Jammu, August 13
After hosting 101st Indian Science Congress event successfully early this year, the University of Jammu (JU) is now bracing for holding another mega event as the Association of India Universities (AIU) has allotted the 30th Inter-University North Zone Youth Festival (UNIFEST) 2014-15 to JU.

The five-day Inter-University North Zone Youth Festival is likely to begin on November 7.

“It is a great moment for us that the AIU has selected the University of Jammu for holding the Inter-University North Zone Youth Festival, which is proposed to be held in November. In this big cultural bonanza, around 45-50 universities of North India, including J&K, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, are expected to participate,” Prof Mohan Paul Ishar, the Vice Chancellor, Jammu University, told mediapersons here.

Flanked by the Registrar, University of Jammu, Prof Manoj K Dhar, and the Dean, Students Welfare, University of Jammu, Prof Pankaj Srivastava, the Vice Chancellor said at least 25 competitive events of dance, music, literature, theatre and fine arts would be organised in different auditoriums of the main campus of the varsity.

The AIU has been organising the Inter-University Youth Festivals (UNIFESTS) every year since 1985 with the financial support of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports under the Scheme for Promotion of National Integration.

“Around 1,800 students are expected to take part in the event. Judges from the all-India level, recognised by the AIU, will be called to judge the different events,” Prof Ishar said.

The major competitive events to be held in this mega cultural event include classical vocal solo (Hindustani/Karnatik), classical instrumental solo (percussion-tal vadya), classical instrumental solo (non-percussion-swar vadya), light vocal (Indian), group song (both Indian and western) and folk orchestra under the music category.

In the category of dance, there will be folk or tribal dance and classical dance (Indian) contests among the universities of the north region, while the literary events include quiz, elocution and debate. There will be one-act play, skit, mime and mimicry in the theatre category, while the fine arts category events include on-the-spot painting, collage, poster-making, clay modelling, cartooning, rangoli, spot photography and installation.

To a query, the VC said the University of Jammu has all requisite facilities and infrastructure to hold this event. “We had recently organised the Indian Science Congress, which was a big event, and we are now holding the Inter-University North Zone Youth Festival, which is the reflection of university’s overall growth and development,” Prof Ishar said.

Jammu, August 13
Terming the decision of the state government to deny permission to the Hindu devotees to perform the Kousar Nag yatra as breach of the Right to Freedom of Religion, the Jammu University (JU) students today submitted a petition to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and sought its intervention into the matter.

The petition submitted by the students of varsity’s Law Department, carrying signatures of more than 200 students, alleged that the state government denied the permission to perform the religious pilgrimage under pressure from separatist and fundamentalist elements in Kashmir.

“The government has denied the permission under threat and pressure mounted by separatists,” alleged Arun Prabhat Singh Jamwal, one of the petitioners.

It has also been mentioned that the relevance and historical existence of the Kousar Nag for Hindus can be gauged from the fact that it has been mentioned in the Nilmat Puran, the ancient historical record of Kashmir valley.

Students sought intervention of the NHRC and urged it to direct the state government to ensure religious freedom of minorities living in Jammu and Kashmir as it has the constitutional obligation to protect the fundamental rights of its citizen.

“The government should also be asked and reminded of its obligatory duty to treat everyone equal before law without any discrimination of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth and to act in accordance with law to protect the life and property of its citizens and to act against such anti national elements,” the petition read.

Jammu, August 13
The Yogananda College of Engineering and Technology (YECT), a unit of the Jamwal Group of Educational Institutions (JGEI), organised an orientation-cum-Iinduction programme in the college auditorium for the 2014-2015 batch admitted to various Engineering branches.

Vidhi S Singh, Chairman, JGEI, was the chief guest. Renu Bangroo, Managing Director, JGEI, in her inaugural welcome address exhorted students to achieve excellence in their career with passion, sincerity and dedication.

Vidhi S Singh while speaking on the occasion highlighted success of the institution, infrastructure and other facilities provided by the college management to facilitate students.

