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Jawan killed, 3 injured in accidental grenade blast
Army soldiers display a huge cache of arms and ammunition recovered by them from Rajwar forests in Handwara on Wednesday. — PTI
Governor launches scholarship scheme for artistes
10,624 cases pending in J-K courts for over 10 years
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Devotees make a beeline for Vaishno Devi temple
BJP yatra to target Congress for ‘keeping silent’ on Afzal issue
Attack on soldier: Police still groping in dark
Discord between NC, Cong continued even after 1975 accord: US cable
Trial court directs SSP to file compliance report
State woos western embassies for sapphire extraction in Padder area of Kishtwar
State’s dependence on Central non-debt resources down by 4%
Fresh snowfall revives cold wave in
Leh, flights cancelled
Medicare facilities for pilgrims discussed
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Jawan killed, 3 injured in accidental grenade blast
Srinagar, April 11 “One soldier, belonging to 21 Rashtriya Rifiles, was killed and three others were injured when a grenade accidentally went off inside an Army camp in Handawara’s Zachaldara area in north Kashmir,” a police spokesman said, adding that the soldiers were cleaning their weaponry inside the camp when a grenade “accidentally” went off. “Soldier Shyam Singh, hailing from Sirmaur in Himachal Pradesh, was seriously wounded after a grenade exploded inside the camp this morning,” he said. The injured jawans were rushed to the Army’s Base Hospital in Srinagar, where Shyam Singh succumbed to his injuries, the police spokesman said. “The two injured soldiers are being treated at the Base Hospital, whereas one with minor injuries is being treated at Drugmulla Hospital in Kupwara district,” said the officiating spokesman of Srinagar-based 15 Corps, Naresh Vij. He, however, added that that the explosion took place when Army personnel were preparing to leave for an anti-militant operation. Security forces have launched a massive search operation in Kupwara forests. They recovered a huge cache of arms and explosives from a militant hideout yesterday.
The operations are part of the efforts to check infiltration and smuggling of arms and explosives into the Valley from across the Line of Control. Second incident in three days The accidental blast is the second such incident in a span of just three days in the same district. On April 9, two Army men were injured near the Line of Control
(LoC) in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district after they had accidentally overstepped a mine in the area. The soldiers were patrolling the Guggaldar area near the LoC in Kupwara when the blast occurred, the Army had said. |
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Governor launches scholarship scheme for artistes
Jammu, April 11 The Governor, who is the chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, was launching a new scholarship scheme at a function held at Raj Bhawan here this evening. The scheme, “SMVDSB-Natrang Young Artists Scholarship Scheme”, has been launched in association with the Natrang to attract young artistes and enable them to learn and practice the traditional forms of music, dance and drama. He observed that the successful implementation of the pilot project would provide bedrock for the growth of the theatre movement Referring to the Dogri Play, “Suno Eh
Kahani”, presented by the Natrang on the occasion, the Governor lauded the performances of the artistes. He observed that the play emanated an important social message and suggested to Balwant
Thakur, Director, Natrang, to focus on promoting people’s theatre, which would contribute to the growth of society. The Governor launched the scholarship scheme by lighting the ceremonial lamp, gave mementos to the artistes and wished them bright future. The scheme shall be of three years, whereby 15 young artistes shall be identified and selected, preferably from villages in the neighbourhood of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Reasi district. The artistes shall be trained over the next three years by the Natrang in traditional art forms and music. It is aimed to ensure preservation and promotion of art forms, prevalent in the villages surrounding Vaishno Devi and neighbouring districts. The Shrine Board shall provide the young artistes a scholarship of Rs 3,000 a month. In his welcome address, Balwant Thakur thanked the Governor for launching the scholarship. He said a hunt would be launched soon to select talented artistes for training under the scheme. |
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10,624 cases pending in J-K courts for over 10 years
Jammu, April 11 According to the state government, a total of 2.73 lakh cases, both civil and criminal, are pending before various courts across the state. It said 82,296 cases, including 4,125 criminal cases, were pending in the high court while the pendency in subordinate courts was 1,91,144 till December 2012 which was “reflective of an alarming situation”. “There are 3,319 and 7,305 cases of various natures which are pending in the high court and subordinate courts, respectively, for the past more than 10 years. To reduce the
