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Over 60 pc polling in Kargil council election
BJP: Restore confidence of the minority in
Kishtwar
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Maha Daneshwar yatra revived after 24 years in Kashmir
Cong leader’s switch to NC fuels discord in coalition
Despite peace march, all not well in Kishtwar district
Omar visits flood-hit areas
Jawan injured in grenade attack in Shopian
Mid-day meal scheme: Centre for dist-level monitoring
Wamiq
Farooq’s killing
2014 LS polls: BJP starts looking for winnable candidates
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Over 60 pc polling in Kargil council election
Kargil, August 22 Preliminary reports said more than 60 per cent of polling was recorded from various parts of the Kargil area. The reports from the far-flung area of Zanskar were yet to arrive. The ballot boxes from Kargil and its adjoining areas were being deposited at the District Institute of Education (DIET) till late in the evening. The Election Authority and Deputy Commissioner, Kargil, Fida Hussain, said the overall polling was held peacefully, barring stray incidents of violence. One incident took place at a polling booth in the Drass area. Another incident occurred at a polling station near here, leading to suspension of the polling for a few minutes. The polling in these stations was, however, held peacefully. Kargil SP Sujit Kumar thanked the people of the district for maintaining peace and calm and participating wholeheartedly in the polling. He also thanked the higher authorities for providing adequate security personnel for the smooth conduct of the elections today. The counting of votes will be held at the district headquarters on August 28. The ballot boxes from Kargil and its adjoining areas are being kept under tight security here. The ballot boxes from distant areas of Zanskar would be reaching the central place of Zanskar within the next few days. The boxes would be transported under tight security to Kargil before the date of counting, officials here said. Meanwhile, normal traffic resumed and shops and business establishments reopened in the afternoon soon after the polling was over. Candidates in the fray
The sitting MP of the ruling National Conference representing the Ladakh constituency and three other members of the last LAHDC, Kargil, are among the prominent candidates whose fate was locked by voters in today’s elections in the border district. The National Conference MP, Ghulam Hassan Khan, is contesting from the Silmo constituency. The NC has an alliance with the local Islamia School Kargil for the LAHDC elections. The Silmo constituency witnessed a four-cornered contest with Ghulam pitted against Niaz Ali Khan of the Congress, Kulsoom Bee of the PDP and Mohammad Hussain, an Independent candidate. Ghulam is the only senior-level leader contesting the elections; no other state-level leader is in the fray. The NC’s poll alliance party, Islamia School Kargil, has fielded its prominent leader Asghar Ali Karbalai. Former Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of the LAHDC, Kargil, Kachoo Ahmad Ali Khan is contesting again in these elections. The Congress has put up its prominent and upcoming leader Nasir Munshi for the contest. The PDP has fielded eight candidates and the BJP has 12 candidates in the fray.
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NO
fear Youth for honest leaders A first: Woman candidate
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BJP: Restore confidence of the minority in
Kishtwar
Jammu, August 22 BJP leader Nirmal Singh, who was part of the all-party delegation that visited Kishtwar this week to break the ice between the two communities, said the riots were part of the “agitational terrorism”, which was the new strategy of the cross-border terrorism sponsored by anti-national forces. Singh, while addressing a press conference with BJP Legislative Party leader Ashok Khajuria, said: “To some extent, calm has returned but the minorities in Kishtwar continue to feel deep insecurity”. “The fire of August 9 that engulfed Kishtwar was, it appears, stoked by the DIG of the district, who deliberately failed to take effective steps to check the violence at the initial stage when stray incidents of stone throwing, appearance of anti-national posters and slogans started last month,” alleged Khajuria while adding that the recent violence in Kishtwar was part of a larger conspiracy. The BJP leaders said the party stood with the people of Kishtwar and urged the government to concede the demands of the minority community if it wanted to restore its faith in the administration and prevent its migration.
