J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Three cops injured in mine blast
SRINAGAR, Dec 13 — Jammu and Kashmir Public Works Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar had a narrow escape as militants hurled a hand grenade, minutes after he left a function after inaugurating the Arwani bridge in the south Kashmir district of Anantnag today.

Steps to maintain postal services
JAMMU, Dec 13 — The J and K Postal Circle has taken several measures to maintain services in the state in view of the ongoing indefinite strike by the postal employees.

J&K to hold poll to cooperative bodies
JAMMU, Dec 13 — The Minister for Agriculture and Cooperation, Mr Mohammad Ramzan, said that the elections to the cooperative bodies in the state would be held in next six months.

Pressure to remove J&K PCC chief
JAMMU, Dec 13 — Pressure has been mounted on senior Congress leaders, including the party President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, to reconstitute the Pradesh Congress Committee “after sacking” Mr Mohammad Shafi Qureshi, PCC chief.

J&K employment cell in Delhi
JAMMU, Dec 13 — the Jammu and Kashmir Government has set up an employment cell in Delhi to liaise with private sector concerns and defence forces to secure more jobs for youths in the establishments.

Three cops injured in mine blast

SRINAGAR, Dec 13 (UNI) — Jammu and Kashmir Public Works Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar had a narrow escape as militants hurled a hand grenade, minutes after he left a function after inaugurating the Arwani bridge in the south Kashmir district of Anantnag today.

Sources said Mr Sagar, had left a few minutes before the explosion.

They said 15 persons, including National Conference leaders and workers and five police personnel, were injured.

The condition of a Deputy Superintendent of Police is stated to be critical.

At least three police personnel were injured when the militants detonated a mine followed by firing at Debha in Gool area of Udhampur district early this morning.

He said a fierce encounter took place between the militants and the security forces at Kalal Dhok during which five militants, two security personnel and a civilian were killed. A large cache of arms and ammunition were also recovered from the slain militants.

Meanwhile, security forces have been put on high alert following reports that militants, who have rejected the Indian Government’s offer for Ramzan ceasefire, may strike on Jung Badr tomorrow.

Six militants and two security personnel were among 14 persons killed in the strife-torn state during the past 24 hours.

The overall security situation was reviewed at a high-level meeting convened by the state Minister of State for Home, Mr Mushtaq Ahmad Lone. The security forces, including Jammu and Kashmir Police Special Operation Group, who have suspended operations against the militants have suffered more casualties in the first half of the ceasefire as compared to other months, the sources said. About a dozen surrendered militants and special police officers were also killed by militants during the same period.

The spokesman said the militants killed Mohammad Qasim and Bashir Ahmad at Ghai Beas while Showkat Hussain was shot dead in his Kalaban house late last night.

Rajwanti was shot dead while she was grazing cattle at Chamanwas while the militants entered the house of Bashir Ahmad Gujjar at Kote Charwal and slit his throat last night.

Ashiq Hussain Sheikh who was critically wounded in a mine blast at Lal Bazar yesterday succumbed to his injuries in a hospital this morning.

Steps to maintain postal services
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 13 — The J and K Postal Circle has taken several measures to maintain services in the state in view of the ongoing indefinite strike by the postal employees.

According to the Director Postal Services, J and K Circle, Jammu, Mr Amitabh Kharakwal, special efforts have been made to deliver registered articles in Srinagar and Jammu. Besides, ordinary letters and public mail are also being delivered to the extent possible and the speed post booking and delivery of such articles is being made by all head post offices in J and K.

Mr Kharakwal further stated that letter boxes at all important locations in Jammu and Srinagar cities and other towns of Udhampur, Kathua, Baramulla, Kupwara, Sopore, Handwara, Leh, Kargil, Anantnag, Pulwama etc are being cleared regularly. The VSAT facility at Jammu city and the connected extended satellite money order facility at Srinagar, Udhampur and Rajouri is fully operational and the money orders are being transmitted and received through the VSAT.

The postal department has sought the help of voluntary organisations, educational institutions and other associations in delivery of letters to public in their respective areas. The department has also made special arrangements for transmission and delivery of Christmas and New Year greeting cards. Specially designated letter boxes have been put up inside the post offices for the convenience of general public to post the cards in these letter boxes. These letter boxes will remain functional from December 15 onwards.

