Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 1: Army chief Gen Bikram Singh is proceedings on a four days visit to China as the head of high level delegation from tomorrow. This visit assumed special significance in the light of increasing defence cooperation and an invitation from the Army chief’s Chinese counterpart.
The Army chief would be meeting top political leadership of China besides his People’s Liberation Army (PLA) counterpart during his four days visit to China lasting from July 2 to 5. This is after nine years that an Indian Army chief is visiting China, the last being Gen NC Vij, who had undertaken trip to the neighbouring country in 2005.
Official sources told the Excelsior that though there was no fixed agenda of the meeting, the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) to maintain peace along the Line of Actual Control India shared with China in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir and North Eastern India. The PLA incursions in China have witnessed steep decline after takeover of Prime Minister Narendra Modi led BJP Government but few days back one of the incident in which Chinese boats had intruded into Indian side of Pangong lake was reported.
Sources said CBMs along the LAC, Naval exercises and joint training exercises between the armed forces of India and China would dominate the agenda of Gen Bikram Singh’s visit to China but definitely incursions by the PLA in Ladakh would figure in the meeting.
Both India and China have made it clear that they want peace on the LAC. India has also made it known to China that the PLA incursions shouldn’t be repeated though it attributed some of the incursions to un-demarcated boundary between the two countries.
Sources said Gen Bikram Singh, who is scheduled to demit the office on July 31, would also have fruitful meeting with his PLA counterpart Gen Gang Fenghui. Lt Gen Dalbir Suhag is scheduled to take over as new Army chief on August 1. This would be last foreign trip of Gen Bikram Singh as the Army chief.
During the visit, cooperation between the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and Indian armed forces, exchange of high and medium level visits, CBMs on the Line of Actual Control including sports activities between border troops and basic naval exercises would be discussed during the visit, an Army official said.
The Army chief, who is also the Chairman, Chiefs of Staffs Committee, would be meeting the senior leadership of the Chinese armed forces including their Vice President Li Yuanchao, Chief of General Staff Gen Fang Fenghui and Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhangye Sui, an Army release said.
The visit assumed special significance in the light of increasing defence cooperation between the two countries and signing of the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement between the two sides in October last year.
Singh’s visit was aimed at implementing a number of steps incorporated by BDCA, which was signed for avoiding flare up situations along the over 4,000-km-long LAC where Indian and Chinese troops carry out patrolling in their claimed areas.
The Indian Army chief’s four-day visit is taking place after a gap of nine years. Former Army chief Gen N C Vij had visited China in 2005 after which military ties remained frozen until the last two years when defence ties gained momentum following improvement in political and economic relations.

Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 1: Maintaining that Narendra Modi Government at Centre will continue to pursue Vajpayee doctrine on Kashmir for restoration of everlasting peace and normalcy in trouble-torn State, BJP national vice president and spokesman, Mukhtar Abass Naqvi today made it clear that no talks are possible with militants and separatists unless they shun the path of violence.
The BJP senior leader who was on a day’s visit to Jammu to inaugurate Party’s Mazdoor Morcha’s two days conference which started here, today in an exclusive interview told Excelsior that BJP is open to dialogue with separatists under the frame work of Indian Constitution provided they shun violence and help in restoration of peace.
Mr Naqvi, while giving a strong warning to militants and separatists said that no one can separate Kashmir from India at gun point. He said Kashmir is an integral part of India and no rebellion will be tolerated. However, he maintained, the BJP is ready to work on Vajpayee doctrine to restore everlasting peace and normalcy in the trouble-torn State.
He said the separatists and Hurriyat should also realize that violence and gun is no solution to any problem and dialogue is the only way out for which the BJP led NDA Government is willing provided they (separatists) shun the path of violence.
Buoyed with party’s performance in recently held Lok Sabha elections in which the BJP got a massive mandate, he said the party will fair well in four States including J&K, Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand which are going to elections by end of this year.
