Jammu, July 6
With the Northern Railway yet to decide the schedule of direct express trains to Katra, the base camp of Vaishno Devi shrine, chaotic scenes were witnessed at the Jammu railway station as pilgrims jostled to board the Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) operating between Jammu and Katra thrice a day.

The authorities said the Railway Board has so far not conveyed when the regular long distance train service to Katra would be made operational to allow pilgrims reach the base camp of Vaishno Devi shrine directly.

“For last 48-hours pilgrims are making every effort to catch the DMU to reach Katra. Most of them from different parts of the country are jostling to board the train leading to huge rush at railway station. It’s beyond our means to control them,” said Karan Singh, Deputy Station Superintendent, Jammu.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the train from Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Katra railway station on July 4 and from day one pilgrims preferred the service after they disembark at Jammu to reach Katra.

The Indian Railways has been planning to run three pairs of express trains from New Delhi, Kalka, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Bangalore, but at the moment only the DMU was operating between Jammu and the holy town to Katra thrice in a day at 7:30 am, 12:30 pm and 5:20 pm.

“No schedule for operation of long distance trains has been announced by the Railway Board so far. It could take two to three weeks before the process is streamlined. So far, no information has been given to us,” a Railway official said.

The 80-km-long Jammu-Udhampur-Katra rail link will help millions of pilgrims, visiting the cave shrine, save their precious time and resources as they can travel directly to Katra, without getting down at Jammu.

“I have come from Mumbai and people said there is DMU service available, but it was almost a nightmare to get ticket and board the train. Several passengers boarded the train without tickets but nobody prevented them,” said Gayatri Naik.

Srinagar, July 6
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and Member Parliament Tariq Hameed Karra today accused the National Conference (NC) of working towards ‘complete disempowerment’ of Kashmiris.

Karra claimed that the Valley had become a victim of the ‘worst kind of discrimination perpetuated by Omar Abdullah’s anarchic regime’.

The PDP leader said this in a statement issued here and added that the same should serve as an eye-opener for the people of the Valley.

“Brazen regional discrimination by the state government in appointment of around 9,000 contractual teachers under a special recruitment drive should prove an eye-opener for Kashmiris. It is now clear that how the Omar Abdullah-led regime is slowly and steadily pushing Kashmiris into perpetual economic subjugation,” he said.

“To the shock and dismay of every Kashmiri, the advertisement issued in local dailies on July 5, 2014, shows that of the 8,475 posts of contractual teachers, 5,396 are for the Jammu region, 2,960 for Kashmir and 119 for Ladakh,” he added.

Stating that one fails to understand what criteria the state government had used to justify such brazen discrimination in allocation of posts, Karra said: “Going by the population ratio, Kashmir should have got more posts than the Jammu region. If not that, at least the distribution of posts should have been on a 50:50 basis so that justice was done with the unemployed youths in all regions.”

The PDP MP said the ‘worst thing’ was that while around 1,300 posts of contractual teacher had been advertised for Jammu district, there were just 80 posts for Srinagar district. “Right from the day Omar Abdullah assumed power, Kashmir is getting a step-motherly treatment in every sphere with his blessings,” he added.

Karra further stated that out of 676 sub-health centres to be set up under the National Rural Health Mission, 429 were in the Jammu region and 247 for Kashmir, with Srinagar getting none.

“Similarly, out of 953 schools proposed for upgrade, 600 are in Jammu, 370 in Kashmir and 30 in Ladakh. Under the Central Road Fund, Jammu has got Rs 208.81 crore during the last three years, Kashmir has got just Rs 79 crore. Under the 10th phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Jammu has got Rs 2531.58 crore while Kashmir has been given just Rs 1554.12 crore.

“Out of the 659 administrative units cleared by the Cabinet in February this year, 337 went to Jammu, 274 to Kashmir and 48 to Ladakh.

“Out of the 38 villages recently approved for inclusion in backward list, 30 are in Jammu and only eight are in Kashmir. Recently, 34 ventilators were installed in district and sub-district hospitals of the Jammu region while the number is only 16 in Kashmir,” the parliamentarian said.

