Srinagar, November 10
Two CRPF personnel were shot dead by militants in Baramulla district this afternoon, officials said.This is the first major strike by militants in Baramulla district in nearly three months. No militant outfit has so far claimed responsibility for the incident.

The CRPF personnel of the 154 Battalion were on patrol duty at the main chowk of Pattan, 30 km from here, on the Srinagar-Baramulla national highway when the militants fired at them from a pointblank range at 11.45 am, sources said.

One of the jawans, constable B Teja, died on the spot while a Head Constable, Om Prakash, died at Pattan hospital. The service rifles of both jawans were “missing” and were believed to have been taken away by the militants, they said.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the militants were armed with pistols fitted with silencers. The whole area has been cordoned off and a hunt has been launched to nab the militants involved in the attack.

On August 18, militants attacked the house of a ruling National Conference MLA Mohammad Ashraf Ganai in Sopore town, killing one Special Police Officer (SPO) and injuring two others.

In a similar attack on August 10, militants killed three SPOs guarding the house of Mohammad Abdullah Dar, who had unsuccessfully contested the 2008 Assembly elections.

Meanwhile, for the second consecutive day today, the situation remained peaceful in the Kashmir valley ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha celebrations.

While two persons, including a policeman and a civilian, were injured in a clash between stone throwers and the police at Baramulla yesterday, there were no reports of any violence from any part of the Valley today. No curfew restrictions were imposed. All shops and business establishments were open and markets were abuzz with activity ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha celebrations. Shoppers in large numbers visited the markets.

Educational institutions have been functioning normally and most of the schools have completed the process of annual examinations and many more are completing the courses and covering losses during the past four months. The State Board of School Education is also conducting examinations for various classes, particularly Classes X and XII, following an improvement in the situation during the past few months. However,there has been a heavy loss to the business sector due to the shutdown during the past several months.

Meanwhile,the chairman of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who has been delivering Friday prayers at the Jamia Masjid has expressed concern over the continued restrictions, preventing people from offering the prayers. The Islamic clerics have also expressed concern and described it as interference in the religious affairs of Muslims.

Jammu, November 10
Security forces smashed a militant hideout in Bakhteer area of Mahore in Reasi district here today.Official sources said, in yet another successful operation conducted in the area of Bakhteer, Army troops and police personnel smashed a hideout and recovered huge quantities of arms and ammunition.

The recoveries included one pistol, one pistol magazine, one AK magazine, 53 rounds of AK ammunition, 10 rounds of PIKA ammunition, one Chinese hand grenade, five UBGL grenades, five fuses and a 10 kg IED. The cache was under a boulder in camouflaged under thick, natural foliage.

Kathua, November 10
Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad announced an ayurvedic college for Jammu and a unani college for Kashmir. He also announced the setting up of a zonal office of the Directorate of Pharmaceutical in Jammu.

Addressing a function organised by Lok Sabha member Choudhary Lal Singh here today, Azad also sanctioned Rs 20 crore for the state colleges and assured to make them functional within the current academic year. He said the ayurvedic college was being set up in response to a long-standing demand of people of Jammu and the admission would start this year. The Union Health Minister also announced the setting up of a zonal office of the Directorate of Pharmaceutical in the Jammu region. At present, there is only one zonal office in Gaziabad, which caters to the needs of most of the northern states.

Recalling his experience as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Azad said during his two-and-a- half- year tenure, he tried to solve the problems faced by the state. He said despite being busy in national politics, he was always particular about its problems and recalled various development projects initiated during his tenure. He said there was a need to take effective steps to remove backwardness in the state. He said during his term, special attention was paid to the development of the backward and neglected areas. Although Azad assured full support to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, he suggested the coalition regime should seriously implement the programmes and schemes sanctioned by the Centre. The Union Minister said the UPA regime had sanctioned liberal funds for the economic growth and development of the state.

