Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 13: With annual Amarnath yatra picking up day by day from both Baltal and Chandanwari-Pahalgam tracks, 15,444 pilgrims paid obeisance at holy cave situated in deep Himalayas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag on Day 16 of the yatra today.
With this, the total number of pilgrims, who paid their obeisance in holy cave since the 45 day long yatra started on June 28 has reached 2,11,844 an official spokesman said.
He said the yatra is picking up day by day and thousands of devotees are thronging holy cave daily for darshan.
He said 8316 pilgrims left for the cave from Baltal base camp early this morning while 7000 left from Nunwan –Pahalgam Base camp for cave shrine.
He said the yatris who had a night halt at Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarni also left for cave shrine in the morning. Over 1.90 lakh yatris out of 2.11 lakh pilgrims who performed darshan in cave shrine have returned to Srinagar so far, he added.
The spokesman said the weather on both the tracks was pleasant today.
Meanwhile, three more pilgrims have died en route the holy cave, taking the death toll in the ongoing yatra to 25, officials said.
A 55-year-old woman pilgrim, identified as Sarojini G from Vadodara in Gujarat, died after she suffered a heart attack en route the cave shrine last evening, police said.
Two male pilgrims also passed away following cardiac arrest en route the shrine on Friday night but their identities are not yet known, they said.
With this, the death toll of Amarnath pilgrims has risen to 25 since the yatra began on June 28.
The spokesman said, 2139 pilgrims left for holy cave from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas early this morning under tight security in a cavalcade of 59 vehicle. They included 1631 male, 395 female, 33 children and 80 Sadhus. All the pilgrims had reached the base camp of Nunwan (Pahalgam) in Anantnag district and Manigam camp in Central Kashmir district of Ganderbal when last reports came in.
The 45 day long yatra will culminate on Sawan Purnima falling on August 11 with the darshan of holy mace being taken by Mahant Deependera Giri Ji Maharaj from Dashnami Akhara to holy cave.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, July 13: About 10 days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 25 kilometers long Udhampur-Katra railway line, the first long distance train, Katra-New Delhi would start plying from Katra railway station from tomorrow. Earlier, only three DEMU trains were shuttling between Katra to Jammu and Pathankot.
As desired by Modi during inauguration of the railway line at Katra on July 4, the Railways has named the train as ‘Shri Shakti Express’.
Official sources told the Excelsior that 18 AC coaches train reached Katra railway station this afternoon.
The AC superfast ‘Shri Shakti Express’ will depart from Katra daily at 10.55 pm, beginning tomorrow, and reach New Delhi at 10.45 am the next day. In the return direction, it would leave New Delhi daily at 5.30 pm and reach Katra at 5.10 am the next day.
Comprising one first AC, five AC two-tier and nine AC three-tier coaches, the train will have stoppages at Ambala Cantt, Ludhiana, Jalandhar Cantt, Pathankot Cantt, Jammu Tawi and Udhampur stations enroute in both directions.
Sources said Katra-Kalika (Chandigarh) Express would be the next train to ply from Katra railway station followed by trains from Katra to Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Bangalore (Karnataka), Mumbai (Maharashtra) and Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh).
Apart from this, Railways would extend Jammu Mail and Uttar Samparak Kranti trains, presently plying between New Delhi-Udhampur to Katra.
Apart from this, Railways Minister Sadanand Gowda had also announced Kamakhya Guwahati, Assam)-Katra Express in the budget, which would ply once a week.
Sources said new trains to Katra, announced by the Railways Minister during his address at the inauguration of Udhampur-Katra railway line along with the Prime Minister on July 4, would take time but gradually the Railways would provide connectivity to Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims up to Katra from most parts of the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on July 4 flagged off the first train from Katra while commissioning the 25-km-long Udhampur-Katra line, built at an estimated cost of Rs 1,132.75 crore.
