Jammu, June 30
The recent spurt in truce violations along the 224.5-km Line of Control (LoC) and the 198-km international border in the Jammu region will come under scanner during the security review by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar on July 4.

“This year there has been a spurt in intrusion bids and truce violations on the LoC and the international border in the Jammu region. There had been some terror-related incidents as well, like the Janglote terror attack in Kathua and the suspected BAT (Border Action Team) attack on the LoC in Akhnoor. The Jammu region frontier is hotter than that of Kashmir this year. Hence, the LoC and the international border in the Jammu region are likely to come under detailed discussion,” said a top Army source.

“While Poonch remains vulnerable as Pakistan troops keep trying to push ultras thorough this sector, the suspected BAT attack on May 18 that left a soldier dead in Jogwan forward area in the Akhnoor sector was also viewed seriously by the Army headquarters,” he said.

“The attack was carried out inside our territory,” he added.

Last year on January 8, the BAT had brutally killed two soldiers and beheaded them in the Balnoi area and on August 5-6 in another raid they had killed five more soldiers in the Chakan da Bagh area.

“The Nagrota-based 16 Corps GOC, Lt Gen KH Singh, and the Yol-based 9 Corps GOC, Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi, will brief the Prime Minister on the scenario all along the LoC and the international border in the Jammu region,” said the source.

He said this year there had been 35 truce violations and 10 other violations on the LoC.

The truce violations last year were 149.

On June 21, DGP K Rajendra had said that 10 ultras had managed to sneak into the state this year while security agencies and defence sources maintained that there had been no infiltration into the Kashmir valley so far.

“These make things amply clear,” said the source.

“The Hiranagar sub-sector on the international border, especially the Tarnah Nullah, remains the traditional route of infiltration. Though the BSF has introduced an indigenously developed technology to plug the porous gap and has also increased manpower, this particular stretch is also likely to come under discussion,” he said.

On March 28, three militants had staged twin attacks in Janglote, killing two civilians and a soldier; and on September 26 last year, there were twin attacks in Hiranagar police station and the Samba Army camp in which three soldiers, a Lt Colonel, four cops and two civilians were killed. In both these attacks, it was believed that the ultras had sneaked from the Tarnah Nullah, which also includes the Chhap Nullah.

Last year, 12 soldiers were killed and 41 injured in ceasefire violations and firing by Pakistan on forward posts, civilian areas and patrolling parties along the Indo-Pak border.

The LoC in the Jammu region runs from Akhnoor to Poonch, while the international border starts from Paharpur on the Kathua border and ends in the Chicken Neck area of Akhnoor.

Border trouble This year so far, there have been 35 truce violations. The ceasefire violations last year were 149. DGP K Rajendra recently said 10 ultras had managed to sneak into the state this year while security agencies and defence sources maintained that there had been no infiltration into the Kashmir valley so far. Last year, 12 soldiers were killed and 41 injured in ceasefire violations and firing by Pakistan on forward posts, civilian areas and patrolling parties along the Indo-Pak border

Udhampur/Katra, June 30
Four teams of the Special Protection Group (SPG), each led by a DIG, will arrive in Jammu, Katra, Srinagar and Uri tomorrow to conduct advanced security liaison meetings to ensure foolproof security arrangements ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir on July 4.

There is good news for pilgrims as the Railway Ministry has planned extension of 13 trains up to Katra after the Railway Budget to accommodate the maximum number of pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi.

“We have received a confirmation of the Prime Minister’s visit and site security inspections have been conducted. Detailed reports on security arrangements have been prepared by state security agencies,” said a senior security officer on the condition of anonymity.

“The official visits of the four SPG teams are scheduled tomorrow DIG-level officers of the SPG will conduct advanced security liaison meetings to finalise the programme of the Prime Minister in Jammu, Katra, Srinagar and Uri,” said the officer.

The Prime Minister will flag off the AC special train from the Katra railway station to Udhampur to inaugurate the 25-km Udhampur-Katra rail link around 10:30 am on July 4.

Railway Minister Sadanand Gowda and Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh, also the MP from Udhampur-Doda, will accompany the Prime Minister on his visit.

Sources in the Northern Railway said the Uttar Sampark Kranti Express, the Jammu Mail, Malwa and Udhampur AC specials and two DMUs running up to Udhampur would be extended to Katra from July 4.

