Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Feb 1: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today met Union Finance Minister, P Chidambaram and discussed matters related to resource position, annual plan, PMRP, Special Plan Assistance (SPA), extension of industrial package to Jammu and Kashmir, Security Related Expenditure (SRE), open market borrowing, flow of central assistance and expressed other related issues.
He expressed gratitude to the Centre Government for liberal financial assistance to the State in its endeavour to carry forward development strategy and meet expenditure needs on various counts.
Omar discussed matters pertaining to resource position against the approved plan outlay of Rs. 7300 crore and receipts from the Government of India against various components of the approved scheme of financing, as also the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Programme (PMRP) of Rs. 700 crore for 2012-13 in detail.
As on date, over Rs. 6301 crores under various components of plan financing have to flow from the Centre to the State which include the balance of Rs. 1719 crore under Special Plan Assistance (SPA) against the approved amount of Rs. 1984 crore.
The Chief Minister emphasized the need for early release of the balanced amount to meet the financial requirements of the State on various counts. He also urged for early release of funds under PMRP so that the progress on various projects under implementation under PMRP is not hampered.
He raised the issue of pending reimbursement of over Rs. 253 crore under Security Related Expenditure (SRE) and said that the pending of funds affect the resource position of the State. He underlined the need for early clearance of all pending claims in this regard.
Omar emphasized on exemption of additional market borrowing, included as a component for plan financing, from calculating the State’s FRL-Constant fiscal deficit targets as recommended by the 13th Finance Commission for AOMB.
Discussing flow of central assistance, the Chief Minister said that in case of J&K, which has limited working season, to ensure full and judicious plan implementation, there should be upfront release of Central assistance/grants to avoid mismatch in the requirement and flow of funds which usually tend to flow at the close of the financial year, when the working season in most parts of the State is over.
“It would be much more meaningful if the tied funds and Centrally Sponsored Schemes are sanctioned / released in the beginning of the year. Alternately, at least 50 percent funds should be released in April and balance after the stipulated percentage of available funds has been utilized by the State”, he said and asserted that States like Jammu and Kashmir where the working season is very brief, the releases should be made upfront or a system of proportionate allocation be made so that there is no liquidity mismatch in the State.
Batting for extension of special package for industrial growth in Jammu and Kashmir, the Chief Minister said that the incentive package for industrial growth has lapsed on 14, June 2012. He said the State Government through the Consultant Deputed by Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Government of India and also as directly raised this matter with the Ministry for Commerce and Industry for extension of package for another 10 years including the clause of “location neutrality” so that the industrial unit situated outside Industrial Estates are also benefitted. The Chief Minister sought early approval of this extension from the Ministry of Finance and the Planning Commission of India.
Omar discussed matters pertaining to early clearance of Pakaldul Hydro-Electric Project by the Centre Committees so that the Joint Venture would go for the financial closure and subsequent allotment of the project.
The Finance Minister assured his full support to the Chief Minister in his efforts of resource mobilization and said that the matters raised would be sorted out on priority.

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 1: The Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) has unearthed a major fraud running into Rs 174.62 lakh involving a Punjab based industrialist, his associates in Jammu and some unnamed officers of Revenue Department and Punjab National Bank (PNB), Rehari Chowk branch.
The CBI, Jammu wing, has registered a First Information Report (FIR) No. 6/2012 in the scam and conducted raids in the premises of industrialist and his associates to obtain some documents pertaining to the scam.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the Revenue documents had been tampered with to such an extent that rate of the land mortgaged to the bank had been changed from Rs 40,000 per kanal to Rs 40,000 per marla to inflate its value for securing higher amount from the Bank.
Sources said the CBI team was on the job to ascertain identities of PNB officers and Revenue Department, who were at the helm of affairs at the time of fraud to name them in the FIR and pursue further investigations against them.
The FIR was registered against Ravi Kumar son of Lal Chand R/o Basti Nau, Jalandhar, Punjab, the Proprietor of M/s S.L. Rubbers Industries, Industrial Growth Centre, Samba, his associate Krishan Kumar Sharma son of Bachitru Ram R/o Gangyal and unknown officers of Punjab National Bank Branch, Rehari and Revenue Department.
Investigations conducted by the CBI revealed that the industrialist Ravi Kumar and his associate Krishan Kumar Sharma (mortgagor/guarantor) hatched a conspiracy with unknown officers of PNB, Rehari Chowk, Jammu and unnamed officers of Revenue Department and got sanctioned loan from the bank worth Rs.163.20 lakh.
