Udhampur, December 3
After touring the home district of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Panthers Party now is concentrating on Reasi district which is considered to be the bastion of the Congress party.

Through the Haq Insaf Yatra, Bhim Singh and all senior leaders of the party, including former education minister Harsh Dev Singh and Udhampur MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia, addressed a series of meetings in the district. Bhim Singh's yatra covered areas like Mahore, Dharmari, Arnas and Ghulabgarh.

The Panthers Party has reasons to concentrate on Reasi district as it was due to the long struggle of the party that displaced people, camping in the Talwara migrant camp, received some relief. After consolidating its position in Udhampur district, the party now has been taking up issues relating to this district to expand base in Reasi. In the yatra, the Panthers Party has been focusing on injustice to the Jammu region to corner the Congress.

Buoyed at the decision of the state government to release cash and other relief to these migrants, the Panthers Party has intensified campaign in this district to take benefit of its struggle for these displaced people.

As two constituencies of this district, Reasi and Mahore, have been considered the stronghold of the Congress and the National Conference, Panthers Party leaders mince no words in attacking the ruling coalition for propagating "anti-Jammu" policies. Party leaders have launched an anti-Congress campaign in this district.

Not only relief to the Talwara camp migrants, Panthers leaders have been also trying to take credit for the grant of district status to Reasi. "It was all due to threats and warnings of the Panthers Party, new districts were created for Jammu province", Panthers Party chief Bhim Singh claimed at every public meeting in this district.

Disclosing the strategy of the party, a senior leader of the party said people of Reasi were fed up with the Congress, the National Conference or the BJP. "As this district borders Udhampur, it is not difficult for the party to expand base in Reasi", he said and claimed the party has so far received encouraging response to its on-going campaign in this district.

Srinagar, December 3
The police in the valley today killed a "most wanted" militant in a house yesterday evening in Budgam district in central Kashmir.

Budgam district SSP Sah Bukhari said militant Bilal Afghani, alias Chhota Bilal, was gunned down in the encounter today when he fired on a cordon of the police and the CRPF. Afghani, "A" category militant, was active in Beerwah and Bandipore areas for eight years. He was divisional commander of the Al-Badr , the police said.

Bukhari said Afghani was behind a series of attacks on security forces, besides killing of civilians, whom he dubbed "informers" or hostile for myriad reasons, including recent murder of a Tangmarg councillor. The forces were tipped-off on his presence in a locality yesterday and they launched a cordon, which remained throughout the night.

Bukhari said Afghani fired on them when they tried to clear the area. It is suspected, there was at least one more militant with him who escaped. One AK rifle and one UBGL were also recovered from the site of encounter.

The police two days back killed LeT divisional commander in Srinagar, Salman alias Hassan, near Shalimar Bagh,.Salman had arrived on a motorcycle to hand over money to a woman acquaintance when waiting cops in mufti asked him to surrender. However, he fired from his AK rifle, kept inside ‘pheran’, a flowing Kashmiri dress for winter, injuring a sub-inspector. He was killed in retaliatory fire, the police said. 

Srinagar, December 3
Long spell of dry weather is taking its toll in the valley with the power supply to households turning increasingly erratic.

Electricity department officials said the power generation in the state has hit a low due to lack of water in its rivers as the production here is mostly dependent upon hydal projects, that too run of the river set-ups, which required gushing flow of water. Against the requirement of 260 MW of power in the valley, the domestic input is not more than 30 MW these days, leaving the power department solely on its import from northern grid.

Even in Srinagar, large parts are undergoing frequent power cuts, which is inconveniencing the people at a time when the winter is peaking up and residents resort to heaters and blowers. "The department had promised that those having genuine metres in their houses will get uninterrupted power supply. It is unfair on their part for not fulfilling their promises," Abdul Qayum, a local resident said.

Residents of upmarket localities like Raj Bagh and Jawahar Nagar have their own tales of woes. "In evening, when we come home from our work and need the warmth from blowers and heaters, mostly the voltage is so low that they almost do not work," Nasir Bhat, a shopkeeper in Jawahar Nagar said. Department officials admitted that power supply is especially poor in other districts and villages, but they are helpless. "We can be criticised as much as anybody wants. But it's simply out of our hands when supply is so less than demands," a senior official said, wishing not to be named.

Srinagar, December 3
A number of disabled, widows and old-aged persons attended a function organised in connection with World Disabled Day, at Tagore Hall here today.It was organised by the All J&K Handicapped Widows and Old-Age Association.

Addressing the disabled and widows, adviser to Chief Minister Manzoor Ahmad Ganai appreciated their problems and difficulties. He said it was the duty of all of sections of society to help them. He said physically challenged people constituted a chunk of our population and needed attention by the government and people.

He said people had to work for minimising their agonies by way of extending financial and moral help to them. Referring to their demands, the adviser assured that the matter would be taken up with the ministry.

Meanwhile, CPM state secretary and MLA Kulgam M. Y. Tarigami has urged the setting up of a state rehabilitation commission (SRC) for the rehabilitation of disabled and distressed people in the state. He said such a commission would suggest measures for providing succour to those deserving and be instrumental in the implementation of the welfare schemes meant for the disabled and physically challenged people and ensuring justice them.

Tarigami said the disabled persons should be provided prescribed reservation quota in recruitment and promotions. He said physically challenged persons deserved every help and encouragement from the government and society and people.

Udhampur, December 3
In a tragic incident, a teenager was burnt alive while six members of his family received severe injuries when fire broke out in their residence at Kishtwar early this morning. The deceased has been identified as Sumit Bhagat, son of Jagdish Raj Bhagat of Kishtwar. He was a class X student of Kishtwar School.

The district administration has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh for Sumit’s family.

Reports said the fire broke out in the first floor of Vimla Devi’s house at about 2 am today. Within minutes the fire engulfed the entire house where seven family members were asleep. Sixteen-year-old Sumit was sleeping on the first floor at the time of the incident and could not escape.

However, with the swift action of neighbours, the family on the ground floor were rescued. As the house was constructed with wood, it was reduced to ashes within minutes. Fire tenders rushed to the spot, but were too late as everything of the helpless family was burnt. The police has provided tents to the family to have temporary shelter to protect themselves from severe cold.

Sumit's father Jagdish Raj Bhagat was a head constable with the Jammu and Kashmir police. He was killed some years back in an encounter near Doda. Another son of the family also died mysteriously two years back.