Srinagar, July 6
Negotiations between the National Conference (NC) and the Congress over a pre-poll alliance have entered a decisive phase, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah rushing to New Delhi on Sunday to hold meetings with top Congress leaders.

The two parties have realised that going separately in the Assembly poll may not be the best political option for either. It is expected that Omar and Congress president Sonia Gandhi will hold a meeting to work out the best possible plan for both parties.

The two parties suffered a humiliating loss in the General Election, losing all six seats. The NC lost three seats in the Valley to its arch rival, the PDP. The Congress lost two seats in Jammu and one in Ladakh to its main opponent, the BJP.

Sources said Omar flew to Delhi on Sunday to give a proper definition to the political equations that the NC and the Congress should have during the Assembly poll, scheduled later this year.

The two parties have been in an alliance for the last over five-and-a-half years. Leaders of both parties have heard from local leaders that a pre-poll alliance may cost each other dear in the Assembly poll.

The rising tide of the PDP is becoming a worrying factor for the NC. Apart from discovering its strength in the General Election, the PDP has set into motion a campaign, with its leadership dwelling on the theme “sunset of the NC”.

The BJP is living in the euphoria of the General Election, in which Narendra Modi wave resulted in three seats in its kitty in Jammu and Kashmir. It is aiming to win 44 seats “to form the government on its own”.

The pluses and minuses of an NC-Congress pre-poll alliance would be weighed in the backdrop of the fresh assessment of the situation. Cadres felt that a pre-poll alliance would be suicidal as it was nearly impossible to transfer votes to the partner, which was demonstrated in ample measure during the General Election.

Srinagar, July 6
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and an association of doctors today condoled the death of Mufti Baha-ud-Din Farooqi, the former Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court.

In their condolence message, PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and party president Mehbooba Mufti said Kashmir had lost an “upright, honest and noble soul” who always stood “by the side of oppressed”.

“The leaders said the deceased was a leading legal light who would be known for his integrity, dedication and the exemplary work he has rendered in the judicial field and outside it,” a statement issued by the PDP said.

In another condolence statement, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) president Nisar-ul-Hassan expressed “profound grief and sorrow over the sad demise” of Farooqi.

A delegation of DAK, led by its president, also visited Farooqi’s residence where they expressed sympathy and solidarity with the bereaved family.

Farooqi, who was appointed as the 12th Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court in March 1983, passed away yesterday at his Jawahar Nagar residence in the city.

Jammu, July 6
The cleaning of the Tawi river might take years as the state has now decided to wait for the 13th Five-Year Plan (2017-21) to divert highly polluting drains that merge with the river.

Sources said it could affect the completion of the much-hyped Tawi Lake project which could become a major tourist attraction for tourists and lakhs of pilgrims who visit religious places in the Jammu region.

Officials said the Public Health Engineering Department and Irrigation Department had gone slow in diverting more than 16 drains as they were facing shortage of funds and had decided to wait for the 13th Five-Year plan to complete the project.

The river is also a major source of irrigation and drinking water for the city.

At present, to deal with the problem of discharge of sewerage, Jammu has been divided the city into division A, B, C, and D, comprised of area lying between the Balole nullah to the right bank of the Tarore nullah.

“With fund shortage and unplanned approach to deal with the project, people may not get to see the lake in the coming years. The work on the prestigious Tawi barrage (lake) project was left midway last year following the failure of the government to divert 18 drains and connect them with sewerage lines,” said an official source.

The Rs 69.70-crore Tawi Barrage project was expected to be completed in 2012. Till now, Rs 37.32 crore have been spend. The first deadline expired in October 2012, which was extended to March 30, 2013. 

Jammu, July 6
In a major decision, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) has informed the state government that all sports projects in the state under its new scheme — Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme (USIS) — will be executed only through the identified central public sector units (PSUs) from the current financial year.

Sources said the central ministry had asked the state to submit a proposal in this regard to its office by the first week of July. The Union Sports Ministry has already given its nod to construct a multi-purpose indoor hall at Leh at an estimated cost of Rs 7.98 crore.

