FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2018 (PAGE 12) DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU

Govt allows eSIMs, hikes mobile connections limit to 18 per person

NEW DELHI, May 17:

Mobile users will not need tobuy a new SIM while changingservice provider or buying a newconnection, according to newguidelines issued by theDepartment of Telecom to allowuse of embedded SIMs (eSIM).

The eSIM will be installed inthe device and details of serviceproviders can be updated in it atthe time a customer buys a newconnection or changes operatoror wants to buy standalone serv-ice from a telecom operator likedata or calling etc.

"To cater the needs of mod-ern technological developmentsin M2M/IoT, it has been decidedto permit the use of "Embedded-Subscriber Identity Module(eSIM) with both single andmultiple profile configurationswith over the air subscriptionupdate facility, as the case maybe, as per prevailing global spec-ifications and standards," theDoT said.

The guidelines have beenissued five days after RelianceJio and Bharti Airtel started sell-ing Apple Watch Series 3 whichhas eSIM service.

Users of Apple Watch Series3 can connect their eSIM withSIM in their mobile and use theservice that are being providedon their mobile phone by Jio orAirtel on their smartwatch.

The DoT has allowed profileupdation over the air to facilitatemobile number portability oneSIM and avoid locking ofdevice by a telecom operator.

The DoT has directed tele-com operators facilitating serv-ice on eSIM that it is theirresponsibility to meet lawfulinterception and monitoringrequirement as well as ensurethat manufacturer of the devicedoes not tamper with eSIM.

Along with guidelines foreSIM, the DoT issued instruc-tions for SIMs that will be usedfor machine-to-machine commu-nications like alert sent from carto mobile over low fuel, faultyparts, car theft, remote surveil-lance of premises, smartmetersetc.

The department has earlierissued direction that all SIMs forM2M communications willcome with 13-digit number.(PTI)

Police chasing the protestors at Kathua on Thursday. —Excelsior/Pardeep

Construction on State land15 injured in police, mob clash at Kathua

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, May 17: Fifteenpersons were injured in policeand protestors’ clash here thisevening after the civil adminis-tration foiled the attempt of thepeople to reconstruct a temple atState land in the town.

The injured included ninepolice personnel and six civil-ians. Among the police person-nel Additional SP, Nasir Khanand two lady cops were alsoinjured in stone pelting by pro-testors while among the civiliansone lady was also among theinjured.

All of the injured wereadmitted in District HospitalKathua for treatment and theircondition is stated to be normal.

According to reports that thetemple Committee members ofGuru Naba Dass Ji had startedconstruction of the temple oversome days back on a piece ofland in the town on which theywere holding function over 10years every year in honour ofGuru Naba Dass Ji.

This year the Biradri mem-bers decided to construct a tem-ple on the land and some daysback after stacking the materialthey started construction. Takingthe serious exception to it by thedistrict administration, DCKathua, Rohit Khajuria served anotice to the members of theBiradri and asked them not to goahead with the construction asthe land falls under the categoryof State land on which no con-struction can be made withoutpermission.

However the members of theBiradri protested against the

decision of the administrationand shouted slogans against theDC Kathua. Next day they start-ed construction over the landagain. When the administrationcame to know of it, ACRKathua, Jitender Mishra wasdeputed on the site and he askedSom Raj Mishra BSP leader andother people present there tostop the construction work.

As the people did not stopthe work, DC Kathua, RohitKhajuria along with SSP KathuaShridhar Patil and other civiland police officers rushed to thespot with a big contingent ofpolice and they forcibly stoppedthe work.

This ensued a clash betweenpolice and the people. To dis-perse the mob the police resort-ed to lathicharge and fired teargas shells also. The agitated peo-ple also pelted stones on thepolice and civil administrationresulting into the injury to 15people including nine policemenand six civilians.

Reports said that police hasalso arrested some persons but itdid not divulge the number.Police has registered a case inthis regard.

The tension prevailed in thetown as the people objected theaction of administration sayingthat two shops have also beenconstructed on the State land onthe same land and when theadministration did not takeaction against them why theunder construction temple hasbeen demolished by it.

The police also lifted theentire material stacked for theconstruction of temple.

Now monitor refund status of rail tickets in real-time

NEW DELHI, May 17:

Rail passengers can nowmonitor the refund status of theircancelled tickets in real-time bylogging on to a website launchedby the Railways Ministry recent-ly.

The website'refund.Indianrail.Gov.In' onlyrequires the Passenger NameRecord (PNR) numbers of trav-ellers to reflect their refund sta-tus.

