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8 Pages Rs: 1.00 Jammu Edition www.thestudentage.com

STUdenT aGe
THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

JKENG/2012/41612 Vol. 2 No: 67

Chopper deal: CBI files FIR, names ex-Air chief Tyagi

Anti- AFSPA Eminences, now please shut up

Egypt's govt challenges suspending parliament polls

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IN BRIEF
One civilian killed in CRPF firing
SRINAGAR: A man was killed here Wednesday when security forces opened fire on a stone-pelting mob that stopped the vehicle in which they were going to donate blood for one of their colleagues injured in a shootout earlier in the day with terrorists. V.S. Yadav, inspector general of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPFsaid that a vehicle carrying CRPF personnel to donate blood for one of contd on page 2

Fidayeen attack on CRPF camp at Bemina, Centre probe ordered

5 jawans, 2 terrorists killed, CM condemns the attack
SRINAGAR: Five CRPF troopers and two terrorists were killed here Wednesday when the guerrillas attacked a paramilitary picket in the first terror attack in the Kashmir Valley in three years. Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah intervening during the proceedings in Legislative Assembly today informed the House that on Wednesday at about 10.45 a.m. five CRPF personnel have been killed and 18 injured including 3 civilians in a fidayeen attack on CRPF camp at Bemina Chowk Srinagar. He said three civilian have also been injured in the incident which are under treatment and declared out of danger. In Srinagar, a spokesman from the Hizbul Mujahideen

PAGE 5

Hizbul Mujahideen takes responsibility for attack

CM Omar Abdullah, Speaker expresses grief over deaths
JAMMU: Speaker, Mr. Mubarak Gul today expressed grief over the death of five CRPF personnel who were killed in a suicide attack in Srinagar this morning. Soon after the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah informed the House about the incident, the Speaker expressed his sympathies with the bereaved families and his good wishes to those injured in the incident. Pakistan." "Prima facie evidence suggests that these militants were from across the border. contd on page 2

Total agri area of State 7.316 lac hectares: Mir

JAMMU: The Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir while replying to a question by Jehangir Hussain Mir today informed the House that a total agriculture area in the state is 7.316 lac hectares of land and gross agriculture area (Sown both during Kharief and Rabi) during 2010-11 is 11.398 areas. He also informed the House that 377 registered brick kilns have been constructed contd on page 2

(L) CRPF troopers taking positions during the attack. group called a local news agency to claim responsibility for the attack that began at 10:45 am and threatened more such attacks in the future. "It was a guerrilla attack carried out by a special squad formed for the purpose," Hizb spokesman Baleeguddin said in a telephonic call to the news agency.

(R) Paramilitary forces identifying the bodies of dead militants. Two terrorists, who were part of a fidayeen squad that carried out the attack were also killed in the gunbattle. The Centre today ordered a probe into the brazen fidayeen attack in the Bemina area of Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir in which five CRPF jawans were killed and several others seriously injured. Briefing reporters about the fidyayeen attack in Srinagar, Union Home Secretary RK Singh said, "The attack seems to be handiwork of militants who came from across the border in

PAGE 7

CABINET TO REDUCE AGE OF CONSENSUAL SEX TO 16

NEW DELHI: The Centre seems to be all set to clear the bill and bring down the age of consensual sex from 18 years to 16 years and reinstate "rape" as an offence specifically committed against women. The government has resolved differences on the two contentious aspects of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2013, bowing to the demands of women's groups who protested against the ordinance's provisions making "sexual assault" a gender neutral crime. Now, the perpetrator in a crime of rape will be male while the victim female according to the law to be

Word Sexual Assault to be Replaced By Rape

INDIA UNITED STATES CHINA CANADA JAPAN AUSTRALIA RUSSIA BRAZIL 18 16 14 16 13 16 16 14
the ministry of home affairs has taken the view that criminalizing sex in the 16 to 18 age group is not warranted as it fails to take into account changing sexual mores. With sexual contact between teens of this age increasingly common in both urban and rural areas and across social strata, it was felt a tough law could be misused to settle scores or allow conservative opinion to harass youngsters. The law to protect children against sexual abuse deals with incidents where no consent has been obtained and the criminal law amendment contd on page 2

3293 Ha of farm land uncultivated due to monkey menace

KEWAL RAJPUT JAMMU, MARCH 13: Monkeys have forced farmers to relinquish their right to cultivate land in different parts of Jammu region. This surprising information was given by the forest ministry of the State in response to a question raised by MLA Jagdesh Raj Sapolia. About three thousand two hundred hectares of prime farm land in sixty three villages are most affected by the monkeys in Bilawar, Basohli and Dyalachak sub divisions. Kathua district and some pockets of Udhampur district are badly hit by the monkeys and the situation has reached to such an alarming point that the farmers have given up any hope of cultivating their land in wake of destruction of their crops by monkeys who swarm in large troops creating terror in these areas. Farmers in the monkey affected villages have said that the loss to their crops is in which 83 crore will be spalmost 100%. Although a Comprehensive Action Plan under the chairmanship of Chief Wide Life Warden in consultation with specialists from Agriculture Department, Horticulture Department and Deputy Commissioners of the affected districts is being is being mootedend over ten years to check the menace but presently the farmers in the monkey contd on page 2

No manual scavenger working in JMC, Municipalities: Jora

JAMMU: Minister for Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies Nawang Rigzin Jora while replying to a question by B R Kundal informed the house that there is no person working or engaged as manual scavenger for removal of night soil from the urban areas in the State as per survey conducted by the Executive Officers of the Municipal institutions. The Minister said no dry latrine exists within the limits of contd on page 2

* Minimum age of Consent in different countries across the world considered by the Cabinet on Tuesday. Settling divergent views on the age of consent was a more difficult task as the women and child development ministry pointed out that a recent law to protect kids deems anyone below 18 as a minor. Official sources said there would be no contradiction between the two laws as Supreme Court has said in cases of alleged elopement where the girl has acted in accordance to her free will, the age of consent to be considered is 16. While the issue is likely to be debated by the Cabinet,

Black Smoke Signals No Pope chosen Yet

VATICAN CITY: Black smoke rose from the smokestack of the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday morning, signaling that the cardinals gathered to choose a new pope had voted again but not reached an agreement on a new leader for the Roman Catholic Church. Light gray smoke sputtered out at first, raising hopes among the crowd gathered in St. Peter's Square that they were about to witness the puff of white smoke that prefaces contd on page 2

Associated hospitals also face shortage of doctors

Shortage of specialists in GMC affecting effective medicare

ROHIT RANA SINGH JAMMU, MARCH 13: Notwithstanding the claims of the government to provide quality healthcare to the people the situation on the ground is far from satisfactory keeping in view the large number of posts of senior specialists still vacant in the Government Medical College and other Associated Hospitals in Jammu. This was revealed by the Minister of Medical Education in reply to a query raised by Bimla Luthra in the Assembly on Wednesday. The status of posts lying vacant in the GMC Jammu and other associated hospitals in Jammu is so stark that without filling these posts it will be highly unlikely for the government to treat patients effectively in hospitals directly under its control. In different contd on page 2

Gulmarg conferred all seasons' destination award at ITB Berlin

GA Mir, Kichloo attribute achievement to Tourism dept's efforts
BERLIN (GERMANY) MARCH, 13: The Jammu and Kashmir Tourism sector received a big shot in the arm as World famous Gulmarg tourist resort was awarded as the best All Seasons Destination of the world by Pacific Asia Travel Writers Association (PATWA) at ITB Berlin- the world's leading travel trade show . The award was conferred by a reputed jury, including Professor Geoffrey Lipman, Dr. Ghassan Aidi (President International Hotel and Restaurant owners association), and Frederic Pierret representative of World Tourism organisation (WTO). The award was presented by the Executive Director WTO and Secretary General PATWA at ICC building, Messe Berlin to the Minister for Tourism, Ghulam Ahmed Mir and Minister of state for Tourism Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo. During the presentation, both officials of J&K Tourism department and Tour and Travel players of the state were present. "Firstly I would like to congratulate the Hoteliers, Tour and Travel bodies, GDA, J&K Cable Car and contd on page 2

Pakistan: Where falling in love means death with stones

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, PAKISTAN: In a gruesome incident reminding of Dark Age ideology, a Pakistani soldier was publicly stoned to death for having a love affair with a local woman. The bizarre order for his execution was issued by a tribal court on the order of a tribal court in Pakistan's northwestern Kurram region informed government officials and tribesmen on Wednesday. Such tribal justice is a stark reminder of the difficulty in establishing a credible civilian administration in Pakistan's semiautonomous region bordering Afghanistan, despite a series of contd on page 2

DRDO computers hacked, probe ordered

NEW DELHI: Reports suggesting that the computers of highly-sensitive Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have been hacked have created a flutter in the Government which today ordered a probe into the issue. According to media reports, Chinese hackers have had access to some sensitive information. When asked about it, Defence Minister A K Antony said, "Intelligence agencies are investigating the matter at this stage and I do not want to say contd on page 2

Afzal Guru issue: PDP stages walkout Italian Marine issue: PM warns Italy of stern action
JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Wednesday witnessed uproarious scenes amid walkout from PDP over the issue of return of Afzal Guru's mortal remains and the comments of Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on it. As the House assembled this morning, PDP members led by leader of the opposition Mehbooba Mufti raised the issue of return of the Guru's body to the family and the statement of Union Home Minister that the body will NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh warned Italy Wednesday of "consequences" in bilateral ties if its two marines accused of killing two Indians don't return to face the Indian law. "If Italy does not keep its word, there will be consequences," a grim faced Manmohan Singh told the Lok Sabha. He made an identical statement in the Rajya Sabha. In fact, sources have indicated that the Ministry of Home Affairs has informed the Ministry of External Affairs that Italian actions of Italy are not acceptable," he said. "They violate every rule of diplomatic discourse and call into question solemn commitments given by accredited representatives of a sovereign government to our Supreme Court. "This cannot, by any standards, be in the interests of any bilateral relationship that has to function on the basis of trust." The prime minister said India had told Italian authorities to respect the undertakings they gave to the Supreme Court and return the two marines to stand trial in India for killing two Indian fishermen off Kerala. "If they do not keep their word, there will be consequences for our relations with Italy. "I would also urge all members of the house to treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves, acting and speaking together as the government moves forward on this issue," he added. The Supreme Court in February allowed marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone to fly to Italy contd on page 2

not be handed over to the family. However, Speaker Mubarak Gul intervening them said that they can raise the issue in the business advi-

sory committee meeting in the day. Speaker further said "you had raised the issue -- there was a debate on it (yesterday), contd on page 2

envoy Daniele Mancini should not be given diplomatic immunity. Sources said he may even be expelled soon. "Our government has made it clear that these

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DEFENCE/CONTD
secretaries, met in Berlin to help shape the future for growth in the tourism industry. The others who attended the fair from the state included Nasir Shah from JKTA, Ifshan Khandey representing Hoteliers Club, Tashi representing tour operators from Ladakh, besides officials of the department. The major attraction for this year's fair included display of traditional costumes of J&K State, Folklore presentations from the state, which drew huge crowds to the stall and was appreciated by exhibitors and visitors On the sidelines of the event ministers and officials of the state met various delegations from different countries and diversities focussing on promoting J&K as a safe destination. The Ministers Ghulam Ahmed Mir and Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, besides Talat Parvez, Director Tourism Kashmir, Robin.S.Mehta, Director Tourism Jammu and officials of the government had detailed discussions with media representatives from UK, Germany, France, Facilitators in European Parliament, UK parliament, Governor from provinces of Turkey, Lebanese representatives, German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Malaysian delegations, Tour and travel bodies from Eastern Europe and Latin America. Besides the foreigners, lots of Non resident Indians promised and assured of full support in reviving European tour market for J&K state. They put forward their suggestions and were assured by ministers of all possible help. They were hopeful that the travel advisories can be waved off and proposed a group of professionals who will be working for promoting J&K as a tourist destination and be known as Friends of Jammu and Kashmir. It was the personal effort of ministers where in the discussions and deliberations were held in a very positive manner. Those who met the ministers included Dr. Mehmet Diamagueler; Abhay lakhani, Simi Arora, Tajamul, Sarah Mathews , Dr Ajit Singh, Osman Zuhel, Artur Matiaszczyk, Nina Erkan, Natalie Marell, Chris Thomas, Asem Ziah and many other representatives. ITB Berlin has kicked off the travel season around the globe. From 6 to 10th March 2013, 10,086 exhibitors from 188 countries presented their products and services in display halls that were fully booked up. Overall, some 110,000 trade visitors came to Berlin, of whom 43 per cent were from abroad. The ITB Berlin Convention registered record levels of attendance. A total of 21,000 took part in the 200 sessions, 25 per cent more than in 2012. No other place in the world gathers so many leading representatives from the private and public sector. This is where the tone is set for the future of travel for a billion people. "The visit has been very positive; we have to work hard to make our destination as the safest destination for foreign market. I request to the people of Jammu and Kashmir that without their support we cannot do that. Together we can and we should make J&K as all season's Safe destination," remarked Minister for Tourism Ghulam Ahmed Mir. The ministers were given warm welcome at both national and international stalls and the whole event has helped in making foreign tourist aware that J&K is a safe destination. Referring to the recent remarks about the space controversy, Talat Parvez, Director Tourism, Kashmir said, "It was decided in the meeting with hoteliers Club and Tour and travel operators in Srinagar that we should have an additional space for private entrepreneurs at ITB Berlin. After they agreed, we approached ITB for an additional space. . Infact it was very difficult to get an additional slot in the exhibition and now we have got it and we can use it for coming years." Hussain said that the jirga had also requested that another Pakistani soldier, Saif Ullah, be handed over for helping the couple meet and coordinate the planned elopement. "The army is here for our security but if they engage in such activities we will not let them stay here," Hussain said. "This is an insult to tribal customs. We will revolt against this." rorist attack was caught in a stone-pelting mob. Yadav said that the troopers opened fire in self-defence. Altaf Ahmad Wani, 30, sustained critical bullet injuries and succumbed while being taken to a hospital. Locals in the area, however, refuted the CRPF version claiming that Wani had been killed in unprovoked firing by the security forces. Seven people including five CRPF soldiers and two terrorists - were killed in a fierce gunfight in Bemina area of Srinagar earlier Wednesday. The three injured civilians are reportedly out of danger. One of the injured CRPF trooper is battling for life in the city's super specialty Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Soura. Tension gripped Srinagar in the wake of Wani's killing where educational institutions and markets were closed and public transport off the roads because of the separatist-called shutdown.

