Jammu, October 31
Hundreds of passengers, including women, today stopped the diesel multiple unit (DMU) train between Pathankot and Katra at the Bajalta railway station in protest against the “severe harassment” to local passengers.

The train service on the track remained suspended for more than one hour with the protesting people demanding that the local passengers, particularly government employees, be given preference in the train.

The protesters raised slogans against the railway authorities and demanded that more trains to Katra should be started to provide hassle-free travel to local passengers and government employees.

According to eyewitnesses, the trouble erupted at the Jammu railway station when the DMU heading towards Katra reached there.

“There was a complete chaos on the railway station as hundreds of passengers were waiting to board the train. A verbal duel and scuffle ensued between some passengers in which a woman also received minor injuries. Angry over the harassment to the local passengers and government employees working in Udhampur and Katra, some women accompanied by other passengers staged a dharna on the railway track at the Bajalta railway station,” the eyewitnesses said.

The protesters demanded stern action against those who “manhandled” the women passengers at the Jammu railway station. They continued their protest for more than one hour, disrupting rail traffic for the period.

Police officers assured the protesters that action would be initiated against the “guilty”.

Meanwhile, the Genaral Railway Police have registered a case against those who blocked the railway track and disrupted rail traffic at Bajalta railway station.

Jammu, October 31
Long traffic jams on the Jammu-Udhampur national highway are creating trouble for the employees posted at Udhampur, as it takes more than four hours to reach Udhampur from Jammu in the morning.

The Highway Traffic Department allows the heavy vehicles on the highway only from 7am to 1 pm, which results in a long queue of vehicles on the roadsides during night creating traffic chaos from Nagrota to the Ban Toll Plaza.

The traffic chaos is being witnessed on the Jammu-Udhampur national highway from the last 15 days resulting in great difficulties to employees, students, pilgrims and passengers.

“It takes more than four hours to reach Udhampur from Jammu, as the Ban toll plaza opens only one lane to let the vehicles cross after 7 am, and the stranded trucks create chaos during peak hours,” said Sandeep Sadotra, an MES employee at Udhampur.

“Earlier it used to take hardly one and half hour to reach Udhampur, but now I am reaching late by two hours to my office,” he added.

Hundreds of trucks which reaches Jammu after 1 pm stop on the roadside near Nagrota and the next morning at 7 when the traffic police allow them on the highway, the stranded vehicles create chaos for other vehicles. Thousands of passengers, including students and employees posted at Udhampur and Katra and pilgrims take this route to reach Katra and Udhampur, but the heavy traffic makes them stuck on the road for hours together.

Sanjay Kotwal, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Highway Traffic, said, “Earlier the highway was being chocked due to heavy traffic jam during night, so we have stopped the heavy vehicles on the highway during night.”

The SSP, Traffic, Jammu, Mohan Lal, said, “Due to the bad condition of the highway, there are some traffic restrictions on the opening of the highway at 7am and everyone tries to overtake each other, which creates chaos. But we are on the job, my staff is doing its best to regulate the traffic.”

“There will be problem for some days, but with the improvement in the condition of the highway, the traffic will be regulated smoothly permanently,” he added.

Jammu, October 31
The ICICI Group today made a contribution of Rs 12 crore towards the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the people affected by the natural calamities in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Meghalaya and Andhra Pradesh.

Commenting on the situation in these states, Chanda Kochhar, MD and CEO, ICICI Bank, said, “Our hearts go out to the bereaved families and those who have been displaced from their homes due to the tragic natural calamities. Our nation now faces the task of rebuilding and reconstructing Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Meghalaya and Andhra Pradesh, while continuing to provide relief and care to those who are still suffering from these tragedies. We at the ICICI Group are committed to playing a role in nation building by providing assistance to those in need of a helping hand through our own initiatives as well as in partnership with the Central and state governments.”

The donation comprises contribution from the salaries of employees of ICICI Bank, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, ICICI Lombard General Insurance, ICICI Prudential Asset Management, ICICI Venture, ICICI Securities, ICICI Securities Primary Dealership and ICICI Foundation as well as contributions from the companies themselves. — TNS

Srinagar, October 31
Eight weeks after the floods, around 90 per cent shops at nerve centre Lal Chowk and other prime marketplaces of the summer capital that had remained submerged are yet to resume normal business.

