Jammu, August 11
In the year’s second major seizure, the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), along with the Excise Department and General Railway Police, today seized an “unclaimed” consignmentof 2,300 kg of banned polythene bags from the Jammu Railway Station.

The consignment was packed in jute bags and was transported to the winter capital city from Ludhiana. The police said it has started the investigation.

“We had some specific inputs that the banned polythene was being illegally brought to Jammu. A team of the SPCB, which is the prescribed authority, along with officials of the Excise Department and police conducted a raid and seized the consignment. It was a planned and coordinated effort that led to the successful operation,” SPCB regional director Showkat Choudhary told The Tribune.

He disclosed that the polythene was being brought to Jammu and Kashmir from neighbouring states like Punjab, where it was easily available. Recently, the state high court had directed the Board to work in coordination with the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) in making Jammu a polythene-free city.

The director said they would intensify the drive against the use and sale of polythene bags in the state. “We have imposed a fine of Rs 7,500 on traders for using polythene bags,” he added.

He also emphasised the need of active participation of the general public and other allied departments for the complete eradication of this menace.

TS Chib, district officer, SPCB, Jammu, who led the drive, claimed the Board had intensified the campaign against the use of polythene and it was in constant touch with the Railway authorities to nab those who were involved in the illegal transportation of polythene bags via trains.

On May 13, over 9,300 kg of polythene bags were seized by the police and the state Excise and Taxation Department officials at Lakhanpur in Kathua district.

The state government had banned the manufacturing and sale of polythene bags under the Jammu and Kashmir Non Bio-Degradable Material (Management, Handling and Disposal) Act, 2007.

Under the law, District Magistrates or Deputy Commissioners or any other officer nominated by the government would enforce the law, besides acting as a facilitator and guide in the matter of dealing with the non-biodegradable material.

Few days ago, a Division Bench of the high court, hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking enforcement of a complete ban on the use of polythene carry bags, had granted a month’s time to the Jammu Municipal Corporation to make Jammu a polythene-free city.

Prior to the ban, according to sources, 3,000 kg of polythene bags were used daily. At least 20 per cent users still flout the rule.

Jammu, August 11
Continuing its drive against the use and sale of polythene bags, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) today seized 20 kg of banned polythene bags and realised an amount of Rs 4,100 by imposing penalty on violators.

Official spokesperson said the enforcement field staff along with the police undertook a drive against the use of polythene bags and inspected shops, vendors and other outlets at Jewel, Below Gumat, Vinayak Bazar and BC Road markets.

“During the inspection, the team seized about 20 kg of polythene bags and an amount of Rs 4,100 was realised as fine from 15 defaulters on the spot,” the spokesperson said.

The Corporation has made a fervent appeal to the general public to cooperate for the implementation of the ban on the use of polythene bags within the Jammu city and help make the city polythene-free.

Jammu, August 11
A day after some Kashmir-based RTI activists registered protest against the acceptance of fee in the shape of Indian Postal Orders (IPOs) for providing information under the J&K RTI Act, Jammu-based RTI activists and legal experts countered the move by describing the fee paid through IPOs as “absolutely legitimate and safe”.

In a press statement issued here, an RTI activist and advocate Vilakshan Singh cited Rule 4 of the Jammu and Kashmir RTI Rules 2010 and said the government rules give an option to the RTI applicant to choose his mode of payment and that right must be honoured. He said it was a wrong notion that the RTI fee paid through the IPOs go to the Union government’s kitty.

Yesterday, convener of the J&K RTI Movement, Raja Muzaffar Bhat, had said fee collected in the shape of non-judicial stamp papers, cash against GR, DD, treasury receipts goes into the state treasury. “But fees charged on account of Indian Postal Orders (IPO’s) directly goes into the Central government’s kitty. We treat this as a gross mistake,” he had said and had appealed to the Chief Minister to personally intervene into the matter and get a circular issued so that this provision is deleted from the J&K RTI Rules 2010.

Balwinder Singh, an RTI activist and convener of the Sangarsh RTI Movement, said Raja’s statement was far from truth and it was a wrong perception.

Aseem Sawhney, another RTI activist and an advocate, also objected to the demand of scrapping the option of Indian Postal order.

