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Prof held for ‘domestic violence’
Girl among two killed, four injured in road accidents
CET-2013 paper leak: Board submits probe report to HC
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Revisit system
of allocating funds: CM to Planning Dept
Srinagar, July 17 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has announced Rs 35 crore under the Special Area Development Programme (SADP) for Srinagar, besides approval to Rs 63.47 crore annual Plan, making a total funds of Rs 98.47 crore available to the district for the current financial year.
Life sentence to Kashmiri youth by Kolkata court evokes strong reaction
Residents lock PHC, protest
Extortionists nabbed in Anantnag
Man-animal conflict: Wildlife Dept suggests precautionary measures
Man dies after falling off tree in Kupwara
CM’s adviser credits govt efforts for return of normalcy
‘Hand over parbandhak committees to receiver’
J&K Speaker attends award function in Delhi
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Prof held for ‘domestic violence’
Srinagar, July 17 Lateef’s wife and in-laws had lodged a complaint with the Nigeen police station that he thrashed his wife and also demanded dowry. A police team led by Nigeen Police Station SHO Imtiyaz Ahmad raided the Mirza Bagh residential complex of the Kashmir University and arrested assistant professor. Peer was putting up along with his family in the complex. “We have registered a case under Sections 498-A and 354 of the RPC and 3, 5 of the Jammu and Kashmir Dowry Restraint Act (1960), against Peer,” said an official of the Nigeen police station. Sources said the university was planning to
take a strong action against Peer. “We have asked Irshad Ahmad, head of the botany department, to prepare a comprehensive inquiry report. Under the Kashmir University rules, strict action will be taken against the faculty
member,” said Zaffer Ahmad Reshi, Registrar, Kashmir University. A resident of the Mirza Bagh residential complex said Peer used to physically abuse his wife. “On Monday, the assistant professor thrashed his wife ruthlessly even after his in-laws had met his dowry demands,” said the resident of Mirza Bagh. Sources said Peer was not in good books of senior university officials especially after his appointment as assistant professor in 2007. His probation period of service is yet to be recognised by the University Syndicate as his appointment is sub judice with matter pending in a court. |
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Girl among two killed, four injured in road accidents
Srinagar, July 17 One of the injured, Parvaiz Ahmad Bakshi, succumbed to his injuries on the way to a hospital while the two others were
being treated, the spokesman said. In north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, a cab hit and injured a girl identified as Hadiya Maqsood, a resident of Aham Sharief, at Pethkoote, the spokesman said. The injured girl succumbed to her injuries on the way to the sub-district hospital, Bandipora. A cab hit and injured a pedestrian identified as Zareefa, a resident of Sohipora at Kupwara in north Kashmir. The injured woman was shifted to the Bone and Joints Hospital in the city. In central Kashmir’s Budgam district, a car hit and injured pedestrian Raja Begum, a resident of Khomenie Chowk. The injured woman
was shifted to the SKIMS hospital where she was being treatment, the spokesman said. |
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CET-2013 paper leak: Board submits probe report to HC
Srinagar, July 17 A Division Bench of the high court after taking the report on record today, decided to open the sealed envelope in an open court tomorrow, July 18. The high court had issued notices to the Chief Secretary and Secretary, BOPEE, on July 3 while taking suo motu cognisance of the recent paper leak in CET-2013, which was later cancelled by the BOPEE. The court had asked them to explain reasons behind the paper leak. The CET is held for various professional courses in engineering and medical colleges of the state and is conducted by the BOPEE, an autonomous body. The biology paper was leaked on June 22. As the matter came up before the Bench comprising Justice Verinder Singh and Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar today, counsel representing the BOPEE submitted a sealed envelope before the Bench on behalf of the chairman of the board, saying that the sealed envelope contains report of the internal inquiry which was ordered by the BOPEE authorities following the paper leak. While taking the sealed envelope on record, the Bench said the envelope had an open covering letter with noting that the report explains as to how and what error occurred at what stage, leading to the paper leak in CET-2013. Without opening the envelope, the Bench directed that the sealed envelope would remain in the custody of the registry and would be opened on Thursday, July 18, in the open court while it kept the matter on board