2
Lok Sabha passes Rail budget
NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha Wednesday passed the Rail Budget 2013-14 amidst an Opposition boycott. It provides for the withdrawal of 63 thousand and 363 crore rupees from the Consolidated Fund of India to achieve the targets announced in the budget. The railways will focus on safety and passenger amenities, railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said today as the Lok Sabha passed his ministry's budget for 2013-14. "We increased funds for safety. Replying to the discussion, Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal assured the House that all railway projects announced in the Budget will be taken up. For this, ten lakh crore rupees are needed.

Contd. from page 1...

Fidayeen attack on...
They were probably from Pakistan," Singh said. "We had inputs of four militants having entered; now two are dead. All our units are alert," he added. "The two militants who managed to escape after the attack are also said to be from Pakistan. The four are believed to from the LeT. A probe into the matter has been ordered and the security forces have been asked to take all preventive measures," he said. His statement came shortly after some militants stormed a CRPF camp adjoining a school in Bemina area of Srinagar killing five jawans and injuring at least seven others. According to reports, militants sneaked inside a public school and opened indiscriminate firing on civilians, including school children who were playing cricket, and the security forces. "Some boys were playing cricket and CRPF personnel were on standby. These terrorists took AK47 out and started firing. Both the terrorists have been killed. We have lost 5 men, 5 are injured but out of danger. Three civilians have been injured and the terrorists seem to be from across the border, not locals," Singh said. While the bodies of two suspected terrorists have been recovered, two others, suspected to have been involved in the attack, may have escaped. The attack at the camp in Bemina area took place when the terrorists disguised as cricket players, carrying playing kits, which contained weapons, started firing at the security personnel at 10:45 am. The terrorists tried to storm the camp and a school nearby but were shot dead in retaliatory fire. The entire area was cordoned off and a manhunt launched to apprehend and neutralise the other terrorists who may have helped the group in carrying out the brazen attack, the first in the Jammu and Kashmir capital since January 2010 when another CRPF camp was attacked in Lal Chowk area. CRPF Director General Pranay Sahay is on his way to Srinagar to take stock of the situation. There was a bandh in Srinagar to protest against the hanging of against Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru due to which the school was closed, averting a major tragedy. However, the audacity of the attack caught the CRPF personnel off guard as the state has not seen much terror activity over the last few years. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah made a statement in the state Assembly even as the gunfight was on. "Today five CRPF jawans were killed and four to five were injured in the fidayeen attack at a CRPF camp in Srinagar at 10:45 am," said Omar. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti said violence was not going to solve anything. "We condemn this attack," said Mehbooba. National Conference chief and Union Minister Farooq Abdullah called for the removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from Srinagar. "We have been saying Special Powers Act is needed only at borders. This is a part of the game we have to play, our enemies will continue to do this. I have seen worst than this, we will face them. The Special Powers Act will have to go," said Abdullah. The law and order was handed over to Jammu and Kashmir Police as the situation showed signs of improvement. However, in the last few weeks CRPF had been asked to help the police in maintaining law and order following the protests over Guru's execution.

Italian Marine issue...

Monday told New Delhi that the marines won't return to India. Earlier in the Lok Sabha, Jaswant Singh of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) asked why the Italians were allowed to return to Italy at the first place. "Why was this exception made in the Italian case. Do we permit similar treatment to Indians? The government of Italy has gone back on its promise that they will come back. "India should not tolerate this kind of treatment... What do you intend to do?" he asked. Marxist Basudeb Acharia said: "There is a system of postal ballot in Italy. Why weren't the marines allowed to cast their votes through that? "What steps has the government taken against the (Italian) ambassador? The entire country is agitated." In the Rajya Sabha, opposition leader Arun Jaitley said Italy's decision was "enemy action" and urged India to "forget diplomacy" and act. "We have heard of state-sponsored terrorism, but this by a democratic country which ostensibly committed to the rule of law, this seems to be the first such case of a state-sponsored deception and state-sponsored abduction," he said. Jaitley said the Italian government deceived India by saying they needed to be physically present to vote while they could have voted through mail. "They have broken every rule of democracy. It is time for the government of India to act. This now must be treated in the category of enemy action," he said. He also sought action against the Italian ambassador who had promised the Supreme Court that the marines would return to India. "Once you have submitted, you don't have diplomatic privileges. "The law minister may examine the post constitutional treaties, including the Vienna convention... We should forget diplomacy," Jaitley added. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday said the central government should explain their "action plan" for the return of Italian marines facing trial for killing two Indian fishermen last year. "The UPA (United Progressive Alliance) should explain to the nation what action it plans to take to ensure the return of the Italian marines to face trial in India," Modi said in a post on the microblogging website Twitter. Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy also met the Prime Minister and discussed the issue. After the meeting Chandy said the marines will have to come back to India to face trial in the Kerala fishermen murder case. Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai has said the Italian government's stand is completely unacceptable. "We have made our position clear and have conveyed to the Italian government that the content of their note is completely unacceptable and as soon as we receive a reply from the Italian side, we will take a decision," he said. All eyes are now on the Government of India as to what action it will take against Italy to make sure the marines are sent to India for trial in the fishermen killing case. The Supreme Court had given them permission to stay out of the country only till March 22. The two marines are facing trial for killing two fishermen off the Kerala coast in February 2012, mistaking them for pirates.

Total agri area...

on agricultural land in the state. With regard to the grant of permission, the same is being dwelt by Deputy Commissioners of their respective districts in terms of SRO dated 23.3.2011 followed by SRO-152 dated 18.5.2011 containing procedure for granting licences for operating/establishing brick kilns, he further added

No manual...
Jammu Municipal Corporation and other Municipalities of Jammu Division as per the survey conducted by the field agencies of the department in 2012.

Correction
I have applied for the correction of my wife's name wrongly written as Ruhe Instead of Shashi Bala in municipal record of my child birth certificate born on 2712-2006. My Child name is Aryan Dev Singh under MRD No. 904825/12455. The name of my wife is Shashi Bala W/o Sh Ramesh Singh R/O Shama Chack. Objection if any may be conveyed to registrar municipal Corporation, Jammu with in one week. Ramesh Singh S/O Sh. Faqir Singh R/O Shamma Chack, Jammu

Black Smoke...
the announcement of a new pontiff. But the smoke quickly darkened into a definitive charcoal black, eliciting a collective groan from the arena before St. Peter's Basilica. Wednesday marks the second day of the Conclave, during which 115 cardinals have locked themselves up in the Sistine Chapel, with no outside communication, with the aim of choosing a new pope. The first vote took place on Tuesday evening, with the second and third votes Wednesday morning producing no agreement. The next two rounds are expected to come on Wednesday afternoon. A two-thirds majority is needed to elect a new pontiff. In recent weeks, cardinals from around the world have publicly vented grievances over the opaque governance of the Roman Curia, the Vatican's scandalplagued administrative body, pitting themselves against a coterie of colleagues who are longtime Vatican insiders. Pope Benedict XVI's resignation-the first in some 600 years-sparked a flurry of discussion over a range of issues, including the management of the Vatican's bank and the sluggish pace of reforms aimed at making Holy See finances more transparent. Cardinals have also deliberated over the need to revive Roman Catholicism in Europe, its historic home, and the shift of Catholicism's demographics toward the Southern Hemisphere. Before the 115 voting cardinals entered the Sistine Chapel on Tuesday, they filed into St. Peter's Basilica, where they celebrated a Mass "for electing the Roman pontiff," a ceremony that sets the tone for cardinals voting in the conclave. Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, used his homily to call upon cardinals to unite behind whoever steps into the shoes of St. Peter. Thousands of people filled the square, but there was plenty of room to walk around. People hoisted flags from all over the world, including Brazil, Mexico, Malta and France

Correction
I have applied for the correction of my wife's name wrongly written as Ruhe Instead of Shashi Bala in municipal record of my child birth certificate born on 712-2005. My Child name is Aditya Dev Singh under MRD No. 860005/119982. The name of my wife is Shashi Bala W/o Sh Ramesh Singh R/O Shama Chack. Objection if any may be conveyed to registrar municipal Corporation, Jammu with in one week. Ramesh Singh S/O Sh. Faqir Singh R/O Shamma Chack, Jammu

Shortage of...
hospitals out of the sanctioned strength of 288 posts of different categories about 87 posts are laying vacant. Out of the sanctioned strength of 49 posts of professors 23 posts are yet to be filled. Similarly 14 posts of Associate professors, 228 posts of Assistant Professors and 22 posts of lecturers and lying vacant in these hospitals. It is pertinent to mention that the Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad while on his recent visit to the State had called for all states to increase the age of retirement of specialists and teaching faculty in hospitals. The State of Jammu and Kashmir too is facing shortage of senior professors and other faculty with the result the effective deliverance of medicare from its premier hospitals suffers. It is worthwhile to mention that hospitals in the State may face de recognition by Medical Council of India if they do not possess requisite teaching faculty.

Pakistan: Where ...

military operations in the area and Western nations pouring in millions of dollars to help build infrastructure. Punjab native Anwar Din, 27, was posted last year to the Parachinar area of Kurram agency where he met Intizar Bibi, 19, while manning a checkpost near her home. The two embarked on a romantic relationship, tribal sources said, and he tried to elope with her when he was later posted to the disputed Kashmir region. It was not immediately clear what evidence there was, if any, of a romance. "The girl left her home on Monday and met Anwar Din when villagers saw them," said Munir Hussain, the head of the local jirga, or tribal court that sentenced Din to death. "We took the girl into custody and took the boy to the local graveyard where he was stoned to death and buried." Din was killed on Monday, he added. A government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the jirga had ruled the woman must be shot to death. It was not immediately clear if this had already taken place. The army was not immediately available for comment. Kurram, the only part of Pakistan's largely lawless border region that has a significant Shia population, is racked by sectarian violence between Sunni and Shia tribes. Anti-Shi'ite ideology from the Taliban and al Qaeda has meant years of bloody fighting. Bibi is Shi'ite while Din was Sunni, Hussain added. The Federally Administered Tribal Areas have never been fully integrated into Pakistan's administrative, economic or judicial system. Instead, families and tribes often take justice into their own hands, presiding over "jirgas" or "panchayats", gatherings of elders that hand down punishments including rape, killing and the bartering of women to settle scores and restore honour. In such tribal justice, women often fair far worse than men.

DRDO computers...
anything else." The Minister was asked if the DRDO computer networks containing sensitive information were hacked and if information was compromised. The Defence Minister later asked Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma to inquire into the matter and submit a report, Ministry sources said here. Commenting on the issue, DRDO spokesperson Ravi Gupta said, "As per available information, no incidence of breach of security of DRDO's computers has come to notice. Appropriate measures are in place for safety and security of computer systems." In the past also, such incidents have occurred and the Defence Ministry has taken several actions to stop the hacking of sensitive information pertaining to armed forces. Recently, the Navy had to take action against some of its officers in the Eastern Command after their networks were hacked as they did not follow the standard operating procedures.

3293 Ha of farm...
the monkeys and retrieve their land in order to resume cultivation. The Action plan envisages taking steps to prevent damage to agriculture crops, launching of an awareness campaign, re-location of monkeys, and improvement of habitat by planting fruit trees within the forest area and establishment of monkey castration centres. These steps will take a long time to fructify till then the poor farmers have to fend for themselves to curb the monkey menace or forget they owned land in their own villages. In both cases things are not going to be good for the hapless farmers.

ADMISSION BOOKING 2013

12th Pass or 12th Class studying students who are interested in Engg. / Medical fields are informed to get their seats booked in reputed colleges of Northern India under Management seats without any donation securing 50% marks in Phy, Chem, Maths/Bio for the following courses, M.D.S, B.D.S, M. Tech, B. Tech, B. Sc Nursing, B. Pharmacy, Diploma in all streams G.N.M, M.Ed, B.Ed, MBA, LLB, Hotel Management, MCA, BBA etc.

CABINET TO REDUCE ....

bill will not allow offenders a legal loophole, sources said. The bill could also make rape by those in authority punishable by life sentence extending to the abuser's "natural life". Another likely change is making it mandatory for government and private hospitals to provide free medical assistance to victims of sexual crimes. Home minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Monday said there were differences on "legal points" which were being addressed to and will be settled by Cabinet. Asked about the fate of the proposed bill, Shinde said the law ministry had to vet all proposals before the government takes the next step. Once approved by the Cabinet, the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill will be introduced in Parliament later this week and would be passed before March 22 when both the Houses adjourn for a month-long recess as is necessary if the ordinance is not to lapse. The bill will replace the ordinance on criminal law which was promulgated on February 3 in the wake of public outrage over the December 16 gang rape incident.

RAINA EDUCATION CONSULTANCY

(Opposite Sub Treasury Tirth Nagar Talab Tillo Jammu) Mob: 94191-37183

Gulmarg conferred...
all other associated players of tourism industry of the state for the award. Gulmarg deserved it always but the credit goes to every common individual of our state who has contributed in making Gulmarg as all seasons' destination," said Minister for Tourism J&K State Ghulam Ahmad Mir, after receiving the award. In his address, Sajjad Kichloo said, "This award is the recognition of our efforts and we have to continue doing the good work and make all other places as all seasons' destination in the state. We have to make our tourism products more competitive and effective so that like this award, our every product in itself gets recognition in coming years," commented Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, MoS Tourism, J&K State. ITB Berlin 2013 is by far the world's largest meeting place of international tourism players, policy decision-makers and business leaders. The German chancellor, the Indonesian president, representatives of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Pacific Asia Travel Writers Association (PATWA) and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), as well as more than 100 ministers of tourism and state

Afzal Guru issue....

the government gave statement on it-- what is your issue now". He said "let one member of you to speak over the issue-- I want to know from you what is the issue and let me allow the House to run smoothly". On this, PDP MLA Rafi Mir said "it is unfortunate-- we have raised the point of return of the body to the family but it has been turned down by the Home Minister of India-- this House has been insulted-- Chief Minister has been insulted-- opposition has been insulted-- nothing has been done to return the body".

