Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 15: The Socialistic Democratic Party leader Dr Darakhshan Andrabi has demanded that Gole Gujral camp area of Jammu city be included in the Municipal Corporation territory.
Addressing a public meeting at Gole Gujal here today, the SDP leader demanded that this area is also a part of Jammu city but unfortunately it has not been included in the Municipal Corporation jurisdiction. She strongly demanded that the area be included in the JMC limits. She urged upon the concerned authorities to provide better facilities in the area including drinking water, better lanes and drains and adequate power supply.
The function was organized to extend gratitude to Dr Andrabi for her efforts in providing drinking water facilities and an electric transformer to the locality. She also installed two water pumps in the area. She said it will be her utmost priority to seek redressal of the basic issues of the people of the State.

Excelsior Correspondent
REASI, Apr 15: Mystery shrouds the death of a young housewife at a village near Salal today while the dead body of a middle aged man was recovered from Salal dam near Dhiangarh in district Reasi.
A police spokesman said that some people noticed the body floating at the surface of Salal dam two days ego and alerted the dam staff. With the help of a motor boat this body was fished out and then shifted to the mortuary of District hospital, Reasi. The body was swollen and seemed to be old. The identity of the deceased could not be established.
The police had flashed messages to Mahore, Dharmari, Ramban, Doda, Thathri and Kishtwar police stations but the clue about the deceased could not be recovered. Today after the completion of 72-hour custody, the police disposed off the body in presence of a magistrate. Some belongings of the deceased were lying with the Reasi police. Further investigation was in progress.
Meanwhile, 26-year-old Sushma, wife of one Karnail Singh of a village near Salal, was brought to Reasi hospital by the members of in-laws family in very serious condition this afternoon. She was declared as dead by the doctors in hospital. The members of the in-laws’ family claimed that Sushma had vomited blood at home and became serious.
The parents of the girl, who also reached the hospital after some time alleged that their girl had been beaten to death by her in-laws. They demanded postmortem of the body and police action in this regard. The police took the cognizance and started investigation into the mysterious death of young woman.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 15: Police today seized 19 bovine animals and arrested five smugglers in Rajouri town. Three vehicles in which the bovine animals were being smuggled have been seized.
Three bovine smugglers, arrested by police, have been identified as Mohammad Javed, Mohammad Anwar, Mohammad Yunus, Iftikhar Hussain and Mohammad Sarfaraz.
Three vehicles, which were seized by police, were bearing registration numbers JK02AD 393, JK11A 4408 and JK11 4079.
Nineteen bovine animals were rescued from the vehicles, police said.
Police parties headed by SHO Rajouri Varinder Gupta made the arrests under the supervision of SSP Rajouri Mubassir Latifi.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 15: President, National Mazdoor Conferemce, Subhash Shastri, today urged the State Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, to release the pending installment of 7% DA due from January 2012 in favour of its employees and pensioners at the earliest.
Addressing a meeting of NMC activists here, Shastri pointed out, as there is already budget provision by the Finance Minister for the year 2012-13, so there should not be any hitch for the State Government in releasing the Installment.
Pleading the cause of daily wagers working in the various Government departments, Shastri appealed the Chief Minister to regularise the services of all the daily wagers, casual and contractual labourers of the State Government, adding that the high power committee constituted by the State Government for the purpose should be asked to submit its final report to the State Government.
Shastri also highlighted other demands including timely release of wages of daily wagers, release of six years of wages of workers of Trikuta Hills Project of Social Forestry department, removal of anomalies of SRO 93 particularly of clerical staff, pensionary benefits to public sector workers, etc.
Rajan Babu Khajuria, Sunil Kochhar, Sham Lal Sharma, Rakesh Padha, Anil Singh Slathia and many others spoke on the occasion.

