SPECIAL COVERAGE
CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI


THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
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J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R    E D I T I O N

PDP blames NC for sarpanch killing
Srinagar, April 18
The Peoples Democratic Party on Friday blamed the National Conference for the killing of a sarpanch in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district last night. It also accused the Election Commission of inaction over its previous complaints over the model code of conduct violations by the ruling party.

Mehbooba Mufti addresses a press conference in Srinagar.

Model polling stations register record turnout
Katra, April 18
As many as 53 model polling stations set in Reasi district registered a record voter turnout in the Lok Sabha elections held here yesterday.

Women voters outnumbered men in remote areas of Reasi during the Lok Sabha elections on Friday. A Tribune photograph


EARLIER STORIES


Guv felicitates sponsors of Red Cross mela
Jammu, April 18
Governor NN Vohra, who is also the president of the Indian Red Cross Society, J&K, felicitated all organisations, government and private, which provided support in sponsoring and organising the Red Cross Mela, 2013. A function in this regard was held here at Raj Bhawan today. Usha Vohra, First Lady, was also present on the occasion. The Governor said the Red Cross was an important organisation, which worked for the welfare of humanity.

Governor NN Vohra at a felicitation ceremony in Jammu on Friday. A tribune photograph

Guv visits Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas, reviews Amarnath yatra arrangements
Jammu, April 18
Governor NN Vohra, who is also the Chairman of the Shri Amaranathji Shrine Board (SASB), visited the Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar today to meet all officials concerned and review arrangements being made for the Amarnath yatra. As earlier notified, the yatra will commence simultaneously on both the Baltal and Chandanwari routes from June 28.

Child labour continues unabated in Jammu
Jammu, April 18
At the age when a child requires the most affectionate attention, care and concern for his/her overall development, many children can be seen working for countless menial jobs in the busy streets of the city. The poor children can be seen sweeping the floor, serving tea at stalls, selling shades for cars at the traffic lights or even begging for money at different locations in the city.

Children work as rag-pickers at the railway station in Jammu. Tribune photo: Anand Sharma

PDP’s Muzaffar Beigh files nomination
Baramulla, April 18
Senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beigh today filed his nomination papers from Baramulla. Beigh in his affidavit to the Returning Officer Farooq Ahmad Lone mentioned that he owned movable property worth Rs 3.57 crore and immovable property worth Rs 16.46 crore.

Panchayat members in Pulwama to boycott polls
Pulwama, April 18
The panchayat members from Pulwama district today distanced themselves from the election process and said if any organisation thinks that they were becoming an impediment to the “freedom struggle” they would offer their resignation within 24 hours.

In protest: Panches and sarpanches protest the killing of PDP sarpanch Mohammad Amin Pandith in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Friday. Tribune photo: Amin War

Post-disaster management workshop held at KU
Srinagar, April 18
A meeting of experts from various national institutes, working on post-disaster management in Uttarakhand under Map Your Neighbourhood in Uttarakhand (MANU) project, was held at Kashmir University under the chairmanship of Talat Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, Kashmir University.

1,200 kg of polythene seized from truck
Srinagar, April 18
Officials of the Commercial Taxes Department have seized 1,200 kg of banned polythene at a check post in Lower Munda area of Qazigund along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. The polythene bags were recovered from an Anantnag-bound truck which was carrying rice of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) from Jammu. The truck was seized by the officials.

Eight duped of Rs 32 lakh in railway employment fraud, case registered
Jammu, April 18
The Crime Branch has registered a case against three persons and some officials of the South-Eastern Railway for cheating gullible persons in the name of employment. The case has been registered against Rajbir Singh of Karnal, Haryana, Ramu of Kharagpur, Akhilesh Sharma of Jeevan Nagar, Delhi, and some officials of the South-Eastern Railway under Sections 420, 465, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the RPC.

Kashmiris will never accept, support Modi, says Omar
Pulwama, April 18
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said Kashmiris would never accept BJP leader Narendra Modi as Prime Minister. Addressing a gathering in Tral town in Pulwama district, Omar condemned the PDP for saying that people of Kashmir would accept the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti in an interview with a national news channel had said that people would slowly accept Narendra Modi.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah addresses a gathering at Tral in Pulwama district on Friday. Tribune photo: Amin War

Tosa Maidan lease ends
Jammu, April 18
As the lease of Tosa Maidan ends today, there will be a status quo on the issue till a committee constituted by the government takes any decision. The decision in this regard will be taken after the model code of conduct is lifted. Sources in the government told The Tribune that a committee under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Muhammad Iqbal Khanday had not taken any decision so far.

