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NH still shut, avalanche alert extended
Traffic travails: 1,000 vehicles stranded
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Govt shows 13 ‘corrupt’ officials the door
Cabinet meeting today
Women separatist group sermonises V-Day revellers
Central institute to help check accidents: Omar
Love blossoms under shadow of fear
Activists of the Bajrang Dal protest against the Valentine’s Day celebrations at
Bage Bahu Park in Jammu on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Inderjeet Verma
Ruling coalition busy amassing wealth, says Mehbooba
Assembly staff grapple to decipher MLAs’ queries
Man acquitted in forgery case
MC Impasse
Srinagar to get foreign post office
Folk artistes enthral audience
Police warns about fake finance firms
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NH still shut, avalanche alert extended
Srinagar, February 14 Rooftops of some houses were blown off during a snowstorm that ripped across Khandyal village of the Gurez area in Bandipore district of north Kashmir last night. No reports of any causalities were reported in the area. The Gurez area remained cut off, as the 85-km-long road from Bandipore to Dawar (centre of Gurez) remained closed to traffic due to heavy snow. The medium avalanche warning, issued earlier, was extended by 48 hours in the higher reaches of the Valley, an official spokesman here said. These areas included Banihal, Gulmarg, Chowkibal, Tangdhar, Keran, Machil, Gurez, Gagangir, Sonamarg, Drass and Zojila. People living in these areas have been advised to exercise caution while venturing out. The spokesperson said on the request of the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Hassan Samoon, the Border Roads Organisation men and machinery, under the Beacon project, started clearing the snow at 5.30 am today. The work continued through the day to prevent further accumulation of snow. Overnight snowfall had resulted in accumulation of 18 to 24 inches of snow on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway. Five avalanches of heavy to moderate sizes were reported between Panthal and Jawahar Tunnel. The work on clearing the snow was expected to be completed by this evening, subject to favourable weather conditions. The highway was expected to be thrown open to traffic tomorrow, he said. Last night, 45 vehicles carrying supplies were stranded near the Shaitani Nala area, around 2 km short of the south end of Jawahar Tunnel. The BRO was requested to help the administration in escorting the stranded vehicles through the tunnel by placing a snow plough ahead of them up to Qazigund. Three light motor vehicles were found stranded and their drivers were evacuated and given shelter for the night. The Beacon project of the BRO, looking after the maintenance of the highway, assisted in the rescue and evacuation operations, the official spokesperson said. |
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Traffic travails: 1,000 vehicles stranded
Jammu, February 14 Magotra said 100 vehicles that were stranded in Ramban district since yesterday morning were allowed to move towards the tunnel. He said slippery road conditions prevailed at various places on the highway. “Snowfall across the tunnel and rain in Ramban have compounded the problems for the Border Roads Organisation men,” he added, while describing the situation as grim, particularly on the stretch between Jawahar Tunnel and Patnitop. The officer said six inches of fresh snowfall was recorded at Jawahar Tunnel today, while heavy snowfall was reported in the Ramso, Batote, Patnitop areas along the highway. He said landslides had occurred in the Nashri and Sher Bibi areas of Ramban. A serpentine queue of Kashmir-bound vehicles was witnessed at Nagrota, Udhampur, Kud and Ramban. — TNS |
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Govt shows 13 ‘corrupt’ officials the door
Jammu, February 14 However, the axe has again fallen on the small fish as the government in its order has handed over premature retirement to middle and lower rung officials and employees. It is understood that the committee has, in the first instance, recommended those officers and officials against whom there are concrete cases of accepting bribe. These officials belong to the Public Health Engineering, Public Works, Education, Finance, Power Development, Forest and Rural Development departments. The officers and officials who have been prematurely retired are Surinder Singh, Executive Engineer, Economic Reconstruction Agency, J&K (PHE Department); Farooq Ahmad Khoru, Executive Engineer, Irrigation Division, Sumbal (PHE Department); Noor Mohammad Bhat, DFO, Planning and Publicity Division, Srinagar (Forest Department); Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, In charge AEE, Pahalgam Development Authority, PWD (R&B); Khursheed Anwar Shah, AEE PMGSY, Ganderbal, PWD(R&B); Aijaz Ahmad Kirmani, In charge AEE, J&K Police Housing Corporation, Srinagar, PWD(R&B); Shaheen Akhter, Head Master, High School, Kallar, Rajouri (Education Department); Madan Lal, head draftsman, PWD(R&B) Electric Division, Jammu; Parshotam Lal, Junior Engineer, Rural Development, Jammu; Vachitter Singh, lineman posted at EM&RE Division-I Parade Jammu (Power Development Department); Gulzari Lal, technician-III, Power Development Department, Jammu; Shama Bakshi, Assistant Compiler attached in the office of Joint Director Funds, Jammu (Finance Department); and Subash Chander Raina Accounts Assistant, Joint Director, Accounts &Treasuries, Jammu (Finance Department). An official spokesman has said that the standing committee under the Chief Secretary was reviewing more cases for premature retirement. The list of such officials may also include some senior officers of the government, he added. |
