The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Omar inaugurates ropeway service in Gulmarg Gulmarg, September 18 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today inaugurated a passenger ropeway service at the Gulmarg tourist resort in north Kashmir. The ropeway, which covers a distance of 1.6 km from Kongdori to Marry Shoulder, is expected to be a major tourist attraction. "The project is expected to attract skiers from the country to world-class slopes at Gulmarg," Omar said at the inaugural function at Kongdori, 60 km from Srinagar. The Chief Minister said the project would give a boost to winter tourism in the state and give additional economic options to the people. Later, Omar also inaugurated the newly relayed Gulmarg Golf Course, one of the oldest and highest green golf courses in the subcontinent. — PTI
	Cong divided over resolution on clemency for Guru Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, September 18 Though the state Assembly has decided to debate an Independent MLA’s resolution, seeking clemency for Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, the Congress, which is a coalition partner in the Omar Abdullah-led government, is divided on the issue. The MLA from Langate, Abdul Rashid, had recently moved the resolution in the Assembly, which was admitted by the secretariat and listed for a debate on September 28. Rashid has been seeking the support of all the political parties on the issue. However, the Congress is divided on the issue as some Kashmir-based party leaders are in favour of the resolution while those based in Jammu have suggested to the party high command to pull out of the government, if the NC supports clemency for Guru. Those opposing the resolution have made it clear to the high command that any support to the clemency resolution would prove disastrous for the party, especially in the Jammu region. A meeting of some prominent Congress leaders of the region was held here today to prepare a strategy in this regard. “It was decided to caution the high command as well as the state leadership against supporting the resolution,” sources said. Some of the leaders demanded a meeting of the Congress-NC coordination committee to discuss the issue. A Congress Minister belonging to the Jammu region said they would not allow the party to support the resolution at any cost. “Congress leaders from the region would convene a meeting soon to discuss the situation,” he said and added the party would be completely wiped out in Jammu, if the resolution was passed in the Assembly. The sources said some Congress leaders from Kashmir were against directly opposing the move as the issue had great significance in the Valley. Keeping in view the division on the issue, the Congress leadership was looking for an “escape route” to keep its position intact in both the regions,said the sources. “We have not taken a decision on the resolution in the Assembly,” a spokesman of the Pradesh Congress Committee,Ravinder Sharma, said.
	Minister launches road projects in Ramgarh Tribune News Service Jammu, September 18 During his tour to Ramgarh, the Minister for Industries and Commerce, Surjit Singh Salathia, launched works on various road projects and inaugurated a Rs 1.72-crore tube well today. The minister addressed a series of public meetings and listed the development works being completed in the area. The villages visited by him included Tali Basti, Tabela, Tarore and Mahal Shah. He also interacted with teachers from Vijaypur and Ramghar and listened to their demands. At Mahal Shah, the minister laid the foundation of a 4.40-km defence ditch road taken up under NABARD. The road will connect Mahal Shah, Mahal Kalandirain, Barkatpura Nia Basti and Abtal. Salathia also launched repair work from Mahal Adda to Mahal Shah Road. During the tour, a tube well completed at a cost of Rs 1.72 crore was also inaugurated by the minister at Talbasti. The Minister also made announcements about the repair of the Circular Road and installation of hand pumps, besides issuing directions for the early replacement of damaged transformers and repair of lanes and drains at Tabela and Tarore. The minister said the coalition government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had fixed health, education, power and road connectivity as the priority sectors, as these form the basic requirement for raising the living standard of the people. He said the past two-and-a-half years had witnessed massive progress in these sectors. Seeking the cooperation of the people, he said evolution of a responsive administration was another major thrust area of the present government for which it had enacted various laws. He said the historical Public Services Guarantee Act implemented in the state was bound to revolutionise the civil services in the state.
	Unscheduled power cuts in Jammu irk residents Archit Watts Tribune News Service Jammu, September 18 Though the Power Development Department (PDD) authorities have repeatedly made claims about regular power supply, unscheduled cuts continue in the city. For the past six months, the people have been holding demonstrations in support of their demand for an improvement in the supply. However, no action has been taken so far in this regard. Though the Minister of State for Power, Shabir Ahmed Khan, had claimed before the beginning of the summer that that there would be no unscheduled power cuts during the season, there was no improvement in the situation. Sumit Kaul, a resident of Roop Nagar, said: “Hardly, a day passes without unscheduled power cuts. If the authorities are unable to provide regular supply, they should at least inform the public in advance about the proposed cuts. Though we have lodged a number of protests, there is hardly any change in the situation.” Another resident, Vikram Kumar, said: “If the situation is not going to improve, what is the use of paying huge electricity bills?” Amit Kumar, a resident of Gandhi Nagar, said: “The situation started deteriorating in April and since then, unscheduled power cuts and low voltage have been creating problems”. He added: “It seems there is no improvement in the power scenario and the authorities, including ministers,are just making statements. They should visit the areas to know the ground reality and the functioning of the electricity department.” An official of the PDD said a snag in the supply had led to the power cut today. “We had informed the public in advance about the maintenance work at some places,” he said. However, he failed to give a reply about the unscheduled cuts during the past six months. Repeated attempts to contact the Chief Engineer, PDD, Shahnaz Goni failed.