Later, while addressing prominent citizens of Jammu in connection with a Divali Milan function organised by former President of the Bar Association, BS Slathia, Azad said people of Jammu had set an example of brotherhood and communal harmony. He said even when militancy was at its peak and some elements tried to create a communal division, people of Jammu had maintained the centuries-old tradition of brotherhood and amity.

Interestingly, though the pro-Soz faction skipped the function, several leaders of the BJP, the Shiv Sena, the National Conference and other social and political organisations were present at the function.

Jammu, November 10
Dispelling the possibility of any threat to the security of the Sikh community following the alleged incidents of intimidation of some community members at Hutmura in Anantnag district, Uplana in Baramulla and at Tral in Pulwama district, Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council Amrinder Singh Micky has said the community is living in harmony with other communities in the Kashmir
valley.

Addressing a press conference here today, Micky said he personally visited the sites where the incident took place to get the first-hand appraisal of the situation. During the meeting with the members of the community, they expressed satisfaction over their safety, he said.

Micky said the issue was blown out of proportion. The community felt safe and had full faith in the Muslim brethren and the state administration, he added.

He said they had commended the role of the majority community and the district administration in tackling the incidents of such nature. They had been living in the state for the past over two decades in complete harmony,he added.

Micky said he had a meeting with Lt-Gen NC Marwah, GOC, 15 Corps, and apprised him about the incidents. Lt-Gen Marwah assured him that investigations had been initiated into the incidents and the report would be submitted within a week. Whosoever found involved would be brought to book, he added.

Kathua, November 10
Notwithstanding the repeated statements of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) Saifuddin Soz about bringing about a truce between rival groups in the party, infighting in the party was evident today as all ministers and leaders, who owe their allegiance to Soz,boycotted a function of Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

The function was organised by the Lok Sabha member from the Udhampur-Doda segment, Choudhary Lal Singh, to felicitate the families of the martyrs from Kathua district. Although invitations were extended to all ministers belonging to the Congress and other senior leaders, only Azad loyalists turned up.

Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, Minister of State for Finance and Cooperatives Manohar Lal and Minister of State for Power Shabir Khan, belonging to the Congress, were present at the function. Even the local Congress leaders, known to be Soz loyalists, preferred not to attend it.

Though Azad did not say anything about the absence of the ministers belonging to his party, his supporters seized the opportunity to take on their rivals. They asserted that they would not succumb to the pressure tactics of the other faction.

Interestingly, neither the state Health Minister nor the state Medical Education Minister were present at the function despite the fact that both of them belonged to the Congress. The MP, Lal Singh, while speaking at the function, minced no words in attacking the rivals for, what he alleged, encouraging groupism in the party. He said, “Ghulam Nabi Azad is the tallest leader of the Congress, but it is unfortunate that some party leaders skipped his function.”

Virtually rejecting the leadership of the PCC chief, Lal Singh said, “My leader is Ghulam Nabi Azad and I will work under his leadership to strengthen the party in the state.” While recalling Azad’s tenure as the Chief Minister, he praised the former for taking revolutionary steps for the uplift and economic development of the backward areas of the state.

Sources in the pro-Azad faction disclosed that today’s rally boosted the sagging morale of their faction, as it was for the first time during the last six months that all pro-Azad leaders presented a united face in welcoming their leader at Kathua. “This visit has boosted our morale and in the days to come, we will strengthen our faction to take on the rivals in the party,” said a senior Congress leader ‘loyal’ to Azad.

As today’s function was organised by the pro-Azad loyalists to exhibit their strength, they gave a rousing reception to their leader.

Jammu, November 10
The Department of Remote Sensing and GIS, University of Jammu, organised a one-day workshop on the Digital Database Information of Socio, Economic and Natural Resources of old Jammu district here today. The Minister for Science and Technology and Information Technology, Aga Syed Ruhulla Mehdi, was the chief guest on the occasion.

While addressing the gathering, the Minister said this was one of the emerging technology and the state was happy to see this new innovative initiative from the University of Jammu. He said due this effort made by Dr AS Jasrotia information could reach the doorstep of the common man. The chief guest further said this new technology was the need of the hour and had tremendous use in the planning and sustainable development of the state.

