Jammu, June 13
Nighat Sultana, 2nd Additional Sessions Judge, Jammu, today granted bail to the then ballistic expert Sarwar Hussain Bhukhari and the then constable Raj Singh at the Forensic Science Laboratory, who were facing trial in the much publicised Amandeep murder case.

They were in custody for the past more than four years. After hearing the counsel appearing for the applicants, Nighat Sultana observed: "The cases of the applicants is no where different from the other accused who are similarly situated. Taking clue from the judgment of the apex court and the J&K High Court, whereby, Rakesh Singh, Manohar Singh and Sultan Mehmood Mirza have already been granted bail, the petitioners are directed to be released subject to furnishing of bail bonds to the tune of Rs 1,00, 000 (One lakh) each with the condition that the applicants on being released on bail shall attend the trial court on each and every date of hearing and shall not leave the territorial jurisdiction of this court."

"They shall not try to give a slip to law in any way. Moreover, they shall not attempt to influence any witness or any other person related to the case. In case the applicants violate any of these conditions, the state will be free to apply for cancellation of the bail granted by this court,” the judge held.

Srinagar, June 13
Amid thunderous applause from hundreds of Rehbar-e-Taaleem (ReT) teachers, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday announced five-year service benefit to 55,000 teachers of the state and allowed transfer of ReT teachers.

The ReT scheme, which was launched in 2005 with the objective of creating employment opportunities, had invited sharp criticism for non-inclusion of first five years of service for promotion, non-transferable posting and a meagre honorarium of Rs 3,000 a month.

Speaking at the ReT educational conference at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre in Srinagar, the Chief Minister said the move was aimed at creating more job opportunities in the education sector for the youth.

He said the government had observed that the demands of teachers were justified and should be accepted to benefit them and strengthen the system of education delivery in rural areas.

“This will not only help ReT teachers to grow and develop, but create a continuous process of creating vacancies of ReT teachers in rural, remote and backward areas for the educated youth as well,” he said.

Omar hinted at an increase in retirement age of faculty of state universities and medical colleges. The current retirement age for faculty at state universities and medical colleges was 58 years at present.

Faculty members had been demanding an enhancement in retirement age to 65 years so that it was at par with Medical Council of India and central university guidelines.

Omar claimed that the populist measures announced by his government were not the result of the defeat of the party in the General Election.

“There is false propaganda that we are announcing the measures following the election debacle. We think that these measures will benefit the people. We will continue announcing more measures,” he said.

Srinagar, June 13
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court, in response to the fresh bail plea by prime accused in the MBBS paper scam and former chairman of the Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE) Mushtaq Peer, today issued notices to the respondents, including the crime branch.

While issuing the notices, the court asked the respondents to file objection to the bail application by the next hearing.

These directions were issued by a Division Bench here before whom Peer’s bail petition was listed today. The Bench, while issuing the notices, posted the matter for further hearing along with the main petition on July 3.

Peer is currently under judicial custody in the MBBS paper scam case and is lodged at Central Jail, Srinagar.

His earlier bail plea was rejected by the special anti-corruption court here on February 23.

The MBBS exam scam involves the sale of CET-2012 question papers by Peer through his aides Farooq Itoo, Sajjad Ahmad and Haroon in lieu of Rs 60 lakh.

Srinagar, June 13
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) authorities to ensure proper supply of food items, including rice and flour, to the only leper home in Srinagar.

The court also constituted a team of two lawyers, asking them to visit the leper home, Government Psychiatric Diseases Hospital and Chest Diseases Hospital in Srinagar and file a comprehensive report after taking stock of the situation.

These directions were issued by a Division Bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar after hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) by one GM Khan seeking reforms in the health sector.

“The government counsel, JA Kaswoosa, had disclosed that rice and flour has not been supplied to the leper home by the CAPD department since November 2013. When he visited the leper home, the officials there apprised him about the non-distribution of the same and requested him to inform the court about it,” the Bench observed in its orders.

