Jammu, July 8
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) activists today protested against power and drinking water shortage in Jammu city. Led by PDP women’s wing leader Geeta Thakur, protesters alleged that the government had failed to maintain proper electricity supply during the summer months. Thakur warned the government not to test the patience of people of the Jammu region, who were being “discriminated” against in every sector.

She expressed dismay that while the ministers and bureaucrats were enjoying the cool environs of Kashmir, people were left at the mercy of weather vagaries.

“Though the department has collected a huge amount of money as revenue from the people and assured of regular supply of electricity, nothing has been done in this regard,” Thakur said.

Jammu, July 8
The people of Jammu and Kashmir felt “disappointed” for being “neglected” by Railway Minister DV Sadananda Gowda in his budget today. Political parties as well as Chamber of Commerce and Industries also expressed their unhappiness over the treatment meted out to the state.

After the opening of the Katra-Udhampur rail link on July 4, people of the state were expecting some new announcements, but the Centre has totally “neglected” the state.

“As a Jammuite, I feel neglected. We had put forth the demand of initiating new trains to from Jammu to Chandigarh, Haridwar, Kolkata and Delhi, but nothing has been announced,” said Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Jammu, president Rakesh Gupta.

The state unit of the Congress, meanwhile, lambasted the BJP-led NDA government for the “unpopular budget”.

“By and large the rail budget has disappointed all. People were expecting the government to start of work on the Rajouri-Poonch rail line for which survey has been conducted long back, but the Railway Minister did not give anything to the state,” said J&K Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Ravinder Sharma.

“The government has given to other states, but has neglected Jammu and Kashmir. Now, people will be able to differentiate between the UPA government and the NDA government,” he said.

People also expressed dismay over the rail budget. “We were expecting Railway Minister to revoke the fare hike, but that hasn’t happened,” said Irshad Hussain, a government employee.

Srinagar: Meanwhile, acknowledging the increase in the frequency of train service between Banihal and Budgam, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today said it would bring much needed relief to the commuters.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, in a statement, welcomed the move but stated that the frequency needed to be increased on the Budgam-Baramula line as well to ease the pressure. 

Jammu, July 8
In a significant move, the Shri Amarnathji Shrine board (SASB) today increased quota for current registration to 5,000 pilgrims per day. The information was given during a meeting chaired by Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Shantmanu to review the facilities being provided to the pilgrims at the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here.

Director Tourism, Jammu, Soujanya Sharma told the Divisional Commissioner that sufficient quota was being released for the current registration and there was no back log.

The registration quota for each route —- Baltal and Pahalgam —- has been increased to 5,000 yatris per day, Sharma informed the meeting.

The meeting was also informed that two more counters had been created at the Jammu Haat to meet the heavy rush of yatris seeking current registration.

The Divisional Commissioner reviewed the status of all facilities like power, drinking water, sanitation, transport, security, langar arrangements and related services being made available to the pilgrims.

He directed the departments concerned to make sure that yatris do not face any problem on account of getting the basic amenities.

Srinagar, July 8
The privilege motion against former Army Chief VK Singh was deferred further as the newly-constituted privilege committee of the Legislative Council did not take it up for discussion during its meeting here today.

The committee, which met under the chairmanship of chairmanship of Panthers Party legislator Mohammad Rafiq Shah, had earlier skipped the issue during its first meeting on June 25.

“We discussed few privilege motions, but the motion on former Army Chief and now a Union Minister did not come up for discussion. It may come up for discussion when we meet next week,” said a member of the privilege committee.

The new privilege committee was constituted last month after the culmination of the annual term of the previous committee.

Legislators Nayeem Akhtar, Aga Syed Rizvi and Dr BA Shah Veeri attended the meeting as special invitees

The former Army Chief, in September last year, had told a news channel that ministers in J&K were being “paid huge money” to keep Kashmir integrated with India.

Following the revelations, a privilege motion was moved against the former Army Chief by National Conference legislators Ajay Sadhotra, Devender Singh Rana and Khalid Najeeb Suhrawardy.

The Chairman of the Legislative Council Amrit Malhotra had referred the joint motion against VK Singh to the privilege committee.

The previous committee had submitted it report to Malhotra last month.

“After examining the report, the committee members had disagreed on different issues. Since the new committee has taken over, it would have a fresh look and accordingly submit its report after deliberations and discussions,” Malhotra had said.

