Video coach agents cheat passengers
Consumer Column

Avtar Bhat

If you do not get the railway reservation from outside state to Jammu, you will naturally prefer to travel in a video coach, considering it a better class bus service than other common fleets. But your all notions can prove wrong once you board the video coach from any outside state station to Jammu as you come across the arrogant agents , sub agents or the employees of these fleets.

No doubt while seeking the ticket for traveling in these so called Super Deluxe buses, you will be welcomed by the travel agent or his employee who will be all courteous to you till you get the ticket. Even some travel agents will provide you lift from their office if the buses have been parked at a distance of one kilometer or so. They may provide you the tickets of the full amount taken by them giving the impression that there is nothing malafide or wrong. Some agents will provide their assistants to you to the spot where the bus is parked.

But this whole will prove wrong after you board the bus. The first problem you face is that you will not be allotted the same seat which has been indicated in the ticket by the travel agent. The seat numbers will be changed by the employee of the travel agency or the sub agents of the fleet for the reasons better known to them. Your all arguments will prove futile if you demand the same seat allotted by the agency on the ticket. If you show more resistance and refuses to take the changed seat, you will be simply asked to alight from the bus and take the money back. This will make your position very odd and you will face an embarrassing situation as at such late hours it is not possible to seek the ticket for the another coach and moreover there is no guarantee that you will not be subjected to the same ordeal also as before.

Besides the ticket given by the agency to you will be tactfully taken by the sub agents in the bus the movement you embark it. They may tell you that the ticket is needed by them for verification and the same will be returned after wards. But once the bus leaves how hard you may try you will not be given the ticket on the plea that the same has been kept in record by the agency. The simple reason for this is that the travel agency has charged over 20 per cent from you than the normal rate and this has been common since the festival season started and rush of Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims increased.

This is not an exaggeration but a fact that the most travel agents and their employees treat the passengers in the same way. Recently some Vaishno Devi pilgrims who could not manage to get the train ticket from Delhi to Jammu boarded a video coach from New Delhi Railway Station to Jammu. They were charged Rs 350 by the agency as fare per passenger and issued a ticket cum receipt for the same. After boarding the bus they were charged ten rupees more for the small bags carried by them. But the tickets were taken back by the employees of the agency with this promise that the same will be returned after proper verification.

Though no passenger asked for the return of the ticket after the bus left for Jammu but an employee who was to produce the ticket as a proof of his travel to Delhi at his office at Srinagar to get the relevant claim passed when asked for the same was taken aback after he was denied the ticket or receipt of the amount paid by him. His all arguments proved futile to convince the conductor that the ticket was needed by him as a proof to his official visit to Delhi. Neither the driver nor the conductor of the bus paid heed to him and to hush up the matter they showed total ignorance saying that they have nothing to do with the tickets which are lying with the agency at Delhi office.

Some passengers were not allowed to sit on the seats allotted by the agent on the ticket. The employees of the agency and fleet also behaved in a discourteous way with them.

When a passenger refused to take the back seat saying that he had sought the ticket four hours before and was allotted a seat in the middle row was asked to de-embark from the bus. The agency’s employees behaved in such an arrogant way that when the passenger showed his resistance he was virtually beaten by the staff members and to save his skin he quietly took the back seat and did not show his face to anybody upto Jammu. Three more passengers who also protested against changing of their seat numbers had also to meet the same fate.

Later reaching Jammu when these passengers tried to make the complaint with the Jammu Branch of the travel agency, they simply avoided showing their helplessness. When the passenger sought their help in getting the ticket or any documentary proof they simply avoided him saying the matter pertains to Delhi agency.

The main reason for the monopoly of the travel agencies and fleet owners is the lack of check by the Government on them. They could not have such a monopoly had they been subjected to undergo proper checking by the concerned agencies enroute.