“There are some other deficiencies, the lack of which has been pointed out in the status report. Keeping in view the various aspects, we feel it would be necessary to constitute a team of lawyers who may visit the leper home and prepare a comprehensive report indicating the deficiencies and suggest the remedy of the situation on ground,” the Bench observed while constituting a team of two lawyers, Riyaz Jan (amicus) and JA Kaswoosa (government counsel) to visit the leper home.

Arraying the CAPD Secretary as party respondent in the petition, the court directed the Commissioner Secretary, CAPD, to ensure proper supply of food items, including ration, to the leper home and file the status report by July 10.

It observed that if the Commissioner fails to file the status report, then he would have to appear in person on the next hearing.

Apart from visiting the leper home, the court has directed the team of the lawyers to also visit Government Psychiatric Diseases Hospital and Chest Diseases (CD) Hospital in Srinagar and file a comprehensive report about the requirements, hygienic and other conditions at these two hospitals.

Srinagar, June 13
The 10 candidates from the state who have cracked the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examinations this year tell aspirants that the success mantra is ‘not becoming a bookworm’.

Shakeel Maqbool

Abid Hussain Sadiq Bhat of Srinagar, Indian Administrative Service (IAS) examinations state topper who figures 27th, thinks that ‘studying smartly’ is the key to cracking competitive examinations these days.

He studied electronics and communications at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Srinagar. He had cleared the UPSC and Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS) examinations earlier. He was undergoing Indian Revenue Service training in Faridabad at present.

He told the Tribune that skipping irrelevant information had become necessary in the current age of globalisation and ‘information overload’.

“It is not about which books one should study. It is more about which books and Internet information one should not study. Information overload has led to more confusion even though technology can be a handy tool for students,” he quipped.

Abid said reading newspapers should be a habit if one aspired to become an IAS officer. “Without keeping oneself updated with current affairs and critical analysis, it is difficult to crack these exams. Reading newspapers is a must,” he said.

Another NIT alumnus, Shakeel Maqbool of Chadoora in Budgam district of central Kashmir, echoed Abid’s view that IAS qualifiers remaining only ‘bookworms’ was a myth and putting in smart hours of study could be really fruitful.

“This was my first attempt and I secured the 633rd rank . I will try to improve my ranking. Although I studied science subjects in BTech, I took up political sciences for my IAS study. We have to opt wisely for subjects in these exams,” he said. Shakeel was working as lecturer at present.

Yet another NIT alumnus, Qummar-ul-Zaman of Surankote in Poonch, said he had taken up public administration for cracking the IAS because studying current affairs along with public administration and political science made it easier. A KAS officer, he had secured the 751st rank.

Among the other successful candidates from the Valley, Bashir Ahmad Bhat had secured the 189th rank and Raja Yaqoob the 274th rank.

Jammu, June 13
More rural youth than urban ones in conflict-ridden Jammu and Kashmir appear to be aspiring for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

Mehtab Ahmed

This is evident from the fact that six of the 10 candidates who have cracked the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examinations have a rural background.

Some of them have not taken coaching classes to prepare for the examinations. Three candidates from the frontier district of Poonch are good friends.

Two of them, Owais Ahmed Rana and Mehtab Ahmed, belong to Mendhar tehsil while Qummer-ul-Zaman is a native of Phagla village in the Surankote area of Poonch.

The trio had cleared the Kashmir Administrative Service examinations in 2011 and were serving in the state administration at present.

Other candidates from the Jammu region who cracked the UPSC examinations this year are Vikrant Bhushan of Reasi, Afaq Ahmed Giri of the Bankoot area in Banihal tehsil and Abhishek Mahajan of Jammu.

Shakeel Maqbool of the Wathoora Chadoora area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district, Abid Hussain Sadiq Bhat of Hyderpora in Srinagar, Bashir Ahmed Bhat and Raja Yaqoob Farooq qualified the UPSC civil services examination.

Talking to The Tribune, Mehtab Ahmed, currently serving as tehsildar (relief) in the Revenue Department in Jammu, said he cracked the exam in his second attempt.

