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Attack on Pakistani prisoner unfortunate, says Omar
CM welcomes Chinese troops’ withdrawal
Durbar Move offices reopen in Srinagar for summer
Disowned by their countries, many foreign militants languish in jails
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Kashmir shut partially over spurious medicines
Key witness in Haji Yousuf death case joins PDP
MLA violates ban on conversion of agricultural land for commercial use
Cricket coach issue likely to be discussed
Organ replacement conducted in Leh
Vaishno Devi shrine board launches online registration for yatra
J&K Bank chairman calls on Governor
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Attack on Pakistani prisoner unfortunate, says Omar
Srinagar, May 6 The Chief Minister said a time-bound inquiry to be held by the Principal Secretary for Home had been ordered while parallel inquiries by other wings of the police would take place as well. Omar Abdullah declined to comment on initial findings in the incident that led to serious injuries to Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah Khan, who was in a coma. Omar Abdullah said he would not share the initial findings that could land him in trouble as had happened in the case of the rape and murder of two women in Shopian in 2009. Replying to questions from mediapersons on the reopening of the Civil Secretariat here today, he said the attack on Sanaullah Khan should not have taken place. Omar Abdullah said he had instructed the Minister of State for Home to take care of places where both Indian and Pakistani prisoners were lodged. He hoped that the Pakistani prisoner, undergoing treatment at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences in Chandigarh, would recover soon. He added that the condition of the injured prisoner had stabilised because of the prompt action by the authorities and he was shifted to Chandigarh immediately. On the spurious drug scam, the Chief Minister said inquiries were on and would not be stopped at any level. “It is an ongoing process,” he said. He said the Vigilance Commission had been directed to inquire into the allegations in the matter while other agencies were probing the supply of spurious drugs. He added that the Health and Medical Education Department, being looked after by two ministers, was looking into the matter separately. Omar Abdullah said there was shortage of testing laboratories in the state. He appealed to civil society groups in the Kashmir and Jammu regions to help in establishing proper testing laboratories. On allegations of corruption and misappropriation against some ministers in the coalition government, Omar Abdullah said there would be a logical approach. He pointed out that agencies like the RTI, the Accountability Commission and Vigilance were in place to look into such allegations, adding that action could be taken only on the basis of concrete evidence. Restrictions on Geelani’s movements Asserting that the government was not afraid of hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman was by and large free. “Geelani has been inciting people every time he visits any place which led to stone-pelting in those areas,” the Chief Minister said. He offered to intervene and lift restrictions on Geelani’s movements only on the assurance that this would not lead to any law and order problem. “Let him (continue) peacefully and I will have no problem,” the Chief Minister said. |
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CM welcomes Chinese troops’ withdrawal
Srinagar, May 6 “I am glad that the diplomatic measures that the Centre has taken in this regard led to the withdrawal by Chinese troops,” Omar Abdullah told mediapersons here today. He was replying to questions at a press conference on the occasion of the reopening of the civil
secretariat and other Durbar Move offices here this morning. He pointed out that an impression had been created that the Indian troops guarding the borders had been withdrawn from the area as well. “It is our side of the LAC and Chinese troops have withdrawn,” he said. Omar Abdullah said it was unfortunate that Chinese troops had entered Indian territory and set up camps there. He expressed the hope that Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid would go ahead with his scheduled visit to China on May 9 in connection with Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang’s India visit from May 20. The recent incursions by People’s Liberation Army 19 km inside Indian territory in the Daulat Beg Oldie sector of Leh district in the Ladakh region had raised questions over Salman Khurshid’s China visit. Chinese troops from across the LAC made intrusions into the Daulat Beg Oldie sector on April 15, resulting into a stand-off between the two countries. Reports revealed that a battalion of Chinese troops comprising about 50 personnel with an unspecified number of vehicles set up five tents on this side of the LAC in nearly three weeks. While India had initiated diplomatic efforts with China over the incursion issue, the situation had
also prompted Army chief Gen Bikram Singh’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir
to have first- hand information about the developments. During his visit, the Chief of Army Staff had briefed Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on the issue. Political parties in the state, including the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Panthers Party, had organised protest
