Srinagar

Probe against PH division
KATHUA, Nov 1 — The Vigilance Organisation has suo motu initiated a preliminary inquiry against the Public Health Engineering Department’s Kathua division for misappropriation of lakhs of rupees.

National Conference leader shot dead

SRINAGAR, Nov 1 (PTI) — Militants today gunned down a leader of the ruling National Conference (NC) at Maisuma here, official sources said.

The block president of the NC, Mr Abdul Rashid Bhat, who was shot in the head from point-blank range inside the shop, was rushed to hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, the sources said.

The incident, which occurred in a busy area of Srinagar, led to panic in the locality. Shops were closed and the area was deserted, the sources said, adding security forces had been deployed.

No arrest had been made so far and no militant outfit had claimed responsibility for the killing, they added.

A report form Jammu said Pakistani troops fired at Indian positions at several places along the international border and the Line of Control in Jammu division since last evening, official reports said here today.

No loss of life or damage to property was reported on the Indian side in the Pakistani firing which was repulsed by the BSF they said, adding intermittent exchange of light and medium-range fire continued throughout the night.

The reports said Pakistani Rangers opened fire with light arms on several border outposts (BPOs) in the Akhnnor, Samba and R.S. Pura sectors along the international border yesterday.

Reports from Rajouri district said Pakistani troops targeted forward Indian posts in the Bhiwani subsector of the Noushera area forcing the Indian troops to return the fire.

The exchange of fire between the Indian and Pakistani troops has almost become a daily routine in this area with Pakistani side sometimes resorting to mortar fire.

Land acquisition: CAG pulls up J&K govt

SRINAGAR, Nov 1 (PTI) — The Comptroller and Auditor General has pointed out serious irregularities in land acquisitions by Jammu and Kashmir government.

The report placed before the legislature reveals that Rs 18.24 crore was locked up with 11 collectors at the end of March 1998 as advances for land compensation without completion of formalities.

Of this, Rs 5.86 crore was deposited in banks (current account) of respective collectors instead of Treasury, in violation of government instructions.

As per the state Land Acquisition Act 1990, completion of acquisition proceedings should not take more than six months under ordinary circumstances. However, the cross-checking of records of 10 collectors revealed that out of 269 acquisition cases processed during 1993-94 to 1997-98, awards had been finalised only in 112 cases till March 1998, while 75 cases were under process for periods ranging from two to 19 years.

The CAG has held the collectors responsible for the delay due to their failure to determine rates of compensation and complete other procedural formalities.

The report points out that the belated acquisition of land, besides impeding execution of developmental works had resulted in escalation of land compensation rates.

Drive against footpath vendors
From Our Correspondent

KATHUA, Nov 1 — A massive anti-encroachment drive is on the cards in the district. The district administration has taken a serious view of the increasing encroachments in various towns of the district like Lakhanpur, Hiranagar, Basohli, Billawar and Nagri by footpath vendors and rehriwalas, displaying their wares in the middle of the market.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Chaman Lal, in a communication addressed to the local Administrator, Town Area Committee, Chairman of Notified Area Committees of Lakhanpur, Hirananagar, Basohli, Billawar and Nagri, and Executive Engineers of the CPWD and R and B has highlighted the hazards involved as result of these encroachments on public property like bazars and footpaths.

The DC has also taken a serious view about the largescale encroachments on the National Highway, particularly at Lakhanpur. He said due to these encroachments consumers, shopkeepers and pedestrians were facing a lot of problems.

He also stressed that the misuse of public land and property by unscrupulous shopkeepers and vendors needed to be curbed with a heavy hand. The congestion and dumping of wares and unnecessary material in the bazars were dangerous from security point of view.

The DC has called upon the authorities to take immediate steps to remove such encroachments. The SSP, Mr R.R. Swain, has assured full cooperation to the administration in this regard.

Probe against PH division
From Our Correspondent

KATHUA, Nov 1 — The Vigilance Organisation has suo motu initiated a preliminary inquiry against the Public Health Engineering Department’s Kathua division for misappropriation of lakhs of rupees.

According to an FIR the Vigilance Organisation during the course of the preliminary inquiry found that officials of the division made an expenditure of Rs 679.37 lakh under different heads without completing the formalities. The works, involving huge expenditure were executed departmentally and payments made in favour of selected contractors through receipts made illegally and without seeking the approval of the competent authority.