Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, July 22: Chief Minister and National Conference working president Omar Abdullah while addressing workers’ conventions in Gurez and Naidkhai-Sumbal, has said that NC would script a historic victory in the Assembly elections as the people of J&K would continue to repose their faith in a party that has not only proven to be a bulwark that protects the State’s political interests and regional aspirations but has also ensured unparalleled and unprecedented development across the length and breadth of the State in the last five and a half years.
He said that Assembly elections are based on matters of local governance and is in fact a test of approval for path-breaking initiatives and all efforts that have been put in to usher J&K towards a corrective era of growth and prosperity.
“National Conference while in the Government in the last five and a half years, has outperformed every past dispensation in ensuring pioneering steps were taken to make J&K self-reliant, developed and prosperous. Every single sector of governance – health, power production, education, infrastructure, roads and bridges, higher-education, tourism, rural development – has witnessed remarkable development and systemic up-gradation during the last five and a half years. And this development has not remained restricted to urban centers and files in Secretariat but has percolated to the grassroots level and has touched the day-to-day lives of common men and women living in some of the most far-flung areas of the State. This has in turn translated into unprecedented local development. It is based on the delivery of this perceptible change and development that National Conference will emerge victorious in the Assembly Elections”, Omar said, while addressing conventions at Gurez and Sumbal today.
Omar said that National Conference had faced numerous challenges, intrigues and political challenges in a history that spans more than eight decades and is full of instances when the party has defeated these intrigues and emerged victorious right after election results that were less than satisfactory for the party.
“We have come back and fought hard on our principles of dignity, integrity and inclusive politics every single time a political intrigue was hatched against us. This is the legacy of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah – your beloved leader who chose persecution and incarceration over the very idea of compromise. That legacy beats in our hearts and we will fight to gain a clear mandate with honor, prestige and a sense of selfless public service and nation building”, he added.
Omar said that PDP had openly taken issue to recent popular initiatives of public welfare and systemic reforms as the party was more concerned about partisan politics than the greater common good of the State and its people.
“Their grouse is not that these steps have been taken, nor do they have the courage to openly oppose the rationality of these measures. Their half-baked arguments are self-contradictory. Their problem is that it is National Conference and not PDP that has yet again fulfilled the demands of the people as the party has done in the past. They are more concerned about the political dividends of good-governance and people-friendly measures than about the logic and reason behind these initiatives. My Government will continue to be the Government of the common-man and will continue to work for your interests – as your interests and your interests alone dictate our policies”, the NC leader said.
Omar said that the pre-poll arrangement between Congress and National Conference in the recently concluded Parliament Elections proved to be dysfunctional in the Valley even though there was an effective and substantial transfer of National Conference votes to Congress candidates in Jammu Province.
“I had conveyed the decision of National Conference to contest the coming Assembly elections without any alliance to Congress president Sonia Gandhi well in time. This was the decision of our workers at the grassroots level and we are bound by the highest tenets of internal democracy to listen to your voice. You are the pillars of strength for us and you will decide how we go to the electoral battlefield. This commitment to the inclusion and empowerment of our grassroots workers has been validated in how we chose to listen to you while choosing our candidates for the Assembly Elections”, Omar said.
“Our support comes from the people – from their indomitable spirit of resilience, hope and courage. Their aspirations are paramount to us. While PDP remains to be a party found in New Delhi and operated by a remote-control by its patrons, National Conference is the party of the people – always has been and always will be. Go to the people with sincerity, confidence and the dream of a New Jammu and Kashmir in your hearts. Tell them about the historic spurt in development in the last five and a half years and tell them about my dream and my mission to make J&K the country’s most developed and self-reliant State”, Omar said adding that facts and figures of growth and development were available through RTI for every sector.
Referring to the exemplary performance of the State Government during the last over five years, Omar said that the extra-ordinary work done in the fields of Roads and Bridges, Communication, Education, Power Generation, PHE and Irrigation Sectors, Tourism, Agriculture, Science and Technology, Industries and Commerce had surpassed all past figures of growth. “The substantial average growth in the Per-Capita income of our citizens and the constant remarkable growth in the Gross State Domestic Product during the last five and a half years reflects the overall impetus that the State’s economy has received”, he said.

Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, July 22: Although many diseases and health problems are related to the improper disposal of human excreta and improper environmental sanitation, at least 50% of the Below Poverty Line (BPL) households in Jammu and Kashmir are without toilets and all are defecating in open thereby giving invitation to the health hazards not only for themselves but for others too.
This situation is despite the fact that sufficient funding is being given to the State under Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA) Scheme of Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, whose major objective is to encourage cost effective and appropriate technologies for ecologically safe and sustainable sanitation and accelerate sanitation coverage in rural areas, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
The Ministry during the Phase-II monitoring of the scheme conducted through third party independent monitors by way of assessing the implementation of the programme in terms of providing Individual Household Latrines and usage of the facility amongst the households, came to know that Jammu and Kashmir still have at least 50% of BPL households without toilets. It has also come to the fore that only 2% of the total households are using community toilets or sanitary complexes.
It is pertinent to mention here that third party monitoring is conducted by National Level Monitors, who are retired civil/defence service officers having experience in rural development sector. Even academia with proven experience in social work related to rural development are appointed as monitors.
Notwithstanding the fact that Jammu and Kashmir is the State where the Nirmal Gram Puraskar awarded villages have achieved and sustained the coverage in terms of having functional Individual Household Latrines, open defecation was observed by the National Level Monitors, sources said, adding in 30% of the Nirmal Gram Puraskar awarded villages, which were visited by the NLMs, practice of open defecation was noticed.
“In this way, not only the objective of Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan is getting defeated but also the people are exposed to health hazards as many diseases and child health problems are mainly linked to consumption of unsafe drinking water, improper disposal of human excreta, improver environmental sanitation and lack of proper hygiene practices”, sources said, adding “the effects of poor sanitation seep into every aspect of life—health, nutrition, development, economy, dignity and empowerment”.
In order to provide cost effective sanitary material at the local level, the Union Minister has provided an outlet called– Rural Sanitary Mart but in Jammu and Kashmir only 4% Rural Sanitary Marts were found operational. “In the districts of Budgam, Kishtwar, Poonch, Reasi, Samba and Shopian, the procurement is not done through Rural Sanitary Mart”, sources informed.
As far as institutional coverage under the scheme is concerned, sources said, “the programme envisages coverage of sanitation facility for the schools and Anganwadis in the rural areas as these are the appropriate institutions for changing the behavior, mindset and habits of children through motivation and education”.
However, the National Level Monitors noticed that only 79% of the schools in the visited villages were having toilet facility while as only 39% Anganwadis were having toilet facilities.

NEW DELHI, July 22:

Pakistan violated ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir 19 times since the new Government took over and the Indian side retaliated appropriately in each case, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.
“Our head has not bowed… This Government will not let our heads bow,” Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said replying to questions in Rajya Sabha.
Jaitley’s response came when Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said Narendra Modi, before becoming the Prime Minister, used to accuse the then UPA dispensation of being “weak”.
Then why the Government has “bowed” to the recurring ceasefire violations by Pakistan, Azad asked.
The Minister said during the current year till July 16, there have been 54 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border in Jammu and Kashmir.
Between May 26 and July 17, 19 ceasefire violations took place along the LoC and International Border and in all such cases, there was retaliation by the Indian side, he said.
“All CFVs are taken up with the concerned authorities of Pakistan at the appropriate level through the established mechanism of hotlines, flag meetings etc,” he said.
Jaitley recalled that during the first meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi had with his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif here on May 27, he had underlined the importance of border ceasefire.
“Our Prime Minister further emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility at the borders and upholding the sanctitiy of the LoC,” he said about the meeting that took place a day after the new Government took over.
The two leaders also agreed that Foreign Secretaries of the two countries would get in touch to explore how to move bilateral relations forward.
