LONDON: India beat England by 95 runs on the fifth and final day of the second cricket Test at Lord’s here today.

Brief scores:

India: 295 and 342

England: 319 and 223 all out in 88.2 overs (Joe Root 66; Ishant Sharma 7/74).

(AGENCIES)

SRINAGAR: The number of yatris paying obeisance at the 3,880-metre high holy cave shrine of Shri Amarnath today crossed the three lakh mark.

Nearly 10,000 pilgrims performed darshan of the naturally- formed ice lingam at the holy cave till 5.00 pm today, an officials of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) said.

He said this included 377 persons who performed the yatra by helicopter from Baltal and Pahalgam helipads.

More than 2.93 lakh pilgrims had paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine since the commencement of annual pilgrimage from Baltal route on June 28 and from traditional Pahalgam route on July 2.

The number of pilgrims who died during the pilgrimage this year is 33, including one Sadhu, the official said.

Although the number of pilgrim deaths is much lower this year than 120 recorded in 2012, it has risen sharply from the 14 deaths that occurred during the last year’s yatra, he said. (AGENCIES)

JAMMU: Former two time Member Parliament (MP) from Udhampur-Kathua parliamentary Constituency Choudhary Lal Singh today quit the Congress party alleging that the former Union Minister Ghulam Nabu Azad ditched him during Lok Sabha polls as his name was almost finalized as candidate from the constituency by the high command.

Leveling serious allegations on former Union Minister and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Congress MP and former Health Minister of J&K, Choudhary Lal Singh announced his ‘quit’ from party.

“I am quitting Congress because of Ghulam Nabi Azad and now have decided to contest upcoming assembly elections from Basohli constituency of Kathua district, either Independent or after joining any other party,” Singh said while addressing a press conference along with his wife Kanta Andotra, who was also former Congress MLA from Basohli.

“Azad had ditched him”, he said, adding, “he (Azad) only is the person behind his decision to quit from the party. I’ll campaign against Azad and Congress in entire J&K in the next assembly polls and expose the real face of Azad before people.”

“I am quitting party on my own because I was feeling suffocated in Congress, especially after Azad ditched me on several occasions,” said Singh further accusing Azad for not only playing a vital role in cancellation of his ticket from Udhampur seat, but also manipulated things, when Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi assured him about MLC seat to him.

Singh further alleged that the humiliating defeat in Lok Sabha polls in recently concluded polls is only due to Azad and now results are in front the party and public.

Former MP, Lal Singh also disclosed that he will be contesting from Basohli, however, he didn’t disclose the future plans to join any national or regional political party. Meantime there are speculations that Lal Singh is soon joining PDP or BJP, but both the parties have not commented on the entry of Singh into their respective political organizations.

Pertinently, Ch Lal Singh had held Health Minister’s portfolio in Mufti Mohammad Sayeed led Congress-PDP coalition Government from year 2002-2004, later he was elected as MP from Udhampur constituency in 2004 Lok Sabha polls and again in 2009 Lok Sabha polls, but in 2014 general elections, Congress replaced him with the then Union Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, who lost the elections to first timer from BJP, Dr Jatinder Singh, now MoS in Modi led Government. (AGENCIES)

NEW DELHI :  Government has planned to expand the Kargil Airport to enable operations to all major transport aircraft, the Lok Sabha was informed today.
In a written reply, Minister of State for Civil Aviation G M Siddeshwara said the government has planned to expand the Kargil Airport to enable operations to all major transport aircraft.     The Kargil Airport belongs to the J&K government and was leased
to Airports Authority of India (AAI). The AAI has transferred the operational control and maintenance to Indian Air Force (IAF).     Presently, the Runway dimension is 6000 ft X 100 ft (1829 mt X 30
mt) and the Terminal Building has the capacity to handle 100 peak hour passengers at a time.
The airport is equipped with proper facilities for civil air operations.
However, no airline is operating from this airport as it is not
commercially viable.
IAF has been mandated to take up the development work at Kargil
Airport including Runway extension by 3,000 ft, the minister said.
Approval of the state government has been sought for extension of
operational control of the airport for further period of 20 years to
enable IAF to take up the development work of the airport, he added.
(AGENCIES)