J&K to hold poll to cooperative bodies
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 13 — The Minister for Agriculture and Cooperation, Mr Mohammad Ramzan, said that the elections to the cooperative bodies in the state would be held in next six months.

Addressing the representatives of the Officers and Workmen Associations of the Jammu Central Cooperative Bank here yesterday morning. The Minister, who is also the chairman of the bank, said that the elections would help restore democratic character of the cooperative institutions in the state. He said a high-powered committee would be constituted shortly for monitoring the working of all cooperative banks. He said the government was also contemplating to set up a board of authority for all credit banks so as to make these institutions more viable and farmers friendly. He said the management of these banks have to go a long way in meeting the requirements of the farmers and improve their financial position.

Referring to the demands of the associations regarding enhancement of gratuity limit from existing Rs 2.50 lakh to Rs 3.50 lakh, provision of pension benefits to the employees, revision in the existing grades, improvement in service conditions and grant of fixed travelling allowance, the Minister assured to find a way to implement the agreement reached between the management and the representatives of the unions.

He asked the Managing Director to come up with the proposal, in respect of the demands of the association, keeping in view the overall financial position of the bank.

The minister made it clear to the representatives of the association that they have to work hard. He said the basic purpose of establishing the bank was to provide the best credit service to the farmers and to boost their agriculture production.

Pressure to remove J&K PCC chief
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Dec 13 — Pressure has been mounted on senior Congress leaders, including the party President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, to reconstitute the Pradesh Congress Committee “after sacking” Mr Mohammad Shafi Qureshi, PCC chief.

A delegation comprising 13 senior Congress leaders from Jammu and Kashmir spent more than three days in Delhi, convincing the Congress leaders to change the PCC chief. Inside reports said the delegation had carried a signed statement from 110 Congressmen out of the total 164, seeking the removal of Mr Qureshi.

During a meeting with Ms Sonia Gandhi, the delegates said if she wanted the other 97 leaders could be produced before her to confirm the demand for recalling Mr Qureshi. Mr Gandhi is claimed to have conveyed to the delegates that she was satisfied as she had received several complaints against the PCC chief earlier.

The delegates said under Mr Qureshi’s leadership, the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir had suffererd a setback as a large number of party activists, including three senior leaders had joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) headed by Mr Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

Interestingly, those who had supported the installation of Mr Qureshi as PCC chief nearly six months ago have started gunning for him. A couple of senior dissident leaders belonging to the Mangat Ram Sharma and the Ghulam Rasool Kar camp said they had revolted against the PCC chief because he had been functioning with the support of either those who had recently rejoined the Congress or who had “damaged” party interests.

They said panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir were round the corner and the party needed an effective leadership.

Even supporters of Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, General Secretary, AICC, have joined hands with those demanding the removal of Mr Qureshi.

Supporters of Mr Qureshi, however, said the campaign against the PCC chief was engineered by those who wanted him to play a second fiddle to them. Mr Qureshi, a seasoned politician had refused to be dictated by faction leaders, they claimed.

Meanwhile, the party high command is planning to increase the number of party blocks in the state so that more party leaders could be accommodated as Congress delegates and PCC members.

J&K employment cell in Delhi
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 13 — the Jammu and Kashmir Government has set up an employment cell in Delhi to liaise with private sector concerns and defence forces to secure more jobs for youths in the establishments.

The employment cell headed by a Deputy Director has started functioning from Lok Nayak Bhavan. With this, the process of sponsoring candidates for employment will gain momentum.

This was disclosed at a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, Mr Ashok Jaitly, here yesterday to take stock of the progress made on various employment programmes launched in the state.

The matter for private sector placement of the youths has been taken up with more than 2,500 institutions through organisations like FICCI, CII and ASSOCHAM. Already 442, private sector companies have shown willingness to consider unemployed youth for jobs and indicated vacancies available with them. These vacancies are meant both for professionals and unskilled youth. So far 847 candidates have been sponsored for various jobs by the employment cell.

The Chief Secretary stressed on campus recruitment. He said recruiting teams of prospective employers should visit the state for this purpose. He said efforts should be made for the placement of maximum number of youths from Jammu and Kashmir in private sector to tackle unemployment problem.

Mr Jaitly asked the employment department to explore possibilities to put the bio-data of the unemployed engineers, technocrats and MBAs’ on the website.