Jammu, July 25
Despite witnessing several tragic road accidents involving overloaded passenger vehicles, the authorities seems to have turned a blind eye towards the violation of traffic rules. Despite teams of traffic police personnel deployed in the city and its outskirts, there is no check on overloading.

There is a total chaos in the city as far as traffic is concerned, but let alone managing it properly, even the basic rules are not been strictly implemented.

The approved seating capacity of Tata 407 mini-bus is 17, while for Swaraj Mazada is 21, but a majority of the mini-buses are not strictly following the rules and passengers are being almost bundled into the vehicles.

Daily commuters who risk their lives by travelling in minibuses do not know whether they will safely reach their destinations. Playing of high-pitch music by drivers, overcrowding and reckless driving have become a daily phenomenon.

The Jammu region in general and the city in particular have been witnessing countless road mishaps for the last two years. Rampant overloading in public transport vehicles conveys the lacklustre approach of the authorities concerned.

“The traffic police, which is the law enforcement agency, seems to have become a mute spectator to the violation. A mini-bus driver said they had to indulge in overloading of vehicles, as it was about making profit at the end of the day,” said Rajesh Sharma, a local resident.

Despite taking several stringent measures by traffic police, increasing number of vehicles on roads is leading to daily chaos leaving the present infrastructure almost crumbling.

Rashly driven mini-buses, two-wheeler riders without helmets, illegally parked vehicles and overtaking has become the norm of the day, while modern technology is proving ineffective to streamline the movement of vehicles in the city of temples.

However, none of the officials from the Traffic Department were available for comments.

Though the department is blaming the shortage of manpower as the main reason for the absence of police personnel at key area, corruption at various levels within the department is a major reason why traffic management is becoming a difficult job. 

Jammu, July 25
Members of the Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) Refugee Front today staged a protest against delay in release of economic package for the refugees and blamed the Congress and the National Conference (NC) of “befooling” the displaced people.

Raising slogans against the state government at a “Sangharsh rally” today, the refugees accused the government of discriminating with the families displaced from occupied Kashmir, which included places like Mirpur, Bhimber, Chhamb, Kotli, Muzaffarabad, Poonch and Baagh regions of the state during the Indo-Pak wars of 1947, 1965 and 1971.

Addressing the gathering, front president Rachhpal Singh Chib said the Parliamentary Standing Committee had instructed the state government to submit a draft of the comprehensive settlement package in November last year, following which the state did so, but the state government again referred the draft package to a state sub-committee for recommendations.

“There is a clear-cut conspiracy on part of the government to deny relief to the displaced people, who were evicted from their villages in the areas occupied by Pakistan,” Chib alleged.

He further condemned Article 370, which ensured special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir, deeming it the reason for the Centre not being able to act directly in the matter.

The front has demanded financial package of Rs 25 lakh per family, compensation against moveable and immoveable property, compensation against deficiency of agricultural land and residential plot, allotment of agricultural land and residential plot to each family and ownership rights on EP land and residential quarters.

Jammu, July 25
The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) has recently issued instructions to the state government for constituting school management committees (SMCs)/school management and development committees (SMDCs) in respect of secondary/senior secondary schools and constitution of a district-level committee for monitoring the Rashtriya Madhaymik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) Programme under the Right to Education (RTE) in the state.

“The RMSA framework provides that every secondary/senior secondary school will constitute school management and development committee (SMDC) at school level,” a Central ministry statement said.

Sources said in case of a composite school (a school having primary, upper primary and secondary section), the school management committee (SMC) may be constituted in accordance with Section 21 of the RTE Act.

The sources added that wherever an SMC had to perform its SMDC functions of secondary schools, a school building committee and an academic committee with the same constitution and functions may be constituted.

“Some letters have been received from states/public representatives in the ministry with regard to monitoring of the RMSA at the district level/state level.

In this regard, a communication for constitution of a district-level committee for monitoring the MHRD schemes i.e. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, mid-day meal and the RMSA had been sent. The education secretaries and SPDs are to ensure that these committees meet regularly,” a statement said.