“The party cadres are in upbeat mood and BJP is confident to form the next Government in the State as people are fed up with NC led Coalition Government’s misrule of last six years”, he added.
“We have a blue print of winning 44+ seats in the State and BJP without entering into any alliance with any political party will get majority on its own”, he said adding that party not only in Jammu and Ladakh regions, but will also show surprising results in Kashmir valley during the coming Assembly elections.
Maintaining that BJP will rid J&K of dynastic rule, he said till dynastic rule will ends J&K can’t progress. “Lot of money comes from the Centre for the development of the State but where it goes is not known as there is no development in the State”. This money goes either down the drain or in the pockets of few dynasties and BJP wants to rid the State of that, he added.
The people of all the three regions -Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh want development but not the dynastic rule and on the basis of the same party will show good results in Kashmir valley also, he quipped.
There will be surprising results in the State, he said adding after a long time a party got an absolute majority with 282 seats in the country and set all speculations to rest that era of coalition has come to stay in India. But this has set an added responsibility on the party also, he added.
Mr Naqvi said that Ram Mandir and Article 370 were not in BJP’s poll manifesto but these two issues will be settled under the Constitutional frame work only. He said the BJP is at present concerned with other issues which include price rise, development and eradication of corruption. These issues will be taken on priority basis to take nation forward, he added.
He, however, said it is a ground reality that Article 370 has damaged the interests of people in all three regions of the State – Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh regions. The only advantage of it is to those who are crying that it should continue as they have no accountability and funds coming from Centre directly go to their pockets, he added.
He said this is the reason that Mr Modi had suggested a debate on Article 370 as it was the only middle path for its abrogation.
Denying that BJP was evading responsibilities on its commitments, he said the nation runs with Constitution and not the lathis.
Admitting that BJP has not announced its Chief Ministerial candidate for the State as yet, he said that in various other States of the country party jumps into poll fray without nominating its Chief Ministerial candidate. But the party has many trusted faces in the State and they all are known to people, he added.
In response to a question that how BJP can claim return of “good days” when the prices of essential commodities have started sky rocketing, Mr Naqvi said, the performance of Government can’t be judged in one month. “You wait and see the results within three -four months and every thing will be smooth”, he added.
“We have inherited a bad economy from previous UPA Government which ruled the nation for 10 years”, he said, adding “to erase the wrong doings of previous Government we have to take some new and daring steps for progress and prosperity. But you will see results very soon as every thing will be smooth”, he added.
Mr Naqvi said that BJP is not taking the international challenges as an excuse though it is a reality that increasing terrorist violence in Iraq has its impact on global oil market. “We hope with policies of our Government it will be in a position to tide over the crisis and things will be in control very soon”, he added.
The BJP leader said the world believes in Indian market and our economy will be back on rails soon as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is honestly working in this regard. He is watching every thing with caution and his policies’ impact will be visible soon, he added.
Lambasting Congress for raising a hue and cry over price rise, he said the party is under depression after its shocking defeat but instead of introspecting what were the causes of its defeat the party leadership has not shun its ego.
The party which was knee deep involved in corruption during last 10 years of its rule can’t tolerate a Government working for the betterment of the people so it is raising a hue and cry to mislead public opinion, he added.
Mr Naqvi made it clear that BJP will not take such populous decisions which will put the nation into debt trap. The people have right to express resentment but Modi Government is on right track to solve people’s problems permanently.
He said the greatest step taken by the new Government soon after coming to power was that it tried to improve relations with its immediate neighbours including Bhutan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal with whom our relations have strained during the UPA rule.
Terming Narendra Modi a strong leader and Prime Minister, he said unlike Dr Manmohan Singh he will not be run by a remote control. Dr Singh was also an honest man but his remote control was with Congress chief, Mrs Sonia Gandhi and party vice president, Rahul Gandhi, he added.

Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, July 1: Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) under the influence of a local politician is proposing ‘auction’ of prime land worth Rs 100 crore at throw away prices for the construction of chain of hotels in City centre.