There was an alleged face-off between the NC and the Congress members in the privilege committee over its legality. 

Jammu, July 8
Following suspicious movement, the BSF personnel opened “preventive fire” in the Arnia sub-sector of RS Pura today.

“Around 4 am, the BSF personnel of 192 Battalion observed some suspicious movement near the Chowni border outpost,” said an Intelligence source. Consequently, the BSF personnel opened four rounds of fire.

A senior BSF officer said: “Our personnel noticed some suspicious movement and they opened a preventive fire. There was no intrusion attempt whatsoever. No telltale signs in the form of footprints or bloodstains were found in the area.” — TNS

RK Sharma to take over as IG, BSF, Jammu

Rakesh Kumar Sharma will take over as new Inspector General of BSF, Jammu Frontier, replacing incumbent SS Tomar, who has been posted to the BSF Officers’ Academy at Tekanpur near Gwalior. “Rakesh Kumar Sharma, who belongs to Jammu, has been announced as the new IG, BSF, Jammu Frontier. He will soon take over the charge from the incumbent SS Tomar, who has been posted to the BSF Officers’ Academy in Tekanpur,” said a top BSF source.

Jammu, July 8
Nine officials of the Sheep Husbandry Department, including a district officer and a veterinary assistant surgeon, were killed in a road accident at Kamrazi Morh near the Sinthan area on the Kishtwar-Anantnag highway today.

The accident took place around 10 am when the officials were on their way to the Sinthan Top area, nearly 70 km from the district headquarters, to vaccinate animals following reports of a disease outbreak.

The deceased were identified as Mohammad Rafiq Akhoon, 57, district sheep husbandry officer, Kishtwar, Amir Kamal, 30, veterinary assistant surgeon, a resident of Kishtwar, Abdul Rehman, 58, Irshad Ahmed, 42, both residents of Chatroo in Kishtwar, Sat Lal Sharma, 40, a resident of the Berabhatta area in Kishtwar, Ghulam Ahmed, 58, a resident of Mullar Chingam, Darshan Kumar, 52, a resident of Samba, Abdul Kareem, 26, a resident of the Balana Sigdi area in Kishtwar, and the driver, Rakesh Kumar, 40, a resident of Loidhar in Kishtwar.

After receiving information about the incident, a police party from the Chatroo police station, medical team from Primary Health Centre, Chatroo, veterinary team, Army personnel from Chingam and locals rushed to the spot and retrieved the bodies.

Additional Superintendent of Police, Kishtwar, Abdul Qayoom, said all officials died on the spot after the Tata Sumo in which they were travelling skidded off the road and rolled down into a 300-foot gorge near the Kamrazi Morh belt of the Chatroo tehsil. The vehicle belonged to the Sheep Husbandry Department. The police said the driver lost control over the vehicle while negotiating a sharp curve.

The bodies were handed over to their families after conducting all medico-legal formalities and autopsy.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families. He demanded compensation for the families of the victims.

Azad reiterated his demand to have a comprehensive action plan for containing the rising number of accidents in erstwhile Doda district.

Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo, who is the MLA of the area, has also expressed shock and grief over the accident. He also visited the accident site and expressed solidarity with the bereaved families.

Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti has also expressed shock over the loss of precious lives and conveyed her sympathies to the bereaved families. Congress leader Ghulam Mohammad Saroori also conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls.

Srinagar: Governor NN Vohra has expressed grief over the death of nine persons in a road accident at Kamrazi Morh near Sinthan on the Kishtwar-Anantnag highway today.

The Governor has conveyed his sympathy to the bereaved families and prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls.

A Raj Bhawan spokesman said the Governor regretted that while over a thousand lives were lost in recurring road accidents every year, the authorities were yet to implement tangible measures to solve the problem. — TNS

Srinagar, July 8
The All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) — an umbrella organisation of panches and sarpanches —today said they were looking ahead to contest the Assembly elections if the government did not increase their honorarium within a week.

“The state government should announce an honorarium of Rs 10,000 for sarpanches and Rs 5,000 for panches within a week. If it fails to do so we will teach it a lesson in the upcoming Assembly polls,” AJKPC chairman Shafiq Mir told reporters here. “We will field our own candidates if our demand is not met by the state government within the set deadline,” Mir said. He told the government to ensure security of panchayat members ahead of the Assembly polls. — TNS 

Srinagar, July 8
Chairman of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Geelani today called for a shutdown in the Valley on July 13 to mark the anniversary of the 1931 anti-monarchy agitation.

