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13-yr-old alleges rape in Shopian
Srinagar acid attack victim unable to see from one eye
Hurriyat demands harsh punishment
Cabinet okays Bedi panel suggestions
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At -4°C, Srinagar records coldest night of season
Governor, German envoy discuss investment opportunities in J&K
J-K health indicators better than national average
HC issues bailable warrants against archives dept officials
National Conference for equitable development
of state, says Rana
State BJP president finding
it difficult to form new team
Woman constable commits suicide
Govt circumventing constitutional provisions:
Nayak, Mehta to be Principal Secretaries
State govt highlights projects taken up in 2012
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13-yr-old alleges rape in Shopian
Anantnag, January 3 On receiving the complaint, the police lodged an FIR and arrested the accused. An investigation has also been initiated. “We received a written complaint from the
father of the minor girl on January 1, alleging that his daughter had been forcibly drugged and later raped by the accused,” the police said. A senior police official of the area said the written complaint alleged that the accused, Shahid Ahmad Wani of Aliyarpora in Shopian, had abducted the minor girl from the Aliyarpora crossing and taken her to his house. The family of the girl alleged that on November 25 the accused kidnapped her while she was on way to her maternal uncle’s house. “His family was not in the house and taking advantage of that he forcibly drugged the girl and later raped her,” says the report lodged by the victim’s family. The family of the victim maintains that it was reluctant to report the incident because of the social stigma attached and any backlash from the culprit and his family, but when the accused’s family began issuing threats, it decided to report the matter to the police. “After the incident, we began receiving threatening phone calls from unknown numbers but on January 1, the family of the accused barged into our house with some goons and threatened us,” said a member of the victim’s family. The family alleged that it was also threatened that a video clip of the victim would be leaked on the Internet and that was when the family decided to go to the police. “We were forced by the family of the accused and the goons to take the legal course, otherwise we were very reluctant to report the incident,” the family said. The police has lodged the FIR under Sections 342 (restricting somebody’s movement) and 376 (rape) of the RPC and the accused has been arrested. “We have initiated
an investigation and it will be a speedy one,” said the Kulgam SP, Mumtaz Ahmad. |
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Srinagar acid attack victim unable to see from one eye
Srinagar, January 3 Lying in severe pain in the ophthalmology ward of Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital, the victim will be flown by her family to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, tomorrow morning. “If her father was alive, she probably wouldn’t have had to face this. There are very few people by our side today in this moment of grief,” the victim’s mother said with tears in her eyes. Doctors at the SMHS Hospital said the victim was at present unable to see from her left eye and her chances of regaining the sight would depend on her recovery over the course of time. “The treatment needs patience. We are closely analysing her condition. The optic nerves which are responsible for a normal vision have swollen. Acid burns can cause serious damage to the cornea too, resulting in complete blindness,” said Dr Kaiser Ahmad, in charge of Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar, and allied hospitals. “As for the injuries on the face, the damage caused is treatable,” he added. The victim’s family, however, said it had decided to take her to New Delhi to ensure that she gets the best treatment for her eyes. “I cannot see her in pain, nor can I see her go blind. We will bear the expenses so that she doesn’t have to live a crippled existence,” said the victim’s brother. The accused Reyaz Ahmad Nath, who has been put behind bars in sadar police station, Srinagar, had been harassing the victim for a long time, said her family while demanding that he be blinded as well. “Throw acid on his eyes and let him experience her pain. He should die a little inside every day. This could happen with anyone in our society,” said the victim’s brother. Meanwhile, Dr Kaiser said although the Valley hospitals were fully equipped with all facilities to treat such cases, the victim was being flown to Delhi because her family desired it. “It is the family’s choice completely. We cannot force them to undergo treatment here,” Dr Kaiser said. |
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Hurriyat demands harsh punishment
Srinagar, January 3 Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti visited the victim at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital, Srinagar, and offered complete medical assistance to the victim’s family. Mehbooba expressed solidarity with the victim’s family and hoped that the perpetrator of the crime would be sternly dealt with. She said the Valley’s reputed surgeon Dr Sameer Kaul, who is also the PDP spokesperson, would meet all medical expenses of the victim’s surgery at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. The hardline Hurriyat Conference, led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, has called the acid attack on the woman as an un-Islamic, immoral and a cowardly act. He demanded strictest punishment for the accused, which could be a deterrent for all such like-minded criminals. Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front president Yasin Malik and High Court Bar Association general secretary Muhammad Ashraf Bhat have condemned the acid attack on the woman in Srinagar and demanded harshest punishment for the accused. |
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Cabinet okays Bedi panel suggestions
Jammu, January 3 The Commission headed by Justice HS Bedi submitted its 96-page report to Law Secretary GH Tantray on December 22, 2012. “The Cabinet has unanimously approved the recommendations of the Commission and will forward the report to the government for follow-up action,” a minister said on the conditions of anonymity. The Commission had held the then DSP, Bashir Ahmad Ganai, and his subordinate, Nazir Ahmad, liable for having failed to discharge their duty as per law in the case. “The DSP has, however, admitted in his evidence that he had not himself conveyed the information about the arrest and detention of the deceased to his associates or relatives but had passed on this duty to Munshi Nazir Ahmad. Ganai and Nazir Ahmad who appeared as OW2 and OW10, respectively, are, therefore, held liable for having failed to discharge their duty as per law,” the Commission had said. The Commission had said the NC worker’s death was caused by “myocardial infarction” (heart attack) and that no suspicious circumstances could be spelt out. The report had brought respite to the Chief Minister, who had to face a tough time after Yousuf’s death, as opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party, had accused him of his role in Yousuf’s death.
