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Five mentally challenged minor girls sexually abused in Jammu
Stage set for Zubin’s musical treat
Govt yet to give nod for parallel concert
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Cabinet approves ex gratia up to 5 lakh for riot victims
Health care scheme for children in state soon
PDP begins election campaign at Samba, Vijaypur
Soon, trains to chug till Katra
NIA to seek custody of top Hizb militant
Cong warns Kashmir-based party leaders against anti-VDC talk
Governor for studying contribution, influence of heritage routes
Suspended Youth Cong leaders cry foul
Refugees’ issues raised with Home Minister
Legislature’s autumn session from Sept 30
Govt laxity delays tourism projects in Jammu
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Five mentally challenged minor girls sexually abused in Jammu
Jammu, September 5 The police today said following a complaint filed against the accused at Trikuta Nagar Police Station, director Sudhakar Sharma and guard Angad Kumar of the Rotary Innerwheel Home for Mentally Retarded Children in the Channi Rama area of Jammu city were arrested on Wednesday and would be taken to a local court on Friday. The district administration received a complaint about the shocking goings-on at the home for the mentally challenged a month ago, following which Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Ajit Kumar Sahu constituted a board headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner to ascertain the truth. The report submitted by the board made the horrifying disclosure of five minor girls being sexually exploited for the past few months. “They were doing wrong things with us for the past one year. We were not able to talk to anyone about it,” said a victim, without fully comprehending the enormity of the crime. Pointing towards other girls who were also exploited, the victim said, “We spoke about the exploitation to a police inspector and told him what they were doing to us.” The warden of the home, Santosh Devi, said the girls used to tell her that the guard used to allegedly touch their private parts. There are around 45 mentally challenged children, both boys and girls, residing in the home. A few women from outside visit the home on a regular basis to help the children and it was one of these visitors who complained to the authorities. “A woman apprised the administration of the crime and after that the DC constituted a team to ascertain the truth. It has been found that five girls were being sexually exploited for the past some time by the director and the chowkidar. We have arrested both of them and the investigation is on,” said Deputy Inspector General of Police, Jammu-Kathua range, Shakeel Beig. Sources in the police department said the minor girls were subjected to sexual intercourse but the exploiters took precautions to ensure that the victims did not get pregnant. “A team of doctors conducted tests on the victims and concluded that they were being sexually exploited. But no one is pregnant,” a source said. There are unconfirmed reports that these girls were also being taken out of the home for sexual exploitation. “We have to verify all these facts. Everything will come out after the investigation,” said a police officer. Accused a retired gazetted officer
BJP demands CBI probe
Jammu:
Spokesperson of the state BJP Nirmal Kamal on Thursday demanded a CBI probe into the “inhuman activities” in the home for mentally challenged children in Jammu. She demanded that strict action should be taken against all those who were responsible for the act. In a statement issued here, Nirmal asked the Social Welfare Department to immediately intervene in the matter and protect the helpless girls. |
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Stage set for Zubin’s musical treat
Srinagar, September 5 Zubin Mehta, his team of artistes and a number of guests would arrive in Srinagar tomorrow, a day ahead of the event. There would be two rehearsals of the performance, one on Friday afternoon and other on Saturday morning, sources said. The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday at 5 pm and it would be presented by about 80 musicians (instrumental) from outside and over 15 from Kashmir, performing on traditional instruments. The traditional musical instruments of Kashmir — santoor, rabaab, tumbak, saringi and matka — are part of the musical event led by santoor maestro Abhay Rostum Sopori. Tight security arrangements have been put in place in and around Srinagar and nakas have been set up at the entry and exit points and vital installations. Entry of tourists to Shalimar Garden was stopped today as a security measure while the neighbouring Nishat Garden is being closed tomorrow to visitors, official sources said. The event has become the focus of attention after separatists and a section of the civil society opposed to the event in view of the political issue and situation in Kashmir. Those opposing Zubin’s concert have decided to hold a parallel music concert “Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir” (The Truth of Kashmir) on Saturday. Putting to rest the controversy over the event, German Ambassador Michael Steiner, in his letter to the people of Kashmir, published in local English dailies here today, has elaborated upon the significance of the event as a “unique classical concert”. “This concert is for you, the Kashmiris. It is a German cultural event with the best of Europe’s musical tradition brought to you to pay tribute to the rich cultural tradition of Kashmir and its wonderful