Sharif had come to India at Modi’s invitation to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new Government.
Last year, there were a total of 347 ceasefire violations in Jammu and Kashmir including 199 along the LoC.
In reply to another question, Jaitley said along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir, the Army has adopted a robust counter- infiltration strategy which has an appropriate mix of technology and human resources to check infiltration effectively.
“Innovative troops deployment, efficient use of surveillance and monitoring devices and fencing along the LoC have enhanced the ability to detect and intercept infiltration,” he said. (PTI)

Gopal Sharma

Like most of the other Assembly constituencies of the State, majority of the public issues have remained the same in Poonch-Haveli constituency even after the passage of nearly six years of present regime. The public feels that despite efforts of young National Conference MLA, Ajaz Ahmed Jan from this mountainous constituency, majority of the burning issues have remained same mainly in rural belt and no much respite has been accorded to the people. But at the same time, the people of Poonch city had some appreciation for the MLA for having improved roads, lanes besides initiating some major projects like Mini-Secretariat and much needed sports stadium.
This is an important constituency of Jammu region, represented by young NC legislator junior Jan, son of former MLA Late G M Jan, a highly respected and popular leader. Senior Jan represented this constituency from 1996 onwards and then got elected again in 2002. After the death of G M Jan in 2007, this constituency was briefly represented by Jahangir Hussain Mir of Congress who got elected in Bye-election. In 2008 elections, Ajaz Jan was given the mandate by the party leadership and he emerged winner with strong public support. Sympathy wave is said to be the main factor behind major success of junior Jan in the last Assembly elections. Jan had secured 28,297 votes (40 %) and he defeated Ch Bashir Ahmed Naz of Congress who bagged 18,364 votes (26 %). The PDP candidate Imtiaz Ahmed Bandey remained at third place with 11,950 ( 17 %) votes. BJP’s Pardeep Sharma had got only 6980 ( 10%) votes. This constituency has total 62 Panchayats, out of which 32 fall in Haveli block and 30 in Mandi.
Originally hailing from remote Saujian area of Mandi block, Jan even failed to lay much focus on the main issues of people of his home pocket and resolve their burning issues. Most of them are not happy with their representative for certain reasons. People from Loran area of Mandi feel totally deprived of many facilities while dilapidated condition of this road is the worst victim of Government apathy and neglect on the part of MLA. It could not be improved despite the fact that local leader Bashir Naz from Congress also belonged to this area. The PDP candidate, Shah Mohd Tantray also belonged to Loran area.
Excelsior team had an extensive survey of this constituency and talked to cross section of people from entire constituency and sought public opinion about their MLA, the promises made by him and works accomplished during his tenure. Irrespective of their political affiliation, many people gave their independent views and highlighted the issues of public interest. Once an important principality of the region, the heritage of this historical city has been in shambles and no much efforts were made to maintain the pristine glory of Poonch Fort and the `Moti Mahal.’ Most of the roads maintained by PWD are in bad condition while shortage of electricity, drinking water, poor health care facilities, acute shortage of ration and kerosene oil are the major issues which still exist.
A population of about 2000 souls from remote Rajpura, Baila Mandi, Trishal and Barnote area of Mandi tehsil is feeling victimised as they have been connected with the Surankote constituency. They have alleged a political conspiracy behind this gimmick. They alleged that Mandi tehsil headquarters is just 5 to 8 kms from these about half a dozen villages while they will have to cover nearly 45 kms of distance to reach Surankote for their many works. Not only this, some localities of Mandi town fall in Surankote constituency. The people of this area are agitating to get restored the old status but no body listens to them. They met MLA and several Ministers but their problem has remained unresolved. They alleged that it was done by NC leadership deliberately as part of conspiracy. Mohd Sayeed from this village alleged that people boycotted recently held Lok Sabha elections and they have again decided to boycott coming Assembly elections if the Government failed to do justice with them.
