Poonch-Rawlakote road to be used for cross-LoC trade: CM

 Excelsior Correspondent

Peeri (Rajouri), Mar 18: Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said the Government has accorded urgency to development of backward and far-off areas, saying that the State was going through an era of ‘‘unprecedented infrastructure expansion’’ across the cities and hinterland.

Addressing a public meeting in this far-off village, still not connected by road and where no Chief Minister had reached so far, Mr. Azad said sectors like road connectivity, drinking water, education, healthcare and power were witnessing unprecedented development activities. He said significant aspect of development offensive launched by his Government was that building of critical infrastructure had, for the first time, been extended to remote villages where people had started harvesting the benefits.

He made a particular reference to hilly and border district of Rajouri and said that the area was going through a phase of development seen never before. He said lack of road connectivity in areas like this had been the main obstacle for progress. Accordingly, he said, his Government attached utmost priority to building of roads and providing connectivity to people, adding that the development travels through roads.

Mr. Azad said in road sector, Rajouri district was poised for complete transformation. In the year 2007-08, an amount of Rs. 22 crore were allocated in road sector for Rajouri district which was 5 times more than the last year. He said an additionality of Rs. 5.30 crore had also been provided in the road and bridges sector. He cited figures to make the point that since the time he took over as the Chief Minister, road construction in the district was receiving high priority. In the year 2007, under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna, as many as 25 road schemes comprising 198 kms of length were taken up in the district at a cost of Rs. 85 crore. Against this, he said from 2001 to 2005, only 10 schemes with a total road length of 50 kms, costing Rs. 12 crore, were taken up.

He said these figures spoke of the importance given by the present Government to road connectivity. For the next financial year beginning from April 1, 2008, as many as 40 new road schemes covering a length of 231 kms would be taken up at a cost of Rs. 113 crore. With the World Bank funding, another 8 roads would be constructed in the district adding 61.5 kms. The total cost of these 8 schemes was Rs. 27.5 crore, he said, adding that under NABARD, 25 new road construction schemes were initiated in the district last year costing Rs. 53 crore.     

The Chief Minister made a special mention of Mughal Road and opening of Poonch-Rawlakote cross-LoC road and said while the former would provide much needed alternate inter-province link between Kashmir and Jammu, the later had met aspirations of the people divided by the LoC.

He hoped that dialogue process between India and Pakistan would resume soon and said that it would lead to Poonch-Rawlakote road eventually being used for cross-LoC trade. He said work on Mughal Road was started on April 13, 2006 and would be ready as a fair weather road by the end of this year. He said 30 kms of road length on either side had been completed while the difficult zone of 24 kms in the middle was reached now.

Mr. Azad said that apart from roads, construction of other projects was also apace in Rajouri district. He said the district hospital was under construction at a cost of about Rs. 26 crore. First phase of the project was nearing completion while the second phase would be completed by March 2009. He said a record number of 10 bridges in the district would be completed next month. He said some other major ongoing projects include Samot-Targain bridge in Budhal, Kotdhara-Peeri bridge, two SC/ST hostels for boys and girls, JNV School at Kotranka, building for Thana Mandi degree college and Women ITIs at Kalakote and Sunderbani.

He also talked about priority to develop tourism in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch. He said tourism development authorities were set up for the two districts and Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch tourist circuit was being developed. He said tourist infrastructure was being raised in the area to open it up for tourists. 

Cabinet approves fast track recruitment
8 senior officers transferred
*Police cops’ ration money increased

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 18: The State Cabinet today ordered transfer and postings of eight senior officers and formation of district wise fast track Recruitment Boards for speedy recruitment of unemployed youths.

The Cabinet, which met for more than four hours tonight under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, also enhanced ration money for police constables and engagement of nine retired Revenue officers. A Cabinet sub committee, constituted on ex-servicemen, also submitted its report to the Cabinet.

Khursheed Ahmad Ganai, Principal Secretary GAD has been transferred and posted as Financial Commissioner Revenue. Basharat Ahmad Dar, Commissioner/Secretary PDD has been transferred and posted as Commissioner/Secretary GAD.

