Jammu, April 8
Students appearing for the final year of the three-year degree courses of Jammu University had to face a harrowing time during examination today.

Having almost completed their examination, they were asked to attempt questions of the remaining unit of the syllabus which was supplied through fax.

The reason: the examination authorities had forgotten to include questions from the last unit of the syllabus. The examiners found one of the five units of the syllabus missing from the question paper of Business Management-B, that too, after half time.

Interestingly, the examiners who spotted the mistake during the half time of examination at MAM Post Graduate College - called higher ups in Jammu University who, later, conveyed the questions of the fifth unit through fax. Thereafter, the examiners wrote the questions on the chalkboard leading to utter chaos.

“It was tough time for students when they went through the paper. Initially, there were only four units having two optional questions each, but the examiners, who spotted the mistake during half time, wrote the questions of the fifth unit on chalkboard putting students through great difficulty,” a student who appeared in the examination said.

“Had they informed the students about the fifth unit in the beginning of the paper, the students would have been able to attempt the examination better,” the student said.

Dr Romesh Chander, principal, MAM PG College, Jammu, said only four units were printed in the question paper.

“We got a phone call from the office of Controller Examination and they faxed the fifth unit to us. It was immediately conveyed to the students appearing the examination.”

On being asked whether it was printing error, the Principal said the Jammu University authorities could clarify in this regard.

Rajouri, April 8
Protesting against police failure to arrest accused who gouged out eyes of Indian Army soldier Rajesh Dutt, his relatives and members of local organisations of Nowshera of Rajouri today staged a demonstration against the administration.

Dutt was found with both his eyes gouged out in Akhnoor district of Jammu on Wednesday last.

Hundreds of protesters blocked the Jammu-Poonch national highway at Nowshera Bridge in Gujral Chowk for 30 minutes and blocked traffic resulting in a massive traffic jam on both sides of the bridge.

The demonstrators alleged that after a nearly week of this heinous crime in Chowk Chowra area of Akhnoor, the police was clueless about the accused and the accused were roaming free. The protesters also blocked traffic at the main market of Nowshera for more than four hours. They also demanded better treatment facilities for the injured soldier. They ended their protest after the Sub-district Magistrate and Addition Superintendent of Police, Nowshera, gave them assurance.

Jammu, April 8
Minister for Consumers Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) and Transport, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan today directed oil and gas companies to ensure LPG home delivery in all towns of the state by May 30.

The minister said this while reviewing the supply of LPG in the state and implementation of home delivery in twin capitals of the state at a high-level meeting today.

He directed the oil companies to ask their dealers to setup infrastructure for the purpose in advance and publicise the contact numbers in the print media of their respective gas agencies to facilitate consumers. He directed that there would be no point delivery after the launch of home delivery.

Setting up of new gas agencies at the block level was also discussed at the meeting.

He asked the secretary CAPD to visit the locations identified by the oil and gas companies to ensure that each block of the state was covered under the programme.

Poonch, April 8
Residents of Khanater have been demanding upgrade of the village High School to higher secondary level but to no avail. The school last upgraded to high school from middle school in 1986 has the same infrastructure. Students of senior classes have to travel to other areas for studies.

“After matriculation students have to go to other localities of the district to continue their education," villagers said. They said many parents could not afford to send their children to other areas for education due to unbearable transport fares. They said repeated requests by villagers for upgrade of the high school to the higher secondary level had proved futile.

They said MLA from the constituency and higher authorities concerned did not heed to their requests. They said several high schools had been upgraded to higher level in the recent past except Khanater High School.

Karam Hussain, in-charge Headmaster of the school said, “We have to teach the students with the limited infrastructure. The school has only five rooms and the student strength is more than 385, including 191 girls. Due to shortage of rooms we have to face difficulties. During rainy season we have to declare holiday.”

“The old building of the school with three rooms are in a dilapidated condition and need immediate repair,” he said.

“The most pressing problem is lack of kitchen and toilet facilities in the school. We have over 191 girl students and over five women teachers. We feel embarrassed when parents ask us about the facilities in the school," Hussain said. The villagers demanded intervention of Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand in the matter.

Mohd Ashraf Chouhan, Chief Education Officer said, "Though we have sent a report but the government has not taken any decision to upgrade the school.”

Jammu, April 8
The Public Health Engineering Employees Welfare Association has appealed to the state government to immediately revoke the order regarding disengagement of daily wagers/daily rated workers within 15 days. While briefing the media today, Swarn Singh, spokesman of the association, said the youth of the state were working in government departments in various capacities as daily rated workers at very low rates.