The Bathinda Special, the Andaman Express, the Tata Mourie, the Ahmedabad Express, the Shalimar Express, the Hemkund Express, the Rajdhani Express, the SP premium train and the Begampura Express would be announced in the Railway Budget and then, extended up to Katra, the sources said.

Meanwhile, Reasi Deputy Commissioner Shahid Iqbal convened a meeting of security personnel and district officers in Katra on Monday to review preparedness for the Prime Minister’s visit.

Discussions were held on issues concerning security arrangements, reception of VVIPs and other guests, seating arrangements, decoration of venue, parking plan and coordination between police, security agencies, magistrates and officers deployed.

Iqbal directed officers concerned to ensure that all arrangements were foolproof. Later, he visited the Katra railway station to take stock of arrangements.

13 trains will chug up to Katra Railway Minister Sadanand Gowda and Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh, also MP from Udhampur-Doda, will accompany Modi Railway Ministry plans extension of 13 trains up to Katra after Railway Budget to accommodate maximum number of Vaishno Devi pilgrims DIG-level officers of SPG will conduct advanced security liaison meetings to finalise programme of Prime Minister in Jammu and Kashmir Reasi Deputy Commissioner holds meeting of security personnel and district officers in Katra on Monday to review preparedness for visit

Srinagar, June 30
The number of pilgrims offering prayers at the Amarnath cave has been increasing since the yatra began from the Baltal route on June 28. On the third day of the yatra today, 14,635 yatris offered prayers at the holy cave. On June 28 and 29, 8,899 and 11,182 yatris, respectively, had offered prayers at the shrine.

A total of 34,635 pilgrims have had darshan of the Shivalingam at the cave shrine so far.

The fourth batch of 1,666 pilgrims, including 192 sadhus, on Monday started their journey towards the Baltal base camp of the Amarnath shrine from Jammu at 4.40 am. — TNS

Jammu, June 30
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit on July 4, the Army foiled another intrusion in the Tarkundi forward area of Balakote sector along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district on Sunday night.

“Troops of the 6 Rajput Regiment observed suspicious movement near the 497 forward defence location in the Tarkundi forward area of Balakote sector around 10:30 pm. They took positions and opened fire at the intruders,” said an intelligence source.

The troops fired intermittently till 12:30 am, but the Pakistani troops did not open any fire, he added. Sensing that their intrusion had been foiled, the suspected militants retreated into Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Around 8 am on Monday, the Army launched a search operation in the area and some senior officers visited the spot, the source said.

On June 19, the GOC of 16 Corps, Lt Gen KH Singh, said between 200 and 250 militants were on the other side of the LoC. At any given point of time, between 40 and 50 militants in groups were busy trying to operate from launchpads opposite the 16 Corps zone, he said.

Rajouri, June 30
The Rajouri police resorted to a mild lathi charge on women at a house near Rajouri when they resisted police action on Sunday.

Some alleged drug peddlers from Rajouri and Poonch districts were chalking out their new strategy after senior police officers ordered stringent action against them.

A police team supervised by Hamid Choudhry, DSP (Headquarters), and led by Yashpal Sharma, SHO, cordoned off a house in the Danidhar locality near Rajouri.

When the police team neared the house, the women started throwing stones on them and journalists covering the raid.

After about 10 minutes of stone throwing, in which some members of the team received minor injuries, the police resorted to a minor lathi charge.

They nabbed the four alleged drug peddlers. When the team were on way to the police station, the women blocked the main road and protested against the police action.

Jamsaid Begam claimed that she received injuries in the lathi charge. She alleged that the police had been harassing her family for the last few months.

The women were later taken to an undisclosed location for questioning. The persons arrested were taken to the police station. drug peddlers

Superintendent of Police Mubassir Latifi said the accused were involved in drug peddlling and had been booked several times.

“The police may recommend relevant sections under the Public Safety Act against some of them as residents of the area had been complaining about unlawful activities,” he said.

He added that action would be taken against the women who resorted to stone throwing on the police.

Srinagar, June 30
As the fasting month of Ramadan began today, people were seen thronging mosques for prayers during the day.

While a festive mood prevailed at the mosques and shrines, people were also seen buying dates, fruits and other eatables.

Dates sellers, among others, were seen doing brisk business at marketplaces like Amirakadal as Muslims usually break their fast with dates.

With the mercury rising, Muslims in the Valley today started fasting for more than 16 hours a day — the longest in the last three decades.