people. “My wife and myself are hosting this event. It is funded mainly by private benevolent sponsors. It’s purely cultural and does not alter the political position of Germany and the EU on Kashmir. “At the same time, this concert has the potential to make the world look at the complex realities of Kashmir: Its breathtaking beauty as well as the many challenges you, the Kashmiris, face in daily life. I am well aware of both.”The German Ambassador adds: “Many Kashmiris from all walks of life will be at the concert. Many more will follow it on TV. They are looking forward to this unique concert as much as my wife and myself. They will see Shalimar Bagh, once in rather poor conditions, meticulously restored to its full original beauty. And they will see, hear and experience true Kashmiri flavour on stage. Something they will be proud of. Beethoven at Shalimar Bagh. The best of our culture in your historic Srinagar. To honour Kashmir. To express to you, through music, our respect and affection. Ehsaas-e-Kashmir.” |
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Govt yet to give nod for parallel concert
Srinagar, September 5 Addressing a press conference here, the organisers said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was misleading people by telling lies as it was his government which had to take a final decision on whether or not to allow the show. “Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir” (Truth about Kashmir) is an initiative of Kashmir-based civil society groups which are opposing Zubin Mehta’s show “Ehsas-e-Kashmir” (Feeling of Kashmir) being held at Shalimar Garden on September 7. The parallel show is being held at a public park in Srinagar on Saturday and the organisers have already approached the authorities for permission to hold the event. “We have approached the authorities concerned for holding the show. The ball is now in the government’s court,” Khurram Parvez, the spokesman for Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir concert, told mediapersons when asked if the government had given them the permission to go ahead with the planned show. “So far, we have not been informed about the decision. But Omar Abdullah thinks that the people of Kashmir are fools, when he says that he personally is not opposed to holding a parallel event. He is misleading people by telling lies,” Khurram said, adding that it is his (Omar’s) government which has to take a decision about allowing Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir or not. Saying that Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir is both an act of resistance and celebration, Khurram said they had also extended an invitation to German Ambassador Michael Steiner. “The German ambassador’s interest and possible attendance at the event, for which he has been invited, does not alter the protest in anyway. We invite everyone to express their solidarity with resilience and suffering of people of J&K,” he said. He, however, attacked the German Ambassador, saying Steiner is “misleading” people by calling it “an event meant for the people” of J&K. “It is a deeply political event for political purpose. Otherwise what was the need to invite the people from Chinese, Pakistani and other EU Embassies to the event,” Khurram said. What Omar had said While commenting on holding a parallel show in Srinagar, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said he was not personally opposed to such events, adding that it was not him which has to decide about the permission to the organisers. “It is something on which the local administration will take a call,” the CM had told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Srinagar on September 2. |
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Cabinet approves ex gratia up to 5 lakh for riot victims
Srinagar, September 5 “In supersession of any previous order, the Cabinet approved ex gratia to the victims of riots and other extraordinary law and order disturbances in respect of destruction and damage to immovable property,” an official spokesman said in a statement here. The amount of relief to be granted for destruction and damage to immovable property shall be equal to 50 per cent of the actual loss or up to 5 lakh whichever is lesser, he said. “The assessment of the destruction and damage (loss) shall be made by the tehsildar of the area to be further verified by the Assistant Commissioner, Revenue, in exercise of their best judgement,” the statement said. The relief, it said, shall be sanctioned by the Deputy Commissioner of the districts concerned on the recommendations of district-level screening-cum-coordination committee comprising District Magistrate as chairman, SP of the district, ADC, ACR, tehsildar of district, other than the tehsildar who has assessed the loss as its members and any other member co-opted by the chairman. “The policy shall have effect from April 1, 2013, and shall not be applicable to the settled cases,” the statement further added. |
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Health care scheme for children in state soon
Srinagar, September 5 The Health Minister said the launch of the scheme would allow schoolchildren to have access to free of cost health camps in schools across the state. “We will depute doctors in schools for free of cost dental, eye and other health check ups so that children from 0-18 years do not suffer from usual illnesses which are common at their age,” the minister said. He said the Directorate of Health Services in the state would implement the scheme under the aegis of the Health Department.
