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State keen to tap full hydel potential
Army: Reasonable peace prevails in Kashmir
Lt Gen Om Prakash
Buddha Amarnath yatra to start from July 19 |
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Militant killed in Kupwara encounter
Militant-police nexus
HC stays construction work on ashram land
PDP-Congress ties may improve
Centre has failed to protect SCs: BJP
Turmoil echoes in works of artists
Governor lauds NGO’s work for disabled children
Mentally challenged girl raped
in Shopian
Football frenzy reaches Baramulla
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State keen to tap full hydel potential
Jammu, July 17 Although a number of micro hydel projects already exist in the state, the authorities have decided to go in for more such units as they usually demand minimal reservoirs and civil construction work. They are seen as having a relatively low impact on the environment as compared to large hydel projects. “We have already prepared detailed project reports (DPRs) of seven micro/mini hydel projects to be installed in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri,” Minister of State for Power Shabir Ahmed Khan told The Tribune. He said a number of such projects had already been set up but the government had decided to explore the potential in remaining areas. The DPRs of the seven projects had been sent to the authorities concerned for approval. “With the installation of such projects, the problem of non-availability of electricity in remotest areas of Poonch and Rajouri would be solved,” he said, adding that mini hydel projects of one to three megawatt would be encouraged in such areas. The Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department (PDD) has authorised the Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JKEDA) to set up all micro/mini hydel projects up to two megawatt station capacity. Mini hydel power has tremendous potential for generation of electricity in the state. The topography of the state provides an extensive network of canals and streams. The role of such hydel projects has been well identified and accepted to supplement energy generation as short or medium-term measure in a state like Jammu and Kashmir. The Army has already set up a large number of such projects in different parts of the state. Minister for Science and Technology Aga Ruhullah had told the Legislative Council last year that a large number of micro hydel projects were to be established by the Army. The Minister had told that each micro hydel projects would generate electricity with output of 3-5 kva (kilovolt ampere). On an average, 15 to 20 households were to be benefited by each project. Tackling Power Deficit Govt to install mini hydel projects in areas where there is no electricity distribution network Detailed project reports of seven micro/mini hydel projects have been prepared for twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri Although a number of micro hydel projects already exist in the state, the authorities have decided to go in for more such units as they usually demand minimal reservoirs and civil construction work Micro hydel projects have a relatively low impact on the environment as compared to large hydel projects |
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Army: Reasonable peace prevails in Kashmir
Srinagar, July 17 “We are looking for sustained peace and it depends upon different things,” Lt Gen Om Prakash, GOC of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps said here today. In an informal interaction with mediapersons, the first one since he took over about one month back, Lt Gen Om Prakash said the infrastructure across the LoC to train militants and to push them to this side was intact. “There are about 550 to 600 trained militants at the launching pads waiting to be pushed into this side and looking for chances,” Lt Gen Om Prakash said. There had been a couple of infiltration attempts recently which were foiled by the troops, the GOC said. “Our aim is to minimise the infiltration from across the LoC and maintain peace inside,” Lt Gen Om Prakash said in reply to a question. There were about 200 to 300 militants operating within the Valley, he added. Evading queries about thinning of troops in view of the improving situation within the Valley, Lt Gen Om Prakash said the situation was different in the northern and southern parts of the Kashmir valley. Elaborating, he said the presence of militants was higher in north Kashmir than in south Kashmir because of the LoC and a support base. Referring to the recent incidents of the killing of two policemen in Kulgam and Pulwama districts and the killing of an Army jawan at Pampore and threats to panches, all in the south Kashmir areas, the GOC said militants had “exploited” the situation. The operations had been slowed down in the south Kashmir areas and the militants could exploit the situation, he added. Describing as “alarming” the Pampore incident in which an Army jawan was killed and another injured, the GOC said the jawans had maintained utmost restrain to avoid civilian casualties. WHAT the army says
The infrastructure across the LoC to train militants and to push them to this side is intact There are about 550 to 600 trained militants at the launching pads waiting to be pushed into this side By recruiting local cadres, the Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit tries to project its indigenous face, while its cadre strength has come down. In 2000, at least 2,000 militants were killed during encounters with security forces.
