Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 15: Notwithstanding much hype over the ongoing Road Safety Week when cops in blue are generally seen more active and alert, the violation of Traffic Rules is unabated particularly by the passenger vehicle operators, which is proving fatal for those travelling in such vehicles and pedestrians.
Making mockery of the Road Safety Week, the operators of passenger vehicles particularly mini-buses and autorickshaws can be easily seen flouting the Traffic Rules at their will and whim that too in front of the cops in blue particularly during morning and evening hours.
The flouting of rules with the sole objective of fetching more passengers even during the Road Safety Week is resulting into numerous fatal accidents on the roads. This can be gauged from the fact that around 40 accident cases were reported from different areas of the Jammu in which nearly half a dozen people have lost their lives while over three dozens were injured.
In one of the glaring examples of traffic rules violation is that a rashly driven mini-bus crushed an auto-rickshaw while passing the other vehicle near Patoli Morh, falling under the jurisdiction of Janipur police station, in which ten persons received injuries and were hospitalized.
After the accident, long queues of the vehicle got stranded, leading to traffic chaos, but the traffic cops were not seen, which created manifold problems for the people for couple of hours.
People were seen cursing the cops in blue for their failure to keep check on the vehicles violating the traffic rules, especially on Bantalab-Janipur-Amphalla route.
It is the clear apathy of the Traffic Department to check the traffic rules violations thereby giving the license to traffic rules violators to kill or cause injuries to who so ever comes in their way.
The Traffic Department is not taking passenger vehicles violating the traffic rules to task under relevant Sections of Motor Vehicle Act, leading to loss of precious lives and injuries to many others on regular basis.
Instead of taking harsh steps to check and minimize violation of rules, the Traffic Police personnel are increasing the number of challans and realization of fine during the ongoing “Road Safety Week”, so as to prove their worth before their bosses.
Talking to Excelsior one of the passenger of mini-bus namely Vinay Malhotra, a private company employee flayed the Traffic Department to keep check on the rashly driving vehicles particularly mini-buses.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan15: In connection with the ongoing campaign for the Lok Sabha elections, PDP candidate for Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat Yash Pal Sharma, MLC, today addressed a public meeting at Suhanjana area of Marh Assembly segment.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Sharma lambasted Coalition Government headed by Omar Abdullah for its failure to solve problems of the masses. He regretted that during the last five years this Government has done nothing to solve problems of the masses.
Calling upon the people to strengthen hands of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Mehbooba Mufti to get rid of this worst ever corrupt regime, Mr Sharma said that PDP has decided to organise  massive protests at all district headquarters against failure of this regime.
Lambasting the Government for its failure to address grievances of the people, Sharma regretted that Government has failed to even supply ration to the people. He said that scarcity of ration was an indication of the total failure of this regime.
District president PDP Thakur Suram Singh, Rash Pal Singh Bittu, Vikram Singh, Balbir Singh, Balwant Singh, Ricky Sharma, Capt Pardeep Kumar, Harjinder Singh, Chain Singh and others also spoke on the occasion.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 15: Ten passengers were injured, when the mini-bus they were traveling in crushed auto-rickshaw near Patoli Morh, falling under the jurisdiction of Janipur police station.
As per reports, the rashly driven mini-bus bearing registration number JKO2S-511 was on its way from Janipur Colony to Parade, when the driver lost control over the steering and the vehicle crushed an auto-rickshaw bearing registration number JKO2T-1411 near Patoli Morh, resulting into injuries to 10 passengers.
On getting information, locals and police team from Janipur police station led by SI Hilal Azhar rushed to the spot and started rescue operation.
All the injured were shifted to Sarwal Hospital in police and other vehicles from where two were referred to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where their condition was stated to be out of danger, when last reports came in.
The injured have been identified as Menu Dogra, daughter of Jagdish Raj, Simran Malhotra, daughter of Ravi Kumar, Meenakshi, daughter of Rajeshwar Singh, Diksha Gupta, daughter of Vinod Gupta, Niketa, daughter of Davinder Singh, Shivani, daughter of Jagdish Raj, Monika Sharma, daughter of Gulzari Lal, Neha, daughter of Babu Ram and Munish, son of Madan Lal, all residents of Janipur and Neha Anand, daughter of Ashok Kumar of Roop Nagar.
