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International-level sports academies proposed for J&K
Chaos, congestion on roads as city short of parking lots
At -5.3°C, city records coldest night of season
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Tourism players vow to promote eco-tourism
CET paper leak: 12 MBBS students face arrest
Pak national living in Kathua arrested
Kunan poshpora ‘mass’ rape
BJP announces candidate for Lolab
Set up committee for women issues: Assembly panel
2013 Review insurgency
Challan against proprietor of Lakshmi Traders produced
Rs 20,000 fine slapped on shopkeepers for selling adulterated eatables
Sopori music academy to release Dogri song today
Funds for JLNM hospital’s second wing to be released soon: Azad
Kupwara traders observe shutdown against thefts
‘Moral values imperative for students’
NPSU press for reorganisation of state
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International-level sports academies proposed for J&K
Jammu, December 30 They said the draft is yet to get a Cabinet nod, but the recommendations, if implemented properly, would provide a major fillip to sports activities in state, which is still lagging behind. Sources added that thrust will be given to strengthen the sports infrastructure at MA Stadium, a premier coaching centre in Jammu. As per the draft, the selection of trainees in the academies would be done purely on potential and performance basis. The trainees, who had won medals in state/ national/ international levels, would be eligible for admissions under various schemes of J&K State Sports Council after age verification, medical examination and other tests. They would also be provided with free, boarding, lodging facilities along with a sports kit, daily medical check-up and sports equipments. The draft further claimed that the State Sports Council would run sports hostels in different games in a phased manner. Every year, the performance of all sportspersons will be evaluated and those who do not perform well, would be taken out of the hostel and instead would be replaced with new boys and girls. The draft also emphasises on the need to explore possibility to set up day-boarding centres in state in collaboration with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to provide coaching to the budding sportspersons. In the first phase, the centres will be opened in the disciplines of wrestling, basketball, volleyball, kabaddi, skiing, archery and kayaking and canoeing. Further, a Centre of Sports Medicine and Human Performance Lab would be established in Jammu and Srinagar to measure the physiological and physical performance of sportspersons. This centre will have the facilities for testing and evaluating sportspersons in biomechanics, sports psychology, sports medicine and anthropometry. It will also provide scientific backup to players in state and talented children admitted under various schemes of J&K State Sports Council In the offing
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Chaos, congestion on roads as city short of parking lots
Jammu, December 30 Even in highly congested areas, including Residency Road, Jain Bazar, Panjtirthi, Gumat Chowk, Parade, Shalamar, Purani Mandi, Raghunath Bazar, BC Road, High Court Road and Canal Road, people park vehicles on the roads, creating hurdles in smooth flow of traffic. The traffic police regularly tows away vehicles parked illegally, but it hardly has any effect on the erring people. Congestion is emerging as the biggest problem of the city in absence of proper management and shortage of manpower. The traffic police personnel too have failed in dealing with the situation. “There are no parking spaces in most of the markets. The Jammu Development Authority and the Municipal Corporation had allotted certain road space for parking of two-wheelers on the Residency Road, but it has only made things worse and added to the menace. The area witnesses long traffic jams everyday,” Mukesh Sharma, a local resident, said. Plans to create multi-level parking structures at the Bus Stand and Shalimar Chowk and other projects have hit a roadblock, as several of them are stuck at survey levels since past five years and no headway has been made to make them functional. Further in absence of any long-term planning, JDA and Municipal Corporation (MC) have failed to create any additional space and some of the plans are facing fund crunch. JDA, an agency created about 40 years ago for maintaining urban infrastructure, has so far created parking space for just 1,700 vehicles in city. Other ambitious projects, including multi-parking buildings have been delayed, as the agency has failed to identify land for the purpose. As per the data, there are nine parking lots under the agency with a capacity to hold 1,200 cars and 500 two wheelers, raising a question mark over the claims made by officials that it will guide the city towards future. |
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At -5.3°C, city records coldest night of season
