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5 militants killed as Army foils infiltration bid in Kupwara
Condition of Jails
AMARNATH PILGRIMAGE |
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8 pilgrims injured in road mishap
NRHM providing health care facilities to Amarnath yatris
Governor, Lt Gen Chachra discuss security in J-K
Governor, CM extend Ramadan greetings
Governor wants state to aim for 100 % literacy
Mughal Road technically, geologically ‘unfit’ for traffic
NC reverts to old tactics of hollow slogans: Mehbooba
Annual plan outlay for J-K
Rs 7,300 crore
IED attack on porters condemned
by Army
Bhaderwah-Chamba road to be ready by June
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5 militants killed as Army foils infiltration bid in Kupwara
Srinagar, July 9 The infiltration bid was foiled near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Keran sector, some 120 km from Srinagar, on Monday evening when troops of the 4 Kumaon Regiment noticed movement of eight to 10 militants near the LoC fence. “We noticed the movement of the group around 3 pm on Monday near the fence. We kept a close watch on them. As the militant group was 800 metres into the India territory, the Army troops challenged them. In response, the militants opened fire, which was retaliated. In the exchange of fire, five infiltrators got killed. The bodies of the five militants are lying on the steep mountain and it is difficult to retrieve them. Some of the bodies are lying in the minefield area,” said Kupwara-based General Officer Commanding of 28 Infantry Division Major General Lalit Pandey. As per the intelligence inputs, the killed militants belonged to the Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba, he added. Col AS Pendarlean of 28 Infantry Division said the other militants managed to return to Pakistan taking advantage of the foliage. “But the operation in the area continues,” he said. He said there was no exchange of fire for the whole night, but the troops kept a close watch after the firing stopped. “In the morning, five bodies were found lying in the inaccessible areas and would be difficult to retrieve,” he said. The identity of the militants could not be established immediately. This is the first major infiltration bid that has been foiled in the Keran sector of Kupwara district this year. Last year in November, four militants were killed in the sector after they were intercepted by troops at the Hanuman post. This year two infiltration bids have been foiled by troops in north Kashmir. The Army had foiled an infiltration bid in the Machil sector of Kupwara district on May 18 when an Army patrol of 56 Rashtriya Rifles had challenged a group of militants. The militants opened fire on the troops resulting in the death of a JCO. The militants had managed to flee back to Pakistan. Three militants were killed in the Nowgam sector of north Kashmir on June 1, when they were trying to infiltrate into Kashmir. 350 militants waiting across LoC General Officer Commanding of Kupwara-based 28 Infantry Division Maj Gen Lalit Pandey has said 350 militants are waiting at the launching pads across the Line of Control (LoC). The Kupwara-based 28 Infantry Division guards the LoC in Kupwara, Karnah, Keran, Tangdhar, Machil and Gurez sectors in north Kashmir
Two cops injured in grenade attack
Srinagar, July 9 The policemen were injured when militants lobbed a grenade at a vehicle in the HMT locality on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway, a police officer said. Soon after the incident, the police cordoned off the area to nab the militants. The police has started investigations into the case.
