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49 police personnel awarded
CM meets Governor
Five injured during work at Chenani-Nashri tunnel
Close ranks for resolution of all issues, says Governor
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Decks cleared for implementation of food processing scheme
Panchayat body welcomes Salahuddin’s statement
Mirwaiz Farooq demands revocation of AFSPA
Doctors express concern over faith healers’ ‘treatment’
Gun or money can’t resolve political issues: Omar
Security beefed up across the Valley ahead of R-Day
Ranbir, Deepika to shoot in Gulmarg from today
Rs 4,135 cr spent on roads and buildings in 4 yrs
Amnesty welcomes Verma panel’s recommendations
Verma panel report justified, says Geelani
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49 police personnel awarded
Jammu, January 25 Mohammad Sulaiman Salaria, Inspector General of Police (IGP), PHQ, and Jagdish Lal Sharma, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), CID, has been awarded the ‘President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service’ by the President of India on the occasion of 64th Republic Day. Late constable Daler Singh has been conferred with President’s police medal (posthumously), who attained martyrdom while fighting terrorists. Salaria with 29 years of service in the J&K Police exhibited high order of bravery in fighting terrorism at Kishtwar, Samba, Udhampur, Jammu, Doda, Poonch, Rajouri and Kupwara. He established effective anti-militancy grid at the assigned areas of his responsibility and took the general public into confidence while fighting terrorism. Salaria has conducted many anti-terrorist operations in his assigned areas of responsibility, which resulted into elimination and arrest of many hardcore terrorists and seizure of large number of arms and ammunition from them. JL Shrama joined the state police service as Deputy Superintendent of Police in June 1984. After completing basic training course, he held many important assignments in various capacities in different wings of the J&K Police. His major achievements include elimination of large number of militants, including top commanders, in counter-insurgency operations. Following is the detail of awards and awardees: Police medal for gallantry Vidhi Kumar Birdi, Superintendent of Police, Haseeb-ur-Rehman, Additional Superintendent of Police, Noor-Ul- Hassan, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Amjid Khan, follower, Waseem Ahmad, sub-inspector, Muhammad Shafi Mir, Additional Superintendent of Police, Raj Kumar, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Muhammad Khursheed Wani, Sg. constable, Rishi Kumar, follower, late Morifath Hussain, Sg. constable (posthumously), Showkat Ahmed, Sg. constable, Syed Gowhar, constable. Muneer Ahmed, constable, late Stanzin Narboo, sub-inspector (posthumously), late Ghulam Hassan Gojjar, constable (posthumously), Yougal Manhas, Additional Superintendent of Police, Vivek Gupta, Additional Superintendent of Police, Sikander Hussain, follower, Azhar Bashir, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mohd Alyas, sub-inspector and Mohd Ayaz, constable. Police medal for meritorious service Danish Rana, Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Poonch/Rajouri Range, Garib Dass, Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Batote Range, Vijay Kumar, Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Anantnag. Rafiq Ul Hassan, Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar. Manzoor Ahmad Shorie, Superintendent of Police, Tech. HQ (Jammu), Mukhtar Ahmad Shah, Joint Director (Prosecution), State Vigilance Organisation. Sudershan Kumar Bakshi, Deputy Superintendent of Police, SDRF, 2nd Bn, Jammu. Shuja Ahmad Latoo, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Srinagar, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Deputy Superintendant of Police, 1RP, 17th Bn, Jammu. Rano Devi, Deputy Superintendent of Police, IRP, 13th bn. Vikram Singh, Deputy Superintendant of Police, SSG. Abdul Khaliq, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Hq, Leh, Mohd Iqbal Khan, inspector, Railway, Jammu, Altaf Ahmad Dar, inspector, security, Ghulam Hassan Bhat, sub-inspector, IRP, 2nd Bn, Abdul Gani, sub-inspector, PHQ, Jammu. Swarn Singh, head constable, SKPA, Udhampur. Sher-i-Kashmir Police Medal for Gallantry Zubair Ahmed Khan, Superintendent of Police (Operations) Baramulla, Shabir Ahmad, head constable, 7th bn., Abdul Ahad Malik, follower, Handwara, Gulzar Hussain, head constable. Sher-i-Kashmir Police Medal For Meritorious Service HK Lohia, IGP, Director, SSG, Deepak Kumar, IGP, State Vigilance Organisation, Shahzada Parveen, Deputy Superintendent of Police (PCR), Srinagar, Tasaduq Hussain Shah (STC Sheeri). |
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CM meets Governor