"This facility is to promotetransparency in the system andis extremely helpful for thoseawaiting refunds," Ved Prakash,Director, Publicity, RailwayBoard said.

The website has been devel-oped by the Centre For RailwayInformation Systems (CRIS)and will show the status ofrefunds for tickets bought atticket counters as well as online.

The system will speciallyhelp those passengers who areforced to submit claims throughTicket Deposit Receipts (TDRs)at ticket counters as they areunable to know their tickets'refund status at any other point.

As of now, only those pas-sengers who book their ticketsthrough IRCTC website get e-mails and SMSs to acknowledgethe processing of their cancelledtickets and refund status.

Railway tickets can be can-celled across ticket counters,IRCTC website and throughrailway enquiry number 139.

On cancelling the ticketsonline, the refund amountadmissible is credited to the pas-senger's bank account within aduration of five days. In case,the tickets are cancelled acrossthe counter, the refund amount ispaid within seven days. (PTI)

6 non-BJP ruled states petitionPresident against 15th Finance Comm

NEW DELHI, May 17:

Six non-BJP ruled statestoday petitioned President RamNath Kovind against the terms ofthe 15th Finance Commission fordeciding the share of states intaxes collected by the Centre, andsaid that they violate the federalprinciple as well as infringe uponthe Constitution.

In a memorandum signed bychief minister and finance minis-ters of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala,West Bengal, Puducherry, Punjaband Delhi, the states opposedsome of the terms of reference(ToR) saying they “violate thefederal principle as enshrined inthe Constitution, erode autonomyof states, and bring significantfinancial hardship to all states”.

Stating that some of the ToRare “qualitatively” different fromthose of previous FinanceCommissions, the memorandumsaid changes will restrict the statesfrom fulfilling their Constitutionalobligations.

The Finance Commission,which every five years recom-mends a ratio in which the taxmoney collected by the CentralGovernment is to be dividedamong the states, has begun workand will submit its report byOctober 2019.

The 15th FinanceCommission, headed by N KSingh, has also been asked to pro-pose measurable performance-based incentives for states whichhave made efforts to expand anddeepen the tax net, slowed popu-

lation growth, promoted ease ofdoing business and saved moneyby adopting Direct BenefitTransfer where Government doleis paid via bank accounts of users.

Besides, it has been asked torecommend incentives for stateswhich have been able to control oreliminate incurring expenditureon populist measures.

The key point of difference isthe ToR asking the panel to takethe census of 2011 as the basis forpopulation data instead of 1971census which was the basis of rec-ommendations till the 13thFinance Commission, for devolu-tion of funds.

The previous, 14th FinanceCommission introduced that ideain a small way for the first time. Itgave a weightage of 10 per centfor Census 2011 data and resultedin hurting states like Tamil Naduwhich had seen slower growth inpopulation as compared to stateslike Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.

The six non-BJP ruled stateswanted the reference to be 1971census, according to the memo-randum.

They also wanted deletion ofthe ToR which deals with theimpact on the fiscal situation ofthe Central Government in viewof substantially enhanced taxdevolution to states after the pre-vious Commission’s recommen-dations.

Besides, they said, the refer-ence to the efforts made by thestates in the expansion and deep-ening of tax net under the GSTshould be deleted. (PTI)

Excelsior Correspondent

SAMBA, May 17: In its con-tinuous drive against the bovinesmuggling launched by districtpolice Samba, a police party ofPP Rakh Amb Talli foiled abovine smuggling bid and res-cued 10 bovines.

Acting on reliable informa-

tion received at PP Rakh AmbTalli that bovine animals arebeing smuggled from ManoharGopala area towards Srinagarside by foot without any permis-sion, a police team of PP RakhAmb Talli headed by SI DeepakBharti, I/C PP Rakh Amb Tallion the directives of SSP Samba,Anil Magotra and under theclose supervision of DeepakDigra, DySP Hqrs Sambareached the spot at BasantarNallah and rescued 10 bovines.The bovine smugglers on seeingthe police party managed toescape from the spot. In thisregard a case FIR No. 132/2018U/S 188 RPC has been regis-tered in PS Samba and investi-gation started to nab smugglers.

Impactful performance of ‘Mind Games’marks third-day of Natrang’s festLalit Gupta

JAMMU, May 17: Staged onthe third day of Natrang's ongoingtheatre festival, the impactful per-formance of Sumit Sharma'sHindi play 'Mind Games', atAbhinav Theatre, here today,once again showcased the talentof child actors who having joinedNatrang in tender years, todayhave mature as self-sufficientactor/directors capable of mount-ing independent productions.