Fight against drug addiction
To stop sale of non-prescription drugs, Mirwaiz to meet chemists
Srinagar, April 18
Seeking help and active participation of people to fight social evils, Moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has called for a meeting of all chemists and druggist in the city to advise them not to sell medicines and drugs without proper prescription.

Moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq at Jama Mosque in Srinagar on Friday. A Tribune photograph

Students suffer amid traffic snarls
Srinagar, April 18
With traffic chaos increasing in the city, parents of students from several areas rue that their children suffer due to traffic jams in the city that last for long hours. Worst sufferers are students who pass through Pantha Chowk, as the area witnesses many traffic jams during peak hours.

4 killed, 9 hurt in road accidents
Srinagar, April 18
Four persons, including two Gujarat residents, were killed, while nine others injured in different road accidents across the Valley, the police said today. Two residents of Gujarat died when the vehicle in which they were travelling collided with a truck at Levdoora, near Qazigund town, a police spokesman said.

Christians take out procession on Good Friday
Jammu, April 18
Good Friday, commemorating the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, was observed with religious fervour by the Christian community in the city. To observe the day, St Peter's Catholic community took out a procession on city roads participating in the "solemn way of Cross enactment", while reciting the historical details of the Crucifixion and Jesus Christ's suffering for redeeming the human beings.

Jammu Club polls tomorrow
Jammu, April 18
The Jammu Club is all set to elect new management body on April 20 for which 26 candidates are in the fray. The prestigious club, established in 1978, elects its management committee members after every two years.

Intensify anti-polybag drive, SMC tells officers
Srinagar, April 18
The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has directed its ward officers to strengthen the anti-polythene and anti-encroachment drives in the city.

JU holds heritage fest
Jammu, April 18
The School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (SHTM), University of Jammu, today organised a heritage fest, "Jashn-e-Riyasat", on the occasion of World Heritage Day, to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the state. The function comprised two events - "Exploring the unexplored" and cultural programme - in which over 50 students from six different institutions participated. Shantmanu, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, was the chief guest, while Prof Posh Charak, Dean, Research Studies, University of Jammu, was the guest of honour. The function was presided over by Prof Parikshat Singh Manhas, Director, School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, who was also the event coordinator for the function. — TNS

NC condemns Pulwama attack
Srinagar, April 18
The National Conference on Friday condemned the killing of the sarpanch, who was affiliated to the PDP. “The National Conference expresses grief and sorrow at the killing,” said party spokesman Junaid Mattu. “Such incidents will not scuttle the process of grass-roots empowerment and decentralisation of power started by the Omar Abdullah-led government,” Mattu said. “Our heart goes out to the victims of such violence and we share the grief of the bereaved family,” Mattu said. — TNS

Pandits urged to vote for Mehbooba
Jammu, April 18
Rafi Ahmed Mir, MLA from Pahalgam, along with displaced Kashmiri Pandits leaders Ashok Dhar, Omkar Nath Saproo, Anil Koul, Jagar Nath Raina and many others has appealed to the displaced Kashmiri Pandits to cast their votes in favour of PDP candidate from the Anantnag constituency Mehbooba Mufti. The polling for the seat will take place on April 24. They said the PDP was the only party which could solve the problems of Pandits. TNS

Army man killed in accidental shooting
Udhampur, April 18
An army man posted at the Signal Regiment of the Northern Command was killed after his service gun went off accidentally near the Command Headquarters in Udhampur today. Naik Bhag Mara Laxman Rao was critically injured after his service gun went off accidentally. He was immediately rushed to the hospital, where he died. OC







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PDP blames NC for sarpanch killing
Slams Election Commission for taking no action on complaints against National Conference
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 18
The Peoples Democratic Party on Friday blamed the National Conference for the killing of a sarpanch in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district last night. It also accused the Election Commission of inaction over its previous complaints over the model code of conduct violations by the ruling party.

“The killing of our party sarpanch was a direct result of Farooq Abdullah’s statement on Thursday afternoon, wherein he said if he had a gun, he would kill PDP leaders,” PDP president and party candidate from south Kashmir’s Anantnag parliamentary constituency Mehbooba Mufti told reporters in Srinagar. “The ruling party is creating violence to ensure poll boycott,” she added.

Suspected militants had shot dead PDP sarpanch Mohammad Amin Pandith, 45, around 10 pm near his house in Gulzarpora village near Awantipore town in Pulwama district. The murder is the second killing in the area since the Lok Sabha elections were announced. On March 8, unidentified gunmen shot dead 85-year-old Ghulam Mohammad Dar, father of PDP sarpanch in Dogripora village in Awantipore, a few kilometres away from where the sarpanch was killed last night.