He said it was unfortunate that the government after employing them had issued an order to disengage them from the services.

The association warned that if the government did not reverse its order, it will launch an agitation. Amrik Singh, Ravi Kant, Kuldeep Sharma, Kamal Singh, Kewal Krishan, Janak Raj and others were also present on the occasion.

Poonch, April 8
The Safai Karamchari Union of Poonch Municipal Council has threatened to go on ‘kam choro hartal’ if their pending demands were not resolved before April 15.

A meeting of the union was held at Poonch, under the presidentship of Hamid Gill, reiterated their demands, including release of DPC of all cadres, two and a half day’s salary to all the field staff, creation of required posts of safai karamcharis as assured by the government, enhancement of wages of casual labourers and provision of shoes and masks for the karamcharis.

The union decided to go on strike if the demands of karamcharis were not met before April 15. Ashok Gill, vice-president, Ajay Gill, secretary, Raju Bhatti, general secretary and Chandan Gill, cashier, also spoke on the occasion.

Poonch, April 8
Residents of Purani Poonch and its adjoining areas held a strong protest against the Public Health and Engineering Department (PHE) and blocked the highway for over two hours demanding adequate supply of potable water.

Commuters faced a tough time due to the blockade and opted for alternate routes to reach their destinations. Even Army vehicles were not allowed to ply on the road.

The protesters said they were facing acute shortage of drinking water for the last three months.

"We have to fetch drinking water from Khakha Nabam temple and other natural sources of water to meet our daily requirement. Despite repeated requests, no one from the PHE department has come to our rescue. We get water once or twice a week, that too for 20 to 30 minutes”, said Kailash Sharma, a protester.

They also raised slogans against the district administration and said due to the absence of a Deputy Commissioner (DC), no department was seriously serving the people.

The protesters lifted the blockade after Executive Engineer, PHE, Mohd Taj assured them that their demand for regular water supply would be looked into. A water tanker was also brought on the spot for the residents.

The area residents threatened to re-launch the stir if adequate supply of potable water was not restored shortly.

It is pertinent to mention here that on the intervening night of January 16 and 17, 132 KV Transmission Line was swapped, which left the entire district standstill. Rs 6.5 crore have been released for the restoration purposes.

Sources said, “The restoration process will be completed by April end. Thereafter, power and water supply will be completely restored”.

Jammu, April 8
Taking a dig at the Government of India for maintaining silence on the contentious issue of “rehabilitation of Pak-returned terrorists” in the state, Panun Kashmir-a frontline organisation of Kashmiri Pandits-today said it amounts to insulting the “tragedies” of half-a-million internally displaced population, who were the victims of terrorism in J&K.

“The state government in concurrence with the Government of India, two years back, formulated a policy for rehabilitation of surrendered terrorists in the J&K state. The so-called policy for the rehabilitation of the terrorists, who have gone across the border to Pakistan for arms training, is highly flawed and fraught with dangerous consequences,” Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, president, Panun Kashmir, told reporters here.

He was flanked by ML Raina, chairman, political affairs committee and Virender Raina, national spokesperson of the organisation. “The policy ostensibly involves the governments of three countries India, Pakistan and Nepal. We are reminded of the fact that those terrorists who have taken benefits under the rehabilitation policy have again gone underground. There is every possibility that they might have gone back to Pakistan for recycling and advanced training,” Chrungoo said.

He said the recent killing of panches, sarpanches and attacks on the security forces could be a direct result of this “skewed policy”.

“The silence of the Government on the issue is intriguing and is tantamount to its policy failure. It reminds the release of 77 dreaded terrorists in Kashmir in 1989 that was followed by a steep rise in terrorism, and an explosive situation ensued thereafter. The issue of rehabilitation policy should be viewed in the larger context of Kashmir situation,” Chrungoo said.

He also expressed concern over the non-passage of the Kashmir Temples Bill. He said the reference of the Bill to the Select Committee of the Assembly had made this issue complicated .

“The activists of the community have been put to a rigorous challenge since the contours of the struggle for the enactment of the Bill has changed,” he said. It had opened new vistas for debate and discussion on the subject so that the struggle meets its logical conclusion, he added.

Rajouri, April 8
The Army observed the World Health Day today with the theme ‘high blood pressure’ in Army auditorium of 25 Infantry Division, Rajouri district.