Sandeep Naik Managing Director JKPDC has been transferred and posted as Commissioner/Secretary PDD. He will also hold additional charge of MD JKPDC. Madhav Lal, DG IMPA has been transferred and posted as Principal Secretary Forests.

Atul Duloo, Commissioner/Secretary Forests has been transferred and posted as Chairman J&K Special Tribunal.Pramod Kumar Jain, Commissioner/Secretary Higher Education has been transferred and posted as DG IMPA

Ashok Parmar, VC Jammu Development Authority has been transferred and posted as Secretary Science & Technology and IT. Khazar Mohammad Wani, Secretary Technical Education has been transferred and posted as Secretary Higher & Technical Education.

Sources said the Cabinet decided to set up fast track Recruitment Boards at district level. The district boards will have a total of four members including one member from Subordinate Services Recruitment Board (SSRB) and three from the concerned district.

The constitution of fast track Recruitment Boards will, however, not affect the working of SSRB, sources said.

The Cabinet decided that recruitment process for Class-IV employees, conducted by concerned Deputy Commissioners, will start afresh. The vacancies will be referred to concerned Departments for absorption. For Class-IV recruitment, the Cabinet decided to keep upper limit of qualification at 12th.

It may be mentioned here that the Government has already identified nearly 30,000 vacancies at different levels in the Government Departments. The Government has already decided to go for fast track recruitment to fill up the posts.

In a major decision, the Cabinet enhanced the award/annuiti for ex-servicemen (awardees). As per the decision for Paramvir Chakra awardee the award/annuiti has been increased from Rs 2000 to Rs 1,25,000 whileas for Ashok Chakra awardee the award/annuiti has been increased from Rs 1600 to Rs One lakh, for Mahavir Chakra winner award/annuity has been increased from Rs 800 to Rs One lakh.

Likewise for Kirti Chakra winner the award/annuiti has been increased from Rs 700 to Rs One lakh, for Vir Chakra winner it has been increased from Rs 600 to Rs 50,000 and for Shaurya Chakra winner it has been enhanced from Rs 500 to Rs 50,000.

The Cabinet approved increase in ration money from Rs. 450 to Rs. 600 in favour of non-gazetted police personnel.

The Cabinet also approved super time scale in favour of G. A. Qureshi, Director Economics and Statistics.

The Cabinet also accorded sanction to the re-employment of Farooq Ahmad Kathwari, Joint Director Prosecution, State Vigilance Organization for a period of one year. It also approved re-employment of 9 retired Tehsildars on contractual basis.

HCBA drafting writ petition against jail authorities
Hurriyat, Jamaat condemn ‘attack’ on Bar

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Mar 18: Both factions of the separatist Hurriyat Conference have joined hands to condemn what they call "murderous attack of communal elements" on a delegation of Srinagar-based High Court Bar Association (HCBA) at Kot Bhalwal Jail in Jammu on Monday. HCBA has not only called for a shutdown of courts in protest but has also begun to draft a writ petition against the jail authorities, holding them responsible for organizing the attack and thus preventing the lawyers from meeting with the detenues.

While normal functioning remained frozen at several courts in Srinagar today, HCBA called for a protest to highlight the "cruelty" allegedly meted out to (Kashmiri and Pakistani) prisoners and detenues in jails and interrogation centres across the country. HCBA president, Nazir Ahmed Ronga, told mediapersons that a writ petition was being drafted against Kot Bhalwal Jail authorities who, according to him, were responsible for organizing an attack on three Srinagar-based lawyers, including himself, outside the jail premises in Jammu yesterday.

Heading an association of the Kashmiri lawyers, which has been espousing the cause of separation from India and worked as a key constituent of the separatist Hurriyat Conference until it split three years ago, Ronga alleged that the "fact-finding delegation" of the lawyers was attacked at the behest of the jail authorities. He said that its purpose was to disrupt the lawyers' meeting with the detenues. "They had apprehensions that our visit to the jail interior would expose the inhuman treatment meted out to the prisoners", Ronga said and alleged that the "rent-a-crowd" had been organized to create mayhem and disrupt the lawyers' meeting with the detenues.

