Entire NC walks-out to allow proceedings
No resignations till Kundal debated: Azad
Uproar continues, House adjourned for 132 minutes
Tell Ministers to quit before discussion: Rather

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Jan 28: Virtually ruling out resignations of Kundal Committee indicted Ministers Tariq Hamid Qarra, Incharge Finance and Qazi Mohd Afzal, Incharge Forests till charges against them are established in the House during debate on the report, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said in the Assembly that the Government was ready for a debate today, tomorrow or any other day the Opposition likes.

As National Conference continued uproar on Kundal Committee recommendations for fourth day today leading to a 132 minutes adjournment of Assembly, Mr Azad invited the Opposition for a debate when the House resumed its sitting in the afternoon saying a discussion on Kundal Committee has been listed in today’s business and the Government was ready for it.

"If the Opposition wants the debate to be held today, we are ready for it, if they want a discussion tomorrow or any other day, we are even ready for that ", the Chief Minister said.

However, Mr Azad was not ready to give an assurance to Leader of Opposition Abdul Rahim Rather and other NC members including Dr Mehboob Beg, Ajay Sadhotra and Ali Mohd Sagar that action will be taken against the Ministers after the discussion.

"Both sides have to argue their case. You first establish the charges and make a case in your favour. Advocates from both sides plead their case and only then the verdict is given by the Judge", he pointed out refusing to take down the NC demand for announcing the verdict first as a pre-condition for their participation in discussion on Kundal Committee report.

Mr Azad said the Government was not afraid of a debate on Kundal report which was also evident from the fact that the discussion has been listed in today’s business. "The Opposition wanted report, we tabled it. If they want discussion, we are ready for it. Both sides will give their views on the report and then either the Chief Minister or a Minister will also reply. How can we give the judgment before debate"? he asked.

The Chief Minister pointed out that if a decision on the fate of Ministers is taken in advance, as asked by the Opposition, then what is the fun of debate?

"The case is crystal clear. Charges have clearly been established against the two Ministers. If you (the Government) wants, we will prove it again but first assure us that action will be taken whosoever is involved", Mr Rather stressed.

PDP leader and former Minister Abdul Rehman Veeri argued that the Government has already finalised Action Taken Report (ATR) and there was no scope of more action.

Mr Sagar pointed out that Mr Veeri was negating the statement of Mr Azad, who has assured action if the case was proved against the Ministers. "Mr Veeri is saying that action had already been taken (by referring the cases to Vigilance Organisation and Crime Branch). Who is right, Mr CM or Mr Veeri"? he asked.

Dr Mehboob Beg said the NC was ready for the debate but the "tainted Ministers" should go.

All NC members, who remained on their toes during arguments and counter arguments, finally staged a walk-out from the House shouting slogans. A total of 22 MLAs out of their strength of 24 were present in the House and all of them walked-out.

The discussion was not held on Kundal Committee report following walk-out by the Opposition and the Speaker switched over to next item of a debate on the grants of Departments held by the Chief Minister. However, after the NC walk-out proceedings of the House began after Wednesday and Thursday’s total disruption which had forced the Speaker to adjourn the House till today. Debate on CM’s grants started after the NC walk-out and continued till 5.30 pm with one and a half hour lunch break. The CM will reply to the debate tomorrow. It was for the first time since Kundal report was tabled that the House proceedings began smoothly.

The Excelsior has exclusively reported that the NC after protests will stage a walk-out in the Assembly to allow functioning of the House during CM’s grants.

As the House resumed at 12.30 pm after an adjournment of two hours and 12 minutes during Question Hour due to uproar by the NC and NPP MLAs, Mr Rather reiterated his party’s charge that a clear case has been made out for Ministers’ resignation in Kundal Committee report.

"There is a precedent that "delinquent Ministers" should quit voluntarily or action is taken against them. We are not shying away from the discussion. We are ready for it but the Ministers must go first", he said.

As PDP Legislature Party leader and Agriculture Minister Abdul Aziz Zargar interrupted Mr Rather and asked him to come forward for a discussion on Kundal Committee report and PHE Minister Dilawar Mir endorsed Mr Zargar’s view point, the Leader of Opposition charged the ruling alliance with trying to "browbeat the Opposition" but warned that they can’t succeed.

