Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 20: Police has arrested a store keeper of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department for black marketing public supplies and a butcher for overcharging customers in Srinagar district.
A police spokesman said Nazir Ahmad Bhat of Pandit Mohalla, Haft Chinar, a store keeper at Solina ration depot, was caught red-handed by a police team from Shergarhi when he was black marketing public supplies. About 130 kg of rice was seized on spot.
Police has registered a case FIR No 03/14 under Sections 3/7 EC Act, 409/RPC in this regard.
A butcher, Gulzar Ahmed Nachar son of Ghulam Qadir of Kani Kadal was arrested for selling meat at exorbitant rates on his shop at Maharaja Bazar, Srinagar.
A case FIR No.02/2014 under Section 3/7 E/C Act has been registered against the butcher, the spokesman said.
Store-keeper, butcher arrested
MEF opposes PPP mode in hospitals
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 20: Medical Employees Federation (MEF) has registered a strong protest over the Public Private Partnership (PPP) adopted by the Government for various activities in Government Hospitals including GMCH and SMGS.
In a meeting of the Federation, held here today under the chairmanship of its president, Sushil Sudan, all the members criticized the Government for adopting such a move and endorsed their support to Medical Teachers’ Association to fight against this move of the Government.
The meeting said that poor people have to suffer a lot due to PPP mode as they were not able to incur a huge expenditure in Government Hospitals, which are supposed to render free services.
The Federation threatened to launch a State wide protest if the Government moves forward with such a practice.
Man knocked to death by tanker
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 20: A man was knocked to death by a tanker near Green Belt Park, falling under the jurisdiction of Gandhi Nagar police station.
As per reports, Ramesh Kumar, son of Guchu Ram of Chowki Choura, tehsil Akhnoor was seriously injured after being hit by an unknown tanker near Green Belt Park, Gandhi Nagar.
He was rushed to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where he failed to respond to the treatment and succumbed to his injuries.
The body has been handed over to family members for last rites after completing legal formalities.
A case has been registered at Gandhi Nagar police station and investigation started.
Batwal Welfare Association pays homage to martyr Chuni Lal
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 20: Members of the Jammu and Kashmir Batwal Welfare Association visited the village Tachrwan in Tehsil Akhnoor, where they payed floral tributes to their departed hero Havildar Chuni Lal by laying wreaths of flowers and greenery at his memorial site and presenting to his statute a ‘Gold Medal of Bravery’. They also presented a Shawl to Veer Nari Swarna Kumari.
The Association general secretary R.L.Kaith said to the people converged at the memorial of Hav.Chuni Lal who was a brave soldier of 55 Rashtriya Rifles (Grenadiers). He was killed on December 4, 2007 in a militant flush out operation in Kashmir’s Pulwama Sector and later under the orders of then President of India Pratibha Singh Patil his name was mentioned in a dispatch by the Chief of the Army Staff published in the Gazette of India on November 8, 2008 for displaying most conspicuous bravery, demonstrating battle field leadership and laying down his life to protect the country.
Association president Ex MLA Sat Pal Lakhotraal presented Medals of Honour and trophies to the meritorious students and invited the community people to participate in the 117th Guru Gyagi Birth Commemorative Function slated to be held on February 14, 2014 at Shahzadpur (in Block Marh).
11th student commits suicide
Excelsior Correspondent
MENDHAR, Jan 20: A student of 11th class committed suicide by consuming some poisonous substance at his residence at village Bhati Dhar in tehsil Mendhar last night.
A police spokesman said that 18-year-old Mohd Ramzan, son of Liaqat Hussain of Bhati Dhar was brought to Sub District Hospital, Mendhar during last mid night in serious condition after he consumed some poisonous stuff at his residence. He died in hospital after some time. The body was handed over to the family after postmortem today. The cause behind this extreme step could not be known immediately. The police was investigating into the matter.
Man ends life, another attempts
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 20: A man allegedly committed suicide, while another tried to end his life by consuming some poisonous stuff.
As per reports, surinder, son of darshan lal of Jharkhand, presently residing in district samba allegedly consumed some posionus substance at his residence.
Finding him unconscious, family members shifted him to nearby hospital, from where he was later referred to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where he failed to respond to the treatment and breathed his last today.
The body has been handed over to family members for last rites after completing legal formalities.
A case has been registered and investigation started to ascertain the reason behind such extreme step.
Meanwhile, a man identified as Arjun Singh, son of Naseeb Singh of Bhagwati Nagar allegedly tried to attempt suicide by consuming some poisonous substance at Rani Park, falling under the jurisdiction of Pacca Danga police station.
On getting information, police rushed to the spot and shifted him to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where he was undergoing treatment, when last reports came in.
A case has been registered at Pacca Danga police station and investigation started to ascertain the reason behind such extreme step.
JU scholars, students form JKSSF
Excelsior Correspondent
– Excelsior/Rakesh
JAMMU, Jan 20: For effectively highlighting their genuine voice, students and scholars of Jammu University have formed a non-political body under the name and style of Jammu Kashmir Students Scholars Federation (JKSSF).
This was announced by a group of senior scholars and students of the university while addressing a press conference on the campus, here today.
“The university authorities are least bothered about the general issues of students and scholars, whose voice remains unheard as some blue eyed and those having political patronage are manipulating the decisions, alleged senior scholar Kapil Shastri of Sanskrit Department, who is heading the JKSSF.
