Jammu, May 16
For the first time in Jammu, the Traffic Police has approached the court seeking suspension of the route permits of 81 commercial vehicles. The department has recommended those vehicles which were fined for more than five times for violation of the Motor Vehicles Act. The court suspended the route permits of 18 commercial vehicles for six months while show-cause notices were served on 24 others over the past one year.

Most of the vehicles operate on the hill routes in Rajouri and Poonch districts as well as some rural areas of Jammu.

Officials said mere challans have failed to stop traffic violations. Last year, the police fined 31,000 vehicles per month in the state for violation of traffic rules. As per rules, route permits in the state are issued only to commercial vehicles that carry a certificate valid for one year from the manufacturer certifying the requirements of safety and pollution norms.

Superintendent of Police, Traffic (Rural), Sujit Kumar Chauhan said, “We have made the recommendation to the court and so far 18 permits have been suspended. It is the only strong measure which could make drivers accountable and fear the law.”

SP (Rural) said the police is also collecting data from the Traffic Management Information System (TMIS) introduced in 2011, which contains the details of every major violator.

Over past two years, 13, 353 road accidents have been reported in the state in which 2,285 persons lost their lives while 19,863 were injured. “Commuters risk their lives everyday by travelling in road monsters called mini buses with music played at a very high-pitch, overloading and reckless driving by the drivers have become a daily phenomenon,” said Rajiv Chalgotra, a government employee said.

Data states 7,96,493 vehicles were registered in the state till December, 2010. Among the vehicles, 10,310 busses, 15,348 mini-busses, 48,983 trucks-trailers, 24,729 taxies, 39, 294 three-wheelers, 1,87,170 cars, 11,749 jeeps, 4,24,768 two wheelers and others kinds of vehicles include 34,142.

Jammu, May 16
The BSF has dedicated a community hall to the residents of Baidyal Brahman village here. Hardeep Singh, DIG Sector Headquarters, BSF Jammu, inaugurated the community hall in the presence of Manish Aul, Commandant 122 Bn BSF, and sarpanch Tarsem Kumar Sharma. The multi-utility hall was handed over to sarpanch by the DIG at a function today.

Jai Karan, Deputy Commandant, Mamlesh Yadav, Deputy Commandant, BS Negi AC (Engineer) and Inspector Suresh Singh Company Commander were also present on the occasion.

Rajouri, May 16
Nearly hundred students of the Middle School, Naganad, have lodged a protest against the school authorities for the dilapidated and unhygienic condition of the school building in Rajouri today. The protest was triggered after the students failed to receive textbooks in school.

According to reports, the school building is nearly three decades old and was built by the Public Works Department (PDP). It has also been damaged making it very difficult for the students and teachers to attend classes. Most walls of the school are cracked and classrooms are in a very poor condition, a local resident said.

The school has seven classrooms, which were damaged over the years and the students have to attend classes outside in the scorching heat without any sheds.

The students allege that the authorities and the education department had failed to provide text books for various classes resulting in the loss of studies.

“It is a very old school building. I will urge the higher authorities for a new building be provided under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). We have received the textbooks and the remaining will reach soon,” naresh kumar, zonal education officer said.

Katra, May 16
The State Bank of India (SBI), Katra, has donated six water purifiers to the Government High School, Nomai in Katra. Under its corporate social responsibility programme, the branch manager of the bank, Anil Kumar, said the bank wants to provide clean drinking water to the people.

Speaking at the function, he said the bank earmarks a portion of its profit every year for various social causes. Water related diseases are the primary cause of fatality amongst children in the world. Many schools find it an uphill task to provide potable water to their students. To supplement the efforts of the schools all over the country in this regard, the SBI has decided to donate water purifiers to schools which need it through its more than 10,000 branches, under its corporate social responsibility programme.

Kathua, May 16
Deputy Commissioner, Kathua Jitendra Kumar Singh, today launched 'Prayas', an initiative to make the district administration more transparent, responsible and accountable. Residents can approach the administration through the helpline from May 22 onwards, Singh told mediapersons today.

Singh said, “We took first ever initiative in the state to address grievances of the public at the district headquarter on a single call from them. Their complaints will be addressed as son as possible. A dedicated phone number 01922-238796 has been installed to take calls from the public on every Wednesday between 10 and 11 am.”— TNS

Jammu, May 16
The All Jammu Hotels & Lodges Association (AJHLA) has expressed concern over the decision of the authorities to shift the inter-state bus terminus from Banihal Cart (BC) road to Narwal transport yard.

The association said despite serious concerns expressed by the business community in Jammu, as well as many political and social organisations, the shifting is against the interests of the traders.