JOB IN JAMMU
MNC dks vius Office / Non-Office dk;Z ds fy, 30 M/F dh t:jr gSA a
Qual: 10/12/Grad./P.G. Income: Rs.8,000 to Rs.15,000 pm Contact:

Italian Marine issue...

to vote in the national election. The apex court was told the marines would return in four weeks to face the Indian law. Rome

Omega International

One civilian killed...

their colleagues critically injured in Wednesday's ter-

3293 Ha of farm....
infested areas are clueless about how to deal with

Hall 101, South Block, Bahu Plaza, Jammu (M): 9906083095, 9205072038

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STATE Year 2013 declared as 'Save the Girl Child'

mentation of school health programme and new born healthcare. In order to streamline the process of procurement of drugs and supplies, he said the Government has proposed setting up of J&K Medical Supplies Corporation. He said that Drug Policy has been framed to facilitate procurement, management of essential and generic drugs in Government hospitals adding that it would also help in rational use of drugs in the State. The School Health Programme, reversing the trend of decline in sex ratio; decreasing neo-natal mortality rate and promotion of AYUSH would be the areas of focus this year, said the Minister. Giving details of physical and financial achievements registered under Health Sector during the current fiscal, the Minister said that health indicators in the State have

NEWS IN BOX
200 bedded block of Lalla Ded hospital near completion: Taj
JAMMU: Minister for Medical Education, Youth Services and Sports, Taj Mohi-ud-Din has said that to overcome the excessive load of maternity patients in the Lalla Ded hospital Srinagar, the construction work of Rs. 40.25 crore 200 bedded blocks in the Hospital is near completion and would be put to use shortly. Reply to a question by Nasir Aslam wani in the House here today, the Minister said that one of the ward floor to converted into labour room in additional block is under consideration. He said moreover by way of internal remodeling of adjacent areas to labour room, additional capacity of 40 beds is being created in the Lalla Ded hospital by next month. He said that Maternity Hospital Santnagar would be also made functional very soon. The Minister said that Centre has approved the funding of Rs. 45.98 crore for construction of 200 bedded maternity hospital at Bemina against which Rs. 5 crore were released and work on this prestigious project has been taken up.

400 new Health Sub-Centres to be opened in State: Shabir

JAMMU, MARCH 13: Minister of State for Health Shabir Ahmed Khan has said that to upgrade healthcare facilities, especially in the inaccessible areas, the Government would establish 400 new Health Sub- Centres besides 11 mobile medical units in the State during next financial year. The Health Minister said health infrastructure development in the State was top priority of the Government. "A massive hospital construction developmental programme has been taken up at the total cost of Rs. 1419 crore across the State against which Rs. 777 crore have been expended so far under Centre and State Plans and the balanced amount of Rs. 648 crore is required for completion of these ongoing projects which is being managed under the flagship programme NRHM and State Plan'', he added. Replying to the discussion on demand of Grants of Health departimproved considerably and are better than national average. He said infant mortality rate in 2011 was 41 out of 1000, while as maternal mortality ratio was 70 out of one lakh live births in the State. He said the total fertility rate in 2010 was 2.0, adding that these figures show that health indicators of the State are better than national average, he maintained. The Minister said against Rs. 863.21 crore including State share of Rs. 152.43 crore under NRHM, Rs. 769.97 crore have been utilized for up-gradation of healthcare facilities across the State till January this year. He said recently the Centre has released supplementary funds to the tune of Rs. 84.55 crore under NRHM for creation and upgradation of health infrastructure which includes Rs. 25.72 crore for procurement of 200 ambulances and machinery equipment for new hospitals. Under 13th Finance Commission, Rs. 15.36 crore as first instalment was released by the Centre for reducing infant mortality rate in the State, whileas Rs. 20 crore were released for setting up of Ayurvedic Medical College, Jammu and Unani College at Srinagar, he added. The Minister said that so far 4817 additional doctors/paramedics were engaged under NRHM. Under Janani Surkasha Yojna(JSY) 4.67 lakh beneficiaries have been benefitted upto January 2013 and percentage of institutional deliveries has increased to 88.9 per cent. The Minister said Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY) is being extended to 10 more districts in the State during next fiscal. He said Jammu and Kashmir is amongst the few States to launch pentavalent vaccine under immunization programme.

DPR for women's hostel in Ramban college prepared: Lone

JAMMU: Minister for Higher Education Mohammad Akbar Lone has said that establishment of new Degree Colleges at Kastigarh, Batote and Asar in Ramban district are not under consideration of the Government as yet. He said the demand of the same would be considered as and when Government would consider opening of new colleges in the State. Replying to a question by Ashok Kumar, the Minister said that a detailed project report of Rs. 3.29 crore for construction of Women hostel in Degree College Ramban has been prepared and would be submitted to the University Grants Commission for funding shortly.

ment in the House today, the Minister said that Rs. 70 crore have been proposed for health infrastructure development under NRHM during the next financial year. He said 993 posts of various categories of doctors have been proposed to be engaged under NRHM for imple-

Jammu, Srinagar hospitals being re modelled: Taj

JAMMU, MARCH 13- Minister for Medical Education, Youth Services and Sports, Taj Mohi ud Din today informed the House that the tertiary care hospitals of Jammu and Srinagar viz SMGS and SMHS are being re modelled to provide better patient care and quality treatment comparable with the best at national level. Replying to the discussion on demand of grants of Medical Education Department, the Minister announced a slew of measures which he has taken to bring these institutions back on the tract. He said soon after he took over as the Minister, he has started a renovation drive in the prime hospitals of Jammu & Srinagar. The Minister said the maintenance of toilets, which used to be a common complaint with people, has been outsourced to Sulabh International, an NGO dealing with toilet maintenance. Similarly, he said, the cleanliness in wards, corridors and other places which used to be done manually would now be mechanised. He said machines with cleaning capacity of 30,000 square feet per hour have been ordered and once put to use would revolutionise the cleaning process at these hospitals. Taj said the Government has decided to procure the equipment needed in these hospitals like MRI, CT Scan, Cath Lab etc. with the help of J&K Bank on cost benefit ratio and also to overcome the fund scarcity. He said the defunct Col. Chopra Nursing Home at Jammu and Maternity Hospital, Sanatnagar, Srinagar would be revived and soon thrown open. He said Lal Ded Hospital in Srinagar is being added a new block which would ease the patient rush by a great measure. The Minister said though the private practice of Heads of Departments has been banned but the Government is thinking of starting evening clinics at Hospitals where these doctors can practice on non-emergency days. He said the Super Specialty Hospital Jammu is complete and would be inaugurated within a month or so. Expressing concern over the declining faculty at the two medical colleges of the state, Taj said changes need to be made in recruitment rules to retain faculty at higher levels and also provide more incentives for their retention. He said the medical faculty at GMC, Jammu is deficit by 87 whileas there are 140 vacant faculty positions at GMC, Srinagar, which, he said poses a threat of de recognition to these institutions. The Minister said these health institutions are deficit in other paramedical staff as well adding 1000 junior nurses and related staff is needed at GMC Jammu while as 600 such para medics are needed in associated hospitals. The recruitment process has been set in motion and we have so far received 75,000 applications for 600 posts advertised, he said. Terming his job as a mission, the Minister appealed members to come up with suggestions for improving the condition of these tertiary care units. He said he himself has fixed a deadline of six months for making these hospitals comparable with ones at national level. He said he is hopeful that with these changes the outflow of patients outside the State would be stopped. Earlier, the Minister moved that a sum of Rs. 1923.01 crore be granted to the Government to defray the charges which will come in the course of payment during the year ending March 31, 2014. Twenty members took part in discussion on the grants of the Health and Medical Education Department.

Speaker expresses grief over Srinagar attack deaths

JAMMU: Speaker, Mubarak Gul today expressed grief over the death of five CRPF personnel who were killed in a suicide attack in Srinagar this morning. Soon after the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah informed the House about the incident, the Speaker expressed his sympathies with the bereaved families and his good wishes to those injured in the incident.

Ghost of Guru continues to haunt Kashmir centric parties for vote bank politics: Dr. Nirmal
JAMMU: Ruling alliance and Kashmir-centric parties have again exposed themselves by creating logjam in J&K Assembly which proved more a classical horror show when ghost of master-mind of Parliament attack Afzal Guru, continued to haunt legislators in J&K Assembly, this was stated by BJP State Spokesperson Dr. Nirmal Kamal. Dr. Nirmal Kamal said that MLA from Langet created ruckus along with PDP legislators in the Assembly, over Afzal Guru's issue prioritizing dead criminal who was instrumental in killing several innocents guarding Parliament, over the other pro-people issues / policies awaiting passage in the Assembly. These Kashmir-centric legislators along with Congress legislators never raised issue of bringing back the dead body of Chemail Singh killed in Pakistan jail till now but are more concerned about Afzal Guru who himself confessed his crime and desired people of Kashmir to continue terrorism related war in Kashmir. The entire drama was enacted just to retain vote bank in Kashmir forgetting that the ruling government alliance partners hailing from Jammu will be losing the ground in Jammu due to their unconditional silent support to them. NC-Congress legislators from Jammu owe an explanation to Jammu people that why they should continue to support these communal parties from Kashmir. Dr. Nirmal Kamal further said the without realizing the consequences of raising nonissue in assembly. The Kashmir-centric legislators are flaring terrorism which has encouraged Fidayeen who made dreaded attack on CRPF camp in Bemina and killed 5 CRPF jawans and injuring several civilians today. Condemning the Wednesday's Fidayeen attack, she asserted that in her view these legislators are responsible for creating such situation. Expressing sympathy with these legislators for their political narrow mindedness she emphasized upon the Jammu legislators to unite and close their ranks against perpetrators of terrorism both in Assembly and outside.

LC passes LA Bill No 3 of 2010

JAMMU, MARCH 13: The J&K Legislative Council today passed " A Bill to further amend the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir (L.A. Bill No. 3 of 2010)" as passed by the Legislative Assembly. The Bill was moved by the Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Mir Saifullah in the House.

Govt. to assess feasibility of construction of Gilli Kadal, Saidpora bridges: Wani

JAMMU, MARCH 13: Minister for R&B Abdul Majid Wani has said that construction of bridges at Gilli KadalZonimar and Saidpora-Tangpora are not under the consideration of the Government as yet. He however, said that Government would assess the feasibility report of these bridges and necessary steps would be taken in due course of time. The Minister was replying to a question by Peer Afaq Ahmed in the House today.

Junior Assistant's written test postponed

JAMMU, MARCH 13: According to spokesman of Service Selection Recruitment Board Jammu, the written test for the post of Junior Assistant, scheduled to be conducted on March 14, 2013 has been postponed. The next date will be announced separately.

No SDA in place for State government employees posted in Ladakh: Sadhotra

JAMMU, MARCH 13Minister for Planning and Development Ajay Sadhotra while replying to a Calling Attention Notice by Narboo Gialchan said that Special Duty Allowances (SDA) has never been in place for the State Government employees posted in the Ladakh region and there is no case to start it now. The Minister said however, the rates of compensatory/Boarder Allowance wherever admissible under rules have already been revised vide SRO 207 dated 20-6- 2012. Sadhotra earlier the case was examined and sent to the Finance Department vide U.O.No. LA (Acctts) 05/2007 (P-II) dated6-82012. The said case was examined by the Finance Department and returned vide U.O.No.A/92(2010)1047 dated 6-9-2012 after observations.

DDC for expediting ongoing developmental works

BUDGAM, MARCH 13: To give fillip to the developmental activities in the district, the District Development Commissioner, Budgam along with a team of officers visited Chrar-e-Sharief and its adjoining areas to assess the pace of developmental projects being executed in the area. Among others, Additional District Development Commissioner, Budgam, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, besides Executive Engineers of R&B, PHE and Power Development departments accompanied. During the inspection of under

Visits Chrar-e-Sharief for on spot inspection

construction of Kanqah Faiz Panah at Chrar-e-Sharief, District Development Commissioner was informed that Rs. 7.27 crore have been utilized out of total allocation of Rs. 26 crore for the project. The District Development Commissioner also visited SubDistrict Hospital, Chrar-e-Sharief to take stock of the medicare facilities being made available to the patients. He also inspected the Water Supply Scheme, Munoo, where from Chrar-e-Sharief and its adjoining areas are supplied the drinking water. The District Development Commissioner enjoined upon the officers to expedite the pace of developmental activities so that targets are achieved within the stipulated time. He also directed Municipal authorities to ensure cleanliness in and around the Khanqah Faiz Panah. Later, several deputations called on the District Development Commissioner to get their grievances redressed pertaining to network of roads, electricity and essential commodities.

Restrictions under Section 144 Cr. PC imposed in Srinagar district

SRINAGAR, MARCH 13: According to District Magistrate, Srinagar, in order to avoid breach of peace and tranquility besides damage to life and property, restrictions on the movement of public and transport under Section 144 Cr. PC are imposed in entire Srinagar district from midnight March 13, 2013 till further orders.Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar has been directed to implement the restrictions in letter and spirit.

Phari Forum calls on Sagar

JAMMU: A deputation of Phari Forum led by Vice Chairman, Kafi-ul-Rehman today called on the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Ali Mohammad Sagar. The deputation comprising of MLCs Jehangir Mir, Syed Rafiq Shah, ex-legislators, Mushtaq Bukhari, M. R. Qureshi, Nissar Ahmed Khan and ex-Speaker, Mirza Abdul Rashid besides other members. The deputation put forth several demands of the Phari speaking people including the reservation in Block Development Councils.

Pilgrim, Sufi tourism circuits in State on anvil: Jora

JAMMU: Minister for Urban Local Bodies and Urban Development, Nawang Rigzin Jora on behalf of Minister for Tourism today informed the House that in order to promote pilgrim tourism in the State, the Government has submitted two projects to the Centre for funding, under which a project report of Rs. 50 crore for developing pilgrim tourism circuit in Jammu and another project report of Rs. 50 crore for developing sufi circuit in Kashmir is under consideration of the Centre adding that once the Central Government gives the nod, necessary tourism developmental works would be taken up in both the divisions. Replying to a question raised by Jagdish Raj Saploia in the House, Jora said that 90 % tourism related works of 4 tourism circuits taken up at cumulative cost of Rs. 20 crore in the State have been completed. He said to promote border tourism in Jammu the necessary tourist related infrastructure at Suchetgarh and Chambliyal have been created. However, he said to upgrade further this infrastructure the Government would submit another project report to the Centre for approval. He said to create tourist related infrastructure at Balisa, the Government has already submitted a project report for funding to the Centre. The Minister said that works to the tune of Rs. 8 crore have been already taken up in Basholi, Dhar Mhanpur, Sanangath, Sialag and Ranjit Sagar Lake for creation of Tourism infrastructure and development of potential spots.