‘Hurriyat leaders minting money, befooling Kashmiris’

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 22: Border Peoples Front district Kupwara has alleged that Hurriyat Conference which is fully backed by the ISI of Pakistan and its leaders can not befool Kashmiris any more and they have been exposed before the people.

Addressing a press conference here today, the Front general secretary said that Mohd Yousuf Beig alleged that there was no response when the Hurriyat leaders issued appeal against the bandh in Kashmir in protest against attack on Afghanistan by US forces. The Hurriyat leaders fully backed by Jamat-e-Islami misguided thousands of Kashmiri youth and even teenagers and sent them for arms training in Pakistan and prepared them for Jehad against India.

While the children of Hirriyat leaders like Lone and others are studying in western countries, doing high class business and even established hotels and shopping complexes abroad, the common Kashmiri boys are being misguided and are being sent in the jaws of death by these vested interests. They are getting funds worth crores on the name of Jehad and raising their own property. Had they been in Pakistan and carrying such activities, they would have been perished.

By doing this all, they are enjoying in this largest democratic country.

Mr Sarfraz Khan, head of the Front raised several problems of the border people and alleged that they do not have representation in the legislature. He said this border belt of Kupwara is facing lot of hardships due to Pakistani firing but they have been deprived off the facilities. The central schemes ment for border people never reach to this corner and the people in this region are poor and uneducated. There are no development works, several school buildings are in shambles, schools are without adequate staff and health centres have no doctors.

Mr Zahir Hussain another Front leader who also spoke to the media said that Muslims of this region want to live in peace. All of them should not be treated as terrorists. The recent developments over attack in USA has ruined the image of the community is at stake.

4 oil tankers seized, 3 gangsters abscond
Gang involved in kerosene-petrol adulteration busted, 6 nabbed
* Police party attacked in Sidhra, 3 cops injured

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 22: The police has busted a gang involved in the adulteration of petrol and diesel with kerosene oil and arrested six persons from Sainik Colony and Sidhra area while four oil-tankers were seized during raids late last evening.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Jammu Kathua Range Dr S P Vaid told Excelsior that massive operation was launched against the gangsters after receiving information of their extending activities in and around Jammu city. The special police party was constituted for the purpose and they conducted raid at Sainik Colony and Sidhra By-Pass area. The accused were caught red handed while mixing kerosene with petrol and diesel in the premises of the main kingpin- Kuldip Singh at Sidhra.

On seeing police party, the accused involved in the activity resorted to stone pelting on cops. Three cops were injured while some of the accused including Kuldip Singh managed to escape during brief clash. Four persons were nabbed from the spot while two others were arrested from different locations today. The injured cops were provided treatment and a case was also registered in this connection.

During different raids the police parties nabbed five accused and seized four oil-tankers. A pump set being used by the accused persons and and two packets of chemical used to change the colour were also seized from the spot. The diesel and petrol was destined to 3-4 petrol pumps of Jammu city. Two of them are located on BC Road, the police said.

Additional SP Nissar disclosed that while two tankers contained diesel and one kerosene oil. Large quantity of kerosene had already stored in the premises of Kuldip Singh in barrels. From record of it was established that the kerosene was also destined for Rehari, Shant Nagar and Ashok Nagar. The police has launched manhunt for the kingpin Kuldip Singh, three kerosene dealers—Harjit Singh, Dharam Paul and Jasbir Singh. It has been learnt that F&S authorities have suspended the licenses of three dealers.

The SP further disclosed that Kuldip Singh who owns a petrol pump at Ramban was earlier carrying this adulteration activity and later he had suspended it for some time. It was recently established that

he against commenced this illegal activity. He further said that the engines of the vehicles are being extensively damaged with the mixing of kerosene with petrol in large quantity.

He said the accused have been arrested vice FIR No. 136/ 2001 and booked under section 353/332/336/ 147/ 420 RPC and 3/7 EC Act. The police has sized over 35,000 litres of kerosene/diesel and petrol.

The record from Indian Oil Corporation is also being scrutinised by police party.

