Small groups maintain suspense over trust vote

NEW DELHI, July 15: Small groups in the Lok Sabha such as JMM, JD(S) and National Conference today played the cards close to their chest by refusing to divulge which side they will vote for in the Lok Sabha on the confidence motion on July 22.

With a week to go for the trial of strength, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed confidence that his Government would secure the vote of confidence, while Akali Dal announced its decision to vote against the Government.

JMM, a constituent of the UPA having five MPs, continued to maintain suspense over its strategy on July 22 voting, reserving the decision to be taken at its Parliamentary party meeting on July 19.

JMM chief Shibu Soren, who is said to be nursing a grouse for not being re-inducted into the Cabinet, did not indicate to reporters today about what the party will do.

He talked about his party’s support to Congress at a time when the nation was faced with a situation and that his party MPs were upset, but did not say over what. This was interpreted as a reference to his non-inclusion into the Cabinet.

The core group of the two-member National Conference, which met in Srinagar, authorized party president Omar Abdullah to take a decision on the confidence vote. Ahead of the meeting, Abdullah said all options were open to them.

The JD(S), which has three members, will take a decision on July 18, its president H D Deve Gowda said today, but attacked Congress and BJP for their attitude towards the party in Karnataka. One of the three members M P Veerendra Kumar has already announced that he will vote against the Government.

In Chandigarh, Akali Dal which has eight MPs, today scotched all speculation about the party toeing a soft line in view of the Prime Minister’s Sikh origin, saying it would vote against the Government.

Dal supremo and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said his party has a clear-cut policy against the Congress and it has decided not to support the Government. "Our party does not not believe in horse-trading. SAD MPs will vote along with the NDA during the confidence vote," he said dismissing speculation that the MPs might abstain.

"Our MPs will not run away from the battle field," he said.

Asked whether Akali Dal would not not be blamed for dislodging the first Sikh Prime Minister if the Government is defeated, Badal said "instead of adopting a conservative approach, we should have a broad thinking on the matter.

"If this is the case, then tomorrow all Hindus, Christians and Muslims will start voting for the man of their community and religion," he said. However, he praised Singh as an "able and respectable person" but was in a party that had committed injustice to Sikhs.

He said there were no differences in the party and there was no confusion on the issue. There will also be no whip to the MPs. In his first public comments after the Left Parties withdrew support to his Government, the Prime Minister was confident that his Government will win in the trial of strength.

"The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the people of India understood the significance of the initiatives being taken by the UPA Government and endorse them," a press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said after his interaction with a group of Television journalists.

Meanwhile, there were questions over how suspended DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran would vote. Sources close to him said he might abstain from voting against the backdrop of strained relations with his Grand Uncle and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

Not voting was one of the options being considered by him since he was not against the Congress-led Government as such, the sources said.

However, senior DMK leader and Union Minister T R Baalu expressed confidence that Maran would not defy the party whip as "he knows how to react to a party direction".

In the opposition, the BJP today said it has issued a whip to all its MPs to be present and voting against the Government in the confidence vote. Likewise, BJP Parliamentary Party spokesman V K Malhotra, said allies Akali Dal, Shiv Sena, BJD and JD(U) have also given whips to their MPs.

Leader of the Opposition L K Advani is hosting a dinner on July 20 to all the NDA MPs ahead of the vote. (PTI).

Jammu bandh today over SASB land row

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, July 15: Taking strong exception to the statement of Governor, N N Vohra that no land was either given to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) or taken back, Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti today said that the statement was aimed at befooling the masses.

Talking to media-persons here this afternoon, convenor of the Sangarsh Samiti, Leela Karan Sharma asked "if there was no issue of land then why did the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Ministers withdraw support to the Government? Why Shrine Board paid a sum of Rs 2 crore to the State Government for use of 800 kanals of land? and Why Ghulam Nabi Azad got the order cancelled?"

"Mr Vohra is intentionally befooling the masses in order to weaken the agitation but he must keep in mind that the ongoing agitation will not come to an end till the land is restored to the Shrine Board", Mr Sharma said, adding "such a misleading statement was never expected from Constitutional head of the State".

To a question, he said "though the administration is approaching us for talks on the issue but Governor has not extended any invitation so far". He, however, made it clear that meeting Governor especially after his misleading statement doesn’t arise.

"Moreover, what is the fun of meeting either administration or Governor when we have made it clear that the ongoing struggle will continue till the restoration of land to Shrine Board and recall of the Governor", he added.

