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Army stages flag march in Srinagar
Ceasefire Violation |
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Media gagged in Kashmir
Journalists protest in Rajouri
Colleges begin late admissions
Deployment fraught with danger, says PDP
Besides separatists, PDP responsible for turmoil: BJP
46 years on, woman peon awaits regularisation of job
Meet on poverty
alleviation
NSUI to conduct talent hunt programmes
Dalai Lama to visit Nubra valley
Amarnath Yatra
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Army stages flag march in Srinagar
Srinagar, July 7 The Army staged a flag march on the Airport Road and Pantha Chowk, Batamaloo, and MA Road areas of the city, as strict curfew restrictions remained in force across the summer capital. An indefinite curfew imposed from 4 pm yesterday remained in force today. The situation took a violent turn with the death of two civilians in the Batamaloo area and another youth in the Maisuma locality here yesterday. The clashes erupted in the Batamaloo locality this morning following the death of another youth allegedly at the hands of CRPF personnel, after his body was fished out from a stream on Monday night. The movement of people was strictly restricted here with a heavy deployment of police and CRPF personnel and the roads wore a deserted look today. The Army’s help was requisitioned by the state authorities yesterday to help it in maintaining law and order. “We are prepared to help the civil administration as and when required,” a defence spokesman said here adding that the services would remain available as long as the government required. To maintain peace, the curfew restrictions also remained in force in other major towns of the Valley, including Anantnag, Kulgam and Pampore in south Kashmir, Kupwara and Bandipore in north Kashmir, while restrictions were imposed in Baramulla and Sopore towns of north Kashmir. Protests were reported from Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipore in the north, Ganderbal and Chadoora areas in central Kashmir and Shopian in south
Kashmir today. With the death of two youths in Sopore town of Baramulla district on June 25, and three deaths in Anantnag on June 29, curfew restrictions were imposed in all major towns and townships to prevent further trouble. The deaths, 15 so far, allegedly at the hands of CRPF men during the past three weeks have led to a series of protests against human rights violations. |
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BSF retaliates fiercely, kills five Pak Rangers
Jupinderjit Singh Tribune News Service
Akhnoor, July 7 Two BSF jawans were also killed. Pakistan’s news portal “Dunyanews”, however, claimed three Pakistan Rangers were injured in the firing by Indian troops. With a determined BSF responding with mortar shells to the fourth ceasefire violation in two days in this sector by Pakistan, it was the turn of the Pakistan Rangers to seek a flag meeting. Usually, it is the Indian side that seeks a flag meeting after a ceasefire violation or an infiltration bid. The flag meeting, however, lasted for five minutes only. Sources said the Pakistan Rangers talked of peace on the border. The BSF, sources said, told them that no adventure on the Indian soil would be tolerated. The firing from across the border began at 2 am and ended at about 6:30 am. There was panic among villagers as a heavy gunfire and mortar shelling was witnessed from both sides. BSF constable Hari Prasad was killed in the gunfire from across the border in the Akhnoor sector, 45 km northwest of Jammu. On Tuesday, BSF head constable Sultan Ali was killed in firing from cross the border when he was checking border fencing in the same sector.
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Media gagged in Kashmir
Srinagar, July 7 The Kashmir valley has been witnessing violent protests for the past few days and the killing of four persons yesterday has further escalated tension in the valley, forcing the authorities to call in the Army to control the situation. The authorities today stopped mediapersons from discharging their professional duties following which the offices of most of the local, national and international news organisations remained closed. “This is for the first time since the start of the turmoil in the Kashmir valley that our office remained closed today. Even during the peak days of militancy we never faced this kind of situation,” AM Sofi, Kashmir bureau chief of the PTI, told The Tribune. He said he was stopped at Amira Kadal and was not allowed to proceed towards his office located adjacent to Lal Chowk. “I was stopped at Amira Kadal and was told that instructions had been issued to them (security forces) not to allow anyone beyond that point, so I had to return,” Sofi said. “We have been confined to our houses as our curfew passes have been cancelled and no fresh passes are being issued. This is for the first time that we were not being allowed to discharge our professional duties,” said Aarish Bilal, Jammu and Kashmir bureau chief of Live India news channel. Most of the local newspapers being published from Srinagar remained closed as their staff could not reach office. Even this correspondent was stopped by the security forces from going out and was not allowed to move beyond a certain point. “I told you that nobody is allowed to move. You want me to be harsh with you……. return,” an Army officer said. The media people said despite having curfew passes issued by the district administration they were not allowed to go out of their houses. “The decision has been taken at the top level not to allow mediapersons, as their presence during protests escalates tension. So it has been decided to cancel all passes already issued to them,” a senior state officer said. Yesterday, some photojournalists were beaten up by the security forces while they were covering a protest at Bamaloo and even today the police entered the Press Enclave, snatched cameras and thrashed some of the mediapersons. The DC, Srinagar, Mehraj Ahmed Kakroo, said as the Army had staged a flag march the curfew passes were not being entertained. |
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Journalists protest in Rajouri
Jammu, July 7 Describing it a direct attack on the freedom of press, the journalists forwarded their resentment in written to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah through District Magistrate, Rajouri, GA Khawaja. The journalists held a demonstration at the Gujjar Mandi chowk and flayed the action of the security forces against journalists while they were performing their profession duty. Speaking on the occasion, Tazeem Dar, a journalist associated with Right Media Commutations and president of the Rajouri Press Council, demanded that an FIR be lodged against the security men who cane-charged the journalists in the Valley. Another senior journalist, Varinder Malhotra, associated with Hind Samachar, said “This is a direct attack on the freedom of press and all those who used the force must be booked under law.” He also demanded a judicial probe into the use of force against the journalists. The protesters also appealed to the Press Council of India to intervene and lodge a protest against the cane-charging of journalists in Kashmir. Meanwhile, the District Magistrate forwarded the representation of the journalists to the Chief Minister through the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu.
