Excelsior Correspondent
REASI, June 19: A missing CRPF jawan was found dead from the reservoir of Salal Hydro-electric Project at Dhyangarh, here today.
The deceased, identified as Nagraj, son of Chandermohan of Kopal, Karnataka, was Head Constable in CRPF 84-Batallion and was presently posted at Chanderkote. He was missing since June 2 and today his body was found in the reservoir.
Police has registered a case in this connection for further investigation.
Missing CRPF jawan found dead
Efforts on to develop Jammu, Srinagar stadia of international standards: Omar
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 19: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today said that the State Government is keen to upgrade and enhance sports facilities in urban and rural areas so that the talent in different sports is harnessed and groomed to the highest standards.
“We intend to develop facilities of international standards at the sports stadia in Srinagar and Jammu and this matter has been discussed with Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley during his recent visit to the valley. We have urged for the liberal Central help in this regard”, he told the media at the sidelines of Sher-i-Kashmir Sports Award Investiture Ceremony organized by J&K State Sports Council at SKICC here.
Omar Abdullah said that while various steps have been taken to create new sports infrastructure in both rural and urban areas, other measures aimed at nurturing youth in different sports is also under active focus of the Government. He said that up to the mark sports facilities and infrastructure is imperative to develop sports and sports persons. “We are devoting fullest attention towards this goal”, he said adding that a comprehensive sports policy will also be framed to help catapult sports of all categories holistically.
In today’s investiture function, the Chief Minister gave away awards to 20 outstanding sports persons for participating in the International events and earning medals and showing their excellence during the years 2010-11 and 2011-12. The Sher-i-Kashmir Awards are conferred upon 10 outstanding sports persons in each year.
Minister for Sports and Culture, Raman Bhalla, Minister of State for Sports, Feroz Ahmed Khan, Secretary Sports Council, Daleep Thusoo and a large number of sports persons and sports lovers were present on the occasion.
Those who were conferred awards and cash prizes including: Atul Pangotra in Taekwondo, Ishfaq Hussain in Kayaking & Canoeing, Arjun Gandotra in Roller Skating, Mohammad Saud Bhat in Taekwondo, Devinder Pal Singh in Roller Skating, Phungsog Yangdon in Skiing, Major Vikram Singh Jamwal in Fencing, Masooda Akhtar in Skiing, Brinder Singh Manhas in Taekwondo, Arjun Gupta in Taekwondo, Kapil Pangotra in Taekwondo, Adil Mohi-ud-Din Bhat in Kayaking and Canoeing, Harish Kumar in Power Lifting, Preet Dutta in Power Lifting, Yasmeena Akhtar in Skiing, Arushi Kotwal in Chess, Shaurya Bali in Equestrian, Arun Singh Charak in Wushu, Lalit Singh in Wushu and Zaheer Abbas Khan in Taekwondo.
These sports persons have participated in International events in the years 2010-11 and 2011-12 winning gold, silver, bronze and other medals. Under the Sher-i-Kashmir Sports Award, 10 outstanding sports persons are awarded for participating in the international competitions in games and sports recognized by International and Asian Sports Federations and Government of India Sports Boards. It carries a cash prize ranging from Rs.20,000 to Rs.30,000 per sport person besides a certificate and citation at the Investiture Ceremony.
Lay’s launches football favourite flavours
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 19: Lay’s, the leading potato chip brand from PepsiCo India and amongst one of the leading snack brands in the country, brings forward its global campaign with international football superstar Lionel Messi for consumers in India, through the launch of its Football favourite flavours.
Lay’s has added local flavuor to the global Leo Messi campaign by launching these three new limited edition offerings of Apple Chilli, Cheesy Jalapeno and Tangy Herb, to delight consumers.
As part of the Football Favourite program, consumers are invited to taste these limited edition flavours and get a chance to watch Messi play live by voting for their favourite flavour. All that consumers need to do is to give a missed call on the unique numbers provided on the respective packs.
The Lay’s flavor which gets the highest number of missed calls shall be the winning flavor and one lucky winner will be selected from the winning flavor entries who will get a chance to watch Messi play live.
The offer is valid in select cities, towns and also on Rs 10/- (26 g) packs of the following Lay’s flavours: Spanish Tomato Tango, American Style Cream & Onion, India’s Magic Masala and Classic Salted.