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At -4°C, Srinagar records coldest night of season
Srinagar, January 3 Leh and Kargil districts in Ladakh recorded a maximum temperature of minus 5.0°C and minus 0.3°C, respectively, today, an official of the Meteorological Department said. The night temperature in Leh fell to minus 16.2°C while Kargil saw a minus of 16°C. Even as the day remained sunny across the Valley, the minimum temperatures continued to dip. Srinagar city recorded minus 4.0°C as compared to previous night’s minus 3.9°C. Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, saw minus 5.0°C. The summer capital recorded the coldest night of the season as per the MeT official. Due to sub-zero night temperatures, the water bodies in Kashmir, including the Dal Lake, remain covered with frost layers. Boatmen can be seen breaking ice with their paddles before making their way through the icy layers. The ski resort of Gulmarg, which is covered in a blanket of snow, recorded minus 9.0°C while the border town of Kupwara recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.0°C. The tourist resort of Pahalgam in south Kashmir saw minus 7.8 °C. The maximum temperatures recorded at Srinagar, Qazigund, Pahalgam and Kupwara were 8.7, 8.2, 9.0 and 10.1°C, respectively. Jammu city is also in the grip of the cold wave. The maximum and minimum temperatures recorded were 12°C and 6.6°C, respectively. The weatherman has forecast dry weather conditions across the state for the next few days. |
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Governor, German envoy discuss investment opportunities in J&K
Jammu, January 3 They also discussed various possibilities of German investors assisting in establishment of business and commercial ventures for the rapid economic growth of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in areas in which the state was keen to secure foreign collaboration. The Governor’s wife, Usha Vohra, and the German Ambassador’s wife were present on the occasion. |
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J-K health indicators better than national average
Jammu, January 3 However, child gender ratio and adult gender ratio in the state still remains dismal. As per the figures indicated in the Sample Registration System (SRS) issued by the Registrar General of India in its latest report, the comparative position of some important health indicators in the state vis-à-vis the national average altogether tells a different tale. While the birth rate stood at 21.8 per 1,000 people in the country, it was 17.8 in the state. Similarly, against the national average death rate of 7.1 per 1,000 people, the state had the average of 5.5 per 1,000 people. The SRS 2011 survey had also put the national average of infant mortality rate at 44 per 1,000 births against 41 per 1,000 births in the state, thereby recording a decline of three per cent. The total fertility rate reflected the index of 2.6 out of eligible couples at the national level and 2.0 out of eligible couples in the state. Against the national average of 940 females per 1,000 males in case of adult gender ratio, the state had an average of 883 females per 1,000 males. It further deteriorated in case of the child gender ratio, reflecting 859 girls per 1,000 boys against the national average of 914 girls per 1,000 boys. “The deaths of infants at GB Pant Hospital and SMGS Hospital can’t be denied. But at the same time, the state government has been initiating several measures to streamline the health sector in the state. The latest findings are of the Registrar General of India and not a state owned survey. Things are certainly improving,” said a senior health official, who declined to be named. SMGS Hospital, Jammu, witnessed over 2,500 deaths in the past three years while 359 infants died at Srinagar’s GB Pant Hospital last year allegedly due to the negligence of the staff and lack of equipment. |
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HC issues bailable warrants against archives dept officials
Srinagar, January 3 The court has directed the SSP concerned to execute the warrants against these officials and ensure their presence in the court on the next date of hearing. Mahjoor Ghar, the ancestral residential house of poet Ghulam Ahmad Mahjoor, is located in Metrigam village in Pulwama district. After his death, the government had decided to preserve the house and convert it into a museum and library, but it is currently in a dilapidated condition. The high court is hearing a petition filed by grandchildren of the renowned Kashmiri poet. They had appealed to the court to give directions to the respondent authorities to make the museum/monument (Mahjoor Ghar) and the library functional and prevent the “monument” from getting destroyed, damaged and defaced. “In terms of the order dated December 19, 2012, the respondents were to remain personally present along with the relevant records. (However) the respondent No. 3 (Director, Archives and Museums) and 8 (Deputy Director, Archives and Museums) have chosen not to appear,” the single bench of Justice Mohammad Yaqoob observed in his orders passed this week. “Let bailable warrants be issued for securing (their) presence,” Justice Yaqoob said, directing the SSP concerned to execute the warrants against these officials for securing their presence for the next hearing, which has been fixed in February. Besides, the court directed the respondents to ensure the availability of all relevant records related to Mahjoor Ghar on the next hearing. In April 2012, the high court had appointed a commissioner for spot inspection of Mahjoor Ghar besides directing the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, to ensure “proper protection and preservation” of the monument.