He alleged that the "ruffians and urchins" raised slogans and held the lawyers' delegation hostage for a long time. "If this is the treatment with the senior lawyers, plight of the detenues could only be imagined", he added. He alleged complicity at senior Government level and pointed out that no action had been taken either against the rioters or the jail authorities.

Ronga said that the lawyers' delegation had visited the jail in Jammu after obtaining permission from Justice Yaqoob Mir of J&K High Court who had issued the orders on a petition filed by relatives of some detenues. He said that immediately after landing in Jammu, the lawyers' delegation intimated the jail authorities its programme of visiting Kot Bhalwal at 1400 hours. He said that the jail officials granted them permission to visit in the afternoon but they "colluded with the communal elements" and organized an attack on the lawyers. Ronga asked all separatist outfits to unite and argued that the "freedom struggle" would not succeed until all (separatist) groups united and put up a joint resistance.

As already reported, an altercation between the detained separatist activist Massarat Alam and the security staff at Kot Bhalwal last week has stirred a hornet's nest and all of the Valley's separatist organizations have condemned "murderous attack" on the senior functionary of Hurriyat (Geelani). Jail authorities in Jammu have reportedly justified blocking entry of Wazwaan into the premises as the same, according to them, was not allowed in the jail manual. HCBA immediately obtained permission of visiting the jail from J&K High Court which was foiled by a mob yesterday.

Meanwhile, in a statement here today, Chairman of the so-called hardliner faction of the Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, condemned the "organized attack" on the Kashmiri lawyers and alleged that it was all handiwork of the communal elements who, according to him, had been widening the gulf between the Kashmiris and different Indian States. He alleged that "Hindu communalism" had the patronage of political establishment in India and it was because of this support that thousands of Muslims had suffered in hundreds of communal riots in India in the last several decades.

A spokesman of the so-called moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, issued a hard-hitting condemnation and warned that such incidents could turn into a "severe backlash" for the perpetrators. "Government has created an example of state terrorism by not proceeding against the rioters", he said and called for a "peaceful protest demonstration" in Srinagar on Wednesday.

Jamaat-e-Islami, Democratic Freedom Party chief Shabir Shah, Democratic Liberation Party head Hashim Qureshi, Democratic Political Movement General Secretary Khwaja Firdaus and some other separatist leaders and outfits have also condemned yesterday's episode at Kot Bhalwal.

India for clemency to Sarabjit Singh

NEW DELHI, Mar 18: India today made an appeal to Pakistan to grant clemency to Sarabjit Singh on humanitarian grounds as members in the Lok Sabha made a strong plea to the Government to step up efforts to save the Indian national from the gallows.

Amid demands that Sarabjit be saved from death, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee made a suo moto statement in the House, saying the Government had no formal intimation from Pakistan and the matter about the ‘death warrant’ had come to the notice through media reports.

Indian High Commission in Islamabad has sought details from the Government of Pakistan about reports of black warrant against Sarabjit, he said.

"According to press reports, the black warrant has been issued and the sentence will be carried out on April 1," Mukherjee said about Sarabjit, who is facing death sentence for allegedly carrying out bomb blasts in Pakistan in 1990.

Noting that India and Pakistan had put in place certain institutional arrangements to improve the situation of prisoners of the respective countries, he said "it is in this context and in the same spirit that we appeal to the Government of Pakistan to treat Sarabjit Singh’s case with clemency on humanitarian grounds."

Mukherjee noted that India and Pakistan had put in place institutional arrangements, including a new agreement on consular access and a joint Judicial Committee, to facilitate resolution of consular issues.

"These initiatives may lead to an improvement of the situation for our prisoners," he said.

