Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, May 30: A truck driver drowned in Ravi canal at Lakhanpur while bathing this afternoon.
The mishap took place when driver, Javed Iqbal hailing from Poonch, who was on way to Delhi stopped his truck No. JK02AF/7051 at Lakhanpur at around 12.30 pm and went to the nearby Ravi canal for taking bath. While bathing, he slipped into the canal and could not come out despite tough efforts. Ultimately, he drowned in the canal. The people gathered there after mishap and police also reached. The water supply to the canal was stopped and the body was traced after two hours about 200 meters away from the spot of mishap.
The police sent the body to Kathua hospital for postmortem. The family members of Javed were also informed about mishap.

Excelsior Correspondent
DODA, May 30: Tourism Industry being the backbone of the State economy is the cutting edge of the socio-economic status of all the three regions of the State.
This was stated by the Minister for Tourism and Culture Nawang Rigzin Jora while inaugurating the 2nd Annual Grameen-cum-Tourism festival at famous lush green Lal Draman.
Minister of State for Tourism and Culture Nasir Aslam Wani and MLA Doda Abdul Majid Wani. District Development Commissioner, Doda Farooq Ahmed Khan, SSP Doda Arif Rishu and CO 10 RR Doda Tanay Kotial accompanied the Minister.
The 2nd annual Grameen-cum-Tourism Mela, Lal Draman was organized by the District Administration in collaboration Tourism Department, Academy of Art Culture and Languages and Army.
Saying said that the coalition Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is committed for the development of unexplored tourist destinations in the State, Mr Jora said that tourism infrastructure has been developed in Bhaderwah and now the same will be replicated in other parts like Doda and Kishtwar.
The Minister announced that for the development of Lal Draman which is said to be the Gulmarg of Doda, a tourism development consultant will be engaged to prepare a master plan within few months and then the Tourism infrastructure development work at Lal Draman will be taken up in a phased manner. He said Tourism Department is a facilitator and acts as a catalyst and it is up to the people of the District especially unemployed youth to avail benefits of the fastest growing sector in the country.
He said that Government is committed to help the people to create tourism related infrastructure in the State and asked the unemployed youth to avail benefit of tourism schemes and opt tourism as a career option. He said for success of any developmental scheme people participation, peace and harmony is pre-requisite component for the on-ground and fruitful implementation and welfare of masses.
Mr. Jora said that tourism being the most affected industry during turmoil in the state has yielded record breaking results on revival and the inflow of tourists has increased manifolds in the State, He said it was possible because the people love peace and harmony for the multi faceted development of the State.
Minister of State for Tourism Nasir Aslam Wani said that Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, who explored Lal Draman was also highly impressed with the pristine and virgin beauty. Lal Draman will be developed as one of the attractive tourist destination of the region and said that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has a mission to develop and connect the far flung and hilly areas of the State on priority basis.
Splendid cultural programmes were presented by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art Culture & Languages, Sub-Office Doda which kept the Ministers and audience spell bound. The main attraction of the programme was Kashmiri cultural identity Band Pathr which was highly appreciated by the audience which propagated the message of wild life conservation, health and hygiene and environment conservation.
Siraji folk songs, Bhaderwahi songs, Kashmiri songs and Dogri songs were also the attractions of the Mela.

JU Entrance Test from tomorrow
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 30: Jammu University Entrance Test (JUET), scheduled to take place from tomorrow will commence from June 1 now in view of tomorrow’s Jammu bandh.
In this test, 16,000 candidates across the State are appearing in nine centres including Jammu, Kathua, Poonch, Rajouri, Srinagar, Udhampur, Reasi, Bhaderwah and Leh.
“Approximately 16,000 candidates are appearing in the Jammu University Entrance Test (JUET) and 31,000 applications were received from these candidates in different combinations”, official sources told Excelsior.
Sources said 4 test will be conducted daily on regular basis during 14 days long process of JUET for nearly 2200 seats vacant in Government and private institutions. The result of the same will be declared within two weeks time, sources added.
“To bring accuracy, answer key will be published, and the same will also be made available on Jammu University website, so that the student can compare their answers”, sources said.
