J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

J&K employees may court arrest
JAMMU, Jan 3 — Work in all government offices, including the civil secretariat and hospitals, remained affected for the 15th day today by employees' strike in protest against the delay in the release of two DA instalments and arrears under the fifth Pay Commission report.

Shells recovered in Jammu
JAMMU, Jan 3 —The police today claimed to have averted a major tragedy in Jammu city with the recovery of two live Chinese-made artillery shells capable of destroying big structures.

Independent MLA joins JKPDP
SRINAGAR, Jan 3 — Mr Mohammad Sultan Panditpuri, who was elected to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly in a byelection from Langate as an Independent, today joined the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples’ Democratic Party (JKPDP).

J&K employees may court arrest
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 3 — Work in all government offices, including the civil secretariat and hospitals, remained affected for the 15th day today by employees' strike in protest against the delay in the release of two DA instalments and arrears under the fifth Pay Commission report.

Employees also staged a demonstration and took out a procession. Most of the wards in the medical college and other hospitals wore a deserted look with paramedical staff also on the strike. Senior doctors have been attending to only emergency cases.

There has been no work in government schools all over the state. On Saturday, the government had decided to declare the strike illegal under the maintenance of Essential Services Act and take into custody leaders of employees' unions. State intelligence agencies had been asked to prepare a dossier on employees' leaders.

However, the action against the employees has been delayed because of reports that the Centre may provide some financial support to the state. The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, had met the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee in this connection and prepared the ground for today's meeting between the Finance Minister, Mr Abdul Rahim Rather, and the Union Finance Minister, Mr Yashwant Sinha.

The state government requires Rs 400 crore to meet the demands of the employees. The union leaders said the state government was adopting an indifferent attitude because it had not even accepted their suggestions that the two instalments of DA be credited to their provident fund which they could withdraw later.

They said they were prepared to court arrest in case the state government adopted a tough stand.

Meanwhile, gazetted officers' presence in the their offices improved today after the government threatened to take action against them.

Shells recovered in Jammu

JAMMU, Jan 3 (PTI) —The police today claimed to have averted a major tragedy in Jammu city with the recovery of two live Chinese-made artillery shells capable of destroying big structures.

The shells were recovered by a police party early today on specific information from the Niki Tawi area of the city, Inspector-General of Police (Jammu zone) Mr R.V. Raju, said.

Displaying the shells at the police control room here, he said the 107-mm shells were solar ignited and took five minutes and 30 seconds to be ignited.

However, the cell battery, usually attached with each cell to complete its circuits, was not found with the recovered shells, he said.

The shells were found directed towards MAM Stadium and Goal Gujral Camp, he said.

Independent MLA joins JKPDP

SRINAGAR, Jan 3 (PTI) — Mr Mohammad Sultan Panditpuri, who was elected to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly in a byelection from Langate as an Independent, today joined the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples’ Democratic Party (JKPDP).

Mr Panditpuri announced his decision to join the JKPDP, led by former Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, at a Press conference in the presence of senior party leaders and supporters here.

The byelection to the Langate Assembly constituency was necessitated following the killing of Abdul Ahad Kar of the ruling National Conference by militants.With Mr Panditpuri’s joining the JKPDP, the strength of the party in the Assembly has risen to two.