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Top LeT militant killed in Srinagar
After High Court rap, heads start
to roll in spurious
Omar wants Indo-Pak ties to improve
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Qazigund-Banihal rail link to be inaugurated by PM next month
Need to speed up judicial process in India: SC judge
Governor lauds Army for guarding borders in extreme conditions
To set poll agenda, Rahul to visit state on May 28
Lt Gen Hooda reviews quake relief work in Doda district
AFSPA revocation not CM’s sole prerogative: BJP
PM to inaugurate rail link next month
Moderate tremor rocks Bhaderwah Police arrests 4 ultras in Doda
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Top LeT militant killed in Srinagar
Srinagar, May 23 The slain militant, who was also a cleric, had studied at Deoband — a leading Islamic seminary — and was one of the most wanted militant commanders of the outfit in north Kashmir. He was active since last year. “Hilal, alias Khalid, a resident of Palhalan Pattan in Baramulla district, was involved in many violent attacks,” said Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Abdul Ghani Mir. Mir said the police got a tip-off around midnight that Hilal was hiding in the densely populated Fateh Kadal locality of the old city and an operation was launched immediately. “As the search party zeroed in on the hideout around 5 am, the militant jumped from a house and simultaneously lobbed four grenades and tried to flee from the area by jumping from one house to another in the congested locality. However, after exchange of fire for 15 minutes the militant was killed. Three police men, including a sub-inspector were injured in the gunfight,” the IGP said. A Chinese pistol, magazine and some live rounds were recovered from the encounter site. Another police officer in Srinagar said the police was trying to ascertain whether the LeT commander was on any mission in Srinagar. “He was in Srinagar for the last two days and we were tracking him. We are trying to find out what was he up to in Srinagar,” the police officer said. He said Hilal was involved in the killing of a sarpanch in north Kashmir and a former counterinsurgent. “Hilal was also involved in number of grenade attacks,” the police officer said The LeT commander was a Hurriyat activist and would lead street protests in his native village of Palhalan and adjoining areas during 2009 and 2010, he added. “He was detained in 2010 under the Public Safety Act and in jail he met Muzamil Amin Dar, alias Urfi, of Sopore where the duo decided to join the LeT. Urfi after his release joined the LeT and was killed on October 21, 2012, in an encounter,” the police said, adding that he was directly in touch with Pakistan-based LeT commander Hanzullah. During the 2010 protests, the separatists had claimed that Hilal was their member and had gone underground due to the harassment faced by his family from the police. Hilal had a narrow escape recently when he managed to get away during an encounter, in which another LeT militant Shabir Ahmed, alias Shaka, of Palhalan village was killed near a Sopore village on April 18. As the news about Hilal’s death spread in his native village in north Kashmir, a complete shutdown was observed in Palhalan. Heavy deployment of the police and paramilitary forces sealed the village. |
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After High Court rap, heads start
to roll in spurious
Srinagar, May 23 Transfer orders have been given to the Director, Health Services, Jammu, Dr Madhu Khullar, who was the chairman of the Purchase Committee-II. This was submitted by RP Kabra, who is holding additional charge of Commissioner/Secretary, Health and Medical Education, in his status report to the High Court today, which is hearing a public interest litigation seeking independent probe into the spurious drugs scam. The matter was listed today before a bench comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey. As per the orders issued on May 22, Kabra said, Dr Khullar had been posted as Project Director, J&K AIDS Control and Prevention Society. Taking a serious note of the lack of action taken against the members of the Purchase Committee-II who had approved the supply of spurious drug, Maximizin-625, the High Court had on May 20 said it appeared that someone in the government wanted to shield them. It had asked for strict action against the guilty officials. “Also, the Deputy Drug Controller, Jammu, Lotika Khajuria, has been directed to report to the office of the Controller, Drug and Food Control Organisation, J&K” Kabra further submitted to the court. ‘The General Administration Department (GAD) has been approached to take the necessary action regarding the Administrator, Government Medical College, Jammu,” he told the court while adding that all others who had participated in the Purchase Committee-II proceedings had either already been transferred or had retired. Besides, he added, the principals of Government Medical College, Srinagar/Jammu and Directors Health Services, Kashmir and Jammu, had been asked to reconstitute the verification boards. The High Court was also told that the Controller, Provincial Medical Store in Barzulla, Srinagar, has already been suspended and the government had charge-sheeted all members of the Purchase Committee-II and of the Verification Boards of the hospital for their alleged negligence in checking the documents while accepting the tender notice from the firm Life Line Pharmaco Surgicals, which is the prime accused in the case. The status report is, however, silent about the action taken against the Drug Controller, as the onus of taking samples and timely detection of the spurious drugs lies on his organisation. After hearing all the sides, the bench observed that “its prime concern is impartial and fair investigation and to ensure nobody goes scot-free”. While taking the status reports submitted by the government and other respondents on record, the bench today directed the petitioners to file their response by the next date of hearing, which has been fixed for July 1. The court also directed the proprietors of the two more accused companies, Affy Parenteral and Medley Pharmaceuticals, to present themselves before the TADA court in Srinagar on May 27.