For the increase in the subjects, sources said that Jammu University has added 6 new subjects in the JUET, including B Com Honours, BA English Honours, LLB 5 years and BBA (Hotel Management) for 12th pass outs and MA Kashmiri Programmme, PGDCA and other 42 subjects, for graduate students, sources said.
“The confidential material for JUET has been dispatched to all the nine centers, which will be in the custody of the ‘Observers’ appointed Jammu University for smooth conduct of the exam”, sources said, adding, that a total of 18 observers were appointed for the smooth conduct of JUET”.
“In JUET, 70 per cent of candidates are appearing in the Jammu Centre and the lowest percentage of the appearing students is from Leh and Reasi whereas the maximum students are appearing in MEd subject”, sources added.
“Jammu University has launched ‘Students Helpline’, where the students appearing in JUET can clear their doubts through 96972-70137 and 0190-2456892″, sources maintained”.
“In Kashmir, nearly 1,000 students are appearing in the JUET in 48 different combinations and the employees of the KU along with 2 observers from Jammu University are engaged for the smooth conduct of the entrance test”, sources added.
Meanwhile, Vice Chancellor, Jammu University, Prof Mohan Paul Singh Ishar, has assured all possible help for the smooth conduct of Entrance Test.
It is to mention here that, former Vice Chancellor of Jammu University, Prof Varun Sahni, had taken this initiative last year, in which approximately 11,000 students appeared in 42 combinations.

Study Group members meet delegations at Reasi, Bhadarwah
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 30: The BJP will shortly come out with a vision document on J&K issue at national level. This was stated by the former national president of the Party and head of the BJP Parliamentary Study Group on J&K Rajnath Singh, before leaving for Union Capital this morning.
The Study Group which convened the meeting of Sub Committee and intellectuals form the state who are working for it and have been assigned the topics to write on different subjects of present problem and its causes will take the cognizance of these research based articles and after completing its tour to different parts of the state will make its observations on various aspects of the issues. The meeting was convened in presence of BJP state president Shamsher Singh Manhas and Party general secretary (organizational) Ashok Kaul. The Study Group during its visit few months back had asked the intellectuals to write the articles on different topics on current situation and background. The meeting was held to review the working of Sub Committee.
The members of Sub-Committee who attended the meeting included Dr K N Pandita, Dr Jitendra Singh, chief spokesperson and National Executive member BJP, Dr R L Bhat, Prof Dipankar Sen, Daya Sagar, Ashwani Chrungoo, president PK, Ramesh Arora and Dr Nirmal Kamal, spokesperson of BJP.
Meanwhile the Study Group comprising of BJP national chief spokesperson, Ravi Shanker Prasad and Party general secretary, J P Nadda today interacted with a dozen of public delegations and listened their grievances during their one day visit to Reasi.
They were accompanied by MLA Jugal Kishore Sharma, BJP leader Chander Mohan Sharma. The delegations from the areas of Pouni, Mohar, Arnas as well as Reasi discussed number of issues with the members of Study Group.
The People Welfare Forum led by its president Kuldeep Mengi and Balbir Singh general secretary submitted a memorandum to the Group and raised many problems. They alleged disparity with Jammu region in allocation of funds. Shri Amarnath Yatra issue was also discussed by them with the members of Study Group which assured the delegation to highlight these problems at national level.
President Beopar Mandal and Industry Reasi, Sudesh Pandotra also submitted a memorandum to the Group and raised the issues like growing unemployment in the state and bringing of Reasi on tourist map etc.
The Study Group comprising of Avinash Rai Khanna , Vassav Rao Patil both MPs today visited Bhadarwah in Doda district and met various delegations of the people there. They were accompanied by Dr Nirmal Singh National Executive member BJP and Satish Sharma State General Secretary of the Party.
The delegations apprised the members of Study Group about the discrimination, which they were facing for times immemorial. Early in the morning different delegations representing social and political organizations met the members of Study Group and submitted memorandums highlighting various demands. Deputation of Sanatan Dharam Sabha led by Des Raj Kotwal, Dehati Mazdoor Itihad led by Gian Chand Bhagat, Janata Dal Secular led by Mast Nath Yogi, Shafi Rafiqi from Hurriyat and various other delegations put forth their demands. During their interaction with people senior BJP leader and ex president Daya Krishan Kotwal was also present. Others present included Sunil Sharma State Secretary BJP , Dalip Sing Parihar its district president, Koshal Kotwal, Raj Singh Charak, Koshal Dogra, Bal Krishan Kotwal, Satish Kotwal, Puneet Mehta and Des Raj Katal.