The RMSA was launched by the Government of India in March 2009 with the objective to enhance access to secondary education and to improve its quality.

The implementation of the scheme started from 2009-10. It is envisaged to achieve an enrolment rate of 75 per cent from 52.26 per cent in 2005-06 at secondary stage within 5 years of implementation of the scheme by providing a secondary school within a reasonable distance of any habitation. The other objectives include improving quality of education imparted at secondary level through making all secondary schools conform to prescribed norms, removing socio-economic and disability barriers, providing universal access to secondary level education by 2017.

Jammu, July 25
The 120-MW Sewa-II Power Station of NHPC Limited at Mashka, Jammu and Kashmir, today celebrated the 4th anniversary of its commissioning.

A special community event was organised to commemorate the occasion, which was attended by all its employees and the general public. RK Gupta, Executive Director, Region Office, Banikhet; Pradeep Johar, General Manager, Chamera-I Power Station; RP Sharma, Chief Engineer, Baira Siul Power Station; and Bikram Singh, Chief Engineer, Chamera-II Power Station were also present on the occasion.

Jammu, July 25
The Dental Surgeons Association - Jammu Kashmir (DSA-JK) today started free dental check-ups at Amphalla while continuing their protest for the 25th consecutive day today.

A mass rally of unemployed dental surgeons supported by the National Youth Corps (NYC) & YUVA, All India Backward Class Union (AIBCU) and PDP members was held today.

Chairman of the association Dr Pawan Singh said to highlight the “irresponsible attitude” of the state government towards their plight, free dental check-ups would be given to people in front of Government Dental Hospital, Jammu, so as to create awareness among the common masses regarding oral health. He said one more reason was to draw their attention towards the “pathetic and oppressed” condition of unemployed dental surgeons in the state.

He said, “ If our demands are not met, we will be forced to take harsh steps that may cause inconvenience to the common man and the state government will be responsible for the same”.

He also urged everyone to come forward and join their protest. He said, “Our protest will continue till our demands are met.”

Their demands included recruitment of dental surgeons on a yearly basis and establishing a separate directorate for dental health in the state.

Jammu, July 25
Candidates who had appeared for the interview for selection of warden in the Prison Department continued their protest against delay in their appointment. They also tried to march towards the Civil Secretariat, but were prevented by the police.

The protest was led by All Selected Candidates of Warden in Jail, Police, Prison Department secretary Ashwani Kumar, who claimed that nearly 40,000 unemployed youths had appeared in the selection process and nearly 1,200 candidates qualified for the interview session, but they have not been given recruitment letters.

“More than two years have passed, but the authorities concerned have not released the final selection list of the candidates. The interview of the same was held in November 2010,” said Kumar. He demanded that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah should personally intervene in the matter and final orders should be issued in favour of all the 1,245 candidates who had passed the interview. 

Jammu, July 25
The state BJP has demanded to constitute a high-level committee to assess the loss caused due to unprecedented rain, cloudburst and flush floods in the rural areas of Jammu district.

State general secretary of the party and former MLA Bali Bhagat after concluding a day-long tour of Mishriwala, Kangrail, Purkhoo, Kalri, Bhalwal and Kaink villages along with Jammu rural district president Sukhdev Singh, sarpanch and district general secretary Omi Khajuria, said the state government should constitute a high-level committee comprising top officials of departments like the Irrigation and Flood Control, works, power, forest, agriculture, soil conservation, rural development to assess the loss caused due to the unprecedented natural calamity in the Raipur-Domana, Akhnoor and Marh constituencies and other areas of Jammu district.

Expressing sympathies with the families affected by the recent cloudbursts and flash floods, he said cent percent loss compensation should be given to the affected families for which a comprehensive plan must be prepared by the committee for complete rehabilitation of the affected families on the pattern of Ladakh cloud burst rehabilitation plan.

The BJP leader said more than 100 residential houses and shops got partially damaged and some other kutcha houses were washed away due to the recent cloudbursts and flash floods. Roads and communication connectivity got collapsed, school buildings, primary health centres, etc, too was damaged, he said.

