringent administration. The employees of the department are pained that the dignity and reputation of such officers is being tarnished by the people whose departmental records are below satisfactory, said representatives of the Field Doctors Welfare Association Kashmir, Society of Consultant Doctors, Health and Family Welfare Employees Confederation and Government Pharmacist Association.

It is a second high profile case of alleged sexual misconduct that has hit the state Health Department.

Earlier this year, Minister of State for Health Shabir Ahmad Khan had to step down from his post after a case was registered against him following a complaint by a doctor accusing the minister of molesting her.

Srinagar, June 8
With the cases of crime against women in Kashmir on the rise, the State Women’s Commission today expressed its displeasure over the government’s failure to implement its recommendations to deal with such offences.

The Commission also demanded more teeth to address such issues.

State Women’s Commission chairperson Shameema Firdous told The Tribune that she had earlier discussed with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the Chief Secretary and the Inspector General of Police the need to have women’s police stations at the block and district level in the state, but the proposal had not been addressed so far.

The Valley has got just one such police station in uptown Srinagar, which is challenged with staff shortage and is out of reach for many women from remote areas.

Shameema said the authorities also ignored her demand of establishing a separate investigation cell in the Commission, which could specially look into such cases so that justice was delivered to the victims without any delay.

“The sluggish pace at which the police investigation proceeds and the courts handle such cases is disappointing. We had stepped in and asked the state government for providing us with a separate investigation cell, a demand which has been ignored,” she said.

“Last year, the state government had approved setting up of fast track courts for dealing with crimes against women, but nothing has been achieved till date,” Shameema added.

Srinagar, June 8
Even as the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has procured a fleet of hi-tech machinery for waste management, the corporation is short of 1,600 workers that is affecting garbage collection.

“According to the norms, there should have been 4,500 sanitary workers against which the SMC has only 2,900 sanitary workers,” reveal official documents procured from the SMC.

However, to overcome the shortage, SMC commissioner GN Qasba said they had switched to “mechanised” garbage collection.

“In order to ensure 100 per cent collection of solid waste, the SMC has switched over to mechanised collection of solid waste on door-to-door basis with induction of new Hooper vehicles (small four-wheelers). In addition to 12 existing Hooper vehicles, 20 Hooper vehicles have been commissioned for door-to-door collection of solid waste,” he said.

As per the SMC estimates, the total waste generated in Srinagar city is 605 metric tonnes (MT). Household waste constitutes 412 MT, street sweeping waste 20 MT, hotel and restaurant waste 25 MT, vegetable market 10 MT, commercial establishments 25 MT and debris and horticulture waste 113 MT.

“About 40,000 twin-colour dustbins have been distributed among the households and establishments which also include 10,000 household dustbins. Under the expansion scheme, about 10,000 dustbins are in the offing and the same will be distributed among five wards were the latest machines/equipment are being put into use,” Qasba added.

Moreover, the SMC will be procuring more garbage collection vehicles under the Asian Development Bank-funded project that include dumper placer vehicles, dumper placer bins and heavy duty hook loader vehicles.

Qasba said the SMC was catering solid waste of at least 15 lakh population, which also included floating population and visitors.

The total number of households as per Census 2011 in Srinagar city is 1.78 lakh, while there are 0.85 lakh commercial establishments and 1,240 hotels and restaurants.

Last week, the SMC had flagged off a fleet of garbage collection and transportation vehicles to improve garbage management in the city.

Jammu, June 8
Days after the state government decided to increase the retirement age of its employees, the Jammu University Teachers Association (JUTA) has demanded that the retirement age of teachers with universities in the state should be enhanced to 65 years, with the provision of extension up to the age of 70, as per norms of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

"We welcome the decision of the state government to enhance the retirement age of state employees from 58 to 60 years and its approval to some other demands. JUTA will like to point out that what has been granted to state government employees is aligning their service conditions with those of central employees," said Prof Dalip Singh Jamwal, JUTA president.

Jamwal chaired a meeting of JUTA office-bearers at the university. He expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his personal intervention in accepting the demand for enhancement in retirement age of state government employees and bringing them on a par with central employees.