Pertinently, the first instalment of grants-in-aid released to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, for the construction of the hall will have to be utilised before March 31, 2015. The authorities have been instructed to submit a statement of expenditure incurred on various components in connection with the sports infrastructure project executed along with the completion report to the Department of Sports, MYAS.

Sources said the decision was taken by the MYAS in order to ensure transparency and accountability in the completion of projects in a time-bound manner in the state.

Sources said before the selection of the new project for J&K, the ministry would enquire about the talent availability as per performance in the Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA) sports competitions. Further, progress of up-to-date status of different USIS projects from inception, how many completed, how many in progress and how many not yet started. It has now been decided to scrutinise all proposals received under the USIS.

“The state is already being pulled up by the central ministry for the submission of incomplete utilisation certificate (UC) of the grants sanctioned for the conduct of PYKKA activities in the state,” sources in the Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) claimed.

“In fact, this move of the Union Sports Ministry is on the cards and it would definitely bring some necessary changes in the proper execution of sports projects in the state,” they said.

Jammu, July 6
‘Haye Mera Chanda’, a play in Hindi, was staged at Natrang studio theatre here in its weekly series.

The play, originally written in Bengali by Rabindra Nath Tagore and translated in Hindi by Nami Chander Jain, was directed by Neeraj Kant. This is the first comedy play written by Rabindra Nath Tagore. The comical portrayal of the characters enhanced the quotient of instinctive situational comedy of the play which made it a wonderful treat for the audience.

It was a play on situational comedy, which presented a situation in which an expectation turns into something exactly opposite.

Dokodi Dutt, a lawyer, is miser and materialistic, who values nothing else but money. A man comes to him seeking donation for his organisation. Irritated, Dokodi throws the man out. Humiliated, the man resolves to avenge his insult.

Next day, he gets false news published in the newspapers that Dokodi Dutt has donated a huge amount to his organisation.

Jammu, July 6
A two-day workshop for teachers was concluded at Army Public School (APS), Akhnoor, here today. A total of 80 teachers of APS, Akhnoor, attended the programme, wherein Ankur Gulati and Vikash Rai from NIIT, New Delhi, were the trainers.

The main purpose of the programme was to impart training on technology-aided learning, which is the main area of focus in Army Public Schools. Chairman Brig SK Dey has sent his best wishes for two days workshop.

Principal KCS Mehta extended his thanks to the trainers and advised the teachers to make teaching interesting and interactive.

He expressed hope that such workshops would help bring more innovative changes in the learning process.

He further said that such workshops should be organised often in order to impart skill training to teachers.

This would in turn help the students, he added.

In the latest evidence of ongoing fragmentation in what was once projected as a “permanent partnership” between the National Conference (NC) and the Congress, the ruling parties have started seeing each other as a liability, the burden of which no longer can be carried by either into the Assembly elections.

Their primary concern at the moment is how to reverse the losses that the two suffered in the Jammu region and the Kashmir valley in the General Election. Both political parties, having a long history of political accomplishments and failures, are looking for excuses for the factors that caused their humiliating defeat, losing all six seats.

The NC and the Congress want to go it alone in the Assembly elections, yet are shy of announcing it publicly. The reason is that neither wants to give up the pelf and perks of power till the last minute of the coalition government.

The two parties are unsure of themselves. They know that their rhetoric of bouncing back lacks conviction. The leadership and cadres are unconvinced. The simple arithmetic that the General Election threw Assembly segment-wise is scary for both the NC and the Congress.

If that remains the mood of voters, neither will reach the digits. That is what their rivals, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), are revelling in. Another striking fact is that the PDP and the BJP are as far removed from reality after their victory in the General Election as were the NC and the Congress in the run-up to the poll early this year.

The NC is sulking and is looking for a direction to undo the losses. Its leadership is experimenting with almost everything – announcing one populist measure after another to woo voters. On the ground, the approach of its MLAs and ministers is individualistic — as is that of their Congress counterparts.

These leaders are sticking to their constituencies and have chosen a narrative of their work and benefits that they have brought for their constituents rather than talking as a party or the government.

There is a point even in their individualistic approach that they have much to count in terms of their work. This is unlike the General Election, when they had nothing to show as to what their MPs had done for their respective constituencies. That will bring them some advantage, but how much only time will tell.

