J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

3 CRPF jawans among 13 killed in J&K

Srinagar, September 9 At least 13 persons, including a close relative of a PDP leader, were killed and 15 others injured in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday. A jawan of the Central Reserve Police Force was also killed in an accidental grenade explosion.

A CRPF jawan looks on at his injured colleague in a hospital in Srinagar on Thursday. A CRPF soldier was killed and three others were wounded in a grenade explosion. — A Tribune photo

Rs 13.4 cr unspent in Srinagar farm varsity
Jammu, September 9
While other universities in the region are starved for funds, a sum of Rs 13.41 crore has remained unspent by the Srinagar-based Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology.

3 CRPF jawans among 13 killed in J&K
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 9
At least 13 persons, including a close relative of a PDP leader, were killed and 15 others injured in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday. A jawan of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was also killed in an accidental grenade explosion while on guard at the house of a senior National Conference leader here this afternoon.

The police here said that constable N D Tewari of 23 Bn CRPF was killed on the spot in an accidental grenade explosion while on guard at the house of senior NC leader and former MP Ali Mohammad Naik at Shivpora here today. Three other jawans were injured in the explosion, which took place around 2.30 pm today. They have been shifted to the hospital, where their condition is stated to be out of danger. No harm was caused to the inmates of the house of Mr Naik, who was elected from the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency in 1999 elections.

Unidentified militants kidnapped and shot dead Nazir Ahmad Lone at Futlipora, Chrar-e-Sharief in Budgam district yesterday. He was a maternal cousin to Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjoora, MLC of the ruling PDP.

Two persons were killed when security forces opened fire in a remote village of Pulwama district today. Police sources here said that one person, Rizwan Ahmad, was killed when security forces personnel fired at him at Mole, Dangerpora, near Shopian in Pulwama district early this morning. The youth on way to a local mosque to offer prayers was fired upon when he tried to run away after he was asked by the security forces to stop. This created resentment among the locals, who held protest demonstrations against the security forces. The security personnel again resorted to firing to quell the demonstrations leading to injuries to three persons. One of them, Muzaffar Ahmad, later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.

However, a police spokesman stated here this evening that Rizwan Ahmad was killed and two others injured in a retaliatory fire during cordon and search operation in the village. The other youth, Muzaffar Ahmad Ganai, later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital, the spokesman added. The security forces opened fire when the hiding militants opened fire on the search party in the village.

Unidentified militants shot dead Gulzar Ahmad Wani in the Awantipora area of Pulwama district yesterday.

Three militants were killed and a security forces jawan injured in an encounter between militants and the security forces at Morah Sarpota in Rajouri district of Jammu region last night. Two of the militants were identified as Abu Afridi, area Commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba, and Shafiq Ahmad. Three AK rifles, six magazines, 188 rounds and three pouches were recovered from the site of encounter.

Two militants and two security forces personnel were killed in an exchange of fire at Parmandal, Kalakote in Rajouri district today.

Two CRPF jawans were killed and five others injured when militants detonated an IED when their vehicle passed on the road at Doda town today. The vehicle was damaged as a result of the explosion, the police here said.

Five persons were injured in an explosion in a cafeteria in Rajouri town yesterday.

Rs 13.4 cr unspent in Srinagar farm varsity
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 9
While other universities in the region are starved for funds, a sum of Rs 13.41 crore has remained unspent by the Srinagar-based Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKAUST).

The Jammu and Kashmir Government and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) provide funds to the university.

However, out of the Rs 157.08 crore received by the university between 1998 and 2003, only Rs 145.09 was spent. Out of this amount, Rs 3.14 crore was generated within.

One of the reasons stated for the under-utilisation was late release of funds.

The worst year in this regard was 1999-2000, when the SKAUST spent only Rs 3.34 crore out of the grant of Rs 9.70 crore received from the ICAR.

The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India (CAG) has pointed out that the budget estimates were not prepared by the university in a realistic manner, as these were not based on the data furnished by some of its units, including pomology and entomology.

The CAG has pointed out a dismal picture of the research activities on the campus, where out of 485 experiments undertaken at the beginning of the Rabi and Kharif seasons between 1998 and 2002, only 46 were concluded. An expenditure of Rs 20.35 lakh was incurred on these experiments. A grant of Rs 5.10 lakh received from the ICAR for a particular research scheme in 2002 was lying unutilised in March 2003.

The faculty also did not abide by a 1986 decision of the board of management that the scientists engaged in teaching and research should publish their works in national or international papers of repute. The professors and associate professors were required to publish at least one research paper in a year, while the assistant professors were to publish one paper in two years. However, only 158 papers were printed in a publication that was started by the university in 1999. The strength of the faculty at present is 401.

The CAG has also pointed out that the total strength of the teaching and non-teaching staff of the university exceeded the number of students. No norms for the recruitment of staff have been fixed. In comparison to the UGC norms, the excess manpower ranged between 307 and 386, on whom the expenditure on salaries aggregated Rs 16.10 crore between 1998 and 2003.

The CAG has taken serious note of the university not adequately monitoring its functioning as its various boards and councils have not met according to the statutes during the past five years.

The university has also not constituted a planning committee to advise the authorities on matters of development and monitoring major projects.