“I had learnt much about the IAS during my school days, but limited resources always forced me to look for other options. I studied civil engineering at the NIT in Srinagar,” he said.

He said his father was an imam at the local mosque and used to earn his livelihood through farming in his native village, Gursai in Mendhar.

“I still remember that we used to walk a long distance to reach school. It is not uncommon for him as students in remote areas still walk a long distance to attend school,” he said.

“In rural areas, there are limited job opportunities. The only option is to pursue education and work hard to get government jobs. There are a lot of job avenues in the private sector in urban areas,” he said.

He said people in rural lived in fear psychosis that they would have to grease the palms of officers to get their work done in government departments.

“There is a need to change the prevailing system and the mindset of the people. I will work in this direction so that the common man feels secure in society,” he said.

Afaq Ahmad Giri, a former core planning engineer with Nokia in Gurgaon, lost his mother Raziya Begum about two months before his preliminary examination.

“I had to resign from Nokia after the health of my mother deteriorated. I had a job offer in Brazil. I was not in position to concentrate on my studies, but my family and friends encouraged me. I qualified in the first attempt,” he said.

He completed his schooling from Sainik School in Nagrota and did BE from the Government College for Engineering and Technology in Jammu.

To a query about the rural youth aspiring for IAS more than the urban youth, he said, “There are less job opportunities in rural pockets. This inspires the youth for government jobs, including the civil services.”

Jammu, June 13
The Jammu and Kashmir state unit of Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) has chalked out an ambitious programme of becoming a real force in the state, highlighting the problems of Dalits and other weaker sections of the society.

The party will open its state unit office at Gandhi Nagar shortly and also starting a vigorous drive to enrol members of the party in every part of Jammu region as well as in Kashmir valley.

Its reach will be mainly focussed on Dalits and other weaker sections of the society.

LJP state president, Sham Lal Gupta, said the target of enrolling 1 lakh members within the next two months in Jammu province had been fixed, adding that another 1 lakh members would be enrolled in Kashmir valley, where there is void of any real main national mainstream party.

Jammu, Jun 13
Reiterating the demand for rehabilitation of PoK refugees especially from west Pakistan, Rajiv Mahajan, state president, Shri Ram Sena (SRS), Jammu and Kashmir, urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi led NDA government to settle their rehabilitation issue.

He said these refugees have been residing here for the past 67 years without right to citizenship, right to property and right to settlement. He said the new government should redress their problems, as people have given a clear mandate to it.

Srinagar, June 13
Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board RK Gupta on the occasion of ‘jyesht purnima’ today performed ‘pratham pooja’ amid chanting of Vedic hymns at Chandanwari.

The CEO invoked the blessings of Shri Amarnathji for the smooth conduct of the ensuing yatra and prayed for the safety and security of the devotees.

Since 2011, the Shrine Board has been conducting ‘pratham pooja’ every year on the auspicious occasion of ‘jyesht purnima’ to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva ahead of the pilgrimage.

The CEO was accompanied by Additional Chief Executive Officer Preet Pal Singh; General Manager (Works) RK Pandita; camp directors and members of the Baba Amarnath and Budha Amarnath Yatri Niyas.

Gupta also reviewed the status of the ongoing works at the access control gate at Chandanwari and directed the officials of the Roads and Buildings Department to expedite construction of shelter sheds and repair of other damaged infrastructure.

Taking into account the significant delay and disruption of work due to unprecedented snowfall during the preceding winter, the CEO ordered deployment of additional manpower, on double shift basis, for clearance of snow on yatra tracks and putting in place other yatra-related arrangements at all the camps on the Pahalgam-cave shrine route before the commencement of the pilgrimage on June 28.

Gupta asked all the concerned agencies to work on war footing to make all the necessary arrangements ahead of the yatra.

Large accumulation of snow on the tracks at various camp locations and inclement weather up to mid-May has seriously hampered the progress of restoration of yatra track, without which it would not be possible to make required arrangements at Panjtarni, Sheshnag and the holy cave.

