Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, Jan 15: In its continuous drive against the illegal trafficking of bovine animals, a Police Party of Police Station Ghagwal headed by Inspector Anu Sharma SHO P/S Ghagwal under the supervision of Anil Magotra, Superintendent of Police, Samba and Munish Anand, DySP HQ, Samba intercepted One Mahindra load carrier bearing registration No. JK08C/2914 during Naka at Jatwal which was found loaded with five bovine animals being transported illegally from Kathua to Jammu. The Police seized the vehicle, however the driver of the vehicle fled from the spot. A case FIR No. 07/2014 U/S 188 RPC, 2/3 PC Act, 184 M.V. Act has been registered at Police Station Ghagwal and investigation started.
Another party of Police Station Vijaypur headed by Inspector Mohd Iqbal SHO P/S Vijaypur under the supervision of Anil Magotra, Superintendent of Police, Samba and Ashok Singh, DySP SDPO Vijaypur intercepted One Tata Mobile bearing registration No. JK08C/9507 during surprise Naka checking at Vijaypur Chowk and seized the vehicle which was loaded with five bovine animals being transported illegally from Kathua to Jammu.
The driver of the vehicle fled from the spot. A case FIR No. 12/2014 U/S 188 RPC, 2/3 PC Act, has been registered at Police Station Vijaypur and investigation started.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 15: Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD) Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan today chaired a meeting of officers of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD) and National Informatics Centre (NIC) to review the progress on the Centrally sponsored project – End-to-End computerization and digitalisation of CA&PD records in the State.
The Minister directed the concerned for commencing the two pilot projects for computerization of CA&PD records in the twin capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar ensuring its completion by April this year, adding that  other districts would be covered in the phased manner.
Directing for expediting the computerization of CA&PD records and digitalization of ration cards, the Minister asked the concerned to review the progress of the project periodically and complete it in a time frame manner.
The meeting was informed that the digitalization of  ration cards of Anantnag, Pulwama and Bandipora districts has been  completed, while as work on digitalization of  ration cards for Ganderbal, Kulgam and Baramulla districts is in progress.
Secretary, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Mohammad Abbas, Directors CA&PD Kashmir and Jammu Mustaq Ahmad and. G S Chib, besides Director, NIC Dara Singh attended the meeting.

Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Jan 15: A meeting of Ex-Police Personnel Welfare League was held here today, wherein the participants highlight their demands.
The meeting expressed resentment over non-release of 6th Pay Commission arrears due since April, 2013 and stressed the administration for releasing the same in favour of Ex-police personnel.
Besides, it also demanded release of 10% DA installment with effect from July 2013 in favour of Ex-police personnel, enhancement of medical allowance from Rs 300 to Rs 1000 and 15 % reservation in recruitment for their wards.
The participants also expressed that cases of GP Fund of some retired police personnel, which have not been settled, may be got settled by the concerned DDOs of the respective districts.
The meeting also urged the police administration to allow re-imbursement of medical bills of all Ex-police personnel irrespective of any rank.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 15: Minister of State for Industries and Commerce, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo today said that for the first time in the history of the State that Coalition Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, has framed a well-planned policy to tap the huge Hydle Power Potential in the State.
“Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah has conceived a well-planned and realistic power generation strategy and set a target to generate 9000 MWS of electricity in next 5 to 6 years in the State”, Kichloo said, adding that  Chenab Valley in particular is emerging as hub of power generation where about five hydro- electric power projects are coming up on the river Chenab.
Discussing developmental scenario in Chenab Valley with deputations of people from Paddar, Naghbini, Kishtwar and Bhaderwah at Civil Secretariat Jammu this afternoon, Mr. Kichloo said that the Chenab Valley is gifted by God with abounded hydro power potential which is being exploited optimally under the New Power Generation Policy of the Government. He said a separate agency Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Limited (CVPPP) has been constituted by the Government to explore all the possibilities to tap maximum power potential.  He said tenders for about Rs 8848 crore Pukal Dul Hydro Electricity Project have been floated as the No Objection Certificate/ clearance with regard to environs and ecology, forest and defence has been obtained.
“It has also been cleared by PWT, CWC and Geology and Mining”, he said and added that the project is being executed under Joint Venture mode as Chenab Valley Power Projects has reached at an agreement with three consortiums, the State Power Development Corporation (PDC), National Hydro Electric Power Corporation of India (NHPC) and CVPPPL. He said  the HEP project will be executed on 49:49:2 share basis.
“Other projects which are being executed in Chenab Valley include 39 MW Kirthai II, 48 MW Lower Kalnai, 37.5 MW Parnai HEP, 9MW Dah, 600 MW Kirn HEP” Mr. Kichloo added and said that about 27 Mini Hydle Power Projects  (HEP) with a combined capacity of 373 MW are also being executed in the State involving a whooping investment of about Rs. 2200 crore. He said these projects, on completion, would go a long way in socio- economic transformation of the State.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 15: Speaker Legislative Assembly Mubarak Gul has called upon the youth to contribute their bit in strengthening democracy and democratic institutions in the country.
“We are proud of our great leaders and sincerely commemorate   wholehearted sacrifices made by them for envisaging a democratic and parliamentary system for the future generation countrymen.  We should not forget our freedom movement which has been achieved by our leaders by sacrificing their  lives”, Speaker said while addressing students at 3rd session of the 4th Conclave of the Indian Student Parliamentarians (Bhhartiya Chhatra Sansad) at Poona Maharashtra.
He said that the freedom struggle under the leadership of the Father of the Nation, Mahatama Gandhi, with his inspiring principle of non-violence had to pay a heavy cost to achieve the goal of Independence.