The Health Minister, who was speaking on the sidelines of the function, told The Tribune that 700
posts of doctor were lying vacant in various government hospitals. “The vacancies have been referred to the State Public Service Commission and will be filled soon. We have also appointed 200 doctors who are working in the state under the National Rural Health Mission,” the minister said. He also said the statewide examination for appointment of paramedical staff in hospitals would be conducted on September 16. |
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PDP begins election campaign at Samba, Vijaypur
Jammu, September 5 The public meetings were addressed by Yashpal Sharma, party candidate for the Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat, who sought the support of the people to get their voice heard in Parliament. Sharma regretted that the present regime headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had failed to solve the problems of the people. He said border residents were the worst victims of the wrong policies of the present government because the government had failed to take any step to minimise their woes. Sharma informed the people at the meeting that during the regime of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed there was complete peace on the borders because Mufti as the Chief Minister had convinced both India and Pakistan to announce ceasefire on the borders. “During the PDP regime there was peace on
the borders from Kathua and Kargil,” he said and sought the support of the people to pursue the policies of peace and reconciliation. He further said during Mufti’s regime adequate compensation was given to the farmers whose land was mined during the border build-up. He added that it was
all due to Mufti's efforts that the Industrial Growth Centre was opened at Samba which generated employment
for locals.
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Soon, trains to chug till Katra
Jammu, September 5 The Northern Railway, however, is yet to announce the date for making the Udhampur-Katra section operational for passenger trains as it awaits the final clearance from the Commission of Railway Safety (CRS), which will conduct the inspection after the trial run on the section before throwing it open for passenger trains. “The Ferozpur division of the Northern Railway has given its approval for opening of the Udhampur-Katra section as the railway track is finally ready for the movement of passenger trains. In this regard, the Ferozpur division wrote a letter to the authorities of all stations falling under the division on August 19, asking them to make suitable arrangements in accordance with the decision,” an official source said. Sources said there would be three stations — Udhampur, Chak Rakhwal in Udhampur district and Shri Vaishno Devi Katra on the Udhampur-Katra rail link. “The Chak Rakhwal station has been set up 9.3 km away from the Udhampur station.,” a source said. N C Goyal, Divisional Railway Manager, Ferozpur Division, when contacted, said the final clearance to the project would be given by the Commissioner of Railway Safety. “The construction of tunnels has been completed. The authorities are likely to make the rail track operational by October,” an official said. On track Udhampur-Katra section will have 11-km of tunnelling passage, nine major bridges, 29 minor bridges and 10 rail under-bridges. The tallest bridge on the section is 85 metres and the longest tunnel is 3.15 km. |
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NIA to seek custody of top Hizb militant
Srinagar, September 5 The NIA was on the lookout for Lali, as his name had surfaced during the investigation of the funding pattern of the militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, which is now again taking the centre stage in militancy. “The NIA has been in touch with J&K police since yesterday. The NIA is likely to move an application in a court seeking Lali’s custody,” said a senior police officer in Srinagar. “The NIA will take Lali into custody only after the questioning by the police is complete,” he added. Lali, an A++ category militant was the longest surviving militant of Kashmir and was arrested along with two others at Bandipore on Wednesday in a joint operation by the state police and the Army. Lali was an aide of Shafi Shah, alias Dr Dawood, the Hizb divisional commander, whose custody was taken by the NIA in June last. Sources said the NIA wants to interrogate Lali to investigate the funding pattern of the militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen through hawala and human couriers.