Besides the business establishments at Lal Chowk, shops at Karan Nagar, Jawahar Nagar, Batamaloo, Hari Singh High Street, Maisuma, Residency Road and other commercial hubs had remained inundated with floodwater for around a month causing massive losses.

Mohammad Yaseen Khan, chairman of the Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA), an amalgam of various traders’ and hoteliers’ bodies, said around 6,000 shops in these marketplaces had remained submerged out of which only 10 per cent had resumed business.

“Many shopkeepers have lost everything and others too suffered massive damages. Since these areas remained submerged for a month, many of the shopkeepers are still cleaning or repairing their shops. As no help or a rehabilitation package has been announced so far, only 10 per cent of them have been able to resume normal business,” Khan said.

He said as a result thousands of youth, who used to work as salesmen, would lose their jobs in case the government failed to rehabilitate them.

The affected businessmen have been raising their voice and demanding rehabilitation under the banner of the State Economic Reconstruction Forum (SERF).

Their main demands for putting their business back on track are exemption on entry tax, goods with transport companies destroyed/damaged by floods to be considered on case to case basis, e-filing of returns to be made optional for time being and income tax holiday for the next 10 years to all the businesses to recoup the losses and grant of loans as per the RBI guidelines for natural calamity.

Even as the traders had claimed that the business community suffered losses to the tune of Rs 1 trillion, the SERF demands also included loss assessment in close collaboration with Asian Development Bank (ADB) and World Bank through the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR).

However, their pleas are yet to find favour as all are waiting for the Centre to announce a package for them. The SERF has also threatened an agitation in case they are not rehabilitated.

“The state government has thrown the ball in the Centre’s court and feels that it has done its duty by submitting a memorandum of demands to New Delhi. Many shopkeepers like me lost everything and we have no option but to come on the roads in case we are not rehabilitated,” said Traders Federation Exhibition Road Magarmal Crossing general secretary Abdul Rauf.

He added that they had no hopes from the state government, but were hoping that the Centre would come to their rescue.

Srinagar, October 31
In times of despair when some of the veteran businessmen in the Valley have shut their establishments losing all hope, a 26-year-old youth, Javid Parsa from north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, has launched his venture, “Kathi Junction” at Jehangir Chowk today.

A first of its kind in the Valley, the outlet remained jam-packed the entire day.

The food outlet has the most reasonable menu with prices ranging between Rs 35 and Rs 135.

Javid, who was stranded alone at his house in Srinagar for days together, did not give up on his dreams of introducing the blend of Lebanese and Indian cuisines in the Valley despite difficult times.

“Many seniors are pessimistic about the future of business in the Kashmir valley especially when the economy is crumbling. But then I thought that like everything else Kashmir will rise again. People share memories when they share food. I came up with a platform where people bond over food and share memories good or bad,” Javid told The Tribune.

Javid, who is an MBA and worked with amazon.com for two years, had always aimed to return to the Valley and contribute to the economy in his native place.

“Kashmir has immense opportunities especially for new and innovative business ideas. I have often felt that we lack good eateries here. As people are fond of non-vegetarian food, it is always a good idea to serve them non-vegetarian delicacies from various parts of the world. ‘Kathi Junction’ is already a brand name in the rest of the country and was yet to be set up in the Valley. It has to its name some authentic Hyderabadi delicacies such as ‘Hyderabadi dum biryani’ which was never served till date in the Valley,” Parsa added. 

Srinagar, October 31
Picking up the pieces of their lives after being hit by the worst floods in the past six decades, Valley poets have started giving vent to their emotions through their poems.

Their poetry is aptly catching the miseries people went through and they are also hitting out at the administration that had gone missing.

Farooq Nazki, a well-known poet and a literary figure, who remained marooned at his Shivpora residence on the banks of the Jhelum for days, says his house had become a “part of the Jhelum”.

His poem begins with these lines “Yeh to toofan tha Nooh ka toofan; Nooh ne naav banai thi har ik shai ke liye…” It starts with a reference to the tale of Noah’s Ark where the prophet saved his followers from the floods.