Jammu, June 13
In yet another major finding, the Union Ministry of Urban Development in its report claimed that cost escalation is the key challenge faced by Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) in implementing Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission (JNNURM)-funded projects.

The report said there was no comprehensive policy on providing basic services to all urban poor as of now. There is no separate department within JMC that deals with the issues of the urban poor. There is no policy on public participation of the urban poor in various rehabilitation programmes.

“There is no proper coordination between JMC, Jammu Development Authority (JDA), District Development Board (DDB) and Town Planning Organisation (TPO) in preparation of plans and implementation of the same. Also there is no clarity on the urban planning function, implementation of master plan and framing various building by laws. The master plans lack the essence City Development Plan (CDP) for the city,” the report said.

It further said the data about urban agglomeration in Jammu is not available. The JDA has not been meticulous in even gathering current demographic data about the town, leave alone data on urban services. Central ministry recommended that transfer of key functions such as water and urban planning functions to JMC is needed. At the same time, support and mechanism needs to be manage during the transition period. In addition, preparation of training modules and conduct of trainings programmes for elected representatives is needed.

The report said exposure visits for staff and elected representatives to know the best practices implemented in other states are required. Conducting regular workshops/awareness camps on municipal laws, procedures and applicable rules to the staff members as well as elected representatives is required to enhance the decision-making power at JMC.

“Establishment of legal cell at JMC to tackle the legal issues in project implementation is needed. There is a need to develop a complete organisational plan, role responsibility, framing of HR polices such as leave, transfer, and promotions policies etc. The state government shall be requested to ensure minimum tenure of three years for commissioner. There is an urgent need to increase the manpower of the ULB since it is deficit in resources,” the report maintained.

Jammu, June 13
A quake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale hit the Doda region on Friday evening. Its shocks were felt in the neighbouring Kishtwar district.

Sonam Lotus, Director of the Meteorological Department, said, “An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.6 hit Doda and adjoining areas around 7.02 pm.”

He said, “The epicentre was near Doda at a latitude of 33.4 North and longitude of 75.8 East.” When contacted, Jammu Divisional Commissioner Shantmanu said, “There is no report of loss of life or property yet.” Reports from Doda and Kishtwar said people panicked, came out of their houses and started looking for safe places under the sky. — TNS

Srinagar, June 13
When the eruption of militancy forced the majority of Pandits to leave Kashmir around two and a half decades ago, some had preferred to stay back. While many continued to live in their ancestral homes, others got displaced within the Valley.

Even as successive state and Central governments have been talking of bringing back Pandits to Kashmir, the non-migrants are crying foul. They say the government was only bothered about the migrants and hardly cared about those who stayed back.

“The government does not take us seriously. We only get promises and lip service. How can they bring back the migrants when they could not do much for those who stayed back,” said Shubenji Labroo, who lives in a rented dingy room of a house owned by a Muslim at the Shivpora area of the city.

Pertinently, President Pranab Mukherjee had yesterday in his address at the Central Hall of Parliament stated that “special efforts” would be made to ensure the return of Kashmiri Pandits even as there was no mention of the non-migrants.

When many Pandits migrated out of the Valley, some like Labroo, who is originally from south Kashmir''''s Anantnag district, sought shelter in the residential colonies of Shivpora and Indranagar that fall within the Badamibagh Cantonment area.

Besides crying for proper rehabilitation and employment, the non-migrants also claim that they face several day-to-day problems. “We are made to run from pillar to post to get a state subject certificate or voter card. We are told to produce a non-migrant certificate first,” Labroo said.

He has got little hope of the return of Pandits to Kashmir. “If they get employment or other economic avenues, they will return,” says Labroo as his wife Sunita nods in unison.

According to Kashmir Pandit Sangharsh Samiti (KPSS) president Sanjay Tickoo, around 630 non-migrant families are living across the Valley. He said many families left the Valley even after improvement in the situation, as they were looking for better economic avenues.

“Successive governments have only been concerned about the issues of return of migrants and (rehabilitation of) militants. We have lost all hope,” he said.

