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Facing criticism for becoming CM’s yes men
Buses for physically challenged soon
Organised crime takes root in city
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Family builds memorial to martyred son
Doctors demand better pay, facilities
Govt treasuries to go hi-tech
Jammu MC deploys road-sweeping vehicles
Vohra presents scooter to assn for handicapped
11 CT scan machines sanctioned
jammu diary
Tiffin service picks up in Udhampur
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Facing criticism for becoming CM’s yes men
Dayalachak (Kathua), October 26 The Congress ministers new stand was very much evident in the rally held at Dayalachak in Kathua in which they assured the party workers that the Congress was strong enough to counter any such campaign which could led to disintegration of the country. The Congress ministers have been forced to adopt an aggressive posture as feeling has grown among the party cadre that their representatives in the ministry have become “yes men” of the National Conference to enjoy power. Although the Congress ministers avoided direct confrontation with the Chief Minister, they made it clear that their party would not allow any person to compromise with the integration of the country. In an obvious reference to the controversial statement of Omar Abdullah on the accession of the state with the Union of India, Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma asserted that Jammu and Kashmir was not a personal property of anybody. In a veiled attack on Omar, he said:”Jammu and Kashmir is not like a piece of burfi that any individual would divide it as per his wish. This state comprises Jammu and Ladakh also”. Echoing a similar viewpoint, Minister for Medical Education RS Chib assured the party workers that being representatives of the people of Jammu, it was their duty to protect the interests of this region. Congress workers attacked Omar Abdulllah in the rally for furthering the interests of only the Kashmir Valley. Workers even took the Congress ministers to task for, what they called, bowing before the Chief Minister, just to enjoy power at the cost of the party. Youth Congress leader Nirdosh Sharma, who was instrumental in organising this rally, dared the party ministers to rid this state of inefficient Omar who had not only spoiled the state’s peaceful atmosphere but also contributed in eroding the party base in its stronghold. Veteran Congress leader from Kathua, Manohar Singh, did not spared his own party leaders and ministers for becoming “yes men” of Omar Abdullah. “It is very unfortunate that our ministers as well as leadership have failed to protect the interests of people of Jammu”, he regretted.
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Buses for physically challenged soon
Srinagar, October 26 “A bus service exclusively for physically challenged persons will be launched soon,” Minister for Social Welfare Sakina Itoo said after reviewing the facilities for the disabled at a meeting recently. Itoo also directed the commissioner-secretary of the Transport Department to ensure that separate seats were reserved in the state-run buses for such persons. The Minister said 1.50 lakh handicapped persons, registered with the government, were being provided relief by the Social Welfare Department. She said under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan, 20,000 handicapped students were on the rolls of government schools at different levels. “Wheelchairs, walkers and tricycles have been provided to as many as 334 handicapped persons in the Kashmir division so far,” Itoo said. She said Rs 6.90 crore have been received from the Centre for the current financial year for providing relief to disabled persons. “A thorough survey will be conducted to workout the exact number of handicapped persons in the state after which a proposal would be sent to the Centre for the allotment of funds,” she said. The Minister also directed the officers of the Health Department to ensure that separate counters be opened for physically challenged persons to obtain admission tickets to the government as well as private hospitals free of cost. — PTI |
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Organised crime takes root in city
