Warm reception accorded to Swami Chatanya Swami Ji

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 3: A warm reception was accorded to Swami Hari Chatanya Puri Ji Maharaj who arrived today at Shri Laxmi Narayan Mandir, Gandhi Nagar. Very much before his arrival thousands of people were gathered at Shri Laxmi Narayan Mandir to have darshan of Swami Ji.

According to a press release, a large number of devotees were thronged at Shri Laxmi Narayan temple where Swami Ji was received . As Swami Ji reached there people started throwing flower petals and garlanded him. His followers shouted slogans in his praise.

Swami Hari Chatanya Puri Ji Maharaj reached Jammu to show the right and the spiritual path to the people of Jammu. He will deliver religious discourse at various places.

Beside addressing a religious function at Shri Laxmi Narayan Mandir Gandhi Nagar Swami Ji will deliver parvachan at Aggarwal Sabha on June 4 while he will deliver religious discourse at Akhnoor on June 5 and 6. He will also address a religious function at border town of R S Pura on June 7.

Swami Ji will also address the people at Brahamana Sabha on June 8 to 10 to show the people the right and the spiritual path to the people of Jammu.

One killed, 40 injured in road accidents

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 3: One person was killed and 40 others including 17 police personnel were injured, five of them critically in two separate road accidents today.

According to police reports, one person was killed and 23 others injured, two of them critically when a mini-bus in which they were travelling skidded off the road and rolled down near Chingus. The ill-fated bus bearing registration number JK02H-4923 was on its way from Nowshera to Chingus when it met with accident.

Getting the report of accident, a police party rushed to the spot and started rescue operation. All the injured were rushed to district hospital where doctors declared driver of the bus as brought dead. The condition of two of the injured was stated to be critical.

The deceased has been identified as Romesh Kumar.

In another road accident, 17 personnel of State police’s Border Line were injured, three of them seriously when a mini-bus in which they were travelling rolled down on Jammu-Pathankote National Highway.

The ill-fated mini-bus bearing registration number JK02A-2374 was on its way from Ramgarh to Rani Bagh when the accident occured.

Getting the report of accident, a police party from Vijaypur Police Station led by Station House Officer (SHO) Mr Kamaljeet Singh rushed to the spot and started rescue operation.

All the injured were rushed to Government Medical College Hospital where condition of three of them was stated to be critical.

The injured have been identified as Vinod Kumar No 426 BJ, Raj Kumar No 505, Balwant No 640, Gurnam Singh No 744, Karamjeet No 633, Surinder Kumar No 430, Naresh No 140, Manjeet No 347, Ramesh Lal, Head Constable No 69, Bachan Singh No 691, Navid Kumar No 522, Parveen Kumar No 657, Kuldeep Kumar No 516, Satpal No 642, Sham Saroop No 141, S Raj and Suram Kumar No 518.

USTA lists demands

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, May 3: A meeting of United School Teachers Association (USTA) was held under the chairmanship of its district president Mr Gopal Dutt here today.

As per a release, members of different zones and tehsils attended the meeting. The meeting was held to make unanimous appeal to the authorities concerned to give preference to candidates of arts group and those who are going to be overaged.

The meeting observed that there is dearth of social science, hindi and urdu teachers whereas science teachers are in abundance. The participants said that the previous results show that most of the students are failing in language or history because science teachers are teaching these subjects and now arts students cannot compete with science students whose percentage ranges from 80 to 90 percent. But it is very difficult for an arts students to secure even 60 to 70 percent.

They said that students who have done their graduation five to 10 years back don’t have high percentage as compared to present times and while selecting a candidate authorities should take into consideration these very factors also.

They further said that one more factor is that in matter of selection percentage of BA Part-I is taken into consideration this is the class where a student opts for MBBS or engineering and when not selected he takes to teaching as a profession but at the same continue to prepare himself for competitive exams.

All these things should be taken into consideration if the authorities are sincere to bring some fruitful change and to raise the standard of education.

Those who attended the meeting included Messrs Suman Kapoor, Kamal Kishore, Asif Ali, Shashi Kumar, beer Singh, Manohar Goswami, Jagdish Kumar, Ashwani Dubey, Raj Kumar, Parveen Kumar, Ranjit Singh, Bhawan Dass, Balwan Singh and Surinder Gupta.