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Cabinet meeting today
Jammu, February 14 The meeting assumes significance as it is the first one to be convened after the Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed episode. After the Peerzada controversy, Congress ministers in the coalition had decided to put up a united front. After divesting Peerzada Mohammed Sayeed of the School Education portfolio, the state government today issued an official order to change the department of the minister. |
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Women separatist group sermonises V-Day revellers
Srinagar, February 14 Even though the separatists group in the past has been accused of resorting to violent means during their “anti-obscenity” campaigns, on this Valentine’s Day, the Dukhtaran-e-Millat (DeM) activists chose to give religious sermons to couples who were seen celebrating the day at restaurants. The DeM workers were seen “counselling” young couples at several places in the city. While no violent incidents were reported during the DeM drive, police personnel were seen closely following the activists of the hardline group. Talking to mediapersons, DeM chief Asiya Andrabi said: “We have been carrying out this campaign against obscenity for the past five years now. Our drive is aimed at safeguarding the youth against the obscene western culture.” She claimed that the DeM campaign had been “successful”. “Our campaign has been successful as we saw a comparatively lesser number of couples in restaurants (for celebrating the Valentine’s Day) this time,” Asiya said. Besides the DeM, a students’ group, Islami Jamaat-e-Taulba, too had launched a campaign against Valentine's Day this year. Urging the youth to observe “Haft-e-Haya” (week of modesty) from February 13 to 19, the group also circulated pamphlets and published advertisements in local newspapers as part of its campaign against “immodesty, immorality and lewdness”. |
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Central institute to help check accidents: Omar
Jammu, February 14 He said the institute would be asked to prepare the report at the earliest. “Road accidents in Doda-Kishtwar and other hilly districts of the Jammu region have been of great concern to the government,” he said. A comprehensive strategy was required to address the problem and the CRRI was the right institute to be involved in this matter, he added. He said a new fleet of SRTC buses would be inducted in accident-prone areas, especially in erstwhile Doda district, to augment the transport system and reduce the chances of accidents due to overloading and ageing of vehicles. “It has been observed that the percentage of accidents involving SRTC buses plying in accident-prone areas is zero. As such, focus is being laid to enhance the SRTC fleet to a greater extent for operation in these areas,” he added. Reviewing the District Development Plans for 2011-12 of Doda and Samba districts at separate meetings here, Omar directed officials to ensure prompt and timely submission of utilisation certificates so that funds flowed smoothly and works got completed in the prescribed time-frame. There was no room for excuse in this regard, he told the district administration, while warning erring officials against taking stern administrative action. “If funds are used, you should issue utilisation certificate without wasting any time,” he asserted. |
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Love blossoms under shadow of fear
Jammu, February 14 The activists did not refrain from using highhanded tactics, while the police stood as a mute spectator. Commercial establishments had a field day, as these were thronged by couples to celebrate the day. A rose, costing around Rs 10 on regular days, sold at Rs 20-25 at most places here today. According to a dealer, around one lakh rose sticks were sold in the state in comparison to the 80,000 sticks sold last year. Couples were seen buying gifts for their beloved from gift shops across the city. Nisha Sharma (name changed), who bought a rose for her boyfriend from a gift shop, said: “A rose speaks for itself. You do not have to say those three words if you are giving one to someone. Unfortunately, we have to adopt secret ways just to express our love, as certain political and religious outfits have given a call for boycotting the celebrations.” Abhishek Gupta, a student of the University of Jammu, questioned the rationale behind opposing the Valentine’s Day celebrations in the name of culture and religion. “Love is prevalent in all cultures and religions, so why oppose it?” he said. |