Those arrested are identified as Rakesh Kumar, son of Sita Ram of Kalakot ( driver of Tanker No. JKQ—9853), Bhawani Singh, son of Jeet Singh of Sidhra, Ganesh Dutt, son of Mulak Raj of Battal Wallian in Udhampur and Suram Singh of Garnai in Udhampur —both operators of tanker No. JKR/ 7661, Surinder Singh, son of Jia Lal of Kalakot ( driver tanker No. 9853/ JKQ) and Ramesh Singh alias Kaka, son of Suram Singh of Garnai ( driver of Tanker 4163/ JKS). The operators of tanker No. JKR/ 9325 managed to escape besides Kuldip Singh and three others. The SP said that names of some prominent citizens of Jammu have also figured during probe but maintained silence on the plea that it may hamper the process of investigation. He said one consignment was destined to the petrol Pump of Mukha Singh on B C Road, Jammu.

The police said that massive manhunt has been launched to nab the other members of the gang and their kingpin Kuldip Singh.

JKI’s production touches Rs. 9 cr mark
Govt. to revive all viable sick industries : Kamal

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, Oct 22: The Industries and Commerce Minister, Dr. Mustafa Kamal today reiterated Government’s resolve to revive all viable sick Industries in the State especially traditional Industries emotionally linked to socio-economic aspirations of the people.

Speaking to a gathering of Workers and employees of the Government Joinery Mills, Pampore here this morning, the Minister said that Government have revitalized as many as six factories in Public Sector during last three years. In this connection, he made a special mention of the Filatures of Jammu and Srinagar, Government Woollen Mills, Bemina, Silk Weaving Factory, Rajbagh, Government Spinning Mills, Nowshera and Rosin and Turpentine Factory, Miran Sahib, Jammu. While Turpentine Factory at Miran Sahib has been restarted after a gap of about 20 years, Filatures of Jammu and Srinagar have been made operational and thrown into production after remaining closed for two and a half years. Raw material in the form of cocoon worth Rs.1.50 crore was provided to these Filatures, the Minister added.

Dr. Kamal, who earlier inspected various units of the Joinery Mills said that every effort would be made to provide raw material and marketing support to this Factory, which is equipped with a complete range of wood working machinery imported from Sweden. However, he sought full support and cooperation of the workers and employees to supplement Government efforts in reviving trade and Industry in the State and said that workers should treat every Factory or Institution as sacred places as these units are linked to the livelihood of the people. He said workers should not allow these places to become victim of politics or platform of vested interests. He said that all Government establishments are public property and workers should take care to safeguard it.

The Minister said that people’s welfare, prosperity and revival of peace in the strife torn State has been the top most priority of the National Conference Government and it will continue on this mission. He said present Government have remarkably succeeded in restoring order and administration in the State besides reconstruction of about 60 per cent of the infrastructure damaged during turmoil.

Dr. Kamal said that various sectors of Jammu and Kashmir Industries Limited (JKI) have recorded a production of Rs.9.05 crore upto September this year against Rs.1.57 crore during the same period last financial year. Likewise, the sales have increased to Rs.7.56 crores during the same period. Against sales of Rs.2.16 crore upto September 2000, the JKI has registered sales to the tune of Rs.9.72 crores during the corresponding period this year.

The Minister said that Government will make every effort to familiarize use of Impregnation Section of the Government Joinery Mills, which could protect wooden furniture and Joinery items from decay due to turmoit. He said Government Joinery Mills, Pampore is a technically modern unit and all the Government departments would be directed to make their purchases of furniture and joinery items from this Mill.

The Managing Director of JKI, Mr. Rafique Ahmad Qadri informed that the Joinery Mill has last year provided furniture and joinery items worth Rs. one crore to Delhi Development Authority. The Mill has also supplied furniture items worth Rs.2.25 crore to Education department within a stipulated period of 3 months in 1998. The Mill is poised to become economically self sustained within next two years.