for further proceedings. Noteworthy to mention that after public pressure and a lot of criticism, the BOPEE authorities had said that an interim inquiry had been ordered into the issue. However, the findings of such inquiry have not been made public yet. In its orders today, the high court also arrayed a student, who had appeared in the CET-2013 which was cancelled later, as one of the respondents in the matter and also arrayed amicus curie advocate Bashir Ahmad Bashir as an intervener in the matter, while observing that the court expects him to assist in the matter. The state government in the matter was represented by advocate general M Ishaq Qadri. After the news of the paper leak appeared in a section of the media on June 23, CET aspirants lodged protests against the board. The board authorities later cancelled the whole examination and issued a notification on June 29, saying the entrance exam will be conducted afresh. |
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Revisit system of allocating funds: CM to Planning Dept
Chairing the Srinagar District Development Board meeting, of which he is also the chairman, the Chief Minister said he had asked the Planning Department to revisit the system of allocating funds under the district plans and take corrective measures to remove the distort if observed in the allocation of funds to the Srinagar district. The Chief Minister said various committees in the Planning and Development Department were already on the job and recommendations made by the State Finance Commission headed by Mahamood-ur-Rehman were being taken into account to ensure equitable distribution of funds to all districts. The Chief Minister pointed out that the Srinagar district was not receiving funds under NABARD, MGNREGA and other Centrally-sponsored schemes in various sectors for being highly urban in its characteristic, said an official spokesman. “However, the Chief Minister said any distort in the allocation of funds had to be examined and removed once for all so that district does not rely on additionalities and special grants,” the spokesman said. While appreciating the district administration for achieving more than 99 per cent targets of spending under the last year’s annual plan, Omar Abdullah said it should be an eye-opener for those who carry the false propaganda against the status of spending in the state. It may be mentioned here that all districts of the state have achieved more than 90 per cent expenditure on plan allocations during the last
year. The Chief Minister said the situation would have been better had the Central Government released about Rs 1,300 crore out of the sanctioned Rs 7,300 crore approved annual Plan for the state for 2012-13. Due to financial constraints, the Government of India was not in a position to release the plan allocations last year, despite sanctioning full-funded budget. However, the Planning Commission of India has maintained Rs 7,300 crore annual Plan for the state for the current financial year. The Chief Minister directed the district administration to utilise Rs 35 crore made available to the district under the Special Area Development Programme on the completion of ongoing schemes. He said such projects should not be taken in hand which require huge amounts and get hampered for want of flow of finances. He said the timely completion of the schemes should be made benchmark in realising physical targets. “Spending should be judicious, transparent and as per the availability”, he said, asking for focusing on outcomes instead of outputs. |
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Life sentence to Kashmiri youth by Kolkata court evokes strong reaction
Srinagar, July 17 A session court in Kolkata on Monday sentenced two Kashmiri youths, Sheikh Imran and Sheikh Farhat, to life in prison for allegedly smuggling ammunition from China for militants in Kashmir. In a statement expressing dismay over the verdict, Peoples’ Conference chairman Sajad Lone said Kashmiris were being persecuted both politically and legally. “While the anguish felt by every Kashmiri is obvious and palpable, the pain inflicted on the families of these young men who have already spent 10 years in prison without being sentenced cannot be imagined,” Lone said. While expressing solidarity with the sentenced youth by visiting their home in Karkuli Mohalla in Srinagar today, Mirwaiz said these youth had been sentenced for the crimes which they had not committed. Expressing shock over the verdict, senior Hurriyat leader and National Front chairman Nayeem Khan said, “The two youth have been sentenced to life imprisonment on fake and fabricated charge of smuggling ammunition.” Condemning the sentencing of the two youths, the High Court Bar Association said the government and its agencies had made it a practice to lift Kashmir’s young Muslim boys from the Valley and other parts and involve them in false and concocted case. “Sheikh Imran and Sheikh Farhat were picked up from Srinagar and convicted in false and concocted case at Kolkata by the District and Sessions Judge, Kolkata, without giving them fair trail,” the Bar alleged in a statement. It further said that the Bar Association as a