Pointing towards the utterances of former Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad in a public meeting at Akhnoor, the convenor of Sangarsh Samiti asked why Mr Azad didn’t take any action against those Kashmiri leaders, who have been getting hawala money from Arab and other nations when he was in the power?

"Instead of taking action against such Kashmiri leaders, he preferred to get their support to remain in the power which clearly indicates that for Mr Azad national integration remained second fiddle", Mr Sharma said, adding "it seems that taking away land from SASB was the conspiracy of both Mr Vohra and Mr Azad".

Announcing that a complete bandh will be observed across the Jammu region tomorrow against the revocation of order transferring land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), he appealed the transport corporations of adjoining States not to ply their vehicles failing which the Samiti will not be responsible for any untoward incident.

Making an appeal to all the constituents of the Sangarsh Samiti and people to observe peaceful bandh and maintain law and order, Mr Sharma also advised the police authorities not to make use of any force on the protesters.

Meanwhile, several political, social and religious organisations have supported the bandh call for tomorrow and assured the Sangarsh Samiti of their complete support in taking the agitation to logical conclusion.

These organisations include BJP, Bar Association Jammu, Shiv Sena Hindustan, Jammu Sangarsh Samiti, Panun Kashmir, National Democratic Front, All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference, Non-Camp Association, Panun Kashmir Movement, Non-Camp Inmates Durga Nagar, All J&K Poultry Joint Action Committee, Rashtriya Jagran Manch, Jammu and Kashmir State Samaj Sudhar Committee, Shiv Mandir Trust, Ambphalla, Jammu Central Mahajan Sabha, People’s Revolutionary Movement, Tax Bar Association, National Peace Movement, Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Praja Parishad, Dogra Brahman Pratinidhi Sabha and Jammu State Students Morcha..

Pole is JDA VC, Gupta posted as Director CAPD
8 officers transferred

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, July 15: The Government today ordered transfer and postings of eight Government officers mostly in Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Department, Jammu Development Authority (JDA) and Toll & Commercial Tax organisation at Lakhanpur.

The transfers were ordered after Governor N N Vohra heard delegations of various segments of civil society here.

Devinder Nargotra, Vice Chairman, Jammu Development Authority, has been transferred and posted as Chairman, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Finance Department while Jeet Lal Gupta, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Jammu, has been transferred and posted as Director, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Jammu relieving Joint Director (Administration) in the Directorate of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Jammu of the additional charge of the post. Mr. Gupta will continue to hold the charge of the post of Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Jammu till further orders.

Pandurang Kondabarao Pole, Director, Economic Reconstruction Agency, Jammu, has been transferred and posted as Vice Chairman, Jammu Development Authority on deputation basis.

Vineeta Gupta, Additional Commissioner, Commercial Taxes (Tax Planning), Jammu has been transferred and posted as Director, Economic Reconstruction Agency, Jammu on deputation basis while Mehmood Rana, Joint Director (Administration), holding additional charge of the post of Director, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Jammu is attached to the General Administration Department till further orders.

Onkar Nath, Deputy Commissioner, Commercial Taxes (Vigilance and Inspection) has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Commercial Taxes, Lakhanpur vice Inderjeet Singh, who will report to Divisional Commissioner, Jammu till further orders. Onkar Nath shall also hold additional charge of the post of Deputy Commissioner, Excise (Toll Post), Lakhanpur in place of Masood Raja who will report to Divisional Commissioner, Jammu till further orders.

Maharaj Krishen Raina, Deputy Director in Directorate of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Jammu has been transferred and posted as Project Officer, Watershed Development, Rural Development Department, Jammu while Pardeep Kumar, Deputy Secretary to Government, Home Department, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Director in Directorate of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Jammu.

Meanwhile, Governor N N Vohra has directed all the Administrative Secretaries and Heads of the Departments to personally monitor implementation of developmental works.

There should be no slackness on the part of any public servant in implementing ongoing developmental schemes and thrust on development should continue, a circular issue by the General Administration Department on the directions of Mr Vohra said, adding all the Administrative Secretaries and HoDs should give priority to the completion of the on-going projects so that investment starts giving dividends to the public.

The Administrative Secretaries and HoDs have been directed to conduct focused field visits and monitor implementation of the ongoing development works and they should plan their field visits keeping in view the requirement of their presence at their headquarters. They have further been directed to ensure that the development works are executed within the time frame in a fair and transparent manner.