The play was written anddirected by Sumit Sharma, andwho also acted as Ajeet, the pro-tagonist, is about a shy youngman who faces humiliation atevery step. When laughed at hisby office colleagues including agirl to whom he likes. In order tocounter the inferiority complex.

He dreams about a hero-likecharacter for himself Ajeet'simagined avatar, 'Krish' is bold,dynamic, dashing and charmingand impresses everybody. Butknowing the reality, Ajeet isunable to relate to 'Krish'. Unable

to resolve his personal dilemma,he prefers to live with his originalself. The script full of episodesmirroring the day to day life inIndian urban centers like thestruggle to board the crowded citybus, arrogant bosses and their par-tisan attitude towards selectedemployees, harassment of simple-minded workers, inability inexpressing one's likeness for ayoung female colleague-all werevery effectively represented in adramatic design that was notice-able for competent use of ele-ments such as dream sequences,flashback, dance movements per-fectly cued to a racy backgroundscore. The sequences and theirrewind in slow and fast forwardmovements came out as one ofmany impressive pieces of direc-torial design. Also remarkablewas the swiftness with which fre-quent change-over of scenes wasexecuted.

Abhi Bargotra as Krish, veter-an actor Anil Tickoo as Boss,Vanshika Gupta as Simran,Gautam Sharma as Kumar andMohd. Yaseen as Peon-all gavegood performances. The 'chorus'comprised of Vrinda Sharma,Ashley Mehta, MeenakshiBhagat, Mahikshit Singh, ShivamSingh, Mohit Kaul, Brijesh AvtarSharma, Sushant Singh Charak,Akash Bhat and Manoj KumarLalotra. Lights were operated byRahul Singh, music by BhishamGupta and Brijesh AvtaarSharma. The show was presentedby senior actor Sunita Pandit.

On the concluding day ofNatrang Theatre Festival, Group'shighly acclaimed Dogri play'Bawa Jitto' will be staged at 6 pmat Abhinav Theatre, Jammu.

India, Pak to revivejoint judicial panel

NEW DELHI, May 17:

Pakistan has responded pos-itively to India's proposal torevive a mechanism of a jointjudicial panel which looks intohumanitarian issues of fisher-men and prisoners in eachother's custody, the ExternalAffairs Ministry said today.

It said External AffairsMinister Sushma Swaraj inOctober had suggested to thePakistan High Commissioner torevive the mechanism.

"Pakistan responded posi-tively to the same on March 7,"it said adding India has alsosought dates from Pakistan fororganising the visit of the com-mittee.

The Ministry said names ofmembers of the reconstitutedcommittee from the Indian sidewere today communicated toPakistan.

The committee was firstformed in 2007.

It consists of retired Judges

of the higher judiciary who visitand meet prisoners in eachother's jails and propose steps toensure humane treatment andexpedite release of prisonersand fishermen who have com-pleted their prison terms.

The committee met seventimes. The last meeting washosted by India in October2013.

The reconstituted committeeinclude former Judge of DelhiHigh Court Jaspal Singh, for-mer judge of Gujarat HighCourt Harshvadan B Antani andformer Rajasthan High Courtjudge Deo Narayan Thanvi.Another former Judge of DelhiHigh Court Indermeet KaurKochhar has also been nominat-ed to the committee.

The move comes amid con-tinuous strain in ties betweenthe two countries over a host ofissues including cross borderterrorism in Jammu andKashmir. (PTI)

8-yr-old drownsin canal

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 17: An eight-year-old boy today died ofdrowning in a canal in Bagh-e-Bahu area of city outskirts.

According to a police offi-cial, a male child namely ZiaRehman (8) son of NoorHussain, resident of Bathindi,along with other children wastaking bath while sitting on thebank of a canal in Bagh-e-Bahuarea when one of his feet gotslipped and he fell down intothe canal.

The official said as the boydid not know swimming, hedrowned in the canal. Later, hisbody was evicted from the canaland after completion of medico-legal formalities, it was handedover to its legal heirs for lastrites.

Mentally unstable man consumes poison, dies

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 17: A mental-ly unstable man died today hereat Government Medical Collegeand Hospital (GMCH) after heallegedly consumed some poi-sonous substance at his residencein Digiana area of city outskirts,yesterday.

"The deceased has been iden-tified as Romesh Singh (60) sonof Sewa Singh, resident ofDigiana Ashram", a police offi-cial said. Quoting the familymembers of the deceased, theofficial said that Romesh wasmentally unstable and was takingmedicines for quite a long time.