Gaurav Mehta, Category Director – Western Snacks, PepsiCo India said, “With the Football Favourites campaign we plan to take the excitement to a new platform by engaging with the fans and adding fun to TV watching time. Our global campaign with international football superstar Leo Messi in India offers our consumers a chance of seeing the international football superstar play live.”
The three new Football Favourite flavours, Lay’s Apple Chilli, Cheesy Jalapeno, Tangy Herb, will be available in select cities, towns, in mid and large packs at Rs. 10 & Rs. 20 respectively.
The campaign kick-starts with the TVC going on air on 20th June and will be supported by a surround 360-degree marketing plan including on-ground activation, print, digital media engagement and a mix of above-the-line communication.
Anand wins bronze in world rapid chess
Dubai, June 19:
Indian chess ace Viswanathan Anand came up with a thumping victory over reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen but had to settle for the bronze medal in the World Rapid Chess Championship that concluded here.
The game with Carlsen, who won Gold despite the defeat, was the talking point for thousands of chess buffs on the social media as Anand is set for a re-match with Carlsen in November to determine the next world champion.
Anand, a five-time world champion, had lost the crown to Carlsen last year.
Anand, tied at joint third spot on seven points before the start of the final day was trailing Carlsen by a full point and did well to beat the Norwegian in the twelfth round of the championship to declare his real intentions.
However, as it happened, Carlsen’s final spurt was still good enough to win the title on 11 points in all while a last minute surprise by Fabiano Caruana of Italy earned him the silver medal.
For the records, Carlsen ended with 11 points out of a possible 15 for a clear first place while Caruana, Anand and Alexander Morozevich of Russian ended joint second on 10.5 points apiece.
As the tie was resolved, Caruana was a bit superior to Anand while the Indian star was ahead of Levon Aronian of Armenia and Alexander Morozevich of Russia on tiebreak.
Anand, in fact, had last three drawn games after beating his arch-rival Carlsen.(PTI)
HC stays transfer of 2 ALCs
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 19: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has stayed the transfer of two Assistant Labour Commissioners who were transferred by the Government prematurely.
Government had transferred (Govt order no. 41 L&E of 2014 dated 22-05-2014) Mohammad Imran Khan, ALC Ganderbal to Leh in Ladakh six months after he was posted at Ganderbal. In the same way Fayaz Ahmad Dar, ALC Budgam was transferred (Govt order no. 41 L&E of 2014 dated 22-05-2014) to Leh after he was posted at Budgam a year ago.
Senior Advocate of High Court, Bashir Ahmad Bashir, had challenged the transfer orders of the two officers taking a plea that no Government official should be transferred prematurely.
The High Court stayed the transfer of both the officers and issued notices to the Government to file objections.
Don’t want to decide on Leader of Oppn in hurry: Sumitra
INDORE, June 19:
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan today said she is not in favour of taking any decision in haste on the issue of nominating Leader of Opposition but has to take a call before the coming budget session.
“I don’t want to taken any decision in haste on the issue of nominating Leader of Opposition. Before arriving at any decision on the issue, I will have to study in detail the related rules and traditions and also consult the subject experts,” Mahajan told reporters at the Indore Press Club.
However, when asked about the time limit on the issue of deciding the Leader of Opposition, the 71-year-old leader said, “I will have to take a decision on the issue before the Lok Sabha’s budget session.”
“In such issues, the Lok Sabha Speaker is not supposed to go by his/her own inner voice. Therefore, I will see relevant parliamentary directives and precedents. After that only I will take a decision on the issue,” she said.
The Speaker clarified that Congress president Sonia Gandhi has not written any letter to her on the issue, but she has received a letter from Congress General Secretary Janardhan Dwivedi informing that former Union Minister Mallikarjun Kharge has been elected the Leader of the Congress Legislature Party.
Sumitra said that she will strive hard to ensure that positive and quality debates takes place in the House instead of unnecessary arguments.
She said she will ensure maximum coordination between ruling and Opposition parties, and added that normally it is believed that the onus of running the House smoothly lies with the party in power.
She also said that her focus will be on providing training to the new MPs and she would also try to ensure that maximum questions raised by members are taken up during the Question Hour in the House.
The Speaker also urged the media not to give undue importance to those who create ruckus in the House to remain in the limelight.