"We will prove loot of forests. We will prove loot of State exchequer. Mr Chief Minister you will have to give an assurance that you will act and act now. People are looking at you. War against corruption can’t be fought on selective basis. You will have to take same action against the two Ministers as was taken against the one earlier", Mr Rather said.

"We will not participate in any grants. We will not participate in any discussion till action is taken against the Ministers", he added.

Earlier, as the House resumed its sitting after three days adjournment at 10 am, Mr Rather was on his feet and countered the ruling party’s campaign that NC was not allowing the House to be run. He said the Opposition had all along been co-operating with the Government. "We participated in Debate on Governor’s Address. We heard Finance Minister’s budget speech and Chief Minister’s over three hour reply on Governor’s Address patiently", he said, adding it was within our right to ask for tabling of Kundal Committee report when the Excelsior published it fully. "And when we saw the report, we found the Minister’ badly implicated and then we had no other option but to protest seeking resignation of the Ministers".

"The Ministers shall have to go", Mr Rather said as NC members started shouting slogans like "Daagi Mantriyon Ko Bahar Karo", "Gali Gali Mein Shor Hai, Qazi Qarra Chor Hai".

NPP members including Harshdev Singh, Balwant Singh Mankotia, Yashpal Kundal and Faqir Nath also joined the protests shouting "Is Defunct Assembly Ko Bhang Karo" and "Governor Rule Lagoo Karo".

Harshdev Singh displayed a large poster during the slogan shouting which he later handed over to the Speaker. The poster carried four slogans including "We want end to jungle raj", "Dissolve defunct Assembly", "Impose Governor’s rule" and "Hold fresh elections".

The NC protests were countered by PDP and Congress members while the Speaker went ahead with a couple of questions.

Harshdev Singh stood up on the bench and shouted that all three parties—Congress, PDP and NC have "connived to silence the voice of Jammu".

Health and Medical Education Minister and veteran Congress leader Mangat Ram Sharma objected to the NC’s behaviour saying on the one side the Leader of Opposition was talking of allowing the House to be run smoothly while on the other they were creating uproar.

"I condemn their behaviour", Mr Sharma remarked.

After 18 minutes of uproar, the Speaker adjourned the House for half an hour at 10.18 am. The House, however, met again at 12.30 pm.

During pandemonium, NPP legislators—Harshdev Singh and Yashpal Kundal staged a walk-out in the House.

Jammu State Morcha (JSM) MLA also walked-out of the House but for a different reason. He was not satisfied with the reply given to him in response to his question. However, his voice was lost in the din.

Uproar in Upper House, NC MLCs walk-out

By Gopal Sharma

JAMMU, Jan 28: J&K Legislative Council again witnessed uproar, noisy scenes and protest demonstration by the Opposition National Conference members.

They were demanding sacking of two PDP Ministers, Tariq Hamid Qarra holding the portfolio of Finance, Housing and Urban development and Qazi Mohd Afzal, Minister incharge Forest and Environment. They reiterated their demand of implementation of Kundal Committee Report in which two PDP Ministers have been indicted.

Shouting of slogans by the National Conference members including Sakina Itoo, Bashir Ahmed Naz, T S Wazir, M R Qureshi and Devinder Singh Rana started immediately after the Upper House just commenced its routine business today. All the members stood up and moved to the front row and started raising anti-Government and anti-Azad slogans.

The NC legislators demanded that two tainted Ministers be immediately sacked and there should not be two separate yardsticks in dealing for Congress and PDP. They said if Minister for School Education Peerzada Mohd Sayeed can be removed on the charges of just Rs 40,000 corruption, why PDP Ministers were being spared for their involvement in scams and irregularities worth cores in the Forest department.

After staging protest for about 12 minutes at the front row, the Opposition members then moved into the ‘Well’ of the House, just in front of Chairman’s seat. They raised slogans, ‘‘Azad Sarkar Hai Hai..., Qazi-Qarra Ko Baher Karo, Dagi Mantriyon Ko Baher Nikalo.....,Gali Gali Mein Shor Hai, Azad Sarkar....... Hai, Dictatorship Nahin Chalegi, Hathdharmi Nahin Chalegi"....so on. They sought the intervention of the Chairman, Ghulam Nabi Lone and demanded that House be adjourned, however, Mr Lone preferred to carry on the routine business during Question Hour.

Amidst noise and din, nothing was clearly audible as the Chairman allowed to continue the conduct of business. After staging protest for about 20 minutes, the five NC members Sakina Ittoo, M R Qureshi, Bashir Naz, T S Wazir and Devinder Singh Rana staged walk-out. They did not turn up to participate in rest of the business and boycotted today’s proceedings in the Upper House.