Brig KS Chauhan, GM, HR and Administration, Cadila Pharmaceuticals, in his address advised students to upgrade technical skills. He wished students to develop abilities to check progress, create alertness to increase growth for sound professional career in the present changing economic conditions of the corporate world. — TNS

Jammu, August 13
Displaced people from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) today alleged that the Central Government is again following discriminatory policies towards the refugees, who were forced to leave their land in 1947, when Pakistan occupied a part of J&K.

Organisations like the Movement of Justice for Refugees of 1947 from PoK (MJR-47) and J&K PoJK Refugees Front alleged that the National Conference and Congress have totally failed to do justice with displaced people who escaped the Pakistani army during their aggression soon after the Partition of the country.

Addressing the protesters at the Press Club, general secretary of the J&K PoJK refugees Front Rachpal Singh Chib said no comprehensive settlement package, including compensation for lost property, loss of life, economic and political rights has been provided to these families who survived the massacre unleashed by the Pakistan army and tribal fighters in 1947.

Jammu, August 13
Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi lambasted Pakistan on Tuesday for waging a proxy war against India, the Pakistani Rangers and army pounded Indian forward posts last night and today along the international border in the RS Pura sector of Jammu district and the Line of Control (LoC) in the Balakote sector of Poonch district, leaving an Indian soldier injured.

The injured soldier, Naik Nek Ram of 6 Rajputana Rifles, has been referred to 150 Garrison Hospital in Rajouri.

“Around 10 am today, Pakistani troops carried out unprovoked firing using small arms and automatic weapons. Our troops gave a befitting reply to the enemy fire using weapons of similar calibre. However, a soldier was injured in the exchange of fire,” said Jammu-based defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Mehta. No other damage has been reported, he added.

However, an Intelligence source confided to The Tribune that Pakistani troops of the 651 Mujahid Regiment fired four to five sniper shots from their Bagicha post on an Indian patrol of around 10 soldiers.

“One of the sniper shots hit Naik Nek Ram. The patrol was moving in the Tarkundi forward area in the Balakote sector,” he said.

The source also differed over the timing of incident. He said the incident took place around noon today.

The source further divulged that last night for nearly an hour from 9 pm onwards, troops of the 651 Mujahid Regiment had opened unprovoked fire on Indian posts in the Balakote sector.

“They had opened small arms and automatic weapons’ fire from their New Digging and Majhar posts on our posts. Though, there were no casualties or injuries on the Indian side, the exchanges were intense for an hour. The Indian troops gave a befitting reply inflicting heavy damage to the defences on the Pakistani side,” he said.

The Pakistan Rangers also violated the truce along the international border in the Arnia area of the RS Pura sector of Jammu district.

The Rangers again opened unprovoked fire and overnight pounded five BSF posts with 51 mm mortars in Arnia. “At 9 pm last night a burst of fire came from Pakistani side but we exercised restraint and didn’t retaliate,” said a senior BSF officer.

Again around 1.30 am, Rangers opened unprovoked fire using mortars and automatic weapons on our Chinaz, Pittal, Kaku-de-Kothe and Tent Guard posts besides civilians areas in the Arnia area, prompting us to give them an equal response, he added.

The officer said Rangers used automatic weapons, including heavy machine guns and 51 mm mortars.

“The exchange of fire continued till 4 am,” he said. There was no loss of men or material on our side, he added. Three truce violations in the past 24 hours by Pakistan take the total number of violations this year to 71.

Batote, August 13 
Close on the heels of a taxi hijacked by four suspected ultras from the Karol bridge in Ramban district yesterday, the Jammu and Kashmir Police has sounded a red alert across the state.

Security forces and the police are leaving no stone unturned to trace the vehicle and all vehicles crossing the Jawahar Tunnel are being subjected to strict checking.

A Srinagar-bound taxi was hijacked by four suspected ultras from Ramban en route Kashmir highway yesterday.

The cab driver was later found tied with a tree, who narrated the entire incident to the police.

Before taking away the car, the hijackers had also threatened the driver of the vehicle and had told him that they were taking it for causing a blast.

“A high alert has been sounded in the state and check posts from Lakhanpur to Srinagar have been alerted. We cannot take the incident lightly in a restive state,” DIG of the Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban Range Ashqoor Ahmed Wani told The Tribune. 