There is a section in the NC that says the party should concentrate on daily needs of citizens and leave the political solution of the Kashmir issue to separatists.

Their line is that they and the party have sworn by the Constitution, contested and won elections on the theme of “sadak, bijli and paani” (roads, power and water) and run the government. They feel that they cannot and should not be seen straddling both on mainstream politics and separatists’ agenda. That is confusing party workers.

In case of the PDP, which emerged victorious in the General Election in the Valley, should look at the Assembly poll through a different mirror. The General Election mirrored charismatic leaders like Mehbooba Mufti and Muzaffar Beig, along with Tariq Hameed Karra, an expert in knitting a high-quality network at the grassroots who had a single-point mission of avenging his defeat in the last Assembly poll.

Will voters vote in the same manner in the Assembly poll is an open question. The party has not covered itself with glory by discarding discretion while admitting people with varied backgrounds into the party.

The Congress is wobbling and directionless in Jammu and Kashmir. Its high command culture, which has done more harm than good to the party, is again ruining the chances of the party in the state. It is ridden with factionalism of a high order, notwithstanding the display of bonhomie before cameras.

The hearts of the leaders are far from united. The party is not clear on its pre-poll alliance with the NC. It is wavering between a friendly contest with the NC and the possibility of an alliance with the PDP. The question of alliance will come up when it has the numbers. The scene at the moment is hazy, to put it mildly.

The BJP is in an ivory tower after winning three Lok Sabha seats. The party got the three seats because of Narendra Modi wave. It is difficult to understand why Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he would quit politics if the BJP won over 44 seats in the Assembly elections. For once, it can be safely predicted that he will not have to quit politics on this count.

Jammu, July 6
The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) lambasted the government on Sunday for its lackadaisical attitude towards the youth and accused it of pushing them into darkness.

The youth wing of the BJP alleged that the National Conference-Congress dispensation failed to address the aspirations of Jammu and Kashmir’s youth.

“The lack of youth-oriented policies and subsequent lack of attention towards them has led to a feeling of disenchantment among the youth,” BJYM state president Ravinder Raina said during the working committee meeting of the state unit of the organization here.

Raina alleged that the rising unemployment in the state has led to a “feeling of disillusionment”.

Jammu, July 6
Major Ranveer Singh Jamwal, who belongs to Badhori village in Samba district, etched his name in the record books after he became the first from the state to climb the 18,510-foot Mount Elbrus in Russia on June 26.

The 39-year-old Army officer also holds the distinction of being the first resident of Jammu and Kashmir to climb Mt Everest twice.

Mount Elbrus with an elevation of 18,510 foot (5,642 metres) is a part of the Caucasus range. It is the tallest mountain in the Europe and one of the seven summits.

Major Jamwal was part of a 10-member group led by Eugene from Russia. Seven members of the group withdrew from the summit attempt due to poor weather conditions, the 39-year-old along with others managed to scale the mountain peak.

“Severe cold was a big hurdle for the team. However, crossing all obstacles, the team achieved its goal and I hoisted the Tricolour and the Army Flag at Mount Elbrus,” said an elated Major Jamwal.

“I am planning to climb all the seven tallest peaks in the seven continents of the world in next two years,” he added.

Earlier, the Army officer had participated in 18 mountaineering expeditions including Mt Everest, Mt Aconcagua in South America and Mt Killimanjaro in Africa.

A recipient of the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award, Major Jamwal joined the Army on October 24, 1994, as sepoy in the Dogra Regiment. He, however, cleared the Officer Examination (Army Cadet College) and joined the Indian Military Academy in 1998. He got commissioned into 11 JAT regiment in June 2002.

The mountaineer was also awarded by J&K Governor for the recce of the Amarnath cave shrine in 2008. He has also been awarded with the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card.

Jammu, July 6
The state government which had announced full financial support to the Parraypora acid victim last year has not paid for her family’s stay at JK House in New Delhi.

Her family members have been running from pillar to post to get the financial support from the government to clear the dues of JK House.