He said after Sarabjit’s death sentence was upheld by Pakistan Supreme Court, consular access to him was provided by Pakistan at India’s instance for the first time on August 30, 2005 and his national status was confirmed.

A review petition against the death sentence was filed in the Pakistan Supreme Court which was dismissed in March 2006.

Subsequently, a mercy petition was filed with the Pakistan President, which "now, according to news reports, has been turned down," the External Affairs Minister said.

S S Dhindsa of Akali Dal said if Sarabjit was hanged, it would not be good for the ties between India and Pakistan.

Ramji Lal Suman (SP) said the matter was serious as Sarabjit’s two daughters have threatened to commit suicide if he was hanged.

BJP’s Deputy Leader in the House V K Malhotra said Sarabjit was innocent as he was a victim of mistaken identity and should be released.

Gurudas Dasgupta of CPI said hanging of Sarabjit would create a "lot of bad blood" between the two countries and wanted the new Government to "begin a new process to ensure that an innocent man is not hanged".

Braj Kishore Tripathi of BJD wanted the House to pass a resolution to urge Pakistan to take a lenient view. (PTI)

Hizb ‘‘Distt Commdr’’ killed in Awantipore

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Mar 18: In a joint operation, Police and Army have killed Hizbul Mujahideen's "District Commander" at Dogripora in Awantipore area of south Kashmir today.

Informed sources told EXCELSIOR that working on a specific information, troops of Rashtriya Rifles 55 Bn and 31 Bn, alongwith Special Operations Group (SOG) of J&K Police swooped on the house of one Abdul Hameed Bhat S/o Gulla Bhat at Dogripora, in Awantipore area late last night. While the troops were zeroing in on Bhat's house, one-odd holed up militant opened fire and made unsuccessful attempts to escape. In fierce retaliation, troops destroyed a cowshed on the premises, killing the militant on spot. He was identified as Jehangir Ahmed Bhat alias Chhota Jehangir S/o Ghulam Mohammad Bhat R/o Halmulla (Sangham) Bijbehara.

Officials described the militant killed in the gunbattle as Hizbul Mujahideen's "District Commander" for Anantnag and said that two AK rifles, one pistol, one hand grenade, two RPG rounds,56 AK rounds, and three pistol rounds were recovered from his hideout.

According to Police officials, Chhota Jehangir had remained active in Anantnag district and he was involved in killing of four persons including Mohammad Akram Bhat, brother of PDP's Bijbehara MLA and former Minister Abdul Rehman Veeri in Zirpara, Bijbehara, in 2005, Mohd Maqbool Reshi and Ghulam Ahmed Ganai of Mahama in 2006, and a young woman, namely Shaheena at Panjpora in 2007. He was also involved in two IED blasts at Hamzapora and Panjpora in 2006 and firing on security forces in Panjpora.

Hizbul Mujahiden's Central Spokesman, Khaleel-ur-Rehman, said in a statement that Jehangir alias Aijaz was the organisation's "District Commander" in Kulgam. He said that Jehangir had joined militancy after passing his matriculation examination and thereafter he had worked for nearly seven years with Hizbul Mujahideen. The spokesman paid rich tributes to Jehangir and said that he had planned and executed a large number of attacks on military and paramilitary forces as he was an expert in IED blasts.

SP Kulgam, Swayam Prakash Pani, however, insisted that no militant by the name of Jehangir was presently figuring in the list of wanted militants in Kulgam. He claimed that after an operation at Batpora, Hizbul Mujahideen was left with only one militant, namely Sabzar Ahmed Waza, in entire Kulgam district and Police were hopeful of getting him soon. He said that Chhota Jehangir had been reportedly operating in parts of Anantnag and Pulwama Police districts though most of his civilian victims were in a number of villages in Bijbehara. Pani said that Hizbul Mujahideen's Bada Jehangir alias Masterji had been a top wanted militant but some time back he was reportedly killed by his own colleagues.