Srinagar, December 30 The minimum temperature in the city here dropped to minus 5.3 degrees Celsius, which was three degrees below normal and also the lowest of the season so far, an official of the state Meteorological Department said. Mercury in the city here had fallen to minus 3.7 degrees Celsius the previous night. The drastic decrease in the minimum temperature has happened at a time when the state weather department has forecasted snowfall with varying intensity across the region. The forecast bulletin issued by the weather department said “light to moderate” rain and snowfall would occur at many places in the state in the next 24 hours, which ends on Tuesday. The department has issued a similar forecast on Sunday, but there were no reports of snowfall from anywhere in the region. The weather department also issued a warning of “isolated heavy rain and snowfall” during the next 48 hours, following which there will be a decrease in precipitation from January 1 onwards. “A fresh western disturbance over JK and adjoining area is likely to affect the state from tomorrow afternoon to January 1 with its main activity on tomorrow night,” the department said in an advisory issued on Monday evening. Meanwhile, the mercury continued to plunge across the Kashmir division with Kargil town, outside the valley, recording an extremely cold night. The minimum temperature in Kargil town, located in remote Ladakh region, was recorded at minus 18.9 degrees Celsius, the official said. The maximum temperature in Kargil town was recorded at minus 5.1 degrees Celsius, the official said. In nearby Leh town, the mercury plunged to a low of minus 17.7 degrees Celsius. Gulmarg resort in North Kashmir recorded an overnight low of minus 10.2 degrees Celsius, making it the coldest place in the valley. In south Kashmir’s Pahalgam resort, the minimum temperature was recorded at minus 9 degrees Celsius, the official said. The minimum temperature in south Kashmir’s Qazigund town was recorded at minus 4.8 degrees Celsius, while in North Kashmir’s frontier Kupwara town recorded a low of minus 6.2 degrees Celsius, the official said. |
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Tourism players vow to promote eco-tourism
Srinagar, December 30 The book gives a detailed description on accessible flora and fauna of over 40 wilderness areas, including 30 protected, 10 non-protected and four famous tourist resorts. In the event which was held in Srinagar’s SP College today, the speakers emphasised on the need to promote eco-tourism in the valley. They showed their disappointment over the deteriorating condition of water bodies and famous tourist spots in the state. The event was attended by tourism players, lawyers and environmentalists. “We should look for sustainable tourism in the valley. We should not always relate tourism and normalcy. The concept has damaged tourism in a way. We also need a national tourism board that can take care of eco-friendly tourism,” said former tourism official Muhammad Ashraf. People associated with houseboats also expressed their concern over the worsening conditions of Kashmir’s Dal Lake. “We call Kashmir Paradise, but don’t keep this paradise alive. See the condition of Dal Lake. Our rivers and lakes have chocked due to pollution. The government though tries to clean them, they don’t do it properly,” said president of the Houseboat Owners Association Muhammad Yousuf Chapri. The speakers praised the author for writing on an important topic. “With the release of this book, we all should make a new year resolution to protect environment and ecology of our land focusing on eco-tourism,” said an environment lawyer, Nadeem Qadri. The book has also documented information about Kashmir’s wetlands, waterways, lakes and rivers and also heritage sites. Book released
The book titled ‘Wildlife Protected Areas infuse eco-tourism in Jammu and Kashmir’ has been written by a former wildlife department official, Mohammad Shafi Bacha. It gives a detailed description on accessible flora and fauna of over 40
wilderness areas. The book has also documented information about Kashmir’s wetlands, waterways, lakes and rivers and also heritage sites. |
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Fire in Hazratbal area damages 14 houses
Srinagar, December 30 The official said the fire broke out at 2:58am on Monday morning and spread across the residential area at Hazratbal’s Dhobi Ghat locality. A massive operation was launched by the fire and emergency services department to douse the flames, which involved eight fire tenders from seven stations, the official said. He said fire tenders were immediately rushed to
the scene and after several hours of intense efforts managed to put off the blaze. Roofs and ceiling of the houses got damaged in the fire which had engulfed four double-floor houses, 10 single-floor houses, five sheds and two shikara boats, the official added. The official said property worth Rs 1.5 crore was involved in the incident and the fire was brought under control within an hour. There was no report of any casualty in the fire, the cause of which was said to be electric short-circuit, the official said. |
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CET paper leak: 12 MBBS students face arrest
