J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Migrant’s death sparks fresh protest
Udhampur, September 13
Displaced Dogra migrants, who had slowed down their agitation, today again took to the streets after the death of an elderly man who was sitting on indefinite dharna at Talwara, near Reasi.

No ceasefire during Ramzan
Jammu, September 13
Brushing aside the demand for ceasefire against terrorists by security forces during the holy month of Ramzan, the core group consisting of army, paramilitary forces, state police and intelligence agencies has decided to continue to target the terrorist leaders to maintain moral ascendancy.

Kashmiris buy dates on the eve of Ramzan in Srinagar on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Mohd Amin War

Hindus, Muslims remember martyrs jointly
Udhampur, September 13
Heartening scenes were witnessed today in the communally sensitive Kishtwar town when Muslims and Hindus came together to pay floral tributes to the martyrs who had laid down their lives 33 years ago on this day, while participating in an agitation for granting district status and opening of a degree college in the town.

Baglihar Project
Dam height cut not to hit power output
Udhampur, September 13
Although height of the Baglihar hydro electric power project has been reduced by 1.5 metres following recommendation of the Swiss neutral expert Prof Raymond Lafitte, this step will not affect generation of the power from this project. Being constructed on river Chenab, over 90 per cent of the work has been completed and the project will be commissioned very soon.

Adulterated ghee packets found
Jammu, September 13
The controller, Drugs and Food Control Organisation, has warned people not to consume four brands of desi ghee which have been detected to be “adulterated”. In a statement, the controller has said the four brands of desi ghee have been found not conforming to the legal standards.

Fodder stocked for winters
Jammu, September 13
Due to extensive damage caused by locusts to pastures in the border area of Changthang in Ladakh, 2500 quintals of fodder has been procured by the district administration for stocking the 35 feed banks for the winters.

Migrant’s death sparks fresh protest
Dinesh Manhotra
Tribune News Service

Udhampur, September 13
Displaced Dogra migrants, who had slowed down their agitation, today again took to the streets after the death of an elderly man who was sitting on indefinite dharna at Talwara, near Reasi.

The death of 70-year-old Anant Ram sparked a protest this afternoon. He was among the migrants sitting on indefinite dharna for the past 57 days in support of their demand for the implementation of the Supreme Court order on relief to them.

According to the migrants, Anant Ram was sitting on dharna when he collapsed. He was taken to the local dispensary where no doctor was available. As he was being shifted to the Government Medical College Jammu, he died on the way.

Carrying the body, a large number of people gathered at the Talwara migrant camp and took out a procession. However, before the situation took an ugly turn, some senior officers of the district administration visited the spot and convinced the agitating people to cremate the body.

According to Dilip Singh, son of the deceased, Anant Ram had sustained injuries during the lathicharge on migrants on July 7 at Katra and since then, he was not feeling well.

Sarpanch of Talwara Dev Raj said the government did not provide any medical relief to Anant Ram who had no money for treatment.

Meanwhile, authorities refuted allegation and said he was a heart patient and had died due to cardiac arrest.

No ceasefire during Ramzan
S.P.Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 13
Brushing aside the demand for ceasefire against terrorists by security forces during the holy month of Ramzan, the core group consisting of army, paramilitary forces, state police and intelligence agencies has decided to continue to target the terrorist leaders to maintain moral ascendancy. The ruling PDP, PDF and various other parties were demanding a ceasefire by the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir during the month of Ramzan.

This was decided yesterday at a meeting of the core group headed by Lt-Gen T.K.Sapru, security adviser, and GOC of the Nagrota-based White Knight corps. The state DGP, Kuldeep Khoda, and senior civil and police officers were present at the meeting.

Lt-Gen Sapru emphasised that concerted efforts must continue to target terrorist leaders so as to ensure that terrorists are left totally rudderless and bereft of guidance and direction. He also stressed that there is a need to closely monitor the latest developments in the neighbourhood.

The participants expressed satisfaction on the neutralisation of some of the top terrorist leaders in the recent past and attributed the downward slide in militancy to synergy and jointmanship amongst the entire security set up in the state.

Highlighting the fact that infiltration has been checked in the Jammu region, Lt-Gen Sapru stressed that there was a need to maintain moral ascendancy over the terrorists who have by and large, been marginalised.