A case under FIR number 7/14 under Section 279, 336 and 337 has been registered at Janipur police station and manhunt has been launched to arrest the absconding mini-bus driver.

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, Jan 15:  Scores of residents in Litter today went on hunger strike after the rumours that new Teshsil is being created at Lassipora village of the Pulwama district.
The irate residents have been protesting since January 7 when rumours spread in the area that a new tehsil will be created in Lassipoar village after Cabinet Sub-Committee of the government visited the district.
“All the villages surrounding Litter including Niloora, Rakh, Chowderibagh, Chokoora, Aglar and Panzgama want the Tehsil status be given to Litter,” said the aggrieved residents, who are on a hunger strike.
Business establishments, shops, other institutions remained shut and transport remained off the roads for third consecutive day here.
The protesters said the hunger strike will continue till government announces that tehsil will be created in Litter.
Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Pulwama, Shah Faesal said some people spread rumours that CSC and district administration has given nod for granting the Tehsil status to Lassipora instead of Litter, which have created disturbance and hence such reaction in the area.

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, Jan 15: CPI (M) activists today held a protest in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district against irregular power supply, dismal functioning of Public Distribution System (PDS), scarcity of essential commodities and safe drinking water.
The protesting activists marched from Bus Stand to Mini Secretariat carrying placards, banners and shouting slogans.
The communist activists criticized the Power Development Department (PDD) for its failure to address the situation surfaced due to damaged transformers.
On the dismal functioning of Public Distribution System, they said that a substantial number of families have been left unregistered with Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) and they are forced to procure the ration from open market at un-affordable prices.
The protesting activists demanded early restoration of frozen water pipelines to ensure smooth supply of safe drinking water.
Most of the villages in the district are facing acute shortage of safe drinking water and women folk are forced to walk long distances to fetch water, they said.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 15: Kendriya Vidyalya Sangathan organized KVS Regional Incentive Awards Ceremony – 2013 in the Auditorium of KendriyaVidyalya Number 1 Gandhi Nagar Jammu where Avinash Dikshit, IDAS, Commissioner, KVS, New Delhi was the chief guest.
Twenty teachers and miscellaneous staff were honoured with KVS Regional Incentive Awards on this occasion. Nine other teachers, who have received National, KVS National & KVS National Innovation & Experimentation awards during the session, were also felicitated.
The staff members who were awarded with KVS Regional Incentive award included- Dr. R Prasad, Principal, KV No.1 Udhampur,  Sushma Jain, Vice Principal, KV Sunjuwan,  Asha Pathania, PGT(Bio),  Ram Pal Singh Rajput, PGT(Eng), KV No.1 Pathankot,  Sukhwinder Bali, TGT(SST), KV No.1,Udhampur, Arminder Kaur, TGT(SST), KV No.1, Amritsar,  Shyamla Khajuria, TGT(Sc), KV Nagrota,  Manohar Lal, HM, KV No 3,Pathankot,  SudhaVerma, PRT, KV Dalhousie,  Sarita Gupta, PRT, KV Nagrota,  Shashi Prabha, PRT, KV No.1, Jammu,  Minakshi Sharma, PRT, KV No.1, Udhampur, Surinder Kumar, PRT(Music), KV Nangalbhur, Sukhwinder Singh, TGT(PHE), KV No.1, Amritsar,  Suneel Kumar, TGT(PHE), KV No.1, Jammu,  Babu Ram, LDC, KVS(RO), Jammu,  Piray Lal Tickoo, Sub Staff, KV Bantalab,  Tarsem Singh, TGT(Eng), KV No.1, Amritsar,  Inder Paul, PRT(Music), KV Kathua,  Daljit Singh, Sub Staff, KV No.3, Amritsar.
The programme started with lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the chief guest .The students recited Sanskrit Shalokas and presented cultural programme during this ceremony.
