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BSF reclaims 100 acres near border
CET scam: Court rejects accused Sajjad’s bail plea
Guv calls for acceptable quality of education
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Protests mark World Human Rights Day
Taxi drivers who encroached on SDA land to get alternative site
Cold tightens grip on Kashmir; Srinagar records -2.1° Celsius
Short story writers take part in reading session
LeT militant escapes for fourth time
SKUAST boys’ hostel gutted
Kishtwar violence report submitted to rights panel
Geelani warns of return of militancy in Valley
Tujjar Sharief residents miffed over poor water, power supply
Election results wake-up call for parties: Tarigami
Hotel, two shops destroyed in fire
Army to settle rent cases soon
Record sale of pashmina wool this year by cooperative
spurious drug scam
Seminar on Kashmiri poetic genres begins at KU
City artist invited to festival in Mumbai
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BSF reclaims 100 acres near border
Jammu, December 10 The BSF exercise to reclaim the land, which began in August and is still on, has enabled the villagers to cultivate their land close to the Zero Line. “The BSF has put its men and machine into service so that farmers can cultivate their land up to the Zero Line and increase their earnings,” said GS Dhaliwal, commandant of the 94 Battalion. Last year too, the 94 Battalion had reclaimed 230 acres between the Zero Line and the border fence, near Abdulian and Nawapind villages. Villagers were apprehensive about cultivating their fields in the reclaimed area but the BSF efforts in the form of security cover and continuous motivation instilled confidence among them and resulted in bumper crops in the area this year. “This fresh initiative has again brought about 100 acres of Karotna Khurd and Suchetgarh villages under cultivation,” said the commandant. The RS Pura sector is known as the rice bowl of the state, and is famous for its unique basmati rice in the country and abroad. Sukhdev, a land owner of Suchetgarh village, said he was cultivating his land near the Zero Line for the first time. Another land owner of Karotna Khurd Ujagar Singh also expressed his happiness, saying that the move would benefit villagers economically and the BSF’s endeavour would bring prosperity besides sense of security among the border population in the area. The BSF’s efforts to dismantle the protective bundh wherever required, levelling of undulating ground and clearing of ‘sarkanda’ between the border fence and the Zero Line will reduce the scope of infiltration and smuggling of narcotics and counterfeit Indian currency by Pakistan. The BSF also has plans to come up with an embankment behind the cattle fence, border fence and flood lights. The existing mounds would take shape of an embankment running all along the international border. Move to benefit farmers in RS Pura
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CET scam: Court rejects accused Sajjad’s bail plea
Srinagar, December 10 While rejecting the bail plea of accused Sajjad Ahmad Dar on various grounds, Special Judge, Anti-corruption, Kashmir, Mohan Lal Manhas observed that "this is the fittest case where jail, not bail, is the appropriate remedy". The other grounds considered by the court while rejecting the bail include “serious allegations” and “larger public interest” involved in the case. The court had reserved its final orders in the bail plea of Sajjad for today after concluding the arguments. The crime branch of the J&K Police, which is investigating the case, had vehemently opposed the bail to Sajjad, who is in judicial custody. “I am of the opinion that this is the fittest case where bail ought not to be granted and the stage is not right for it. Therefore, the investigating agency must be given more time to collect evidence and detect the clandestine mega sale of question papers of the Common Entrance Test (CET) conducted by the J&K Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE). Hence, the bail is refused and the application is rejected,” the Special Judge said while rejecting the bail of Sajjad. “In view of the discussion, I therefore hold that this is the fittest case where jail and not bail is the appropriate remedy,” the Judge further said. Talking to The Tribune, Chief Prosecuting Officer Khalid Muzaffar, who represented the crime branch in the case, said the court had also held that the nature of allegations in the current case was serious and the matter involved larger public interest. While opposing Sajjad’s bail, the crime branch in its report to the court had said Sajjad had received scanned copies of the