“Today’s fast was from 3.38 am to 7.50 pm and it is no easy task to keep a fast for over 16 hours in scorching heat. However, with help from the Almighty, I intend to fast for the entire month,” said Shahid Ahmad, a local.

With every passing year, Ramadan starts 10 days earlier as per the solar calendar.

While Ramadan started in July last year, this time it commenced closer to June 21, which is the longest day in the solar calendar.

Though experts on the local media have been advising locals to drink plenty of fluids and eat green vegetables during ‘sehri’ and ‘iftaar’ time, mutton sellers are still doing brisk business.

“I know many families that do not cook vegetables at all during Ramadan and I do good business during the holy month,” said Mohammad Yasin, who sells mutton near Jehangir Chowk in the city.

Besides, chicken-sellers and local bakery shops can also be seen doing brisk business during the fasting month.

The fasting month culminates with Eid-ul-Fitr.

Jammu, June 30
The Planning Approval Board (PAB) of the Department of School Education and Literacy (SE&L), Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), did not approve the opening of any new primary school for 2014-15 under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and directed the state to clear the backlog.

The instructions were issued in the recently held 208th PAB meeting held for approval of the annual work plan and the budget of SSA, J&K, for 2014-15. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of R Bhattacharya, SE&L Secretary, wherein J&K was represented by Hirdesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, School Education, and SC Sawhney, State Project Director, SSA, besides other officers.

Sources said J&K proposed 487 new primary schools (PS) and upgrade of 247 PS to upper primary schools (UPS).

Out of 247 schools proposed for upgrade by the state, the PAB after considering a large amount of spill over approved upgrade of 40 PS (20 in summer zone and 20 in winter zone).

Sources added that for each of these upgradations of PS to UPS, three additional classrooms each were approved under civil works. In all these locations, it was reported by the state that the chief education officers have confirmed that land is available within the existing premises of the PS. Teaching learning equipment (TLE) for these 40 UPS will be a deferred liability and will be provided after the building construction is complete.

“The PAB directed the state to take effective steps to expedite the completion of all pending civil works within the current year. An outlay of Rs 24,235.99 lakh was approved for civil works.

“The state has identified 49,819 children as out of school in the age group of 6 to 14 years. The state had a target of covering 34,000 children belonging to nomadic families (Gujjar, Bakarwals) during their seasonal migration in 2013-14. State representatives said out of these, 30,000 children (88 per cent) have been covered,” a HRD statement claimed.

Meanwhile, an outlay of Rs 1,740.46 lakh for special training for out-of-school children was approved on the condition that all children are enrolled in schools and the school headmaster will inspect and supervise the centres at regular intervals.

The Tribune had also reported in November 2013 that the HRD Ministry had not given its nod to open new PS for 2013-14 claiming that the state had not completed the school mapping exercise. At that time, J&K had proposed 309 PS and upgrade of 138 to UPS, but the Centre approved upgrade of only 27 primary schools.

Srinagar, June 30
The state-level executive committee of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan, headed by Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, met here today and approved a Rs 4.69-crore action plan for holding annual sports competitions during 2014-15, an official said.

He said to build sports infrastructure at the grass-roots level and to promote sports as a way of life, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan —- Centrally funded scheme —- would facilitate development of sports complexes in every block panchayat with facilities for both indoor and outdoor games, besides encouraging sports and games in rural areas through annual sports competitions at the block, district, state and national level.

“To identify and hone talent in rural Jammu and Kashmir, various competitions are scheduled to be held at the block, district and state level in the coming months. The selected teams will later participate in the national-level sports competition games at the end of the year,” Director General, Sports, Navin Agarwal said after the meeting.

The competitions will be held in athletics, badminton, basketball, handball, hockey, kabaddi, kho-kho, table tennis, volleyball, judo, wushu and taekwondo.

The committee also approved the proposal for hosting National Women Sports Competition 2014-15 in athletics, badminton and table tennis.

Baramulla, June 30
Visually impaired and hearing and speech impaired students of the special school in Baramulla are optimistic that the school will help them realise their dreams and shape their careers.

At least 31 visually impaired and 20 hearing and speech impaired students from different areas of north Kashmir are enrolled in the institution.

Wajid Khaliq, a visually impaired student from Tilgam village in Pattan tehsil, said the teaching staff at the school were working hard to impart education to students.