At the function, the Prime Minister had named the train Shri Shakti Express and said such services are planned from major cities in the country. The shrine attracts about 10 million pilgrims annually.
Katra station is equipped with modern facilities, including tourist guide counter, cloak room, waiting hall, VIP lounge, escalators and lifts and parking spaces.
The train connectivity to Katra is part of the ambitious Kashmir rail link project marking region’s rail connectivity with the rest of the country. Now only Katra to Banihal rail link is to be constructed, which was scheduled to be completed in 2018.

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 13: Army chief Gen Bikram Singh today called upon the troops to leave no stone unturned to make Jammu and Kashmir free of militants and give utmost importance to human rights. He lauded the Army soldiers for their excellent role in maintaining peace in the State and keeping the level of infiltration this year to zero.
Addressing ‘Sainik Sammelans’ at Northern Command Headquarters in Udhampur and Tiger Division at Jammu and inter-acting with top Army Commanders at 25 Infantry Division at Rajouri, 10 Infantry Division at Akhnoor and Tiger Division in Jammu on second day of his three days last visit to the State as the Army chief, Gen Singh said the Army soldiers have done a commendable job in making various parts of Jammu and Kashmir militancy free and coming to aid of district administration, whenever required.
He lauded the jawans deployed along the Line of Control (LoC) in the entire State for doing yeoman’s service to the nation by facing extreme hostile weather conditions especially during the winter but ensuring that the militants didn’t manage to infiltrate into this side.
The Army chief expressed satisfaction over the Army role in successful thwarting of intrusion bids by the militants on the LoC and hoped that they would keep up the same spirit and foiled nefarious designs of the militants.
Lauding exemplary courage and valour of the Army soldiers, the Army chief at the same time called upon them to maintain human rights under all circumstances. “It was duty of the Army jawans to respect human rights at all costs,’’ he said.
After addressing the Army jawans at Northern Command Headquarters, Gen Singh flew to 25 Infantry Div at border town of Rajouri and met the Army Commanders. He reviewed preparedness of the troops along the LoC in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, where Pakistani militants were making all out attempts to infiltrate.
The senior Commanders briefed the Army chief about number of infiltration attempts made by the militants along the LoC in the two border districts but all of them were successfully thwarted by the troops.
GOC 25 Infantry Div Maj Gen Saranjit Singh and Romeo Force GOC Maj Gen T Rajeshwar briefed the Army chief about the preparedness of the troops on the LoC in Poonch and Rajouri districts especially the steps taken to maintain level of infiltration to zero.
Last month, an Army soldier was killed and five others were injured in two IED blasts on the LoC. The militants had planted the IEDs after their failure to infiltrate into this side. In retaliation, the Pakistan Army jawans had lost their lives.
The Army officers said though number of infiltration attempts by the militants on the LoC have gone up, the troops have not allowed the militants to succeed in their plans to intrude into this side. They admitted that the upcoming months were crucial as militants would make more infiltration attempts on the eve of Assembly election in the State, which were due in November-December.
The Army chief later visited 10 Infantry Division at Akhnoor and Tiger Division at Jammu. He inter-acted with Army Commanders at both the Divisions. He also addressed `Sainik Sammelan’ at Tiger Division and had night halt there.
He would return to New Delhi tomorrow morning.
At all places, Gen Bikram Singh was accorded warm farewell as this was his last visit to Jammu and Kashmir as the Army chief since he is retiring on July 31. Lt Gen Dalbir Suhag will take over as new Army chief on August 1.
At Northern Command Headquarters at Udhampur, Gen Singh paid homage to the martyrs at Dhruva War Memorial.
He addressed all ranks and was accorded a warm farewell by troops of Northern Command. During his address, Gen Singh complimented all officers for their exemplary sense of duty, people friendly approach during counter-terrorist operations and humanitarian approach while guarding the Northern frontiers.
The Army chief stressed upon the rich military traditions, ethos and the value systems and the importance of remaining committed and focused while discharging responsibilities.