While calling for the shutdown, Geelani said the “mission of the martyrs” of 1931 was “still incomplete”. “The present freedom struggle of Kashmir is part of that,” Geelani said.

July 13 marks the anniversary of a major agitation against the state’s erstwhile monarchy when 22 men were killed in protests against the autocratic rule. The day is recognised as “martyrs day” by the state government and is a state holiday.

The moderate separatist group led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has also called for a shutdown on July 13. — TNS

Srinagar, July 8
The Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE) has issued show-cause notices to four beneficiary girl students, who had figured in the Common Entrance Test (CET)-2012 selection list and secured admission in MBBS through fraudulent and illegal means.

In the notices issued by BOPEE through its secretary, the students have been given an opportunity to explain their position in writing within seven days, failing which, the Board said, it shall be presumed that they (students) have nothing to say in the matter.

The exam scam involves the sale of entrance question papers by former BOPEE chairman Mushtaq Peer through his aides Farooq Itoo, Sajjad Ahmad and Haroon for Rs 60 lakh.

The show-cause notices by BOPEE come following directions by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court last week, wherein it had directed the Board authorities to file a status report within two weeks on the action taken against four more beneficiaries of the scam whose particulars have been forwarded to it by the Crime Branch.

The Crime Branch has so far indicted 29 students in the case. Of them, admission of 25 students has already been cancelled by BOPEE.

The four MBBS students who have been issued notices by BOPEE have been identified as Beenish Bhat from Rawalpora in Srinagar, Mansha from Peerbagh in Srinagar, Mehak Hameed from Kralteng in Sopore and Mehvish Bashir from Rawalpora in Srinagar.

The Crime Branch, which had last week submitted the details of the students to the High Court, had written to BOPEE on June 26, 2014, telling it to take appropriate action, as permissible under law against the students.

Jammu, July 8
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Northern Command Lt Gen DS Hooda today conferred his commendation card and an appreciation citation upon Deputy Commissioner (DC), Leh, Simrandeep Singh.

At a special function organised by the 14 Corps Headquarters in Leh, the honour was given to the Deputy Commissioner for his contribution towards maintaining cordial civil-military relations in the strategically important Ladakh region and taking proactive steps towards solving long-pending issues related to the civil-military interface in Leh district.

Superintendent of Police, Leh, Sunil Gupta and Deputy Superintendent of Police, CID, Dechan Sonam were also awarded for their meritorious service at the function.

Lt Gen BS Negi, General Officer Commanding of the 14 Corps, and Maj Gen NS Rao, Chief of Staff of the 14 Corps, were present on the occasion.

Srinagar, July 8
Hurriyat leader and National Front chairman Nayeem Khan has demanded return of properties held under the Muslim Wakf Board.

In a statement issued here, Khan alleged that these Wakf properties were being misused by the board officials for personal gains.

“If the assets worth crores are returned to the Muslims of J&K and they are allowed to use and manage it professionally, these assets can create a huge income, which is enough to provide the best educational and health facilities to its inhabitants,” Khan said in the statement.

“The state can also feed all orphans, widows and destitute and can even rehabilitate them. But alas! Our huge assets are under the occupation of the Muslim Wakf Board, the office-bearers of which are busy fulfilling their own needs and they are even strengthening the occupation by the money provided by the common masses,” he alleged, while demanding the return of the Wakf property. — TNS

Srinagar, July 8
With the commencement of Ramadan, hundreds of beggars become claimers of charity causing nuisance to the people. Beggars in the Valley not lose a single opportunity to earn a quick buck during Ramadan.

They can be seen at the entrance of mosques, fast food shops, markets, bus terminals and thickly populated downtown areas of the city where they make the life of people miserable by demanding charity in the holy month. The menace increases in the holy month as every Muslim wants to give charity in the form of “Sadqa”, “Zakat” and “Fitrana”.

Over the past few years, the number of local beggars has drastically increased in the Valley. However, the state government is yet to wake up to implement the rules under the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Beggary Act, 1960. The Act that aims to provide an alternative means of livelihood to the beggar population in the state is almost defunct.