“The school has raised my hopes and I want to become a good teacher. Teachers are working hard round the clock to impart education and we are content with the education system,” he said.

“All members of my family are visually impaired. I want to work hard and support my family,” he added. The school had been providing board and lodging to special children.

Another visually impaired student, Waseem Ahmad of Boniyar, aimed to become a lawyer. “I like the profession and will work hard to be a lawyer. I am satisfied with the system of education,” he said.

“Teachers are very cooperative and work hard to build our careers. I hope that I will be able to support my family and contribute to society,” he added. The school had 14 staff members.

Asif Shabir, executive member, said, “Contributions to the school will help shape careers of special children.” Mohammad Yusuf Khan, school patron, said, “Everyone should come forward to help these children.”

Srinagar, June 30
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Sunday welcomed the Centre’s decision to provide telephone and other basic facilities to traders engaged in cross-LoC trade. He said the Centre needed to take effective steps to win the hearts and minds of the people.

“The decision to provide telephone and other facilities to cross-LoC traders is an endorsement of the PDP’s stand. We have been demanding that adequate infrastructure should be developed to boost trade,” he said.

He was addressing a function to welcome former senior National Conference leader Tariq Mohiuddin to the PDP fold. Mufti reiterated that dealing with the Kashmir problem was the biggest challenge before the BJP-led NDA government.

He said, “A holistic approach should be adopted by the government at the Centre to win the hearts and minds of the people. There is need to create job avenues for the unemployed youth,” he said. He hoped that the government would follow the path shown by former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Terming the opening of the LoC for movement of goods and people as an important part of the confidence-building measures between India and Pakistan, Mufti asserted that the PDP had been demanding that cross-LoC trade should be institutionalised by providing normal trading facilities.

He said telephone, banking and financial facilities, besides trade-related facilities, were essential for traders of both countries to strengthen ties. He credited Vajpayee for peace on the border, saying the ceasefire announced by the then Prime Minister was one of biggest confidence-building measures.

“Only a leader of Vajpayee’s stature could have taken such a historic initiative,” Mufti said. He recalled the then Prime Minister’s speech in Srinagar on April 18, 2003, extending the hand of friendship to Pakistan.

Srinagar, June 30
Chairperson of the People’s Linguistic Survey of India (PLSI) Prof GN Devy and member of the National Editorial Collective, PLSI, Omkar N Koul called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here today.

Devy and Koul presented the first copy of “The Languages of Jammu and Kashmir” to the Governor.

Devy is the chief editor of the volume and Koul is the editor.

The book, based on enormous research, is part of a 50-volume series titled, “The People’s Linguistic Survey of India”. The volume, focusing on the languages of Jammu and Kashmir, is the result of the initiative of the Bhasha Research Centre, Baroda. It is based on the survey and researches on all living languages of India.

The Governor congratulated Devy and Koul for the work done by them and the Bhasha Research Centre and hoped that the volume would be acquired and closely studied by all educational institutions of the state, particularly the University of Kashmir, and by various government departments and agencies.

The Governor suggested to Devy and Koul to urge the University of Kashmir to organise a seminar involving all concerned to make the “languages of J&K” known to the people of the state.

Jammu, June 30
State BJP general secretary Kavinder Gupta exhorted party workers on Sunday to expose the 'misdeeds' of the National Conference-Congress coalition government.

He alleged that Omar Abdullah-led government had failed on all fronts and the people were looking to the BJP to get rid of the corrupt regime.

Addressing a working committee meeting of the west Jammu district unit, he alleged that Omar government had lost the confidence of the people.

He claimed that the results of the General Election had proved that the people had rejected both the Congress and the National Conference.

Subash Jandial, Dinesh Gupta, Mohan Singh Rana, Munish Sharma, Rajni Sethi, Arvind Gupta, Surinder Chowdhary, Balwan Singh and Pushpa Wazir were present. — TNS

Jammu, June 30
Convener of the Family Welfare Organisation (FWO), White Knight Corps, Dr Mangala Devi Konsam today visited the 166 Military Hospital in Satwari here.

She was received by Sushma Harjai, FWO convener, 166 Military Hospital, and Commandant of the hospital Brigadier Man Mohan Harjai.

Mangala Devi appreciated the comprehensive health care provided by the hospital whose motto is “care with compassion”.

She was briefed about one of the best modular delivery room facility available at the hospital.

