Srinagar, July 17
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has asked the Railway Ministry to take steps for rail connectivity of hilly and remote districts of Jammu and Kashmir as the first train in Kashmir is expected to chug next year.

A day after visiting various locations to oversee pace of work, Azad and minister of state for railways R Velu today reviewed pace of work on the 292-km Katra-
Qazigund-Baramula rail line and discussed early completion of the Rs 11,000
crore project.

The minister of state for railways said the train travel in Kashmir would be a major tourist attraction like Shimla and Darjeeling.

He said the train ride through lush green valley and snow-capped mountains would be a novel experience for tourists.

He said the Valley was a dreamland for the people of the country and his ministry had taken up the project to connect Kashmir with the rest of the country as a dream project.

He shared the views of the Chief Minister the rail connectivity would boost tourism and trade in Kashmir.

Velu mentioned some of the significant features of the Katra-Qazigund-Baramula rail track and said the world’s highest rail bridge over Chenab at Kauri and the longest rail tunnel in Pir Panjal at Banihal would serve as major tourist attractions.

The bridge, he said, would have a height of 359 metres and a span of 462 metres and the tunnel 11 km long.

On this occasion, a power point presentation was made on the technique adopted in the construction of the bridge at Kauri.

Other interesting features of the rail line include the 109.54 km tunnel length from Katra to Qazigund out of the total stretch of 148 km and 165 major and 650 minor bridges from Udhampur to Baramula.

The number of total Railway stations on the 292 km track would be 30, 15 each on either side of the Pir Panjal range

The issues that came up for discussion, include construction of approach roads to Railway stations, raising of 132/220 KV high voltage transmission line at Anantnag and Punzgam yards, land acquisition, pending forest clearance, land for muck disposal and security arrangements for construction workers and officers.

Azad highlighted the need to extend rail from Baramula to Kupwara and from Katra to Rajouri, Poonch and Doda.

He asked the Railway Ministry to undertake survey of these projects at the earliest so that people in these far-off and difficult areas also got benefits of development.

He stressed on the Railway officials the need to complete the laying of the track in the valley at the earliest suggesting them to have the work done in double shifts, given the limited working season in Kashmir.

Srinagar, July 17
The Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has hailed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement on improving relations with Pakistan and resolving the problems of Jammu and Kashmir through a comprehensive mechanism.

It has also stressed the need for taking fresh people-oriented confidence building measures within the state to further consolidate the fast-changing scenario
towards peace.

"The Prime Minister’s statement is a significant and positive move towards consolidation of the peace and confidence building process", the PAC which met here today under the chairmanship of PDP Patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed observed.

The meeting reiterated the peace process was an irreversible historical development as it was the only option to resolve mutual differences, improve the security environment and ensure the welfare and happiness of the people.

"The recent developments in the region have reinforced the urgency of carrying forward the peace process with focus on Jammu and Kashmir-specific confidence building measures for amicable settlement of this long-pending conflict," the meeting emphasised.

The meeting observed in the new scenario, India and Pakistan must pursue the peace process with more steadfastness in the larger interest of the region's peace and prosperity.

"Both countries must pursue J&K-specific CBMs with sincerity and in a time-bound manner so that in the economic development, the region as a whole and both parts of Kashmir could move together, as has been the stand of the Prime Minister".

It observed the atmosphere had become conducive for final resolution of Kashmir problem as there was a greater realisation across India and Pakistan about the need for reducing tension and acrimony.

Time has come to put an end to this pestering conflict in the region for ever and avert further destruction of life and property in the state.

Udhampur, July 17
Angry over the government decision to include their areas in newly carved Reasi district, many villagers today disrupted the public darbar of deputy commissioner Sanjeev Verma.

They forced all officers to leave the venue without performing official duties.They also gheraoed the deputy commissioner and other officers for more than an hour.

According to a scheduled programme, the deputy commissioner,along with all heads of the departments, reached Government High School, Painthal, to hold a public darbar to hear grievances of the people.

As all senior officers reached to the spot, villagers under the banner of the Tikri-Painthal Action Committee stormed the venue and started shouting slogans against the state government.

They said as they were not part of Reasi district, why had administrators from Reasi been deputed to hear their grievances.

“We are part of Udhampur, not of Reasi. So there is no reason to put forth our demands before the deputy commissioner of Reasi'', shouted Pawan Gupta, a senior leader of the action committee.

Although the DC tried to pacify the agitating villagers, they refused to listen to him and resorted to shouting slogans. As confusion prevailed in the area, the DC packed up and returned to Reasi.

Udhampur, July 17
The authorities have decided to form coordination committees of different departments to increase productivity in agricultural and allied sectors in the mountainous districts of Udhampur and Doda.

This was disclosed by director extension education of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology Dr Parmod Baru while addressing a meeting of the zonal research and extension advisory committee of Doda-Udhampur  districts.

He said the scientists and field functionaries of the departments should should work in close coordination.

He also said that Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) would be equipped with modern equipment to help the farmers in increasing production.

Srinagar, July 17
At least six militants, including four infiltrators, were killed in separate incidents while arms and ammunition were recovered in search operations in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday.

The police claimed detecting 10 litres of liquid explosive in a steel container on the Wuyan-Khrew road in the Pampore area of Pulwama district near here yesterday. It was defused without causing harm, the police here said.

Four unidentified armed infiltrators were killed by the Army at Mindi Gali in the Boniyar area of Uri in Baramula district early this morning, a Defence spokesman said.

After the militants had come 1 km inside the line of control, a gun battle took place, resulting in the killing of all four of them, he added.

The recoveries from the spot included four AK 47 rifles, four pistols, one UBGL with 40 grenades, 77 hand grenades, 50 detonators, 19 gelatin sticks, six IED components, three radio sets and one GPS- RINO.

The militants had been tasked to strike terror and disrupt Independence Day celebrations in the valley by indiscriminate IED blasts, the Defence spokesman said.

An unidentified militant was killed in an encounter with a party of the police and the Army at Sumlar in Bandipore district today.

One unidentified person was killed in an encounter with security forces at Nikri Dora in the Karnah area of Kupwara district today.

A militants hideout was busted at Mulkehama in Bandipore district yesterday, the police here said.