They will also take appropriate decisions on spot within their competence to remove any constraint responsible for delay in the execution of the works.

In case prior consultation with Planning or Finance Department is required for taking any decision, the Administrative Secretaries and HoDs will immediately refer the matter to the concerned department on their return from the tour and necessary directions passed to the field officers or agency within the shortest possible time.

All the Government employees have also been directed to be punctual to their duties and Heads of the Departments and Deputy Commissioners asked to ensure presence of Government employees in the far-flung areas of the State.

For this purpose, they have been asked to conduct surprise inspections of the offices and submit their inspection reports to the Chief Secretary.

60 bills, dozen House Committees lapse

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, July 15: More than 60 private member’s bills including the one moved by former Leader of Opposition Abdul Rahim Rather for facilitating separatists to contest Assembly elections, about 25 Resolutions and more than a dozen House Committees have lapsed with abrupt dissolution of the Legislative Assembly.

Assembly Secretariat admitted that several House Committees, which had important agenda before them and whose reports were expected to be tabled in proposed last session of the Assembly in mid-July, have ceased to exist with the Governor dissolving Assembly last week following resignation of Ghulam Nabi Azad as the Chief Minister and imposition of Governor’s Rule in the State.

The Privileges Committee, Assurance Committee, Petition Committee, House Committee, three Financial Committees, Committee on Ethics and Environment and an all important panel, which had been authorised to look into backdoor appointments and allotment of works without tenders, have all lapsed, official sources said.

As budget session of the Assembly was adjourned sine die amidst unprecedented pandemonium for one week over Kundal Committee’s disclosures on January 30 much before the scheduled adjournment, several House Committees and Select Committees, constituted by the Assembly, couldn’t seek extensions and ceased to exist.

"Every Select Committee and House Committee had to submit its findings before last day of next session when they are constituted. They can be given a maximum of two extensions", sources said.

They disclosed that there were at least 60 private member’s bills at different stages (introduction, consideration and passing), which had to be taken up in last session of the House), which assembled for one day only to take up vote of confidence in the Government and lasted just two hours before the Chief Minister announced his resignation.

"While the Government of India as well as the State Government are repeatedly inviting separatists to join electoral fray, they can’t contest the Assembly elections under Section 24 AA of Representation of People’s Act (RPA) which debars all "unlawful association" from contesting polls", Mr Rather, who had introduced a private member’s bill seeking an amendment in the RPA to allow separatists to contest the polls, said.

He added that the Government had allowed introduction of the bill but now it has gone into "cold storage" as the Assembly has been dissolved. He pointed out that even if the separatists affiliated with unlawful organisations want to contest the Assembly elections expressing their faith in the Constitution their nomination papers are liable to be rejected under the present RPA.

A strict check and stringent punishment in the bill ‘domestic violence against women’ had been proposed by Mr Rather through another private member’s bill. The bill was at consideration, discussion and voting stage, he recalled.

A House Committee had proposed introduction of word ‘secular’ in preamble of J&K’s Constitution. The Committee had been constituted on a private member’s bill of Panthers Party ex-MLA and former Minister Harshdev Singh that the word ‘secular’ was missing in preamble of J&K’s Constitution. However, before the Committee could submit its report in proposed session this month, the House was dissolved.

Two more private member’s bills seeking political reservation for Scheduled Tribes in the State like other State and introduction of Bhaderwahi, Poonch and Gaddi languages in 6th schedule of the Indian Constitution have also lapsed.

On assurances given in the House including issuance of Dogra certification and increase in honorarium of Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers on which the Assembly Secretariat had taken serious notice and summoned officers repeatedly, sources quoted that as per Koul and Shakdar’s book, the assurances didn’t lapse with the dissolution of Assembly.

The assurances had to be implemented by the Government which takes over after dissolution of the Assembly, sources said.

As far as Khem Lata Wakhloo led House Committee, which had been tasked to inquire into all backdoor appointments made since 1996 and works allotted without tenders, sources said the Committee’s term had expired in the budget session itself. The Committee was constituted after several days of protests in both Houses in 2006 budget session.

Several other important bills and Resolutions moved by former CPM MLA Mohd Yusuf Tarigami and NC leaders Ajay Sadhotra and Saifullah Mir including unemployment allowance, protecting rights of people working in unorganised sector etc have also lapsed with dissolution of the Lower House before completion of its term.