Kupwara, August 13
At least 60 fresh cases of gastroenteritis were reported from remote Zurhama village of Kupwara district today. “With this, the total number of people who have taken ill due to the infection since Monday has reached 1,100,” Health Department officials said.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Kupwara, Muneer Ahmad Khawaja said many patients were showing signs of recovery and doctors were working round the clock to contain the infection.

“People have been advised to consume boiled water. Every individual in the village has been provided Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) to ensure that more people do not fall prey to the infection,” he added.The medical officer said the report of water samples taken from various sources from the affected village was still awaited. Meanwhile, local residents demanded that the water reservoir should be cleaned at the earliest and potable water supplied to them. 

Jammu, August 13
Ahead of the Independence Day celebrations and against the backdrop of a car-hijack by four suspected ultras from Ramban on the Kashmir highway yesterday, the Jammu and Kashmir Police has taken over vantage positions, especially in the Hiranagar and Samba sectors. These are the traditional and shortest route of infiltration for Pak ultras to reach the Jammu-Pathankot highway after crossing the international border.

“The Special Operations Group (SOG) — a wing of the J&K Police that combats terrorists, has taken over the infiltration routes in the Hiranagar and Samba sectors,” said a senior police officer.

“Seven border police posts on the highway in Kathua district have been alerted and they are doing random check of vehicles on the Jammu-Pathankot highway,” said Kathua SSP Mohan Lal. The officer said trans-border smugglers and overground workers were also on police radar.

The Rajbagh and Hiranagar police stations had also increased their patrolling and highway patrols had been pressed into service, he added. “We are working in complete synergy with the BSF, Army, village defence committees and the ITBP,” added Lal.

At the same time, the BSF amidst regular firing by the Rangers, has also heightened security all along the 198-km-long international border from Paharpur in Kathua to the Chicken Neck area in Akhnoor.

“We are fully alert to the situation and know their intentions. Surveillance has been put on high alert all along the border,” said a senior BSF officer.

On March 28 this year, three heavily armed ultras had staged twin terror attacks in Janglote near Kathua killing a soldier and two civilians.

“Special focus is being given to the security of the highways, especially the Jammu-Pathankot highway that lies close to the international border,” said another police officer.

Srinagar, August 13
Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of ignoring Srinagar, the CPM state secretary and MLA, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, has said that “it seems” the Kashmir region does not figure in the PM’s priority list.

The visit to the Ladakh region on Tuesday marked Modi’s second visit to J&K as Prime Minister. He had visited Jammu and Uri on July 4.

Taking exception to Modi’s “saffron revolution” remark during his speech in Leh, the communist leader said the statement was “loaded with a furtive message reflecting the RSS agenda.” — TNS

Srinagar, August 13
Governor NN Vohra today lauded the “excellent synergy and very high level of coordination” among the state government, the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board and various security agencies, including the Army, and local stakeholders involved in the management of just concluded Amarnath yatra.

Addressing a post-yatra review meeting, the Governor also thanked the people at large for their valuable support for ensuring the smooth and peaceful conduct of the pilgrimage.

He also conveyed his thanks to Member of Legislative Assembly from Kangan and Minister for Forests and Environment Mian Altaf Ahmad and Pahalgam legislator Rafi Ahmad Mir for their continuous support to the yatra.

The Governor appreciated the good work done by the agencies involved in clearing the 2-3 foot snow at the Sheshnag base camp site, which made it possible to start the yatra from the Chandanwari route from July 2 onwards.

Based on the feedback from the camp directors, the Governor told the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board Rakesh K Gupta to initiate action to prepare camp-wise and route-wise action plans for the next year’s yatra on a time-bound basis.

He told the CEO to particularly focus on the medicare, water and power supply, sanitation, environment protection and accommodation facilities for the annual pilgrimage.

The Governor, who is also the chairman of the Shrine Board, presented certificates and mementoes to each of the officers present at the meeting.

Mian Altaf, on the occasion, complimented the Governor and the Shrine Board for the smooth conduct of yatra.

