The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Damaged Jammu-Srinagar Highway yet to be repaired Archit Watts Tribune News Service Jammu, August 19 Landslides triggered by the recent heavy rain across the Jammu region have caused an extensive damage to the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. However, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is yet to start the repair work. The highway is not even visible at some places, posing a threat to drivers,especially those plying heavy vehicles. Though the authorities claim that the highway is open to traffic, there is still debris on many stretches,giving commuters a tough time. “I have to go to Srinagar, but the highway is in bad shape.Debris is still there, which can cause a major mishap,” said Mohit Kumar, a commuter. He added: “ Officials of the NHAI should immediately start repair work so that the eight-hour journey can be easy for travellers.” At Nandini also, water was seeping from tunnels and officials of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) were trying to carry out repairs. On another stretch,the road was sinking.Vehicles moved at a snail’s pace as only one-way traffic was allowed. People coming from Srinagar said the situation was the same on the other side of the 312-km- long highway, as a number of trees, uprooted during the heavy rain, were lying on the roadside. “Trees are still lying on roads and at some places,the commuters have cleared them. Senior officials should travel on the road to get first-hand information about the damage,” said Jagmohan Singh, a truck driver. MK Jain, in-charge, NHAI ( J&K), said : “The highway is open to traffic. But, the heavy rain has caused damage to the road, which we are trying to repair.” waiting for repair The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is yet to start the repair work. The highway is not even visible at some places, posing a threat to drivers,especially those plying heavy vehicles. There is still debris on many stretches,giving commuters a tough time. People coming from Srinagar said the situation was the same on the other side of the 312-km- long highway, as a number of trees, uprooted during the heavy rain, were lying on the roadside.
	Damaged bridge proves fatal Boy falls into nullah, dies Ashutosh Sharma Tribune News Service Jammu, August 19 An 11-year-old boy died after he fell into a nullah while trying to jump over the damaged portion of a bridge over it at Bhour Camp in the Bhawar Kullain area here today . An eyewitness said the boy was on the way to school.As he fell into the nullah, a large portion of the damaged concrete bridge came crashing down,burying him in the debris. Though local residents tried to save the boy, he could not be brought out from under the debris till an earthmover was pressed into service. The critically injured boy was shifted to hospital, where he died. The boy, Rohit Kumar, was the only son of Sonia Kumari, who, according to her neighbours, is separated from her husband, Amarjeet Kumar. Sonia works as a domestic help. The residents blamed the indifferent attitude of the authorities concerned for the boy’s death. They alleged that despite many complaints and reminders, the bridge, which was badly damaged in the recent heavy rain had not been repaired. “Had the bridge been repaired, the boy’s life would have been saved,” the residents said. They added that, “This is the height of negligence. We want action against the officials concerned for dereliction of duty.” Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma, and Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Raman Bhalla visited the bereaved family. The police has started inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC. Ajay Kumar, panch of the area, said, “The minister has assured us of a relief of Rs 1 lakh to the bereaved family. However, we have demanded that the deceased boy’s mother,who has a 13-year-old daughter, be given a government job on humanitarian grounds.” “Also, a new bridge should be constructed on the nullah without further delay, as the people are facing a number of problems in the absence of an alternative road,” he added.
	Cabinet nod to promotion of 11 selection grade state administrative service officers Tribune News Service Srinagar, August 19 The state Cabinet here today approved the promotion of 11 selection grade KAS officers to the special scale from different dates. The officers include Sarmad Hafeez, Farooq Ahmad Lone, Inderjeet Singh, Mohammad Hussain Bhatt, Vijay Kumari Kotwal, Onkar Nath, Mushtaq Fatima, Reva Kumari, Masood Raja, Neelam Kumari Sethi and Nasir Iqbal Parae. The Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also approved the de-reservation of reserved category posts under the Prime Minister’s package. It also approved the installation of the smart card-based attendance monitoring system in the Civil Secretariat for which it had approved Rs 24.82 lakh to J&K Bank for the implementation of the project. It also approved the summoning of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council at Srinagar on September 26, an official spokesman said. The Cabinet also approved the transfer of land, measuring 300 canals and 5 marlas situated in Hrudubni, Lalapora and Manglooa villages of Tangmarg in Baramulla district for the establishment of a Krishi Vigyan Kendra. The Cabinet also gave a nod to the state Litigation Policy and the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Amendment) Ordinance, 2011. It also approved the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Bylaws and establishment and regulation of the Animal Welfare Board and societies. The Cabinet also approved the creation of 24 posts of court manager in the state. It also approved the appointment of Dr Qazi Masood, Professor and Head, Department of Dermatology, Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar as Principal of GMC, Srinagar from August 1.
