Srinagar, May 11
The strategic 434-km-long Srinagar-Kargil-Leh national highway, which remains closed during the winter months, was thrown open for light vehicular traffic today. Inclement weather conditions in Kashmir and Ladakh regions had delayed the reopening of the highway this year.

"After conducting trials for the last two days, light motor vehicles plied from here after the road was reopened," Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, Sarmad Hafeez, told The Tribune.

He said the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which is responsible for clearance of the road up to the Zero Point in Zojila from Sonamarg in Ganderbal district, had cleared the road for convenience of the public.

However, he said the decision to allow heavy motor vehicles on the highway would be taken in the coming days. The decision was subject to weather conditions. "Safety is our primary concern. Heavy vehicles will ply only after their safety is ensured," he said.

The highway serves as lifeline for Ladakh and is an important link between the region and Kashmir. The strategic highway traverses through the Himalayas at the Zojila, situated at a height of about 11,575 ft.

While in the past, the highway used to be thrown open in the first week of April, this year there was a heavy snowfall in the area. It had snowed even in the last week of April.

Officials said snow accumulation was six times higher than the previous year and the toughest work for snow clearance was on the 30-km stretch from Gagangir near Sonamarg to Zero Point, Zojila.

Ladakhis had staged protests earlier against the closure of the road, saying it had disallowed them from casting their votes. They had been demanding setting up of polling booths in Jammu and Srinagar or airlifting of stranded passengers even as parliamentary elections in Ladakh were held on May 7.

Jammu, May 11
The Department-related Parliament Standing Committee (PSC) on Home Affairs has recommended that the term “migrant” should not be used for the Kashmiri Hindus who were forced to leave their homes and hearths after the eruption of militancy in the Kashmir valley.

The Parliament panel, which submitted its first report on February 17 this year, suggested that the word “displaced persons” should be used for those who were ousted from the Valley.

“The committee is of the considered view that the word ‘migrant’ used in the context of the Kashmiri displaced persons is not an appropriate expression because the affected persons had been forced to give up their homes and hearths against their own will due to the mayhem caused by militants,” the PSC mentioned in its recommendations.

“The issue of nomenclature whether a migrant is a ‘displaced person’ in the present context has been raised at various forum from time to time,” said the panel which met representatives of the displaced Kashmir Pandits.

“Kashmiri Pandit associations had filed a case before the Human Rights Commission of India on the issue. The Ministry of Home Affairs informed the National Human Rights Commission that the nomenclature is not a very important element for protecting their interest. What is material is that whether the government is doing it’s best to mitigate their hardships. The use of the term ‘migrants’ by no means 
is mitigating their hardships.

“The government has not come across any instance which suggests that the word migrant has been mistaken or misinterpreted to the disadvantage of the migrants,” the committee said.

“The committee is also of the view that those persons cannot wait endlessly for normalcy to return to the Valley and there is no harm if some such people prefer to settle outside the Valley for the sake of their lives and livelihood,” the report suggested, adding, “The committee, therefore, desires that the government should consider this aspect and announce a suitable and appropriate policy.”

“With the displacement of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley, they not only lost their homes but also means of livelihood which aggravated their agonies and miseries. The committee, therefore, recommends to the Ministry of Home Affairs to explore all avenues for providing employment to them under the package announced by the Prime Minister in 2004 with a time-bound programme.”

The committee desires that the Ministry should ensure that migrants be provided all facilities for rehabilitation as are provided to a displaced community.

As per the action taken notes furnished by the Ministry of Home Affairs, most of the migrants do not have confidence in the conditions prevailing in J&K. They do not find them conducive enough for their return to the Kashmir valley.

The Ministry has explained that for permanent return and settlement, various migrant organisations lack consensus.

Most of the organisations are unable to firm up their decision.

They have also failed to provide any workable plan for permanent rehabilitation. 

Jammu, May 11
The All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC), a front line organisation of panches and sarpanches, today slammed the ruling National Conference-led coalition for its alleged failure to clear liability of over Rs 300 crore under the Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

In a statement issued here, the AJKPC said the government was not only flouting the MGNREGA guidelines and labour laws, but also resorted to human rights violation by not releasing the money in favour of thousands of labourers.

“It is criminal on part of the state government that thousands of labourers, including women, have been suffering due to non-payment of dues under the MGNREGA,” Anil Sharma, president AJKPC said.

“As on date, the Jammu and Kashmir Government owns a total liability of over Rs 310 crore (Rs 260 crore in Jammu and Rs 50 crore) under the MGNREGA scheme,” Sharma alleged.

He said the political leadership of the state, especially the coalition partners NC and Congress, had turned “insensitive” to the miseries of the poor people.

The AJKPC leader also cited a recent letter issued by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, to the Secretary, J&K Rural Development Department, where directions were issued to the state government over immediate clearance of liabilities under the MGNREGA, formulation of unemployment allowance rules, compensation for delay in wage payments and appointment of ombudsmen for different districts.