The killing of a panchayat member is the second attack in the area since Sunday. An NC youth leader escaped unhurt on April 13, when militants attacked his residence in Pulwama district killing two policemen. The two militants were also later killed in a gunfight.

Mehbooba targeted the Election Commission for inaction over the PDP’s previous complaints against the alleged repeated violations by the ruling party.

“The Election Commission is dead in Kashmir. While they have been alert to violations of model code of conduct in the rest of the country, it seems to be dead when it comes to J&K,” she said.

The PDP president said the party had been watching helplessly as the Election Commission was not taking any notice of the party’s complaints.

“The Election Commission takes note of every inflammatory statement in every part of the country, be it by Amit Shah or Azam Khan, but when it comes to J&K state, it doesn’t take note of any complaint against the NC,” she added.

Meanwhile, the police investigation into the killing of the PDP sarpanch has so far revealed that two or three militants were involved in yesterday’s attack.

“The gunmen armed with assault rifles appeared in the village on Thursday night and directed a local resident, Farooq Ahmed, to go inside the house of Pandith and call him out. As Pandith came out, he was taken some yards away and Farooq was asked to go home. The sarpanch was later shot dead and the militants fled the spot,” said a police officer. “The post-mortem was conducted and investigations have been taken up. So far, we can say that the militant module from Tral had shot dead the panchayat member,” he added.

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Model polling stations register record turnout
7 out of 53 stations witness above 90% turnout, 29 between 80-90%
Our Correspondent

Katra, April 18
As many as 53 model polling stations set in Reasi district registered a record voter turnout in the Lok Sabha elections held here yesterday. The turnout was double than the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

These polling stations were equipped with furniture, sofas and chairs for seating, TV sets, first-aid centres, help desks, facilities for differently abled and elderly voters, special assistance desk for women and signage. Live performance by various artists was also arranged at these polling stations for voters in the waiting area.

The voter-friendly polling stations set up by the district administration received an overwhelming response from the electorate.

Seven out of 53 model polling stations recorded above 90% turnout, 29 were between 80 and 90 % and 13 recorded turnout between 70 and 80%.

The model polling stations of Gulabgarh recorded 83.3% turnout as compared to 43.44 % at these locations in 2009, while those of Reasi recorded 79.24 % - much above the previous record of 43.9%. In Gool-Arnas, the record turnout was 79.43% against the previous 51.25%.

Besides, there was also a record gender balancing as the female turnout at these polling stations was 80% yesterday as compared to 31% in the previous Lok Sabha polls.

The male voter percentage was reported to be 84%, 78% and 77% as compared to 48%, 41% and 43% in the 2009 polls in Gulabgarh, Gool-Arnas and Reasi segments, respectively.

The highest turnout among the model polling stations was reported from Shajroo (93%), Seela (95%), Thanpal (94%), Mahore (93%), Parthal (94%) and Thakrakote (94%). The model polling stations were sponsored by various departments, PSUs, universities and boards.

The Shiv Khori Shrine Board, NHPC, Salal, NMDC, Jammu, KRCL, Reasi, sponsored three model polling stations each, while SMVD University sponsored two.

The Departments of Health, Social Welfare, Revenue and Transport among others sponsored one each. The Rural Development Department sponsored the model signage and help desks.

Booth-level officers along with a team of five officials at each polling station was responsible for voter-friendly services and one gazetted officer each was made the nodal officer for these polling stations.

Dr Jagdish Mehra, PO, DRDA, scripted the designs and outlay along with exhibitions. Assistant Commissioner, Development, Joginder Singh Rai was the nodal officer for the model polling stations.

District Election Officer Dr Shahid Iqbal said six-month-long planning and arrangement of logistics through sponsoring agencies and departments reaped in rich dividends for strengthening democracy.

Voting sees increase

The model polling stations of Gulabgarh recorded 83.3% turnout as compared to 43.44 % at these locations in 2009, while those of Reasi recorded 79.24 % - much above the previous record of 43.9%. In Gool-Arnas, the record turnout was 79.43% against the previous 51.25%.

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Guv felicitates sponsors of Red Cross mela
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 18
Governor NN Vohra, who is also the president of the Indian Red Cross Society, J&K, felicitated all organisations, government and private, which provided support in sponsoring and organising the Red Cross Mela, 2013.

A function in this regard was held here at Raj Bhawan today. Usha Vohra, First Lady, was also present on the occasion. The Governor said the Red Cross was an important organisation, which worked for the welfare of humanity.