demonstrations in Jammu and opposed the scheduled India visit of the Chinese Prime Minister later this month. |
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Durbar Move offices reopen in Srinagar for summer
Srinagar, May 6 Senior officers of the civil and police administration, including Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khanday and Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Prasad, were also present on the occasion. The Chief Justice Secretariat and office of the Registrar General also reopened after the annual Durbar Move. The CRPF presented a guard of honour to Chief Justice, J-K High Court, MM Kumar. The DGP inspected the Police Headquarters (PHQ) and other moving police establishments, which reopened here today. He was presented a guard of honour by a contingent of the armed police. After interacting with the media, the Chief Minister had a meeting with the Council of Ministers and Administrative Secretaries. “Good governance, transparency and work culture should be visible while you deliver on public demands and implement development programmes,” he said in the meeting. He said the current year had witnessed many ups and downs but the general trend was positive and the government through its collective political and administrative responses had overcome the difficulties. He asked the administration to be quick in resolving public difficulties, particularly those pertaining to the supply of power and essential commodities, especially in far-flung and rural areas. He said the development process should be carried forward at an accelerated pace. Omar sought early completion of the assessment report regarding the damage caused due to the recent earthquake in the erstwhile Doda District and parts of south Kashmir so that affected people could be provided necessary assistance. He said reports in this regard should be finalised on a fast-track basis so that the state government could take up the issue of assistance with the Union government. The Chief Minister asked ministers and Administrative Secretaries to be tough on corruption-related issues and asked them to lead in this regard by example. “Any complaint you receive should be taken very seriously and verified thoroughly. If it is found to be true, the case should be immediately handed over to the authority concerned for prompt action under the rules,” he told them. Meanwhile, the Governor’s Secretariat in Raj Bhawan, too, reopened here today. Governor NN Vohra went around various wings of Raj Bhawan Secretariat and issued instructions to officers for better management of office records and prompt disposal of all references. During the inspection of Raj Bhawan gardens, he stressed the need for better maintenance of the estate. |
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Disowned by their countries, many foreign militants languish in jails
Srinagar, May 6 Mohammad Abdul Aziz (Saudi Arabia national) The future of Saudi Arabia national, Mohammad Abdul Aziz, arrested in 2005, hangs in the balance as the Saudi government has denied him citizenship. Since 2009, Aziz, booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA), had been seeking his repatriation. Aziz was charged soon after his arrest and sentenced to a two-and-a-half-year term. A police dossier describes Aziz as “a jihadi”. In 2009, he was booked under the PSA. “Saudi officials stated that Aziz was not a Saudi national,” says advocate Mir Majid, who pleaded his repatriation case. “I last met him in the Tihar jail in 2011 but by then, he seemed to have lost his mental balance,” Majid said. Sheikh Khalafatullah (Bangladeshi national) The High Court had ordered his deportation two years ago. However, Bangladeshi national Sheikh Khalafatullah continues to languish here since 2011. As the Bangladesh Embassy did not send the requisite travel documents, the state authorities were forced to detain him again under the PSA. “Sheikh Khalafatullah, alias Bengali, who hails from Durgapur Ashnaouni in Satkhira district of Bangladesh, is not an Indian national and the government is satisfied that he is a foreigner,” the J&K Home Department stated in its detention orders. The High Court, while quashing his earlier detention under the PSA in February 2011, had directed the state government to take necessary steps for his deportation. However, human rights activist and lawyer Babar Jan Qadri, who has been pursuing the case, says Khalafatullah has also become a “liability” for the state government. “He was detained at the India-Bangladesh border in early 2009 and was implicated in a false case in Shopian district,” he said. Hamid Noman (Pak national) Hamid Noman Bhat from Clifton Colony, Lahore, is under detention at Srinagar Central Jail under the PSA. He suffers from gangrene and might have to undergo amputation if not provided treatment. After “repeated failures” to furnish a report about his health, a court in Srinagar directed on April 2 the Chief Prosecuting Officer to seek the report from the jail Superintendent. He was first booked under the PSA on September 2012 for six months and after expiry, detained again on March 19 this year. “Doctors had fixed March 25 as the date for surgery, but he was not produced by the jail authorities,” said counsel Babar, pleading his detention. |