BJP Parliamentary Study Group members interacting with people at Bhadarwah on Wednesday.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 30: The Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Pradeep Gupta today held a meeting with local MLAs and senior officers of different departments at Jammu to discuss the grievances of the public.
Among others, Legislators, Chaman Lal Gupta, Gharu Ram Bhagat, Sham Chowdhary, IGP Jammu, Dilbag Singh, DDC Jammu, Sanjeev Verma, DIG Jammu Kathua Range, S. J.P. Singh, SSP Jammu, Prabhat Singh, Chief Engineers of PHE and PDD and Joint Director Information, Soujanya Sharma, and other senior functionaries of different departments attended the meeting.
The legislators raised various issues like inconvenience caused to the public by unscheduled power cuts, delayed execution of NBCC and ERA projects and lack of drinking water facilities etc.
The Divisional Commissioner informed that as per curtailment programme approved by the Government, the metered areas are to be subjected to power cut of 3 hours and non-metered areas subjected to a power cut of 8 hours. The Pumping Stations of the Public Health Engineering Department are on special feeders and are not subjected to curtailment.
The Divisional Commissioner exhorted upon the officers of the PDD to minimize the incidence of unscheduled power cuts so as to save the public from any inconvenience both due to the lack of electricity supply and drinking water. Wherever piped water is not adequate, it should be supplemented by tanker services, he added.
Regarding the Sewerage Project under implementation in Jammu city under JNURRM, the Divisional Commissioner, informed that the STP is nearing completion at Bhagwati Nagar, 80% of the trunk sewers and 36 % of the laterals have already been completed and instructions have been given to the NBCC and the UEED officers to complete the project in the coming six months. The Divisional Commissioner also informed that the NBCC is under instructions to complete the sewerage work from Rehari Chungi to Shakuntla Chowk positively by 15th June, 2012.
The Divisional Commissioner and the IGP, Jammu apprised the Legislators of the elaborate arrangements being made for the coming yatra of Shri Amarnath ji.
The renovation works at the Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar are nearing completion. A Communication Center, Tour and Travel Center, Medical Aid Center and a General Provision Store are being established at the Yatri Niwas. The required traffic and security arrangements are being made by the Police. All the concerned Deputy Commissioners have been asked to identify sites/locations for the transit accommodation of the yatries in case of inclement weather during yatra of Shri Amarnath Ji.
The Divisional Commissioner assured that all the arrangements will be in place before the commencement of the Yatra.

BJYM takes out autorickshaw rally
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 30: Various organizations today announced full support to tomorrow’s bandh call in protest against the unprecedented hike in petrol prices which will have cascading affect on prices of essential commodities.
In an emergency meeting here today Bar Association Jammu (BAJ) decided to suspend the work in all courts tomorrow in view of the public outcry against the steep hike in the petrol prices.
The meeting was presided over by BAJ president, B S Salathia. He expressed concern on behalf of the Bar members against the sharp rise in petrol prices. He urged the Government to take note of the sentiments of the masses across the country and take steps to redress their grievances. He urged the Central and State Governments to slash the taxes to give some respite to common masses from the sharp hike in prices of essential commodities.
To express its resentment against the unprecedented hike in petrol prices and garner public support for tomorrow’s bandh, the call of which was given by NDA ,the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) took out a cycle rikshaw rally from Jewel Chowk to Patta Bohri today. The rally was led by BJYM State president Munish Sharma. The rallyists raising slogans against the UPA Government demanded immediate roll back in the prices.
Addressing the rally Munish Sharma said that the public is totally fed up with the Congress led UPA Government and want to get rid of its misrule. The common man is unable to make his both ends meet and the unprecedented hike in petrol prices has made his survival difficult. In an appeal to people he urged them to make tomorrow’s bandh a success and expose the UPA for its anti people policies.
The Sangram Sena and Dogra Liberation Front have also supported the tomorrow’s bandh call. The leaders of the two organizations appealed the public to make tomorrow’s bandh a grand success in order to awake the Government and make it responsive to peoples problems and needs especially in Jammu, which is facing acute scarcity of water and erratic power curtailments.