The function was presided over by Dean Academic Affairs from University of Jammu, Prof. RD Sharma, while District Development Commissioner, Sanjeev Verma was the guest of honour. Director NRDMS from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, New Delhi, Dr PS Acharya, was the special guest.

Acharya lauded Dr AS Jasrotia’s work and his efforts in making the workshop possible. He further added the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi was planning increased funding and positioning the University of Jammu, under NRDMS, for establishing the Natural Resources Digital Database State Centre at the University and creating an Integrated Database for Development Planning to assure the emergence of Remote Sensing and GIS as a powerful technology.

Jammu, November 10
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today emphasised on consolidation in the higher education network in the state to make educational institutions seats of excellence and centres of knowledge.

Inaugurating the Jammu University campus at Kishtwar this afternoon, Omar said a lot of expansion had taken place in the higher education sector in the state recently and there was an urgent need to move forward.

“To equip the higher educational institutions with adequate infrastructure and required faculties is the need of the hour,” he added.

The present age is the age of science and technology and higher studies in the educational institutions should be on a par with the modern trends in this field to groom and nurture students as per the global requirement, he said. He stressed on introducing subjects of higher scope and job market demand.

Omar, who is also the Pro-Chancellor of Jammu University, which opened its campus at Kishtwar, said the focus in the newly opened university campus should be on providing better educational conditions along with required infrastructural facilities and qualified teaching staff. He said the government would provide every support to all concerned in this regard.

The Chief Minister said his government had flagged education as one of the most important concerns of the government policy and new initiatives had been taken to give the necessary fillip to the educational temperament in the state.

“Our boys and girls are second to none in talent and capacity,” he said stressing on molding them in such a way as would enable them to achieve excellence.

Omar said while starting different subjects of higher studies in the newly opened university campuses and other institutions of higher learning the feasibility, marketability, relevance to the modern educational trends and requirements in the particular area should be kept in mind.

He also expressed confidence that the students of the area would take the best advantage of the campus and achieve new highs in the academic field.

Jammu, November 10
Repeating the government’s policy to exploit the state’s water resources systematically, the Minister of State for Power Shabir Ahmad Khan has said the state was endowed with 20,000 MW hydel power potential, of which 16480 MW was identified for harnessing in a phased manner. The ultimate aim was to make the state self-reliant in power generation, he added.

Khan chaired a Power Development Department officers’ meet convened to review the overall power scenario here today. He said based on the framework, the process of the development of hydro power in the state had been set in motion for the implementation of various projects with a capacity of 7000 MW during the 11th and 12th Five-Year Plans.

Stressing the need for accelerating the hydro power generation in the state, the Minister said the Government had approved the framework for the execution of the state owned power projects with the capacity of 2076 MW. Three projects of 2120 MW through the joint venture mechanism, five projects implemented in the Centre by the NHPC and one project of 690 MW under the IPP were also being considered.

He called upon the concerned officers and engineers to increase their efforts and utilise their expertise for the early formulation of projects, completion of technicalities and other official matters for timely execution of power projects, besides creation and up gradation of necessary power infrastructure including grid stations, receiving stations and high and low transmission lines in the state.

Asserting that providing a scheduled power supply to the consumers was the prime duty of the Government, the Minister instructed the concerned authorities to ensure that each area got power supply as per the prescribed schedule. He also instructed the replacement of worn out poles and laying new wires wherever necessary. He further added that checking power pilferage and collection of power tariff by the field agencies should be the priority through monitoring the of the progress reports of each Electric Division by the Superintending Engineers and Chief Engineers of the provinces.

Jammu, November 10
As part of their nationwide programme, volunteers of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) staged protests in different parts of the Jammu region today. The main protest was held in Jammu city where a large number of RSS workers and its affiliated organisations participated. After the protest a memorandum was also sent to the Prime Minister through the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu.

