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Heavy rain, snow, landslides put brakes on highway traffic
Country’s longest tunnel likely to be completed ahead of deadline
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Workers call off strike
Now, Grand Mufti says fatwa against music extends to all
Nine civilians trapped in avalanche rescued
Govt policy to appease militants emboldens fundamentalists: BJP
Impose ban on gutkha, tobacco products: HC
JKPCC chief’s support sought for inclusion of Gojri
No substitute for
hard work, Rana tells students
Central schemes discussed
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Heavy rain, snow, landslides put brakes on highway traffic
Jammu, February 4 Official sources said the traffic on the highway remained suspended during the day today, following fresh landslides in the Panthial area and accumulation of snow near the Jawahar tunnel. The Panthial area is considered the most vulnerable point on the highway. The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was closed to vehicular traffic late last night. “The highway has been closed to traffic following heavy rains and snowfall. No vehicle was allowed to proceed towards Srinagar from Jammu today. We are monitoring the situation and any decision on the movement of traffic would be taken after improvement in the weather conditions,” said a senior Traffic Police officer posted in Ramban. The officer said fresh landslides had been reported in the Panthial area on the highway while it was snowing near the Jawahar tunnel. “Landslides and snowfall have also made the road slippery. The road clearance work would be started when it stops raining. The Border Roads Organisation has been asked to keep its men and machinery ready for the clearance work,” the officer said. Sources, however, said hundreds of vehicles, including passenger cars, were stranded on the highway, particularly between Chanderkot and Ramban. “Hundreds of trucks and passengers were stranded at various places on both sides of the Jawahar tunnel. The Ramban district administration has kept the disaster management teams ready to meet any eventuality,” a source said. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said the Jammu region received 23.8 mm of rainfall since last evening while Batote and Banihal towns in Ramban district received 46.4 mm and 34.3 mm of rainfall, respectively, during the last 24 hours. “The inclement weather conditions would continue for the next two days and the upper reaches are expected to receive a moderate to heavy snowfall. In Jammu and other Kandi belts, the weather would remain cloudy and there is a possibility of a thunderstorm and moderate rainfall till February 6,” an IMD official said. Meanwhile, the cold wave has tightened its grip on Jammu and its suburbs, with the day temperature plummeting several degrees below normal. The maximum temperature in Jammu was three degrees below normal while it was two degrees below normal in Katra town. |
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Country’s longest tunnel likely to be completed ahead of deadline
Jammu, February 4 “The project has progressed with record speed with more than 54 per cent excavation of the tunnel completed. The excavation of 5.5 km out of 9 km of escape tunnel and 4.2 km out of 9 km of main tunnel has been completed. The project is expected to be completed before its scheduled deadline of May 2016,” an official spokesperson for the LWCL told The Tribune. The tunnel, being constructed by the ITNL as concessionaire and the LWCL as EPC contractor, will be a lifeline for the Kashmir valley, Doda-Kishtwar and Bhaderwah regions. It will provide an all-weather road communication to the Valley, bypassing snow-bound Patnitop, and will reduce a distance of 31 km. The spokesperson claimed that more than 1,500 local youth had been provided employment directly or indirectly. “The construction company has more than 93 per cent of its workforce from surrounding areas. Local engineers and people from other professions were being given opportunities. Under the graduate trainee programme, the company has recruited 15 young engineers from NIT, Srinagar, and Jammu Engineering College,” he said. Regarding the strike of workers at the north portal of the tunnel, the spokesperson said despite “best facilities” being provided to the workforce, some “miscreants” were misleading the workforce and general public. “The incitement of workforce for vested interests has resulted in a total of 52 days of strikes, resulting in loss of production. The strikes are the biggest impediment for the project to be completed in time,” he said. The spokesperson said there was a dispute between two groups and there were no other “substantial issues” with the workforce. “No deduction of Rs 2,000 from workers’ wages to compensate the family of deceased worker Chunnilal, who got electrocuted on January 29 at work site, was made and only small voluntary contributions from workers and staff were collected and handed over to the deceased’s wife,” he said. “There is a production-based incentive scheme in which workers are entitled to incentive if they exceed the production targets. The scheme also has rules for safety and discipline. Any fatal accident on site will automatically reduce the entitlement of the incentive to the workers even if the production targets are met. Basic wages of the workers are never reduced,” he said. |