Sources in the Hospitality and Protocol Department told The Tribune that the victim had to pay Rs 80,000 to JK House in New Delhi and the file related to it was moving from one table to another but hadn’t been cleared.

“The victim’s family claims that the money is to be paid by the government but the JK House management hasn’t yet received any communication from the government to clear the dues,” a source said.

On January 2, 2013, the victim was attacked with acid by Reyaz Ahmad Nath, a resident of Chanapora, and his accomplice at Parraypora in Srinagar. She was then sent to Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, on January 4, 2013.

While she was admitted to the hospital, her family stayed at JK House, Pancharipuri, New Delhi.

On February 6, 2013, the state government paid for the treatment expenses of the victim and on March 28, she was given a government job as well.

It was on the government’s initiative that the victim was shifted to New Delhi for specialised treatment.

“There is still confusion over lodging and boarding at JK House and neither the family nor the government has cleared the expenses so far,” the source added.

Jammu, July 6
With party leaders mounting pressure on the high command to declare Ghulam Nabi Azad as the chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming Assembly elections, supporters of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee chief Saifuddin Soz have rushed to New Delhi to scuttle any such move.

Detractors of Azad who owe allegiance to Soz have been trying their best that the party does not declare any leader as the chief ministerial candidate for the Assembly poll and the elections are contested under a combined leadership.

Sources said some party leaders who met AK Antony on Saturday suggested that the party high command should give overall command for the Assembly elections to Azad to give the BJP a tough fight in the Jammu region.

They argued that only Azad had the capability to lead the party in the state because he had proved himself during his tenure as the Chief Minister. As Azad loyalists mounted pressure, a group of Soz supporters reached New Delhi to convince the leadership not to declare any leader as the chief ministerial candidate.

“There is a feeling among Soz loyalists that in case Azad is declared as the chief ministerial candidate, it will be impossible for them to keep their flock together. They are trying their best to sabotage any such move,” the sources said. They added, “A group of youth leaders who are Soz supporters reached New Delhi on Sunday morning to start their campaign.”

The sources said the Congress high command invited select leaders for the discussion. Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, former Lok Sabha member Madan Lal Sharma and Cabinet ministers Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, Nawang Rigzin Jora, Sham Lal Sharma and Taj Mohiuddin were invited. Former Member of Parliament Lal Singh was not invited.

These leaders held individual meetings with Antony to discuss the worst-ever debacle of the party in the recently held General Election. Loyalists of Azad and Soz had been demanding that action should be taken against Lal Singh for working against party candidates. He was not invited to the convention of Congress workers in Srinagar last month to devise the strategy for the Assembly elections.

The sources said All-India Congress Committee general secretary Ambika Soni, Azad and Soz held a meeting on Saturday to formulate a comprehensive strategy for the upcoming Assembly elections.

Srinagar, July 6
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today released its third list of candidates for the Assembly elections, to be held later this year.

A spokesman said PDP patron and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed would contest from the Anantnag constituency of south Kashmir. Former J&K Bank chairman Haseeb Ahmed Drabu, who joined the party recently, would contest from the Rajpora constituency of south Kashmir, he said.

The other candidates are M Khalil Bandh from the Pulwama constituency, advocate Mohammad Yousuf Bhat from Shopian, Raja Manzoor from Karnah, Nazir Ahmad Naikoo from Sopore and Mohamad Abass Wani from Gulmarg.

Similarly, Mohammad Iqbal Kazmi, Suhabul Haq, M Maroof Khan and Firdous Tak will be the PDP candidates from the Surenkote, Doda, Mendhar and Kishtwar constituencies of the Jammu region, respectively.

Jammu, July 6
Buoyed by its success in the General Election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has intensified its campaign for the Assembly elections, scheduled to be held later this year.

While other political parties are yet to finalise their candidates, the PDP has released three lists of party candidates for the upcoming elections.

With its focus on the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, the party announced candidates for the Assembly segments in the two districts in the first list. After releasing the list, the party leadership directed its candidates to rush to their respective constituencies.

In 2008, the PDP had won two seats, Mendhar in Poonch district and Darhal in Rajouri district. The party had lost in the Rajouri Assembly segment by a narrow margin.