He observed that for obtaining such objective, substantial resources were required by the district, regional and state-level branches of society to be able to provide timely relief in the case of any exigency arising due to natural or man-made disasters.

He urged the banking sector, commercial organisations and the rich to espouse the noble objectives of the Red Cross Society.

The Governor appreciated the initiatives taken by Roma Wani, general secretary, IRCS, J&K, in the past year to boost Red Cross activities all over the state, particularly her efforts in setting up jan aushadhi stores for providing generic medicines at fair prices to the sick and needy.

Shantmanu, chairman of the Red Cross Society, Jammu, presented a detailed report on the activities of the society in the past years.

He said the Red Cross Mela-2013 had generated funds worth Rs 23.50 lakh.

The Governor lauded the role of the Divisional Commissioner and hoped that the society would be able to do even better this year.

He presented appreciation awards to Shantmanu, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu and chairman of the Red Cross Society, Jammu; Rajesh Kumar, IGP, Jammu Zone; Kuldeep Dhar, IGP, CRPF, Jammu; SS Tomar, IGP, BSF, Jammu; Hemant Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri; Soujanya Sharma, Director Tourism, Jammu; Arvind Gupta, president, J&K Bank, Zone Office, Jammu; Annil Suri, president Bari Brahmana Industrial Association, Jammu; Mohinder Singh, chairman, Citizens Cooperative Bank, Jammu; Mohd Latif Mir, deputy general manager, Circle Office, PNB, Jammu, Dr Hemla Aggarwal, Principal, GCW, Parade, Jammu; Dinesh Gupta, chairman, Citizens Cooperative Bank, Jammu; AVLJ Rao, Deputy Commissioner, KV Sangthan, Jammu; Tarsem Lal, chief education officer, Jammu; JK Sudan, chief education officer, Kathua; Mohd Ashraf Rathar, chief education officer, Doda; Ashok Kumar, chief education officer, Reasi; Vikrant Sharma, programme head, Big 92.7 FM; Sureshta Khajuria, Member Organising Committee, Red Cross Mela; Anil K Padha, ex-secretary, IRCS, Jammu region, and Navneet Kour, member, Organising Committee, Red Cross Mela.

The awards were also received by Mohd Ashraf Rathar, on behalf of Mubarak Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Doda; Dr VP Sharma, executive secretary, District Red Cross, Udhampur, on behalf of Yasha Mudgal, Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur; Ashish Singh, executive secretary, District Red Cross, Kathua, on behalf of Jitendera K Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Kathua; Annil Suri on behalf of SK Bansal, managing director, Saraswati Plasto Tech, Jammu, and Sunit Singh, on behalf of Gunjan Rana, Managing Director, Jamkash Vehicleades Private Limited, Jammu. Roma Wani, general secretary, IRCS, J&K, presented the vote of thanks.

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Guv visits Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas, reviews Amarnath yatra arrangements
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 18
Governor NN Vohra, who is also the Chairman of the Shri Amaranathji Shrine Board (SASB), visited the Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar today to meet all officials concerned and review arrangements being made for the Amarnath yatra. As earlier notified, the yatra will commence simultaneously on both the Baltal and Chandanwari routes from June 28.

Addressing a meeting of the officials in the Yatri Niwas, the Governor reviewed arrangements related to the reception of yatris at the railway station and bus stand and registration of those without yatra permits and the requirements of accommodation, catering, hygiene, sanitation, etc.

He also directed the district authorities to ensure satisfactory arrangements regarding water, power supply, garbage disposal, medicare and transport for the pilgrims.

The Governor reiterated the importance of ensuring against any unregistered pilgrim being allowed to proceed to the Valley and directed the officials to ensure provision of registration counters at Saraswati Dham and Jammu Haat.

He told the authorities that dedicated transport arrangements should be arranged for ferrying unregistered yatris from railway station and bus stand directly to the registration centres and not allow them to come to the Yatri Niwas unless they were registered.

For the facilitation of yatris, the Governor desired that pamphlets containing complete guidance and information about available facilities, routes, distances, etc, should be printed and distributed among the arriving yatris from the Lakhanpur Post onwards. He also reviewed the en route wayside transit facilities for the yatris, including langars and lodging arrangements, registration of sadhus at Ram Mandir and their accommodation at Geeta Bhavan, Jammu.

He directed the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, to ensure provision of adequate arrangements for the yatris at all the transit camps to take care of both the normal as well as emergency requirements. The Governor asked the IGP, Jammu Division, to ensure regulation of yatris for ensuring the smooth conduct of the yatra.

