EARLY TIMES REPORT Jammu, Sept 7: The army has noticed "hell of a lot of attempts" by terrorists to infiltrate into Indian territory along the international border in Jammu and Kashmir this year. But, "we have a tight noose all over. The army has taken on them. Our intelligence is good and we come to know about infiltration attempts," the army's northern command chief, Lieutenant General BS Jaswal, said. "There have been hell of a lot of attempts to infiltrate along the border. They (terrorists) are trying hard to infiltrate," he said. According to the army, a total of 40 people have infiltrated across the border this year. "We have official figures of the infiltration. As of now we have a figure of approximately 40 people. Last year by this time 93 had infiltrated," he said. On the efforts being made by the force to combat infiltration, he said, "We have been able to fight. We hav

EARLY TIMES REPORT JAMMU, Sep 7: Minister for Higher Education, Mr. Abdul Gani Malik, has said that coalition Government is contemplating to start free causal classes in colleges in odd hours to facilitate the students. This was stated by the Minister at a function organized by Government Degree College, Paloura, here this morning. Malik said that Government has also a plan to feed the study material of various subjects of Higher Education in the Website www.jkhighereducation.in for the convenience of students. He said that Government is committed to provide quality higher education to the students of far-off areas at par with urban pockets of the state by opening new Degree colleges at their doorsteps. Later, the Principal of the College, Dr. (Prof.) Hemla Aggarwal presented a cheque worth Rs 11,470/- to Minister as financial assistance for Leh Cloudburst victims. Malik aske

EARLY TIMES REPORT KATRA, Sept 07: A cattle smuggler was arrested by police at Malik Kote in Chasana area of Mahore, Reasi, Monday night. Police sources said Shabir Ahmad, son of Akbar of Bagarkote, Mahore, was taking three oxen and one buffalo on foot to Srinagar when a police party of Chasana police post caught hold of him. He was arrested and booked under relevant sections of law, the sources added, saying the cattle were also seized and restored to their owners.

EARLY TIMES REPORT JAMMU, Sept 07: Six gamblers were today arrested by police from Teli Basti in Sambaalong with a cash of Rs 42,000. They were identified as Rampal, son of Om Prakash of Kaluchak, Bhuri Ram, son of Shiv Ram of Bassi Kalan, Khurshid Ahmad of Gujjar Nagar, Rashid Hussain, son of Fazal Din, Des Raj, son of Sain Dass and Mohammad Din, son of Abdul Aziz, all residents of Teli Basti. SSP, Samba, J L Sharma said they were arrested by a police team led by DSP Naresh Singh and the SHO concerned. An amount of Rs 42,000 and three sets of cards were recovered from their possession, he added. The accused had been booked under relevant sections of law.

Early Times Report JAMMU, Sept 7: Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC) has urged central government not to succumb to the propaganda and violence unleashed by separatists and pseudo-secularists of Kashmir valley. Talking to activists and supporters in NCR of New Delhi, National President Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC) Kundan Kashmiri said that Kashmir belongs to all Kashmiri’s including Kashmiri Pandits who are original inhabitants of Kashmir valley. Kundan said that Kashmiri Pandit Community rejects autonomy, self-rule as well as merger of Kashmir with Pakistan and terms accession of Kashmir with India final. Kundan Kashmir stated that National forces particularly Kashmiri Pandits will not hesitate to give any sacrifice and would resist any move to grant of autonomy or self-rule to Kashmir. Kundan stated that present crisis in the valley is a part of proxy war and Pakistan continues t

Early Times Report JAMMU, Sept 6: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has questioned Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for making irresponsible statement that there is an annual loss of rupees 1500 crores in power sector due to which his government fails to deliver good results in the field of employment and development”. This was stated by state spokesperson of BJP Ramesh Arora while addressing a press conference here today after inaugurating Power Grid Station at Kot Bhalwal. Arora said that revenue collection is bad in Srinagar, while consumption is more in Kashmir valley. In Jammu region, even metered houses are not getting required supply and industry is suffering due to inadequate supply of electricity, added Arora. Arora said that government should rectify the policies instead of making such statements in order to divert the attention of public from real issues. He further objected and co

