Jammu, August 5
Accusing the police of “inaction” after a Class VII student allegedly drowned in the Tawi, residents of Krishna Nagar and adjoining localities today blocked the Jewel-Canal road for almost four hours, demanding deployment of Army divers to search for the body of the student.

They also blocked both Tawi bridges that divide the city into two parts for almost an hour and raised slogans against the police and district administration.

According to the family members of the victim, the Class VII student, Arun Kumar, alias Kallu, son of Ravi Kumar, a resident of Krishna Nagar, had gone to the river along with his friends and was swept away by the strong current of water around 4 pm yesterday.

“Arun, the youngest among four siblings in the family, went to the river along with his friends to take bath. He got trapped in a strong current of water and drowned in the river. His friends visited the family and narrated them about the incident,” a family member said.

He alleged that the family brought the matter into the notice of the police, which allegedly didn’t take immediate action to save the boy. “Around 30 to 35 local youths, who knew diving, launched a search operation for the drowned boy, but failed to find him,” he said, adding that the role of the police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel was “disappointing”.

The protesters, comprising women, also burnt tyres in the middle of the road at the Canal road and Jewel Chowk raising slogans against the police.

Later, they blocked both the bridges on the Tawi for almost an hour demanding deployment of Army divers to search for the victim. They cleared the road only after the administration assured them that they would depute Army divers to search for the body of the victim.

Traffic on the Jewel-Canal road and Jewel-Bikram Chowk stretches remained disrupted for almost three hours, subjecting commuters to great hardships.

Sources claimed that Arun was saving one of his friends after he saw him drowning in the water when he himself was swept away by the current. “The boy got trapped in a strong current of water while saving one of his friends,” the sources said.

“The Army divers from 9 Para Commandoes have launched a search operation in the river, but failed to retrieve the body till the reports last came in,” the sources said.

Jammu, August 5
Facing countrywide opposition against the amended Food Safety Act-2006, the Union Health Ministry has extended the date of renewal of licence till February 4, 2015. The process was to be completed by last year, but was marred by controversy leading to slowdown in the process across the country, including Jammu and Kashmir.

Under this Food Safety Act, every food business retailer or manufacturer has to register himself with the licensing or registering authority. The Act says that even petty manufacturer shall follow the basic hygiene and safety requirements provided by these regulations.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), Jammu, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), apex body of the trading community of the country, and other trader bodies across the country have been pursuing the issue with the Central Government for the last over two years.

President of the CCI (Jammu) Rakesh Gupta said, “It is a big relief to traders and citizens of the state as it would have harmed the small traders involved in the food business. Leaders of the traders’ union said under the provisions of the Act not only the persons engaged in the food business will be required to obtain registration, but also it will be required for any social function where any kind of food articles are served.”

The petty food business operators include small retailer, roadside food vendors, hawkers, stall holders, cottage industries relating to food business, meat/mutton/poultry business operators with the slaughtering capacity of two large animals or 10 small animals or 50 poultry birds per day.

The Act says that the food manufacturer has to ensure that his premises is free from the growth of mould, fungi and infection; workers should wear clean aprons, hand gloves, headgears and keep their nails trimmed; clean and wash their hands with soap and detergent before commencing their work.

Jammu, August 5
A protest was held by the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) outside the Jammu University gate condemning attack on Youth Congress general secretary RS Pathania.

Neeraj Kundan, state president of the NSUI, J&K, said the NSUI would not tolerate any such attack on Congress office-bearers, youth and student community and would take up the issue to the higher level in the party and the government. Condemning the attack, he added that these types of activities were not acceptable by the NSUI and they would not sit silent on the matter.

Kundan urged the higher police authorities to take the strictest action against all the culprits involved in the attack. He added that the attack on the Youth Congress leader was attack on the party and he, being the state president of the NSUI, would bring the matter to the notice of the high command as well.

Others present in the protest included Kamal Magotra and Avjyot Sing, state general secretaries, Nishant Gupta, Ranjodh Singh and Abhishek Dogra, state secretary, district president, Jammu, Sunny Parihar and others.

Jammu, August 5
Like every year, rains have again exposed the poor urban planning in the city as the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) is facing an uphill task to clear the debris left by overflowing drains in several localities of the city.

Though strict instructions of cleaning nullahs regularly and action against the people caught dumping their garbage in nullahs have been issued, but they are not being implemented.

In many parts of the city, rainwater has blocked the drains and the dirty water has entered into shops and houses, causing extensive damage to goods and infrastructure.