He said the IPOs were the easiest and safe mode of payment for the RTI users. RTI activists Raman Sharma and Deepak Sharma also stressed for the continuation of IPOs as RTI fee option.

Jammu, August 11
With residents of Shastri Nagar up in arms against the Power Development Department (PDD) for its failure to supply regular electricity, the government today sanctioned Rs 5 crore to improve power infrastructure. The funds will be used to curb unscheduled power cuts and low voltage problem in Shastri Nagar and its adjoining areas by constructing 10 MVA, 33/11 KVA receiving station, which is likely to be completed by October this year.

For overcoming drinking water shortage in Sanjay Nagar, Bathindi, Sunjwan, Narwal, Chatta and Raika, the government has sanctioned Rs 49 lakh for the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department to supply water through Boria Intake Filteration Plant in these areas.

Minister for Revenue Raman Bhalla said the receiving station would be completed soon, which would improve the power situation.

Fed up with erratic power supply, residents of various localities, including Jeewan Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Sanjay Nagar, Rampura last Morh, and Gandhi Nagar, have threatened not to pay electricity bills to the PDD.

The residents of these areas, who have earlier protested against the department on various occasions, alleged that the area was being deliberately made to suffer due to political interference as they were mostly supporters of a particular political party.

“When we are paying electricity bills regularly and adhere to all the rules, then why the power supply is erratic. If we continue to face harassment, we will stop paying the bills,” said Amit Mahajan, a local resident.

“We are law-abiding citizens, but it is the administration which is provoking the people to take law into their hands. Our demand is regular power supply but we are harassed by the officials,” said Lovely, another resident.

Due to erratic power supply, the residents also face shortage of drinking water, as the pumping station also does not work properly. Main sufferers are the children and students who face hardships in their studies. A PDD official posted in the area blamed the illegal connections and use of heavy electrical appliances for the present mess.

Jammu, August 11
With not too many days left for the start of various state championships in multi-disciplines at the MA Stadium, dormitories in the stadium premises for providing accommodation to participants of other districts have no provision of toilet facilities.

According to sources, three dormitories (each having 10-bed capacity) were inaugurated in 2011 to accommodate participants from other states in National Strength Lifting Championship held at the MA Stadium during the tenure of Shamim Ahmad Laherwal, when he was secretary, State Sports Council.

The sources added that during that championship, the participants had complained about lack of toilet facilities in these dormitories to the organising authorities. After that, the organisers sought the assistance of the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) to provide mobile urinals.

The sources claimed that after the strength lifting championship, officials of the Sports Council decided to construct bathrooms in all the three dormitories but nothing significant has been done so far, even as various other nationals in multi-disciplines had been conducted at the MA Stadium after that.

Various sports associations, after finalising their schedule for conducting the events, had reportedly appealed to the stadium authorities to construct toilets in all the three dormitories well before the commencement of sporting events but in vain. “Except announcements, nothing concrete has been done so far because the ministers and other dignitaries are only interested in announcing projects,” he claimed. “Ever since the dormitories have been constructed, we are demanding toilet facilities but it seems as if the authorities are least bothered about the hardships faced by the participants, especially women, during their stay in the stadium premises in tournaments,” said one of the office-bearers of a sports association. A senior official of the J&K State Sports Council told The Tribune, “Yes, we are very much aware of problem and we will soon initiate the process to solve the issue.”

Jammu, August 11
The Panthers Students Union (PSU) today accused Jammu University authorities of forcing the students to live in rented accommodation by favouring scholars who had already completed their degrees.

“The genuine students are staying in rented accommodations while the scholars who have already completed their degrees still occupy the hostel rooms on the campus. The authorities are least bothered about the problems being faced by the students from far-off places,” PSU president Variender Thakur told reporters here.

He said Nehru hostel authorities had denied the facility of hostel to genuine students because they had made “illegal allotments to their favourites”. “The PhD and MPhil scholars who had already been awarded their degrees are still holding the hostel rooms illegally due to undue favour of the hostel authorities,” he alleged.