Early Times Report JAMMU, Sept 6: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and MLA (Jammu-East) Ashok Khajuria alongwith SSP Basant Kumar Rath today presided over a function organized in the premises of Pacca Danga Police Station for the installation of a water cooler there. Khajuria from his Constituency Development Fund (CDF) had donated funds to the tune of Rs. 75, 000. Ashok Khajuria, on this occasion, said that the government institutions like hospitals, schools, police stations etc, which are visited by hundreds of people every day, should have adequate basic amenities for the convenience of the visitors and the staff posted there. He said that government allots funds for providing these facilities but still it becomes imperative on part of the elected representatives to donate some amount from their CDFs to provide essential services. MLA expressed hope that Pucca Danga Police Stat

Early Times Report JAMMU, Sept 6: Samajwadi Party (SP) has expressed serious concern over the failure of state government in containing epidemic of water born diseases in the entire region of Chenab Valley as fresh cases are pouring in the Hospitals regularly In a handout issued here today, it has been stated that core committee of Samajwadi Party held a meeting under the leadership of its President Sheikh Abdul Rehman at party headquarters. The meeting noted with concern that not only in rural areas; even in the towns, water is being supplied without proper filtration. It added that in the entire region, more than 120 posts of Doctors are lying vacant. Rehman said that situation would have been more alarming, had not the local Army come to rescue of hapless people. It further said that contaminated water is supplied to the entire population. Meeting further strongly condemned the ac

Early Times Report JAMMU, Sept 6: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused both the centre and the state government of adopting a non-serious approach towards the aggravating Kashmir situation In a handout issued here today, BJP state spokesperson Dr. Nirmal Kamal asserted that governments at both the centre and state are not serious about addressing the prevailing situation in Kashmir valley and its possible repercussions in other peaceful areas, particularly in Jammu. Kamal opined that Prime Minister's statement speaks in volumes about apathy of the government towards the state which has been in doldrums since the last three months. She said that Chief Minister is befooling public by giving irrelevant suggestions like extending political package, autonomy and employment to anti-social elements. Dr. Nirmal Kamal further said that people like Swami Agnivesh should not give biased opi

Early Times Report JAMMU, Sept 7: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has decided to apprise masses about misdeeds of ruling National Conference (NC)-Congress coalition government. The decision to launch a campaign against Omar Abdullah government was taken in a meeting of the party workers of Jammu district, which was held under the leadership of R K Bali, district president of Jammu urban. Speakers in the meeting observed that Omar Abdullah led government has failed on fronts. They said that while the crime graph has been increasing in Jammu region, killings of innocent people have been going unabated in Kashmir Valley. Meeting observed that instead of taking some effective steps to restore normalcy in the state, the government seems to be more concerned about issuing press statement. Speakers further said that the only noticeable achievement of this government is legalization of cor

Early Times Report SRINAGAR, Sept 6: Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) Chairman Bhim Singh today hosted an iftaar party, which was attended by people from all walks of life. The party was held at Panthers Party Headquarters at Raj Bagh in Srinagar. It is important to mention here that this was only the Iftaar hosted during the holy month of Ramadan in Kashmir. Several prominent and noted members of Kashmiri Muslim fraternity participated despite dusk to dawn curfew imposed by the state government. More than 250 persons hailing from different disciplines and walks of life attended the Iftaar. These included Abdul Rehman Takkru, Syed Mohd. Rafiq Shah, Farooq Ahmed Dar, Masood Andrabi, Manzoor Naik, H.S. Jamwal, Abdul Rashid Ganai, Manzoor Ahmed, Ghulam Mohammed Bhatt, Ali Mohd. Dar, Mushtaq Ahmed Malik, Maqbool Malik and Javed Ahmed (Makkiwala).