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Maha Daneshwar yatra revived after 24 years in Kashmir
Srinagar, August 22 Vinod Pandit, chairman of the All Parties Migrants Coordination Committee (APMCC) that organised the yatra along with Shardha Mata Trust (SMT), said the pilgrimage to the holy cave, where it is believed that Lord Shiva meditated, used to be conducted regularly prior to the migration of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley with the eruption of militancy. He said one can find mention of this yatra in the Puranas and also in Rajatarangini. Rajatarangini (Chronicle of Kings), an account of Kashmir's ancient history, has been written by 12th-century historian Kalhana. Pandit said the yatra used to be conducted for one month and would culminate on Raksha Bandhan alongside the Amarnath yatra, which also concluded yesterday. On the significance of the holy cave, he said it contained formations of teats of a cow’s udder. “For the devotees, water from the teats of the holy cow is ‘amrit’... Lord Shiva too has meditated in this cave,” he added. APMCC national spokesperson King Bharati said the pilgrims had to bend to enter the cave and crawl through ice cold water for a distance of around 125 ft to reach a dome-like structure where around eight persons can stand and perform ‘puja archana’ at one time. The shrine in Bandipore is also known as “Chota Amarnath” just like another Lord Shiva cave at Thajiwara (Bijbehara) in south Kashmir. “Chota Amarnath” pilgrimage in south Kashmir was restarted in 2007. Pandit said the pilgrims had to trek for around four hours from Dardpora via Naranag before arriving at the holy cave. In 2009, the APMCC had also restarted the Harmukt Ganga (Gangbal) yatra in the Valley after more than 100 years with an aim of preserving the rich cultural and religious heritage of Kashmiri
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Cong leader’s switch to NC fuels discord in coalition
Jammu, August 22 District Congress president of Ganderbal Sheikh Ishfaq joined the NC yesterday in the presence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The Congress has termed Ishfaq’s joining the NC as “backstabbing” because both parties are running a coalition government in the state and said luring leaders of the other party was nothing but an act of dishonesty and treachery. “Our coalition partner, NC, has publicly demonstrated dishonesty and the action of luring our leader is against the ethics of the coalition dharma,” Congress MLC Ghulam Nabi Monga told The Tribune. “A number of NC leaders have expressed their desire to join the Congress but we have refused to admit them because it is against the ethics of the coalition,” Monga claimed and added that by admitting Sheikh Ishfaq into its fold, the NC had exhibited the insecurity that had gripped the “grand old party” (NC) even in the Kashmir valley. The Congress has a reason to claim that the NC was feeling insecure to face the 2014 Assembly elections even from its citadels because Sheikh Ishfaq is a potential candidate from the Ganderbal constituency of the Chief Minister. In the 2008 Assembly elections, Sheikh Ishfaq was the Congress candidate against Omar and had secured 8,077 votes while the runners-up PDP candidate, Qazi Mohammad Afzal, had got 8,097 votes. Omar Abdullah had secured 16,513 votes from the segment. A war of words over the “derogatory” remarks passed by additional general secretary of the National Conference Sheikh Mustafa Kamal against Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee chief Saifuddin Soz has already started between the coalition partners. Now, Sheikh Ishfaq's joining the NC has further fueled the dissension between the two parties. The local Congress leadership has already brought the matter to the notice of the high command. Monga said it was not for the first time that the NC had indulged in deceit tactics. “In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, the NC had supported Independent candidate Hassan Khan from the Ladakh parliamentary segment to ensure the defeat of Congress' T Namgyal,” he said and warned that such acts of the NC would weaken the coalition in the future. While the countdown for the Assembly elections has begun, both parties have started luring potential leaders from each other’s camp. As reported earlier, two prominent NC leaders are already in touch with the Congress and are awaiting the appropriate opportunity to shift their loyalty. |
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Despite peace march, all not well in Kishtwar district
