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Diplomatic efforts bear fruit, no Pak firing in 10 days
City of ‘refugees’ provides livelihood to Tibetans
Srinagar Master Plan violations |
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Governor stresses imparting quality education to students
Governor briefed on Indian Science Congress
Respond in two weeks on freebies
to doctors: HC to government
Cong leader’s ‘pheron’ fixation draws guffaws from PDP
PDP welcomes Hurriyat-Pak talks
Myanmar national held on border
Jammu’s super specialty hospital short of doctors, equipment
Shrine Board takes over Sukrala Devi, Bala Sundri shrines
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Diplomatic efforts bear fruit, no Pak firing in 10 days
Jammu, November 11 “Though the DGMO-level talks between the two countries have not started as yet but it seems that good sense has prevailed upon them (Pakistan) obviously because of diplomatic efforts at some level between the two countries,” said a source in the Army. The source said there had been no firing by the Pakistani troops on the LoC since October 30. “On October 29, we had lost a JCO in Uri sector and the same day, Rangers and BSF had a sector-level flag meeting at Octroi border outpost in RS Pura sector along the 198-km-long International Border. Since then, the LoC has turned quiet,” he said. During his Jammu visit, Shinde had assured to take up the issue of relentless firing and shelling by the Rangers and the Pakistani Army on the IB and LoC, respectively at the DGMO level. “The two armies at the local level did not hold any meetings but we did our best to de-escalate the tension. At the same time, diplomatic efforts also yielded results and that is why there has been calmness on the LoC now,” said the source. The Army, however, remains fully alert to the situation along the LoC, especially to infiltration bids, he added. “With 42 terror camps still intact in the Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir and over 300 ultras moved into various launch pads close to the LoC south of Pir Panjal range, we cannot afford to lower our guard on the border,” he said. This year, Pakistan has already violated the ceasefire agreement for over 236 times on the frontiers of Jammu and Kashmir. This year, the Indian Army’s preparedness on the LoC had also come under scanner twice when Pakistan’s Border Action Teams (BATs) - an amalgam of Pakistani Army commandos and Lashkar terrorists - killed a total of seven troopers in two raids on January 8 and August 5-6, respectively. |
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City of ‘refugees’ provides livelihood to Tibetans
Jammu, November 11 Most of the refugees have come from Himanchal Pradesh, home to thousands of refugees from Tibet who followed their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, after his escape from Lhasa in 1959 when the Chinese Red Army invaded and incorporated their Himalayan homeland in China. Although their concentration is in Dharamsala, in search of livelihood, they are turning towards Jammu and Kashmir, particularly Ladakh, where a majority of people practise Buddhism like them. There is no data about the total number of Tibetans living in the city. Some of them sell woollens and stay in rented accommodations in the old city area. Dressed in traditional attire, Thorup Dashi said, “My group has been visiting Jammu for the last several years but we got this space only few months ago. As we are refugees, we can’t seek jobs in India. To support our families, we do business. People are quite supportive here.” Another Tibetan, Regzin, said most of the people from his community preferred to work in the Ladakh region, a major destination for foreign tourists. “A few are staying here, but Leh is preferred for economic consideration. We are stateless and uncertainty over our status is affecting us professionally, psychologically and physically,” Regzin said. Jammu is not a metropolitan, but it is already known as a refugee city, a term coined for accommodating thousands of militancy affected families and Pakistan refugees. Despite the special status of the state, which bars outsiders from settling here, thousands of families from Bangladesh, Nepal and Burma have made Jammu their home. Former head of the political science department at the University of Jammu Prof Rekha Choudhary said, “The city has a greater tolerance level and it has provided shelter to everyone irrespective of the religion and ethnicity. People from various parts of the state have sought refuge here since the eruption of militancy.” Jammu has more displaced persons than any other city in Asia. Whether they came in 1947, 1965 and 1971 or fled the Kashmir valley due to militancy and settled here, the displaced have made it their home. |
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Srinagar Master Plan violations
Srinagar, November 11 These directions were issued by a division Bench comprising Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magray while hearing a public interest litigation filed on October 31, seeking action against illegal constructions and structures falling within the Srinagar city limits. The case was adjourned till November 12 due to the non-appearance of the advocate general. However, the court today said the SMC Commissioner should appear before the court in person along with the details about the movable and immovable properties of the officers or officials of his corporation on Tuesday. Taking a serious note of the violations of the Srinagar Master Plan, the High Court had directed the state government on October 31 to identify and take action against the officials responsible for facilitating violations. The government, however, is in a spot as the J&K High Court is taking a policy decision with regard to over 3,000 violations of the Srinagar Master Plan, which has been noted over the years. WHAT THE PIL SAYS In the PIL titled ‘Mujeeb Andrabi versus State’, the petitioners had prayed the High Court to take a “strong note” on the constructions made without the permission of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and in violation of the Master Plan in Srinagar city. It also presses on to pass directions to the authorities concerned for demolishing such structures in the interests of the public |