Weekly bus service between Srinagar-Muzaffarabad soon

SRINAGAR, July 15: A weekly bus service between Srinagar and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has been under active consideration of the Government, Regional Passport Officer (RPO) B Manavalan said.

Participating in the DD-live programme here, Mr Manavalan said at present, there were five points — three in Kashmir valley and two in the Jammu region — from where people from the State and PoK crossed sides.

Two points were connected by road, while at three places, people had to cross on foot, he said.

He said the bus was plying twice a month. However, plan to make the bus service weekly, was under the Government’s consideration, which might get the green signal soon.

However, when a caller wanted to know if he could cross into PoK for attending wedding of his relative on the other side after having a valid passport, Mr Manavalan said only those having permit could travel through those five points.

He said at the time of starting the bus service, both the countries’ Governments agreed to allow its residents to travel on the permit system, which was issued to a person only after the consent of authorities of both sides.

He added that anybody holding a valid passport will not have to go through normal verification again and he will be issued the permit once the clearance was received from other side.

About the permit, he said, forms were available free of cost. Efforts were on to collect permit forms at District Collection Centre (DCC) set up at all districts, presently collecting only passport applications.

He said once the clearance was received from security agencies here, a set of the permit applications was forwarded to the PoK administrations for their consent.

Similarly, once the clearance was received from PoK authorities, the travel permit was issued, he said, adding PoK residents were issued permit only after their clearance.

When some callers alleged delay in police and CID verifications and wanted those should be made time bound, Mr Manavalan said because of security situation, that was not possible.

"I have no authority to ask the police and CID departments to furnish the verifications within a time-bound limit", he said adding once the verification was received we take just less than a week to issue the passport.

The time bound verification system was not applicable in Jammu and Kashmir, he said when a caller said in other States, a RPO could issue passport if the verification was not received from agencies within a time limit.

However, he said, he had authority to issue passport to students or any person who got job abroad. But, he said, such passport were valid for only one year and the student had to submit the admission letter while those getting job had to show an appointment letter.

Mr Manavalan said ‘tatkal’ passport was issued to Government employees, senior citizens above 65 years of age in case of male and 60 for female.

They did not require police verification, he said.

The RPO asked people to fill the passport application forms properly after going through the guidelines. (UNI)

Broad daylight kidnapping in Srinagar outskirts
Student kidnapped for Rs 3 lakh ranson

Excelsior Special Correspondet

SRINAGAR, July 15: Weeks after the infamous kidnapping of a 3-year old child, Mehran, in this capital city, a class 10th student has been kidnapped today in broad daylight for ranson of Rs 3.00 lakh in Hyderpora outskirts. This very locality was witness to the gruesome murder of a 23-year old woman by her jilted lover last week.

Informed official sources told EXCELSIOR that three persons hired a Tata Sumo, bearing registration number JK04A-7722, in Wazbagh locality of Hyderpora at 1330 hours and asked its driver, Abdul Ahad Bhat S/o Abdul Aziz Bhat R/o Rawalpora bridge, to drive in the direction of Sanat Nagar Crossing. Thjey told the driver that they had to pick up another youth and subsequently reach Chadoura township in Budgam district.

According to driver Abdul Ahad Bhat, who later revealed details to Police, two female teachers, one Sikh student and class 10th student of MF Public School Wazbagh, boarded the same vehicle not far away from the school. While the lady teachers and the Sikh student alighted to Sanat Nagar Crossing, three unidentified persons did not let the class 10th student Anees Ahmed Sheikh S/o Jan Mohammad Sheikh, to disembark. They forced the driver to head for Chadoura wherefrom they reached the Ichhigam township close to the district headquarters of Budgam. At Ichhigam, driver Bhat was let off and allowed to the distict headquarters of Budgam. At Ichhigam, driver Bhat was let off and allowed to return to Srinagar after the kidnappers made a phone call to the abducted student's home.

Anees's mother, Kausar, received the call on Airtel mobile No: 9906482862. She passed the phone over to her sister-in-law who was told by the unidentified caller that Anees was in his custody and would be released only after his family paid an amount of Rs. 3.00 Lakh. The caller told the woman that Anees's father had taken Rs. 3.00 lakh as loan and had not returned it for a long time.