Sharma, however, alleged that the state government did not bother to pay any heed to the guidelines issued by Central Government.

The AJKPC leader warned the state government to clear all dues within 15 days or get ready to face statewide protests.

“We will not tolerate injustice. We give 15 days ultimatum to the J&K government to clear all dues under MGNREGA along with necessary compensation or else get ready to face the agitation,” Sharma warned.

Jammu, May 11
At least 13 persons, including two civilians and 11 security personnel of the CRPF and the J&K Police, were injured in a stone-throwing incident during an anti-encroachment drive by the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) on the alleged encroached land at Gole Gujral, which suddenly turned violent in the evening. All the injured have been shifted to Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu, for treatment.

The drive, which was initiated by the Khilafwarzi Wing of the JDA, remained peaceful throughout the day as the officials of the department arrived in the early morning at the site amid tight security arrangements and heavy deployment of security personnel.

According to eye witnesses, it was only in the evening when the anti-encroachment drive was in progress in the presence of a few security personnel that the locals resorted to stone-throwing, which resulted in stopping of the drive.

Later, officials of the district administration arrived to sort out the issue and the drive again started.

The locals were against the drive and had planned to stage a protest against the administration in the afternoon. However, on the assurance of the police and the JDA officials, they postponed the protest.

Sushma Chouhan, vice-chairperson, JDA, told The Tribune, “Yes, the drive has been launched by the department to vacate encroached land”. When asked about the stone-throwing incident in the evening by the locals, she said there were some disturbances, but the matter was sorted out and the drive was in progress.

The anti-encroachment drive was undertaken by the JDA after the state high court issued them directions to vacate the encroached land meant for colony of economically weaker sections of society.

Meanwhile, chairman, Anti-Encroachment Front, Balwinder Singh had claimed that the drive initiated by the department was just an eyewash.

“Recently I had filed an RTI to get information from the JDA about how many persons have encroached upon its land. In reply, the department gave me a list of 72 persons, who have illegally encroached upon the land. If the authorities concerned are serious to vacate the illegal encroachment, they have to take stern action against the 72 persons, who have encroached upon the land,” he maintained.

Jammu, May 11
Natrang today staged Hindi play “Zameen ka Sawaal” at Natrang Studio Theatre in its weekly theatre series, Sunday Theatre. The play written by Partap Sehgal and directed by Neeraj Kant was a hard-hitting satire on the socio-political situation of the country.

The play opened in a trial room where a high-level committee was enquiring about a grim incident where five people at different locations were killed by sending letter-bombs.

Ranganathan, a senior scientist, was accused of the crime as all the evidence was against him. Initially, he did not admit to committing the crime, but when given a false news that his only son was also killed in the same manner, he broke down and admitted to his crime, which he had committed to take revenge from all those who were responsible for hurdles in his growth and promotion.

Despite being the most talented and deserving scientist, he was denied a due promotion as it was granted to someone else, who was close to a minister.

This rendered a frustration in his mind and he asserted that only hard work and ability would take nowhere in this system, where corruption and favouritism were deep-rooted.

Artists who performed in the play included Syed Mudassar Ali Shah, Mahikshit Singh, Varun Sharma, Sachin Saini, Karan Bansal, Namit Dubey and Pankaj Verma. Lights were designed by Neeraj Kant. Mohammad Yaseen coordinated the show and Sakshi Prakash did the presentations.

Jammu, May 11
The National Students Union of India (NSUI) has flayed the authorities of Jammu University for not adhering to the policy of ‘one man, one administrative post’ and warned that it would start an agitation if the university didn’t implement the policy in letter and spirit.

Talking to mediapersons here, Kamal Mangotra, state general secretary, NSUI, said they had been raising the issue of implementation of “one man, one administrative post” in Jammu University for the last many days, but the authorities had taken no cognisance of it.

“The issue is of grave concern as several unemployed youth in the state are yet to get jobs. Due to cold response from the university authorities regarding this issue, the NSUI has decided to launch a signature campaign on the university campus,” he said.

He also demanded immediate removal of special secretary to Vice Chancellor Jai Kumar Sharma, from the post of in charge, Zorawar Singh Auditorium, alleging that he was not eligible for that post. “He is holding three more posts. We demand removal of Sharma from multi posts and confine him to a single post for which he is eligible and the policy of one man, one administrative post should be implemented,” Mangotra said. 

Jammu, May 11
Career Abacus, an abacus teaching institute, inaugurated its 9th centre and organised a prize distribution ceremony of the painting competition at Luthra Higher Secondary School, Talab Tillo.

Rajeev Luthra, chairman, and Sanjeev Luthra, director, Luthra Higher Secondary School, Talab Tillo, were the special guests on the occasion. The programme started with the welcome address by Sheetal Gupta. Prizes were distributed among the winners of various categories.

A demo of children was conducted by Divya and Akanksha which left the audience spellbound. Other students who participated in the demonstration were Pragun Sharma, Khushi, Simar Preet, Preet Arnav, Ronak Singh, Bidhati and Jai Deep Singh.