Jammu, January 25 They also discussed the just released report of Justice JS Verma Committee, which recommended changes in the criminal justice system to protect the dignity of women and enhance their safety and security. |
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Five injured during work at Chenani-Nashri tunnel
Jammu, January 25 The incident took place at about two-and-a-half kilometre inside the tunnel when the labourers were removing soil from the “escape tunnel”, which is running parallel to the main tunnel, after the blasting work. The injured were identified as Joginder Kumar (38), resident of Tandar area of Chenani tehsil, Shah Mohammad (45) of Gandoh in Doda district, Bhagirath (24) of Rajasthan, Jagdish Kumar (26), resident of Dogra Morh in Chenani, and Sudhir Singh (30) of Kishtwar. The injured were shifted to sub-district hospital at Chenani, while the critically injured, Joginder Kumar and Bhagirath, were rushed to the District Hospital Udhampur for specialised treatment. “A portion of loose rock came down all of a sudden and some pieces of it hit the labourers who were removing soil from the escape tunnel after the blasting work. Nine labourers were working in the tunnel when the incident took place. The work was suspended and later resumed in the evening,” a police officer said. He, however, ruled out collapse of any part of the tunnel. Udhampur Deputy Commissioner Pandurang K Pole and SSP Ashkoor Ahmed Wani rushed to the spot and supervised the rescue operation. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is constructing a parallel ‘escape’ tunnel along with the main Chenani-Nashri tunnel for evacuation of commuters in case of any untoward incident. Both the tunnels are being internally connected through 29 ‘cross-passages’ and the escape tunnel would exclusively be used for pedestrians. The work on the Chenani-Nashri tunnel, the longest ever in the country, is in full swing and the executing agency - ILF&S Transport Network Ltd - has completed more than 40 per cent work. The work on the project costing Rs 2,500 crore was started on May 23, 2011, and its expected date of completion is May 2016. This prestigious project is part of the much-ambitious 286-km-long four-laning of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. The four-laning of highway will reduce the distance between two capital cities (Jammu and Srinagar) by approximately 50 km. |
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Close ranks for resolution of all issues, says Governor
Jammu, January 25 Greeting the people on the 64th Republic Day, the Governor said the devolution would provide an excellent opportunity for people to become actively involved in the planning and implementation of various schemes and programmes which have been envisaged to promote their interests. He said the effective establishment of rural and urban self-governing bodies in the three regions of the state would be a revolutionary landmark in governance here. The Governor stated a momentous event took place in the state about a year and a half ago, when elections to the panchayats were conducted after a gap of nearly three decades and 80 per cent of the voters turned up to elect about 33,000 panches and sarpanches. The Governor said the government had planned to conduct elections to the urban local bodies last year and to carry out institutional and taxation reforms to upgrade the municipal framework in the state. “I trust that these changes shall materialise in the coming months,” he said. “Thanks to the role played by the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the sacrifices made by the J&K Police and the security forces, the state is moving ahead on the path of peace and development,” he said. “Growth and development can materialise and sustain only in an environment of peace and normalcy. I appeal to the leaders of all political parties and social, cultural and religious organisations in the state to close ranks for the resolution of all remaining issues through dialogue and discussions and not through agitations and confrontations which have already cost us enormous human and economic losses, besides damaging the educational prospects of our youth.” He said the state had not been able to timely pursue and achieve its developmental goals because of the malicious trans-border factors and serious internal disturbances. The Governor said the growing peaceful environment in the past two years had contributed to a spurt of developmental activities in various spheres. He said there had been a visible surge in the number of tourists visiting the state. He said if the trend continued, the state government and stakeholders in the private sector would have to work on a time-bound basis to significantly upgrade and enlarge tourist facilities.” He said he was confident that if the entire administrative system worked with promptitude, efficiency and visible accountability, the state would soon emerge as one among the top in the country. |