Thereafter, Anees's family members approached Police Station Humhama which registered case FIR No: 353 of 2008 under section 364-A RPC (Kidnapping for ransom). Meanwhile driver Abdul Ahad Bhat also reached Police Station Humhama. He was taken into custody and detained for questioning after he got his statement recorded. Police later arrested STD operator, Firdaus Ahmed Rather, from his PCO in Ichhigam. He too has been subjected to sustained interrogation in detention at Humhama.

Duty Officer at Police Station Humhama, Imtiyaz Ahmed said that Police have recorded the driver’s statement and launched an operation to recover Anees and arrest his kidnapper. According to the driver’s statement, one Jan Mohammad Bhat S/o Abdul Rahim Bhat of Tengpora Chowk, Batmaloo, had hired his Sumo and later kidnapped the sutdent when he was returning to his home.

Imtiyaz said that Jan Mohammad Bhat contacted the driver Abdul Ahad Bhat on latter’s phone No: 9419762843 when police was recording his statement. He asked the driver not to reveal his identity in case he was arrested by Police. When a police official tried to speak to Jan Mohammad Bhat, he switched off his cell phone. Police are sure that Jan Mohammad Bhat as well as the abducted student, Anees, are still in Ichhigam area.

During the investigation it surfaced that Jan Mohammad Bhat’s Airtel phone was in the name of his relative. Dr Shaukat Hussain Shah S/o Ghulam Nabi Shah R/o Soibugh, Budgam. They had exchanged SIM cards recently.

The abducted student’s mother revealed that Jan Mohammad Bhat was an acquaintance of her family and in the morning today he had called on her to offer his condolences on the death of Kausar’s father, who had passed away last fortnight. She revealed that her husband, Jan Mohammad Sheikh, who worked as a clerk at District Fund Office Budgam, was ‘‘missing’’ for the last 11 months. He was absconding after some embezzlement of Provident Fund money at Budgam and, according to the family, never contacted anybody in the last 11 months.

Police are confident that the abducted student would be recovered and his kidnapper arrested within a day or two as raids were being conducted at several places.

Haryana spares transformer for Jammu

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, July 15: Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today agreed to provide a spare power transformer for Jammu and has urged former Chief Minister and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad to depute PDD officers to Haryana to collect it.

According to a press release, Mr Azad today again spoke to Mr Hooda on telephone and apprised him of the problems faced by the people of Jammu due to power cuts with the burning of a transformer at Gladni grid station.

The release said Mr Hooda told Mr Azad that a transformer has been spared for shifting to Jammu.

Mr Azad has thanked Mr Hooda for coming to the help of the people of Jammu when they were badly affected by power cuts.

Pressure on Somnath to quit

NEW DELHI/KOLKATA, July 15: Pressure mounted further on Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee to quit his post today amidst reports that he had written to the CPI(M) chief that he was against the party voting with BJP in the confidence vote in the House.

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, accompanied by State Industries Minister Nirupam Sen, called on patriarch Jyoti Basu, the second time in two days, in an apparent attempt to persuade him to toe the party line and quit the post.

There was no word from Chatterjee on what he proposed to do nor about a letter published in a Kolkata Daily today that he had written to CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat in which he has reportedly sought to why a decision has been taken to join hands with "communal" BJP to defeat Congress in the trust vote.

In the letter, the report in the Daily says, that Chatterjee’s contention was that he did not want to cling to the Speaker’s post out of lust for power. He only felt that if he remained in the post, he may not have to join hands with "communal" forces in compliance with the party direction.

Karat himself reacted to the report saying "we are not in the habit of writing letters". He reiterated his earlier statement that the party had already left the issue to the decision of the Speaker.

The Speaker, who is said to be reluctant to quit, has said that the post was above party politics. He had also met Basu on Sunday when he was believed to have been told to go by the party line.

Meanwhile, SP general secretary Amar Singh, along with two of his party leaders, met Chatterjee and appealed him to continue in the Speaker’s post.(PTI)

No dilution in SASB's role: Vohra

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, July 15: Governor, N.N Vohra today observed that Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) will continue to perform its statutory role with zeal and dedication, and said that its functioning will further be strengthened by associating persons of eminence from the State with the affairs of the Board.

In a message, the Governor said that during his interaction with a cross section of the civil society here during the past two days, he gained impression that sentiments of the people of the region have been hurt owing to certain misconception, which need to be cleared by viewing the facts in the right perspective.

He said that the SASB has come into being by an Act of the State Legislature, by virtue of which its statutory role stands well defined. Therefore, there cannot be any dilution of the assigned role of the Board, he added.