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Colleges begin late admissions
Jammu, July 7 Now, the admission seekers have two weeks’ time to get admission in the colleges. Besides admission fee, the candidates have to pay a late fee of around Rs 140 per day up to July 15 and around Rs 265 per day up to July 20. The colleges are witnessing a heavy rush of admission seekers, who could not get admission earlier due to various reasons. Almost all colleges have filled the maximum seats. At the same time, some colleges are expecting more candidates during this two-week period. Government Sri Pratap Memorial Rajput Commerce College has given admission to around 750 students, whereas the intake capacity of the college is 720. “The number of students, who can take admission in the college, can go beyond 1,000. We are still expecting more students, as we are yet to declare the merit list of BBA and BCA courses,” principal of the college Anita Sudan told The Tribune. In Government Maulana Azad Memorial College over 300 candidates have taken admission in the Science stream, whereas more than 700 candidates have been admitted in the the arts stream. The intake capacity of the college is 1,300. While talking to The Tribune, principal of the college Ajeet Anggral said, “We are still admitting the desiring candidates and I think the number of candidates might go beyond 1,300 seats till July 20.” Similarly, the Government College for Women, Parade, has admitted around 1,611 candidates so far, whereas the intake capacity of the college is 1,760 seats. Principal of the college Kiran Bakshi said 600 more students were expected to get admission during these two weeks. Meanwhile, in Government Gandhi Memorial (GGM) Science College, maximum available seats have been filled by the college authorities till date. “Under morning shift, we have admitted 894 candidates for various courses and around 300 candidates are still expected to get admission up to July 20,” said principal of GGM college MS Baloria. However, the intake capacity of the college under morning shift was 1,320. He added that under the evening shift the college has admitted around 225 candidates, whereas the available number of the seats was 300. |
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Deployment fraught with danger, says PDP
Srinagar, July 7 A meeting of senior party leaders presided over by its patron and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed expressed concern over the “highly disturbed situation” in the Valley caused by the killing of several teenagers by the security forces. Others who attended the meeting included PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, Muzaffar Hussein
Baig, Moulvi Iftikhar Hussein Ansari, Abdul Aziz Zargar, Mohammad Dilawar Mir and Tariq Hameed
Karra, a party spokesman said. The meeting observed that the government had bungled the situation all through and the turbulence was sparked primarily by the brutal use of force that unfortunately targeted the youth of a particular age group, the spokesman said. “Instead of trying to address the cause of anger and taking action against the perpetrators, the government only attempted damage control to restrict its fallout on the image of the government without bothering for the precious young lives,” he added. Along with this the government adopted the strategy of demonising the youth, calling them agents and attributing monetary and other motives to a genuine and peaceful expression of sentiments, the spokesman said. This, he said, was evident from the deployment of a reluctant Army to convey an impression of a functional though helpless government. He said it was ironical that the state government had requisitioned the Army to fight unarmed citizens at a time when in other states a consensus had been arrived not to use defence forces even against highly armed and trained fighters. Meanwhile, APHC chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq here today described the deployment of the Army as unfortunate saying it had been the government’s “first and last resort” in handling Kashmir. In a statement here, he said military measures would in no way be able to break the will and resolve of the people. |
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Besides separatists, PDP responsible for turmoil: BJP
Jammu, July 7 “Ruling coalition partners cannot escape the responsibility because it is their prime duty to ensure the safety and security of people and their property. They have failed to discharge their duties in this regard. They have been advocating the withdrawal of the security forces without caring for intelligence feedback about the situation and infiltration from across the border,” he said. Arora said all parties should behave in a responsible manner and all should stand united. The BJP would endorse every step that was taken to control the situation effectively. “There are certain elements having vested interests, which want to keep the pot boiling as it served their separatist tendencies,” he said. Arora said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had realised the ground reality that proxy war could not be fought without the security forces and demanded the redeployment of the forces in sensitive areas so that untoward incidents could be stopped. |
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46 years on, woman peon awaits regularisation of job