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Ruling coalition busy amassing wealth, says Mehbooba
Srinagar, February 14 Addressing party workers at Kupwara in north Kashmir, Mehbooba said the state government had received over Rs 30,000 crore in the past three years apart from funds under the Prime Minister’s special package and Asian Development Bank schemes initiated by the previous regime. The money was meant for building roads, providing electricity and water, irrigating lands, besides provide employment to the youth, but those in power had fattened themselves with money and luxuries. “While their children pass examinations through organised cheating and get all the luxuries, those of the ordinary people are treated with bullets, atrocities, police cases and humiliation,” she lamented. Mehbooba said while homeless people in the state craved a roof over their heads, the leaders whom they trusted with their votes had amassed so much wealth that they were now transferring it to foreign lands. “Some have villas in Dubai, while others have mansions and commercial properties spread over Europe and America, not to speak of Srinagar, Jammu, Delhi or Himachal Pradesh,” she added. Mehbooba said politicians without a single job or business in the family had become the richest members of society by exploiting people’s trust and selling their blood.aSenior party leaders and legislators, including general secretary Mohammed Dilawar Mir, MLA Abdul Haq Khan and former minister Ghulam Mohiudin Sofi, were also present. |
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Assembly staff grapple to decipher MLAs’ queries
Jammu, February 14 With barely two weeks to go for the Assembly session, most of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly staff is busy preparing replies to around 1,100 questions submitted by MLAs. Let alone reply to such queries, the staff is burning the midnight oil to first “understand, edit and give a final shape” to such queries sought by legislators -- some of whom are not even matriculate. “Except for the queries sought by qualified legislators, those submitted by other MLAs are either badly written or simply too hard to comprehend,” a source said. An official in Legislative Assembly told The Tribune: “It is a painstaking job to interpret, edit and give a final shape to the queries sought by MLAs, as these need an extra care. Sometimes, it becomes difficult to understand the question asked by certain members.” The official said their first challenge was to understand the question put forth by certain MLAs. “This is a laborious task, as we sometimes fail to interpret the query. Some questions are badly written and it becomes difficult to evaluate the relevant part of the question,” he said. For instance, a member may ask a question pertaining to four different departments, the official said. “We retain the relevant part and give it a proper shape so that the officials who are supposed to make a suitable reply don’t get confused.” In the Legislative Assembly, two MLAs are under-matriculate, eight are matriculate, seven have passed class XII, 17 are undergraduates, 27 are law graduates, three doctors, three engineers and two PhD holders. The official, while drawing attention to the accuracy and precision that needs to be maintained while interpreting, editing and finalising such queries, cited the example of a “blunder” committed during the autumn session of the Legislative Assembly last year, when the State Home Department had disclosed the rape victims’ names in violation of the Supreme Court ruling. “One of the MLAs had sought the details relating to rape victims and their rehabilitation. The query was wrongly interpreted and the Home Department gave the rape victims’ list along with their particulars, including names, putting the government in the dock. The Chief Minister had to apologise on the floor of the House for a small mistake committed at the clerical level,” the official said. In the 89-member House, each member can submit 20 questions — 10 each in starred and unstarred categories — besides two Private Member’s Bill and Private Member’s Resolutions. Only 62 MLAs are eligible to submit questions in witting. |
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Man acquitted in forgery case
Jammu, February 14 The complainant, Sushil Sharma, a resident of Panjtirthi, Jammu, had lodged a complaint with the SSP, Crime Branch, Jammu, contending that Vipan Gandotra had sold 300 share certificates of Apollo Tyres to him against Rs 66,000. However, the share
certificates were found to be forged. Gandotra had then issued a cheque for Rs 6,6000 drawn by Citizen Co-operative Bank, Moti Bazar branch, Jammu, in his favour when he demanded his money back. The cheque was dishonoured by the bank due to insufficient funds in the account. An FIR was later lodged at the police station, Crime Branch, Jammu, under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 406, Ranbir Panel Code, 1989. |
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MC Impasse