Mr Vohra said the SASB has been providing various facilities to the pilgrims and will continue to do so, at an enhanced scale whenever necessary. He reiterated his resolve that the facilities will further be improved under the aegis of the Shrine Board in the years to come.

Making a fervent appeal to the people to view the issue in its right perspective, the Governor observed that there were apprehensions about future of the Board in the public mind, and he would be very happy to discuss the same with those concerned. He hoped that the people will come forward for a dialogue to clear the air on this issue.

Army jawan commits suicide

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, July 15: An Army jawan today allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his rifle in an Army camp at Nagrota.

Defence spokesman said that Mustappa H, a jawan of 9 Madras Regiment, took out his rifle and shot himself during guard duty at 103 Engineering Unit in Nagrota area.

After hearing the gunshot, officers and jawans rushed to the spot and took him to a hospital, where he was declared as brought dead, he said, adding the reason behind the suicide could not be immediately ascertained.

Army has ordered court of enquiry into the incident while as police has registered a case for inquest proceedings.

Kirti Chakra for blast victims

NEW DELHI, July 15: The four Indian Embassy blast victims in Kabul, including Defence Attache R D Mehta and senior IFS Officer V V Rao, have been nominated for the Kirti Chakra, the country’s second highest peace time military award.

Their names have been forwarded by the Defence Ministry for the top honour as a tribute to the deceased, sources said here today.

Along with Mehta and Rao, two ITBP jawans — Roop Singh and Ajai Pathania — were also killed in the massive suicide attack at the Indian Embassy in Kabul on July 7.

It will be the first time that an IFS officer would be given the military award for bravery. There have been instances when some civilians and Jammu and Kashmir policemen have been honoured with the Chakra for exceptional courage.

Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon, during a visit to Kabul on Sunday, had described the deceased as "martyrs" whose contributions could not be ignored.(PTI)

Protests mar Jammu bandh; several vehicles damaged

JAMMU, July 16: Hundreds of bandh supporters today staged protest demonstrations and burnt effigies of politicians in Jammu throwing life out of gear in this strife-torn State.

The Amaranth Sangrash Samiti called the bandh demanding removal of Governor N N Vohra and restoration of the cancelled land transfer to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).

Protesters in several areas of the city including Muthi, Satwari, Nagrota, Jewel, Parade and Canal Road burnt effigies of Vohra, outgoing Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and PDP chief Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. They also shouted slogans against the Congress and the PDP.

Over a dozen of private and public transport vehicles were damaged after the bandh supporters resorted to stone pelting in several areas of Bari-Brahamana, Satwari and Gangyal.

"However, there were no major clashes between police and public and the situation was peaceful till now," police control room officials said.

Amid the protests, Vohra took a whirlwind visit of the city, Gladni power house and Seethli water supply unit and review the security situation today.

The protesters were led by several groups including BJP, Shiv Sena, VHP, Sangrash Samiti, JJSF, Kranti Dal, Bajrang Dal, All Party Migrant Coordination Committee and Panun Kashmir, and Jammu and Kashmir Vichar Manch.

Massive protest rallies and demonstrations were also seen in Badi Brahamana, Bishnah, Gangyal, Vijaypur, Samba, Lakhanpur and Kathua areas of Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts, where the bandh was reported to be complete.

The Bar Association of Jammu also joined the protesters and demanded sacking of the Governor accusing him of making "anti-Jammu decisions that hurt the sentiments of people over the Amarnath issue".

Authorities said a security mechanism is already in place with the deployment of police, armed personnel and CRPF in various areas of the city and intensified mobile patrolling to control the situation.

Additional security is also provided in sensitive areas where minority communities reside and cordoned off residents of Congress leaders.

Reports from Udhampur, Chenani, Katra, Reasi, Ramban, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Doda, Rajouri, Poonch, Kalakote, Noushera, Sunderbani and Hiranagar said the bandh was complete but no untoward incident was reported from anywhere.

Police said 19 people were arrested as a precautionary measure from various places.

State DGP Kuldeep Khuda and Principal Secretary Bharat Viyas accompanied Governor Vohra during his visit to Gladni power station and Seethli water supply unit in Narwal and Sidhra areas of Jammu city.

During his visit, Vohra interacted with engineers at the sites and directed them to ensure better power and water supply to the people.

Later, the Governor took stock of the security situation that arose due to bandh. (PTI)