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Buddha Amarnath yatra to start from July 19
Poonch, July 17 This ancient Shiva Temple with a white ‘chakmak Shivalingam’ is in Rajpure Mandi, 22 km north-east of Poonch town. Pilgrims usually have darshan throughout the year here, but during the annual pilgrimage, which starts some 12 days before ‘Shrawan Purnima’ every year, thousands of pilgrims from across the country visit the shrine and have darshan. “This year the number of pilgrims has broken all past records. 10,000 people have had darshan during this month,” said Vishvanath Sharma, vice-chairman of the Buddha Amarnath
committee. “This year the annual pilgrimage is commencing from July 19. The first batch will leave from Jammu and have darshan on the morning of July 20. The arrangements for accommodation, security and langar have been made. A meeting in this connection was organised with the committee of the Shri Buddha Amarnath Trust and Dashnami Akhara, Poonch, and various social and religious organisations,” said DC, Poonch, Anwar Hussain Shah. ‘Chhari Mubarak’, the holy mace of the Lord Shiva, will be taken from the Dashnami Akhara Mandir, Poonch, on July 31 towards the Shri Buddha Amarnath shrine under the headship of Swami Vishvatmanand Ji, Mahant of Dashnami Akhara, Poonch, after the formal ‘Chhari Poojan’, said Basant Ram Sharma, president, Dashnami Akhara. “This marks the formal start of the annual two-day Raksha Bandhan at the Shri Buddha Amarnath, where thousands of pilgrims take part and have darshan. The festival will culminate on the evening of August 2,” Sharma said. The district administration reviewed the Buddha Amarnath yatra arrangements yesterday. Various committees and control rooms were constituted to maintain close liaison with the district administration and committee members during discussions with regard to the smooth conduct of the Buddha Amarnath yatra, sources said. |
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Militant killed in Kupwara encounter
Srinagar, July 17 SP, Handwara, Choudery Aslam said after receiving information about the presence of militants, an operation was launched by the police and 6 Rashtriya Rifles of the Army in the Budshingi forests of Rajwar, Handwara, during the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday. “During the search operation, militants present in the forest opened fire at the search party in the wee hours, triggering an encounter. One unidentified militant was killed,” the SP said. A police spokesman in Srinagar said an AK-47 rifle, four AK-47 magazines and 94 rounds of AK ammunition were recovered from the slain militant. “The body of the dead militant was handed over to the local Auqaf (religious body) for last rites after completion of legal formalities,” the spokesman said. A case has been registered. In the first week of July, five militants were killed in three separate encounters in the vicinity of the Budshingi forests in Rajwar. On July 5, three foreign militants were killed in Nowgam near the Line of Control (LoC) in Handwara. On July 6, a militant was killed and four security personnel were injured in an encounter in Bawan village in Kupwara district. The Rajwar area is mostly used by infiltrators as a transit hideout after sneaking into the Valley. After the three encounters, the Army and the police
conducted search operations in the Nowgam and Rajwar forests for almost seven days. Intelligence reports said over 20 militants had infiltrated into the Valley from Kupwara and Nowgam
sectors. |
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Militant-police nexus
Srinagar, July 17 The three policemen are accused of taking money from militants for providing secret information about police officers to them. The three accused policemen are Mohammad Abbas Rather, Mukhtar Ahmad Sheikh and Mohammad Ilyas Khan. They had moved a bail application before the court of the CJM, Srinagar, but the court today rejected their bail application. The court directed petitioners to present the bail application before the competent forum, which is the Principal District and Sessions Court, Srinagar. “This court is not competent to decide the bail application. It is returned with a direction to the petitioners that they should file it before the competent forum,” said the CJM in its order. All the three accused policemen were constables in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the police and were assigned to infiltrate into militants ranks for gathering intelligence. On June 17, the police unearthed an alleged nexus between Hizbul Mujahideen militants and some policemen. The police arrested four policemen, who they said were “planning to orchestrate terror attacks to create chaos in the state.” The police said the arrested policemen had also taken money from Hizbul Mujhahideen militants for carrying weapons and providing sensitive information about the movement of police officers. The police had booked the four policemen under Section 10 (being a member of an unlawful organisation), Section 13 (any form of assistance in unlawful activity) and Section 18 (conspiracy to commit terrorist act) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and 3 PEPO (Police Enhanced Penalty Ordinance). A Special Investigation Team was constituted to probe the nexus. |