The loan included CC Limit of Rs. 65.14 lakh and term loan of Rs. 98.06 lakh. For securing loans, the accused deposited forged and fabricated revenue documents. The borrower turned defaulter and the loan accounts became Non Performing Asset (NPA) on August 30 last year with total outstanding of Rs 174.62 lakh.
Despite repeated reminders by the bank authorities, the industrialist refused to repay the loan amount on different pretexts. The senior bank officials then approached the CBI, which conducted investigations and found that it was a major scam in which the documents had been tampered with to convert land record per kanal into marla to inflate figure of the land value.
After obtaining a warrant from the court, the CBI conducted searches in the premises (office and industry) of Ravi Kumar and Krishan Kumar Sharma’s house at Gangyal, sources said, adding that the CBI officials recovered some documents during the raid pertaining to the scam, which could be useful in further investigations of the case.
Investigations conducted so far by the CBI has also revealed that land measuring 20 kanals, situated at Langrial and mortgaged by Ravi Kumar Gupta in favour of M/s S L Rubber Industries had been evaluated by M S Arora, Valuer at the realizable value of Rs 80 lakh on the basis of revenue report dated 09.08.2005, submitted by Revenue authorities Chadwal in Hiranagar tehsil of Kathua district.
The Halqa Patwari Chak Dyala, Tehsil Hiranagar had issued the revenue report to Ravi Kumar Gupta, son of Chajju Bhagat Gupta R/o Kanji House, Jammu, mortgagor, who was accompanied by accused Ravi Kumar, borrower. The photocopy of revenue report was given to the bank where alteration were done in such a manner that Rs. 40,000 per Kanal rate was changed into Rs. 40,000 per Marla in Urdu to induce bank to sanction credit facilities in favour of borrower, sources said.
They added that the CBI teams were in the process of identification of PNB and Revenue officers involved in the scam to include their names in the FIR. Sources said the CBI was looking as to whether the PNB officers had deliberately ignored mistake in the documents especially the conversion of land rate from per kanal to per marla. The role of Revenue officers, who were posted in Hiranagar tehsil at the time of valuation of land, was also under scrutiny.
Sources didn’t rule out the involvement of senior officers of Revenue Department and the Punjab National Bank in the scam going by the huge amount involved in it.

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 1: The Weatherman today forecast heavy snowfall in Kashmir valley and rains in Jammu region next week which may lead to closure of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
Director Meteorological, Sonam Lotus, told Excelsior that next week Kashmir valley will experience heavy snowfall. He said that main activity of snowfall will start on February 4 and it will last up to February 7 morning.
Lotus said that cloudy weather will prevail tomorrow with light snowfall on the upper reaches of Kashmir valley. He said that on February 3 there will be light snowfall in Kashmir valley.
The Director said that from February 4, heavy snowfall will occur in Kashmir valley especially in Pir Panjal mountains. He said that heavy snowfall may close the Jammu-Srinagar national highway for traffic.
In Jammu, there will be rainfall during next week and it will bring down the temperatures across the region.
Lotus said that there are on an average 4-5 Western Disturbances (WDs) that affect Western Himalayan Region (WHR) and adjoining plains of northwest India in the winter months of January and February. Under favourable meteorological conditions, they cause heavy to moderate snowfall over high reaches and rain with hailstorm in low lying areas.
Meanwhile, cold returned to Kashmir after two warm days. The mercury plummeted in Kashmir valley where Gulmarg registered a drop of over eight degrees in its minimum temperature.
The MeT office said that the ski resort in North Kashmir recorded a low of minus 10.6 degree Celsius.
The minimum temperature in Srinagar was minus 1.4 degrees Celsius, which was lower by over two notches from the previous night’s 1.8 degree Celsius, while the mercury in South Kashmir’s Pahalgam settled at minus 4.4 degree Celsius. The hill resort had recorded minus 3.6 degrees the previous night.
The minimum temperature in the highway town of Qazigund, South Kashmir, was minus 3.6 degree Celsius as against minus 1.4 degrees yesterday.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 1 degree Celsius, up from minus 1.5 degrees the night before, while Kupwara town in north Kashmir was at minus 1.7 degree Celsius after 0.7 degrees the previous night.
Night temperatures improved in Ladakh where a jump of five notches saw the minimum in Leh rise to minus 7 degrees after minus 12.2 degree Celsius the previous night.