Workshop on care of documents, works of art on papers at AMML

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 3: DG National Museum inaugurated the first ever workshop on care of documents and works of art on paper at AMML.

In a small but impressive inaugural ceremony the first ever conservation related workshop on the care of documents and works of art on paper was inaugurated today at Amar Mahal Museum and Library, Jammu by Dr R D Choudhary, Director General, National Museum, New Delhi.

The one day workshop was conducted by a high level team of conservators from the national museum, New Delhi. The team of experts comprises of Mr S P Singh, Chief Restorer, Dr I K Bhatnagar, Prof Conservation, National Museum Institute, Mr K K Gupta and Mr C B Gupta, Conservators, National Museum Conservation Laboratory.

The team of conservators made presentations on different topics like control of bio-deterioration in museums and libraries, relative humidity and its control in museums and libraries, care and handling of miniature paintings, care and handling of documents on paper.

The Director General Dr R D Choudhary in his address explained that the purpose behind the organisation of such workshops is to promote awareness among the people to preserve their common heritage. He lauded the role played by Amar Mahal Museum and Library, Jammu in promoting the cause of heritage preservation. The workshop comes under MIE (museum-in-education) programme of the AMML.

Earlier in her welcome address, Ms Aparna Tandon, Curator, Amar Mahal Museum and Library, Jammu thanked the expert team for helping the museum in creating awareness for art conservation. She gave a brief about the conservation work being done at the AMML conservation laboratory.

Prof Sharma, In-charge Amar Mahal Library gave the vote of thanks. Personnel from Ranbir Government Library, Central Library, University of Jammu, RRL Library, Ranbir Sanskrit Library, Archaeological Survey of India, Srinagar Circle, Dogra Art Museum and State Archives participated in the workshop.

Mr S P Singh, Chief Restorer, National Museum Conservation Laboratory along with other conservators also surveyed the collection of AMML, Jammu.

Transporters warn agitation
Wazir against conversion of new By Pass into Highway

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 3: J&K Motor Transport Companies Association has warned agitation if transporters are compelled to ply their vehicles via newly constructed Jammu, Nagrota By Pass as demanded by AWWA recently.

This was disclosed by the president of the Association Mr T S Wazir while talking to media persons here today.

He while commenting on the recent demand made by the AWWA in this regard said the Jammu, Nagrota By Pass is totally unsafe for vehicular traffic and prone to accidents due to sharp curves and narrow bridges on two nullahs.

He said even the Chief Secretary of the State Mr Ashok Jaitly who along with the other officers of the State Government made a personal survey of the road recently has also stated that this bypass is not worth to be converted into a National Highway. This information was conveyed by the team to the concerned authorities also, he added.

Mr Wazir clarified that the newly constructed road can in no way be called a Highway and transporters will be out to many hardships if they ply their vehicles via it. This he said was conveyed to Government from time to time.

He alleged that Army was forcing the administration that civil transport be diverted via the newly constructed bypass, which he said has not been declared a Highway by the Central Government.

This Bypass has been constructed by army as an alternative road incase of the emergency but has not been given the certificate of an alternative Highway, he said.

Moreover, Mr Wazir said the another main reservation which the transporters and people have regarding diversion of transport via this bypass is that this way the Pilgrims visiting Mata Vaishno Devi will be deprived of the Darshana of Kandoli Mata Temple which is the first camp to the Holy Cave of the Mata Vaishno Devi.

He said this way the commuters will be put to great trouble as the diversion of traffic via new bypass will be hazardous which can cause accidents.

While appealing the Army not to exert pressure over administration in this regard he alleged that the main reason for the traffic jams at Bikram Chowk here at present is that Army has declared the original road from Ware House to Satwari out of bond for civil traffic.

He said diversion of traffic via new bypass will become a precedence and tomorrow the National Highway from Kaluchak and Bari Brahmnah will also be diverted because the area is occupied by Army.

On the demand made by the AWWA in this regard he said it is an pressure tactics by the Army.

He however maintained that there will be no hindrance by the transporters in plying the vehicles via the By Pass provided it is declared a Highway by Centre and the two narrow bridges are widened and all sharp curves removed.

He said though there are specific instructions by the Centre still the speed breakers exist on National Highway at different places which is the main cause of the road mishaps there.