The meeting, meanwhile, discussed further improvement in the existing system of registration of yatris; access control measures at the Chandanwari and Domel access control gates; functioning of medical aid centres; sanitation arrangements at various camp locations; functioning of langars and other services, an official spokesperson said.

Other issues that came up for discussion, included operation of helicopter services; services rendered by the BSNL; disaster management arrangements; services rendered by various other departments and agencies and the scope for improvements therein.

Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey; Director General of Police K Rajendra; Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Vinod Ranjan; Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister BB Vyas and Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Rohit Kansal were present in the meeting.

Commissioner, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Pawan Kotwal; Commissioner, R&B, Tanveer Jehan; Commissioner, Animal and Sheep Husbandry Ashok Kumar Parmar; GOC, Headquarters Victor Force, Maj Gen ST Upasani; Secretary, CAPD, Baseer Ahmed Khan; IGP, Kashmir, AG Mir; DIG, South Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, Sarmad Hafeez; Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, Bashir Ahmad Khan; Director, Information, Tassaduq Geelani; Director General, Fire and Emergency Services, Srinagar, GA Bhat; Director, SKIMS, Srinagar, Showkat Ali Zargar; Director, Indian Meteorological Department, Srinagar, Sonam Lotus and Additional Chief Executive Officer of the Board Preet Pal Singh were also in attendance.

Police yatra officers; heads of departments, camp directors, additional camp directors, senior civil, Army, security forces and police officers also participated in the meeting. 

Jammu, August 13
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the White Knight Corps, Lt Gen KH Singh, today asked a group of 25 girls from Ramban district to take charge of their destiny and contribute their bit to nation building.

Lt General Singh was talking to them after flagging in the 11-day educational tour at Nagrota near here. He promised all assistance by the Army in helping them achieve their dreams.

The Army had organised an educational-cum-motivational tour for the girls of Ramban.

The girls had visited Delhi and Udaipur.

During their visit to Noida and Udaipur, the girls interacted with close to 200 students of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban, who had taken admission in Pacific University, Udaipur, and Noida International University, UP, last year to pursue free education under the PM’s special scholarship scheme.

The girls also interacted with students of Sri Venkateshwara College, New Delhi.

Incidentally, students of this college had visited Ramban district in May 2014 to participate in Ramban Youth Festival organised by the Delta Force. The girls were excited as most of them had stepped out of J&K for the first time.

The Army also organised sightseeing for the tour participants to places of historical importance in Delhi.

Kupwara, August 13
Normal life in Kupwara’s Villgam village remained affected for the 14th consecutive day today as residents continued to protest in support of their demand for tehsil status to the village.

Shops and other business establishments remained closed and traffic remained off the roads as villagers observed a complete shutdown.

The residents reiterated that there were 42 government offices, including banks, treasury, sub-district hospital and police station, in the village and it was also centrally located and, therefore, deserved the tehsil status.

“We will not call off strike unless the government announces tehsil status for the village. The village is deprived of tehsil status on political grounds, but we will not allow the government to snatch this right from us,” said advocate Mohammad Yasin, a local resident.

Some of the protesters accused Member of Legislative Assembly from Handwara and Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan of playing politics over the issue.

“Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara, has already recommended tehsil status to the village, but local legislator is trying to snatch tehsil status from Villgam for some political reasons. We will be forced to intensify the protest if our just demand was not conceded,” said Ashiq Hussain.

Srinagar, August 13
A week after the fire mishap at the Directorate of Education office in Srinagar, the police have been unable to generate any important lead in the case.

Despite official claims of no major damage in the fire incident that happened on Thursday last week, sources told The Tribune that some important documents pertaining to land allotment to some private schools in the city were burnt in the incident.

The inquiry committee comprising two joint directors and three Chief Education Officers appointed by Director, Education, Mir Tariq to probe into the fire incident has also made no headway.

The police had earlier questioned the chowkidar at the Directorate office, who reportedly was the only person present when the fire broke out.

Sources said the documents pertained to fund embezzlements worth over Rs 3 crore related to land allotment to private schools in Srinagar district.