To give an impetus to the campaign, PDP patron and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed conducted a tour of the two districts and formally introduced his candidates to the people last week.

Kupwara, July 6
A footbridge connecting Moori village in the Lolab valley of Kupwara district was washed away on Tuesday by flash floods caused due to incessant rain in the past few days in parts of Kupwara district.

Locals said due to the washing away of the bridge, the village, which had 200 families, was cut off from the rest of Kupwara district.

“We are cut off from the rest of the district since Tuesday evening as heavy rains washed away the bridge. If there is a medical emergency, how will we shift the patient to hospital?” asked Abdul Ahad Malik, a resident of Moori village.

The locals said incessant rain had also caused damage to Government Boys Primary School, Mitbagh, Lolab. The power supply to Moori village was also disrupted on Tuesday and has not been restored, they said.

“Since Tuesday, we are forced to have our meals at iftaar and sehri under the candlelight. The power department is doing nothing to restore the supply,” said Mohammad Mukaram, a local.

The locals said the crop had also suffered damage due to the heavy rains and windstorm.

They appealed to the authorities to reconstruct the bridge and restore power supply to the village. “We appeal to the Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara, to intervene and address our problems at the earliest,” said Shamas-u-din Khan, another Moori resident.

Pulwama, July 6
A shutdown was today observed in Tral town of Pulwama district against the killing of a foreign militant in an encounter with the security forces in Aripal village on Saturday.

Traffic remained off the roads and all business establishments remained closed in this south Kashmir town and adjoining villages.

Meanwhile, no untoward incident was reported from the town today.

The town witnessed violence yesterday, with protesters torching two security forces vehicles in Aripal village.

The militant identified as Madani Bhai was a resident of Pakistan and was killed on Saturday morning while escaping the encounter.

Tral town has witnessed sporadic violence since the beginning of this year. Seven militants and three civilians have been killed so far in the town.

Jammu, July 6
The state Planning and Development Department has directed all the departments/field agencies to co-operate and provide necessary support, well in time, to the inspecting officers so as to ensure 100 per cent physical verification of the assigned projects in Jammu and Kashmir.

Sources said the instructions were issued by the department after it received inputs from the inspecting officers that some field agencies/officers were not showing seriousness in this regard.

“The agencies/officers are either reluctant to share the required information sought by the inspecting officers or try to block the same on one pretext or the other thereby causing obstructions in the smooth conduct of verification process of the infrastructure projects. It amounts to violation of government instructions and can invite disciplinary action,” an official statement read.

Sources claimed that in order to bring improvement in the implementation of developmental schemes in the state, the Planning and Development Department had mandated Additional District Development Commissioners, Regional Joint Director (Evaluation), J&K, and District Statistical and Evaluation Officers with the assignment of monitoring and conducting physical verifications of infrastructure projects in a specified manner within stipulated time frame.

The findings were reviewed/monitored periodically and shared with the departments concerned for initiating appropriate remedial measures.

“It is, therefore, impressed upon all the officers/agencies to cooperate with the inspecting officers by providing all necessary support and requisite information pertaining to the projects implemented/being implemented by them during the Detailed Project Reports, release orders, etc… on priority for carrying out the physical verification of these projects effectively and in a time-bound manner. These instructions need to be followed in letter and spirit,” the statement from the Planning and Development Department stated.

Kupwara, July 6
Despite alarm clocks and cell phones with alarm features, the centuries-old tradition of waking up people by beating drums at the time of “Sehri” (pre-dawn meals) during Ramadan is still alive, especially in villages of north Kashmir.

It is not the tune of alarm clock or cell phone which wakes up people for pre-dawn meals but the high-pitch sound of drum beats.

“Although every household in our village has at least one mobile phone but we want to keep the drum-beating tradition alive,” said Mohammad Muzaffar of remote Kodi village in the Lolab valley. “Despite the scare of wild animal, a group of volunteers has taken up the job of beating drums on a rotation basis,” Muzaffar added.

