Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 21: An awareness-cum-scholarship distribution camp was organized by the Social Welfare Department in Government Girls High School, Nowhatta.
The Minister for Rural Development, Panchayat Raj, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Mohammad Sagar was the chief guest on the occasion.
In his speech, the Minister exhorted the Social Welfare authorities to help the people by way of providing financial assistance through welfare schemes launched by the department as the Government is committed to improve the socio-economic condition of the downtrodden and other backward communities. For this purpose, the Social Welfare Department has to play a pivotal role.
The Minister distributed scholarship cheques worth Rs. 3.85 lakh among 185 beneficiaries arranged by the Social Welfare Department under National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) and pre-matric scholarships.
The Director, Social Welfare, Hilal Ahmad Parray, District Social Welfare Officer, Principals, Headmasters of different educational institutions, field functionaries of Social Welfare Department, teachers, students and members of civil society were present in the function and the speakers threw light on the various social welfare schemes launched by the Government from time to time.

Firing on Amarnath yatris in 2000
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 21: Principal Sessions Judge Jammu, Jang Bhadur Singh Jamwal today awarded 10 years rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs 10,000 to five Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants, who were involved in the firing on Shri Amarnath Yatris at Hari Singh Higher Secondary School on August 1, 2000.
According to the police case, these five militants namely Imran Qazi, son of Talat Niaz Qazi of Mast Garh, Assad Ullah Malik alias Matoo, son of Mohammad Shafi of Talab Khatika, Shabir Ahmed, son of Shemas Din of Bhaderwah, Faizl Muneer, son of Mohd Sadiq of Talab Khatika and Tariq Hussain, son of Gh Mohd Bhat of Dongia Bathindi in connivance with each other and at the instance of LeT and ISI played important role in the attack on Amarnath Yatris at Hari Singh Higher Secondary School where registration of pilgrims was going on.
Moreover, they had plans to carry out grenade attacks in the busy areas of Jammu city like Raghunath Bazar, City Chowk, Jewel Chowk and Secretariat.
After hearing both the sides, Principal Sessions Judge observed, “though the offence committed by the accused does not invite any lenient view yet as per the relevant law and legal provisions contained in Arms Act the minimum sentence is for seven years and fine”.
“The Court is conscious of the fact that accused have been aiding and were providing the arms and ammunition to the militants but no such evidence could be collected. But it was only collected that accused were in possession of the arms and ammunition only”, the Court said, adding “in case lenient view is taken, these people would be encouraged to repeat the same kind of offence”.
Accordingly, the Court rejected the request of counsel for the accused for taking lenient view against the convicts and awarded 10 years RI and fine of Rs 10,000 to all the five accused.

