SKIMS pays Rs 47,000 a unit, PDD over Rs 1.06 lakh
PDD officials at work inspite of Vigilance probe in street-light scam

From Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Dec 1: Executive Engineer Electric Division Budgam, A R Khan, has no hesitation to confirm that 17 out of 18 'high mass street lights' installed in Moharram last year in Budgam district have not been operational in the last one year. His predecessor, Mohammad Sultan Sheikh, reveals more: "Our department has installed 66 Halide units in Srinagar and Budgam in 2005 and 2006. Only half of them are in working condition". According to Sheikh, the contract had been allotted to an influential agency at a higher level. The agency got not only exorbitant rates but also used substandard material in everything from so-called steel tubular pole to battery to the lamps. Under "tremendous pressure from many quarters", Sheikh made payment for six of such units in Budgam district at Rs 83,800 per unit but immediately after his transfer, PDD high-ups hiked the rate to Rs 1,06,500......more

Cong expels Yashpal Sharma

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 1: Pradesh Congress today expelled party’s rebel candidate, Yashpal Sharma, contesting by-election from Poonch Assembly seat, scheduled for December 12......more

'It will expose Geelani & coterie'
Set up Commission to probe 17 yrs militancy: Mustafa

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Dec 1: The National Conference has demanded constitution of a Commission to probe 17 years long militancy in the State saying this would expose the forces pointing accusing finger at the party and will give an answer to persons like hard-liner Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani......more

More terror attacks in NDA rule: Sonia

NAVSARI, Dec 1: Launching her election campaign, Congress president Sonia Gandhi today attacked BJP’s claims on tackling terrorism saying major terror attacks took placing during its rule, capping them with the Foreign Minister himself taking a dreaded terrorist to Afghanistan.......more

Modern equipments for Army: Antony

GANGTOK, Dec 1: Defence Minister A K Antony today said that the 600 million US dollar deal to procure 197 light helicopters for the Army was not scrapped yet as he assured the defence forces that they will have the "most modern" arms and equipment soon. ...more

2 jawans killed, 3 hurt in mishap

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 1: Two Army jawans were killed and three others received injuries in an accident at Billawar.Police spokesman said that two Army jawans were killed and three others received injuries when a vehicle, they were travelling in, rolled down near Ludera Suter Khad under the jurisdiction of Billawar Police Station....more

Deccan grounded over troubling passengers

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 1: In a veritable eye-opener for the aviation companies currently indulging in high-handedness to thousands of passengers in Srinagar-Jammu-Delhi sector, Divisional Consumer Protection Forum (DCPF), Kashmir, has directed Air Deccan to pay compensation of Rs one lakh to two Srinagar-based passengers who had been subjected to considerable agony at Jammu Airport in March this year. Company had denied everything from refund of low-cost tickets to making substitute arrangement of travel, as also from boarding to lodging, to the two of its booked passengers after it failed to operate a Jammu-Srinagar flight for no fault of the passengers. ...more