J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Teachers’ role in shaping youth vital, says Kalam
Srinagar, August 20
Describing teacher as a beautiful creation of the God, the President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, has called upon the teaching community to remove religious dogmas and promote compassion and love to connect the people through the medium of children.

Infiltration bid foiled, two militants killed
Srinagar, August 20
Security forces today foiled an infiltration bid by killing two militants near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said here.

Shiite demonstrators raise anti-American slogans during a protest march in Srinagar on Friday. The police detained 40 demonstrators who were demanding an immediate end to the US assault on the Iraqi city of Najaf. — Photo by Amin war

Snag hits power supply in Jammu
Jammu, August 20
Many parts of the city and the rural areas are without power since this morning as the grid station at Gladini developed a major snag due to damage to its three feeders.

• Amarnath pilgrim dies

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Syed Ali Shah Geelani placed under house-arrest. (28k, 56k)

Teachers’ role in shaping youth vital, says Kalam
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 20
Describing teacher as a beautiful creation of the God, the President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, has called upon the teaching community to remove religious dogmas and promote compassion and love to connect the people through the medium of children.

Interacting with 170 school teachers from all the three regions of the state here last evening before concluding his day-long visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Kalam dwelt at length on the role and responsibilities of teachers, which he summed up as evolution of enlightened citizens. “The God may not have made you powerful but empowered you to shape the future of youth”, the President told the teachers.

In his 40-minute interaction interspersed with personal anecdotes and experiences, Dr Kalam said every religion has got two components — dogmas and spirituality. While religious dogmas that spread hatred need to be eliminated, spirituality has to be nurtured in the young minds as its leads to compassion and love, essential to connect people of this great and culturally diverse nation.

When asked to give tips about development of primary education, the President replied he believed that children in their tender age need not be unnecessarily burdened.

The President also sought the intervention of teachers in checking the growing phenomenon of dropouts in schools. We must promote creativity among children and reduce the dropout rate by creating sustained interest in learning.

The President said a model piloted at Rashtrapati Bhawan is to provide satellite connectivity for PREVIK (President’s Virtual Institute for Knowledge), established recently to provide knowledge connectivity through VSATS installed by ISRO. Under it, virtual studio environment is created that is connected to number of remote locations.

Infiltration bid foiled, two militants killed

Srinagar, August 20
Security forces today foiled an infiltration bid by killing two militants near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said here.

After detecting movement of some militants who were trying to sneak into the valley from across the border in the Nowgam sector of frontier district of Kupwara, troops of 28 Madrass laid multiple ambushes and challenged the ultras immediately after they intruded into this side.

Finding themselves trapped, the ultras opened fire and in the following encounter, two of them were killed, the sources said, adding that three AK assault rifles and a large quantity of ammunition and grenades were recovered from the possession of the slain militants, whose identity and group affiliation was being ascertained. In a separate incident, an IED planted by militants, went off near block development office at Pampore in Pulwama district of South Kashmir this morning. None was injured. — PTI

Snag hits power supply in Jammu
Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 20
Many parts of the city and the rural areas are without power since this morning as the grid station at Gladini developed a major snag due to damage to its three feeders.

The Chief Engineer, Power Development Department, Mr B.L. Garoo, said power supply to the Gandhi Nagar locality was expected to be restored by 2 am tomorrow. However, power supply to the industrial area of Gangial and the residential colonies of Trikuta Nagar and Nanak Nagar will be restored only by tomorrow afternoon.

The power failure has also affected the drinking water supply in several areas.

Amarnath pilgrim dies

Srinagar, August 20
A pilgrim today died at the cave shrine of Amarnath in Kashmir after paying obeisance, raising the toll in the ongoing pilgrimage to 56, official sources said. Sixtytwo-year-old N.

Ganesh of Bangalore died due to cardiac pulmonary arrest after paying obeisance at the shrine this afternoon. — PTI