	Corruption hurting common man, alleges BJP Tribune News Service Jammu, August 19 As part of its month-long public awareness programme, the BJP organised a function at Poonch today to educate the people about the issues of corruption, black money and price rise. State BJP president Shamsher Singh Manhas along with in-charge of the party’s affairs in the state and former Delhi minister Jagdish Mukhi addressed the function. Manhas said the Central government as well as the state government were indulging in corruption. While a number of ministers in the NC-Congress government were indulging in corrupt practices, the funds allocated by the Centre from time to time were misused by the ruling elite. He added that while the people were reeling under the price rise, they did not get any succour even from the state government. Mukhi said the scams were happening due to the wrong policies of the UPA government at the Centre. “Besides corruption, the price rise has shattered the faith of the people,” he said and supported the demand for a strong Lokpal Bill. He appealed to the people to support the BJP’s anti-corruption crusade.
	Geelani threatens agitation for release of political detainees Tribune News Service Srinagar, August 19 Hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani today threatened to launch an agitation if all the political detainees and the youth held on a charge of stone throwing during the unrest last year were not released before Eid-ul-Fitr. Addressing mediapersons at his Hyderpora residence here this afternoon, Geelani said, “If all the political detainees and those arrested in connection with stone throwing last year are not released before Eid, we will launch an agitation.” Geelani, who continues to be under house arrest, said he was not against any dialogue process for the resolution of the Kashmir issue, but the Centre had to accept the disputed nature of the state. He condemned the restrictions being imposed on his movement. He said in case he was not allowed to offer the last Friday prayers of the holy month of Ramzan on August 26, and on Eid, the Hurriyat Conference would chalk out a programme of agitation. Commenting on the Anna Hazare-led campaign against corruption, Geelani said the movement started by the Gandhian would not yield any results till the people transformed their conscience at the individual level. “The change has to come from within and only then can the menace of corruption be eradicated from society,” he added. Speaking about the death of a man in police custody in Sopore and a youth’s killing in an alleged fake encounter in Surankote in Poonch district, Geelani blamed the government for misleading the public on the human rights issue. He added Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had assured the people that action would be taken within two days against those responsible for Nazim Rashid’s death in police custody in Sopore. He added that though more than two weeks had passed, the government had taken no action in this regard. Meanwhile,restrictions continued on Geelani’s movement today as well to prevent him from addressing the Friday congregation at Karan Nagar here. Several other separatist leaders, including Shabir Ahmad Shah and Nayeem Ahmad Khan, were also put under house arrest.
	Pro-Anna protests continue in Jammu Tribune News Service Jammu, Aug 19 Supporting the cause of anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare, who has been demanding a strong Jan Lokpal Bill, people, including political activists and students, continued their protests and dharnas for the fourth day here today. Around 500 students of Government College for Women (GCW), Gandhi Nagar, boycotted their classes and held a peaceful march on the campus. Shouting pro-Anna slogans, the agitating students blocked the BC Road before dispersing off peacefully. They asked the UPA government to concede the demand of Anna Hazare and come out with a strong Jan Lokpal Bill and in turn bring the Prime Minister and the higher judiciary under its purview. Lecturers of GGM Science College also held a candle-lit march on the campus this morning. Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) state secretary Manoj Kumar and party activists staged a sit-in near the railway station in support of a strong Lokpal Bill.They lashed out at the UPA government for arresting the Gandhian leader and putting him in Tihar jail. “Accountability should start from the top to bottom.The law of the land should be equal for the Prime Minister and the common man,” said Kumar. He further said the Prime Minister and judges should also be made accountable and brought under the Lokpal Bill. The All-Party Migrant Coordination Committee also took out a protest rally at Bhagwati Nagar here. Led by general secretary Arun Kandroo, a large number of party activists also urged the people to come out in support of Anna. The JKNPP also expressed its solidarity with Anna Hazare. The party held a meeting under the chairmanship of its working president, Harsh Dev Singh, and condemned the UPA government’s action against the peaceful protesters. Addressing the meeting, Harsh Dev Singh said the union government had not only invited brickbats for its highhandedness, but also showed lack of courage when it came to its own convictions.
