Jammu, October 16
The Panun Kashmir (PK), a representative organisation of displaced Kashmiri Hindus, has appreciated response of the Central Government to Pakistan, which has indulged in border firing on the Line of Control (LoC) and international border.

Addressing a press conference, Panun Kashmir leaders Agnishekhar and Ajay Chrangoo said the determined response of the BSF and the Army to the firing from across the border has the total and wholehearted support of the entire people of the nation.

“People see the handling of the situation along the border by the new government at the Centre as a healthy departure from the way the previous ones have been handling similar incidents in the past”, Agnishekhar said.

The Panun Kashmir has all along been holding the view that the firing from the Pakistani side had the motive of pushing weapons, ammunition and terrorists into India for sustaining their proxy war within the country as well as undermining the sanctity of the borders and the line of control.

“The firing also sought to lower the morale of the nation and force a dialogue process upon India based upon the threat of a nuclear war. The responses of India are the beginning of the calling Pakistan’s bluff,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Ajay Chrangoo urged the entire strategic fraternity of the nation to see the attempts of escalation of tension by Pakistan along the IB and Line of Control (LoC) not as isolated incidents, but in relation to the attempts of the pan-Islamist terrorist networks to further integrate the terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu, October 16
The Jammu University Teachers Association (JUTA) today welcomed the decision of Governor NN Vohra, who is also the Chancellor of the varsity, of rescheduling the special convocation in the interest of the students and teachers to November 14.

The special convocation was scheduled to take place on October 24. The JUTA also expressed its gratitude to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is also the Pro-Chancellor of the institution, for the decision.

A meeting of the JUTA office-bearers was held in the university under the presidentship of Prof Dalip Singh Jamwal, thanked the Governor and Chief Minister for their personal intervention in the matter as earlier the special convocation date was falling around Diwali and some other important festivals such as Vishwakarma Day and Bhaiya Dooj.

Earlier, the JUTA had requested the Chancellor to reschedule the special convocation keeping in view the sentiments of the students, scholars and teachers of the university.

Jammu, October 16
Maharaja Harisingh Agricultural Collegiate (MHAC) School, Nagbani, today conducted the annual inter-house rangoli competition.

Around 400 students from Class IX to XII participated.

The judges for the competition were Sarita and Sudesh Sharma. The competition was organised under two categories — pre-seniors (Class XI to X) and senior (Class XI to XII).

Nameem Wazir, Kajal Singh, Deepika and Manvi Sharma were adjudged first in the pre-senior category.

In the senior category, Damini Singh Chauhan, Shweta Bhat, Parul Gupta and Rishabh Gupta were adjudged first.

Principal of the school Alok Betab was also present on the occasion.

Jammu, October 16
The district-level science exhibition, organised by the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) under the Rashtriya Madhmik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), concluded at Government Boys Higher Secondary School (GHSS), Gandhi Nagar here.

Director, School Education, Jammu, HR Pakhroo, was the chief guest on the valedictory function.

It was the first district science exhibition under the RMSA wherein high schools and higher secondary schools from all the 15 education zones of the district participated.

The theme of the exhibition was “Science and technology for society”. The students had displayed models on the subject themes like “Industry”, “Natural resources and conservation”, “Transportation communication, information and educational technology”, “Community health and environment”, “Global warming” and “Mathematical modeling”.

Government Girls High School, Gandhi Nagar, clinched the first position, whereas Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Canal Road, and Government High School, Seri Pandita, bagged the second and third position, respectively. — TNS

Jammu, October 16
On the occasion of “Black days”, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) paid floral tribute to the student martyrs of 1966.

Activists of the ABVP from different educational institutions of Jammu gathered at Shahidi Sthal, GGM Science College, and raised slogans like “Bharat Mata ki jai”, “Vandemataram”, “Humare shaheed amar rahien”, “Student power, nation’s power.”

Pawan Sharma, state organising secretary of the party, stated that four students Brij Mohan, Subash Chander, Gulshan Handa and Gurcharan Singh had sacrificed their lives while fighting against the discrimination by Kashmir-centric leadership against Jammu. He appealed to the students and youth of J&K to work untidily for the welfare of the student community. He also appealed to call these days as “Martyrs days” instead of “Black days”.

Raghav Sharma, state secretary, stated that Jammu is facing discrimination since the time these martyrs sacrificed their lives. The ABVP is continuously working and fighting for the rights of students. He appealed to the students to pledge today to work hard and fight for their rights. This will be the real tribute to these martyrs.