pendency, the high court has issued a number of circulars to the subordinate courts for disposal of such cases within a fixed period,” an official document of the state Law Department said. The department, however, claimed that it would establish 18 fast-track courts comprising eight of the rank of the district and session judges and 10 of the rank of the civil judges to clear the pendency of cases and provide speedy justice to petitioners. “The delay in the decision on cases pending before the courts always leads to diminishing faith among the public in the judicial system and it is virtually happening in the state. The rising pendency should be viewed seriously and it needs corrective measures to restore the public faith in the law,” a senior law department official said requesting anonymity. Former Additional Advocate General, J&K, BS
Slathia, who is also the former president of the Bar Association, Jammu, said the state government should be blamed for the prevailing mess in the system. “Most of the cases remain pending for years due to the insensitive attitude of the state government as it doesn’t either implement the high court orders or file objections, which leads to the rising
pendency,” Slathia said. He said the delay in decision on various cases defeats the purpose of justice. According to the Supreme Court, speedy justice is the fundamental right of the people and it needs to be ensured by the state government. Five high court judges and seven district and session judges were recently appointed in the state. Besides, the Law Department has referred four vacancies of the district and session judges and 10 munsiffs to the recruiting agency. Minister for Law Mir Saifullah recently claimed that the government was implementing the State Litigation Policy in letter and spirit for speedy justice to people and timely disposal of cases. The minister had announced that the performance of government advocates, public prosecutors and standing counsels was reviewed periodically through the policy and poor performers would be terminated. |
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Devotees make a beeline for Vaishno Devi temple
Katra, April 11 Elaborate decoration along the 12-km path to the holy cave with exotic flowers has added to the visual delight of the scenery.
"Navratri is a special occasion for everyone and when devotees find the temple beautified with such flowers, the charm and devotion increases. The decoration is very appealing for all of us,” said Sanjeev Kumar, one of the devotees at the
temple. Lakhs of devotees from across the country and abroad visit this famous shrine during the nine-day
Navratras. The temple town of Katra in the foothills also presents a festive look these days. Over 35,000 devotees paid obeisance at the cave shrine on the first day of the
Navratras. |
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BJP yatra to target Congress for ‘keeping silent’ on Afzal issue
Jammu, April 11 By launching the one-month-long yatra which will cover the entire state, the BJP proposes to target the Congress for running a government with the National Conference, which has “crossed all limits to appease secessionists and anti-national forces”.
BJP leaders also plan to rake up “discrimination” against the Jammu and Ladakh regions and corner the Congress for “bartering Jammu’s interests to enjoy power”. Incidentally, three days ago, J-K Pradesh Congress Committee
(JKPCC) chief Saifuddin Soz had admitted that Jammu held the key to the 2014 Assembly elections. The BJP has reason to intensify its attack on the Congress because in the just concluded budget session of the Assembly, the National Conference had openly opposed the decision of the Union government to hang
Afzal. “The Assembly proceedings are still fresh in the minds of people of the Jammu region. So, it is the appropriate time to take the issue to the masses,” said BJYM state president Ravinder
Raina. During the Yuva Adhikar Yatra, pro-secessionist policies of the coalition government would be exposed, he added. “The Omar government has become a security risk because this regime has been encouraging anti-national forces for petty political gains,” said BJP state president Jugal Kishore Sharma. “The unfortunate part is that the Congress leadership has given its consent to the National Conference to preach secessionism,” alleged
Jugal. He alleged that after Afzal’s execution, the state government had given a free hand to all anti-national elements to openly challenge the authority of India. Senior BJP leader Nirmal Singh, in his address, lambasted the Congress for giving “silent consent” to the state government to allow “strengthening of anti-national forces”. The BJP leader said by maintaining silence over the “dangerous game plan” of the National Conference, the Congress was playing with fire. “The real culprit in the prevailing situation was the Congress,” Singh said.