Arvind Sharma, director of the institute, explained the benefits of abacus to the audience and stressed upon the need to teach this skill to all the students in the age group of 5 to 13 years.

He said abacus not only helped in improving the arithmetical skills but also improved memory, comprehension, listening skills, imagination, creativity, self-reliance and above all self-confidence of students.

Meanwhile, meritorious students of Kachi Chawni branch of ‘Career Abacus’ were also honoured with gold medals and certificates.

Students who received gold medals for scoring 100 per cent marks included Priyanshu Choudhary, Akash Gupta, Shine Mahajan and Ayush Baloria.

In painting sub-junior category, Krish, Nitin Sharma and Parun Kumar bagged first three positions, while Malika, Vanshika, Samridhi Sharma, Sanna, Akash Kumar got consolation prizes. In junior category, Vanshika, Mehran and Sarthak Kakkar won first, second and third positions, respectively. Dimple Sapolia, Aarshdeep Kour, Mahee Patyal, Muskan Verma and Anmol Sharma bagged consolation prizes.

In senior category, Arya Medhavi Sharma got the first place, Surjeet Bhandari won the second spot and Aayush Raina claimed the third position, while the consolation prizes went to Shriya Saraf, Rashmeet Kour, Karishma Raina, Raghav and Pallavi Sharma. 

Jammu, May 11
Vir Sawarkar Higher Secondary School completed 25 years of its establishment. Adarsh Arora, principal of the school, in her welcome speech briefed the students about the journey that started 25 years ago. She also honoured a few teachers, who have been associated with the school since its opening. They included Satish Sharma, Rita Sharma and Nisha Sharma.

On this occasion, the school organised a poster-making competition. Students of all classes participated in this competition and prizes were given to winners. The principal also announced that a grand function would be celebrated in November this year.

Jammu, May 11
The Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry has fixed May 15 for regional offices of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) for submission of annual accounts for the financial year 2013-14. Similarly, the KVS Jammu region has also been told to submit the same keeping in mind various aspects, particularly implementation of the new accounting standards.

Sources claimed that it was reiterated by the Central ministry that the entire exercise for preparation and submission of annual accounts should be periodically monitored at the highest level in regional offices and all KVs of the state to ensure timely submission of annual accounts with utmost accuracy.

“It is for the KVS to ensure that the consolidation of annual accounts is to be completed and adopted by the Board of Governors of the Sangathan and, thereafter, submitted to the Director General of Audit (Central Expenditure), New Delhi, for its audit latest by June 30 of the following year. The audited statements of accounts along with audit report are, thereafter, required to be laid before both the Houses of Parliament before 31-12-2014, a statement from HRD Ministry said.

As per the prescribed time schedule, all regional offices have to prepare and render their regional consolidated accounts with all supporting schedules by May 15 positively, it added.

When the annual accounts for 2012-13 were submitted by KVS previous year, the HRD Ministry has appreciated the efforts of the regional office.

This year also, the ministry expected the same cooperation from the sangathan for timely submission of accounts as per the annexed time schedule, sources maintained.

The basic principles and guidelines for preparation of consolidated annual accounts for the year 2013-2014 in respect of school fund, Vidyalaya Vikas Nidhi, Regional Office Sports Control Board and Bharat Scout and Guides Account have been discussed at length during the workshops conducted earlier.

Located at Gandhi Nagar, Jammu Regional Office, Jammu, is one out of the 25 regional offices under the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan having administrative control over 53 KVs (defence-24, civil-24 and project-5) spread in different states i.e. J&K, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. It came into existence in 1984. 

Jammu, May 11
The Kranti Dal today demanded a CBI probe into alleged corrupt and illegal practices adopted by ration dealers, particularly against whom inquiries and complaints were pending before various investigation agencies.

Talking to mediapersons here, Pritam Sharma, president, Kranti Dal, cited an instance where 105 fake ration cards were identified after physical inspection in the records of ration dealer of Krishna Nagar of the RS Pura block.

“It was just a tip of the iceberg and we are confident that more such scams will come out if the Public Distribution System (PDS) was investigated properly and in transparent manner. In course of physical inspection, it has also come out that some persons are having two ration cards, which is not possible without the patronage of the department concerned,” Sharma said.

He urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to constitute a team of experts directing it to put forward its recommendations to amend the PDS system to stop the corrupt practices.

He also demanded a judicial probe in Krishna Nagar scam where 105 fake ration cards had been identified.

Srinagar, May 11
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has said if senior government officers from J&K don't make their assets public through official government websites, party activists will hold protest demonstrations outside their bungalows.

In a statement issued here, AAP leader Raja Muzaffar Bhat said it was a matter of concern that in spite of several government circulars and orders, many top government officers were reluctant to give details of their properties to the government and subsequently not making it public.

"This is a clear indication that these officers want to hide misdeeds and corrupt practices," Bhat said.

He said the Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS) Officers and some IAS officers have failed to submit their Annual Property Returns (APRs) to the government within the stipulated time.