The SDPO at the Kothi Bagh police station, Faisal Ahmad, told The Tribune that the investigations were still going on and no arrests had been made. He said the cause behind the fire incident was still unknown.

Meanwhile, Tariq said no important documents had been lost in the fire incident. The police had registered a case under Section 435 of the Ranbir Penal Code in the regard. 

Srinagar, August 13
Ahead of Independence Day, security has been tightened in the entire Kashmir valley as police and paramilitary personnel have increased their presence in the city. They have intensified patrolling and are frisking pedestrians and carrying out searches of vehicles.

Armoured vehicles have also been deployed and checkpoints erected at various junctions and  key roads inside the city to strengthen the grip on  the security situation and prevent the movement  of militants.

The intense security arrangements in the city, where pedestrians are being frisked after every kilometre by tense policemen, has created a sense of siege among many residents, who are complaining that these measures are cumbersome.

The security network has been put on a heightened alert ahead of the I-Day after a series of attacks and weapon snatching incidents in the recent days. Militants carried out two attacks, including the ambush of a paramilitary convoy, this week when strict security arrangements were in place for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state.

The ambush of a BSF convoy at Pampore, 14 km from Srinagar city, has also led to increased security vigil in the region as militants demonstrated their capacity to carry out attacks near the city, where the main I-Day function will be held on the August 15 morning.

“There is no specific threat for the day but due to the attacks in the recent days, security has been intensified,” a source said.

The mobile communication services are likely to be shut down in the region for several hours on August 15 as part of the security clampdown to carry out smooth conduct of the functions, the source said.

Sources said a three-tier security set-up will guard the Bakshi Stadium, where the main event will be held on I-Day, and unmanned aerial vehicles will also be pressed into service for aerial surveillance of the area around the stadium. 

Rajouri,August 13
A group of students from the Engineering College at the Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU) have sought permission from the varsity authorities to hoist the Tricolour at the Sabrang Chowk inside the institute complex on the Independence Day.

The students also approached the police to provide them security.

A majority of students in the varsity belong to the Valley and they generally observe a black day on the occasion.

The university authorities also try and avoid Independence Day celebrations to avoid any clashes, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University registrar told the reporters here.

However, in a letter to the police the group of students stated that they were going to hoist the National Flag at the Sabrang Square and for that they need security.

They also sought permission from the Vice Chancellor, registrar and principal of the Engineering College to hoist the Tricolour at the Sabrang Square.

Varsity registrar Rashid Choudhary and Engineering College principal Prof Mohd Asghar confirmed that some students had approached them and sought permission for the event.The two, however, said the students were informed that the matter has been brought into the notice of the Vice Chancellor. The registrar though said no individual can hoist the National Flag and students were advised to join the Independence Day celebrations at the venue selected by the district administration for the event.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shiv Kumar Chohan said security would only be provided to the students if the Vice Chancellor grants permission for the event.

Vice Chancellor IA Hamal, who is currently out of station, said he was not aware about any such development .Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, Jatinder Singh, however, said anybody can celebrate the Independence Day and at any place subject to due respect to the National Flag. Singh said he would talk to the Vice Chancellor in this regard.

Kulgam, August 13
Things took a violent turn in Kulgam town of south Kashmir after the police used force to quell protests held by the Government Degree College students against the Independence Day rehearsals within the college premises.

The protests soon spilled across the south Kashmir town as students fought pitched battles with the police and enforced a shutdown in the area.

The police had to use tearsmoke shells and resort to baton-charge to disperse the agitated students. Some students were also taken into the police custody, however, they were released later in the day. According to sources, the district police had brought in groups of students from various schools across the district to rehearse for cultural events to be performed on the Independence Day. The students of the college, however, objected to it and demanded that the college campus be vacated.

“The altercation heated up and soon clashes between the police and the students erupted,” a source said, adding that the students who had come for rehearsal fled the scene. A senior police official from the area refuted claims that the students were protesting against the rehearsal. “The students had some issues with the administration. The issues should have been sorted within the premises without any police involvement,” said the police official on condition of anonymity.

Principal of the college Bashir Ahmad maintained that the students were protesting because their classes got disturbed by rehearsals. — OC

Srinagar, August 13
Full dress rehearsals for the Independence Day celebrations were held in the city today, an official spokesman said.

Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Rohit Kansal after unfurling the National Flag inspected the parade and took salute at the march past of full dress rehearsal at Bakshi Stadium here.

The march past was presented by the contingents of JKP, JKAP, IRP, CRPF, BSF, ITBP, women police, State Disaster Response Force, fire and emergency services, children from various educational institutions and contingents of the Forest Protection Force, the spokesman said.

The spokesman said a variety of colourful cultural programmes were also presented by students of educational institutions in collaboration with the Information, Youth Services and Sports Departments and Cultural Academy of Art, Culture and Languages.

Director General Police K Rajendra, Additional Director General of Police SM Sahai, Inspector General of Police Abdul Gani Mir, Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Farooq Ahmad Shah and Director Information Tasaduq Jeelani were also present.

Full dress rehearsals were also held at Baramulla, Anantnag, Budgam, Kupwara, Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam, Bandipora, Ganderbal and Handwara, the spokesman said.

Jammu, August 13
A full-dress rehearsal for the Independence Day function was held at the Mini-Stadium, Parade Ground. Contingents of the district police, CRPF, JKAP, NCC, fire and emergency Services, State Disaster Response Force, Forest Protection Force and children drawn from various schools participated in the march past.

A scintillating cultural bonanza depicting patriotism, culture and message against the social evils was presented by the school children. Divisional Commissioner Shantmanu, Inspector General of Police Rajesh Kumar, Deputy Commissioner Ajeet Kumar Sahu, DIG, Jammu- Kathua–Samba, Shakeel Beig, SSP Uttam Chand, Joint Director (Information) Smita Sethi, ADC Kalyan Singh, ACG Shenaz Choudhary, Deputy Director (Information) Jyoti Salathia and other district and sectoral officials were present on the occasion.

Doda, August 13
To finalise the preparations for the Independence Day celebrations, a full dress rehearsal was organided at the Sports Stadium, Doda. District Development Commissioner (DDC), Doda, Shyam Vinod Meena, and SSP, Doda, MS Chouhan, supervised the final full dress rehearsal. The Doda SSP inspected parade contingents.

The DDC highlighted the relevance of the occasion and hoped for a greater participation of students, citizens, district administration and the police among others. The marchpast contingents comprised CRPF, JKAP, JKP, FPF and the NCC. A full rehearsal of cultural programmes was also conducted at Government Higher Secondary School, Doda. Similar full dress rehearsal to finalise the arrangements in Bhaderwah was also organised at Government Higher Secondary School, Bhaderwah, under the supervision of SDM Bhupinder Kumar.

Jammu, August 13
Delhi Public School (DPS), Jammu, today celebrated Independence Day on the school premises.

The celebrations began with the release of balloons by the chief guest, Kiran Wattal, Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC).

Meenu Gupta, Headmistress (up to middle school), in her address said every Indian must take an oath on this day to remain loyal and patriotic to the beloved motherland.

Richi Chabra, Headmistress, DPS, Jammu, also addressed the assembly and made the students aware of the struggle of various national leaders, who sacrificed their lives to achieve independence.

The chief guest, in his address, appealed to the students to uphold the dignity of the country. Wattal also urged them to become disciplined, helpful and kind to others.

Srinagar, August 13
J&K Bank today posted net profit of Rs 130.05 crore for the quarter ended June 2014.

A bank spokesman announced reviewed financial results for the quarter ended June 2014 today following the approval of its Board of Directors at a meeting held here at corporate headquarters.

"The bank's operating profit for Q1 is Rs 447.52 crore as against Rs 480.99 crore recorded during the corresponding period of previous year. The deposits grew by 8.62 per cent for Q1 to stand at Rs 63,651.94 crore as against Rs 58,601.09 crore for Q1 FY 13-14. The advances have increased by 13.11 per cent to Rs 44,430.73 crore from Rs 39,282.20 crore as recorded during the corresponding period of the previous year," the spokesman said.

He said the total business of the bank had gone up by 10.42 per cent when compared with the corresponding period of the previous year.

