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Protests against Dera continue
Srinagar, May 17
Expressing their anger against Dera Sacha Sauda, protest demonstrations by various Sikh organisations were held at different places across the Kashmir valley today, while an effigy of Dera Sacha Sauda’s chief Gurmit Ram Rahim was burnt at the Lal Chowk here today.

Students trudge 40 km to register protest
Udhampur, May 17
Lack of teachers and basic infrastructure have forced students of government school far-flung areas to take to streets to awaken the administration from slumber.

3 killed, 5 hurt in valley
Srinagar, May 17
Three persons were killed and five wounded in separate incidents across the Kashmir valley in the past 24 hours, the police said.

37 held for violating Railway Act
Jammu, May 17
Thirty-seven persons were arrested for violating the Railway Act at Jammu railway station since last night, officials said today.

Mongari mela concludes
Udhampur, May 17
A large number of people sought blessings of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati during the concluding ceremony of the annual Mongari mela.

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Jammu
Srinagar

EARLIER STORIES

	Sacha Sauda chief’s effigy burnt May 17, 2007
	Coalition partners differ with CM on sensitive issues May 16, 2007
	Self-rule document to be publicised: PDP May 15, 2007
	Karan Singh wants varsity named after Maharaja Gulab Singh May 14, 2007
	5 revenue officials quizzed May 13, 2007
	NCP announces boycott May 12, 2007
	2 LeT militants arrested May 11, 2007
	Protests rock Budhal over custodial death May 10, 2007
	Border residents want ceasefire to be permanent May 9, 2007
	Sectt re-opens at Srinagar May 8, 2007

Protests against Dera continue
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 17
Expressing their anger against Dera Sacha Sauda, protest demonstrations by various Sikh organisations were held at different places across the Kashmir valley today, while an effigy of Dera Sacha Sauda’s chief Gurmit Ram Rahim was burnt at the Lal Chowk here today. This was an unfortunate development and the Dera chief did not have any supporters outside his area, a Sikh youth said.

Protest demonstrations were held by members of Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and Sikh Federation from Amirakadal Gurdwara to the Court Road demanding strict action against the Dera chief.

Traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway was blocked for about an hour near Qazigund, 80 km South of here in protest against the Dera Chief for hurting the sentiments of the community.

Reports of protest demonstrations have also been reported from other places, including Tral in Pulwama district and Nanak Nagar in Baramula.

Meanhile, Bajrang Dal national president Prakash Sharma said today that the Punjab government should take action against the Dera chief as he had the “hurt the sentiments of the Sikhs”.

Students trudge 40 km to register protest
Tribune News Service

Udhampur, May 17
Lack of teachers and basic infrastructure have forced students of government school far-flung areas to take to streets to awaken the administration from slumber.

Students of primary and middle classes trudged 40 km in 12 hours to reach district headquarters at Reasi to protest against the insenstivity of the Education Department.

Enraged over apathetic attitude of the department, students of government middle school Dadar Chandi of Pouni block, joined by their parents today gheraoed deputy commissioner, Reasi to draw his attention of the higher authorities towards their problems.

Students were pacified when the deputy commissioner summoned senior officers of the Education Department and directed to create infrastructure in the school and appoint adequate teaching staff.

Dadar-Chandi is the most backward hamlet of Reasi district under Pouni block. For the past two years locals were demanding a building and deployment of adequate staff in the school. As the Education Department maintained silence towards their problems, students and their parents decided to stage dharna at district headquarters.

This morning students marched in procession in the town which passed through different areas of Reasi before reaching the office of the deputy commissioner. Shouting slogans against the Education Department, students alleged their school had been functioning in the open for the past so many years. They pointed out for 200 students only one teacher had been appointed by the authorities.

As students threatened indefinite fast, the deputy commissioner intervened and saved the situation.

3 killed, 5 hurt in valley

Srinagar, May 17
Three persons were killed and five wounded in separate incidents across the Kashmir valley in the past 24 hours, the police said.

Two persons were killed and three wounded when a tipper truck overturned in Baramula district of north Kashmir this morning.

The tipper truck overturned at Nadihal near Baramula, resulting in on-the-spot death of Mohammad Arif Dar and Mohammad Ramzan.

Three others travelling in the vehicle were also wounded, the police added. The injured have been hospitalised.

The police said two motorcyclists were wounded after their vehicles collided at Kokerhama in the Damhal Hanjipora area of Anantnag district.

The wounded, identified as Fayaz Ahmad Bhat and Manzoor Ahmad, were shifted to hospital.

Bhat later succumbed to injuries at SKIMS Soura near here. A Power Development Department (PDD) employee was hurt while repairing 250 KV sub station at Kawdara here.

Linesman Ghulam Ahmad Wani was taken to the SKIMS for treatment.

Meanwhile, Abdul Qayoom Sheikh attempted suicide by consuming some poisonous substance at his residence at Batamaloo here.

He was taken to the SMHS Hospital here for treatment. — UNI

37 held for violating Railway Act

Jammu, May 17
Thirty-seven persons were arrested for violating the Railway Act at Jammu railway station since last night, officials said today.

During routine checking, A RPF team arrested 37 persons, including 15 for travelling without tickets, 12 for selling eatables illegally and 10 for trespassing on the platform since last night, they said. All of them were released after they paid the fine, they added.

Jawan commits suicide

Jammu, May 17
Army jawan of the 54 Rashtriya Rifles Manveer Singh allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his AK-47 rifle at Nagrota Cantonment near here today. The incident took place at 3 a.m. when he was on duty, an Army spokesman said.

The jawan’s body would be sent to his native place in Haryana after the post-mortem examination. A court of inquiry into the incident has been ordered, the spokesman added. — TNS