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Cong warns Kashmir-based party leaders against anti-VDC talk
Jammu, September 5 During a “closed door” convention of executive committee members of the J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), the issue of VDCs was vociferously taken up by some participants, who demanded that the party should clear its stand. One of the participants told The Tribune that some members took strong exception to the statement given by some Kashmir-based Congress leaders to disband VDCs. The members complained that instead of following the policies and programmes of the Congress, some Valley-based leaders were speaking the language of separatists just to address their own constituencies but damaging the prospects of the party in other regions. Sources said some activists in the presence of Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and AICC general secretary Ambika Soni, who is in charge of the J&K affairs of the Congress, bluntly stated that the BJP had been recovering its lost ground in the erstwhile Doda district, especially after the Kishtwar riots. The erstwhile Doda district comprised Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts. They cautioned that if Kashmir-based Congress leaders did not refrain from making statements against the VDCs, the BJP would “successfully polarise voters before the Lok Sabha elections”. “It was only after these apprehensions were raised by some JKPCC executive members that senior leaders intervened and issued strict directions against giving any statement on the VDCs”, a source said, adding that some senior leaders made it clear that at the time of crisis, the Congress had to play a neutral role. The politics over the VDCs has intensified during the last one month, especially after Kishtwar riots in the state. The Hurriyat Conference and other separatist groups have launched a campaign against the VDCs while Jammu-based political, social and religious organisations have opposed any move to disband them. The issue of VDCs has created division in the Congress because some Jammu-based party leaders have vociferously opposed disarming or disbanding of the VDCs while some Kashmir-based leaders have echoed the demand raised by separatists to disband the defence panels. |
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Governor for studying contribution, influence of heritage routes
Srinagar, September 5 Chaudhary presented a copy of “Heritage and Cultural Routes: An Anthology” to the Governor. “The volume, edited by Chaudhary, is a compilation of papers which were presented by known experts at the international conference on “Global Cultural Routes: Tourism and Socio-Economic Viability. The conference was organised by the Centre for Studies in Museology, University of Jammu, in March 2012,” an official statement said. Chaudhary briefed the Governor, who is the Chancellor of the University of Jammu, about the functioning of the Centre for Studies in Museology and the initiatives being taken for the study of heritage cultural routes. She said the centre was presently running an M.Phil programme in Museology and Heritage Studies. The Governor observed that there was a need for taking up the subject and route specific projects for studying the contribution and influence which historical heritage routes have had on the evolution of cultural traditions and exchanges, promotion of trade and commerce and communication and development in the centuries past. He said steps were also required to be taken to enlarge awareness about the historical routes, adding that the revival of these routes could help in the promotion of greater understanding, besides giving a boost to tourism. Referring to the book, the Governor lauded Chaudhary’s initiative. |
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Suspended Youth Cong leaders cry foul
Jammu, September 5 The suspended leaders have charged Chowdhary with working in a “vindictive manner” to settle personal scores with his opponents in the PYC. “Chowdhary and his coterie have hijacked the PYC and those who have been involved in sycophancy have been given important posts in the party,” alleged Kewal Sharma, Youth Congress leader from Billawar, who was suspended from the party on Wednesday. “Actually I was opposing the sycophancy culture in the PYC so Chowdhary has settled the score with me,” he alleged. He said he was elected as the constituency president by the grass-roots level workers so he was least concerned about the action. Sources said the PYC president was finding it difficult to maintain his control over the organisation so he had decided to “throw out” his detractors from the party and appoint his loyalists on important posts. Kewal Sharma is a loyalist of Minister of State for Cooperatives Manohar Lal Sharma. It is believed that he was suspended only to appease the detractors of the minister in the Congress. Secretary in charge of the Youth Congress in J&K Chetan Chouhan told The Tribune that some leaders were suspended from their posts after reviewing their performance. Suspended leader Shamsher Singh said since his election as the constituency in charge of the Youth Congress, the PYC president had never contacted him. “Actually those running the party from capital cities are not aware of the ground realities. They are acting on the wrong advice of their sycophants,” Singh said. Sources said some Youth Congress workers had brought the matter to the notice of the high command to expose the PYC president. Ridiculing the PYC president’s logic of suspending him on the ground of non-performance, Sharma asked, “Except indulging in sycophancy of ministers and other leaders, what is the output of the PYC president during the last one year?” The sources said the PYC president, who was earlier associated with the faction of the loyalists of Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, has now shifted his loyalty and has become the “blue-eyed” boy of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee chief Saifuddin Soz. Chowdhary yesterday issued a handout, in which he termed the suspended leaders as “deadwood” to defend his decision. |
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Refugees’ issues raised with Home Minister
Jammu, September 5 A Congress handout said during their meetings, both leaders highlighted the issue of refugees and border firing at various places in the Jammu region. Both MPs apprised the Home Minister and the Home Secretary about the fear and panic among the people residing on borders in Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch. The duo also raised and demanded early settlement of all pending issues of the refugees of 1947, 1965, 1971 and West Pakistan refugees. — TNS
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Legislature’s autumn session from Sept 30
Srinagar, September 5 An official said the Cabinet, which had met here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah yesterday, approved the proposal of holding the autumn session. The Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council will be summoned on September 30 at 10 am and 11 am, respectively. While the autumn session usually lasts 10 days, Secretary, Assembly, Mohammad Ramzan said the provisional calendar of the session would be issued once Governor NN Vohra officially summoned the legislature. He said the Cabinet approval to the autumn session had already been sent to Raj Bhawan. Legislative Assembly Speaker Mubarak Gul had recently convened an officers’ meeting of various departments to take stock of arrangements for the forthcoming autumn session.