Lashkar-e-Toiba spokesman, Dr Abdullah Gaznavi, has meanwhile paid tributes to his organisation's Kashmir chief, Hafiz Naasir, who got killed in an encounter with Sopore Police and troops of RR 22 Bn at Chatlura village in Sopore-Rafiabad belt earlier this week. He said that Hafiz had remained active in most important operations of the organization for about 10 years and he had died not before causing massive damage to Army. Officiating Commanding Officer of RR 22 Bn and another soldier had also died in the same gunbattle in which four other Army, CRPF and Police personnel sustained injuries. The spokesman asked the Kashmiris to completely boycott the forthcoming Assembly elections.

Meanwhile, Muttahida Jihad Council (MJC) spokesman Sadaquat Hussain said in a separate statement that the guerrilla alliance chief, Syed Salah-ud-din, chaired a condolence meeting which paid rich tributes to Hafiz Naasir and appreciated his operations for about 10 years in the Valley. MJC chief too asked the Kashmiris to go for total boycott of the Assembly elections. He said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir would be content with nothing short of Azadi.

Power expenditure to go all time high at Rs 2216 cr

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Mar 18: Installation of electronic meters in some areas and a check on power theft to some extent notwithstanding, power expenditure in the upcoming financial year is expected to go up sharply to touch Rs 2216 crore as against the expected revenue of just Rs 922 crore from all resources.

Official sources told the Excelsior that always growing deficit on account of purchase of power was expected to maintain its trend despite certain initiatives taken by the State Power Ministry to bridge the gap between purchase of power and generation of revenue.

The Power Ministry, according to sources, has estimated an expenditure of Rs 2216 crore on purchase of power and administrative charges in 2008-09. While total cost on purchase of power in the coming financial year was estimated at Rs 1899 crore up from Rs 1781 crore this year (an increase of Rs 118 crore), administrative charges were likely to go up at Rs 317.76 crore up from Rs 281.92 crore this year.

As against the projected expenditure of Rs 2216 crore, revenue from all resources to the Power Ministry was only expected to be Rs 922 crore. Even if the Power Development Department is able to meet the revenue target, it will leave a deficit of Rs 1294 crore between amount spent on purchase of power and revenue.

Cost on purchase of power has been going up and up if the official figures of Power Ministry for last four years are taken into account. The power purchase cost stood at Rs 1671 crore in 2005-06. It went upto Rs 1781 crore during 2007-08 i.e. the current financial year and was expected to touch Rs 1899 crore in next financial ear.

According to sources, increased expenditure on purchase of power was being mainly contributed to increase in purchase of power from Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) and Power Development Corporation (PDC).

During 2005-06, 7045 MUs power was purchased from CPSUs while the purchase went upto 7264 MUs in 2006-07 and 7650 MUs in 2007-08. It was further expected to go upto 7981 MUs in 2008-09.

Similarly, purchase of power from PDC was 776 MUs in 2005-06 which reached 952 MUs in 2006-07 and 1016 MUs in current year. It has been estimated at 1040 MUs in next financial year, sources said.

Surprisingly, no addition in generation of power from own resources has been projected for next financial year. Power generation from own resources was 18.777 MUs in 2006-07 which went down to 18.126 MUs this year and was expected to be same next year as well.

Total purchase of power from CPSUs, PDC and own generation for next year has been projected at 9030 MUs as against 8684 MUs this year and 8236 MUs last year.

Mir, Singh posted as SSRB members

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 18: Government today transferred two KAS officers and posted them as members of J&K Services Selection Board with immediate effect.

They are Abdul Rashid Mir, Additional Commissioner, Kashmir and Mubarak Singh, Additional District Development Commissioner, Poonch.

SHRC takes notice of police brutality

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Mar 18: State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has taken suo moto notice of the Police brutality on a young orthopedic surgeon who had been mercilessly thrashed and left injured by SHO Khanyar near Gausiya Hospital in Khanyar area of Srinagar yesterday.