Mr Naz alleged that Opposition members’ voice was being gagged and they were not being allowed to raise their issues. They were being suppressed. Mr Rana however said, " Chairman Sahib, Ye House Aapko Mubarik, Aap Jo Marzi Chahe Karo, Faisle Bhi Khud Karo, Aur House Bhi Opposition Ki Gairmaujudgi Mein Chalao. Unfortunate fate of democracy is being witnessed here. We will stay-out and boycott the proceedings."

Harshdev for fresh polls, Tarigami wants retirement age up
Govt too responsible for Oppn’s non-cooperation: Mir

By Avtar Bhat

JAMMU, Jan 28: People’s Democratic Party (PDP), MLA from Tangmarg, Ghulam Hassan Mir today made it clear that all claims regarding good governance will prove futile if State Assembly does not function smoothly.

Participating in the discussion on annual grants for year 2008-09 of the ministries under the control of Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad in Legislative Assembly today, Mir said it is not a good trend that entire Opposition has staged a walkout from the House when important grants are to be discussed. Showing his concern on the absence of Opposition from the House, the PDP MLA said ,Chief Minister can’t absolve himself of the responsibility by accusing the Opposition of non cooperation.

But projecting Government’s shortcoming, Mir said there is no employment policy and wanted to know what steps Government has taken to remove the unemployment. He also expressed concern over backdoor appointments saying this has disappointed the meritorious youth.

Demanding the fresh elections in the State, Panthers Party, MLA Harsh Dev Singh took strong exception to the present stalemate in the House. He held both Government and Opposition responsible for it.

He said the claims of Government on work culture, double and triple shift have proved hollow and even Chief Minister himself admitted that despite getting liberal funds from Centre they could not be utilized properly.

He said a complaint was made by three MLAs from Udhampur against the involvement of an officer in corruption charges and despite the assurance of Chief Minister, the Government failed to take action against him till date.

"Though I don’t know under what concept the CM gave this statement but one thing is certain that corrupt are more stronger and they are not afraid of any one". Without naming any officer, Singh read a Hindi movie song "Isharoon Ko Aagar Samjo Raaz Ko Raaz Rehnay Do".

The MLA said that an employee who made a complaint against a strong officer had to suffer later and became a target. He said the officer who has a patronage is never afraid and those who have no links are victimized. He asked the CM to take a cognizance of this.

Harsh Dev also criticized the Government for its failure in implementation of board decisions and alleged that these institutions have lost credibility and there is every apprehension of these institutions may become defunct.

MLA Habba Kadal and ally of ruling coalition, Raman Mattoo, while terming the Government’s claims on honorable return of Kashmiri Pandits totally hollow, demanded an employment package for the displaced Pandit youth.

He said the number of KP employees at the time of their exodus was 15,000 and 70 percent of them have retired during last 18 years but even 200 Pandit youth were not appointed in lieu of it.

Expressing grave concern over the encroachment and selling out of the land of Kashmiri Pandits’ temples and shrines, he demanded a probe into it. He said these temples and shrines are the part of Kashmiriyat and Government should take all measures to safeguard them.

Mattoo also demanded setting up of Sharda University and expressed concern over the deletion of names of KPs from electoral rolls.

CPI (M), MLA from Kulgam, Mohammed Yousf Tarigami, while taking the Government to task alleged no action is being taken against those who have been indicted by the Accountability Commission.

Supporting the demand of working class, Tarigami urged the Government that the retirement age be extended to 60 years as is case in Central Government departments. He said this will not affect the employment generation in the State. However, the CPI (M) leader opposed the extension and re-employment policy and alleged that extension list has increased despite CM’s assurance.

He also demanded establishment of Custodial Disappearance Commission saying if constitution of Commission was not possible then the Government should frame a Committee. He also demanded that policemen be given ration money and SPOs be given the benefit of SRO 43.

PDP MLA , Abdul Rehman Veeri, while hailing the initiatives taken by the Government, said there are no two options that Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad took historical decisions and encouraged the local bureaucrats by appointing them on key posts.

But Veeri stressed on framing of a comprehensive policy on contractual appointments and demanded that PSC and SSRB should make selections only after conducting written tests as there was no fun of conducting interviews.

