World Postal Week celebrations
J&K Postal Circle losing Rs 10 cr every year: CPMG
*Over 50 post offices closed due to militancy in Valley

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 9: While the Indian Postal Services Department is running into massive deficit, the J&K Circle of the Postal Services is losing at least Rs 10 crores annually.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mr G. Mohana Kumar, Chief Post Master General (CPMG), disclosed that during last financial year the Department as per the figures available, has generated revenue to the tune of Rs 3297 crores while the expenditure for the same year has crossed Rs 4800 crores mark. It shows that Government of India despite huge loss is running the department for the services to the people.

Referring to revenue status in the Jammu and Kashmir state, the CPMG said that during the year 2000-2001, the J&K Circle generated revenue of Rs 5.29 crores while the expenditure has been incurred around Rs 15.20 crores. It indicates that the department losing around rupees ten crores every year in J&K alone and these figures may go higher in the coming years.

Mr Mohana claimed that though militancy did not cause much damage to the Departmental property and its functioning, yet more than fifty post-offices have been closed down in Valley. He further claimed that all the 12 post offices closed down in Baramulla were re-opened while in Srinagar district, out of the 42, 23 POs have been reopened. The efforts are being done to make 19 other functional in near future.

Congratulating Postal employees of the Circle on World Postal Day, Mr Mohana recalled the brief history of the Postal Services in the world and also in the country during East India Company regime. He also referred to the services being rendered to the people of the country and abroad by this department. He said the National Postal Week is being observed from Oct 7 to 12 and the International Postal Day falls on Oct 9.

The CPMG disclosed that J&K Circle, comprises of five Postal Divisions, one RMS Division, one Postal Stores Depot, one Circle Stamp Depot, a P&T Dispensary at Jammu and the office of Deputy Director Postal Accounts, Jammu. There are 9 Head Post Offices, 248 Sub Post offices, 25 Ed Sub Offices, 1396 ED Branches and 24 Panchayat Sanchar Seva Kendras. The concept of Panchayat Sanchar Seva Kendras will be promoted in the state in the coming years to provide services to the maximum people, he maintained.

He disclosed that in the year 2002-03 the Department plans to open five Post offices and ten PSSKs in the J&K Circle and by the end of this financial year the target will be achieved. Out of the ten, six PSSKs have already been set up. The department is providing premium services like- speed post, business post, parcel post, greeting post, media post, satellite post etc. There are two National Speed Post Centres at Jammu and Srinagar while 14 State Speed Post Centres at Gandhinagar HPO, Udhampur, Akhnoor, Kathua, Katra, Pampore, Anantnag, Pulwama, Bijbehara, Badgam, Leh, Baramulla, Sopore and Pattan.

There are 22 Speed Post booking offices in Jammu division, 29 in Srinagar, four in Udhampur while 3 in Baramulla division. The concept of e-Posts is also being introduced soon here and the same has been started in other states like Maharasthra, Gujarat, Andhra, and Kerala. It also provides VPP service up to Rs 50,000 and distance based tariff, up to 35 kg per parcel on Express parcel post. He also referred to the Satellite post, VSAT network, financial services, Speed Post Pass Post Service, customer care centres. Several branches have been computerised and the process is going on. Six POs in Jammu have already been computerised, he added.

Director Postal Services Ms Sukhvinder Kour and Ajesh Dubey also spoke on the occasion.

Institution of Engineers holds functions

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 9: The Institution of Engineers (India) Jammu local centre celebrated ‘World Habitat Day- 2002’ and ‘Natural Disaster Reduction Day’. Paper meetings were held on these occasions, wherein different speakers presented their papers before a distinguished gathering of senior engineers.

On ‘World Habitat Day 2002’, three papers were presented by Mr Sameer Sharma, P K Nanda and B L Chopra respectively. Various speakers emphasised upon the necessity of providing shelter to homeless all over the world. The session was presided over by Mr Vinod Kumar Malhotra, Chief Town Planner, JDA.

Five papers were presented on ‘Natural Disaster Reduction Day’. Those who were presented their papers included Messrs Inderjeet Singh, O N Thusu, Sameer Sharma, L K Mengi and B L Chopra.

The speakers in their papers discussed various means and ways to ensure minimising the effect of natural disaster and also increasing global awareness about various disaster reduction efforts. Mr H B Khajuria, ex-Chief Engineer presided over the session.

Mr B K Suri, Chairman, local centre also spoke on the occasion. Mr Vinod Sharma, Hony. Secretary of the centre presented vote of thanks.