The PSU leader also demanded that the university should announce the elections of the student union on the campus so that every stakeholder exercises his or her right to franchise. He also rejected the reports that students were agreed upon holding the elections on the pattern of Lyngdoh Committee. 

Jammu, August 11
Alarmed over frequent landslides hitting several under-construction portions along the 84-km Mughal Road, the government has decided to conduct new geological and geo-technical studies to find ways to stabilise rough portions along the strategic highway.

The road that starts from Bafliaz (Poonch) to Shopian in Kashmir is considered as an alternative route to the 300-km-long Jammu-Srinagar highway which was the only surface link between Srinagar and rest of India.

Officials said that services of private consultants would be sought to conduct a study which will give two surface links to the Valley by 2013. At present only a few light vehicles are allowed on the road.

“Though it was declared safe from landslides, many portions along the highway have emerged as unstable as heavy rainfall and snowfall led to blocking of the road due to debris from mountains,” said an official.

Expected to be formally commissioned by March 2013, the road passing through Bafliaz, Poshana, Chattapani, Peer Ki Gali, Aliabad, Zaznar, Dubjan, Heerpora and Shopian will reduce the distance of 541 km from Poonch to Srinagar to only 174 km and the travel time from will come down to seven hours from 32 hours via Baffliaz-Shopian route. The Mughal Road Organisation (MRO) is hiring services of private consultants to conduct the study for the safety of the motorists using the road.

“Since this road is likely to be declared as national highway soon, it is mandatory to take all such measures in order to make it safe for road users and this primarily involves stabilisation of hill slopes,” said Saugat Biswas, Rajouri Deputy Commissioner . The route passes through the11,000 feet at Peer Ki Gali, a mountainous pass in the Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas.

Its aim was to give an alternative road to the Valley which relies upon the landslide-prone NH-1 during the rainy and winter seasons. The construction on the road started in 1981 which was revived in 2005 by the then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. The work started at the original cost of Rs 159 crore has incurred Rs 639 crore expenditure till February this year.

Katra, August 11
Alleging that the government is intentionally not accepting their demands, employees of the Public Health and Engineering (PHE) Department today threatened to disrupt water supply across the district, including Reasi and Katra towns. Raising anti-government slogans, hundreds of PHE employees today assembled outside the office of the Executive Engineer, PHE, Reasi, and demanded solution to their long-pending demands.

“If the government fails to meet our demands in a week’s time, the water supply across the state will be disrupted,” said Munshi Ram, a leader of the Water Workers (PHE) Employees Assocation while addressing the protesters. He alleged that the government had always discriminated against them and deprived them of their rights. “Besides disruption of water supply, roads will also be blocked if our demands are not met in a week’s time,” the leader added.

The agitating workers are demanding a daily wage of Rs 125 to all categories of PHE employees, status of daily rated workers, release of remaining one-and-half day ex gratia to permanent employees, technical higher pay scales as already given to the employees as per SRO-149 of 1973, regularisation of all ITI and non-ITI daily rated employees and replacement of old vehicles with new ones.

Jammu ,August 11
A one-day training programme on ‘Disaster Preparedness with special reference to Jammu and Kashmir’ was organised by the regional branch of the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), Jammu, today.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jammu, Prof Mohan Paul Singh Ishar, was the chief guest on the occasion and the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Pradeep Gupta, was the guest of honour. The Chairman of IIPA, J-K branch, Dr Ashok Bhan, presided over the function. Representatives of various government departments and members of IIPA participated in the programme.

Prof Ishar said apart from proper training and awareness among people, availability of technology, adequate training and communication play a key role in minimising the effects of natural disasters.

He offered the services of university academia to government agencies for formulating disaster management schemes.

Divisional Commissioner Pradeep Gupta remarked that there was a need to focus on the National Disaster Management Act, 2005, which provided funding to deal with natural disasters both at the state and the Central level.

The key note was given by the Head, Department of Geology, University of Jammu, Prof GM Bhat, in which he highlighted the earthquake-prone areas of the state, threw light on the principles of disaster management and urged the authorities to prepare themselves to deal with disasters in the future.

Dr Bhan stressed on the need for collaborative work by the administration and academia to improve governance. 

