Everything is on track, IPTL will pan out as planned: Bhupathi

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July 20, 2014

New Delhi, July 19:

There is no threat to the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL), veteran Indian star Mahesh Bhupathi said today, asserting that none of the team owners has pulled out and a multi-year deal was firmly in place with the country’s biggest broadcaster for his ambitious event.

Bhupathi woke up in Spain to frantic calls from Indian media asking about the future of IPTL in the wake of a pullout by PVP Ventures as claimed by a media report.

Bhupathi though said everything was on track, laughing off the report.

“Micromax are the owners of the Mumbai Franchisee. PVP Group along with Sachin Tendulkar were in talks but deadlines were not met,” Bhupathi said from Spain.

“Our league is structured in such a way that players have to be paid at regular intervals. PVP office told me that they are busy fighting elections in Andhra. Obviously payments could not wait, so we went on and got another team in India. I have e-mail confirmation from PVP saying go ahead,” the veteran star explained.

“PVP were in discussions to buy the India franchisee but unfortunately PVP got busy with elections and could not make payments timelines and hence we sourced another team.”

Bhupathi also revealed that Micromax have chosen Delhi as venue so their matches will be played in the capital.

Bhupathi said he was “annoyed” with the media reports and it was baffling to see such an article.

“Everything is on track. In fact, in London, three days before the Wimbledon all the owners were there for a workshop and they all met the players. Rahul from Micromax met (Rafael) Nadal. Dubai owners met (Novak) Djokovic and Manila owners met (Andy) Murray, so there are no hiccups, contrary to what that media story says.” (PTI)

CEC inaugurates hatchery plant

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Daily Excelsior

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July 20, 2014

Excelsior Correspondent
Kargil, July 19: Chief Executive Councillor LAHDC, Kargil Haji Asgar Ali Karblaie today inaugurated hatchery plant of Poultry Development Farm at Kurbathang.
The Executive Councillor for Animal and Sheep Husbandry and PWD Mohammad Amir Advocate was also present on the occasion.
On the occasion, the Poultry Development Officer informed that a total of 4897 eggs have been loaded for hatching in the first phase. If the operation proved successful with hatching 50 percent eggs, out of total loaded eggs after 21 days, we would load 10,000 eggs in the next phase, he added.
Among others, Chief Animal Husbandry Officer, Kargil Dr. Mohd Iqbal and Poultry Development Officer, Kargil Dr. Gulzar Hussain, besides Doctors and the other officials of the department were also present on the occasion.

Body recovered

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Daily Excelsior

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July 20, 2014

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 19: Police said it has recovered a body at village Yarikah in D.H Pora, which was later identified as Khursheed Ahmad Ellahi son of Abdul Salam of D.H Pora.
A police spokesman said police has registered a case under Section 174 CrPC to ascertain the cause of the death.

Forest officials protest over junior’s promotion

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Daily Excelsior

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July 20, 2014

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 19: Scores of senior forest officials of Tangmarg division today protested against what they called the illegal promotion of one of their colleagues by the department.
The protesting employees said that they were surprised to see that Imtiyaz Ahmad Khan, who was working as social forestry worker in Tangmarg division has been promoted as Range Officer and posted at territorial range Gulmarg.
Ghulam Hassan Bhat, President Forest Division Tangmarg said that Khan has been illegally posted on the vital post after he was promoted by using his political influence.
“Imtiyaz Ahmad Khan is only middle pass and for the post of Range Office, one should have technical qualification in Kashmir Forestry Course (KFC) or atleast 20 years of experience as Forester in the department,” Bhat said, adding, Khan doesn’t have relevant qualification for the post.
The employees demanded that Khan’s Order No. 184 released on 18th of this month be cancelled, otherwise, they would go for indefinite strike.

Rajnath directs to prepare road-map on internal security

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Daily Excelsior

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July 20, 2014

NEW DELHI, July 19: Home Minister Rajnath Singh today issued direction for preparation of a holistic road-map on key internal security issues, including Left Wing Extremism, Jammu and Kashmir and Northeast, in a time-bound manner.