EARLY TIMES REPORT Jammu, Sept 7: Excise sleuths seized 10 kg bhuki and arrested two persons in this connection during naka checking at Excise Department Toll Post Lakhanpur. Excise sleuths consisted of Inspector Adarsh Sharma under the supervision of Excise and Taxation Officers –Gurmohan Singh, SP Chib, GL Sharma and Deputy Excise Commissioner BA Saraf during naka checking intercepted a truck bearing registration number PB32A/4413 and during its checking recovered the consignment which was kept in one of the boxes of apple. Two persons namely driver Kuldeep Singh son of Sardari Lal resident of Hoshiarpur and conductor Sandeep Singh son of Amrik Singh resident of Gurdaspur were arrested on spot. The truck, laden with apple boxes, was on way to Punjab from Srinagar, when seized. The accused along with contraband was later handed over to the Inspector Excise Range, Kathua for further p

EARLY TIMES REPORT JAMMU, Sept 7: One Sadhu was killed in road mishap at RS pura on Tuesday. Accordting to reports, one unidentified motorcyclist, who was on his motorcycle bearing registration number JK02A-2589, hit a Sadhu at RS Pura on Tuesday afternoon. The passerby shifted the Sadhu to Government Medical College Hospital Jammu where he declared brought dead. Police said that the owner of the motor bike was left the bike on the spot, which was later seized by the police. An FIR under section 279/337 was registered in Police Station RS Pura.

Early Times Report Rajouri, Sept 7: In a good will gesture to strengthen Hindu-Muslim communal brotherhood, Doodhadhari Mandir committee today arranged Iftar Party for the Muslims of the Rajouri city in the premises of the Mandir where an arrangement of Namaz was also made. The Mandir Committee is following the tradition since long and the event is being organized for a single mission of maintaining brotherhood and peace in the area. As per reports, Doodhadhari Mandir Committee Rajouri headed by Thakur Kamal Singh arranged an Iftar Party today for Muslims of the city as a goodwill gesture to show their respect for holy month Ramzan which likely to end within a couple of days. Vice President of the Mandir Committee Kewal Koul said that it is the tradition of the Mandir every year that Hindus arrange Iftar party for Muslims which too in Mandir. “We organize this programme to show our r

Early Times Report Rajouri, Sept 7: Following preliminary investigation by Poonch police, a former Centre Reserve Police Force constable and his two sons have been sent to Junior Interrogation Centre Jammu for sustained interrogation regarding their alleged links with the militants. All the three were arrested on Sunday following an operation between militants and security forces in Bhatti Dhar area. Sources said that police has sent Abdul Khalid a former CRPF constable and his two sons namely Saddam Hussain and Zubair Ahmed to JIC Jammu for sustained interrogation following inputs of their involvement in abetting militants in the area. Police sources said that during the encounter at Thera Bharti Dhar on September 5 in which Divisional Commander of Jaish-i-Mohammad outfit was killed, Zubair Ahmed gave up the fight and came out of the house with AK-47 rifle. They said that he was cap

EARLY TIMES REPORT Jammu, Sep 7: Leaders of various organisations of displaced people from Kashmir have expressed deep concern and dismay over the continued raw deal being given to the internally displaced people during the last over 21 years. These leaders belong to the two factions of the Panun Kashmir,All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference said that "in all walks of life we are being given a step motherly treatment. The KP leaders referred to the constitution of the Board of Directors of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank and said that not a single Kashmiri Pandit was on the Board of Directors. One of the leaders said that since the Bank was opened in the state between one to two prominent Kashmiri Pandits used to be on the Board of Directors. The Pandit leaders said that after the migration of over 3.50 lakh Hindus from the Kashmir valley in 1990 most of them had opened their accounts in th

