|
|
Truce violations worry border area residents
Omar inaugurates OPD block
Touching tale of two soldiers
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nod to create Sopore
police dist
Awareness campaign
Pre-paid Cellphone Connections
Omar thanks PC
Govt staff go on two-day strike
Crime File
BJP protests against
price rise
|
|
Truce violations worry border area residents
Nanga (Samba), January 21 “Since 2003 we have been living a peaceful life due to the ongoing truce between India and Pakistan. But the recent incidents of firing from across the border and attempts to blast the fencing at some places have created fear among us,” Prabhu observed while narrating the hardships faced by them during the Army built-up on the border following attack on Parliament. “Period from 1998 to 2003 was the worst period of our lives as killing of people in shelling from across the border was a routine affair and our lives were more or less a hell,” he recalled. He added, “A majority of people in this belt was on the verge of starvation during that period because farmers could not cultivate their land due to continues firing from the Pakistan side.” Prabhu is not an isolated case. Fear is writ large on the faces of the residents of this entire border belt of Samba and RS Pura areas who had witnessed the “dark period” from 1998 to 2003 when the majority of the residents migrated to safer places to protect themselves from the firing. With fear visible on their faces, a group of people sitting outside a shop in Dug village were sharing news about the ceasefire violation. Residents of Dug village are worried after reading reports regarding ceasefire violations. “We want to live a peaceful life, but recent incidents have once again created fear among us,” said Deviditta, a border area resident. He said some forces across the border were not interested in having peaceful relations with India “The reports of firing on border have terrified border area residents because destruction and bloodshed, which they had witnessed earlier, were fresh in their minds,” observed Desraj Singh of Korotana Khurd village. The entire population of this village had left after two persons were killed in shelling from across the border. “We bore the brunt of the hostilities between India and Pakistan,” said Kiran Choudhary, a resident of Sai Kalan. She added that the recent incidents of ceasefire violations had again created fear among people. |
|
Omar inaugurates OPD block
Jammu, January 21 Addressing a function after inaugurating Rs 10.50 crore OPD block of the Government Hospital, Gandhi Nagar, here, Omar said consolidation in the health sector had been underlined as the priority of the government. The OPD block, completed two years back, had been awaiting a Chief Minister for its inauguration. The Chief Minister said unless hospitals were properly equipped with necessary equipment and manned by competent and adequate medical and paramedical staff, public could not be benefited on this count in the right manner. “Measures have already been initiated to strengthen the health care centres and make these fully functional, especially in rural and far-off areas, to ensure adequate health cover for all,” he added. Omar said the state government was working with the Union Health Ministry for seeking short term courses to train doctors and
paramedical staff to run specialised departments in health institutions. The Union Health Ministry was also being pursued to allot additional seats in super-speciality courses to the state, he added. The Chief Minister said the government had also asked the recruiting agencies to put in place a fast-track recruitment programme for the selection of doctors and technicians in health and medical education departments. He said during the current year over 1,200 doctors were likely to be appointed for health institutions in rural areas. Omar said he had asked the Health Minister to rationalise the placement of doctors and paramedical staff in the health institutions, making merit, service period in the rural areas and efficiency the benchmark. “There are hospitals where doctors and paramedical staff is more than required, while many health centres in rural areas are without the required number of doctors. This disparity has to be done away with,” he asserted. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said his government was working to restore the sense of security among displaced Kashmiri Pandits to facilitate their return to the valley. “Actually, it was the depletion of the sense of security that led the Kashmiri Pandits to leave the valley rather than economic or political reasons. We have to bring back this sense of security in them, besides ensuring other socio-economic avenues,” he said. Speaking to the media on the occasion, the Chief Minister said the yearning among majority Muslims to see their Kashmiri Pandit brethren back would prove an important catalyst in the government’s efforts to encourage and facilitate their return to the valley. |
|
Touching tale of two soldiers
