Srinagar, July 13
Amid a strike called by separatists, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and leaders of various parties paid floral tributes to martyrs of July 13, 1931, here today.

The authorities foiled a programme of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to take out a march to the martyrs’ graveyard.

Restrictions were imposed early today and the security forces sealed all the entry points to the city.Separatist leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and the chairman of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Geelani, were put under house arrest to prevent the march.Roads and streets wore a deserted look. All the shops and business establishments were closed.However, private vehicles plied in some areas.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited Mazar-i-Shuhda at Naqashband Sahib and paid floral tributes to the martyrs.Accompanied by members of his Council of Ministers, the Chief Minister prayed for peace and prosperity of the state.He said the martyrs were the heroes of the struggle against suppression and totalitarianism. State PCC president and MP Saifuddin Soz, accompanied by a large number of Congress leaders, ministers and legislators paid homage to the martyrs.

Former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, along with several PDP leaders, also visited the martyrs’ graveyard and paid tributes.Speaking on the occasion,he said on July 13,1931,the people of Jammu and Kashmir had expressed their desire to break the chains of slavery by publically denouncing the autocratic ruler. Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir and the chief of the Democratic Nationalist Party also paid tributes to the martyrs. 

Jammu, July 13
Intermingling of the people of the three regions of the state, instead of “trifurcation”, and more cultural exchanges with the people of PoK is the way forward towards peace and progress in Jammu and Kashmir.

Stressing this after the Roundtable Conference with intelligentsia and several visits to the state, the three interlocutors believe that cultural exchanges, equitable growth in all the three regions, equal sharing of power and talks, instead of violence, is the only solution to the vexed Kashmir problem.

The interlocutors stressed the state would prosper if there was equitable sharing of power among all the regions, and not their division. “All those whom we met earlier and over the past two days agreed that talks was the only way forward. They all insisted that the state should preserve and propagate its rich cultural plurality and there should be more cultural exchanges between the regions,” they added.

Talking to the mediapersons at the conclusion of their visit here today, the interlocutors, Dileep Padgaonkar, Prof Radha Kumar and MM Ansari, said it was unfortunate that the separatist leaders did not agree to talk to them. “It is for the separatists to decide whether they will come to the table for talks or not,” Padgaonkar said.

He agreed that the separatists’ participation in the talks would “enrich” their final report. However, if they did not come forward, they (the interlocutors) might have to submit their report in September without the separatists’ viewpoint.

Prof Radha Kumar said a “consensus” had emerged among different political groups, social organisations and intelligentsia on the way to promote peace, thereby ensuring all-round development of the state.

“Over the past few months, there has already been a considerable improvement in the state of affairs, as is reflected by heavy inflow of tourists and the peaceful Amarnath yatra. We believe that more cultural exchanges and equitable sharing of power will go a long way in ensuring peace and development in the state,” she added.

Bani (Kathua), July 13
The demand for carving out a separate hill district from Kathua is gaining momentum as a majority of the population of the belt is of the opinion that proper development of the area is not possible under the present administrative system.

Social activists as well as politicians, irrespective of their party affiliations, have been demanding that a separate district comprising Billawar, Bani and Basholi tehsils of Kathua, be formed to remove the backwardness of the area.

“After Leh, Kathua is the only district in Jammu and Kashmir which is spread over an area of more than 200 km and this is the main cause of the backwardness of this region,” argued Master Lal Chand, MLA, Bani.

“ The development of the hilly areas is not possible under the present system,” he told The Tribune. The belt should be made a separate administrative unit (a district) and it was high time to intensify the campaign for it, he added.

MLA Basholi Jagdish Chander Sapolia also echoed the same sentiment. “There is no logic in keeping the hilly areas with Kathua, which is at a distance of over 90 km from Basholi,” Sapolia said. Being an MLA from the area, he had decided to take up the issue in the coming Budget session of the Assembly.

Former MLA, Billawar, and general secretary of PDP Balbir Singh, while vowing to aggressively take up the issue of a separate district comprising the hilly areas of Kathua, said the present administrative system was responsible for the poor development of the areas.

“Sarthal, the last station of Kathua district, is located more than 200 km away from the district headquarters and those formulating development plans for the district are not aware of the ground realities of the area,” he said. The creation of a separate district comprising the hilly areas would accelerate the pace of development, he opined.

Meanwhile,the Panthers Party and some social organisations have already stepped up their campaigns in favour of the demand.

Local residents are now seriously thinking of forming an action committee to intensify the campaign. “We have already started a mobilisation campaign in support of our demand,” said Rajesh Raina, a local resident of Bani.

Businessmen and traders of Bani are also supporting the demand because they have to cover a long distance to reach the district headquarters. “For business activities, we are totally dependent on Himachal Pradesh, so we have no reason to remain a part of Kathua district which is located about 160 km away from our tehsil,” said Zaffar Ahmed, a local businessman of Bani.

