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| Complete bandh observed in Jammu against VAT Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 30: A complete bandh was observed in Jammu region on the first day of the 72-hour trade strike in protest against the implementation of the Value-Added Tax (VAT) from April 1......more SASB to
raise Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 30: Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has drawn plans to raise environmental friendly structures for pilgrims at various points enroute Holy cave shrine during annual yatra.......more SKUAST VC
for Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 30: Prof Nagendra Sharma, Vice Chancellor, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Jammu has stressed on the farmers of Kandi areas to promote and adopt dry land agriculture.........more Valley
traders on Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Mar 30: To protest against implementation of Value Added Tax (VAT), traders, manufacturers and other business related sections observed a near total shutdown.......more HMT Chinar
employees to Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 30: The employees of HMT Chinar Watches Ltd whose hunger strike entered the 14th day today has decided to hold a protest.......more |
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4 militant
groups: Bus Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Mar 30: Four militant groups today warned people against travelling by the April 7 inaugural Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus while dubbing the bus as a ‘coffin’. The groups also called for a complete strike on April 7, when the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is scheduled to flag off the cross border bus from Srinagar to Muzaffarabad............more Patwaris
to go on Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 30: Members of the provincial body of All J&K Patwar Association have decided to go on three day protest leave from April 4 against their alleged harassment and step-motherly treatment by the authorities towards their genuine demands.......more Inter-state
flesh trade Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 30: Katra police today smashed an inter-state racket of flesh trade with the arrest of six persons including two hailing from New Delhi, one from Jammu and three from Katra.............more DB
issues notices Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 30: Division Bench of the State High Court, comprising Justice VK Jhanji and Justice Permod Kohli has issued notices to Commissioner-Secretary Excise and Taxation and others in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking closure of cinema theatre at Katra.......more |
Complete bandh observed in Jammu against VAT Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 30: A complete bandh was observed in Jammu region on the first day of the 72-hour trade strike in protest against the implementation of the Value-Added Tax (VAT) from April 1. The wholesale markets in the entire region wore a deserted look and main markets were closed. Medical stores, petrol pumps, milk outlets, and cinemas were, however, kept outside the purview of the bandh. There was spontaneous response to the bandh call even in the rural areas where traders kept their respective establishments closed to register their anguish over VAT. The markets, which are abuzed with hectic business activities even on Sundays, wore deserted look today. However, the public transport plied as usual on all the routes of the Jammu region. Large number of traders held protest demonstrations at different places and shouted slogans against the implementation of the VAT. They demanded that implementation of VAT should be deferred for atleast one year and the anti-trader clauses be removed. They also blocked the vehicular traffic at some places by burning the tyres . The traders are being supported by some political parties as well. At New Plots, BJP activists led by Sunil Dimple along with traders of the area blocked road and held demonstration against VAT. The traders’ strike had also rendered large number of labourers jobless and they were seen waiting for someone to engage them so that they could earn their livelihood for the day. "Despite huge losses we have to incur, we decided to go for the bandh to fight against implementation of VAT, which will not only affect the business and trading community, but the consumers and Governments as well," traders said. Referring to the clause regarding maintenance of records, they said if a trader had to keep all his business correspondence for five years, there might be more than 200 files to be maintained, besides books of accounts and other related documents. "Where is the place in a small trader’s shop or office", they asked. |
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| SASB to raise
environment friendly structures at Amarnath Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 30: Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has drawn plans to raise environmental friendly structures for pilgrims at various points enroute Holy cave shrine during annual yatra. The Shrine Board, in order to keep up its commitment to ensure eco-balance of the scenic Himalayan range in south Kashmir has taken this decision. After exhaustive consultations with environmentalists and scientists in the field, the SASB has drawn up a project to raise over 1000 pollution and malodour free toilets in the yatra areas. Principal Secretary to Governor and Chief Executive Officer, SASB Dr Arun Kumar said that 461 such prefab toilets with squatting pans, water traps and leach pits had been raised during the last year’s yatra in order to dispense with the practice of putting of foul smelling, deep trench latrines. With further modifications and having encouraging feedback from the pilgrims and local population, the