HC issues contempt notice against Goverdhan Jamwal

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 9: Justice T S Doabia of the State High Court has issued contempt notice against Major General (Retd) Goverdhan Singh Jamwal to show cause as to why the contempt proceedings be not initiated against him.

This contempt notice has been issued after the submissions made by Advocate Rakesh Sharma, appearing for the petitioners that notwithstanding the facts of order dated September 23, 2002, Mr Goverdhan Singh Jamwal is still claiming to be the Chairman and is acting as such. The court directed the petitioners to take notice dasti.

These court directions have been passed in a writ petition filed by Messrs B S Manhas, Mohan Singh, Major BR Dogra, Lt Col K S Podwal and Maj Tirath Singh—— members JAK Ex-Servicemen Store Limited, Bari Brahamana Jammu against Maj Gen (Retd) Goverdhan Singh Jamwal, who was removed from the chairmanship of the said society by the order of Registrar Cooperative Societies.

Mr Jamwal had obtained a stay order from J&K Special Tribunal which was vacated by High Court, but he still continued to function as Chairman, forcing the petitioners to file a contempt petition against him.

Lone’s killer identified, say relatives

LOLAB, KUPWARA, Oct 9: Expressing dissatisfaction over the pace of inquiry into the assassination of Jammu and Kashmir Law Minister Mushtaq Ahmed Lone, National Conference (NC) nominee from Lolab constituency Qaiser Jamshed Lone today claimed to have identified the persons involved in the murder of his uncle.

"We have identified the persons involved in the killing of Mr Lone...We are trying to help the authorities but they are not cooperating," Qaiser Lone told UNI here.

He said Mr Lone’s murder was a conspiracy by vested interests. "The authorities are saying they cannot do anything till October ten. We are not satisfied with the progress made in the inquiry so far ...It is going too slow."

Asked who was behind the killing, Mr Lone said the truth will come out after the investigations.

The NC leader said the authorities have accepted that there was a security lapse. But no one was willing to say anything beyond that, he added.

Mr Lone said he will try his best to complete the unfinished work of his uncle. "I will try to come to the expectations of the people and make all efforts to redress their grievances," he said.

The polling in the constituency, held yesterday in the fourth and final phase, was scheduled for September 16 in the first phase.

The elections were countermanded after unidentified gunmen killed the Minister and NC nominee when he was addressing an election meeting at Takipora in Sogam on September 11, four days before the voting.

The NC later fielded Qaiser from the constituency.

Despite riding on a sympathy wave, Mr Qaiser Lone is facing a tough contest from an independent Abdul Haq Khan, who is considered to be a proxy candidate of the peoples conference, a constituent of 23-party Hurriyat Conference. (UNI)

Passing out parade of BSF recruits held

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 9: An impressive passing out come attestation parade was held on October 9 at Border Security Force Subsidiary Training Centre, Udhampur.

327 recruits belonging to states of Rajasthan, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Madhya Pradesh passed out on the occasion. The passing out cum attestation parade was the culmination of 36 weeks rigorous basic training.

Dr Ashok Bhan, Director Sher-i-Kashmir Police Academy took the salute. Dr Bhan commended the training staff as well as the recruits for putting up a commendable performance in the Parade. In his address, Dr Ashok Bhan emphasised the importance of hard work, dedication to duty and high degree of integrity while discharging the duties on the border as well as in counter insurgency operations. He congratulates the recruits for successfully completing their training and formally welcomed them as full member of BSF family.

Dr Bhan said that BSF was the biggest para military force in the world and has left an indelible mark in the history to the country since 1965 when it was raised. BSF has made immense contribution towards fighting militancy whether in North Eastern States of Nagaland, Manipur and Triputa or the Western states of Punjab and J&K.

After passing out parade, the recruits will undergo 4 weeks advance training to equip them for performing duties in anti-militancy role.

Constable Manoj Singh Negi, who was declared best in the drill in batch number 78, commanded the Parade.

Others who won the medals included Cost Jagdish Prasad of batch No 77 and Const Mahipal Singh of batch No 78 (over all first), Const Varun Kumar and Const Jagmal Singh (over all second), Const Neema Ram and Const Charan Singh (best in EPET), Const Hans Raj and Const Yashpal Choudhary (best in firing) and Const Yuvraj Choudhary and Const Manoj Singh Negi (best in Drill).

All these constables were awarded with medals by the chief guest for their outstanding performance. Senior officers from Army, Air Force other CPMFs, police and civil administration were also present on the occasion.

