Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Apr 10: The people from Suranakote and Lasana held protest demonstration and blocked Jammu-Poonch road at two different places for hours together today.
At Surankote town, the traders including many locals raised barricades and disrupted the movement of vehicular traffic on the busy road. They were protesting against police for its failure to work out and contain theft cases in the town. Last night alone, six shops were burgled by the thieves in Surankote town and goods worth over Rs 5 to 6 lakhs were stolen.
The locals alleged that in last just one week more than dozen thefts have taken place in the town and police has totally failed to contain these incidents. It has also failed to affect any recovery or work out the cases. They shouted slogans against police and the SSP concerned. They alleged that police’s role seems to be suspicious behind these incidents. They sought intervention of IGP Jammu in this regard.
Meanwhile, Addl SP Poonch and Tehsildar Surankote reached the spot and assured the people to work out these cases. After about four hours the road was cleared for traffic. A large number of vehicles remained stranded for over four to five hours.
Similar protest dharna by the people and students of Govt High School Marhote was staged at Lasana in Surankote on the same highway. The people alleged that hardly 5 to 6 teachers visit the school having strength of 12. Out of 272 students of Matric only three could pass this year. The Education authorities pay no heed towards the problem. Later CEO reached there and provided Science teacher on the spot. He also assured to take action in this regard. After two hours, dharna was lifted from the road.

NEW DELHI, Apr 10:
Allowing a plea of a displaced Kashmiri man, the Delhi High Court today directed J&K Government to pay him Rs two lakh compensation for his house which he had abandoned following outbreak of militancy in 1989 and was burned down after being occupied by army and police.
Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw also imposed a cost of Rs 10,000 on the State Government and directed it to pay the amount to Omkar Nath Bhat, who hails from Anantnag district.
Directing the State Government to pay the amount with 7 per cent rate of interest since November 2005 till date, the court made it clear that if Bhat had already received Rs 25,000 earlier, the Government would deduct the amount and pay the rest Rs 1.75 lakh to him.
“It is sufficiently established that the house was abandoned as a result of violence attributable to breach of law and order or any other form of civil commotion, I am therefore unable to find as to how the petitioner (Bhat), even if the version of the respondent (J&K state) was to be believed, can be treated differently and be denied the compensation in accordance with the policy applied in a case,” Justice Endlaw said and referred to an earlier judgement of the high court.
Filing a petition through counsel B L Wali for an order to the Resident Commissioner of the state here, Bhat, presently residing in Delhi, submitted that due to disturbance in the state he had abandoned his house at Utterso in Anantnag district in 1989.
Seeking compensation of Rs 2 lakh, he claimed that his house was occupied by Indian army for the period 1991-2000 but after that the house was used as police post by the J&K police till September 2005 but in November, 2005 the house was burnt down and the State Government had failed to compensate him.
The court rejected the State Government’s argument that the house had caught fire due to a short circuit and it was not burnt by the state police.
“I am, moreover, of the view that the burden, in the facts and circumstances, was on the respondent (state) of proving destruction of the house by electrical short circuit. The respondent has failed to discharge the said burden. The DD report relied upon is sketchy and bereft of any particulars,” the court said.
In the judgement, the court further directed the Centre to deduct the amount from its fund for the state, in case the State Government failed to pay the compensation amount to Bhat. (PTI)

Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, Apr 10: The police resorted to mild lathi-charge after the volunteers of National Youth Corps and National Panthers Party activists held protest dharna on Railway’s track at Vijaypur. The police also arrested local NPP leader Rajesh Padgotra while he was leading the protest.
A large number of NYC volunteers, from Vijaypur, Purmandal and Samba block assembled at Vijaypur and then moved towards Railway track at local Railway Station. NPP leader Rajesh Padgotra and Sarpanch Khajoor Singh and some NPP activists of the area were also accompanying. They sat on track and held demonstration. After about 15-20 minutes, police party led by DySP Ashok Singh reached the spot. The police party resorted to mild baton-charge and dispersed the protesters. They arrested NPP leader Padgotra and detained him in Vijaypur police station.