He said the affected families were poor and were not in a position to start their livelihood without any financial assistance. 

Srinagar, July 25
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is again at loggerheads with the police after it was told by the police not to carry firearms while handling law and order.

“We will follow our standard operating procedure (SOP),” said a senior CRPF officer, who was angry over the police missive.

“Our SOP is very clear that one-third of the component in law and order carries arms and we will stick to it,” the officer said.

“But those engaged in handling law and order always ensure maximum restraint in these situations,” he added.

On July 23, the police had told the Commanding Officers of the CRPF and the Superintendents of Police not to carry weapon while dealing with law and order situations.

“The deployments to be made on the eve of Jumat-ul-Vida, Shab-i-Qadr and Eid-ul-Fitr should be strictly made in L&O (law and order) mode only. No weapon should be carried by these deployments,” the police directive said.

The senior CRPF officer said the forces had been showing maximum restraint during law and order situations.

“In case of a situation when there is threat to life, we open fire but that too below the waistline,” the officer said.

The CRPF officer said over 150 of its personnel were injured and around 100 vehicles damaged in stone-throwing this year.

In 2013, a similar controversy had emerged after the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. Directions were then issued to the CRPF not to carry firearms while handling law and order situations. The order had created resentment among the CRPF men on the ground.

Recently, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Abdul Gani Mir issued a missive to subordinates, telling them not to fire bullets in any case while dealing with the law and order problem. The missive was issued a day after the killing of a 14-year-old boy in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district. 

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was absolutely right in asking this question on Thursday: “What would be the appropriate time to revoke the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)?” He raised the query about the law that provides a legal shield to the security forces against acts of omission and commission during counter-insurgency operations.

Baramulla, July 25
Protesters clashed with police personnel in the Sheeri area of Baramulla district in north Kashmir on Friday. The police fired teargas shells to quell the protesters.

Residents of Sochliwaran village organised a protest against the Army on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road near Sheeri, blocking the highway for hours.

The protesters alleged that some Army personnel, who were not in uniform, harassed and thrashed some persons returning home after offering evening prayers at a local mosque on Thursday night.

A resident said the Army men fled the spot through forests after a public outcry, leaving their car behind. The police impounded the car and recovered an identity card from it.

The protesters dispersed and traffic movement was restored following the intervention of the police. The police said a case was registered at the Sheeri police station and investigations started. — OC

Jammu, July 25
A rucksack containing eight live bombs was found beside a canal in Rattiyan village of the RS Pura sector in Jammu district on Friday morning.

“Some villagers saw a bag around 10 am and found that it was containing eight bombs. It appeared that the explosives, made in India, were dumped in the canal, but found during desilting,” sources said.

The villagers immediately informed the police and BSF officials. Officials rushed to the spot. “The bombs were detonated safely by a bomb disposal squad of the BSF,” they sources added.

Devinder Singh, Subdivisional Police Officer, RS Pura, said the explosives were charged with a battery and detonated at an isolated place.

Srinagar, July 25
Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today felicitated people on Shab-e-Qadr.

The Governor hoped that the occasion would strengthen the bonds of communal harmony and brotherhood and be a harbinger of amity, peace, progress and prosperity in the state. He prayed for the well-being of the people of the state.

In his message on Shab-e-Qadr, being observed tonight, Omar wished prosperity, development and peace to the state and prayed for the betterment of people. He expressed hope that the holy night would bring Allah’s munificence to all. Meanwhile, the Council of Ministers also greeted the people on the auspicious occasion being observed tonight.— TNS

Srinagar, July 25
The last Friday of the ongoing fasting month, Jumat-ul-Vida, was observed with traditional fervour across the Kashmir valley today.

The largest Friday prayers gatherings in the city were held at the historic Jamia Masjid in old city and the Hazrtabal shrine, which houses the holy relic of Prophet Muhammad, on the banks of the Dal Lake.

Despite hot weather conditions, devotees were also seen praying on the streets adjacent to several mosques and shrines, especially at Jamia Masjid. Traffic on routes to Jamia Masjid and Hazratbal was diverted due to heavy rush of devotees during Friday prayers.