Jammu, August 22 People from the minority community are terming the prevailing peace as cosmetic as they feel there was no proper representation from the minority community in the peace march and the joint meeting. Members of the minority community, who were part of the peace march yesterday, are backtracking and believe that till their problems are addressed, they won’t participate in any process. Traders belonging to the majority community opened their shops today but the minority community observed a shutdown. “We are on a strike and on Friday also, the strike will continue. We have seen the destruction caused to our shops, so we have decided not to open other shops as well,” said Rakesh Mahajan, who was part of the peace march taken out in Kishtwar town. But Mahajan said peace must be brought to the town. “Both communities have to live together forever and bringing peace is a must,” he said. The Sanatan Dharam Sabha (SDS), Kishtwar, and the traders’ union of the minority community may announce an indefinite shutdown call and future programme, which will include a protest calendar and marches. The traders union is also planning to expel its senior leader, Rakesh Mahajan, who participated in the peace march in the town with the all-party delegation members and politicians of the majority community yesterday. A senior minority community leader, Som Nath Sharma, who was also part of the peace march, has also backtracked. He has given in writing to his community that the all-party delegation members took him by force to take part in the peace march. “The core group of the SDS has been given the authority to decide on the future plans and any decision taken by the group will be abide by all,” said a SDS leader from Kishtwar. But on the other hand, the majority community is hoping that calm that has prevailed in the town will continue in the future as well. “We put forth our demand in front of the group of ministers as well as the all-party delegation and it is not wise to remain adamant and become a hurdle in peace. Both communities decided to hold the peace march in the best interest of Kishtwar. So all of us participated,” said Farooq Ahmad Kichloo, Imam, Jamia Masjid, Kishtwar. Kichloo said by Sunday leaders of both communities were planning to hold another meeting and strengthen peace in the town. Damage assessed
Around 60 shops, few structures and a petrol pump were damaged in the communal clashes which started in Kishtwar on August 9 on Eid-ul-Fitr. “We are assessing the damage in the town. Around 60 shops were damaged. After making full assessment, compensation will be given to people,” said Shantamanu, Jammu Divisional Commissioner. The Divisional Commissioner said Kishtwar town was limping back to normalcy and Inspector General of Police, Jammu zone, Rajesh Kumar and DIG, Doda, Ashkoor Wani were monitoring the situation in the town. “The daytime curfew has been lifted and the situation is improving,” he said. Shantamanu said they were taking every one into confidence so that peace prevailed. “If traders have any grievances, we will try to address those as well,” he said. |
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Omar visits flood-hit areas
Jammu, August 22 Omar told the residents of these areas that the state government would work out a comprehensive flood protection programme with the Centre to tame all major rivers, including Jhelum, Chenab, Ujh and Tawi to relieve people of the repeated devastation caused by these rivers year after year. He said these rivers were causing great damage to the land, crops and property besides endangering human lives. “There is a need of formulating a well-drafted holistic plan to tame these and rivers and ensure protection from floods”, he said. The state government would seek liberal central assistance in the implementation of this stupendous programme, he said. He assured the people of all possible help from the state government. He said he had already directed the administration to formulate damage assessment reports. Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma said there was need to properly protect these rivers to prevent any loss in the future. “People who have been affected due to floods will be given compensation under the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF), and breaches occurred in major rivers will be addressed,” Sharma said. He said on Friday, the Chief Minister will hold a meeting in Srinagar to asses the actual loss and to plan for the future as well. Sharma said there was immediate need to remove encroachments near all rivers. “Maintaining the ecological balance is the need of the hour as imbalance could prove disastrous,” he added. Revenue and Relief Minister Aijaz Khan accompanied him. Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand also joined him in
Akhnoor.
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Jawan injured in grenade attack in Shopian
Srinagar, August 22 The sources said the grenade was lobbed at an Army patrol around 11 am in the Imam Sahib locality of Shopian. “An Army man was injured in the blast,” a source said, adding that panic gripped the area soon after the grenade blast. Shopkeepers downed their shutters and fled to safer places. The Army, however, did not open fire. The police and Army troops later cordoned off the area and conducted searches, but no one was arrested. A police officer in Shopian, however, said they were not sure whether it was a grenade attack. “We are not sure whether it was a hand grenade or just a fire cracker that spread panic in the area. We have started investigation.”
