The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Thousands throng Bahu Fort temple on 1st day of Navratras Tribune News Service Jammu March 31 On the first day of Navratras, thousands of devotees today paid obeisance at the historic Bahu Fort temple, also called Bawe Wali Mata. From early morning people started visited the shrine and offering prayers amid chanting of the vedic mantaras. The whole temple complex has been decorated with flowers and lights for the nine-day-long festivities dedicated to different incarnations of Goddess Durga. Devotees from across the region thronged the shrine considered as presiding deity of the city. Apart from the Bawe shrine, special prayers were held in the temples dedicated to Goddess Durga across the region with a number of social and religious organisations putting up various food stalls. Reports say in Kathua, people visited the 2,000-year-old Mata Balaji Sundri shrine to offer prayers. Apart from this, a religious congregation was also held at the Sukrala Devi shrine falling in Billawar. The festival is also known for fasting and irrespective of age, devotees survive on fruits, curd, milk and dishes made of water chestnut flour. Meanwhile, restaurants across the city also do brisk business during the festival as Navratri thalis are very popular among the food lovers, fasting or not.
	Judicial academy organises training in juvenile Act Tribune News Service Jammu, March 31 The State Judicial Academy organised a refresher training programme on "Law relating to juveniles under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2013" for newly appointed District and Sessions Judges and all Judicial Magistrates of Jammu province. The proceedings were conducted by Suresh Kumar Sharma, Director, State Judicial Academy, who is Registrar General of the High Court (HC) under the guidance and patronage of Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar, chairman of the committee, State Judicial Academy, and Justice Hasnain Masoodi, member of the committee, State Judicial Academy. In his introductory remarks, the Director, State Judicial Academy, said such type of training programmes on various subjects of importance provide necessary platform to the experts and judicial officers to ponder upon crucial issues and exchange valuable experience and knowledge. Justice Bansi Lal Bhat explained in detail the various provisions of the J&K Juvenile Justice Act, 2013, and emphasised upon all the judicial officials to ensure that the provisions of the Act are implemented in letter and spirit and no injustice is done to any juvenile as defined under the Act while dealing with the cases in their respective courts. He impressed upon the judicial officials that the J&K Juvenile Justice Act, 1997, which was in force prior to the commencement of the J&K Juvenile Justice Act (Care and Protection of Children), 2013, was not sufficient to meet the requirements necessary for dealing with juveniles. He further stressed upon the judicial officials that while implementing the provision of this Act they should allow their humane side to come in fore front and ensure that the beneficial provisions are given liberal interpretation so as to ensure that juvenile in conflict with law are rehabilitated back into the society with respect and dignity. Justice Bhat exhorted the judicial officials that they should act as the torchbearers so far as the implementation of the social welfare legislation is concerned in order to ensure that these juveniles in conflict with law, who are future of this nation, are put on a path of progress and development and their energies are channelised for the betterment of the nation. Meanwhile, a documentary movie titled "Kho Gya Bachpan", depicting the deplorable conditions of juvenile in conflict with law and kept in observation homes, was screened at the end to sensitise the judicial officials to the problems and circumstances rendering these juveniles beyond the reach of reformation. There was a lively interactive session with the officials. Some misconception about the Juvenile Justice Act and the impediments which come in the way of its implementation were discussed and removed during the interactive session. Long and healthy discussions were also held during the session on the subject of "Juvenile Justice".
	Farmers urged to adopt integrated farming system JTribune News Service Jammu, March 31 The Farming System Research (FSR) Centre, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences (SKUAST)-Jammu, organised a day-long field training programme in "Integrated farming system (IFS)" at the newly established Integrated Farming System Research (IFSR) Model. A total of 30 farmers from far-flung areas of Poonch, accompanied by Agriculture Officers of the Agriculture Department, Jammu, participated in the programme. Prof Dileep Kachroo, Chief Scientist and Head of the Farming System Research Centre and Division of Agronomy, gave a detailed lecture on the adoption of integrated farming system. He also briefed them on the benefits of the integrated farming system. The farmers were also given the hands-on training in each enterprise for learning the new techniques developed by the scientific team.
	Secular forum seeks CBI probe into Roshni scam Tribune News Service Jammu, March 31 The National Secular Forum (NSF) today staged a protest against the ruling coalition for its alleged failure to initiate action against the beneficiaries of the Roshni scheme. It also demanded a CBI inquiry into the “scam”, besides making the list of beneficiaries public. Scores of NSF activists, led by state president of the forum Sukhdev Singh, assembled near the fountain of Jammu University and raised slogans against state government. Sukhdev Singh said from the list of beneficiaries, it had been ascertained that the Roshni scheme was a “well-hatched conspiracy” to benefit a particular section of “influential politicians, bureaucrats, industrialists and high-profile families of the state". “The scheme, which was meant to provide land to needy farmers across the state, actually benefited those who were close to the administration as they got vast chunks of land for a paltry amount”, he alleged. The coalition regime knew the fact that majority of the beneficiaries were associated with the government, so the government was trying to hush up the matter, the NSF leader said. Raising apprehensions about the hushing up of the case, Sukhdev Singh said if the government was serious and has some credibility left, the case of the Roshni land scam, worth Rs 25,000 crore, be handed over to the CBI.