JU recognizes regular degrees from MANUU for higher studies: Lone

JAMMU, MARCH 11- Minister for Higher Education Mohammad Akbar Lone while replying to a clubbed Calling Attention Notice by Dr. Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri and Dr. Shehnaz Ganai, said that the degrees obtained from Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) through regular mode are also recognized by the University of Jammu (JU)for the higher studies. He further said so far as recognition of degrees through distance mode of education is concerned, the matter was discussed in the Academic Council meeting held on 1.3.2013, wherein it was resolved that the same be recognized after verification for Maulana Azad National Urdu University that the examination for which the degree issued was conducted directly by the University itself and not through any study centre/franchise. The Revenue papers prepared by the Deputy Commissioner, Jammu are being examined and processed in the department for authentication and placement of the requisite indent to the Revenue Department for transfer of land. However, the ownership of the said land shall remain in the name of Higher Education Department, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, he added.

DM imposes restrictions around examination centers

JAMMU, MARCH 13: District Magistrate (DM), Jammu, Sanjeev Verma in exercise of the powers vested upon him under section 144 Cr P C has ordered that no person or group of persons will stand, sit, assemble anywhere, within radius of 100 meters of the examination centres , unless the place of standing/sitting/assemble is a public through fare, private house, office, religious place or any other type of accommodation/premises which is being used for legitimate bonafide activities. The order shall remain in force from the date of examinations till the examinations are over or which expiry of one month whichever is earlier.

Public Grievances Camp held

UDHAMPUR, MARCH 13: To redress the grievances of the people at their door step, District Development Commissioner (DDC), Udhampur, P.K Pole convened a Public Grievances Camp at village Bhagpur in panchayat Dhanoha of Udhampur district here today. The problems and demands put forth by the inhabitants of villagers include proper water supply in ward No. 7, block status to Jaganoo, opening of Dispensary in Dhanoha panchayat, link road from Kalri to Darmara, construction of approach road to Pad Devta Bridge, ambulance for PHC Jaganoo, deployment of doctor, construction of additional room at Panchayat Ghar, repair on non functional hand pumps, drinking water facility to Masjid Dhanal, electrification and drinking water facility to left out morha Pallan, renovation of Jaganoo Fort and Ancient Radha Krishana Temple. After giving patient hearing to the problems and demands of the representatives of the areas, the DDC directed the officers to mitigate the genuine problems of the public pertaining to their respective departments. While responding the demand of renovation of Fort and Radha Krishana temple, Pole said that necessary step would be taken to preserve the ancient monuments and the matter would be taken up with Archeology Department Engineers R&B, PHE,PDD, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Chief Animal Husbandry, District Officers of Agriculture Horticulture, Education, Tehsildar, Block Development Officer, and various departments were present in the camp.

Power shutdown on Mar 14

JAMMU, MARCH 13-In order to carry out the stringing of ACSR conductor of G-7 line, branch cutting and allied maintenance work of 33 KV G-6 & G-7 feeders, the power supply to Bathindi, Sunjwan, Channi Himmat, Railway, Transport Nagar, Sainik Colony, MES Sunjwan and adjoining areas shall remain affected on March 14, 2013 from 8 a m to 1 p m.

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STATE

House passes grants of Rural Dev Dept, Sagar says Govt.'s effort to develop rural, far off areas
JAMMU, MARCH 13: Enumerating several steps taken for ensuring proper implementation and adequate utilization of funds under various rural development schemes, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Ali Mohammad Sagar said that it is the endeavour of the Government to work for ensuring proper and sustained development of the rural and far-flung areas besides keeping ecological concerns, like sanitation, soil erosion, water scarcity in consideration. Replying to the discussion on demand of grants for the Departments under charge, the Minister said besides empowering panchayats with powers of 14 vital departments. The Government has Panchayat Adalats have been notified by the concerned designated authority and IMPA has been asked to prepare a training module for their capacity building so that various disputes at village level can be settled within the community. He said that directorates of social audits have been created and during current financial year, 1582 audits in 1271 panchayats have been conducted. Under 13th Finance Commission, the Minister said, the construction of 1788 Panchayat Ghars has been taken in hand for augmentation of rural infrastructure. He said that a grant in aid amount of Rs. 72.24 crore has been released to panchayats for asset creation, furniture fixture and rent. He said steps are being taken to provide group life insurance cover to the panchayat representatives and during current financial year, new schemes of E-panchayats and RGPSA have been launched. Sagar while referring to the transparency and accountability in the department said that action has been initiated against officers/officials found deviating from their duties and presently 52 gazetted and 51 nongazetted officers have been charge sheeted. He said that a grievance redressal cell has been established to get the requisite feedback from different quarters about the implementation of various schemes and also complaints if any. Referring to the flagship programme of MGNREGA, the Minister said that the scope of activities of the schemes has been widened by convergence of the same with other departments and also by including sanitation and livelihood activities. He said state employment guarantee fund has been created under the scheme and the wage rate has been enhanced to Rs. 145 per day from April 2013. Similarly, under supporting staff 823 technical assistants, 1509 GRS and 249 operators have been engaged besides other engagements are in pipeline. Under IAY the assistance is being enhanced from Rs. 48,500- to Rs. 75,000/ from next financial year and on line monitoring of the scheme is being done, the Minister said. He said under IWMP a perspective plan of Rs. 2300 crore stands approved and 84 projects of Rs. 524.85 crore stands sanctioned. Sagar said that under BRGF and RGSY capacity building extensive trainings are provided to the Panchayat representatives as per national capacity building frame work and during the current financial year, an amount of Rs. 11.85 crore has been earmarked for the same. He said livelihood scheme of NRLM under the nomenclature of UMEED has been launched in four blocks on pilot basis. Earlier, Sagar moved that a sum of Rs. 614.96 crore be granted to the Government to defray the charges which will come in the course of payment during the year ending March 31, 2014. In all 19 members took part in the discussion which included Mohammad Sharief Niaz, Jugal Kishore, Dr. Mustafa Kamal, Hakeem Mohammad Yasin, Haresh Dev Singh, Durga Dass, Mrs. Bimla Luthra, Ch. Sukhnandan Kumar, Aijaz Ahmed Jan, Bharat Bushan, T. Namgyal, Er. Rashid, G.M. Saroori, Javed Ahmed Dar, Ashwani Sharma, Haji Mohammad Ashraf, Ashok Kumar and Balwant Singh Mankotia. Later, the members withdrew the amendments they had moved after the satisfactory reply by the Minister. The House, later, passed the grants by a voice vote.

decided to give honorarium to Sarpanches and Panches to strengthen Panchayati Raj in the State. He said that in order to broaden the ambit of the Panchayati Raj Act, the amendments proposed by

different quarters have been considered and the provision of giving representation to the under privileged classes and women has also been explored. The Minister said

Postal Ladies Organzation organizes function

First Lady highlights importance of girl child
JAMMU, MARCH 13: The Central Postal Ladies Organization, J&K Circle, organized a meeting at the Police Officers Mess, Gulshan Ground, here this evening. The theme of the function was "The joy of being a woman". Mrs. Usha Vohra, First Lady, was the Chief Guest at the function. Speaking on the occasion, the First Lady referred to the theme of the function and observed that it is very apt. She said that to have a daughter is a blessing as she brings tremendous joy to the entire family. Regarding the cultural programme and the Fashion Show organized by the members of the Postal Ladies Organisation on this occasion, Mrs. Vohra appreciated their performances and creative talents. The First Lady lauded John Samuel, Chief Post Master General, J&K Circle, and Mrs. Ramona Samuel, President, Postal Ladies

MPH clinics being set up in all districts of Jammu division: Mir

R S PURA, MARCH 13: The Mobile Plant Health clinics are being set up to all the districts of Jammu division to render diagnostic and surveillance services at doorsteps of the farmers. This was disclosed by Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir, while inaugurating an awareness camp cum Kissan Mela organized by J&K State Kissan Advisory Board in collaboration with Department of Agriculturte at RS Pura, Jammu. Minister of State for Agriculture, Nazir Ahmed Gurezi, Vice Chairman J&K Kissan Advisory Board, Radhey Sham Sharma, MLC, B R Kundal, MLA, RS Pura, Professor Gharu Ram Bhagat were also present on the occasion. Addressing a large gathering of farmers, the Minister said that the government is determined to improve the socio-economic condition of the farmers as prosperity of the state lies in their prosperity. He said that concession on tax had been given in previous years and more such concessions are proposed in the next year budget as well. He added that the Kissan Credit Card Scheme is aimed at empowering the farmers financially to enhance their purchasing capacity required for agriculture including latest machinery and seeds. He further stated that all bottlenecks in purchasing the machinery by the farmers have been removed to help them buy the machinery of their choice at liberty and the subsidy component is released in their favour. He said that the instructions have been issued to the officers to organize such awareness camps at panchayat and village level. Gurezi impressed upon the farmers to get maximum benefit of such awareness programmes by increasing their knowledge about various schemes and techniques aimed at enhancing production and productivity. He appealed the unemployed youth to adopt agriculture and other allied activities such as dairying, mushroom cultivation etc. as self employment ventures. Vice Chairman, Kissan Advisory Board, said that J&K is the first state in the country to have such a Board for welfare of the farmers. He added that the Board is trying its best to project the problems of the farmers and get them redressed through Agriculture and allied Departments. He disclosed that a Farmers Grievances Cell is being set up in the office of the Board to listen to register problems of farmers' community. Director Agriculture, Jammu, briefed that the department is making all out efforts to facilitate farmers with quality and timely inputs besides latest machinery on subsidized rates. The Department of Agriculture and other allied Departments like Horticulture, Floriculture, Sericulture, Sheep Husbandry, Animal Husbandry, J&K Khadi and Village Industries board, Pesticide companies, Local progressive farmers and organic farming based companies established their stalls in the mela. Member Kissan Advisory Board, Rajesh Bittu besides Sarpanches and Panches were also present. Director Agriculture, Jammu, Ajay Khajuria, Director Extension Education SKUAST, Dr K S Risam, Director Horticulture, J N Sharma, Director CAD, Director Animal Husbandry, Director Sericulture, Director Sheep Husbandry and other officers of line departments attended the camp.

Vikar flags off 173 youth for advanced technical education

JAMMU, MARCH 13: Minister of State for Technical Education, Vikar Rasool, today flagged off a group of 173 unemployed educated youth of Jammu province from ITI College Jammu, for advanced training in different technical colleges of Haryana and Punjab under Skill Development Programme. Extending his warm wishes to the trainees, the Minister expressed hope that after getting this advanced training in different trades these youths will be able to establish their own ventures under different self-employment programmes of the government. The Minister said that the Government also contemplates to send 15,000 more youth to reputed technical colleges of the country for training in different modern courses in next few years under Skill Development Programme. He said that the Government is keen to facilitate states' educated unemployed youth with latest technological innovations in the field of technical education. "This will be of immense help for the youth to earn their livelihood in a dignified manner", he added.

Usha Vohra, First Lady being honoured by presenting to her a memento at Postal Ladies Organisation function at Jammu. Organization, J&K Circle, Lady for being the Chief for frequently organizing var- Guest at the function which ious functions to popularize was of the Postal ladies, by the activities of the Postal the Postal ladies and for the Postal ladies. She also Department in the State. The First Lady gave away thanked Mrs. Vohra for prizes to the three best encouraging and supporting adjudged participants of the the women and taking keen interest in their empowerFashion Show. The First Lady was hon- ment in the State. A cultural oured on this occasion by programme and a quiz compresenting a memento to her petition were also organized by Mrs. Ramona Samuel, on this occasion. Prominent women and a President, Postal Ladies large number of members of Organization, J&K Circle. Postal Ladies Earlier, in her welcome the address, Mrs. Ramona Organization were present on Samuel, thanked the First the occasion.

Governor appoints Roma Wani as Honorary General Secretary of IRCS

JAMMU, MARCH 13 - N. N. Vohra, Governor, has appointed Ms. Roma Wani, former Special Secretary, Planning and Development Department, J&K Government, as Honorary General Secretary, J&K State Branch of Indian Red Cross Society. The Governor, who is the President of Indian Red Cross Society, J&K State Branch, has made the appointment of Ms. Wani for a period of two years in the initial instance, from the date she assumes the charge. She replaces Feroze Ahmad, the Honorary General Secretary, who had completed his tenure. Ms. Wani, a former KAS officer, has remained closely associated with the Girl Guides movement in Jammu and Kashmir and has exhibited tremendous enthusiasm for voluntary work and missionary activities.

T a i n g i n a u g u r a t e s P a i n t i n g 6902 girl students covered under Exhibition by OP Sharma Beti Anmol Scheme: Tara Chand
JAMMU: Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand has said that 6902 girls students of poor families have been brought under the ambit of 'Beti Anmol Scheme' in the State. Replying to a question by Mrs. Indu Pawar in the House today, the Deputy Chief Minister said that this scheme could not be implemented in district Jammu and Samba as there are no educationally backward blocks in these districts. He said that so far 1663 poor girl students of Jammu division are getting benefits under this scheme while as 5239 poor girl students of Kashmir division where covered under the scheme. Replying to the supplementaries raised by Ashwani Kumar, Jugal Kishore, Harsh Dev, Ashok Kumar, the Deputy Chief Minister said that to cover maximum number of poor girls students under the scheme a vigorous mass awareness scheme would be launched in all blocks, he however requested the members that they should also play their role in this regard for publicizing the benefits of welfare schemes including Beti Anmol Scheme in their public addresses.