Vice Chairman of the SDA, Shafaat Noor Barlas, in a letter written to Principal Secretary Finance early this year has proposed the auction of 34.09 kanals of SDA land for construction of two hotels of five star and three star ratings and also auction of 9 kanals of land.
The land is located near the official residence of Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand on M A Road, Old SRTC Yard. As per contents of the letter, the land was meant for construction of mini-Convention Centre/Office complex as part of Sangarmaal Shopping Mall -II but a local politician is trying to get the land allotted to a hotelier for construction of chain of hotels.
Sources said that earlier the SDA had planned to allot the land to the hotelier directly to the politician, who himself is hotelier, as a silent partner. However, due to strong resentment by the officers of the SDA, whose parent department is SDA, the allotment word was changed to auction by the VC. Sources said the VC wanted to involve the SDA officers in the process of putting forward the proposal but they refused to be part of it.
While describing the land details of Sangarmaal complex under the physical possession of the SDA, the letter reveals: “Area under Sangarmaal Phase-I, 19 kanals; Open land behind Module-A, 34.08 Kanals and Land under SDA stores, 9 kanals.”
However, the 9 kanals SDA store land was last year occupied by some taxi drivers backed by the local politician. A senior SDA official said that police refused to lodge an FIR against the encroachers who even damaged the Government property. The SDA officials had to move to court to get the FIR registered. The official said that due to political interference the administration and police didn’t help the SDA to vacate the land and it is still in the possession of taxi drivers.
Earlier famous Pistanji building, the lessee of which had expired was given on lessee to a businessman in early 2000s. The court case between the businessman, who had purchased the building from former lessee, and SDA was in Supreme Court but then Principal Secretary to Chief Minister wrote a letter to SDA VC asking him to withdraw the case. The former Union Minister, Kapil Sibal was counsel for the SDA and the case was almost won by the SDA when they withdrew it under the influence of politico-bureaucratic-businessmen nexus.
The employees of the SDA have expressed strong resentment against grabbing of the SDA propriety by Politician-Bureaucrat-businessmen nexus. They said if the SDA property is sold like this, SDA may one day become bankrupt.

Excelsior Correspondent

RAMBAN, July 1: Rejecting the false campaign and propagandists, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah who is also working president National Conference today said that the opponents will not be able to erase the historic role National Conference (NC) has played all along even during challenging times to uphold the people’s cause and seek political and economic stability for Jammu and Kashmir.
“It was the National Conference in the past and it is the National Conference at present which is lucidly and confidently clear about the political addressing of Kashmir imbroglio, creating necessary thaw in Indo-Pak relation and making the ‘table’ only means to settle all issues”, he said, adding that friendly Indo-Pak relation has been the benchmark of the National Conference’s political discourse and it will continue to be the centre pillar in NC’s political viewpoint.
Addressing party workers’ conventions at Neel, Kastigarh, Razgarh and Ukral in Banihal and Ramban Assembly Constituencies today, Omar Abdullah asserted that NC will continue its march to achieving the goal of political and economic stability in the State.
He said that NC is not the creation of any ‘Agency’ its dictation, its command and its strength is the common people of Jammu and Kashmir. “Our Headquarter is the people of the State and we take only their dictation and command”, he said maintaining that power has never been the goal of National Conference. He said NC  is not like other parties who change their minds and views with the changing winds to grab power.
The working president National Conference said that NC is the fortress of common people of all shades and its strength lies in the faith and support of people from grass roots. While referring to the induction of some elements with charges of corruption in the PDP party fold and allotting them tickets to contest forthcoming Assembly elections, he said that this clearly explains volumes about the agenda and approach of PDP vis-a-vis governance. He asked the people to seek information about conducts of these persons under Right to Information Act, it will be amply known to you how much charges of corruption and misconduct are pending against them. “If such persons God forbid, come to power what would be the condition of the State”, he asked.
