Monday December 31, 2018 9

Searches launched after ...at main Bus Stand and a brief exchange of fire outside an

army camp here with suspected terrorists, Director GeneralPolice Dilbag Singh has said adequate security arrangementsare in place across the Jammu region and there is no need topanic.

"We are alert to the situation and adequate securityarrangements are in place. There is no need to panic. Themischievous elements are trying to create fear but we are wellprepared to take care of the mischief mongers, track themdown and bring them to book", Singh told reporters on side-lines of a function here.

Dismissing the blast at the Bus Stand on Friday night as amischief , the DGP said the police are looking into the inci-dent and those behind it cannot escape.

Asked if there was any specific input about terrorists plan-ning an attack in Jammu, he replied in negative and said,"We have registered major successes in anti-militancy opera-tions this year They (militants) always make attempts (tostrike) but we are alert and fully prepared to deal with them.

On the brief exchange of fire between two suspected terror-ists and the army personnel manning a post at RatnuchakMilitary Station around 1.50 am on Sunday, the DGP saidthe whole area was searched but there was no evidence tosuggest terrorist movement.

"We dispatched a police party immediately after gettinginformation about the suspicious movement of two personsand the brief exchange of fire. The whole area was searchedthroughout the night but there was no evidence on theground", he said.

The DGP, however, said, "Since we are close to the(International Border) and based on the past experience, weare not taking anything lightly. A search operation was con-ducted thoroughly but no confirmation came from the groundsuggesting presence of the terrorists".

"Jammu is always on alert. We have to be on alert, he saidwhen asked whether an alert has been sounded acrossJammu region following the incident", he added.

Asked about the reports about four rifles of a CongressMLC's personal security officers having gone missing fromhis residence in Srinagar on Sunday, the DGP said, "I havealso heard about the incident and we are getting details.

"We will look into the incident thoroughly. We are not goingto tolerate this kind of incompetence and appropriate actionwill be taken in this case," he said.

He said the weapon snatching is directly linked to the mili-tancy and it will soon come to fore where the weapons havegone as the investigation is on.

Meanwhile, security forces also launched a search operationin Pulwama after terrorists fired upon the patrolling partynear a mosque. Later the operation was called off as therewas no trace about the terrorists.

4 rifles of...from the guard room of his official residence in Jawahar

Nagar area of the city, a police official said.He said one of the four PSOs of the protected person com-

plained on Sunday that the rifles have gone missing fromtheir trunks in the guard room at Parray's residence.

Parray was not at his official residence when the incidenttook place, the official said.

He said while it appears to be a prima facie case of negli-gence on the part of the PSOs, the police are probing into thefacts and circumstances of the incident.

The weapons have not been looted as there has been noarmed intrusion into the quarter. We are probing as to howthese weapons went missing. A probe has been launched andwe are trying to recover the weapons, he said.

Petrol, diesel prices ...which have been on a decline since October 18 except for

one day, are at their lowest level of 2018. Diesel rates are attheir lowest since March-end.

In all, petrol price has fallen by Rs 13.79 per litre sinceOctober 18, more than negating all of the hike that was wit-nessed in the two-month period beginning mid-August.

Diesel prices have declined by Rs 12.06 per litre in two andhalf months.

Dr Jitendra asks ...he said. Enumerating a series of development works in the

last four and half years in Kathua, Dr Jitendra Singh said,it is a compliment for us that even the opposition leaders arenow trying to own up the work done by us as "their" workbecause they can no longer live in a denial mode when thewhole world is a witness to revolutionary transformation inKathua after 2014.

Dr Jitendra said, time has come to go to the people and askthem to ponder, why all these development works could nothappen in 65 years.

He referred to Shapur-Kandi and Urj-Multi purposes proj-ects which were revived after 40 years and are going to becompleted in next two to three years.