Deputy Chairman, J&K Legislative Council, M Y Taing inaugurating a Painting Exhibition by O P Sharma at Kala Kendra, Jammu. JAMMU, MARCH 13: Deputy Chairman, J&K Legislative Council, Mr M Y Taing today inaugurated a Painting Exhibition by O P Sharma a renowned painter and lens man at Kala Kendra, Jammu. Triloke Kaul, Veteran painter presided over the function and Lalit Sharma, Chief Conservator of Forests was the guest of honour on the occasion . Among others N D Sharma, Prof Rita Jitender, Saleem Beig, I U Khan, Director FSL, N D Jamwal, Soujanya Sharma, Director Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society, Raj Bharat and prominent citizens were present on the occasion. Taing appreciated Mr Sharma's artistic endeavors and his contributions in the field of photography . He said that such exhibition give ample opportunities to an artist to showcase his talent and promotion of art in the society. He added that such creative activities need encouragement by art lovers and masses. The work put on display are painted in acrylic medium on different hues of natural beauty. Mr Sharma has generally painted wide landscape in isolation showing his love towards open space and natural beauty. Sharma presently working as Director J&K Centre for Creative Arts (JKCCA), Jammu has been actively associated with various activities for promoting art and with organizational work also. He has received various prestigious awards for his photography and paintings.

Rs. 51 cr spent under RGGVY in Doda: Vikar

JAMMU, MARCH 13: The Minister of State for Power, Vikar Rasool today informed the House that Rs. 51.13 crore have been spent under RGGVY in district Doda for electrifying 108 villages and 232 habitations. The Minister was replying to a question by Khalid Najeeb Suharwardhy today. The Minister said that the habitations which are not covered within the scope of the present project will be covered in the Phase-II of RGGVY, which is presently under consideration of the Government of India, Ministry of Power. Vikar further said that 53 transformers each of 25 KVA capacity have been installed in equal number of villages. While replying to another question raised by Jugal Kishore, the Minister of State for Rural Development, Vikar Rasool informed the House that an amount of 2360 lakhs has been spent in district Reasi upto February this year by taking up 4425 Kachha and Pacca works under MGNREGA. Similarly, during 2011-12, an amount of Rs. 3532 lakhs has been spent by taking up 4213 works.

DDC review progress of different sectors

UDHAMPUR, MARCH 13: A meeting of officers of different departments was held under the chairmanship of the District Development Commissioner (DDC), Udhampur, P.K Pole to review the physical and financial achievements registered under agriculture and its allied sectors upto February 2013 here today. Joint Director Planning, Rakesh Jamwal, Executive Engineer, PWD, Deputy Director Employment, Assistant Commissioner Development, Chief Agriculture Officer, Chief Education Officer, Chief Medical Officer, District Social Welfare Department and other officers were present in the meeting.

Awareness programme organized by Fisheries Department in Bhaderwah

BHADERWAH, MARCH 13To bring awareness regarding various schemes implemented by the Fisheries Department for the welfare and betterment of masses, an awareness camp was organized in Gatha Bhaderwah by the Assistant Director Fisheries Doda, Muzaffar Mehraj Mintoo in collaboration with other line Departments . District Development Commissioner, Doda, Farooq Ahmed Khan inaugurated the programme .Among others ADDC Doda G. N Balwan , Chief Agriculture Officer Doda besides other District and Sectoral officers, Sarpanches, panches and Fishermen of the area attended the programme. While speaking on the occasion, DDC said that awareness regarding employment generating schemes among the unemployed youth is essential for the fruitful and sustainable implementation of these self employment schemes. He asked the youth of the area to avail benefits of various schemes initiated by the Fisheries and other departments to set up their own income generating units. He said Bhaderwah has a rich water resource which is a boon for the development of Fisheries sector in the region, He impressed upon the youth to come forward and establish their own income generating units and adopt fisheries or any other sector as their career prospective and uplift their socio-economic condition. While giving a brief resume of the achievements of the department in the District, Assistant Director Fisheries Doda Mintoo revealed that there are 402 registered professional fishermen who are being provided assistance under various schemes for construction of Low Cost houses, Insurance Cover and Nylon Twine in collaboration with social welfare department. He also said that during current fiscal year 402 registered fishermen were covered under Insurance scheme and 25 Fishermen were provided assistance for construction of Low cost houses besides 262 were recommended for provision of assistance in shape of Nylon twine. AD Fisheries said that there are various employment generating and welfare schemes being implemented by the department. Under employment generating schemes construction of Village Trout Raceways and construction of Carp Ponds are under implementation in the region and till date 15 village type Trout Raceways have so far been established in the District Doda in private sector through which beneficiaries are earning a handsome amount. A colorful cultural programme was also organized on the occasion.

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EDITORIAL

Anti- AFSPA Eminences, now please shut up

he fidayeen attack on CRPF personnel at Bemina in Srinagar on Wednesday in which five innocent paramilitary were martyred should be an eye opener for every stakeholder working for peace in the State. It is for all those political parties who have played their well orchestrated role in tainting armed forces in Jammu and Kashmir to revisit their conscience and stop parroting their choice vituperative against Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Now is the time for them to shut up. The attack on the security personnel on Wednesday leaves many questions and creates new doubts in the minds of people. Is Kashmir returning to a new phase of militancy or the attack in Bemina was a usual one to make the international community feel that Kashmir is alive and burning. The way in which this attack was executed reflects that perhaps more intense terror activity is being scripted. With militants and separatists meeting their Pakistani handlers and mentors under the full glare of media in Pakistan bears testimony to the grim fact that militancy is being again revived in the State. The Wednesday's attack should not be seen in isolation keeping these developments into consideration. But whereas the common man in the street has nothing grave against the security forces it is the political leadership of the State whether they are in the opposition or in power which has raised pitch against AFSPA. The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has made the revocation of AFSPA a bed rock of his political philosophy. His continuous tirade against it has got a rare but sensible rebuttal from the Indian Home Minister. But where there are political calculations and a vision though a narrow one aimed at scoring some brownie points over the vocal opposition, realism and rationality does not matter. Not to be left undone the largest opposition party Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has also upped its opposition to AFSPA. One of the arguments given in favour of the revocation of AFSPA is that in some areas of the Valley especially in the Srinagar city where militancy related accidents have almost ceased security forces should be removed from the capital city on an experimental basis. But the Wednesday's attack has turned over the anti-AFSPA apple cart of the Chief Minister. It is a queer situation where the head of the State Government is vocally demanding the revocation of AFSPA when the situation across the border and in AF-Pak region is simmering with renewed terror activity. His anti -AFSPA logic is not based ground situation. Is he displaying political immaturity or has some other agenda on his political radar? In either case it does not augur well for the State. Parties like PDP change stance when they come to power and fringe political non-entities like Shiekh Mustafa Kamal and Engineer Rashid have an eternal nuisance value but the Chief Minister should carry himself sensibly in the volatile climes of Kashmir. The time has come for all anti-AFSPA lobbies to kindly shut up. The blood of innocent security force personnel is sacred compared to terror attack masterminds.

SLOW AND STEADY SUPPORT

The presidential visit will secure India's interests in Bangladesh
BY K.P. NAYAR ranab Mukherjee's visit to Bangladesh pivoted around a single word. The one word which made the president's travel to Bangladesh different from any other foreign trip that he will make from Rashtrapati Bhavan was Bengali: dwiragaman. It was bandied about throughout Mukherjee's stay in Dhaka in the context of his lightning helicopter trip to visit relatives of the first lady, Suvra Mukherjee, in Bhadrabila. The president himself spoke about the custom of dwiragaman when a bride returns to her parental home, accompanied by her newly-wed husband. It has become rare since the end of the Cold War for bilateral engagements to profit from words, catchphrases or slogans. The last time that happened in South Asia was probably when Indians and East Pakistanis, who wanted to see the birth of Bangladesh, worked together. Joy Bangla became a battle cry which both sides could relate to. It is unlikely that there has been another dwiragaman in the annals of Indian high-level diplomatic trips abroad. It did not matter that accuracy was a casualty in this context. Mukherjee had not visited his wife's ancestral home in the first place, but he was willing to be swept up by the custom after 56 years in his marriage. So were the members of his entourage and the president's official hosts in Bangladesh. So much so that Sheikh Hasina Wajed, the prime minister of Bangladesh, joked that since Mukherjee had finally visited his wife's ancestral home, it will have to be followed up by another custom, Jamai Sasthi. Hasina even told the president in jest that she is willing to substitute the family of his in-laws and send him the gifts on the sixth day of Jyestha, the month when sons-in-law get a treat from their wives' families. There are not many foreign prime ministers any more who can

There are not many foreign prime ministers any more who can take the liberty of conversations with an Indian president or head of government. By a curious coincidence, Mukherjee has just completed his second overseas visit to another country which could boast of a similar relationship with Indian leaders. The prime minister of Mauritius, Navinchandra Ramgoolam, and his wife, Veena, ventured such liberties with Atal Bihari Vajpayee, but that is another story.
take the liberty of such conversations with an Indian president or head of government. By a curious coincidence, Mukherjee has just completed his second overseas visit to another country which could boast of a similar relationship with Indian leaders. The prime minister of Mauritius, Navinchandra Ramgoolam, and his wife, Veena, ventured such liberties with Atal Bihari Vajpayee, but that is another story. Hasina's personal bond with Mukherjee was forged when she and her sister, Sheikh Rehana, lived in exile in India after the assassination of their father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The full story of the support that he extended to the only two children of Sheikh Mujib who were to survive the night of the long knives in Dhaka on August 14-15, 1975, will only be told when Mukherjee writes his memoirs. There is no way the president could have abandoned his visit to Dhaka last week even though Bangladesh was in the midst of domestic turmoil. If he did not go at this time, there is no way he could have gone to Dhaka any time soon. A presidential visit to Bangladesh in the coming months, closer to elections there, would have been seen as an Indian effort to mollycoddle Hasina in her efforts to return to power. That would have been doing the prime minister a disservice. Besides, if the combination of Hasina's political foes, all of whom seek to benefit from anti-India posturing, did not have a hartal planned for a later date, they would have certainly called for one, albeit citing other reasons, whenever an Indian presidential visit was scheduled. The Islamist turmoil, the Shahbag movement and the cancellation by the Opposition leader, Begum Khaleda Zia, of her appointment with the president are all a reminder of how little the fundamentals have changed in Bangladesh since the events leading to its birth. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto used to say way back at that time that East Pakistanis must make a choice. If they wanted to preserve their Islamic identity, they should remain a part of Pakistan. But if they wanted to assert their Bengali character, then they should unite with West Bengal and India. At the root of some of the ongoing turmoil in Bangladesh is still this dilemma. Few people now remember the methodical, compartmentalized, need-to-know style in which Indira Gandhi went about dealing with the fallout of West Pakistani suppression of the aspirations of East Pakistan. Among the ministers, Jagjivan Ram, Swaran Singh and Y.B. Chavan made up the core group that advised the prime minister. She relied heavily on a group of officials to get the work done: P.N. Dhar, her trusted secretary in the Prime Minister's Office, foreign secretary T.N. Kaul, the prime minister's favourite spymaster, R.N. Kao, who had founded the Research and Analysis Wing a little over two years earlier, and P.N. Haksar, principal secretary to the prime minister. Presiding over this group was D.P. Dhar, the chairman of the Policy Planning Committee in South Block. Brought into the centre of activity by Indira Gandhi as India got increasingly involved in the crisis in East Pakistan were two young men, both 36 at that time. One was Pranab Mukherjee, then a fresh-man member of the Rajya Sabha who had come to her attention for his impatience in passionately arguing that India was not moving fast enough on Bangladesh. The other was J.N. Dixit, whom Indira Gandhi eventually picked to open the Indian embassy in Dhaka although he had merely 13 years of experience at that time. Mukherjee was a first-term member of parliament, but he was entrusted with the task of moving the landmark resolution in the Rajya Sabha for recognition of the Mujibnagar-based government-inexile. A fortnight later, by the end of June 1971, Dixit was asked to create a new South Block division to deal exclusively with developments in East Pakistan. The prime minister then sent Mukherjee to lobby the case for Bangladesh with MPs worldwide at a conference of the InterParliamentary Union. She also sent him on a similar mission to Europe, which was more responsive to human rights violations by West Pakistan than Washington. Mukherjee's long association with diplomacy, like that of the late US senator, Edward Kennedy, began with Bangladesh. His visit to Dhaka is the best guarantee that the investments India made in Bangladesh since Hasina returned to power will not be frittered away. It was for this reason that Hasina told Mukherjee in a private conversation that his decision to persist with the visit, ignoring Bangladesh's domestic turmoil, was "courageous". At a time when political correctness tends to get the better of core interests, Bangladesh represents a rare example of Indian diplomacy having the courage to support someone abroad who will stand with New Delhi instead of with ceremony and protocol. Because the Northeastern states are remote, much of India has failed to grasp the importance of Bangladesh - and of Bhutan - for India's security. If peace talks are now taking place between the Union government and United Liberation Front of Asom, it is because of what Hasina's government did to cooperate with India despite New Delhi's inability to deliver on Teesta river water sharing. But the president is by no means alone in putting his best foot forward and reaching out to Bangladesh at this juncture. In a simplistic preoccupation with a crude bomb that was set off outside Mukherjee's hotel in Dhaka and Khaleda Zia's political calculations, it has been lost in the public mind that in the last six months 38 major Indian private sector investment proposals have made headway in Bangladesh. The Tatas may have been ahead of their time when their plans for huge investments in Bangladesh fell through some time ago, but the new proposals read like a "who is who" in India's corporate world. Additionally, CEAT, the tyre manufacturer, two-wheeler producers, the Aditya Birla Group, and Bombay Rayon Fashions, a major garment exporter, are among those considering investments in Bangladesh, taking advantage of Indian government incentives for the promotion of bilateral commercial relations. If businessmen are showing confidence in Bangladesh, that is surely a sign that Dhaka' future is brighter than it has been assumed.