“We cannot be browbeaten by money and mussel power. We have withstood successfully all such challenges in the past and will do it again in future”, he said and referred to the conspiracy under which the elected Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in 1953 and elected Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah in 1984 were removed.
He also referred to the sacrifices and hardships faced by thousands of National Conference workers during the militancy and said that like in past the National Conference will again surpass the difficulties and onslaughts and emerge as victorious as ever. He expressed confidence that the people across the State would read between the lines and scuttle the conspiracy being hatched against them and the State.
“You have to rise to the occasion and teach a befitting lesson to the power hungry politicians who have sold the honour and rights of the people in the past and are out to do so now to satisfy their lust to be in power”, he told the National Conference workers asking them to remind the people of the sincere service NC and its leadership has always rendered to them all across the State equating it with the worship.
Referring to the historic and path braking decisions taken by his Government during the last over five years on peace and development fronts, to empower people, bring transparency and make public service delivery a time bound duty of the administration, Omar Abdullah said that these glaring achievements cannot be played down by the propaganda of power greedy elements as these are documented and historic memorabilia.
“You cannot belittle the stupendous achievements of the Government made to give common masses the power to scan every function of the Government and be legally empowered to receive public services in a time bound manner”, he told to the detractors of National Conference adding that his Government has transformed the Governance concept by making common man master of the situation.
Omar said that people are witness to the holding of Panchayat elections in the State by the Coalition Government after a long period of over 30 years despite the apprehensions and fears speculated by those who are now attempting to hoodwink people and divert their attention from the services rendered by the Government to them on all fronts. He also mentioned the historic decision of his Government with regard to establishment of hundreds of new administrative units all across the State to enhance the access of people to the administration for redressal of grievances and implementation of development schemes.
“It were we, who enacted Public Services Guarantee Act (PSGA) making as many as 80 services legally bound to be delivered in fixed time limits as also making provision in the Act to impose fine of Rs. 5000 on the official who delays or fails in giving the particular services to the person seeking that service”, he said adding that various leaders in the country are still struggling to have a similar kind of Act at the Central level. He said that his Government also constituted State Right to Information Commission, State Vigilance Commission, Re-constituted Accountability Commission, introduced Third Party Independent Monitoring of development projects, e-tendering of works and e-procurement of material for Government projects giving a new meaning to the transparency and monitoring systems.
Omar also referred to the new direction given to power sector by his Government and said that the initiatives taken to make the State self-reliance in power generation is yet another historic gift given by the Coalition Government to the people of the State. “This measure will not only help to provide 24×7 power supply to the people in the State but make Jammu and Kashmir financial so healthy that it would fund its developmental projects from its own kitty. He said as against setting up of 750 MW capacity power projects in the State from 1947 to 2008 including that of 450 MW Baglihar-I, launched in Dr. Farooq’s regime, his Government has started power projects with a capacity of about 1600 MWs in just five years.
Provincial president Jammu National Conference, Devender Singh Rana, former Legislator Dr. Chaman Lal and NC local leader Sajjad Shaheen also addressed the conventions.

Ajay Raina
JAMMU, July 1: Although the inhabitants of Jammu East Constituency popularly known as “Old City” have divergent views on the performance of their elected MLA Ashok Khajuria, the matter of the fact is that the constituency remains choked with numerous problems and there is no perceptible change on the ground during the past over five and a half years.
Rather the development related grievances of the people have compounded during this period because of unplanned activities in all the sectors particularly the sewerage works.
The major parts of the constituency including those areas which witnessed some sort of development continue to face several issues of in-sanitation and congestion and on both these front, the performance of the sitting MLA Ashok Khajuria remained under a big question mark.
