Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 24:  Police arrested one person, involved in two burglary cases and recovered the stolen items worth Rs 2 lakh.
Police spokesman said that, on October 16, last year, one Balraj Bakshi, son of Late Deena Nath Bakshi of 271 Friends sector Subash Nagar lodged a written report at PP Sarwal that some unknown thieves trespassed into his house and had stolen the gold ornaments including one necklace set, one pair of lady tops, one gent’s ring, one lady ring and some cash.
He said that, police registered case under FIR No 148/11 at Police Station Bakshi Nagar and started investigation.
He added that one Vikram Kumar, son of Harish Kumar of 45 Green enclave Rehari Colony, also lodged a written report at PP Sarwal on January 20, this year, that some unknown burglars trespassed into his house and fled away with gold items including one Mangal Sutar, one pair of gold bangles, one pair of ear rings, one locket besides some cash.
He added that, in this connection FIR No 06/12 under Section 457/380 RPC was registered at Police Station Bakshi Nagar.
During the course of investigation, one suspect namely Raj Kumar alias Bantu alias Sonu, son of Shanker Dass of Neeli Nalla Jib Thathi, Udhampur, was put to sustained interrogation.
He said that the Raj Kumar broke down and admitted that he had committed both the burglaries and on his disclosure police recovered the stolen items.
The arrest was made by Incharge PP Sarwal, SI RS Parihar under the supervision of SHO Bakshinagar and SDPO City West.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 24: Member of Parliament, Dr Shashi Tharoor, today presented Brands Academy Education Excellence Award 2012 to Gulzar College of Engineering for ‘the best upcoming private Engineering College’ in North India.
The Brands academy exemplified Gulzar College’s commitment to excellence in education as the Institution not only understands but excels at delivering the best quality of education and ensuring student satisfaction.
The Awards were based on a comprehensive market research study and opinion surveys conducted by BIG Research, one of the top market research agencies in India. The survey was done on various parameters like facilities, teaching staff, placements, etc.
Speaking on the occasion, Executive Director, Gulzar College, Gurkirat Singh said he is delighted with the honour. He expressed gratitude to the students, their parents, faculty and staff of the College for their support.
He added that the Award entrusts them with a new responsibility in terms of living up to standards and we are committed for that.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 24: One person died and six others were injured in different road accidents across the Kashmir valley today.
Reports said that a motorcycle driven by Aqib Ahmed Sheikh son of Mohammad Maqbool resident of Mulsoo met with an accident at New Colony Seer-Hamdan in Aishmuqam area of Anantnag district. The mishap resulted in injuries to the motorcyclist and the pillion Ali Mohammad Bhat son of Ghulam Hassan resident of Seer Hamdan. Both the injured were shifted to hospital for treatment, where from Aqib was referred to District Hospital Anantnag. However, he succumbed to his injuries on way to the hospital. Police has registered case in this regard.
A Tata Sumo bearing registration number JK09/6165 driven by Altaf Hussain Shah son of Mohammad Yousuf resident of Pingla while coming from Teetwal to Tangmarg met with an accident, resulting in injuries to two passengers. Both the injured have been hospitalized. Police seized the vehicle, however, driver of the vehicle fled away from the spot.
A Tata Sumo bearing registration number JK05C/0425 collided with an electric pole at Panzinara, Sumbal in Bandipora district. The collision resulted in injuries to three passengers travelling in the vehicle. All the injured have been shifted to hospital treatment. Police has registered a case in this regard.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 24: Police arrested two persons from Baramulla area and recovered 174 bags of ration meant for the common masses through CAPD supply from a private wholesale dealer.
A police spokesman said that acting on complaints regarding misappropriation of CAPD ration supply, Baramulla police raided Yasin General Store at Gulnar Colony, Baramulla and recovered 165 bags of Rice, five bags of atta and four bags of sugar of CAPD department meant for public distribution.
He said that two persons namely Bashir Ahmad Kanroo alias Bashir Shinwari and Mohammad Yaseen Kanroo alias Yaseen Shinwari residents of Khawaja Sahib, Old Town Baramulla sons of Noor-ud-Din Kanroo were arrested from the spot.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the Government Ration (CAPD supply) has been misappropriated by the officials of CADP department and illegally sold to the private traders for earning illegal profits. The CAPD supply was being opened in the godown near Gulnar Park and was being repacked into other bags and labelled as “Double Apple Brand” and then sold in the open market to traders on exorbitant rates to earn illegal profits.

Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, Apr 24: Justice Hasnain Masoodi of the State High Court has posted the writ petition challenging the selection list of Assistant Information Officers (AIOs) for final hearing on April 30. The petitioners are demanding quashing of the selection list praying that the list is full of flaws.
As the case came up for hearing before the single bench of Justice Hasnain Masoodi, the counsel for private respondents Riyaz A Jan while expressing his urgency emphasized that the matter be argued at the earliest. Raising technical grounds, Jan urged that the stay should be vacated at the earliest.
Appearing for the petitioners counsels Mohammad Ashraf Wani and Vasundra Masoodi said that the case should be argued at length adding that they too want the case to be disposed off at the earliest. “We also want to argue the matter, which involves certain constitutional questions”, Vasundra submitted.
After hearing both the sides Justice Masoodi observed that the case requires file time for arguments. After this he directed the case to be taken up on April 30 (Monday) for final arguments.
It would be in place to mention here that on April 17, Justice Hasnain Masoodi had directed the State respondents to file their objections to the writ petition, failing which the Commissioner Secretary, Department of Information, was asked to appear in person when the case comes up for hearing once again.