Jammu, January 21 The latest is the portrayal of two nations but one soul story told through Punjabi play “Kandeyali Taar”, in which an Indian and a Pakistan soldier who share common sorrow and pains fall victim to the enmity of both countries. The play was staged last evening on the third day of the ongoing “Theatre Festival” organised by the J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages. The locale of the play is shown to be the border area of Suchetgarh, which is famous for infiltration and smuggling. The two soldiers - havildar Prem Singh Gurdaspuria and Mushtaq - come in contact with each other while performing their duties. Initially, they communicate only through songs, but slowly their bonding became stronger and they came to know that the house where Prem Singh presently resides in
Gurdaspur, actually belonged to Mushtaq before 1947. They even started sharing each other’s joys and sorrows. When Mushtaq gets to know that Prem’s daughter is getting married, he sends gifts for her and after returning from leave, Prem Singh brings a brick of his Gurdaspur house and some gold coins. Mushtaq’s father in that house had hidden these gold coins before leaving for Pakistan in 1947. This is when the forces of both countries catch them and shoot them claiming that they were smuggling gold coins and some other stuff. These two soldiers represent citizens of both nations who have nothing against each other, but because of dirty politics they cannot meet and do not get a chance to know each other. The audience very well received the play. Varun Kundal and Mohd Javed played the characters of Prem Singh and Mushtaq, respectively. Tarun Vasan got a good round of applause from the audience for his performance as havildar Paviter Singh Katoch. Others were also equally appreciated. Others who were onstage included Jeet Raj, S. Kirpal Singh Kasali, Gourav, Som Nath, Rohit Kumar, Jung Mohd. and Sunil. Back stage credit goes to Rajinder Tickoo, Rohit and Shammi. It was directed by Dr. Jasmeet Kour, who was assisted by Jeet Raj, and written by S. Kirpal Singh Kasali. The performance was given by ‘Punjabi Lekhak Sabha.’ |
|
Painting exhibition inaugurated
Jammu, January 21 In all,39 paintings of well-known and upcoming artists are on display. These were made at the recent art camps organised by the Cultural Academy in Rajouri and Jammu. The Governor complimented the artists and appreciated the academy for organising the exhibition. |
|
Nod to create Sopore
police dist
Srinagar January 21 According to an order of the Home Department, the newly created Sopore police district will have its jurisdiction over police stations in Sopore, Dangiwacha and Panzalla, including their subordinate police posts. The Sopore police district will be headed by
an SP and will function under the supervision of the DIG, North Kashmir Range, an official spokesman said. DGP Kuldeep Khoda said the creation of the new police district would facilitate better policing in the area and go a long way in improving the overall security scene in its jurisdiction. |
|
Awareness campaign
Jammu, January 21 The pamphlets added that the infamous cases of marks tampering and mass copying were dealt with badly. —
TNS
|
|
|
Pre-paid Cellphone Connections Ravi Krishnan Khajuria Tribune News Service
Jammu, January 21 The state has over six private players, plus BSNL that offer cellphone services.“Finally, the government realised its mistake and has lifted the ban, which has brought cheers to people, particularly belonging to low-income strata,” Kuldeep Kumar, an auto-rickshaw driver, said. As the news spread like wildfire, celebrations broke out in the temple city with some enthusiast youth taking to the streets with drum beaters. Shweta, a student of Parade Women College, said imposing ban on pre-paid connections in the state alone citing security reasons was totally wrong. If there were loopholes on the part of service providers in issuing pre-paid SIM cards, then why the authorities concerned remained a mute spectator, allowing the clientele to swell up 38 lakh mark, she added. However, an officer of the counter-insurgency wing of the state police justified the ban. After private players forayed into the state, they started issuing SIM cards without proper verification, and as a result the pre-paid SIM cards started reaching militants, who used these in nefarious their activities, he said. He said now the pre-paid SIM cards would be issued after proper verification. Tarsem, a daily wage worker engaged by the Power Development Department (PDD), said the low salaried group had been hit hard by the harsh decision. “In a meagre salary of Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000 a month, pre-paid connections had been a preferred mode of communication for us. However, the government without giving a second thought to our socio-economic condition clamped a ban, which was totally uncalled for,” he said. Echoing similar views, Vaishali Gupta said amidst rising inflation and sky-rocketing prices of essential commodities the pre-paid connections were the only available low-cost mode of communication for housewives. It may be stated that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had vehemently contested the Centre’s move. He had said there was no need to ban pre-paid mobile connections in the state and isolate it from the rest of the country on security reasons when north-east too had also law and order problems.