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Mid-day meal scheme: Centre for dist-level monitoring
Jammu, August 22 The ministry has stressed upon the district administrations of all states to conduct district-level vigilance and monitoring committee meetings immediately. “In accordance with discussions in the consultative committee of Parliament of the HRD Ministry, the guidelines of the ministry for holding district-level vigilance and monitoring committee meetings under the chairmanship of the seniormost Member of Parliament (MP) in the district have been reiterated and conveyed to state governments,” the letter said. Sources said the Union HRD Minister had emphasised on the availability of an effective management structure at various levels in the district for effective monitoring of the scheme. Instructions were issued for safe storage and supply of ingredients in schools. The need for capacity building of cook-cum-helpers for preparation of hot cooked meals in hygienic sorroundings, timely release of funds and availability at school levels and procurement and supply to schools through the State Civil Supplies Corporation of branded and Agmark quality pulses and ingredients were also mentioned by the ministry. “There is a need to create greater awareness about the mid-day meal scheme in the district so that parents as well as children know their precise entitlements. Convening of regular review meetings at the district level by the District Magistrate is mandatory and food samples must be tested by laboratories accredited to the National Accreditation Board of Laboratories”, the letter claimed. The sources said the Union minister had directed all states to review reports of monitoring institutes and joint review mission for district submission of action taken notes thereon, besides preparation of an emergency medical plan to deal with any untoward incident. “I request you to kindly get the meeting of the district-level vigilance and monitoring committee meeting convened through the Member Secretary who is either the District Collector or the District Magistrate or the Deputy Commissioner or the Chief Executive Officer of the zila parishad or the urban local body of your district to discuss crucial issues of the mid-day meal scheme,” the letter maintained. The mid-day meal scheme provides hot cooked meal to 10.44 crore children at 12.12 lakh schools. An amount to the tune of Rs 13,215 crore has been provided for the scheme in the current year. |
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Wamiq
Farooq’s killing
Srinagar, August 22 The Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Srinagar, Rajeev Gupta, in his orders passed today, directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir zone, to execute the warrants against the accused policemen, assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Abdul Khaliq and special police officer (SPO) Mohammad Akram, for procuring their attendance in the court on the next date of hearing on September 4. The CJM said the charge of culpable homicide punishable under Section 304 of the RPC was disclosed against the two accused. The court had reserved its final decision into the matter last month. Wamiq, a Class VII student, was killed by a teargas shell allegedly fired by the police on January 31, 2010, near Gani Memorial Stadium in old Srinagar city. In the unrest which followed Wamiq's killing, over 100 civilians were killed in police and security forces firing in 2010. While seeking for issuing of a process in the form of summons or warrants against the accused, the counsel for the complainant family, Ajaz A Dar, in his arguments had submitted that there was sufficient material evidence to proceed against the accused policemen. The CJM in his orders observed that from the “apparent perusal” of evidence collected by the Judicial Magistrate in her inquiry under Section 202 of the CrPC and the evidence collected by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the police, “such circumstances are spelled out which prima facie indicate to availability of evidence which points out to the culpability” of ASI Abdul Khaliq Sofi and SPO Mohammad Akram. “From the overview of the circumstances collectively, commission of offence of culpable homicide not amounting to murder as defined under Section 299 of the RPC, punishable under Section 302 of the RPC, is disclosed to be issued against the said two accused, requiring them to attend the court,” the CJM said in his orders. He further observed that the police personnel were expected to use their weapons with proper care. “The firing of tear smoke shell is intended to disperse the mob in order to maintain calm…if it is used and fired recklessly at the human target, intentionally or unintentionally, it is likely to cause serious injuries or death of the human targets,” CJM Gupta observed, while holding that a number of witnesses in their statements have indicted the two accused policemen for firing of the tear smoke shell resulting in Wamiq’s death. “Similar situation appears to have resulted in this case