CET-2012 papers from another accused, Farooq Ahmad Itoo. Former BOPEE chairman Mushtaq Peer, who is the prime accused in the case, had sold the CET-2012 papers through
his aide Farooq Ahmad Itoo and in turn received Rs 60 lakh. Confessing to his role in the scam, Itoo in a confessional statement had said he gave Rs 60 lakh to Peer after receiving CET-2012 papers from him and sold the same to eight candidates and also gave scanned copies to Sajjad. Currently, Peer is serving a 10-day judicial remand and the same anti-corruption court, which today rejected Sajjad’s bail plea, has also reserved its final orders in the bail application of Peer till December 17. |
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Guv calls for acceptable quality of education
Jammu, December 10 The new campus is being constructed in 238 kanal and the University Grants Commission has approved a sum of Rs 10.50 crore for its establishment. Vohra stressed that subjects to be taught at off-site campus of the university should be relevant to the area and should have the potential of opening up new opportunities for all round development of the place and also help in preserving its culture. Observing that these off-site campuses were conceived to extend facilities of higher education to remote and far off areas, the Governor said: “All efforts should be made for receiving a much larger enrolment of the locals in these campuses.” Emphasising the importance of frequent interactions and discussions among the students and teachers, Vohra said all necessary efforts should be made towards strengthening tolerance and understanding contrary points of view. “This would lead to the balanced development of the students,” he said. The Governor, meanwhile, called upon the teachers to imbue their students with cultural and moral values and ethical codes of conduct and teach the importance of brotherhood and communal harmony. “All conflicting positions should be resolved only through dialogue and discussion,” Vohra insisted. He also observed that the teaching faculty of these campuses should also be concerned in dealing with the deficiencies among the faculties of the nearby colleges and higher secondary schools. MPS Isher, Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu, on the occasion emphasised the need of strengthening the infrastructure at the campus and creating facilities for sports activities, provision of internet and strengthening of staff position. Isher, meanwhile, said apart from university campuses at Udhampur and Kathua all other campuses have teaching faculty on ad hoc basis. He added that for all the six campuses, about 30 faculty positions have been sanctioned and very soon permanent faculty would be introduced in phased manner. Member of Legislative Assembly from Ramnagar Harsh Dev Singh, who was also present on the occasion, thanked the Governor for encouraging the efforts of the people of Ramnagar by approving a university campus in the area. “It is a milestone in enhancing the educational milieu of this remote area,” Singh said. He, however, called for introduction of at least three new subjects at the Ramnagar campus of the university. Governor, meanwhile, directed the university authorities to make the campus environment friendly by incorporating solar energy and rain water conservation systems in the building plan of the entire campus. He enquired whether the building has been planned as per the seismic zone specifications and also had a detailed discussion on the construction material being used in all the three blocks, ventilation of the rooms, hours of natural light in the rooms, landscaping, provision of public conveniences, water supply, electricity in the campus. Principal Secretary to Governor, Naveen K Choudhary, DIG Udhampur-Reasi range, Garib Dass, Deputy Commissioner Udhampur Yasha Mudgal and Superintendent of Police, Udhampur, Anil Magotra, among others were present on the occasion. |
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Kashmiri Pandits integral part of Valley, says Omar