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Condition of Jails
Srinagar, July 9 While issuing orders in a public interest litigation by the Kashmir Bar Association, a double bench of the high court today directed Commissioner Secretary, Home, to file the compliance report within two weeks and pay Rs 10,000 as costs. In the PIL filed by the Bar in 2011, it had been prayed that the high court direct the authorities concerned to provide better facilities for the inmates in jails of the state and also sought lodging of the detainees in jails nearer to their residence. Subsequently on October 8, 2012, and November 21, 2012, the high court had issued a set of comprehensive directions to the authorities concerned for improving the condition of jails in J&K and had asked the state Home Department authorities to file a status report in this regard. However as the matter came up before Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur, the bench expressed its displeasure over non-compliance with the court directions by the J&K Government authorities. “There is complete slackness on part of the authorities to comply with the directions, despite the passage of more than nine months when the matter came up on November 20, 2012,” the bench observed. “The court expected compliance, however, the compliance report (filed earlier) was found to be inadequate,” the bench said in its orders today while directing the Commissioner Secretary, Home Department, to show compliance with the orders and file a compliance report within two weeks. The bench in its orders today also imposed costs of Rs 10,000 on the Home Department official for not filing the compliance report as the court had directed him earlier. The court also directed the principal district and sessions judges who have “not filed reports” about their jail visits to “explain why there is undue delay” in filing the reports. The state in the case was today represented by Additional Advocate General NH Shah, while the Bar association was represented by Mian Qayoom. The bench directed for listing the PIL after two weeks. Previous court directions
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AMARNATH PILGRIMAGE
Anantnag, July 9 According to the official reports, the Department of ISM has set up 11 Ayush units, including one in Jammu, five on the Pahalgam route to the Holy Cave and five on the Baltal route. “Our doctors have so far examined 10,906 yatris at the Ayush units on the Pahalgam route, which includes Mirbazar, Nunwan, Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panjtarni,” said a senior official of the department, while talking to The Tribune. He said 9,730 yatris had been examined at the Ayush units along the Baltal route, including the units at Kheer Bhawani, Dhursuma, Baltal, Sangam and the Holy Cave. “More than 1,500 patients have also been examined at the Jammu Ayush Centre, located at Bhagwati Nagar,” The department is also providing free medicines to the yatris and general health check ups are also being conducted by the doctors posted at different locations. “I had an attack of breathlessness as soon as I reached Chandanwari,” said 55-year-old Sharda Ben from Gujrat. “The doctor at the Ayush unit was very patient and kind. I was provided free medication and I am feeling very good now, ” she said. A senior official of the department said the department had posted 22 medical officers at the Ayush units. “We have posted 19 para-medics to assist the doctors and eight nursing orderlies at places where the need of extra staff was felt,” the official said. He said the department’s aim was to provide hassle-free medical consultation to the pilgrims. |
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8 pilgrims injured in road mishap
Jammu, July 9 The vehicle in which the pilgrims were travelling collided head on with a truck in the Chenani area of Udhampur district around 6:30 pm yesterday. All the pilgrims were rushed to the primary health centre (PHC), Chenani, for first aid. They were later shifted to the district hospital, Udhampur. All the injured were later discharged from the district hospital, Udhampur, on their request. The injured were identified as Surjeet Pal, Rahil Mehla, Lalit Sahu, Sabasis, Tapras Kunti, Sunil Manna, Bohle Nath and Payus Sabantu, all residents of Kolkata in West Bengal. A police spokesperson said a vehicle, Chevrolet Tavera, which was on its way to Jammu from Kashmir met with an accident when it collided head on with a truck on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway. “After getting information about the accident, the police swung into action and rushed to the spot. A rescue operation was immediately launched to save the precious lives and all eight pilgrims were evacuated to the PHC, Chenani,” the spokesperson said, adding that some back-up vehicles along with sufficient manpower were deputed to evacuate the injured from the accident site and transport them to nearest hospitals for first aid. The spokesperson said the Udhampur police had alerted the authorities at the PHC, Chenani, and the district hospital, Udhampur, to be ready along with a team of doctors and life saving drugs to provide first aid to the injured. The drivers of both the vehicles fled away from the spot. Police teams have been dispatched to arrest both of them to ascertain the exact cause of the accident. An FIR no. 77/2013 under Section 279 and 337 of the RPC stands registered at the police station, Chenani, and further investigations are on. |
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NRHM providing health care facilities to Amarnath yatris