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Dalai Lama prays for peace in Kashmir
Srinagar, July 17 “I feel solace while visiting pilgrim sites like Dargah Hazratbal,” the Dalai Lama said after paying obeisance at the revered shrine, which houses the holy relic of Prophet Muhammad, at Hazratbal on the banks of the Dal Lake. He also prayed for peace and prosperity of the state while stating that all religions gave the message of brotherhood, communal harmony and amity. He said all should follow the right path as enshrined in all religious scriptures. Dalai Lama also visited 500-year-old Gupt Ganga Shiv Temple, where lord Shiva is believed to have stayed overnight before going to the holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas. At Gurdwara Chatti Padshahi, he said: “Sikhism is a non-sectarian religion. In the present world the teachings of Guru Nanak have great relevance…. By the hard work and dedication of Sikh community, Punjab could become one of the richest states of India.” Dalai Lama also visited the tomb of National Conference founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah at Hazratbal. “Late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was a close friend of mine. I met the late leader several times.... he always showed genuine concern for my cause. I always remember the warm welcome and excellent hospitality of the people of Kashmir which they extended during the visit,” he said. Minister for Tourism and Culture Nawang Rigzin Jora accompanied the Dalai Lama, who arrived here on July 12, during his visit to these sites. |
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HC stays construction work on ashram land
Jammu, July 17 Shri Ashokananda Ji Maharaj had established the Shri Ramakrishna Mahasammelan Ashram at Nagdani in Anantnag district by installing an idol of the Lord Ramakrishna when his followers had dedicated the property to the idol. The founder of the ashram had left behind a will dated October 6, 1970, desiring to vest the absolute power of the management to the Ramakrishnan Mission at Bellur (Calcutta) to make proper and suitable arrangements for puja, ‘arti’ and ‘seva’ of the Lord Ramakrishna in the temple daily and regularly. The only surviving administrator in his capacity under the will established a trust for the management of the property of the shrine. Lt Col Yoginder Khandari, secretary of the trust, in his averments stated that official respondents in connivance with the Vivekananda Rock Memorial Kendra were funding the construction through government agencies on the property of the ashram for the utilisation of all communities and not for the exclusive use of followers of Sanatan Dharma. He said a toilet complex and play area for children had been landscaped for installation of playing equipment by the Kokernag Development Authority. Virinder Bhat, an advocate, appearing for the petitioner submitted that the properties belonging to the Hindu shrines were being thrown open to non-believers of the Hinduism and sought prohibition against the respondents from raising any construction on the property of the Shri Ramakrishna Mahasammelan Ashram. |
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PDP-Congress ties may improve
Jammu, July 17 Sources in the PDP said the decision to support Pranab was taken after a number of party discussions. The party decision to support Pranab may send a positive signal to the Congress high command. “The PDP’s decision to support Pranab will help mend its strained relations with the Congress,” a source said, adding that party had taken this decision following a request from some senior leaders of the Congress. Relations between the PDP and the Congress had dipped when the former withdrew support to the coalition government headed by Ghulam Nabi Azad on June 28, 2008. Although the PDP has strained relations with the Congress since 2008, senior party leaders avoiding criticising Congress ministers while targeting the present dispensation. Former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has publicly directed his party leaders a number of times to highlight achievements during the six years’ rule of the PDP-Congress coalition instead of talking about only the three-year tenure when the PDP was heading the government. The decision of the seven MLAs expelled from BJP to support PA Sangma has brightened their chances of reopening communication with the party high command to get their expulsion revoked. Although the expelled MLAs have declared that they have not taken this decision to “please” the party high command, sources said this decision was taken on the advice of a senior BJP leader who has been trying to bring these MLAs back into the party fold. The sources said during