	No let-up in domestic violence cases in Jammu Women Cell police station receives 209 complaints from January 1 to March 28, 2014 Vanshika Sharma Jammu, March 31 Women continue to be at the receiving end in this hilly state as the Jammu region alone has witnessed more than 200 cases of crime against women in the first quarter of the year 2014. According to the statistics of the Women Cell police station, Jammu, no decline has been reported in the number of domestic violence cases across the region as 209 complaints have been received till March 28 from January 1 this year. Last year, the number of such cases was the same and 209 cases in total were registered in the Women Cell in the first quarter of 2013. Women Cell officials, however, said more women, who were victims of domestic violence, were coming forward to register complaints due to increase in the awareness level among the fairer sex. Talking to The Tribune, Arti Thakur, Station House Officer (SHO), Women Cell police station, Jammu, said, “Whenever we receive a complaint related to matrimonial disputes, our first approach is to counsel the family and thrust always lies on bringing both the parties to compromise. If the compromise is reached, we meet the families after every 15 days to review the condition and status of both husband and wife relations. There are also cases where families are adamant and don’t negotiate, then we shift on to mutual agreement”. The SHO said there were 209 complaints registered from January to March last year. “In total 81 compromises were reached. We try our best to settle the dispute peacefully and help them in every possible way,” she said. In 2012, the Women Cell police station had received a total of 924 complaints, out of which 883 were sorted out with the consent of both the parties, while 36 FIRs were registered. Furthermore, as many as 1,070 complaints were received by the Women Cell, out of which 1,034 were solved and 32 FIRs registered in 2011. The Domestic Violence Act was introduced and implemented across the country in 2005, but it came into force in Jammu and Kashmir on July 12, 2011. Besides physical injuries, verbal abuse and harassment, the Act also covers the physical, psychological and sexual violence on women and even threatening them. Jammu and Kashmir is yet to establish a full-fledged family court in the state, notwithstanding there has been an outburst of matrimonial disputes and domestic violence cases in recent times. The Family Courts Act-1984 (Central Act) is not applicable in respect of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Hence, no court has been established under the Act here.
	Political parties lure voters through hoardings Tribune News Service Jammu, March 31 With just 10 days left for the Lok Sabha polls in Jammu and Kashmir, the hoarding war in the winter capital has taken an aggressive turn with hoardings mainly of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress, two principal national parties, making every effort to lure voters. Banners and posters of political parties dot the city. BJP banners "Abke Bar Modi Sarkar’ and Congress banners "Kathni Nahe, Karni" have been put up at all the important road junctions and on the national highway. Though posters having BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi does not touch any local issue, but workers of both the parties are leaving no chance to give banners a proper display. A cursory round of the city is just enough to conclude that cutouts and other advertising material of political parties have taken over Jammu and other districts of the region. Officials said the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) is expected to earn revenue worth crores of rupees during the election season. One private company had been allotted an area of 33,000 sq feet for Rs 3.5 crore annually, while the other had been allotted an area of 21,000 sq feet for Rs 64 lakh annually.
	Debate organised on relevance of newspapers Tribune News Service Jammu, March 31 A debate competition was organised at the Calliope College of Education, Doomi, on the topic, "Newspaper are the things of past". Arun Gupta, chairman of the Institute of Public Opinion, was the chief guest. Dr Kajal Manhas, assistant professor, Education Department, Jammu University, Sunita Pandita principal of the Calliope college, and Anju Kakri, founder principal, Calliope school, were the jury members. The welcome address was presented by Pragati Guleria. Participants presented their views on the topic. Diksha Sharma got the first prize, Sujata Sharma got the second prize and the third prize was shared by Rajni Sharma and Shivangi Rajput. Ruby Langhey and Shivangi Rajput, first and second winner of a painting competition, respectively, were also awarded. Chief guest Arun Gupta gave valuable suggestions to students.
	Kathua attacks: Slain militants carried Pak-made medicines Ravi Krishnan Khajuria Tribune News Service Jammu, March 31 The three terrorists, who were eliminated in a day-long gunfight in the jungles of Janglote on March 28, were also carrying Pakistan-made medicines that could check bleeding by quickly forming fibrin over wounds. They also carried Pakistan-made ointments whose strong odour could keep venomous insects, including reptiles, away. “Seizure of heavy arms, ammunition and Pakistan-made medicines from Janglote amply indicate direction of their route of infiltration and their origin,” said a top police source. The medicines, which were manufactured in Karachi and Lahore, included tablets, painkiller injections, syringes, cotton, bandages and ointments that could check and cure internal and external bleeding, headache and repel venomous insects, he added. However, the two mobile phones that were seized from the slain ultras and had SIM cards of two private Indian cellular companies belonged to the occupants of Mahindra Bolero, the first target of the terrorists on the fateful morning. Both the cellphones belonged to the occupants of the Bolero and had local SIM cards. The ultras had snatched them from the victims, said the source. “The global positioning system (GPS), which was among the recoveries, was damaged but we are trying to retrieve the data,” he said. Arms and ammunition recovered from the site of encounter at Janglote included three pre-prepared IEDs, one UBGL, three AK-47 assault rifles, 27 AK magazines, six pistol magazines, 425 AK rounds, 73 rounds of 9 mm pistol, two rounds of UBGL, 14 hand grenades, one global positioning system, two mobile phones (Samsung and Nokia) and one knife (Machete). Only batteries had to be attached to the three powerful IEDs and then they could have easily caused a big damage, said an Army officer. Despite nearly 12-hour gunbattle, the recoveries amply indicated that the ultras had dangerous machinations, he added. Al-Shuhada Brigade, an offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Toiba, had claimed the responsibility for the twin attacks that had left two civilians and a soldier dead. Terror trail * Seizure of heavy arms, ammunition and Pakistan-made medicines from Janglote amply indicate direction of the militants’ route of infiltration and their origin. * The medicines were manufactured in Karachi and Lahore. The medical kit included tablets, painkiller injections, syringes, cotton, bandages and ointments that could check and cure internal and external bleedings, headache and repel venomous insects.