Srinagar, December 30 It has recommended their names to the J&K Board of Professional Entrance Examination (BOPEE) for further action as per the rules. These 12 candidates, whose names have not been disclosed by the probe agency, face disqualification and imminent arrest if arrayed as the accused in the chargesheet by the crime branch, which is yet to be submitted. This has been stated by the crime branch in its fresh status report before the J&K High Court today, which is monitoring the investigation into the scam after taking suo motu cognisance of the matter and later converted it into a PIL. “The investigation thus far conducted has prima facie established the names of 12 selected candidates, who have benefited as a result of the availability and purchase of question papers in advance after paying huge amounts of money in lieu thereof,” the crime branch submitted in its status report. It further said the list of these candidates had been submitted to the J&K BOPEE authorities for further appropriate action in terms of the rules governing the admission based on CET-2012. “The names of six more candidates, who are under scanner, are being verified/investigated and as soon as the related part of the investigation is complete and the list of such candidates who would be found to have resorted to the purchase of question papers in advance and got selected in CET 2012, will also be shared with BOPEE for action…. at the appropriate time,” the agency said. However, the division bench of the high court comprising Justice Verinder Singh and Justice Muzaffar Attar, wanted to know if the crime branch intended to array the candidates against whom evidence was available as the accused in the chargesheet. The court also sought information on what action the BOPEE had taken against the 12 candidates whose list had been forwarded to it, observing that their admissions to MBBS needed to be cancelled. “It is simply a case under 120-B (criminal conspiracy). They (12 candidates) are the direct beneficiaries. The court wants to know if these candidates have been arrayed as accused as they have secured admission in the MBBS course by fraudulent means,” the bench observed. On this, Advocate General, M Ishaq Qadri, representing the government and the crime branch submitted that “their (candidates’) fathers had been arrayed as the accused. Besides, we won’t allow any lacunae in the case,” he promised. The Advocate General also submitted that the bank accounts and the jewellery recovered from prime accused Mushtaq Peer’s residence had also been seized. He also submitted in a sealed cover the inquiry report which was ordered by the government into the functioning of the BOPEE. After hearing all sides, the bench posted the matter for further consideration on February 3. Exam Scam: The Case File
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Pak national living in Kathua arrested
Jammu, December 30 Haria Chak is the same village where from three Pakistani terrorists, after crossing the international border, had hijacked a load carrier on gun point before staging attacks on the Hiranagar Police Station and an Army camp (16 Cavalry unit) in the neighbouring Samba district on September 26, killing 10 persons, Lt Col Bikramjeet Singh. “The detained Pakistani national, who is 15 or 16 years old, has identified himself as Imran, son of Gafoor, a resident of Sahiwal district in Pakistan,” Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Kathua, Mohan Lal told The Tribune. “A detailed interrogation report is being prepared as he continues to be questioned by multiple agencies at the joint interrogation centre,” the officer said. The SSP added that the boy had been staying in the house of a Gujjar, identified as Hassan Din of Haria Chak village, for the past nearly three years. The SSP added that the boy had been staying in the house of a Gujjar, identified as Hassan Din of Haria Chak village, for the past nearly three years. “Hassan Din is in police custody and we are trying to know where from and how this boy came to his house and started living with him,” Mohan Lal said. “So far, we have come to know that on a rainy night the boy in a malnourished condition had taken refuge in his house and since then he has been living with him,” he said. The officer, however, insisted that Hassan Din should have informed the police about the boy. When asked whether his arrest had any links to the twin terror attacks of September 26, the SSP said: “There was absolutely no link of the Pakistani national with the September 26 terror strikes.” He, however, said the statements of the boy were subject to verification. “At this juncture all the statements of the arrested youth are subject to verification. But yes, he was arrested on the intervening night of December 28 and 29 around 10.30 pm while trying to crossover to Pakistan from Paharpur area,” the SSP said. Meanwhile, sources in the police said Hassan Din, alias Noon, of Haria Chak had employed the Pakistani national as a domestic help and the villagers knew him by the name of Raju, who hailed from Uttar Pradesh. “Following the September 26 attacks, we along with the CRPF conducted searches in Haria Chak village and its adjoining areas to look out for clues and to check whether there were more ultras in the area, but this man (Hassan Din) didn’t come forward to disclose the antecedents of this boy Imran,” a source said. Caught on wrong side
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Too early to judge AAP’s new govt: Azad