Jammu, October 26 In a multicultural society of the capital city where money power is increasing gradually, organised crime has also spread its tentacles. Barring one case of alleged custodial killing of a youth, Rajnish Sharma, in the police lock-up, four other crimes were carried out with proper planning. All these form the list of top five crimes of the city till date. The Tribune chose these five cases as they are much talked about by cops, journalists and public. Chopra family murder case
Chopra family murder case is an example of the most organised contract killing in the region. More than four years have passed since the sensational murder of business tycoon Rajender, alias Raju Chopra, his wife Madhu Chopra, their daughter Saloni Chopra, a servant and a driver, on the intervening night of September 16-17, 2006, at their house in Trikuta Nagar here. The Puneet and Rohit, sons of Raju Chopra, have urged the High Court to order a CBI probe in the incident. Those who have been arrested include four brothers belonging to the Pardi tribe, the kingpin Sangram Singh, Mahesh Singh, Kiran and Rusy, Vicky, Nanju, Bhawani Singh, Narain, Lalit and Sikandar, and they have been kept in the Kot Bhalwal prison here. Custodial death case
What began as an exemplary case of interfaith marriage ended up as a family drama akin to cases where a daughter-in-law alleges harassment at the hands of her in-laws or vice versa. An interfaith marriage, which not only claimed the life of a Hindu boy Rajnish Sharma, but also the Kashmiri girl, Amina Yusuf, alias Anchal Sharma, who reunited with her paternal family after a few months of the custodial death of Rajnish, raised allegations of harassment on her in-laws. The custodial death of Rajnish is one among the top five crime incidents in Jammu till date. Rajnish married Amina at a local court, which was solemnised at the Arya Samaj Temple on August 21, 2009. On the accusation of kidnapping the girl, he was picked up by the Srinagar police on September 29, 2009. On October 5, 2009, Rajnish allegedly died in the police lock-up in Srinagar and then public started a series of protests and vandalised public property. CET scam
Hindi flick “Munna Bhai MBBS” gave a new terminology to the crime of impersonating an apparently weak candidate in an exam. Commoners have done it, but in shocking incident, Congress Minister GM Saroori’s daughter allegedly did a Munna Bhai. She was among the seven aspirants who had arranged impersonators to appear on their behalf to get seats for MBBS and BDS courses in private colleges on August 21 this year. Following the incident, Saroori had to resign from his post eventually. The CBI was later entrusted the investigation in the case. The kingpin in the scam, who had arranged the impersonators, Kunj Bihari, a resident of Patna in Bihar, was also arrested later. Teenager’s murder for ransom
The case of an 11-year-old boy Shalin Gupta, the lone son of his parents born after 12 years of marriage, is a shocking example of an organised crime scripted by teenagers.
He was brutally killed by two drug addicts, who, in a well-organised plan, kidnapped and killed him at the Nai Basti area here for the ransom of Rs 10 lakh on the night of June 11 this year. The killing provoked a number of protests demanding sentence for the culprits. The family got a call from a STD booth on the night of kidnapping that their child has been kidnapped and they were told to arrange Rs 10 lakh for his release. The police came to know about the involvement of two youths in the case, a class XII student Darbinder Singh, son of Tirath Singh, resident of Nai Basti, and Gagandeep Singh, son of Paramjit Singh, resident of Gole Gujral Camp. However, before the police could catch them, they killed the boy and threw him into a dry river in the Belicharana area.
Amandeep Murder Case
Sometimes not the crime itself, but the conspiracy to cover up the crime becomes an organised or far bigger crime. This happened in the case of Amandeep Singh, son of a former
MLC, who was shot at in his house in Shastri Nagar here on August 19, 2009.
The accused was the son of Nagar Singh, a prominent businessman. Immediately after the murder, the police claims, began a conspiracy to cover it up. It was learnt that a politician took up the matter with the Prime Minister who called for an immediate action. Soon, the cover-up was busted and many were arrested for pocketing crores to destroy the evidence. SSP Manohar Singh, the then SHO of Gandhi Nagar police station, Sultan
Mirza, SI Satnam Singh, munshi Talib Hussain, a ballistic expert of FSL Sujat
Bukhari, Nagar Singh, his two brothers, Jaggar Singh and Rakesh Singh, along with a Royal Singh, were all put behind bars.