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Workers call off strike
Batote, February 4 It was decided that the issues would be resolved mutually and amicably. “Despite the inclement weather, the workers will resume their work,” said Gurmeet Singh, president of the workers’ union. The workers had gone on the strike following some issues pertaining to the labour community. |
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Do’s and don’ts for Amarnath yatra released
Jammu, February 4 The brochure lists the do’s and don’ts for the intending pilgrims and has been brought out with a view to create awareness among the pilgrims about various aspects of the annual pilgrimage, including the terrain and topography, and precautions to be taken during the pilgrimage. The annual yatra will begin from June 28. While interacting with a JKLTDC delegation, the Governor lauded their initiative of bringing out the brochure. He said such literature could be made available at yatra registration counters across the country for the benefit of the intending pilgrims. Chairman of the JKLTDC Rajesh Gupta briefed the Governor about activities of the organisation and the aims and objectives of bringing it out. Gupta said the volunteers of the organisation would provide assistance to the yatris and support during medical emergencies and hospitalisation assistance at various locations. The nine-member delegation comprised Syed Sajjad Madni, Gurmit Singh, Asif Iqbal, BB Kotwal, Rajinder Singh Kotwal, Shujahat Madni, Ajay Kumar Mahajan and Sudhir Gulati. Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board Navin K Choudhary was present on the occasion. |
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Now, Grand Mufti says fatwa against music extends to all
Srinagar, February 4 The Grand Mufti on Sunday issued a fatwa against Kashmir’s first and only girls’ rock band, terming the attitude of the teenage girls as “non-serious”. He denounced music and singing, saying it is a step towards “national destruction”. Bashiruddin told The Tribune the fatwa was not exclusively aimed at the girls but was meant for everyone. “It is for everyone, it is not only for girls. It is for every community whether they be Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus or Christians. Everyone has to live within the limits of discipline here,” the Grand Mufti said when asked if his fatwa was limited to girls only. The girls’ rock band Pragaash hit a controversy soon after their first and only performance in the city in last December. The controversy deepened when Chief Minister Omar Abdullah extended support to the teenage girls, saying they have a “right to choose to sing”. Omar’s support drew the ire of the clergy and separatists, who criticised the Chief Minister in harsh terms while Grand Mufti called Omar’s support as “unnecessary”. When the Grand Mufti was asked why was there a disparity as the fatwa was issued only against girls, he said he had issued many similar fatwas in the past. “The issue was highlighted because of Omar Abdullah, otherwise, we have issued many fatwas,” he said. The controversy, meanwhile, refuses to die down as another politico-religious group in the region today denounced the girls, saying that the "Shariah", or Islamic law, prohibits “immodest activity, which includes obscene dancing”. “The Shariah strictly prohibits every immodest activity which includes obscene dancing, in particular dancing of women in presence of men,” the Jamaat-e-Islami said. The Jamaat also lashed out at the Chief Minister, saying that his support to the rock band “depicts his total ignorance”. “It would be advisable for him (Omar) to spend at least one hour reading the Koran if he is interested in leading a life of a Muslim,” the group said. |
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Nine civilians trapped in avalanche rescued
Batote, February 4 Police and Army sources said the group was bound for Mangat village and was buried under an avalanche at Bijnari Mohu in the morning. After receiving a message that some people were buried under an avalanche, a team of the police and RR, led by sub-inspector Shamim Ahmed from the Khari police post, under the supervision of SDPO Choudhary Abdul Qayoom and SP Anil Magotra, launched an operation at 11 am and rescued the nine persons after a six-hour-long search. They also recovered the dead body of Ali Mohammad, a resident of Bava Mohu. The rescued persons were identified as Aquib, Abdul Rasheed, Bahar Ahmed, Mushtaq Ahmed, Gulshan Begum, Nishat, Zaitoon, Shazia and a woman who could not be identified. Zaitoon had received minor injuries. Minister for Technical Education and Information Vikar Rasool, a resident of Banihal, has assured all possible help to the affected people. |
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Govt policy to appease militants emboldens fundamentalists: BJP
Jammu, February 4 “These are precisely the elements which do not want the youth of Kashmir to be a part of the national mainstream in a democratic India,” he said. In a statement issued here today, Singh also held the National Conference (NC)-led coalition in the state responsible for such a situation. He said it was because of the government’s appeasement policy towards separatists and militants that fundamentalists felt emboldened to hold out such threats. He said that even though the Chief Minister had denounced the fatwa on Twitter, the state government had so far done little to provide security to the members of the rock band or to dissuade the fundamentalist groups from holding them to ransom. |