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Decks cleared for implementation of food processing scheme
Jammu, January 25 The Chief Secretary told the J&K State Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO), which is the nodal implementing agency of the NMFP, to place proposals submitted by entrepreneurs for availing financial assistance under the scheme before the Committee for approval. He called for exploring partnership with the Jammu and Kashmir Entreprenuership Development Institute, Agriculture University and other agri-institutions, besides getting responses and opinions from other departments concerned regarding the mission and its successful implementation. The Committee also approved the appointment of a consultant for preparation of a vision document and a programme management agency for monitoring the entire programme implementation process during the initial period of two years. Managing Director, SIDCO, Mohammad Muazzam informed those present at the meeting that the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries had sanctioned Rs 5.6 crore out Rs 7.50 crore grant-in-aid for the implementation of the NMFP scheme during 2012-13. He said several prospective entrepreneurs and self help groups had approached SIDCO and submitted their proposals for availing financial assistance under the NMFP scheme. During the first phase of the 12th Plan, under the scheme, the state would implement various components, including technology upgrade, establishment, modernisation of food processing industries, cold chain, value addition and preservation infrastructure for non-horticulture produce and human resource development. The eligible sectors for financial assistance under the mission include fruits and vegetables, milk products, meat, poultry, cereals and other consumer products, oil seed products, rice and flour milling, pulse processing and other agri-horticulture sectors, including food flavours and colours, oleoresins, spices and mushrooms. Financial Commissioner, Finance, MI Khanday; Principal Secretary, Planning and Development, BR Sharma; Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Shantmanu; Commissioner Secretary, Agricultural Production, Shaleen Kabra and Commissioner Secretary, Animal and Sheep Husbandry, MA Bukhari were present at the meeting. |
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Panchayat body welcomes Salahuddin’s statement
Srinagar, January 25 “We find a ray of hope in the statement of the supreme commander of Jihad Council as it has understood our position,” said All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) spokesman Ghulam Hassan Punzoo. He said this in the wake of the killing of a sarpanch, which was followed by another attack on a woman panch by unidentified gunmen in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district earlier this month. Following the attacks, the AJKPC had demanded security but the government had stated that it was not possible to provide security cover to every panchayat member. Salahuddin, who is also the self-styled supreme commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit, in a recent interview with a local news agency had reportedly said he “loves the people of his homeland”. “I understand their (panchayat members) problems and helplessness. They vote for electricity, for employment, for roads and think that after voting, they would get these facilities, but then India projects it as a referendum in its favour which is not true,” Salahuddin had said. Hoping that the statement would end attacks on panchayat members, Punzoo said: “The statement is encouraging as he (Salahuddin) understands fully the situation faced by the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the panches and sarpanches. The representatives (panches and sarpanches) have not been elected by the people to decide the Kashmir dispute but have to act as facilitators in providing the basic amenities to the people at the grass-roots level.” “On the one hand the government has deprived us of powers and on the other hand, the separatists, especially the Jihad Council, had treated us as agents for sabotaging their ongoing struggle... as a result, we have become scapegoats,” the AJKPC spokesman added. While some quarters had suggested that the recent attacks on panchayat members might not necessarily be militancy related, initial police investigations had revealed that the Hizbul Mujahideen was behind the attacks in north Kashmir. Meanwhile, the panchayat conglomerate has put off its programme of observing Republic Day as “black day”. The AJKPC had also announced that it would sit on an indefinite dharna outside Jantar Mantar in New Delhi if their demands continued to find no favour with the authorities. “We have deferred our programme as we are having a meeting with the Chief Minister on February 2. The future course of action will be decided later,” Punzoo said. The AJKPC demands include extension of the 73rd Amendment to the state, grant of monthly honorarium and security and insurance cover to panchayat members. |