The JUTA president demanded that the state government should take the same action with regard to teachers with universities in the state and bring their service conditions, including age of retirement, on a par with those of employees with central universities, as laid down by the UGC.

Virender Koundal, JUTA general secretary, pointed out that teachers had accepted all UGC requirements that had been brought into force, including qualifications laid down for various posts. "It is only fair that service conditions that the UGC recommends for teachers should now be implemented in toto," he said.

Jammu, June 8
Congress workers of the Marh Assembly segment urged the party high command on Sunday to declare Ghulam Nabi Azad its chief ministerial candidate for the Assembly elections.

A meeting of workers of the constituency was held in Marh under the leadership of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Balwan Singh.

A resolution was passed, urging All-India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi to declare Azad the chief ministerial candidate for the ensuing elections.

The workers were of the view that Azad’s performance as the Chief Minister and the Union Health Minister made him the best choice under the changed circumstances as he was acceptable in all three regions of the state.

In the second resolution, the workers emphasised that the party should conduct a survey and allot the ticket only to those who were capable of winning the elections on the basis of capability, performance and acceptance.

They demanded a final settlement of refugee demands since 1947, re-identification of below poverty line families and bifurcation of ration cards as well.

Widening of certain roads, a degree college in the Marh block, sports infrastructure in the Marh constituency and a special employment drive for the unemployed youth were among the other demands.

Workers expressed faith in Balwan Singh's leadership. Vinod Sharma, Dev Dass, Ashwani Sharma, Saudagar Singh Saini, Jagdish Raj Bhagat, Gulzar Singh, Charanjit Singh, Shamsher Singh and Parjog Bhagat also spoke.

Jammu, June 8
Buoyed after winning half of the Lok Sabha seats from J&K, the BJP is exploring all possibilities to be part of the next government in this border state. The BJP high command has called all senior leaders of the state unit to Delhi on June 10 to devise strategy to accomplish the task of “44 Plus” in J&K.

As the J&K Assembly has 87 elected members, the BJP has set a target for winning 44 seats to form the government on its own in the state.

In the Assembly, the BJP at present has 11 members. In the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections, the BJP secured a lead in 25 Assembly segments. Now, the party has set a target of 44 Plus.

Highly placed sources in the BJP said the party high command had directed members of the party’s core group in the state to reach Delhi on June 10 to discuss the strategy for the coming Assembly elections in J&K, likely to be held in November.

The core Group of the state BJP comprises three sitting Lok Sabha members, three former state presidents and four general secretaries.

The sources said the high command had asked the state unit to prepare a road map to expand the base of the party among all sections of society.

“Apart from the 37 segments of Jammu province, the BJP has also decided to focus on four seats of Ladakh and 10 seats of the Kashmir valley,” a source said, adding that the party leadership hoped to open its account in the Kashmir valley also.

In a first, the BJP had won 11 Assembly seats in J&K in 2008 elections after the Amarnath land row. The party’s credibility, however, took a beating when seven of its MLAs allegedly cross-voted in favour of the National Conference and Congress candidates in the 2011 Legislative Council elections.

The BJP had won eight seats in the 1996 Assembly elections. Riding on the Modi wave, the BJP this time won three Lok Sabha seats — two from the Jammu region and one from Ladakh.

Jammu, June 8
Buoyed by victory in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, the BJP is making a pitch to woo Gujjars and Shias to form a grand alliance in the state before the Assembly poll.

The LS poll results have encouraged the party to devise a strategy to project the BJP as a main player in the state politics along with the Congress, the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The grand alliance is necessitated to expand its base beyond Hindu-dominated districts of the Jammu region.

The BJP has secured a better vote share in Shia-dominated Kargil district of Ladakh and some Gujjar-dominated pockets of the Jammu region.

“The BJP has won three out of six LS seats of the state and this has substantiated our claim that the BJP has support of all sections of society,” said Avinash Rai Khanna, Rajya Sabha member and in charge of the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir.

Khanna, who has been credited for devising a strategy for the party's win in the elections, said the next target of the party is the Assembly elections.