Zoona Begum, a resident of Charkote village in the Lolab valley, says it is good that Kashmir’s centuries-old tradition is alive and thriving. “For some years, we could not hear the drum-beaters during the Sehri time. But it is a great feeling that they are again doing this job,” said Zoona, adding that during Ramadan, she wakes up for pre-dawn meals after hearing the drums.

The volunteers shout “wakht-e-seher” (wake up for pre-dawn meals) while beating the drums and move in the villages to ensure that people wake up to have their meals. “The drum beating at the time of sehri gives me immense satisfaction. I am doing this job for the past many years,” said Mohammad Sultan, a drummer.

Srinagar, July 6
Accusing the government of backtracking from the agreement made with them, the employees, who have staged frequent protests in the past, will chalk out their future strategy on Wednesday.

“The state government is backtracking from its written agreement that was made five years ago in February 19, 2009, and later endorsed on May 14, 2010, and August 15, 2011. We will chalk out a common strategy during a convention in Srinagar on July 9,” said state president, J&K Government Employees Joint Action Committee (JKGEJAC), Ram Kumar Sharma today.

The JKGEJAC has been accusing the government of only addressing the issue of age enhancement from 58 to 60 years but ‘sidetracking’ other core demands of the employees.

Its demands include regularisation of temporary workers, seasonal/need based, consolidated, local fund and daily-rated workers, who have completed seven years of service, removal of pay anomalies, budgetary support to employees of the public sector undertakings, medical insurance policy to be implemented by the government on a minimum premium basis or implementation of the Central government employees/pensioners’ medical claim policy and grant of special duty allowance at 12.50 per cent to the employees of the Ladakh region on the pattern of the Centre among others.

The Joint Consultative Committee, an employees amalgam, has also staged several protests in the past but has been issuing separate protest calendars.

Srinagar, July 6
Even as the locals have accused the government of failing to properly tackle the menace of stray dogs, the issue has compounded during the fasting month of Ramadan, especially when people go to offer pre-dawn prayers.

Residents of Jawahar Nagar, Srinagar, said it was difficult after ‘Sahur’ time (around 4.00 am) to go to mosques as the fear of dogs loomed large.

“No concrete step is being taken to reduce the population of dogs in city areas. We have time and again appealed to the authorities to take some action but it seems they are not interested in people’s problems,” said a local, Rashid Ahmad, the presence of stray dogs in the area was especially a nuisance for old people.

A resident of KP Bagh said due to the holy month, the ‘taraweeh’ prayers in the mosque continues till 11:30 in the night, which makes them more prone to incidents of dog bites. “In Ramadan, it is more difficult for us to go out in the presence of dogs. The government should do something at least for this month so that it becomes easy for us to go to mosques,” he said.

The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has started sterilisation of dogs in Srinagar city.

A senior official of the SMC said they were working on reducing the population of dogs in the city and it would take some time as they were conducting sterilisation ward wise in the district. Officials said the authorities had also called for reduction of population of dogs suffering from rabies immediately. 

Srinagar, July 6
Jammu and Kashmir Awami Ittehad Front (AIF) president Rabia Baji on Saturday met a delegation from the Baramulla-Banihal stretch, who said the Railways had acquired their land for a track and had promised a job for a person in each family. The farmers said the promises had not been fulfilled.

A spokesman said, “Baji in her recent tour to Delhi, after visiting Doda, met the Railway Minister DV Sadananda Gowda and discussed the issue. The minister told her that he would reply on the issue near July 20.”

The spokesman said Baji, during her visit to Delhi, met many Union ministers and discussed various issues of the state. “She especially met Nitin Gadkari, with whom she discussed issues regarding roads and the national highway of Doda and the Himayat Scheme. She also Minority Minister Najma Heptullah and requested her to utilise resources for schemes in the Valley,” the spokesman said.

She met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and discussed issues pertaining to the state, which require immediate attention, especially the youth and women. She met Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Law and IT Minister, and requested him to draw some IT schemes for the state, the spokesman said.

Srinagar, July 6
A 21-year-old youth is being treated at a hospital after he consumed a poisonous substance at his home in the Srinagar, the police today said.

The youth, a resident of the Qamarwari locality of the city, consumed some poisonous substance at his home last evening, a police spokesman said. He was shifted to Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital.