the visit of senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley to Jammu on July 6, some leaders had brought the matter to his notice. Despite opposition by state leaders, it was decided that a message should be given to the expelled leaders to support Sangma. “It was the result of the message from a senior leader that all seven expelled MLAs have decided to vote in favour of Sangma,” a source said, adding that the decision would help reopen communication with the expelled MLAs. The sources said some Sangh Parivar leaders, who have had a long association with veteran party leader Chaman Lal Gupta, have been exerting pressure on the BJP leadership to solve the issue. Gupta is among the seven MLAs who were expelled from the party after the April 13, 2011, cross-voting controversy. |
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Centre has failed to protect SCs: BJP
Jammu, July 17 While addressing a meeting of the BJP Anusuchit Jaati Morcha yesterday, state president of the morcha Subash Bhagat said SCs had suffered for centuries and continued to be subjected to discrimination. Benefits of various welfare schemes meant for their uplift do not reach the deserving lot, he alleged. — TNS |
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Turmoil echoes in works of artists
Srinagar, July 17 “The turmoil in Kashmir has left a bad stamp on each one of us and I give vent to my expressions through my works….there is anger in these paintings,” Manan said while pointing towards one of his paintings, which he said was inspired by half-widows and women, who hold monthly protests at a local in Srinagar, seeking information about their missing husbands or other family members. The works of Adnan Ali, a young freelance photographer, also tell a grim tale. — TNS |
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Governor lauds NGO’s work for disabled children
Srinagar, July 17 The Governor went around the physiotherapy, rehabilitation, psychology and speech therapy sections, besides the vocational education centre and other divisions of the school and interacted with some children there. Vohra was briefed by Arjumand Makhdoomi, president of the Chotay Taray Foundation, on the facilities being provided by the NGO to the physically and mentally challenged children. The Governor lauded the initiative of the Foundation. He said such an effort would go a long way in making a real difference in the lives of these children. Regretting that a suitable piece of land had not been allotted to the NGO in the past six years, he said he would personally raise the matter with the Divisional Commissioner. — TNS |
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Mentally challenged girl raped
in Shopian
Srinagar, July 17 The police said the incident took place at Batmuran village last week, but was not reported, as the girl failed to convey it to her parents. “Her parents finally understood what the girl was trying to tell them. Her father approached the police on July 14 and subsequently a medical examination was conducted which established the
girl had been raped,” said Deputy Superintendent
of Police, Shopian, Manzoor Ahmed. “We registered a case against the accused, Imtiyaz Ahmad Bhat, for raping the mentally challenged minor. He was arrested on July 15,” he said. “The accused was identified by the victim.”
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Football frenzy reaches Baramulla
Srinagar, July 17 Hundreds of football lovers thronged the Showkat Ali stadium on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad (in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) highway to witness the football match. The local football team gave the spectators another chance to go berserk, as the J&K-XI defeated the Mohammedan Sporting by 1-0. The goal was scored by popular footballer Ishfaq Ahmad in the first half. Ishfaq was the sole goal scorer of the J&K-XI side during its previous tie with the Kolkata-based club. The match was played at the Bakshi Stadium here on Sunday where the local side won in a penalty shootout after the two halves ended in a 1-1 tie. The Mohammedan Sporting had come to play a match in the Valley after 28 years. The match was organised by the J&K State Sports Council in collaboration with the J&K Football Association. Impressed by the overwhelming public response, the authorities have decided to organise another match between the Kolkata-based football club Mohun Bagan and the J&K-XI in the first week of September. Football used to be a popular sport before the eruption of militancy in the state. Even local matches would attract huge crowds. The authorities are hopeful that the recent matches would give a fillip to its efforts to revive the Valley’s love for football. — TNS |
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Srinagar, July 17
Though the annual pilgrimage to the Buddha Amaranth shrine in Poonch district will commence from July 19, over 10,000 pilgrims have had ‘darshan’ at the shrine so far this month.
Srinagar, July 17