	Residents resent poor civic amenities Tribune News Service Jammu, September 18 Residents of Gujjar Nagar protested against poor civic amenities here today. The residents raised slogans against the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) authorities for their alleged failure in improving the civic amenities. “We met a number of JMC officials and requested them to improve the conditions in our locality, but no action was taken.Finally, we lodged a protest,” said a protester. He added the conditions were deteriorating with every passing day and the JMC officials should pay a visit to the locality to know the ground reality.
	Interlocutors meet Chief Minister Srinagar, September 18 The Centre’s interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here today. They apprised the Chief Minister of their last visit to the state before submitting the final report to the Centre. The three-member team held an extensive interaction with Omar here this evening, an official spokesman said. “The interlocutors discussed with the Chief Minister developments that took place during their current visit to the state,” the spokesman added. The team has said it will submit the final report by October 12, the day it completes its one-year term. — PTI
	Visit to Valley a confidence-building measure: PoK ex-PM Srinagar, September 18 Terming his visit to Kashmir as a confidence-building measure, former PoK Prime Minister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhary today said he was open to meeting leaders from both sides of the political spectrum in Jammu and Kashmir. “I have no formal programme yet for meeting anybody here. However, I am open to meet anyone,” said Chaudhary. “Although it is a private visit, there are no conditions in my visa (given by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad) for other activities,” said Chaudhary, who will be in the Valley for five days. “My visit is a confidence-building measure and can bridge the gap between India and Pakistan,” he said. “I believe the restrictions on travel between the two sides of Kashmir should be removed and the people of the state should be allowed to travel freely. This will increase the people-to-people contact.” Chaudhary, who arrived here on a private visit this afternoon from New Delhi to attend a wedding, expressed hope that his visit would have a positive outcome on the Indo-Pak relations. — PTI
	Flood-hit get relief Tribune News Service Jammu, September 18 The Deputy Chairman, Legislative Council, Arvinder Singh Micky today distributed relief among flood-affected people of New Plot, Janipur and the adjoining areas, who faced losses due to the recent heavy rain and flash floods. Senior officers and a large number of people were present on the occasion. Addressing the gathering, Micky said the Central and state governments were fully aware of the aspirations of the people of the state and were making all efforts to meet them. He said all the agencies concerned should keep themselves prepared to meet any natural or manmade disaster. He said the UPA government was committed to provide all basic facilities to the people at the doorstep. Various major development projects had been executed in the state. He said massive development in various sectors like health, education, etc had been registered because of tireless efforts of the coalition government. Responding to the demands of the people regarding damages caused due to the recent torrential rain, Micky directed the officers concerned to prepare the lists of losses to public and private property in the area so that the relief under the Natural Calamity Relief Fund could be disbursed. On the occasion, the people of the New Plot and adjoining areas put forth their demands and grievances to the Deputy Chairman which included rectification in the BPL list, uninterrupted power supply, safe drinking water and blacktopping of roads. Micky assured them that all their genuine demands would be redressed at the earliest.
	Bhagat Ganga Dutt rejoins NC Tribune News Service Jammu September 18 Bhagat Ganga Dutt rejoined the National Conference (NC) along with his supporters in presence of the provincial president of the party, Rattan Lal Gupta, here today. Dutt, who had contested the 1996 Assembly elections from the Khour Assembly constituency on the NC mandate, had earlier left the party. While rejoining the party, Dutt said he was misguided by some people to leave it. He said he regretted the decision to quit the party. He reposed full faith and confidence in the leadership of NC president Farooq Abdullah, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and general secretary Sheikh Nazir Ahmad. He promised to work for the party with the same enthusiasm and zeal, which he had been showing since 1996. The party’s provincial president welcomed Dutt into the party fold and described his rejoining as a homecoming and advised him to work hard to strengthen the party in the Jammu region. On the occasion, Mangal Singh Jamwal, a youth leader from Sidhra, and Kulbir Singh Jasrotia, a social activist from Barwal, Kathua, also joined the party, along with their supporters.