The MLA Pampore, Mr. Mushtaq Ahmad Kuchay and other senior officers of JKI were also present on the occasion.

==

Rs.25 crore Ex-gratia paid
Migrants deserve compassion to mitigate their sufferings: Hussain

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Oct. 22: The Minister of State for Revenue, Ch. Mohd. Hussain has asked the Commanders of Kashmiri migrant camps to be more considerate to the problems of migrants and work with compassion to minimize their sufferings.

The Minister was addressing to the officers of the Relief organization, Migrants Camp Commanders and Zonal officers at a meeting held here today to review the working of the organization.

Mr. Hussain directed the Relief Commissioner to take up necessary repair works of tenaments of the migrants before the winter season sets in so that their miseries are not aggravated further.

Expressing concern over the non-availability of lady doctors in migrants camp dispensaries, the Minister asked the Relief Commissioner to take up the matter with the Health department on priority basis so that lady doctors are posted in the dispensaries without any delay.

The Minister listened to the problems of the Camp Commanders and assured them that appropriate action will be taken to mitigate them in right earnest. He said the Government is making every effort to provide maximum facilities to the migrants with the available resources.

The Relief Commissioner informed the meeting that 33,618 migrant families have been registered with the Relief Organization since its creation in 1990 till ending March this year. He said, of them 16,028 families are in the relief category while 17,590 families belong to migrant employees. This number of registered migrants, he said, include Hindus, Muslims and Sikh families who fled from the Valley in the wake of threat perceptions..

The Relief Commissioner further said that presently a cash relief is paid @ Rs. 600 per head to a family of four members and above with a maximum limit of Rs. 2400. In addition, these families are provided free ration of rice, atta and sugar. He said, the Government have constructed 4732 one room tenaments where 4685 families are putting up. Besides they are provided free electricity and water in the camps. He said the Government has ensured that education facilities are available to migrant students upto the College level. He said 10 dispensaries are also functioning in these camps for providing immediate medical help to the migrants.

He informed the meeting that Relief Organization has provided Rs. 24.74 crore as ex-gratia relief to the militancy affected persons. He said, 3727 such cases have so far been settled while 600 cases woth Rs. 1.70 crore are under process.

Mr. Bhushan Lal Bhat, MLC who also attended the meeting highlighted the difficulties being faced by the migrants in the camps. He demanded reactivation of the Apex Relief Committee under the chairmanship of the Revenue Minister so that matters related to relief are settled expeditiously. He said in case of shortage of engineers, the services of migrant Engineers may be utilized for monitor development and repair works in the migrant camps.

Those who attended the meeting included S. Narinder Singh, Dy. Commissioner Vigilance, Relief Organization and various Assistant Commissioners.

Successive governments blamed for plight of Pak refugees

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 22: Both State and Central Governments came to a severe criticism at a function organised by Action Committee of Pahari Speaking Forum which was held in connection with the observance of 54h Martyrs Day for not redressing the grievances of Pak refugees of 1947.

Speaker after speaker turned tables on the Government for remaining a mute spectator to the plight of 1947 refugees who are running from pillar to post for justice since then.

Not only Mr Paras Ram Poonchi, president of the Action Committee trained his guns on the successive rulers but every body lambasted them for their inaction and lack of will in providing justice to over 6000 Pak refugees.

They while paying the rich tributes to the martyrs who laid down their lives and fought bravely against the Pak aggression in 1947 termed the annexation of PoK by Pakistan totally forcible and illegal.

Mr Poonchi in his address said the Pak aggressors in 1947 occupied about 70 per cent of the land of undivided J&K State who perpetuated a loot and rapped women forcing hundreds of people to commit suicide.

He while lambasting the then State Government said that though belonging to a cool climate we should have been settled in Kashmir Valley but we were forced to struggle in the unfavorable weather conditions of Jammu region.

He said despite the recommendations of then Minister, Maj Piara Singh that the refugees be settled in Kashmir Valley the Government showed reservations for it.