Jammu, July 7 She mops the floor of four rooms, two verandas and sweeps the sprawling compound of the school every morning. After she is finished with the work, she has to make several rounds for bringing buckets full of water from a spring about one kilometre from the school. Besides, she prepares and serves tea to the teaching staff twice a day and rinses their tiffin-boxes after they have eaten their lunch. All she gets for this work is Rs 500. It’s not her monthly income but the annual salary. The life of Chachi-Chaprasan, whose real name is Dharmo Devi, has been tragic. She became a widow at the age of 22. To eke out a living for her children, she started working at the school. But till now her dream of the regularisation of her service remains unfulfilled. “I went on leave only once during my service around two decades ago when I underwent a surgery. Otherwise, I never availed of any leave,” said Chachi-Chaprasan. She added, “Over the years, the strength of students and number of rooms have increased in the school. The school has been upgraded from primary to middle level, but my salary has remained the same.” Sources in the school Education Department said such workers were called ‘contingent workers’. “Their salary differs from school to school. They are paid from the contingency fund of the school,” they said and added, “The annual contingency fund for a school does not exceed Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000. It is from this amount schools have to meet miscellaneous expenses, besides making payment to such workers.” With the start of the mid-day meal scheme, her financial condition has improved a little. Though officially her son has been assigned with the job, she cooks meals for the students and rinses utensils. She does everything single-handedly and gets an additional amount of Rs 500 every month. Instead of being disillusioned, Chachi is still full of hope that one day his grandson would get a permanent job of peon in the same school. “Last year, I gave in writing that my grandson be given a permanent job when I am not able to work,” she says with a weary smile showing her decayed teeth.
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Nirmal Singh to represent BJP in China
Dinesh Manhotra /TNS
The central committee of the Communist Party of China has extended an invitation to the BJP for the conference and the party has asked Nirmal Singh and Murlidar Rao to participate in the meet. Nirmal Singh is the first leader of the BJP from the state who has been invited by China to participate in a conference. Representatives of political parties of Asian and some European countries are participating in the conference. Being the main opposition party of India, the Ministry of International Department of China has invited the BJP to send its representatives in this conference. “It is a matter of privilege for me that the party has assigned me this important task,” Nirmal Singh said. He informed The Tribune that the conference was aimed at devising a strategy to fight poverty in the Asian countries and other underdeveloped nations. Nirmal Singh said BJP national president Nitin Gidkari and other senior leaders of the party had briefed him and Murlidar Rao about the conference. “The BJP’s policies on poverty alleviation have yielded encouraging results and we will effectively highlight our policies in the conference,” he said.
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NSUI to conduct talent hunt programmes
Jammu, July 7 NSUI state president Rashid Choudhary revealed that the programme would be organised in order to rope in and attract best talent in the NSUI and to translate the vision of Rahul Gandhi about extending the leadership opportunities to the youth the country and the state. As a result of the talent search all students found talented in leadership, sports, arts and academics would be given responsibility in the NSUI at their respective places. Choudhary describes the talent hunt as the opportunity for the common students and youth to emerge as the future leaders of the state and the country. While giving the details, Choudhary said the talent hunt would be conducted in five phases across the state. In the first phase, the talent hunt would be conducted in Udhampur, Ramban and Kishtwar districts very soon. Second phase would cover Kathua, Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch districts. In September 2010, third round talent search would be conducted in south Kashmir, whereas the fourth phase would cover the North Kashmir. Fifth and the last phase of the talent hunt would cover the Leh and Kargil district of the state.
— TNS |
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Dalai Lama to visit Nubra valley
Leh, July 7 During his stay at the Nubra valley, the Dalai Lama will consecrate the 100-foot high Lord Maitreya statue near Diskit Monastery there. The newly-built statue of Lord Meitreya at Diskit is the largest one in Ladakh after those at Thiksay and Liker monasteries. The Dalai Lama will also deliver teachings of Lord Buddha on the purification of mind at Diskit in the Nubra valley and will pay a visit to Lord Mahakala statue in the valley. |
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78,950 have darshan in six days
Srinagar, June 7 As per the sources, 14,211 yatris today left from Nunwan-Pahalgam and Baltal base camps for the cave shrine. Out of 14,211 yatris, 9,759 yatris comprising 2,026 women, 7,018 men, 403 children and 212 sadhus left the Pahalgam base camp and 4,452 yatris comprising 1,212 women, 2922 men, 282 children and 36 sadhus left the Baltal base camp. — TNS
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Irrespective of their age, every villager addresses her as Chachi-Chaprasan. The 76-year-old skinny woman with grey and brown matted hair earned this pseudonym while doing the job of a peon at government school in her native village Tala Nagara in Sunder Bani
tehsil. She started working in the school in 1964 after she was persuaded by a village elder that one day her services would be
regularised. Forty-Six years on, sadly enough, her profession earned her just an identity but no social security.
Jammu, July 7