Board proposes to cover at least 5000 yatris per camp with a ratio of one toilet per 10 pilgrims. Provision of adequate water supply with use of friendly bacteria is expected to further ensure faster degradation of all waste into manure, he maintained. He pointed out that as per experts, disposal from toilets shall be made in specially designed leach pits ( earthen septic tanks) with screens and absorbed material which will be covered by concrete slabs in the interest of safety. The human waste so collected would be treated with a combination of various beneficial and naturally occurring micro-organisms mostly used for or found in foods, which include main general phototropic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria and yeast. This model can also be replicated with ease in both urban and rural areas of the State to improve the prevailing sanitary conditions manifold. |
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SKUAST VC for promotion of dry land farming Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 30: Prof Nagendra Sharma, Vice Chancellor, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Jammu has stressed on the farmers of Kandi areas to promote and adopt dry land agriculture. Prof Sharma was speaking on the occasion of ‘Field Day on Oilseeds’ being celebrated by SKUAST-J at village Khara Madana in Samba tehsil. He asked Kandi area farmers to go for dry land farming and adopt crops which need less water especially cash crops like oilseeds, pulses and maize. He said farmers must grow horticulture crops like Ber, Amla, Guava and other medicinal plants like Aloe Vera, Harad, Bel etc for increasing their income. He advised the farmers to get maximum from the scientists and that whatever problems they have been confronted with must be told to scientists to find a timely solution of the same. He directed Dean Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry and Associate Dean Agriculture to set up training camps in this village for welfare of poor and marginal farmers and to train uneducated youth so that they may look after the daily routine problems of farmers and earn their livelihood and also provide them all support while treating major problems of farmers. Dry Land Research sub station of University had laid demonstration trials of Gobhi Sarson GSL-1 in about 20 hectares of land and 50 farmers got about 50% increase in yield over traditional Sarson variety. |
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Valley traders on strike against VAT Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Mar 30: To protest against implementation of Value Added Tax (VAT), traders, manufacturers and other business related sections observed a near total shutdown in Kashmir valley today in response to the 3-day bandh call given by Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers’ Federation (KTMF). Several protest demonstrations were organised at various places in the Valley with traders accusing Government for its failure to educate them about the pros and cons of VAT. Reports from all district headquarters and major towns said that business and trading activities came to a standstill against the, which comes into force in 21 states on April 1, against the Government decision to impose the VAT from Ist April. The strike call of the KTMF, also a part of the countrywide strike, evoked near total response on its first day across the Valley with traders joining anti-VAT demonstrations at various places. As many as 21 states and Union territories will introduce from April 1 VAT in lieu of sales tax and other state-level levies. Here in Srinagar city, the hartal was near total as shops and other business establishments downed their shutters, with the main trading centres wearing a deserted look. However, a few shops in the old city were reported open. According to reports, the hartal was near total in other districts and major towns of Kashmir valley also. These reports said that business and trade activities in Baramulla, Kupwara, Sopore, Anantnag, Budgam and other district headquarters and towns remained almost suspended during the day. However, traffic plied normally on the roads. Traders and businessmen also organised protest rallies at different places against the VAT system. The protesters, including shopkeepers and traders, were chanting slogans against the VAT system and implementing authorities, especially the state government. Reports from Kupwara said that traders from all the major towns in Kupwara district thronged Kupwara town and held strong protest against VAT. They shouted anti-Government and anti-VAT slogans. Traders were also lamenting that the Government has failed to educate them about the intricacies of VAT. |
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HMT Chinar employees to hold
protest rally Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 30: The employees of HMT Chinar Watches Ltd whose hunger strike entered the 14th day today has decided to hold a protest rally in front of Legislative Assembly here, tomorrow. This was announced in a handout issued here today by the HMT Ltd Employees Union which is spearheading the agitation. It said the step has been taken to highlight the miseries and hardships of the employees of the Company. The Union president Ramesh Dhar expressed grave concern over the apathetic attitude of the concerned authorities in Government of India towards the genuine and burning issues faced by the innocent employees. He said the employees are left with no option but to come on roads and wake up the authorities for redressing the problems of the employees. He said the employees are without salaries for last eight months and the authorities have paid a deaf ear to our request. He said due to the rigid attitude of the authorities some employees are at the verge of starvation and some have to discontinue the studies of their children. Meanwhile, a fresh batch of four employees sat on chain hunger strike today by replacing the previous batch. The secretary of the Union S L Bhan has also urged the authorities to redress the grievances of the employees at an earliest. |