Gen Singh was also accompanied by his wife Bubbles Singh.
Yesterday, the Army chief had visited Srinagar-based Headquarters of 15 Corps, where he addressed and interacted with the troops. He had also met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Governor N N Vohra.

Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, July 13: Normal life remained disrupted today in Kashmir valley in response to the strike called by separatist groups in memory of the 22 persons killed during protests in 1931 while authorities imposed curfew like restrictions in parts of Srinagar to foil any protest march by separatists.
Shops and business establishments in most parts of the Valley were shut and public transport was off the roads. However, private cars, taxis and auto-rickshaws were plying in civil lines of the city and across major towns of the Valley.
The separatists had called for a general strike and had planned a march to Naqashband Sahib Shrine, where these 22 people are buried.
Authorities imposed restrictions on the movement of public and transport in the areas falling under the jurisdiction of five police stations in old city Srinagar to foil the separatist rallies.
A police spokesman said restrictions were imposed in the jurisdiction of Police Stations of Rainawari, Khanyar, Nowhatta, Safakadal and Maharaj Gunj for maintaining law and order in the city.
Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was heavily deployed in old city and police had erected steel barricades and closed the main roads with concertina wire.
In Khanyar area of old Srinagar police and CRPF laid razor wires and erected barricades at road junctions since last evening to stop the movement of people. Besides the fortification of the area around the graveyard, armored vehicles of police and CRPF were also deployed.
Chairmen of both factions of Hurriyat Conferences Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other senior pro-freedom leaders Muhammad Yasin Malik, Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) Chairman Shabir Ahmad Shah, Bilal Gani Lone and Shahid-ul-Islam were put under house arrest. Besides it, police arrested several leaders including chairman Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Muhammad Yasin Malik and National Front (NF) Chairman Nayeem Ahmad Khan.
Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today visited Naqashband Sahib here to pay tributes to the Martrys of July 13. He laid flower wreaths over the graves and offered Fateh.
Omar said that the sacrifice of Martyrs to free the society from autocracy and lay edifice for democracy and human dignity is one of the riches chapters of the history of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The best way to pay homage to the Martyrs is to help create equitable and palatable environment for everyone to grow and develop in a democratic atmosphere”, he added.
Speaker, Legislative Assembly, Mubarak Gul, Minister for Finance, Abdul Rahim Rather, Minister for Rural Development, Ali Mohammad Sagar and Minister for CAPD, Choudhry. Mohammad Ramzan and Minister for Law and Justice, Mir Saifullah were accompanying the Chief Minister.

By Mohinder Verma
KISHTWAR, July 13: Astonishing it may sound but it is a harsh reality that an open-air theatre which was constructed by making huge expenditure with the sole objective of promoting cultural activities has never been used for the intended purpose ever since its construction. The height of the official apathy can be gauged from the fact that major portion of the theatre is being used for office purpose by different departments.
This beautiful open air theatre albeit not of gigantic capacity was constructed in the year 2008-09 in the premises of Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) in the heart of Kishtwar town with the solitary objective of providing a platform to the local artists to organize cultural activities.
Having seating arrangement for more than 100 people and adequate number of changing rooms for the artists besides proper lighting facility, the open-air theatre was expected to play a major role in boosting the cultural activities.
Shockingly, this open-air theatre, officially believed to be constructed by spending not less than Rs 50 lakh, has not been put to use for the intended purpose till date because of the apathy of the concerned authorities.
What to talk of encouraging different organizations working for the promotion of cultural activities to make use of this platform, even the Government’s cultural functions are not organized at this place as a result of which the expenditure on its construction remains an unfruitful expenditure.
“It is not understandable as to why the Government’s cultural activities in connection with different occasions are not organized at this platform and rather arrangements are made at other places for the same”, people of Kishtwar said.