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Attack on soldier: Police still groping in dark
Jammu, April 11 In a veiled attack, she also raised suspicion on the family of her husband’s first wife, who, she claimed, had died of snakebite in 2006. However, the police said they could not interrogate anyone on mere accusations. Talking to mediapersons at Military Hospital in Satwari here, Shamli Sharma, the second wife of injured soldier Rajesh Kumar
Dutta, said she didn’t have faith in the police investigations and therefore a CBI probe should be conducted to bring the culprits to book. Accompanied by her mother-in-law, Shamli said her husband’s first wife had died of snakebite but her (first wife’s) parents and other family members had accused Rajesh Kumar Dutta of a foul play in her death. Superintendent of Police (Rural) Rajesh Kumar said they had not got any vital clue so far. “We have talked to his relatives also and they told us that Rajesh was on his way back home from Jammu to Nowshera on April 2. The soldier has not yet recorded his statement,” said the SP. On the claims of soldier’s second wife
Shamli, he said the police had also come across this angle but on mere accusations they could not interrogate anyone. Rajesh Kumar Dutta of 11 Rashtriya Rifles was found in an unconscious state in a rivulet in Chowki Chora on the
Jammu-Poonch highway on April 3 with his eyes gouged out. On April 4, the
IGP, Jammu Zone, Rajesh Kumar, had told The Tribune that three teams had been constituted by him in
Akhnoor, Nowshera and Jammu to crack the case. The injured soldier is a resident of Lam village in the Nowshera area of Rajouri district. The police has registered a case of attempted murder under Section 307 of the Ranbir Penal Code at Akhnoor police station. |
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Discord between NC, Cong continued even after 1975 accord: US cable
Srinagar, April 11 The US diplomatic cables leaked by Wikileaks said the “strained relations” between Abdullah’s National Conference and the Congress reached “a point of confrontation” in early October 1976 over the question of timing and procedure for the civic body elections. The historic February 1975 accord, signed by representatives of Kashmir’s then most towering leader Abdullah and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, led to Abdullah’s return to power as the state’s Chief Minister. Abdullah, who founded the National Conference out of the Muslim Conference, was earlier dismissed as the Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir in 1953 and spent many years in jail, internment and in exile. The current Chief Minister of the state Omar Abdullah is his grandson. “A round of ‘shuttle diplomacy’ between Srinagar and Delhi resulted in a compromise between the Sheikh (Abdullah) and the Centre which appeared to satisfy both sides,” the confidential cable, filed from US embassy in New Delhi and dated November 1, 1976, said. Most of the US diplomatic cables about Kashmir, leaked by Wikileaks in its latest haul, are already declassified. Under the compromise reached out by the two parties, the cable says, the National Conference would be allowed to win the bulk of the seats in the Municipal Councils in the Valley while four state Congress leaders were to be admitted into Abdullah's senior cabinet. “But a funny thing happened on the way to the swearing-in ceremony and the deal collapsed. The situation in the state has apparently returned to square one, with both the Cabinet expansion and the civic elections postponed indefinitely,” the cable said. The US embassy believed the “new round of acrimony” may arise between the two sides following the deal collapse. “But we strongly doubt whether Prime Minister
(Indira) Gandhi will allow any renewed Congress-National Conference hostility to reach the point of endangering the February 1975 Kashmir accord,” it said. Abdullah, according to the cable, wanted the civil polls to be held early so that he could consolidate his position in the state and demonstrate his strength, which the state Congress leader “presumably acting on behalf of the
Centre” wanted to be indefinitely postponed. The US cable says Abdullah, at this moment of confrontation with the Congress party, even held out the “spectre” of forming an electoral alliance with Maulvi Mohammad Farooq's pro-Pakistan Awami Action Committee. Under the “shuttle diplomacy”, the US embassy cable says, Congress president Debakanta Barua had a five-day “holiday” in Srinagar in mid-October following which Abdullah travelled to New Delhi for three days of talks with
Barua, Indira Gandhi and other senior Congress leaders. “We understand that when Abdullah arrived in the capital (New Delhi), he was presented a ‘package deal’ on a take-it-or-leave-it basis,” the cable says. Another US cable, which was filed the day when Indira announced the signing of the 1975 agreement with Abdullah in Parliament, says that Abdullah “failed to achieve” most of his demands and had to “settle for assurances that India would not remove what remains of Kashmir’s special status without the state’s concurrence”. STRAINED TIES *