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4 militant groups: Bus service a conspiracy Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Mar 30: Four militant groups today warned people against travelling by the April 7 inaugural Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus while dubbing the bus as a ‘coffin’. The groups also called for a complete strike on April 7, when the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is scheduled to flag off the cross border bus from Srinagar to Muzaffarabad. In a joint statement faxed to newspaper offices by Al-Arifeen, Al-Nasreen, Farzandan-e-Millat and the Save Kashmir Movement in Srinagar, the rebel groups said that the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus was "in no way in the interest of Kashmir’s freedom struggle" and warned people against travelling on the cross-border bus. The statement said that the decision was taken after "an extraordinary meeting" of the heads of four groups in Srinagar. "The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service is against the interests of the freedom struggle and is a deep hatched Indian ploy to harm Kashmir’s freedom movement," the statement, signed by four commanders of the militant groups, said. They warned that travellers should desist from using the bus. "It is a friendly advise to passengers that they should not board this coffin to Muzaffarabad," the statement further said. The statement was critical of, what it called, the Pakistan’s bus diplomacy. "On the behest of imperial forces, Musharraf Government is challenging religious sentiments of the people of Pakistan and is actually catering to Indian interests on Jammu and Kashmir." While hailing the stand taken by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, on the bus, the statement castigated Mirwaiz Omar Farooq led Hurriyat Conference for, what the statement characterised as, its pro-India and anti-movement position on the bus. The statement also expressed dismay over the performance of the United Jehad Council (UJC) saying it did not issue any "forceful response" regarding the bus. |
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Patwaris to go on protest leave from Apr 4 Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 30: Members of the provincial body of All J&K Patwar Association have decided to go on three day protest leave from April 4 against their alleged harassment and step-motherly treatment by the authorities towards their genuine demands. This was decided during a meeting of the Association, held here today under the chairmanship of Rajinder Singh Katoch, senior vice-president of the body. In the meet, the participants expressed their concern over the delay tactics of the authorities in issuance of the departmental promotion orders of the Patwaris and harassment to the field staff. The meet alleged that due to political interference in the work of the field staff as well as in the adjustment/transfers, working of the department has been badly hampered. Mr Singh informed the participants that demands of Patwaris would also be taken up with the Revenue Minister for redressal. He also called a meeting all the members of central body of the Association on April 1 wherein further course of action would be discussed. |
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Inter-state flesh trade racket busted in Katra Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 30: Katra police today smashed an inter-state racket of flesh trade with the arrest of six persons including two hailing from New Delhi, one from Jammu and three from Katra. Police said a Katra police party, on a specific information developed by SHO Katra Inspector Dalip Singh, raided the house of Surinder Singh at Kun Droarian on outskirts of Katra this morning from where the flesh trade racket was being run. Police arrested six persons including two pimps—one hailing from New Delhi and one from Jammu, a Delhi based call girl and three local persons of Katra. They have been identified as Baljeet Singh son of Bhora Singh R/o Harijan Basti, New Delhi and Santosh Kumari wife of Dev Raj R/o Pattli, Bari Brahamana, presently putting up at Sector No. 6, Nanak Nagar, both pimps, Tina alias Shamima of New Delhi, a call girl, Surinder Singh, Rajinder Kumar and Subash Chander, all residents of Katra. A new Maruti Zen car 7704 JK02W, which was on the name of Santosh Kumari, has been seized by the police. Police said Baljeet Singh used to bring girls from New Delhi to Jammu. In Jammu, they were supplied to the traders and other persons by Santosh Kumari. She also used to take the girls to Katra on demand in her car. The racket was being run for the last several years, police said, adding a case against the accused has been registered at Katra police station under Sections 3,4,5 and 7 Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act. The police party, which busted the racket, was supervised by SSP Udhampur Vijay Singh Samyal, Additional SP Katra M L Mehra and SDPO Katra Anil Magotra. |
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DB issues notices Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 30: Division Bench of the State High Court, comprising Justice VK Jhanji and Justice Permod Kohli has issued notices to Commissioner-Secretary Excise and Taxation and others in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking closure of cinema theatre at Katra. The PIL has been filed by the residents of Katra demanding closure of Amar Mahal cinema theatre on the pretext that the same is operating in violation of J&K Cinematograph Act 1989 and J&K Cinematography Rules Svt 1989. It was stated that the building and the infrastructure for the hall was not as per the required standards prescribed in the Act and Rules. In the PIL, it has been submitted that Katra town is being visited by lakhs of pilgrims and the rush in the cinema hall is also of great extent. As such there is a possibility of any untoward incident happening any time. Apart from issuing notices to Commissioner Excise and Taxation, the Division Bench also issued notices to Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Reasi and proprietor of the cinema hall, Baldev Raj Sharma. The DB in the CMP also issued notice with the observation that CMP shall be reviewed after the service of the respondents. |