Acting Chairman of SHRC, Habeebullah Bhat, has today issued a notice to IGP Kashmir, S M Sahai, asking for a detailed report with respect to the manhandling of Dr Nazir Ahmed Wani by SHO Khanyar in Khanyar area. Local newspapers had published photographs of the injured doctor who alleged that the Police official deflated tyres of his parked car and thereafter roughed him up in full view of people.

While Medical Superintendent of SMHS Hospital has been directed to conduct Dr Wani's medical examination and submit a detailed report, IGP Kashmir has been asked to sum up all facts and produce the same before SHRC by or before April 2nd. Commission has also asked Dr Wani to file an affidavit with regard to facts involving SHO's attack on him.

Dalai threatens to step down

DHARAMSHALA, Mar 18: Asking Tibetans to show retraint, the Dalai Lama today said he will resign as leader of Tibet’s Government-in-exile if the situation in Lhasa and its neighbouring provinces got out of control.

"If Tibetans choose violence in their agitation, I shall resign from the leadership," the 73-year-old monk told reporters here.

The Tibetan spiritual leader said that during "the 1987-88 agitation also, I had stated that if Tibetan people adopt violence, then I shall not be in a position to lead them and that there shall be no other alternative for me but to resign.

"Today also I say that if Tibetans choose violence then the only option is to resign," he said.

The Dalai Lama, who rejected Beijing’s allegations that he was behind the violence in Lhasa and adjoining areas, said he was not in a position to tell Tibetans living under Chinese rule as to what they should or they should not do.

Secretary to the top leader, Tenzin Talka later said there was no question of the Dalai Lama stepping down as the spiritual leader and that he would have to quit as the political leader if the Tibetans choose the path of violence. (PTI)

Refugees’ issue concern of J&K Govt: Centre

NEW DELHI, Mar 18: They can vote for Parliamentary elections but are barred from exercising their franchise in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls.

This predicament is being faced by 1.5 lakh people who migrated from West Pakistan to Jammu and Kashmir. They are treated as Indian citizens but with several "disabilities" like barring them from taking Government jobs.

In reply to a written question in Lok Sabha today, Minister of State for Home Manik Rao Gavit said that in 1947, as many as 5,674 families comprising 47,215 people migrated and settled in Jammu, Kathua and Rajouri districts.

At present, the number of families has gone up to 24,200 and 1.5 lakh people.

The Minister informed the House that these refugees could not acquire property in Jammu and Kashmir State, could not mortgage the land in their possession for raising of loans and were not allowed to take up Government jobs.

The Scheduled Castes among these refugees could not avail the reservation quota and their children were not entitled for admission to Government professional or technical educational institutions in the State, he said.

In response to a query, the Minister said the issue of "disabilities" suffered by the refugees is the concern of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. (PTI)

Pak national to be sent back

LUCKNOW, Mar 18: A fast track court has acquitted a Pakistani national accused of espionage and selling fake currency notes.

Police sources confirmed that he will be handed over to the Pakistani Rangers today in the presence of his family members.

Shahajahanpur Fast Track Court (FTC) Judge Chandrabhan Singh ordered the release of 26-year-old Jamal Quereshi yesterday, saying the prosecution failed to prove any charges.

Jamal was facing charges of espionage, selling fake currency notes and attempt to disrupt peace.

The judge in his brief order said, "the prosecution has failed to prove the charges levelled against this young man. He was not involved in any anti-national activities either," he said.

Jamal was taken to Atari border last night by the Intelligence agencies and the BSF.

Jamal was arrested by sleuths of local Intelligence when he paid them security deposit with counterfeit currency on October 24. At least 20 other fake notes in Rs 100 denomination were seized from him.

The Pakistani youth claimed that he got the notes from a money changer at the Atari border before he entered India.

The Shahjahanpur police claimed that Jamal also tried to buy some items from a local shop with the same currency.

He was sent to Shahjahanpur Central Jail by a court for three months. Later, Jamal was granted bail but he was not allowed to return to his country. He was ordered to register attendance at the court regularly and report to the local intelligence office every week.