Other non-migrant Pandit bodies too are dismayed and even fear that they may gradually leave Kashmir as well.

“We stayed back and lived through hard times. We have even kept many of our traditions alive that were on the verge of extinction. But if we continue to get cold-shouldered, our next generation too may leave Kashmir,” said Hindu Welfare Society Kashmir (HWSK) spokesman Chunni Lal.

Jammu, June 13
The BJP-led Central Government’s proposed rehabilitation policy for displaced Kashmiri Pandits might face a stern test before it is being finally implemented as the move involves addressing various complex issues, including the safety and security of the community.

The Union Home Ministry is likely to announce Rs 20 lakh financial assistance to each Pandit family besides settling the community members in cluster colonies in the Valley, an official said.

He, however, said the move could snowball into a major issue as separatist leaders like hardline Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani were opposed to settlement of Pandits in clusters and establishing separate colonies for them.

A senior official in the Relief Department though said it would be a “nightmare” for the government and security agencies if Pandits were allowed to settle down at their respective villages and towns.

“At a time when terror outfits are desperate to revive insurgency in Kashmir valley, providing security to the community will be a nightmare if they are allowed to settle in their respective towns and villages,” said a senior official in the Relief Department.

The revised rehabilitation policy reportedly includes enhanced financial assistance, foolproof security mechanism, government jobs and other employment opportunities for Pandit youth.

Earlier in April 2008, the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government had announced Rs 1,610 crore package for rehabilitation of the displaced community.

The state, however, submitted a new Rs 5,800 crore plan for resettlement of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley to the Centre last year and it was being studied by the government in New Delhi.

“The state government had submitted a proposal to construct clusters at district headquarters in the Valley for the settlement of Pandits, which could face opposition from separatists. But Pandits prefer such an arrangement. Modi government has to deal with the issue cautiously,” a senior bureaucrat said on condition of anonymity.

There is also the issue of social cohesion between the Hindus and Muslims, as a generation of both the communities has been brought up without much contact with each other.

Most of the post-1990 generation of Pandit youth have lived away from their homeland and had little interaction with the majority community there.

“A comprehensive settlement must always include political rights and constitutional guarantees that would ensure no more exodus in the future. Any plan should be discussed with the Hindu representatives as mere financial doles cannot be a permanent solution,” said Panun Kashmir president Ashwani Chrangoo.

The Panun Kashmir has been demanding a separate Homeland, a specific centrally administered area to the south of Kashmir where Pandits could settle down in concentration.

All Party Migrant Coordination Committee president Vinod Pandit said: “A national-level apex committee that includes representatives of the displaced community should be constituted to formulate the rehabilitation plan.”

Srinagar, June 13
The ruling National Conference today said the indications by the Union Home Ministry to enhance the package for Kashmiri Pandits would translate into a “major impetus” to their rehabilitation efforts.

“This significant enhancement in the package will translate into a major impetus to rehabilitation efforts,” NC spokesman Junaid Mattu said.

He said the party welcomed indications from the Union Home Ministry that the Centre might accept the proposal of the Omar Abdullah government to enhance the package for reconstruction of houses by displaced Kashmiri Pandits. — TNS

Jammu, June 13
Mission Director National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) will submit a proposal to the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, for the exemption of stamp duty for Self Help Groups (SHGs) for sanctioning loan under the state government’s scheme ‘Umeed’.

The Divisional Commissioner’s office would process the said proposal within a week’s time and submit the same to the Finance Department for necessary action. The important decision was taken at the Divisional Commissioner’s office with regard to implementation of NRLM in Jammu Division.

NRLM is a Central scheme under the Ministry of Rural Development. In J&K its implementation has been entrusted with the government and the governing body is headed by the Chief Minister. Umeed is an initiative that organises rural women into SHGs and facilitates their access to credit for livelihood enhancement. Initially, it was launched in four blocks of J&K, including Chenani (Udhampur), Basohli (Kathua), Lar (Ganderbal) and Khansahib (Budgam).

The Centre has approved it as a special project, with an outlay of Rs 755 crore for the state of J&K that mandates coverage of 66 of the rural households under Umeed.

