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.

Excelsior Correspondent

AKHNOOR, Jan 15: The valedictory function of three month long free non-formal Sanskrit Education Centre for all age groups was held at Government Higher Secondary School here under the aegis of Rashtriya Sansthan (Deemed University), New Delhi.
Prof Vishwamurthi, renowned Sanskrit scholar was the guest on the occasion. The function was presided over by Balji Thaploo, Principal of the school.
Prof Vishwamurthi demanded that Sanskrit subject should be introduced in all Government schools so that knowledge of Sanskrit is imparted to the students, which is the need of the hour.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 15: All Jammu and Kashmir Paramilitary Forces Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association castigated the State and Central Government for its lackadaisical approach to recognize the services of Ex-Paramilitary forces personnel at par with the Defence forces.
Addressing a press conference, JS Bajju, president of the Association said the Ex-servicemen of Paramilitary forces are not granted the facilities and other benefits by the concerned State and Central Governments as applicable to the country’s Ex-defense forces personnel, although, the service conditions are almost similar in both.
Despite many representations in this regard, State and Central Governments have failed to consider the demands of Ex-servicemen of Paramilitary forces.
The discriminated attitude of the Government has made the post retirement lives of paramilitary persons miserable, besides future of their wards lie in dark due to non framing of concrete policy for the welfare of Paramilitary forces who served the country by sacrificing their lives, he added.
Bajju demanded ex-gration to handicapped/medically ground Ex-Servicemen CAPF persons, 20 per cent reservation to be allotted to all the Para military forces Ex Servicemen persons ward for recruitment and employment in Government departments, provision of 15 per cent quota for railway reservation, establishment of Ex-Servicemen CAPF persons board at District level, allotment of hostel for the CAPF Ex-Servicemen personal at District level, free medical facility, free counseling in the aspect of law to Ex-Servicemen paramilitary for assistance in the litigation cases, award of Rs 50,000 from State Government to the personal awarded with gallantry award by the Central Government, association of CAPF organized at all J&K Level in Tehsil Jammu, VAT exemption on CSD Canteen items, Revised pension cases accordance to the sixth pay commission to the Ex-Servicemen Central Armed Police Forces, one rank/one pay may be provided to the CAPF persons, pension may be fixed on last revise pay scale after retirement, medical allowance to be raised from Rs 300 to Rs 1000 and DG of CAPF of concerned department be appointed accordingly.

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Jan 15: The people from several villages thronged Thanamandi tehsil headquarters today and held strong protest demonstration against PDD authorities for worst electricity supply position in the area.
A large number of villagers  under the banner of BJP and led by  senior leader Vivod Gupta assembled near bridge and started protest march towards town. They were raising slogans against PDD authorities for imposing long power cuts and issuing heavy bills to public. After passing through town and holding protest, they reached tehsil office complex later and submitted a memorandum there.
They warned the  authorities to improve power supply position  and issue bills as per the power supply consumption. They threatened to intensify their agitation if the power supply is not improved in the area.