Jammu, December 10 Addressing members of the Youth All India Kashmiri Samaj (YAIKS), the Chief Minister said he would continue to make efforts to create a secure and peaceful atmosphere in the Valley for the safe return of Pandits. He said a large number of Pandits wanted to return to the Valley. The return of 1,500 youth to the Valley in connection with employment and their mingling with the majority community was a healthy sign and a good omen for the mass return of the community, he added. “My endeavour is to restore the same situation. I do not want to take Pandits from Jammu and other parts of the country to the Valley and make them live in camps. They are an integral part of Kashmir and its composite culture,” Omar said. Though packages and other facilities for return of Kashmiri Pandits are necessary, the restoration of sense of security in them is of primary importance, he said. The issue is totally human and apolitical, Omar said. The Chief Minister thanked the members of YAIKS for reposing full faith in him and extending their support to his efforts for the safe return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits. Earlier, expressing gratitude to the Chief Minister for making history by implementing the employment package and helping the return of 1,500 Kashmiri Pandit youth to the Valley, YAIKS president RK Bhat said Omar Abdullah never made false promises to them but took historic steps towards rehabilitation and return of Pandits to the Valley. |
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Protests mark World Human Rights Day
Srinagar, December 10 The administration, however, allowed independent MLA and Awami Ittihaad Party (AIP) leader Engineer Rashid to take out a
protest demonstration at the Lal Chowk, during which the legislators castigated both the state as well as central government for their alleged human rights violations and also criticised the UPA government for hanging Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru early this year. Early in the day, families of the “disappeared persons” staged a silent protest at the Pratap Park area in the city. They held photographs of the victims of “enforced disappearance” and held placards, urging the government to look for the victims' whereabouts. The protest at Pratap Park was organised by the
Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) headed by Parveena Ahanger. Later in the day, AIP leader Engineer Rashid appeared at the Lal Chowk area along with his supporters and raised slogans, demanding abolishment of the capital
punishment and justice to the victims of human rights violations. Talking to mediapersons, Rashid said that the protest was against the HR violations in Kashmir. "We are urging the government to abolish capital punishment, a step that has already been taken across the world. Besides Afzal Guru's hanging, execution of Ajmal Kasab and Maqbool Bhat have not helped India in restoring peace in
Kashmir," Rashid said, adding that the protesters were also seeking whereabouts of those who had
disappeared. "At least the government should now tell the world that those who had disappeared in Kashmir are dead," he said. After reaching near Ghanta Ghar at Lal
Chowk, the protesters led by Engineer Rashid dispersed peacefully. To mark the occasion, the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) also organised a silent protest at the Municipal Park of the city, where the group had placed banners, depicting various human rights violations. The group, in their silent protest, was also joined by civil society members and the victims of alleged Kunan Poshpora mass rape incident. The protesters included members of the families of those who had “disappeared” during the conflict over the past two decades. "Today, as victims, survivors, activists and students come together, we commit to continue to support each other and resist state violence, legal and other obfuscation of the truth and the propaganda of the state that seeks to ensure that the past is forgotten," said JKCCS coordinator Khurram Parvez. |
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Taxi drivers who encroached on SDA land to get alternative site
Srinagar, December 10 "We have identified land for them at Batamaloo area of the city," SDA Vice-Chairman Shafat Noor Barlas said, adding: "It was a problem for us and we had to come up with a solution." The move is, however, being viewed as the SDA succumbing to the political pressure. "They (taxi drivers) are encroachers and have brazenly violated the law. Allotting them alternative land means we are encouraging people to adopt wrong methods," said a senior official of the Urban Development. "The SDA was under pressure from a ruling National Conference Legislator and former minister and it was the government that pressurised SDA officials to identify the alternative land for them," he said. On the intervening night of August 24 and 25, dozens of taxi drivers had allegedly forced their entry into the compound housing the Divisional Store of the SDA on the Maulana Azad link Road near Sangarmaal City Centre and parked their vehicles in a portion of the SDA land. They had occupied nearly six kanals of the land and had turned it into a taxi stand. Since the encroachment took place, the SDA and Police were reportedly under pressure from the ruling party to ensure that they (taxi drivers) were not evicted from the area and they even negotiated for an alternative land. |