mark of protest had decided to abstain from work on Friday. “As such lawyers are requested not to appear before the courts on Friday and participate in the protest”, the statement added. NC terms the verdict 'injustice'
The ruling National Conference (NC) today termed the pronouncement of life sentences to two Kashmiri youths by a Kolkata court as ‘injustice’. The party said the sentencing was an example of 'step-motherly' behaviour and was
unacceptable. "The sentence pronounced by a court in Kolkata is completely unacceptable and there are many such cases which have proven that innocent Kashmiri are being detained in jails," said Mustafa Kamal, additional general secretary, National Conference, in a
statement. According to media reports, two Kashmiris were sentenced to life imprisonment on Monday by a court in Kolkata on the charge of smuggling ammunition for militants in Kashmir. The two have been identified as Sheikh Imran and Sheikh Farhad, both residents of Srinagar. Kamal blamed the
opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which was in power when the duo was arrested in 2003, saying the two would have been saved from the hardships had the then ruling party raised the issue vociferously. |
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Residents block track, seek repair of road
Srinagar, July 17 An official of the Railway Department said the dharna staged by the locals of the area forced the suspension of rail services for around 105 minutes. He said the protest was staged just when the train had taken off from the Anantnag station. “The train, which was on its way to Sadura, had to be halted at around 9.45 am, just a few minutes after it had left Anantnag as dharna was staged on the railway track. Finally, the train service resumed at 11.30am,” the official said. He said the protesters dispersed peacefully after negotiations with officials of the district administration. The official said the dharna also disrupted the railway schedule to other parts, including Banihal in Jammu region’s Ramban district. He said two trains to Banihal had to be cancelled due to the protest at Chidhama. The much touted 18-km-long railway link from Qazigund to Banihal had been inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi last month. The railway link also includes a nearly 12-km-long tunnel. |
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Anganwadi workers protest non-payment of salaries
Srinagar, July 17 Addressing the protesters, Naseema Akther, president, Aganwardi Association, said the government was not taking them seriously and hundreds of employees were without salary from the past many months. "It is shocking that government is not even releasing our salaries. This shows that government is not serious towards mitigating our day-to-day problems," she said. Naseema warned that in case the government did not release their pending salaries, they would be forced to step up their protests in the coming days. "We will step up or protests in case our demands are not met immediately," Naseema said. The protesters later dispersed peacefully. |
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Residents lock PHC, protest
Anantnag, July 17 “The centre is being run by nursing orderlies and pharmacists,” said Tawseef Ahmad, a local resident, adding that, “Doctors do not even
care to visit the centre, as if they are answerable to nobody.” The agitated locals said the doctors very rarely visit the centre but since last week, they had not visited the centre even once. “Despite having a PHC in our area, we have to ferry our patients to Anantnag,” said another local resident, Residents, including women and children, blocked the road for several hours and were pacified only after officials of the Health Department assured them of immediate action. According to department officials, a Block Medical Officer (BMO) was sent to the spot and asked to take stock of the situation. “The BMO will submit his report to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Anantnag,” said an official of the department. |
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Extortionists nabbed in Anantnag
Anantnag, July 17 He said during the course of operation, a vehicle was intercepted and one person, identified as Mohammad Hussain Wani, son of Mohammad Yousuf Wani, a resident of Khushipora Dialgam, was arrested. "When interrogated, Wani confessed to be in possession of 2 AK-47 Rifles," Jalla said, adding that, "He disclosed the names of his two more associates." The police maintained that they had arrested eight people in this connection and recovered two AK-47 rifles, two magazines and 43 rounds. "These people were trying to create a small module by themselves and intended to carry out extortion activities, followed by militant activities," Jalla said.