	AAP leader faces wrath of ‘power-less’ villagers Bismah Malik Tribune News Service Srinagar, March 31 Surgeon-turned-politician Tanvir Maqbool Dar of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), who is likely to file his nomination papers tomorrow from the Anantnag constituency of south Kashmir, was left red-faced when people from the Kokernag Assembly segment handed him defunct electric cables and told him to get them repaired. Villagers, who haven’t seen electricity for the past six months, told Dar to get the village transformers and cables repaired, if he needed votes. The AAP leader later approached the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, who promised him that the defunct transformers and cables would be repaired. “I don’t blame the people for their wrath. The situation they are in has forced them to show their angst. This is the proof of the failure of the development agenda of the NC (National Conference), Congress and PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) which have consistently won from here but have given back nothing to people,” Dar said. National Conference leader Mehboob Beg is the sitting MP from the Anantnag constituency while the PDP won 12 of the 16 constituencies in the last state Assembly polls from Anantnag. “Muftis and Begs have ruled for over more than five decades in south Kashmir but the aspirations of people have not been met. Hence, their wrath is justified.” Dar told The Tribune. Dar is all set to contest the elections against the NC and PDP heavyweights, Mehboob Beg and Mehbooba Mufti, respectively. The Anantnag constituency is going to the polls on April 24.
	NC-Congress alliance an anarchist dispensation: Mufti Tribune News Service Jammu, March 31 Former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed yesterday termed the National Conference-Congress as an anarchist dispensation, responsible for prevailing maladministration and alienation in the state. Mufti was addressing rallies in the Khanpur and Jagti areas of Nagrota in support of party candidate from the Jammu-Poonch parliamentary seat Yash Pal Sharma. He alleged that whenever the Congress had entered into an alliance with the National Conference (NC), J&K had plunged into unprecedented crisis and their alliance had always proved ominous for the people of the region. “Whenever these parties shared power, alienation of people increased and faith of the masses in the system shattered and proved disastrous for people of J&K. During the last five and a half years, the credibility of the government has reached its lowest ebb,” Mufti alleged. “The PDP-led coalition regime had laid a foundation of mutual trust and confidence among the inhabitants of the different regions of the state,” the PDP patron said and challenged his opponent to come out with any evidence of discrimination against any region or sub-region during the PDP regime. The former Chief Minister said his party would remove the walls of hatred among the different regions of the state and also remove the trust deficit among the people. “Through our convictions and programmes, we would remove this trust deficit,” Mufti said. He said the PDP had played a historic role in restoring people’s faith in the democratic institutions of the country. He, especially, mentioned about the 2002 Assembly elections and said they were a turning pointing in the history of the state when people of Jammu and Kashmir had realised that they could change the government through their votes. Earlier, addressing a meeting of Kashmiri Pandits, the PDP patron reiterated the resolve of his party to facilitate their honourable return to their native places. He sought the support and cooperation of the Kashmiri Pandit community to change the present system.
	BJP, PDP thriving on politics of divide and rule: Omar Says India wants young leaders to strengthen secular values Tribune News Service Jammu, March 31 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said India wanted young leadership to strengthen secular and democratic values. Those days were gone when people could be misled on the name of religion, creed, caste and region, he said. The Chief Minister made these remarks while addressing election rallies in support of Congress candidate Madan Lal Sharma in Nowshera, Kalakote and other places in Rajouri district. Omar said there was no Modi wave in the country, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir, and described the BJP’s claims in this regard as untrue. “People in the state and elsewhere in the country uphold the high principles of pluralistic ethos, communal harmony and brotherhood and want young leadership to lead the country strengthening these principles and taking the country towards new heights of peace, development and modernisation,” Omar said. The Chief Minister said people were emancipated enough to understand the designs of certain politicians aimed at dividing society on various grounds, including region, religion and caste, for vote bank politics and grabbing power. Omar said the parties such as the BJP and the PDP were thriving on the politics of “divide and rule”. He cautioned the people against this tactics and impressed upon them to vehemently reject “hate politics” and nurture mutual brotherhood, amity and togetherness, which were upheld by the NC and the Congress. Taking a dig at the BJP, Omar said the party which had no regard for its senior members and stalwarts would not have any regard for the common people. He urged the people to remain united and foil attempts by parties to divide society in the name of region, religion and caste.
	Bhullar verdict highlights bias, says NC Tribune News Service Srinagar, March 31 The National Conference today said the Supreme Court decision to commute Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar’s death sentence to life imprisonment highlighted “stark discrimination” in the legal system. NC spokesman Junaid Azim Mattu compared the decision to commute Bhullar’s sentence to Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru’s hanging. “While we do not resent nor oppose the relief provided to Bhullar, we cannot help but wonder why this couldn’t be done in the Afzal Guru case,” Mattu said in a statement. “The legal process that led to the execution of Afzal Guru as well as the manner of his execution raised a lot of questions about the objectivity and neutrality of our legal system,” he said. Junaid said Guru’s family and the people of the state had felt an “enormous and palpable amount of discrimination and cannot help but wonder, if there are double standards in our country when it comes to such cases”.