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Governor stresses imparting quality education to students
Jammu, November 11 Lone briefed the Governor about the initiatives being taken by the state Higher Education Department to promote the cause of higher education in J&K. The Governor emphasised the importance of the Higher Education Department, ensuring that quality education was imparted to the students so that they were equipped with the required knowledge and skills to compete with their counterparts in the country. The Governor complimented the minister for recognising the need for the state universities to ensure that every affiliated institution fully adhered to the prescribed standards and regulations. |
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Governor briefed on Indian Science Congress
Jammu, November 11 The Governor, who is the Chancellor of the university, discussed with Prof Ishar various important issues relating to the progressive functioning of the varsity. The Vice Chancellor also briefed the Governor about the status of various arrangements being made for the Indian Science Congress, which will be held at the university from February 3 to 7. NASA astronaut Sunita Williams who holds the record of the longest spaceflight (195 days) for women space travellers will interact with students of the state during the five-day 101st Indian Science Congress. The science event will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Former President APJ Abdul Kalam and 40 foreign scientists will participate in the Science Congress. Around 10,000 delegates from all over the world are expected to participate in it. |
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Respond in two weeks on freebies
to doctors: HC to government
Srinagar, November 11 Earlier, the court had issued notices to the respondents in the PIL on November 1. In the PIL filed by three persons, Naseer Ahmad Shah, Lateef Panjabi and Imtiyaz Ahmad Shah, the petitioners had highlighted a nexus between doctors and pharma companies offering cash, freebies, kickbacks or gifts for prescribing medicines. In this connection, they had also named several doctors who were taking gifts from a particular pharma company for prescribing its medicines. As the matter came up today before a division bench comprising Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magray, counsel JA Kawoosa representing the state government sought more time to file
the response. The bench while granting his plea, directed the government to file its response to the PIL within next two weeks. In the PIL, it had been submitted that “poor patients” were being “compelled” by these doctors to purchase unnecessary medicines. “The transactions are simply at the cost of patient care,” the petitioners said in the PIL while praying for initiating action against doctors involved in the commission and omission of such offenses besides cancellation of their licences. “The doctors, who are in the race for amassing wealth by indulging in such type of malpractices are causing damage to the health of public at large,” the petitioners submitted. The petitioners also sought court directions for “blacklisting” the companies which offer cash, freebies or kickbacks to doctors for prescribing their medicines and drugs. In the PIL, action against the representatives for promoting such practices was |
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Cong leader’s ‘pheron’ fixation draws guffaws from PDP
Srinagar, November 11 Former Director of the Information Department and vice-chairman of the Srinagar Development Authority, who recently joined the Congress, has vowed to make ‘pheran’ (a long and loose gown worn by people in the winter) the official dress of Kashmir. However, what is inviting sarcasm and laughs from various quarters, including PDP spokesperson Naeem Akhtar, is the English vocabulary Renzu uses in his statements. Renzu recently stated that ‘pheron’ (the word he uses for pheran) be declared the official dress of the Valley. He wrote on social networking sites Twitter and Facebook, “Pheron in Kashmir should be treated as official dress as loongi in Chennai and Kerala.” He said instead of black gowns, worn at annual convocation functions at the University of Kashmir, pheran should be made the convocation dress. Renzu wrote on Twitter and Facebook, “Let us ensure that the next university convocation is officially pheron dressed, why Mical jaksons (Michael Jackson) gowns?” He went on to compare brand Armani with “pheron”, saying, “In JK, brand Armani gets less rating as compared to pheron brand in the Valley, Chenab valley, Leh, Kargil and (is) new fashion among Jammu people.” Renzu’s statements have, however, become a hot topic for discussion among linguists, journalists and satirists of the state. The PDP spokesperson, in his satirical remark on the pheran campaign launched by Renzu, wondered why was Renzu all of a sudden obsessed with making pheran the official dress of Kashmir. “Sad, he didn’t exist when India was under British Raj. (Mahatma) Gandhi might not have needed to launch a struggle. Angrez would have run away without a fight to save their beloved language from such assault,” Naeem Akhtar wrote on Facebook. “Has this pheron fixation to do something with his royal highness’ monarchial lineage? It has suddenly become the preferred costume of Ladakh too,” he wrote on the social networking site. Netizens, including opposition leaders, are discussing Renzu’s usage of the 'pheron' word instead of 'pheran' and his incomprehensible English vocabulary. But, any publicity is good publicity as the number of Renzu’s followers on Twitter and the likes on his official page have risen. “Renzu even claims that he has written 11 books and that more than a dozen students were doing research all over the world over his literary works. I highly doubt that. His English seems to be incomprehensible. Although he is keeping us posted on latest developments and even sharing his thoughts, he should be careful with the use of the English language,” wrote a journalist on
Facebook. |
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PDP welcomes Hurriyat-Pak talks