— OC |
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Man-animal conflict: Wildlife Dept suggests precautionary measures
Srinagar, July 17 “The residents should avoid taking their children to fields and restrict their movement in the nearby forest areas,” an official spokesman said. “The precautionary measures have become necessary due to the movement of wild animals, especially black bears, towards nearby
villages in the forest areas for search of food in orchards and kitchen gardens,” he said. The spokesman said the department had established control rooms in every district and on notice of the movement of any wild animal in
habitations, it should be brought to the notice of the department and also the control rooms be informed for immediate action. |
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Man dies after falling off tree in Kupwara
Srinagar, July 17 The injured was shifted to the sub-district hospital, Kupwara, where he succumbed to his injuries, the spokesman said. Meanwhile, the body of a drowned boy was retrieved from the Jhelum river. The body of Zubair Ahmad Rather of Delina, who had drowned on June 14, was fished out from the river and handed over his relatives for the last rites, he said. |
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Guard held for ATM burglary
Srinagar, July 17 Syed Ishfaq Shah, a resident of Ohangam village of Budgam district, has been arrested on the charges of breaking open an ATM of the State Bank of India located at Dalgate in the city. “On July 15, a manager of the State Bank of India (SBI) branch, Boulevard, reported to the police regarding the theft and complained that cash worth Rs 23,19,400 had been stolen by some unidentified burglars,” the police spokesman said. A case with FIR number 108/2013 under Sections 457 and 380 of the RPC was registered at the Ram Munshi Bagh police station and investigation was taken up, the spokesman said. Bank employees, ATM engineer and ATM security guards were
questioned during the course of investigation. Shah was put to sustained questioning during which he confessed to the crime and revealed that he was planning it for around a fortnight, the spokesman said. The arrested guard had managed to get the password being used by bank employees at the time of replenishing of cash. “On his instance, Rs 21,55,600 were recovered from the lawn of his house situated at Ohangam,” the spokesman said. |
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CM’s adviser credits govt efforts for return of normalcy
Srinagar, July 17 Deputy Counsellor for Political Affairs Gautam A Rana and political adviser to US Embassy Dinesh Dubey called on Sadiq at his downtown Srinagar residence. During the course of discussion, Sadiq strongly advocated relaxing of the travel advisory for the state, a statement issued by his party said. "The United States should consider relaxing the travel advisory for the state keeping in view the peace, progress and security situation in the Valley," Sadiq told the visiting diplomats. Sadiq said the state had undergone a very difficult phase and due to the efforts of the government and cooperation of the people, peace and normalcy had become a reality. He emphasised the need for taking the peace process further by addressing political issues of the state politically and said that the ruling National Conference party had always been a votary of cordial Indo-Pak relations. "The party has been demanding opening Jammu-Silakote, Kargil-Skardu, Nowshera-Changar, Sagra-Tatapani Mendla and Titwal route," Sadiq told the US diplomats. Sadiq said the autonomy is the bed rock of the party and it was committed to its restoration as guaranteed by the Constitution of India. |
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SMC launches sanitation drive
Srinagar, July 17 During the sanitation drive, sweepers were deployed in strength and fumigation was conducted on the premises of the temple. President Sanjay Saraf has appreciated and expressed gratitude to SMC commissioner GN Qasba on the behalf of Jagath Amba Sharika Chakreshwar Mandir for being
cooperative and providing full assistance for sanitation on the special eve. |
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‘Hand over parbandhak committees to receiver’
Srinagar, July 17 “The elections were due since 2008. Nevertheless, we welcome the decision as it is a step in the right direction. For ensuring the success of elections, it is important that the existing parbandhak committees are ceased and their control is taken over by the receiver appointed by the administration,” said Jagmohan Singh Raina, chairman, APSCC, in a statement. Stating that the steps should be taken to ensure that the elections are free and fair, he said once the receiver was appointed, it would ensure that rigging does not take place. “The model code of conduct should come into force immediately so that the assets of the gurdwaras are intact and there is no tampering. Nobody should be allowed to tamper with these assets and all of them, including cash savings, are in safe hands,” he added. Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Mir Saifullah had yesterday announced that GPCs elections across the districts of the state would be completed by October. |
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J&K Speaker attends award function in Delhi
Srinagar, June 17 Gul also attended the meeting for Indian delegates of the 59th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference to be held at Johannesburg, South Africa, from September 1 to September 5 this year. Gul called on the Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari. He also called on Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and discussed important issues relating to Legislative Business. |
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Srinagar, July 17