Jammu, July 9 An amount of Rs 6 crore has been released to the Director, Health Services, Kashmir, Director, Health Services, Jammu, and Director, Indian System of Medicines, in this regard. The NRHM has released requisite funds to ensure better health care facilities for the pilgrims. Doctors from all across the state and other parts of the country, who have volunteered for providing their services during the course of the
yatra, are being provided special incentives. To augment the medical facilities, the government has provided funds for purchase of equipment, drugs and supplies, creating temporary infrastructure, including shelter for medical officers, furniture and providing incentives to doctors and paramedics. The special medical teams include super specialists, specialists and doctors from the Health Department of the state, other parts of the country and government medical colleges of the state. Mission Director,
NRHM, J&K, Dr Yashpal Sharma said a supplementary Programme Implementation Plan was made exclusively for medical facilities for the Amarnath
yatra. Sharma said, “In addition, special incentives of Rs 15,000 per month for general duty doctors and specialists and Rs 5,000 for paramedics have also been sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.” — TNS |
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Governor, Lt Gen Chachra discuss security in J-K
Srinagar, July 9 “During their more than an hour-long meeting, the Governor and the Northern Army Commander discussed some recent incidents of terrorist violence and related issues concerning the internal and external security management, infiltration from across the Line of Control and the overall security scenario in the state,” an official spokesman said. “They also discussed issues relating to the security of the Amarnath yatra,” the spokesman said. The GOC-in-C was accompanied by General Officer Commanding of Srinagar-based 15 Corps Lt Gen Gurmeet Singh. This was Lt General Chachra’s first meeting with the Governor after he took over charge of the Northern Command on July 1. The Governor wished Lt General Chachra a successful tenure. The GOC-in-C, who arrived on a three-day visit to the Valley on Monday, familiarised himself with the operational situation along the Line of Control (LoC) and the internal security situation in the hinterland. “The Northern Army Commander along with Lt Gen Gurmit Singh visited the headquarters of the Counter Insurgency Force (Kilo Force) and 19 Infantry Division and also units located in forward areas. The Army Commander lauded the efforts of the soldiers deployed in difficult terrain along the LoC,” an Army officer said. “Lt General Chachra expressed happiness over the alertness troops were maintaining to thwart infiltration attempts. He also commended the troops operating in the hinterland,” the officer said. — TNS |
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Governor, CM extend Ramadan greetings
Srinagar, July 9 The Governor said Ramadan was a period dedicated to fasting, service and prayers and highlights the values of patience, self-restraint, tolerance and austerity, which promote feelings of compassion and respect for others. He hoped that the auspicious occasion would be a harbinger of peace, amity and communal harmony in the state. — TNS |
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Governor wants state to aim for 100 % literacy
Srinagar, July 9 The Governor said this while addressing the annual day function at Devki Arya Putri Pathshala Girls High School, Hazuri Bagh. He also inaugurated a newly established computer laboratory at the school. The Governor observed that the education of children, particularly of the girl child, was important for achieving sustained growth and development. He said there was an urgent need for one and all to join hands for ensuring that every child received education. Referring to Devki Arya Putri Pathshala Girls High School, which has since 1910 been providing education to girls, particularly those from the less-privileged segments, the Governor impressed upon the teachers and students of this institution to work hard and ensure that the pass percentage of students in the Board examinations went up to 100 per cent with the majority of students securing first divisions. Referring to the school’s demand for allotment of land for the growth of this institution, the Governor observed that the matter would be duly taken up with the Divisional Commissioner. Regarding support for the installation of power back-up system in the newly established computer lab of the school, for which 10 computers had been gifted by the Governor, he said ways and means would be found to meet the requirement as well to facilitate computer education of children. |
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Mughal Road technically, geologically ‘unfit’ for traffic
Jammu, July 9 Sources said nearly 30 per cent of the road had hundreds of “treacherous and vulnerable” points where landslides and shooting stones could take a heavy toll on human life. Ironically, the road which had been constructed with an estimated cost of Rs 639.85 crore was proposed to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his recent visit to Jammu and Kashmir on June 25 but its inauguration was put off for unspecified reasons. The road is being used by people for travelling to Kashmir from Poonch and Rajouri districts and vice-versa, notwithstanding it is yet to be formally thrown open for traffic. “Out of the total length, about 25 to 30 km stretch is highly prone to landslides and shooting of stones,” said Mohd Ayaz, a resident of Rajouri. The project was sanctioned under the Prime Minister Reconstruction Plan in 2004. The idea