The FWO convener of the White Knight Corps interacted with relatives of jawans and Junior Commissioned Officers admitted to the hospital and assured them that best possible treatment would be provided to them.

She was impressed with the cleanliness of the wards, surroundings and departments.

As a goodwill gesture, Mangala Devi distributed sweets and gifts among the patients.

Srinagar, June 30
In the wake of unprecedented rise in accident cases in and around the city especially involving underage drivers, the Traffic Police Department has decided to tighten noose on erring drivers.

Traffic Police SP Haseeb-ur-Rehman said, “The department has written to the Regional Transport Office, Srinagar, for new set of regulations, especially increase in the fine for erring drivers.

“There are definitely many underage drivers roaming in the city who obviously do not have licences. What we have suggested as a solution to this problem is that we will seize the vehicles of such drivers and report to their parents. The parents can then come and pay a fine of Rs 2,000 to get the vehicle back,” the SP Traffic added.

Rehman said this would be particularly fruitful in curbing the incidents of dangerous stunt biking in Srinagar and outskirts.

“Stunt bikers are usually young students (teenagers) not authorised to ride motorcycles. We believe the existing norms are not too tough and they are let off easily. We have therefore decided to strengthen the laws so that the rule offenders will be brought to book,” he added.

Recently, a 16-year-old Srinagar resident lost his life in a stunt biking incident. The stunt bikers are throwing caution to the wind by indulging in these incidents in Srinagar outskirts, especially tourist hubs.

There have been allegations of local police entering into a nexus with these stunt bikers instead of cracking down on them.

“That is not true. The police action is limited because there are not sufficient norms against such incidents. That is a challenge,” the SP Traffic added.

Srinagar, June 30
The bodies of six persons, including a seven-year-old girl, were fished out from different water bodies in the Kashmir valley.

Three of the deceased drowned while taking bath to beat the heat and the other three were found dead mysteriously in the water bodies prompting the police to start inquest proceedings to ascertain the cause of their death.

The mercury has been on the rise in the Valley over the past couple of days.

The body of Class-9 student Shareen Tariq, a resident of Sangri village of Baramulla, was fished out from Pohru stream at Drugmulla in Kupwara district of north Kashmir today, a police spokesman said.

The boy had come to a relative's house in Drugmulla and was taking bath in the stream last evening when he drowned.

"The police and the civil administration launched a rescue operation with the assistance of the Army soon after information about the drowning reached them. As the efforts proved futile, later the assistance of marine commandos of the Indian Navy was sought by the administration to retrieve the body," the spokesman said, adding that after strenuous efforts the body was fished out from the stream this morning and handed over to his relatives.

Meanwhile, seven-year-old Meema drowned in Shahkul stream near Mattan in Anantnag district of south Kashmir this morning while she was taking bath, the spokesman said. Another teenager drowned in the Jhelum river near his house at Sheikh zoo in Ganderbal district of central Kashmir. His body was fished out and handed over to his relatives, the spokesman said.

He said the police recovered the body of a Sikh youth, Nanak Singh, from Lidder stream at Peth Nambal in Mattan area of Anantnag district. The cause of Singh's death was not known immediately.

Meanwhile, the body of a middle-aged unidentified person was fished out from the Zojilla stream along the Srinagar-Leh road, the spokesman said, adding that the body had been brought to the Sonamarg hospital in Ganderbal district for identification.

Thirty-year-old Mushtaq Ahmad Wani, a resident of Nadigam, was found dead at a filtration plant at Habdipora village of Shopian district in south Kashmir, the spokesman said.

He said Wani was "mentally unsound" and his body was handed over to the next of his kin after completion of legal formalities.

The day temperature in Kashmir has been on the rise for the past few days as local residents are taking a dip in water bodies to beat the heat.

A Meteorological Department official said the maximum temperature in Srinagar yesterday was recorded at 31.6 degrees Celsius, which was slightly above normal for this time of the year. — PTI

Fatal dip The body of Class-9 student Shareen Tariq, a resident of Sangri village of Baramulla, was fished out from Pohru stream at Drugmulla in Kupwara district of north Kashmir Seven-year-old Meema drowned in Shahkul stream near Mattan in Anantnag district of south Kashmir while she was taking bath on Monday Another teenager drowned in the Jhelum river near his house at Sheikh zoo in Ganderbal district of central Kashmir The body of a Sikh youth, Nanak Singh, was recovered from Lidder stream at Peth Nambal in Mattan area of Anantnag district The body of a middle-aged unidentified person was fished out from the Zojilla stream along the Srinagar-Leh road Thirty-year-old Mushtaq Ahmad Wani, a resident of Nadigam, was found dead at a filtration plant at Habdipora village of Shopian district in south Kashmir

Srinagar, June 30
Separatist leader and National Front chairman Nayeem Khan has expressed concern over the plight of Kashmiri political prisoners in jails outside Jammu and Kashmir.