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Mirwaiz Farooq demands revocation of AFSPA
Srinagar, January 25 “The special powers to more than six lakh Indian soldiers stationed in Jammu and Kashmir should be ended,” Mirwaiz said from the pulpit of
Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid where he addressed a weekly Friday congregation. He said the “ground situation” would not change in Kashmir until “AFSPA-like black laws provide unlimited power to
the Army”. The AFSPA has remained a contentious issue in the region as several political parties from across the political divide — mainstream and separatists — have demanded its revocation. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has also been calling for a partial revocation of the Act, which provides special powers to the armed forces and assures legal immunity. The Army, however, has remained steadfast in defending the AFSPA, saying any decision should not be taken in hurry. The AFSPA controversy got its latest lease of life when a committee headed by Justice JS Verma, tasked to suggest ways and means to punish rape convicts, in its report said there was an
“imminent need to review the continuance of the AFSPA and AFSPA-like legal protocols in internal conflict areas as soon as possible”. Mirwaiz also demanded withdrawal of the Army from the region to “begin immediately” and
warned that “any political process” between New Delhi and Islamabad would fail if it did not lead to change in situation
in Kashmir. |
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Doctors express concern over faith healers’ ‘treatment’
Srinagar, January 25 After a two-year-old boy hailing from Kangan, Ganderbal, was admitted to the hospital for treatment of burns and scars on his abdomen due to cigarette butt branding, another infant boy from Harawan, Srinagar, was admitted to the hospital for the treatment of three burn marks in the same area. Sources said self-styled spiritual healers in Kashmir were branding children with cigarettes and other hot tools as part of their “treatment” for diseases. Neither of the two families whose children have been branded have consented to lodge FIR with the police against the “healers”. Doctors working at the hospital say people refuse to lodge complaint against these healers due to their deep-rooted faith in their medications. Dr Abdul Rashid, Registrar, GB Pant Hospital, who brought to light the incident of the two-year old boy being singed by a faith healer for treating his stomachache expressed shock over seeing a similar case two days later. “Although such burn cases resulting from spiritual treatments keep coming to this hospital, this is the first time that two cases have been reported in a span of three days. This is alarming and needs quick action by the authorities, even if the families are not bothered about seeking action against the so-called faith healers,” Dr Rashid said. Talking about the second victim in the last three days, Dr Rashid said, “He was suffering from bronchitis and fever. His parents had apparently gone to some darwesh (faith healer) in Srinagar to get him treated. After the healer tried to cure him with some hot iron substance (which his family is not ready to admit), his condition worsened. Finally, he was brought here,” Dr Rashid said. He said the infant had been discharged. However, the earlier victim is still under the surveillance of doctors at the hospital. |
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Gun or money can’t resolve political issues: Omar
Jammu, January 25 In his Republic Day address to the people, Omar Abdullah said: “When they (separatist leaders) can talk to the leadership of neighbouring country, they should also talk to the leaders of their own country and work for the settlement of basic political issues confronting Jammu and Kashmir for the larger interest of the people of the state”. He added that political issues could not be resolved by the gun or by money but across the table through a process of dialogue. Giving credit to the people of the state for helping the government to maintain peace and carry forward development activities to all regions and sub-regions, the Chief Minister said peace could not have been possible without the active support of common people. He expressed gratitude to them and said with the rooting of peace in the state, the people witnessed all round progress and development and added that the government would further upgrade this process. Omar said people were the fountainhead of power and their representatives at the grass-roots were real agents of socio-economic transformation. He said the state like Jammu and Kashmir could not be governed from Srinagar and Jammu Secretariats for its geographical diversity, remoteness and area specific problems. “Recognising this importance