“The police have registered a case in this regard,” the spokesman said. 

Jammu, July 6
Rotarian Vinay Kapoor was today elected president of Rotary Club, Jammu Tawi, by District Governor Gurjeet Singh Sekhon, who was the chief guest.

Rotarian Ashok Gupta took over the secretary of the club at a joint function held here while Rita Gupta was installed president of the Inner Wheel Club.

In his address, Sekhon lauded the work done by former president Rotarian Sunil Jain and assured full cooperation to the club.

Kapoor, in his welcome address, assured the District Governor that all members of the club would do their best to help the poor and needy persons of society. He also introduced his team for 2014-2015, which included Subash Gandotra as vice-president, Raman Sheepuri as joint secretary, Deepak as Sgt at arms, Naveen as treasure, while AS Modi, Jatinder Gandhoh, Vihar Gupta, Joginder Abrol, Ravinder as directors.

Rotarian Dushyant Choudhary was awarded the Rotarian of the year award by outgoing president Sunil Jain. President of various clubs of Jammu were also present on the occasion.

Jammu, July 6
A scheduled meeting of the working committee members of the Jammu Wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) was held here today. It was chaired by Rakesh Kumar, vice-chairman, Jammu Wing.

Sudershan Mehta, joint secretary, while welcoming the members, presented a brief report with regard to the ongoing cricket camps at Jammu as per the directions of JKCA president Dr Farooq Abdullah to promote cricket in every nook and corner of the state, particularly in border districts.

Keeping in view the directions of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar, the members also passed a resolution requesting the president to convene a meeting of the office bearers of the association, so that decisions for the allocation of funds for holding the cricket activities could be undertaken as per the annual cricket calendar.

Dr Farooq Abdhullah has instructed the JKCA office bearers to undertake maximum cricketing activities in the state, so that constructive and character building initiative for youth could be undertaken through cricket.

Other matters regarding the promotion of cricket and infrastructure in Jammu province were also discussed at the meeting.

Srinagar, July 6
The ruling National Conference today accused a parliamentarian from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of land grabbing and alleged that he had “illegally occupied” more than a 100 kanals of land.

Junaid Mattu, spokesman, National Conference, said Member of Parliament Tariq Hamid Karra, who is a senior leader of the PDP, “should be held answerable” on how he had “allegedly illegally occupied” more than a hundred kanals of evacuee property land of the Custodian Department at the Shivpora locality in Srinagar.

“(It is) a blatant incident of massive land-grabbing,” the National Conference spokesman said, while demanding an “elaborate investigation into possible offences of undue coercive measures, cheating, forgery, criminal trespass and criminal intimidation”.

Srinagar, July 6
Geelani, who is the chairman of the hardline faction of separatist amalgam Hurriyat Conference, called for the release of all “political prisoners” saying that “even the most tyrant governments” implement such measures during the fasting month.

The separatist leader issued a list of names of “political prisoners” seeking their release. The list included names of Masarat Alam Bhat, Ameer Hamza, Mushtaq-ul-Islam, Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, Abdullah Nasir, Abdul Gani Bhat, Assadullah Parray, Javed Ahmad, Nissar Ahmad Bhat, Abdul Majid Lone, Showkat Hakim, Mazoor Ahmad Wani, Mehraj-ud-din Nanda, Maulvi Sajad and Mohammad Yasin Yatoo.

Geelani said the cases of 44 prisoners, who are serving life sentences, should be reviewed on “humanitarian grounds”.

Srinagar, July 6
The Awami Ittihaad Party (AIP) today demanded immediate removal of the CRPF bunker at Habbakadal in old city.

In a statement, AIP state youth president Shahzad Hussain Hamdani expressed displeasure over the frequent “inconvenience and damage” caused to locals on account of the CRPF bunker. “During the 2010 unrest and thereafter, the CRPF Bunker has been a big nuisance. Personnel deployed there go berserk within no time and it has become a norm for them to wreak havoc upon commoners and damage public property. In an age when their is talk of normalcy, the time is ripe to lift this bunker from Habbakadal,” Hamdani said. — TNS