of Mughal Road was conceived in the 1950s with an aim of improving the connectivity of twin border districts, Poonch and Rajouri, with the Kashmir valley. The road reduces the 541-km distance from Poonch to Srinagar via Jammu to 174 km, and the travel time from 32 hours through Jammu to 7 hours via Bafliaz and Shopian. “It is completely wrong to say that it is a fair-weather road. It is technically not feasible for movement of traffic as there are hundreds of death traps along the road. The blasting of mountains and hills to build road has made it more susceptible to disaster like frequent landslides and shooting of stones. Moreover, there are no protection walls alongside which make it more dangerous for motorists,” said Balwinder Singh, general secretary, J&K Contractors Coordination Committee. He said there was no mechanism to retain loose soil of unstable hills. “It raises a question mark as how the engineering and technical wing declared it a fair-weather road. It has become a goldmine for officials concerned as they had been minting money in the name of clearing landslides,” Singh said. A senior officer, who was associated with the project, admitted that there were vulnerable areas on the road where the problem of shooting stones and landslides was quite often. “There are certain vulnerable areas along the road where the danger of shooting stones and landslides exists and it may remain there for next 15 to 20 years. We are in a final stage of completing the project. Keeping in view the fragile ecology and technical glitches, we have sent a fresh Detailed Project Report (DPR) to the Government of India seeking allocation of additional amount of Rs 226 crore to make the road safe for traffic,” the officer said. Abdul Majid Wani, Minister for Roads and Buildings, was not available for comments. |
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NC reverts to old tactics of hollow slogans: Mehbooba
Srinagar, July 9 “It is unfortunate that the National Conference (NC) leadership, after having failed in fulfilling all their promises of good governance and development, have reverted to their old tactics of raising hollow slogans which have lost meaning in the changed context,” said Mehbooba while addressing party workers’ conventions at Pampore and Rajpora in south Kashmir. She said though it was obvious that this slogan mongering would not make any impact on the mood of the voters who obviously favour a change, it definitely widened the gulf between the citizens of
the state and rest of the country. “This has been practised in the past by the NC with terrible effect on many generations of Kashmiris and it is sought to be repeated by its present leadership which has sensed defeat and is trying to cling to the proverbial straw like a drowning man,” she said. The PDP president said her party valued the public endorsement of its agenda and its performance in the government and in the opposition as its
real achievement and treated power only as a necessity to implement its long-term vision. “The party’s struggle for improvement in the life of the residents of the state would continue and it hopes that 2014 would provide it with an opportunity to pick up threads again from where it had left during the previous coalition,” she said. Mehbooba said “though the three years of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s rule” have become a reference point for good governance, the party would strive
for higher objectives if given a chance with a stronger mandate. “The people of the state have time and again given overwhelming support and huge majority to the NC which only let them down with a disastrous fall out. But the performance of the PDP has provided an opportunity to the people to realise how even a brief tenure by another party and its leadership could actually transform the entire environment from despair to hope and bring positive change in everybody’s life,” she said and expressed the hope that the people would vote on the basis of performance and not on emotional slogans. |
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Annual plan outlay for J-K
Rs 7,300 crore
New Delhi, July 9 Apart from the plan outlay, Rs 600 crore would be considered for projects under the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan (state sector). Also, an amount of Rs 3,000 crore is likely to flow from the Centre to Jammu and Kashmir through various Centrally sponsored schemes. A special assistance of Rs 710 crore would be available from the Central plan for the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana projects. Taking all resources together, the plan assistance from the Central government to J&K is expected to be over Rs 11,000 crore during 2013-14. In his comments on the plan performance of the state, Ahluwalia complimented the state government for restoring economic activity and focusing on the development of social and physical infrastructure. He said the state needed to further encourage private participation by creating an atmosphere conducive to investment. Education, health and tourism should be given priority while working out a development strategy. The state government was particularly complimented for achievements in the horticulture, education and health sectors. The Commission pointed out that the tourism sector held tremendous potential for boosting the economic activities in the state by generating direct and indirect employment. Focus should be on development of infrastructure in a regulated manner through the public and private partnership by extending incentives to investors. Promotion of heritage, adventure, pilgrim and eco-tourism should also receive attention.
