Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Apr 17: Retired police personnel requested the State Government for reserving the quota for their children for recruitment in police department.
A meeting of retired police personnel, which was held in the office of the league under the chairmanship of retired inspector, Surjit Singh Sudan, district president, retired police persons alleged that some police persons has been retired prematurely with the promise that on their place their children would be adjusted but till date they are waiting the orders.
Besides they also demanded arrears of 6th Pay Commission in one installment, constituting a police board for the welfare of police personnel, free health services from Police Line Hospital and aid of Rs 25,000 from the welfare fund for the marriages of their daughters.
The meeting expressed hope that SSP Poonch will consider their demands before the next meeting, which will be held on May 15, 2012.

Excelsior Correspondent
RAMNAGAR, Apr 17: With a view to strengthen road communication network, MLA Ramnagar, Harshdev Singh today inaugurated 55 meters span stressed motorable bridge over nallah Ghordi on Jahnu- Ramnagar road. Constructed at a cost of Rs. 2.60 crores by PWD department, the bridge facilitate over 30,000 inhabitants of adjoining areas to have access of different destinations comfortably to this vital link.
MLA during his tour also inspected the under construction water pumping at Nallah Gohrdi in Nagrotta Panjgarrian and stressed for its time bound completion. The project would be completed at estimated cost of Rs.1.50 crores. During his visit to Dalsar Lake, he took stock of ongoing beautification works of the lake for the attraction of the tourists.
Regarding the construction of University campus at Dalsar, Mr. Singh was told that the tendering process for the construction work has been completed and the work would be started soon.
MLA also announced Rs. 40 lakh for shingling, mettelling and black topping of the Bhugtrian-Hansa road. He asked officers of PWD department for immediate upgradation of Dalsar- Badhole and Chununta – Panjgarrian road. Mr. Singh also announced upgradation of Middle School Kathildamar.
Enroute number of deputations called on the MLA and put forth various developmental demands for their early solution.
Speaking at different places, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh said that he was well conversant with their problems and efforts are being made to fulfill their genuine demands. He said Ramnagar constituency is witnessing fast track development in different sectors and various schemes for the welfare of general public are being launched in a phased manner for the overall development of the area.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 17: Supreme Court has granted interim bail to Ranjodh Singh alias Nalwa, an accused in the Narwal double murder case.
The bail was granted by SC Bench comprising Justice H L Dattu and Justice Chandramauli Kr Parsad taking into consideration the ill-health of petitioner and also letters of Medical Officer, Central Jail Jammu and Head Department of Neurosurgery.
The bail has been granted till July 3, 2012 with the direction to the petitioner to cooperate with the trial court for completion of pending criminal proceedings.

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 17: The General Body meeting of the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS) Officers today formed adhoc body of the association that would conduct the election of the Association.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Syed Kifayat Hussain Rizvi at Srinagar in which a number of KAS officers participated. The meeting said that since the elections of the KAS Officers Association are overdue, the officers unanimously framed an Adhoc Body of the Association with Showkat Ahmad Mir as president,
Mohammad Saleem Shishgar as vice president, Arwind Kotwal as general secretary and Abid Maqbool as publicity secretary.
Working Committee was also formed with Farooq Ahmad Lone , G M Brakboo, Tasaduq Hussain Mir , Tariq Ahmad Zargar, Amit Sharma, Gurmukh Singh, Munir ul Islam, Dr Arun Kumar Manhas as members.
The meeting decided that the Adhoc Body would ensure holding of the Association elections in shortest possible time and nominate the Returning and Assistant Returning officers. The President of the Association (Adhoc Body) said that Adhoc Body of the KAS officers Association would be meeting the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary shortly for deliberating the issues concerning the KAS officers besides assuring well meaning participation of the officers for effective and responsive governance.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 17: In a suit filed by Rajan Dutta, whose nomination papers for the post of president of Chamber of Commerce and Industry were rejected by the Election President, Anil Kapahi, Chief Judicial Magistrate Jammu, Jatinder Singh Jamwal today directed respondents to file objections on or before April 19, 2012.
In the suit, Rajan Dutta has sought that rejection of his candidature for the post of president of Chamber of Commerce be declared null and void.

Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Apr 17: A soldier of Madras Regiment allegedly committed suicide by using his own service weapon at a post near the Line of Control (LoC) in district Poonch today.
Sources said that Sepoy Ashok Viplay of `A’ company 17 Madras, committed suicide by using his own rifle near Malti Post in Poonch this morning. Immediately after the incident, the jawan with serious injuries was shifted to hospital where he was declared as dead. The police was later informed about the incident. After registering a case, the police started investigation. The body was sent to the home town of the soldier after performing legal formalities by local police.
Higher Army authorities at Poonch have ordered a court of inquiry in this regard.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 17: CBI/ACB Jammu today presented challan against Uttam Chand and Ashok Singh Manhas, partners M/s Shiva Over Seas and others in the much publicized case of cheating with UCO bank to the tune of Rs 50 lakh.
According to the challan, M/s Shiva Over Seas applied for CC limit to the tune of Rs 50 lakh on March 13, 2008 on the basis of fake/ non-existing property offered as a collateral security towards the bank.
The land measuring 4 kanal and 5 marla situated at village Changerwan was stated to be owned by Ashok Kumar Manhas but actually the same was not belonging to him. Ashok Singh Manhas and Uttam Chand got false revenue documents in connivance with some unknown persons in support of their claim.
Thereafter, unknown officials of UCO Bank, Ashoka Market Raghunath Bazar, in criminal conspiracy with Ashok Singh Manhas and Uttam Chand, processed the loan on the basis of these false documents. The concerned Branch Manger also did not make any pre-sanctioned visit as per the bank rules before the sanction of CC limit/ loan.
An amount of Rs 35 lakh was sanctioned by the Zonal New Business Committee Delhi on the basis of recommendations of bank officials vide sanction note dated May 22, 2008. Ramesh Koul DIG (now retired) was the guarantor for the loan facilities as per agreement of the guarantee duly executed by him.
The accused borrowers exhausted the CC limit of Rs 35 lakh in September, 2008 and thereafter Uttam Chand requested the bank to allow an overdraft of Rs 10 lakh in the CC account on September 10, 2008. On the same day, overdraft of Rs 10 lakh was allowed from CC limit and transferred to another account of M/s Shiva Over Seas.
The borrowers did not repay the loan in both the accounts and used the money for their personal ends. As a result of criminal conspiracy, abuse of official position and fabrication/forgery of documents, both the loans turned NPA on December 18, 2009.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 17: The Jammu and Kashmir Health and Family Welfare Technical Employees Association of contractual/adhoc employees has expressed its concern over the non-disbursal of salaries for March by Block Medical Officer, Budgam on the pretext that these employees have not remitted the amount paid to them as arrears under Sixth Pay Commission although they were not entitled to receive the arrears.
In a press note, the general secretary of the Association said that BMO Budgam released Rs. 4.85 crores as arrears only after they paid some percentage to the officer for release of the arrears. He said the officer is un-necessarily victimizing them for not remitting the amount paid as arrears, adding that it was done only after her consent and approval.
The general secretary appealed Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma, Commissioner Secretary Health and Medical Education, Tanveer Jehan and Director Health Services, Kashmir, Dr. Saleem-ur-Rehman to intervene and get their salaries released and absolve them of the tremendous hardships being faced by them.
Meanwhile, Assistant Director, Dr. Masood has been appointed as enquiry officer to probe the issue.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 17:Today KASHMIRINK and Romancing Himalyan which has devoted itself for imparting the moral teaching of great sufi- saints, organized one of the unique round table series at Jammu in which galaxy of intellectuals, scholars, media personalities and Minister participated.
All the participants were of unanimous view that keeping globalization in mind, it has become imperative that new generation should be made aware about importance of silk route and contribution of all sufi-saints who have travelled through the route and strengthened the pillars of love, mutual brotherhood and peace in this belt.
Those who actively participated in today’s round table series on the topic included Minister for Medical Education R S Chib, Director Information, Khawaja Farooq Renzushah, Director Tourism, Jammu Robin Mehta, Gandhian, Padamshree S P Verma, Representative BCCI Ranjeet Kalra, President, Chamber of Commerce, Jammu Y. B. Sharma, Director, Department of Strategic & Regional Studies Dr. Mohammad Monir Alam, Head of Department, Department of Political Sciences Prof. Anurag Gangal, Bureau Chief, Times Now Pardeep Dutta representatives of KASHMIRINK and the organizer of the event Hina, Babar Afzal, representative of student community and KASHMIRINK foundation Abhin-andan.
Referring to the long list of saints and seers who laid the foundation of spiritualism in consonance with the serene environs of the state bound by a series of mountain ranges, Mr. Chib said that these godly men were instrumental in creating the composite culture based mutual brotherhood and religious tolerance. He said that saints and seers from across the world would come to the state to find solace and spirituality setting in the traditions of Sufi way of life which has appealed after generation.
The Minister said that the Sufi shrines from Poonch Rajouri to Kishtwar and Lakhanpur to Leh would prove a great attraction for the people who want to spend peaceful moment to quench their thirst of spirituality.
Speaking on the occasion, Director Information, Kh Renzushah said it were great sufi-saints like Hazrat Bulbul Shah and Hazrat Shah Hamdan who travelled to Kashmir through silk route. He said that importance of 3-K in sufi line lies in mutual brotherhood and communicative route between Kashgar, Kashmir and Kishtwar. He said that route since times immemorial was either start of the silk route or culmination of silk route. Thus the importance of J&K state in the historical perspective with regard o silk route is for more important.
Gandhian Padamshree S. P. Verma while declaring Babar Afzal Gandhian Global Family (GGF) J&K Brand Ambassador said silk route was a symbol of joining people and integration as we all should join our hands together to work for its revival so that we are able to yield the fruits of this route which will provide us opportunities to conduct trade with all central Asian countries.
Bureau Chief of Time Now Pradeep Dutta while acknowledging the importance of silk route said that the present generation is to be made aware about the teachings of sufi saints, based on love and mutual brotherhood by introducing the teachings in the syllabi.
President Chamber of Commerce Mr. Y. B. Sharma underscored the importance of historical silk route and said that strong economy and trade is possible when borders become irrelevant and all people come together in amicable atmosphere to work for peace and prosperity.
Mr. Robin, Director Tourism Jammu said that the Tourism pilgrimage is the new phenomenon throughout the world and J&K which has a composite faith and culture can take full benefit of pilgrimage tourism. He said world is presently looking towards contribution of great sufi saints and their historical past and J&K is rich in all aspects to provide this rich material to all those who have passion for the same.
Director, Department of Strategic & Regional Studies Dr. Mohammad Munir Alam said J&K state was historically important component of silk route and in case this route is revived, it will give highest boost to the economy of our country.
Head of Department, Political Science, Prof. Anurag Gangal said that it is always better to call sufi life as the pure way of life and everybody can play a positive role in propagating the pure teachings of sufi saints so that there remains no scope for elements of hate to exist in the society.