Devotees in large numbers were also seen thronging other mosques and shrines for Friday prayers.

During Friday sermons, religious heads threw light on the significance on Jumat-ul-Vida while bidding farewell to the fasting month.

This year, Jumat-ul-Vida and Lailatul Qadr, also called Shab-e-Qadr, are falling simultaneously. Shab-e-Qadr, considered to be the holiest night of the fasting month when the holy Koran was also revealed, is being observed tonight.

While nightlong prayers will be held at mosques across the Valley, Shab-e-Qadr, according to the Muslim traditions, usually falls on the 27th night of Ramadan.

Preparations for Eid usually start after the last Friday of the fasting month. Eid shopping too is expected to pick up full steam from tomorrow. The government has already issued a traffic plan to deal with the heavy rush of devotees and shoppers ahead of Eid.

The first day of Eid-ul-Fitr will fall either on July 29 or 30, subject to the appearance of the crescent. Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated for two days in the Valley.

Srinagar, July 25
With the state government failing to come up with a proper policy for extraction of medicinal plants in the Valley, traders say the government's negligence is forcing them to adopt "unfair means" of business.

Medicinal plants are one of the major assets in Kashmir forests, but the government has not taken any step to make it a full-fledged area of business in Kashmir. Those traders and people who are directly or indirectly linked to the trade of medicinal plants and herbs castigated the government for failing to promote one of the important sectors in the Valley which could support the economy of the state to a large extent.

"It is unfortunate on the part of the state that a massive revenue and employment generating sector of medicinal plants and herbs is getting wasted in absence of a proper route for trading of various assortments in the state," said Usman Azad, Media Relations representative and treasurer of the Jammu and Kashmir Herbs Alliance. He added that though the government had revoked the trading ban, on ground it has failed to come up with a comprehensive policy to boost the trade keeping in view the problems faced by traders.

"The government is deliberately creating a negative image of this trade by linking it with smuggling. We have many a time approached top officials, including ministers, to regulate and organise the trade so that people can openly go for it without any fear and harassment and carry forward this business which is providing livelihood to more than 400 families, but no one listens to our genuine demands," Azad said.

Another trade expert Shakeel Qalander, who is also a member of the Centre for Social and Development Studies (KCSDC), expressed his dismay over the attitude of the government towards this particular sector.

"Medicinal plants have a lot of potential in the pharmaceutical industry through extraction of minor forest produce. When you don't have a policy of extraction and you don't allow anyone to extract medicinal plants and other herbs, every year they grow and get wasted," he said.

He added that the government had to take a call and approve a policy of extraction and allow entrepreneurs to get into it which could help the problem of unemployment. "Those who extract it get harassed as there is no legal way of getting it. It is a lucrative sector for many entrepreneurs who want to thrive in the pharmaceutical industry," Qalandar said.

He said, "Having a policy and regulating this trade legally will also benefit the government by way of royalty to them as some payments have to be made for extraction and that money will go to the state exchequer."

"We have a huge potential of medicinal plants' industry. There are no means of scientific cultivation which could save the Valley forests," said Dr Yunus Munshi, Assistant Director and Scientists-4 at Council for Research in Unani Medicine. 

Srinagar, July 25
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti today urged the Central government to intervene effectively and urgently to rescue the ailing horticulture sector in the state.

Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, she urged the Union Government to send a team of experts to Kashmir to assess the losses suffered by the horticulture sector, which constituted the core economic activity of the state, and devise a package with short-term and long-term objectives.

“The fruit crops, especially apple, has been hit by diseases across Kashmir and Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and parts of Budgam districts are the worst hit,” she said.

Mehbooba said multiple diseases had attacked apple trees and almost all orchards were threatened, causing near total devastation of the crop.

“The diseases are leaving a long-term impact as well which could permanently hurt the industry that is providing sustenance to nearly 3 lakh families,” she said.

Mehbooba said Kashmir contributed nearly 70 per cent of the total apple production to the country, but the sector was faced with immense problems ranging from degeneration of old orchards to rising cost of inputs and post-harvest problems.