He also demanded that on priority basis recruitment be made in Health and Education sectors as there was dearth of doctors and teachers in the State. Expressing solidarity with the displaced Pandits, Veeri urged the Government to pay relief to bifurcated ration card holders and sought personnel intervention of the CM to solve this issue.

Abdul Gaffar Sofi of PDP demanded transfer of staff from Kashmir House at Chandigarh and Delhi saying that mafia Raj exists there as these employees have a stay of over 15 years there.

PP’s Balwant Singh Mankotia demanded that district level posts should remain confined to district level only. He stressed a law be brought in this regard in the Assembly.

He demanded that the youth appointed under crash course be given salaries and construction of mini Secretariat at Udhampur. He suggested that recruitment be made at district level and a separate system in this regard should be evolved.

MLA Bishnah, Ashwani Sharma demanded that the people in border areas who were killed due to shelling from across or laying of mines be given benefits under SRO 43. He alleged some cases in this regard were still pending with authorities.

Appreciating the role of J&K Police, he said they have done a commendable job and credit for normalcy restoration goes to them. He demanded ration money for the policemen. He also demanded special package for border people who have suffered a heavy loss due to border skirmishes. He also demanded recruitment of Naib Tehsildars.

Congress MLA, Raman Bhalla stressed on settlement of refugees issue. He said the future of these refugees is bleak and Government should settle their problems.

Bhalla also demanded that the people who have been allotted land during the regime of Bakshi Ghulam Mohammed be given ownership rights on that and suggested that steps be taken to curtail the growing unemployment.

He also suggested that special attention be paid for boosting tourism in Jammu and new projects be taken up in hand in this regard. Further he suggested recruitments be made in Traffic Police.

MLA Doda, Abdul Majid Wani, while hailing the Government said it gave practical shape to all its decisions. He termed the creation of eight new districts in J&K as a historical decision.

Hailing the Government, Dr Manohar Lal said many historical decision were taken by the Chief Minister. He demanded that the number of members of SSRB and PSC be increased as from last five to six years no recruitment has been made by these bodies. He said 1100 posts of teachers have been referred to SSRB four years back but till date no recruitment has been made.

MLA Banihal Moulvi Rashid said the 150 schools given in his constituency are without teachers and demanded that employment avenues be created in Banihal. He also hailed the Chief Minister, for giving district status to Ramban.

‘Trial balloons enhance separatist feelings in J&K’
Rajnath attacks Cong-PDP coalition Govt

NEW DELHI, Jan 28: The BJP today attacked the Congress-PDP coalition Government in Jammu and Kashmir for "constantly floating trial balloons that enhance separatist feelings" and sought scrapping of Article 370 and implementation of Uniform Civil Code to bring the troubled State into the national mainstream.

In his Presidential address at the two-day BJP National Council meeting here, party chief Rajnath Singh also demanded immediate announcement of a special package for the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, who migrated from the Valley in late 1980s following the outbreak of violence there.

"Despite the existence of Congress-led coalition Governments at both the Centre and in Jammu and Kashmir, one is not being able to see any sort of improvement there," he said.

Mr Singh alleged that instead of trying to bring Jammu and Kashmir into the national mainstream, the State Government "constantly keeps floating trial balloons that enhance separatist feelings".

"Sometimes they talk about the pre-1953 situation or make a completely ludicrous demand such as asking for a separate currency for Jammu and Kashmir," he added.

Prior to 1953, the BJP president further claimed, when Kashmir had a separate Parliament, Prime Minister and flag, the State did not have a separate currency even at that time.

"This shows that the Congress is going even one step beyond that point in history."

He said the Government was not paying any attention towards the plight of the Kashmiri Pandits who were leading a "life of misery".

Mr Singh said there was no special provision for the Kashmiri Pandits in the Government package announced for Jammu and Kashmir.

"In my opinion, to bring Kashmir into the national mainstream and also to weaken the separatist forces, the time has now come for all political parties, in the national interest, to once again consider removal of Article 370 and implementation of the Union Civil Code," he said.

Raring for the kill after a series of Assembly election victories, it was harping on the Hindutva agenda again for the BJP today.

The mood was evident right from the word go at the National Council Meeting as party chief Rajnath Singh raked up the Afzal issue, turned aggressive on Ram Setu and opposed minority appeasement.

Singh said the word "minority" has created a crisis in the country and demanded that it be redefined as he lashed out at the Government’s "minority appeasement" policies.