Pilgrims can now fly to cave on Rs 1445 only
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 21: The process of registering Yatris for this year’s Shri Amarnathji Yatra will commence on May 7, 2012, simultaneously for both the Baltal and Chandanwari routes, through 174 Bank Branches and via the Internet based e-Registration System.
The decision to commence the registration for this year’s Yatra was taken during an extensive review meeting held yesterday by the Shrine Board Chairman, N. N. Vohra, with Navin K. Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer, Preet Pal Singh, Additional Chief Executive Officer and other concerned functionaries of the Board.
Mr Choudhary informed that the registration of the Yatris will commence, across the country, from Registration Counters located in 121 designated Branches of the J&K Bank, 49 Branches of the YES Bank and 4 District Cooperative Banks. For the information of all concerned, full details of all the Registration Centres are being shown on the Board’s website, www.shriamarnathjishrine.com. CEO further stated that, as recommended by the Board’s Sub-Committee headed by Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji, and consequently approved by the Shrine Board, this year’s Yatra will commence simultaneously, along both the Baltal and the Chandanwari routes, on 25th June and culminate on Raksha Bandhan, the 2nd August, 2012.
While applying for Yatra Permit every intending Yatri would be required to submit a Health Certificate issued by a Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP). CEO informed that 45, 68 and 107 Yatris had lost their lives in the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Yatras, respectively. In this context, and also considering that a majority of the Yatris do not pay serious attention to the Health Advisories issued by the CEO, the Board has decided that the Yatris should undergo a compulsory health check-up and furnish a Health Certificate from a Registered Medical Practitioner when they apply for a Yatra Permit. This requirement had also been advised by the National Disaster Management Authority, he added.
CEO stated that with the close attention paid by the Shrine Board Chairman, N. N. Vohra, it had been possible to progressively expand the Registration network every year, for enhancing the convenience of the intending Yatris. This year, the Board has been able to increase the number of Bank Registration Counters to 174 from 149 in 2011.
For the purpose of Registration, to be done on “First-Come-First-Serve Basis”, the requisite Application Form and the Compulsory Health Certificate Form can be collected from any of the designated branches of J&K Bank, YES Bank and Cooperative Banks or downloaded from the Board’s website. Registration will be done through a Yatra Permit, which will be issued on the submission of a duly filled-in Application Form, Compulsory Health Certificate and payment of handling charges of Rs. 15 per Yatri. As decided by the Chairman, there will be no increase in the handling charges of Rs. 15 per Yatri for Registration done through the Registration Counters or through the Internet based e-Registration system.
The CEO said that the Yatris can obtain a provisional Yatra Permit on-line via the website of J&K Bank (http://yatra.jkbank.net), on payment of handling charges of Rs. 15 per Yatri. However Yatris, who hold provisional Yatra Permits will have to submit the prescribed Health Certificate at Yatra Base Camps – Baltal and Nunwan – and have their provisional Yatra Permits stamped by officials of the Shrine Board before being allowed to proceed beyond the Base Camps. This facility has been especially provided for the benefit of those pilgrims who may not have ready access to any of the 174 designated Registration Counters. CEO stated that every Registered Yatri will be covered by an Accidental Insurance of Rs. one lakh, which is paid by the Shrine Board.
Cautioning the Yatris against undertaking this arduous Yatra without securing a Permit, Mr Choudhary stressed that for ensuring effective security arrangements along the difficult tracks, only those Yatris will be allowed to proceed beyond the Base Camps, and cross the Entry Gates at Domel and Chandanwari, who are in possession of a Yatra Permit which is valid for a specified date and route.
The CEO stated that, from 7th May 2012 onwards, the interested Yatris can reserve their heli-seats through the web based on-line Reservation System, by logging on to the Shrine Board’s website. He clarified that to reduce inconvenience and delays, any Yatri who travels by the helicopter services would not be required to obtain a Yatra Permit but will need to furnish a Compulsory Health Certificate before being allowed to board the helicopter. CEO explained that the helicopter ticket would serve as Yatra Permit for the Yatris traveling by helicopter services, as the format of the ticket would contain the information required by the Board.
He informed that the helicopter services for the Yatris would be available on each of the two routes viz. Baltal-Panjtarni-Baltal and Pahalgam-Panjtarni-Pahalgam. The one way heli-fare for Baltal-Panjtarni and Pahalgam-Panjtarni has been fixed at Rs. 1445 and Rs. 2355, respectively. The CEO noted that this year one-way passenger fare for Baltal-Panjtarni has been reduced to Rs. 1445, from Rs. 2425 last year. Like-wise, the one-way passenger fare for Pahalgam-Panjtarni has been reduced to Rs. 2355, from Rs. 3495 last year.

‘Panthers indulging in politics of opportunities’
Excelsior Correspondent

Ramnagar, Apr 21: Minister for Industries and Commerce, Surjeet Singh Slathia and Political Advisor to the Chief Minister Devender Singh Rana said that while National Conference has always believed in principled politics the fringe political parties like the Panthers party are indulging in politics of opportunism, deceit and hollow sloganeering. They said the Panthers leadership have historically bartered the interest of the people for their own personal gains and have been piggy back riding forces which can help their opportunistic tendencies.
Addressing a huge gathering today, they said while the Panthers leadership talks of idealism and high morals in the Legislative Assembly the criminalization and dictatorial political machinations that they have unleashed in their constituencies expose them. They said “it is unfortunate that the people of the Ramnagar area are under a fear psychosis unleashed by Panthers through their henchmen and contractors, who are using muscle power to gag the voice of the people.” They said the time has come for all political parties to join hands and work to serve the genuine aspirations of the people of the area.
Describing Chief Minister Omar Abdullah as the hope of youth and epitome of courage and dynamism, Mr Slathia and Mr Rana said that Coalition Government symbolizes equitable development of all areas and holistic welfare of the weaker sections of the society.
“Omar Abdullah is the torch bearer of democratic values and secular traits and is working tirelessly for achieving all around development and peace in the state”, they said, adding that focused attention of the Government has been on the upliftment of backward pockets and rural areas of the state.
“The days are gone when influential people used to exploit development process for their own interest. This resulted in lopsided and imbalanced development as is being witnessed in areas like Ramnagar where poor have become poorer and rich richer, they said adding.” Chief Minister has made justice benchmark of the functioning of the government and the administration has been given clear cut instructions to reach out to poor and downtrodden people equitably in the process of development.
Mr Slathia said that the comprehensive development in all spheres of life witnessed in the state during last three years speak loud and clear about the development and peace intentions of the Government. He said the impact of the development policy unleashed by the Coalition Government is visible on ground.
Mr Rana cautioned the people of the nefarious designs of those indulging in dividing the society on various counts for personal and party gains. He stressed the need for maintaining and cementing the secular democratic principles and nurturing the mutual brotherhood and love between various sections of the society. He said National Conference has always kept public cause dearer to it and its rank and file always worked for the welfare and upliftment of the people of the State especially belonging to weaker sections and living in far-flung areas.
Speaking on the occasion, National Conference Provincial President, Rattan Lal Gupta asked the National Conference delegates to strengthen the party at grass roots and play active role in development process.

Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Apr 21: Three bike lifters were chased and nabbed by people and then handed over to police today while a truck was stolen from Kathua town.
Reports said three boys, noticed the motor cycle of one Balbir Singh of Sawan Chak Kathua, when it was parked in the lane at the gate around 2 pm. Mr Singh was taking food inside and he had just parked his bike No. PB06H/7393 outside. Hearing sound of bike, he rushed outside and saw three boys taking away his bike. He took the car of his neighbour and started chasing the bike with two local boys sitting with him. The bike riders sped away towards Hatli Morh and then towards Lakhanpur on Jammu -Pathankote National Highway. They had also flashed message to police at Lakhanpur and Hatli.
As the boys saw people chasing in a car, they stopped the bike on the bridge at Maggar Khud and jumped down. Balbir alerted the people of the area and also started chased these boys. With the help of locals, all the three were trapped and then nabbed after hot chase. The people gave good thrashing to the bike lifters and then handed them over to police. They were identified as Amit Kumar, son of Krishan Lal, Lakhwinder and Gagan, all residents of Katherh Gurdaspur (Punjab). The police arrested and registered a case against them.
Meanwhile, a truck (JK08B/0705) belonging to one Sahil Kumar, son of Ashwani Kumar, resident of Ward No. 16, ( Shiv Nagar) Kathua town was stolen when it was parked outside owner’s residence during night. A report has been lodged with the Kathua police in this connection.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 21: Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Jammu, Jatinder Singh Jamwal today dismissed the application filed by Rajan Dutta seeking stay on the election of Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Meanwhile, Principal Sessions Judge Jammu Jang Bhadur Singh Jamwal, in an appeal filed by Rajan Dutta against the order of CJM Jammu, issued notice to Chamber of Commerce and Industry through its General Secretary, President Chamber of Commerce and Industry & Election President Anil Kapahi, which was accepted by Advocate Sachin Gupta on behalf of respondents.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 21: Chief Secretary Madhav Lal, Director General of Police, Kuldeep Khoda were among five officers of the State, who were conferred with the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in the Public Administration for successfully conducting Panchayat elections in the State.
The 2010-11 awards were presented during the Civil Services Day function at Union Capital.
Besides Chief Secretary and DGP, the awards were also conferred on Chief Electoral Officer, B R Sharma, Principal Secretary Planning and Development, B B Vyas and R K Varma, Special Secretary to Chief Secretary.
The first Panchayati Raj elections in the State were held in 2001 following which they were disrupted due to the grave law and order situation in the state.
The State Cabinet had in February 2011 decided to hold elections for ‘halqa’ panchayats and to establish Panchayati Raj Institutions.
The law and order situation in the proceeding summers of 2008, 2009 and 2010 was grim. However, even in such trying circumstances the elections to panchayats were held successfully in 2011.
The entire polling plan was prepared strategically. Every stakeholders were involved in the entire process of election by giving information of the various steps, process and code of conduct in a transparent manner. Citizens were also made aware of the process through mass awareness programmes, according to the citation of the award.
It said that computerization of electoral rolls, which were prepared in Urdu, Hindi and English, in more than 29,000 polling stations also helped in the process.