Keeriya-Gadiyal Bridge, Express Road Corridor fromKatra to Delhi for which survey is going on, new Nationalhighway from Lakhanpur enroute Chattergalla Tunnel,Juthana Bridge, nearly one dozen BRO bridges, new OSKRoad, Highway Village Haat for which land has already beenacquired near Kali Bari and work will be complete in lessthan two years, Medical College from central fund,Engineering College from central RUSA fund, newUniversity Campus, first-ever Seed-processing Plant, newKendriya Vidyalaya at Janglot, North India's first industrialBiotech park, Dreamland park, upliftment of RailwayStation, completion of Atal Setu bridge, construction ofbunkers in the border areas, Sulabh toilets in border villages,reservation for International Border residents, hike insalaries of SPOs, increase of compensation for border resi-dents and their cattles etc. All this was accomplished onlyafter 2014, he said.

BJP State Vice President Harinder Gupta, former MinisterRajiv Jasrotia, Party District President Prem Nath Dograand Kathua Municipal Committee Chairman Naresh Sharmaalso spoke on the occasion. Newly elected Sarpanchs andPanchs also joined BJP on the occasion.

PM renames 3...here and hoisted a national flag on a 150-feet high mast.He also paid floral tribute at Netaji's statue in the park.

Govt to appoint nodal...said Ladakh is land of peace. Ladakh is the home to people of different religions and we

should work to strengthen the diversity which helps in flour-ishing the region, he said.

Lauding the efforts of ALSAJ for organizing the functionto celebrate the festival away from the home, Malik alsoappreciated the participants of the cultural programmes onthe occasion that featured folk dance and music of theLadakh region.

UP Minister invites...at Lucknow to ensure hassle-free transport facilities to the

visiting pilgrims during Kumbh Mela.Singh also discussed with Governor about various initia-

tives taken by the Uttar Pradesh Government in transportsector to facilitate people in extending services and to checkroad accidents. He also discussed measures taken by theUttar Pradesh Government for ensuring 24x7 'Power for All'

in the State.

Mehbooba warns against...and you should have women police for that. Then, her hus-

band and brother have (also) been beaten," Mufti said."I want to ask the governor that if you have a fight with a

militant, why are his relatives, especially his sister, beaten?We will not allow this. I want to tell the governor and warnthe police as well that if there is another such incident, thenthere will be dangerous consequences," she said.

Triple Talaq Bill ...(Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018, in its pres-

ent form and it along with other parties are keen that the pro-posed legislation be sent to a select committee for furtherscrutiny.

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad will table the bill in theUpper House. It has already been passed by the Lok Sabha,with 245 voting in favour and 11 opposing it, Thursday amida walkout by the opposition parties. It is listed in the RajyaSabha's legislative agenda for Monday.

Prasad had on Friday claimed the bill will find support inthe Rajya Sabha, where the BJP-led NDA lacks numbers.

Sources said the numbers are stacked slightly in favour ofthe opposition in the Upper House, with the UPA having 112members and the NDA 93.

One seat is vacant. The remaining 39 members of otherparties are unattached to either NDA or UPA and are likelyto play an important role in the passage of the contentiouslegislation.

Though the NDA is way short of the half-way mark of 123in the 245-member House, it had emerged victorious in theelection of the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman, with its nomi-nee Harivansh of the Janata Dal (United) bagging 125 votesagainst 101 polled by the opposition-backed Congress mem-ber B K Hariprasad.

Congress leader T Subbarami Reddy has moved a statuto-ry resolution that "this House disapproves the MuslimWomen (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Ordinance, 2018(No.7 of 2018) promulgated by the President of India onSeptember 19, 2018". Union Minister of State forParliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel also sought the support ofall parties for the passage of the triple talaq bill a day beforeit is taken up in the Rajya Sabha.

Citizenship Amendment Bill ...and Pakistan after six years of residence in India instead of

12, even if they don't possess any proper document.This was an election promise of the BJP in 2014."The bill is likely to be tabled in the Lok Sabha either on

January 7 or 8. There is very little time for debate before itis passed in the Lower House and then in the Rajya Sabha,"a source privy to the deliberations said.

However, in Monday's meeting the BJP may have its way inincorporating some "contentious" provisions in the proposedlegislation.

JPC chairman Rajendra Agrawal said the committee willtry to finalise the bill through consensus after examiningevery clause.

"However, if we cannot reach a consensus, we will go for vot-ing, which is a standard procedure for Parliament," he said.