In a statement issued here, Khan has demanded that these detenus languishing in jails should be shifted to Jammu and Kashmir.

“The Kashmiri prisoners languishing in jails at Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jodhpur, Madras, Delhi, Kathua, Jammu and Hiranagar are not familiar with the scorching heat there. I have information that many Kashmiri prisoners have gone seriously ill, so all these prisoners should be shifted to the Valley as soon as possible,” Khan said in the statement.

He further demanded shifting of Kashmiri convicts languishing in jails outside. “We demand their immediate shifting so that their kith and kin can see them who have not met them since long,” Khan said, while demanding the release of prisoners languishing in Srinagar and other jails across the Valley.

Srinagar, June 30
Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), a major tertiary care hospital in the Valley, has started surgery for obese patients. The first surgery was performed by Dr Muffazal Lakadwal, a surgeon from Mumbai.

“He operated upon two obese patients. He had operated upon the heaviest person, weighing 285 kg, in China,” an official of the SKIMS said. The surgery was performed on a 23-year-old man weighing 120 kg. He was subjected to sleeve resections.

“The second patient was a 60-year-old diabetic woman weighing 140 kg. She was on 90 units of insulin and underwent mini-gastric bypass in a live workshop organised by the department headed by Prof Sameer H Naqash,” the official said.

Stressing the need for developing a surgery programme to deal with the increasing number of obese patients in the Valley, the workshop was beamed live in the SKIMS auditorium, where faculty, students and others were present.

Dr Lakadwal delivered a lecture on the role of surgery in people with obesity, diabetes and other metabolic disorders. It was chaired by Prof Mehrajuddin, former Director of the SKIMS. Dr Lakadwal promised support to the SKIMS for setting up a new department.

Srinagar, June 30
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today flayed the coalition government for failing to provide civic amenities in the Srinagar city and its outskirts.

Addressing party workers from Amira Kadal constituency, BJP state vice president of the Muslim Morcha Abdul Rehman Lone criticised the government for its failure to judiciously utilise the funds allotted by the Central government.

He alleged that the government had failed to provide basic amenities by failing to utilise funds for betterment of roads and drainage system.

“It is due to the pick-and-choose policy adopted by the present MLA that the condition of the constituency as a whole and Srinagar in general is deteriorating day by day,” he added.

Lone appealed to the people especially from Amira Kadal constituency that time had come to strengthen and vote for the BJP in the coming Assembly elections.

Former chairman of the Municipal Committee Rajinder Gupta said resolving day-to-day problems would be the prime agenda of the party if voted to power.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Ashok Bhat alleged that parties such as the National Conference, Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party had become a safe haven for corrupt bureaucrats, money launderers, tax evaders and land grabbers in the state.

He said the BJP would soon expose these corrupt persons. 

Jammu, June 30
Agricultural technocrats here have alleged discrimination in regularisation process started by the state government. They have alleged that while the list for the candidates in the Kashmir valley has been published on June 23, no such list has been published for the Jammu region.

The agri-technocrats under the banner of Rehbar-e-Ziarat (ReZ) held protest against the delay in announcing the list for the Jammu region. “If the Cabinet decided to regularise 881 candidates in the first batch with effect from April 1, 2014, then why the list of only 440 is published,’ said Dr Surinder Radotra, president, ReZ.

Dr Radotra warned the state government and the Department of Agriculture that if the regularisation list was not published immediately, they would be forced to start a state-wide agitation.

He claimed that the government had promised to fulfil their genuine demands by absorbing them as per batch-wise scheme, but merit would be considered now for their regularisation.

“Under the plan, the government had decided to start regularisation of eligible, selected ReZ candidates from April 1, 2014 (Phase -I), April 1, 2015 (Phase-II) and April 1, 2016 (Phase III),” said the memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister.

