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Death of Youth
Residents block highway
Udhampur, September 6
Suspecting foul play in the death of a youth, residents of Samroli and adjoining localities blocked the Jammu-Srinagar highway at Samroli, 15 km from here .The residents were demanding a probe into the death of the youth, who died at Sopore in Kashmir. They lifted the dharna only after senior police officers came to the spot and assured an investigation into the matter.

1 dies, 9 hurt as jeep falls into gorge
Udhampur, September 6
One person from Rajasthan was killed and nine injuried in an accident near Ramsoo on the Jammu-Srinagar highway yesterday morning. According to reports, a Tata Sumo, carrying passengers from Rajasthan, skidded and fell into a deep gorge at Ramsoo .

Adhere to coalition dharma: Afzal to CM
Srinagar, September 6
Housing and urban development minister Qazi Mohammad Afzal, who had resigned from the council of ministers against the Chief Minister’s decision to divest him of the forest portfolio, has clarified his position on the issues which led to the recent developments.

Hari Om issue: Shanta puts off visit
Jammu, September 6
The case of Hari Om, who quit as the BJP’s vice-president and spokesman, recently, could not be discussed as the party in charge Shanta Kumar and former Himachal Chief Minister postponed his Jammu visit today .He had been told to persuade Hari Om to return to the party’s fold.

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EARLIER STORIES

	Qazi’s resignation rejected September 6, 2007
	Qazi Afzal resigns September 5, 2007
	Azad defangs Qazi September 4, 2007
	Admn accused of delaying investigation September 3, 2007
	Rs 900 cr for Dal, Nageen lakes September 2, 2007
	Missing girl untraced September 1, 2007
	BJP opposes Habibullah in Working Group meeting August 31, 2007
	Bandh evokes partial response August 30, 2007
	5 infiltrators killed August 29, 2007
	Graft, HR, ammo fire dominate August 28, 2007
	CM should not ignore Jammu problems: BJP August 27, 2007

Death of Youth
Residents block highway
Tribune News Service

Udhampur, September 6
Suspecting foul play in the death of a youth, residents of Samroli and adjoining localities blocked the Jammu-Srinagar highway at Samroli, 15 km from here .The residents were demanding a probe into the death of the youth, who died at Sopore in Kashmir. They lifted the dharna only after senior police officers came to the spot and assured an investigation into the matter.

According to the police, truck driver Kaka Ram son of Balak Ram of Samroli died under mysterious circumstances at Sapore two days back. Although the police termed the death an accident, his family members alleged he was killed by militants. This morning when his body came at his native place, people marched in procession demanding a probe to ascertain the cause of death.

Carrying body of the deceased residents blocked the Jammu-Srinagar highway jamming traffic. Senior police and civil officers visited the spot and tried to pacify the people. After an assurance of the officers, people lifted the dharna on the highway.

1 dies, 9 hurt as jeep falls into gorge
Tribune News Service

Udhampur, September 6
One person from Rajasthan was killed and nine injuried in an accident near Ramsoo on the Jammu-Srinagar highway yesterday morning. According to reports, a Tata Sumo, carrying passengers from Rajasthan, skidded and fell into a deep gorge at Ramsoo .

All 10 persons in the vehicle received severe injuries. One of them, identified as Hema Ram son of Mota Ram of Rajasthan, died while he was being shifted to a hospital in Srinagar.

Adhere to coalition dharma: Afzal to CM
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 6
Housing and urban development minister Qazi Mohammad Afzal, who had resigned from the council of ministers against the Chief Minister’s decision to divest him of the forest portfolio, has clarified his position on the issues which led to the recent developments.

Responding to the Chief Minister’s letter wherein Azad had rejected his resignation and asked him to continue in the council of ministers, Afzal stated that there was no mention of the “basic and the crucial issue”. The issue, he added, was in “violation of the coalition dharma by arbitrarily taking away the forest portfolio without consulting my party (PDP) leadership”.

Afzal in his yesterday’s letter to the Chief Minister had conveyed that his reply was silent on the “crucial issue, and thus, the situation remains as it was”.

The minister cited three points to vindicate his position on the issue. Firstly, he said he was firm against manipulation by an influential Delhi- based business group for setting up of housing colony on the forest land at Jammu in violation of the prescribed norms, judicial directions and ecological considerations.

Secondly, he held that he opposed the clandestine move to circumvent the rules and regulations and violate other restrictions for creation of an amusement park in the wildlife zone near Sidhra in Jammu.

Lastly, Qazi held that his role in pushing through the construction of the Mughal road had also annoyed a few in the administration who were "keen to sabotage the project for selfish motives".

The issue was also taken up at a PDP meeting held here yesterday.

Hari Om issue: Shanta puts off visit
Our Correspondent

Jammu, September 6
The case of Hari Om, who quit as the BJP’s vice-president and spokesman, recently, could not be discussed as the party in charge Shanta Kumar and former Himachal Chief Minister postponed his Jammu visit today .He had been told to persuade Hari Om to return to the party’s fold.

According to senior BJP leader Nirmal Singh, Shanta Kumar will pay three-day visit to Jammu from September 14.

Hari Om had resigned on the ground that he was preoccupied with academic activities. But, inside reports stated he had fallen out with the party leadership in Jammu for being sidelined. His relations with the party chief Ashok Khajuria were also strained.

Army organises sports meet for girl students
Tribune News Service

Rajouri, September 6
To bring the Army and locals closer, the Mendhar battalion organised inter-school sports competition for girl students in and around Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district.

The competition aims at providing an exposure to girls residing in far-flung areas of the region.

A Defence spokesperson said the competition was spread over 10 days from August 27. He added the principal of girls higher secondary school, Mendhar, inaugurated the competition and nine schools, government degree college, MD college, Mendhar, GHSS, Mendhar, GHSS, Ari, GHS, Harni, PHS, Mendhar, PWS, Hamirpur, PWS, Sabra, and GGMS, Mendhar, participated in the competition.

Since it was the first competition of its kind in the area locals were enthused about it. The civil authorities and principals of all schools lauded the battalion for organising the event.