"I request the Government to legally define the term minority and also appropriately determine in what spheres it would be applicable," he said noting that many misconceptions are associated with the term.

The BJP chief said "various court judgements are also echoing questions such as who is a minority, on what basis and in which region and this takes different connotations depending upon the prevailing situation and the geographical area in different parts of the country."

He said the BJP will go to any limit to thwart any move to introduce "communal budgeting" as he criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for saying that minorities should have the first claim on national resources.

Singh said BJP after returning to power would discontinue with the scheme of allocating more funds to minority-dominated districts.

"The BJP believes that every section of the society must be developed. Any attempt to communally colour development is condemnable," Singh said at the council, meeting for the first time after the NDA gave its stamp of approval for Advani’s candidacy as PM.

Singh said while the allocation of funds for minorities has gone up from Rs 400 crore to Rs 1400 crore, there was a two per cent slash in the funds for development of Scheduled Castes and other backward sections.

"This is injustice with the backward and deserved segments," he said.

Singh was also aggressive on the Ram Setu issue as he denounced the Government for questioning the existence of Lord Rama and demanded an apology from it to the nation for insulting Hindu religion and culture.

"Even during the period of direct foreign rule, the British and the Mughal Government even under Aurangazeb, could not dare to say what this democratically elected Government of independent India has done," he said.

Declaring that the BJP would give its complete moral support to the movement to protect Ram Setu, he demanded that the Government make public the report of the Setu Samudhram Project that has been submitted to it.

He also criticised the use of phrases like Hindu terrorism by some Congress leaders.

At the same time, Singh said the splendid success of Gujarat has given the twin message of ideology and development in favour of the BJP. (AGENCIES)

Awarded on Jan 26, Capt Sunil sacrifices life next day

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 28: The body of martyr Captain Sunil Kumar Chaudhary, who laid down his life while fighting with ULFA militants in Assam yesterday, reached his hometown Govindsar in Kathua district this evening.

The cremation of brave officer will take place with full military honour tomorrow.

Capt S K Chaudhary laid down his life in a counter insurgency operation at village Barapathar in Assam yesterday. In the operation, the brave officer killed two militants of ULFA even after being shot in his neck. He, later, succumbed to the injuries.

He was commissioned from Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun into 7/11 Gorkha Rifles on December 10, 2004 and had excelled in Platoon weapons and machine gun courses at Infantry School, Mhow. Before moving to counter terrorism operations, he was posted at Kolkata.

Capt Chaudhary was awarded a Sena Medal for gallantry, in the awards announced on January 26. The award was for an operation in Nabjothi (Tinsukia) in July last year in which two militants including self-styled action group commander of ULFA were killed.

A son of the soil, young Captain hailing from a traditional Army family from Kathua. His father Col P L Choudhary is Chief Army Record Officer at Nasik and brother is a flying officer in the Air Force. His grand-father servied in the Indian National Army.

He was scheduled to be married on March 9 with a Jammu girl working as lecturer.

Entire town turned shell shocked after coming to know about the death of young son of the soil. A large number of people and relatives thronged the house of Col Choudhary this evening.

Civilian gunned down in Handwara

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Jan 28: Unidentified gunmen, believed to be militants, have kidnapped and subsequently shot dead a civilian in Handwara area in north Kashmir today.

Informed sources said that two militants, armed with Chinese pistols, appeared at Badra Payeen village in Handwara in the afternoon and they kidnapped 34-year-old Riyaz Ahmed from close vicinity of his home. His wife and mother followed the kidnappers frantically but they put him in a vehicle and sped away. He is believed to have been fired upon and killed as marks of blood were spotted in the area.

However, officials said that Riyaz Ahmed was "missing" after he had been kidnapped from his village. They said that Police had registered a report and begun search for the kidnapped youth. They said that Riyaz used to work with J&K Police as a Follower but few years back he had been discharged from service on account of his involvement with militancy. Many people in the locality had been suspecting him to be working for an intelligence agency and armed forces for the last over two years.

Omar chairs LP meeting
NC gives Option No. 2: CBI probe

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 28: To break stalemate in the Assembly, the Opposition National Conference today came out with an option to its demand for resignation of two Ministers—Tariq Hamid Qarra, Incharge Finance and Qazi Mohd Afzal, Incharge Forests, both from PDP.