Srinagar, December 30 “It is too early (to comment)…it shouldn’t become a topic of discussion. The people and the media should refrain from debating this for a few months. Normally, when a (new) government is formed, the opposition parties do not discuss (its performance) for at least six months. A new party needs to stabilise,” said Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. He was commenting on whether the AAP would live up to the expectations of the people as the party had promised a corruption-free government in Delhi. When asked if the AAP would survive its term, the minister said: “The government has just been formed. It is the job of the Chief Minister (Kejriwal) to ensure that the government survives.” The Union Health Minister visited several hospitals and said he was reviewing the progress of construction works and healthcare facilities at centres being set-up under the National Rural Health Mission. He said the work at the Pampore Community Health Centre in Pulwama district would be completed within two months. The Union Minister said he had already announced two tertiary care cancer institutes for the state — one here and another in Jammu. He said the cancer institute here would be set-up at the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar which would have the latest equipment. |
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New Year festivity to remain low key
Srinagar, December 30 For the last two years, the department buoyed by tourist footfall would organise New Year galas, including musical events and firecracker shows, especially at the famed ski resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir. The events were advertised well in advance but so far no such announcement has been made even though a few private hotels will be holding galas on their premises. A senior official of the Tourism Department said there were “no instructions” to organise New Year programmes, which along with snow fests were a routine at this time of the year. Sources said events were not being held as the Valley this year witnessed a low tourist inflow even as the officials have remained tight-lipped over the numbers. Besides, the row over installation of individual sewage treatment plants (STPs) too has forced closure of several hotels in the Valley. The tourism sector was hit hard following the execution of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru in February and a series of militancy-related incidents, Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Alliance (JKTA) chairman Faiz Ahmad Bakshi said the last three months remained the worst period for the sector due to the row over installation of individual STPs. Several hotels of the summer capital and those in ski resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir were directed by the government to stop commercial activities due to lack of individual STPs. A few hotels are holding events tomorrow night even as the New Year celebrations have remained a low-key affair in the strife-torn Kashmir after the eruption of militancy. Low tourist inflow
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Youth Cong flays govt, demands strengthening of panchayats
Jammu, December 30 The activists of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Youth Congress (JKPYC) took out a rally and staged a sit-in in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office to press the incorporation of the 73rd amendment in the J&K Panchayati Raj Act. The protesters lashed out at Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for showing “no interest” in empowering Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in the state and said they will continue to strive for the empowerment of these institutions. “We will continue our struggle till Panchayats become an effective institution,” Indian Youth Congress secretary and in charge J&K affairs Chetan Pratap Singh Chouhan said while addressing the activists. The PYC activists, meanwhile, had a minor scuffle with the police after it tried to stop them from entering the office of the Deputy Commissioner. PYC vice-president Pranav Shagotra said a strong Panchayati Raj System was the dream of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and demanded an amendment to the state Panchayat Raj Act. “Panchayats are the basic institutions of democracy and these institutions should be further strengthened by bringing amendments to the state Panchayat Raj Act,” PYC general
secretary Manjit Singh Jatt said. He added that they failed to understand the reason why the state government was not in favour of strengthening the panchayats. The activists later met Deputy Commissioner Ajit Kumar Sahu and apprised him of the demands raised by
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Kunan poshpora ‘mass’ rape
