Jammu, August 12
They have started fighting over the inauguration of a very small project like the Sulabh toilet complex. The inauguration of the complex at Digiana, near here recently has brought the BJP leader, Mr Kavinder Gupta, who is the Mayor of the Municipal Corporation, in conflict with the minister of state for consumer affairs, Mr Raman Bhalla.

In a statement issued here today, Mr Bhalla has described the allegations of ministerial interference in the functioning of the Municipal Corporation by Mr Gupta as a “concocted tale to malign the coalition government.”

Mr Gupta while criticising ministerial interference in the functioning of the Jammu Municipal Corporation had referred to Mr Bhalla accusing him of having inaugurated the Sulabh toilet complex in a hush-hush manner when he had “nothing to do with the project.”

Mr Bhalla said, “Soon after having been elected to the Assembly, I had approached one NGO and persuaded it to construct the Sulabh toilet complex for the convenience of devoted to the Digiana Gurdwara.” He said that it was the result of his efforts that the complex was completed and it was on the request of a Municipal Corporator that “I went to the site for inaugurating the project.”

The Minister said, “the corporation was not born when the work on the project was started. Hence, Mr Kavinder Gupta as Mayor of the corporation had nothing to do with it.”

Mr Bhalla said the inauguration had not been done in a hush-hush manner because a large number of people were present.

He advised Mr Gupta not to drag the corporation in “political intrigues” because by feeling hurt that Mr Gupta did not inaugurate the complex, the Mayor had an ambition of securing credit for a project which was not “his baby.”

Srinagar, August 12
In the stepped-up search operations launched by security forces ahead of the Independence Day, the security forces have busted three hideouts and recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition in Jammu and Kashmir during the past two days.

One such hideout was busted in Budgam district yesterday, while another hideout was smashed in Pulwama district on Wednesday in which 31,305 AK rounds have been recovered. Another hideout was busted in Rajouri district of Jammu region, police here said. Two persons have been killed by suspected militants in the state since yesterday.

A police spokesman said here that security forces busted a hideout in the forests of Dardpora village in Chrar-e-Sharief area of Budgam district yesterday. The recoveries made from the hideout included 20,000 AK 47 rounds, two AK magazines, one hand grenade, two binoculars, a wireless set and two pencil cells. It was a big blow to the militants operating in the area, a BSF spokesman said.

The BSF had recovered 11,250 rounds of AK rifles, two AK magazines, one hand grenade and a binocular from another hideout in Yarwan forests in Rajpora area of Pulwama district on Wednesday.

Police here said that security forces busted a hideout in Morian forests of Manjakote sector in Rajouri district the other day. The recoveries included nine UBGL grenades, three hand grenades, two pistols, four pistol magazines, six anti-personnel mines, two RPGs, 10 detonators, 55 AK rounds and one box containing 150 Pak-made cartridges.

A throat-slit dead body of Mohammad Yasin Mir was recovered from Brad, Bandipore in Baramulla district today. He had reportedly been killed by the militants. He was missing since July 15 last.

Unidentified militants kidnapped and shot dead Jamal Din of Mavlakote, Barakund Sangaldan in Udhampur district today. His .303 rifle issued to him was also taken away from the spot, police here said.

JAMMU: Security has been tightened in and around the Vaishnodevi shrine in the Udhampur district following recovery of a pen bomb in the premises of the famous temple.

The pen bomb was recovered last evening, reports said.

Additional security personnel were today deployed around the shrine and the police check posts on the 13 km uphill trek have been alerted.

The police said that no arrests have so far been made.

Over 60 lakh pilgrims visit the shrine every year and terrorists have targeted it in the past.

Jammu, August 12
The HUDCO will release a loan of Rs 300 crore this year for the construction of the Baghlihar Hydroelectric Project near the Ramban town in the Doda district of Jammu.

This was announced here today by Ms Selja, Union Minister of State for Urban Development, while laying the foundation stone of the regional building of the HUDCO.

She said the HUDCO had so far sanctioned an amount of Rs 4827 crore for 131 projects in Jammu and Kashmir. As many as 78 housing project schemes costing Rs 156 crore had been sanctioned.

The Minister said the Centre would shortly launch two national urban missions under which her ministry would get an additional grant of Rs 10,000 crore. The money would be utilised for improving sewerage system and laying sewerage treatment plant.

Among others present on the occasion were, Mr Mangat Ram Sharma Deputy Chief Minister, Dr P.S. Rana, Managing Director, HUDCO, and Mr K.B. Jandial, vice-chairman, Jammu Development Authority.