Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 10: One day token strike was observed by Non Gazetted Forest Officers Association (NGFOA) today in support of the genuine demands of forest officers.
The officers also staged a demonstration in the Dogra Hall Forest Complex.
The protestors were demanding removal of pay anomaly, enhancement of 135 posts of RO Grade II, Risk Allowance and two and half days pay, promotion avenues, change of designation of helpers and regularization of daily rated workers engaged prior to ban.
The Association, while highlighting the demands warned that in case the Government failed to concede the same within stipulated time they will be forced to launch agitation.
The provincial president of the Association Ravi Kumar warned the Government to resolve this issue otherwise it will have to face dire consequences. Another protest was held at PCCCF Office at Srinagar.
Others who spoke included Bhupinder Singh, general secretary, R S Jasrotia, S Gurcharan Singh, Amit Gupta, Mushtaq Ahmed, Hadder Shah, Ved Parkash, Shamsher Singh, Surjit Singh Sumberia, Narinder Kumar, Om Parkash, Nazir Ahmed, Charan Dass and Virender Singh.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 10: Provincial Power Employees Union (PPEU) in its meeting here today held under the chairmanship of Shakti Gupta discussed various problems being faced by the employees of the Power Development Department (PDD).
Addressing the meeting, Shakti Gupta demanded immediate holding of DPC for junior assistants, senior assistants and also release of pending DPC of technician IV to Technician III and from Technician III to Technician II.
He also demanded release of salary of daily wagers and need based of employees of the PDD. Besides, he demanded ITI grade of Rs 5000 -8000 to ITI trained employees ending pick and choose policy.
He also demanded implementation of SRO -59 in Jammu division which is implemented in Kashmir Valley only.
Others who attended the meeting included Aijaz Kazmi, Sanjeev Bali, Ashok Gupta, Ram Lal, Subash Chander Sharma, Kamod Kumar, Kuldeep Kumar, Ashwani, Manjeet Singh, Kulbushan etc.

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, June 10: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah this morning visited Pahalgam to receive first hand appraisal of the fire incident that gutted Tourist Reception Centre and some private property including shops and a hotel.
The Chief Minister interacted with the fire sufferers and expressed his solidarity and sympathy to them. He told them that all possible help will be provided to them for their rehabilitation. He also talked to the officers of Tourism Department and received brief about the gutted Tourist Reception Centre.

Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, June 10: Two persons consumed poison while one died under mysterious circumstances at his residence at Chenani and Tikri in district Udhampur today.
Police said Surinder Kumar (23), son of Som Raj of Tikri Aria of Udhampur, consume some poisons substance under mysterious circumstances in his home late last night. The family members took him to PHC, Tikri.
One Shanta Devi (30), wife of Mohan Lal of Sirka Las village in Chenani, consumed some poisonous substance at home.
Family members took her to Sub-District Hospital, Chenani where doctors declared him as dead. Chenani Police registered a case and started investigation.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 10: Major fire broke out in a `Kawadi shop’ at main market in Surankote town while forest fire along LoC in Balnoi and KG sectors of Mendhar has sounded alert in the nearby villages and hamlets.
Reports said fire broke out in the shop of one Niaz Ahmed at around 12.30 midnight. Watchman of the area informed police. The police party rang up local Fire Station and the fire tenders took about two hours to fight the fire. About two structures got damaged in the incident. SHO and SDPO Surankote also reached the spot. The quick action saved the nearby Telephone Exchange and adjoining shops.
Meanwhile, fire along the LoC at Balnoi and KG area since last evening has spread in the larger area. While the Forest officials have failed to contain the fire, it has spread to the larger area. It has caused damage to the Military infrastructure at some locations and also sounded alert in the belt. Dozens of mines are exploding with the spreading of fire along the LoC.
Another fire broke out in a Forest enclosure at Kardoh near Lakhanpur in Kathua this evening. It has spread in the larger area and the concerned staff of Social Forestry failed to contain it. It started from nearby private fields and spread to the forest.

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, June 10: Expressing serious concern over the plight of Kashmiri students who have been allegedly duped by a section of colleges in Uttar Pradesh, CPI (M) state secretary Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami has urged the Chief Minister to intervene into the matter by taking up the issue with the UP Government.
Tarigami in a release said that a delegation of parents apprised him about a Srinagar-based NGO that had facilitated the admission of over 70 students under Prime Minister’s special scholarship scheme in Purvanchal Institute of Dental Sciences in UP, but the college authorities have failed to conduct their annual examination for the last around two years.
“Though the students have approached the university with which their college is affiliated but they have been told that their batch is not registered with the Dental Council of India. This is a big fraud committed by the unscrupulous elements who want to mint money at the cost of careers of our youth. I urge the Chief Minister to intervene into the matter and save the career of these youth who are caught in very hard and pressing circumstances,” Tarigami said.
He also demanded a thorough investigation into the self styled NGO’s who are playing with the careers of the students in the name of different scholarship schemes.
The CPI (M) leader also appealed the parents to go through a rigorous research before getting tier wards admitted in any of the colleges especially outside the state.
“While the Government must provide free counseling to the youths who want to pursue their higher studies or do any professional courses outside the state, the parents also must do a thorough investigation about the affiliation of colleges and registration of the courses being offered under different scholarship programmes,” Tarigami observed.