Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 24: Railway Magistrate Jammu, Sandeep Gandotra awarded eight months imprisonment and fine of Rs 1000 to Mohd Zaffar, who was facing trial in theft of motor-cycle.
According to the prosecution case, on April 4, 2013 one Deepak Singh lodged a written complaint at Police Post Nehru Market that his motorcycle has been stolen from his house. Accordingly, a case was registered and the accused arrested. After completion of investigation, challan was presented in the Court.
After hearing PO Yogesh Nagpal for the State, Railway Magistrate Jammu observed, “accused has made a confessional statement and case is proved against the accused to the satisfaction of this court. Keeping in view his young age, he is sentenced to undergo eight months imprisonment”.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 24:  The former Union Minister and MLA Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta has deplored the belligerency on part of Pakistan over the issue of smuggling of contrabands and observed that it was a strange situation.
In a statement issued here today he said instead of feeling ashamed and humiliated the Pak authorities are trying to shield the guilty in the smuggling of brown sugar, a costly narcotic.
Responding to the woes of the traders Prof. Gupta said the LoC trade was started with the objective of confidence building measures but it was astonishing that the Pak authorities have adopted aggressive attitude by coming to the support of guilty persons. This will indicate that instead of creating goodwill, they are trying to harm the very objective of this trade. Moreover this also gave credence to the feelings of terrorism, smuggling of narcotics designs.
He said that confidence and friendly relations are good for peace and development. But all this cannot be one sided. For this Pakistan would have to change its policies and approach otherwise it would prove mere a wild goose, Prof. Gupta added.
He demanded that New Delhi must review their policies vis-a-viz Pakistan and opt for realistic approach.
He also said the quandary in which the traders are faced with a piquant situation has arisen.  This is bound to lead to more problems rather than achieving any good.
Prof. Gupta said only strong dealings can make Pakistan to be friendly to behave like a good neighbour. Prevailing bellicose is the result of yielding and weak dealings.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 24: The Union Surface Transport Ministry has agreed to enhance the Central Road Fund (CRF) limit for Jammu and Kashmir from Rs 85 crore to Rs 120 crore after the issue, among others, was discussed by the Minister for R&B and Mechanical Engineering, Abdul Majid Wani during his recent meeting with the Union Surface Transport Minister, Oscar Fernandes.
During his meeting with the Union Minister, Mr Wani discussed in detail a number of issues related to the road connectivity in the State.
The R&B Minister gave a detailed resume about teething problems being faced by the department in the state including insufficient funding under the CRF scheme, need for transfer of few roads from BRO/ Beacon for maintenance to the state R&B department, urgent need for taking up few new roads in the state as new national highway projects under National Highway Development projects and need for creating road infrastructure for people living in far flung areas.
Mr Wani apprised the Union Surface Transport Minister about the fact that for an effective/ efficient maintenance management mechanism a proposal stands submitted to GoI for the transfer of few important roads and National Highways viz., Batote Kishtwar Sinthan Top NH-1B, Dhar Udhampur Road, Bani Machhedi Road, Reasi -Pouni Road, Pouni-Sair Kalakote Rajouri road, BudhalMahore -Gulabgarh road, Jammu-Akhnoor Road, Rajouri Thanamandi- Surankot road, Janglat Mandi Anantnag Sinthan top road, Sangrama Sopore Kulamgam road, BandiporaTragbal road Srinagar and Sumbal Bandipura Road to the state R&B department on the analogy of what is being done in the neighbouring state of Punjab & Himachal Pradesh.
The Union Minster of Transport, who listened carefully all the issues raised by the J&K Minster, gave an assurance that that a team of officers of Ministry of Surface Transport will study all the proposals submitted by the State Govt for further course of action at MOST level.
Regarding enhancement in the limit of funding for CRF to help expand the road connectivity & up-gradation of existing road network in the state, the Union Minister agreed to enhance the limit from Rs 85 crores to Rs 120 crore.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 24: Principal Sessions Judge Kathua, AK Koul has acquitted one  Mohd Shafi, son of Babu Din of Ward No.3 Kathua, who was arrested in July 2009 along with intoxicant capsules, as prosecution failed to prove the offence.
According to the police case, on July 13, 2009, Kathua Police intercepted Mohd Shafi near Degree College Kathua and recovered 490 intoxicant capsules from his possession. After completion of investigation, challan was presented.
After going through the charge-sheet filed by the police and statements of the witnesses, Principal Sessions Judge observed, “there are number of contradictions in the version of the witnesses. Even if the oral evidence has some merit, still the conviction of accused is not possible because of the vital infirmities/lapses”.
With these observations, court acquitted the accused of the charges leveled against him.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 24: A religious function was organized at holy shrine of Purmandal by Geeta Satsang Ashram Muthi today under the chairmanship of Swami Kumar Ji.
A large number of devotees from various parts of Jammu including migrant camps attended the function in which Swami Ji gave religious discourses on Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta. He highlighted the significance of Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta and said it contains the highest philosophy leading to enlightenment of human beings.
Swami Ji while highlighting the significance of Devika and Purmandal shrines said these two holy shrines of Jammu have equal religious significance like Hardwar and Gaya.
Besides, Swami Ji also highlighted the importance of Maag Mass the sacred month of the year as per Hindu mythology.
Bhajan Kirtan was also held by the devotees on the occasion who were later served with prashad.