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Cold tightens grip on Kashmir; Srinagar records -2.1° Celsius
Srinagar, December 10 The minimum temperature in the city here dropped to minus 2.1 degrees Celsius overnight, which was a departure of one degree from the normal for this part of the year, an official of the state Meteorological Department said. The official said weather conditions across the state would continue to remain dry till Wednesday and there would be "no major change" in the weather conditions during two subsequent days. Kashmir is inching closer to a harsher winter, which will begin in less than a fortnight and will continue till January-end, after which the day and night temperatures will begin to record a marginal increase. The harsh winter spell, which begins on December 21 and lasts 40 days, brings freezing weather conditions and snow to the region. Even as the harsh winter spell is still 11 days
away, the freezing conditions have already gripped the region. Leh town in the remote Ladakh region, which remains cut-off from rest of the state for most of the winter, recorded a low of minus 9.5 degrees Celsius, while in the nearby Kargil town, mercury dropped to minus 3.2 degrees Celsius, the official said. The night temperature in south Kashmir's Pahalgam resort plunged to a low of minus 4 degrees Celsius, making it the coldest place in the Valley. In north Kashmir's Gulmarg resort, which turns into a famous skiing
destination during winter, the mercury fell to a minimum of minus 3.4 degrees Celsius, the
official said. The minimum temperature in south Kashmir's Qazigund town fell
to minus 2.4 degrees Celsius, while in north Kashmir's Kupwara town, the mercury fell to a low
of minus 2.0 degrees Celsius. |
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738 booked this year for violating Food Safety Act
Jammu, December 10 As per the data, total challans produced by the Health and Sanitation Wing in the municipal court in the year (2012-13) was 617 and during this fiscal a fine of Rs 3,85,360 was imposed on 738 defaulters. Meanwhile, a team of Sanitation Wing, under the supervision of Dr Vinod Sharma, Health Officer, visited various food Junctions and inspected premises. The team also inspected the Jammu Club, Press Club and Amar Singh Club and directed to them to improve the condition of their kitchens as per the new Food Safety and Standard Act before February 4 next year. The team also visited Canal Road, Akhnoor Road and Roop Nagar for checking banned items like polythene bags. The team seized 8 kg polythene from 12 defaulters and fined them Rs 5,000. Health Officer Dr Vinod Sharma said any person violating municipal laws regarding sanitation and encroachments would be challaned. To avoid such challans, residents are requested to keep their premises neat and clean and free of encroachments. Dr Vinod Sharma said, "The Act says that in food business manufacturer has to ensure his premises free from the growth of mould, fungi and infection and workers should wear clean aprons, hand gloves, head wears and keep their nails trimmed, clean and wash their hands with soap and detergent before commencing their work." The food business operators include small retailers, roadside food vendors, hawkers, stall holders, cottage industries relating to food business, meat/mutton/poultry business operators with the slaughtering capacity of two large animals or 10 small animals or 50 poultry birds per day. |
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Short story writers take part in reading session