Mehbooba said while the post-harvest component of the industry had undergone revolutionary transformation across the world and other states of the country, in J&K “we have still not been able to establish a cold chain with the result apple, the premium product of the state, has lost its competitive edge in the open market.”

This calls for concerted efforts by the Central and the state governments, she added.

Srinagar, July 25
Youm-ul-Quds of Jerusalem Day was observed across Kashmir today, with special prayers being held in mosques after the Friday prayers to show solidarity with the Palestinians.

In many parts of the Valley, people took to the streets in support of the Palestinians and raised Anti-Israel slogans.

There were reports of stone-throwing from the downtown area of Srinagar city.

Youm-ul-Quds or Quds Day is an annual event held on the last Friday of Ramadan by the Muslims around the world to express solidarity with the Palestinians.

Both hardline and moderate factions of the Hurriyat Conference had called for observing the last Friday of Ramadan as Youm-ul-Quds to show support with the Palestinians. Geelani had called for protests after the Friday prayers.

The biggest congregational prayers in Srinagar were today held at the Jamia Masjid which were led by moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. A resolution was also passed, condemning Israeli “aggression” against the civilians in Gaza.

The resolution also welcomed the forthcoming Indo-Pak Foreign Secretary-level talks.

Meanwhile, the authorities today disallowed hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Geelani to offer the Friday prayers and restricted his movements to his Hyderpora house.

In a statement, the hardline Hurriyat Conference condemned the action, saying “it has now become routine for the government to restrict the movement of pro-freedom people” on Friday and “deny” them their right to perform religious duties.

In solidarity with the Palestinians, doctors and paramedics in Srinagar wore black bands in response to a call given by the Doctors Association Kashmir which had called for observing Friday as the black day against Israeli onslaught on Gaza.

In downtown Srinagar, youths clashed with the police after the Friday prayers. They threw stones at police and paramilitary personnel who used teargas shells to disperse the protesters.

Youm-ul-Quds was also observed in Baramulla, Sopore, Anantnag, Pulwama and Bijbehara towns where people prayed for the Palestinians after the Friday prayers.

(With inputs from Farooz Ahmad Bhat from Pulwama)

Srinagar, July 25
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Saifuddin Soz today urged the Union Railway Ministry to lay new railway lines in the state.

Soz, while speaking in the Rajya Sabha, urged Railway Minister Sadanand Gowda to undertake railway lines between Jammu and Poonch, Jammu and Doda, Baramulla and Kupwara, besides Baramulla and Uri as early as possible.

Gowda informed the House that surveys for construction of railway line from Jammu to Poonch and Baramulla to Kupwara have been completed.

He also confirmed that the railway line between Katra and Banihal would be completed by December 2017.

As per a statement, Soz later met the Railway Minister and urged him to take up the construction of railway line between Jammu and Poonch, Jammu and Doda, and Baramulla to Kupwara at the earliest.

Soz also urged the Railway Minister to undertake survey for construction of railway line between Baramulla and Uri and Katra and Bhaderwah.

Jammu, July 25
The state government has been removing ‘bottlenecks’ to pave the way for India’s ‘great wall’ along the 198-km international border and secure the population living in border areas from Pakistani firing and other activities in Kathua, Samba and Jammu districts.

New Delhi had conceived a project to raise a 135-foot-wide and 10-foot-high embankment behind the border fence north of Jammu from Kathua to Akhnoor to ward off terrorists and smugglers.

“Work on the ground has not been started yet, but we have completed the revenue survey and obtained no-objection certificates in 70 of the 118 forward villages in Kathua, Samba and Jammu districts,” Jammu Divisional Commissioner Shantmanu said.

Twenty villages had been identified where work would be taken up by the BSF in the first phase, added the Divisional Commissioner. At least 17 villages in Kathua, 29 in Samba and 72 in Jammu where land was being acquired were in New Delhi’s scheme of things.

Construction would have to be executed by the Central Public Works Department under BSF protection. “Funds for the project have to come from the Home Ministry. As far as the state government is concerned, we have completed our revenue work in 70 villages,” Shantmanu said.

