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Probe into raids on houses
‘After snow ultras shift bases to Jammu sector’
Protest against ban on heaters
Youth kidnapped, murdered
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Probe into raids on houses
Jammu, January 2 The ban on heaters imposed by Mr Azad was to become operational in the beginning of the New Year yesterday, but certain over-enthusiastic officials of the PDD started raiding residential premises here as well as in the valley on December 27 to confiscate heaters, which irked many people. Incidentally, the temperature in many parts of Jammu and Kashmir has plummeted due to snow and rain since yesterday when the ban on heaters was to come into force. This has resulted in the observance of the ban more in defiance even in the Secretariat where Mr Azad himself sits and also in other government offices. During a visit to a number of offices of top functionaries today, this correspondent witnessed heaters and heat convectors in operation to keep the rooms warm. Mr Azad had on December 27, announced the ban on the floor of the Assembly because of acute power shortage. However, this was done without keeping in mind the harsh winter during which heating appliances are a must in the state. What reportedly annonyed Mr Azad was the premature seizure of heaters by certain officials of the PDD that led to angry protests throughout the state. People have started questioning whether the ban was being observed in the residence of Mr Azad, his relatives and other top functionaries or was it meant to torture the common people. An official spokesman said the PDD was directed to launch a people’s awareness programme for the judicious use of power from December 28 before implementing the ban. According to information, officials of the PDD, without issuing any warning to the consumers directly, started raiding residential premises. The Chief Minister had said that the PDD would insert advertisements in newspapers to make people aware about the judicious use of power and the ban on heaters. But the authorities have so far taken no steps in this direction. Meanwhile, many areas in the region have been witnessing heavy snowfall since yesterday, while the plains of Jammu experienced a heavy downpour. This has led to the closure of the 300-km Jammu-Srinagar highway at several places. |
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‘After snow ultras shift bases to Jammu sector’
Jammu, January 2 Official sources said here today that reports received from across the border revealed that groups of militants had been brought near the launching pads across Akhnoor, R.S. Pora and Samba for being pushed into the Jammu sector. The sources said that since the barbed wire fencing project on the IB was to be completed by March 2006 militants were keen on taking advantage of the gaps for infiltrating into Jammu. According to these sources men of the Border Security Force (BSF) men guarding the 187-km-long IB, have been directed to intensify round the clock patrolling to fail infiltration into Jammu. These reports had also indicated that Pakistani agencies may test the the level of BSF surveillance on the IB by pushing into Jammu groups of Bangladeshis and Burmese. The idea behind the change in the launching pad was to increase the level of violence in the Jammu region where the insurgent manpower was weak. One senior police officer said that soon after the civil secretariat opened in Jammu groups of militants from south Kashmir, Doda and Poonch had sneaked into Jammu town where they had established their hideouts. He said officials of security and intelligence agencies had strengthened surveillance in and around hotels, restaurants and in several sensitive vicinities for accounting for militants who had entered the town without weapons. Officials of security agencies said that militants planned to carry our grenade and IED explosions near vital government installations and attack soft targets for fomenting communal tension. These officials said that by concentrating on the IB for increasing the level of ingress of militants Pakistani agencies aimed at extending militancy to the neighbouring Punjab. Punjab Police officials have reports that weapons for militants, trying to revive militancy in Punjab, were being smuggled from the Jammu belt.
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Protest against ban on heaters
Srinagar, January 2 Shops and business establishments in the capital and other major towns of the valley remained closed and traffic was also disrupted. The strike call was given to protest government’s ban on use, purchase and sale of heaters and boilers. Government offices, commercial establishments and semi-government establishments also witnessed poor presence of staff. People, mostly women, took to streets at several places. Protesters said they would stop the use of heaters and boilers once the government start supplying firewood, kerosene and gas. People in Kashmir used to cook on firewood supplied by the government until early 70s. The practice was stopped and people were left with no alternative but to use electric heater as gas was too costly and rarely available in the market. The demonstrators said the government should reconsider the decision till an alternative arrangement is made for this season.
— UNI |
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Youth kidnapped, murdered
Jammu, January 2 The youth was kidnapped by some unidentified militants from his Karkat village early today. Later at around 1.30 pm, his body was recovered from the forest, the souces said, adding the police was investigating the case.
— PTI |
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