However, he said that during its post-Independence journey it has seen many of ups and downs but the country is indebted to the people who with the passage of time not only succeeded to keep the country united but also curbed the evil designs of the vested interests.
“Ours is a multicultural society with varied linguistic and ethnic origins bestowed with different languages, communities, religions, beliefs, customs and traditions, etc. and we are proud of this kind of unique and colourful Union”, he said.
Mr. Gul said that this kind of formation has indeed not only given a special identity to the nation in the entire world but has strengthened its federal structure as well.
“We have embraced and met tough challenges in the past and we should always be prepared in future, as well, to overcome our problems and ensure that there should not be any discrimination with any section of the society or region”, he added. He advised the youth to follow the path and Principle of ‘live and let live’ with the spirit of tolerance, brotherhood and mutual understanding.
The Speaker said that under the prevailing circumstances the biggest democratic country on the planet is confronted with certain challenges and organizing of such kind of conclaves is inevitable.
He said that it is not only obligatory on the part of every responsible citizen of India but for the institutions as well to contribute fully towards the strengthening of the democratic system. Though our towering leaders in the past have contributed a lot towards strengthening this system we should also realize our responsibilities towards our nation.
The Speaker said the empowerment of youth is necessary for a healthy society to ensure good governance, transparency and accountability which is possible only with innovative education. As such the scholars, educationists, authors, writers and academicians of the country have to play an important role in this direction. The Governments, both at the Central and State levels, are bound to provide a free atmosphere for education in addition to the basic infrastructure which would provide an opportunity to the youth of this country to come up to the expectations of the general masses.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 15: The body of a Jammu resident was found under mysterious circumstances in Leh of Ladakh, official sources said here today.
They said body of one Vijay Kumar, resident of Emli, Samba of Jammu presently residing at Skalzangling in Leh was found at his  residence.
They said the cause of his death was not known, adding Leh police has initiated proceedings.

Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Jan 15: As part of observance of the 25th Road Safety Week an awareness rally was jointly organised by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and the Motor Vehicle Department here today.
Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, who was the chief guest on the occasion, flagged off the rally from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Spiritual Growth Centre to Government Higher Secondary School, Katra, in which a large number of students of various educational institutions of Katra and its adjoining areas participated. The theme of this year’s Road Safety Week. The rally is “When on the Road Always Say Pehle Aap”.
The students participating in the rally were having placards in their hands with slogans on road safety week. The rally passed through different locations of the town before culmination at the Government Higher Secondary School.
Addressing the students before flagging off the rally, Dr. Bhandari emphasised the greater need for strict enforcement and observance of traffic norms to make roads safe for road users. He said that a large number of precious lives are lost every year due to road accidents and called upon one and all to contribute to minimize the road accidents by following traffic rules and regulations.
The CEO said that students can play a pivotal role in enlarging awareness about traffic norms and called upon them to be the messengers of road safety so that the aims and objectives behind organising such events are realized.
Kulbir Singh, Additional SP, Katra, threw light on the preventive measures to be adopted by the road users to minimise road accidents.
Dr. Jagdish Mehra, Project Officer, DRDA, Reasi, dwelt on the aims and objects of organising the students rally.
Rakesh Wazir, Chief Warden, Civil Defence, Katra, lauded the Shrine Board and the Motor Vehicle Department for creating awareness about traffic rules.
Rajesh Gupta, ARTO, Reasi, Sham Lal Kesar, President, Hotel and Restaurant Association, Katra, Shiv Kumar Sharma, President, J&K, Indian Style Wrestling Association, officers of the Shrine Board, heads of various educational institutions, prominent citizens, teachers and students in large number were present on the occasion.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 15: ‘Arsh Rang’, the presentation of soulful musical rendition of poetry of Arsh Sehbai, Urdu’s  master poet of Jammu, here today at the K L Saigal Hall, under the auspices of Indian Cultural Forum, was part its continuing mission to take the tradition of Ghazal singing to masses and also resurrect Jammu once again as one of the leading centers of Urdu literature and musical form like gazal.
The NGO has already held such Ghazal sandhyas based on the poetry of well known local Urdu  poets like Vidya Rattan Aasi, Deepak Aarsi, Pritpal Singh Betab and others.
Unleashing the magic of Ghazal and its very special place in contemporary Indian music representing a great poetic tradition from over several centuries, today’s musical concert composed by Sham Sajan, eminent singer and musician of the state, was a treat for the audience who appreciated and applauded the singers.
The memorable musical evening was marked by lilting melodies sung by singers like Aroova Jamwal, Suraj Singh, Indu Bala, Gursharan Kaur and Sham Sajan. The mesmerizing musical poetry with musical compositions based on Indian Classical ragas retained the serenity, serious mood and temperament of the original ghazals that were selected from Arsh Sehbai’s two books of poetry namely ‘Kushboo Tere Badan Ki’ and ‘Sayei Teri Yadoon Ke’.
The highlight of the program was recitation of his gazals and poems by Arsh Sehbai. The couplets like “Mil Sakoon Khud Se Yeh Irada Hai/ Waqt Kam Hai Safar Zayada Hai” and Meri Hyat Mein Sadiyon Ki Pyas Rehne Do/ Nazar Ke Samne Khali Gilaas Rehne Do” , sent the listeners ecstatic. Those who gave accompaniment were Amarjeet on violin, Sanjay Pashi on guitar and Karan Malhotra on tabla.
The program was artistically conducted by Ravinder Kaul, one of the founding members of the NGO dedicated to the cause of promotion of music in J&K. He through his inimitable and knowledgeable interjections about Urdu gazals tradition in the country added a definite  color to the program which was presided by Prof Zahoor-ud-Din.
Prominent among the audience were Khalid Hussain, Aslam Qureshi, IAS (retd) and others.