People from Palera, Lahel Bela, Markot, Chikhri, Marachad and Bun Panchayats have alleged severe shortage of ration and kerosene oil. Ghulam Mohd and Mohd Sharief elderly villagers from the area alleged that they get hardly fifty percent of the ration quota and that too, after 20th of every month. They have to mainly depend on ration from local shops. The sugar quota is hardly available in 2 to 3 months. Kerosene oil is not available and if the quota comes it goes to the `black’ as most of the local vehicles were running on kerosene oil instead of diesel. One Mohd Ali maintained that for the population of nearly 10,000 souls there is only one Ration depot at Palera. People have to cover 5 to 7 kms on foot to get ration and Kerosene oil. At least three depots are needed for this population. He also said that power supply to many morhas in the area was not available. People are suffering for want of foot bridges. Teachers hardly visit the schools and NREGA payments are not made to the workers for months. Only some Sarpanchs or RDD officials withdraw amount on behalf of innocent workers and distribute the `booty’. Many Sarpanchs even keep job cards with them and give money to the workers at their sweet will, he maintained.
Exposing NREGA style of functioning, one Haji Abdul Hamid of Loran said that he initiated work to construct a retaining wall (Danga) at Khet. He spent Rs 26,000 on the work engaging local labourers. The RDD officials charged Rs 5000 as advance commission. A payment of only Rs 11,000 was made while rest of the amount they retained with them and never paid. Under such circumstances who will work under NREGA. The poor workers are not paid for years and BDO has failed to do justice with them. The system is very corrupt and NREGA is only for RDD officials, Panchayat secretary and Sarpanchs, he maintained.
Ex-Sarpanch Haji Akram, a disclosed that Loran in Poonch located at great height in Pir Panjal Ranges, was once old route to Kashmir via Sultan Pathri and Rajtrangani during Maharajas times. From this area after covering distance on foot for four hours, one can reach Gulmarg (Kashmir). Kalahan, a great writer on Kashmir had also mentioned about Rajtrangani in his book. There was an old Sarai at Rajtrangani village which is near Sultan Pathri. The ruins are still seen there. A tunnel at Sultan Pathri can ensure all weather road to Kashmir and it is the strong demand of the people of Loran and entire Mandi block. Haji said there was a proposal to connect Kashmir via Loran and Gulmarg during late seventies but the project was shelved due to vested interests. The distance of Gulmarg is hardly 30 kms. He said this could have been a shortest route to Kashmir via Mandi-Loran from Poonch. He strongly pleaded for yet another route to Kashmir via Sultan Pathri. The road up to Sultan Pathri was motorable. This entire road from Mandi is needed to be upgraded and improved. Its condition is worst and Matador and bus operators avoid to ply vehicles in view of road condition. He said condition of lanes and drains was bad. There was no adequate water and power supply and poles were not installed at many locations. The wires are tied on trees posing risk to the people. There are nearly 10,000 voters in the area and the population was over 22,000 in five adjoining Panchayats. The road was constructed in 1960-65 but it was not upgraded. Seeds and fertilizers is not available. There is great scope of fruit but there is no support to the growers/ farmers from Horticulture Department.
Ashraf Shaheen from Loran said that there is strong resentment among public against sitting MLA Poonch as he did not visit the area since long. He is not bothered about the development of the area. He said many Govt schools including GMS Kunja, Kharpa, Middle School Bund, Danna are facing shortage of staff. Shaheen said there were around 15 seasonal schools in the area and their teachers are without salary for last one year. He said there is local PHC and it has three doctors and an ambulance but there is still shortage of other staff and medicines. Recently a grid station was set up and a little improvement in power in the town was witnessed. Primary School Kayala is without building while water pipes were laid at this village and Bela Balla, Tantrian and Kayala but no water supply was ensured. Din Mohd of Danna in Loran said that no NREGA works payment was provided to the workers for the last two years. Only those close to Sarpanch or MLA get it. There are no toilets in High Schools or Middle Schools of the area. APL / BPL supply of ration was not provided for the last 2-3 months. Shah Mohd and Abdul Ghani from Loran, and Javed Iqbal from Bella Bhalla graded performance of MLA as below par and said that he has totally neglected this belt. The people have made up their mind for a change this time. They said at Oripura Danna there were no poles of LT and cables are laid along trees. There is risk to the public life.