"Many IAS officers have given wrong details about their Immovable Properties Returns (IPRs) which is available on DoPT as well as the General Administration Department's (GAD) website. How is it possible that a house located in Srinagar's posh colony with 2 to 3 kanals costs Rs 20 to Rs 30 lakh? More than 200 KAS officers have not declared their assets for 2013 to the government till now. Of them, 12 are holding important positions in the government such as of directors in different departments, while seven are deputy commissioners," the AAP said.

"We appeal to the chief secretary to take action against these erring IAS and KAS officers and ensure that the correct information about their property is made public by the government officers. Besides, the details provided by the officers should be cross-examined as well by the State Vigilance Commission (SVC) and other investigating organisations. If the officers won't make the property details public, we will be forced to hold protest demonstrations outside their residential bungalows," said Raja Muzaffar.

Srinagar, May 11
The CPM today demanded immediate release of youth and political leaders detained during the recent Lok Sabha elections in the state.

"The continuous detention of youth and political leaders in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley is atrocious and undemocratic. We demand their immediate release," Jammu and Kashmir party secretary MY Tarigami said in a statement here.

The police detained over 500 youth and separatist leaders during the Lok Sabha polls in Kashmir which ended on May 7.

Tarigami said the authorities concerned should adopt more humane approach while tackling the angry and misguided youth.

"I also appeal to the youth to follow peaceful means to express their concern for justice and democratic rights," he added. — PTI

Jammu, May 11
With the Lok Sabha elections coming to an end in the militancy-plagued Jammu and Kashmir, security forces will now go full throttle in their counter-insurgency operations in the hinterland across the state to eliminate residual cadres of ultras.

Annual Amarnath pilgrimage in south Kashmir Himalayas, which, in the past, had been attacked by the terrorists, is scheduled to begin on June 28.

According to police estimates, at least 130 to 150 categorised ultras were scattered in the hinterland across Kashmir Valley comprising 10 districts while "very negligible" ultras were lying dormant across the Jammu region comprising 10 districts, especially in the upper reaches of Kishtwar district and Ladakh region having two districts fortunately remains free of Pak-sponsored insurgency.

"While the Army and the BSF have upped their vigil along the 744-km-long Line of Control and 198-km-long International Border to ensure zero infiltration this summer, security forces, including Jammu and Kashmir Police and other paramilitary forces, would now give focused attention on the remaining ultras in the hinterland," said a top intelligence source.

In fact, more coordinated and sharp operations in the hinterland are in the offing, he added.

Inspector General of Police, Kashmir zone, Abdul Gani Mir said, "According to our information, 130 to 150 categorised militants are in the hinterland in Kashmir Valley and then there might be sleeper cells of militant outfits as well. So to give specific figures is not possible."

Kashmir region IGP, however, said the police had been conducting counter-insurgency operations during elections also.

"The routine policing do not affect counter-insurgency operations. Now, from June 28 the Amarnath Yatra will start and that would not impinge our operations," said Mir.

Security forces had killed 38 militants last year in Kashmir, while in the first four months of this year, 30 militants have been gunned down so far. Among the dead were 20 foreign mercenaries and 10 locals.

Eleven militants belonging to Lashkar-e-Toiba, eight to Hizbul Mujahideen, seven to Jaish-e-Mohammad and three remained unidentified.

Jammu Zone IGP Rajesh Kumar said, “The number of militants across the Jammu region is very less. In fact, it is negligible. But we cannot say that they are not present in the hinterland.”

He, however, refused to give specific figures of the remaining cadres.

"If we say that the figure stands at 10 and the infiltration takes place or ultras from Kashmir cross the Pir Panjal range and enter Jammu, their number may go up. So it would be very difficult to give their figures," he said.

Kashmir is back to the centre-stage of the national politics amid all the noise about as to who is going to win or lose in the Lok Sabha elections the final phase on May 12. The dynamics of the Kashmir game have changed and so have the situation and the dramatis persona in Kashmir. The post-poll behaviour of those who had given boycott call against those who dared to vote should serve as an eye opener to the Kashmir leadership and the intellectual class. That there was a spree of violent incidents against all those who had voted in the Lok Sabha polls is a hard evidence that the Valley is becoming intolerant and the leadership of all sorts has failed their people. The voters were thrashed and warned. Is this class of thrashers going to determine as to what Kashmir should look like? This is a question that the leadership must answer.

Is this the kind of Kashmir that has been conceived by the leadership that claims to be leading the "freedom struggle" in the Valley and which leaves no stone unturned to stay in media spotlight. They give poll boycott calls. And, wily nily, some of the parties that claim themselves to be the mainstream groups, have endorsed the poll boycott calls not only by their words but also by actions without going into 
depth as to what that would mean in the long run for Kashmir and its people whom they claim to represent.