“We want to break the jinx that the BJP cannot be part of the government in the only Muslim-dominated state of the country,” Khanna said.

The BJP leadership has realised that the support of Gujjars and Shias is must to stake a claim for power in the state.

At the 'lalkaar' rally in Jammu on December 1, Narendra Modi raked up the issue of “discrimination” against Gujjars and Shias.

Besides Kargil, Shias votes are a deciding factor in half a dozen seats of the Valley. The BJP has decided to target them as well. Similarly, the BJP will woo Gujjars, which is the third biggest ethnic group in the state.

The BJP is also mobilising Gujjars, who are enjoying Scheduled Tribe status, in its campaign against the “abuse” of Article 370.

“Like the LS elections, the results of the Assembly poll will also be historic because all sections are coming forward to support the BJP,” claimed Khanna.

Jammu, June 8
It has been an endless wait for the farming community of Raya village in Samba district as the ambitious project of modernisation of the existing Raya Canal and the construction of balance works of Lift Irrigation Scheme which was supposed to be commissioned in 2004 is yet to be complete.

This has been revealed in the physical verification report (PVR) of the chief minister's monitoring cell. The report claimed that the work on the project was conceived in 1980 and the actual work started in 1986, which remains incomplete till date.

"The people of the area are neither enthusiastic about resumption of balance work after so many years nor do they feel that the project will be completed in near future. It is difficult to tell if the benefits of the project initially envisaged can actually be reaped by the farming community living in this Kandi belt," the monitoring cell report maintained.

The report claimed that the partly constructed project did not accrue benefits to the farming community and in 2012, the state authorities decided to resume the project from where it was left.

"In October 2012, the Irrigation and Flood Control Department accorded administrative approval for completion of all physical components of the lift irrigation scheme as initially conceptualised at a cost of Rs 602.92 lakh. The revised project is reported to be funded by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and the state plan in the ratio of 90:10. The financial expenditure statement does indicate that NABARD funds to the tune of Rs 1 crore were provided for the project during 2012-13," the report said.

The Tawi canal project, a lift irrigation scheme commissioned in 1973-74, lifts 300 cusecs of water from the Tawi river near Bahu Fort for providing irrigation facility to 32,200 acres in Bishnah, Bari-Brahmana and Vijaypur blocks of Jammu and Samba districts. This canal irrigates land towards the south of National Highway-1A.

Area measuring 2,760 acres lying on the northern side of the national highway between Khad near Trore and Aik Nullah was identified way back in 1980 for providing irrigation facility from the Tawi canal project.

Jammu, June 8
Despite tall claims of the municipal corporation that major repairs of water coolers have been carried out in the city, the ground reality is different.

The blazing weather has left people visiting various markets parched as half of the nearly 130 water coolers installed by the municipal corporation across the city are non-functional, forcing them to buy mineral water to quench their thirst.

There are 71 wards in the city. Each councillor had installed two or three water coolers in different areas when municipal elections were held in 2005, but regular maintenance was not carried out.

"The cooler in our area was functional for a few months. After its transformer got damaged, no one from the municipal corporation turned up to have a look at it," said Suresh Sharma of Rehari Colony.

Many residents complained that they had approached civic body officials several times, but they had shown their inability, saying a decision in this regard had to be taken by senior officials.

"Water coolers have not been cleaned and people have to drink contaminated water. A large number of water coolers are in a bad condition, with stagnant water and garbage lying outside, which is a repulsive sight," said Gulshan Gupta, a trader at the Patel Market.

With temperature in the city hovering around 44 degree Celsius and hot winds worsening conditions, many people had been staying indoors in the comfort of coolers and air-conditioners.

Temperature had been rising steadily in the region since the last week of May. The sun had not been showing any mercy in the last few days, affecting life in the city.

Jammu, June 8
Director General of Police (DGP) K Rajendra Kumar yesterday visited Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine where he reviewed security arrangements.

He also inspected the police station located at Bhawan and interacted with the personnel posted there.

K Rajendra Kumar, DGP

Accompanied by Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu, Rajesh Kumar, the DGP took stock of arrangements at the shrine for the pilgrims.