Abdullah, according to the cable, wanted the civil polls to be held early so that he could consolidate his position in the state and demonstrate his strength, which the state Congress leader “presumably acting on behalf of the
Centre” wanted to be indefinitely postponed |
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1996 Nishat contractor’s killing case
Srinagar, April 11 Ali Muhammad Mir, a resident of Nishat, was allegedly kidnapped and subsequently killed by the counter-insurgency group led by Ghulam Muhammad Lone, alias Papa
Kishtawari, who is currently in judicial custody and facing trial in the contractor’s murder. “Though the police officer concerned was earlier directed to file his compliance report in the contempt petition, he has not done it so for. Now, the court has again directed the officer concerned to file his compliance report by or before April 25, when the matter is listed for further consideration,” counsel Babar Jan Qadri told The Tribune, who represented the complainant family in the case this week. In the compliance report, he said, the officer
concerned was required to explain what steps he had taken on the previous court directions of November 2, 2011. Earlier, on March 26, the Court of the 2nd Additional District and Sessions Judge, Srinagar, where the matter was listed this week, had issued a notice to the Srinagar SSP in the contempt petition by the family. In the contempt petition filed by slain contractor’s son Zahoor Ahmad Mir before the Court of the 2nd Additional District and Sessions Judge, Srinagar, it had been alleged that Srinagar SSP Ashiq Bukhari “wilfully” did not obey the previous court directions which required the police to provide security to the petitioner’s family. “The Court of the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Srinagar, had passed an order on November 2, 2011, whereby the contemnor (SSP, Srinagar) was directed to provide security in the form of two PSOs (personal security officers) to the complainant, Zahoor Ahmad Mir, whose father was killed in 1996,” Zahoor has submitted in the contempt petition filed through his lawyer Babar Qadri. “The fact is that the respondent (SSP, Srinagar) was duly served the directions, but in utter disregard of the rule of law, the contemnor has not obliged to the court order,” the petitioner had further submitted in his contempt petition. “The contemnor’s disobedience with regard to the orders passed by the court is wilful, otherwise the petitioner’s grievances would have been redressed,” the petitioner had submitted before the court while praying for initiation of contempt proceedings against the officer concerned, in his petition. Sequence of probe *
The police started investigations into the case in 2007 after the deceased’s son, Zahoor, filed a petition in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court pleading for police action *
n the complaint lodged in 1996, the victim’s family blamed Papa Kishtawari and his men for the contractor’s disappearance *
The victim’s son had alleged that after picking up his father on October 29, 1996, Kishtawari killed him at Frestabal in Pampore *
The police investigation named Ghulam Muhammad Lone, alias Papa Kishtawari, and his three accomplices as the accused *
They were subsequently booked for murder and trial of the case is going on before the Sessions Court at Srinagar |
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State woos western embassies for sapphire extraction in Padder area of Kishtwar
Jammu, April 11 Unsuccessful in its attempts to attract the attention of international companies for the past five years, J&K Minerals Limited (JKML) has again floated global tenders to extract the gemstone in a joint venture (JV) for commercial purpose. Till now, political uncertainty and bureaucratic wrangling had discouraged global companies to invest in the extraction of the stone, which can bring crores of rupees to the state annually. The government has invited expression of interest (EOI) from companies with expertise in exploration, mine planning and mining of gemstones for undertaking the exploration and exploitation of precious stone in Paddar through a JV. Situated at an altitude of 4,327 m above sea level, the state-run JKML is holding mining lease on 6.65 sq km, which contains one of the finest blue gemstones, also know as ‘neelam’. Padder sapphire is known for its uniqueness world over. Its deep blue colour with cornflower tinge is its special characteristic. It was first commercially exploited by Dogra General Zorawar Singh during his military campaign against Tibet in the mid 18th century. After Independence, the mining activity was handed over to the state Mineral Department followed by leasing out of the mines to the JKML in 1963. But no major breakthrough has been achieved in the extraction of the mineral because the state failed to bring modern technology for its mining. Managing Director of the JKML Pramod Khajuria said, “We have not received much response in the past many years. But this year we have submitted details about the mine and the type of gemstone to various embassies in New Delhi and global tenders have been