What the petition says
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National Conference for equitable development
of state, says Rana
Jammu, January
3 Rana was addressing a function organised by the National Conference Students Union
(NCSU) at the University of Jammu where he released a compendium of achievements of Omar’s government prepared by the
NCSU. He said the National Conference (NC) was committed to the equitable development of all three regions of the state and the coalition government was translating this into a reality by launching multifaceted development policies, the results of which were visible on the
ground. Rana said the NC was the party of the common masses and no one could damage its popular base spread across the state. “Propagandist elements and detractors of the democratic process have always tried their best to defame and damage the NC but people of the state have foiled all such attempts, showing their faith and utmost trust in the party and its leadership,” he said. He said, “History was testimony to the strong secular-democratic credentials of the NC and the sacrifices it had made to uphold the cause of communal harmony, brotherhood and amity.” He told NCSU activists to further strengthen the trait and work for the welfare and progress of the state
wholeheartedly. Rakesh Chib, NCSU president, while speaking on the occasion said the NCSU would reach out to people in every nook and corner of the state and highlight achievements of the coalition government. Those who were present on the occasion included Rattan Lal Gupta, Peer Mushtaq Ahmad
Bukhari, Vijay Lakshmi Dutta and Babu Ram Pal. |
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State BJP president finding
it difficult to form new team
Jammu, January 3 Sharma along with Ashok Koul, organisation secretary of the state BJP, had gone to New Delhi to finalise the names of new office-bearers, especially general secretaries and presidents of different wings. Although BJP leaders, who returned from Delhi on Wednesday, said they had gone to there to discuss a report prepared by the Kashmir Committee of the party. Sources said both Sharma and Koul met senior leaders to take their suggestions for appointing a new team. Interestingly, central BJP leaders are also patronising various factions in the party to maintain their clout in the state. “Instead of giving a free hand to the new president to select his team, central leaders are also putting pressure on him to ‘rehabilitate’ their blue-eyed boys in the state,” a source said and added that a central leader was particular about adjusting some activists who still owe their allegiance to expelled leader Chaman Lal Gupta. Keeping in view the factionalism in the party, the state president is looking helpless to accommodate loyalists of all groups. “Veteran leader Ashok Khajuria, who has played an important role in the appointment of Sharma as the state president, is trying to play as a ‘remote control’ of the new president to maintain his domination in the party,” the source said and added that another veteran leader Dr Nirmal Singh was also using his clout to accommodate his loyalists on important positions. Sharma has cordial relations with both Khajuria and Singh so he is also trying to keep both the leaders in good humour. Shamsher Singh Manhas, Sharma’s predecessor, who joined hands with Ashok Khajuria to sabotage chances of Kavinder Gupta to become the state president, is also exerting pressure on the new president to reciprocate his gesture. Manhas is particular about the rehabilitation of some of the members of his team. The sources said some senior leaders were not only putting pressure on the new president to adjust their loyalists but were also using their influence to get their family members accommodated on important positions in the party. They said Sharma was particular about assigning an important job to “sulking” leader Kavinder Gupta who was also in fray for the post of the state president. |
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Woman constable commits suicide
Rajouri, January 3 The Thanamandi police said around 9 am chowkidar of Dodasan Bala village Abdul Rashid informed them about the suicide. The woman constable was posted with 15 Battalion of the IRPF at Jammu and was on leave. A police party headed by the SHO rushed to the village and found the body hanging from a ceiling fan. Later, the body of the woman was shifted to District Hospital at Rajouri. The body of the woman was handed over to her legal heirs after a postmortem. The police has started the investigations under Section 174 of the CrPC. — OC
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Govt circumventing constitutional provisions:
Jammu, January 3 Addressing a joint press conference, MLAs of PP, Harsh Dev Singh, Balwant Singh Mankotia and Yashpal Kundal today alleged the constitutional provisions were being circumvented and violated with impunity by the state government for petty personal and political gains. They said the state government has created certain extra constitutional authorities in violation of Section 36 and Section 38 of the J&K Constitution. Elucidating the point, Harsh Dev Singh said Section 36 and Section 38 of the State constitution categorically provide that the ministers shall be appointed by the Governor with Section 38 further providing that number of ministers shall not exceed 20 per cent of the total membership of the state legislature. Singh said the state government, in utter contempt of the constitutional provisions, has appointed several of its political activists on key positions with fancy labels and conferred minister’s status upon them without the approval of the Governor as per the mandate of Section 36 and Section 38 of the Constitution. He said such ministers appointed through backdoor by the government enjoy all facilities, powers and privileges as were enjoyed by the ministers appointed under the constitution. He observed the said backdoor ministers were not only enjoying equivalent powers as regular ministers but were also actively interferring in the general governance and day-to-day administration of the affairs of the state. He maintained that the said ministers, not withstanding their extra constitutional character, have become a drain on taxpayers’ money and the state exchequer continues to be abused to provide them ministerial privileges in addition to furnished official accommodation in the civil secretariats and elsewhere along with a huge paraphernalia of personal staff. Panthers Party MLAs urged the Governor and President of India to take due cognisance of the blatant violations of constitution and sought immediate issuance of orders divesting the said extra-constitutional authorities of the ministerial status held illegally by them. They further demanded an inquiry into the expenditure incurred on provision of ministerial facilities to them out of the state exchequer and initiation of appropriate proceedings for abuse of public exchequer. |
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Nayak, Mehta to be Principal Secretaries
Jammu, January 3 The Cabinet also approved promotion of Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, Dev Singh Jamwal and Farooq Ahmed Factoo to super time scale of IAS. They would thus be designated as commissioner-secretaries to the government. The Cabinet also promoted Sheikh Mushtaq Ahmed, Vineeta Gupta, Shahid Anayatullah and Tushar Kanti Sharma to the selection grade of IAS. The Cabinet approved the promotion of Shahid Iqbal and Sushma Chouhan to senior time scale of IAS. Consequent upon their promotion, the officers have been designated as Additional Secretaries to the government. Meanwhile, the Cabinet approved re-employment of Inayatullah Khan, Director, Forensic Science Laboratory (J&K) and Harnam Chand Bhagat, Deputy Director, Forensic Science Laboratory (J&K) for a period of one year. |
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State govt highlights projects taken up in 2012
Jammu, January 3 As a major achievement of the state government, the official handout highlighted that seven hydel power projects with an installed capacity of 1,036 MWs had been put to the Electronic Product Control (EPC) mode and the financial closure of Baglihar HEP 450 MWs Phase-II had been achieved. The tendering process of 93 MWs New Ganderbal, 48 MWs Kalnai and 390 MWs Karthai had been initiated by the State Power Development Corporation. Also three projects under the Joint Venture Company with the total capacity of 2,120 MWs in Chenab Basin was tendered out. As many as 81 new bridges were taken up under the special bridge programme at the cost of Rs 1,096.63 crore. 44 bridges were likely to be completed by the end of the year while 18 had already been completed by November. Over 144 road construction works had been taken up last year and were likely to be completed within the targeted date. Over Rs 304.50 crore had been spent under the NABARD last year to complete 100 schemes while equal amount was spent during the current year to complete 92 road schemes and 15 bridges. Over 3,000 km of road had been macadamised last year. NH-301 - Kargil-Zanskar Road and NH-701 - Baramulla-Rafiabad-Kupwara-Tangdar Road was declared as the National Highways by the Government of India. Also to improve the level of education in the state, over-a-dozen new colleges were approved, University Campus at Leh and Kargil were opened. As many as 630 new primary schools were opened, 672 primary schools were upgraded, 20 KGBVS were established and 15 model cluster schools were established during the last four years. As many as 2,604 RETs were engaged and 4,300 RETs were regularised during this period, besides completion of 2,849 primary buildings, 3,295 additional classrooms and 30 cluster resource centres. Kissan Credit Cards were provided to over 3 lakh farmers and 500 tonnes cold storage was constructed at Lal Mandi. Saffron corms were replaced over an area of 1,200 hectares of traditional saffron growing area of Pulwama, Budgam and Srinagar districts under the National Saffron Mission with the financial assistance of Rs 63.83 crore benefiting 18,000 saffron growers. The state received highest ever plan of Rs 7,300 crore for 2012-13. District Development Plans of each district were finalised and funds were released, besides earmarking substantial amount as the state share for Centrally-Sponsored Schemes. There has been 32.59 per cent growth in revenue collection last year which is likely to be above 40 per cent this year. During the current year, revenue realisation by the Excise Department had been about Rs 600 crore by November. About 385 lakh mandays were generated during the financial year. The issuance of job cards raised to 10,08,034 in 2012. |
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Jammu, January 3
The Panthers Party (PP) today urged upon the President of India and the state government to take cognisance of the blatant transgression of the Constitution by the state government in the discharge of its constitutional obligations.