Kashmir embarked on a long and tragic journey of violence and bloodshed in the late 1989 and till date there seems to be no end to it in sight. The situation has changed in such a cruel way that today it is exceedingly difficult to differentiate as to who stands on which side of the fence. And if the things have gone wrong over the years the militants and separatists are less to be blamed than the so-called mainstream leaders.

Let's put October 1996 as the cut off date when an elected government took over after a prolonged six-and-a-half-year spell of the Central rule. Farooq Abdullah had the capacity and charisma to change the course of the events. Farooq was in the chair of chief minister. Indeed, Delhi started playing games and he walked straight into the trap laid for him by the militants, separatists and his critics in the "Delhi durbar".

This did not allow him to concentrate on his job. That, however, did not prevent him from visiting places and ignoring the governance and by that time he was made to quit the chair as his party National Conference had lost the elections.

This style of governance, which is close to the definition of misgovernance, was the legacy left by him which all his successors have followed in one way or the other. Mufti Sayeed had to accommodate the interests of the people on the one hand, and also that of the constituents of his multi-party coalition.

Ghulam Nabi Azad tried to make a difference but that was stonewalled by the vested interests, who wanted politics to stay afloat and all other issues of development, governance and new paths shelved .

Current Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inherited this unpalatable legacy, where there was a mix of mis-governance and other failures. He could have changed the course. Age was on his side.

Had he chosen his path that he had declared during the 2008 elections; making Jammu and Kashmir the model state of the country. Had he taken some initiatives on his own he would have been on top of the world. The youngest chief minister of the state could have worked wonders. But that was not to be.

Instead, the situation has started deteriorating in such a way that in 2010 there was a revolt on the streets. He did not correct the course because he was so much shackled by his own self and his desire to stay in chair that things went from bad to worse.

What is happening now when the Kashmiris have started fighting Kashmiris — poll boycotters versus votaries of democracy. It is ominous.

This is high time that the people with stakes in the Valley woke up and saw the ugly reality and put in collective efforts to put a halt to all this. 

Srinagar, May 11
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said politicians should take a "vow of silence" till the morning of May 16, when result for the 16th Lok Sabha elections will be announced.

"Starting tomorrow evening all politicians should take a vow of silence till the (May) 16th morning", Omar wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter. "This country has had enough of us," he said. — TNS

Jammu, May 11
Minister for Public Health Engineering (PHE), Irrigation and Flood Control Sham Lal Sharma has exhorted upon the workers to strengthen the party at the grass-roots level and highlight the programmes and policies of the Congress.

Speaking at a monthly meeting of the party workers at Akhnoor yesterday, the PHE minister stressed the need for maintaining close coordination between the public, workers and administration so that the benefits of various government programmes reach the needy.

Congress workers from Akhnoor tehsil and office-bearers of the Block Committee participated in the meeting.

“The Congress has a rich history of serving the country for the longest stint and has vast experience of addressing the problems of the people. During the last five decades, the country has touched new heights under the Congress regimes. We must maintain and carry on the high traditions set by the party stalwarts such as Jawahar Lal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi and work for the welfare of the poor and needy,” the minister said.

He appealed to the workers to maintain peace and communal harmony. — TNS

Srinagar, May 11
A fire broke at the Zampa Kadal locality of the old city today afternoon and damaged four houses. The fire and emergency services department launched a major operation to douse the flames.

The fire damaged four houses, including three two-storied residences at Maidanpora area of Zampa Kadal, an official of the fire and emergency services department said.

The official said 11 fire tenders were pushed into service to douse the fire which was brought under control after several hours of fire-fighting. The exact cause and assessment of the damage caused by the fire was still being ascertained, the official said.

Srinagar, May 11
With the city facing shortage of passenger vehicles, overloading in local buses has become a major cause of sexual harassment for women mostly students. The women accused the government of failing to check the menace of overloading during peak hours.

A group of students from Government College for Women, MA Road, say the drivers stop buses even though the bus is jam-packed. They alleged that the officials concerned have failed to check overcrowding in buses.

"Physical contacts and advances, comments, jokes and obscene gestures are the common practices used in buses to tease women sexually. These practices have made it difficult for women to travel in buses," said a student.

"During peak hours in the morning and afternoon, buses are so crowded that some miscreants try to sexually harass women by touching physically. There isn't a space to breathe," said a final-year student from the college.

Working women and students alleged that they had to face a tough time travelling in local buses. Another student added that with no other option left they are forced to travel in overcrowded buses. "Everyone cannot afford private transport or a rickshaw. After waiting for an hour on the bus stop, we have to travel in overcrowded buses. We cannot raise a voice against such issue as we fear that we may get stigmatised. We just bear it silently," said another woman student from the university.

With no proper guidelines for drivers, many alleged that despite having a specific capacity in buses of 15 to 17 passengers, the drivers violate the laws by accommodating more than 20 passengers.

Chairman of the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) Rafiq Fida while admitting the issue as a vast human rights violation of women assured that he would take up the issue with the traffic official concerned and come up with a solution.

"The problem has worsened as most of the time the buses are either overloaded or the operators do not adhere to the reserved seat quota for women in buses," said a female commuter. "Unethical treatment is meted out to women in local buses," she added.