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Govt laxity delays tourism projects in Jammu
Jammu, September 5 Minister for Tourism Ghulam Ahmed Mir said yesterday at a high-level meeting that the government was contemplating developing a water kingdom in Jammu. The government has neglected many tourist sites in the Jammu region, despite a high influx of tourists, including Mata Vaishno Devi shrine pilgrims, in the region. The Special Task Force, formed by the Central government in 2010 to examine the development needs of the Jammu region, had recommended that tourism promotion schemes should be completed on a fast-track basis. The Rs-140 crore Tawi Lake Project and beautification of the river front, one of the important initiatives of the state government to make the city attractive, has not yet been completed. The work on the project was started in 2008-09. It was supposed to be made operational by the end of 2012. The ancient Buddhist site of Ambaran in Akhnoor, which was visited by Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in December 2012, has also not found place in tourist planning of the state. The ancient temple complex at the Purmandal block of Samba district has not been brought in the pilgrim tourism circuit. “We welcome any proposal, but at the same time priority should be given to complete the ropeway project in the city and restoration of the Mubarak Mandi palace,” said VY Sharma, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jammu. The state government is not showing any interest in pursuing the Bahu fort-Mubarak Mandi ropeway case, which is pending in the Supreme Court. There is also no headway in the construction of the gandola at Patnitop, a scenic spot 112 km from Jammu, on the pattern of Gulmarg. In 2007, the government had entered into an agreement with Nagarjuna Construction Company for the ropeway project at Patnitop, but it remained on paper as the state government failed to pursue the case properly with the Union Government. The Tourism Minister said they were aware of the delay in some of the projects in the Jammu region and efforts were being made to complete them on a fast-track basis. “I have discussed these issues with the officials and members of the civil society during several meetings. The hurdles are being removed so that the targets are achieved,” Mir said. With the delay by the Revenue Department in demarcating the Gharana wetland at RS Pura, the process of converting the wetland into a tourist destination by the Wildlife Department and the Tourism Department also got delayed. “The slow process of work is hampering the tourism sector in Jammu as visitors find very few sites to extend their stay en route the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. New proposals should be followed by the completion of old ones,” said Gambir Dev Singh Charak, a senior member of the Dogra Heritage Development Society. Need to gear up
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The director and a guard of a home for mentally challenged children here have been arrested on charges of sexually exploiting five minor girl inmates.
The stage is set for musical concert “Ehsas-e-Kashmir” by internationally acclaimed conductor Zubin Mehta at Shalimar Garden in Srinagar.
Terming Zubin Mehta’s musical concert “deeply political”, the organisers of “Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir”, a parallel concert being held to counter “Ehsas-e-Kashmir” event, have said the ball was in the government’s court as they were still awaiting the nod.
The much-awaited project of the rail connectivity to Katra - the base camp of cave shrine of Goddess Vaishno Devi in Reasi district - is set to be a reality now as the Ferozpur division of the Northern Railway has given its approval to the opening of 25-km-long Udhampur-Katra section.