The party will settle for a CBI probe into the charges levelled against two Ministers in Kundal Committee report.

Insiders in the NC said the alternative formula was floated by the party in its Legislature Party meeting, presided over by NC president Omar Abdullah and attended by all MLAs and MLCs of the party including Leader of Opposition Abdul Rahim Rather. The meeting lasted two hours between 5 pm to 7 pm.

The new formula will be given by Mr Rather in the Legislative Assembly tomorrow.

Veteran NC leader and former Minister Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal told the Excelsior after the NCLP meeting that the NC will insist on an assurance from Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad that he will take action against the Ministers if it was proved during debate on Kundal Committee report that both Ministers have been indicted in the report.

"If the CM is not ready to come with an assurance, we will not participate in discussion and will insist on a time bound CBI inquiry into allegations against the Ministers", Dr Kamal said.

He added that if both demands of the NC are rejected: "we will keep ourselves away from proceedings of the House. We will protest and walk-out".

"If on any occasion the situation warrants our participation in the meeting, we will certainly do but definitely we will boycott the two tainted Ministers and will neither ask them any question nor allow them to speak", he said.

The NCLP reiterated that accusing fingers have clearly been pointed against the two Ministers and they should be removed from the posts. The NCLP rejected the Chief Minister’s suggestion to the Opposition, made in the Assembly today, for a debate on Kundal Committee report without an assurance that if the NC proved its case the Ministers will be removed.

"There is no fun of debate for the sake of debate. There were serious charges against the Ministers", the NCLP observed.

Regarding PDP charges that NC was deliberately targeting the two Ministers as Mr Qarra had created dent in NC stronghold of Srinagar and Mr Afzal had defeated the NC chief in Ganderbal, Dr Kamal said: "had these been the reason, we would have been protesting against the Ministers for last three or four years".

Moreover, he added, inquiry into the Forest scam was ordered by the Chief Minister on his own and was conducted by the then Home Commissioner, B R Kundal, who is Chief Secretary of the State. The Ministers have been indicted in Government appointed inquiry committee, he said.

Where is Guru’s clemency appeal? asks BJP

NEW DELHI, Jan 28: The BJP today claimed that terrorists would not have dared to strike at the courts in Uttar Pradesh had the Centre not taken "so long" to act on the Supreme Court decision to hang Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru.

BJP chief Rajnath Singh, in his Presidential address at the party's two-day national council meeting here, asked the Centre about the fate of Afzal Guru's clemency appeal.

"I would like to ask the Central Government that at this point of time, where is exactly Afzal's clemency appeal lying between the Home Ministry and the Rashtrapati Bhavan?" he asked.

Mr Singh said former President A P J Abdul Kalam had earlier stated that he had referred the matter to the Home Ministry during his tenure.

Quoting Dr Kalam, the BJP president said the Home Ministry did not return the file to him. "What message does the Government want to give to the terrorists?"

He said the terror attacks that had taken place in Uttar Pradesh over the past two months were important from the point of view that, for the first time, the terrorists had tried to terrorise the judiciary.

Mr Singh claimed that this was because the lawyers of Uttar Pradesh took a decision of not fighting the cases of terrorists.

"In my opinion, if the Central Government had not kept pending so long the decision of the Supreme Court to hang Mohammad Afzal, the main accused in the Parliament attack conspiracy, then terrorists would not have dared to even think about terrorising the courts," he said. (UNI)

PDD X-En office sealed

Excelsior Correspondent

KISHTWAR, Jan 28: The district administration has sealed the office of Executive Engineer, Power Development Department.

An official spokesman said that District Development Commissioner had sought details regarding payment made to HR, casual and seasonal labourers engaged from March 2007 till date. However, the Power Development Department didn’t furnish the record.

On the directions of DDC Shahid Anyatullah, the Executive Engineer office was inspected by Additional District Magistrate Rajesh Kumar. During inspection, ADM found that Executive Engineer had left the headquarter without prior premission from District Development Commissioner in violation of Government instructions.

When the relevant record was sought, the staff present in the office informed that Executive Engineer PDD has instructed telephonically not to show any office record to the district administration.

On denial of the record, the Assistant Commissioner (Revenue) Kishtwar sealed the relevant section of the Executive Engineer’s office. However, the incharge staff has been asked to contact Assistant Commissioner (Revenue) in case any record was required for emergent Government business pertaining to QDs and Cut Motion.