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Child labour continues unabated in Jammu
Vanshika Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 18
At the age when a child requires the most affectionate attention, care and concern for his/her overall development, many children can be seen working for countless menial jobs in the busy streets of the city. The poor children can be seen sweeping the floor, serving tea at stalls, selling shades for cars at the traffic lights or even begging for money at different locations in the city.

These children have somewhere lost their childhood while doing these jobs. Standing all day in the sun in the challenging conditions to earn their one-time meal is the only option left for these children to survive.

Shalini, who sells cleaning cloths in various areas of the city, said, "My father and mother are both workers. My mother says that we don't have enough money for making both ends meet. I sell this cloths so that I might help them by earning some money." Interestingly, when asked about her age, she was unable to answer.

It is a common sight to see children working in restaurants, food joints, houses, agriculture fields and many other places. Moreover, in the city children continue to sell shades outside the Bahu Fort police station and the officials don't even bother to stop them.

Rajneesh Khajuria, a resident of Janipura, said, "Whenever I travel through the flyover connecting Brigadier Rajinder Singh Memorial and Directorate, Health Services, Jammu, I see children selling something or the other on the busy flyover.

"Sometimes, they even come on the road to stop the vehicles. The part which bothers me is the negligence of traffic police officials standing there. Even though the officials are present there, the children still keep standing there," he said.

"The poverty needs to be addressed first, which will then add to the efforts for banning child labour," he said.

The state government is making tall claims of eradication of child labour, but nothing significant has been done so far in this regard. "The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act of 1986 exists only in papers. According to the Act, it prohibits the employment of children below the age of 14. But in J&K, especially in urban areas, the problem is more common," he added.

Sources said the Right to Education (RTE) is not being implemented in letter and spirit which provides free and compulsory education to children between six to 14 years. Government schools lack safe drinking water, well-maintained classrooms and hygienic toilets.

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PDP’s Muzaffar Beigh files nomination
Says people know PDP has no secret alliance with BJP; National Conference misleading voters
Javid A Malla


Peoples Democratic Party candidate for Baramulla Lok Sabha seat Muzaffar Hussain Beigh addresses mediapersons after filing his nomination papers on Friday. Tribune Photo: Amin War

Baramulla, April 18
Senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beigh today filed his nomination papers from Baramulla. Beigh in his affidavit to the Returning Officer Farooq Ahmad Lone mentioned that he owned movable property worth Rs 3.57 crore and immovable property worth Rs 16.46 crore.

The PDP leader also stated that has owns liability worth Rs 11,401,285 against the Fixed Deposit Receipt.

Beigh was accompanied by his wife advocate Safeena, PDP state secretary Javid Beigh, senior PDP leader Mohammad Dilawar Mir to the office of the Returning Officer.

Meanwhile, talking to reporters after submitting his nomination, Beigh cleared his party’s stand on the BJP saying that the people have “no perception” and they know that the PDP has “no secret forged alliance” with the BJP.

“The National Conference is misleading people before they could raise their fingers against it,” Beigh said.

“It is Farooq Abdullah, who has remained a supporter of the BJP, while Omar Abdullah remained a minister in BJP rule. Before people could raise their finger against them, they point finger at the PDP,” he said.

He also feared that to ensure boycott, the NC might try its best to disrupt the situation.

Beigh warned that if the NC tried to make the situation like that in the 1987, then threat may not only loom over the integrity of India, but the Sheikh family might find it hard to live in Kashmir.

Referring to the Union Territory status to Ladakh, the PDP leader said no one can separate Ladakh from J&K as per the Constitution of India.

“If any one talks of separation of Ladakh from J&K they should read the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir. As per our (J&K) constitution, except the state Assembly no one has the right to separate even a single inch of the state,” Beigh said.

Whosoever talks about separation of Ladakh are illiterate, he added.

Meanwhile, two other candidates also filed their nominations from Baramulla today.

The duo includes Bahujan Samaj Party’s Mohammad Shafi Bhat and Abdul Majeed Malik, an Independent.

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Panchayat members in Pulwama to boycott polls
Farooz Ahamd Bhat

Pulwama, April 18
The panchayat members from Pulwama district today distanced themselves from the election process and said if any organisation thinks that they were becoming an impediment to the “freedom struggle” they would offer their resignation within 24 hours.

“If any separatist party or for that matter the people of Kashmir feel that panchayat members are hurdle in achieving ‘azadi (freedom)’ we all will resign within 24 hours,” said Haji Mohiuddin Ganai, president, Sarpanch United Forum, Pulwama.

The statement came a day after a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) sarpanch was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Gulzarpora village of Awantipora in Pulwama district.