He was told that adequate arrangements had made to ensure the security of the pilgrims en route the shrine and the Bhawan.

He was told that all modern security gadgets, including CCTVs, had been put in place at sensitive locations to ensure proper scrutiny of the baggage and frisking of the visitors.

The DGP told officers to review the functioning of the CCTVs regularly and get the faults rectified, if found at any point of time.

He emphasised that the baggage of the pilgrims should be checked by using latest security gadgets. He also called for close coordination between the shrine board management and police personnel to ensure tangible results.

Earlier, the DGP offered prayers at the shrine and prayed for the peace and prosperity of the state and people.

While interacting with the jawans deployed en route, he appreciated their dedication and discipline, maintaining that “the security of pilgrims and the shrine is paramount and we have to focus on our duty to make the task more effective’’.

Senior superintendent of police, Reasi, and the superintendent of police, Katra, accompanied the DGP. — TNS

Srinagar, June 8
Security forces have managed to kill seven top militant commanders in the Valley so far this year.

The Army has claimed that killing of these seven terrorists has “broken the backbone” of militant outfits operating in Kashmir.

Last year, 60 security men were killed in various militant attacks across the Valley, while security forces were able to eliminate 10 top militant commanders.

“The killing of top (militant) commanders show that there is a complete synergy between the security forces and that is a major reason for the success in anti-militancy operations,” a senior security officer said.

The officer said 37 militants have been killed in different encounters in the Valley so far, adding that getting specific inputs about their operations was a key to success of security forces.

While security forces continue their offencive against militant leadership in Kashmir, Qasim, a top Lashkar-e-Toiba commander, along with his two senior associates managed to give security men the slip during an operation in central Kashmir’s Budgam district last month.

However, the incident had no bearing on the offencive against militant leadership.

After the killing of Lashkar’s divisional commander Abu Quasha in frontier Kupwara district on June 1, General Officer Commanding of Srinagar-based 15 Corps Lt Gen Gurmit Singh said the elimination of top militant leaders had “broken the backbone” of militancy.

“The approach adopted by the Army to track and eliminate leadership of terrorist organisations operating in Kashmir has proved extremely successful and has broken the backbone of tanzeems (militant organisations),” the Corps Commander said.

Security forces, this year, were first successful in neutralising divisional commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad Abu Hassan.

Believed to be a Paksitani national, Hassan was killed in an encounter with security forces on January 13 near north Kashmir’s Sopore town.

Hassan had replaced Jaish commander Qari Yasir, who was killed in 2013 in frontier Kupwara district.

Since then, security forces have killed six other top militant commanders belonging to Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba.

“Out of seven militant commanders, five have been killed in north Kashmir’s Kupwara and Baramulla districts,” a senior police officer said.

In the past five months security forces have killed district commander of Hizbul Mujahideen Arshid Ahmad Sheikh alias Ash, Hizbul Commander for north Kashmir Shafi Sheikh and three other top Lashkar-e-Toiba commanders Abu Huriara, Hyder and Abu Quasha.

Srinagar, June 8
A woman, who had attempted suicide earlier this week, today died at a city hospital, where she was undergoing treatment, the police said.

The woman, who is a resident of Peerbal village of south Kashmir’s Frisal area, had consumed a poisonous substance at her home on June 5, a police spokesman said. The woman was shifted to a hospital, where she was undergoing treatment for the past three days.

She died today morning and her body was handed over to her family.

In another incident, a 30-year-old woman of Yaripora area attempted suicide by consuming some poisonous substance. — TNS

Pattan, June 8
The police had to register an FIR after a matrimonial dispute turned ugly and led to stone-throwing at Takia in Baramulla district.

“The Pattan police have taken cognisance of an incident of stone-throwing on a house during settlement of a matrimonial dispute,” a police spokesman said.

The police said in August last year, Abdul Rashid Itoo, a resident of Goshbug in Pattan, had married his daughter to Javaid Ahmad Ganaie of Takia Tapper.

After a dispute between the husband and the wife, both parties had come to Ganaie’s house last evening to settle the issue, which was later finalised into a divorce.