According to commuters, the drivers do not move an inch until the vehicles are overloaded at the bus stop. Another commuter said there should be separate buses for women because the separate seats meant for women in vehicles are always occupied by men, and women have to wait for Good Samaritans who leave the seats for them.

Traffic Police SSP Moeen Masood said the department had received complaints of overloading and harassment and strict directions had been issued to curb such incidents.

"If seats are reserved for women in buses, drivers or conductors should make sure that no man sits on those seats. If we get a formal complaint from a woman, I will take up the issue with the police officials concerned," he said.

Though the traffic department in the city had introduced the eight-seat reservation for women in buses two years ago, despite several awareness campaigns nothing had been done to ensure its implementation.

Officials of the department also blamed lack of cooperation from locals.

"We will again start the campaign by involving NGOs," said Rehman.

Rehman said overcrowding in buses was due to shortage of passenger vehicles in the city. "Six hundred vehicles, including 407 passenger buses, were cancelled in the past two years by the transport department, but till now these vehicles have no replacement on roads that has led to overcrowding in buses. I have already taken up the issue with the regional transport office. We will solve it soon," he added.

Anantnag, May 11
An unidentified person was crushed under a train near the Qazigund railway station here today in South Kashmir's Kulgam district. The accident took place around 4.30 pm.

Following the death, which railway officials termed as a suicide, people in the area came out in large numbers to protest. They blocked the railway track and the train service remained disrupted even after three hours after the accident.

According to reports, the Banihal-bound train, which had left the Baramulla railway station at 3 pm, was running at full speed when the man was crushed under it.

SP Railways, Zahid Malik, while confirming the incident said the police officials were on the site of the accident and trying to pacify the protesters.

"We have sent the body for a post-mortem examination. Efforts are on to if identify the deceased," Malik said.

While Malik did not comment on whether it was a case of suicide or not, railway officials said it was a clear cut case of suicide.

"The police men, on duty nearby, tried to stop the man from jumping on to the track," said Nand Lal, Railway Controller. The protesters, however, termed the accident negligence by the driver of the train.

Jammu, May 11
The Directorate of the Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM), J&K, has issued instructions to the ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, unani siddha and homeopathy (AYUSH) doctors/practitioners to prescribe medicines of their own system of medicine for which they are registered.

The ISM expressed concern over alleged cross-prescription.

The department has told the assistant divisional medical officers, chief medical officers, block medical officers and medical superintendents to ensure that AYUSH doctors working in the institutions under their administrative control do not prescribe allopathic medicines.

The ISM has said in case of default by the AYUSH doctors, disciplinary action should be initiated and matter be referred to the competent authority for punitive action.

“There are inputs that some doctors, particularly those working at the primary health centres, community health centres, district hospitals under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), are indulging in cross-prescription by prescribing allopathic medicines to patients for which they are not authorised under law/rules.

“Instructions have been issued by this office from time to time by virtue of which the AYUSH doctors were impressed upon to adhere to their own system of medicine for which they are registered,” an ISM statement said.

Sources said a joint circular was issued by the Directorate of the ISM and the Directorate of Health Services, AYUSH, wherein doctors were directed to stick to prescribing their own system and providing choice of treatment to patients under one roof.

The department made it clear that doctors registered for one system of medicine were not authorised to prescribe medicines of other system and defaulters were liable for punitive action.

The department said prescribing allopathic medicines by AYUSH doctors was against the provisions of the J&K Ayurvedic and Unani Practitioners Act, 1959.

“Only those homeopathic practitioners who are registered under the J&K Homeopathic Practitioners Act, 2003, read with the Amendment Act, 2009, are entitled to prescribing homeopathic medicine. No person other than a practitioner enrolled on a state medical register shall practise modern scientific medicine in any state as per Section 15 (2) (b) of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956,” an ISM 
circular said.

Baramulla, May 11
Shutdown continued in Baramulla and Bandipora towns of north Kashmir for the third consecutive day today against the arrest of some youth. Normalcy, however, is likely to return from tomorrow as traders’ body in Baramulla has decided to call off the strike.

Baramulla town is observing complete shutdown against the police action in which some youths had been arrested before the Lok Sabha elections for their alleged involvement in stone throwing and harassment of voters. The local inhabitants had accused the police of ransacking three houses.

The locals and traders have been demanding release of the youth and compensation to the owner whose house, they say, suffered damage during the alleged police raid. The police have, however, denied the allegations.

A delegation of Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA), a Srinagar-based trade body, held a meeting with Baramulla Traders Association. During the meeting, it was decided to call off the strike from Monday and resume normal business activities.

The joint trade bodies took stock of the situation at Baramulla Stadium Colony and condemned the police action. The decision to call off the strike was announced after traders agreed to give some time to the administration to resolve the issue, said a trader.