	No visible response to Anna’s agitation in Valley Ehsan Fazili/TNS Srinagar, August 19 While there has been no visible response to the anti-corruption agitation launched by social activist Anna Hazare, political leaders in the Valley have chosen to follow the line of their respective parties on the issue. Chairman of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has hailed the support extended to Anna Hazare by the media and the civil society across the country. He, however, lamented the approach of the state government towards such issues in the Valley. “When we raise our voice against corruption, social evils, irregularities and moral degradation, restrictions are imposed upon us,” the Mirwaiz said, while addressing a Friday congregation at the Jamia Masjid here today. He said the government and its agencies had pressurised the operators of Reliance FM to take off the air his programme, which was meant for educating the youth on religious affairs and moral education during Ramzan. Condemning the ban, the Mirwaiz held that the programme was aimed at preventing the youth from indulging in immoral and bad practices. He had earlier stated that the ban showed to “what extent surveillance and censorship was enforced and implemented in the Valley by the state and Central agencies.” He said, “Not only were the human and political rights of the people being curbed, suspended and abused in the Valley, but also those who called themselves secular and democratic were working systematically to erode our religious rights and identity.” Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who has already voiced his concern over the rampant corruption, has favoured the Centre’s stand on keeping the Prime Minister out of the purview of the Lokpal Bill till he demits the office. The state secretary of the CPM, MY Tarigami, opined the country was in the grip of scams. “Some voices are not being heard and that leads to unrest,” Tarigami said.
	Sikh intellectual circle seeks amendments to Gurdwara Act Jammu, August 19 A prominent Sikh organisation today demanded amendments to the Gurdwara Act and also asked for the delimitation of the constituencies and updating of “flawed’ voter lists before the election of the Gurdwara Prabandhak Board in the state. The management of historical gurdwaras in the state is done as per the Jammu and Kashmir Sikh Gurdwaras and Religious Endowments Act, 1973. “We, on behalf of the Sikh masses, urge the authorities concerned to affect the necessary delimitation of the constituencies and also update the flawed voter lists before proceeding further with the election process so that the election is held democratically and in an orderly manner,” president of the All J&K Sikh Intellectual Circle JS Mangal said. — PTI
	Regional sports meet begins at KV Sunjuwan Tribune News Service Jammu, August 19 The 42nd regional sports meet of Kendriya Vidyalayas (KV) in chess, involving 100 girl participants from 16 KVs of the Jammu region started today at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sunjuwan, near here. Brig RS Ghuman, Commander of the 36 Infantry Brigade, was the chief guest on the occasion. In his address, Brig Ghuman highlighted the indispensability of games and sports in the harmonious development of a well-integrated personality. He said participation was nobler than winning and losing. Brig Ghuman felt that games and academics should co-exist for the overall development of children. He expressed surprise over the participation of children in a game like chess. To mark the occasion, a colourful cultural bonanza was presented by the students.The four-day sports meet will conclude on August 22.
	BDO, 2 others suspended Srinagar, August 19 Minister for Rural Development, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Sagar today ordered the suspension of the BDO and an accountant of the Thanamandi block in Jammu division. The action was taken after complaints against the officials were received.They were attached with the Directorate of Rural Development, Jammu, an official spokesman said. Sagar also ordered the suspension of the junior engineer of the Shangus block reportedly on charges of irregularities. — TNS
	Jawan injured in mine blast Tribune News Service Jammu, August 19 A soldier sustained injuries on his right leg after he accidentally fell on a mine in the Nangi Tekri area in the KG sector of Poonch district on Friday. The incident occurred around 9 am. Official sources said during patrolling, Sepoy Ram Kishore of the 17 Mahar Regiment of the Army, a native of Maharashtra, slipped and fell upon a mine that triggered the blast. They added that the soldier sustained injuries on the right ankle. After first aid, he was shifted to a Rajouri hospital from where he was referred to the Command Hospital in Udhampur, they said.