Nazki said Noah had warned people of the coming floods and devastation and also built an ark that was a “Mehfooz maqam (safe place)”. Referring to the warning, he said: “Our government may have warned us too, but they did not tell us about the ‘mehfooz maqam’. Noah built an ark for everyone including animals and birds. The government could have informed the people about the safer zones and they should have come up with a plan as to how people can be shifted to safer places.” He also praises the youth, who selflessly undertook the rescue operations. However, the poet is miffed at the government’s claims of rehabilitation and its “inaction”.

While more flood-inspired poetry can be expected in the coming days, the devastation has also spurred many amateurs. Some of whom have posted their poetry on the social networking websites.

In his poem “Aey wattan tere jawanon ko salaam”, poet Imran Nabi has praised the role of the youth during floods. An excerpt from the poem that was posted on Facebook read: “Dekh ke hosla o jurrat jawanon ki mera dil kehta hai…Kuch bhi mumkin hai agar thaan le hum ….”

Srinagar, October 31
Residents of Srinagar city are aghast over the authorities concerned for failing to check the prices of essential commodities after the floods.

Locals say shopkeepers and vendors were overcharging for fruits and vegetables that are becoming unaffordable for the flood victims.

Nearly two months after the floods, locals allege that the prices of vegetables and fruits were touching the sky and the authorities were failing to book the shopkeepers and vendors “exploiting” the consumers. “We have no other option but to buy. Shopkeepers and vendors sell vegetables at different rates. Carrots are being sold between Rs 40 and Rs 50 per kg, radish at Rs 40 per kg and tomatoes were being sold at Rs 40-50 per kg,” said a resident of Peer Bagh, Muhammad Ashraf.

Another resident said even the vegetables grown in the Valley were also being sold at high rates. They said due to the absence of regular check on the prices, the vendors were selling the vegetables according to their own whims and fancies.

“The Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) department has failed to act against such people. This has become a common practice in Srinagar and no one listens to us,” said Abdul Lateef a daily wager.

The growers said vegetable production in the Valley was affected a lot in the recent floods, therefore the prices have been increased.

“The agriculture sector suffered a huge damage due to the floods and the growers have suffered immense losses. This has led to a direct impact on local production which is very less at this time. Only a few villages right now are in a position to grow vegetables,” said a grower from central Kashmir.

The only vegetable and fruit trading centre in city’s Parimpora was affected in the recent floods and remained non-functional for more than 20 days. The traders of the mandi had said the preliminary estimates of loss to the mandi were nearly Rs 70 crore. The business of fruits and vegetable selling was badly affected due to the deluge.

The CAPD officials, however, appealed consumers to register their complaints. 

Srinagar, October 31
The Civil Secretariat and other government offices were closed Saturday as part of the biannual Durbar Move. These would be reopened in Jammu, the winter capital, on November 10.

The Assembly elections had already been announced and would be organised in five phases from November 25 to December 20. This would be the last Durbar Move from the winter capital of the Omar Abdullah-led government. The offices were opened in Srinagar, the summer capital, on May 5.

The offices shut included those of the Governor’s Secretariat in Raj Bhawan, the Chief Minister and ministers in the Civil Secretariat and the Chief Justice and the Director General of Police.

The offices observe a five-day week. Those observing a six-day week will be closed Saturday. Some officers had been directed to visit Kashmir every Thursday and spend at least two days to take stock of relief work.

The officers concerned include the Chief Secretary; the Financial Commissioner, Revenue; the Principal Secretary, PDD, the Commissioner-cum-Secretary, PHE, I&FC; the Commissioner-cum-Secretary, PWD (R&B); the Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation; the Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Health and Medical Education; the Secretary, General Administration Department; and the Secretary, CAPD Department.

Advance parties for all departments left on October 27 to receive the office record in Jammu. The government had made arrangements for transportation of employees in SRTC buses to Jammu. Jammu-based employees will go in the next two days. Kashmir-based employees working in Durbar Move offices will go on November 8 and 9.

Srinagar, October 31
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today named Muzaffar Hussain Baig’s nephew as its candidate for the north Kashmir’s Baramulla Assembly seat thus ending speculation over the return of the parliamentarian to the state politics.

“The Political Affairs Committee (PAC) took a final decision today and nominated Muzaffar Hussain Baig’s nephew, Javid, for the Baramulla Assembly seat,” said a party leader, who was a part of the meeting.

The party also named son of former Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma, who joined the PDP recently, as its candidate for the Kathua seat.