and empowering people to participate in plan formation and implementation of development schemes, the coalition government focused on the creation of powerful Panchayati Raj system in the state. “We held panchayat elections and transferred powers of 14 departments to them”, he said. The Chief Minister said in order to curb corruption and upgrade transparency in the functioning of administration his government had implemented the Public Services Guarantee Act (PSGA) and 20 more services had recently been incorporated in it, raising the number of services to 69. He said implementation of the Right to Information Act (RTI) had expanded the orbit for common people to question the government on its performance. The Chief Minister said his government had initiated yet another initiative of Results Framework Document (RFD) under which all departments have to prioritise their work schedule and fix physical targets for completion within the financial year. He said in yet another innovative measure, his government was working on a strategy of filling over 70,000 jobs in government sector through a fast-track recruitment process. |
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Security beefed up across the Valley ahead of R-Day
Srinagar, January 25 Security Forces have already sanitised Bakshi stadium, the venue of main function in Srinagar and its adjoining areas, to prevent any possible militant strike. The police said there was no specific input about any possible militant attack. “There is no specific input, but everything is in place to ensure peaceful R-Day,” said Deputy Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Ahfad-ul-Mujtaba. At the Republic Day parade tomorrow, state Minister for Rural Development Ali Mohammad Sagar will unfurl the National Flag at the Bakshi Stadium. Students from various schools will participate in the parade and present cultural programme on the occasion. Sources said mobile and Internet services in the Valley would be jammed as a security measure tomorrow to ensure that no electronic device was operated by suspected militants. “The mobile services will be jammed till Saturday afternoon as a precautionary measure,” said the police sources. At scores of places in Srinagar city, security personnel were stopping vehicles and directing the commuters to dismount for frisking. The CRPF had brought in sniffer dogs to carry out searches for explosives. They also occupied the rooftops of several tall buildings to keep track of any suspicious movement on the roads. Sharpshooters have been deployed at various places to keep a vigil. Security around the vital installations has been beefed up and the forces have been directed to remain on maximum alert. Reports from north and south Kashmir said security in other major towns, including Baramulla, Sopore, Anantnag, Bijebehara and Kulgam, has also been beefed up. The Army is also assisting the police and paramilitary personnel in keeping a vigil in these areas. |
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Ranbir, Deepika to shoot in Gulmarg from today
Srinagar, January 25 The actors will visit locales such as the Lidder valley of Pahalagam and icy lakes of Srinagar amid sub-zero temperatures. Ranbir and Deepika were last seen together in Bachna Ae Haseeno, a romantic comedy film which was released in 2008. Yeh Jawani Hai Diwani is their first film together after reports of their breakup surfaced in media. Film’s director Ayan Mukherjee, who made his directorial debut in Bollywood with Wake Up Sid, is already in the Valley along with his crew members to work out the technicalities before starting the shoot. The film is being produced by Dharma Productions. For the logistic support, Ayan is being helped by a Kashmir-based line producer, Khawar Jamsheed. “Currently, we are in Gulmarg to set up the shooting locales as per the requirements of a song which is to be shot. Gulmarg looks beautiful at this time with snow all around. Its a perfect place to shoot a romantic number. This is going to be amazing,” Khawar told The Tribune. Various sequences of the film have already been shot in Mumbai, Rajasthan and Paris in 2012. Interestingly, Ranbir Kapoor has kickstarted his shooting schedule for the year 2013 with Kashmir. The Kapoor family has had a history of shooting in Kashmir for some of their blockbuster movies. Ranbir’s grandfather Raj Kapoor, father Rishi Kapoor and granduncle Shammi Kapoor have had many of their superhit romantic films, including Sangam (1964), Bobby (1972) and Kashmir Ki Kalli (1964), shot in the Kashmir valley. |
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Rs 4,135 cr spent on roads and buildings in 4 yrs