Due to official apathy, the major portion of the open-air theatre is being used as offices of different officers. “The changing rooms are being used as offices by the Chief Executive Officer of the Kishtwar Development Authority, Executive Engineer, Accounts Officer and Establishment Section of the CEO’s office while as another portion is being used by drawing section of the CEO office”, official sources said.
In the absence of any proper focus on its proper use and upkeep, the open-air theatre has started suffering damages also, they said, adding “if this facility continued to remain uncared and unused, the damages will increase with the passage of time”.
According to the people, “the main area of the open air theatre, which is also slightly covered, is put to use by the officials of different departments for smoking to avoid public glare”, adding “the platform and stairs of the open air theatre can be easily seen used by the officials and security forces personnel for gossips and enjoying sunrays during winters”.
When contacted, an officer of the Kishtwar Development Authority said, on the condition of anonymity, “no seriousness has ever been shown in making best use of the open-air theatre for obvious reasons”, adding “had there been any interest in making intended use of this facility first the changing rooms of the theatre could have been vacated”.
“Had this been done, at least Government schools would have been able to conduct small cultural functions there but there is non-seriousness at every level”, he regretted.
What to talk of open-air theatre, fountains in the premises of TRC have also been mocking at the concerned authorities as they are non-functional during the past quite long time. “It seems there was only interest in creating these facilities and then leaving them unattended”, sources said.

NEW DELHI, July 13: In the first secretary-level appointments by the Narendra Modi Government, Rakesh Garg was today named the new Telecom Secretary while Jugal Kishore Mohapatra is to be Secretary in the fertilizers ministry.
Ahead of his departure for Brazil for the BRICS Summit, Prime Minister Modi cleared fresh appointments for various ministries.
According to the official order, Garg, a 1980-batch Uttar Pradesh-cadre officer, was appointed the new Telecom Secretary.
The vacancy for the post was created after MF Farooqui had superannuated. Garg was on central deputation till 2012 and returns to the Centre after serving in various capacities, including as Principle Secretary to UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.
Sanjay Kothari, a 1978-batch IAS officer from Haryana, has been appointed as the new Secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training. He will take over from SK Sarkar, who retires on July 31.
Kothari was serving as Secretary of Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances and Secretary, Department of Pensions and Pensioners’ Welfare. This will be looked after now by N Ravi Shanker, a 1980-batch IAS officer from Uttarakhand. He was Administrator of Universal Service Obligation Fund in the Department of Telecommunications.
Chief Secretary of Odisha, Jugal Kishore Mohapatra, a 1979 -batch Odisha cadre IAS officer, has been appointed as Secretary in the Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. He replaces Shaktikanta Das, a 1980-batch IAS officer from Tamil Nadu who has been appointed as Revenue Secretary.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister also cleared the appointment of Enforcement Director Rajan S Katoch as Secretary in the Department of Heavy Industry. He will, however, continue to hold the post of ED chief for a period of six months or till a regular incumbent is named to the post of Enforcement Director.
Katoch, a 1979-batch IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, will take over his new assignment after the present incumbent, Sutanu Behuria, retires on July 31.
Sanjay Kumar Panda, a 1980-batch IAS officer of Manipur-Tripura cadre, has been appointed Secretary in the Ministry of Textiles. He is presently serving in his cadre state. He will take over from Zohra Chatterji, who superannuates on July 31.
Senior IAS officer Hara Krushna Das has been appointed as Secretary of the Inter State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Das, a 1980-batch IAS officer, is presently serving in his cadre state of Gujarat. He has been appointed in place of Tabom Bam, who has retired.
The Government has also appointed Shankar Agarwal, a 1980- batch UP cadre IAS officer, as Secretary in the Ministry of Urban Development. He is at present Secretary in the Ministry of Women and Child Development, which post will be taken over by Vinay Sheel Oberoi, a 1979-batch IAS Assam-Meghalaya cadre officer.
Agarwal was appointed in place of Sudhir Krishna, a 1977- batch IAS officer of Karnataka cadre, who has retired. (PTI)