Compensation for the land being acquired for the purpose would be provided by the Centre. A BSF officer said it would take some time for the Centre to start actual work.

“It will not be easy for us. Once actual work starts, we expect Pakistan to apply every possible means to stall it. It fired on us when were raising the barbed fence,” he said.

The embankment would include, from Zero Line to the Indian side, cattle fence, border fence, floodlights and earthen mounds.

Behind the embankment, a road having culverts and bridges over rivulets and marshy land would run parallel to the border from Paharpur to the Chicken Neck area of Akhnoor, connecting all BSF posts.

The UPA-II had approved a five-year modernisation plan for the BSF worth Rs 4,570 crore. A major portion of the amount had to be spent on defence of the borders with Myanmar, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Pakistan had raised an embankment on its side of the border following the Indo-Pak ceasefire agreement in 2002. Over the years, Pakistan had grown trees on the embankment and fully grown were blocking the view of BSF personnel.

Rajouri, July 25
The Rashtriya Rifles battalion under the Romeo Force today distributed water storage tanks to the border village of Saonti in Rajouri district.

Inhabitants of several villages in border areas of Rajouri have been facing acute shortage of potable water. Many of these villages do not even have water supply schemes or storage facilities.

Despite several protests the authorities had failed to mitigate the problems of the people.

The Commanding Officer of the Rashtriya Rifles unit in consultation with senior officers at the Romeo Force Headquarters today provided 10 water storage tanks of 1,000 litres capacity along with required accessories at different locations in the village, a Defence spokesperson said. 

Jammu, July 25
Minister for Planning, Development and Labour and Employment Ajay Sadhotra today conducted a whirlwind tour of the Marh area to assess the damage caused to the private and public property in yesterday’s flash floods.

The Minister visited Dhateryal, Marh, Marh Halqa, Qazi Thokrian, Harsha Thokrian, Ghai, Channu Chak and other adjoining villages of Marh.

Sadhotra was accompanied by Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Kalyan Singh, tehsildar settlement and a team of officials from the Revenue, Rural Development and other departments concerned.

The minister interacted with the people whose structures and households were damaged due to incessant rains and flash floods and assured them that the government was committed to provide adequate compensation to the affected families.

Sadhotra was informed that as many as 107 animals and seven kula (shanties) were washed away, besides several houses were partially damaged.

He was also informed that several acres of agriculture land was washed away due to flash floods.

Sadhotra, meanwhile, announced immediate relief to those families who suffered losses due to heavy rainfall and flash flood in the Marh block.

He asked the team of officers to record full details of the damages suffered by each affected family so that their cases are processed for compensation.

The senior NC minister assured people of the area that the administration would extend every help to facilitate their rehabilitation.

Sadhotra said the government has given first priority to restoration of services and repair of public assets, besides rehabilitation of the flood affected people.

Kupwara, July 25
Residents of at least 40 villages are reeling under darkness as transformers of these villages are awaiting repairs for the last one month.

The affected villages include Guzriyal, Zoonareshi, Panzgam, Kalaroose, Surigam, Batpora, Hatmullla, Goriakar and Zachaldara. The residents of the affected villages said during the ongoing month of Ramadan, they were forced to take “sehri” (pre-dawn meals) and “iftaar” under candle lights due to the absence of power facility.

“A day before the commencement of Ramadan, the transformer in our village developed a snag. It was taken for repairs on July 7 and has not been reinstalled so far. We made several visits to the senior power officials, but nothing has been done,” said Mohammad Aslam, a Guzriyal resident.

The affected villagers said they would not pay tariff for the period of time when power supply remained suspended to the villages. “We will not accept any power bills for the time period in which supply remained snapped. We will be forced to take to streets if the supply is not restored at the earliest,” said Asif Ahmad Malik, a Surigam resident.

On May 27, Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather had announced that all damaged transformers wouldbe replaced to ensure a hassle-free power supply across Kashmir. 

Jammu, July 25
All income tax (IT) offices in the state will remain open tomorrow and the day after from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm for accepting IT returns.