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Omar wants Indo-Pak ties to improve
Srinagar, May 23 “Nawaz Sharif has proved before that he wants an improved relationship and he wants the Kashmir issue to be resolved through talks. There is hope as there was very little interference of the army (in the recent Pakistan elections) this time?. As the Kashmir issue was not raised much in the elections... in this scenario we are hopeful that our PM will hold the hand of friendship extended by him
(Sharif) so that relations improve,” Omar told reporters on the sidelines of a function here that was organised by the Department of Posts. When asked over the progress report of the UPA government, Omar admitted that there had been some setbacks vis-à-vis the series of scandals at the
Centre. However, he said both Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi were committed to unearthing the scandals and punishing the guilty. “There are areas in which there has been considerable success... we tend to ignore the positives while focusing on the negatives?. We
(UPA) will take forward the positives as we come closer to the elections,” he said. |
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Qazigund-Banihal rail link to be inaugurated by PM next month
Srinagar, May 23 The two major projects likely to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister include the Qazigund-Banihal rail link through the 11-km-long tunnel and the much-awaited Mughal Road, connecting the Kashmir valley (via
Shopian) with Poonch district in the Jammu region. Other events include the release of a commemorative stamp on the poet of Kashmir, Ghulam Ahmad
Mehjoor. The vital 11.17-km-long tunnel between Qazigund in Kashmir and Banihal in the Jammu region is the longest in India and the second longest in Asia. It is a milestone in the rail link to Kashmir. The Kashmir rail line, however, awaits connectivity to the country’s network. The completion of the rail link between Katra and Banihal is expected to take four years more. During his earlier visits as the head in the UPA I and II, Singh had launched a rail link in the Valley and the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad
cross-LoC bus service. |
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Need to speed up judicial process in India: SC judge
Anantnag, May 23 “If there are cases which have been under the judicial process for the past 20 years, it means something needs to be done to speed up the judicial system,” Lodha said after inaugurating Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre in the District Court Complex,
Anantnag. He said a court complex without an ADR centre was like a hospital without an out-patient department. “Some judges are not comfortable with the concept of the ADR as they think their authority is being undermined. However, they need to accept the fact that some cases can be solved amicably after mediation. This does not in any way undermine the authority of a judge,” he said. When asked about reports of corruption within the judiciary in the country, Justice Lodha said it was all about individual morality. “Every institution is about individuals. If they do not have good moral values, these things happen,” Lodha said. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, MM Kumar, said the ADR centre at Anantnag should be a torch bearer in expeditious settlement of cases which could be solved amicably. “There is no doubt that the legal process takes time. There are legal rights and they need to be weighed properly as there are no shortcuts in the judicial process,” Kumar said, adding the ADR had given an opportunity to solve cases where settlement was possible. Kumar said people in Kashmir were peaceful, which was evident as a large number of its villages were litigation-free. “There are villages in the Ganderbal and Kishtwar areas where we have zero litigation,” said Kumar. Justice Virender Singh of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court and Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir, chairman, Mediation Monitoring Committee (Kashmir), were also present on
the occasion. |
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Governor lauds Army for guarding borders in extreme conditions
Srinagar, May 23 He was addressing the golden jubilee celebrations function of the Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre at Rinchen Auditorium at Leh today. The Governor observed that the golden jubilee was a joyous and an important landmark in the evolution of any organisation which provided an opportunity to look at the past achievements and prepare to effectively meet the upcoming challenges. He added that the golden jubilee celebrations of the raising of Ladakh Scouts Regiment was an occasion to recall the achievements of the valiant officers and men of the regiment, one of the youngest in the Army, and for Ladakh Scouts to re-dedicate itself to serve the nation with renewed zeal and commitment. Referring to late Col
Rinchen, the Governor observed that Ladakh Scouts Regiment had every reason to be proud of producing such gallant
soldiers. Vohra recalled the bravery displayed by officers and jawans of Ladakh Scouts in the 1962, 1965, 1971 operations and during Operation Meghdoot and Operation Vijay, in which the regiment had participated since its raising, and the sacrifices made by them for safeguarding the territorial integrity of the country while discharging their duty in challenging conditions. He paid tributes to all those officers and jawans of the regiment who laid down their lives in the service of the nation. Referring to a large number of ex-servicemen and veer naris present on the occasion, the Governor emphasised the need for all the required measures being taken for promoting their welfare. The Governor congratulated all ranks of the Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre and their families. He felicitated a number of veer naris and war heroes. He also went around various stalls put up as part of the golden jubilee celebrations of the Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre and took a keen interest in them. The Governor presented a memento to Ladakh Scouts Regiment. Lt Gen Rajan
Bakshi, General Officer Commanding of 14 Corps, dwelt on the achievements of Ladakh Scouts Regiment. Col SS
Patil, Commandant, Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre, presented a memento to the Governor. Captain
(hony) Tsephal, president, Ex-Servicemen League, presented a vote of thanks. Briefed on security