Jammu, December 10 Prominent and upcoming short story writers in eight languages, including Dogri, Gojri, Hindi, Kashmiri, Ladakhi, Pahari, Panjabi and Urdu, presented their creative work before an invited audience, comprising of writers, poets and literature lovers. The event was held to present a platform to writers to listen to and praise each other’s creative work and also give an idea to the participants of the contemporary short stories written in Jammu & Kashmir. The session was jointly presided over by noted Dogri writer and critic Prof Lalit Magotra and famous Urdu poet Arsh Sehbayee. Secretary of the academy Khalid Bashir Ahmad was also present and welcomed the participants. The function was divided into two sessions of four short stories each. In the first session, Dogri writer Chhatarpal read his short story "Sapkunj", MK Waqar Gojri short story titled "Aadmi", Kiran Bakhshi Hindi short story "Loat Aaao Aroo" and Mohiuddin Reshi Kashmiri short story "Wachh". The second session saw Dr Konchok Rigzin reading his Ladakhi short story "Ma Nying pu", Iqbal Nazish his Pahari short story "Jeni Jeine ji Mari Gayi", "Surinder Neer her Punjabi short story "Lavasay" and Ghulam Nabi Shahid his Urdu short story
"Madawa". |
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Illegal parking eating into road space
Jammu, December 10 Traffic congestion is emerging as the biggest problem and in the absence of proper management and manpower shortage, traffic police personnel have failed to deal with the situation. In the areas like Gumat Chowk, Residency Road, Jain Bazar, Panjtirthi, Parade Shalamar, Purani Mandi, Raghunath Bazaar, BC Road, High Court Road and Canal Road, it is an arduous task for pedestrians to walk through these areas where honking and screeching vehicles are the order of the day. Accidents are a common sight. The city has become so congested that people have to search for space to park vehicles. At many places drivers have created their own unauthorised parking and leave their four or two-wheelers there during the night hours. “Commercial vehicles find it difficult to pass through the roads as at number of places people park their vehicles on roadsides, leaving little space for movement and leading to jams,” said Suresh Sharma, a local resident. Further, in the absence of any long-term planning, the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) and Municipal Corporation (MC) failed to create any additional space and some of the plans are facing fund crunch. Vice-Chairman of the JDA KL Khajuria said there had been some problems in the past, but under a new master plan, parking places had been given priority. “All the private organisations establishing any big project now have to construct own parking space, while we are waiting for funds to establish multi-parking buildings,” Khajuria said. However, sources said the plans for the creation of multi-parking structures at the bus stand and Shalimar Chowk and other projects had been struck at the survey level for the past five years and no headway has been made to make them a reality, despite several official statements from ministers, holding the charge of urban development. |
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LeT militant escapes for fourth time
Srinagar, December 10 Police sources said on information about the presence of the LeT militant, who has been on the run since October when he was trapped in a Srinagar locality, a joint operation was launched by the police and Army last week in Hanjin village, 35 km from here. “However, before the search could be launched, Pakistani militant Abdullah, alias Abu Hurraira, escaped,” said a police officer. The security forces have detained two youth from the locality for questioning. On November 7, the same militant had given the police the slip in north Kashmir’s Sopore town. Security personnel had cordoned off the Chanakhan locality of Sopore town after which a search operation was launched by the police and the Army. The search operation was, however, called off without any success. In October, the Lashkar militant had escaped the security cordon twice from the outskirts of Srinagar. In one such operation, five policemen, including an Assistant Sub Inspector, were injured. Both times, the militant escaped from the Ahmad Nagar locality, some 10 km from Srinagar. |
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SKUAST boys’ hostel gutted
Sopore, December 10 Station House Officer (SHO) of the Bomia police station Javid Ahmad said the police and the Fire Department took three hours to control the fire. “A short circuit appears to be the cause of the fire that destroyed the first floor of the hostel. It was brought under control at 3 pm,” the SHO said. “The belongings of most of the students, including books, luggage and baggage, were saved from damage,” he claimed. The students were taking an examination when the incident happened. Contradicting the SHO’s claim, Dean Faculty of Agriculture Prof Mushtaq Ahmad said the belongings of most of the students were destroyed in the fire.