Over the next five years, Umeed would be implemented in all gram panchayats in the state and 90,000 SHGs would be formed in J&K.

Sources said during the crucial meeting, Divisional Commissioner instructed bankers to immediately issue/notify the list of documents required from SHGs for availing financial linkage from the banks.

“Bankers shall sensitise their staff on the importance of Umeed with regard to livelihood generation for rural poor. Additional Mission Director shall keep personal liaison with the heads of banks involved in the implementation of Umeed,” a statement said.

Sources said a briefing was also made by the Mission Director (MD), State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM) on the subject. State NRLM representative maintained that the banks need to finalise/notify a list of documents required for submission by the SHGs to enable them to get the financial linkage at the earliest.

Srinagar, June 13
Members of the Programme Management Units and paramedics working under the National Health Mission (NHM) have alleged disparity in the recent “salary hike” proposal prepared by the state health society.

They alleged that the society was adopting an indifferent attitude towards them despite the fact that they were working round the clock against meagre remuneration in various hospitals across the state.

According to the recent proposal which may get approval of the Government of India in a week, salaries of members of the district and block Programme Management Units has been increased by mere 60 per cent since the inception of the programme in Jammu and Kashmir. However, there has been a hike of 275 per cent in the salaries of doctors since the inception of the programme.

“The authorities concerned have ignored our services and since our engagement under NHM, there has been a nominal hike in our remuneration. We are working round the clock to ensure better health care in hospitals, but the authorities concerned have ignored us time and again,” said a block monitoring and evaluation officer working in Kupwara district.

The members said a majority of them were postgraduate and deserve reasonable hike in their remuneration. “The doctors and paramedics, for whom the authorities have a soft corner, are being regularly provided hikes. Since the inception we have been given a meagre hike of 60 per cent in comparison to 270 per cent to doctors,” said the block account manager working in Bandipora district.

“Despite being postgraduates in management, computers and commerce, we are being paid much less than Class IV sweepers, which is a sheer injustice,” he added.

Mission Director, NHM, Yashpal said: “The proposed hike in remuneration has been made after consensus with senior officers and keeping in view the qualification and training period of each programme.”

Srinagar, June 13
Governor NN Vohra inaugurated the Ladakh International Centre at Leh today. The centre has been conceived and established by Ambassador P Stobdan, an eminent scholar and diplomat who belongs to Ladakh, with the objective of providing a platform for holding conferences, seminars, dialogues, workshops, exhibitions, informal discussions and researches on various important issues of national and regional importance.

The Governor went round the Centre and visited the conference room, reception area, accommodation facilities for the visiting scholars and the garden.

Lauding Ambassador Stobdan’s initiative in establishing the centre, the Governor hoped that many eminent scholars and scientists from across India and foreign countries would gather here to discuss socio-cultural, developmental, environmental, national and regional security issues for the betterment and progress of Ladakh in all spheres.

The Governor said, “Ladakh offers the most wonderful opportunity to all visitors and tourists to gain firsthand experience of the centuries-old Buddhist culture and traditions, border and adventure tourism along with the added attraction of the unique topographical features of the region.”

He said to host the continuously increasing influx of tourists and changing trends, there was a need to build aesthetic tourism infrastructure in Ladakh.

The Governor appreciated the decision of the Ladakh administration to relax the Inner Line Permit System and said this measure would go a long way in boosting tourism in Ladakh. He also urged the chairman and councillors of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council to develop world-class infrastructure, including all-weather road connectivity, in the entire region.

The Governor further said the Centre could play a major role in providing a platform to the think tanks from across the world to chalk out strategies for saving the fragile ecology of the Himalayan region from the impact of the global climate change phenomenon.

Minister for Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies Nawang Rigzin Jora, Lt General Rakesh Sharma, GOC 14 Corps; Leh Chief Executive Councillor Rigzin Spalbar; Executive Councillor, Agriculture, Sonam Dorjey; Executive Councillor, Animal Husbandry, Jurnet Dorjey; Executive Councillor, Tourism, Mohd Shafi Lasu; former Chief Secretary, J&K, C Phunsong; Ambassador P Stobdan; Leh Deputy Commissioner Simrandeep Singh; and Leh SSP Sunil Gupta were among those present.