Anil Sharma, another PhD scholar of the Management Studies in JU, alleged that the JU administration was quick in the anti students and scholars polices, which are immediately got approved by the syndicate and council while the decisions that can benefit the students are kept pending.
The JKSSF leaders highlighted several demands of the general students and scholars, such as concession in the bus fare, hostel facility for them, timely registration, etc.
They claimed that all such issues of the students and scholars would be got addressed by the JKSSF, which will not have no affiliation with any political party.
Our organization is purely for the cause of students and scholars as we feel that political affiliations influence the working and decision of any body, said Shemsher Singh, a scholar of Urdu.
Som Raj and Anchal Singh of Department of Economics, Varun Slathia of Physics, Rahul Sharma Sanskrit, Satish Verma and Ritu Raj from Dogri also addressed the press conference and appealed all the students and scholars to join JKSSF for giving voice to their issues and demands.
Need to nationalize education: Langeh
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 20: Expressing grave concern over the prevailing education system, wherein he alleged that children living below and around poverty line are being deprived of their basic right of education, State president, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Tulsi Dass Langeh, stressed for nationalizing the education.
“There are three types of education system having different syllabus based on disparity—one for high profile rich people, second for middle class and third for below and around poverty line. Hence, merging of three education systems is no doubt a biggest challenge before the nation, because the ruling elite is not interested in equalization of education system”, the BSP leader said while addressing workers’ meet at Party State Headquarter, here.
Langeh said that if we (India) have to count ourselves in the list of developed countries, then it is imperative for us to nationalize the education. He asserted that children irrespective of religion, caste, colour, class and creed should be treated as assets of the nation and this is the responsibility of the Government to provide equal educational opportunities to all.
Terming the Midday Meal scheme and other schemes such as Scholarship scheme, Anganwari Centres and aid to private educational institutions, initiated by the Government for the welfare of children, as toothless, Langeh said these schemes should be winded up and funds allocated under such schemes should be utilized to meet the expenditure required for nationalization of education.
Privatization of education has become the monopoly of high profile rich people, he said, adding it is a dangerous trend for under-developed country like India and needs to be end.
BUF constitutes cells, committees
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 20: For the welfare and upliftment of Brahmin community, Brahmins United Federation (BUF) constituted various cells and committees.
Addressing a press conference, Inderjeet Khajuria, president of the Federation informed that KK Proch will be the chairman of Legal Cell, whereas Devender Sharma will be Chairman of Unity Cell, Rajesh Sharma will be chairman of Rural and Youth Wing, ML Sharma will be Chairman of Press and Publicity unit and Ram Paul Seth will be chairman for Anti Reservation Cell.
He further stated that in addition to this, 21 member governing body with members namely Prof Devendra Sharma, KK Proch, Jagannath Sharma, OP Srikul, Satish Sharma, Prithvi Raj Sharma, ML Sharma, Hukum Chand Basotra, Dr Kasturi Lal Khajuria, Jagdish Sharma, Ghanshyam Shastri, Ram Paul Shastri, Mangu Ram Sharma, Rajeshwar Dubey, Mahesh Padha and Dayanand Sharma was also constituted.
Khajuria added that presidents of all Brahmin biradaries will be member of the governing body besides all tehsil and district presidents also form part of the said body.
Sakina reviews functioning of SC, ST, BC Dev Corpn
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 20: Social Welfare Minister, Sakina Itoo, on Monday chaired the 36th meeting of Board of Directors of J&K SC, ST & BC Development Corporation and reviewed the functioning of the Corporation besides status of various ongoing schemes, loan disbursement and loan recovery.
The Minister, who is also the Chairperson of the Corporation, emphasized on bringing more transparency and rationalization in loan disbursement so that all the SC, ST and BC beneficiaries get their due share without any discrimination at any level. She asked the officers to give focussed attention on coverage of beneficiaries of rural and far off parts under the schemes of the Corporation.
Sakina directed the concerned to speed up the loan recovery process, highlighting the importance of this key component in the successful and effective working of the Corporation. She, however, warned that any carelessness and dillydally approach in performing their jobs in this regard would be dealt strictly, adding that there must be zero default tolerance in case of loan recovery in future.
The Minister said that the foremost purpose of the Corporation is to work for socio-economical emancipation of under privileged sections of the society to enable them to become self-reliant in all respects. She said there is need to develop confidence among the beneficiaries about the programmes of the Corporation.
The Board approved simplification of documentation in loan cases under direct financing scheme besides endorsing several proposals envisaging further streamlining in the working of the Corporation.
Regarding proposal for providing Government accommodation to offices of the Corporation, the Minister directed the concerned for land identification within minimum possible time period.
The Minister took stock of implementation of various schemes of the Corporation including Direct Financing Scheme and Bank Tie-up scheme.
The Minister asked the Managing Director of the Corporation, Y.P.Suman, to gear up field functionaries for strict monitoring of the schemes at the district level.
Representative from Finance Department, Ravi Magotra, Director SWD Jammu, M.H.Bhatti, Director SWD Srinagar, Nissar Ahmad Wani, representative from Planning & Development Department, S. Manmohan Singh, Additional Secretary, Social Welfare, Babu Ram, Manager Projects, Mohammad Iqbal Kataria, Manager Finance, Anil Gupta besides Divisional Managers of the Corporation, G.Q. Khatana and Arshad Majid Bhat were present in the meeting.