NEW DELHI: The Centre today said no decision has been taken on the report submitted by three interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir in 2011 and it will welcome any “informed debate” on its contents.

Replying to a question by Congress MP Sashi Tharoor, Minister of State for Home Kiran Rijiju said the final report, including on J&K recommendation of the Group of Interlocutors constituted by the Government in 2010 to study various aspects of the situation of the Kashmir, has been uploaded on the official website of the Union Home Ministry.

He said the move has been done for the benefit of the public at large.

“The Government has not taken any decisions on the report. Government will welcome an informed debate on the contents of the report,” he said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

The three interlocutors on J&K submitted their report to the then Union Home Minister P Chidambaram in October 2011 laying down a road map for the Government to address all issues pertaining to the State.

The report was prepared by a team comprising noted journalist Dilip Padgaonkar, former Information Commissioner M M Ansari and academician Radha Kumar.

Regional councils for all three regions — Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh — to address local aspirations and reduce alienation from the national mainstream and measures to improve governance with a focus on women and children were part of the interlocutors’ report.

It looks at regional autonomy, devolution of power, economic development, bringing the State into the national mainstream, specific issues concerning women and children.

The panel was formed after 2010 stone-pelting crisis in which nearly 120 people died. (AGENCIES)

POONCH : Goods worth over Rs 2 crore 36 lakh were traded today across the Line of Control (LoC) at Chakan-Da-Bagh crossing point here, officials said.

As many as 25 trucks rolled out from the Trade Facilitation Centre (TFC) here to PoK, they said, adding, these trucks carried bags of bananas,tamarind and marchi worth Rs 91,52,950.

From PoK, six trucks carrying bags of almonds giri, herbs and apple worth Rs 1,44,63,492 entered India, they said.

Officials from both sides monitored transportation of these goods twice during the day. (AGENCIES)

LUCKNOW : Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Ram Naik was today sworn-in as the 27th Governor of Uttar Pradesh at a ceremony held in Raj Bhawan here.
80-year-old Naik was administered oath of office by Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud this evening.
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, several ministers, MLAs, senior bureaucrats and senior officers from police department were present on the occasion.
Veteran BJP leader Ram Naik succeeds BL Joshi, who resigned last month.
Joshi, perceived to be a close confidant of Gandhi family, was the first Governor who tendered his resignation on June 17 after the Narendra Modi government came to power.
A three-time Parliamentarian, Naik has the rare distinction of being the only minister who completed five years as Petroleum and Natural gas minister in one government.
Hit by cancer, Naik was bedridden in 1994 but fought back resolutely and overcame the deadly disease. He had announced in 2013 that he would not be contesting the 2014 elections. (AGENCIES)

JAMMU: Two infiltration bids by suspected militants from across the Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir were today foiled by security personnel with one intruder being killed and a jawan losing his life in armed exchanges.
The infiltration attempts were made in the Jammu and Kathua districts, officials said.
Police here said that early today, a group of militants infiltrated into Indian territory from across the Line of Control near Chakla forward post in Pallanwala sector in Akhnoor tehsil of Jammu district.
Alert troops of Naga regiment challenged the intruders and opened fire, they said, adding that a heavy exchange followed between the two sides in which an Army jawan lost his life.
Confirming the attempted infiltration, Defence Spokesman M Mehta said that the incident occurred in Pallanwala sector this morning.
“An exchange ensued, resulting in the death of an armyman … A search is in progress (for the intruders),” Mehta said.
The other such incident took place last night close to the zero-line along the international border in the Karol Matrayan forward belt in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district, BSF said.
Jawans of the 68 Battalion of BSF picked up movement by a group of infiltrators inside Indian territory close to the zeroline and challenged and opened fire, killing one of them on the spot, said a BSF officer.
The other intruders escaped back to the Pakistani side, he said, adding that the body of the unarmed intruder was recovered during the search operation today but had yielded no incriminating evidence.
This is second the infiltration attempt in less than a week along the international border. Last Thursday, BSF had thwarted an infiltration bid in Suchetgarh sector of Jammu district.
Besides the two infiltration bids, there have also been five ceasefire violations from the other side of the border since July 16.
In a major ceasefire violation on Sunday, Pakistan Rangers engaged in heavy firing and mortar shelling on 15 border outposts and several villages along the international border in the Arnia and RS Pura forward belts of Jammu district, leaving six injured and damaging two houses.
The night before, there was brief firing on Indian BoPs along the international border in Pittal-Pindi forward belt on Saturday.
On July 18, the Rangers targeted BoPs with small arms fire along the international border in Arnia belt of Jammu district.
On July 16 night, the Rangers, after a brief lull, resorted to firing on BoPs in the forward belt of Arnia in the RS Pura tehsil of Jammu district. BSF had replied effectively to the Pakistani firing.
A BSF trooper was killed and six persons, three of them security personnel, were injured when the Rangers engaged in heavy firing at the Arnia forward position in Jammu district on Wednesday morning.
On July 12, the Rangers targeted Indian posts the in Pindi belt along the international border with small weapons.
In June, Pakistan violated the ceasefire five times along the LoC and international border in Jammu region. There were 19 such incidents along the LoC in April-May. (AGENCIES)