He said though India forced Pak to vacate 21 percent area occupied by her after declaring the cease fire with the intention that the international community will ensure the return of the forcibly occupied area but surprisingly the Pakistan handed over 70 per cent area of occupied land to China.

He said the Pak aggression on October 22, 1947 left lacs of people homeless who became refugees and are still struggling for their rights.

Mr Mohan Singh a refugee was all sore over the present National Conference (NC) Government who alleged that till it remains in power in the state the refugees demands will never be solved.

Mr Jameel Qazmi an advocate in his address said the refugees problem is related to humanity and held the protagonists of partition responsible for their present plight.

He said the partition was the handiwork of some vested interests and it could have been averted if sincere efforts were made at that time.

Qazmi also blamed both India and Pakistan for the worst plight of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr Vaishvanath another refugee while challenging the secular credentials of the State Government said that ten lakh refugees have lost their cultural identity due to the hard stance of the Government.

Mr Vaid Bhasin Editor Kashmir Times who presided over the function termed the partition as unfortunate. He while blaming the vested interests for the partition of the country said no religion or region was responsible for the division.

He alleged that some vested interests who still talk of another partition are deceiving people as partition is no solution to any problem.

Later a resolution demanding construction of martyrs memorial was passed.

Observance of World Food Day
Scientists to devise new strategies to boost agriculture production-Ramzan

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, Oct 22: The Agriculture and Cooperative Minister, Ch. Mohammad Ramzan has called upon the Agricultural Scientists to devise new technologies for increasing the agriculture production in the State besides ensuring supply of disease free seeds to the farmers.

Addressing a large gathering of farmers and fruit growers of Kashmir valley after inaugurating a day-long exhibition organised in connection with the celebrations of World Food Day at SKICC here today, the Minister said though the State has registered a significant growth in agriculture production but was far behind in achieving self sufficiency. To achieve this objective the agriculture scientists should devise new strategies, develop techniques and produce high yielding varieties of seeds which would help to increase the productivity and the production of the agriculture produce in the State, he added.

Ch. Ramzan asked for taking advance measures to check the spread of the dreaded rice blast disease resulting in damage of paddy crops. He said the rice blast coupled with unprecedented drought has adversely affected the agricultural production in the State. He said as a result of the rice blast paddy crops spread over 10,000 to 15,000 hectares of land was damaged during the current kharief season. He said a Central team recently visited the State to assess the damage caused as a result of the disease.

The Minister called upon the field agencies to create awareness among the farmers about the latest technologies in the field of agriculture and ensure holding of seminars, group discussions and Kissan Melas at every block level for the purpose.

Ch. Ramzan said the Government has accorded top priority to the agriculture sector as 80 to 85 per cent population of the State are earning their livelihood from the agriculture sector alone. The thrust is being laid on vegetable and fruit cultivation as the State has vast potential for its development. He said with the increase in the vegetable production the dependence on vegetable export has been minimized to a great extent.

Referring to horticulture, Ch. Ramzan said , the State was earning a revenue of Rs 1,000 crores annually from fruit production besides, earning foreign exchange of over Rs 100 crore annually from export of world famous walnuts. He said the Government was exploring the possibility to export fruit to various countries and for this purpose a number of measures have been initiated. For providing remunerative prices to the fruit growers, he said, 16 satellite fruit marketsare being set up in the State. Over Rs 23 crores have been spent on the development of these markets so far.

The Minister said that as a part of the Government strategy to give boost to agriculture and its allied sectors, Rs 18 crores are being spent under the Macro Management Scheme during the current year. He said Rs 40 to 45 crores have been earmarked for the purpose for the next financial year. For ensuring assured irrigation facilities in the orchards situated in karewas, the Government has embarked upon a massive plan to dug tube wells in such areas. For this purpose, Rs 15 lakhs have been earmarked for the current year, the Minister added.