The High Court stayed the selection list of 29 AIOs released by the Services Selection Board (SSB) on January 31 this year. The High Court issued the stay order on February 9, 2012, and also issued notices to both the State respondents and private respondents. The State respondents also included Commissioner Secretary Information and Secretary SSB directing them to file their response.
The petitioners Ashiq Hussain, Ishfaq A Tantray, Amin Masoodi and Irfan Qureshi in their separate petitions had submitted that an arbitrary criteria has been adopted by the SSB by considering viva voce marks while as the academics and other abilities of the candidates were overlooked.
“By adopting an arbitrary criteria, the Services Selection Board (SSB) has considered only the marks obtained in the interview, while as the academic excellence and merit of the candidates was ignored and rendered useless by giving equal points to all the candidates across the board”, the petitioners said.
Defending the selections made by the Services Selection Board (SSB), the private respondents through their counsel called the selection criteria adopted by the recruiting agency as level playing for all the candidates.
The private respondents claimed that academic merit referred to and relied upon by the writ petitioners in the para under reply is only one of the components of the merit required to be evaluated/assessed/determined by the selection body in the course of a selection and is not all and an end of the selection process.
In its objection the SSB has submitted that the petitioners after participating in the selection process cannot turn around and question the selection criteria after facing the failure.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 24: Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Sham Lal Sharma has called for launching a strong anti-tobacco movement to save the younger generation from health hazards caused due its addition.
He said tobacco and its related products are proving major cause of mouth cancer for the users leading to thousands of deaths every year. He said time has come to deal with the situation and take hard steps to curb the addiction to tobacco, gutkas and alike forms of products.
Addressing a gathering of media persons, experts, Government officials and other stakeholders at a Media Conference on Tobacco Control in J&K, organized by the Voluntary Health Association of India and J&K Voluntary Health Association in Hotel Premier, here today, the Minister sought support of the all sections of the society to address this complex social issue. He said only Government efforts are not sufficient, but all have to contribute to curb the menace of tobacco, gutkas, alcohol, drug addiction and other social evils from the society.
Maintaining that media has great role to play in this direction, the Minister said that media persons must focus on this burning problem and educate the general masses through their regular columns, highlighting the ill effects of these products on the human health and preventive measures.
He also appreciated the efforts of NGOs which are involved in the social awareness and reforms. He appealed all such organizations to make collective efforts to make the society evil free.
Controller Drugs & Food Control Organization, Satish Gupta, A.M. Mir, media persons and experts delivered their lecture on the subject. They renewed the pledge to make the society evil free with the collective efforts.
Director, ISM, Dr. Abdul Kabir, Director Health, Dr. Madhu Khullar, Director Family Welfare, Dr. T. K. Moza, Project Director AIDS Control, Dr. Rakesh Khajuria were prominent among those present on the occasion.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 24: Vice Chairperson, State Advisory Board for the Welfare and Development of Scheduled Castes Sawarn Lata today convened a meeting of Board members and various issues with regard to the welfare and development of scheduled castes were discussed.
All the members were unanimous in demanding that funds for development works should be kept at the disposal of Advisory board for the need based development of the areas inhabited by the schedule caste community. The Board members also requested the Vice Chairman for fresh Below Poverty Line (BPL) survey for including poor and deserving SC people besides dropping the condition of minimum percentage for scholarships.
They also demanded a provision for reservation for SCs in the appointment of Anganwari Workers, NRHM and Rehbar-e-Taleem. All the members strongly complained that funds under Central Schemes (SCA to SCSP) are not being released due to which many developmental works are hampered. Problem of shortage of staff in schools was also brought to the notice of the Chair. Further, the members demanded reservation for SCs as per their population in different districts.
Vice Chairperson after listening to the suggestions and grievances of all the members assured that the J&K State Advisory Board for the Welfare and Development of Scheduled Castes will make all efforts to redress the problems of the Scheduled Caste community.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 24: Minister for Social Welfare Sakina Itoo today chaired 12th Annual Meeting of State Advisory Board for Development of Pahari Speaking People (SABPSP) wherein issues related to effective implementation of welfare schemes for the targeted lot were discussed.
Speaking at the meeting, the Minister asked concerned departments to implement the decisions taken by the Board in its 11th meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister in letter and spirit. She also directed to maintain close coordination among the departments involved in the execution of schemes and welfare programmes for Pahari speaking people. She particularly stressed upon implementation of the decisions on ground so that the benefits percolate to the beneficiaries well in time.
Threadbare discussion was held on various agenda points which include granting of Schedule Tribe Status to Pahari Speaking people of the State, allotment of funds under infrastructural development for filling up of critical gaps in PSP areas, raising of intake capacity of the Boys Pahari hostels at Anantnag, Baramulla and Kupwara, enhancement of capital outlay under annual Plan 2012-13 for completion of ongoing works, enhancement of budgetary grants under Non-Plan for the year 2012-13 and identification of State land for the construction of boys/Girls Pahari Hostels and construction of Sarai Cum Bhawans.
Vice Chairman, State Advisory Board for Development of Pahari Speaking, Sayeed Mushtaq Ahmad Bukhari, Principal Secretary, Finance Mohammad Iqbal Khandy, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister B. B. Viyas, Commissioner/Secretary, Forest Shant Manu, Commissioner/Secretary, Atal Dulloo, Secretary, General Administration Department Sheikh Mushtaq Ahmad, Secretary, Education Farooq Ahmad Faktoo, Secretary, Law Ghulam Hassan Tantray, Director School Education Jammu GA Qureshi, Secretary, SABPSP Farooq Ahmad Baba and other officers from various departments attended the meeting.