AVLJ Rao, Deputy Commissioner, KVS (JR) apprised about the contribution and achievements of KVS Jammu Region in the development of education in the Region.
While speaking on this occasion,  Avinash Dikshit said that teachers are great treasure with KVS and they as well miscellaneous staff  are contributing a lot to raise the KVS to a world class organization.
A vote of thanks was extended by  A S Gill, Assistant Commissioner, KVS Jammu Region.
Avinash Dikshit  also inaugurated newly built blocks of KV No.1, Jammu in its premises.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 15: As a part of the ongoing 25th Road Safety Week, the Motor Vehicles Department in collaboration with the Directorate of Sports and Physical Education  today organized a painting competition of school children at the Indoor Gymnasium, University of Jammu.
School children in three categories 1st to 5th, 6th to 8th and 9th to 10th participated in the competition. Around 200 children belonging to 12 different schools made paintings on different aspects of Road Safety.
Secretary Transport, Shahid Anayatullah was the chief guest on the occasion.  He  showed keen interest in the competition and appreciated the enthusiasm of children who participated in the competition
Others present on the occasion were Transport Commissioner,  Saurabh Bhagat, Deputy Transport Commissioner M.L. Raina, RTO Jammu, Arvind Kotwal, ARTO Jammu Kuldeep Singh, ARTO, Board of Inspection, Jammu Jugal Sharma besides Inspectors MVD,.  M.S Jamwal Chairman Royal Driving Institute and Sandeep Gulati of the National Garages were also present on the occasion.
The judges for the competition were Additional Secretary, J&K, Academy of  Art, Culture and Languages, Savita Bakshi, K.K. Gandhi eminent painter and   Manoj Chopra, famed cartoonist.
Refreshment was distributed by Tata Motors among participants.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 15: All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (ASKPC) held a meeting here, today under the chairmanship of its president Hira Lal Chatta in which grave concern was expressed over the non inclusion of bonafide Pandit voters in the electoral rolls.
Addressing the meeting president ASKPC Mahila Morcha, Veena Gurtoo said that the names of a big chunk of  Pandit voters are missing from voter lists and demanded that all the youth of the community who have attained 18 years of age be included in voter lists.
She made an appeal to Election Commissioner of India and sought his immediate intervention in the matter.
Shiban Krishan Bhat alleged that both State and Central Governments have failed in declaring exiled KPs as internally displaced people and according refugee status to them.
Subash Chatta demanded reservation of three percent jobs in State Government and three percent in Central Government for KPs While P L Sudeshi expressed concern over encroachment of KPs land in Valley.
H L Chatta in his address warned the settlement of KPs at district headquarters and said that the same was not acceptable to the community which is unanimous on a separate homeland demand within Valley.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 15: In a petition filed by Madan Lal and another seeking direction to Deputy Commissioner Baramulla to implement the provisions of J&K Migrant Act and protect and preserve the property of petitioners by evicting the private respondent from the property of the petitioners, Vacation Judge of High Court Justice Janak Raj Kotwal today issued notice to Commissioner Secretary Revenue, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla and private respondent returnable within four weeks.
After hearing Advocate Vinod Wali for the petitioner, the Vacation Judge also directed the Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla to look into the matter and make a report as regard correctness of the Girdhawari entries and till than status quo shall also be maintained.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 15: Exuding confidence in party leadership, the Minister of Tourism and senior Congress leader, Ghulam Ahmed Mir today said that the three -day long All India Congress Committee (AICC) Session beginning at  New Delhi on January 17 will be a historical for the party.
Talking to this reporter before leaving for Mumbai to attend a function there, Mr Mir said that the young and energetic leadership of the party will emerge after the session to rejuvenate the party all over the country.
Mir who will reach Delhi tomorrow night to participate in the three-day long session which will culminate on January 19 said, 25 members of AICC from the State are participating in the Session besides the district presidents are also invitees.
He said the Session will deliberate on the result recent Assembly elections held in five States and also discuss party strategy for the forthcoming Parliamentary elections.
He said Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi will hold individual interaction with party men from different  States on January 18 and 19 and have a complete feed back on the prevailing political situation and seek their views that how to further strengthen the party.