Others present on the occasion included Kuldeep Singh, Ganesh, Bahadur Singh, Vikas Sharma, Aman Sharma, and Sandeep Khajuria.

Jammu, October 16
The prestigious four-lane project of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, which will provide all-weather road connectivity to the Kashmir valley, runs the risk of being delayed following the recent floods.

Another cause for concern over its completion in the stipulated time is that the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) — the nodal agency of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways — is yet to award tenders for widening the Udhampur-Banihal section on this highway.

The four-laning of the existing 300-km Jammu-Srinagar highway has been divided into six sub-projects, including Jammu-Udhampur road (65 km), Chenani-Nashri tunnel (9.2 km), Ramban-Udhampur road (43 km), Banihal-Ramban road (36 km), Qazigund-Banihal road (15.25 km) and Srinagar-Banihal road (67.7 km).

Veerendra Singh, project director, NHAI, Srinagar, said they had been making all-out efforts to restart the work on the widening of the Srinagar-Banihal stretch, which was halted following floods in the Kashmir valley.

“Work in all four camps on the stretch was completely suspended due to floods. We are making efforts to restart the work and it will possibly begin after Diwali as all operators and workers who had left for their homes or safer places during floods are now returning to work,” he said.

The four-laning of the highway was started in 2011 and had to be completed within five years of its commencement. It will reduce the distance between two capital cities (Jammu and Srinagar) by 50 km. The present travel time of 9 to 10 hours will be reduced to 5 hours.

The major structures of the project include two long tunnels —- the country’s longest road tunnel between Chenani and Nashri and the 8.5-km-long Quazigund-Banihal tunnel —- besides 12 short tunnels having a total length of 6.2 km, 34 major bridges and 24 viaducts.

Sources said the project was all set to miss the deadline as it had been running behind schedule due to several hiccups on account of land acquisition and tendering process.

“The NHAI is yet to award tenders for execution of widening of the toughest Udhampur-Banihal stretch comprising two projects —- widening of the Udhampur-Ramban and Ramban-Banihal stretches. It will be a Herculean task for the executing agencies to complete the widening work on these stretches owing to the tough terrains,” a source said.

When contacted, R P Singh, Project Director, NHAI, Jammu, said they had invited bids for the Udhampur-Banihal stretch and they were hopeful of completing the process by November 10.

Asked about the status of the widening of the 65-km Jammu-Udhampur highway, the project director said they had covered about 56 km and the remaining would be completed by December-end. “We have been facing problems in land acquisition in Jakhyani and Fangwal villages in Udhampur. The land acquisition may cause delay in the widening of this stretch,” he said.

To a query about the work on the country’s longest tunnel between Chenani and Nashri, he claimed that the project was being executed as per schedule and they had completed nearly 65 per cent of the work.

The NHAI will pay a whopping Rs 26,000 crore as annuity to private developers during a concession period spanning 17 years, excluding three years of construction, to compensate them for the capital cost and the operation and maintenance expenses of the project.

Srinagar, October 16
Two soldiers were injured today as militants targeted an Army convoy by triggering an improvised explosive device in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

The IED blast took place around 11 am near Nadihal village, nearly 70 km from here, when an Army convoy from the frontier Kupwara district was on way to Srinagar. The militants targeted the anti-sabotage vehicle of the Army convoy injuring the two soldiers and damaging the vehicle.

“The preliminary investigations suggest that it was a remote control device which was hidden on the roadside berm,” said Senior Superintendent of Police, Baramulla, Suhail Munawar Mir. “An Army vehicle that was part of the convoy was hit by the blast. The driver lost control and the vehicle skidded into the nearby paddy fields,” he added.

The investigators said that the IED weighed around 2-2.5 kg.

The IED blast took place despite that the road opening party (ROP) of the Army having sanitised the Handwara-Baramulla road in the wee hours for the routine movement of the convoy.

Immediately after the blast, Army and police personnel rushed to spot and cordoned off the area. They also carried out searches in the surrounding villages.

No militant outfit has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, but sources suspect that a Pakistani militant active in north Kashmir had planted the IED in the area.

The sources said that they were also investigating how the IED blast took place despite the area being sanitised in the morning.