Excelsior Correspondent

Udhampur, Apr 15: A Health Week was organized from April 10 to 14 at Military garrison to encourage and promote healthy living by all ranks and families residing here.
Owing to changing life styles and hazards arising out of unhealthy eating habits, the main aim of the “Health Week” was to create an awareness about leading a healthy life style to minimise stress and other health related issues.
The “Health Week” included lectures on health related subjects by the army doctors, quiz and painting Competitions and a panel discussion in which children from kendriya vidyalaya and army public schools participated whole heartedly. Lectures on health were also held for officers, junior commissioned officers, Other ranks and their families. Skits on health related topics like stress, high blood pressure and balanced diet, were also conducted.
The Health Week witnessed an overwhelming response and imparted valuable knowledge to one and all. A ‘Run for Fun’ was organized for all ranks and families, which was flagged off by Lt Gen KT Parnaik, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief on Saturday. The event drew a large number of enthusiastic children, ladies, officers and troops, culminating with a ‘Health Mela’ organized at Bikram Park.
The Health Mela offered an amalgamation of diverse Medical stalls, diet food stalls and skits alongwith skill and physical prowess games. Modern life styles with increased intake of junk food, lack of exercise and outdoor activities, pose major health threats like obesity, high blood pressure and other health related diseases.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 15: Dogra Brahman Pratinidhi Sabha (DBPS) has demanded gazetted holiday on Bhagawan Parshuram Jyanti falling on April 23.
The demand was made at a press conference here today by Sabha president Ved Parkash Sharma and its general secretary, Shakti Dutt Sharma.
They said that Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, had given an assurance to the Sabha in this regard during a meeting earlier.
They said that two days religious programme will be organized on the occasion of Bhagwan Parshuram Jayanti this year. On April 23 a Shoba yatra will be taken out reflecting the images of Dogra Amar Shaheed Datta Ranpat, Bawa Jitto, Dwarikanath Shastri and Bawa Kailakh Dev, which will be led by the main Jhanki of Bhagwan Parshuram.
This will be followed by other Jhankis of various religious and social organizations, they added. The Shoba Yatra will start at 4 pm from Chanakaya Chowk, Parade and after making a round through main bazaars of the city, it will conclude in the Parade ground. A Satsang will also be held in the Sabha during the afternoon, they added.
The Sabha leaders made an appeal to people of all sections of society to participate in the programme enmass.
They said on April 24 coinciding with Akshya Tritya, as per tradition Yagnopaveet Sanskar will be solemnized under the guidance of Yash Paul Khajuria, Dr Vishwa Murti and Dr Chander Moli Raina. The programme will start at 7 am they added.
The Sabha made an appeal to all who are interested in wearing sacred thread to make registerations before April 20 in Sabha office.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 15: The election of the office bearers of the Managing Committee of the Municipal and Urban Local Bodies Pensioner Association Jammu Province was held today under the chairmanship of Kartar Singh Lakhanpuria, after dissolving the existing Managing Committee.
All the senior members of the Association unanimously elected BS Jamwal as president, BD Verma as general secretary, KG Khajuria and RK Gupta as senior vice-presidents, Badri Nath Bhat and Kartar Singh Lakhanpuria as vice-presidents, JR Sharma as working president, CL Jalali as secretary, Tarsem Lal Gupta as financial advisor, Latief Massih as cashier, Indu Bhushan and Jawahar Lal as publicity secretaries and Shiv Kumar as organising secretary.
Besides, S Attar Singh, KS Sambyal, Balbir Singh Jamwal, Lal Singh Nag, ML Gupta and Raghubir Singh Sambyal of Samba, Mohd Aslam of Udhampur, HR Sapolia of Reasi, Teja Singh of Poonch and Bodh Raj of Kishtwar were elected as senior executive members of the Association while Daya Singh, Kher Chand, Baha-ud-Din, Mrs Iqbal, Mrs Rachana and Sardar Massih were elected as other executive members.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 15: Minister of State for Tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani, today said that the distinct culture of J&K will be preserved for posterity and dovetailed with heritage tourism promotion.
The Minister was speaking at the launch of Heritage Week at SKICC. During the week, several operas and films on cultural ethos of the State will be presented at the Convention Centre here today.
Director Tourism, Kashmir, Farooq Ahmad Shah, Chairman, INTACH, JK Chapter, Saleem Beg and several cultural oficinadoes were present on the occasion. World Heritage Day is celebrated on April 18 every year.
Addressing the gathering, Nasir Aslam said the Government is spending nearly Rs. 150 crore for promotion and conservation of heritage tourism in the State. “The Naagar Nagar project will restore the pristine glory of the downtown Srinagar city. The conservation and restoration of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex is currently under way,” he said, adding three more mega projects of Rs. 50 crore each cleared by the Union Tourism Ministry will be launched in Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh.
The Minister urged the civil society to make people aware about preservation of heritage treasure trove so that we cater to both foreign and domestic visitors who prefer interest in oriental culture. He said the Government in the last three years has declared several heritage sites and buildings as protected monuments.
Earlier, the audience was treated to traditional Kashmiri folk dances, film on Dal lake conservation and INTACH presentation on restoration works on Kashmir heritage sites.

Excelsior Correspondent

REASI, April 15: Senior Congress leader and Member Legislative Council, Jugal Kishore Sharma said that the people should be aware of their rights so that they could be able to overcome lack of development, poverty and illiteracy.
The Congress leader was addressing a largely attended gathering at village Gori Mitti near Ladda in Bhamag region of Reasi district, assembled there to accord felicitation to their leader during his maiden visit after his election as MLC.
People from Ladda panchayat welcomed their leader with drum beats and slogans in his praise at picturesque locales of Gori Mitti where the reception had been arranged.
Besides the people of Ladda panchayat, more than thousand villagers, sarpanchs and panchs from more than 10 panchayats participated in the welcome ceremony.
Folk songs and dance programmes were also presented on the occasion by the villagers.
Addressing the gathering, newly elected MLC called upon the people to exercise their right to franchise in a judicious manner so as to avoid a wrong choice, which could hamper the developmental process.
Jugal said that service to the public is his main motto and he would leave no stone unturned for the development and prosperity of Bhamag area.
Others who spoke on the occasion included Hoshiar Singh, Dina Nath, Kailash Devi, Gandharab Singh, Munshi Ram and Ramesh Singh.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 15: The J&K National Trade Union Front has decided to support April 17 strike call given by the members of Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) and appealed the employees of various Government departments and PSUs to observe `Kaam Chhor’ Hartal on Tuesday.
Talking to media-persons here today Mohd Gafoor Dar, president of the Front said that in the executive committee meeting held here yesterday it has been decided by the members to observe one day token strike on April 17, call for which has been given by the JCC. He said the Government has failed to honour its commitment made with the employees’ leaders and now the employees have been left with the only option to resume the strike.
Mr Dar alleged that Government has failed in providing pending 6th Pay Commission arrears of the employees and moreover, it has not taken any decision regarding enhancement of retirement age from 58 to 60 years. Pay anomalies of the employees remained un-attended, there was no decision on framing policy for regularization of daily wagers/ contractual employees and release of 7% DA in favour of State employees. He said Government had reached an agreement on certain issues with the employees’ leaders but it has backed out. It has failed to implement the agreement before March 31, 2012. It shows the anti-employee stance of the Government. The employees are being forced to resort to the path of agitation, Dar maintained.
He said the units of the Front at various district and tehsil headquarters shall stage protest dharnas/ demonstrations on Tuesday in support of the pending demands of the employees. He condemned the Government for its attitude and said that employees will be forced to intensify the agitation in near future.
Senior members of the Front including Arun Moza, Muneer Ahmed, Rajinder Kumar and Raj Singh were also present, who spoke on the subject.