“During settlement, the relatives of the woman got agitated and started throwing stones at the house of Javaid Ahmad Ganaie resulting in damage to the window panes and glasses of the house. Later, the police intervened and restored order,” the spokesman said.

Kupwara, June 8
The management of various mosque committees in Kupwara district today appealed people not to give donations without ascertaining credentials of individuals or groups collecting money in the name of shrines or mosques.

Some unscrupulous persons have printed fake receipt books and are collecting funds in the name of welfare of mosques and shrines, they said.

In one such incident yesterday, a person collecting donation in the name of Masjid Sharief Hazrat Natrash Abad Trehgam, Kashmir, managed to flee after a policeman in Beerwah tehsil of Budgam district asked him to prove his credentials.

“He requested me for donation. He explained that he was collecting funds for a mosque in remote village of Kupwara. When I told him that the stamp of the mosque committee was missing on the receipt leaf he threw the receipt book and fled from the spot, but not before receiving couple of slaps,” the policeman said.

The forged receipt book, now in the possession of the mosque committee, shows Rs 15,000 collected against 500 receipt leaves, the policeman said.

“We appeal people not to give donations to anybody without ascertaining the veracity of receipts and authenticity of the person claiming to be the member of mosque management committee,” said Farid Ahmad, a member of mosque committee, Hazrat Natrash Peer Baba Muqam Trehgam.

Jammu, June 8
Natrang presented the hilarious play ‘Lottery ka Ticket’ in its Sunday Theatre Series today. Written by Showkat Thanvi and directed by Neeraj Kant, the play tickled the funny bone of the audience by providing a funny insight into a family.

The story revolves around Munshiji, who buys a lottery ticket and is consumed by the idea of winning the lottery. He is overoptimistic and even obsessed with the idea of winning the money.

He plans how he will utilise the cash that he gets after winning the lottery. He resigns from his job as he thinks that he is going to be rich and does not need a mundane job to feed his family anymore.

His wife and brother, on the other hand, are apprehensive about this. They try to warn him about his actions, but seeing his enthusiasm, they are pulled into Munshiji's fantasy.

The play gives a picture of a middle class family that hopes and relies on the concept of easy money and the idea of becoming rich overnight. These hopes are scattered when reality sinks in.

The play is about the distress that want for money or material can have on a family. Natrang had been presenting different plays in separate genres in its Sunday Theatre Series for the last 10 years.

Srinagar, June 8
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), India, has set up camera traps to track the movement of snow leopards, Asia’s most endangered cats, a few km from the Line of Control (LoC) in the mountains of Kargil district.

An image of a snow leopard captured by a camera set up by WWF-India in Kargil district.

As per the WWF, there are 400-700 snow leopards in India, a majority of which are in the high-altitude mountainous zones of the state.

The infra-red cameras can track the movement of snow leopards even on misty winter nights. This project is a part of the “Save our snow leopards” campaign of the WWF in collaboration with the state Wildlife Department.

Under the project, it has been found out that snow leopards thrive in areas around international borders where human activity is the least.

The most strife-torn conflict zones in the world, as per wildlife expert and researcher Muhammad Shafi Bacha, including Xinjiang, Tibet, Afghanistan, Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh, are actually safe habitats for snow leopards.

He said there were around 250-300 snow leopards found mainly in the hilly Zanskar range of the Ladakh region.

Regional Wildlife Warden, J&K Wildlife Department, Shuja Haider, said a comprehensive study on snow leopards, also called the tiger of mountains, had not been possible due to frequent firing in the LoC area.

The WWF’s ambitious project aims at raising funds for installation of more trap cameras across other areas of the study to research on snow leopards. The project has raised about Rs 12 lakh till now.

The cases of man-animal conflict, which as per the WWF is a major threat to snow leopards’ survival, could be prevented by building predator-proof livestock pens so that snow leopards do not attack the cattle of villagers.

“The major threat to the existence of snow leopards is from humans, who live near their habitats and kill them. There is a need for a full-fledged research as poaching, habitat and prey base loss are bringing down the population of snow leopards,” Muhammad Shafi said.