Srinagar, December 30 The Army, however, sought time to argue its revision petition, saying it may challenge today’s order before a higher court. In his decision, the Sessions Judge, Kupwara, confirmed the right of the victims to be heard as per the law laid down by the Supreme Court and asked the parties to begin arguments. However, standing counsel of the Army Karnail Singh Wazir sought time to consult the Army higher-ups on the future course of action and stated that the Army may challenge against today’s decision in the High Court. Granting the Army more time, the court fixed the matter for further consideration on January 18, 2014. In its revision petition, the Army had challenged the identification parade of its personnel, accused in the 1991 Kunan Poshpora ‘mass rape’ case, as directed by the Judicial Magistrate, Kupwara, in his decision on June 18 this year. The Kupwara sessions court had on December 19 given the Army last opportunity to file objections to the application of the victims within a week, who had prayed for being arrayed as parties in the petition. Over 30 women were allegedly raped by Army personnel in the remote Kunan Poshpora village of Kupwara on February 23, 1991. The charges have not yet been proved as no trial has been held. Acting on a protest petition by the victims and survivors of the incident, a magisterial court in Kupwara district had on June 18 this year reopened the Kunan Poshpora ‘mass’ rape case and sent the case “back” to the police for “further” investigation. The magistrate had observed that the identity of the 125 suspected Army personnel, whose list had been provided, had not been “revealed” even as the victims in their protest petition had sought to “ascertain the role of 125 Army personnel” who allegedly took part in the incident. The police have failed to complete the probe and sought two extensions. The case details
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Patients at Tanghdar hospital shiver in cold
Kupwara, December 30 “My wife was admitted in the hospital yesterday. She is shivering in intense cold, especially in morning and evening hours. I made several requests to the management to provide heating facility to patients, but they insisted that attendants should ensure their own arrangement as hospital does not have any such arrangements in place,” Shamim Ahmad Khan, from Bagbila village near Tanghdar, alleged. Tanghdar is about 80 Km away from Kupwara town and the newly renovated hospital is situated at a high altitude. “Although the hospital here was renovated recently, but the authorities have over-looked the all important heating arrangements for patients in this border district. As the hospital is situated about 7,000 meters above the sea level, we are shivering in intense cold wave condition,” Jana Begum, a patient from Dildar Karnah, said. A doctor admitted the lack of heating arrangements at the hospital and added the patients were at the risk of hypothermia, which can cause respiratory complications. “The hospital should be equipped with the central heating facility at the earliest. Even the emergency and the faculty rooms are without heating arrangements,” the doctor said. Chief Medical Officer Aleem-u-din, however, said Rs 20 lakh had already been released for providing the adequate heating arrangements at the hospital. “During his visit to Tanghdar Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had promised proper heating arrangements at the hospital,” Aleem-u-din said. Woman patients at the hospital also rued the shortage of gynaecologists at the hospital. “Hospital is witnessing huge rush of woman patients and there is only one gynaecologist. One more doctor should be posted at the hospital so that treatment is not delayed,” Saja begum, who hails from Chamkote, said. |
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BJP announces candidate for Lolab
Kupwara, December 30 Addressing activists at town hall here, Raina said through its candidates the party would strive to reach out to the poor and provide them good governance. He said basic amenities, including water, power, good roads and better health care, would be the party’s top priority if the BJP was voted to power. “I assure people of Kupwara and Lolab in particular that the party will leave no stone unturned in providing good governance to the people, if it is voted to power. I appeal to the people of Kupwara district to vote for the party to help us bring a positive change in their day-to-day lives,” said Raina. “If voted to power, the BJP government will cut down power fee by half and provide free-of-cost water supply to the people. Good roads, quality education and better health care facilities will also be ensured if the party is voted to power,” he added. Zargar also addressed the workers and said the party would fight hard to ensure good governance to people. “Round-the-clock power supply, good roads, water supply and health care facilities will be the top agenda of the party. People should vote in favour of the party to ensure change in their lives,” said zargar. North Kashmir president DK Nehru, vice-president Ghulam Ahmad Mir and other activists were also present. |
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Set up committee for women issues: Assembly panel
Jammu, December 30 The committee, which met under the chairmanship of MLA Mohammad Irfan Shah here today, directed Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Shantmanu to constitute a committee of women which would recommend the measures for protection of women against crimes, their maximum participation in social and cultural activities, besides steps to be taken for ensuring that the benefits of women-centric welfare schemes reached the targeted lot. Legislators, Abdul Razaq Wagay, Indu Pawar and T Namgyal, gave their suggestions at the