Swami Gopal Anand attains Nirwan

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 3: Swami Gopal Anand Ji Mahraj a religious saint of Hari Parbhat Srinagar attained Nirwan today at 723 Subash Nagar. He was 92. Swami Ji came to Kashmir over 60 years back and stayed at Hari Parbhat under the lotus feet of Maa Shakti.

He later migrated to Jammu in 1989 after the mass migration of Kashmiri Pandits from Valley. Swami Ji was an authority on Hindu religion and Vedas. Hundreds of devotees were visiting his Ashram both at Srinagar and Jammu for his darshan and blessings daily.

His last rites will be performed here tomorrow.

Slathia reviews work at Sewa hydel project

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, June 3: Second Phase of Rs 672 crore Sewa Hydro-electric Project Corporation was launched by Minister for Power Mr Surjit Singh Slathia at Mashka in Basohli tehsil of district Kathua on Saturday.

An official spokesman said that project will be completed by the NHPC in five years and will generate electric potential of 120 MWs. The power generated by this project will go in the pool of National Grid of India. The J&K will get due power share from pool.

The construction work on 14 kms long Mushka-Siara link road which earlier had been abandoned, was also resumed with the initiative of the power minister. Mr Slathia also held a meeting of the senior district officers which was also attended by the Deputy Speaker of J&K Assembly Mr Ghulam Hyder Malik, Deputy Commissioner Kathua Mehboob Malik, MLA Basohli Lal Singh A M Matto Chief Engineer SEWA Phase—II were also present on the occasion.

It was resolved that the people whose land has come under the project will be suitably compensated by the NHPC and the J&K State Government. The meeting also decided to set up project residential colonies near Dam site in Bani Block and power house site at Mushka in Basohli.

The members in the meeting decided to clear all the dues of the contractors by the Power Development Corporation. Later, the minister inspected 9 MW Sewa Hydro-electric project Phase -III at Hut and reviewed the pace of work there. The project is nearing its completion with an estimated cost of Rs 80 crores. It was announced that the project will be dedicated to the people of the State by the end of October this year. Mr Slathia directed the MD and the Chief Engineer of the PDC to take work on the war footing.

Mr Slathia also drove in 2 kms long underground tunnel of 540 MW Chamera dam at Kheri. Senior engineers apprised the minister about the development activities being carried there.

Sumant is new chairman of JKAPBS

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 3: Mr Sumant Singh Jamwal has been elected as chairman of the Jammu Kathua Area Passenger Bus Service Jammu.

According to a press release, a meeting of the Jammu Kathua Area Passenger Bus Service was held today under the chairmanship of Mr T S Wazir, chairman of the Jammu Province Bus Operators Union. The participants recalled the services of the late Mr Pardeep Kumar and stood in silence for two minutes in his memory. The members prayed for peace to the departed soul.

Subsequently the question of appointing a successor of Pardeep Kumar was considered, Mr Balbir Singh president of the Jammu Kathua Area Passenger Bus Services proposed the name of Mr Sumant Singh Jamwal as new chairman of the Services. Sumant’s name was unanimously approved by the participants which included all the members of the working committee and other members. Meeting wished Mr Jamwal all success.

80 pc Kashmiri ultras use stolen cars from
Punjab, Delhi for carrying subversion
# Over 40 unclaimed vehicles lying with Kathua police

Excelsior Special Correspondent

KATHUA, June 3: Kashmiri and foreign militants operating in Kashmir valley are using stolen cars from Delhi, Punjab and Harayana for carrying their subversive activities in the Jammu and Kashmir state.

Well placed sources in police department indicated that about 80 per cent vehicles which were seized by J&K and Punjab police at Lakhanpur and Madhopur were stolen by the Kashmiri ultras or the agents engaged by them for carrying their activities of subversion. Out of the twenty vehicles seized by Kathua police in last 4-5 months, Lakhanpur police topped the tally with the seizure of 16 vehicles, followed by Hiranagar cops who seized four.