Comprising of 11 Wards, Jammu East is spread on a wide area having various colonies including Rajinder Bazaar, Khatikan Talab, Jain Bazaar, Malhotra Mohalla, Kanak Mandi, City Chowk, Kali Jani, Link Road, Raj Tilak Road, Pahadi Mohalla, Partap Garh Mohalla, Pakki Dhakki, Chowk Chabutra, Lakhdata Bazaar, Moti Bazaar, Gumat, Qasim Nagar, Mast Garh, Christian Colony, Gujjar Nagar, Prem Nagar, Rajeev Nagar, Afghana Mohallah, Chand Nagar, Residency Road, etc.
Due to non-availability of basic amenities including water, power, parking space, developmental works, etc, the residents of Jammu East have been forced to shift to other areas, which showed sheer decline in the voter list if compared to 2008 Assembly elections.
Not only this, due to apathetic attitude of the State Government and other authorities responsible for upkeep and management of the area vis-à-vis rich heritage sites including Mubarak Mandi, Peerkho Temple, Raghunath Temple, Ranbireshwar Mandir, Khatikan Talab Masjid, the number of tourists visiting here has decreased drastically and it in turn has given a setback to the business community due to which many shopkeepers have shifted their business establishments to other areas.
The city has become so congested due to encroachments of its roads and lanes that now-a-days it is impossible to take a round of the area even on a two wheeler. The developmental works in these areas are almost choked, which has compelled the voters of the area to migrate to other areas.
Apart from this, the old structures constructed by Government years ago need immediate renovation otherwise they can collapse anytime resulting into any catastrophe.
The developmental work (tile laying work) carried out by JMC some months back is in a dilapidated condition, which clearly indicates that the material used in the construction of lanes was sub-standard.
People while talking about the reasons which brought the “Jammu East” to this ugly situation told that the Government and the MLA have failed in their prime duties. They have shrugged off their responsibility, which has led the ‘Old City’ into constant neglect in the way of development vis-à-vis basic facilities including water and power.
Government’s failure in providing basic amenities of life in the area and casual approach of their MLA has resulted into mass migration of people and decline in the voter list, which has remained around 65,000 presently despite it being in lakhs in 2008 Assembly elections.
Various Government agencies including Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), Custodian Department, Jammu Development Authority (JDA) and Public Works Department (PWD) have not even thought it important to redress the issues of the people. These agencies have also failed to make the area encroachment free owing to which the whole constituency has now converted into a ‘Traffic Choke Zone’ with almost zero basic facilities.
The people hesitate to visit business hub in the Jammu East due to constant traffic jams, lack of parking facilities, dilapidated condition of roads and prevailing insanitation. The business hub has remained a domestic market instead of the commercial market as it was earlier.
Praises pour in for MLA East in those areas, where developmental works had taken place after 2008 Assembly Elections, but people are also having grievances for their MLA in some areas including Christian Colony, Gujjar Nagar, Prem Nagar, Gumat, etc, where developmental works and basic facilities are still missing.
“Like in Parliamentary elections, where people voted on the basis of performance, the same criteria will be followed in the Assembly elections”, people said while interacting with our correspondent.
Hinting towards new face, they said that the dilapidated condition of roads, heaps of garbage and long snarls of traffic are the main problems being faced by the people, which their MLA failed to which he had attached priority during public meetings held during 2008 elections campaign.
The problem of round the clock cleanliness in the lanes and drains of the area was always neglected due to non-seriousness of our MLA as he did not take up this issue with JMC seriously, said Gautam Sharma, a resident of Parade.
He added that non-availability of parking space is one of the major problems which led to migration of both residents and the business community.
Raj Kumar Babber, Provincial President, Swarankar Sangh Jammu Province (SSJP) said that traffic jams, lack of parking space, insanitation, are the main problems being faced by the people and business community of the Jammu East.
He said that maximum roads in the constituency remains jam packed for maximum time, which has affected the business community badly.
“No doubt, our MLA had taken various initiatives in the past several years and all are visible to the people”, he said, adding that drainage problem being faced by the residents would only be redressed only after commencing of the ‘Sewerage Treatment Plant.