Jammu, January 25 It said the roads and building sector was flagged as one of the “most important” five sectors of economic importance and basic amenities upgrade by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. An official spokesperson said Rs 4,135 crore was spent on the sector under various schemes during the last four years, resulting in the construction and upgrade of 11,365-km roads, besides blacktopping 11,268 km. Over Rs 341 crore was spent during the period on the completion and commissioning of 242 bridges, the spokesperson said, adding that more than 595 new schemes of road development involving Rs 16,056 crore was sanctioned during the period. Under the Central Road Fund, 19 schemes costing Rs 223 crore were sanctioned and 15 were completed, creating 335-km roads and blacktopping 372 km. Under the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan, Rs 368 crore has been spent on the construction of the Mughal road which has been thrown open to vehicular traffic. Its double-laning and upgrade is in full swing, the spokesperson said. Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, 1,153 schemes involving an expenditure of over Rs 3,237 crore has been sanctioned during the last four years to connect 758 habitations by constructing 5,599-km roads. During this period, more than 3,280-km roads have been constructed, benefiting 655 habitations. An amount of Rs 1,500 crore has been spent on the
programme. |
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Amnesty welcomes Verma panel’s recommendations
Srinagar, January 25 “The calls for review of the AFSPA are welcome - this is a ‘lawless law’ that is only increasing frustrations and sufferings among people in the areas of conflict. The Amnesty International has consistently demanded repeal of this legislation,” Tara Rao, Head of Education for Rights and spokesperson, Amnesty International in India, said. The Amnesty also said the Government of India should give “top priority” to the recommendations of the panel to curb violence against women in India. “The Indian authorities must follow up on their promise to give top priority to considering the Verma Committee recommendations. The government must also actively initiate public education and other measures that need to be taken to change discriminatory attitudes towards women," Rao said. A panel led by Verma, appointed by the Centre in December 2012 following widespread protests against the rape and killing of a young woman in New Delhi, had made public its recommendations on Wednesday. Rao said the recommendation to appoint special commissioners to monitor and initiate action for criminal prosecution in all cases of sexual violence against women by the armed forces personnel in "conflict areas" in particular need to be studied in detail. Stating that most reforms proposed by the Verma Committee were positive, she said: “But some may raise concern with respect to international human rights law. The Amnesty International is particularly concerned that the committee appears to say that persons sentenced to life imprisonment should not have any possibility of release. Any such provision would amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment.” “Instead of pushing for harsher punishment for the few convicted, it is important to keep the focus on reforming the systems of reporting of incidents, investigation, prosecution and sentencing. This will help in addressing the frustration among those responsible for rape and other sexual violence escaping justice,” Rao added. |
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Verma panel report justified, says Geelani
Srinagar, January 25 “The recommendations to remove the distinction between armed forces personnel and civilians vis-à-vis crimes against women are appropriate and justified,” Geelani said. He, however, said he is "apprehensive" that the recommendations of the committee would be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir. The hardline separatist demanded that all cases of violence against women in the state should be investigated by an “impartial international organisation”. He also demanded “complete withdrawal” of armed forces from the state. “The real issue is not the revocation of AFSPA, but for us the real issue is withdrawal of the Indian Army from Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. — TNS
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Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met Governor NN Vohra at the Raj Bhawan here today.
Five labourers were injured, two of them seriously, after they were hit by a loose rock in the country’s longest tunnel between Chenani and Nashri on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, around 90 km from Jammu, today.
establishment of the Panchayati Raj and the corresponding devolutions in the arena of the municipal administration would contribute towards the establishment of a decentralised democratic framework at the grassroots level.
Ahead of Republic Day celebrations, security has been tightened across the Kashmir valley. The police and paramilitary personnel intensified the searches and frisking today to ensure a peaceful R-Day function.