Srinagar: Governor NN Vohra was today briefed by Lt Gen Rajan Bakshi, GOC of 14 Corps, about the overall security situation in the Ladakh region and about issues relating to the security management on the Line of Control and the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Lt Gen Bakshi updated the Governor about the recent developments in eastern Ladakh along the LAC. The Governor, in the meeting held at 14 Corps headquarters, discussed with the Corps Commander and other senior Army officers matters having a bearing on the overall security environment in the Ladakh region. He lauded the Army in defending the territorial integrity of the country with valour and commitment and for promptly providing help and support to the people during natural calamities and emergencies of all kinds. |
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To set poll agenda, Rahul to visit state on May 28
Jammu, May 23 Although all party leaders are tight-lipped about the high-profile visit, highly placed sources in the party said Rahul’s tour had been finalised and senior party leaders, including Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Saifuddin Soz and Cabinet ministers, had been communicated about his visit. After his appointment as the Congress vice-president, this would be Rahul’s first visit to the state. “Rahul Gandhi would address a meeting of the party ministers to review their performance,” a source said. The source said all Congress ministers had been asked to prepare their report card and present the same before the AICC vice-president. Rahul has been continuously getting feedback regarding the performance of Congress ministers in the coalition government headed by Omar Abdullah. In October 2012, Rahul Gandhi had deputed a team which stayed at Jammu and interacted with prominent party leaders to get feedback about the performance of the party ministers. The team which consisted of Rahul’s close aides had prepared the performance reports of all ministers. On the basis of the reports, portfolio of some ministers was changed in the Cabinet reshuffle in January. “Rahul Gandhi’s visit is aimed at gearing up the party for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections,” a source said and added that a strategy would be devised at the meeting for contesting the Lok Sabha elections. In the last Lok Sabha elections, the Congress had won both seats from Jammu province while its coalition partner, National Conference, had won three seats from the Kashmir valley. Sources said Rahul would interact with women self-help groups which have been working in Ganderbal and Budgam districts. Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh would accompany the Congress vice-president. The women self-help groups were constituted in the state after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, JKPCC chief and AICC general secretary and in charge of J&K Mohan Parkash had visited Amethi, the Lok Sabha constituency of Rahul Gandhi, to look into the functioning of the women self-help groups there. “Rahul Gandhi is likely to address a meeting of women at Kashmir,” the source said. |
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Lt Gen Hooda reviews quake relief work in Doda district
Batote, May 23 He was speaking during a Civil-Military Conference organised at Rashtriya Rifles Battalion at Bhaderwah today. Lt Gen DS Hooda stressed on better understanding and coordination between the civil administration and the Army to expedite the relief operations in quake-hit Doda, Bhaderwah and Gundoh tehsils. He took stock of the situation and reviewed the damages caused by the tremors in the areas. He was briefed by civil administration officials, National Disaster Response Force and the Army about the progress of the Army’s relief programme. GOC, Counter Insurgency Force (Delta), Maj Gen AK Singh and Doda Deputy Commissioner Mubarak Singh explained to him the measures adopted by the Army and the civil administration for providing relief to earthquake victims. The prompt assistance by the Army in providing temporary shelters, medicines to the earthquake victims in the Bhaderwah, Doda and Gundoh areas was lauded by one and all. Lt Gen Hooda said the Army would arrange more tents for the quake-hit people of the area. |
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AFSPA revocation not CM’s sole prerogative: BJP
Jammu, May 23 The state BJP chief said any decision regarding AFSPA had to be primarily based on security inputs and was not the Chief Minister’s sole prerogative. Singh was addressing the district executive meeting of Samba which is one of the districts from where the Chief Minister had reportedly proposed AFSPA revocation. Referring to Samba as a geo-politically sensitive district, strategically placed between Jammu and Kathua districts, Singh said the BJP had always taken a lead in taking up issues of concern for the border district. Recently, the party’s state executive had adopted a resolution to express its solidarity with the people living along the border who were on the one hand victims of the cross-border firing and infiltration and on the other hand suffered from the state apathy, he added. —
TNS
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PM to inaugurate rail link next month
Srinagar, May 23 The two major projects likely to be inaugurated by Singh include the Qazigund-Banihal rail link and the much-awaited Mughal Road, connecting the Kashmir valley (via Shopian) with Poonch district in the Jammu region. — TNS
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Moderate tremor rocks Bhaderwah Bhaderwah, May 23 The tremor measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale struck the Doda-Kishtwar belt around 2.38 am, MeT officials said. The epicentre of the quake was in Bhaderwah, they said. There was no immediate report of any casualty or injury. — PTI |
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Police arrests 4 ultras in Doda Jammu, May 23 The ultras were involved in a grenade attack on the Thathri police station on the intervening night of April 27 and 28. Another militant, Mohammad Rafi, has already been arrested in this connection. The police has recovered arms and ammunition from them, he said.
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A top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant, Hilal Maulvi, was killed in a brief encounter with the police in old Srinagar in the wee hours of Thursday. Three policemen, including a sub-inspector, were also hurt in the gun battle, the first in the old city after many years.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should respond positively to the “hand of friendship” extended by Pakistan Prime Minister designate Nawaz Sharif so that relations between the two neighbouring countries improved.
General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 16 Corps Lt Gen DS Hooda said cooperation between the Army and the civil administration was imperative during any natural calamity and disaster management operations.