The Core Group reviewed the security situation in the Jammu region and discussed various issues and strategy to tackle militancy in the coming months. Both the security adviser as well as the DGP complimented the security forces for the achieving peerless synergy, enviable harmony and immense coordination amongst various security forces, intelligence agencies and civil administration in fighting terrorism in the region.

Hindus, Muslims remember martyrs jointly
Tribune News Service

Udhampur, September 13
Heartening scenes were witnessed today in the communally sensitive Kishtwar town when Muslims and Hindus came together to pay floral tributes to the martyrs who had laid down their lives 33 years ago on this day, while participating in an agitation for granting district status and opening of a degree college in the town.

After one decade people from both communities turned up at the function. Students participating in the function pledged to work for strengthening brotherhood and national integration.

Family members of the martyrs and those who were part of that agitation also attended the function.

Baglihar Project
Dam height cut not to hit power output
Tribune News Service

Udhampur, September 13
Although height of the Baglihar hydro electric power project has been reduced by 1.5 metres following recommendation of the Swiss neutral expert Prof Raymond Lafitte, this step will not affect generation of the power from this project. Being constructed on river Chenab, over 90 per cent of the work has been completed and the project will be commissioned very soon.

This was disclosed by resident chief engineer of Baglihar project Boris Lazaric to media persons at the project site at Chanderkote in Ramban district.

On the date of commissioning of the project, he said technical work had been completed and delayed due to some unfinished civil work. ``I hope this projected will be commissioned very soon''. He, however, said work was delayed due to loss in the 2005 flashflood.

Baris Lazaric said following objections by Pakistan, neutral expert had recommended increase in the height of the crest of intake and curtailment of the height of dam. ``Following his recommendations, we reduced height of the dam'', he admitted but the designing of the project was not changed.

The project will generate 450 MW power after commissioning of its first phase, he informed even neutral expert Prof Raman Lafitte had termed this project as landmark.

The resident chief engineer said Baglihar was the fourth project of its kind in the world in which mass concrete had been pumped. He added plasma- coated turbine plates were being used in the project which would enhance its life many times more compared to other projects.

To another question, he said this project had so far provided direct employment to 6000 people.

Also developmental activities have increased manifold in this area.

After the construction work started in 1999, 50 km of road network has been laid and 67 bridges built in this area which led to overall development of this backward belt of Ramban district.

Adulterated ghee packets found
Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 13
The controller, Drugs and Food Control Organisation, has warned people not to consume four brands of desi ghee which have been detected to be “adulterated”. In a statement, the controller has said the four brands of desi ghee have been found not conforming to the legal standards.

The brands include Mohan Bhog with lot/batch no. 02, packing date 5/2007 manufactured by Marena Dairy Products, Sarafa Bazar (MP), Sarthi Ghee with lot/batch No. 01,packing date 4/2007 manufactured by Sarvottam Milk Food Product Pvt ,99C, Malanpur, district Bhind (MP), Swastik Ghee with lot/batch No. 04, packing date 8/2007 manufactured by Bharat Dairy Products, Gwalior (MP) and Cream Gold Ghee with lot/batch No. 03, packing date 6/2007 manufactured by N.K. Food Products Dal Bazaar, Gwalior(MP).

Fodder stocked for winters
Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 13
Due to extensive damage caused by locusts to pastures in the border area of Changthang in Ladakh, 2500 quintals of fodder has been procured by the district administration for stocking the 35 feed banks for the winters.

Deputy commissioner of Leh M.K.Bhandari, after a five-day tour of Changthan bordering China today, said fodder and foodstock were being stocked before the onset of winter when the roads would be closed due to snow.

Most of the pastures have been destroyed by locusts that have swarmed the area during the past two years.

Residents of Durbook and Nyoma blocks of Changthang are dependent on the livestock. They rear as many as 1.71 lakh Pahmina goats that produce about 35,000 kg of pashmina wool annually. The two blocks are spread over 45,100 sq km.

They have been demanding the eradication of locust, but the authorities have so far not succeeded in relieving them of the problem. Residents of Chushul, Tsaga, Demjok and Kuyul asked Bhandari to provide relief to the locust victims.