Earlier, the party had reportedly authorised its Lok Sabha members to nominate their replacement in their respective Assembly segments.

PDP Lok Sabha member from Srinagar Tariq Hamid Karra said the two parliamentarians suggested their replacement in the meeting which was approved by the PAC.

The PDP after its victory in the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year has embarked on a mission to get 44 seats in the 87  member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to form a government on its own in the state.

The party had registered a lead in 41 Assembly segments during the General Election, in which it won all the three Lok Sabha seats in the Valley. However, there were indications that representative from the Baramulla parliamentary segment, Muzaffar Baig (70), may return to the state politics.

Meanwhile, from the Batamaloo segment, which was represented by Karra after the 2004 Assembly by-poll, the PDP has nominated Noor Mohammad.

The other candidates nominated by the party today include Chaman Manyal for Raipur-Domana, Dev Raj Bhaghat for Akhnoor, Madan Lal for Chhamb, Subhash Sharma for Kathua, Suraj Prakash for Hira Nagar, Jitender Singh for Billawar, Rangeel Singh for Basohli and Mohammad Salim Lone for Bani.

The party has yet to nominate its candidate for the Kashmiri Pandit dominated Habbakadal constituency in Srinagar. Sources said the party was looking for a Pandit face to contest the polls from this constituency.

The PAC meeting was chaired by party patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

Jammu, October 31
Nagrota has emerged as a key constituency with former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed deciding to formally launch his party’s election campaign in Jammu province from this seat.

The Assembly constituency is already in the limelight as the National Conference (NC) has announced candidature of Devender Singh Rana, aide of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, from Nagrota.

Although the BJP is yet to announce its candidate, its response is at stake because Nagrota is the home constituency of state party president Jugal Kishore Sharma, who had won in 2002 and 2008.

The PDP has fielded Hussain Ali Wafa, a Gujjar leader, as its candidate from this seat. Sources said the party cadre had been trying to make the Nagrota event a big one.

The party patron has decided to launch the election campaign from this seat, comprising a large number of Rajput and Gujjar voters.

PDP insiders said Vikramaditya Singh, son of former Sadar-e-Rasayat Karan Singh, would accompany Sayeed during the campaign launch.

Vikramaditya’s elder son Ajatshatru Singh had represented the constituency as the NC MLA from 1996 to 2002, but lost two successive elections after that.

The PDP sources said Sayeed would conduct a whirlwind tour of the Jammu region from November 2. He would address rallies in RS Pura and Bishnah.

He would then proceed to the mountainous region of Reasi district. He would address a series of public meetings in Gool-Arnas and Gulabgarh Assembly seats for three days.

Nagrota will witness a keen and interesting contest. Neither the BJP nor the Congress has announced its candidate from the constituency.

Nand Kishore Sharma, younger brother of Jugal Kishore, is staking his claim to the seat. The Congress is seriously considering the name of Shiv Dev Singh as well.

Srinagar, October 31
Peoples Democratic Party patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said the upcoming Assembly elections in J&K were not just about bringing a change in governance but would also mark the beginning of a process for political, economic and social transformation in the state.

“The upcoming polls to the state Assembly are politically very significant and people should use this opportunity to give a positive turn to the situation which has witnessed immense deterioration during the past six years of anarchic rule,” Mufti said while addressing a party convention for the Pampore Assembly segment here.

Party president Mehbooba Mufti, MLA and candidate for Pampore constituency Zahoor Ahmad Mir and other party leaders also spoke at the convention. Mufti expressed the hope that the people of the state would use their vote vigilantly and elect a party which can address, with great resolve, the massive political and economic challenges facing the state.

Jammu, October 31
With a straight fight expected between the National Conference and the BJP on the Kishtwar seat in the coming Assembly poll, both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Congress have nominated weaker candidates for the segment to consolidate support in favour of sitting NC legislator and Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo.

While the Congress has nominated lesser known Nek Ram for the seat, the PDP fielded political novice Firdous Ahmad Tak from the segment.

After the August 2013 communal clash, the area has witnessed extreme polarisation and might play an important role in deciding the future of this seat.

The NC is banking on the Muslim support to win the seat while the BJP, which in all likelihood is going to field youth leader and BJYM national executive member Sunil Sharma from Kishtwar, is counting heavily on the Hindu voters of the area.