— OC |
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Kishtwar violence report submitted to rights panel
Jammu, December 10 “The recent targeted attack on the minority population in Kishtwar town is a glaring example of state’s failure to protect the life and property of its citizens, who are being targeted by separatist and fundamentalist elements,” the organisation claimed in its report. As many as three people were killed and over 40 persons were injured in the communal violence that broke out in Kishtwar in August this year. The body, in its report, also highlighted the plight of the displaced community in Jammu and Kashmir. It submitted a charter to the international human rights bodies emphasising the “plight of minority community”, particularly the displaced population, in the state. The Panun Kashmir sought the intervention of human rights organisations in ameliorating the problems of the displaced people, who were forced to leave their homes due to terrorism. “It needs to be re-looked and reminded that the Pandit community continues to live as refugees in their own country. Many members of the community were brutally killed by terrorists in the last two decades,” Panun Kashmir president Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo said. Chrungoo also rued the attitude of the government, alleging that it remained a “mute spectator” while thousands of houses belonging to the minorities were looted and burnt down in the Valley. The organisation also highlighted the issues of the minorities in the Jammu division and claimed that they were the worst sufferers of the “regional discrimination” and “politico-administrative apathy”. “The presence of the vast population of refugees from the Pak-occupied Kashmir and the West Pakistan is a stark reality that cannot be brushed aside,” Chrungoo said. |
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Geelani warns of return of militancy in Valley
Srinagar, December 10 However, when elections were rigged in 1987 by the Congress and the National Conference, it led to an era of militancy.” “Militancy erupted because people were not allowed to use peaceful means to get their rights,” the separatist leader said while addressing a seminar at his party’s office here to commemorate the Human Rights Day. The octogenarian, who has been placed under a renewed house-arrest within a month of his release from the 236-day-long detention, added that a similar situation may emerge if peaceful ways of separatism were scuttled. “If today also you stop us from peacefully reaching out to the people and don’t give us an option to convince the people, a similar situation may again emerge,” Geelani said. The former state legislator, who has vehemently opposed all elections in the state since the eruption of militancy, meanwhile, termed the anti-poll campaigning as part of the “religious duty”. “The campaigning is a duty on you. Like namaz (prayers), roza (fasting), Haj and zakat (giving alms) is a duty. You should similarly campaign (against elections), considering it is a duty,” he said. Geelani also urged Pakistan to shun, what he described as, its “apologetic behaviour” vis-à-vis the US and India. |
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MPs’ intervention sought for empowering panchayats
Jammu, December 10 They accused the ruling Omar Abdullah-led coalition of losing its credibility among panches and sarpanches, alleging that it has failed to empower grass-roots level institutions in the state. “Since the state government has lost its credibility among panches and sarpanches, we are compelled to seek the intervention of the central leaders for the implementation of the 73rd Amendment of the Constitution in the state for empowering PRIs,” said Anil Sharma, president, All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC). Showing the copies of memorandum prepared by the panchayat members for all parliamentarians of the Rajya Sabha (243 members) and the Lok Sabha (545 members), the AJKPC leader
urged them (MPs) to intervene and pressurise the state government for implementing the 73rd Amendment and making necessary arrangements for the safety and security of the panchayat representatives. In the memorandum, the panchayat body has sought the “cooperation” of the parliamentarians to accomplish their mission of strengthening democracy and empowering citizens through panchayats. It said before the elections, the state government had promised
all powers to the elected panchayat representatives, but it didn’t fulfill its promises and rendered the panchayats
“ineffective”. With the memorandum, the panchayat organisation alleged that the state government was callous in its approach towards empowering panchayats as it had not even completed the process of establishing a three-tier system. “Though more than two years has passed since the elections of panches and sarpanches, the poll at the block and the district-level panchayat bodies is yet to be conducted,” the AJKPC said. It stated that at least six panchayat members have also been killed by the militants so far, but the state government has made no arrangements
for the safety and security of the panchayat members. |
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Plight of West Pak refugees a glaring example of ‘misuse’ of Article 370