The night temperature in Kargil settled at a minimum of minus 8 degrees as Celsius against minus 13.6 degree Celsius yesterday.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 1: The police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the violent protesters after they blocked Sidhra By-Pass road for several hours on the second consecutive day today in protest against the demolition drive launched by the JDA officials to clear Government land allegedly encroached upon by some families at Majeen and adjoining areas near Golf Course at Sidhra.
A large number of people came out on Sidhra By-pass National Highway in the morning and raised barricades and placed big stones on the road. They stopped the movement of traffic on the either side on this busy highway causing inconvenience to the general public. The police however, diverted the traffic to the other routes.
The agitating people raised slogans against Government and JDA officials for demolishing their houses and other structures. They alleged that they were not given prior notices by the JDA officials and were forcibly thrown out of their houses and many families were made shelterless.
One Ghulam Nabi, dislocated during operation that when construction work was going on a few concerned field staff members from JDA approached him and asked to stop the work but after negotiation, they took money from him and then allowed construction.
He said no body stopped him thereafter. He said this practice was prevalent in the entire area and moreover, many families have land papers procured with the help of local Patwari and other JDA officials. Some of them even managed the electricity connections as well.
Another villager Des Raj alleged that he was living there for the last more than five years. If the JDA people want to dislocate them, they should be provided some alternative land. He alleged a former Cabinet Minister and a sitting Minister from main national level party have also encroached upon the Government land ( JDA/ Forest) near Golf Course at Sidhra. The land in their possession is more than ten kanals. Why administration is silent over it and not getting this land vacated? he asked.
Amidst shouting of slogans, the protesters kept away the police contingent for long as they continued stoning on the cops frequently. The cops also responded the same away. Some senior police officials also paid visit to the area but the protesters refused to clear the highway and continued their protest. The ding-dong battle between protesters and cops went on for several hours. The police then resorted to lathi-charge at around 3 pm and got the National Highway cleared for movement of traffic. The protesters then moved away.
Meanwhile, Vice-Chairperson, Jammu Development Authority Sarita Chouhan said that a field supervisor of the JDA Farid Hussain, who was inchrage of Sidhra area has been placed under suspension on the basis of public complaints. It was alleged by the general public that Farid and few others allowed the encroachment in that area and also indulged in unfair means. She said an inquiry has also been initiated in this regard and action will be taken against anybody (staff member) found involved in such act.
When asked why land in possession of some influential politicians is not being vacated in the same area, the VC said the operation is still continued there and if any specific complaint or matter of this kind comes to their notice, the JDA has right to protect its land. “ Whosoever, is there we will definitely act to protect JDA land and we are getting adequate support from our Minister in the drive against land grabbers,’’ she maintained.
Mrs Chouhan said the JDA is going to start fencing work on the retrieved land. The department is mobilizing resources for the fencing work and it will be commenced under police protection. Director Land Management, JDA Babu Ram said that some people tried to barge into the cleared area last night but a temporary police post has been created there and cops did not allow them to re-encroach the land. He said that not only JDA but huge Forest and State land has also been encroached upon by many people in the same belt.
DFO Jammu, V Senthil Kumar when contacted said that some Forest land was also in the illegal possession of some people near Dwara and Golf Course of Bahu Range. He said an exercise was going on to exactly identify the grabbed land in association with JDA and Revenue officials. The DFO did not give the exact detail of the total Forest land grabbed in Bahu Range but claimed that it was yet to be ascertained. He said in last few days about a score of structures were removed by Forest team near Sidhra.
When asked that nearly 1800 kanal Forest land cleared by Forest Department about three years back from encroachers near Dwara and Golf Course has again been re-encroached, the DFO said he was not aware and staff was on the job to identify the area.
CCF Jammu Ravi Kesar also claimed that field Forest officials were still on the job to identify the Forest land grabbed in Bahu Range and Sidhra area and it will take some time to conduct extensive survey by staff. He however, said that encroachment on some land has been removed in last one week in the same area near Tawi.

Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Feb 1: Over 1.5 lakh people today offered Friday prayers at Hazratbal shrine on the occasion of Friday following Eid-e-Milad, to have glimpse of holy relic of Prophet Mohammad (SAW).
People across the State offered special prayers in Masjids and Shrines to celebrate the Friday following Milad, the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
The biggest congregation of the Friday following Milad was witnessed at the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar on the banks of Dal lake where over 1.5 lakh of people offered prayers and had glimpse of the holy relic of Prophet Mohammad (SAW).
The devotees from across Kashmir valley despite cold wave conditions offered prayers at Hazratbal and had a glimpse of the holy relic that was displayed after the five prayers throughout the day today.