DEATH IN TIHAR

he death of Ram Singh the prime accused in the December 16 Delhi gang rape case has received the attention of the people of the country. Suicide or homicide, the death of the main accused inside Tihar Jail is a damning indictment of the functioning of the prison authorities. There were warning signals, early on. Ram Singh and the other accused were put on special watch, or suicide watch, after they stopped interacting with other inmates. But despite the checks and watches, Ram Singh was found dead hanging on the grille of his cell on Monday. The guard posted outside his cell, which he shared with several other inmates, did not seem to have a clue about the death. The inescapable conclusion is that there was little or no monitoring of the cell. Ram Singh's family and his lawyers have raised the possibility of murder. There had been complaints of illtreatment at the hands of other inmates. Sexual offenders are easy targets for fellow prisoners, who often gang up against them with the connivance of jail staff. Because of the social stigma involved with sex crimes, prison authorities sometimes turn a blind eye to complaints from those accused of sexual offences. A prisoner with suicidal tendencies is usually not kept in solitary confinement for fear it could result in a downward spiral of depression. But great care has to be taken in screening the fellow inmates, and in preventing access to instruments that could aid suicide. In the case of Ram Singh, who was found hanging with his own clothes, it is not immediately clear whether all possible precautions were taken. Clearly, a full-fledged inquiry into the circumstances of his death is necessary to fix responsibility on jail staff and senior officials. The life of an under trial or convict is the responsibility of the prison authorities. In the absence of ownership of such responsibility, the whole criminal justice system becomes vulnerable. As the report of the All India Committee on Jail Reforms has pointed out, prisoners have the right to human dignity, the right to integrity of the body, and immunity from repression and abuse whether by custodial staff or fellow-prisoners. Only a comprehensive inquiry can reveal whether Ram Singh was treated with dignity in the prison both by jail staff and by other inmates. As investigations are complete, the Delhi rape case does seem an open-and-shut case with the identification and arrest of the accused. Ram Singh's death, therefore, may not have implications for the conduct of the case and the trial of the other accused. However, this death should provoke changes in some of the processes and procedures in jail administration and bring amendments to the jail manuals to guarantee and ensure the rights of prisoners as human beings.

In Defence of 42.8k Crorepatis

BY ROHIT BANSAL he FM has this new tax on those who make more than Rs1 crore a year. I welcome it. Who would shed a tear for these rich blokes. But the rub lies in the scandalous amount of under declaration. Many of us knew the figure, but in spelling it out before national televison, Mr Chidambaram has let the cat out of the bag. So, here it is: just 42,800 folks in our country qualify for his new surcharge. That's a scandal.Just look around for those with houses in Cuff Parade or Malcha Marg in Delhi. Add up their opposite numbers in some 50 of our cities, not to mention the fortunate ones who win road contracts and Kaun Banega Crorepati. Do one better. Just ask for those who have Audi, Mercedes or BMW for their driveways. These toys are now parked even in Mayur Vihar or Thane. In 2012 alone sales exceeded 25,000. Surely, those who buy these cars ? and Freelanders and Rolls Royces, if you get the picture - make in the excess of a crore a year. It's just that Chidambaram's Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) hasn't cared to put them on notice. Let's not even go near those strutting around in Hugo Boss suits with the women lugging their Louis Vuitton, one for each day of the week. Yet, the CBDT stays afloat with just 2.89

The CBDT claims they?re deploying better computing via the Financial Intelligence Unit. This won?t come a day too soon. There are an estimated 1.2 million people who haven?t cared to file tax returns but who had made large payments to credit cards, purchased or sold a property worth more than Rs30 lakh, acquired mutual funds of more than Rs2 lakh, received bonds from the Reserve Bank of India of Rs 50 lakh or more, or who had made cash deposits of more than Rs 1 lakh in a savings account.
per cent of our total population even filing income tax returns.Service tax, now slapped on virtually everything, is seen as the panacea. It isn't. In fact, it taxes for the second time those who have paid their income tax. Conversely, a levy like this rewards the dodgers. The CBDT claims they?re deploying better computing via the Financial Intelligence Unit. This won?t come a day too soon. There are an estimated 1.2 million people who haven?t cared to file tax returns but who had made large payments to credit cards, purchased or sold a property worth more than Rs30 lakh, acquired mutual funds of more than Rs2 lakh, received bonds from the Reserve Bank of India of Rs 50 lakh or more, or who had made cash deposits of more than Rs 1 lakh in a savings account. Some have shares of more than Rs1 lakh or bonds or debentures of more than Rs 5 lakh and would also come under scrutiny if they hadn't filed income tax returns. We hear that 70,000 letters have already gone to a first tranche of suspected defaulters. The number should increase. Technology and monitoring must be used on a war footing to broaden the tax base. How long can we fail to catch the really rich people in our informal sector, which is basically about 80 per cent of our labour market? Data collection in the informal sector need'nt leak for ever. It can be fixed. For pure example, how about asking the architect (or doctor) her PAN number and a receipt which is tax deductible to the extent of, say, 5 per cent. It can work, if only the CBDT wants it to. Similarly, the principle of the Hindu Undivided Family. Doesn't it allow people to split their income between family members? Is this fair? Then, letting almost every businessman?s laundry bills get tax deductions as company costs, the wife's driver's salary, and hotel bills during family holidays must stop.The import is serious enough. The parallel "unregulated" economy is estimated to be Rs500,000 crore ($ 1 trillion). Finally, let's not underestimate the demoralization the new surcharge is having on CEOs who?ve returned to serve in India. Two told me privately that they want their parent company to reabsorb them. Spot Quiz: How many crorepatis can the CBDT find? My wager: 500 hundred times the number Mr Chidambaram stated on February 28. What's yours?

READERS SPACE
Venezuela under Chavez
Dear Sir Despite American propaganda, Venezuela prospered phenomenally under Hugo Chavez. The poverty rate declined to 9.5 per cent in 2008 from 42 per cent in 1998. The percentage of the population suffering from hunger fell to 33.4 per cent in 2008 from 50 per cent in 1998. In terms of the Human Development Index, Venezuela rose to 0.84 (high development) in 2008 ~ up from 0.69 (medium development) in 1998. It ranks 67th among 179 countries, way ahead of India's 134th. The literacy rate among those above the age of 15 is 99.6 per cent. Venezuela presently spends 7

per cent of its GDP on education and 4.2 per cent on healthcare. During the ten years of Chavez's rule, Venezuela has been way ahead of many other developing countries that attained independence in the Forties and Fifties of the last century. The fact that millions turned up at his funeral testifies to the enormous goodwill that he enjoyed. Yours, etc. Anil Kumar Samba

Casual approach
Dear Sir How did India forget that Italy refused to extradite busi-

nessman Ottavio Quattrocchi to face trial in India in the Bofors scam? This was long before it refused to return its two marines being tried in India for killing two fishermen while on duty aboard a merchant ship.India made the first mistake when it sent Latorre and Girone to Italy for celebrating Christmas as if their presence was very essential in the country during the festival. After they returned, the government committed another bloomer by allowing them to go a second time to cast their votes in Italy's general elections. It is clear that New Delhi handled the serious issue very casually. Yours Etc. Sanjay Chauhan Paddar,Kishtwar

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NATIONAL

Andhra budget session commences

HYDERABAD: The main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh has refused to support the no-confidence motion proposed to be moved by the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in the state assembly during the budget session. The budget session of the state assembly began here Wednesday. The TRS alleged

TDP refuses to support TRS' no-confidence motion

ment. There is match-fixing between the two," Harish Rao said. The TRS leader, however, said his party would support the no-confidence motion if it was brought by the TDP.TDP leader Gali Muddukrishnama Naidu defended the party decision not to back TRS's motion. "We will not fall in the trap of TRS or YSR Congress party. We know when to move a noconfidence motion," he said. After the TDP ignored YSR Congress's bait to move the no-confidence motion, the TRS wrested the initiative by deciding to move the motion. TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao claimed that Majlis-eIttehadul Muslimeen (MIM), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and Lok Satta have already committed their support to the noconfidence motion. Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy said he was not scared of a no-trust motion and pointed out that the one

that the TDP decision proved beyond doubt that it is hand in glove with the Congress party, which holds power in

the state. TDP legislator Harish Rao told reporters Wednesday that "this exposed the true face" of TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu. "Naidu is telling the people every day that this government has no right to continue in power even for a minute, but the fact is that he is trying to save the Congress govern-

moved by the opposition in December 2011 was defeated. In the 295-member assembly, Congress has 147 members, one less than simple majority. TDP has 85 members, TRS 18 (including an independent) and YSR Congress 17. The Congress, at the time the noconfidence motion was defeated in 2011, had 156

members, but nine of them were last month suspended by the party for switching loyalties to the YSR Congress. MIM, which had backed the government during last noconfidence motion and withdrew support a few months ago, has seven legislators. The number of seats held by other parties are CPI (4), BJP (3), CPI-M (1), and Lok Satta (1).

Delhi HC blast: Stringent charges framed against Malik

NEW DELHI: A special NIA court on Wednesday framed additional charges, including that of waging war against India, on Wasim Akram Malik, arrested for his alleged role in the September 2011 Delhi High Court blast that left 15 dead. During an in-chamber hearing, District Judge IS Mehta framed additional charges under sections 121 (waging war against country), 121A (conspiring to commit certain offences against the State), 122 (collecting arms with intention of waging war against Govt) and 123 (concealing with intent to felicitate a design to wage war) of IPC against Malik, sources said. Subsequent to framing of the charges, Malik pleaded not guilty and claimed trial after which the judge fixed the matter for April 1 for recording of evidence in the case. Recording of evidence will begin with the examination of co-accused-turnedapprover Amir Abbas Dev. Dev was arrested by National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his alleged role in the case but had later turned approver and was granted pardon by the judge. The trial court had earlier declined the plea of NIA to prosecute Malik under the stringent charge of waging war against India which entails maximum punishment of death penalty, but the high court had ruled otherwise. The Delhi High Court had on December 3 last year ordered the trial court to frame charges of waging war against the country against Malik, who is currently in jail. The trial court had on October 1 last year framed charges, including that of murder, against Malik under IPC, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Explosive Substance Act for his alleged role in the terror attack at the high court's reception area. The court had framed charges against Malik for offences punishable under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 440 (mischief committed after preparation made for causing death or hurt), 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 323 (causing hurt) and 325 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt) of the IPC. The trial court judge, however, had declined NIA's plea to prosecute Malik for the charges of waging war against India saying that merely because an e-mail referring to the release of Parliament attack case convict Afzal Guru, who was hanged on February 9, was sent by the accused after the blast, it does not mean that an offence against the state was committed. While deciding to frame charges against Malik, the trial court had referred to Dev's statement to the magistrate under Section 164 of the CrPC. The NIA had filed charge sheet against six persons, including Malik, Dev and a minor, besides three others Amir Kamal and Junaid Akram Malik who are suspected members of banned Hizb-ul Mujahideen and are evading arrest. The minor's case is being adjudicated separately. The sixth accused Shakir Hussain Sheikh alias Chota Hafiz was killed in an encounter with security forces on December 20 last year in Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir.

Coal block scam resurfaces in Lok Sabha

NEW DELHI: The coal block scam resurfaced in the Lok Sabha Wednesday, with JD(U) equating the allocations to the sale of cinema tickets and seeking their cancellation following CAG estimate of a loss of over Rs 1.86 lakh crore. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav also said that the Supreme Court's latest directive to CBI not to share information on coal block allocation probe with the political executive showed how the government had lost credibility. "The coal blocks have been allocated almost like the sale of cinema tickets. ... The apex court's directive to CBI shows that the court too has been disappointed with the government. This is not good for parliamentary democracy," Yadav said. "I can agree that mistakes can be committed by the government. But if mistakes are committed, the government must own up responsibility and take corrective measures," he said. The JD(U) leader said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was present in the House, "should accept the responsibility if in your assessment mistakes have been made. Then correct these mistakes and cancel all the coal block allocations." The Supreme Court had yesterday said the allocation of coal blocks prima facie seemed to be arbitrary and warned of cancelling these if procedures were not followed. Taking up a public interest litigation following the CAG report, the court also directed the CBI not to share information of its probe into the scam with the "political executive". After the CAG had submitted its report on the coal block allocations last year, the opposition had stalled Parliament during its Winter Session for several days.

Deadlock continues over flushing Yamuna

AGRA/MATHURA: The march to secure release of water from Hathinikund in Haryana to flush the Yamuna River appears deadlocked. The central government has categorically told activists this would not be possible. The only reconciliatory gesture the central government was willing to offer, activists said, was to allow water to be released for the Braj area of Agra from other sources. Parleys continued till midnight, but yielded no satisfactory results. "They are only fooling us. Our original demand stands. We want water released from Hathinikund. If they don't agree, we will continue our protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and later move towards Hathinikund," Radha Krishna Shastri, an aide of Ramesh Baba of Barsana who is spearheading the movement, said. Shastri, however, indicated that the group would engage in a few more rounds of talks with the central government representatives Wednesday to see if any agreement was possible. One volunteer confided, "Many marchers are now keen to return. Some facesaving formula will have to be worked out later in the day." "Late-night parleys between the government representatives and the yatra crusaders had kindled some hope, but uncertainly prevails," said eco-activist Shravan Kumar Singh. The Maan Mandir - Barsana ascetics say there is nothing new in the offer made to construct a canal to intercept the drains in Delhi, as the Supreme Court had already set a deadline in the matter. "Harish Rawat (union minister for water resources) told us some water would be released for Vrindavan from a canal. But this could have been done by UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav also. We are here to get water released from Hathinikund and we will not go back till that is granted," a key member of the core group leading the marchers said. The Haryana government has told the centre and the protestors that the 1994 agreement between the three states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan was being followed, and that the agreed quantity of water was already being released into the Yamuna.

Chopper deal: CBI files FIR, names ex-Air chief Tyagi

NEW DELHI: CBI on Wednesday filed an FIR against former IAF chief SP Tyagi and 12 others for alleged cheating and criminal conspiracy in Rs 3600 crore VVIP helicopter deal. Two new names, which were not part of the agency's preliminary enquiry, have also been included in the FIR. They include brother of former Union minister Santosh Bagrodia, Satish Bagrodia and Pratap Aggarwal, Chairman and Managing Director of IDS Infotech respectively. Tyagi is first chief of the Indian Air Force to be named in a corruption or criminal case by the CBI. CBI sources said provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act have also been slapped in the FIR filed by the agency. At least 12 teams of the agency also carried out coordinated searches at 14 locations across posh localities of Delhi, NCR and Chandigarh which cousins of Tyagi -- Julie, Docsa and Sandeep have also been named in the FIR. After carrying out its preliminary enquiry for nearly 16 days, the agency gathered evidence to register a case in connection with alleged payment of Ra 362 crore bribe to swing the 12 helicopter deal in favour of AgustaWestland, CBI sources said. They said the agency has got some documents from Italy and files from the Defence Ministry which indicate criminal conspiracy to make alterations in the requirement of helicopter specifications which suited AgustaWestland. The agency has also carried out detailed questioning of Tyagi, his cousins -- Julie, Docsa and Sandeep, Gautam Khaitan, Praveen Bakshi and Bagrodia -- last week, the sources said. All the accused have denied allegations against them.