Jammu, August 11
The Dogri Sanstha today released a new Dogri book of poetry, ‘Chaanan Cheten Da’, written by Bal Krishan Bhaura, a veteran Dogri writer who passed away one month ago.

Eminent Dogri scholar Prof Ved Ghai was the chief guest and Dogri writer Prakash Premi, from Udhampur, was the guest of honour. Another well-known writer Desh Bandhu Dogri ‘Nutan’ presided over the function.

A large number of Dogri writers from Jammu, Udhampur and Painthal participated in the event. Bhaura’s relatives and friends also attended the programme.

Prof Ghai expressed a deep sense of loss among the writers’ fraternity due to the untimely demise of the veteran writer. She quoted extensively from Bhaura’s poetry to highlight the quality of his work. Ghai lamented that writers from villages or remote areas had to work harder to achieve recognition as compared to those from urban areas.

The Dogri scholar advised the Dogri Sanstha to hold literary interactions in rural areas to further strengthen the roots of Dogri.

Prakash Premi presented a paper on the literary merits of the released book and touched on various nuances of Bhaura’s poetry.

Nutan, in his presidential address, dwelt on Bhaura’s qualities of the head and heart. He narrated many anecdotes corroborating Bhaura’s fine nature and deep sensibilities as a writer.

The President of Dogri Sanstha, Prof Lalit Magotra, said it was unfortunate that Bhaura did not live to see the release of his book. He said Bhaura’s poetry covered varied shades of human feelings that were crafted skillfully in his verses.

Mangotra said Bal Krishan Bhaura was a versatile writer with deep understanding of human mind and behaviour and many of his verses put philosophical ideas in simple language.

Jammu, August 11
Jammu Deputy Commissioner Sanjeev Verma today visited Eidgah, Jamia Masjid Talab Khadikah and other mosques in the district to inspect the arrangements being made by the district administration and other agencies for celebration of Eid-Ul-Fitr.

Reviewing the arrangements under different sectors, Verma asked the district officers to ensure proper sanitation in all the mosques across Jammu district.

Administrator Auqaf Islamia and other senior officers accompanied the Deputy Commissioner during the inspection. The Deputy Commissioner scrutinised the repair and renovation works at Jamia Masjid Talab Khadikah and directed the executing agencies to ensure completion of the works at the earliest in view of the forthcoming festival. He also took stock of the electricity and water-supply arrangements in the mosques so that these vital services can be ensured to people. 

Srinagar, August 11
For the city authorities trying to make your life safer on the roads, here is a reality bite: They may take nearly half a century to sterilise the existing dog population in the city, estimated at one lakh, if the sterilisation drive continues at its current pace.

Only 500 dogs have been sterilised in the city since the sterilisation of canines began on May 4 under the Animal Birth Control (ABC), a programme aimed at checking canine population in the Valley.

This despite the fact that the government claims to have taken various speedy measures to control the population of stray dogs in the city.

“Since the sterilisation process began, we have operated on 500 dogs,” said Dr Dil Muhammad Makhdoomi, Chief Scientist and Head, Veterinary Clinical Services, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology (SKUAST).

“In case of male dogs, both testicles are surgically removed, while in female dogs, the uterus is removed. The operation ensures that these dogs do not produce offsprings.”

The dogs are sterilised under a project undertaken jointly by the Srinagar municipal corporation, SKUAST and the Animal Welfare Board of India.

The government claims that the sterilisation of dogs will halt the alarming growth in the population of dogs.

The MC catches canines in the early-morning and late-evening hours. The animals are then operated upon at SKUAST. After the operation, the animals are tagged with ear studs. A canine spends three days in the camp before being released back in its locality.

Sources in SKUAST claim that the reason for the slow pace of sterilisation is the failure of the MC in providing them with facilities agreed upon at the initial stage of the project.

“Under the MoU, the MC was to provide an operating theatre, dog kitchen, rest room for staff and office, a lab and preparation room. Barring kennels, the MC has not given anything to SKUAST,” said a senior official at the university.

“If the government is serious about getting rid of stray dogs, it should provide requisite infrastructure and facilities to SKUAST. We have sufficient human resource to undertake 500 operations a day.”

