Jammu, October 26
The Jammu and Kashmir State Accountability Commission has ordered an inquiry against Mangat Ram Sharma, a former Deputy Chief Minister of the state, and two bureaucrats for their alleged involvement in backdoor appointments in the Khadi and Village Industrial Development Board (KVIDB) between 2002 to 2005, when Sharma was holding the charge of the chairman of the board.

The commission sources said the inquiry was ordered after the completion of preliminary investigations following a complaint by one Shujat Majid alleging that the appointments in the board were made without following any norms at the behest of Sharma and two officers, identified as K.C. Sharma and J.P. Singh.

Sharma was the Deputy Chief Minister when Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was the Chief Minister in the Congress-People’s Democratic Party alliance government in the state. After the Mufti handed over the reins to Ghulam Nabi Azad, Sharma had to leave the office as the post of the Deputy Chief Minister went to the PDP. Since then he is the minister for health.

The commission was set up by the Mufti to curb corruption in the state. The Transparency International has ranked Jammu and Kashmir as the second most corrupt state in the country after Bihar. The commission has been probing the complaints of corruption against senior officers and ministers and has ordered a number of inquiries and action against several people.

Sharma, however, denied all allegations saying he had all the proofs that all legal procedures were followed. He said he would furnish everything in his defence to the commission.

Giving details about the case, he said the board did recruit people under a massive expansion programme. However, no rule was flouted. Moreover, he added, the National Khadi and Village Industries Commission appreciated the work of the J&K Khadi Board. Besides enhancing production, he claimed, quite a number of people were provided jobs. He said he had no personal interest in the appointments and he would come clean after all facts were verified. 

Srinagar, October 26
Saikapian, an association of Sainik School, Kapurthala, organised a get-together for old boys of the school at Badami Bagh Cantt here yesterday.

It was the first gathering of the Kapurthala old boys in Kashmir, the idea having been mooted by Lt-Gen A.S. Sekhon, GOC 15 Corps, with a view to strengthen the bonds of family which was enjoyed by all Saikapians. The Saikapian spirit was evidently visible as more than 45 old boys, from the state turned up at the gala evening. H.S. Matewal, president of the Old Boys Association of the school, and Brig M.P.S. Bajwa (retd), vice-president of the association, specially flew from Delhi and Jammu, respectively.

Matewal thanked Lt-General Sekhon for having organised the event and spreading a message of Saikapians brotherhood in the valley. He also highlighted the achievements of Lt-General Sekhon being the first three-star General from the school and motivated others to follow his example of hard work to achieve excellence.

Lt-General Sekhon highlighted the achievements of the school for being a starting step of future leaders of the forces and complimented the good work being done by the staff and school authorities to achieve the highest standards in training school cadets for future challenges in life.

Srinagar, October 26
Five persons travelling in a Sumo died near Anantnag district today when their vehicle was hit by an Army bus. Five other Sumo occupants were also injured.

A police spokesperson said a bus (JK03-3206) of an Army convoy, which was on its way to Jammu from Srinagar, hit the Sumo (JK13-5794), which was on way to Anantnag from Qazigund. The injured were rushed to the district hospital in Anantnag.

Shamima Yousuf (30) of Qazigund, Zameer Ahmad Rather (37) of Ashjipora, Anantnag, Fayaz Ahmad Mir (35) of Qazigund and two others, who have still not been identified, succumbed to their injuries. — TNS