Emotional scenes were witnessed at Hazratbal shrine and over 1.5 lakh people with large number of women were seen weeping while having a glimpse of the holy relic. Majority of the devotees broke down and prayed for peace, progress and prosperity on this occasion.
The inclement weather failed to dampen the spirits of the people and over 1.5 lakh visited Hazratbal shrine. Government departments including Health and CAPD Department had set up stalls for the convenience of the devotees in Hazratbal.
The Divisional Administration had made elaborate arrangements for the devotees and State Road Transport Corporation was running special bus service from Lal Chowk to the Hazratbal shrine for the devotees. Additional buses were also being run on other Rural routes to facilitate the movement of the devotees.
Friday following Milad congregations were also held in the Srinagar city at Jenab Saheb-Soura, Asar Sharief-Kalashpora, Syed Saheb-Sonwar and Lal Bazar. Firday following Milad congregations were also held at Makhama-Beerwah in district Budgam, Pinjoora in district Shopian and Khiram-Sirhama in Anatnnag.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 1: In yet another case of security lapse in the Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh (SMGS) Hospital, a newly born male infant was stolen from the labour room of the hospital.
The incident has exposed the tall claims, which the administration had made after such thefts in the past.
The male baby of Sharifa Begum, wife of Mohd Mushtaq of village Narriyan, tehsil Nowshera, district Rajouri was stolen on the intervening night of January 31 and February 1 from labour room of SMGS Hospital.
The incident led to the protest from the family of stolen baby and some social organizations. They accused the hospital administration particularly the Principal Government Medical College, Dr Aniece Choudhary of only making tall claims and doing nothing to prevent such incidents.
The security lapse was the main reason behind the theft of baby from Eclampsia room situated within Labour Room as Principal Government Medical College has suspended two security personnel namely Vinay and Kishore and also requested the Police Department to take action against the lady cop namely Sunita, who was also on duty at the time of incident.
The Principal ordered suspension of two security personnel as during preliminary enquiry conducted by Medical Superintendent SMGS Hospital it came to fore that security lapse was the reason behind the theft of baby.
He has also ordered enquiry into the matter, which will be conducted by Reva Gupta, Administrator, Associated Hospital with the assistance of the Medical Superintendent, SMGS Hospital and the officer incharge Police Post SMGS Hospital. They will submit report within three days.
However, sources didn’t rule out the involvement of some security personnel in the theft case. “The possibility of some security men being hand in globe with the gang operating in the hospital cannot be ruled out”, they added.
Meanwhile, a case FIR No 8/ 13 under Section 363 RPC has been registered at Police Post SMGS Hospital.
“We are going through CCTV footage to identify the accused and will reunite the child with the family at the earliest”, police spokesman said.
The theft of baby has not only put question mark on the steps being taken by the hospital administration to check incidents but also exposed slackness of the police in working out such cases as despite lapse of over three months police is clueless about the whereabouts of the newly born baby, who was stolen from the SMGS Hospital on November 14, 2012.
Eye-witnesses, family members of the abducted baby and officials of Police Department had watched the CCTV footage and also identified the woman but she could not be put behind the bars till date.
Following earlier thefts, the hospital administration installed 16 CCTV cameras at different places but all the measures to check theft of babies have failed to yield desired results.

Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Feb 1: In the much publicized case of illegal promotions, engagements and appointments in the Economics and Statistics Organization, the Enquiry Officer has established all the charges against former Director S A Qureshi and suggested to the Government recovery of salary/wages paid to such appointees from the gratuity/pension of the accused officer.
The charges against the former Director S A Qureshi were that at the fag-end of his service he promoted 77 Junior Statistical Assistants as Incharge Statistical Assistants, engaged 14 casual labourers and appointed two persons as Class-IV employees by abusing his official position. After the EXCELSIOR exposed the wrong doings of the officer, the Government got preliminary enquiry conducted through the then Secretary, Planning and Development Department, G R Bhagat.
While taking further necessary action as per the recommendations of the then Secretary, Planning and Development Department, the Government Vide Order No. 22-PD of 2012 appointed Commissioner Secretary, Tourism and Culture Department Atal Dulloo as Enquiry Officer to enquire into the charges against S A Qureshi. Additional Secretary, General Administration Department, Simrandeep Singh was appointed as the Presenting Officer.
Now, the Enquiry Officer has completed the task assigned by the Government and furnished detailed report to the Government.