One Bashir Ahmed at Saujian in Mandi also depicted a negative picture of the area. He said the MLA belonged to this area but even then, not enough progress has been witnessed. He said Gagrian, Shole and Saujian area have five Panchayats. Only mini-buses come and no bus plies. Most of the staff in hospitals and schools have got attachments and they hardly visit. Being Model village no required infrastructure was developed. In Shole and Gagriyan Panchayats no NREGA payments were made to the workers. Ration is not available and power supply is also inadequate. There is Army Goodwill School at Saujian and it is doing very well. One Ghulam Qadir said that Gagrian A & B are last Panchyats along the LoC. People are mostly dependent on Army. Even their vehicles provide tanker water supply. People of Shole are facing water scarcity. At local PHC there are two doctors posted but one has got his attachment at Mandi and now only one comes. Condition of link roads is bad. One Bradi road was abandoned half way. Several PMGSY roads have also been abandoned from Saujian. Mohd Aslam and Mohd Hafeez told that NREGA scheme should be closed as money is only going to the pockets of RDD officials and middlemen like Sarpanchs and politicians. Workers are denied their share. Ration cards have not been issued to many villagers. Ration is not available to most of the population. Seven shops were gutted in December 2012 at Saujian market but no compensation was provided. They said a road is under construction from Saujian to Tangmarg in Kashmir via Gali and Anjan Pathri. He said from Saujian to Gali, 4 kms road is ready. The work on a bridge at Gali is nearing completion. Between Anjan Pathri and Dewar Gali work is on. Up to Dewar Gali bus service is already functional from Tangmarg side of Kashmir. Hardly 20-25 kms road is yet to be completed by BRO. There will be direct link to Kashmir from Poonch via Saujian, he added.
Ghulam Mohd at Mandi also projected problem of water shortage and power curtailment. He said supply of ration is inadequate and condition of link roads was worst in the surrounding areas. He also alleged that some area of Mandi town is worst victim of political conspiracy as nearly 2500 voters of the area have been connected with Surankote constituency. Two Panchayats of Baila Mandi and Rajpura have been connected with Surankote constituency. The public is badly suffering. One Ishtiaq Ahmed Bhat, a local resident also projected the grim picture of this belt and maintained that though half a dozen leaders including MLA belonged to this Mandi block but area has been facing many hardships. Condition of SDH Mandi is not good. No specialist doctor was available. Most of cases are referred to Poonch. Even delivery cases are not taken up for want of Gynecologist. CAPD supply is irregular. Many hamlets including Arai Malika are without power. In Primary and Middle schools teachers hardly go. In two local higher secondary schools many subject lecturers are not available and posts are lying vacant. This has affected the studies of the students, he added.
The people from Bandi Chechiyan, Salotri, Noora Bandi, Qasba, Nangali, Shahpur, Mandaar, Islamabad, Khanetar, Magnad, Chandak, Kalai, Sathra, Darra Dullian, Painch, Kannuiyan, Khari Karmara, Degwar, Gulpur, Ajot and Jallas Panchayats have also been facing similar problems. There is resentment and the people are generally not happy with the pace of progress and development in these pockets. They held MLA and the coalition Government responsible. They even spoke against the former MP Madan Lal and alleged that he also neglected the people of this area and not brought any development project to this constituency. Imtiaz Bandey from Bandi Chechiyan, who had contested last elections unsuccessfully described the pace of development very slow in the area. He said the condition of their road is good but education sector is badly hit. Teachers hardly go to schools and children suffer. Ration supply is inadequate. Some PMGSY roads were undertaken but many of them are still incomplete or left half way. People are worried as their NREGA payments are pending. Job cards have been snatched by the Sarpanchs and there is no accountability. There is no required infrastructure in Islamabad model village. There are nearly 15000 plus votes in nearly 10 Panchayats of the area but they are mostly not happy. There are total 62 Panchayats in Poonch Haveli out of which 32 are in Mandi block while rest 32 are in Haveli ( Poonch). MLC Shehnaz Ganai from NC also belonged to Azmabad in Mandi while Congress MLC Jehangir Mir too, hailed from Shella Dangri village in Mandi block. Ch Bashir Naz of Congress and PDP leader Shah Mohd Tantray also hailed from Loran area of Mandi. MLA Ajaz Jan is also from Saujian in Mandi. Mandi block always dominated politically the entire Poonch- Haveli constituency. The number of voters is over 50,000 in Haveli block including Poonch city, Bandey said.