Referring to the achievements made in various other sectors, the Minister expressed his optimism to achieve self-sufficiency in milk and mutton production in next 3 to 4 years. The mutton production in Kashmir Valley has gone up to 250 lakh kgs while per capita availability of milk has crossed the national average of 290 ml per head per day . The per capita availability of milk in the State has registered as high as 370 ml. He said a liquid nitrogen plant estimated to cost about Rs 1 crore is proposed to be set up at Pulwama.

Ch. Ramzan said that in order to check the supply and sale of sub-standard chemical fertilizers and other fungicides, the Government plans to set up a separate Enforcement Directorate in the State.

Earlier, the Financial Commissioner Agriculture Production and Rural Development, Mr I.S. Malhi highlighting the aims and objectives of the World Food Day announced to set up laboratories at block level for soil testing. He said the farmers should take up such ventures which would provide them better returns. He asked the farmers and fruit growers to derive maximum benefits from various schemes launched by the Government for the welfare of the farmers.

Managing Director, JKHPMC, Dr. G.H. Shah presented the welcome address while Director Agriculture, Kashmir, Mr. Ghulam Hyder Bhat presented vote of thanks.

Various progressive farmers and fruit growers also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the problems facing the farming community.

Earlier, the Minister inaugurated the exhibition and went around various stalls put up by the Horticulture, Agriculture, Animal and Sheep Husbandry Departments and JKHPMC. Various new varieties of fruits, walnuts, vegetables and agriculture implements were put up for display at the exhibition. The exhibition will remain open for the full day today and farmers and the fruit growers would be acquinted about the latest techniques of farming.

Poonch Congmen reject Qureshi’s new PCC

Excelsior Correspondent

POONCH, Oct 22: Congress activists from district Poonch have out rightly rejected the newly formed PCC on the behest of new president Mohd Shafi Qureshi.

As emergency meeting of Congress workers was held here today under the chairmanship of former PCC president Ch. Mohd Aslam. The members strongly criticised the new PCC president for his activities and resolved that constitution of new PCC and executive is an undemocratic and arbitrary.

Ch Aslam said that majority of the members included in the new PCC have no mass base and support of the public. The senior loylists have been ignored or downgraded and humiliated. The backdoor announcement of PCC executive will send wrong signals and led to great resentment in the entire rank and file of the party.

It was resolved in the district Committee meeting to hold an early meeting with the All India Congress president Mrs Sonia Gandhi at New Delhi on this issue at the earliest.

Prominent among those present included Mohd Zaman, ex-secretary PCC, Gurdev Singh former secretary, Krishan Singh DCC general secretary, Zaffarullah, Janak Singh, Ashaq Hussain, Mohd Din, Pandit Dina Nath City president—Poonch, Narotam Lal Isher and others.

Mata Pingla Devi Yatra

Excelsior Correspondent

Udhampur, Oct.22: Over 15000 yatries visited the holy shrine of Mata pingla Devi yesterday. The shrine is nearly 22 kms away from Ramnagar town and six kms from base camp of yatra at village Kaugha.

The Akhand Jyoti of Mata Pingla Devi was lit at Pingla Devi Chabutra in Ramnagar on first Navratra and remained at Durga Satsang Bhawan till 20th of this month for public darshan. The Akhand Jyoti was taken from Ramnagar to Mata Pingla Devi Shrine on 21st in a large procession amidist chanting of Bhajans and Kirtan.

Nearly 12 free langers were organized by Akhand Jyoti committee businessmen of Ramnagar, Devotees from Katra Vaishno Devi and other social organisations. They also arranged free pandals enroute the shrine.

The organisor of the Akhand Jyoti Committee, Mr. Om Praksah Jandial has hailed the arrangements made by the PHE, PWD, volunteers of Sewa Samiti Ramnagar, Scouts and guides, police department, Information department and civil administration during the yatra. He further said that during 1st five Navratras about 40,000 to 50,000 yatries visited the holy shrine of Mata Pingla Devi.

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