EARLY TIMES REPORT Jammu, Sep 7: Unauthorized agents roaming freely in Jammu, Katra and other tourist places are risking lives of taxi operators to earn livelihood illegally. Glaring example to which stands Cold blooded murder of a taxi driver namely Gurpreet Singh by some identified culprits stands a glaring instance to substantiate this. Speculations about involvement of gangsters proved to be well founded after one more dead body was found by police in Katra, with similar method of assassination executed upon later. “Unauthorized agents blackmail customers as well as taxi operators in such a manner that neither customers enquire about necessary formalities mandatory upon them nor drivers ask about credentials of passengers. This happens so because the deal takes place on road side and in illegal way” Vice President Taxi Operators Association, Jai Singh said. He added that alrea

EARLY TIMES REPORT Jammu, Sept 7: Veteran BJP leader Prof Chaman Lal Gupta today said the free flow of Indian Constitution by shunning communal and regional consideration and grant of democratic rights at the gross root level could be the only honest and sincere solution to the Kashmir imbroglio. Prof. Gupta, who is leader of BJP Legislators Party said this while commenting upon the recent statement of the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah that status quo is not only the option available to sort out the issues in Kashmir but other measures can also be considered. He observed that the problems have cropped up but for narrow communal and other parochial considerations in wake of the painful communal partition of the country in 1947. Making his point, BJP leader said the grant of separate status under Article 370 has come to be the root cause of secessionism. This was the outcome of

EARLY TIMES REPORT KATHUA, Sept 7: Severe electricity cuts has put the lives of residents of Shivanagar of Kathua in trouble and difficulties in heavily humid and warm season. The residents of the Shivanagar alleged that the power department is not resorting to effective and proper supply of the electricity and is causing harassment to the people in scorching heat and humid rainy season due to which they cannot get even get a blink of sleep for whole day and night. They said that the power department is deliberately making frequent cuts and providing the electricity only for two or three hours every day with low voltage while the entire Shivanagar is the largest ward and consumers of electricity of all the 17 wards of the Kathua and also highest revenue source for the power department. But the power department is still negligent and insensitive to this crucial problem of the peopl

Early Times Report JAMMU, Sept 6: National Sikh Front (NSF) has sought division of Jammu and Kashmir into four regional councils for the return of permanent peace across the state. Chairman of the front and senior leader of BJP Varinder Jeet Singh has written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking division of Jammu and Kashmir into four regional councils. He has sought creation of separate councils for Jammu and Leh alongside creation of two councils for Kashmir region.

Early Times Report JAMMU, Sep 6: As a mark of protest, programme staff along with administrative staff of All India Radio (Kashmir) began two day mass casual leave and sit in “Dharna” in support of their demand for removal of the Station Director Bashir Aarif. In a handout issued here today, it has been stated that staff is waiting for the outcome of inquiry report submitted by Deputy Director General (DDG) who had been deputed by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Prasar Bharati to investigate administrative lapses and financial misadventures of the Director. Unit Secretary of PSA Shamshad Kralwari termed the agitation as democratic means for getting justice and believed that Prasar Bharati knows the ground realities and will deliver just decision. President AAA Ashfaq Lone said that the agitation would continue till their demands are met. He further stressed that they are not ag

EARLY TIMES REPORT JAMMU, Sep 7: If the ongoing turmoil in Kashmir valley was not enough the recent murder of a taxi driver by some unidentified group of persons, who had boarded the taxi in the garb of tourists at Katra, has added to miseries of hundreds of taxi operators. The gruesome murder of 23 year old Gurmeet Singh has left majority of drivers in a state of shock. "We are worried about our own security as well", large number of drivers whom we met at the Railway station taxi stand said while sharing their own nightmares. Demanding action against the agents who operate in Katra and in Jammu the President of the Taxi Operators Union Devinder Choudhary said that our drivers have very little options as agents of hotels and other rest rooms in Katra handover their own customers to the taxi drivers without verifying their credentials. The drivers said after the murder of Gurmeet