Jamal, a resident of Shakkar district of Pakistan, used to work at a meat shop.

After his release from the prison Jamal stayed at a friend’s place. He had come to India in the first week of October 2005 to attend the marriage of his maternal uncle’s daughter in Jalalnagar area of Shahjahanpur.

"If I was involved in a fake currency racket, why would I pay the police with the same money," Jamal told the court during trial.

The court observed that the police could not bring circumstantial evidence to prove that Jamal was operating fake currency racket and also failed to prove that he was a Pakistani spy. "Jamal’s release is a tribute to Indian adjudication system that does not punish any innocent. At a time when Sarabjit case has raised fingers at Pakistani justice system, we have set an example here by setting free an innocent young man," said Kamaleswar Pathak, Jamal’s advocate. (UNI)

No confidence motion moved against Reasi MC president

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 18: The members of Municipal Committee Reasi today moved no confidence motion against its president and vice-president and sought fresh vote of confidence.

In a copy of no-confidence motion sent to the Director Local Bodies, members of the Committee namely Sudesh Pandhotra, Sheel Kumar Magotra, Chander Kanta Sharma, Sudesh Puri, Naresh Kumar Sharma, Nand Lal, Ramesh Chander and Kuldip Kumar Mengi accused the president Yash Pal Verma and vice-president Suraj Parkash of taking arbitrarily and dictatorial decisions.

They said that both the president and vice-president of the Committee have been working without taking members into confidence and thus breaching the confidence reposed upon them.

"We withdraw the support to president and vice-president by moving this no-confidence motion against them", they said and requested that the fresh vote of confidence be sought.

When contacted, Director Local Bodies, Gulzar Ahmed Qureshi said that as per the act the president of the Committee has to call a meeting of the members within 10 days of the receipt of copy of the no confidence motion to discuss the same.

It would be only after this process that the fresh vote of confidence would be sought.

Plight of ‘pithuwalas’ raised in LS

NEW DELHI : The plight of about 17,000 labourers, who carry pilgrims to the Vaishnodevi on their backs, was raised by a Congress member in Lok Sabha who wanted immediate withdrawal of "hefty" taxes imposed on them.

"A tax of Rs 33 is imposed on the poor ‘pithuwalas’ (who carry the pilgrims on their backs), the ponywalas and the palkiwalas to earn their daily livelihood," Congress member Lal Singh said during Zero Hour.

The member drew all-round support from members as he said nowhere in the country was tax imposed on the labourers saying this was "the limit of exploitation of the poor."

Maintaining that their livelihood had also come under threat from helicopter and battery car services, Singh said these labourers were also not allowed to enter the eateries and had no night-shelters too.

Demanding urgent action by the Centre to stop imposition of the tax, he said out of Rs 162 charged by the pithuwala, Rs 33 was taken away as tax while the local contractor took away another Rs nine from them. Similar was the case of the palkiwalas and the ponywalas. (PTI)

LeT commander among four militants killed in Doda

Jammu : A self-styled 'district commander' of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) was among four militants killed while one Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of Army and two policemen were wounded in an encounter today in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir.

The encounter ensued a search operation launched by a joint coloumn of 26 Rashtriya Rifles (KUMAON), 159 TA battalion and state police in Gandoh area of Doda this morning, Defence spokesman Lt Col S D Goswami told UNI.

The troops were fired upon by the militants hiding at Gowari, he said, adding, ''The fire was equally retaliated in which four Lashkar militants were gunned down.''

One of the slain militants was identified as Lashkar's ''district commander'' of Pakistani origin while other three were local cadres of the outfit, Lt Col Goswami said, asserting that names of the militants were being ascertained.

Troops also recovered four AK series of rifles, along with related arms and ammunition, and incriminating material from the possession of the militants.

In the encounter, sources said, one JCO and two police personnel were also wounded.

''They (wounded security officials) were immediately shifted to the hospital for treatment,'' sources added.

The Army had been following this group of militants in the area for

quite sometime on the basis of specific information, sources added. (UNI)