“Following the blast, the area was cordoned off and searched for the possibility of other explosives. On getting a clearance from experts, the convoy was moved to a safer location. The condition of the two Army personnel who sustained minor injuries is stable,” an Army spokesman said.

Three days ago, an Army jawan was killed in an encounter with militants in Kupwara district. 

Srinagar, October 16
With the Assembly elections round the corner and the Durbar to move to Jammu later this month, the state government has ordered a major reshuffle in the police and the civil administration.

The transfers and postings were ordered by the Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today.

As per orders, Mukesh Singh, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Human Rights, J&K, has been transferred and posted as the IGP, Armed, Kashmir. Sham Lal Sharma, IGP, has been posted as the IGP, CIV, Police Headquarters, J&K. Jagjit Kumar, IGP, has been posted as the IGP, Security, J&K.

Shafqat Ali Watali, IGP, has been posted as the IGP, Armed, Jammu. Mubarik Ahmad Ganaie, IGP, has been posted as the IGP, Telecommunications, J&K.

JP Singh, IGP, has been posted as the IGP, Home Guards, J&K. He shall also hold the additional charge of the post of the ADGP, Home Guards.

Vijay Kumar, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), South Kashmir Range, Anantnag, has been transferred and posted as the DIG, Traffic, Kashmir. Alok Kumar, DIG, has been posted as the DIG, South Kashmir Range, Anantnag.

As per the Cabinet orders, Nisar Ahmad, DIG, Railway Security, has been transferred and posted as the DIG, Traffic, Jammu. Uttam Chand, AIG, CIV, Police Headquarters (PHQ), holding the additional charge of the post of the Superintendent of Police (SP), Jammu, has been posted as the SP, Jammu, on a full-time basis.

Imtiaz Ismail Parray, Additional SP, South Srinagar, has been transferred and posted as the SP, Ganderbal.

Ashok Kumar, SP, Anti-Hijacking, Jammu, has been transferred and posted as the Senior Superintendent of Police, Police Control Room (PCR).

Shahid Mehraj Rather, SP, Ganderbal, has been transferred and posted as the SP, Crime, Kashmir.

Mubassir Latifi, SP, Rajouri, has been transferred and posted as the SP, Crime, Jammu.

Mohammad Shafi Mir, SP, Bandipora, has been transferred and posted as the SP, Kulgam, while as JS Johar, SP, PCR, Jammu, has been transferred and posted as the SP, Poonch.

As per orders, Zubair Ahmad Khan, Commandant, Indian Reserve Police, 6th Battalion, has been transferred and posted as the SP, Baramulla.

Sanjay Kotwal, SP, Kishtwar, has been transferred and posted as the SP, Traffic, national highway.

Mohan Lal, SP, Kathua, has been transferred and posted as the SP, Traffic, Jammu, while as Randeep Kumar, SP, Security, Civil Secretariat, has been transferred and posted as the SP, Anti-Hijacking, Jammu.

Abdul Waheed Shah, SP, Awantipora, has been transferred and posted as the SP, Shopian, vice Showkat Hussain Shah, who has been posted as the Commandant, Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police, 8th Battalion. Shamsher Hussain, SP, Poonch, has been transferred and posted as the SP, Security, Civil 
Secretariat.

Mohammad Shabir, Principal, STC, Talwara, has been transferred and posted as the SP, Bandipora.

Pawan Parihar, SP, Traffic, Jammu, has been transferred and posted as the SP, Kathua. Yogal Manhas, Additional SP, North Jammu, has been transferred and posted as the SP, Kishtwar.

Tahir Saleem, SP, North Srinagar, has been transferred and posted as the SP, Awantipora, while as Mohammad Rashid Bhat, SP, AIG (Buildings), PHQ, has been transferred and posted as the SP, Kupwara, vice Abdul Jabbar, whose orders of posting shall be issued separately.

Doda, October 16
A two-member team from the Survey of India today visited Doda district to review the much awaited Marmat-Sudh Mahadev tunnel project, which has been hanging in balance for a long time.

The project would considerably reduce the distance between Doda and Jammu.

Surveyor General of India Dr Swarna Subba Rao and Surveyor General of J&K Amardeep Singh visited the district and surveyed the Marmat-Sudh Mahadev tunnel site using latest equipment.

BJP candidate for the Doda Assembly segment Shakti Parihar also accompanied the duo.

Talking to reporters in Marmat, Parihar said BJP MP from Doda-Udhampur and Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh has kept his promise by initiating the work on an alternative tunnel route.