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Kashmir shut partially over spurious medicines
Srinagar, May 6 Several major markets in Srinagar were shut throughout the day in response to the shutdown which had little impact in other towns of the region. Shops and other business establishments at Lal Chowk, Residency Road, Jehangir Chowk and Red Cross Road, the main commercial centres, remained closed. Courts, universities, colleges and many schools remained shut in the region. Transport services on almost all routes remained unaffected. The shutdown was called by the Medical Employees Joint Action Forum (MEJAF), formed recently to spearhead protests against the supply of spurious medicines to government hospitals in the region. The MEJAF demanded an independent probe by the Amnesty International or a Supreme Court Judge into the supply of spurious drugs. This was the second shutdown in the Valley against the spurious
drug scam and was supported by several civil society associations and religious groups. The Doctors Association of Kashmir, along with other groups of doctors and chemists, key constituents of the MEJAF, had taken a vocal stand against the scam, demanding the registration of cases against those who had purchased the spurious drugs. The shutdown coincided with the reopening of the civil secretariat and other offices here as part of the biannual Durbar Move. Two separate protest marches, by independent legislator Sheikh Abdul Rashid and members of the Bharatiya Janata Party, to the civil secretariat were stopped by the police and several demonstrators were detained. The supply of spurious drugs to government hospitals had snowballed into a major issue ever since an analytical report on an antibiotic had found that it did not contain medicine. Around 2 lakh Maximizin-625 tablets found containing no Amoxicillin instead of 500 mg had been distributed at hospitals in the Valley during 2011-2012. |
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Key witness in Haji Yousuf death case joins PDP
Anantnag, May 6 After Yousuf’s death, Reshi had accused the NC top brass of being involved in “political corruption”. He had said he paid money to Yousuf for an MLC berth in the NC-led coalition government. “He (Yousuf) was a broker and had told me that the money was meant for NC patron Dr Farooq Abdullah,” Reshi had alleged. He had also alleged that Yousuf was tortured at Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s residence at Gupkar Road in Srinagar, after he threatened to spill the beans. Reshi started his political career as a PDP activist. He left the party after he was denied a party ticket to contest in the 2008 Assembly elections. He contested the elections independently from Breng constituency in Anantnag and emerged as a strong contender, losing by a narrow margin. In 2009, Reshi joined the NC, cementing his place within the party until the Yousuf death case surfaced. Reshi says there is no relation between the events of 2011 and his decision to join the PDP again. “I was persuaded by people of my area and political workers to take the step,” Reshi said, adding that people were disgruntled with the present government. |
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MLA violates ban on conversion of agricultural land for commercial use
Jammu, May 6 The MLA has constructed a banquet hall on around 8 kanals of land without getting a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the revenue department. The documents available with The Tribune show that no NOC has been issued and the matter is still under consideration of the state revenue minister. In April 2010, Bhagat had filled an application with the tehsildar office at RS Pura, seeking permission for construction of a banquet hall on 3 kanals and 16 marlas of an agricultural land. The application was forwarded to sub-district magistrate and from there to the Deputy Commissioner’s office at Jammu. Thereafter, it was forwarded to revenue minister’s office but has not got a response yet. Without getting the NOC, the MLA constructed the hall and that too on more than 8 kanals of land at Gazipur Kulian. “Yes, there is a violation not only by the MLA but by many other people, including cabinet ministers,” said RS Pura sub-district magistrate Muhammad Yousuf Malik. Malik said he was trying to get the details of violations and would be taking action against the violators. As per the J&K Land Revenue Act of 1939, conversion of paddy or vegetable lands, floating fields into any other use is prohibited. The J&K Prohibition on Conversion of Land and Alienation of Orchards Act and J&K Agrarian Reforms Act, too, prohibits conversion of agricultural land for commercial purposes. On the one hand, the government didn’t give an NOC to Bhagat but on the other hand, the construction of the banquet hall on agricultural land was not stopped by any government agency. On the front portion of land, the MLA constructed a few shops and the J&K Bank took the ground floor of these shops to open its branch. Bhagat said his file hasn’t been cleared by the revenue department yet. “But I got an NOC from the rural development department block office at RS Pura and I have paid the fee as well,” Bhagat said. He said the land in question was not in use for agricultural purposes for past many years. However, as per rules, the rural development department is not the concerned authority in this case. The NOC has to be procured by the revenue department, which, too, can approve the construction on only two kanals of such land. |