In Poonch town, however, some people expressed satisfaction over the power and water supply besides the condition of roads and lanes. They said many lanes have been improved and covered with tiles with the initiative of MLA. The power supply is also better than any part of Jammu region. Curtailment is there but it is not much. Electricity is mostly available during night. Local citizens K K Kapoor, however, criticized the State Government and the local legislator for neglect of rich heritage of Poonch city which holds Fort building complex. He said some work has been initiated but pace of work is very slow. No sufficient funds are being provided for its restoration. Kapoor said water supply in some of the localities was not adequate while Education was running on adhoc system. Required subject teachers were not available in college and higher secondary schools of the area. Khori Nad Mohalla is suffering for want of water supply. H S Bedi lauded several contributions of the MLA but maintained that many works are yet to be executed. He said in city many lanes have been improved with laying tiles. But the condition of some link roads was not good and needed improvement. In some wards there was no proper street light and cleanliness in the city. One Ram Rattan said that there was great potential of small scale industry, horticulture and agriculture field in the district but nothing has been done in this field. Some land of Dashnami Akhada and other religious places were occupied by some Government departments to raise buildings illegally as a part of conspiracy recently.
MLA Poonch (Haveli), Ajaz Ahmed Jan when contacted said that he has initiated lot of development in his Haveli constituency during his last five years’ term. Jan claimed that he was satisfied with the pace of work and intended to enhance it further if voted to power again. Mr Jan said he got sanctioned Mini-Secretariat complex at Poonch with the cost of Rs 28 crore. The Government has released Rs 14 crore and the work was in progress. He said that emergency block of District hospital, Poonch which was damaged in earthquake in 2005, got additional funds worth Rs 7 crore sanctioned for the restoration in 2009 with his efforts. DC office damaged in the quake was also got reconstructed with the additional funds of Rs 4 crore. Mandi Tehsil complex got sanctioned and Rs 4 crore have been spent on it. The building is almost ready, he added.
Mr Jan said Mandi to Fagla and Bafliaz (Surankote) road got sanctioned under CRF and Rs 42 crore are being spent on it. Nearly, 50 % of the road has been completed and work is going on there. It will have direct link to Mughal road from Mandi. Many houses were damaged during earthquake in Poonch area and the people were provided timber on subsidized rates in 2009-10. New Agriculture complex with the cost of Rs 4 crore got sanctioned at Poonch and work is nearing completion. Poonch TRC was completed and tourism infrastructure is being raised at Nangali Sahib, Ziarat Illahi Baksh and Sain Mira Ziarat. Kalai-Mandi road has been upgraded facilitating Budha Amarnath pilgrims and other population.
Loran to Tangmarg road project under BADP has been taken up with the Centre and Rs 2 crore have been earmarked initially for alignment purpose. This will be shortest route to Kashmir via Sultanpathri. A tunnel has also been purposed and a project worth Rs 200 crore has been sent for this 32 kms road project to the Centre. The road from Mandi to Loran will be improved under PMGSY and project has been submitted. A Grid Station at Chandak was constructed with the cost of Rs 46 crore and with this power supply in entire Poonch has been improved. Under PMGSY 18 roads have been taken up and six got completed. 22 new primary schools were constructed and nearly 30 upgraded. Under RAMSA, eight school buildings were constructed, 3 dispensaries were constructed under NRHM, 20 new water supply schemes were taken up and six are complete. Nearly, 100 water hand pumps were got sanctioned. New Sports stadium at Poonch with the cost of Rs 4 crore got sanctioned and it is nearing completion. Work on University campus Poonch has been taken up and Rs 42 cr got sanctioned from UGC. New administrative block of Degree College Poonch got constructed with the cost of Rs 2.60 cr besides an examination hall. He said that restoration work on irrigation canals/ kools has been initiated and over 80 % of them have been restored.