NCW registered 872 complaints this year

NEW DELHI: The National Commission of Women (NCW) has received 872 complaints, including 540 cases of domestic violence, this year. In a written response to a question in Rajya Sabha, Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath said the NCW takes action as per the nature of complaints received by them. The NCW received 100 cases related to dowry deaths, 120 related to dowry demand and 41 related to harassment of widows, she said. The Commission had received 5,391 complaints last year.

include the residence of Tyagi, his cousins and offices of Finmeccanica, AgustaWestland, IDS Infotech and Aeromatrix among others, they said. The agency has also named four companies -Italy-based Finmeccanica, UK-based AgustaWestland and Chandigarhbased IDS Infotech and Aeromatrix in connection with the

case. The sources said suspected European middlemen Carlo Garosa, Christian Michel and Guido Haschkhe, advocate Gautam Khaitan formerly associated with Aeromatric and its CEO Praveen Bakshi, former Finmeccanica Chairman Giuseppe Orsi, former AgustaWestland CEO Bruno Spagnolini and

Hindu temples vandalized in Bangladesh, houses torched

DHAKA: Dozens of Hindu temples and hundreds of homes across Bangladesh have been razed all over Bangladesh since an Islamist leader was sentenced to death for war crimes last month a Hindu organization said on Wednesday. Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Parishad, a group which looks after Hindu temples, said 47 temples and at least 700 Hindu houses had either been torched or vandalised since the verdict against Delwar Hossain Sayedee. Sayedee, vice-president of the country's largest Islamic party Jamaat-eIslami, was sentenced to hang on February 28 for crimes including rape and murder committed during the 1971 independence conflict. The sentencing of Sayedee and other Jamaat-eIslami leaders has triggered the worst violence in impoverished Muslim-majority Bangladesh since independence, with 85 people so far killed in the unrest. Kazal Debnath, a vicepresident of Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Parishad, blamed the attacks on Hindu temples and homes on Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir. "It was the work of the Jamaat and Shibir, but we also accuse the government, the police and the local government representatives including (our) MPs for failing to protect the temples and our community," he told AFP. He said the attackers were given free rein to "torch our temples, houses and properties". Jamaat has denied any role in the attacks, blaming supporters of the ruling Awami League party for the violence. But Foreign Minister Dipu Moni told diplomats last week that Jamaat and Shibir attacked Hindu temples and houses in a "preplanned manner". Hindus, who make up nearly 10 percent of Bangladesh's 153 millionstrong population, are traditionally seen as supporters of the Awami League, which brands itself as a secular party. They were the main targets during Bangladesh's 1971 independence war against Pakistan and during post-poll violence in 2001 when a centre-right party allied with Jamaat won a two-thirds majority. Jamaate-Islami leaders have been on trial at the domestic International Crimes Tribunal, accused of colluding with Pakistan and proPakistan militias during the war for independence. But the party says the process is an attempt by the ruling party to settle scores and not about delivering justice.

Kerala budget to be presented on Friday

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The forthcoming budget session of the Kerala assembly is set to begin Friday. State Finance Minister K.M. Mani is set to present his 11th budget. Speaker G. Karthikeyan told reporters here Wednesday that the session would begin on Friday and end April 10. Karthikeyan is calling a meeting of all party leaders Thursday to put forward his request that the business of the house be conducted in a befitting manner. "The assembly need not discuss all issues that happen outside of the house. All members have their right to protest, but then it should also be in a restrained manner," said Karthikeyan. Incidentally, the first session of the assembly that concluded last month saw heated exchanges between the treasury and opposition benches, with skirmishes between the two sides occurring on an almost daily basis. For the first time in the recent history of the assembly, a few women opposition legislators went up to the speaker's podium, to register their protest. ikely to find expression in the house.

Revolution waiting to happen in rural UP: Akhilesh Yadav

LUCKNOW: There is a revolution waiting to happen in rural Uttar Pradesh but capital and technology were needed to unleash the state's unlimited potential, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said at a business summit here Wednesday. "Rural UP is the revolution waiting to happen," the chief minister said while addressing delegates at the summit 'Destination Uttar PradeshInvesting in Future', which showcases the state as a business and investment destination for US entrepreneurs. The discusYadav said capital and technology were "critical needs" to tap the unlimited potential of the state, which has registered an average growth rate of six percent and is among the top five states performing economically well in the country. He added that the state has about 11 percent purchasing power of the country and was a leader in agricultural production. Inviting US companies to invest in defence, heavy engineering and automobile sectors, Yadav assured the US industry captains of all support from the state government through "an enabling environment and partnership to create a true and exciting picture for UP". Chief Secretary Javed Usmani said investment worth US$4.2 billion were proposed in various highway projects in the state. Ajay Banga, chairman, US-India Business Council and president and CEO of MasterCard Worldwide, said "soft and hard infrastructures" were to play a crucial role in UP's economic growth, and suggested that 1-2 million jobs be created to ensure development in the state.

16 TN fishermen released by Sri Lanka return home

TUTICORIN: Sixteen Tamil Nadu fishermen, set free by a Sri Lankan court after they were arrested earlier this month on the charges of violating international maritime boundary of the island nation, arrived here Wednesday. The fishermen from Tharuvaikulam village, who put out to sea from Nagapattinam on February 27 in three mechanised boats and one country-boat, were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on March 3 off Kalpittiya in the north of Sri Lanka. The fishermen were ordered to be released by a court in Kuthalam in Sri Lanka on March 11 following which they returned here this morning along with their boats, officials said. The Tamil Nadu Government had yesterday said the fishermen had been released following efforts taken by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa who twice wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking his intervention.

Lankan Tamils issue: Students' protest continues across TN

sions at the event focused on sectors like Agri-food processing, manufacturing, infrastructure, IT, skills development and healthcare.

CHENNAI: Protests by students on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue continued across Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, with law students mainly in the fray. About 40 students of Dr Ambedkar Law University and Dr Ambedkar Government Law College here continued with their fast, demanding an independent probe against Colombo for alleged war crimes besides stressing for separate Eelam (homeland for Tamils). Meanwhile, around 100 student activists, who had gathered outside the Income Tax office at Nungambakkam here demanding action on the Lankan Tamils issue, were "secured", police said.

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INTERNATIONAL & ECONOMY

North Korea poses serious Egypt's govt challenges Sri Lankan opposition raps gov't suspending parliament polls threat: US officials inaction on U.S. resolution at UNHRC
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's main opposition leader on Wednesday called for the government to take key steps including holding elections in the country's former northern war zone before the island is labeled as a "pariah state" by the international community. Taking an impassioned stance United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe requested the government to hold a meeting before the second U.S. backed resolution on Sri Lanka is passed at the ongoing United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) insisting that "it is still not too late." The draft resolution presented last week in Geneva calls for international investigations into allegations of human rights including war crimes, which the government has vehemently fought against and denied. Questioning whether the regime led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa is more important than the country, Wickremesinghe demanded that the government take urgent steps to promote human rights and reconciliation by kick starting brokendown discussions with the main Tamil party for a political solution. He also called on the government to implement a key accountability report titled the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation (LLRC) report that the international community has backed. "So we are calling on the government to implement the LLRC report. There are two options for us, either have international investigations or implement the LLRC and hold the northern provincial council elections by June the latest. If we do that we can avoid any more adverse steps by international organizations. We are willing to work with the government but there is no response," he said. Wickremesinghe insisted that the government's continuous stonewalling on addressing reconciliation issues was pushing Sri Lanka towards being labeled as a "pariah State." "Once an investigation begins in Sri Lanka it affects all of us. We become the pariah state and we become the citizens of that pariah state." The Sri Lankan government is lobbying to have the U.S. draft resolution diluted before it goes for a vote at the end of next week. CAIRO: Egyptian State Lawsuit Authority, representing the government, submitted on Wednesday an appeal against the Administrative Court's decision to suspend parliamentary elections. The appeal was submitted against Administrative Court's ruling issued last week to suspend a decree by President Mohamed Morsi to hold the parliamentary polls on April 22 and refer 14 lawsuits against the constitutionality of elections law to the Supreme Constitutional Court. Its decision to challenge the administrative court's ruling came after a deep studying for the verdict's different sides, arguing the ruling that prevents the president from practicing his political powers the authority said. Another appeal was submitted against the administrative court ruling by former lawmaker Mohamed alOmda. Thus, Egypt's Shura Council anew for being amended due to the unconstitutionality of some articles pertaining to the quota of workers and the fair representation of electoral districts. Three days later, the Shura council endorsed the amendments submitted by the constitutional court and referred the law to Morsi for approval. Morsi then called for holding elections on April 22 over four stages. The administrative court cancelled Morsi decree, stressing that the Shura Council, the country's temporary legislative authority, didn't fully abide by the amendments required by the constitutional court, and didn't refer the new amendments to the court anew before approved by the president. WASHINGTON: An unpredictable North Korea, with its nuclear weapons and missile programmes, stands as a serious threat to the United States and East Asia nations, the director of National Intelligence warned yesterday in a sober assessment of worldwide threats. Testifying before a Senate panel, James R. Clapper delivered the US intelligence community's overview of global threats posed by terrorism, cyber attacks, weapons of mass destruction, the months-long civil war in Syria and the unsettled situation in post-Arab Spring nations. The outlook on North Korea comes as the communist regime announced that it was "completely scrapping" the 1953 armistice that ended the Korean War and has maintained peace on the peninsula for more than half-a-century. The Obama administration on Monday slapped new sanctions against North Korea's primary exchange bank and several senior government officials as it expressed concern about the country's "bellicose rhetoric". "The Intelligence community has long assessed that, in Pyongyang's view, its nuclear capabilities are intended for deterrence, international prestige and coercive diplomacy. We do not know Pyongyang's nuclear doctrine or employment concepts," Clapper told the Senate Intelligence Committee. "Although we assess with low confidence that the North would only attempt to use nuclear weapons against US forces or allies to preserve the Kim regime, we do not know what would constitute, from the North's perspective, crossing that threshold," Clapper added. North Korea, led by its young leader Kim Jong Un, has defied the international community in the last three months, testing an intercontinental ballistic missile and a third nuclear bomb. Pressed on North Korea, Clapper said he was "very concerned about the actions of the new young leader".

Tunisian parliament approves new cabinet formation

TUNIS: The Tunisian National Constituent Assembly (parliament) approved on Wednesday the formation of a new cabinet under Prime Minister-designate Ali Larayedh, officials said. The national assembly passed vote of confidence in Larayedh's government on Wednesday session. As many as 139 lawmakers, 30 more than needed, supported the line-up of the new cabinet, while 45 rejected to approve the cabinet and 13 other lawmakers abstained from casting their ballots. The vote of confidence was set to be passed on Tuesday, but was postponed till Wednesday.

Police in NY search for suspect after 4 shot dead

Administrative Court decided Wednesday to consider all appeals, including the government appeal, to challenge a previous ruling suspending the parliamentary elections on Sunday. On Feb. 18, the Constitutional Court rejected the controversial parliamentary elections law submitted by the Shura Council (upper house of the parliament). Then, the court referred the proposed law to the

Pakistan PM assures on time elections in last cabinet meeting

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Wednesday assured on time and transparent parliamentary elections in his address to the last meeting of the cabinet. The government will complete its fiveyear constitutional term on March 16 and ministers say that the assemblies will be dissolved on the same day. A caretaker government will be installed to hold elections within two months under the constitution. The Prime Minister said the government has taken the opposition into confidence regarding the appointment of caretaker prime minister. Besides internal issues, he also referred to the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, and said his government had pursued several options to resolve the energy crisis. He said the Iran gas line will not only boost the economies of both countries but also bring prosperity to the entire region. "You are aware that our government inherited many problems, one of the conspicuous among them was the energy crisis. We have been working on multiple fronts to achieve energy security for the country. The government has, therefore, formally kicked off the long awaited 7.5 billion U.S. dollars Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline Project aimed at addressing the energy crisis in Pakistan," the Prime Minister said.

PKK frees Turkish hostages in peace bid

ANTAKYA : Kurdish rebels in Turkey have released eight hostages after their jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan called for a prisoner exchange. The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) freed the eight soldiers and civil servants on Wednesday as part of a peace process with the Turkish government that it hopes will lead to a ceasefire by August. The hostages were freed in Iraq and they were back in Turkey on Wednesday afternoon. According to reports, Ocalan began secret talks with Turkey to end the 29year conflict in October. The hostages met their families in Zakho, northern Iraq, and then entered Turkey from the border at Habur. Turkey has yet to announce what it has offered in return, but there has been speculation that it will make some changes to the Turkish constitution. These include recognition of the existence of the ethnic Kurds, which is one of the main demands by Kurds in Turkey.

HERKIMER: Police in upstate New York are searching for a suspect after shootings at two different businesses left four people dead and at least two wounded. State police tell local media outlets two unidentified people were shot and killed on Wednesday morning at a car wash in the village of Herkimer and two others were killed in a barber shop in the village of Mohawk, east of Syracuse. They say a total of six people were shot. Herkimer Village police would only say that there was a shooting and a manhunt. Herkimer County Community College and local schools are on lockdown.

ECONOMY

World Bank to give India $3-5 billion assistance annually

NEW DELHI: The World Bank will provide $3-5 billion annual assistance to India over the next four years to help eradicate poverty and improve healthcare mainly in the low-income states, World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim said on Wednesday. Kim said the World Bank would deepen its engagement with India and help Asia's third largest economy meet its development needs by providing financial and technical assistance. "We have an historic opportunity to accelerate the reduction of poverty in India. The World Bank Group is committed to supporting the Indian people as they pursue this crucial goal," Kim said. He said the World Bank would work toward "continuing its level of annual assistance of $3 to $5 billion to India over the next four years." Chidambaram. The support between 2009 and 2013 includes $12 billion from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD); $8.3 billion from the International Development Association (IDA); and a further $5.2 billion in investments from the International Finance Corporation (IFC). As of January 2013, total IBRD and IDA net commitments stood at $23 billion (IBRD $13 billion and IDA $9.9 billion) across 77 projects Kim said the focus of the future engagement of the World Bank Group in India would be improving the living standards of the people in low-income states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. "Achieving the World Bank Group's mission of ending global poverty will require us to step up our support for India's poorest citizens," he said.