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Vigilance unearths parallel
office of BDO; Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 30: In a joint surprise check, by Vigilance sleuths and senior officers of Rural Development Department, a parallel and full fledge office of Block Development Officer (BDO), Bhalwal, was unearthed which was being run by the BDO and his staff. Huge records, including 170 files pertaining to various works, cashbook, drawal register, contingent register, chequebooks, files containing work orders estimates etc were found strewn in the room of the house number 130, Arjun Nagar, Janipora from where the office was being run. The Vigilance team found 6 officials of Bhalwal block, including Junior Engineer, Cashier, Junior Assistant and three VLWs in the house. An amount of Rs 27,65,500 in cash was also found in the possession of Cashier and VLW. Preliminary questioning of the officials regarding reasons for operating a parallel and full-fledged office from a private place in a clandestine manner at the fag end of the financial year, led to no satisfactory answers. The raid was conducted following informations that BDO Bhalwal had hired a private accommodation at Arjun Nagar Jammu for framing fictitious records against non executed works. It was also alleged that the private accommodation had been hired by the BDO and his staff to clear the bills of selected works of those contractors and mates who were paying heft amounts as commission money. The check proceedings continued till mid night and the scrutiny of records was started again this morning, said a press release, issued by the State Vigilance Organisation. |
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Lone for instilling competitive spirit among students Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 30: Minister of State for Education, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Lone inspected various Secondary examination centres including Hari Singh Higher Secondary School and Shri Ranbir Higher Secondary School here today to check copying menace. He was accompanied by Joint Secretary Examinations BOSE Jammu Harsh Gupta. During the inspection, the Minister interacted with the invigilators and enjoined upon them to ensure fair conduct of exams by checking the menace of copying. He directed the examiners to maintain discipline within the premises of the centres and keep a vigil over any outside interference in the conduct of the examinations. He said there is an immense need to keep the menace of copying out of the education institutions as such practices mars the competitive spirit among the students, which leads them to self- destruction. While inspecting the examination centres, the Minister expressed his satisfaction over the arrangements for fair and smooth conduct of examinations. Later, the Minister also reviewed the functioning of the institutions including preparedness for next academic session. Interacting with the teaching staff, the Minister said that job oriented courses would be introduced in schools from next session and sought their cooperation in making the move a success. Responding to the problems raised by the management of the institutions the Minister assured that Government would take all measures to address their problems. Meanwhile, Dr.Lone inspected the construction work on computer lab and leveling of play ground at Hari Singh Higher Secondary School and repair work on inner links of Shri Ranbir Higher Secondary School. |
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Achievements of banks reviewed Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Mar 30: A District Level Review cum Consultative Committee meeting was held here to take stock of the working of various banks in the district. District Development Commissioner, Kathua, Devinder Nargotra presided. A detailed discussion was held in the meeting regarding achievements made by various banks which include financing of Industrial Units, Loans provided under SGSY, PMRY, JKSES, SJSRY, SC/ST/OBC Development Corporation, SLRS. KVIB, KVIC, Credit-cum-Subsidy for rural housing and cases financed under Handicraft and Handloom sectors were reviewed in the meeting. Speaking on the occasion, the DDC impressed upon the bankers and concerned officers to work in coordination to provide maximum benefits to the unemployed youth under various Government schemes. He expressed satisfication over the performance of various banks in providing the loan component to the unit holders. The meeting was apprised that a total of Rs.49.34 crore have been advanced as loan component by various banks to the unemployed youth in establishing their income generating units under various schemes as sponsored by the concerned departments. A total of 118 self-help-groups were linked to various banks which comprise J&K Bank, 32, State Bank of India, 52, Punjab National Bank 16 up to March, 2005. The activities to be taken under District Credit Plan are Agriculture and allied sectors, Minor irrigation, Animal Husbandry, Poultry, Fisheries, SSI Industries, Transport, Housing Loans, credit to women, professional loans, consumption loans, small business etc which are taken up under various government sponsored programmes like PMRY, JKSES, SGSY, SHGS, SJSRY, margin money