During the function, Deputy General Officer of Command (Dy GOC) JK Tiwari was the chief guest. A number of issues of day-to-day lives, which affect our physical and mental health and the measures that can be adopted to keep our body healthy were discussed.

Family members of jawans and senior officers were present on the occasion and gained detailed knowledge and awareness on blood pressure, its causes and treatments.

In this function, they also got to know why hypertension was a global public health issue today and how it contributed to the burden of heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, premature death and disability.

Later, the chief guest appreciated the organisers for the function.

Katra, April 8
Choudhary Lal Singh, Member Parliament (MP) Udhampur- Doda Constituency, on Monday convened a public grievances camp at Reasi.

Panches and sarpanches of the adjoining villages of Reasi and Members of the People’s Development Forum apprised the MP of their demands, which were mainly related to the provision of safe drinking water, uninterrupted power supply and road connectivity in far off panchayats. They also demanded improvement in health care facilities.

Singh said panches and sarpanches should work in coordination so that the benefits of the state and Centre sponsored schemes reach people. He appealed to the people to choose their representative responsibly as sound leadership was important for the welfare and development .—OC

Poonch, April 8
The Congress unit of the Poonch district, under the presidentship of Rajinder Singh, welcomed the decision of the Congress high command to appoint Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz as president of the Jammu-Kashmir unit.

Dozens of workers gathered at the Fort market to celebrate his reappointment. They also raised slogans in favour of the party and its leaders.

Speaking on the occasion Singh said, “The party has touched a new height under the dynamic leadership of Prof Soz. His loyalty and dedication for the party has led to his reappointment as unit chief”.

He appealed to the party workers to unite and work for strengthening the party for the coming elections. S Janak Singh and Choudhary Mohd Fazal also spoke on the occasion.

Rajouri, April 8
Following a series of game events, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU) kicked off football tournament on the campus, in which 11 teams are participating.

Congratulating the participants of the event, Vice-Chancellor Prof Irshad Ahmed Hamal said students should perform well in academics as well as in sports and cultural activities for the overall growth and development of their personality. The University wanted its students to compete with the rest of world in all fields, he added.

Under the guidance of Prof Hamal, BGSBU concluded the tournaments of cricket, volleyball, table tennis, badminton, chess, carrom board, tug-of-war in both men’s and women’s category. The Registrar and Dean of Students Mohammad Rashid Choudhary declared open the final tournament of football to culminate with the Annual Sports & Cultural Festival 2013.

Commencing the tournament, Choudhary witnessed the first match played between BTech and Diploma Engineering Teams. Controller of examination Mohammad Ishaq, special secretary to Vice-Chancellor, Suneet Gupta, in charge deputy director physical education and sports Mohammad Din, University engineer BR Chadgal and Arboriculturist Shakeel Ahmed were also present on the opening ceremony of the tournament.

Speaking on the occasion, Registrar Chowdhary expressed satisfaction over the participation of students in various games and their performances shown in inter-departmental tourney and events outside the University. He said the University was providing every facility to the students to make them disciplined scholars. 

Jammu, April 8
Raman Club spikers clinched the J&K State Volleyball Championship by defeating the formidable J&K Police in straight 3-0 sets.

Raman Club won the opening set by 25-20 and the next two with 25-20 and 25-16 to emerge victorious. Earlier, in the semifinals played, Raman Club faced a tough resistance from Shaheed Manjeet Singh Club, Poonch, while in another semifinal, the J&K Police toppled Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Jammu, in straight sets.

The matches were officiated by a penal of referees, including Amarjeet Singh, Shashi Sharma, Mulkh Raj, Manik Nargotra and Balwinder Singh. The winner team received a cash prize of Rs 15,000 from the chief guest, Taj Mohiud Din, Minister for Youth Services and Sports.

The runner-up team got Rs 10,000 while Shaheed Manjeet Singh Club received Rs 5,000. The tournament was organised by the Volleyball Association of J&K.

Katra, April 8
Kalka Cricket Club (KCC), Reasi, today sailed into the semifinal of the ongoing Amit Memorial Twenty20 Cricket Tournament here at Sports Stadium, Reasi.

Earlier, in the match played today, KCC outplayed Muslim Cricket Club (MCC) by 3 wickets. Batting first, after winning the toss, MCC set a target of 98 runs. In reply, KCC chased the target in 18.5 overs with 3 wicket left.

Rockey was the top scorer with 32 runs, followed by Raja, Kalu and Arif, who added 16 runs each to their team. Sunny emerged as the most successful bowler from KCC by taking four wickets while Rockey and Suresh took three wickets each.