He said yesterday Romeshconsumed some poisonous sub-stance following which he wasshifted to GMCH Jammu, wherehe passed away today at about7.30 AM. "After completing allmedico-legal formalities, thebody of the deceased was handedover to his legal heirs for lastrites", he said, adding, inquestproceedings under 174 CrPC hadbeen initiated in the case by theconcerned police.

Police reunites minorsisters with familyExcelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, May 17: Policetoday reunited two minor sisterswith their parents who werebrought by the locals to PolicePost Bemina here.

A Police spokesman said thattoday two minor sisters werebrought by locals to Police PostBemina Srinagar and according-ly, police initiated the efforts totrace the residential particularsof these two minor sisters.

He said photographs of theminor sisters were immediatelycirculated in the media housesincluding on social networkingsites and within an hour residen-tial particulars of the minor weretraced with the active support ofthe general public & both the sis-ters were reunited with theirfamily.

Police seeks helpin identifying body

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, May 17:Police has sought help in identi-fying a semi decomposed bodywhich was recovered inGanderbal district.

A Police spokesman saidthat on Sunday, Police StationSonamarg recovered a malebody, age about 27/28 years,fair in colour and wearing bluetrouser from Nallah Sonamarg.The body has been kept in themortuary of PHC Sonamarg.

He said in this regard, pro-ceedings under Section 174CrPC have been started. "Thebody seems to be that of a nonlocal. Anybody having anyinformation regarding thedeceased, may kindly contact0194-2416564, 0194-2416478or Police Control Room on100," he said.

JWAM opposes unilateral ceasefire decision

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 17: JammuWest Assembly Movement(JWAM) has strongly opposedUnion Home Ministry’s deci-sion of “unilateral ceasefire” inJammu and Kashmir duringRamzan.

In a statement issued heretoday, JWAM president, SunilDimple said that announcementof unilateral ceasefire made byUnion Ministry of HomeAffairs (MHA) is very unfortu-nate as the separatists havealready rejected this demand ofthe Chief Minister MehboobaMufti.

Dimple said that unilateralceasefire and suspension ofoperation “All Out” will demor-alize our security forces and thenationalist people of the Stateand put their lives in danger.

He appealed the Chief of theArmy Staff and PM not to stopoperation “All Out” against theterrorists and stone pelters. Hedisclosed that the Movementwill hold a Tiranga Rally onMay 18 against MHA’s decisionof unilateral ceasefire.

DFSS protests unilateral ceasefire in Valley

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 17: Theworkers of Dogra Front & ShivSena (DFSS) under the leader-ship of their president, AshokGupta, took out a protest inJammu city against the unilater-al ceasefire implementation inthe Valley.

He further stated that thedecision of unilateral ceasefireshould be again looked into andtaken back, and the Army oper-ations of CASO & SIDO shouldbe made to run in full swingagain.

Taking a dig of all partmeeting chaired recently byChief Minister MehboobaMufti, Ashok Gupta said whatwas the consensus of the allparty meeting that the Pakistanshould attack us and we shallnot retaliate to them because ofthe months of Ramzan. “Do wewant our people to be killed”,he questioned.

The party people who werepresent at the time of protestwere Shubham, Bua Ditta,Rohit, Chane, Vippan, Dheeraj,Pankaj, Bantu and Abhishek.

Notorious criminalbooked under PSA

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 17: DistrictMagistrate (DM) Jammubooked a notorious criminalunder Public Safety Act.

As per official spokesman,DM Jammu booked a notoriouscriminal Baber Khan, son ofGhulam Nabi Khan ofBhagwati Nagar Jammu underPSA so as prevent his furtherinvolvement in criminal activi-ties.

The accused was involved in6 cases of heinous natureincluding attempt to murder,extortion, snatching, stabbing,burglary and possessing/usingof dangerous weapons regis-tered with different police sta-tions of district Jammu.

He has been lodged inCentral Jail Kot BhalwalJammu.

The PSA warrant was exe-cuted by SHO Nowabad PoliceStation Inspector Neeraj Bhagatunder the supervision of SDPOWest Pranav Mahajan and SPCity Dr Vinod Kumar.

9 injured in road accidentExcelsior Correspondent

REASI, May 17: Nine personswere injured when a rashly drivenminibus hit a car near BharakhNada, here today.

The minibus, bearing registra-tion number JK02M- 8722 andbeing driven by one Shakti Kumarson of Sham Lal of Bharakh,tehsil Pouni, was on way towardsPouni from Teryath when it col-lided with a Santro car PB06M-3067, coming from opposite direc-tion.