The BJP has 14 MPs, including Mr Agrawal, in the 30-member panel. The Congress has four members while theTrinamool Congress and the Biju Janata Dal have two MPseach. The Shiv Sena, JD(U), TRS, TDP, CPI(M), AIADMK,SP, BSP have one member each in the panel.

The Congress, Trinamool Congress, CPI(M) and a fewother parties have been steadfastly opposing the bill claimingthat citizenship can't be given on basis of religion.

"If there is a voting, the BJP is likely to have its way inincorporating some contentious clauses. Monday's meeting is

very crucial," sources said.

‘Pak procuring 600 ...will be able to hit targets at a range of 3 to 4 km and they areset to deploy some of the tanks along the Line of Control inJammu and Kashmir, the sources said.

Apart from battle tanks, Pakistan Army is also procuring245 150mm SP Mike-10 guns from Italy out of which it hasalready received 120 guns.

The sources said Pakistan was eyeing to buy from Russia abatch of T-90 battle tanks- the mainstays of the armouredregiments of the Indian Army, and that the move reflectsIslamabad's intent to forge a deeper defence engagement withMoscow which has been India's largest and most trusteddefence supplier post Independence.

Govt appoints four...IAS Neeraj Kumar Gupta and former Law Secretary

Suresh Chandra as Information Commissioners in theCentral Information Commission, a government orderaccessed by PTI said.

Sinha is a 1981-batch Indian Foreign Service officer whowas the High Commissioner of India in the United Kingdom.

An alumnus of St Michael's High School in Patna and StStephen's College in Delhi, Sinha had served a number ofimportant postings in the Ministry of External Affairsincluding the crucial Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran Division,which he headed for four years as Additional Secretary.

The only woman in the CIC will be Sarna, a 1980-batchIndian Revenue Service (Customs and Excise) officer, whowas the Chief of Central Board of Excise and Customs(CBEC).

Neeraj Kumar Gupta, a 1982-batch IAS officer, wasSecretary in the Department of Investment and Public AssetManagement.

Chandra, an Indian Legal Service officer, retired as Unionlaw secretary this year and was also private secretary to thethen Law Minister Arun Jaitley between 2002 and 2004.

All the bureaucrats appointed by the government haveretired this year.

Two soldiers die...death. In another incident, he said, Subedar Harpal Singh

who had come on leave to his home collapsed in Nowshera mar-ket and died on way to hospital. The body of the deceased washanded over to his family for the last rites after completion oflegal formalities, the official said.

Debris of 2014...styled' owners of the illegal houses and waiting for regularisa-

tion of these colonies so that encroachers are entitled for receiv-ing compensation.

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A crain being used for lifting a turned truck near Samba

STATE TIMES NEWSJAMMU: Coping up with the needs of thelocals, former State President BJP and for-mer Minister Sat Sharma started construc-tion works of first floor of Community Hall atGuru Ravi Dass Sabha, Rajpura, Ward 29.

Sharma was also accompanied byCorporator Surinder Choudhary, DistrictPresident Ayodhya Gupta, JMC officials,locals and political activists of the area.

The works will be done under the supervi-sion of JMC at an estimated cost of Rs 8.57lakh and the funds have been sanctioned fromthe Additional Capex budget which was rec-ommended by former MLA to take up theworks.

Sat Sharma said that it was a pendingdemand of the inhabitants as there was less

space earlier in the community hall and con-struction of the first floor will definitely caterthe need of the locals and programmes includ-ing Satsang, marriage functions and otherscan be held in the hall which will be at nomi-nal cost in order to cope up with the needs ofpeople hailing from all walks of life.

He stated that two rooms, a kitchen, a smallhall will be constructed on the first floor sothat a proper infra could be provided to theinhabitants of the area.

He also stated that this community hall willalso cater to the needs of inhabitants ofadjoining wards as well.

Surinder Choudhary said that such placescould be used for public gatherings and fami-ly functions as well as such halls keep the tra-dition alive as in old times, programmes andfunctions were usually held in communityhalls. He also appreciated the developmentdone in the ward by former MLA JammuWest.

Ayodhya Gupta said that our former MLAhas developed Jammu West to its fullest andany area which is left behind in terms ofdevelopment will also be looked upon on prior-ity and pending works will be taken up incoming days in order to avoid public distress.