also because of the reckless use of tear smoke gun and its reckless use by the above named (accused) persons,” the CJM held. Case history Wamiq, a Class VII student, was killed by a teargas shell allegedly fired by the police on January 31, 2010, in Srinagar. While his family accused the police of killing Wamiq, the police had termed the slain teenager as a miscreant and resisted to arrest the accused police personnel. The Judicial Magistrate in her inquiry report had “prima facie” held the two accused police personnel responsible for the commission of offence punishable under the RPC. The SIT investigation, while not ruling out the possible cause of death of Wamiq by firing of a tear smoke shell, had in its final report also said there was a possibility that the teenager may have died after suffering a fall. |
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2014 LS polls: BJP starts looking for winnable candidates
Jammu, August 22 The BJP has started the selection of candidates at the time when two coalition partners National Conference and Congress are busy devising strategy to start a damage control exercise after the Kishtwar riots. Sources said during a meeting of all state presidents and general secretaries on Sunday, the central leadership has directed all state units to prepare lists of potential candidates for the Lok Sabha elections by the first week of September. State BJP president Jugal Kishore Sharma who attended Sunday’s meeting with central leaders said organisational matters were discussed besides the strategy for the coming Lok Sabha elections. Although the BJP is likely to field candidates on all six Lok Sabha seats, the party will concentrate on three segments --- two in the Jammu region and one in Ladakh. In the two successive Lok Sabha elections of 1998 and 1999, the BJP had won both the segments of the Jammu region so the party high command has asked state leadership to repeat the performance in the coming polls as well. This time the BJP is also eyeing Ladakh Lok Sabha seat because the party has successfully roped in veteran Buddhist leader and former Lok Sabha member Thupstan Chewang. The BJP has also been trying to rope in some influential Shai leaders from Kargil to ensure victory of party nominee from the Ladakh Lok Sabha seat. Sources said keeping the Modi factor in mind, a number of BJP leaders have been staking their claims for the two Lok Sabha seats of the Jammu region. Interestingly, Brahmin leaders of the BJP have created an impression before the high command that only a candidate from their caste would be in a position to emerge victorious from the Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat. Similarly, same is the situation in Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seats where all Rajput BJP leaders are staking their claim on this segment. Even some Rajput leaders who have never contested even the gram panchayat elections are projecting themselves as winnable candidates due to their caste despite the fact that veteran leader and former Union Minister Chaman Lal Gupta had won Lok Sabha elections from seat in three times in a row. Sources said the state president of the BJP, Jugal Kishore Sharma, who has successfully led the recently held agitation against the Kishtwar riots, and Nirmal Singh were the front runners for Jammu-Poonch and Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seats, respectively. Veteran leader Ashok Khajuria, Vibodh Gupta, Chander Parkash Ganga and Sat Sharma are also in the fray for the Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat. Similarly, Shamsher Singh Manhas, Jatinder Singh and Bali Bhagat are among the candidates for the Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat. Keeping in view the huge chunk of population of the Scheduled Castes (SCs) in this area, Bhagat is also a strong contender but as of now he is supporting the candidature of Nirmal Singh. |
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The Maha Daneshwar yatra, which was an annual affair before the eruption of militancy in the state, was revived after 24 years in the Kashmir valley. Pilgrims returned to the summer capital today after performing puja at the holy cave shrine of Lord Shiva yesterday at the Maha Daneshwar cave situated at 5,800 ft above sea level in north Kashmir’s Bandipore district.
studying in Srinagar, Jammu and Chandigarh formed a long queue at one of the polling stations at Poyen, near Kargil. “We want to vote for those who would really work for the people in general. It is a precious vote and is to be utilised properly to elect honest and educated persons,” said Nazir Hussain, a young voter.
am, two hours before the beginning of the polling at 8 a.m. “We want that educated girls should come forward and work for our rights and powers,” said one of the women voters. She said there was need for empowerment of women which could be possible only by educated women coming forward to contest the elections. Incidentally, only one woman candidate, Kulsoom Bee from the PDP, has contested the council elections for the first time.