Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: J&K PWD Casual Labourers Union held a protest demonstration in front of Lok Nirman Bhawan, Pamana Chowk, demanding regularization policy for the workers engaged after 1994, here today.
Raising slogans in support of their demands, the protestors urged the Government to frame regularization policy for all causal workers, who are working in the department for the past over a decade.
They also demanded release of wages under proper wages head and release of all pending wages of various divisions of Jammu province especially Samba and Akhnoor divisions.
Due to retirement of the permanent employees all the important assignment are being run by the casual labour of the department, they said, adding that in this situation these casual labours deserve favorable regularization policy.
Addressing the gathering, Mohammad Gafoor Dar, president, J&K National Trade Union Front warned the authorities that further delay in fulfilling the demands will compel the workers to launch agitation.
Among others present were Rajinder Kumar, Molvi Naazir Ahmad, Ajay Kumar, Satish Kumar, Sanjeev Suri, Ravi Manhas etc.
Gafoor Dar has appealed to all casual labours of PWD, PHE, Irrigation, Forest and other allied departments to partipate in large number on Febuary 12, 2014 to march to Assembly programme.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: To commemorate the foundation day of the Election Commission of India and to enhance the participation of the voters, especially the youth, in the democratic electoral process, the ‘4th National Voters’ Day’ (NVD) was celebrated at a function organized by Chief Electoral Office J&K at Police auditorium here today.
Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey was the chief guest on the occasion. Chief Electoral Officer J&K Umang Narula, Deputy Commissioner Jammu Ajit Kumar Sahu and officers from State administration and Election Department besides various political party representatives, senior citizens and large number of young boys and girls participated in the event.
“Setting up of the Election Commission of India on January 25, 1950 was indeed a landmark chapter in the history of free India, a step which facilitated peaceful, orderly and democratic transfer of power through delivery of free, fair and credible elections to the people”, Chief Secretary said.
“The addition of over 3.5 lakh new voters who turned 18 during last year, to the list of registered voters reflects the success of ‘Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation’ SVEEP campaign” he said, adding that Jammu and Kashmir today has over 69 lakh total registered voters, who will be exercising their franchise, their right to vote in the upcoming elections to choose a Government.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Electoral officer, Jammu and Kashmir Umang Narula informed that as many as 3.5 lakh new voters have been enrolled to the voters list and now the state has over 69 lakh registered voters, following the recently concluded roll Revision exercise. He said that out of these 92 per cent of our voters have given their photographs and we will be providing new EPICs to all which will become standard card for a voter. He said that people can also visit our website www.ceojk.nic.in, with facility for online registration, online electoral Rolls, e-filling of claims for getting name added, to electoral rolls, deleted from electoral rolls and modifying the particulars of an elector.
Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Ajit Kumar Sahu on the occasion informed that in the coming days awareness programme “wake up Jammu” will be launched to encourage all young eligible boys and girls to get enrolled and participate in the election process.
On the occasion, young artists of Natrang presented very creative and skits highlighting the importance and power of each vote in democracy and how right use of vote can lead towards ensuring that best leaders are put in position of power and responsibility. The skits titled ‘Loktantr ka Mantr’ were written and Directed by eminent theatre Director Balwant Thakur.

SRINAGAR, Jan 25:
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today brushed aside criticism that the State Government did not act against the perpetrators of 1998 Wandhama massacre of Kashmiri Pandits, saying 12 militants responsible for the act were killed.
“A lot of chatter about alleged inaction following Wandhama massacre of Kashmiri Pandits. Facts are very different and counter (the) allegation. Stay with me, while I put the facts here. On the night of Jan 25, 1998, 23 Pandits were killed by militants in Wandhama. Harkat-ul-Ansar suspected to be behind the incident” Omar wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.Com.
The Chief Minister said on February 17 that year, security forces launched an operation and six foreign militants, probably Pakistanis, were killed and another injured.
“All were affiliated with HuA cadres and injured militant admitted to being part of Wandhama massacre and named other dead ones as accomplices with name of ISI commander also,” Omar said.
He said six more foreign militants of Harkat were killed in operations over the following years.
“Further operations over next years in Wandhama area, other 6 more HuA foreigners were killed & no evidence or intelligence of further involvement (of more militants) is there,” the Chief Minister said.
He said the case was closed after that. “As a result, the case was closed and to suggest no action followed Wandhama massacre or Govt slept/ignored is not supported by facts,” he said.
A Kashmiri Pandit organisation, KPSS, yesterday alleged that the Government took no action to bring the perpetrators of Wandhama massacre to book and demanded that the Chief Minister issue a statement about the action taken in the case. (PTI)

Excelsior Correspondent
MENDHAR, Jan 25: Tension gripped the entire Mendhar town this afternoon as hundreds of workers of PDP came out on the road and started massive protest demonstration against the NC-led State Government for allegedly keeping local MLA, Sardar Rafiq Hussain Khan from PDP, away from the official Republic Day function.
A large number of  PDP workers led by Nadeem Ahmed Khan, State general secretary PDP youth wing and  other senior party leaders Maroof  Ahmed and Wasim Ahmed Khan came out on the road and raised barricades. The market was also closed sensing trouble. A strong mob of PDP workers and supporters of MLA had assembled in the town to lodge strong protest against the State Government. They stalled the movement of traffic on the road.
They were shouting slogans against Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Deputy Commissioner Poonch. They alleged that in all the Assembly segments as per standing Government order, respective MLAs  will hoist National Flag in the Republic Day function but for Mendhar constituency a separate order was issued by the GAD on the behest of Chief Minister  that SDM Mendhar would hoist the National Flag tomorrow at the official function.
By playing dirty politics and providing political gains to local NC leader and Dy Chairman Legislative Council Javed Rana,  the  NC leadership asked GAD to issue controversial order and keep MLA away from the official.
Tension gripped the entire town over the issue. While SHO and the SDM  Romesh Kumar reached the spot to defuse the situation, Addl SP Poonch Amit Gupta and Addl DC also rushed there sensing law and order problem.  Additional police and paramilitary forces  rushed to spot. The local shopkeepers closed market and movement of vehicles also came to grinding halt.
MLA later told Excelsior that by issuing such a controversial order by GAD on behest of NC leadership  and that too,  for Mendhar, keeping public representative (MLA) away from official Republic Day function, the Omar Government has been exposed for its nefarious designs. He said order of January 6  issued by GAD has clearly  mentioned about the MLAs to host tri-colour in their respective constituencies but another order was issued on January 24, only for Mendhar constituency because it is represented by PDP and NC wanted to provide political advantage to its local leader Javed Rana. He said that PDP workers would not allow it to happen and for any law and order sitatuation, Government will be responsible.
Meanwhile, the PDP workers held protest up to 8 pm and then dispersed. They warned to storm into official function venue along with MLA tomorrow morning and only MLA would be  allowed to hoist National Flag there.
Deputy Commissioner Poonch, Sajjad Ahmed Khan when contacted  said that he and SP Poonch were cosely monitoring the situation. Additional deployment of police force has been made. He said that he personally spoke to the MLA and requested  him to maintain peace and calm. He said the protest has been stopped now and party workers have returned.
Replying to another question the DC said, “Till late this evening, there was no communication from the higher authorities regarding any change in tomorrow’s programme at Mendhar.  No doubt, the situation was explosive in the border town of Mendhar. We are keeping close eye on the situation and will take appropriate decision assessing the situation tomorrow”, Khan maintained.