The association has alleged that this is being done despite the assurances given by the authorities at the highest level to take decision on this matter only after taking all the stake holders on board, and giving due regard to their concern.

The Jammu hoteliers association has appealed to the authorities concerned not to take any steps at this stage, when Amarnath yatra is round the corner, which has the potential to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in Jammu as well as in Kashmir, which is quite favourable for the smooth and successful conduct of about two-month long yatra.

A meeting of the association held here today under the chairmanship of its president, Indeerjeet Khajuria, appealed to the authorities to desist from taking any step which would ruin the business of main Jammu city, which is already under the threat of setback with train reaching Katra directly, with Vaishno Devi pilgrims bypassing Jammu city.

He said the chief minister had assured them that the final decision in the matter would be taken only after addressing the concerns of business community of Jammu and other stake holders in the matter.

“We strongly refuted the contention that with shifting of the bus stand from the B.C road will ease the traffic flow in the city, particularly on the B.C road and other places around the bus stand,” he said.

Jammu, May 16
The J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages organised a traditional music programme at the K L Saigal Hall, Cultural Academy here today.

The traditional and folk parties of the state gave their performances with the traditional musical instruments. The artistes sung Baran (ballet), Karkan and other famous devotional songs.

Savita Bakshi, Additional Secretary, J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Jammu, said the traditional Indian as well as local music encompassed a wide range of musical forms which had developed out of the cultural diversity of the nation.

Dr Sudhir Mahajan, who was the overall in charge of the programme, said the traditional music was the reflection of the country’s cultural diversity. The folk traditional parties, which gave their splendid performances, included Shiv Dass party and Madan Lal and party from the Marh block. 

Jammu, May 16
Panun Kashmir (PK), a frontal organisation of displaced Kashmiri Hindus, has termed the rehabilitation of terrorists coming from Pakistan through Nepal as a dangerous challenge to nationalist people of J&K, which needed to be opposed.

The Political Affairs Committee of PK held its meeting today to deliberate upon its responses to the emerging political situation. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Prof ML Raina, chairman of the committee.

The meeting was attended, among others, by Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, president, PK, Virender Raina, national spokesperson, Upinder Kaul, general secretary, NM Gadroo, Vijay Qazi and Ramesh Kaul.

Chrungoo said the recent reports that the security and intelligence apparatus had questioned the rehabilitation policy for ex-militants had put the exercise of so-called rehabilitation under suspicion.

He said in a state where refugees from Pakistan and PoK were yet to be granted complete citizenship rights even after 63 years of independence, the conferment of special privileges and safe passage to a group of Pak-trained militants and their families was like “rubbing salt on the wounds of nationalist population”. — TNS

Jammu, May 16
The Inter-zonal competitions of district Reasi for u-14 and u-17 boys in the disciplines of volleyball, kho kho, kabaddi and wrestling concluded at Boys’ Higher Secondary School, Reasi.

Earlier, RK Billowria, Manager of J&K Bank, Reasi, was the chief guest on the occasion and declared the tournament open. MM Khajuria, principal of the host school and SM Tharmatt, physical education lecturer, were also present at the event.

The matches were conducted by the technical committee, constituted by the District Youth Services and Sports Officer, Reasi, Dr Swaran Singh Chib.

Final Results:

U-14 volleyball: Reasi Zone beat Pouni Zone by 2-1.

U-17 volleyball: Arnas Zone beat Reasi Zone by 2-0.

U-14 kho kho: Reasi Zone beat Pouni Zone by 5 points.

U-17 kho kho: Reasi Zone beat Pouni Zone by 9 points.

U-14 kabaddi: Mahore Zone beat Reasi Zone.

U- 17 kabaddi: Reasi Zone beat Mahore Zone.

U-14 wrestling (28-32-kg): Tahir beat Mohammad Tufail.

32-36-kg: Rashpal beat Jahangir.

40-44-kg: Bhushan Singh beat Mohammad Arshad

U-17 wrestling (upto 42-kg): Saddam Hussain beat Chain Singh.

46-kg: Roshan Singh beat Kulveer Singh.

58-kg: Moin Khan beat Kuldeep Singh.

63-kg: Sukhdev Singh beat Javed Ahmed.

69-kg: Subash Singh beat Mohammad Arshad.

Poonch May 16
The Counter Insurgency Force (Romeo) in its endeavour to serve the people of Poonch district and to channelise the energies of youth, conducted a personality development workshop at the Government Polytechnic College, Poonch. 70 youth and 10 members of the academic staff have been selected for the three-day workshop which began here today.