scheme, margin money for KVIC, Handicrafts, Handlooms credit-cum-subsidy for rural housing etc. |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 30: Minister of State for Forest and Environment, Th. Puran Singh called upon Union Minister for Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs, Ghulam Nabi Azad and discussed at length several issues relating to the State in general and Rajouri District in particular. The Minister sought early intervention of Mr. Azad in the matter regarding conferment of Scheduled Tribe Status to the Pahari speaking people. He pointed out that the Pahari speaking people have been demanding the status for the decades but due to ignorance at certain levels this genuine demand has not been met so far. Th. Puran Singh further pointed out that the demand for opening of a Degree College at Budhal, though being genuine has not been acceded to so far. He pointed out that setting up of college will cater to the needs of three tehsils viz Kalakote, Mahore and Koterunka (Budhal). Mr Azad heard the Minister and assured him that appropriate action will be taken up with regard to the demands projected by him. |
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Jugal distributes cheques
among 38 beneficiaries Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 30: Minister of State for Tourism, Jugal Kishore Sharma has distributed cheques worth Rs. 4.30 lakh among 38 beneficiaries under Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) and National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) of Reasi and Pouni blocks at a function held at Kambal Danga organized by the Rural Development and Social Welfare Department here today. The Minister distributed Rs. 3.45 lakh under Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) scheme in the form of cheques among 29 beneficiaries of Reasi and Pouni blocks for up-gradation of their houses as second installment, which includes 1.28 lakh for Reasi and Rs. 2.17 lakh for Pouni. The Minister emphasized upon the concerned officers to create massive awareness among the needy sections of the society regarding various State as well as centrally sponsored schemes meant for the socio-economic upliftment of the people especially those belongs to rural and far-flung areas. Mr. Jugal said that Government has formulated a comprehensive policy to promote and develop virgin scenic spots in the state into famous tourist destinations and so for the policy has yielded tangible results. As a part of this endeavour, the Government is actively considering a proposal for developing Baba Aghar Jitto and Derababa Banda to bring it on the world tourism map. The Minister also inspected the ongoing works on the road Karua to Dansar Baba Mandir and Pathways at Sehard Baba Talwara. Later, the Minister convened a meeting with Sarpanches and Panches of Reasi at Panchayat Ghar Block Reasi, Aghar Baba Jittoo. |
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Minimum Wage Act being implemented soon: Jora Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 30: Minimum Wage Act would be implemented in letter and spirit at the earliest at par with Central Wage Act. This was revealed at a meeting of Minimum Wage Advisory Board held here today under the chairmanship of Minister for Labour and Employment Nawang Rigzin Jora. Minister of State for Labour and employment Manjit Singh was also present. Mr. Jora said that Minimum Wage for unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled workers would be enhanced shortly. The proposed wages would be Rs. 66 per day to un-skilled as against Rs. 45, semi-skilled would get Rs. 88 instead of Rs. 60 and the skilled workers would get Rs. 147 per day as against Rs. 100. He said labour laws also being amended to make the labour friendly. It was also decided in the meeting that the private educational institutions would be brought under the purview of Minimum Wages Act to prevent the exploitation of teachers and other staff working in these institutions. Among others, Commissioner/Secretary Labour and Employment Amit Kushari, Labour Commissioner, Charanjit Singh and representatives of various organizations. |
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Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Mar 30: The PHE Employees Association suspended its seven day long dharna after assurance from the Executive Engineer PHE Division, Rajouri, that their demands stand conceded and the necessary orders will follow within a week’s time. The Executive Engineer Mr Saleem assured the agitating employees that vacant posts would be filled up on seniority basis and order regarding Non-ITI personnel issued in the first week of April. Mr Tahir Shawl, Association president threatened to resume the agitation and resort to fast till death in case the demands were not conceded. Tegh lauds efforts of Manmohan, Musharraf Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 30: Vateran Akali leader and general secretary Gurdwara Chatti Padshahi, Muzaffarabad (in exile), Sant Singh Tegh (98), has expressed his joy over the opening of Uri-Muzaffarabad road on April 7. Akali leader congratulated Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Pakistani president, Pervez Musharraf for their efforts to open the road link for people’s contact on both sides after a gap of 58 years. Mr Tegh however, strongly protested over the list of politicians and journalists who do not belong to Muzaffarabad but are listed by J&K Government to travel in the first bus only to stage a political drama to gain publicity for mileage instead of doing good to the people. Though presently handicapped due to fractures in both the legs, yet Mr Tegh has expressed a burning desire to see his birth place and pay obeisance at Gurdwara Chatti Padshahi, Muzaffarabad and also to offer prayers for the departed souls of the members of his community. |
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