President Guru Ravi Dass Sabha MngalDass Dogra, Munish Khajuria, General Secy,Ramesh angurana, Chairman Ganesh dass,BishanDass, Abhi Angral, Vijay Kumar,Bansi Lal, Madan Lal, Des Raj, Mohan Lal,Taru Sharma, Raghu Sharma, Munish Raja,HeeraLal, Atul Bakshi, Puneet Gupta andseveral others were also present.

STATE TIMES NEWSJAMMU: Director General ofPolice (DGP) J&K, DilbagSingh on Sunday said that newPrison Manual with better con-ditions for prisoners and staff isunderway in the State.

Dilbag Singh was speaking inthe farewell party organised bythe J&K Prisons Departmentat District Jail Jammu in hon-our of Sr. Superintendent,Javid Masood Fazili presentlyposted as OSD with theDirector General of Prisons,superannuating on December31, 2018.

An appointee of 1985, theofficer has headed almost allthe jails of the State includingCentral Jail Kot Bhalwal andCentral Jail Srinagar. He hasbeen quite popular in thedepartment as a man of princi-ples with professional compe-tency. In his speech, DilbagSingh, who was Chief Guest onthe occasion, praised the outgo-ing officer for his dedicationand contribution to the depart-ment. He also congratulatedprisoners for their performanceand their interest in the voca-tional activities being organised

under Skill DevelopmentProgramme.

Sr. Superintendent DineshSharma presented welcomeaddress to dignitaries. In hisspeech, Fazili impressed uponhis colleagues to be good withthe prisoners irrespective oftheir class and case as this is thetrue field to practice social workand at the same time ensuringproper custodial management.

Other officers who attendedthe function were Dr. M.SLone, DIG Prisons, SanjayKumar, FA/CAO, PrisonDirectorate, J.S Johar,Commandant JKAP 8th Bn;S.A Beig, Staff Officer; Shabir

Ahmed, Technical Officer; RajniSehgal, Superintendent CentralJail Kot Bhalwal, HarishKotwal, SuperintendentDistrict Jail Udhampur, SabaShawl, Principal ICSMishriwala, Mushtaq AhmedMalla, Superintendent DistrictJail Kathua, Rajinder Kumar,I/c Sub Jail Reasi besides Sr.Medical Officer Kotbhalwal, Dr.Poli Devi and Sr. MedicalOfficer Jammu Jail Dr B.LGigoo and other officers of thePrison Directorate and field for-mations. A colorful cultural pro-gramme was presented by theinmates of Ambphalla Jail onthe occasion.

STATE TIMES NEWSJAMMU: The indefinite ChainDharna kick started onThursday 27-December-2018by the SOS International - AnOrganisation for PoKDisplaced Persons (DPs) onSunday entered in its fourthday. Today's group led by V.KDatta and accompanied byDharam Vir Gupta, Pt. AmarNath, Aman Sharma, AnkurSharma and Balwan Singh saton Chain Dharna at SOSInternational Office at BakshiNagar, here.

V.K Datta leveled seriouscharges against the successivegovernments for discriminationmeted out to this most unprivi-leged community by not givingthem the rights to live in a dig-nified way.

"The BJP has betrayed usthe most and the discriminationevinced by the CentralGovernment with our displaced

community has compelled us toteach lesson to the party in theforthcoming Assembly andParliament elections by ensur-ing their defeat," he added.

Datta said that those sittingat the helm of affairs today andteaching human values first seethemselves how they have vio-lated our human rights for thelast more than seven decadesand more than three genera-

tions are facing the heat and liv-ing in inhuman conditionsbecause of discrimination withthis community resulting inmore than 80 per cent peopleliving below poverty line andconstrained to live hand tomouth but the governmentnever talked about the welfareof this community.

"Those who clamour them-selves to be champions of people

always talk and implementabout the Kashmir centric poli-cies and take extra care fortheir illegitimate requirements.