Fielding a strong Muslim candidate from the segment would have meant that Kichloo’s vote base will get divided and both the Congress and PDP seem to have made a deliberate attempt to avoid such a scenario.

Nek Ram belongs to the Hindu dominated Padder area of Kishtwar district and whatever support he enjoys in the area it will have an effect on the BJP’s vote share.

Besides, Kichloo is a close relative of Ghulam Nabi Azad and it is a well known fact that the Congress stalwart has been secretly supporting him on the Kishtwar seat.

The Congress in Kishtwar has strong leaders like Ghulam Haider Sheikh but it ignored all of them and nominated Nek Ram for the seat.

The PDP, on the other hand, ignored Member of Legislative Council Asgar Ali, who had unsuccessfully contested the 2008 Assembly elections from Kishtwar and gave ticket to Tak.

Tak is a professional lawyer and has spent most of his time in Jammu. 

Srinagar, October 31
With an eye on the coming Assembly poll, the National Conference today constituted the election campaign committee headed by party’s working president Omar Abdullah.

The committee will manage, supervise and oversee the NC campaign, the party said stated in a statement here today.

Apart from National Conference general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar and additional general secretary Mustafa Kamal, senior leaders like Abdul Rahim Rather, Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan, Mian Altaf Ahmad, Ajay Sadhotra, SS Salathia, Mubarak Gul, Vijay Bakaya, Devender Singh Rana and Nasir Aslam Wani would be a part of the committee.

Omar presided over a series of high-level meetings and instructed the campaign committee to take the achievements of the party in the government as well as the its vision for the future to the doorsteps of the people, the statement added. 

Doda, October 31
Enraged over no power supply for the last three days at Shiva village in Doda district, villagers today staged a protest against the Power Development Department, the district adminis-tration and MLA Abdul Majid Wani.

The protesters blocked the link road of the village. Over 25 families reside in the village where trees and houses are being used as electric poles.

Mohammed Ishfaq, a local resident, said, “We are being ignored by our own elected MLA and the village sarpanch. Now it’s more than a decade and we are still facing power outages in the village.”

He said, “A few days ago, villagers collected money and purchased a transformer, but the department is not ready to give us electricity owing to reasons better known to them.”

The villagers threatened to intensify the protest if electricity supply was not restored to the village at the earliest.

New Delhi, October 31
The Supreme Court today expressed its inability to issue further orders for providing relief to the flood-hit victims of J&K in view of the Election Commission’s model code of conduct for the five-phase Assembly polls from November 25 to December 20.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice HL Dattu, however, issued notice to the EC seeking its response to a plea by PIL petitioners that distribution of relief material be exempted from the model code, which barred the government from announcing or implementing any new welfare schemes, as well releasing funds for the purpose.

“How can we violate the model code? Our hands are tied,” the Bench told senior counsel and Panthers Party chairman Bhim Singh and two others who have filed PILs seeking a directive to the Centre and the state for scaling up relief work.

The court will issue further orders in the case depending upon the EC’s response to the petitioners’ pleadings, said the Bench which included Justices Madan Lokur and AK Sikri. It asked the EC to file its response before the next hearing on November 7.

Before coming to the court pleading for further relief, the political parties should have approached the EC and the Centre seeking postponement of the election explaining that the model code would impede the relief work. But none did it, the Bench remarked.

State’s Advocate General MI Qadri, however, assured the Bench that the government was continuing to provide relief material to the victims going by its own assessment of the situation and the earlier orders issued by the SC and the High Court.

The petitioners, however, pleaded that whatever was being done now was grossly inadequate to meet the requirements of the people rendered shelterless by the floods.

Survival had become difficult for most of the victims in the absence of a roof over their head and adequate blankets and warm clothes even as the winter season had already set in, senior counsel Colin Gonsalves said while appearing for a petitioner.

The petitioners also pointed out that the panel appointed by the SC to monitor the relief work had given a report expressing its unhappiness over the state of affairs. The state government was yet to respond to the panel’s report, they said.

At this, Qadri sought time for filing the response and assured the court that the state would convince the Bench that the government was not found wanting. “It is your state. You don’t have to satisfy the court. You take care of your people,” the Bench remarked.

Rajouri, October 31
A government middle school at Gaipanyas village in the district is being run by a single teacher that too a contractual one, sources have said.