|
|
|
Omar thanks PC
Jammu, January 21 The Chief Minister said this would go a long way in meeting the requirements of a large number of subscribers and expressed the hope that the service providers would adhere to the guidelines issued with regard to the prepaid cellphone connections. |
|
|
Govt staff go on two-day strike
Srinagar, January 21 The employees today took out a rally from the old secretariat towards the office of the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, but were allegedly stopped by the police. The police allegedly resorted to a cane charge, injuring several employees. “There was a complete strike today, and tomorrow would also see a complete strike by the employees of the state government and public sector undertakings,” Abdul Qayoom Wani, a spokesman for the JCC and president of the Employees Joint Action Committee, told The Tribune. The employees have been demanding the implementation of the agreement reached between the government and their representatives on August 18 last year in which the government had assured them of fulfilling their genuine demands. The employees have been demanding the regularisation of the services of daily wage workers and casual labourers, enhancement in retirement age by two years, release of the arrears of the Sixth Pay Commission, conversion of COLA (cost of living allowance) to DA, benefits of the Sixth Pay Commission’s recommendations to the employees of public sector undertakings and local bodies, removal of pay anomalies and release of HRA to the state government employees as has been given to the employees of the union government. The employees said they would decide their future course of action on February 27 and threatened that if the state government did not fulfil their demands immediately they would intensify their struggle. “The work in all state government departments across the state was affected today. I am on my way to Jammu to take part in a rally there tomorrow,” Wani said. He added, “The government has deceived us and its policies are anti-employees.” Wani said the employees had given the government ample time to fulfil their demands, but the latter did nothing. Meanwhile, people had to face hardships as work in all government departments came to a grinding halt. “I have come from Uri to Srinagar for some official work. But after arriving here, I came to know that the employees are on a strike for two days. Now, I will have to come again after a few days,” said Mohammad Ishfaq, a resident of Uri. Jammu: A faction of government employees observed a total strike on Thursday. In Jammu city, government and public sector employees organised a protest in support of their demands. The employees were demanding the release of the arrears of the Sixth Pay Commission, conversation of COLA to DA with immediate effect, removal of pay anomalies of clerical and all other cadre employees, enhancement of retirement age to 60 years, regularisation of the services of daily wage, ad hoc and contractual employees and uniform HRA for all state government employees. |
|
|
Cement-loaded truck stolen
Tribune News Service
Jammu, January 21 Bovine smuggling foiled
The Nagrota police claimed to have foiled an attempt to smuggle bovines and arrested three persons in Nagrota late last night. The police said acting on a tip-off, a naka was laid at the Nagrota bypass and a truck loaded with 15 bovines which the accused were trying to take to the Kashmir valley,seized. The police said the arrested were identified as Mohammad Sharif, Mohammad Mirza and Ashfaq Ahmad.A case under Section 188 of the RPC has been registered in this regard. Suicide bid
A youth in his mid-twenties allegedly tried to commit suicide by consuming some poisonous substance here this morning. The police said Narinder, a resident of Hiranagar, was admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital, Jammu, after he had consumed poison. A case has been registered. The police is recording the statements of persons known to Narinder. |
|
|
BJP protests against
price rise
Jammu, January 21
They raised slogans against the failure of the state and central governments in controlling the price rise. A similar programme led by Vibodh Gupta and Yogesh Sharma was held at Jawahar Nagar in Rajouri today. LIC staff
strike work
The Northern Zone Insurance Employees’ Association observed a one-day strike in support of their demands here on Thursday and held protests all over the state. In the Jammu region, Pawan Gupta, divisional secretary of the association, said the demand of 40 per cent wage rise was genuine. Delay flayed
Demanding justice to the victims of the incident of January 13, 1989, the Nirbhow Nirvair Organisation held a demonstration at Karan Bagh Chowk on the Airport road on Thursday. It criticised the state government for not submitting the Ansari Commission Report.
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Wants state to regain top slot in health sector
The Centre’s move of lifting the ban on pre-paid cellphone connections in Jammu and Kashmir has brought smiles on the faces of nearly 38 lakh subscribers, who were left high and dry after the ban had been enforced in November last year. Citing security reasons, the Union Home Ministry had imposed the ban on November 1.
However, Home Minister P Chidambaram had rekindled the hopes recently when he assured to re-visit the issue, provided service providers come up with a foolproof plan of 100 per cent verification.