SRINAGAR :  Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police (DGP) K Rajendra Kumar today called upon the police officers to chalk out a comprehensive plan of requirements and deployment for the upcoming Assembly Elections in the  state.
Mr Kumar was addressing a high level meeting of Police officers at Police Headquarters (PHQ) here this afternoon which was convened to review the law and order scenario, election preparedness and security arrangements for Eid festivals in the state.
The meeting discussed various aspects of law & order in the State, besides security measures for the upcoming Assembly Elections.
He called for maintenance of strict surveillance to maintain peace and order so that bad elements do not succeed in their designs.
Mr Kumar emphasised for better coordination among the agencies to ensure free and fair elections.    He said joint efforts by the stakeholders should be put in place for timely action to deal with any situation.    The police chief also asked to chalk out a comprehensive deployment plan for the personnel being deployed for election duty across the state. Additional manpower for their deployment could be arranged within the department by squeezing from other places without endangering any installation, dignitary.
He said that besides JKP and other para-military forces, additional companies of Paramilitary forces would be deployed and efficient arrangements for their mobility and accommodation would be made to ensure peaceful elections.    Exercise to chalk out the requirements and modalities needs to be finalised by this month, he said.    Mr Kumar stressed upon the officers to keep vigil on situation to make the elections free and fair so that the people of the State could exercise their franchise freely.    The DGP was briefed by the officers present in the meeting about steps taken by them to maintain peace. They gave their assessment on the prevailing situation in the state and the days to come.
Overall Security scenario in the State, besides Amar Nath Yatra and Eid festivals came up for discussion during the  meeting.
Mr Kumar stressed upon the officers to maintain close co-ordination within their ranks and other agencies to deal with any emergent situation in their respective  jurisdictions.
People should observe the festivals in a congenial atmosphere, he said.
During the meeting, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Abdul Gani Mir, who was present in the meeting, apart from IGP Jammu through video conferencing, gave detailed briefing on security, law and order scenario in their respective  zones.
They also briefed the meeting about the ongoing Amar Nath Yatra arrangements.
(AGENCIES)

JAMMU :  After five days of skirmishes along the International Border in the sector, guns fell silent today with no firing from the Pakistan side.
“There was no firing or mortar shelling by Pakistani Rangers since last night and calm has returned to the IB,” a BSF official told.
Guns have fallen silent after the befitting reply to the firing by Pakistan yesterday, he said.
But the fear and threat of firing and shelling of mortars is prevalent among the population along the IB in R S Pura and Arnia sub-sectors of Jammu district.
“The threat of unprovoked firing is there. But we have already made arrangements for safe shelters and identified them for shifting the border people in case of increased Pak firing and shelling,” Divisional Commissioner Jammu division Shant Manu said.
“The situation has now returned to normalcy as firing has come to a halt,” he said.
In a major ceasefire violation yesterday, Pakistan Rangers indulged in heavy firing and shelling of mortar bombs on 15 border outposts ((BoPs) and several villages along the International Border in Jammu district, damaging houses and killing livestock.
The firing and shelling targeted the BoPs and several border hamlets in Arnia and R S Pura belts of Jammu district since 0200 hours till 0600 hours yesterday, a senior government official had said.
The official said BSF troops guarding the borderline retaliated to Pakistan shelling, resulting in exchanges, which continued till yesterday morning.
Villages and BoP areas of Bakarpur, Gharna, Sai, Kaku-de-Kothey, Pittal, Pindi, Kaku-di-Kottay, Channa, Pindi Chadka, Pindi Camp, Jabowal, Abdullian, Karotona, Bega, Bera, Nikowal, Chandu Chak and Suchetgarh were affected in the fresh round of firing from across the border.
Voicing concern over repeated ceasefire violations, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah yesterday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should take up the issue with Pakistan.
“We are not worried about China now because they don’t harm us anymore. But it (ceasefire violation) has increased from Pakistan’s side and is a matter of great concern as they are hampering life. I want the PM to talk to Pakistan authorities that it’s not right,” Omar had said.
This was the fifth ceasefire violation since July 16. (AGENCIES)