"The Chain Dharna waslaunched over main key issuesrelated to PoK DPs whichinclude implementation of PoKDPs package passed by NC-Congress Cabinet in 2014 intoto, implementation of uni-form policy for all themigrants/displaced communi-ties including PoK DPs, estab-lishment of corridors for PoKDPs to visit their religiousplaces and shrines located inPoK, restoration of 1/3rd i.e. 8seats lying vacant for PoKareas in Legislative Assembly,inclusion of 5,300 DP familiesliving outside the J&K State inthe ambit of package for PoKDPs and return of cashdeposits of PoK DPs lying inthe J&K Bank, MirpurBranch", stated V. K. Datta.

STATE TIMES NEWSJAMMU: On the third day ofEighth Natrang TheatreFestival, Natrang presented'Zameen Ka Sawaal' a play inHindi by Partap Sehgal anddirected by Neeraj Kant.

The play was a hard hittingsatire on the socio-political situ-ation of the country and carrieda very relevant message whichwas very well received by theaudience.

The play 'Zameen Ka Sawaal'opens in a trial room where ahigh level committee is enquir-ing about a very grim incidentwhere five people at differentlocations were killed by sendingletter-bombs.

'Ranganathan a very seniorscientist is accused of master-minding the crime as all the evi-dence were against him.Initially he does not admit hav-ing involved in the crime butwhen given a false news that his

only son is also killed in thesame manner, he breaks andwith a deep agony in the heart,he admits his crime which hehad committed to take revengefrom all those who were respon-sible for hurdles in his growthand promotion.

Despite being the most out-standing and deserving scien-

tist having dedicated entire lifein research, he was denied hisdue recognition and promotionas it was granted to someoneelse who had a close proximitywith the political hierarchy.This renders a harsh frustra-tion in his mind, he asserts thatonly hard work and ability willtake you nowhere in this sys-

tem, where corruption andfavouritism are deep-rooted.

The play very brilliantly saysthat those who do not haveapproach and recommendationmay not be given higher posi-tions but it does not mean thatthey are not talented enough.

Natrang's artists who per-formed in the play includedUdit Sagar, Sushant SinghCharak, Brighu Sharma,Abhinav Sharma, KuldeepAngral, Sumit Raina, SameenaKousar, Aarti Devi and ShivamSharma. Lights were executedby Neeraj Kant whereas thesound was operated by ManojKumar Lalotra. Mohd Yaseencoordinated the show and AjayLalotra did the presentations.

On the last day of Festival ofthe year 2018, Apna ApnaDard will be presented at 5:30PM at Natrang StudioTheatre, Jammu under thedirection of Neeraj Kant.

STATE TIMES NEWSJAMMU: BJYM Jammu West on Sunday under the supervi-sion of its State president, Vikas Choudhary and led byDistrict President Ashish Sharma organised 'Yuva JodoAbhiyan' at party office Kachi Chawni where more than 100people joined BJYM in presence of BJP State SecretaryPraduman Singh, Distt. President BJP Jammu WestAyodhya Gupta, State General Secretaries BJYM Arun DevSingh and Ashish Sharma.

While welcoming new entrants, Vikas Choudhary said thatBJP is getting huge support from the youth of the countryand BJYM will leave no stone unturned in order to makeupcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections a success storyfor the party.

He also said that the other parties who originated with theprime motive to stop the oppressive and corrupt Congresshave today shaken hands with the same Congress becausethey cannot withstand the successful, progressive, popularand most importantly a corruption free Modi government.

He congratulated BJYM Jammu West for the success ofYuva Jodo Abhiyan and told the fellow workers to act as abridge between the party and the common masses.

Ayodhya Gupta also welcomed the new members and urgedthem to work round the clock to strengthen the party cadre tothe very grass root of the society.

Sat starts construction on community hall

Former Minister Sat Sharma starting constructionworks of first floor of Community Hall at Guru

Ravi Dass Sabha, Rajpura.

BJYM leaders posing with newly joined members.

DGP Dilbag Singh according farewell to Sr.Superintendent, Javid Masood Fazili.

Artists performing in a play being played by Natrnag.

PoK DPs sittimg on Dharna at Jammu.

BJYM organises Yuva Jodo Abhiyan Farewell accorded to Javid Masood Fazili

DGP praises outgoing officer for dedication, contribution

BJP betrayed PoK DPs: DattaNatrang presents ‘Zameen Ka Sawaal’