Beggars say no government institution or official has yet come forward to provide them rehabilitation or means of sustenance under this Act.

“We are compelled to beg because we have no means of livelihood. If we are entitled to certain means of livelihood, the government should provide the same to us. We will stop begging,” said Ghulam Ali, a beggar stationed at Jamia Masjid, Srinagar.

Though the Srinagar Municipal Corporation’s recent anti- encroachment and beautification drive led to dislocation of beggars from the integral points of the city, their number abruptly rose back after Ramadan started.

“Giving alms (charity) is one of the basic tenants of Islam and in the month of Ramadan giving charity has more rewards. Many families give their part of Zakat (charity) to local mosque welfare boards which in turn distribute them among poor and needy. Many of them give directly to beggars,” said Rehman Siddique, local Masjid cleric.

Ramadan also leads to huge donations to various orphanages and homes of widows and destitute.

Jammu, July 8
The Jammu and Kashmir Batwal Welfare Association (JKBWA) has urged the government to authorise amendments in the J&K Scheduled Castes Reservation Act, 2004, and Article 341 of the Constitution of India.

Division of 13 Scheduled Castes into sub-groups with each block assigned a fraction of the Dalit quota would ensure better distribution of reservation benefits, JKBWA members said in its meeting held here.

The speakers said since 67 years of Independence, the Union as well as the J&K government had done a lot for the betterment of all socially and economically weaker sections, alleging that so far nothing had been done for the Batwal community, which was lagging behind in all fields.

They said the community had not been given any sort of representation in the Rajya Sabha, State Legislature, State Development Board and district development boards despite the fact that Batwals had the maximum strength among the Scheduled Caste communities.

Alleging that all the communities had been allotted land by the government in the vicinity of Jammu for the construction of community halls, except the Batwal community, they urged the government to allot a suitable piece of land in Jammu city to the community for the construction of a community facility hall.

The members said in 1994, the Government of India with an object to ameliorate the living standard of the Batwal community launched a study to assess their socio, economic and cultural life in J&K. But even after passage of 20 years, nothing has been done by the government for the uplift of the Batwal community.

Jammu, July 8
Rehbar-e-Zirat (ReZ) candidates of the Jammu province are up in arms against the alleged indifferent treatment by the state government claiming that 403 ReZs of the Kashmir province were regularised by the government recently despite a stay on the policy. The J&K Agricultural Technocrats Association (JKATA) has warned the authorities of serious consequences if their regularisation order would not be issued soon.

“The plea put forth by the government in the Agriculture Department for not regularising the REZs of the Jammu province is that there are writ petitions of some of the REZs of the Jammu province against the policy of Cabinet decision. But it is surprising that how the Director, Agriculture, Kashmir, has issued regularisation orders when the stay on the policy is for both divisions of the state,” the JKATA said in a statement.

Dr Surinder Radotra, JKATA president while talking to The Tribune said “we have met Chief Minister and other Cabinet Ministers to apprise them about our issue but in vain. Various organizations have supported us for our cause and they assured that this discriminatory attitude towards Jammu will not be tolerated at any cost”.

“We will not tolerate such discrimination with the REZs of the Jammu province, who have every right to get regularised like it was done in the Kashmir province. We have completed seven years of service,” one of the members of the JKATA claimed.

After series of protests by the JKATA, the state government had decided to regularise ReZs in a staggered manner spread over three phases on completion of seven years of satisfactory and continuous service against the posts, in the pay band of Rs 9,300-34,800 with applicable grade pay of Rs 4,200 deemed to be created for the purpose.

The posts were designated as village agriculture extension assistants. In the first phase, one-third of the registered candidates (881) were to be regularised on completion of seven years of continuous and satisfactory service effective from April 1, 2014.

In the second phase, another one-third of the registered candidates (881), who have put in at least seven years of satisfactory and continuous service, will be regularised from April 2015 while the remaining to be regularised in April 2016.

Further, when the government had decided to engage ReZs in a Cabinet decision taken in 2007, they were given a meagre Rs 1,500 as stipend and also submitted an affidavit that they will not be engaged in any government/semi-government/contractual or ad hoc basis. Presently, the stipend is now enhanced to Rs 6,500. Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir said, “It is better if you can ask the Director, Agriculture, Kashmir, about the issue because I have no idea regarding the same.”