According to the findings of the Enquiry Officer, the copy of which is available with EXCELSIOR, the charge regarding promotion of Junior Statistical Assistants as Incharge Statistical Assistants has been proved beyond any doubt against S A Qureshi due to the fact that SRO 3 of 2005 lays down the procedure for promotion of Junior Statistical Assistants as Statistical Assistants and provides passing of departmental training and examination after having completed three years of service.
“The promotions were affected of the persons, who were still on probation. Thus, it clearly indicates that S A Qureshi has violated the rules governing the appointment/promotion of Junior Statistical Assistants as Statistical Assistants”, the report said, adding “a pubic servant is expected to adhere to the rules and regulations but in the instant case despite the fact that the issue was pending before the Administrative Department seeking relaxation of rules in making stop gap arrangement of Junior Statistical Assistants as Incharge Statistical Assistants, S A Qureshi without waiting for the decision from the Government issued the promotion orders in favour of 77 JSAs though in their own pay and grade”.
“Since the promotions effected by S A Qureshi have been revoked by the Administrative Department, no financial loss has been caused to the State exchequer. However, it has not been proved that while misusing his official position whether any pecuniary or material advantage has been taken by the officer from such promotions”, report said.
Stating that charge of engaging 14 casual labourers in sheer misuse of official position has also been established against former Director Economic and Statistics, the report said, “being watchdog of the Economics and Statistics Organization the officer was not expected to make such violations and engage casual labourers without any authority and authorization”, adding “no doubt all the engages have been dis-engaged, it is a fact that the salaries/wages drawn by these persons in absence of authorization/competence of the ex-Director is clear loss to the State exchequer which needs to be looked into”.
“The Planning and Development Department may work out the wages, which were received by these illegal engages and may consider the recovery of these wages from S A Qureshi”, the report further said, adding “the plea taken by the officer that his predecessors have also engaged casual labourers in the same manner cannot be relied upon because any wrong action cannot be legalized by subsequent wrong action, as such, the submissions/ pleadings made by S A Qureshi don’t merit any consideration and it is clear violation of Government orders and burden upon the State exchequer”.
The report said, “the third charge regarding appointment of two Class IV employees by the officer is also proved beyond any doubt as the appointments were made despite the fact that the advertisement of the posts were already made by the department. This is also misuse of power and violation of Government Order No.735-GAD of 2008 read with Government Order No.731-GAD of 2010 whereby District and Divisional Level Committees have been constituted by the Government for recruitment to the Class IV posts”.
In case illegally appointees have obtained salary/wages, the Planning and Development Department may consider the recovery of the same from the officer, the Enquiry Officer said.
Meanwhile, sources said that some officials of the Economics and Statistics in a communication to the Government have alleged that Directorate of Economics and Statistics has been made ‘den of corruption’ by some officials and employees, who are working since more than two decades in sheer violation of the Transfer Policy of the Government.
While mentioning the names and designations of such officials and their stay in the Directorate, the communication said, “such officials are looting the Directorate and dictating terms to the poor staff to watch their interests. We hope that Government would ensure effective implementation of Transfer Policy in the Economics and Statistics Directorate to prevent further loot”.

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 1: Police today arrested two police men and an employee of Social Welfare Department for harassing and blackmailing people after trapping them to extort money.
The trio was arrested following complaints received by the Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Cargo, that their men were harassing and blackmailing people. The trio used to trap innocent men and identify themselves as SOG people from Cargo, Srinagar.
After preliminary investigations by the Superintendent of Police of SOG, Cargo, the trio was trapped and it was found that they were posted in Police Station Sadder, Srinagar.
Police identified the two cops as Constable Farooq Ahmad (belt no 2733) and Constable Mohammad Ishaq (belt no 3801) and both of them were posted in Police Station Sadder, Srinagar.
A woman of Lal Ded Colony in Sanantnagar, Srinagar working as drafting Assistant in Social Welfare Department Budgam used to trap innocent men by seeking their help. She used to illegally confine the men and call the police.
The woman used to call these two police men and illegally confine these men, harass and blackmail them. The men were being let off only after paying huge sums of money to the trio.
Sources said that they had harassed, blackmailed and extorted money from large number of men before they were trapped by the police. However, police is investigating to find out how many men actually fell in their dragnet.
Police have conducted the identification parade of the two cops and the woman in front of a magistrate. Sources said that they have been identified as the same cops and woman who used trap men and harass them.
The two cops have been lodged in Police Station Sherghari and the woman has been lodged in Women’s Police Station, Ram Bagh. Police is investigating the case.