The MC officials said the pace of sterilisation campaign would speed up in the coming days.

“We are constructing an operating theatre and are in the process of providing more infrastructure. The sterilisation process will gather pace in the days to come,” said Fayyaz Ahmed, MC Joint Commissioner.

The dog population has already crossed one lakh in the city and the increasing dog population has resulted in an alarming rise in cases of canine attack.

The figures with the state health department suggest that nearly 8,000 people have been bitten and injured by stray canines across the Valley in the first seven months of this year.

Srinagar, August 11
A major reshuffle, aimed at improving the functioning of courts, is on the cards in the state judiciary. The decision has been delayed due to lack of consensus.

Sources in the J&K High Court said all HC judges had been meeting since August 9 to finalise the transfer and posting of judges, including those of the lower judiciary.

“On August 9, a meeting of full court was held in Srinagar, wherein all HC judges, including Chief Justice MM Kumar, were present,” a source said.

Judges from the Jammu wing of the HC also participated in the meeting through conferencing, which lasted till Thursday evening.

“The full court met again on Friday, as consensus could not be reached on certain issues,” a source added.

A court official said no transfer or posting had been ordered so far, while refusing to divulge the details of the meeting.

The new Chief Justice is reported to have “regulated” the roster in a bid to streamline the administration and ensure quick disposal of cases at the High Court.

Srinagar, August 11
Kashmir University is all set to get into philanthropy mode by raising funds for orphans, widows and destitute of the Valley, which would aid their education, marriage and other welfare activities.

Prof Talat Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor, Kashmir University, told a gathering of the Kashmir University faculty, students, members of the Jammu and Kashmir Yateem Foundation (JKYF) and National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers that the university would contribute wholeheartedly to the cause of orphans.

The Vice-Chancellor was speaking at the release of the JKYF’s annual report 2011-12, which entailed the concerns of orphans, half-widows and unmarried girls in the Valley.

While talking to Kashmir Tribune, Prof Talat said the university had some schemes for orphans and the needy ones in the Distance Education Department, which would be implemented in full spirit. He said there was no provision of a special quota for orphans and widows.

“Let us start contributing to the cause of orphans and widows beginning from this holy month of Ramadan. We need to acknowledge that not much work has been done to uplift the conditions of orphans and widows in the Valley,” Prof Talat said.

Muhammad Ahsan Rather, chairman, JKYF, highlighted the role of his organisation in its 12-year-long journey for fulfilling the rights of orphans and widows in society. He also invited active participation from the university staff and faculty in addressing the issue, which has only gone from bad to worse over the past few decades.

Prof S. Fayaz, Registrar, KU, said the moral and ethical values of society should not be forgotten and the upliftment of orphans and widows could be brought about only by spreading moral education.

Er Sayid Hamid Bhat, patron, JKYF, presented the vote of thanks on the occasion. A copy of the annual report, “Ehsaas”, was also distributed among the audience. Later, Prof Talat also inaugurated a photo exhibition organised by the foundation highlighting its various activities.

Drass (Kargil), August 11
Perched at a height of 10,990 feet, Drass --- the second coldest inhabited place in the world after Oymyakon in Russia --- is fast turning out to be a major tourist destination in the region.

Scores of tourists travelling to Ladakh stop over at his sleepy town to visit spots like Drass War Memorial, located near the strategic Srinagar-Ladakh national highway, and other places where Indian troops fought Pakistani intruders for over two months during the Kargil War.

Just 150 km shy of Srinagar, this town is surrounded by the famous Tiger Hill and Tololing, which witnessed fierce gunbattle during the conflict.

“After the reopening of the Srinagar-Leh road each year, a large number of visitors make a halt at the War Memorial to pay their tributes and know more about the two-month-long battle with Pakistani troops and intruders,” said hawaldar Sukhwinder Singh of 14 Sikh Battalion, who has been guiding visitors about the memorial.

Sudesh Pandey, a resident of Mumbai, said he liked the Drass valley. “I wanted to trek to the hills where our soldiers had fought bravely, but could not do so due to restrictions. But I visited the Kargil War Memorial and paid my homage to the heroes,” he said.