The mission

• The placement of camera traps in Kargil district is a part of the “Save our snow leopards” campaign of the WWF in collaboration with the state Wildlife Department.
• As per the WWF, there are 400-700 snow leopards in India, a majority of which are in the high-altitude mountainous zones of the state.

Gulmarg, June 8
The Sharanz waterfall near the shrine of Baba Reshi here in north Kashmir is awaiting government attention.

The famous waterfall has the potential to produce hydroelectricity and can turn into a tourist destination if the government develops it, locals said.

The waterfall has remained a spot of attraction for the tourists and pilgrims, visiting Tangmarg and Gulmarg.

Residents of the area have urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the tourism minister to visit the area and take necessary steps for its development. They have also sought tourism status for the spot.

The villages situated near the Sharanz waterfall include Saterseeran, Nagbal, Dandmoh, Nilsar, Chontipathri and Baldaji.

The waterfall is visited by locals and children who come to enjoy at the spot.

However, due to lack of basic facilities in the area, tourists face hardships.

Locals say if the tourist destination is maintained properly, it can to a greater extent boost the economy of the area.

“This waterfall (Sharanz) is one of the most beautiful spots in the area. This is not less beautiful than the Aharbal waterfall in Anantnag. The authorities should take steps to maintain this tourist spot,” said a local visitor, Waseem Ahmad.

“Electricity can be produced from the waterfall for the nearby areas, besides it will help in boosting the economy of the area,” said Mohammad Arif, a teacher.

People demand that the area around the waterfall should be developed and put on the tourist map.

“If the area around the waterfall is developed and put on the tourist map, it will generate employment opportunities for the unemployed youth of the area,” Arif said.

Srinagar, June 8
The 119th Urs of Hazrat Baba Nizam-ud-Din Kiyanvi was celebrated with fervour at Baba Nagri in Ganderbal district.An official said over one lakh devotees thronged Baba Nagri on the concluding day of the Urs today.

He said devotees from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir also took part in the two-day Urs. — TNS

Jammu, June 8
A health awareness programme was organised in collaboration with doctors and paramedical staff of Police Hospital in Jammu at headquarters of the IRP 15th Battalion for awareness on gynaecological ailments and treatment.

The programme was attended by officials of the battalion. Dr Manjusha Bajaj briefed women about diseases in different age groups and their prevention. — TNS

Srinagar, June 8
The Common Entrance Test-2014 concluded today with over 25,000 appearing for biology and mathematics papers in two separate sessions. The CET is the entry to admission for nearly 500 MBBS, BTech, BSc Agriculture, Bachelors in veterinary sciences and other allied professional courses in various government and engineering colleges of the state.

The Board of Professional Entrance Examinations, which had been in the line of fire recently for bungling in admissions to medical colleges, had this time said it would ensure free and fair examinations under tight vigil. The students appeared in chemistry and physics papers yesterday.

To avoid any discrepancies, the question paper and answer paper sheets will be packed in designated parcels. The tests were conducted in 47 centres with 24 in Kashmir and 23 in Jammu division, while an observer was selected for each centre.

In the wake of last year’s disclosure of former BOPEE chief’s involvement in corruption cases for MBBS admissions, there was distrust among aspirants over fair conduct in examinations.

“This is the most reputed examination held in the state. If there is corruption going on even at this level, how can students feel not cheated? We hope the authorities are more sincere in delivering this time,” Mujtaba, an MBBS course aspirant said.

Jammu, June 8
Girls have made a clean sweep of top positions in the third-year examinations conducted by the University of Jammu. The results were declared on Saturday.

Sukriti Gupta of GGM Science College secured 85.81 per cent marks to bag the top position in science. She was followed by Abrar Ahmad Kripak of Government Degree College (GDC), Kishtwar, and Shivam Mahajan of GDC, Kathua.

In commerce, Sugandha Verma secured the top position with 72.5 per cent marks. She was followed by Ruchi Kumari of GCW, Parade, and Purva Singh of SPMR College of Commerce.