He said the team would also visit Bhallessa, where a survey would be conducted on the tunnel project that would connect the region to Himachal Pradesh. — OC

Anantnag, October 16
A traffic jam was today witnessed at many places along the Srinagar-Qazigund stretch of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway as two-way traffic resumed after about a week.

Incessant rain and mudslides at many places had damaged the national highway at many places, including in the Srinagar and Jammu regions.

No vehicles were allowed to ply on the highway for about five days from October 8 as it was closed for repair work.

Even though the highway was thrown open to one-way traffic a couple of days ago, the two-way traffic was allowed today.

Thousands of vehicles were stranded on both sides of the Jawahar Tunnel today, resulting in long, messy traffic jams at many places along the stretch.

Ambulances, school buses, official vehicles and Army vehicles also remained stranded for hours today.

Reports said the traffic jam started in the wee hours today and continued for most part of the day.

The worst affected was the 8-km Sangam-Khannabal stretch of the national highway.

Sources said even newspapers, which reach Anantnag by 6 am, were delivered after 1 pm.

“I reached Sangam around 7 am and it took me more than 4 hours to reach Anantnag, 10 km from Sangam,” said Gulzar Ahmad, a school bus driver. “Children by then had gone back to their homes,” Gulzar said.

Similar scenes were witnessed in the Mirbazar, Wanpoh and Qazigund areas along the national highway.

Srinagar, October 16
“Mission Humanity”, a group of local volunteers led by Mohammad Iqbal Kana, involved in rescue and relief operations during the floods in the Valley, called on Governor NN Vohra here today.

The group members briefed the Governor about the rescue and relief work carried out by them during and after the floods and the difficulties faced by them.

The Governor lauded the commitment and zeal with which the group had been working to arrange rescue, food items, clothing, bedding and medicines and undertaking cleanliness drives in some flood-affected areas.

Vohra observed that during this hour of crisis, the locals had risen to the occasion and demonstrated commendable capacity and strength. He complimented all of them.

Anantnag, October 16
The Srinagar-Qazigund stretch of the national highway has suffered massive damage during the recent floods, posing a threat to the commuters. However, no steps to repair the damaged highway have been taken so far.

The floods in early September caused colossal damage to the infrastructure in the Valley. The national highway also suffered minor to extensive damage at many places.

The worst-affected parts have been patches in the Pampore, Lethpora and Barsoo areas in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district and the Sangam, Bijbehara, Khannabal and Qazigund areas in Anantnag district.

In the Pampore area, a large patch of the road was washed away by the floods near the Galandar area while in the main town, another patch of the highway was cut to drain out water from the town.

“The damaged patches of the road pose a threat to lives of commuters,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, a local resident. “We have been asking the authorities to at least do some temporary repairs to the patches,” he said. However, there has been no response from the authorities.

“They have not even been able to put some reflectors to warn the commuters travelling after evening hours,” residents rue.

In the Lethpora area, half a kilometre of the road has been in a dilapidated condition just outside the Ramky headquarters, the company that has undertook the widening of the national highway and is entrusted with keeping the existing link in a good shape.

Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Rohit Kansal, however, maintains that it is Beacon that has been asked to do the necessary repairs.

“They were asked to ensure that the Srinagar-Jammu highway is thrown open to traffic on a priority basis,” Kansal said.

Chief Engineer, Beacon, Brig RK Sharma said the road stretch presently comes under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

“We were asked by the administration to make the road worthy of plying traffic and we did that. Now the NHAI has to take over,” Sharma said. The project manager of the NHAI, Veerendra Singh, however, could not be contacted despite repeated calls.

Premnagar (Doda), Oct 16
The fate of thousands of casual employees of the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) hangs in the balance as the Public Works Department (PWD) has decided to take over the Batote-Sinthan Top national highway from the GREF from October 20.

Nearly 5,000 GREF employees involved in construction of the road right from Batote to Sinthan Top in Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar districts will be jobless as the PWD takes up the road work.

Hundreds of casual employees held a massive protest against the government order in the Premnagar area of Doda this morning and blocked the Jammu-Kishtwar national highway for over four hours.

Protesters raised slogans against Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Minister for PWD Abdul Majid Wani, demanding revocation of the order as early as possible.

Jaswant Singh, an employee engaged with the GREF for over two decades in Doda, said, “The government has snatched the employment of thousands of poor labourers working here for decades. We want the government to revoke the order or provide us employment with the same privileges as provided by the GREF before handing over the road to the PWD”.