The inflow of tourists to the Drass valley has prompted businessman to open hotels and eateries in the town.

“We had opened a hotel last year in the town and have been having good business,” said Bashir Ahmed, who hails from Baramulla district and runs a hotel at Drass during summer. This rush will continue till November, when the national highway is closed, he added.

The Srinagar-Ladakh highway remains closed for over six months during winter following heavy accumulation of snow along the Gumri-Zojila axis that divides the Kashmir and Ladakh regions.

While the Kargil War remains etched in the minds of local residents, they have moved on. They are now trying to revive local sports to draw tourists.

“Polo - the traditional game of Drass - is the new attraction for tourists,” said Ghulam Hassan Zia, a local resident. “During the Kargil War, Drass became known for Tiger Hill and Tololing. Now we want to make it famous for polo,” Zia added.

Anantnag, August 11
Uncertainty looms over the once lucrative cricket bat industry of Kashmir, as over 50 manufacturing units have already been demolished to make way for the widening of National Highway 1-A along the Sangam stretch in Anantnag district.

The bat manufacturers say the industry has suffered extensively in the absence of a comprehensive rehabilitation plan by the government.

“Most of the units have been out of business for the past two months, while some have been forced to move to other districts,” says Abdul Majeed, former president, Cricket Bat Manufacturers Association.

“Though the government has compensated us for the demolition, it is not enough. We have been struggling for survival ever since the demolition took place,” says Abdul Majeed.

He says even the Common Facility Centre at Halmulla, built at an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore, will be partly demolished for the road widening work.

The manufacturers say the industry, one of the biggest and finest in Kashmir, offers employment to over 10,000 people with annual revenue of over Rs 100 crore.

“The lackadaisical attitude of the authorities towards such a large industry is disheartening. We have been demanding a proper place to carry on with our businesses but to no avail,” says Tanseer Salroo, owner of Salroo Sports, Bijbehara.

The Sher-i-Kashmir Sports Complex was constructed at Bijbehara to accommodate all manufacturers under one roof, but the complex continues to be occupied by security forces for over decades now.

“Our repeated pleas to get the complex vacated have fallen on deaf ears and despite assurances from the authorities, including the Chief Minister, nothing concrete has been done,” says Nazir Ahmad, president, Cricket Bat Manufacturers Association.

He says they have been assured of being rehabilitated before any demolition takes place. The authorities maintain that all unit holders will be rehabilitated within a month.

“Two-thirds of the sports complex in Bijbehara has already been vacated by the security forces and they will vacate it completely by the end of this month,” says Mehrajuddin Kanue, Director, Industries and Commerce.

Srinagar, August 11
Six government employees have suspended for being unauthorisedly absent from work in Kupwara district of north Kashmir.

An official spokesperson said the six employees were found absent from work when the Additional Deputy Commissioner there inspected a Public Health Engineering division.

The spokesperson said the six employees were placed under suspension. — TNS

Jammu, August 11
The Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS), which is reportedly under fire for not disbursing scholarships among outstanding sportspersons of the 57th edition of the National School Games due to alleged non-issuance of additional funds, is now planning to take up the matter with the higher authorities.

According to sources, after utilising the available funds in conducting activities at the district and state levels, the DYSS had approached the state government to sanction an additional grant for awarding scholarships to the outstanding sportspersons.

The sources said this was perhaps for the first time that the process for sanctioning an additional amount to the DYSS had been delayed.

A senior official of the DYSS, while confirming the development, told The Tribune that “the department is seriously thinking of approaching the authorities concerned for the additional grant so that it can disburse scholarships among the medal winners of the National School Games”.

“The department has never been in such a precarious situation. Every year, the government used to allot us additional funds much before the closing of the financial year. However, this year it hasn’t done so,” the official said. “In fact, we had informed the authorities much earlier about the requirement of an additional grant,” he claimed.

“The department is aware of the achievements of the sportspersons concerned who worked so hard to bring laurels for the state and it will try its best to ensure that the scholarships are disbursed soon,” the official said.

“The DYSS will make efforts to apprise the authorities of the necessity of additional funds. I am hopeful that the department will get additional funds soon,” he said. As per rules, the medallists will get a scholarship of Rs 10,000 while the participants in various competitions will get a scholarship of Rs 1,750.