This despite the fact that state government had claimed many times that it had provided the best and highly qualified teachers at government schools and people should send their children there for better education.

However, the ground realities are totally different. Many government schools in far-flung areas do not have adequate infrastructure, proper drinking water and toilet facilities and above all they face an acute shortage of teachers.

Ashok Kumar, former chairman, Village Education Committee, said about 2 months ago, three teachers were deputed at the middle school, Gaipanyas.

“However, two teachers were transferred and since then a single contractual teacher is teaching 40 students, which can’t be justified,” he said.

Samsher Singh Samyal, ZEO, said the department was aware of it and soon efforts would be made to send more teachers to the school.

While giving a week’s ultimatum, the villagers said if the department failed to provide teachers, they would block the Jammu-Poonch highway.

Most of the primary/middle schools in the Khawas, Kandi, education zones either remain closed or teachers come here only to collect their salaries. This was also admitted by the ZEO concerned.

Jammu, October 31
Former Vice Chancellor of Jammu University, Professor Mohan Paul Singh Ishar, who demitted VC’s office yesterday, had never really tendered his resignation from his post.

In fact, he had requested in his letter to Principal Secretary to the Governor RK Gupta that should be relieved of his duties.

Official sources said Prof Ishar met Gupta at Raj Bhawan in Srinagar after the Jammu University Council meeting on October 27, submitting an application to him containing a request that he should be considered to be relieved from his duties along with a four-day leave without salary.

Prof Ishar had to attain superannuation on November 3, 2014.

“Prof Ishar told the Principal Secretary that he was likely to get a three-year project in Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar, his parent organisation, and hence should be relieved from his duties of the Vice Chancellor of Jammu University,” sources said.

Sources said the former VC was asked to tender his resignation from the post as it was mandatory under UGC norms to give a prior notice of three months before relinquishing the post.

“However, Prof Ishar told the Principal Secretary that no such terms and conditions (of giving a three-month notice) were mentioned in his contract when his services were hired. The issue of either seeking or granting extension to his three-year term as Vice Chancellor of Jammu University did not come up for discussion during the meeting,” the sources said.

According to an official spokesperson of Raj Bhawan, Prof Ishar stands relieved of his charge as Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu, with effect from October 30 on his request. It further said Governor NN Vohra, as Chancellor of the University of Jammu, has appointed Prof RD Sharma, Department of Commerce, University of Jammu, to carry out the duties of Vice Chancellor of the university till a new VC is appointed. 

Srinagar, October 31
Nirmal Sharma, Secretary, School Education Department, said the forthcoming Assembly polls in the state would not shorten the academic session in Kashmir schools.

She said winter vacations in Valley schools would begin from the first week of December as per schedule.

“We have already lost over a month of academic session due to the floods. We cannot afford to announce winter vacations earlier. There may be some schools which will function as polling booths, but that will not interrupt our class work,” she added.

However, she said due to huge infrastructure damage to schools, it would be a difficult task ahead for students and teachers to attend classes.

Sharma said 1,096 schools in the Valley, which had suffered damage in the floods, were functioning from makeshift places and routine classes were going on.

After the J&K High Court issued notices to the School Education Department in response to a PIL seeking cancellation of march exam orders, Sharma said March exams might not be a regular feature, though for this session, the state board Classes X and XII exams would be conducted in March.

“Some stakeholders expressed that March examinations will not be a viable option because of long winter vacations. We were compelled to conduct exams in March due to the prevailing flood situation,” she added.

Private schools on the other hand have objected to the delay in the examinations and instead opted for mass promotions till Class VII.

“The government has unreasonably delayed the exams, which will cost the students a precious academic year. If the government doesn’t allow us to opt for mass promotions, we will go to court,” spokesperson of the Private Schools United Front said.

Jammu, October 31
Members of the Jammu University Officers Welfare Association (JUOWA) today called on the acting Vice Chancellor of the university Prof RD Sharma.

KPS Sambyal, president, JUOWA, along with other members of the association congratulated Prof RD Sharma for taking the charge of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jammu.

Sambyal and other members of the association assured full cooperation to the officiating Vice Chancellor on behalf of the officials to strengthen the institution in all aspects.