Pankaj Sharma, a resident of Afghan Mohallah said that now-a-days people think of high class living, large parking space, good education for children, medical facilities, high and general facilities at door steps, which they can’t get here in Jammu East, due to apathetic attitude of the Government and our elected representative.
“The people of the area park their vehicles in private parking near Shalamar Chowk, Purani Mandi, etc. “My own car was stolen from outside my house, then how can we think that the vehicles parked in private parking are safe”, he added.
The residents have to pay around Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 per month for parking their vehicle in private parking space during night, which is also a matter of concern. “What has our MLA done in this regard”, he questioned.
“Had the construction of multi storey parking place near Super Bazaar and Panjtirthi been initiated by the Government such a situation would not have arisen, but all this has not been done due to the casual approach of our MLA”, he said.
Palak Sharma, a resident of Custodian house, said that the dream of residents of Jammu East of having lavish lifestyle will never come true due to lethargic approach of the Government.
“If I talk about custodian houses, there are around 10,000 souls living in these houses, whose renovation is to be taken care by Custodian Department. The Custodian Department and the Government especially our representative in the Assembly is least bothered about the lives of the people living in these houses”, she added.
Radhay Sham Khajuria, a resident of Mast Garh and a teacher by profession said that the dilapidated condition of the roads, heaps of garbage, shortage of water and power supplies are the main problems being faced by the people of the area since long.
He added that pollution due to choked drains is one of the main problems here, which not only the local people but also the visitors face. If the use of polythene is banned, then the JMC should strictly adhere to the orders issued in this regard.
Shekhar Arora, a resident of Malhotra Mohalla alleged that the Government’s failure in its prime duty in preserving and maintaining the glory of Jammu East has created chaos and confusion among the people.
He said that settling in new colonies and other posh areas outside the City for want of better facilities might also be the reason of people migration, as all the basic facilities, which the people are trying to get are shrinking with the time.
Many times it has been noticed that whenever higher authorities of JMC/JDA or any other Government Departments visit any Ward of Jammu East, the Ward is maintained beautifully by the concerned officials to show their presence. The officials should conduct on the spot checking of Wards of Jammu East without pre-panned visits only then they will come to know about the problems being faced by the residents”, he suggested.
“If this situation continued, then one day will come, when the number of voters will come to thousands only”, he added.
Sarita Sharma, a resident of Parade said that people are facing scarcity of water supply and un-scheduled power cuts. In last over six decades, Government failed to provide safe drinking water and uninterrupted power supply to its people. During elections, they make promises to redress the issues of the people, but after elections, never adhere to it, she added.
“Our MLA is people friendly and takes keen interest in the development of the area. But the Government is responsible for lack of development as it failed on all fronts”, she said.
Gurdarshan Singh, President, Gumat Bazaar Welfare Association said that no steps have been taken for the beautification of the Gumat Bazaar. “We have to come on roads to get our demands redressed”, he added.
“We demanded a bore well or hand pump for the convenience of the shopkeepers and tourists, but our demand is still to get redressed”, Singh stated.
No initiative has been taken by the MLA of this area as water scarcity, unscheduled power cuts and developmental works are no where in sight in Gumat and surrounding areas”, he added.
Chander Shekhar, a social activist said that in Jammu East there are only two medical centres–Unani Medical Centre at Jullaka Mohollah and Allopathy Centre at Mubarak Mandi, which are catering the medical needs of the thousands of people.
“At Unani Medical Centre, an ayurvedic doctor is deputed. Is it sufficient?. More specialized doctors should be appointed here in these medical centres for the convenience of the people especially for those, who are in dire need of medical facilities”, he added.
Gourav Mahajan, a student said that in the past, Government Higher Secondary School, Jullaka Mohallah was known for producing brilliant students, but presently the strength of students in very low, due to the reason best known to the Education Department.
“My father had told me that MLA Ashok Khajuria, Ex-MLA Shiv Dev Singh Manhas besides many other renowned personalities had studied in this institution, but now the students do not prefer to study in this institution for the reasons best known to the Education Department”, he said while targeting the education standard in the area.