Srinagar, July 8
Expressing dismay over “stoppage” of funds for the Dal Lake conservation programme, senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and MP Tariq Hameed Karra today accused the NC-Congress coalition government of striking the very foundation of the vital institutions in Kashmir.

“Having lost ground and people’s trust, the NC now seems to be hell bent upon destroying everything in Kashmir,” Karra said in a statement issued here today.

Karra said it was absurd that the government was now planning to generate resources for operation and maintenance of Dal conservation from shikarawallas, houseboat owners and tourists visiting the lake and other locals who derive their livelihood from the water body.

“If the government is not able to shoulder the responsibility of Dal conservation, it should hand over the job of restoration of the lake to the United Nations under UNESCO world heritage site programme,” he added.

“If this government has done anything during the past five years that is imposing back-breaking taxes on the people, including massive hike in power tariff, and is now planning to impose taxes on Dal dwellers for its maintenance,” he said.

He said silence of the city-based NC legislators over recurring injustices and discrimination perpetuated by their government against Srinagar and its inhabitants was the most intriguing. 

Jammu, July 8
Members of the All J&K Stationery and Office Supplies Department Employees Association has urged the higher authorities to fill up all the vacant posts in the department and open new stationery depots in all the eight districts in the state.

The association held a meeting under the chairmanship of Babu Hussain Malik wherein the members criticised the state government for not addressing the pending issues of the employees of the department.

The members of the association pointed out that many posts of Deputy Superintendents and senior storekeepers and other cadre was lying vacant in the department, but authorities had failed to fill up the same. The employees were facing stagnation due to this.

They added that the government had also failed to open new stationery and office supply depots in all the newly created districts. The association demanded amendment in SRO-365 and re-organisation of the department.

Malik said removal of pay anomaly in the clerical cadre was the main issue, which had remained pending so far despite agreement made by the government.

He also demanded enhancement of medical allowance from Rs 300 to Rs 1,000 per month, merger of 50 per cent DA in basic pay and regularisation of ad hoc, daily rated/ casual workers.

Seva Ram Rathore, U S Pathania, Veerji Koul, Dalip Singh, Kuldip Kumar and others were also present on the occasion.

Baramulla, July 8
The family members of Nazir Ahmad Naikoo, who was killed in an attack by some unidentified gunmen last month, today staged a protest demonstration against the administration and the police for failing to arrest the culprits behind the attack.

Nazir, son of Congress activist Khazir Mohammad Naikoo, was killed when some unidentified gunmen had barged into their house in Seelo village of north Kashmir's Baramulla district and opened indiscriminate firing.

Nazir died on the spot, while his cousin Shabir Ahmad succumbed to his injuries couple of days later at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science, Srinagar.

The victims' family members along with Seelo villagers assembled outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, and sought arrest of the culprits.

Slain Nazir's elder brother, Manzoor Ahmad Naikoo said, "The administration, including the police, had promised that culprits will be arrested soon but the killers, unfortunately, are still at large," said Manzoor Ahmad Naikoo, Nazir's brother.

"The police have so far arrested only one person, Mehrajuddin Khan of Mundji, who according to them had accepted to crime. But still the main accused, Gulam Nabi Naiko and his wife Saleema, are moving freely," Manzoor said.

The protesting family members, meanwhile, submitted a written application to Baramulla DC Farooq Ahmad Lone, who assured all possible help to the family. — OC

Srinagar, July 8
At a time when Narendra Modi-led government in New Delhi is mulling to introduce various measures to improve cross-LoC trade between two parts of Kashmir, the J&K Police have chargesheeted a Pakistani driver for his role in smuggling 114 kg of brown sugar earlier this year.

In the chargesheet filed by the J&K Police before a Sessions Court in Baramulla, Pakistani driver Mohammad Shafiq Aawan and two Kashmiri cross-LoC traders — Showkat Habib and Tariq Ahmed Sheikh — have been charged under Sections 8/21 (C) and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for their role in smuggling the brown sugar from the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir across the LoC in a goods truck, which was seized on January 17 this year in Uri. It says that the drugs trade by the accused, who are currently under judicial custody, also affected the relations between India and Pakistan and the cross-LoC trade remained suspended for nearly a month.