Locals shifted the injured toPHC Bhamla and their conditionwas stated to be stable.

The injured were identified asShallu (12) daughter of Girdhari

Lal of Bhamla, Surinder Kumar(20), son of Mani Ram ofThangrot, Bharat Bhushan (35),son of Chattru Ram of Bhamla,Kisti Devi (20) daughter of BabuRam of Bhamla, Mona Devi (25)daughter Bachan Nath of Bhamla,Neelam Devi (25), daughter ofSonu Kumar of Malad, SonuKumar, son of Chatru Ram ofBhamla, Mukesh Kumar (30), sonof Prem Chand of Devak andRadha Devi (30), wife of SheruRam of Pouni.

Police has registered a case inthis connection.

12-yr-old girl dies of accidental hanging

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 17: A 12-year-old girl today died of acci-dental hanging in Belicharanaarea of city outskirts.

“Krishma (12) daughter ofPrem Singh, resident ofBelicharana, along with otherchildren was playing at her resi-dence with a ‘dupatta’ (scarf) inher neck when her foot gotslipped from the stairs, resultinginto her accidental hanging withiron railing of the stairs”, apolice official said.

The official said listening tothe hue and cry of other children,the mother of the girl rushed tothe site and in unconscious con-dition shifted her to GovernmentMedical College and Hospital,Jammu, where doctors declaredher as brought dead.

“After completing allmedico-legal formalities, thebody of the deceased has beenhanded over to her legal heirs forlast rites”, he said, adding,inquest proceedings under 174CrPC have been initiated at con-cerned police station.

10 bovine animals rescued by Samba police

HC arrestedExcelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 17:Vigilance Organization Jammuarrested a Head Constable (HC)for demanding and acceptingbribe for releasing bovine ani-mals with reference to the courtorders, the officials said.

The arrested HC has beenidentified as Sohan Lal aliasSonu.

A case under FIR Number10/18 has been registeredagainst him at Police StationVigilance Organization Jammuand investigation started.

Newly marriedwoman kidnapped

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 17: A newlymarried woman has been kid-napped from village ChakShera, falling under the juris-diction of Arnia Police Station.

As per police sources, acomplaint was lodged by a hus-band with Police Station Arniastating that Vinod Saini, son ofChaju Ram, a resident of KoolKalan has kidnapped his wife,which whom he tied the knot onMay 9 this year.

Acting over the complaint, acase under FIR Number 29/18has been registered at ArniaPolice Station and investigationstarted.

Randhir Singhfor UT status

to LadakhExcelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 17: FormerMinister Thakur Randhir Singh,State president NationalistCongress Party (NCP), hasstressed that the Ladakh regionneeds Union Territory status forits all round development.

In a statement, the formerMinister said that Ladakhregion is still much behind inconnectivity and nothing hasbeen done in many fieldsincluding the mineral in theentire region and also providingemployment to the locals.Singh said that he had beensuggesting to the successiveState and Central Governmentsto take Railway from Kathua,Basholi, Bani, Kishtwar,Bhaderwah, Padder and aftercrossing Sindh near Suru Valleyto Kargil, Leh to KhardungulaPass.

Singh said that more than10000 students from Ladakhand Kargil, who are studying inthe various colleges and univer-sities pursuing various coursesin Jammu, need to be providedLPG connections as promisedby the Ministers.

Kathua police arrests 2 ladies with

heroin, liquorExcelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, May 17 : Actingsternly against drug menace, ateam of Police Post Nagri led bySI Vikas Jasrotia duringpatrolling duty in Chak DrabKhan area, arrested two ladieswith heroin and illicit liquor.They were identified asParamjit W/o Shashi and RekhaDevi both residents of ChakDrab Khan. Police recovered4.5 grams heroin and 14 litersof illicit liquor from their pos-session.

Police has registered caseFIR No 170/2018 U/S 8,21,22NDPS Act 48(a) Excise Act atPolice Station Kathua.

In another incident today ateam of Police Post Nagri con-ducted raid in Kulian area ofNagri and booked three gam-blers along with Rs 4480 stakemoney and playing cards.

They were identified asAshwani Kumar S/o JaggaRam R/o Chack Dhrab Khantehsil and district Kathua,Surinder S/o Shamlal R/oChack Dhrab Khan, tehsil anddistrict Kathua and RonySharma S/o Ravi Sharma R/oWard Number 6 Kathua.Further investigation in thematter has been started bypolice.