People had to pump out rainwater from their houses and shops. The worst-hit areas during the rainfall include Digiana, Talab Tillo, Canal road, Sidhra, Gujjar Nagar, Gumat and Subash Nagar.

“It has become a perennial problem in the locality. Polluted water and filth from drains and nullahs enter the houses due to blockage just half-an-hour after the downpour,” Anish Sharma, a resident of Talab Tillo, said.

Several residential colonies suffer infrastructure damage worth lakhs of rupees due to rainwater entering houses and lanes.

Jammu/Poonch, August 5
Pakistan troops this morning targeted three Indian forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Shahpur sector of Poonch district after alert Indian troops foiled an intrusion bid by a group of nearly 10 heavily armed terrorists.

The skirmish, triggered by Pakistani troops around 11.30 am, prompted Indian troops to give an equal response and the firefight went on till 2 pm before the guns fell silent on both sides.

The latest truce violation by Pakistan comes barely three days after the new Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag had warned Pakistan of an “intense, immediate and more than adequate” response to any provocations on the LoC.

Jammu-based defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Mehta said: “From 11.30 am, the Pakistan army carried out unprovoked firing using small arms and automatic weapons. Our troops gave a befitting reply using weapons of a similar calibre.”

There were no casualties or injuries on the Indian side, he added.

An Intelligence source said that around 11 am troops of the 3 Garhwal Rifles observed the suspicious movement of nearly 10 armed ultras in the Shahpur sector. After the troops challenged them, the terrorists opened fire and a gun battle ensued.

When Indian troops were busy combating the ultras, Pakistani troops of the 641 Mujahid Regiment opened small arms and automatic weapons fire on Indian posts of Sher, Shakti and an adjoining post, he added.

Consequently, an intense gun fight broke out between the two sides. The Indian troops gave a befitting response to Pakistani troops and the guns on both sides fell silent around 2 pm, he said.

Later, a search operation was launched in the area to ensure that no ultra had sneaked into the Indian territory, said the source.

The latest violation by Pakistan takes the total number of ceasefire violations to 63 this year so far along the LoC and the international border. Pakistan had violated the ceasefire pact 251 times in 2013.

“It has been raining in Poonch and fog has enveloped the border belt. Pakistan wants to take the cover of foggy weather to push ultras to this side ahead of the Independence Day celebrations,” said the source. The restive state is also slated for the Assembly elections later this year.

The 16 Corps, GOC, Lieutenant General KH Singh, had recently said the Army had been giving a befitting reply to Pakistani troops over ceasefire violations, firing and infiltration attempts.

Srinagar, August 5
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today inaugurated several projects today that were completed under the holistic and comprehensive development programme launched by the government.

An official statement said the Chief Minister in the morning inaugurated the Rs 147.75-crore lift irrigation scheme (stage I and II) at Tral, which would benefit 25 villages in south Kashmir.

“The scheme will feed the cultivable 4,000 hectares in three stages while the completion of the first two stages will bring greenery to about 3,000 hectares of parched land,” the statement added.

Later, Omar inaugurated sub-district hospital at Beerwa in Budgam district. An official said it had been constructed at a cost of Rs 523 lakh and it would enhance the availability of health care in the area and provide better and modern treatment to patients.

In the afternoon, the Chief Minister inaugurated two rehabilitation complexes at Rambagh and the Jahangir Chowk area of the city.

These complexes have been constructed for shopkeepers, who have been displaced due to the construction of the Rs 256-crore Jahangir Chowk-Rambagh express corridor flyover.

“The rehabilitation complex at Rambagh has been completed at a cost of Rs 98.93 crore. It houses 152 shops and there is parking space for 70 vehicles. The rehabilitation complex at Jahangir Chowk has been completed at a cost of Rs 50 crore. It also houses 152 shops and has parking space for 100 cars,” an official said.

Meanwhile, during interaction with people, Omar said the government had concentrated on consolidation and expansion of development schemes holistically and equitably to cover all areas in the development process.

Srinagar, August 5
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said there were reports that a Kashmiri youth in Australia had been recruited by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Omar said no youth from Kashmir had gone to join the ISIS, but there were reports that a Kashmiri youth in Australia had joined militants in Iraq and Syria.

“As per my information, no one has gone from Kashmir. We have heard that one Kashmiri youth has been recruited from Australia, but there is no such report of any youth having gone from here to Syria, Iraq or the ISIS,” the Chief Minister told mediapersons on sidelines of a function.

Omar inaugurated two shopping complexes, constructed for shopkeepers displaced due to the construction of the Jahangir Chowk-Rambagh express corridor flyover. The complexes at Rambagh and Jehangir Chowk house 304 shops.