Jammu, December 10 The West Pakistani refugees have been denied citizenship rights because of the special status accorded to the state under the Article 370 and social and political groups seized the opportunity on the World Human Right day today to highlight their grievances. “When we observe the World Human Right day we have to highlight the plight of West Pakistani refugees, who are a glaring example of the worst ever human rights violation,” BJP state president Jugal Kishore Sharma said. “It is very unfortunate that successive state governments have been taking the excuse of special status to deny constitutional rights to West Pakistani refugees,” Jugal said. Emphasising the abuse of the Article 370 in the state, Dr Gopal Parthasarthi Sharma, eminent writer and convener of the Peoples’ Opinion Forum, said: “In Jammu and Kashmir West Pakistani refugees are glaring example of how the special status is being brazenly abused to deprive three generations of a hapless community of their basic constitutional rights.” “It is the duty of every right-thinking citizen to highlight the plight of these poor refugees on the occasion of the World Human Right day,” Sharma insisted. Rajiv Verma, of the Association of Weaker sections and Minorities (AWAW), said: “The 1927 State Subject laws were incorporated in Section 6 of the J&K Constitution, so it is clear that West Pakistani refugees have been denied constitutional rights all due to special status.” At the time of partition in 1947, a large number of refugees from West Pakistan moved to Jammu and Kashmir. While those who shifted to other parts of the country are enjoying all constitutional rights, those living in Jammu and Kashmir have been deprived of even the basic rights. After six decades of independence these people don’t have the voting rights to the J&K Legislative Assembly, no citizenship right, no ration card, no permanent resident certificate, as a result they can not apply for government jobs, neither can they purchase land in Jammu and Kashmir. Even their children can not pursue higher studies, as they don’t possess
the permanent resident certificate. |
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Tujjar Sharief residents miffed over poor water, power supply
Kupwara, December 10 Women say in the absence of a proper water supply, they are forced to fetch water from a nullah, which is about 500 metre from the area. Nearly 160 families residing in Mirpora, Nandpora, Kandipora and Shalpora are the most-affected. “Taps have run dry and there is not a drop of water to drink. In severe cold, we are forced to collect water from a nullah. We have urged the local authorities to restore the water supply, but nothing has been done so far,” said Shaheena, a resident of Mirpora. Local residents said Badshah pond, which was a major source of water in the past, had also dried up, aggravating their problems. The power supply is no better and the mohallas are plunged into darkness. “What is the point of having a schedule when electricity is not supplied in accordance with it? We are asked to pay bills in time, but the supply is far from our satisfaction level,” said Ghulam Nabi, a resident of Kandipora. Suspended wires loosely tied on poplar and walnut trees are posing threat to human lives and livestock. “There is no proper fixation of electric poles and wires in these mohallas. Loosely tied wires need immediate attention. At some places, the wires are just 7-8 feet above the ground, which can prove fatal,” said Rouf Makhdoomi, a local resident. “The power department should erect poles and properly tie electricity wires to avert an untoward incident and electricity should also be supplied in accordance with the schedule,” he said. Baramulla Deputy Commissioner Ghulam Ahmad Khawaja told The Tribune that tanker service would be pressed into service to mitigate the problems of local residents. On the erratic supply of electricity, the DC said: “We do not have funds to build the necessary infrastructure for smooth power supply to mohallas, but the MLA concerned has already provided Rs 12 lakh for the purpose. Local residents should approach him for more funds so that electric poles are erected and lines are attached properly for smooth supply.” |
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Campaign to sensitise voters organised in Reasi
Katra, December 10 It involved sessions on voting right awareness, formalities for enrolling voters and various programmes related to voters’ education. Over 60,000 people and 1,850 officials of various departments, who were deputed at 149 centres in the district, participated in the campaign. They took oath to cast their vote. The campaign aimed at increasing voters’ awareness and providing them voting right. A mega event was held at Mini Secretariat, Reasi, in which various sarpanches, panches, local politicians, students from government and private institutions and officials of the district administration participated. Reasi District Development Commissioner (DDC) Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, who is also the district electoral officer, was the chief guest. Addressing the gathering, he said 45 awareness programmes had been successfully conducted under the SVEEP in the last 90 days. The motive behind the exercise was to educate voters, ensure maximum participate and bringing critical gaps in voter participation and analysing the preparation for better participation in the upcoming election, he said. He said the event was scheduled on World Human Rights Day to promote voting right as a basic human right. Over 1.3 lakh posters, pamphlets and placards were distributed among the people to create awareness about voting right. |
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Election results wake-up call for parties: Tarigami
Anantnag, December 10 Addressing a public rally at Munad-Guffan village of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, Tarigami said, “The need of the hour is to shun the conventional political approach about the issues confronting the people. The poll results of four states, including Delhi, MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, reflect not only an anti-congress mood of the people, but a resonant message for the change,” said Tarigami. He stressed on the need to have a broader mass movement to get rid of rampant corruption, misgovernance and administrative inertia in the state. Tarigami said misgovernance, rampant corruption, inflation, and rising unemployment had created a choking atmosphere for the people. These problems had compelled them to look for alternatives. “However, we believe that while striving for the alternatives, the people should not allow communal political agenda to succeed,” he said.