	Geelani not allowed to attend family weddings: Hurriyat Srinagar, September 18 The hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference today alleged that its chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, was not allowed by the police to attend the wedding ceremonies of his grandson and granddaughter. “The wedding ceremonies of Geelani’s grandson and granddaughter were scheduled for today and September 20. But the police did not give him permission to attend the functions at his ancestral house in Sopore,” said Hurriyat spokesman Ayaz Akbar. Condemning the action, Akbar said while the government had already placed restrictions on Geelani’s political activities, he was now being denied permission to attend private functions. “Geelani continues to be under virtual arrest within the four walls of his house and those coming to meet him are being questioned and harassed by police,” the spokesman added. However, a senior police officer said there were no restrictions on Geelani attending such functions. “He has been going for a health check-up and attending other personal matters. Since his political activities lead to violence, we cannot allow him that liberty,” the officer said.— PTI
	Defence correspondents’ course concludes in Nagrota Tribune News Service Jammu, September 18 The Defence Correspondents Course-2011 concluded yesterday with correspondents from various media houses completing their tour to the forward areas of the Akhnoor, Rajouri and Poonch sectors. A valedictory function was held at the headquarters of the White Knight Corps in Nagrota to mark the completion of the course. The course is conducted by the Ministry of Defence to expose budding journalists to service conditions of all the three services. This year, 34 participants were selected from all over the country through a stringent selection process. The course commenced on August 16 at Mumbai. After a seven-day naval leg, the course moved to Jamnagar, Gujarat, for a one-week air force leg. Thereafter, the course moved to Bhuj. The penultimate leg of the course was a one-week tour to the forward areas in the state. The participants arrived in Jammu for the tour on September 10. During this period, they understood the nuances of counter-infiltration and counter-terrorist grid in the areas south of the Pir Panjal Range. The participants had a firsthand exposure of the life of a jawan in the bunkers and experienced the hardships by spending a night with them. They also had a feel of the rugged terrain by climbing to the posts in the Poonch sector. They visited the Jhangar, Krishna Ghati and Pallanwala sub-sectors to have an all-round understanding of the operations. The participants returned to Nagrota on Friday. During the valedictory function, the participants shared their experiences and said the visit to the border areas was the most exhilarating part of the course. While addressing the participants, Brigadier OP Yadav, Officiating Chief of Staff, expressed hope that the experience gained in the tour would assist the journalists in objective reporting of the issues related to the defence services. Later, Sitanshu Kar, Additional Director-General, Media and Communications, Ministry of Defence, delivered the valedictory address and presented certificates to the participants.
	Take steps to eradicate female foeticide, says Health Minister Tribune News Service Jammu, September 18 Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma has asked the medical fraternity to take stringent steps to eradicate female foeticide from society. He was addressing a one-day conference on health organised by the State Health Society at the Institute of Engineers here today. A large number of medical experts, including Chief Medical Officers (CMOs), Medical Superintendents and Deputy CMOs from all across the Jammu region, attended the workshop. The minister expressed concern over the declining sex ratio and said the government was determined to end the practice of sex-selection and female foeticide. He stressed upon all the panelists to work on a multi-dimensional basis. Sharma said, “I assure that all those violating the law will be punished and no one will be spared”. Dr Yashpal Sharma, Director, J&K National Rural Health Mission, also discussed in detail various aspects of the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Act and its implementation in the state. He said the national rural health mission would take a few more steps to educate the masses and the medical fraternity about the PNDT Act.
	Hospital faces staff shortage Tribune News Service Jammu, September 18 The Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) authorities yesterday admitted that the hospital had the extra burden of patients coming from neighbouring places and was taking steps to cope with it. Dr Rajinder Singh, Principal of the GMCH, said the hospital management was making every effort to cope with the problems. “The main problem of shortage of the medical staff is being met by taking some innovative measures. The vacant posts will also be filled soon,” said Dr Singh. He said the under-construction superspecialty building would also solve the problem to some extent. Dr Singh also gave the details about the upgradation of the infrastructure at the GMCH and its associated hospitals. He said 11,015 major and minor surgeries were conducted at the GMCH during 2010-11, while 3,86,637 patients were treated in the OPD during the period.