Snowfall hampers searches for bodies

SRINAGAR, Jan 28: Fresh snowfall on the upper reaches has dashed the hopes of early recovery of bodies of soldiers and porters who were buried under huge snow avalanche in Uri sector early this month.

The bodies would be recovered only after the snow melts next month, official sources said.

They said success still eludes Army authorities to recover bodies of soldiers and porters who were buried under huge snow avalanche on January 8, at Chota Kazi Nar Dhar near the Line of Control (LoC).

Besides more than 15 feet of snow already accumulated in the tragedy area due to heavy snowfall since early this morning which has hampered the operation to recover the bodies, they said.

The rescue teams, who are camping in an Army Post, some distance away from the avalanche site could not move forward owing to bad weather and heavy snowfall.

To avoid any further casualty, the authorities have decided to undertake the operation to recover the bodies of porters and soldiers once there is no danger of further avalanches, they said.

More than a dozen porters and soldiers were buried alive under snow avalanche in Uri sector on January 8. However, only three soldiers could be rescued in an injured condition.

Though the chance of their (soldiers and porters) survival is almost zero but they still are missing in the records as they cannot be declared dead untill their bodies are recovered, officials said.

The defence authorities have meanwhile, sanctioned Rs one lakh while State Government Rs 50,000 as exgratia relief in favour of the next of kin of the missing porters. (UNI)

97 cross sides at LoC

Excelsior Correspondent

POONCH, Jan 28: A total 97 persons from both the sides of Jammu and Kashmir, crossed the Line of Control (LoC) for meeting their relatives from Chakkan Da Bagh LoC point in district Poonch today.

An official spokesman said that of the total, 57 persons crossed over to PoK from this side. They included 26 fresh residents of Jammu and Kashmir and 31 residents of Pak occupied Kashmir who left for their homes after staying here for some days.

Four persons who had to cross over to that side did not report at the LoC point today. They were found to be missing and authorities have started their search.

A total 40 persons came from the PoK side here today. They included 16 Indian returnees and 24 fresh PoK residents.

The LoC point was opened at 10.30 am and it was closed at 5.30 pm. Guftar Choudhary AC Revenue from PoK side and Matloob Khan, GM DIC Poonch facilitated the entry and exit of passengers on both the sides.

Fake passport racket unearthed

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 28: Police today unearthed a fake passport racket by apprehending a person of Nowshera from Bishnah. He was trying to cheat some Bari Brahmana persons by giving them fake passports.

SP Rural and Headquarters (R&H) Rajinder Gupta said Abdul Lateef, a resident of Lam, Nowshera was arrested by a Bishnah police station party after developing a specific information that he was arranging a fake passport for Mohd Farooq of Bari Brahmana.

Police recovered a fake and a genuine passport from the possession of Abdul Lateef.

Lateef was being quizzed by a Bishnah police station party led by SHO Arjun Singh Chib to ascertain clues from him including the source of procuring fake passports etc.

A case has been registered against the accused at Bishnah police station.

J-K assembly adjourned after protest over forest scam

Jammu, The Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly was today adjourned for an hour amidst uproar over the Kundal committee report with opposition parties demanding sacking of two ministers, for their alleged involvement in the forest scam.

As soon as the proceedings of the house started this morning, the opposition National Conference (NC) members along with Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) legislators raised slogans demanding resignation of two ministers whom they alleged were involved in the forest scam, as per the Kundal committee report.

However, the question hour continued for 40 minutes with opposition members continuing their protests and not allowing the ministers to reply.

The speaker Tara Chand intervened several times and asked the NC legislators to calm down as they can give their views once the house starts discussion over the Kundal Commission report.

As the furore continued in the assembly, the speaker adjourned the house for half an hour. (PTI)

Kashmir Highway reopens for one-way traffic

Srinagar : The 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway, which was closed this morning due to heavy snowfall and slippery road conditions, reopened this afternoon for one-way, a traffic police official said.

However, he said, no vehicle was allowed from this side.

Hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying passengers and essential commodities, were stranded on both sides of the Jawahar tunnel, official sources said.

He said traffic on the highway, only road linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, was suspended following heavy snowfall at 2.9-km-long tunnel and its periphery early today.

The snow accumulated on the highway has been cleared by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway. Vehicles from Jammu were allowed to move towards Srinagar, he said.

He said Penthal, the most troubled spot on the highway, was so far safe. There was no report of landslides, he added. (UNI)