Jammu, June 30
Displaced Kashmiri Hindus from Shopian district of Kashmir have alleged that land mafia has grabbed the land belonging to the ancient Raghunath temple and stopped the minority community to fence the shrine recently.

In protest against the land grabbing, members of the Tirth Raj Kapal Mochan Shrine and Temples, a management committee of Hindu shrines in Shopian, alleged that the administration had failed to act against the people who were openly threatening the community members and were trying to grab the land.

“State government official document issued by the District Development Commissioner (DDC) has accepted that 19 temples and shrines have been damaged and encroached in Shopian. The job of fencing was taken in hand after due permission of the DDC and the officials concerned of the municipal committee, who demarcated the land on spot measuring 3 kanals,” said committee vice-president SN Saraf.

He said the local population had also confirmed that the land belonged to the Raghunath temple but so far nothing had been done to stop the encroachers.

“Land belonging to several temples across the Valley has been encroached by land mafia and many Pandit families have lost their land due to fraud in revenue records. The state government should take action against such people,” said Saraf.

Jammu, June 30
An amount of Rs 35.35 crore has been released for scholarships to 3,294 students for the session 2012-13 and Rs 49,59,283 towards renewal scholarships to 402 students by the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC), Higher Education (Union Human Resource Development Ministry), under the special scholarship scheme for J&K.

Further, Rs 2,21,45,480 towards fresh scholarships to 1,224 students for the session 2013-14 has recently been released by the Central ministry. This has been revealed in the recently concluded 9th meeting of the IMC on the special scholarship scheme for J&K held under the chairmanship of Secretary, Higher Education, at New Delhi.

Sources said the IMC had decided that only those students who applied through the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) portal and were allotted colleges/ seats or those who were admitted to the Centrally funded technical institutes on their own merit would be eligible for this scholarship from the academic year 2014-15 onwards.

The sources added that the AICTE representative said its implementation might have practical difficulty and urged the IMC to revisit the decision.

The Secretary, Higher Education, desired that a workable model for providing admissions to the students from J&K under the scholarship scheme keeping in view the bunching norms might be worked out by the AICTE and placed before the IMC in its next meeting.

Sources claimed that case of students had also been taken up for the award of scholarship, who had applied for the same in the academic year 2012-13 on 1-10-2012, after the cut-off date of 30-9-2012, which happened to be a holiday, as per the advice given by the Assistant Solicitor General (ASG) in the J&K High Court.

They added that in view of the legal advice tendered by the ASG, it was decided that all such students who took admission on 1-10-2012 might be considered as eligible for award of scholarship provided they were otherwise eligible as per the scheme and were still pursuing the course.

“The AICTE informed that there were 27 such students. The award of scholarship to these students would involve an expenditure of Rs 53 crore. The IMC approved the proposal and advised the AICTE to take appropriate action for award of scholarship to such students, if otherwise eligible,” a higher education statement claimed.

Jammu, June 30
The Anganwadi Workers Welfare Association (AWWA) has threatened to launch an agitation if the government failed to redress their demands at the earliest.

Ashok Choudhary, convener, Anganwadi Workers Welfare Association, asked the government to declare all anganwadi workers and helpers as government employees claiming that they were working since 1978.

He also urged the government to issue permanent orders for anganwadi workers on the analogy of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

“The government can absorb anganwadi workers in government service having special status,” he added.

He demanded cent per cent promotion for anganwadi workers as supervisors.

He also demanded Rs 15,000 per month honorarium, introduction of pension scheme, Gratuity Act, enforcing EPF and ESI schemes for the benefits of workers, salary to be paid on monthly basis and uniform to all as per Central government order.

Choudhary urged the Chief Minister to redress the issues of anganwadi workers failing which they would launch an agitation.

Among others present were president of the Anganwadi Workers Welfare Association Swarna Choudhary, Lakshman Ravinder Singh and Neelam Sharma.

Jammu, June 30
The J&K Poultry Association has claimed that illegal contract farming in agriculture sector (poultry farming) is being done by some persons who are not permanent residents of the state.

While briefing the media today, Ravinder Singh, president of the association, alleged that some companies whose owners were not permanent residents of J&K, were running contract farming in poultry sector in Kathua, Samba, Jammu and Udhampur districts.

He alleged that these companies had no registered office and also had not registered as contract companies in the agriculture sector and were indulging in malpractices thereby causing huge financial loss to the state exchequer.

