Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 29: Massive protests continued for second consecutive day today in Wagoora area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla against the Government order of placing a Tehsildar in Kreeri village in the district.
Around four thousand people including women from over 45 villages of Sangrama constituency assembled at Wagoora Chowk today demanding revocation of the order and granting Tehsil status to Wagoora due to its central location in the area.
“Our protest will continue till the order is revoked. Government has ignored the report of Cabinet Sub-Committee which has approved Tehsil headquarter status to Wagoora,” said Muhammad Yaqoub Wani, a protestor.
Protesters burnt effigies of the local MLA, Basharat Bukhari, and chanted slogans against the Revenue Department officials.
They tried to block the Baramulla-Srinagar National Highway but police and CRPF personnel used tear smoke canisters to disperse them.
In 2007, the then Government constituted a Cabinet-Sub Committee headed by then Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma, with Cabinet Ministers Nawang Rigzin Jora, Hakim Muhammad Yasin and Qazi Muhammad Afzal as other members to decide location of the Tehsil Headquarters.
The Cabinet Sub-Committee in its report decided to establish the Tehsil headquarter at Wagoora, which fulfills all requirements for Tehsil including Naib-Tehsil Office, Block Development Office and other top administrative units, the locals said.
However, the officials of Revenue Department last week issued the order to post Tehsildar at Kreeri without considering the Cabinet Sub-Committee report.
Meanwhile, Awami Ittihaad Party (AIP) president Engineer Rashid in a statement issued here has condemned use of force against the protesters at Wagura and has asked the Government to show maximum possible restraint while dealing with peaceful agitators. “It will be proper for the Government to constitute a commission that must comprise of neutral officials and should give a patient hearing to the concerned parties before reaching to any final conclusion,” he said adding.
“If major political parties and other stake holders do not restrain from politicizing and personalizing these issues of sensitive nature, the state will witness more violent conflicts within people here.”

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 29: Chinore police recovered missing children from a Bal Ashram at New Delhi.
As per police sources, children of Bindraban, namely Pooja Devi, a class 4th student and Anil Kumar, a class 1st student went missing on December 21 from their residence in Bagani Talab, Raipur, falling under the jurisdiction of Chinore police post.
The father of the children lodged a missing complaint with police post Chinore and after registering a case under relevant Sections investigation was started to trace the children.
A police team was constituted to recover the children by SHO Rattan Singh Rana under the supervision of SP Rural Mohan Lal Kaith and SSP Jammu Atul Goel.
The children were found unconscious from Pooja Express at New Delhi Railway Station and later were shifted to Bal Ashram.
The police team from Jammu after making contact with neighboring States police got clue about the children and left for New Delhi to take the custody of the children.
The children were brought to Jammu by train and will be handed over to family members after completing legal formalities.
The case is of missing or kidnapping could only be ruled after completing police investigation

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 29: National Panthers Party (NPP) Chairman and MLA Ramnagar has said that due to faulty and irregular practices of the State Government, Government of India (GoI) had refused to honour even the current year’s normal plan allocation of Rs 7300 crore and withheld a major portion of the same.
He said that out of the total annual plan size of 7300 crore, the GoI had refused to release the Special Plan Assistance (SPA) of Rs 2064 crore thereby giving the greatest blow to the developmental activity in the State.
He regretted that the bureaucratic red tape and administrative inertia coupled with irregular practices had cost the State dearly and deprived it of huge funding to which it was entitled in the normal course.
He furthers said that the State Government’ casual approach was evident from the fact that various District Development Board (DDB) review had not even commenced with regard to any of the Districts of the State.

Excelsior Correspondent

BANIHAL, Dec 29: Minister of State for Power and Technical Education, Vikar Rasool Wani today inaugurated crossing foot bridge over Changgru Nallah near Banihal market which has been constructed to prevent increasing road accidents in the market. After inaugural ceremony Vikar Rasool Wani addressed huge public gathering in Tourist Dak Bunglow, Banihal.
Mr. Vikar said that development of backward and hilly areas is the priority of Govt. He said that Banihal has witnessed a massive development during last five years of present Government and its report card is before the people. He urged upon the people to cooperate with Govt for implementation of development projects.
He said that Banihal has been the worst victim of turmoil but now the scenario has completely changed. He said contribution of Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad in development of the state especially Banihal cannot be overlooked. He added that Congress party has long history of pro public policies and various initiatives have been launched to redress the sufferings of common man.
Vikar announced that construction work on ANMT College will be taken in hand soon and announced constriction of children cum tourist park at Banihal which will be constructed in between Chareel and Darshipora near Pirpanchal tunnel.
Meanwhile, Vikar Rasool in a separate function organized by villagers of Lamber Banihal which was recently included in list of backward areas distributed RBA certificates among the locals of the area which marked the beginning of issuing RBA certificates for the residents of the areas.
Tehsildar Banihal Dr Mohammad Usman Khan and other officials were also present on the occasion.

Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Dec 29: All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary and in-charge J&K affairs of the party, Mainul Haq today said that Congress is the only secular force which can represent each section of the society and keep the country united.
Addressing a public meeting at a Jatwal in district Samba today Mr Haq lashed out on forces who create hatred on the basis of caste, region and religion and cautioned that these forces are posing threat to secular fabric of nation. He said that the role of Congress Party in the pre and post independence period during its history of 129 years has proved that Congress is a unifying force in this country and no other political party can claim to represent each section and each village of the country. He lashed out on the policies of hatred and divide being pursued by the BJP and others, which are bound to be rejected by the people.
The AICC secretary asked the Congress workers to gear up their activities and defeat the designs of such forces which want to create wedge between various sections of society for their vested political interests. He claimed the Congress Party is guarantee to the equitable development by ensuring unity and integrity of the State. He said Congress Party has given more important rights to the people like RTI, RTE, ETFS etc.
The local Congress leaders during their speech highlighted various demands besides raising their voice against the non-implementation of issues of public concern. They said only Congress can ensure better and equitable development in all the three regions.
Prominent among others present on occasion included Th Hari Singh, Prem Sagar Aziz, Farooq Andrabi, Shameem Raina, Manmohan Singh, Girdhari Lal Chalotra, Pankaj Dogra and Jagdish Raj.

Excelsior Correspondent
KULGAM, Dec 29: In view of rising complaints against coaching centres in the district Kulgam, District Administration has decided to take action against those Centres functioning against norms and recently issued guidelines by the Director of School Education, Kashmir.
In this regard, Additional Deputy Commissioner Kulgam, Gulzar Ahmad Shabnum convened a meeting with the representatives of Coaching Centres Association of district Kulgam.
The meeting was attended by almost 50 representatives of different tuition centres across the district.
During the meeting, the representatives of different coaching centres were directed to adhere to norms and follow the guidelines properly for operating coaching centres, which includes congenial atmosphere around the centres, adequate facilities of heating arrangements and drinking water supply, separate wash rooms for boys and girls besides, gender separation.
The meeting was informed that no tuition centre will run in any commercial or Government buildings besides, the management of these coaching centres will make sure the prerequisite qualification (P.G in concerned subject) of the tutor and a reasonable teacher student ratio in the classes.
Stressing upon the representatives, Additional Deputy Commissioner said, ”the real essence of teaching profession should be to serve the humanity in the large public interest rather than making money. We should impress for harnessing the human resource by giving quality education to our wards that should be affordable to everyone”, he added.
It was decided in the meeting that ten days dead line will be given to Coaching Centres Association to register themselves with the district administration. Subsequently, the checking squads would be making surprise visits to the centres and violators would be dealt sternly.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 29: As a part of “Duggar Shaurya Diwas” celebration preparations, JKDF today called a convention of workers from all the 26 Wards of Jammu West Constituency to stoke up preparations and other strategies to make the programme a memorable event.
JKDF shall organize various charity and cultural programs during the week following “February 19” to mark the foundation Day of party.
JKDF State president Anil Gupta presided over the meeting in presence of Sewa Dal office bearers and Ward presidents from all the 26 Wards of Jammu West Constituency.
Earlier, large number of JKDF activists including senior leaders from different parts of Jammu gathered to attend the meeting. In the meeting various aspects and strategies were discussed to make the programme a successful event. JKDF is expecting the participation of more than 25000 people and workers on Foundation Day programme on February 19.
Addressing the party activists Anil Gupta said, February 19 will have a significant importance for all of us, as on this day JKDF came into existence. Moreover, Day reminds us about the great Dogra legacy and principles followed by our forefathers, who always kept the head of Jammu high by their valour.