Commenting on the dip in profits, J&K Bank Chairman Mushtaq Ahmad said: "Maintaining a strong and clean balance sheet has necessitated higher provisioning during Q1 thus putting pressure on profits. This led to a sharp dip in our profits even though little late than many of our competitors and peers in the banking sector. However, we will continue with our growth momentum in the coming quarters and maintain our profitability along with net interest margin (NIM) during the current fiscal."

"Since we all know that the country is yet to come out of economic slowdown completely; thus asset-quality pressures on banks have not abated even during the first quarter of the current financial year. As such banks had to go for higher provisioning on account of fresh slippages to the non-performing asset (NPA) category and additions to restructured assets. So, strict focus of the bank for the next couple of quarters will be on asset quality monitoring and maintenance till the economic situation in the country improves," he added. 

Srinagar, August 13
Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats Ali Mohammad Sagar has asked the officers concerned to speed up the beautification plan of the Jamia Masjid area so that it could be developed on heritage basis.

The minister said this while addressing officers during a review meeting convened here yesterday that was attended by Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Farooq Ahmad Shah, Additional Deputy Commissioner GA Dar and senior officers of the R&B and other executing agencies.

“The minister asked the officers to speed up the pace of implementation of various schemes undertaken in the city so that people are benefited from these. He said it has been endeavour of the government to ensure holistic development of the state and in this regard several programmes have been undertaken in various sectors such as SMC, PHE and housing,” an official statement said.

Sagar directed the officers to construct a multiplex at Roshangarh Mohallah, Nowhatta, which would have a modern community hall on the ground floor and shops at various levels. 

Srinagar, August 13
As Pakistan and India observe their Independence Days this week, two families from either side of the LoC reunited here today to celebrate a bond of friendship which has remained unscathed by the tragedy of partition and three wars.

The latest chapter in the heart-warming tale of the Tandons and Moghuls, who used to be neighbours in Muzaffarabad in present-day Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), was written when the two families met here today.

JL Tandon was forced to migrate to India in the prime of his youth when the partition took place in 1947. Tandon left behind his old life and his childhood friend, whose son Mehmood Moghul he remembers clutching at the time of leaving Muzaffarabad.

Mehmood and his wife today arrived here on the Karavan-e-Aman bus service to meet the Tandons, who made the journey of over 300 km from Jammu to welcome their friends from PoK.

Not a word was spoken by the hosts or the guests, but the joy of seeing each other again after their last meeting in 2005 was evident as tears welled up in the eyes of all present. It was Tandon who thought of reviving the contact with his long-lost friend across the LoC and, along with his son Subhash, applied for a permit to visit Muzaffarabad, finally travelling there in October 2005, after a gap of 58 years.

"We decided to visit Muzaffarabad in 2005. It was my first visit since partition, but after a few days of our arrival, the massive earthquake struck," Tandon added.

The October 8 earthquake flattened most of Muzaffarabad and left over 1.31 lakh people dead. The Moghuls lost six family members in the calamity and the visiting Tandons survived a brush with death.

"My father and I were both injured," said Subhash. It was the Moghuls who rescued the father-son duo from under the debris.

"Not once did our hosts let us feel that we were not in our own country. We were airlifted in an Army helicopter for specialised treatment at a hospital in Islamabad.

"But I most remember the soothing feeling I got when Mehmood's mother put her hand on my head to assure me everything would be fine," Subhash said.

He said there was a lot of scepticism in his mind when he embarked on the journey to PoK with his father.

"My grandfather used to tell me about the friendship, love, care and amity among neighbours irrespective of religion, but I used to think it was all a fairy tale and that it does not happen today. I was proved wrong... the borders and divisions are created by human beings," Subash said.

Mehmood echoed Subhash's thought on brotherhood and friendship, saying, "Yeh jazba to rabb nay dilon mein dala hai (this feeling has been put in our hearts by God)." — PTI

Srinagar, August 13
Two days ahead of the Independence Day, security forces today scuttled a probable militant plan to carry out an attack by seizing a large cache of arms and ammunition, including two assault rifles and a pistol, in Baramulla district of north Kashmir, the police said today.