It has been submitted by the investigators that the driver, Mohammad Shafiq Awaan, was not new in the LoC trade, but had on earlier occasions crossed the LoC 27 times with his goods trucks.

Role of driver Awaan

“From the details gathered from the Custodian, Cross-LoC Trade, at Salamabad, Uri, it is clear that driver Mohammad Shafiq Awaan had understood the ground realities of the cross-LoC trade”, the police investigators have submitted in the chargesheet while nailing Awaan.

“Besides, he had also understood the security system and checking in place, which was not being done properly owning to heavy rush and the lack of proper checking equipment at the Trade Facilitation Centre in Uri,” investigators said.

It has been submitted that the goods consignment was booked by Muzzaffarabad-based Altaf Hussain Lone, the proprietor of Al-Fajr Traders, and was to be delivered to Showkat Habib Traders, owned by Showkat Habib Pahloo, a registered cross-LoC trader from Bandipora district in north Kashmir, named as accused number two in the chargesheet.

Accused trader Showkat

The chargesheet reveals that Showkat conspired and let his firm Showkat Habib Traders be used for the smuggling of narcotics and drugs. It has been also revealed that the goods truck seized was carrying the goods consignment for his firm.

It has been further proved that the accused number three, Tariq Ahmad Sheikh, a cross-LoC trader, hailing from Tawheed Gunj, Baramulla, who has also been charged for his role and conspiracy, had sent a truck to Salamabad on that day to fetch the goods of the truck from PoK, which was seized.

It further says that Showkat was in touch with the suspected person(s) in the PoK, which has been established with the call detail records (CRD) of the mobile number used by him.

Accused trader Tariq Shiekh

The chargesheet says that Tariq, who indulged in the smuggling of drugs and contraband items through the cross-LoC trade, had hatched a conspiracy with Showkat by using his firm Showkat Habib Traders for the clandestine drugs smuggling, despite having two of his own firms registered with the Cross-LoC Trade Custodian.

Jammu, July 8
With the rise in mercury level, the main water bodies in the winter capital of the state, including the Tawi and Ranbir canal, have been turning into death traps. The temptation of heat-wary people to cool off and get some relief from the soaring mercury has proved fatal for some in the last two days.

The Jammu police recovered five bodies from the Tawi and Ranbir canal today.

The police said it fished out the bodies of two youths, identified as Rajneesh Kumar of Hoshiarpur in Punjab, presently residing at Durga Nagar, Bantalab area, here, and Vishal Bhan of Janipur colony in Jammu, from the Tawi river this morning.

The duo had drowned in the Tawi last evening after they went to the riverbed for taking a bath. They were accompanied by three friends. Two of them, identified as Akshay Kumar and Karan Koul, have been detained for questioning at the Sidhra police post under the jurisdiction of Nagrota police station.

Vishal was pursuing engineering from a college in Haryana, 
while Rajneesh was working in a private telecom company.

The bodies of the deceased were handed over to the families for last rites, the police said, adding that investigation was in progress in the case.

The police also recovered three bodies from the Ranbir canal bed this afternoon.

A police official said a middle-aged person, identified as Dharam Singh of Doda, allegedly slipped into the canal near the Shakti Nagar area when he was sitting with his daughter on its banks last evening.

A man identified as Subash Kumar of Amballa, presently residing in the Top Sherkhania area, allegedly drowned in the canal while taking bath last evening.

The official said the water of the canal was stopped this morning to retrieve the bodies. “During the search, the police fished out three bodies, including one of an unknown person,” he said, adding that the body of the unknown person was shifted to a hospital for identification and autopsy. 

Srinagar, July 8
In the ongoing Women’s Football tournament-2014 being organised by the J&K Football Association at Government College for Women, MA Road, four inter-school matches were played on Monday.

In the first match, Government Higher Secondary School, Chanapora, defeated New Convent School, Gogji Bagh, by a margin of 2-0. Intika was declared the player of the match.

In the second match, Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Kothi Bagh, defeated New Convent School, Barazulla, by 2-0. Khushboo and Afreen scored winning goals for the Kothi Bagh team.

In the third match, Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Kothi Bagh, defeated Government Higher Secondary School, Chanapora, by 2-1.

In the fourth football match played between Government Women’s College, MA Road, and Green Valley Educational Institute, Elahi Bagh, the women’s college team routed Green Valley by scoring seven goals. Green Valley School could not score a single goal.