Hindustan Shiv Sena (HSS) has also fully endorsed the Jammu bandh call. Its president Dimpy Kohli made an appeal to people, transporters, traders etc to make the bandh call a grand success tomorrow. He said the people have been already crushed by the steep price hike of essential commodities and inflation. The hike in petrol has further added to their woes. He also made an appeal to State Government to abolish the VAT on petroleum products or reduce it to 5 percent from 20 percent.
Socialist Democratic Party (SDP) has also fully supported tomorrow’s bandh call against the price hike. In a statement SDP general secretary Ajay Kumar Sharma said its activists will actively in the protest rallies and demonstrations tomorrow organized by any section of society.
The Party provincial president Sham Lal Bhagat said the Partymen will demonstrate against this anti people decision tomorrow at district headquarters across Jammu region and huge demonstrations will be held at Talab Tillo and Bari Brahmana. He demanded immediate roll back in prices of petrol to give a respite to common man.
JKNPP in an emergency meeting at Gandhi Nagar today made an appeal to the people of the State to observe complete bandh tomorrow and become the part of the Bharat bandh being observed against steep hike in prices of petrol made by the UPA Government.
The NPP has strongly condemned the Congress led UPA Government for pursuing anti people policies which have resulted into steep rise in prices of essential commodities. The State Government, which is a coalition of NC and Congress is also carrying the anti poor policies of UPA forward which has been the cause of steep price hike and broken the back of common man. The meeting was chaired by Faqir Nath Ex MLA and provincial president of the Party.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 30: Demanding regularization, the chain hunger strike by the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) employees and workers entered third day here today.
The employees and workers of JDA, under the banner of JDA Employees Union led by its president Ashok Singh Jamwal, were on chain hunger strike for the past three days. They are protesting against the Government and the department concered for their callous attitude towards their demands.
These employees were demanding regularization of daily wagers and consolidated employees, implementation of SRO-43, release of arrears of 6th pay commission, grade to helpers, In-situ promotions, implementation of timing in JDA offices as per timings implemented in other Government offices from 8 am to 2 pm and not 10 am to 4 pm during these summer months, change of transfer policy of plots/ shops, renewal of expiry of lease deeds of shops/ plots and to start the construction work on the approved projects without any delay.
Ashok Singh Jamwal, president of the association, said that the Government is compelling them to come on to roads by not conceding their genuine demands.

Excelsior Correspondent
NOWSHERA, May 30: The police recovered a kidnapped girl from Kotranka area of district Rajouri today.
A police spokesman said that 18-year-old Mumtaz Begum, daughter of one Mohd Shafi, resident of Karag in Kotranka was allegedly kidnapped by one Showkat Ali, son of Sayed Ullah of the same area about a month back. The parents earlier lodged missing report and later informed that she was kidnapped by local youth Showkat.
The police party during raid in Jaglan area recovered the girl from the house of Showkat’s cousin last night. The accused managed to escape. The girl after conducting medical examination was handed over to the parents. The police was looking for the kidnapper.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 30: Fourteen persons were injured when a mini bus, they were traveling in, collided head on with a truck in Miran Sahib area of the winter capital.
The mini-bus bearing registration No JKO2Q-6118 on its way from Kullian to Jammu collided with a truck bearing registration no JKO2AH 6863 at Miran Sahib.
On getting information, police party from nearby Police Station rushed to the spot and shifted the injured persons to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in police and other vehicles. All the injured were responding to the treatment, when last reports came in.
The injured were identified as Surinder Kumar, son of Bhagat Ram, Tej Ram, son of Dhuni Chand, Balkrishan, son of Mani Ram, Jeet Raj, son of Tarseem Lal, Doulat Ram, son of Beli Ram, Bachan Lal, son of Mardu Ram, Balkar Ram, son of Dharam Chand, Rattan Lal, son of Nathu Ram, Prem Kumar, son of Lal Chand, Sansar Chand, son of Basu Ram, Dev Raj, son of Ram Lal, Hari Krishan, son of Laxman Dass, Mohinder Kumar, son of Raj Kumar, Garu Ram son of Milkhi Ram and Dev Raj, son of Karam Chand.