More than 50 panchayat members, who had assembled at the Town Hall here, condemned the killing of sarpanch Muhammad Amin Pandit and blamed the government for failing to investigate killings of sarpanches and panches.

“I wonder how no militant outfit has claimed responsibility of attacks on sarpances and panches,” Ganai said.

“We have time and again asked the government to probe the killings, but it has failed to nab the culprits responsible for these attacks,” he said.

The panchayat members also pledged not to participate in the ongoing electoral process. They maintained that they contested elections on a non-party basis and distanced themselves from all mainstream political parties.

“We contested the elections to highlight the sufferings of the people and work for their betterment, especially taking on minor developmental works at village level,” said Muhammad Amin Parray, sarpanch of Haal village in Pulwama.

Offer to resign

If any separatist party or for that matter the people of Kashmir feel that panchayat members are hurdle in achieving ‘azadi (freedom)’ we all will resign within 24 hours.

Haji Mohiuddin Ganai, president, sarpanch united forum, pulwama.

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Post-disaster management workshop held at KU
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 18
A meeting of experts from various national institutes, working on post-disaster management in Uttarakhand under Map Your Neighbourhood in Uttarakhand (MANU) project, was held at Kashmir University under the chairmanship of Talat Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, Kashmir University.

The Central government has sanctioned pilot projects under MANU to experts primarily focusing on post-disaster data collection and analysis about landslides, glacial lake outburst, damages to the built-up infrastructure, communication lines and agriculture crops.

“The outcome of the project shall be a perspective and visionary strategy for disaster risk reduction in Uttarakhand and other Indian Himalayan states with similar geological and environmental setting,” an official handout by KU read.

Ahmad, who chaired the meeting, said, “There is a need for strategy to develop robust action plans in order to minimise the loss of life and damage to the infrastructure in the event of such a calamity in future.”

He said, “We have set up an institutional framework under MANU on priority basis, involving the relevant human and knowledge capital available in the country and abroad for optimising the use of S&T for human safety and economic security in mountainous Himalayas.”

Dr Bhoop Singh, Director, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, said the MANU projects would not only help in identification and understanding of the problems in the Himalayan region, but also suggest alternative policies for decision makers to solve problems related to the disaster and environmental management in fragile Himalayas.

Shakil A Romshoo, Head of the Department of Earth Sciences, KU, who coordinated the meeting and is reconstructing the disastrous cloudburst and GLOF event in Uttarakhand under MANU, said, “It is important to assess the breaching risk of all glacial lakes in Himalayas and the likely damage it shall cause to the life and property downstream so that appropriate mitigation measures are initiated.”

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1,200 kg of polythene seized from truck
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 18
Officials of the Commercial Taxes Department have seized 1,200 kg of banned polythene at a check post in Lower Munda area of Qazigund along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. The polythene bags were recovered from an Anantnag-bound truck which was carrying rice of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) from Jammu. The truck was seized by the officials.

Commercial Taxes Officer, Lower Munda checkpost, Hamid Ganai said a vehicle bearing registration number JK03D/0849 was intercepted on Wednesday evening and the driver produced the challan of FCI showing that it was carrying 92 quintals of rice of FCI.

“However, the vehicle was put to a routine check and it was found that 48 bags of banned polythene were kept hidden under the rice bags,” Ganai said.

“The vehicle was coming from the FCI depot railway station, Jammu, and was supposed to be unloaded at FCI godown at Mirbazar in Anantnag. Accordingly, goods were inventorised and offloaded at the check post and penalty was imposed,” he added.

The department has seized 155 quintals of banned polythene during 2013-14 financial year from different vehicles. The J&K High Court has banned the manufacture, import and use of non-biodegradable polythene bags.

Use of polybags continues

  • The polythene bags were recovered from an Anantnag-bound truck which was carrying rice of the Food Corporation of India from Jammu
  • 48 bags of polythene were hidden under rice bags
  • The J&K HC has banned the manufacture, import and use of polythene bags.

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Eight duped of Rs 32 lakh in railway employment fraud, case registered
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 18
The Crime Branch has registered a case against three persons and some officials of the South-Eastern Railway for cheating gullible persons in the name of employment. The case has been registered against Rajbir Singh of Karnal, Haryana, Ramu of Kharagpur, Akhilesh Sharma of Jeevan Nagar, Delhi, and some officials of the South-Eastern Railway under Sections 420, 465, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the RPC.

Giving details, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Crime Branch, Jammu, said a complaint, filed by Sunil Chib of Sadar Bazaar, Satwari, Jammu Cantonment, was duly endorsed by the Chief Judicial Magistrate with the direction to investigate the matter.