Vimal Manhas, sarpanch of Premnagar, said: “The Public Works Department is not a capable agency to handle the highway. If they really want to takeover, then they should first adjust all employees engaged with the GREF and provide them the same privileges.”

Farooq Dar, a social activist, said the condition of the roads which are going to be taken over by the Public Works Department was deplorable and the department won’t be able to maintain the crucial highway in all weather conditions, especially in the winter and monsoon.

The protesting employees dispersed after the Tehsildar of Thathri met them and assured them that the matter would be taken up with the higher ups.

Meanwhile, the protesters have threatened that they would continue their protest if the order was not revoked before October 20.

Rajouri, October 16
The Gujjars and Bakerwals staged a protest today against the district administration alleging that its claims of distributing relief material among them was false and baseless.

They alleged that they were neglected by the district administration in relief distribution as no free ration was distributed among them as announced by the state government and nobody visited them to assess losses to their property and livestock.

“We have suffered heavy losses to our pastures in the Pir Panjal mountain range and no official has so far visited us,” said Mohammad Riaz, a nomad.

“The administration has claimed that it has distributed relief material among us at dhokes ((temporary kutcha houses), but in reality nobody visited us,” he said.

Mohammad Mustaq, another nomad, said, “Instead of treating our livestock free of cost at veterinary hospitals and camps, we have been asked to pay for their treatments.”

Bagnoti villagers also staged a protest against the revenue authorities before the office of the tehsildar at Nowshera and alleged neglect by the authorities in relief distribution.

Led by advocate Haq Nawaz, the flood-affected nomads told the tehsildar that they were the worst sufferers and their houses were totally damaged.

“However, instead of including our names in the beneficiary lists, the revenue officials concerned have added the names of their blue-eyed boys,” said Nawaz.

The tehsildar assured them fair investigation into their allegations and speedy justice.

Darhal MLA Choudhary Zulfikar Ali also criticised the state government for “neglecting” the flood victims in his constituency.

“Many people are still living in the open in tents in this cold weather. Despite several representations and requests, the officials concerned have not provided them with the necessary help,” he said.

Srinagar, October 16
National Conference provincial president and Member of Legislative Council Devender Singh Rana today called on Governor NN Vohra here today and apprised him of the difficulties being faced by the people on account of cross-border firing on the international fence and the Line of control (LoC).

He also briefed the Governor about the ongoing efforts by the state government to mitigate the sufferings of people living along the border and LoC.

Rana further requested the Governor, who is also the Chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, to create facilities for Vaishno Devi pilgrims at Kol Kondoli in Nagrota, on the outskirts of Jammu.

He also said the Board should enhance the present level of procurements of various products produced by self help groups comprising the members of local communities living in the area adjoining the shrine. 

Jammu/Samba, October 16
Former Health Minister and leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad today lambasted Pakistan for “deliberately targeting” the civilian areas along the international border in the Jammu region.

Interacting with the residents of border areas in Samba and Kathua districts, Azad termed the Pakistani army “rogue” and said the Pakistani government had “no control” over their armed forces.

“Even in crucial times the Indian Army never targeted the civilian areas (in Pakistan), but it is very unfortunate that Pakistan army has never followed the universal human rights norms,” Azad said.

Pointing out the incident at Chalayari village of Samba where two female members of a family lost their lives in cross-border shelling, Azad rued that civilians were “deliberately targeted” by the neighbouring country’s army.

Azad asked Pakistan to “desist from violating the ceasefire”.

He said: “Tension on the borders was in nobody’s interest and it can be detrimental for the peace and stable environment in the sub-continent.”

Pulwama, October 16
After failing to provide communication services after the devastating deluge in the Kashmir Valley, many mobile service operators are yet to restore services in many areas of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

Residents of Tahab village said although the tower was not affected by the floods, Vodafone and Aircel, which shared it, had not restored services yet.

Supervisor Abdul Ahad Sheikh, who had lent land for the tower, said he was facing the brunt of customers as some miscreants threw stones on his house.

“Due to the negligence of mobile service companies, I am in continuous fear. Some youths threw stones on the tower and on my house,” he said.

Many residents of flood-hit areas, including Malangpora, Padgampora and Panjgam, complained that the operators ha not resumed services properly and generator sets were yet to be in place.