Meanwhile, complete shutdown was also observed in Bandipora town against the arrest of around 25 youths who were detained as a precautionary measures on the charges of stone pelting before the Lok Sabha elections. The traders had met police officials yesterday but the talks remained inconclusive. Locals and traders have been demanding release of all youth. 

Poonch, May 11
Under Operation Sadbhavana, the Army flagged off an educational and motivational tour for economically backward youth and senior citizens of border areas of Mendhar, Tain, Chirangri, Chajjla, Choi, Bobby Camp and Mankot yesterday.

The tour is being organised by the Barasingha Battalion under the aegis of the Krishna Ghati Brigade.

The group consists of 20 youth and two senior citizens of the area.

Commanding Officer of the Barasingha Battalion flagged off the tour from Mendhar town yesterday. A large number of civil dignitaries and people were present.

The sub-divisional magistrate, Mendhar, and the sub-divisional police officer, Mendhar, government officials and mediapersons along with a large number of civilians attended the function.

The tour participants will visit historical places in Delhi, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri and Noida. The group will interact with senior Army officers.

Jammu, May 11
The Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to make functional the five new medical colleges sanctioned for the state by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a few months ago.

The registration process of the colleges will start once the state government issues notification after the Model Code of Conduct is over.

The quota of the MBBS seats in the state will go up to 950 from the existing 450 seats, benefiting the aspirants of the Common Entrance Test for which forms have been issued.

Health and Medical Education Minister Taj Mohiuddin says they are on the job and the colleges will be made functional this year.

“We have the requisite infrastructure at places where the medical colleges have been announced. We have a problem where to hold classrooms. But a decision has been taken to start classes at old hospitals till new classrooms are constructed,” the minister told The Tribune.

The medical colleges will be made functional in the existing buildings of the districts hospitals till requisite infrastructure is in place.

Taj said the state government was expected to complete the whole infrastructure in five years, including laboratories, at these colleges.

“When the first batch of the MBBS students joins the college, they will be provided the requisite infrastructure. When they complete their degree, all infrastructure will be in place,” the minister said.

The government has appointed nodal officers for all five colleges. They will look after the functioning of the colleges and ensure that the infrastructure is on a par with other reputed medical colleges.

Dr Bela Mahajan has been appointed the nodal officer for the Doda medical college, Dr Zahid Geelani for the Rajouri medical college, Dr Shahshi Gupta for the Kathua medical college, Dr Parvez Ahmad Qaiser for the Anantnag medical college and Dr Javed Choudhary for the Baramulla medical college.

The three medical colleges of the Jammu region, Doda, Rajouri and Kathua, will be registered with the University of Jammu and two colleges of the Kashmir region, Anantnag and Baramulla, will be registered with the University of Kashmir.

Meanwhhile, there are apprehensions that the fate of these colleges may hang in the balance, if the regime changes at the Centre.

“A memorandum of understanding has been signed and we have taken the provisional consent to start the colleges. If there will be a change of guard at the Centre, it will not have any impact on these colleges,” the health minister said.

Pulwama, May 11
People today welcomed the drive against encroachments on the Gangoo Puchal link road in Pulwama. The drive was organised by the Falai-Aam Committee, Lajurah, in collaboration with the police.

The encroachments were causing inconvenience to the locals.

“The road stretch would stink and there was every chance of water-borne disease. In 2010, almost all villagers suffered from dehydration in Manduna, Uthoora and Pinglena villages,” said Firdous Ahmad, a local.

Station House Officer Reyaz Ahmad said he appreciated the efforts of the Falai-e-Aam Committee and people who cooperated during the drive.

“We want safe and smooth vehicular movement on the road and appeal to all to cooperate,” said the chairman of the committee.

Srinagar, May 11
Thousands of migratory birds, which flock Kashmir every winter, have overstayed this year making the Valley a permanent abode, which is likely to enrich the bird population in the Valley.

Three important species of migratory birds, including Mallards, Cormorants and Greyland Goose, have overstayed in the wetlands of Pampore of central Kashmir for breeding purposes, which is likely to make them permanent residents of Kashmir.

Environmental lawyer Nadeem Qadri, who is also the coordinator of the Wildlife Trust of India's Rapid Action Project (RAP) in the state, told The Tribune that the chicks of various migratory bird species which bred this year would adapt to the local conditions and would not move out of Kashmir.

Usually, the birds stay for three-month winter period in Kashmir and then fly back to Siberia, Australia and Central Asia by mid-March.

This year, Nadeem said the birds overstayed, which had made it necessary for the wildlife experts to design a safe habitat for them especially where they could be protected from the poaching scare.

The J&K Wildlife Department in coordination with Nadeem's NGO Wildlife Conservation Fund would organise a day-long awareness workshop tomorrow on the eve of World Migratory Birds Day and float the Valley's first-ever bird watchers' network.

"This has become pertinent because there is not only an increase in the number of migratory birds this year, but also diversification of species. In the four wetlands of Fushkoori, Mainbugh, Krunchoo and Chatlam in Pampore, as against 25 species of migratory birds, which were seen last year, this time we have 27 species," Qadri said.