The eight-time MP from Indore also said that she will try hard to give impetus to the developmental projects associated with her constituency and the state.
Replying to a question on the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) scam, the senior BJP leader said the officers probing the case should investigate it carefully and not harass any innocent person.
Meanwhile, a public function was held last night in the city to honour Sumitra, popularly known as ‘Tai’ on her unanimous election as the Lok Sabha Speaker.
Nearly 470 people belonging to different walks of life felicitated her on the occasion.
The Speaker thanked people for electing her not just once, twice or thrice, but for the eighth time from the same constituency. (PTI)
LPGEF stages day long dharna
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 19: The daily wagers belonging to PHE, PDD and all other departments staged day long dharna to lay stress upon regularization of All J&K Low Paid Government Employees Federation, (LPGEF) today.
Kabla Singh, president, Low Paid Employees Federation Kathua, while addressing the gathering strongly supported the demands of daily wagers and urged the Government to concede the same expeditiously.
Sher Das Sangra, president, LPGEF, Billawar alleged that the cases of 119 daily wage workers working for more than seven years have not been sent for regularization and moreover about 12 daily wagers performing their duties assigned by their immediate superiors do not reflect in the office records maintained by the local authorities which is highly deplorable.
The speakers threatened to accelerate struggle soon if the authorities fail to address and their outstanding grievances soon. Salem Ahmed, Rara Chand and Yash Pal also addressed the dharna.
Teenager girl drowns in water tank
Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, June 19: In a tragic incident, a teenager girl of seven years got drowned in an underground water tank in her house in Battal Balian Udhampur.
The deceased, Minakshi daughter of Jugal Kumar of Battal Balian was playing when she suddenly slipped into open water tank in the house. Family member fished out body of the girl and took her to district hospital Udhampur where doctors declared her as brought dead.
Pasture XI, Bhella XI register narrow wins in Champions T20
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
BHADERWAH, June 19: Pasture XI and Bhella XI registered narrow wins over their rivals to advance into the next round of the ongoing 2nd Edition of Champions Trophy T20 Cricket Tournament, being organized by Rashtriya Rifles located at Bhaderwah, under the aegis of the Counter Insurgency Force (Delta) and Youth Combined Cricket Club Bhaderwah at Degree College Ground, here.
Earlier, in the first match, Pasture XI defeated Marmat XI by 6 runs in an exciting contest.
Batting first, Pasture XI scored 143 runs in the allotted 20 overs by losing 7 wickets. Aquib (45) and Janu (34) were the main contributors. Ravi Kumar bagged 2 wickets, while Pawan and Amit claimed one wicket each for Marmat XI.
In reply, Marmat XI managed to score 137 runs to lose the match by a narrow margin of 6 runs. Aanish scorted fabulous 47 runs. For Pasture XI, Waseem and Salman captured 3 wickets each. Aquib was adjudged Bajaj Allianz man of the match.
Ina another match, Bhella XI got better of Tatnazi XI by 9 runs in a close contest. Bhella XI scored 152 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in 20 overs. Rubani (44) and Nasir (31) were the main contributors. For Tatnazi XI, Ayaz Ganai scalped 3 wickets, while Amjad and Yasir claimed one wicket each.
In reply, Tatnazi XI scored 143 runs in 18.5 overs to lose the match by 9 runs. Altaf and Ricky shared 2 wickets each for Bhella XI, while Irfan and Yousuf claimed one. Rubani was declared Reliance man of the match.
The matches were officiated by Usman and Faisal as umpires, while Afridi was the scorer.
Neeraj wins Wushu gold
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, June 19: Neeraj of Bharti Public School won gold in the District Level Inter-School Under-17 boys Wushu Championship in 40 kg category, organized by the Department of Youth Services and Sports, which got underway at M A Stadium, here today.
Naresh of Rich Harvest School claimed silver in this event.
In 44 kg, Haqeek of Bharti Public School bagged gold, while Ananya of St Peter School won silver.
The gold medals in 48, 52, 56, 60, 65 and above 65 kg Under-17 boys went to Aryan Katal of Jodhamal Public School, Balbir of Bharti Public School, Avimann Singh of St Marry School, Aryan of Delhi Public School, Kanav of Jodhamal Public School and Sanjeev Singh of Bharti Public School.