	Natrang stages comedy Tribune News Service Jammu, September 18‘Ghar Ka Maalik’, a comedy directed by Sumeet Sharma and written by Charanjeet, was staged at Natrang’s Sunday Theatre here today. In the play, Sher Singh, along with his younger brother, Ram Singh, visits Prof Shyam Bihari’s home to seek a job for Ram Singh. On seeing the professor in an unusual attire, both of them get the impression that a thief has barged into the house. The professor tries to prove his identity, but fails. In his own house, the professor is beaten up by the two brothers.Unknowingly, the brothers torture the former. In the meantime, a thief enters the house.The brothers perceive him to be the professor and interact with him. Meanwhile, a watchman of the society comes to the rescue of the professor. Pawan Verma plays the role of the professor. Abhinav Vimarsh as Sher Singh and Sushil Raina as Ram Singh give impressive performances. Sumeet Sharma marks his presence with professional ease in the role of a thief. Lights were operated by Rahul Singh, Mohammad Yaseen coordinated the show and the presentations were done by Uplaksh Singh.
	Gujjars demand legal safeguards for tribal courts Srinagar, September 18 A Gujjar organisation today asked the Centre to introduce a Bill in Parliament for providing legal safeguards to the tribal justice system,Jirgas. In a letter to the Union Law and Justice Minister, the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation (TRCF) appealed to lawmakers to provide legal safeguards to hundreds of “tribal courts” by making them constitutionally valid at the national and state levels. “If timely steps are not taken by the Centre for the preservation and protection of Jirgas, these age-old traditional law institutions will become extinct,” said TRCF secretary Javaid Rahi in a letter. Rahi said he had written in the letter to the Union Law Minister that the oldest popular system of justice was facing threats from all sides and it needed immediate legal recognition. “We also made an appeal for the enactment of a law for the protection of Jirgas to be extendable to Jammu and Kashmir and other north-western states where the Gujjars reside,” he said. Rahi said, “The tribal courts are effective, powerful, inexpensive and available at the doorstep, but lack legal sanctity.” “Due to non-availability of legal protection, the Jirgas do not interfere in criminal cases, but decide almost all other major disputes, including land and assets issues, family disputes, theft cases or other issues related to tribals,” he said. — PTI
	Three killed in mishaps Jammu/Srinagar, September 18 Three persons, including an engineer, were killed in two mishaps in the state today. Two persons, including the driver of a truck, were killed when the vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Ramban district today. The truck that was going from Jammu to Srinagar, fell into the gorge in the Ramsoo area killing the driver, the police said. The identity of the other deceased was yet to be established. Meanwhile, a report from Srinagar said an engineer was killed and two others were feared dead when their vehicle skidded off the road and fell into the Jhelum in Baramulla district of Kashmir. The police said the vehicle,belonging to the Hindustan Constructions Corporation, skidded off the road at Jhandian, near Lal Pul, and plunged into the river last evening,killing the engineer, Jay Prakash.The other two occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, were feared dead, the police said. The police said as the water level in the Jhelum had increased due to heavy rain over the weekend, the vehicle was submerged and could not be traced. — PTI
	Rain forces teachers to take classes on roadside RS Pura, September 18 Incessant rain in the RS Pura region has forced teachers of a government school to take classes on the roadside. Teachers said the school got flooded during the monsoon every year because of a poor drainage system. “Whenever it rains, the school is flooded because of a poor drainage system here. The rainwater gets stagnant and serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes and flies. Snakes are also seen in the school during the monsoon,” said Rasleen Kaur, a school teacher. The teachers were seen taking classes outside the school on the road and the students were seen wading through the water-logged school. Students said it was difficult for them to concentrate on studies as there was a commotion on the road. The teachers complained that the administration paid no heed to their plea. ”This is right neither for the students, nor for us. There is traffic on the road and it doesn't look good. The students can't study in the open, but this is our duty,” Kaur said. — ANI
	Kranti Dal to launch stir for passage of temple Bill Jammu, September 18 The Kranti Dal today threatened to launch an indefinite strike from October 7, if the state government failed to introduce the Temples and Shrines Bill in the coming state Assembly session. ”Several organisations will launch an indefinite strike from October 7, if the state government fails to introduce the Temples and Shrines Bill in the upcoming session of the state Assembly,” chairman of the Kranti Dal, Anan Shrima, said. All the temples, shrines and their properties worth crores , should be brought under a common body, he added. The Kranti Dal, along with the Dharmarth Trust Sudhar Sangharsh Samiti, the Ram Sena, the Shiv Sena Hindustan and the Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh would launch a stir from October 7, Shrima said. — PTI
	Youth attacked with sharp-edged weapon Tribune News Service Jammu, September 18 A youth was attacked with a sharp-edged weapon in the Gangyal area here this afternoon. Ishpal Singh (26) of Bhor Camp was attacked by some persons at Digana.The assailants fled the spot after stabbing him. Ishpal was rushed to the Government Medical College and Hospital in a serious condition by the passersby. A case was registered and further investigation was in progress.