— Ashok Gupta, IGP, Jammu |
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Family builds memorial to martyred son
Jammu, October 26 About 11 years ago on October 23, 1999, in a small Seloniyan village in Poonch district, a soldier of the 8 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry laid down his life while fighting six hardcore terrorists. During a search operation, a bullet hit rifleman Anter Singh, but without caring for his life, he pounced upon the terrorists and killed them before succumbing to his injuries. He was awarded the Sena Medal gallantry for his supreme sacrifice. “It happens rarely that a family gets two Sena Medals. The two brothers are indeed brave hearts and people shall salute their bravery,” remarked a senior Army officer. In remembrance for this act of bravery, his family has constructed a memorial on the Jammu-Poonch Highway at Mehra village near Narian in Nowshera. Anter hails from a village, which has a rich tradition of sending youths to the Army. With bravery in their blood, Anter’s brother Havildar Nirmal Singh also exhibited exemplary courage while fighting militants. Nirmal, at present serving in the 20 SIKH Infantry Unit, has also been awarded the Sena Medal gallantry. He, too, was wounded while fighting militants and has six bullet marks on his body. Anter’s father and uncle both were a part of the 10 J&K Militia and fought the World War-II. His uncle laid down his life fighting for the country during the 1947-48 operations against Pakistan. The small village with a population of nearly 1,100 has 200 serving and retired soldiers. It has been a tradition in this village to serve the motherland. The commander, Tithwal Brigade (Ace of Spades Division), inaugurated Anter’s memorial on October 23 as a mark of respect for the supreme sacrifice made by this soldier. Anter’s Commanding Officer, now a Brigadier in the White Knight Corps, attended the Akhand Path. Wreaths were laid on the memorial. Prominent members of the civil administration, including the DC and the SP, Rajouri, the SDM and the ASP, Nowshera, also attended the function.
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Doctors demand better pay, facilities
Jammu, October 26 Dr Arshad Bhat, president of the Junior Doctors Association, that represents registrars, demonstrators, PG students, house physicians and interns at GMCH and its associated hospitals in Jammu, said they were not getting regular stipend and salary. He also demanded for the implementation of order for annual increments in the stipend of PG students as per the schedule which has already been delayed. Other demands included improvement in working conditions of resident doctors, free meals for staff on emergency duty, assault on doctors on duty be treated as non-bailable offence and hike in stipend of interns. He also sought provision for annual cultural, sports and academic meets on a regular basis. He demanded that the library should remain opened round-the-clock so that they get befitted by it. He further demanded allocation of two advance PG post increments to doctors in pay band 3 who have joined health services after the completion of PG course, allocation of membership of resident doctors for faculty club as they do not have their membership elsewhere. Dr Sanjay Parihar, spokesperson for the JDA, said there was a need for deployment of more doctors in hospitals to ensure smooth functioning, besides reducing workload of doctors. Dr Parihar also asked the government to give first priority to the improvement of basic facilities like food for doctors on duty and toilets and retiring rooms in hospitals for resident doctors.
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Govt treasuries to go hi-tech
Srinagar, October 26 The plan would be sent for approval to the Union Ministry of Finance under the national e-governance programme. Abdul Rahim Rather, Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, announced this while reviewing the working of treasuries of the Kashmir Province and Funds Organisation at a high-level meeting held here recently. The minister said a treasury software, Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS), was in the final stage of development through the state unit of the NIC. He said in the first phase, 11 treasuries, six in Kashmir and five in Jammu division, would be fully computerised during the current fiscal. While urging for strict observance of fiscal discipline, Rather urged treasury officers (TOs) to follow all formalities, adding that in no case payments should exceed budget allocations. He directed the TOs to maintain a budget control register and said strict action would be taken against violators of the directives. Rather said treasuries were the face of the government and officials should have to discharge their duties efficiently and in a transparent manner as per the expectations of the people. He said while efficient and hard working officers would be encouraged, non-performers would face strict action. He complemented the TOs for working despite odds during the current year and assured that the government would safeguard their career prospects. Besides 700 promotions, 202 gazetted and 431 non-gazetted officers had been regularised to do away with ad hoc system, Rather added. Pointing out some shortcomings, the minister said that a backlog of Red DC bills amounting to about Rs 1,900 core had not been submitted to the office of the Principal Accountant General as yet. The minister also urged for strict follow-up to AG’s audit para’s, adding that any default on this account could invite strictures from the Public Accounts Committee of the state legislature. Rather also instructed the TOs to ensure timely rendition of monthly accounts to the office of Principal AG which should be perfect, error-free and complete in all respects. He directed them not to make payments unless verification of previous drawls was made. He also urged for the regular verification of pension payments and said Rs 1.77 core excess pension payment made by some branches of J&K Bank were yet to be recovered. However, Rather complemented the officials for implementing the new pension scheme effectively from January this year. The meeting was attended by Dr. Manohar Lal, Minister of State for Finance; Sudhanshu Pandy, commissioner secretary, finance; Wali Mohd Bhat, director, general accounts and treasuries; GN Bhat, director, funds organization; and other senior officers.