AK Thatai, Commissioner of Income Tax, Jammu, issued an order to all income tax offices of the state on Friday to remain open on Saturday and Sunday.

Special arrangements have been made to facilitate taxpayers and avoid difficulties in filing returns. This order has been issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes, New Delhi.

Handwara July 25
Scores of daily wagers and casual labourers of the Forest Department today protested in Handwara tehsil of Kupwara district demanding release of pending dues ahead of Eid.

The protestors alleged that they were without salaries since February and their children were facing starvation like condition.

“We are working round the clock to protect forests and grow nurseries, but in return our meagre remuneration is often withheld for months. Eid is ahead and we are penniless,” said Altaf Ahmad Zargar, a daily wager working in the Kehmil Forest Division.

The workers raised slogans against the government and threatened to intensify their protest if their pending salaries were not released before Monday.

“The government should not test our patience. We will be left with no option but to intensify protests if our salaries were not released forthwith,” said Imtiyaz Ahmad, a causal labour working in the Kamraj Forest Division.

Srinagar, July 25
The J&K Bank dedicated an automated teller machine (ATM) to the general public at Lal Nagar, Channapora area, of the city.

The machine was inaugurated by the bank’s Zonal Head, Kashmir central, Abdul Rashid Shegun. A large number of residents of the locality and bank officials were also present on the occasion.

With the inauguration of this machine, the strength of the ATM network of the bank has gone up to 827 across the country, a J&K Bank spokesman said. In Kashmir province, the bank had a network of 458 ATMs, he added.

Shegun said: “We are leveraging technology to extend world-class banking facilities to the customers at their doorstep. Expanding the network of ATM is one such initiative, which will be further thickened.” 

Batote, July 25
A couple was killed, while a truck driver was feared dead, in two different accidents on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Ramban district today.

Mohammad Imran Sheikh and his wife died on spot when the car they were travelling in skidded off the road and fell into a 400 to 500 foot deep gorge at Ratanbas in Banihal tehsil of Ramban district around 1.30 pm today. The couple was on its way to Nawakadal, Srinagar, from Jammu, the police said.

In another incident, a driver along with his truck were reportedly missing after the vehicle got washed away by the turbulent Chenab river after it rolled down from the highway in the wee hours today.

Despite all efforts by the members of quick response team, the driver and the truck couldn’t be located, said SHO, Ramban, Dharminder Singh.

The owner of the truck told the police that the truck was carrying government ration from Jammu to Banihal was being driven by Purshotam Singh of Udhampur, the officer said.

The request for stopping the water from the Baghlihar dam to locate the truck and the driver was turned down by the concerned authorities because of the heavy magnitude of water in the Chenab, he added. 

Srinagar, 25 July
In a joint operation the police and the Army arrested an over ground worker of the Lashkar-e-Toiba from the Pattan area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district last evening and recovered a pistol and grenades from his possession.

“Lashkar overground worker Parvaiz Ahmad Khuroo, resident of Chanpora, Sopore, was arrested from the Pattan area of Baramulla district,” a police spokesperson said. — TNS

Reasi, July 25
Four people were killed when a car, they were travelling in, rolled into a deep gorge in the Domail area on the Reasi-Shiv Khori road in Reasi district today morning.

The victims have been identified as Mohammad Zuber, Parvez Akhtar, Mohammad Rashid and Razia Begum, all residents of Rajouri.

The car was on its way to Bharak when the driver lost control near Domail and the vehicle rolled down into a deep gorge, the police said.

The vehicle was first spotted by the locals, who carried the injured out of the car and later informed the Army about the accident.

Anantnag, July 25
A police constable was killed in south Kashmir’s Bijbehara town after he was shot by some unidentified men while on duty. The pistol-borne assailants fled the scene. The incident took place around 6:10 pm at a market in Bijbehara town of Anantnag district.

Constable Altaf Hussain Ganai was rushed to sub-district hospital in Bijbehara, where from he was shifted to a Srinagar hospital, a doctor at the Bijbehara hospital said.

He later succumbed to his injuries. A senior police official confirmed the incident, saying the market, where the policeman was shot, was cordoned off. — OC