Out of the total nine blocks of Kathua district, Bani, Basohli, Billawar, Duggan and Lohai Malhar are hilly areas.

Srinagar, July 13
The project Director, National Highway Authority of India, Col Kamlender Singh, called on Governor NN Vohra here today.

Col Kamlender briefed the Governor about the status of the work on the execution of the four-laning of the Srinagar-Banihal stretch of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. He said sustained efforts were underway to complete the project, within the envisaged time schedule.

The Governor stressed that the timely completion of the vital project would directly contribute to accelerating the pace of socio-economic development in the state, an official spokesman said.

The Governor noted the factors, which were urgently required to ensure that the work on the Srinagar-Banihal sector was not delayed any further. The work on the project was to begin in June this year.

The Governor said he would talk to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on the issue and suggest fortnightly review meetings at the Chief Secretary’s level till the project gets started.

Srinagar, July 13
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has asked the Task Force on health reforms to make concrete recommendations for upgrading the health and medical education sector in the state.

“I want concrete deliverables from you, so that the government can act accordingly to achieve the desirable results,” Omar said while chairing the 4th meeting of the Task Force on health sector reforms here last evening.

The Chief Minister directed the officials for the appointment of Transaction Adviser and identifying three projects each in Jammu and Srinagar to be implemented through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode.

“This would enable us to study the appetite of private players in the field and rope them in as partners,” he said.

Omar said private investors could be invited for management and operational aspects in the health and medical education sector.

He called for a fast track movement on the issue, saying the government was open to provide permission to private players for establishing hospitals.

The Task Force should also come up with proposals for health insurance for poor and the needy, accreditation of hospitals, use of IT and expansion of the tele-medicine system, he said.

He asked for a detailed project report for Rs 7.80 crore bio-medical waste disposal plants at Jammu and Srinagar.

“Outsourcing its management and operation could be analysed and discussed accordingly,” he added.

Omar directed the officials at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences to formulate a fresh proposal for establishment of the State Resources Centre to train doctors and para-medical staff on tele-medicine.

“Possibility of dovetailing IT and tele-medicine initiatives should also be explored to get the best results,” he added. — PTI

Srinagar, July 13
The state government today ordered the transfers and postings of 10 Kashmir Administrative Service(KAS) officers in the Excise and Commercial Taxes Department with immediate effect.

Onkar Nath, Deputy Commissioner, Commercial Taxes, Lakhanpur check-post, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Excise Commissioner (Executive), Jammu, vice Dr Manmohan Singh.

Anoo Malhotra, Deputy Commissioner, Commercial Taxes (Appeals), has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Commercial Taxes (Audit), Jammu, vice PK Bhat.

Dr Shamim Ahmad Wani, Deputy Commissioner, Commercial Taxes (Audit), Kashmir, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner (Stamps), Kashmir, vice Syed Shafiq-ur-Rehman, who would report to the General Administration Department.

PK Bhat, Deputy Commissioner, Commercial Taxes (Audit), Jammu, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Commercial Taxes (Appeals), Jammu. Dr Manmohan Singh, Deputy Excise Commissioner, (Executive), Jammu, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Excise Commissioner (Accounts) Jammu, relieving Showkat Hussain Kazmi of the additional charge. He would also hold the charge of the Principal, Excise and Taxation Training Institute, Nagrota.

Dr Mushtaq Ahmad, Deputy Excise Commissioner (Distilleries), Jammu, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Excise Commissioner, Lakhanpur toll post, vice BA Saraf, who would report to the General Administration Department. Showkat Hussain Kazmi, Principal, Excise and Taxation Training Institute, Nagrota, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Excise Commissioner (Distilleries) Jammu. Pawan Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Commercial Taxes (Recovery), Jammu, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Commercial Taxes (Judicial) in the office of the Commissioner, Commercial Taxes.

Rifat Aftab Qureshi, awaiting orders of posting in the Finance Department, has been posted as Deputy Commissioner, Commercial Taxes (Audit), Kashmir, vice Dr Shamim Ahmad Wani.

Ashish Gupta, Deputy Commissioner, Commercial Taxes (Judicial) in the office of the Commissioner, Commercial Taxes, Jammu and Kashmir, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Commercial Taxes, Lakhanpur check-post, vice Onkar Nath. 

Jammu, July 13
Demanding that members of the Kashmiri Pandit community be recognised as internally displaced persons in Jammu and Kashmir, the community members today observed a “black day” and marched to the United Nations (UN) office here.

Members of the joint forum of Kashmiri Pandit organisations, comprising the All-State Kashmiri Pandits Conference (ASKPC), the Panun Kashmir, the Kashmir Sikh Displaced Forum (KSDF) and the NCMMC, held a demonstration and marched towards the UN office to press their demand.