“I am business executive with Life Insurance Corporation of India and make public dealings. I have suffered a lot due to negligence of these companies,” said Mohammad Ayoub of Padgampora.

Ashiq Hussain, Deputy Manager of Global Telecom Limited for Kashmir, said they were facing acute shortage of building material due to frequent closure of the national highway. “It may take four more days to restore the system,” he said.

Srinagar, October 16
With the Sadder Court Complex in Srinagar devastated by floods, Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court MM Kumar has asked the government to expeditiously release funds for completing pending works at the upcoming district court complex at Mominabad, Batamaloo.

The Chief Justice issued these administrative instructions to the authorities in open court in presence of Bar association members.

The recent floods, which devastated Srinagar city, also wreaked havoc on the Sadder Court Complex in Srinagar that houses the court of the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Srinagar, and all other subordinate courts in Srinagar.

It was also near this spot that the Jhelum breached its embankment, rushing the floodwaters inside the court complex. Though, the district courts in Srinagar are currently functioning from makeshift arrangements at Hazratbal and Hyderpora, the lawyers’ community is aghast as their work has suffered.

In fact on October 13, when the High Court resumed its functioning nearly 36 days after the floods, the Kashmir Bar Association had convened a general body meeting to press for their demand of the restoration of the lower court in Srinagar.

Later, a representation was also made to the Chief Justice by the Bar executive members in the matter, following which the Chief Justice had appointed a three-member committee of High Court judges namely Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir, Justice Hasnain Massodi and Justice Ali Mohammad Magray to carry out an on-the-spot assessment of damage to the courts at the Sadder Court Complex in the Lal Chowk area and also inspect the new court complex at Mominabad, Batamaloo.

“The committee was supposed to give its assessment and opinion whether to continue functioning of the lower court from the Sadder Complex or shift it to the Mominabad,” Kashmir High Court Bar Association general secretary M Ashraf Bhat told The Tribune. “The committee has so far not given its decision,” Bhat said.

In fact, the matter came up for discussion in the open court during the hearing of a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Ali Mohammad Margary this week.

While directing the authorities to expeditiously release funds for finishing pending works at the Mominabad Court complex, the Chief Justice in his administrative orders directed the authorities to take up the work on lawyers’ chambers.

‘The floods have rendered the Sadder court complex totally unsafe. We cannot function from there under one roof. Bar members and advocates, who are like daily wagers, are without work,” the Chief Justice observed in the open court, adding that if the funds were not released by the government expeditiously to make the new court complex functional at Mominabad, he might be compelled to issue judicial orders.

“I am going to deal with this matter in the open court and not inside my chamber. These are administrative orders. I may also issue judicial orders, if you don’t comply,” the Chief Justice said.

Srinagar, October 16
Following complaints of sale of flood-affected medicines, a team of officials of the Drug and Food Control Organisation (DFCO) conducted surprise checks at Bemina, JVC, Wazir Bagh, Lal Ded, Rajbagh, Jawahar Nagar, Sonawar, GB Pant, Dalgate and Batmallo areas of the city.

The team as per an official statement found eight medical shops namely Shah Pharmacy, Pure Pharmacy, Manzoor Medicate, AAY BEE Medicate, Batamallo; Srinagar, Life Care Medicate, Sonawar; Srinagar, Care and Cure Medicate, Sonawar; Rising Sun Pharmacy, Sonawar, and Ilham Medicate, Dalgate, indulging in ‘unethical trade practices by displaying flood-hit commodities for sale’.

“The establishments have been asked to shut down their business for three to seven days with a pre-condition that their operation shall be allowed only upon verification of satisfactory compliance of their sanitary conditions as well as scrutiny of their inventory by the empowered authorities after the suspension period is over,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, as part of intensified market checking, the Enforcement Wing of the Consumer Affairs and Public Administration Department conducted market inspections at Batamaloo, Chanapora, Methan, Sanat Nagar, Makhdoom Sahib, Naidyar, Jogi Lanker and Rainawari. During the checking, the wing checked 83 business establishments and found 41 shopkeepers violating the provisions of the Essential Commodity Act, 1955.

Srinagar, October 16
The Kashmir Traders’ Federation (KTF) today extended full support to a protest called by the State Economic Reconstruction Forum (SERF) against government’s failure to suitably rehabilitate businessmen who suffered heavy losses during the recent floods in the Valley.