At a high-level meeting, attended by top officers of the security establishment and intelligence agencies, Singh reviewed the entire gamut of the internal security scenario, activities of terrorist organisations, cross-border terrorism besides others.

Official sources said violence perpetrated by Maoists, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and Northeastern region have also come under intense discussions.

Singh directed the security officials to prepare a road-map on all these key issues in a time-bound manner and suggest ways to deal with them.

Singh was briefed about the problems along the international border like infiltration and how to resolve them.

The Home Minister took stock of the Left Wing Extremism, which is now considered the biggest security challenge for the country, and the areas where the menace is serious and how to tackle it.

Functioning of paramilitary organisations also came up for discussion and officials told him that eight lakh personnel of the paramilitary organisations are currently deployed for various internal security duties. (PTI)

ED files charge sheet in Surat diamonds hawala case

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Daily Excelsior

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July 20, 2014

NEW DELHI, July 19:

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a charge sheet under anti-money laundering laws against prime accused Afroz Fatta and others in the Rs 5,000-crore Surat fake diamond trade and hawala scam.
The agency was probing the case for over four months and charged a total of 79 people, including key accused Fatta and Madanlal Jain, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after it had filed a complaint in a special court in Ahmedabad.
“ED Ahmedabad files prosecution complaint in PMLA Special Court, Ahmedabad in the Rs 5,000 crore Surat fake diamond trade and hawala scam,” the ED said on its recently launched twitter handle– ‘dir_ed’.
“In Surat fake diamond hawala scam Afroz Fatta & Madanlal Jain (both already in judicial custody) and 77 others charged with money laundering,” the agency said on the social networking site.
ED is also probing hawala dealings (transfer of money through illegal banking channels) in this particular case under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
The agency’s zonal office in Surat, in March, had claimed to have busted a hawala racket to the tune of Rs 700-crore during searches at the offices of some diamond traders in this city.
Sleuths had also questioned Fatta and trader Jain for their alleged involvement in the racket where it is suspected that Rs 700 crore was sent outside India.
It suspects the total scam to be worth Rs 5,000 crore.
ED suspects that the people it is probing indulged in huge under-valuation of imported diamonds in order to send a large amount of foreign exchange outside the country without paying proper duties and taxes.
The agency has alleged that instead of importing diamonds, the traders made bogus import bills claiming that they had purchased the diamonds from a foreign trader.
Using the bills, the traders used to transfer money to overseas banks and financial intermediaries, without ever importing any diamond, it claimed. (PTI)

Battle of equals as KCCC takes on New Challengers

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Daily Excelsior

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July 20, 2014

Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, July 19: It will be the battle of equals as star-studded Kishan Chand Cricket Club (KCCC) will take on the combined stars of New Challengers Cricket Club in the final of the Chevrolet Cup T20 Cricket Tournament at KC Public School grounds, adjacent KC Sports Academy, here tomorrow.
Though, one gets a feeling that Manik-led KCCC may enjoy a slight edge over their rivals, yet cricket being the game of glorious uncertainties, especially the shortest format and New Challengers Club being the amalgam of good players from various clubs, a tough contest is on cards between the two formidable sides.
While KCCC possesses a strong batting line-up in Vimarsh Kaw, Dhruv Mahajan, Bandeep Singh, Shashi Kumar and Pardeep Bali, the batting trio of New Challengers Club in Parveen Singh, Hardeep Singh and Manjeet Singh is a hard nut to crack.
As far as the all-rounders is concerned, KCCC has a battery of them in skipper Manik Gupta, Shashi Kumar, Raman Dutta, wicketkeeper Raman Thaploo and Sameer Khajuria, not to talk of Dhruv, Kaw, Bali or Jain, while on the other hand, New Challengers have the all-rounders in dependable Ramdayal, Deepak Singh Manhas and not to talk of Manjeet, Hardeep or Parveen.
The New Challengers Club has a strong medium fast bowling duo in experienced Ramdayal Punia and youngster Rohit Sharma, while speedy Sahil Sharma and Soumay Jain of KCCC are also having the talent to counter.
In the spin Department, KCCC can boast of having hugely experienced Sameer Khajuria, Raman Dutta ad Pardeep Bali, besides Gutsy Dhruv and gritty Kaw, while the New Challengers will be fielding only one specialist spinner in Deepak Singh Manhas to be supported by part-timers Manjeet, Hardeep or Parveen.
Having said this, it will be a keen contest and the team which holds its nerves better in the crunch situations will be the winner.