The Chief Minister said it was premature to comment whether or not the youth from Kashmir joining the ISIS was worrying, saying there were no inputs. He said he would take up the issue of ceasefire violations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the latter’s visit to the state later this month.

“We have taken up ceasefire violations with the Centre. The Prime Minister is perhaps coming to Kargil and Leh this month. If there is a chance, I will discuss this with him,” Omar said.

Srinagar, August 5
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Ladakh region on August 12 to inaugurate three major projects in Leh and Kargil districts.

The Prime Minister, who will be visiting the state for the second time in the last three months, will lay the foundation stone of the power transmission line from Leh to Kargil and from Kargil to Srinagar. The Prime Minister will also inaugurate two hydro-electric projects at Chutak in Kargil district and Nimoo Bazgo in Leh district.

In July, the Prime Minister had visited the state to inaugurate the Udhampur-Katra railway line in the Jammu region and the 240-megawatt Uri-II hydroelectric project in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who today confirmed Modi’s upcoming visit, said he might also discuss the issue of ceasefire violations with the Prime Minister.

“We have taken up the matter (ceasefire violations) with the Centre. The Prime Minister is perhaps coming again (to the state) to visit Kargil and Leh this month and if chance comes, I will also discuss this with him,” Omar said.

Srinagar/Kupwara, August 5
At least 14 youths seeking jobs in the Territorial Army (TA) were injured, two of them critically, in clashes which broke out during a recruitment rally in Kupwara district on Tuesday.

The clashes broke out early this morning at Chamkote Tanghdar, 180 kilometres from Srinagar and close to the Line of Control. A large number of aspirants started throwing stones on the compound where the recruitment drive was in progress.

“Fourteen persons were injured in the clashes. Two of them received bullet injuries,” Kupwara Deputy Commissioner Itrat Hussain said. “Senior police, Army and civil officials are camping at Chamkote and monitoring the situation,” he said.

Sources said over 3,500 youths from the area assembled for the recruitment rally for seven vacancies in the Territorial Army. A group started protesting against the Army, alleging that class VIII passouts were not eligible for recruitment, the sources said.

This angered those who were not considered for recruitment and they started throwing stones. The protesters shouted slogans and set ablaze the main gate of the Army camp. They tried to set on fire the wooden fencing of the compound.

Policemen deployed at the venue resorted to a cane-charge and 
burst smoke shells to disperse them, but they regrouped and clashed with the police.

As the clashes intensified, the police allegedly fired on protesters, injuring Irshad Ahmad Sheikh from Kandi and Sajad Ahmad from Baghbela. The two were taken to a Srinagar hospital. Additional personnel were rushed to area to bring the situation under control.

The aspirants were angry with the Army’s recruitment drive. “We were told that middle pass was the eligibility criterion. We were shocked to know at the venue that matric pass was the basic criterion,” said Naseer Ahmad Cheechi, a middle pass aspirant.

A police officer in north Kashmir said they were investigating how the two youths received bullet injuries. A defence official in Srinagar said they fired a few blank rounds. “Blank rounds do not cause injury,” he said.

Soon after the incident, hundreds of local residents protested against the Army and the police, demanding a probe into the incident and stern action against the 
erring policemen.

Jammu, August 5
Security forces smashed a terrorist hideout in the Chhachchha area of Kishtwar district on Tuesday. Defence spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Manish Mehta said a joint operation was launched by the Army and the police, which resulted in recovery of a huge cache of arms and ammunition. The hideout was concealed in a remote area within a thick jungle, he said. The recovery of this cache was a major blow to terrorists, he added.

The recoveries included one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine, 148 AK-47 rounds, one 7.62-mm Chinese pistol, three Chinese pistol magazines, 15 rounds of 303 ammunition, one radio set, one eight-kg cylindrical IED, one 2.5-kg IED in metal box, one nine-volt battery, one electric detonator, four Chinese hand grenades, one RPG rocket, seven UBGL grenades, one binoculars, one combat pattern jacket and LeT pad leaves. — TNS

Srinagar, August 5
President Pranab Mukherjee, who is also the Visitor, Central University of Kashmir (CUK), said today that the good governance was dependent on pre-requisites like inviolable adherence to rule of law, existence of participatory decision-making structure, responsiveness, transparency, accountability, corruption-free society, equity and inclusiveness.