Srinagar, November 11 While addressing a workers’ convention of the party at Kangan town in north Kashmir, Mehbooba said the process should be carried forward. She said the release of senior Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani was “no favour to him but only the restoration of his right to expression and movement which had been curbed for the last five years”. Senior party leaders Tariq Hameed
Karra, Qazi Mohammad Afzal, Naeem Akhtar, Yasir Reshi, Bashir Ahmad Mir, Mian Javed
Nizami, Syed Irfan and zone president Mushtaq Ahmad Shah also spoke on the occasion. While welcoming the talks between Hurriyat leaders and Sartaj
Aziz, the foreign affairs adviser to the Pakistan Prime Minister, Mehbooba said the involvement of opinion leaders from Jammu and Kashmir in the the dialogue process between India and Pakistan was “inevitable if a lasting and just resolution” of the problem was to be achieved. “All stakeholders and schools of thought from JK have to be taken on board in the resolution process and the Hurriyat Conference represents an important point of view,” she
said. Mehbooba said the criticism of the talks in New Delhi was misplaced, as the process was started many years ago and the Hurriyat leaders had been meeting the top leadership of both the governments. |
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Myanmar national held on border
Jammu, November 11 He has been identified as Mohammed Yakari, a native of Banpura in Myanmar. “Around 10 pm, he was found roaming under mysterious circumstances near the Sangral post of the BSF in the RS Pura sector when BSF men of 122 Battalion nabbed him,” said a BSF officer. He was trying to cross over to Pakistan, said the officer. Later, the man was handed over to the local police. Jawan electrocuted Srinagar: An Army jawan died after he got electrocuted at a camp in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, the police said on Monday. Sepoy Meghnethima was electrocuted when he came in contact with a live wire at the Zangli camp in Kupwara, a police spokesman said. The police has initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC in this regard. After completion of all medico-legal formalities, the jawan's body was handed over to the unit concerned, the spokesman said |
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Jammu’s super specialty hospital short of doctors, equipment
Jammu, November 11 The hospital, which is part of the local Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), caters to the entire Jammu region having a population of over 50 lakh. There are only two neurosurgeons, namely Dr Haroon Salaria and Dr Furqan Ahmed, in the hospital, which also lacks adequate equipment to cater to the large number of patients coming from various parts of the region. The Government Hospital in Gandhi Nagar, which is being governed by the health department, also offers the facility of neurosurgery --- but with a lone neurologist, Dr Sudhir Sabharwal. On November 9, the Chief Minister had announced a neurosurgery unit in Jammu Super Specialty Hospital to provide critical neurosurgery treatment to patients in a bid to relieve them of the trouble of traveling outside the state for the treatment. Sources said the authorities were exploring various options to improve the facility of neurosurgery here so that the people were not forced to travel outside for treatment. “The medical education department is working on a multi-pronged strategy to make the unit functional in the Super Specialty Hospital. It may depute neurologists in the unit either from Kashmir or outside the state so that people get quality treatment here,” a source said. On an average 30 to 35 patients with various injuries, including head injuries, reach the GMCH daily. “If someone (in neurosurgery) goes on leave, the patients either don’t get proper treatment in the wake of shortage of manpower or their families are forced to shift them outside the state,” a source said. The authorities concerned, however, evaded queries on the sanctioned strength and the measures being taken to cater to patients. When contacted, Minister for Medical Education Taj Mohiuddin, who was camping in New Delhi for the procurement of equipment to be installed in the neurosurgery department, said: “We will arrange the faculty soon. We are planning to depute surgeons either from Kashmir or outside J&K to start the facility in the Super Specialty Hospital.” He said the firm which had been entrusted with the task of ensuring medical infrastructure and equipment in the hospital has delayed the installation of the main equipment for neurosurgery. The Super Specialty Hospital was constructed at a cost of Rs 135 crore with the Central government providing 90 per cent of the funds. |
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Shrine Board takes over Sukrala Devi, Bala Sundri shrines
Jammu, November 11 The newly constituted Shrine Board has the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, as the chairman, Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, as the vice-chairman and Additional Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Director, Tourism, Jammu, and Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Billawar, as government representatives. Pawan Kumar Shastri, Sham Lal Gupta, Zorawar Singh, Narinder Vaid and Neelam Vaid were nominated as the members of the board. The programme took place on the premises of the Sukrala Devi temple amid the chanting of hymns. Minister of State for Cooperatives Manohar Lal Sharma also participated in the rituals and other ceremonies. Before the constitution of the present board, the development affairs of the shrines were being looked after by a committee appointed by the Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, since 1994. The government passed the Shri Mata Sukrala Devi and Shri Mata Bala Sundri Shrine Board Act in
October 2013 so that their development could be done in a well-coordinated manner and devotees facilitated. The minister said every endeavour would be made to run the affairs of the shrines by adopting successful models of administration with modern techniques and infrastructure. He added that the board was open to suggestions from the public for the wholesome development of the shrines. He also highlighted the ongoing development activities in and around the shrines and said that the Rest House and the TRC building would be completed by the year-end.
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Jammu, November 11
Jammu, November 11