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Jammu MC deploys road-sweeping vehicles
Jammu, October 26 The MC has also sent a proposal to the Civil Secretariat for the purchase of two road sweeping suction machines to ensure proper cleanliness in the city. The skid loaders are being used for loading equipments for excavation purpose, cleaning small drains, sweeping and watering the roads. Kulwant Singh, chief transport officer, JMC, said the Economic Reconstruction Agency had purchased two skid loaders and had given it to the JMC for maintaining sanitation in the city. The skid loaders have also helped the MC to reduce the number of safai karamcharis. “One skid loader minimises the workload of around 15 safai karmacharis,” he said. However, the ongoing excavation work for laying sewerage pipes, being carried out by different private construction agencies was causing hindrance in the smooth functioning of the skid loaders, said Kulwant Singh. He said, “We are presently using these loaders in limited areas because of the excavation work.” The vehicles are being used in VIP areas like the Residency Road, Raghunath Bazaar Road, around the Civil Secretariat and Canal Road. With these two skid loaders, the total number of vehicles of the corporation has raised to 135, which are being used for sanitation purpose.
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Vohra presents scooter to assn for handicapped
Srinagar, October 26 Handing over the motorised tricycle, the Governor said his Principal Secretary was in touch with certain companies for early supply to the association of a specially designed vehicle especially suitable for meeting the requirements of the physically challenged. The Governor informed the association that he had discussed their demands with Ms. Sakina Itoo, Minister for Social Welfare, last week and she had agreed to personally see the status of reservations in government jobs and all other support and assistance programmes for the physically handicapped to ensure that there was no gap in the timely delivery of whatever the government had committed to doing for the physically challenged. Sajad Anwar Masoodi, president of the All J&K Handicapped Association, Srinagar, and other office-bearers, thanked the Governor for taking keen interest to find solutions to their problems.
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11 CT scan machines sanctioned
Srinagar, October 26 Chairing a meeting here to review the performance under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), the Chief Minister also sanctioned the state’s share of about Rs 16 crore for opening nursing schools in the state. He also approved the release of Rs. 27.16 crore for various programmes of the NRHM. The Chief Minister emphasised the need for reaching out to the people in rural and far-flung areas for best possible healthcare and equipping the hospitals and health centres with latest medicare tools. He underlined the importance of equipping government hospitals with modern medical gadgets to ensure qualitative treatment to the patients. He also advised the departments concerned to ensure implementation of a transparent transfer policy framed by the government. The Chief Minister directed a change in the nomenclature of grading doctors in A and B category, advising them to make their grading on the basis of specialty and seniority. Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma said an MoU would be signed for opening nursing schools at a cost of Rs 78 crore on a 80:20 ratio to be shared by the Centre and the state . He said steps were also afoot to set up a separate directorate of procurement and supplies so that medicines could be supplied to the patients at reduced prices.