The sources said that vehicles stolen mostly from public places like big hospitals, Railway Stations, Bus Stands, Educational institutions, etc. in Delhi and Punjab are generally taken to Jammu and Kashmir. These vehicles are fitted with fake number plates and are taken to their respective destinations. Some times, the local Kashmiri ultras hire youth from Delhi or UP by offering hefty amount to them, who drive the vehicles up to Jammu from where their local agents drive them up to Valley. These vehicles are generally fitted with bombs and parked at busy places and then blown up with the help of remote control devices by the ultras. Several such incidents have come to light of the security forces where the stolen vehicles were used by the militants for triggering blasts.

The reports indicated that a good number of vehicles have so far been lifted from PGI Chandigarh, AIIMS Delhi and other parts of Harayana, Delhi and Punjab in past two— three years. It is learnt that after thorough probe, the police came to conclusion that majority of the vehicles are being taken to Kashmir and then used for various militancy related operations by the ultras.

Superintendent of Police Kathua, Mr Manohar Singh said that daily update information received from the activities of the ultras and their agents indicated that these vehicles were being directed to proceed to Valley. He claimed that in last one and half years, over forty unclaimed stolen vehicles are lying with the Kathua police. Most of the vehicles have been seized by Lakhanpur police in the recent past.

Giving details he said hardly two days ago Hiranagar police party headed by SHO Diwakar Singh seized two light vehicles including a Tata Sumo. Two Kashmiri youth were arrested by police in this connection. They were identified as Shabir Shah and Mohd Yousuf. One of them belongs to Leh while another hails from Valley. The police seized the vehicles bearing Nos. CH01R/ 343 and CH01Q / 8173. The arrested youth who were placed under sustained interrogation, divulged their nexus with the Kashmiri ultras operating in Delhi and Kashmir.

Replying to a question, Mr Singh said in order to keep a strict check on the activities of ultras and also to minimise the harassment to the pilgrims to Vaishnodevi, two joint naka points of Punjab and J&K police have been set up at Madhopur and Basohli Morh near Ravi bridge at main highway. He said that earlier mostly the Vaishnodevi pilgrims and the tourists coming to the state were being stopped at Madhopur by Punjab police and at Lakhanpur by J&K police for checking.

Keeping in view the harassment being meted out to the pilgrims and others, it was resolved to devise a system and conduct joint checking by Punjab and J&K police parties at Lakhanpur and Madhopur under the supervision of a police officer of the rank of SI, ASI or an Inspector. Incoming vehicles are only stopped and checked by joint nakka at Basohli Morh near Lakhanpur while the outgoing vehicles are checked at Madhopur. This joint operation appeared to be most successful as a good number of stolen vehicles fell into the trap of police naka party at Lakhanpur.

Mr Manohar Singh further disclosed that in just last five months twenty vehicles were seized by Kathua police. The stolen vehicles included 15 Maruti cars, two Tata Indica cars, two Tata Sumo vehicles, one Ceilo and a new scooter. He said a Helpline Centre is also being established at Basohli Morh which will operate round the clock and the incoming pilgrims and the tourists will get assistance there. Telephone facility will be made available besides other necessary and immediate police aid on the highway.

Replying to another question, he said Kathua police has planned to auction over forty unclaimed vehicles lying with the police for the last more than two years. He said that information in this connection has been passed on to the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) Delhi which ultimately passes the information to all the police stations throughout the country. In several cases, no one claimed their vehicles and they kept lying with the police. " We have now decided to conduct the auction of the vehicles after seeking the intervention of the court and relieve ourselves from the responsibility." the SP maintained.

Mr Singh who has a good experience of counter insurgency in Kashmir valley when he was heading STF in Srinagar, said that several such cases came to his notice during his stay there. He maintained that most of the Kashmiri ultras use stolen vehicles during their operations and escape after abandoning the vehicles. They did the same during several blasts and also during indiscriminate firing on army camp at Badami Bagh army gate a few months back.

He said not only this, special naka points have also been set up at Jatwal, Rajbagh and Lakhanpur along the highway to trap the vehicles which flee the spot after causing accidents along Highway. With the establishment of these nakas over eighty percent success has been recorded in past 3-4 months. Earlier, hardly 15 % cases were being detected. The vehicles used to adopt the policy of hit and run along the national highway to avoid legal action. This trend has made their escape very difficult and it has been appreciated by the people of the district. Moreover, a flying squad/ mobile police van has also been deployed along the highway for the same purpose, which is yielding good results, he added.

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