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Cricket coach issue likely to be discussed
Jammu, May 6 Other important issues will also be taken up. JKCA treasurer Manzoor Wazir said he would meet the JKCA chief in a few days to finalise the date for the crucial meeting. “I think it will take a few days to meet the JKCA president. We were planning to meet Dr Abdullah but decided against it when we were told that he was not feeling well,” he said. “It is not just the appointment of a new coach. There are many other important issues which are to be taken up,” he added. In reply
to a question, he said, “We have yet to start the process of appointing of a new coach, but the association is aware of it.” Sources said Bedi had been entrusted the task of uplifting the standard of cricket after being appointed as the chief coach, but the legendary cricketer was not happy with the poor fitness level of state cricketers. The sources said Abdullah, also the Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, is also keen to complete the ambitious project of an international standard cricket stadium at Bajalta near Sidhra on the outskirts of Jammu. The state cricket body, the present term of which ends in June, is looking forward to conduct fresh elections and an important announcement in this regard is expected. The elections this year have assumed significance, especially after the sacking or resigning of main office-bearers after the multi-crore scam in March, 2012. Since then, the JKCA has been functioning without its general secretary, chairman and some other office-bearers. The last elections to elect office-bearers of the JKCA were held on June 23, 2011. |
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Organ replacement conducted in Leh
Leh, May 6 It was considered the first-ever orthopedic surgery in the world at an altitude of 3,500 metres above sea level. The six-day medical camp began today. It is being organised by the Ashoka Mission in collaboration with the district administration. Specialists in rheumatology, cardio-vascular and thoracic surgery, nephrology, orthopaedics, plastic surgery and haematology are in Leh to provide treatment for patients of the Ladakh region. SNM Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr P Tsering said, “Operations of knee and hip replacement were successfully conducted today during the first day of the camp.” He added that 12 cases of knee and hip replacement surgery and eight of plastic surgery would be operated upon during the camp. A total of 548 patients were examined during the first day of the camp. Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council chief executive councillor Rigzin Spalbar inaugurated the camp.
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Vaishno Devi shrine board launches online registration for yatra
Katra, May 6 Speaking on the occasion, chief executive officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Navin K Choudhary said the move was a part of the ongoing efforts of the board to improve the existing procedures and enhance accessibility of the services to visitors from across the country and abroad. Choudhary said the service would be available free of cost and any person planning to visit the holy shrine can book his yatra permit as early as 30 days in advance. He can even book the permit on the very day he begins pilgrimage. Once a person books the permit online, he can get a printout of his registration slip, which needs to be carried with him. This will save the pilgrims from standing in a queue in front of a yatra registration counter in Jammu or Katra. The CEO said the registration slip would be checked by shrine board staff at the Banganga entry gate. He said pilgrims should carry an identification card for cross-verification and security purposes. The CEO said the registration can also be done at the Jammu airport, Vaishnavi Dham and Sarasvati Dham, Jammu, and yatra registration counters at
Katra. |
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J&K Bank chairman calls on Governor
Srinagar, May 6 The Governor complimented Ahmad for rapid growth of the bank under his charge. He said there was no limit to the role that the bank could play in the all-round development of the state. —
TNS |
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Describing as extremely unfortunate the attack on a Pakistani prisoner at a Jammu jail, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said instructions have been issued to take care of the safety of all prisoners in jails where Indian and Pakistani prisoners are lodged.
The Civil Secretariat and other Durbar Move offices reopened for the next six months of summer with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, accompanied by his cabinet colleagues, inspecting a guard of honour at the Secretariat here today.
The main commercial centres of the Kashmir valley remained closed today as the shutdown called by an association of doctors, chemists and pharmacists in the region against the supply of spurious drugs to government hospitals evoked a partial response in other parts of the region.
Srinagar, May 6