Speaking on the occasion Prof Mohd Zaman Choudhary said the initiative taken by the Romeo Force and the Rashtriya Rifles Battalion will go a long way in preparing the youth for competitive environment, once they move out of their colleges and institutes.

Giridhari Lal Sharma, principal, Poonch Degree College also informed that similar workshops would be held at other schools and colleges of Poonch. — OC

Jammu, May 16
The Inter-Zone District Level Competitions in the disciplines of kho kho, kabaddi, volleyball and wrestling for u-14 and u-17 boys got underway at Government Higher Secondary School, Domana, today.

Around 900 students drawn from all the 14 zones of the district are participating in the sporting event, which was declared open by Govind Ram Sharma, principal of the host school. The tournament is being organised by the District Youth Services and Sports, under the chairmanship of Ved Parkash, Deputy Director and the overall supervision of Tirath Ram, DYSSO Jammu.

Detailed Results:

U-17 kho kho: Miran Sahib Zone beat Gandhi Nagar Zone, Bhalwal Zone beat Khour Zone, Bishnah Zone beat RS Pura Zone, Jourian Zone beat Dansal Zone, Marh Zone beat Chowki Choura Zone, Arnia Zone beat Satwari Zone, Miran Sahib Zone beat Jammu Zone, Marh Zone beat Jourian Zone and Akhnoor Zone beat Arnia Zone.

U-14 kho kho: Miran Sahib Zone beat Bishnah Zone, Gandhi Nagar Zone beat RS Pura Zone, Jammu Zone beat Khour Zone, Dansal Zone beat Jourian Zone, Chowki Choura Zone beat Jourian Zone, Satwari Zone beat Arnia Zone, Bhalwal Zone beat Gandhi Nagar Zone, Miran Sahib Zone beat Jammu Zone, Dansal Zone beat Chowki Choura Zone and Akhnoor Zone beat Satwari Zone.

U-17 kabaddi: Miran Sahib Zone beat Marh Zone, Jammu Zone beat Chowki Choura Zone, Bishnah Zone beat Bhalwal Zone, Dansal Zone beat Jourian Zone, Khour Zone beat RS Pura Zone and Gandhi Nagar Zone beat Arnia Zone.

U-14 kabaddi: Miran Sahib Zone beat Gandhi Nagar Zone, Khour Zone beat RS Pura Zone, Satwari Zone beat Bishnah Zone, Chowki Choura Zone beat Jammu Zone, Dansal Zone beat Jourian Zone, Miran Sahib Zone beat Akhnoor Zone, Marh Zone beat Dansal Zone, Jourian Zone beat Bishnah Zone, Bhalwal Zone beat Miran Sahib Zone, Chowki Choura Zone beat Jammu Zone, Arnia Zone beat Marh Zone and Khour Zone beat Bhalwal Zone.

U-14 wrestling (35-kg): Rahul Kumar beat Shubam Mehra; 38-kg: Ashwani Kumar beat Danish Ansan.

46-kg: Sunny Singh beat Vishal Mehra.

50-kg: Ram Parshad beat Mahzoor Ahmed.

55-kg: Ajay Singh beat Anjeet Sharma.

60-kg: Ravi Singh beat Lalit Kumar.

Jammu, May 16
Revenue officials (patwaris) across Jammu and Kashmir continued their strike for the 39th consecutive day today in support of their various demands, including removal of pay anomalies.

Under the banner of All Jammu and Kashmir Patwari Association (AJKPA), a number of protesting revenue officials assembled and staged demonstrations against the government in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

Sanjeevan Kumar, Tehsil president, AJKPA said, “Our strike has been forced by government’s failure to respond to our demands, we are aware about the problems being faced by the general masses but the government should also aware of our problems.”

”The government had agreed to all our demands and assured us to act by March 31, 2012, but it is very unfortunate that the tireless effort of the association by means of prayers and petitions, the government has not taken any steps to resolve the long standing issues," he said.

The AJKPA was demanding removal of pay disparity with retrospect effect, stoppage of direct recruitment of naib tahsildars, enhancement of the PSC examination chance from four to eight, establishment of departmental enquiry cell, transparency in transfer policy, reorganisation of patwari hHalqas, construction of patwar khanas and enhancement of sair kharcha (SK) and other allowances.

Jammu, May 16
Expressing concern over the problems being faced by the public on account of the ongoing strike of the patwaris and girdawars of all the three regions of the state, Congress leader Rajesh Gupta today urged the government that it should not be taken as political issue and be resolved at earliest.

Addressing the striking patwaries and girdawars in the premises of the Deputy Commissioner’s office, Jammu, Gupta extended his support to the agitating revenue officers and termed their demands as genuine and assured them that he would take up the matter at the highest level. — TNS