	Snow-damaged roads cry for repair in Kashmir valley Our Correspondent Srinagar, March 31 Heavy snowfall and rain this winter not only brought miseries to the people, but also caused huge damage to the roads across the Kashmir valley. People have blamed the government for the pathetic condition of the roads. In most parts of the city such as Batamaloo, HMT, KP Bagh, Nowpora, Khanyar, Zakura and Hawal, the roads are in a very bad condition. Residents say it leads to traffic gridlocks during peak hours. “Bad roads create traffic chaos mostly during rush hours. It seems the government is not concerned about the problem,” said Razia Khan, a university student. The roads are in pathetic condition in Rawalpora and the 10-km stretch from Soura to Ganderbal is dotted with potholes. Besides, there is waterlogging at most of the places. “There is so much water on the roads. We are completely neglected. It becomes difficult to cross the roads as vehicles get submerged in water,” said a resident of Rawalpora, Srinagar. In some districts the damage is less while in others where it snowed heavily 30 to 50 per cent, the damage has been caused to the roads. Most of the major or link roads connecting different areas to district and tehsil headquarters have developed big potholes. Many roads in Anantnag and Kulgam districts have almost been rendered non-motorable. The Khanabal-Pahalgam road, one of the busiest roads during the tourist season, has been damaged at various places. “The roads have developed such big potholes from Anantnag to Pahalgam that it takes you around two hours to cross the 40-km distance. The road needs complete repairing,” said a commuter. The 2-km patch from Naibasti to Mehandi Kadal has also been damaged. Neither passenger vehicles nor private vehicles ply on the road. The road on which a huge amount of money was spent only a few months ago is in such a bad condition that it resembles a muddy path. The Bijbehara-Langanbal road too has suffered damages at different places. The same situation is of the roads from Qamarwari, Narbal, Soura road, Noor Bagh, Saki Dafar, Shalimar and Magarmal Bagh. The road has been completely neglected on the maintenance front and is dotted with potholes causing huge inconvenience to thousands of commuters. Incessant rain and snow have compounded the problem and created potholes which have gathered water. The residents of these areas are up in arms against the government apathy. “We have been appealing to the authorities concerned, but they seem to be sleeping over the matter. The reason why roads get worst after winters is the use of substandard material by contractors that creates potholes,” said a resident of Nowpora. Recently, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) had also taken a serious note of “the pitiable and pathetic condition of highways and roads” calling it as a human rights violation. The Srinagar Deputy Commissioner said he had directed the officials concerned to repair the roads immediately that had been constructed in the span of one year as these roads come with a minimum warranty of one year. “I have asked the Chief Engineer, Roads and Buildings Department, to get them repaired by the same contractors and also other roads will be macadamised as well,” he added.
	Kamal campaigns for Farooq Srinagar, March 31 Additional general secretary of the National Conference Sheikh Mustafa Kamal today toured several areas of Srinagar to campaign for party candidate Farooq Abdullah. Kamal visited various areas of the Hazratbal constituency, which is represented by him in the Assembly and told people to ensure “resounding victory” for Farooq, a statement issued by the party said. “Speaking to various delegations in Hazratbal, Kamal said by bringing in the Right to Information Act, the Public Services Guarantee Act, holding the panchayat elections in the state and announcing the creation of administrative units, the Omar Abdullah-led government had brought in transparency, decentralisation of power and empowerment of the traditionally disempowered in Jammu and Kashmir,” the statement said. Kamal said there was “no doubt about a tactical alliance between the PDP and the Modi-led BJP”. — TNS
	‘Navreh’ begins in Kashmir with sowing of barley Srinagar, March 31 The festival of Navratras, locally called ‘Navreh’, began with prayers and sowing of barley here today. The Kashmiri Pandits traditionally hold puja for eight days at their households and the festival concludes with a “havan” on the ninth day of the month. “Navreh is our New Year. While we offer puja during the first eight days of the month from today, we also don’t eat meat, onion and tomato during the period. On the eight night, we perform “havan” that concludes on the ninth day,” Hindu Welfare Society Kashmir spokesman Chunni Lal said. He said the “havan” would be held at the Ram temple at Barbar Shah of the city. He said the festival, unlike other parts of the country, was celebrated in a simple manner in the Valley. Lal said Pandits also sow barley in their households that was watered with milk. He said they believed that a ‘good plant’ grown after nine days signified a good year ahead. — TNS New Year’s Day ‘Navreh’ is the lunar new year which is celebrated in Kashmir and many other parts of the country. This coincides with the first day of the Chaitra (spring) Navratras. It is this calendar, according to which Hindus generally celebrate their birthdays, anniversaries, festivals and other religious functions. This day finds mention in Rajtarangini and Nilamat Purana of Kashmir and is regarded as sacred in Kashmir as the Shivratri. In Kashmir, the day is celebrated with great enthusiasm and sanctity. It is on the eve of Navreh that the "Kulguru" of a Pandit family gets a new almanac (Nachipatri) and an illustrated scroll (Kreel Pach) with a sacred picture of Ma Sharika on it and some sacred verses. Formerly the Nachipatri used to be in the form of a tolled scroll but now it has taken the form of a small booklet known as Jantari. Just one day before Navreh, Kashmiri Pandits in Srinagar visit a sacred spring Vichar Nag (downtown) and take a holy dip in its waters to cast off the winter sloth and impurities. After returning home from Vichar Nag round pieces of Wye herb are taken along with homemade rice powder cakes as prasad before breakfast. In olden times, astrologers and astronomers would assemble here to discuss and prepare a new almanac.