Jammu, October 31
The week-long Air Force Wives’ Welfare Association (AFWWA) celebrations ended Saturday. Deepanjali Bakshi, president, AFWWA, addressed the “Sanginis” of the Air Force Station in Jammu city, said a Defence spokesperson.

A talk on stress management was delivered by psychologist Jasmeet Kaur. She said mental well-being was as important as physical.

The “Sanginis” also presented a group dance and a group song. Solo dance and solo song also added charm. The showstopper was a skit based on “Save girl child”.

Pulwama, October 31
The 182 Battalion of the Centre Reserved Police Force (CRPF) organised a medical camp in Tahab village in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on today.

Over 1,000 people were checked during the camp and medicines worth Rs 3 lakh were distributed among the patients.

“The recent floods and change in weather is causing many diseases...,” said Amit Kumar Singh, Commandant, 182 Battalion, adding that his men would continue to serve people and help in mitigating their problems.

Free food was also distributed among the patients and attendants that visited the camp.

This was second medical camp that the CRPF organised in the area after the September deluge.

Jammu, October 31
An NGO, Shanti Path Trust (SPT), Trikuta Nagar, in association with the Department of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Indira Gandhi Government Dental College (IGGDC), Director, Indian System of Medicines (ISM), Swami Viveka Nand Charitable Hospital (SVCH) and Jan Chetna Rural Development Forum/Rural Development Forum Bhatyari (local NGOs) organised a free medical and dental camp at Bhatyari village in Jandrah tehsil.

The Shanti Path Trust organises such camps in isolated and remote areas to deliver specialists’ health care to under privileged population. Some people from adjoining hills tracked long distances to reach the camp site. This is Shanti Path Trust’s third venture in the area.

Seven specialist doctors examined 887 patients in the camp.

Jammu, October 31
As no official programme was organised by the state government for the “Run for unity”, the nationwide campaign on the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, it remained a private affair with only schoolchildren and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists taking part in the event here.

The state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) organised the run in which hundreds of students from different schools and people from all walks of life participated and showed their zeal for unity and brotherhood among each other.

State BJP chief and MP Jugal Kishore Sharma flagged off the run and later mentioned the unique contribution of Sardar Patel to the freedom struggle. He said, “India’s unity in diversity gives us strength and we are celebrating this day to mark the sign of unity amongst all sections of society.”

Kendriya Vidyalaya No 1, Gandhi Nagar, also observed “Ekta Diwas”. A special assembly was conducted in which TR Choudhary, Principal of the vidyalaya, and Vandana Jamwal, senior-most teacher of the school, garlanded the picture of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

An oath was taken by the staff and students for the unity of the people of the country. The principal addressed the assembly and threw light on the life of the great freedom fighter.

Jammu, October 31
Jammu witnessed a performance by artistes of Malaysia on Thursday. Organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Union Ministry of External Affairs, with the support of the J&K Police, performance by foreign artistes mesmerised the audience.

Divisional Commissioner Shantmanu was the chief guest, whereas Rajesh Kumar, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu, presided over the function.

Welcoming the august gathering, the Regional Director of ICCR, Balwant Thakur, gave a detailed account of the activities initiated by the council in Jammu and Kashmir. He said this is the fourth international cultural group brought here for Jammu residents after the successful presentations by the countries like Zambia, Democratic Republic of Laos and Poland.

The programme featured Aswara (National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage, Malaysia), which promotes local performances and is a champion of Malaysian identity in traditional and contemporary dance. Building a good reputation through the years, this full-time professional company was established for outstanding graduates and funded by Sime Darby Foundation since 2011.

Pulwama, October 31
A day after the Shopian visit of the Director General of Police, security personnel averted a major tragedy by detecting and defusing a five-kg improvised explosive device (IED).

It was hidden in an LPG cylinder at an orchard near the Mughal Road in Shopian district of south Kashmir. The road is an alternative route connecting the Valley via Poonch district.

“The IED was aimed at targeting security forces. It was detected by a patrol party of the Rastriya Rifles and the Jammu and Kashmir Police,” an Army spokesman said.

“The IED was planted this morning in a cylinder near the Circuit House, just five metres from the Mughal Road. It was later defused.”

“A major tragedy was averted by thwarting the designs of militants who intended to spark violence and terror in the run-up to Assembly elections,” he added.

Traffic was stopped on both sides of the road and the device defused by a bomb disposal squad. — OC