Katra, February 14 Due to the strike, heaps of garbage have accumulated across Reasi district in the past six days. The problem is compounded by presence of stray dogs near the garbage. In Katra town, drains are choked and bins are overflowing with garbage, emanating a foul smell. “We are facing a tough time due to accumulation of garbage. If the stink is not removed immediately, it can affect our health,” said Vijay Kumar, a shopkeeper. “Stray dogs go through the garbage and chase every passerby. The situation has assumed horrendous dimensions,” said Rakesh Sapolia, a local. The traders and shopkeepers of the town have urged the authorities to take steps to tackle the problem. “We make a fervent appeal to the agitating employees to permit sweepers to clear the garbage. The foul smell has made our lives miserable. If the garbage is not cleared at the earliest, we will have no option but to close our shops,” said Arun Sharma, a trader. Raj Kumar, a member of the daily wager union, said they had been demanding regularisation of daily wagers but their demand had fallen on deaf ears.” Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, Sheetal Nanda said the administration was trying its best to resolve the issue by holding talks with leaders of the daily wager union. “If the daily wagers fail to resume their duties by tomorrow morning then we will be compelled to adopt some alternate arrangement,” the Deputy Commissioner added. |
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Srinagar to get foreign post office
Srinagar, February 14 Addressing a press conference here today, Chief Post Master General of the JK Circle John Samuel said the Department of Posts would set up a full-fledged sub-foreign post office at the Kashmir Haat area of the city. Stating that it would be made functional during the coming three months, Samuel said many people had been approaching them with demands of setting up a foreign post office to facilitate the export and import of goods. “The traders will be able to import and export goods through the foreign post office at Kashmir Haat. It will have staff from the Customs Department who will check the goods exported on the spot and once Custom officials clear the consignments, these will be sent directly to addresses outside India,” he added. Samuel said new post offices will be set up at the Nowapora and Lal Bazar areas of the city and at Uri in Baramulla district of north Kashmir. Stating that the post office at Uri would be near the Line of Control, he said the new post offices would be fully computerised and provide all postal facilities, including speed post, registered post, savings bank and insurance services. Samuel also said eight post offices of the city located at Raj Bagh, Nehru Park, Lal Chowk, Karan Nagar, Jawahar Nagar, Sanat Nagar, Kashmir University and Batwara besides two in central Kashmir at Budgam and Magam would be modernised in the next three months. These post offices would offer better seating arrangements, customer care facilities and home collection services. |
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Punjabi mushaira held
Jammu, February 14 A number of Punjabi poets from different parts of the state participated in the event. The poets who recited their collections included Hardayal Singh
Rehbar, Surinder Neer, Amarjeet Neer, Amar Singh Kuka, Ajeet Singh
Mastana, S S Mastana, R S Mastana, Rasvinder Kour and D S Sawan. |
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Folk artistes enthral audience
Jammu, February 14 The troupes that performed included Ramalo Ram and party, Raj Ali and party, Mohan Mistry and party, Ved Prakash and party, Nissar Ahmad Dolwal and party, Arif and party, Hans Raj and party, Preeto Devi and party, Kasturi Lal and party, TR Tagotra and party, Durga Dass and party, Kulbir Singh and party, Mohan Lal and party, and Gulistan Bhagat Theatre. Fourteen music and dance troupes representing different regions and communities of the state will
stage their performances tomorrow. Haroon Rashid, additional secretary of the academy, said the festival aimed at providing a platform to folk artistes of the state to showcase their talent. |
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Police warns about fake finance firms
Srinagar, February 14 The police said that this tactics was aimed to lure and cheat gullible people. It has appealed to people to not fall prey to such calls and alerts. — TNS
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Activists of the hardline Dukhtaran-e-Millat (Daughters of the faith) raided several city-based restaurants today as part of their campaign against the Valentine’s Day celebrations.
Even though the separatists group in the past has been accused of resorting to violent means during their “anti-obscenity” campaigns, on this Valentine’s Day, the Dukhtaran-e-Millat (DeM) activists chose to give religious sermons to couples who were seen celebrating the day at restaurants.
Expressing concern over frequent road accidents in hilly areas, especially in erstwhile Doda district, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) was being roped in to conduct a detailed survey and formulate a report suggesting remedial measures to check accidents.
Jammu, February 14 