NEW DELHI, July 22:
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’ts’ 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. (PTI)

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 22: A local court today sent 4 persons including Personal Security Officer (PSO), brother of a Member Legislative Council (MLC) and his two relatives to district jail Shopian for judicial custody for beating two polling agents of People’s Democratic Party in April this year.
Chief Judicial Magistrate, Shopian, Farooq Ahmad Bhat, today cancelled the interim bail of the four accused including PSO of the MLC, Showkat Ahmad Ganai, constable Bilal Ahmad Ganai, his brother Sartaj Ahmad Gania, his nephew Rafaqat Ashraf Ganai and another relative Mehrajudin Malik of Chitragam Shopian, and order their arrest. All the four were sent to judicial custody to district Jail Shopian.
A case (FIR No. 24 under Sections 326, 341, 34 RPC) was registered against the four accused in Police Station Zainapora for beating up two polling agents of opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in village Chitragam Kalan of Wacchi Assembly segment of Anantnag Parliamentary constituency that went to polls in April 24 this year.
All these were wanted by police in the FIR but these four accused had under the political influence managed to get interim bail. Police today produced challan before the CJM Shopian against the four accused who cancelled their interim bail and sent them to judicial custody.
The two PDP polling agents who were grievously injured in the beating by the four accused had alleged that they were beaten under the instructions of NC MLC at polling booth number 70A. The two were injured grievously and admitted to District Hospital Shopian and were later referred to Dental College Srinagar for treatment.
The PDP agents had alleged that as they prevented the NC agents from casting bogus votes in the polling booth, they were roughed up by Shoukat Ganai’s PSO and his relatives.

NEW DELHI, July 22:
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. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, July 22:
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 Shashi 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. (PTI)

GURDASPUR, July 22:
The Northern Railway would start a train run by a electric engine on the Pathankot-Jammu Tawi track from next month.
While reviewing electrification of the track between Pathankot and Jammu Tawi at Pathankot Railway Station, Commissioner Railway Security (CRS) R K Kardam said today that the trial of electric engine on the track was success.
He also inspected the Bharoli junction, Sujanpur, Kathua, Hira Nagar, Samba and Bari Brahmana where electric centre have been installed.
The work for electrification on Jalandhar- Jammu Tawi-Katra 280 km long rail track was started in 2006.
The track was connected to Jalandhar to Pathankot, Pathankot to Jammu Tawi and Jammu Tawi to Katra in first, second and third phase respectively, he said.
A sum of Rs 100 crore was spent on the track to electrify it from Jalandhar to Katra, he said.
The electrified track from Jalandhar to Jammu Tawi has been completed and the remaining track from Jammu Tawi to Katra would be completed till June next year, he said. (PTI)

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 22: The Director General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Dilip Trivedi, is on two day visit to Kashmir valley.
A statement issued by the CRPF said that the DG interacted with senior officers of CRPF on July 21 the law and order situation in the Valley.
The DG was briefed about the Baltal incident by KS Bhandari, IGP CRPF Srinagar Sector. He also had a meeting with DGP Jammu and Kashmir Police, K Rajendra and discussed various issues related to law and order and security in the Valley.
The statement said that he visited Baltal to take the stock of situation there. He visited other Base camps established for Amarnathji Yatra and left for Delhi in the evening.
There were allegations against the CRPF for firing in Kulgam and Anantnag districts last week in which one youth was killed and several others were injured.