In arts, Tazeem Akhter of GDC, Poonch, topped with 79.75 per cent marks. She was followed by Jasleen Kour of GCW, Gandhi Nagar, and Imtiaz Ahmad of GDC, Thanamandi.

In BCA, Palak Sharma of GCW, Parade, topped the merit list by securing 75.93 per cent marks. She was followed by Deepika Sharma of SPMR College of Commerce and Meenakshi Bhat of Tawi Institute of Management and Science.

In BBA, Chetna Handa of SPMR College of Commerce bagged top honours by securing 80.95 per cent marks. She was followed by Paheli Sharma of Government MAM College, Jammu, and Aseesdeep Kour of SPMR College of Commerce.

Jammu, June 8
The Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) is all set to introduce yoga as a compulsory subject in a bid to encourage yoga education in its schools. Yoga will be taught from class VI at all Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) in the state.

Sources said the National Curriculum Framework, 2005, had set broad guidelines for physical education and elucidated the importance of including yoga as a compulsory subject.

The sources said the regional office of the KVS in Jammu was directed to appoint yoga teachers on a contractual basis at all KVs, if any regular yoga teacher was not posted, irrespective of the number of sections in the KV.

The remuneration of yoga teachers appointed on a contractual basis would be similar to payment made to sports coaches posted on a contractual basis.

Yoga education not only contributed to the physical development of a child, but had a positive impact on psychological, social and mental development as well, the KVS said a press note.

Teaching and reading material had been provided on yoga introduction, postures and meditation. Class-wise syllabus included theory and practical lessons on 'aasans', concentration tips, 'nishkam karma' doctrine, it added.

After proper implementation, 'pranayam', 'surya namaskar' and chanting Om would become a part of life for 11 lakh children enrolled in 1,094 KVs in the country, it further said.

The sources further claimed that yoga teachers selected to KVS schools would be granted selection scale in the pay band of Rs 15,600 to Rs 39,100 with grade pay of Rs 5,400.

This would be done on a recommendation of the Departmental Promotion Committee with approval of the competent authority in accordance with instructions issued by Union Ministry of Human Resource Development.

The ministry had, in collaboration with the Central Board of Secondary Education and the Union Ministry of Urban Development, launched the ambitious 'Waves of Change' programme with the motto 'Education beyond the Book'.

The KVS, Jammu region, had been asked to launch the 'Waves of Change' programme, under which all educational institutions would focus on practical aspects of sanitation and hygiene to inculcate good habits about those in children.

Rajouri, June 8
Army Goodwill Public School, Rajouri, held a felicitation ceremony for the academic and sports achievers of the academic session 2013-14 on Wednesday.

Maj Gen Saranjeet Singh, General Officer Commanding of the 25 Infantry Division, who was the chief guest, gave away prizes to achievers in both categories.

An Army spokesman said out of the 21 achievers, four were from the sports category, selected in the kho-kho and badminton teams to represent the state at the national level.

Major General Saranjeet Singh, while addressing the students, motivated them to keep achieving higher goals and become proud citizens “of our great country”.

He also inaugurated the 10-metre air pistol indoor shooting range at the school. The school is the first to have the facility in Rajouri district.

Udhampur, June 8
Ten persons were injured when the vehicle in which they were travelling rolled down into a gorge near the railway station here today.

Reports said the minibus was on its way to Udhampur from Kawa village.

On reaching the railway station, the driver lost control over the vehicle and it rolled down into a gorge, resulting in injuries to 10 persons. All injured were shifted to District Hospital, Udhampur. — OC

Srinagar, June 8
A person was injured in an accidental fire caused by leakage of LPG at a canteen of a government office in Bemina, the police said.

The injured identified as Ashiq Hussain Dar of Tangmarg was working in the canteen. He received burn injuries when the fire engulfed the canteen. — TNS

Srinagar, June 8
A girl, 22, who had allegedly set herself ablaze succumbed to her burn injuries on Saturday, the police said.

A resident of Srinagar, the girl allegedly set herself ablaze at her home on Wednesday after a tiff with a family member. The police said she was shifted to SMHS Hospital in Srinagar where she died. — TNS