Earlier addressing the gathering, leaders of the Sangh charged the Congress-led UPA government with implicating RSS leaders in some cases to defame them. “It is a well known fact that the RSS is an organisation committed to imparting character, discipline and patriotism in society. Irrespective of the ideological differences, one can’t ignore the significant role that the RSS has been playing in our national life like running nearly 30,000 educational institutions and more than 150,000 service projects for the poor and deprived sections of our society. It’s role during the times of wars and natural calamities too has very well been documented and appreciated,” said Brig Suchait Singh (retd), head of the state unit of the RSS.

He added that today’s protest was organised to express concern over the manner in which a vicious campaign had been launched to defame a nationalist organisation by a section of the political establishment.

Brig Suchait Singh said, “In its long journey of 85 years the RSS has always upheld the constitutional and democratic values and subjected itself to the laws of the land always.” “Even in the times of extreme provocation when the rulers themselves violated constitutional barriers to wrongly implicate the RSS in false cases like the murder of Mahatma Gandhi and the Emergency, the RSS had responded as a law-abiding and responsible organisation. We are shocked to see that such an organisation is today being branded by some as a terrorist body,” he observed.

Taking a dig at the Rajasthan Anti-Terrorist Squad for falsely implicating senior RSS functionary Indresh Kumar in the Ajmer blast case, the RSS leader said, “Kumar’s name has been dragged into the charge sheet citing a meeting in which the accused were allegedly present and he addressed it smacks off a sinister conspiracy only.” “The charge sheet neither presents any evidence about the said meeting nor makes any specific charges against him,” Brig Suchait Singh said.

He added “the standard rule in any investigation is that any such specific mention in a charge sheet can be made only if substantial evidence is available”.

Leh, November 10
Two of the three interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir, Prof Radha Kumar and M M Ansari, who are on a visit to the Ladakh region, met delegations of parties, different communities and social and cultural organisations here.

Talking to newspersons today, Prof Radha Kumar said four issues which were raised at the meetings were demand for Union Territory status for Ladakh, the inclusion of the Bhoti language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, reopening of the Ladakh-Tibet trade route for the Mount Kailash Mansrovar pilgrimage and the preservation of the cultural and linguistic identity of the region.

All delegations were unanimous on the demand for Union Territory status for Ladakh.The interlocutors also noted that the region had been neglected and had not been provided enough resources.

Among others who met the interlocutors were members of the Congress, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the BJP, the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA), the Anjuman Imamai and the Anjuman Mion-Ul Islam.

Prof Radha Kumar said there was also a demand for the allottment of a Rajya Sabha seat for the Ladakh region and the creation of a Lok Sabha constituency each for Leh and Kargil districts.

Srinagar, November 10
Union Minister for Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja inspected the ongoing reconstruction work at the Solar Colony in Leh where flash flood victims of the Choglamsar area are being rehabilitated.

Hindustan Pre-Fab Limited (HPL), under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, has taken up the construction of 450 one-room pre-fabricated tenements of which 170 are being built there.

The Minister expressed her satisfaction over the pace of the development and reconstruction work. Leh Deputy Commissioner T Angchok informed the Minister that the families putting up in tents would be shifted to the newly constructed houses within a week’s time.

Providing information on the overall reconstruction work, in-charge of Relief and Reconstruction, Dr Shahid Iqbal, an IAS officer, said the HPL had constructed 180 houses so far and work was in progress for the other 194 houses, which would be completed by November 20. He added that under the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund, 196 houses had been constructed and work was in progress for the rest of 269 houses. The remaining houses would be completed next year. The National Mission on Bamboo Application had constructed 40 houses and 34 were under construction.

Principal Secretary to the state government Khurshid Ahmed Ganai elaborated on measures taken by the government for providing livelihood to the affected families. He stressed the rehabilitation of the affected families in new houses and also directed the administration to finalise the ex gratia relief cases. He asked the district administration to constitute a committee for declaring the missing persons as dead so that ex gratia relief could be granted to their kin.

Housing Secretary Kiran Dhingra and a team of officers accompanied the Minister. She also inspected the reconstruction work at Phyang and Shey areas. She promised all help to the victims of the cloudburst.