— OC |
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Hotel, two shops destroyed in fire
Doda, December 10 “Army men used their fire tender to control the flames. They were called in as local fire fighters failed to control the fire as a technical snag was reported in their fire-fighting system. Only a police man received minor burns,” said Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Iqbal. Iqbal said, “A hotel of Mahar Chand of Ramban and two other shops of Mansoor Ahmed were destroyed. We are collecting the information to ascertain the extent of damage.” He said they had called fire brigades from Doda and Kishtwar as some glitch was reported in the local fire-fighting system. It took two hours to reach the spot. Assistant Director Fire Service, Doda, Ashok Kumar Wango said, “Yes, there was a technical snag in the fire tender and we used an alternate system to control the fire.” |
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Army to settle rent cases soon
Srinagar, December 10 "I received an assurance from Defence Minister AK Antony that all pending cases in respect of rent payable to the land owners of Anantnag for the land under use of the Army will be settled as early as possible," Soz said in a statement issued here. He said the Defence Minister was personally looking into the matter following complaints received in this regard. Soz said he had recently received a complaint from the president of the District Congress Committee, Anantnag, Gulzar Ahmad Wani, that the Army had not settled rent for the lands acquired by it at Donipawa and Anantnag. "I want to inform not only Gulzar Ahmad Wani, but also all similarly placed persons/ families that the Army is going to settle all cases in due course of time," he added. |
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Record sale of pashmina wool this year by cooperative
Leh, December 10 Pashmina wool is used in weaving the world famous cashmere shawl and other products, is the main source of income for the people of Changthang, located near the India-China border in Leh district. It is estimated that 45,000-kg pashmina wool is produced in the district and out of which nearly
40,000-kg is produced in Changthang. Sonam Tsering, general secretary, ACPBCS, said: “This year, the sale of pashmina wool is a record as our cooperative society had hardly sold more than 11,000-kg wool ever since it was established.” He said breeders were mobilised to sale their wool through the cooperative marketing society for their benefit as middlemen used to manipulated breeders by exchanging its price with other goods and grains. |
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Ex-Director among three chargesheeted
Jammu, December 10 The charge sheet was produced against Madhu Khullar, former Director (health services) and chairperson of the Purchase Committee-II, Reva Gupta, former Administrator of the Associated Hospitals, Jammu, and a member of the Purchase Committee, and Joginder Kumar, former accounts officer and a member of the Purchase Committee, in the Court of Special Judge Anti Corruption, Jammu. An official spokesperson of the Crime Branch said a preliminary charge sheet in the case was produced before the court on June 20 this year. The investigation with regard to remaining aspects of the case has been completed and the supplementary charge sheet was produced in the court. The accused were found responsible for their role in clearing the fake documents of Lifeline Pharmaco Surgicals which had supplied of spurious drugs, Maximizin-625 mg, to the Health Department of the state. The case has been fixed for hearing on December 13. — TNS
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Seminar on Kashmiri poetic genres begins at KU
Srinagar, December 10 Faculty of Arts Dean Bashir Ahmad Nehvi regretted that people felt ashamed of talking in Kashmiri. Academic Affairs Dean AM Shah said KU was starting a choice-based credit system, which would help students opt for one subject other than the core subject.
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City artist invited to festival in Mumbai
Jammu, December 10 Gandhi has already participated in more than 30 national and international art shows, besides holding 15 solo shows in India and a few abroad also. |
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MLA briefs Guv on Shangus