The recovery was made by a joint search party of the Rashtriya Rifles and the police near Rakh Nullah (stream) in the general area of Khan Peth in Pattan, about 30 km from here, last evening, a police officer said.

He said the arms and ammunition were kept in a polythene bag and buried underground. Besides the three weapons, the search parties seized two AK magazines with 30 rounds, a pistol magazine with three rounds, two Improvised Explosive Device Circuits and a pouch, the officer added. However, he said no one had been arrested in connection with the recovery so far.

A case has been registered and a hunt is on to nab the militants who are believed to have dumped the weapons in the area for later use, he said, adding that the arms and ammunition could have been used for carrying out an attack.

The recovery comes close on the heels of two militant attacks on the security forces in south Kashmir over the past two days. — PTI

Srinagar, August 13
With just two days left for the Independence Day celebrations, the police have intensified its crackdown on bikers as hundreds of bikes have been seized from different localities of Srinagar city.

The officials, however, said it was just a part of routine check to streamline traffic.

Superintendent of Traffic Police Haseeb-ur-Rehman, while confirming the seizure, said the bikers were mostly involved in law and order problems and it was a routine affair to check the violations. “We have seized 250 bikes and the local police have seized 300 bikes. The crackdown on bikes will continue as part of manning law and order,” he said.

Expressing anguish, Ahmad said, “The first victims of the security arrangements are always two-wheeler riders. We are always looked with suspicion. We are frisked and our bikes seized. We drive two-wheelers to avoid traffic jams in the city, but we are unnecessarily made to suffer.” He questioned that how a vehicle which had nothing unlawful in terms of documents could be seized in the name of security reasons.

According to sources, the aim of the police is to avoid protest rallies and any untoward incident in the city.

However, the officials said it was to avoid stunt biking and violation of traffic rules. “It is not due to any security reasons. We are just doing it as a part of drive against violators to avoid stunt biking, rash driving and many motorbikes were found without number plates too. We are just acting against them. This is purely meant to streamline the traffic,” the official said.

The officials also said many two-wheeler drivers were without documents. “Most of the bikes that we seized were also without proper documents that’s why we had to seize them,” the official added. 

Rajouri, August 13
The Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, Jatinder Singh today placed three employees of the Health Department under suspension after they were found from duty.

A teacher has also been put under suspension for dereliction of duty.

The erring officials have been identified as Community Health Officer Mohammad Javed, Dr Jayoti Heer and supervisor pharmacist Mushtaq Hussain. All the three were posted at the Public Health Centre at Nadiala.

The teacher has been identified as Kulsum Begam of Government Primary School, Palma.

“All the health employees have been placed under suspension and the Block Medical Officer has been directed to take necessary departmental action against these employees,” said the Deputy Commissioner. — OC

Srinagar, August 13
The police today booked three people for spreading rumour and fabricating information from a phone messaging application.

A police spokesman said cases have been registered under Section 66 of the IT Act in the Budgam, Baramulla and Pulwama police stations.

The three booked have been identified as Javed Ahmad of Budgam, Syed Tahir Bukhari of Baramulla and Raja Hilal of Pulwama, the spokesman added. The spokesman said the trio had been booked for allegedly airing rumours and fabricated information that could vitiate peace. — TNS

Pulwama, August 13
Two policemen and a civilian were killed when militants attacked a police vehicle at Galandar Pampore in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district today evening.

Head constable Mehrajuddin, constable Mohammad Yaqoob, besides a civilian, Manzoor Ahmad Kasab of Awantipora, were killed in the late evening attack, the police said.

Sources said Deputy Superintendent of the 11 Batallion of the Indian Reserve Police had a narrow escape in the attack around 8.00 pm.

A carbine rifle was missing from the vehicle which was attacked by the militants. There were apprehensions that militants might have decamped with the weapon, sources said.

Soon after the attack the Army, the CRPF and the police rushed to the spot and cordoned the area.

As per reports the traffic on Srinagar-Jammu national highway remained affected, while the vehicular movement was totally suspended on the Pulwama-Galandar road.

This is the second militant attack on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway and fourth in last 48 hours in Pulwama district.