Bablu Sharma and Raman, a resident of Prem Nagar said that the residents of this area are deprived of basic facilities since 2008 Assembly elections. No development work has taken place in the area, which is a matter of concern for the generation to come, they added.
Taking a dig over MLA East, they said “MLA Sahab Sirf Election Ke Time Pa Hi Darshan Dete Ha Humare Area Ma, Aur Election Ke Baad, Kabhi Mud Ke Nhi Dekhte (MLA just visits our area during elections time and after that never turns till next elections).
Shopkeepers in Jain Bazar and Lakhdatta Bazars said that the main problem in their areas is of traffic congestion. “If any fire incident takes place in these areas, fire brigade can not reach the spot due to traffic congestion.
“We are planning to shift our business to some other place outside Old City as it is very difficult for us to do business under fear and due to non-availability of basic facilities including water and power supply”, they added.
When the problems being faced by the people were taken up with the MLA East Ashok Khajuria, he said the grievances of the people are genuine and I will try my level best to redress their issues.
When asked about parking problems, Khajuria said that it is Government’s deliberate attempt to tarnish my image by not sanctioning the funds for the construction of the multi-storey parking place at Shalamar and Panjtirthi near Radio Station.
“I had taken the issues of road development with NBCC and I will work with them to get it accomplished within shortest possible time”, he said, adding that maximum work has been done by him in his constituency.

Excelsior launches ‘MLAs Report Card’
As Assembly elections are only few months away, Daily Excelsior from today is starting a new series under the title ‘MLAs Report Card’ in which our team of Reporters would cover all 87 Assembly segments of Jammu and Kashmir. Reporters would take opinion of cross sections of society about their MLA and report whether the MLA has come up to the expectations of the people or not. The series, which is an initiative to let the people know about the performance of their MLAs, would at the same time give due space to the MLAs to present their Report Card before the public. The series would last 87 days as we plan to cover all Assembly segments—one constituency in a day. We hope the Readers would appreciate our new initiative and apprise us of their valuable suggestions. The series takes off today with Jammu City (East) Assembly constituency, the most prestigious segment.
—Editor

NEW DELHI, July 1:
Government is planning to settle people in sparsely-populated areas along Sino-Indian border and train them so that they can inform security forces of any suspicious activity in the frontier.
A Government source said such an action is necessitated as there is no population in many stretches along the 3,499-km- long Sino-Indian border.
Some areas either do not have any population or are very thinly populated.
Security forces will encourage villagers to move closer to the border and remain vigilant about the activities across the border or those of border guards of China.
“The villagers will be trained to be ear and eye of the forces and inform them whenever they see any suspicious activity,” the source said. Such a move is expected to end the problem of keeping the border unguarded for long when the security forces go on long patrol.
Government is planning to construct roads, provide drinking water and power to those people who would be keen to settle along the border.
The source said due to the lack of basic infrastructure, many villagers have moved away from the international border and started living as far as 50 km away from the frontier, creating a vacuum.
The source, however, ruled out the possibility of giving arms training to those who are willing to be the ‘ear and eye’ of the security forces along the border. (PTI)

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 1: Making mockery of the alert maintained by para-military forces manning Indo-Nepal border, a group of 19 persons from Pakistan reached Kandi Koteranka in the border district of Rajouri this morning but police arrested them before they could reach their houses.
In another act on the Line of Control (LoC), troops thwart third infiltration attempt by the militants in past five days in Langiot forward area in Mendhar sector of Poonch district, forcing group of four to five militants, who tried to sneak in under covering fire of Pakistani troops, to retreat. Pakistan Army violated ceasefire to facilitate the infiltration attempt.
SSP Rajouri Mubassir Latifi told the Excelsior that police party of Kandi in Koteranka police station intercepted three TATA Sumo vehicles in which the illegal intruders from Pakistan were heading towards their homes after crossing the border from Bihar, then reaching Jammu by train and Rajouri on Sumo vehicles.