End of J&K elections Victory of ballot over bullet

SRINAGAR, Oct 9: The completion of all the four phases of elections in Jammu and Kashmir has proved that the people of the State have rejected the rule of bullet and favoured ballot despite heightened killings by militants which left more than 250 people dead.

An official spokesman of the State Government said that militants resorted to several methods to scare away voters but the fact that over 40 per cent of people cast their ballot was in itself an indication of the victory of ballot over bullet.

The spokesman, while detailing the number of incidents since the electoral process began in the State, said that 210 innocent civilians have been killed by militants besides gunning down 45 political activists of which the ruling National Conference bore the major brunt with 28 activists and candidates of the party falling prey to militancy.

This was followed by five workers of Peoples Democratic Party, three of Communist Party of India (Marxist), five independent candidates, three of Nationalist Congress Party and one of Congress, the spokesman said.

Besides this, three Panchayat members and one Sarpanch were also shot dead by militants, he said.

During the entire operations, the spokesman said, that 143 police and security personnel also laid their lives whereas 35 militants were shot dead.

The spokesman said that ever since elections were announced, Pakistan and the militants sponsored by it did everything to derail this process.

In fact, it was a fight between manipulation or sabotage by militants and people’s determination to express their free will through transparent and credible elections and at the end the people won, he said.

Commending the people of the State, the spokesman said keeping the nefarious designs of the militants and separatist outfits of the State in mind, voters have shown unparallel courage.

Comparing the elections with that of Parliamentary elections, he said an estimated 43.14 per cent polling was recorded in 1998, while it fell to 37.24 in 1999 because of the growing militant threat.

However, in 2002 Assembly elections, a percentage of nearly 46 per cent in all the four phases was indicative of growing hatred of people against bullet and gun culture, he said.

Brave and courageous people of the state for their grit and firm commitment to democracy came out in large numbers to polling booths notwithstanding threats, intimidations, violence and anti-election propoganda, he added.

He said the number of participation of candidates have shown a steady increase from 1987 when the number was only 518. In 1996 assembly elections, the number of candidates had increased to 546 while this time it was 710.

Besides this, 2031 election rallies were organised by the political parties with National Conference taking a lead by organising 877 such meetings followed by PDP (330), Congress (323), BJP (144) and Independents (141).

The spokesman said that in order to instil confidence of people in poll process, the Election Commission transferred every single police or administrative officer against whom any political party had even an iota of doubt.

The icing on the cake was the witnessing of elections by foreign diplomats, who left satisfied, he added. (PTI)

Life term awarded to murder accused

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, Oct 9: Sessions Judge Kathua Mr Behari Lal Bhat has convicted and sentenced the accused Roop Lal alias Roopa, Neelam Chand alias Neelu and Jagdish Chander alias Reema to imprisonment of life and a fine to the tune of Rs 2000 each for committing murder of one Manohar Lal on June 1, 1998 at Kishenpur- Tanda. In default of payment of fine accused shall have to undergo simple imprisonment for six months more each.

While discussing the evidence in the case the court held that there may be minor contradictions in the witnesses of the prosecution who had witnessed the occurrence, but these minor contradictions are bound to happen as witnesses are not expected to give parrot like versions of the incident.

The court held that discrepancies in the matter of details pertaining to the precise number of blows given by the accused, standing or lying posture of the victim at the time of assault etc always occur even in evidence of truthful witnesses. Such variations creep in because there are natural differences in the faculties of the different individuals in the matters of observation, perception and memorization of the details and there are hardly any grounds for rejecting their evidence.

The court while appreciating the evidence of the daughter of the deceased, namely Anju Bala, held that admitedly testimony of the child witness has to be given into consideration with a greater measure of caution by the courts, but in the instant case, the prosecution case is not founded only on the testimony of the child witness, but also on the testimony of other eye witnesses as well, who all have supported the prosecution story and even have corroborated the testimony of the child witness leaving hardly any doubt for dis-believing or ignoring the evidence of the daughter of the deceased.

Accused in the present case were put to trial u/s 302/34 RPC for committing the murder of Manohar Lal on 1-6-1998 after they had assaulted and attacked the deceased in pursuance of common intention after coming to know about the deceased having quarreled with their sister Veena Devi. The accused were alleged to have mercilessly beaten the deceased and hit him with a brick on his head which injury proved fatal and caused death of the deceased where-upon the accused were challaned. During the trial, the offences were proved and accused were accordingly convicted and sentenced to imprisonment as stated above.