Early Times Report Jammu, Sep 7: Hundreds of trade union workers under banner of CITU (Centre of India Trade Union )J&K staged a protest rally in Jammu against unprecedented price rise, rampant violation of labour laws, and disinvestment of profit making public sector. Holding placards the protesters led by MLA and state secretary J&K CPI, the rally started from Press Club, Jammu, marching towards Indira Chowk where M Y Tarigami addressed the gathering while holding Govt against unprecedented price rise, rampant violation of labour laws, contractorization of workforce, disinvestment of profit making public sector and for provision of universal social security for unorganized sector workers as a part of national programme of above mentioned central trade unions. The demonstrators were raising slogans against the repressive economic policies implemented by the state and central gover

Early Times Report Jammu, Sep 7: Jammu State Morcha members has complimented the reconstitution of Jammu Muslim Coordination Committee (JMCC) & electing of A.G.Kohli as its president and Anwar Choudhary as its Secretary. The JMCC has thus shown that the Muslims of Jammu province have rejected the statements & thoughts of its erstwhile president Zahur-ud-Din & stood united to preserve the secular character of Jammu province State Morcha appreciated the move that will prevent whole heartily each & everyone who will try to vitiate this integrity & try to polarize atmosphere of the state and Jammu province in particular. “By this reconstitution the JMCC members have also rejected the call of referendum that its ousted president gave along-with throwing out the deep conspiracy to divide Jammu province on communal lines and to encourage the separatist and anti- India tendencies in the p

Early Times Report Srinagar, Sep 7: To rejuvenate confidence among employees of the bank at all levels after the change in leadership, the chairman of the Apex Management Committees of the J&K Bank, Sudhanshu Pandey visited various zonal offices of the bank across the country. During his visits, he conducted interactive sessions with the zonal heads and their teams at operational levels. While addressing the employees of the bank, Pandey emphasized that the human resource base that the bank is having today represents the real strength upon which the foundation of this great Institution of the state squarely and solidly rests. “The success story of the Bank sums up the tales of the personal success and development of the employees,” he said. “The bank is in a phase of leadership transition, which calls for reiteration and reassurance to all stakeholders of the Bank, that continuit

Early Times Report Jammu, Sep 7: The Tiger Division on the orbat of Western Command, Major General TPS Waraich, Vishist Seva Medal took over the Command of Tiger Division on 01 May 2010. A special Sainik Sammelan was held on 30 Jul 2010. All officers, JCOs and other ranks of the Division were present. The Division Championship Banners for the Training Year 2009-10 (Infantry and Other than Infantry Units) were presented during the Sainik Sammelan by the General Officer Commanding. The General Officer Commanding Banner was awarded to 9 ASSAM for the best in Infantry Battalions and 194 Medium Regiment was awarded best in other than Infantry Battalions category for their outstanding performance in all professional and sports competitions in training year 2009-10. The Sainik Sammelan was concluded with an interaction by the GOC with the troops.

Early Times Report Udhampur, Sep 7: Operations Division is vigorously conducting various activities as part of Operation Sadbhavana which has immensely helped in ameliorating the problems of the local populace. Though most of the activities are focused on community development, sometimes on extreme humanitarian grounds and on explicit recommendations of the local village committee, assistance is provided to particular families which are in dire conditions. One such event was the unconditional help rendered to Rahima of village Hanuthang (Batalik), wife of late Ghulam Abbas, who was serving in Jammu and Kashmir Police and was killed in terrorist action in Srinagar in Dec 1999. The family was living in extremely poor conditions in a dilapidated house which lacked basic amenities. The house they were staying further got damaged due to incessant rains in the region. On being approach

Early Times Report Srinagar, Sept 7: Prominent religious and PDP leader Maulvi Iftikhar Hussein Absari has appealed people to restrict Eid-ul-fitr celebrations only to Nimaz and charity. In a statement issued here he said though Eidul fitr represents a very important occasion of celebration in Islamic calendar it would look out of place to observe the day with our traditional festivities. At a time when Kashmir is mourning the loss of its dear ones to the barbaric methods of an insensitive administration there is hardly any heart that is not sad, he said. Maulvi said Kashmir has been passing through its worst phase of history for the last several months but the fact that since June itself as many as 70 people mostly youth and children have been killed in cold blood, is a moral challenge for all of us. Advising people not to purchase new clothes on the occasion even though it is