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Three former Hizb militants held in Panchari killings case
Jammu, February 4 The youths, including four Village Defence Committee (VDC) members, were killed on November 30, 2001, at Chakka Galiote in the Panchari area of Udhampur district. Those who have been arrested are Farooq Ahmed of Salbala Gool, Manzoor Ahmed of Dalwa Gool, Abdul Latif of Chhachhwa Gool and Mohammed Din of Sedua Tangar from Ramban district. The surrendered militants were top commanders of the Hizbul Mujahideen and used to operate in the Gool area. While Farooq Ahmed was “battalion commander” of the Hizbul Mujahideen under code 44, Manzoor Ahmed was “district operator” before his surrender. The third surrendered militant, Abdul Latif, was a close confidant and cousin of Mohammed Hussain, who was “group commander” and is still at large. Preliminary interrogation confirmed that other Hizb militants in the Gool area such as Iqbal (then district commander, who later became divisional commander), Billu Gujjar (battalion commander), Mohammed Hussain (group commander), Nadeem, Bilal, Shahid Lata Peer, Saddar Din, Gazi and Kari were also involved in the conspiracy and killing of the youths. On November 30, 2001, 12 militants in Army and police fatigues, disguising themselves as Sawalakote security personnel, appeared at Chakka Galiote at about 4.30 pm and called the VDC members along with weapons saying that they would be recruited. Thereafter, the militants asked the VDC members to deposit their weapons with their senior officer and line up. After the youths lined up, the militants shot them dead along with three other civilians and decamped with the rifles of VDC members. Despite thorough investigations, there was no headway in the case. It was closed in 2002 and a closure report was submitted to the court in 2005 on a condition that whenever a clue came up, the case would be reopened. However, Udhampur Additional SP Benam Tosh and his team pursued the case and cracked it with the arrest of the four accused. |
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Impose ban on gutkha, tobacco products: HC
The bench is hearing a PIL filed by Sajjad Gilani on behalf of the Jammu and Kashmir Voluntary Health and Development Association, wherein a ban has been sought on the manufacture and sale of gutkha and other smokeless tobacco products in the state. “The state through the Chief Secretary is directed to take necessary steps for imposing a ban on the use and manufacture of gutkha and other tobacco products and file a compliance report in this regards within a week,” the high court said in its orders passed today. The bench issued the orders after perusal of the government response, wherein it had been indicated that it (government) was considering banning the use of gutkha, pan masala and tobacco products in the state. The bench said it (court) sees no justification in the government’s assertion that it was awaiting orders from the Finance Department even as it (government) had admitted that gutkha and other tobacco products carried health hazards. In the response submitted through Commissioner Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, it had been said the Finance Department’s views were being sought as the ban involved huge financial implications. |
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JKPCC chief’s support sought for inclusion of Gojri
Jammu, February 4 The delegation submitted a memorandum to Soz, which consisted of an eight page document about Gojri, prepared by the foundation, a frontal organisation of Gujjars of the state. On behalf of the delegation, Rahi told Soz that Gojri had recently been recommended by the state government for inclusion into the Indian Constitution and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had written a recommendation to the Union Home Minister, urging inclusion of Gojri in the list of official languages of the country.
— TNS |
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No substitute for
hard work, Rana tells students
Jammu, February 4 Rana was addressing a gathering at the National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra in Haryana, organised in connection with the valedictory function of “Techspardha-2013”, a national-level technical festival as part of the golden jubilee celebrations of the institute. He said students must add value to each stage of their life, which would add value to the ecosystem they live and work in. A handout issued here today said, Rana, who is an alumni of the institute, was the chief guest at the valedictory function. The function was inaugurated by Dr A Sivathanu Pillai, CEO and Managing Director of Brahmos Aerospace. Students from 43 engineering colleges from all over the country participated in it. Rana said there was no substitute for hard work. “You need to do a lot of hard work in life. You need to have a clear vision and a clear mind about what you want to do in life and these two have to be blended together to achieve success.”
— TNS |
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Central schemes discussed
Jammu, February 4 Jora briefed the Governor about the status of the execution of Centrally sponsored schemes, which promote planned urban development in the state.
— TNS |
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Srinagar, February 4