In a statement, KTF spokesman Aijaz Shahdar said the federation would give full support to the roadshow planned by the SERF on the coming Saturday. He urged all business fraternity and market committees to make their presence necessary so that the programme was made successful.

All the major trade, tourism and industries bodies have come under one umbrella, SERF, to seek suitable rehabilitation in the flood aftermath. “The government has not come up with a relief package for traders and business community as all the packages announced so far are a crude joke,” Shahdar said. The KTF alleged that the banks were ‘showing callous attitude’ towards the people after the floods.

Srinagar, October 16
Putting all speculations to rest, Khursheed Iqbal Andrabi, current Dean, Research, Kashmir University, is due to take over as the next Vice Chancellor of Kashmir University.

Top official sources today revealed that Khursheed's name had been cleared by the Chancellor of KU, Governor NN Vohra, as well as Pro-Chancellor, KU, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah after SWA Naqvi from the National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, expressed his inability to become the Vice Chancellor of Kashmir University due to sudden health problem.

Andrabi was fighting for the coveted post along with two non-local candidates, SWA Naqvi and Javed Mussarat from Aligarh Muslim University.

Sources said apart from his strong academic credentials, Khursheed's local background made him the preferable choice.

Khursheed has earlier served as the Head of the Department of Biotechnology, Kashmir University, and has also worked at the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura.

He will take over from AM Shah, acting Vice Chancellor of Kashmir University, after Talat Ahmad resigned five months ago to join as Vice Chancellor , Jamia Millia Islamia.

The selection committee for the process was headed by Goverdhan Mehta, former Director, Indian Institute of Sciences.

The deceased’s husband, Imitiaz Ahmed informed the police that they were on their way back to home after consulting a doctor in Jammu and had stooped at Rajouri for the night.

“We were staying at Moon Star hotel at Gujjar Mandi chowk. In the wee hours, when I woke up to offer prayers I found that my wife was not on her bad. We searched her in the bath room and hotel lobby and the adjoining areas of the hotel but could not trace her,” Imtiaz said, adding that later he informed the police about the development.

Imitiaz was traveling along with his wife and brother.

He also informed the police that his wife was being treated for epilepsy and somnambulism or sleepwalking.

The police said: “About 9.30 am, a person on his way to office saw the woman lying in the rivulet at Kheora and informed us.”

The police rushed to the spot and took the woman to hospital where doctors declared her brought dead, it said. The immediate cause of the death could not be established, the police said, adding the body was handed over to Imtiaz after legal formalities.

Jammu, October 16
The three-day 38th annual athletic meet of Sainik School, Nagrota, got underway at the mini stadium of the school on Wednesday.

An impressive march past by the four Houses, namely Chenab, Jhelum, Sindh and Trikuta, was led by cadet Uday Kiran Jamwal.

Soon after the lighting of the athletic torch, cadet Kumar Saurav administered oath to the participants. The athletic meet was formally declared open by Col Kapil Dev Koushal, Principal of the school.

In the ongoing sporting event, top athletes like cadet Kumar Saurav, cadet Jyoti Prakash and cadet Rahul Kumar will be sweating out to clinch gold medals in various track and field events.

The major highlights of the inaugural day’s events included 200 m, 400 m and 300 m run, shot-put and discus throw.

Earlier, an exciting cross-country race was organised to warm up the cadets for a variety of track and field events. The cadets of the entire school were divided into junior (up to Class X) and Senior (up to Class XII) categories. The race was flagged-off by Col Kapil Dev Koushal at 6 am from the school mini stadium.

The winners, namely cadet Kumar Saurav (senior category) and cadet Aabid Maqbool (junior category), were awarded medals and certificates by the principal. Jhelum House clinched the cross-country championship in both categories.

Jammu, October 16
Students of Delhi Public School (DPS), Jammu, bagged 11 medals — five gold, two silver and four bronze — in the recently concluded inter-school swimming competition in U-14 and U-17 age groups.

The swimmers also bagged the runners-up rolling trophy. The medal winners included Siya Singh, Sanand Sharma, Sidhant Sharma, Priyanka and Shiv Chadha.

All the medalists were felicitated in a special assembly organised on the school campus. Dr D Joseph, Principal of the school, congratulated the medal winners, their parents and coach of the team for their excellent performance in the competition.

Meenu Gupta, Headmistress up to middle school, also lauded the efforts put in by the swimmers. — TNS