Srinagar, September 10
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad here today announced the raising of one battalion of women police in Jammu and Kashmir that would provide opportunities of employment to women in the state.

He announced this on the occasion of women meet organised by the Central and State Social Welfare Boards that was addressed by Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi at the sprawling lawns of SKICC here this afternoon.

He said women and children in Jammu and Kashmir had suffered the most during turmoil and all of us had to come forward to help them. He also thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his economic reconstruction programme to address the development issues of the state.

He also referred to various programmes launched for women and child welfare in Jammu and Kashmir and said that more such schemes were being formulated for them.

Union minister of state for women and child development Renuka Chowdhury said a Bill had been passed by Parliament for the prevention of domestic violence against women and suggested that Jammu and Kashmir should also enact this legislation. She said adequate funds were being provided for women and child development schemes.

She said for the first time in 60 years, a separate Ministry for Women and Child Development had been set up in the country to ensure that they get the rights enshrined in the Constitution.

The PDP president and MP, Mehbooba Mufti, Chairperson Central Social Welfare Board, Rajani Patil, and chairman, State Social Welfare Board, G.M. Saroori, also spoke on the occasion.

A large number of women drawn from distant parts of the state attended the conference at the SKICC lawns under tight security arrangements made on the occasion.

Srinagar, September 10
Four infiltrators were killed when they trying to cross over from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir at Phulanwali in Baramula district this morning, while two militants and a soldier were killed and another injured in an encounter with militants in the Rajwar area of Kupwara district.

Three security forces personnel were injured and their vehicle damaged when suspected militants exploded a mobile phone fitted IED at Kathidarwaza, Rainawari here today.

Acting on a tip-off searches were launched in the Phulanwali area of Gulmarg sector, Baramula district when initial contact with the group of militants was made at 2.55 am, a Defence spokesman said. A heavy exchange of fire ensued resulting in the death of four foreign militants, he added. Four AK rifles, eight AK magazines and other war -like stores were recovered from the site of encounter. This is the second operation in quick succession on Line of Control which has resulted in foiling of major infiltration bid.Four foreign militants were killed by the security forces in Machhil sector of Kupwara district yesterday.

Two militants and a jawan were killed while another soldier got injured in an encounter between militants and a joint party of the police and Army in Rajwar forest area of Handwara in Kupwara district today.

Udhampur, September 10
Residents of Assar and adjoining localities of Ramban district today came on the streets after the death of three students who were drowned as a boat capsized in the Chenab this morning at a remote village. Carrying the body of one of the students, residents blocked the Batote-Kishtwar highway for more than eight hours.

Blaming the coalition regime for the death of three students,residents lamented they had repeatedly approached the government to construct a bridge across the Chenab, but only promises had been made.

Earlier this morning three students- Anchal Singh (16), Desa Devi (17) and Asha Devi (17) residents of Ghalgla village- drowned while heading towards government high school, Jathi of Assar block. Seven students were crossing the Chenab in a boat which capsized in the river.

Till evening only the body of Anchal Singh, son of Hardev Singh, was retrieved while a special police team rushed to the spot for the rescue operation to intensify search for the other bodies.

After getting the report of the incident ,residents rushed to the spot and started rescue operations. As soon as the body of Anchal Singh was found, people took the body to the highway and blocked it. This blockade continued till 5 this evening. The dharna was lifted only after the deputy commissioner visited the spot and assured a thorough probe into the accident.

On July 15, residents of this belt had told The Tribune about the risk taken by more than 50,000 people every day as the entire Sheraj belt of Doda district had been cut off from other parts of the state due to submerging of two foot bridges.

Residents had informed that for earning a living they had to risk their lives every day as they had to cross the Chenab regularly by boat rowed by untrained local youths.

Even DC, Doda, Sourab Bhagat had told The Tribune on July 15 funds had been allocated for the construction of motorable bridge near Assar and tenders in this regard floated, but construction work for foot bridge was not started.

Residents alleged that an indifferent attitude of the authorities had led to today's tragedy.

Srinagar, September 10
A panel comprising researchers, an economist, businessmen and farmers were today asserted the horticulture scene in the state was getting gloomier and needed intervention of the government to redeem an industry on which 80 per cent of the population depended for livelihood.

Speaker after speaker, especially Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and Technology's vice-chancellor Anwar Alam and Jammu and Kashmir Bank's chairman H.A. Drabu, presented facts and analysis of the horticulture industry which even horticulture minister Mohammad Dilawar Mir could not help affirming the forecast of difficult times ahead. The PHD Chamber organised the seminar on Development of Horticulture and Export Opportunities in J& K here today.

Alam said 80 per cent of apple in state depended upon rains for water and 40 per cent of the production went waste while reaching consumers from farmers. "There is hardly any pre-harvest technology used and post-harvest technical inputs are also missing," the V-C said. The yield of apple in th e state was 10 tonnes per hectare, which was way below the European average of 26-35 tonnes per hectare, he said.

Unrest among apple growers against the lack of official assistance was very much visible as some of them interrupted Alam's speech saying his university had been of no use to them in terms of providing technological guidance in planting, growing and harvesting.Fayaz Ahmed, an apple grower, told The Tribune it was ironic they lost money if the harvest was good. "Due to the absence of cold stores we have to release all produce at once resulting in the decrease of price. There is also no price control board set-up by the government leaving us at the mercy of some brokers who monopolise prices," he said.

Dabru, who has served in various capacities, including a member of the Planning Commission before becoming J & K Bank’s chairman, said the importance of horticulture in the state was grossly under assessed as it was not a very organised sector. He said banks had largely failed

farmers in helping them out with loans and the government had done no better as the industry lacked infrastructure like transport, sale centres and technological know-how. The absence of essential facilities meant that floriculture in the state could never take off despite natural abundance, he said, adding his bank had come with customised service for fruit growers.

Department's secretary S.S. Sahni said the challenge was from China in the apple industry while dipping production of saffron in the state was leading to Iranian dominance. Minister Dilawar Mir said the government had learnt from its mistakes and put renewed emphasis on this sector in the 11th plan. He said the government was investing Rs 150 crore for sale stores.