	High Court stays seniority list of officials in state cultural academy Tribune News Service Srinagar, March 31 The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has stayed the final seniority list of officers/officials in the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages. In its order, a single bench of the High Court comprising Justice Hasnain Massodi has directed the authorities concerned at the academy that the “final seniority list dated January 24, 2014, shall not acted” till the next date of hearing, which has been scheduled for April 29. These directions by the High Court followed a writ petition by one Mufti Shafiqur Rehman Qasmi, who works at a senior position in the editorial cadre in the academy. Qasmi in his petition had alleged that in the seniority list by the academy authorities, he had been placed far below his juniors. “Qasmi is aggrieved that he has been placed at a place lower to his juniors in the department of the academy in the final seniority list notified vide order dated January 24,” the High Court observed in its orders made available today. “It is placed that the respondents have made recommendations and are contemplating promotions on the basis of the final seniority list that according to the petitioner does not reflect true seniority of the petitioner and other colleagues,” the High Court further observed in its orders while issuing notices to the respondents, including the authorities at the academy. “In view of the case set up, the final seniority list will not be acted till the next date before the Bench,” the High Court said in its orders while posting the matter for further consideration on April 29. The petitioner came to know about the violation of his right through an RTI application, the aggrieved petitioner had submitted in his petition before the High Court, who is working at the editor’s post in the J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages.
	ECI wants video-surveillance, electoral rolls with photos Ehsan Fazili Tribune News Service Srinagar, March 31 The Election Commission of India (ECI) is going to have the facility of video-surveillance to monitor polling directly from at least two polling stations in each Assembly segment comprising Lok Sabha constituencies for the first time in the forthcoming elections. In yet another first, the electoral rolls will have photographs of voters to ascertain their identity. These facilities were being introduced as per the directions of the ECI in the state, officials here said. They added that voters, who had not deposited their photographs for this purpose, would be entertained on the basis of other listed documents. With these facilities in place, the Srinagar Parliamentary constituency would be having 30 polling stations across 15 Assembly segments equipped with videography facilities, the returning officer for Srinagar, Farooq Ahmad Shah told The Tribune. Shah, who is the Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar district, said there would also be counter-check for the identity for voters, with or without their photographs in the voter lists. “There are lots of checks and counter checks. We will ensure fair polling,” said the returning officer. Referring to engagement of polling staff, Shah said there was adequate number of employees available for conducting polls in all the three districts of Srinagar, Ganderbal and Budgam, comprising the Lok Sabha constituency. More than 10,000 employees had been imparted training for the purpose, he said, adding that no employees from outside these districts would be sought for the conduct of polling. As of now, the constituency has an electorate of 11, 71, 772, including 6, 15,269 men and 556,493 women, who would be exercising their franchise from 1,564 polling stations identified, the returning officer said. He added that there could be additions of new voters to the list of voters till April 9, while the names of those having been shifted on various grounds have already been deleted.
	Navratra rush at Vaishno Devi shrine Devinder Thakur Katra, March 31 People from various parts of the country and abroad today offered prayers on the first day of Navratras at the Vaishno Devi shrine. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board officials said the number of devotees crossed 50,000 on the first day of Navratras. Arvinder Sadhu, an NRI devotee from Canada, who visited the shrine along with his family, said his forefathers also visited the religious place during Navratras. “Initially, I used to come alone but this time I have come with my family to offer prayers at the cave shrine,” said Sadhu. Mohinder Singh, another devotee from Punjab, said he had been coming to Vaishno Devi for the past five or six years. He said the shrine had fulfilled all his wishes.
	Jammu maternity hospital being constructed on meagre space: Report Vikas Sharma Tribune News Service Jammu, March 31 The Chief Minister’s Monitoring Cell in its physical verification report has revealed that the 200-bedded maternity hospital at Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, is being constructed on a piece of land measuring just 5 kanals and 15 marlas. The report claimed that even the Primary Health Centre, Batpora, which shall be catering to a comparatively lesser population, is better off with 5 kanals of area. The Tribune had already reported that the new 200-bedded maternity hospital at Jammu is being constructed on a piece of land measuring 5 kanals and 15 marlas within the premises of the Government Hospital, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu. The report has pointed out that the space available in the two basement floors will be sufficient to park 38 light vehicles and a few two-wheelers. “Not to speak of patients and their attendants, this meagre parking space will hardly suffice the need of even the staff of a tertiary hospital of such a huge magnitude,” the report claimed. The monitoring cell stated that the cost of construction had been calculated on the basis of construction area of each floor of the building. In case, state land is not available, this amount could be easily saved by not constructing the basement floors and expended to acquire the minimum required private land (30-40 kanals). “When a five-storey structure with less cost, less execution time and better parking facilities can serve the purpose, why construct a seven-storey structure. The city lanes around the Gandhi Nagar Hospital Complex are not wide enough even to cater to the need of the existing vehicular traffic. One can see a number of light vehicles parked along shops adjacent to the hospital,” the report claimed. “With another hospital of such a huge magnitude coming up in the vicinity, the traffic movement on these lanes is nothing but going to worsen even further, thereby adding to the problems for the traffic police and the administration,” the Chief Minister’s Monitoring Cell report maintained.
	Stone-throwing in Tral after ‘assault’ on driver Our Correspondent Pulwama, March 31 People resorted to stone-throwing at Tral town in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district when CRPF personnel beat up an auto driver in Devar village today. Eyewitnesses claimed that a CRPF jawan, who was on duty in the village on a checking point, got splashes of mud and water as the auto driver passed through a puddle on the road. “The jawan asked the driver to stop in derogatory language leading to verbal spat between the two,” the eyewitness said, adding that other CRPF personnel came and began to “beat the driver”. Following the incident, many locals assembled on the spot and disrupted traffic on the Tral-Satoora road. Reports said as the news of beating the driver spread in Tral town, many youth started throwing stones on the security forces. However, Ather, Station Head Officer (SHO), Tral, said the issue had been solved and normalcy had been restored in the area. There was no protest recorded from the area, although the road was blocked for 10 to 15 minutes by some people in Devar village, Ather said. The reports said the Central Reserve Police Force personnel were deployed in the area for security purpose as Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti was holding road shows at various villages in the Tral constituency.