Addressing the students and faculty of the CUK along with other fellow Central universities, higher educational and research institutions through video conferencing from the Rashtrapati Bhawan, Mukherjee while speaking on the topic “Democracy and Governance,” said good governance implied a framework that had well being of the people as its focal point.

He said good governance was not given in any system and had to be nurtured by carefully developing institutions of democracy.

“Distortions happen when one institution does not function in the manner expected of it leading to overreach by others. What is required then is strengthening, re-invigorating and re-inventing these institutions to meet the needs of the time. It calls for wider involvement of civil society. It entails free and open participation in the political process by the people. It calls for ever-increasing engagement of the youth in the institutions and processes of democracy. It calls for ethical and responsible behaviour from the media,” the President said.

He said novel legislations could work only with robust delivery mechanisms.

He said the governance implied involving the civil society as an equal collaborator. “One must, therefore, be conscious of ones duties and responsibilities, besides rights. Intolerance and acrimony in public discourse has to be avoided. Our country needs constructive partners rather than privilege seekers. I call upon you to contribute to a healthy democratic society and good governance practices in all spheres of functioning,” he added.

CUK officiating Vice Chancellor Mehraj-ud-Din was one of the four Vice Chancellors who interacted with the visitors.

Jammu, August 5
With the forthcoming Assembly polls on mind, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today invoked former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to seek support for his party candidates in the Jammu region.

Mufti, who headed the PDP-Congress dispensation in the state, said it was all due to the over-whelming support of the then NDA government headed by Vajpayee that his government had successfully initiated peace and development agenda in Jammu and Kashmir.

As the PDP leader was interacting with the civil society members of the city here this evening, he seized the opportunity to express his gratitude towards the then BJP leadership, especially Vajpayee and LK Advani, for their whole-heart support for initiating some bold steps for the restoration of peace in the trouble-torn state.

The interaction was organised by prominent businessman Deepak Hoonda, who joined the PDP on Tuesday.

Mufti also reminded people that it was only during his regime that the region was politically empowered. “Before 2002 there were complaints of discrimination with the Jammu region, but the PDP government treated all the regions equally,” he said.

He also promised to restore the historic importance of Jammu region. “We will come out with a vision document exclusively for the Jammu region for the over-all development, growth and betterment of this region,” the senior leader said.

Seeking support from every section of society to establish a “new system of justice and equality” in Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti said the forthcoming Assembly elections would provide a historic opportunity to change the destiny of the people of the state.

He urged people to avail this opportunity to carve out a new path of peace, development and progress in the state.

“If 2002 elections were a turning point in the history of Jammu and Kashmir to restore peoples’ faith in the democratic institutions, the coming Assembly polls are historic in the sense that it would be an opportunity to change the fate of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Mufti said.

Observing that the recently concluded parliamentary elections have already set a trend for the coming Assembly elections in the state, the PDP patron said: “The way people of J&K have totally rejected the ruling coalition in the parliamentary polls is a clear indication that change is imminent in the state.”

“Let us work together to take the campaign for change to its logical conclusion,” he said while seeking support for his party.

Srinagar, August 5
The Legislative Council panel looking into privilege motion against former Army chief and Union Minister General VK Singh (retired) in the pay-off row is examining the records of the previous committee, whose term culminated in June, and will discuss the matter next week.

The earlier committee, which was tasked to look into the remarks by the former Amy chief, had submitted its report to the Chairman of the State Legislative Council Amrit Mahlotra, but it had failed to reach a consensus over the issue.

“I have been provided the records of the previous panel pertaining to the proceedings against the former Army chief and I am personally examining it,” said chairman of the privilege committee Mohammad Rafiq Shah, after chairing a meeting of the panel in Srinagar on today. “The issue will be deliberated next week,” he said.

Shah had earlier in July written to the Chairman of the Legislative Council and sought all records pertaining to the proceedings against the former Army Chief.

General VK Singh (retired) had sparked a political storm last year when he had alleged that certain Jammu and Kashmir ministers were “paid by the Army” to keep Kashmir “integrated” with India.

A privilege motion was later moved in September 2013 against him in the upper House of the state legislature by ruling National Conference members Ajay Sadhotra, Devender Singh Rana and Khalid Najeeb Suhrawardy.

Poonch, August, 5
Hundreds of employees of the Public Health Engineering Department under the banner of the Water Works (PHE) Employees Association held a protest rally at Poonch here today.

A large number of employees from across the district participated in the protest and raised slogans in favour of their demands. The rally started from Krishan Chander Park and after passing through the main market culminated at the Executive Engineer’s office, Poonch, where they submitted a memorandum to the Executive Engineer.