EARLY TIMES REPORT JAMMU, Sept 6: To control market prices and provide quality meat to public especially during Ramzan and Eid; cooperative department in collaboration with district administration today opened a fair price shop of Doda. In a handout issued here today, it has been said that the shop was opened under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner Doda Farooq Khan and Deputy Registrar Cooperatives Yasir Arfat Zargar. Public of the area appreciated initiative taken by Deputy Commissioner Doda and Cooperative department in providing quality services. Similar Meat Shop will be opened at Bhaderwah also, department said.

EARLY TIMES REPORT JAMMU, Sept 6: The strike called by engineers of Konkan Railways working on Katra-Qazigund rail line project entered 10th day today with no sign of engineers returning to work. Demanding rolling back of advertisement seeking engineers from the entire country for jobs in the Rs 17,000 crore Kashmir valley rail project, association has sought extension for the engaged engineers whose five-year agreement would cease this year. This was stated by Chairman of All Jammu and Kashmir Konkan Railways Consulting Engineers Association Rajpaul Singh. He said that Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) has to invite applications from graduate civil engineers of Jammu and Kashmir only, but the Corporation vide advertisement number KR/CO/P/USBRL/02/2010 of August 27 has invited applications from graduate engineers from across the country. “Despite militancy and demanding c

EARLY TIMES REPORT BHADERWAH, Sept 7: National Conference is going to organize a district level workers one-day workshop at Bhaderwah in the month of October. In a handout issued here today, it has been said that block presidents, secretaries and grass root level workers of the party will participate in the workshop to be held under the leadership of MLC and district President of National Conference (NC) Doda Khalid Najeeb Suhrawerdy. The handout further says that main motive of the seminars is to highlight grievances of the people of Chenab region and achievements of the Omar led government. Block President of NC (Urban) Bhaderwah Abdul Qayoom Bhagwan held high-level meeting of workers of Bhaderwah block in the premises of Dak Bunglow Bhaderwah. Bhagwan said that need of hour is to educate people of Chenab region about programmes and polices of National Conference (NC) keeping in

EARLY TIMES REPORT JAMMU, Sept 7: The High Court today made observed that a fireman cannot act as a fireman driver. Justice Sunil Hali of Jammu & Kashmir High Court Jammu Wing after hearing . Advocate SS Lehar & Advocate Meharban Singh appearing for the petitioners and AAG Jagdish Parihar for the State observed that a candidate who applies for the post of fireman cannot perform the duties of fireman driver. The specific stand taken by the respondents that the petitioner has not obtained marks which was obtained the last candidate of SC category. The further contention of the petitioner that there are still four posts available in the SC category is also misplaced. The respondents in there counter are specific to the extent that all 17 posts of fireman in SC category have been filled-up and there are only 3 posts of fireman driver left in the SC category which could not filled-up due

EARLY TIMES REPORT JAMMU, Sept 7 : The High Court today set aside life imprisonment awarded in a rape accused. A Division Bench of Jammu & Kashmir High Court Jammu Wing comprising Justice JP Singh and Justice Hasnain Massodi announced the decision today at Jammu. The sentence was awarded by the trial court on August 30, 2008. In the 42 page judgment written by Justice Hasnain Massodi for the Division Bench observed that the appellant held to have been a Juvenile on the date of commission of offence but has been convicted u/s 376 RPC and sentenced to life imprisonment. To ask the Trial Court to make a report on the Juvenility of the appellant is one of the course opened to the Court, however as this Court as in exercise of its powers u/s 7 (3) of the Act already under taken an exercise to get the appellant examined by a Medical Board and the opinion of the Medical Board supported by