NEW DELHI :  AIADMK today forced adjournment of the Rajya Sabha twice during Question Hour over former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju’s reported allegation that political pressure during the previous UPA regime had led to elevation of a judge despite charges of corruption against him.
Ruckus created by AIADMK members seeking suspension of Question Hour to discuss the issue of “political interference in judicial appointments” led to the House first being adjourned for 10 minutes and then till 1200 hours.
No sooner had Ronald Sapa Tlau, the newly-elected member from Mizoram, taken oath, AIADMK members were up on their feet displaying copies of a newspaper that carried an article by Press Council of India Chairman Katju on the appointment.
“You will not show newspaper here, Dr Maitreyan,” Chairman Hamid Ansari said referring to AIADMK leader who wanted the Question Hour to be suspended to discuss the issue.
V Maitreyan said this was an important issue.
“You can’t do this… Nobody is listening to you,” Ansari said as AIADMK members moved into aisle raising solgans.
He then adjourned the House for 10 minutes.
When the House reassembled, similar scenes were witnessed with AIADMK members insisting on suspension of Question Hour.
“If you have an issue to raise, raise it through appropriate procedure. This is not the way. You are disrupting listed business,” Ansari said warning members that he would name them if they continued to display newspaper.
“I will have to name you for display of newspaper,” he said as unheeding AIADMK members continued to shout slogans.
Maitreyan wanted to know if former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was seated in the House, was aware of the allegation against the judge and if his ally DMK had put pressure on his government to elevate him.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Prakash Javadekar said the Chair could give one minute to the agitating members to make their point and then Question Hour can be taken up.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the Question Hour should be allowed to proceed and the issue can be raised after that if the Chair permits.
“I am not going into the merits of the case,” he said.
Ansari said there was an establised procedure for taking up issues. “Why is it being ignored?”
“The House is adjourned till 1200 hours because of disruption caused by some members in violation of the rules,” he said.
Katju has alleged that a District Judge in Tamil Nadu was elevated to an Additional Judge of the Madras High Court despite charges of corruption against him. (AGENCIES)

Samba : One student namely Romi Choudhary (17) son of Tarsem Lal resident of village Chack Balotra and Ashok Kumar (52) son of Karam Chand of Chack Chhattaka both died on spot , while five others injured when a passenger auto bearing registration no. JK21-1571 on his way from Vijaypur to Chhowani (Abtal) skidded off on the road near Kamala Morh (Vijaypur). The local rushed all the injured to Govt. Emergency Hospital Vijaypur where the doctor decalred that two were brought dead. From five injured three were referred to GMC Jammu while two were under treatment at the same hospital. The driver of the auto fleed from the spot. Vijaypur police has registered the case in this connection for futher investigation. The injured were identified as Sahil Choudhary (15) son of Girdhari Lal resident of Chhattaka Chack, Ankush Kumar (13) son of Balwant Raj resident of Vijaypur, Ritu Devi (26) wife of Om Prakash resident of Chack Balotra, Sapna Rani (16) daughter of Roop Lal resident of Maharajpur and Ritu Thapa (19) daughter of Balwant Raj resident of Vijaypur.

JAMMU :  Amid tight security, the 25th batch of pilgrims today left for the Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas from here.
As many as 1,491 pilgrims, including 939 men, 381 women and 21 children, left from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu in a cavalcade of 46 vehicles at 4:20 AM, police said.
The convoy has already crossed Patnitop on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and would reach their destinations at Baltal and Pahalgam base camps by this evening, they said.
With today’s batch, a total of 45,402 pilgrims have so far left from the Jammu base camp for the Amarnath shrine. (AGENCIES)