CCI will hopefully clear few oil projects in 2 weeks: Montek

NEW DELHI: Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia on We d n e s d a y expressed the hope that the Cabinet Committee on Investment will clear some oil exploration projects in the next two weeks. "I believe there is a lot of progress being made and I am hopeful that may be in another two weeks or so, we will know how many of those will be cleared. I am certainly expecting very substantial success to that area," he said on the sidelines of a countdown session on G-20 Summit organized by industry body CII.. Ahluwalia was replying to a question on the status of clearance for oil exploration projects for CCI. The G-20 Summit is slated to take place in September 2013 in Saint Petersburg in ministries of defense and oil to sort out issues like exploration area overlapping with proposed Naval base or being close to missile launching and Air Force exercise area. Earlier this week, the Defence Ministry cleared Reliance Industries' producing KG-D6 block and gas discovery area NEC-26 along with most of the areas where it had either barred any oil and gas activity or put stringent conditions. On the progress of B K Chaturvedi Committee which was formed to reduce the number of centrally sponsored schemes with a view to streamline public expenditure and improve efficiency, Ahluwalia said the final decision will be taken by the end of this fiscal. "The Cabinet note has been circulated. So, I hope we will have a decision on that certainly before the end of this fiscal year, during the month of March," he added.

Honda to hike car prices by up to 2% from Apr

The bank will complement its enhanced financial lending with technical assistance and knowledge services to help India improve the implementation of its development programmes, he said. During his three-day official visit, Kim met India's top policy makers, including Prime Minister Manmohan Sigh and Finance Minister P.

India is among the largest receiver of the World Bank's assistance. Between 2009 and 2013, the World Bank Group lent around $26 billion to India, according to the World Bank. In the financial year 2009-10, the World Bank Group's assistance to India increased to $11 billion in the aftermath of the global financial crisis.

Russia. The newly set up Cabinet Committee on Investment (CCI) has been formed with the objective of fast clearance and approval of critically important major infrastructure projects. Ahluwalia said: "I am aware that it is taking a little more time. But please remember that the Cabinet Committee on Investment has reviewed, I think 35 or something like that oil exploration projects." CCI had asked the

Gold rises by Rs 125 to regain Rs 30,000

NEW DELHI: Gold on Wednesday gained Rs 125 to Rs 30,000 per 10 grams on increased buying by stockiest driven by a firming global trend. Silver also moved up by Rs 100 to Rs 55,100 per kg on increased off take by industrial units and coin makers. Traders said increased buying by stockiest in tadem with a firming global trend mainly led an upward journey in gold for the third day. Gold prices in New York, which normally sets the price trend on the domestic front, rose by USD 10.90 to USD 1,592.70 an ounce and silver by 0.55 percent to USD 29.15 an ounce. On the domestic front, gold of 99.9 and 99.5 percent purity rose further by Rs 125 each to Rs 30,000 and Rs 29,800 per 10 grams, respectively. The yellow metal had gained Rs 55 in last two sessions. Sovereigns continued to be asked around previous level of Rs 25,250 per piece of eight grams. In line with a general firm trend, silver ready went up by Rs 100 to Rs 55,100 per kg and weekly-based delivery by Rs 155 to Rs 54,850 per kg, respectively. Silver coins also spurred by Rs 1,000 to Rs 81,000 for buying and Rs 82,000 for selling of 100 pieces on upsurge in demand.

Private airlines owe Rs 526 crore to AAI

NEW DELHI: Private airlines, including those who have closed down, have a due of Rs 526 crore towards the state-owned Airports Authority of India (AAI) till December last year. "The total traffic and non-traffic dues of private airlines as on December 31, 2012 amounts to Rs 526.75 crores to the AAI," K C Venugopal, Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation said. Of these, Vijay Mallya-owned Kingfisher Airlines has a due of Rs 295.50 crore, Jet Airways has Rs 82.17 crore while its subsidiary JetLite has Rs 27.62 crores. Kalanithi Maran-owned SpiceJet owes Rs 58.77 crore, InterGlobe Aviation Ltd (IndiGo) owes Rs 9.26 crore and GoAir has a due of Rs 8.55 crore to the AAI, he said. Among the airlines, which have shut down, East West Airways owes Rs 14.15 crore, Paramount Rs 4.80 crore, Mesco Airlines Rs 2.49 crore, Skyline NEPC Damania Airlines Rs 1.35 crore, NEPC Airlines Rs 3.04 crore while others owe Rs 19.05 crore to the AAI. The Minister said dues from privately-owned airlines are monitored on regular basis and in case of delay, the AAI issues notices to the airlines to settle the dues. The AAI also charges penal interest on the delay in the settlement of these bills. In cases where delay persists, besides enchasing the security amount the defaulting airlines are put on cash and carry basis, he added.

Government says 73,388 tax payers defaulted in 2012-13

NEW DELHI: The government Wednesday said 73,388 taxpayers have defaulted on payments aggregating to Rs.3, 859 crore in the current financial year and steps would be taken to penalize them. Taxpayers have defaulted on payments after filing self-assessment returns. "Filing a return without paying the admitted amount of tax that is payable will render such taxpayer an assessed in default under the provisions of the Income Tax Act. Such taxpayers who default in payment of self-assessment tax may invite penal consequences," the finance ministry said in a statement. The Income Tax Act requires that the tax payable on the returned income, after taking into account prepaid taxes, should be paid before furnishing the return. An analysis of returns filed electronically in the current financial year (201213) reveals that nearly 73,388 taxpayers have defaulted on such payments aggregating to Rs.3, 859 crore, the statement said.

NEW DELHI: Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) will increase prices of its vehicles across models by up to 2 per cent from April to offset cost of OBD (on-board diagnostics) compliance and freight increase. "We we are increasing car prices from April 1, 2013 by an amount of up to 2 per cent. The details are still being worked out," a company official said. The increase in prices will be primarily on account of OBD compliance effective from April 1, 2013 and freight increase, the official added. At present the company sells hatchbacks Brio and Jazz, Sedans City, Civic, Accord and sports utility vehicle CR-V with price ranging from Rs 4.1 lakh to Rs 27.38 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) across the models. The price hike comes at a time when the company witnessing a decline sales in a tough market. HCIL had reported 26.49 per cent decrease in its domestic sales for February 2013 at 6,510 units as against 8,856 units in the same month last year. HCIL is slated to introduce its much-awaited entry-level sedan Amaze in April, which will be the company's first diesel offering in India.

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8 `defy' Council directions

of activities) are required for timely sanction of funds for the next financial year. "These Associations approach Council at the eleventh hour to seek funding, instead of submitting the proposals in advance," he further said. Leaving aside the ordinary persons, even the Joint Secretary of the State Sports Council, Siddhartha Sharma, who is president of the J&K Billiards and Snooker Association, has `disobeyed' the directive. Furthermore, four of the six members of the highest decision making Standing Committee of the Council too failed to get the calendar of activities, of their respective associations, submitted in given time. These members are Siddharth Sharma (Billiards and Snooker),

Chance for India to create history at Mohali against Australia

MOHALI: In the driver's seat after two convincing wins, the stage is perfect for India to record their biggestever series win over a depleted Australia, who have been rocked by off-field controversies and dissensions, ahead of the third cricket Test starting on Friday. If the humiliating losses in Chennai and Hyderabad were not enough, the once mighty Australians were dealt a body blow with the expulsion of four key players, including Vice-captain Shane Watson, for breach of discipline, ahead of their must-win game at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium. While India had been whitewashed on quite a few occasions by the Kangaroos, the hosts' best efforts so far

West Zone win Deodhar Trophy Joint Secretary, members

JAMMU: Notwithstanding the ordinary Sports Association `owners', the high profile individuals, including the Joint Secretary, have `disobeyed' the State Sports Council directive with regard to submission of annual calendar of activities. Issued well in advance to all the 52 affiliated sports associations, the letter seeking domestic calendar of activities for 2013-2014 has not been taken seriously. "The letter issued by the concerned office had asked the Associations to submit their proposed calendar (domestic) of activities latest by February 28. But, unfortunately, only 15 such proposals have been received till date," an official of the Sports Council said. Such proposals (calendar Sheikh Fazal Ahmed (Gymnastics), Prof BA Shah (Football) and Ramesh Mahajan (J&K Olympic Association). Moreover, Associations run by senior members of the present Sports Council too have not responded to the circular. These included Table Tennis (Ajay Sharma), Wrestling (Dushyant Sharma), Handball (SM Bali) and Indian Style Wrestling (Shiv Kumar). However, 15 affiliated associations have submitted their calendar of activities in the stipulated time. These included Athletics, Judo, Boxing, Volleyball, Fencing, Cycling, Korfball, Chess, Weightlifting, Tennis Ball Cricket, Thang Tha, Baseball, Hockey, Mountaineering, Kabaddi and Yoga.

had been the 2-0 wins in 1979-80 (out of six Tests under Kim Hughes), 200809 (four matches) and 201011 (two games - both under Ricky Ponting's captaincy). This time around, if they are able to make it 3-0 in Mohali, it will be a welcome first for Indian cricket, against Australia, who had thrashed them 4-0 the last

time they met at the Aussies' den. India has never won more than two Tests in a series against Australia. In the ongoing rubber, the visitors had been easily beaten by eight wickets in the opening Test in Chennai, before being inflicted an innings and a 135-run defeat in the second game in Hyderabad.

India to face NZ in another must-win match

IPOH: India face New Zealand in another do-or-die match of Azlan Shah Cup, India cannot afford to relax as they face another mustwin situation against defending champions New Zealand on Thursday to stay alive in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament in Ipoh, Malaysia. The Indians would also hope for the lady luck to smile on them as their stay in the competition also depends upon the results of other round-robin group matches. Not only for the Indians, tomorrow's duel is also a must-win one for the Black Sticks. With three points from as many games, India are presently lying in the fourth position in the team standings behind top-placed Australia (7 points), hosts Malaysia (7) and New Zealand (3). Malaysia's 1-1 draw against six-time champions Australia last night has made life difficult for other four competing teams. The first drawn game between the two unbeaten teams of the tournament has meant that other aspirants will have to wait with bated breath and hope that Australia and Malaysia does not end up on the winning side in their respective next matches against Korea and Pakistan tomorrow. A win for Australia and Malaysia will take them to 10 points, beyond the reach of India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Korea, who all have one win under their belt, and victories in their next two games will not be enough as they can at best reach nine points.

GUWAHATI: A professional batting performance by West Zone helped them clinch the Deodhar Trophy as they cruised to a comfortable fivewicket victory over North Zone in the final on Wednesday. Put into bat, North Zone made a commendable 289 for eight in 50 overs courtesy Unmukt Chand`s scratchy 88 and Yuvraj Singh`s useful 67. In reply, Ambati Rayudu anchored the chase with a well-made unbeaten 78. It was skipper Parthiv Patel, who started the chase in right earnest hitting 52-ball-58 while Kedar Jadhav with a punishing knock of 57 off only 43 deliveries also played his part to perfection.

North captain Gautam Gambhir`s ploy of opening the bowling with young off-spinner Parveez Rasool worked partially as he got rid of Vijay Zol who was adjudged legbefore trying to play the sweep shot. However Parthiv and his stalemate Juneja added 84 runs for the second wicket in 14 overs. While Parthiv found the gaps with ease hitting Rasool for three boundaries in an over, Juneja also looked solid as he punished the loose balls. Parthiv hit eight fours and a six off a full-toss bowled by Yuvraj. Juneja also got into the act as he hit five fours -three off Manpreet Gony and two off Rasool as the North bowlers leaked a lot of runs.

Armed Police invite entries for badminton tourney

JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police, Jammu has invited entries from interested shuttlers in different age groups of boys and girls for the proposed badminton tournament in the Winter Capital. The registration of players shall start tomorrow at Armed Range office, here for four different age categories of Sub-Junior (U-15), Junior (U-17), Open and Veterans (above 55 years). "The event is being organized under Civic Action Programme to help promote the game of badminton among youth of the state," Deputy Inspector General of Police, Armed Range Jammu, and Johnny William said. Since the DIG himself was a shuttler of repute and remained state champion for many years, he took the initiative to provide the budding players a platform to excel. For further queries, interested participants can contact Liason Officer (94191-98966), Sports Officer, J&K Police APHQ Jammu (94192-38828) and Armed Range office Jammu (0191-2430147).

Shuttler Prannoy in Round 3 of Swiss Open

BASEL: Indian shuttler H.S. Prannoy caused an upset by defeating seventh seed Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand to advance to the third round of the men's singles of the $125,000Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold here

CWC 2015 Ralph Waters new chairman of ICC World Cup

MELBOURNE: Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket, the joint hosts of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2 0 1 5 , appointed R a l p h Waters as the new chairman of the Local Organizing Committee for the tournament. Waters, who was previously deputy chairman, was appointed following the demise of the inaugural chairman, James Strong AO, last week. For the past decade, Waters has been one of New Zealand's most prominent businessmen and is well placed to lead the Board of this major Trans-Tasman venture. He is the Chairman of Fletcher Building Limited and Woolworths Limited, and Director of Fonterra CoOperative Limited and Asciano Limited. Waters paid tribute to the leadership of Strong, saying: "Like myself, James had lived and worked in Australia and New Zealand and was determined to put on a truly world class tournament in 2015. "I share his vision and will work closely with the ICC, Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket to deliver a successful tournament for cricket fans around the world," he said in a statement.

Wednesday. Prannoy, ranked 97 in the world, overcame the World No.11 in 55 minutes at St. Jakobshalle. The Kerala shuttler won 18-21, 21-13, 21-12 in their first ever meeting. "The win was okay. Actually he got tired trying too hard for points. I made it difficult for him which made him frustrated. That made it easy for me," Prannoy said. In the first round, Prannoy beat Austrian Michael Lahnsteiner 18-21, 21-9, 2112 to advance to the second round.

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