The NYC volunteers then moved to Railway Station and held day long dharna. They were demanding that Government should decide about their fate. They also demanded release of NPP leader supporting their cause. Nearly 250 volunteers of National Youth Corps participated in the protest program.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 10: Biradri of All J&K Shree Guru Ravi Dass Sabha hailing from Kabir Nagar, Talab Tillo, elected the office bearers of the new branch of the Sabha at Kabir Nagar, here today.
Chaman Lal and Rajesh Kumar were unanimously elected as president and general secretary of the new branch.
In a press conference held, here today, in the premises of Gurudwara, Krishna Nagar, Jammu Tawi, Central Sabha honoured the new Sabha branch and expressed hope that the newly elected members of the branch would strive for the well being of the community.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 10:Jammu and Kashmir Dharmarth Trust distributed cash prizes to various heads of Organizations who excelled in preparing and displaying best tableaux during Shree Ramnavmi Rath Yatra, last week.
At a simple but impressive function held here today, president of the Jammu and Kashmir Dharmarth Trust, Th Divakar Singh gave first prize cash award of Rs 5000 to Shiv Shakti Natak Club, Reshamgarh Colony, Jammu, second prize award of Rs 4000 to Divya Jyoti Jagrity Sanstha, Jammu and third prize cash award of Rs 3000 to Rani Park Mohalla Defence Committee, Rani Park Jammu. Consolation cash prizes of Rs 2000 each were also given on the occasion to fifteen tableaux who also accompanied the Rath.
Grading and selection of tableaux’ for cash awards was candidly done by a panel of judges appointed for the purpose by the Dharmarth Trust.
Secretary, J&K Dharmarth Trust, Shashi Khajuria was also present. Speaking on the occasion, Thakur Divakar Singh appreciated the religious spirit of the Organizations who displayed outstanding yearning in the preparation of tableaux. He also suggested them several ways and means for bringing further improvements.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included former Corporator of Jammu Municipal Corporation, Gulshan Mahajan, Sangrakshak Dharmik Yuvak Mandal, Dharnidhar and president Dharmik Yuvak Mandal Sanjay Anand.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 10: Jammu Province Peoples Forum (JPPF) has decided to extend full support to VHP demanding increase in duration of Shri Amarnath yatra.
This was decided in a meeting of JPPF chaired by its president Session Judge (retd) Pavitar Singh. The meeting was attended by all office bearers of JPPF.
Mr Singh said that the Government should not curtail the period of yatra and the duration of yatra should be as per the demand of Hindu bodies.
The meeting among others was attended by Inderjit Khajuria, S Gajan Singh Khajuria, Amrit Mangotra, Th Narayan Singh, M S Katoch, M L Sharma, Kamla Sharma , Rajesh Kesri, Avinash Bhatia, B L Bhardwaj, Sunita Sharma and Rajiv Mahajan.
It may be recalled that VHP has warned agitation on April 16 in case the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) failed to enhance the duration of yatra as demanded by Hindu bodies. VHP state chief Dr Rama Kant Dubey said that Hindu bodies will not budge an inch from their demand that yatra should commence from traditional date of Jesht Purnima and culminate on Raksha Bandhan.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 10: Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) today announced Virat Kohli as its Brand Ambassador. The young cricketer has endorsed the Toyota brand as it enters a new phase of its growth in India.
Commenting on this new alliance Sandeep Singh, Deputy Managing Director, Marketing, TKM, said, “we are extremely happy to announce Virat Kohli as our brand ambassador. He brings with him all the emotions that Toyota aims to offer its customers through its vehicles- passion, exuberance, energy, fun and excitement. Toyota’s journey in India and Virat’s journey in cricket bear similarities. From a budding player, both went on to become promising player, in such a short duration of time. Brand Toyota and Virat Kohli both represent perfection and continuous improvement. The synergy would bring about more fun and excitement to all Toyota customers”.
“I am excited to be a part of Toyota’s drive to connect with India’s youth. Toyota inspires the spirit of success and that is an emotion that is close to my heart”, said Virat Kohli about endorsing Toyota brand.