He said all of them were taken into custody, booked under relevant sections of law and were being quizzed to know the reasons behind their infiltration. All of them would be sent to the Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC) shortly for questioning, he added.
Return of the civilians from Pakistan is being seen as a major setback to the Union Government, which had directed Seema Shastra Bal (SSB) to ensure that no illegal intrusion takes place on Nepal route. The direction had followed large scale influx of militants and former militants to Kashmir from Nepal route in Uttar Pradesh.
However, the persons shifted the route this time from Uttar Pradesh to Bihar and crossed into India from Muzaffarpur. They boarded Sealdah Express and reached Jammu from where they took Sumo for their houses at Kandi, Koteranka but were captured near Koteranka police station by a police team headed by SHO Kotranka Haji Bashir.
Latifi said the accused have been booked under FIR No. 45 at Koteranka police station under Sections 14-A of Foreigners Act, Section 6 of Passport Act and 2/3 Egress and Internal Movement Control Ordinance.
He added that all the illegal infiltrators were being questioned to ascertain their links and would be sent to JIC for sustained interrogation.
Eleven members belonged to one family and seven to another.
Eleven members of one family have been identified as Abdul Rashid, 49, son of Ali Mohammad, a resident of village Jaglanu, Koteranka, his 47 years old wife Bab Johan and nine children—Mohammad Shafiq, 26, Mohammad Shakil, 22, Mohammad Qadir, 19, Banish Rashid, 24, Mavish Rashid, 17, Sarish Rashid, 13, Isha Rashid, 11, Nisha Rashid, 9 and Mohammad Vikas, 15.
The children had studies or were studying in Kotli district of PoK from 7th to 12th class.
Rashid had crossed over to PoK in 1987 via Kanga Gali under the jurisdiction of Manjakote police station along with his wife Bob Johan along with three children. Rest six children were born to Bob Johan in PoK.
Second family of five members comprised Faqir Mohammad, 31, son of Ali Mohammad, a resident of Jaglanu Koteranka, his wife Shazia Kousar, 30, wife of Faqir Mohammad, a resident of Mirpur, PoK and their three children—Farian Ali, 6, Manikha Ali, 5 and Eraj, 3.
Faqir Mohammad is real younger brother of Abdil Rashid and had gone to Pakistan on passport via Wagah border in Amritsar district of Pakistan.
Police said the infiltrators had passport and visa of Pakistan for Nepal. They set off from PoK on June 26, reach Karachi on June 27, boarded a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight the same day and reached Kathmandu. They left Kathmandu on June 28 and entered India from Muzaffarpur in Bihar. From Muzaffarpur, they boarded Sealdah Express on June 29 and reached Jammu on June 30.
They took three TATA Sumo vehicles from Jammu this morning and were on way to Koteranka to their houses when they were arrested.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Army violated ceasefire in a bid to give cover to infiltrating militants at Langiot forward area in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district at 11.45 pm last night.
Pakistan Army opened firing with small and automatic weapons. Indian side retaliated.
Sources said the militants tried to infiltrate into the Indian side under the covering fire but retreated after Indian troops retaliated effectively. Army neutralized the infiltration attempt.
The militants, who tried to sneak into the Indian side under covering fire of Pakistan Army, retreated to PoK after finding the troops on high alert.
This was third infiltration attempt foiled by the Army on the LoC during past five days. Previous two intrusion bids by the Pakistani militants were thwarted in Tarkundi area of Balakote sector.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 1 : State cabinet is meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at Civil Secretariat, Srinagar tomorrow at 4.30 pm.
Official sources said that cabinet will accord sanction to the promotion of M H Malik, Deputy Commissioner Ramban to the Supertime Scale of Jammu and Kashmir administrative service with effect from June 5, 2014.
Cabinet will also give nod to the promotion of Ravi Kanth, Secretary in the State Water Resources Regulatory Authority to the selection grade and special scale of KAS.