Srinagar, June 13
Governor NN Vohra and Ambassador of Czech Republic Miloslav Stasek inaugurated an exhibition on “Czech Castles” in Leh today.

The exhibition, a part of the “2014-The year of Czech Culture in India”, was held at the Leh Palace.

It presents enchanting pictures of 37 historical castles and chateaux of Bohemia and Moravia, selected on the basis of their architectural, artistic and historical importance.

The exhibition would be on till September 7, 2014.

The Governor, on the occasion, appreciated the rich history and cultural wealth of the Czech Republic and said India and the Czech Republic shared excellent relations and hoped the ties would enlarge and deepen in future.

Minister for Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies Nawang Rigzin Jora; Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Government Of India, Zohra Chatterjee; Chief Executive Councillor, Leh, Rigzin Spalbar; Executive Councillor, Agriculture, Sonam Dorjey; Executive Councillor, Animal Husbandry, Jurnet Dorjey; Executive Councillor, Tourism, Mohd Shafi Lasu; former Chief Secretary, J&K, C Phunsong; Deputy Commissioner, Leh, Simrandeep Singh and SSP, Leh, Sunil Gupta were present on the occasion.

Srinagar, June 13
Minister of State for Public Health Engineering (PHE) Nazir Ahmad Gurezi today directed the department to gear up its field functionaries and continue seizure of line boosters to stop misuse of water.

An official spokesman said, “The MoS has directed the PHE officials to continue with the task force constituted to seize line boosters and PVC pipes to stop the misuse of water for watering lawns and gardens, washing vehicles, construction activities and “other illegal use”.

Gurezi also asked the officials to “make the general public aware about the misuse of drinking water as per the J&K Water Resources (Regulation and Management) Act 2010,” the spokesman said.

The MoS gave the directions at a meeting with officers of the PHE Department which had been convened to review the status of the ongoing water supply schemes and other activities of the department.

Chief Engineer, Kashmir PHE Department, Ahmad Muzaffar Lankar, Superintendent Engineer Hydraulic Srinagar-Ganderbal district Fida Mohammad Farouqi, Executive Engineer Water Works Division Bilal Rasool and other officers and engineers of the department attended the meeting, the spokesman said. The meeting was informed that the Water Supply Scheme (WSS), Sukhnag, and WSS, Tangnar, taken up at a cost of Rs 121 crore and Rs 148.37 crore, respectively, were nearing completion, while Rs 160.83 crore in aggregate had been spent on these schemes, the spokesman said.

Srinagar, June 13
Moderate separatist leader and Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has been invited by the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) to participate in its conference being held in Saudi Arabia next week.

The Hurriyat Conference in a statement here said Mirwaiz had been invited to participate in the OIC’s 41st meeting of foreign ministers of Muslim nations being held in Saudi Arab from June 16 to 18.

The statement said the invite to Mirwaiz had been received from the OIC Secretary General’s office, adding that the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has an observer status in the OIC.

Mirwaiz expressed his concern over the recent incidents of molestation, particularly the incidents involving schoolgirls. — TNS

Srinagar, June 13
The hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference, an amalgam of several separatist groups, today condemned the “continuous house arrest” of its chairman Syed Ali Geelani terming it as “state terrorism”.

A statement issued by the amalgam said, “Geelani has been under continuous detention and has not been allowed to offer Friday congregational prayers since April 16.” The spokesman said the Omar Abdullah’s government was maintaining “absolute silence” about Geelani’s detention, which he termed as surprising. — TNS

Jammu, June 13
A book titled “Dignity Paramount PRC Task Unfinished” authored by BJP state spokesperson and former head of the Department of Economics, University of Jammu, Dr Nirmal Kamal, was released here today.