PHEEA discusses demands

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Daily Excelsior

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July 20, 2014

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 19: A meeting of District Executive bodies of PHE Employees Association (PHEEA) of Jammu district was held here at PHE Head Quarter of PHE (M) Division South at Gandhi Nagar to discuss burning demands of the PHE employees including release of pending wages.
The meeting held under the chairmanship of State president, Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), J&K, Shiv Kumar Sharma, who is also the provincial president of PHEEA, Jammu province.
The speakers lambasted the authorities for not releasing the wages of daily wagers for last 20 to 24 months. The daily wagers are suffering severe financial hardships in the absence of salary, while the authorities are doing nothing besides giving assurances, they said.
The meeting discussed various demands of the Association including meeting shortage of staff in the department, holding DPC meeting as early as possible, change of designation of workers as per nature of working and enhancement of daily wages from Rs 150 to Rs 350.
Addressing the meeting, Sharma urged the Government for early release of pending wages of PHE workers. He also urged the Government to release 10% DA from January 2014, enhance medical allowance from Rs 300 to Rs 1000 and create technical posts from top to bottom to remove stagnation. The speakers also appealed the PHE employees to unite and come on one platform to get their demands redressed properly.
Those who spoke on the occasion were Vinod Kumar, Raman Kumar, Ajay Kumar, Radhay Sham and many others.

Army organizes National Integration tour

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Daily Excelsior

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July 20, 2014

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

Students of Guru Nanak Dev Model High School, Baramulla posing for a photograph during National Integration tour.

BARAMULLA, July 19: A fortnight-long National Integration tour was organized by the Army for the students of Guru Nanak Dev Model High School, Baramulla.
The tour was flagged off on July 5 from Baramulla and went to Delhi and Agra to culminate again at Baramulla in a glittering ceremony, today.
The ceremony was attended by galaxy of dignitaries and parents of the students.
The unique initiative was undertaken by the Army’s Rashtriya Rifles Unit with an aim to give adequate exposure to the youth of Kashmir Valley and give exposure to the rich and diversified culture of the nation.
The tour gave opportunity to the students to witness historical monuments like Humayan Tomb, Dargah Hazrat Nizamuddin, Tajmahal, Fatehpur Sikhri, Dargah Salim Chisti and many other places.
It also helped students to gain first hand information about electronic, food processing and shoe manufacturing industries.
The flagging-in ceremony was a grandeur show in which the locals thanked the Army for its endeavors and requested them for more such events.

J&K Grameen Bank renews MoU with Maruti Suzuki India Limited

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Daily Excelsior

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July 20, 2014

Excelsior Correspondent

The officials of Grameen Bank and Maruti Suzuki India Limited while renewing MoU on Saturday.

JAMMU, July 19: J&K Grameen Bank, a premier Regional Rural Bank of the State renewed the MoU with Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) for the finance/sale of Maruti cars, today.
This is another joint step of J&K Grameen Bank and MSIL’s rural initiative to tap the vast business potential in prevailing rural market. JKGB is committed to provide hassle free services to the rural masses, a bank handout issued here today said.
The MoU was renewed in presence of Chairman of J&K Grameen Bank, Vagish Chander, General Manager Gurcharan Singh, Head of Advances, Krishan Lal Sharma and other officers of the Bank. The Maruti Suzuki India Limited was represented by Himanshu Asopa, Area Manager, J&K, Rushil Dembla and other representatives from MSIL.
The MoU will bring synergy in the business development of both parties involved, the handout added. It said the J&K Grameen Bank has large branch network in the State and the company Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) has a vast dealership network across Jamu and Kashmir.