Panun Kashmir president Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo told reporters that Kashmiri Pandits had an “inalienable right” to the land of Kashmir and their first and natural claim on its territory could not be bartered away under any circumstances”. — PTI

Srinagar, July 13
The yatra to the Amarnath cave shrine is progressing satisfactorily on both the Chandanwari and Baltal routes.

As per the weather forecast for the next five days, light rain and thundershowers are expected in Kashmir division. Light rain or thundershowers are also expected on Thursday, Saturday and Monday and rain or thundershowers are likely on Sunday.

On Friday, the sky will remain partly cloudy in the division.

Meanwhile,at least 49 pilgrims lost their lives, mainly due to cardiac and other serious problems, while undertaking the pilgrimage to the cave shrine since June 29.

Giving this information here today, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), RK Goyal, urged the pilgrims to take all the necessary precautions. He cautioned that no person with a serious medical or orthopaedic ailment or any respiratory, chest or heart problem should undertake the yatra. He also asked all the yatris to carry medicines.

Jammu, July 13
The state government may complain of the shortage of funds every now and then, but it does not seem to bother when it comes to recovering “sales tax arears from defaulters.

An amount of around Rs 592 crore is yet to be recovered from 866 defaulters, many of whom are prominent industrialists, politicians, both in and out of power, public sector units and corporations, information sought by the RTI Sangharsh Organisation has revealed.

A copy of the list of defaulters and the amount pending against their names is available with The Tribune. It shows that a sum of Rs 303 crore is due against defaulters from the Kashmir division, while those in Jammu owe Rs 289 crore to the exchequer. A large part of the money has been pending for eight to 10 years. The RTI organisation had sought information about pending amounts of Rs 10 lakh or more.

While senior officials of the Sales Tax department were not available for comments, sources said stay orders by various courts, procedural complexities and difficulty in tracing some of the defaulters were the main reasons behind the delay in realising the outstanding amount. The number of “untraced” defaulters was more in case of Kashmir.

In several cases, arrest warrants and summons could not be served on some prominent industrialists. Interestingly, one defaulter’s address was mentioned as “c/o Director Doordarshan” only.

A spokesperson of the RTI Sangharsh Organisation said the motive was to expose how the high and the mighty had made money at the expense of the public exchequer.

Jammu, July 13
The Excise and Taxation Department has decided to introduce holograms on liquor bottles.

The step has been taken to ensure that spurious or adulterated liquor is not sold in the state, Deputy Excise Commissioner Manmohan Singh told The Tribune over the phone.

“The hologram will be a multi-coloured seal. It will be tamper-proof ,” he said, adding that each bottle would have a different hologram.

“Following the decision taken by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, we also prepared a detailed report in this regard and submitted it to the state government,” Manmohan Singh said.

However, beer bottles and tins would not carry the holograms.

“The sale of beer does not lead to any loss of revenue.So,bottles of beer and tins will not carry the holograms.However, Indian-made foreign liquor and countrymade liquor bottles will carry the holograms. The Punjab Government has also done it,” added Manmohan.

The hologram would be put on the cap of the bottle and in case of any tampering with the contents, it would be easy to detect the mischief. Earlier, it was proving difficult for the department to keep a check on liquor adulteration.

In the financial year 2010-11, the state government received Rs 695.39 crore from the sale of liquor, which is the biggest source of revenue collection.

Jammu, July 13
The BJP has demanded an inquiry into the misappropriation of Central grants given to successive state governments since 1947.

According to a press note issued by the party, while participating in the Roundtable Conference called by the three interlocutors, the BJP representatives, Rajan Sushant and Jatinder Singh, called for an inquiry to account for thousands of crores of Central grants received by the state governments, which, according to them, were misappropriated by top politicians and bureaucrats. They also made a strong recommendation for immediate grant of citizenship rights to refugees from West Pakistan, the delimitation of Assembly constituencies based on the area and population, the correction of regional imbalances, the abrogation of Article 370 and special developmental schemes for the state.

The BJP representatives expressed surprise that the state government was demanding autonomy , but was reluctant to grant autonomy at the grass-roots level to panchayats by implementing the 73 and 74 amendments of the Constitution.

Srinagar, July 13
The police here today claimed that a Chinese grenade had killed two boys, Obaid Yousuf Lone and Adil Yousuf Teli, when they were fiddling with it in the Tral area of Pulwama district on Sunday.

According to a police spokesman, the grenade was given to Obaid Yousuf by some unknown persons. The police also discovered that Obaid was alone in his house and had received two guests, Adil Yousuf Teli and Mehrajdin, both residents of Rutsuna. Adil then sent Obaid to collect some “item” from a nearby field, the police said.

It was revealed by Mehrajdin that after collecting the “item”, Obaid held it in his right hand. Adil then went near him. The two were pulling at something when the grenade exploded, killing them on the spot, the police said.