	SC decision on Bhullar reopens Kashmir’s wounds, says PDP Tribune News Service Srinagar, March 31 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti today said the Supreme Court decision on Khalistani terrorist Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar was another example of “double-standards” displayed vis-à-vis Kashmir. The Supreme Court today commuted Bhullar's death sentence, convicted in the 1993 Delhi bomb blast case, to life term. “With every such development like the latest by the Apex Court or its earlier verdict on convicts who have been on death row, the wounds of Kashmiris are reopened,” Mehbooba said while addressing roadside meetings in the Tral segment of the Anantnag constituency. Mehbooba said such discriminatory approach against Kashmir needed to be responded forcefully to prevent their repetition in the future so that it would call for a united and strong response at the political-level and through democratic institutions. She said the National Conference, which should have represented the sentiments of the people of the state, unfortunately collaborated in the hanging of Afzal Guru in the most inhuman manner by denying him a last customary meeting with his family. Mehbooba said such an approach would perpetuate the feeling of discrimination which makes the task of reconciliation even more difficult than it has always been because of the wrong policies followed by the NC and its allies. She said Guru would keep Kashmir reminding of the miscarriage of justice in the entire process leading him up to the gallows. Mehbooba said the PDP’s agenda was to prevent such things in the future and added that the party would work to uphold the sentiments of people and protect the interests of the state.
	NC minister to take action against those who uploaded video Ruling party leader says video has been edited, projected her in bad light Bismah Malik Tribune News Service Srinagar, March 31 National Conference minister and legislator from the Noorabad Assembly segment of the Anantnag constituency Sakina Itoo today confronted her critics over the video controversy and said she was going to take action against people who uploaded it on social networking sites. Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo said the video had been edited and projected her in a bad light. She said it showed only one side of the conversation. “I am obviously going to take action against those people who have tried to defame me and my party. Why has the entire conversation not been uploaded? Obviously, this is a conspiracy hatched by the opposition,” Itoo said. “There was no use of force to get votes. Even the video doesn’t show that,” the Social Welfare Minister said. Meanwhile, the separatists also jumped into the controversy by slamming the National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party, Congress of using the religion card to garner votes. “There is nothing new in the leaked video. The mainstream parties are known to have employed such cheap tactics during the election time to get votes. The tenet of Islam (Kalima) which Sakina is asking the man to swear by is something that her party, National Conference, has never stood by,” read a statement by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, led by Syed Ali Geelani. Two days ago, a video featuring Itoo alongside an elderly man and her party workers went viral on the internet where she is seen asking the elderly man to swear by the Koran that he would support her and her party.
	on the frontline Is anyone serious about greater autonomy to J&K? Arun Joshi Twenty years ago, to be precise in October 2014, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah declared that “autonomy is our birthright” and unless the greater autonomy was restored, the party would not participate in any elections. He had a series of arguments to support his party’s case that autonomy would help Kashmiris revive their unique identity and that would blunt the gun culture and peace would return to the terror-torn Valley. He made this announcement after the NC’s Central Working Committee adopted a resolution to this effect in Jammu because Kashmir was too unsafe a place for the National Conference and the party workers and leaders at that point of time. In 1996, the National Conference took part in the Assembly elections and won with a two-thirds majority. The party took the electoral plunge only on the assurance of the then Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda that Jammu and Kashmir was a “special state and deserved a special treatment.” That was all. There was no commitment or announcement from Deve Gowda about any of the critical features of the autonomy that the state had enjoyed until August 1953 — before NC founder and then Prime Minister of the state Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was deposed. Earlier, Farooq had rejected outright the offer of late Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao from the soil of Burkino Faso (in Africa). The Government of India was willing to restore the titles of Sadr-e-Riyasat for Governor and Prime Minister for the Chief Minister in Jammu and Kashmir. Narasimha Rao had made a statement that “sky was the limit” as far as concessions for resolution of the Kashmir crisis were concerned. That time terrorism was at its peak and terrorists were ruling the roost. Some of the unread pages of history would also reveal that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed —Peoples Democratice Party patron and a born critic of the National Conference and the Abdullah family — had asked Farooq to “take part in elections” at the banquet hall in Srinagar in the presence of the late CPM stalwart Harkishan Singh Surjeet. “It is the need of the hour,” Mufti had told Farooq, who had come to the meeting after playing a game of golf. That was in July 1996. Coming to 1998 — when the NDA government came to power — the NC decided to align with the political combination led by the BJP. Farooq was the Chief Minister of the state, and by that time the state government had already constituted an autonomy panel headed by former Sadr-e-Riyasat Karan Singh, who had stepped down from the chairmanship of the autonomy panel in August 1997, citing personal reasons. Then minister Mohiuddin Shah replaced Karan Singh. When Farooq was asked, why he and his party were aligning with the BJP? His answer was: “I was told by my father (Sheikh Abdullah) to always befriend New Delhi even if it is ruled by the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh). This statement was published in the then newspapers, including some national dailies. Today, when Farooq talks of autonomy “till my last breath” he is partly right because he picked up this issue at regular intervals. His efforts remained half-hearted after the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government rejected the autonomy resolution and report passed by the state legislature on July 1, 2000. He had summoned a special session for the purpose. People want consistency — not the occasional slogans. And sufficient reasons should be offered as to why 1953 is relevant today. Emotions alone cannot justify slogans. The BJP is for abrogation of Article 370, this is a statement of facts. But did Narendra Modi talk about it - he only wanted a debate on the issue. The Congress thinks that the 1975 Sheikh-Indira accord is the best for J&K, and whether or not Jammu and Kashmir has merged with India in technical terms, Farooq should explain why did he swear by India when he made an emotional speech on October 9, 1996, at SKICC in Srinagar. He should tell the people in which side of the fence he stands. He also needs to tell how a mid-twentieth century issue is relevant in the second decade of 21st century.