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Tiny tots speak for environment
The other day, young buds of Saint Mary’s Presentation Convent dressed up as butterflies, animals, birds, trees, tribesmen and folk dancers tried to convey a message to the people — Save Planet Earth. On the occasion of their annual day celebrations-Green Fest 2010 — the young ones drew attention of the audience towards environmental degradation and laid emphasis on preserving the nature for the coming generations. Woven around the theme of environment, the schoolchildren aptly conveyed the message. The charming and innocent children drew a thundering applause for their thought-provoking performances, forcing the gathering to do some introspection. They forced the people to introspect as to what they have done to the earth —only home for mankind (see picture). Forceful speaker
Some speakers are really “forceful” in virtual meaning of the word. This was observed in a Congress worker’s convention in Dyala Chak on Sunday. As all Congress leaders wanted to address the convention, the organisers found it difficult to accommodate all of them due to paucity of time. Former MLA of HiranagarGirdhari Lal Chalotra, who had organised the rally, shortlisted some leaders to deliver their speeches. Chalotra tendered an apology to the left-outleaders. As soon as he announced that Sardar Khan, a cop-turned politician, can’t be allowed to address the rally, his supporters resorted to shouting slogans for expressing their disapproval. Sardar Khan, who has retired as SP and known for his role in anti-militancy operations, stood up from his seat and shouted “as a policeman I always remained on the front. I killed dreaded terrorists from point blank range. I will not tolerate if you don’t allow me to speak”. Ultimately, the organisers of the rally allowed him to have his say. Go to any cash counter of BSNL to pay the bills, they will charge a few rupees extra. The company is not taking this amount for any extra service being provided on your gadget, but the officials sitting at the cash window do not return the balance, simply saying:” We don’t have change”. In a day, hundreds of people visit the BSNL cash counters and it seems the company or its officials have found a new way to become richer easily. Even though the customers can be seen arguing with the company officials in this regard, this practice has now become a habit with BSNL staff at the cash counters. Right dress code
Sports and Medical Education Minister RS Chib seems to be very particular when it comes to dressing nicely and enforcing the right dress code at the workplace. The minister could be seen attending functions in freshly ironed suits with white shirts pairing with perfectly matching ties. At a meeting with doctors at Government Medical College and Hospital, the minister advised them to develop a dress sense and wear apron, besides sporting their nameplates while on duty. After concluding the meeting as the minister was coming out, some students mobbed the minister and started discussing their issue. Chib, who was hurrying for another function, told the students to meet him in the evening. Finding the students unyielding, he finally took their leave pleading that he had to change the dress before heading for RS Pura to assess the crop loss caused by hailstorm. (Contributed by Ravi Krishnan Khajuria, Dinesh
Manhotra, Archit Watts and |
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Tiffin service picks up in Udhampur
Udhampur, October 26 According to Sourav Mahajan, a bank employee, the trend in making has also spared them the frequent agony of upset stomach caused by unhygienic food available at dhabas. The man behind the initiative is Ravi Kumar (25), a security guard of a private bank. Hailing from Paouni in Reasi district, he has been cooking his own food. “When some employees from outside working in the bank came to know about my cooking habit, they asked me to cook for them also. So I started providing meals in tiffins,” he said. Beginning with four customers, he started getting enquiries from others. Udhampur being a small sleepy town on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway had no such facility so far. This probably could be due to the fact that there were not many employees coming here to work from outside. Most of the outsiders include employees of government departments, banks and other financial and insurance companies. The number of customers has now grown to 20, an encouraging number in a place like Udhampur. Ravi is hopeful that the trend will surely pick up. “I am getting 2-3 enquiries almost daily,” he said, revealing his plans to take up the business in a professional manner. This includes having a proper menu keeping in view the preferences of his customers as well as modes of payment. The initiative has also financially empowered a youth like Ravi who came to Udhampur looking for a job. He works in night shifts due to which he is left with enough time to engage in a work that brings additional income. “I am getting Rs 3,500 per month as salary which is very low. But I have been able to earn about Rs 5,000 additionally from tiffin service,” he says.
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Governor NN Vohra presented a motorised tricycle to the All J&K Handicapped Association for facilitating the mobility of the physically challenged at Raj Bhavan here yesterday. During a recent meeting with a delegation of the association, the Governor had announced to provide a specially designed vehicle and a motorised tricycle to it for facilitating the physically challenged.
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The trend in crime has been changing. We are putting all efforts to take the help of public via conducting public meetings and village defence committees to check crime
Most crime are organised in a way. The police is trying to control the crime rate and it is decreasing with every passing day