Ravinder Singh said this practice would have adverse effect on the farmers of the state who had started their poultry farming through the Sher-e-Kashmir Employment and Welfare Programme for Youth (SKEWPY) by the J&K Entrepreneurship Development Institute for poultry purpose.

President of the association urged the authorities to take action against these companies to stop them from doing contract farming.

Srinagar, June 30
The Associated Chamber of Commerce & Industries -Kashmir (CCIK) has sought hassle-free financing of export credit to exporters and formation of the J&K Export Promotion Development Board.

“All commercial banks should provide hassle-free financing of export credit to the exporters without any collateral security and bringing all existing and new export finance borrowers of the state under CGTMSE cover with guarantee fee and annual service fee rate of CGTMSE to be brought on par with rates applicable to the north eastern region i.e. 0.75 per cent,” a CCIK statement said.

“The rate of interest on export credit of Kashmir exporters, promoting exports in difficult area and disturbed area conditions needs to be subsidised both by the Central as well as the state governments,” it added. — TNS

Srinagar, June 30
Army Public School (APS), Srinagar, secured the first position in an English debate competition which was organised at Burn Hall Higher Secondary School, Srinagar.

The topic for the debate was “Is India ready for FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) in multi-brand retail chain”.

The schools which participated in the event were Army Public School, Delhi Public School, Presentation Convent, Green Valley Higher Secondary School, Oasis Public School, Iqbal Memorial, Islamic International School and Burn Hall School which hosted the event. Though firm arguments were raised both in favour and against the motion, an APS student was declared as winner.

“It was evidently a moment of pride and pleasure when Army Public School, Srinagar, was declared the best team and bagged the first prize,” an official of Army Public School said.

The winning team of APS was bestowed with the trophy by the chief guest of the event, Financial Commissioner, Industries and Commerce, Khursheed Ahmad Ganai. 

Srinagar, June 30
Three minors have drowned while bathing to beat the heat in separate incidents in the Kashmir valley, the police said on Monday.

Shareen Tariq of Sangri village in Baramulla district drowned in the Pohru stream at Drugmulla, a police spokesman said.

The local administration launched a rescue operation with the assistance of the Army and the help of marine commandos was sought later.

After strenuous efforts, the body of the Class IX student was fished out from the stream on Monday morning, the spokesman said.

In another incident, seven-year-old Meema, a nomad of Dansal Jajeer Kothli in Jammu, drowned in the Shahkul stream in south Kashmir. Efforts were on to fish out her body.

Ziyafat Ahmad Mir, a teenager of Batwina village, drowned in the Jhelum in Ganderbal district of central Kashmir. The body was fished out by relatives and local residents. — TNS

Samba, June 30
Thieves decamped with cash and jewellery worth lakhs from the house of a businessmen at Kehli Mandi in Samba district late last night.

The family was sleeping outside the house when the thieves struck.

“We have started investigation and a case has been registered in this regard. The police have got vital clues and the thieves will be arrested soon,” said a police officer.

The family came to know about the theft when one of the members found the locks of an almirah broken this morning. They then informed the police.

The police said the theft appeared to be the handiwork of a gang.

Harbans Singh, owner of house, told the police that jewellery worth about Rs 5 lakh and Rs 1,50,000 in cash were stolen from his house.

”The family members were sleeping outside the house when the incident took place,” said a police officer. — OC

Batote, June 30
Two youths were killed when their motor cycle hit the rear wheel of a tipper at Saror on the Ramban-Gool road on Saturday.

The 22-year-old victims, Jahangir Alam of Khar in Banial and Fayaz Ahmed of Saror in Ramban, were going from Ramban to Saror when the mishap took place.

The driver of the tipper fled. The police started a manhunt after registering a case. — OC

Srinagar, June 30
The police said on Sunday that they had arrested a pickpocket from the Batamaloo area of the city and recovered about Rs 65,000 from his possession.

A police spokesman said the money had been stolen from commuters. The pickpocket was sent to the Central Jail in Srinagar.

The spokesman identified the arrested pickpocket as Shabir Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of the Haft Chinar locality. He was arrested when he was stealing the wallet of a bus passenger at Batamaloo.

“On questioning, the police recovered Rs 65,280 from his possession, which had been stolen from commuters,” the spokesman said.

The pickpocket was presented before a magistrate, who remanded him to the to Central Jail in Srinagar, the spokesman said.