floated, so that they promote them among their big mining companies.” Khajuria said at present the JKML carry out small mining activity in the months of July and August, which are then auctioned for buyers from around the world. “We hope that global companies show interest to mine the gemstone in the JV,” said the MD. Due to the political uncertainty in J&K in the 1990s, the state’s prized treasure was forgotten and big smuggler gangs plundered the natural reserves in whichever way possible. Failed extraction process First global tenders were floated in 2007-08 when only three companies- Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation, Gem Resources, Mumbai, and an offer by an NRI based in Switzerland, were short listed. However, not much headway was made, as they never approached again to complete the process. Officials said the first auction fetched the JKML Rs 1.32 crore against 11.5 kg of corundum in 2008. During 2011-12, two auctions fetched more than Rs 80 lakh. It was extracted by the JKML. Extraction of these sapphires from mines, which began in the 18th century, achieved legendary status in the jewellery world. The gems mined during this period are highly valued and usually fetch enormous prices around the world. |
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State’s dependence on Central non-debt resources down by 4%
Srinagar, April 11 Principal Accountant General (Audit) Subhash Chandra Pandey said the coming down of the percentage of dependence on the Central resources was a positive signal for the state’s economy. “The state’s dependence on non-debt resources from the Central government has come down from 67 per cent in 2006-07 to 63 per cent in 2011-12, excluding a one-off peak of 71 per cent in 2010-11...this is a positive signal,” Pandey told the media here today. He said the percentage had come down as the state had made “good use of the opportunities presented by the increased economic activities to substantially increase tax revenues”. “There has been record mobilisation of commercial taxes and stamp duties in 2011-12 and the state’s own revenues have shown a very high growth. The government has also taken significant decisions like introduction of new pension scheme, bringing more items under the ambit of VAT, more services under the tax net and the computerisation of the commercial Tax Department,” he added. “The state had to maintain the fiscal deficit at 4.7 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), which was not achieved during 2011-12 as the fiscal deficit was 5.9 per cent,” he said. Even as tax revenues have increased, Pandey said these “are not sufficient to meet even the revenue expenditure of the state”. He said the total expenditure of the state had increased by 118 per cent during 2006-12 with the capital and revenue expenditure components having increased by 140 per cent and 114 per cent. Pandey said these findings were presented recently in the Assembly as part of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report. Complete info of Central funds not given: CAG The CAG report has expressed concern over the unavailability of annual accounts by several bodies. It said the accounts kept by some state bodies did not present a “complete picture” of the flow of funds from the Centre. “It is a matter of concern that 301 annual accounts of 32 bodies were awaited by Audit as on March 31, 2012.... The Centre has been transferring a sizable quantum of funds directly to the State Implementing Agencies…. Since these funds do not pass through the Consolidated Fund of the state, the Finance Accounts do not present a complete picture of the fund flow of the Central government resources into the state,” the report states. |
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Fresh snowfall revives cold wave in Leh, flights cancelled
Leh, April 11 A hailstorm at Changla led to the closure of the road connecting the Pangong Lake with the Durbuk block of Changthang subdivision of the district. At least one-ft snow was reported to have accumulated at Changla. Khardungla, which is the gateway to the Nubra valley and Siachen Glacier, partially reopened to traffic late in the afternoon, with one-way traffic from Leh to Nubra. The cold wave conditions have revived in the region. The minimum temperature recorded at Leh town was minus 1.8 °C. |
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Medicare facilities for pilgrims discussed
Jammu, April 11 The Governor and Dhar discussed matters relating to the management of the forthcoming Amarnath yatra, which will commence on June 28. They particularly discussed facilities and arrangements to be made for providing timely and adequate medicare to pilgrims who take ill. Dhar briefed the Governor about several pressing issues relating to the advancement of school education in the state. — TNS |
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A soldier was killed and three others were injured in an accidental blast inside an Army camp in Kupwara district in north Kashmir.
The incident happened this morning inside an Army camp in the Zachaldara area of Handwara tehsil in the district, said the police.
