Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 1: 1st Additional Sessions Judge Jammu, Y P Bourney today awarded life-imprisonment and fine of Rs one lakh to one Sonu Kumar, son of Jadgish Raj of Gho-Manhasa, who was facing trial in murder case. Court, however, acquitted three other accused namely Deepak Singh, Surjit Singh and Rajesh Kumar of the murder charges.
According to the police case, on May 25, 2008 a complaint was lodged by the uncle of deceased at Police Post Sandwan alleging therein that his nephew Sain Singh, who had retired from Army and was doing private job, was brutally stabbed by the accused persons over a dispute involving parking contract.
Accordingly, police registered a case and after completion of investigation presented challan against accused persons in the court of law.
After hearing APP Harpal Singh for the State, 1st Additional Sessions Judge observed, “crime seems to have been motivated out of greed in order to grab the Municipal parking contract”.
With these observations, the Court convicted the accused under Section 302 RPC and awarded imprisonment for life and fine of Rs one lakh.

Excelsior Correspondent
RAFIABAD, Jan 1: Member AICC and former Minister Abdul Gani Vakil today appealed party high command not to surrender any Parliament seat in any region of the State because it will be an unaffordable disaster for the party.
Vakil said this while addressing a public meeting in Panzalla Rafiabad today.
He said that no doubt it is the prerogative of the high command to finalize the pre poll alliance with any secular party but at the same time its negative effect upon party must be evaluated and analyzed with utmost care and caution.
Vakil said that surrendering party’s representation for the sake of any type of alliance in the ensuing Parliament elections will also have a bad impact on the rank and file of the party.
AICC member while reiterating his stand on corruption said that menace has taken toll to a greater extent and has not only weakened the economy of the country as well of states besides increases alienation amongst masses to a considerable extent hence corruption needs to be tackled with iron hand.
He maintained that corruption will be decisive factor in upcoming polls because people now cannot be befooled on the pretext of religion or other petty issues.
Vakil stressed upon Government to be responsive to public grievances and come forward for their help and rescue. He expressed serious concern over the failure of Government in restoring power supply and clearing snow from roads.
Former Minister insisted upon Government to put in place rigorous efforts for maintaining supply of essentials in the valley during adverse weather conditions.
Among others who addressed the gathering were senior Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Shah, Haji Mohammad Afzal Khan, Pandit Brij Nath Nehru and several others.

Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, Jan 1: Former Minister and senior Congress leader Manjit Singh today appealed Government to appoint an orthopedic doctor in Government Hospital at Vijaypur.
Singh was speaking in a function organised at Thandi Khui area of Vijaypur by Sarpanch Sukhjinder Singh Polla.
Vijaypur is accident prone area and every day mishaps take place on Jammu Pathankot highway, he said, adding that unfortunately the Government failed to appoint the orthopedic doctor in the Vijaypur Hospital.
Singh also expressed concern over the encroachment on Government land by the people with the support of local administration and demanded action against the encroachers.
Meanwhile, Polla also distributed shawls and blankets among the poor and needy people of the area.
Among others present were Janak Shastri, Ganisham, Hari Singh, Sarvandass, Som Dutt, Gautam Singh, Arjun Singh Charak, Youth Leader Paramjeet Singh Pamma, Chander Shekhar, etc.

JAIPUR, Jan 1: A city-based NGO which manufactures ‘Jaipur Foot’, a rubber-based prosthetic leg, along with the Indian Army have equipped 103 disabled persons in a border village of Jammu and Kashmir with artificial limbs, hearing aids, wheel chairs, crutches and walking sticks.
Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) in association with 5/5 Gorkha Rifles of the Army had set up a special camp for the purpose in Dagbella village, located at the height of 13,000 feet, from December 22-29.
Under the programme ‘Manzil Aapke, Kadam Hamare’, the Gorkha Rifles organised the camp to rehabilitate the civilians, a BMVSS release issued here said.
The camp was set up in one of the remotest places in the vicinity of the Line of Control (LoC), which has a large number of villagers affected in firing from across the border.
Due to accidental blasts of mines and unexploded explosives (UXOs), many people have suffered injuries and ailment, the release said adding that most of them have lost a limb or are hearing impaired.
“There was an urgent need to address the needs of the people by organising a rehabilitation camp to provide aid to them. For this, the BMVSS sent a team of six technicians who braved heavy snowfall and freezing temperature to equip the disabled persons with the artificial limbs, hearing aids, crutches, tricycles and walking sticks,” it said. (PTI)

Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, Jan 1: Member Parliament from Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha constituency and senior Congress leader Madan Lal Sharma today asked the people to support Congress Party in coming elections for strengthening Jammu region. Addressing a public meeting at Vijaypur today, the Congress MP called upon all the Jammu people to work unitedly for strengthening Jammu in 2014. Elaborating further he said that Congress will again come to the power in the State and it is the only Congress Party which can watch the interests of Jammu people. Responding to the issues of refugees and border migrants raised by former Minister and MLA Manjit Singh, the MP said that Congress was committed to the rights of all types of refugees and the Union Home Minister is working hard for their one time settlement. The MP also advocated for the reservation to the Jatts in the OBC category. Mr Sharma asked the people to carry out social audit at Gram Panchayat level at all Centrally sponsored schemes and ensure that these schemes reach to the people in true spirit. He also asked the partymen to gear up for forth coming elections. He claimed that Congress is the only party which can ensure better development. Manjit Singh, Dr Saptal, Parkash Sharma, Kuldip Raj and Col ( Retd) Swarn Singh also spoke on the occasion.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 1: Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture, Raman Bhalla today said Government has taken various historical initiatives to revolutionize the developmental scenario across the State with emphasis on improving living standards of people in periphery areas.
The Minister was addressing a large gathering after launching various development works in Ward No.45 in Preet Nagar, here today.
Mr. Bhalla asked the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) to complete the works within stipulated time frame for which Rs. 10 lakh have been released.
The Minister asked the executing agency to use quality material on the construction adding that the public money should be used to create durable assets. He said upgradation of lanes and drains has been taken up in the first phase and the remaining work would be started soon after completion of first phase ongoing works. He called upon the people to cooperate with executing agencies in completing the project within stipulated time frame.
The Minister called upon the people to protect the public property and keep a close watch on developmental works in their respective areas. He said that Government has launched several welfare schemes for uplifting socio-economic condition of weaker sections of the society.
The Minister directed the concerned officers to personally monitor the quality of execution of the work, adding that there should be no compromise on quality.
Bhalla said that Government is keen to address public concerns on priority and the development machinery has already geared up for timely redressal of the development related issues of the people across the State. He said for upgrading the living standard of poor lot of the urban pockets, Government has launched number of welfare scheme like IAY and BSUP. He said under the schemes Government has provided financial assistance to State subject beneficiaries for construction of pacca houses.
The Minister called upon the people to continue their wholehearted cooperation to the Government for achieving the developmental goal.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 1: Research Scholars of the Department of Botany, University of Jammu, participated and presented their work in two-day National Symposium on “Mushroom for Medicinal Value and Nutritional Security under Changing Climatic Conditions”, held at Solan (Himachal Pradesh).
This prestigious national congregation was jointly organized by Department of Plant Pathology, Dr  Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni (Solan) and Indian Mushroom Growers Association, Solan and supported by Directorate of Mushroom Research, Chambaghat (HP). The symposium was attended by more than 130 delegates from all across the country.
A team of research scholars comprising of Dr  Sanjeev Kumar,  Dimple Gupta,  Harpreet Kour,  Satvinder Kour,  Rigzin Yangdol,  Pratibha Lalotra and Suchita Sharma led by Prof  Yash Pal Sharma, participated and made presentations on the Taxonomy and Mushroom Diversity of Jammu and Kashmir, their nutritional attributes, ethnomycology and post-harvest deterioration of some of the commercially important mushrooms.
During the symposium,  Dimple Gupta was awarded the best poster presentation prize for her work on post-harvest spoilage of mushrooms.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 1: Several Government employees who attained age of superannuation on December 31, 2013, were accorded warm and affectionate farewell at their respective places of posting by their officers and colleagues. Satisha Padha, Matron, CD Hospital Jammu retired from Medical Education Department after rendering 33 years’ unblemished services. All the officers and officials attended the function in which a cultural programme was also held. Meanwhile Munshi Ram Pharmacist also retired from service at C D Hospital yesterday. The retiring officials were wished best of health in their post retirement life. Mohd Matlob Khan, Director, Rural Sanitation, J&K, superannuated on December 31, 2013 after rendering 36 years of meritorious service in different departments. He was accorded warm and affectionate send off. Zonal Education Planning Officer R S Pura, Hem Raj was given a warm send off by the office of the ZEO and teachers of R S Pura zone. CEO Jammu was the chief guest. The speakers lauded the meritorious service of the retiree and wished him a happy and healthy post retirement life. The PHE Department Drivers, Cleaners Union bid farewell to retiring chauffeurs of the Department namely S Kulwant Singh, Ram Lal and Subash Chander who retired from Government service yesterday. Balbir Singh Jamwal, Meter Reader Inspector, PDD, Canal Road, retired yesterday after rendering 40 years service. He was wished a happy and healthy life after retirement. Principal, teachers and students of Government Higher Secondary School Ramkot, accorded a warm send off to Vijay Kumar Gupta, senior lecturer (Mathematics) in a simple but impressive function on his retirement yesterday. Services of retiree were applauded by one and all and he was wished a happy and prosperous life after retirement.