Chib, who was running a placement agency, had alleged that in September, 2012, he received a call from Rajbir Singh, who introduced himself as an official of the Recruitment Sector Railway, Kharagpur, West Bengal, and said some candidates were required for the post of C&D Group in the South-Eastern Railway, Kharagpur.

On this, Chib sent his brother Happy Singh and uncle Kuldeep Singh Manhas to Rajbir Singh and both of them were selected after going through various tests and even the appointment letters with ID cards were issued, but Rajbir demanded Rs 12 lakh from them.

Similarly, six more persons were sent to Rajbir Singh and Rs 4 lakh each was given, but later on it was found that all these persons have been duped by Rajbir and others of an amount of Rs 32 lakh.

The SSP said on receipt of the complaint, an inquiry was initiated and during the course of inquiry prima facie offences were made out against the accused persons.

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Kashmiris will never accept, support Modi, says Omar
Farooz Ahmad Bhat

Pulwama, April 18
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said Kashmiris would never accept BJP leader Narendra Modi as Prime Minister. Addressing a gathering in Tral town in Pulwama district, Omar condemned the PDP for saying that people of Kashmir would accept the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti in an interview with a national news channel had said that people would slowly accept Narendra Modi.

Omar said Mehbooba was unaware that Modi’s nomination as the prime ministerial candidate was still a matter of dispute within the BJP camp. “I do not know whether the differences between Modi and others will remain or not but it is clear that Kashmiris will never accept and support Modi,” Omar said.

He said there were only two persons who had the prospects of becoming Prime Minister --- one is Narendra Modi and the other is Rahul Gandhi.

“The National conference will support Rahul Gandhi as PM and I also know that the PDP is supporting Modi for the post despite the fact that he is responsible for the killing of Muslims in Gujarat,” Omar said.

Talking about the Kishtwar riots last year, Omar said he had brought an end to the violence within 48 hours. He said he was sorry for the riots, but Modi had not yet uttered the word “sorry” for the 2002 Gujarat riots.

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Tosa Maidan lease ends
Status quo till panel takes decision
Amir Karim Tantray
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 18
As the lease of Tosa Maidan ends today, there will be a status quo on the issue till a committee constituted by the government takes any decision. The decision in this regard will be taken after the model code of conduct is lifted. Sources in the government told The Tribune that a committee under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Muhammad Iqbal Khanday had not taken any decision so far.

“Status quo will be maintained and the area will remain with the Army,” the sources said.

Tosa Maidan, a meadow used by the Army as an artillery firing range, is in Budgam district.

The Forest Department is also not seeking a claim to the area as it actually belongs to the department. “Since the area is with the Army and the committee is holding deliberations, we can’t claim to get the area back,” said a senior Forest Department official.

The state government had leased out the Tosa Maidan to the Army in 1964 for 50 years and an artillery firing range was established there. The lease period ended today but as the matter is still under observation, whether to shift the firing range from the area or not, there will be a status quo.

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Fight against drug addiction
To stop sale of non-prescription drugs, Mirwaiz to meet chemists
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 18
Seeking help and active participation of people to fight social evils, Moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has called for a meeting of all chemists and druggist in the city to advise them not to sell medicines and drugs without proper prescription.

This step, he says, is aimed to check the increasing drug addiction among the youth, who use over-the-counter drugs easily available on chemist shops for the purpose.

Mirwaiz said this while addressing a Friday gathering at Jama mosque here today.

“Apart from smoking and alcoholism, now life-saving drugs are also leading to loss of lives in Kashmir,” Mirwaiz said while referring to the excessive use of medicines containing sedatives in Kashmir.

“As a next step forward, a convention of chemists and the representatives of drug companies would be called to ensure that drugs and medicines are not sold without proper prescription,” he said, while seeking active participation of people in checking social evils.

Calling for election boycott, Mirwaiz also condemned the authorities for launching a crackdown against Hurriyat leadership and their supporters.

He also opposed to giving an alternative site to the Army in lieu of Tosa Maidan field firing range as its lease expired today.

Earlier on April 5, he had also launched an awareness campaign on various social evils and waywardness, particularly the increasing suicidal tendencies among the youth.

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Students suffer amid traffic snarls
Our Correspondent

Srinagar, April 18
With traffic chaos increasing in the city, parents of students from several areas rue that their children suffer due to traffic jams in the city that last for long hours. Worst sufferers are students who pass through Pantha Chowk, as the area witnesses many traffic jams during peak hours.