Akbar, district president of the association, alleged that the Central government was funding the state government sufficiently, but the latter was not releasing wages of workers.

He demanded release of pending wages, regularisation of workers, Minimum Wages Act, filling of vacancies, change of designation, departmental promotion committee, promotion of qualified staff, sanctioned strength of department and policy for department.

Srinagar, August 5
The ‘Charri Mubarak (holy mace of Lord Shiva)’ will start its journey to the cave shrine of Amarnath from the Dashnami Akhara tomorrow, said the publicity secretary of the Mahadev Gir Dashnami Akhara Trust, Srinagar.

“The ‘Chhari Mubarak’ will commence its journey at 8.00 am from the Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar. It will halt for a night at Pahalgam. On the way to Pahalgam, puja will be performed at the Durga Nag, Sureshwar temple, Srinagar; Shiv temple, Pampore; Shiv temple at Bijbehara; the Martand-Tirth, Mattan; and the Ganesh temple at Ganeshbal,” said the publicity secretary.

The holy mace will also stop for night stay at Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarani before reaching the cave shrine on the day of Raksha Bandhan, August 10. — TNS

Srinagar, August 5
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today underlined the need to identify the scale and magnitude of drug abuse in the region to prepare a coordinated response for its eradication saying a comprehensive policy is the need of the hour.

“We should act promptly and effectively to nip the evil in the bud,” Omar told senior officers at a meeting today in which a team from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) made a PowerPoint presentation on the subject.

The Chief Minister said all officials concerned along with the civil society have to work “in coordination and under one umbrella to check the drug abuse and save the young generation”.

“An effective follow-up mechanism after counselling and treatment of drug addicts also needs to be put in place to curb their urge to become addicts again,” the Chief Minister said.

He said a comprehensive policy to tackle the problem and chop off its tentacles was the need of the hour and directed the officials to draft a policy for the state to address the issue more effectively.

“We cannot wait to take immediate measures to tackle the problem as there is all apprehension that it may attain greater magnitude and dimension if not addressed well in time and in a coordinated manner,” he added.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Health and Medical Education Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Minister of State for Animal and Sheep Husbandry NA Gurezi, Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo, Principal Secretary, Home, Suresh Kumar, Director General Police K Rajendra, Commissioner Secretary, Health, Gazanffer Hussain, Secretary, Social Welfare, M S Rather and various senior officers.

The UNODC team offered its help to the state in three important aspects of Normative Work, Technical Assistance and Research Policy Analysis to build a complete data on the issue and take appropriate measures to curb the menace effectively.

Srinagar, August 5
The Department of Excise in collaboration with the Narcotics Central Bureau, Crime Branch Kashmir, Police and Revenue Departments on Monday launched an intensified drive for destruction of bhang (cannabis) in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

The drive was started from Dupatyar village of Bejbehara tehsil in south Kashmir and bhang on 40 kanals was destroyed on the first day.

“As per preliminary reports and surveys conducted, over a thousand of kanals of agricultural, orchid and non-agricultural land is under illegal cultivation of hemp in the Valley during the current kharif season,” an official spokesman said.

Commissioner of Excise Zaffer Ahmad Bhat, who took the charge, recently held a meeting with officers of the Excise Department and directed them to go for mass destruction of bhang and other narcotic plant cultivations.

The Excise Commissioner has appealed to the people to provide cooperation to the Excise Department in its efforts for bhang destruction and curbing the menace of smuggling, stocking, sale and use of illicit liquor, narcotics and intoxicating drugs. 

Srinagar, August 5
A local court here today exempted Congress leader and former health minister Shabbir Ahmad Khan from personal appearance in the molestation case filed against him by a woman doctor early this year.

The court has, however, directed Khan to appear on the next hearing fixed in the third week of this month, when the court is expected to announce its decision on hearing of charge against Khan.

Khan had moved an application before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar, seeking exemption from personal appearance in the court.

Earlier on May 26, the CJM court had reserved its decision on the charges to be framed against Khan.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar, had on April 3 issued summons to Khan after the police produced a challan in the case, wherein the former minister was charged for the offences committed under Section 354 and 509 of the RPC.

Srinagar, August 5
A delegation of Field Doctors’ Welfare Association Kashmir (FDWAK) and Society of Consultant Doctors (SCD) met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at the Civil Secretariat here today.

A statement said the delegation raised several issues, including security of the medical staff and safeguarding hospital infrastructure. Stress was laid on making assault on medical staff or hospital infrastructure as non-bailable offence as in other parts of the country. — TNS