Ahluwalia asked the state to come forward with the flexibilities they needed in the guidelines related to the Centrally sponsored schemes to improve efficiency. It was pointed out that the Gross State Domestic Product growth rate of J&K during the 11th Five Year Plan was only 6 per cent which was lower than the national average of 8 per cent. The Service Sector growth rate of J&K (9.5 per cent) remains almost on a par with the national average of 9.7 per cent during the 11th Plan. The state needs to step up growth to catch up with the national average. Jammu and Kashmir has great potential in terms of natural resources which should be harnessed to generate sustainable growth and income opportunities for the people. The Planning Commission appreciated the efforts made by the state to augment its own tax revenue. Attention was drawn to the power sector deficit which has been affecting the state’s non-tax revenue adversely. Briefing the Commission on the strategy for the 12th plan, Omar said enhanced and inclusive development was a key component of the overall strategy to build on peace dividends. He thanked the Planning Commission for sensitivity and positive support to the J&K Government. He said the 12th Five Year Plan would focus on accelerated and sustained growth, growth-employment linkage, consolidation of infrastructure, empowerment of people and building of human and institutional capacities. The state would target a modest and realistic growth rate of 7.5 per cent with focus on productive sectors and promoting private and public investment in the infrastructure sector.
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IED attack on porters condemned
by Army
Jammu, July 9 A porter, Javed Iqbal, a resident of Gagriyal village, lost his life in the IED attack in the Saujiyan sector of Poonch. After a thorough search of the area, the body of the deceased porter was retrieved and handed over to the local police. A pony (mule) also died in yesterday’s IED attack and one porter received splinter injuries. The Army has condemned the attack from across the LoC, which has been purposely directed against innocent and unarmed civilian porters, said Jammu-based Defence PRO Colonel RK Palta, in an official release issued here this evening. The Army will extend all possible assistance to the family of the deceased porter. The injured person and the owner of the mule will also be duly compensated, the release said. After attacking porters with an IED, Pakistani troops had fired at Indian soldiers while they were trying to rescue the porters. This was the second attack on porters in the Poonch sector within a span of two months. In May, porters were intercepted and assaulted by Border Action Team (BAT) personnel of the Pakistan army from across the border, who also snatched supplies from them. Last week, the Army had foiled an infiltration attempt by a group of militants which was provided cover firing by Pakistani troops in Poonch district.
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Bhaderwah-Chamba road to be ready by June
Jammu, July 9 Work on this much-publicised road project was started during the tenure of former Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi and a single-line road was completed in 1986. After the eruption of militancy, the work was abandoned. As the situation improved, work began again in 2010. “This road will be opened for normal traffic by the end of June, 2014, at any cost,” claimed Thaseen Mustafa, Chief Engineer, Roads and Buildings. “All obstacles in the construction of this prestigious project have been removed and work on this road is going on in full swing,” he said. He said this project has been sanctioned under the inter-state connectivity programme and there was no dearth of funds. This project is considered as vital for the economic empowerment of the residents of erstwhile Doda district because its opening will help explore tourism potential of the region. It is due to the non-availability of alternative road networks that this region, which has huge tourism as well as pilgrimage potential, has failed to attract tourists from other parts of the country so far. During her visit to Kishtwar on June 25 this year, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, while addressing a public meeting, had termed this Bhaderwah-Chamba road as “very important” project and hoped that with the opening of this road socio-economic conditions of people will improve. Thaseen Mustafa said work on the 50-km road stretch was going on. “The Border Road Organisation (BRO) has been engaged to complete work on the 8-km stretch whereas the remaining 42 km road is under the state government,” he said. Local residents are also optimistic that the completion of this project would boost the potential of pilgrim tourism because Bhaderwah, Doda and Kishtwar areas are known for temples and shrines. Every year thousands of devotees participate in Machail Mata, Kailash Kund and Mani Mahesh
Yatra. Doda-HP link
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Jammu, July 9
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