Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 1: Expressing serious concern over the pathetic standard of living of a vast section of widows, orphans, destitute and old age people in the State, CPI (M) State secretary Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami has urged the Government to enhance widow and old age pension, urging the Government to ensure welfare of this poor and miserable lot of the society.
“Rs 400 financial assistance is too small an amount to fetch them even medicines,” Tarigami said in a statement issued here today, adding that the amount received by widows, old aged and orphans after running form pillar to post in Social Welfare Department needs to be reviewed without any delay.
The CPI (M) leader also remarked that instead of spending money on unproductive areas, the Government must focus and utilize that money in providing financial assistance to the uncovered segments of the society who are in distress. “Hundreds of financial assistance cases of widows, orphans, old aged people and handicapped persons are pending for the last many months before social welfare offices in different districts for unknown reasons. What will these needy people do to that meager amount if it is not provided to them in time,” Tarigami asked.
Tarigami also called for a comprehensive reservation policy for the disabled in private educational institutions, training and professional colleges and other employment concerns to empower the specially-abled population in Jammu and Kashmir.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 1: Akhil Bhartiya Safai Mazdoor Sangh suspended its proposed strike for July 2 for next 15 days to July 16, after its agreement with Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) authorities, here today.
A meeting of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) authorities and representatives of Akhil Bhartiya Safai Mazdoor Sangh (ABSMS) was held in the office chambers of Kapil Sharma, Joint Commissioner JMC at Town Hall here in which demands put forth by the unions were discussed and an agreement was executed.
As per agreement, Joint Commissioner on behalf of the Commissioner JMC considered three out of six demands of Union with immediate effect, while remaining three were recommended to the Administrative Department and higher authorities.
In the agreement, JMC issued the list of 29 civic workers for time bound promotion and the authorities also disposed off pending arrears of 6th Pay Commission and handed over cheques of 2 ½ days salaries of last five months.
On the occasion joint commissioner also forwarded three cases to Administrative Department which included appointment of all 1413 civic workers as casual workers in JMC who are presently engaged with NGOs, insurance of Rs 5 lakh minimum for civic workers and  release of pending arrears of civic workers.
Joint Commissioner, Kapil Sharma said that remaining issues will be pursued jointly by the Municipal authorities and representatives of Municipal employees.
Among others present were Dev Anand Gill, State president ABSMS, Vinod Sharma senior PCC members, Shazadi Gill, Tersem Hans, Shanker Kumar, Amar Momen, Hardev  Singh, Yash Paul, Ajit Matoo, Rashpal, Bharat Hans, Sanju, Susheel Gill, Bittu Pala, Balraj, Raj Rani, Chana Lal, Gurmaj and Anwar.

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 1: A labourer Bashir Ahmad Soial son of Ahmad Soial of Chakhadway Banihal was injured while loading stones at a stone quarry at Zantrag, Khrew in Pulwama district.
Police said he was shifted to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
“Police has initiated proceedings under Section 174 CrPC,” the Police spokesman said.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 1: Additional Sessions Judge Anticorruption Jammu Sanjay Parihar today awarded three years rigorous imprisonment and fine Rs 50,000 to Sham Lal then Incharge Police post Pouni after 21 years investigation and trial.
According to the Vigilance Case the then Incharge Police Post Pouni Sham Lal ASI (now SI), then head constable Madho Lal (retd) then Constable Ved Vyas and Tilak Raj Raina constable posted at P/P Pouni under P/s Reasi illegally confined the complainants Suraj Parkash, Ram Lal, Hardyal and others all residents of Ghai Jagir, Godhar, Reasi and forced them to pay illegal gratification for not arraying them as accused in FIR 159/93 P/S Reasi by misusing their official positions. In the month of September, 1993 the other accused facilitated Sham Lal then ASI and Madho Lal then Head Constable dishonestly in obtaining an amount of Rs 29,600 and Rs 6200/- respectively as illegal gratification from the complainants Suraj Parkash, Ram Lal, Hardyal and others, in lieu of giving them protection from the implication in the said FIR by acting in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy hatched among others and Sham Lal ASI them Incharge P/P Pouni and thereby misusing official position as Public Servant and thus obtained undue pecuniary benefits.
In the 53 pages judgment Additional Sessions Judge Anti-corruption Jammu Mr Sanjay Parihar after hearing Senior Prosecuting Officer Himanshu Gupta appearing for the Vigilance Organization whereas Adv SC Bali appearing for the accused observed that criminal justice system provides safeguard of fair trial and innocent till proven guilty to an accused. There it also contemplates that a criminal trial is meant for justice to all, the accused, the society and a fair chance to prove prosecution. Then alone law and order can be maintained. Court does not merely discharge the function to ensure that on innocent man is punished but also that a guilty man does not go unpunished, where the guilty man happens to be police officer who had misused his official position in such a way to falsely implicate innocent citizens in a criminal case and then obtained illegal gratification from them in lieu of their rescue from such case speaks of gravity of circumstances in which the innocent persons might have been put with.
With these observations Court awarded three years rigorous imprisonment and fine Rs 50,000 to Sham Lal ASI then posted Incharge P/P Pouni. Court further said that out the fined amount Rs 30,000 shall be equally distributed to the complainants as compensation for the harassment and inconvenience meted to them on account of corrupt/illegal acts perpetrated by the accused.

Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, July 1: Principal Sessions Judge Leh  Sanjay Dhar decided a rape case within five months today  and awarded eight years rigorous imprisonment and fine Rs 20,000 to maternal uncle Tsering Dorjay, S/o Tundup Sonam R/o village Bodhkharbu Kargil who was facing trial in rape case for the last five months.
According to the prosecution case that on January 1, 2014 at about 6:30 pm father of the prosecutrix lodged a report with police alleging therein that a few days back his daughter, the prosecutrix, had gone to visit her aunt who is residing in village Ney and on January 29, 2014 when the prosecutrix was returning to her home with her uncle the accused in his vehicle on reaching near Gurdwara committed rape upon her inside the vehicle and thereafter fled away from the spot. On this police registered a FIR and during the investigation of the case police recorded the statement of prosecutrix in which she stated before the Magistrate that on January 29, 2014 that she had gone to village Ney to visit her aunt, boarded the car bearing No. PB08AJ-5260 with her maternal uncle, the accused Tsering Dorjay and both of them proceeded towards Thiksay Leh. On reaching Gurdwara Patharsahib, the accused drove his car towards Omla road and thereafter parked it at deserted place where-after accused committed rape upon her.  After completion of investigation challan was presented in the Court.
Principal Sessions Judge Leh Mr Sanjay Dhar after hearing Public Prosecutor Sanjay Dorjee for the State whereas Adv Gonbo Stobgyal for the accused observed that court found no reason to award lenient punishment to accused particularly he has ravished a young girl who happens to be his niece and by such an act, the trust and confidence that girl would normally repose upon her close relations has been completely shattered.  Court further observed that accused who was supposed to be savior of prosecutrix, has turned out to be her assailant and awarded eight years rigorous imprisonment and fine Rs 20,000. Court further said that in the event of recovery of amount of fine a sum of Rs 15000 out of the same shall be paid to prosecutrix by way of compensation.