Jammu, May 11
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) aspirants in the erstwhile Doda district have received a shot in the arm as the Delta Force of the Army was looking forward to help providing best of coaching to “underprivileged” students of the area.

The Delta force in association with the Centre for Social Responsibility and Leadership (CSRL), New Delhi, is looking forward to launch the Chenab Super 30, on the basis of the Patna-based Super 30, here to coach young aspirants of Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar.

Former Director General of Police (DGP), Bihar, and co-founder of the Patna’s Super 30 Abhayanand will be the academic mentor of the program.

The program will be executed by the CSRL, which is presently running nine coaching centres across the country.

The overall success rate of these centres for the year 2014 is around 90 per cent.

Giving out details of the programme, Jammu-based Public Relation Officer (PRO), Defence, Lt Col Manish Mehta said: “The programme involves providing free residential coaching and mentoring for clearing the IIT-JEE and other premier engineering exam to underprivileged but bright students for 11 months at Jammu.”

The students, who are eligible to appear for the IIT-JEE in 2015, would be admitted for the coaching programme through a written test followed by an interview.

“The written test for selection of students will be held in the first week of June at various centres across Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar districts. Free residential coaching session shall start in the first week of July at Jammu and continue till May 2015,” the officer said.

The Chenab Super 30 will assist youth to realise their potential and contribute in the task of Nation building, he said.

A finer detail for selecting students is being worked out by the Delta Force in coordination with the CSRL and same will be communicated to the aspirants by third week of May, Lieutenant Colonel Mehta said.

Poonch, May 11
The Labour Department in Poonch district has allegedly misused government funds meant for scholorships and financial aid to labourers to help them get their children married.

Acting on a complaint, the Labour and Employment Department has initiated a departmental inquiry and seized all records pertaining to cases recommended for assistance. A source in the department said the Assistance Labour Commissioner, Poonch, had recommended wrong and fake cases for assistance where mother-son, brother-sister duo were shown married.

Mureed Hussain shah, Chief Executive Officer/Secretary, J&K Construction Workers Welfare Board, who is conducting the departmental inquiry, said, “In the preliminary investigations, we have found that the Poonch office of the Labour Department has recommended wrong cases to get assistance. We have found that brother-sister, mother-son and even some students were shown married. Most of the forms were filled by a single person which clearly indicates fraudulent means were adopted.”

Financial assistance for marriage cases was Rs 25,000 and the Labour Department had spent Rs 7 crore in Poonch district.

Srinagar, May 11
A majority of voters in the four constituencies of the Kashmir division stayed away from the just concluded parliamentary polls in the state.

Approximately 26 lakh electors out of 38.81 lakh registered voters did not cast their ballot for the four Lok Sabha seats of Anantnag, Srinagar, Baramulla and Ladakh, spread over 12 districts and having a total population of 71.62 lakh.

The turnout in the four constituencies represented just 16.00 per cent of the total population. And according to the official data, these parliamentary segments registered an overall voter turnout of 32.42 per cent. There are 43.54 lakh eligible voters in these four constituencies. However, only 38.81 lakh had registered their names in the electoral list.

The Anantnag parliamentary constituency, which is spread over four districts, was the first to go to polls in the Kashmir region on April 24. The constituency recorded 28 per cent voter turnout.

The percentage translates into an approximate 3.64 lakh electorate out of 13.01 lakh registered voters from a population of 23.29 lakh.

The low voter turnout in Anantnag was attributed to a series of militant attacks in the run up to the elections which resulted in almost complete poll boycott in the Tral Assembly segment and six per cent voting in four Assembly segments of Pulwama district.

The second constituency to go to polls was Srinagar, which is spread over three central Kashmir districts.

The parliamentary segment recorded a turnout of 26 per cent, the lowest among the four constituencies. Even as 3.20 lakh out of 12.31 lakh registered electors from a population of 22.88 lakh came out to vote.

In the Baramulla parliamentary constituency, spread over three vast frontier districts, the turnout was recorded at 39.6 per cent which equals to 4.70 lakh electors out of 11.89 lakh registered voters. The constituency has a total population of 22.70 lakh.

In the thinly populated Ladakh parliamentary constituency, 65 per cent voters cast their votes, which translate into 1.04 lakh votes out of 1.60 lakh registered electors.

The segment witnessed a decrease of almost seven per cent in voter turnout from the 2009, when 71.86 per cent polling was recorded there. Ladakh has a total population of 2.74 lakh.

The low voter turnout in the region, the Chief Electoral Officer Umang Narula said after the polling ended in the Srinagar constituency on April 30, could be because of “local issues or larger issues”.

Separatist call for boycott, presence of militants in the area, law and order situation and civilian deaths in the locality have been some of visible factors, which influenced the voter mood in the region this election.

According to a survey authorised by the Election Commission, anger against political parties and candidates, voter apathy in urban areas, no faith in the political system and non-availability of Electoral Photo ID cards were some of the factors responsible for non-participation in the polls.