NEW DELHI : Slamming the ‘sari and shawl’ diplomacy with Pakistan, ruling NDA constituent Shiv Sena today said government should have no talks with the country and give it a “befitting” reply after the killing of a jawan in shelling at the Line of Control.
“What is this sari and shawl diplomacy? There should be no talks with Pakistan and this has been our stand yesterday and even today when we are in the government,” Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut told reporters here.
“Should we continue to keep counting our dead soliders? If they have killed our one soldier, we should kill (their) ten (soldiers) and this would be a befitting reply to Pakistan,” he said.
Raut’s remarks were a jibe at the gesture of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to send a white sari for the mother of his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi who had gifted a shawl for Sharif’s mother, when the Pakistani leader visited India to attend Modi’s swearing in ceremony.
Shiv Sena has steadfastly opposed any talks between India and Pakistan. Asked how would the party take up the issue now that it is in power, Raut, who is also the editor of party mouthpiece ‘Samanna’, said, “It is we who raised this issue in the House today and now that we are in the government we will also take it up with the government.”
He, however, did not elaborate.
An Indian Army jawan was killed after Pakistanis fired along LoC in Akhnoor sector of Jammu district, in yet another violation of ceasefire. (AGENCIES)

NEW DELHI : Inordinate delay in construction of a bridge by Borders Road Organisation (BRO) on a national highway at Sopore in Jammu and Kashmir today figured in Rajya Sabha with a member demanding its immediate completion besides an investigation into the delay.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Saifuddin Soz (Cong) said “the BRO has become defunct in its operations in the field. It has become so defunct that it could not complete a bridge on the highway near Sopore in 10 years leaving entire North Kashmir in difficult conditions.”
He alleged such a situation has become due to posting of retired army officials in BRO.
The situation has deteriorated to such an extent that despite the Chief Minister stating that he will lead a protest march, the bridge could not be completed.
Demanding an investigation into the delay, he drew the attention of the government towards immediate completion of the bridge.
Some of the members associated themselves with the demand. (AGENCIES)

SRINAGAR : Terming female foeticide as the “biggest sin against humanity”, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said his government has taken several measures but it alone cannot eradicate the menace.
“When I saw the alarming reports of female foeticide in Kashmir, I was highly surprised as I had never dreamt that such a sin will be performed in a society where protection, security and well being of girls and women is a cultural trait,” Omar said at a function here.
Addressing a three-day workshop on ‘Gender and Child Rights’, organised by Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy in collaboration with the state government, Omar pin-pointed the menace of female foeticide and said that he is deeply concerned about this “highest sin against humanity” which would ruin the future of the society.
“Government alone cannot eradicate it by enforcing laws. Public awareness and participation of civil society is imperative in this regard,” the chief minister said.
“The civil society in close coordination with the government have to address this menace,” he said and referred to the various steps taken by the state government for the growth and well being of women and children.
The chief minister also expressed concern over the deteriorating situation of children rights in the state due to violence, militancy and a host of other factors.
In a state like Jammu and Kashmir, law and order and security situation coupled with incidents of violence badly tell upon the rights of children to enjoy active and joyous childhood, he said. (AGENCIES)

NEW DELHI : The new National Policy for Senior Citizens is under finalisation, the Lok Sabha was informed today. Replying to a question, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Sudarshan Bhagat said, in order to improve the living standard of senior citizens, different ministries and departments of the Government of India, along with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment are implementing various welfare schemes. “Keeping in view the changing demographic pattern, socio-economic needs of the senior citizens, social value system and advancement in the field of science and technology over the last decade, the National Policy on Older Persons, 1999 has been reviewed and the new National Policy for Senior Citizens in under finalisation,” he added. As per 2011 census, the population of senior citizen in the country is 10.38 crore, which is about 8.6 per cent of the total population in the country, the Minister stated. To another query, Bhagat said, a Non-Governmental Organisation, on the basis of a sample survey in 24 cities with 6,748 older persons, has reported that 23 per cent of the respondents experienced abuse. (agencies)

NEW DELHI:  Government has no plans to review the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, Lok Sabha was informed today.
“At present there is no such proposal. If the situation so warrants that areas be declared as disturbed, the same is done. This is examined/assessed periodically,” Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said.
He was replying to a question whether the government proposes to review the AFSPA Act, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons thereof.
Rijiju said representations have been received from time to time from different organisations/ NGOs from Manipur for withdrawal and also from the state government of Jammu and Kashmir for phased withdrawal of the AFSPA.
The Minister said for preventing misuse of powers under the AFSPA, guidelines containing ‘Do’s and Don’t’ for the armed forces deployed in counter insurgency operations have been issued as per the directions of the Supreme Court.
Violation of these guidelines by members of the armed forces make them liable for prosecution under the Army Act and the respective Acts of the Central Armed Police Forces.
Rijiju said the Chief of Army Staff has issued ‘Ten Commandments’ to the troops deployed in counter insurgency operations to guide them while conducting the operations.
“The troops are sensitised at regular intervals regarding the importance of upholding human rights. The guidelines are strictly adhered to,” he said. (AGENCIES)

SRINAGAR : As many as 56 residents of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) arrived here to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with their relatives, separated in 1947 while only four Kashmiris crossed over to other side of the Line of Control (LoC).
Official sources said today that 16 returnees also crossed sides at Kaman post, the last Indian military post on this side of the LoC in Uri sector. They said 56 PoK residents, including 16 women and 22 children, arrived at Kaman post after crossing the Aman Setu, peace bridge on LoC to meet their relatives separated due to partition.
The guests will celebrate the Eid festival in Kashmir before leaving for their homes in PoK. They said nine Kashmirs, including three women, who had crossed over to POK also returned to their homes after completing stay there.
Sources said four Kashmiris crossed over to other side of the LoC also to celebrate Eid with their relatives there. Seven PoK residents, including two women and three children, who had arrived here in previous buses also returned to their homes after completing their stay in Kashmir. The Karvan-e-Aman bus service, started on April 7,2005, has helped thousands of divided families to meet each other after their separation in 1947.
(AGENCIES)