Jammu, August 11
Savita of Higher Secondary School (HSS), Mubarak Mandi, bagged the gold medal in the below 45 kg weight category in kick-boxing yesterday in the ongoing Jammu District Inter-School competitions being organised by the Department of Youth Services and Sports, Jammu district, at Shastri Memorial Higher Secondary School, Patoli.

Avneet Kaur of the HSS, Shastri Nagar, won the gold medal in the below 52 kg category while Anjali Sharma of the HSS, Mubarak Mandi, won the gold medal in the below 56 kg category.

In thang-ta U-19 girls, Nitasha Watloo of the HSS, Bantalab, got an edge over Simmy Kavita of the HSS, Bhalwal, in the below 38 kg category to clinch the gold medal.

In other events, Pallavi Kumari of the HSS, Bhalwal, trounced Shenaz Bibi of the same school in the below 46 kg category, while Anuradha Bhagat of the HSS, Bhalwal, drubbed Madhu of the same school in the below 50 kg category.

In the U-19 girls chess event, Manvi Gupta, Pragya Sharma, Romila Thakur and Nitu Rani, all from the HSS, Shastri Memorial School, Patoli, emerged triumphant. In jeet kune-do U-19 girls, Simmy Manhas of the HSS, Rehari, won the gold medal in the below 45 kg category.

Kamala Devi of the HSS, Mubarak Mandi, clinched the gold medal in the below 47 kg category, Rupali Kumari of the Raina HSS, Jammu, bagged the gold in the below 53 kg category, Kajal Babbar of the BSF HSS, Paloura, clinched the gold medal in the below 55 kg category and Sumedha Gupta of the BSF HSS, Paloura, won the gold medal in the below 59 kg category.

Jammu, August 11
The Singhpora Sports Club dispatched the Khalsa Club, Uplana, 4-0 to storm into the finals of the ongoing District Baramulla Hockey Championship being organised by the Hockey Jammu and Kashmir at Government Degree College, Baramulla.

SP Singh was the star striker with two goals in his kitty. Singh scored the second goal through penalty corner. The Khalsa Club had a chance in the first half but could not capitalise on it. Amritpal Singh and Hussain Dar were other goal scorers who struck in the 25th and 29th minute, respectively. Seven penalty corners were awarded to the Singhpora Sports Club but they managed to convert just one into a goal.

The Khalsa Club, on the other hand, got five chances through penalty corners but could not benefit from them. The match was officiated by Satinder Singh, Maninder Pal Singh, Ranbir Singh and Ravi Raj. The Bikram Club will take on the Jagjit Club in the next semi-final match on August 13.

Jammu, August 11
The Amateur Cricket Club (ACC) Blues notched up a thumping 106-run win over the Whites Cricket Club (WCC) Reds to advance into the next round of the ongoing Parvaiz Memorial Invitational Cricket Cup being organised by the Kashmir wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association at the Kashmir University ground.

Batting first, the ACC accumulated 183 runs in 35.4 overs. Ashraf was the top scorer with 48 runs while Adil Showket contributed valuable 38 runs to the total. For WCC Reds, Sahil, Rajeev Pandita, Adil Bandey and Kifayat shared two wickets each.

On the other hand, WCC Reds scuttled out for a paltry 77 runs in 24.4 overs to lose the match by a huge margin. Chander played a gutsy knock of 25 runs but in vain. Adil Showket and Ishtiyaq were the wreckers-in-chief with three wickets each for ACC Blues. — TNS

Jammu, August 11
Government Higher Secondary School, Dhargloon, got the better of Government High School, Balakote, in a thrilling finale to clinch the title trophy in the Inter-School Volleyball Tournament organised by the Rashtriya Rifles Battalion, under the aegis of the Counter Insurgency Force, Romeo.

The Commanding Officer of the Rashtriya Rifles Battalion was the chief guest while the Principal of Government Higher Secondary School, Dhargloon, Mahfooz-ul-Rehman Khan, was the guest of honour. Later, prizes were distributed among the members of the winning and runner-up teams. — TNS