	No complaint against Sakina Itoo, says election official Amir Karim Tantray Tribune News Service Jammu, March 31 The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Jammu and Kashmir has said the complaint against Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo, allegedly invoking religious sentiments, hasn’t reached them so far. “If the complaint comes to us, we will scrutinise it and then take necessary action, if needed,” said the CEO, Umang Narula. A video has gone viral on social networking site Facebook showing National Conference (NC) leader Itoo invoking religious sentiments to seek vote by forcing an old man to take an oath on the Koran. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has termed the act a violation of the Model Code of Conduct and lodged a complaint with the Election Commission, demanding action against the minister. The CEO said if an individual had posted any kind of video on social networking site Facebook, it was not possible to keep an eye on that. “Our officials are on the job of videographing rallies and public meetings. But if something has occurred inside a room and an individual has posted that video on a social website, it must be scrutinised and there are set procedures for that,” Narula said. Meanwhile, the issue has become a hot topic between the NC and the PDP. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said the PDP was posting old videos and misleading the Election Commission. “I know the PDP is in a complete panic mode but using old videos and trying to mislead the EC about code violations is desperate beyond words,” Omar wrote on his Twitter account. Omar openly came in support of Itoo and further wrote, “I’ve spoken to Sakina, this video was taken months before the election code. She isn’t threatening anyone, she isn’t abusing anyone.” “She is trying to convince an old worker of her father to come back and work for the party as he had been upset for a while,” Omar wrote, adding, “She isn’t asking for votes or in anyway talking about elections/rival candidates. How is this then an election matter?” Omar last night posted on Twitter: “NC spokesperson Junaid Mattu has addressed the issue of the Sakina video today. The NC will follow the directives the EC issues in the matter.” However, the issue doesn’t seem to be dying down as the PDP has lodged a complaint with the ECI and demanded action against Itoo.
	BJP demands de-recognition of ruling NC Tribune News Service Jammu, March 31 The BJP today demanded de-recognition of the National Conference for allegedly invoking religion to garner votes from the people. “The National Conference (NC) has insulted the Koran and has been invoking religion to garner votes in the state. It is imperative for the state Governor to dismiss the NC-Congress coalition government and the Election Commission to de-recognise the NC which has been brazenly subverting the secular and democratic polity for petty votes,” Hari Om, senior BJP leader and political adviser to the BJP state president, told mediapersons. He was referring to the recent video of NC leader and Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo on a social networking site. A video clip appeared on a social networking site which showed Itoo invoking religion to seek support of a reluctant old man for her party in the Lok Sabha elections. \The minister was allegedly telling the man to take oath on the Koran that he would support the NC in the elections. “What the NC minister did was not just gross violation of the Model Code of Conduct and subversion of the democratic process, but it was also a brazen attempt of the frustrated NC leadership to give a religious colour to the ongoing electoral process for political benefits,” Hari Om said.
	Political parties told to hold rallies only at designated places Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Srinagar, March 31 Fearing violence by militants during the poll campaign, political parties in J&K have been asked to hold rallies only at the designated places and only after seeking prior permission. This is for the first time that such security guidelines have been issued to political parties and candidates to ensure peaceful polls. Police sources said security agencies had in fact already identified four to five venues in every Assembly segment of the Valley where the political parties would be allowed to hold poll rallies. "The guidelines for the poll campaigning to the candidates and political parties have been issued keeping in view the apprehension that militants might try to disrupt the poll process. The designated venues have been identified after a proper security assessment," said a police officer. "We have told the political parties to abide by these guidelines," he added. Chief spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Naeem Akhtar said the security guidelines had been issued for the poll rallies. "We have been directed to hold rallies at the designated venues," Akthar said. While the venues have been designated, the political parties and the candidates have also been advised to inform the local police authorities about their poll programmes almost five to six days in advance. "Due to security threat on ground, no poll programme would be allowed without prior information," the police officer said. While there has been no incident of violence directly related to the polls so far, but on March 29, a policeman was injured in a militant attack in south Kashmir's Pulwama district. The shootout had taken place almost an hour after PDP president Mehbooba Mufti concluded her road show in the area. The security agencies in Kashmir fear that militants like in past may try to disrupt the poll process this time. J&K has already sought additional companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for the polls.
	Kunzar gets upgraded post office Tribune News Service Srinagar, March 31 As part of its drive to extend modern postal services to rural areas, a fully computerised post office was today inaugurated at Kunzar in Baramulla district. After inaugurating the post office, Chief Postmaster General, J&K Circle, Chander Prakash said: “This is in continuation of the drive of the Postal Department to extend world-class postal facilities to the people, especially in the rural areas. The post office is equipped with all modern facilities and equipment to provide excellent, postal mail, parcel, speed post, life insurance and post office savings bank facilities. Not only this, but also services such as eMO, ePayment and instant MO facilities will be provided to the people here.” An official of the Department of Posts (DoP) said a long-pending demand of the people of the area had been fulfilled with the opening of the post office. Later, senior DoP officials convened a meeting after which Dak Sewa awardee official of the department Syed Rouf Ahmad was given charge of the postmaster of the post office.