“My nine-year-old son studies at a school in Humhama and he has to travel from Sempora. Waiting for long hours in jams affects his health. This is a worrisome situation for us. The government should do something about it particularly Pantha Chowk area,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, a parent.

Students of Islamic University of Science and Technology, which is situated in Awantipora, also complained of traffic snarls. Some of them said they reach home when it gets dark.

Officials of the Traffic Department said they had a meeting with the Divisional Commissioner and have decided the morning time for all schools to regulate traffic.

“We have decided on 9am and after its implementation there won’t be much traffic jams,” the official said. Observers blamed narrow roads for chaos. “Roads are narrow and vehicles are increasing every passing day,” said Civil Society member Habibullah Ahmad.

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4 killed, 9 hurt in road accidents

Srinagar, April 18
Four persons, including two Gujarat residents, were killed, while nine others injured in different road accidents across the Valley, the police said today. Two residents of Gujarat died when the vehicle in which they were travelling collided with a truck at Levdoora, near Qazigund town, a police spokesman said.

Jayaraj Bahi Harsoo Bahi and his daughter Chavda Jiya, residents of the Bhavnagar area in Gujarat, died on the spot, while three other persons were injured in the accident.

In another accident, a motorcyclist hit and injured a pedestrian, identified as Lassi Mohammad Shiekh, a resident of Chee village, on KP Road in Anantnag district. The injured was shifted to the SKIMS Hospital in the city here, where he succumbed to injuries, the spokesman said.

An unknown tipper hit and injured a man, identified as Fayaz Ahmed Mir, a resident of Konibal Pampore, near Khrew in Pulwama district. The injured was shifted to the SKIMS Hospital, where he succumbed to injuries.

Five persons were injured when a vehicle they were travelling in overturned in Kulgam district, while another was injured when his vehicle overturned in Achabal area of Anantnag. — TNS

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Christians take out procession on Good Friday
Tribune News Service


Devotees participate in a procession on Good Friday in Jammu. Tribune photo: Anand Sharma

Jammu, April 18
Good Friday, commemorating the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, was observed with religious fervour by the Christian community in the city. To observe the day, St Peter's Catholic community took out a procession on city roads participating in the "solemn way of Cross enactment", while reciting the historical details of the Crucifixion and Jesus Christ's suffering for redeeming the human beings.

Under the spiritual leadership of Rev Fr Shaiju Thomas Thuruthyil, hundreds of people took part in the religious ceremony.

"The Cross is glorified on this day as a sign of Christ's resurrection and victory over sin and death. On this day every Christian is reminded of focusing his life on the teachings of Jesus on his sorrowful journey to Mount Calvary and his death," Thuruthyil said.

A scene of Jesus carrying the Cross was enacted with the help of youths and the gathering followed them, stopped at every station of the Cross and mourned the death of their saviour.

This was followed by a long prayer service.

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Jammu Club polls tomorrow
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 18
The Jammu Club is all set to elect new management body on April 20 for which 26 candidates are in the fray. The prestigious club, established in 1978, elects its management committee members after every two years.

There are a total of 2,300 members (couples) with nearly 4,400 votes, which will be cast to choose honorary secretary to look after the functioning of the club, with bureaucrats, businessmen and elite of Jammu as its members.

At present V Raman Samnotra is the honorary secretary of the club, who is also seeking another term in the upcoming elections. Governor NN Vohra is the patron of the club. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is president and Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey is vice-president.

“Elections are an important event and members choose people who work for the development of the club, which is one of the biggest club in the state. Every member takes part in the event with zeal,” said Samnotra, who took over the reins of the club in 2012.

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Intensify anti-polybag drive, SMC tells officers
Tribune News Service


The Commercial Taxes Department has seized 155 quintals of polythene during 2013-14 financial year. A Tribune file photo

Srinagar, April 18
The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has directed its ward officers to strengthen the anti-polythene and anti-encroachment drives in the city.

This was told during a meeting of all ward officers of the corporation, which was chaired by Commissioner, SMC, GN Qasba. The meeting was held to review the overall progress on sanitation, anti-encroachments and anti-polythene drives.

“While deliberating upon the various issues, including sanitation, encroachments on roads/footpaths and anti-polythene movement, all ward officers were directed to strengthen the anti-polythene and anti-encroachment drives,” a statement issued by the SMC said.

Discussing sanitation, Qasba passed on instructions to improvise the overall sanitation of the city. He also directed the mechanical engineering wing to set up a service station at the municipal transport yard so that all garbage lifting vehicles and the garbage bins and containers were cleaned properly.

“The SMC Commissioner emphasised that all ward officers shall submit an affidavit with respect that no illegal construction is going on in their wards,” the statement said.

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