Leader of BJP Legislative Party Ashok Khajuria along with national executive member Shamsher Singh Manhas, senior professor, Department of English, JU, Dr Deepshikha Kotwal released the book.

Congratulating the author for bringing out a book on a crucial issue, Ashok said the book would clear several doubts related to Article-370.

Dr Deepshikha Kotwal said there was a backlash against women in the society. “The progress and advancement of fair gender cannot be attained meaningfully in a male-dominated society.

The progressive and forward-looking society in J&K don’t want Article 370 to continue and the time has come to mobilise public opinion in every section of the society against it,” Deepshikha said.

Srinagar, June 13
National Conference leader Sheikh Nazir on Friday welcomed government’s decision to review cases registered against 52 youths since 2010 under various charges, including stone throwing.

He termed the move as a “concrete step towards reconciliation and rehabilitation” of the youth who had been booked in the last four years. — TNS

Anantnag, June 13
Devotees today thronged the mausoleum of the 16th century saint, Baba Naseeb-ud-din Ghazi, to pay obeisance and witness age-old folk performance “Dambali” by artistes in Bijbehara town, about 45 km from the summer capital.

Folk artistes called “dambal-i-fakeers” come every year from different parts of the Valley to perform as a mark of respect to the saint.

The artists entertain the crowds with beating of drums, stick fighting and acrobatic skills.

Thousands of people, especially women and children, from different parts of the Valley swarm the mausoleum to witness the ritual.

Various groups of dambal-i-fakeers today held road shows on the way to the shrine and entertained passersby before entering the shrine premises for the main event. The main performance went on for hours on the shrine premises.

The folk ritual Dambali on the death anniversary of Baba Naseeb-ud-din Ghazi has over the years turned into a festival.

It is believed that the folk ritual is being held in this sleepy south Kashmir town since the saint left this world.

The festival coincides with the death anniversary of the saint, who in local folklore is known for his philanthropic and social work for the poor and the downtrodden.

It is said that Baba Naseeb-ud-din Ghazi had constructed hundreds of mosques, “musafir khanas” and bridges.

He planted trees on both sides of roads wherever he went to apprise people about the teachings of Islam.

The saint has written more than a dozen religious books as well.

The saint used to be accompanied by drummers wherever he went to preach Islam. The drummers also performed acrobatics and taught people the skills of self-defense and war.

The Dambali festival will be followed by a two-day fair in the famous Dara Shikoh Mughal Garden in the town.

Jammu, June 13
Several programmes were held to mark Kabir Jayanti in Jammu today.

The main function was organised by J&K Shri Sad Guru Kabir Sabha at Chak-Avtara, Bishnah, in which thousands of people from different parts of the state took part. Baba Bhagwan Dass and Dina Nath delivered the spiritual discourse with special reference to Kabir Bani. He said Kabir was a living spirit of God and preached the inner richness of human values.

Sabha president, FC Bhagat, said: “Sant Kabir is a beacon of enlightment and spiritual attainment and his main thrust was on humanity by spreading the message of love, peace and tranquillity.”

According to Kabir bani, all humans were equal and the only way to attain moksha depended on one's karma and not the materialistic world, he said. — TNS

Srinagar, June 13
The police today claimed to have solved the murder case of a woman and arrested the jilted lover, who had strangled her to death in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

The woman identified as Gulshana of Kremshore village had left her home on June 1 and did not return. Her body was found outside the village two days later on June 3.

During the probe, it was revealed that the victim had got engaged to a man six months ago prior to which she was having an affair with another person identified as Javid Ahmad Bhat.

On the fateful day, the woman received a phone call from Javid who asked her to meet him. The police detained Javid, who confessed to have committed the crime. — TNS

Samba, June 13
At least seven persons were critically injured in a road mishap near the main Samba chowk on the Jammu-Pathankot highway on Friday. A police official said a Bolero jeep which was on way from Jammu to Samba rolled down the road after a truck coming from the opposite side hit it. Seven persons received critical injuries in the mishap.

A police team reached the spot and shifted them to the district hospital in Samba with the help of residents of the area. — OC