	Political battle for Anantnag set to hot up PDP president Mehbooba Mufti to file nomination papers today Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Srinagar, March 31 The political battle for the Anantnag parliamentary constituency of south Kashmir is all set to hot up as the major candidates are filing nomination papers for the seat from tomorrow. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti will be filing her nomination papers tomorrow and National Conference candidate and sitting Member of Parliament Mehboob Beigh will file his papers a day later. Anantnag is the first constituency in the Valley which would go to polls on April 24 and seal the fate of Mehbooba and Beigh. “I will be filing my papers on Wednesday and NC president Farooq sahib (Farooq Abdullah) and Soz sahib (J&K Congress president Saifuddin Soz) will be accompanying me,” Beigh told The Tribune. ? “I am sure to get re-elected from the seat,” he added. On the other hand, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti will file her nomination paper tomorrow. Mehbooba will be accompanied by party MLAs from south Kashmir while filing her nomination. The poll campaigning across Kashmir has so far remained limited to workers meet and party conventions. Political parties have held few public rallies across the Valley, but with the filing of nomination papers, the political battle is all set to hot up. The Anantnag constituency of south Kashmir comprises 16 Assembly segments spread over four districts of Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam. There are 12.72 lakh voters in the constituency. The notification for the constituency was issued on March 29 and the last date for filing of nomination papers is April 5. The scrutiny of papers will be held on April 7. The last date for withdrawal of any candidature is April 9.
	NC, Congress believe in all-round development: Azad Tribune News Service Jammu, March 31 Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said the Congress-National Conference (NC) coalition shared a natural touch and bonding. He said this was observed during the Indira-Sheikh time, the Rajiv-Farooq time and now the Rahul-Omar tenure. “We believe in all-round development and strengthening the secular ideology and the Congress-NC government has proven this time and again,” Azad said while addressing a series of meetings at Mahore in Reasi district and Gool in Ramban district today. Azad, Congress candidate for the Udhampur-Doda seat, targeted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for wearing a secular mask. “They in reality are not secular,” he said. Accompanied by local Congress and National Conference leaders, Azad said with the kind of development the country had seen during the last 10 years, it was for sure that the United Progressive Alliance-III would be formed at the Centre. “Those who say nothing has happened on the ground are not well versed in reality. Seven lakh schools have been opened in the country, road connectivity has seen a revolution, healthcare facilities have reached to far-off villages under the National Rural Health Mission, 17 medical colleges have come up in the country and five of them have been given to J&K,” Azad said. Azad tried to strike an emotional chord with the people of the area by comparing the life lived by people 50 years back and at present when every facility was reaching the people on their doorstep. “When I used to go to school, my mother used to keep lunch in my bag. But now, we have introduced mid-day meal scheme and students are being served lunch at their school,” Azad said, adding much needs to be done to improve the system. He told people to support the Congress-NC alliance candidates.
	Residents distribute turmeric rice to improve weather Bismah Malik Tribune News Service Srinagar, March 31 Unexpected cold weather in the Valley, which shortened the duration of spring in Kashmir, has forced people to organise gatherings of turmeric rice distribution, which is historically considered as a god omen in Kashmir. People from various areas of Srinagar and outskirts have been organising turmeric rice distribution ceremonies on city roads so that the weather improves here. Long spells of rainfall and snowfall have already cast repercussions on the agriculture and horticulture with experts predicting a marked decrease in the paddy and apple production this year. The academics were also affected with the examinations getting postponed, admission processes at universities, colleges facing setbacks and academic session starting a month later. The city is also facing serious infrastructural lapses following heavy snowfall putting people to inconvenience. “In the past, when people faced any such problems, turmeric rice would be prepared by either a household or a group of mohalla residents and then the cooked turmeric rice would be distributed for free which is thought of alleviating the problem,” said Muhammad Shaban, a historian. Rice distribution ceremonies are also held near mosques and Sufi shrines, which is considered to be more auspicious. “It is a charity event supposed to suffice the hunger of people especially poor. The God loves charity and the charitable acts and we hope our prayers of a good weather are answered through this,” Shameema, a housewife said.
	Wrestling contest organised to spread awareness on voting Devinder Thakur Katra, March 31 "Wrestling for Nation”, competition of Indian style of wrestling, was organised at Moori near Katra today as a part of electoral awareness campaign through sports across the district. The “dangal” organised under Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) campaign, Reasi Celebrating Democracy/Jashn-e-Jamhuriat, drew participants and spectators from various areas of the district and sportsmen from other districts as well. The district administration in collaboration with the J&K Indian Style of Wrestling Association and the Peer Baba Moori Dangal Committee organised the competition in which wrestlers from the district and other states also participated. Prizes of Rs 31,000, 25,000, and 15,000 were given to the first, second and the third winners by the association. The SVEEP committee honoured wrestlers with cash reward of Rs 10,000. More than 4,000 persons from adjoining villages, panchayats and various places of the districts attended the rural sports event which lasted for more than four hours. A plantation drive under “Green Vote” was also organised near Katra. Officials from the district administration called upon the people to show same enthusiasm during the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections and participate in greater numbers. They underlined the importance of rural sports campaign wherein Dangal, Kabaddi as well as fencing competitions have been organised to boost the morale of the youth for electoral participation and take SVEEP campaign ahead as a youth mission. A pledge of electoral participation was also administered by Tehsildar Rajesh Kumar and 3,000 pledge letters were also distributed apart from posters and caricatures on ethical voting. President of the association Shiv Kumar Sharma and sarpanches of the area expressed their views for strengthening democracy and extended support for the ongoing rural sports campaign. A series of “dangals” are lined up for the next two weeks at Dera Baba, Reasi, Ransoo and Arnas for electoral awareness under SVEEP. Players from J&K, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan participated in the competition.