meeting. The committee also directed the Jammu Divisional Commissioner to issue a circular to all subordinate offices working under his control, directing them to uphold and ensure the protocol of the legislators during official functions. It stressed upon the administration that it should be the exclusive privilege of the MLAs to inaugurate development schemes and projects completed in their respective constituencies and lay the foundation stones of new works in the absence of ministers concerned. Earlier, the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, briefed the committee on the action taken reports of earlier directions given by the committee with regard to the protocol of the public representatives. |
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A tumultuous year for Jammu & Kashmir
Soldier's beheading, ceasefire violations hog national attention Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service
Srinagar, December 30 Before snow could melt in February 2013, gloom burst on Kashmiris when Afzal Guru’s ultra-secret execution took place inside Tihar. The execution was followed by untoward incidents in the valley and massive curfew restrictions one among which compelled an emotional Omar to break down inside the Legislative Assembly at Jammu. Hundreds of police, paramilitary and even Army men were called out to handle the situation. There was widespread anger across and the immediate fallout was law and order situation that was handled and managed by the J&K Government. However, the hanging of Guru revived the separatist sentiment and the hanging set the tone for a violent 2013. The decade-long downward spiral of militancy-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir ended this year. Official figures say 53 police, paramilitary and military personnel have been killed so far this year, which is three times more as compared to last year. Those killed included 22 soldiers, including one Lt Col, 21 policemen, including a station house officer (SHO), eight CRPF personnel, one BSF trooper and one CISF personnel. In 2012, 17 security men were killed, which was the lowest figure in the past two decades since the militancy began. It is also for the first time after 2003 that the security forces’ causality has shown an uptick. The number of militants killed is also less than the last year. This year 66 militants were killed and the figure last year was 84. While the security casuality was up, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah claims that there was a decrease in the overall attacks in 2013 as compared to last year. “There was a decrease in the overall attacks in 2013 as compared to 2012,” Omar said recently. The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Srinagar-based sensitive 15 Corps, Lt General Gurmit Singh, admitted that 2013 had been comparatively active as compared to the previous two years as far as the overall security environment in Kashmir valley and Line of Control is concerned. The high number of causalities inflicted on security forces happened just a year ahead of the scheduled US withdrawal from Afghanistan and section of security establishment in India fear that militant attacks would escalate in Jammu and Kashmir and many foreign militants might infiltrate into Kashmir. The year began with beheading of two Army soldiers in Poonch sector, which escalated the tension along the LoC. Barely a month after the hanging of Afzal Guru, Kashmir witnessed the first fidayeen (suicide) attack, first after three years, which left five CRPF dead and two fidayeen dead. The two fidayeen, who were Pakistani nationals, had crossed the LoC after the hanging of Guru. The fidayeen attack was followed by more deadly attacks throughout the year. The most deadly one was in June when militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba carried out an attack on an Army convoy at Hyderpora, Srinagar, which left eight soldiers dead and over a dozen injured. The attack took place a day ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to the state. While the militant attacks continued throughout the year, the situation on the LoC again turned volatile after a group of heavily armed Pakistani intruders shot and killed five Indian soldiers in Poonch sector in August. This year, there was more ceasefire violation, which threatened the 10-year-old ceasefire agreement between Indian and Pakistan. While the LoC remained active, the militants did not confine their activities in Kashmir province. In September, three fidayeen stormed into a police station first and then an Army camp in Samba district of Jammu regions, killing 10 people. The Army’s top commander in Kashmir had said an attempt was made by 30 to 40 militants to infiltrate at multiple points along the LoC. At the end of the fortnight-long operation, no body and weapon was recovered which raised serious questions about the operation. By the second half of the year, the revelations by former Army Chief General VK Singh (retd) on payoffs to the ministers of Jammu and Kashmir caught the political class of the state at the wrong foot. While the separatist and mainstream parties almost voiced the same tone on Guru’s execution, they differed on the payoff issue. With inputs from Ehsan Fazili
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Separatist groups’ fractured ties stood exposed
Azhar Qadri Tribune News Service
Srinagar, December 30 A new low point in the separatist camp came in June this year when two of its leaders squabbled in public, exposing the bitter and fractured relations between the region’s separatists. The bout of infighting between Anjuman-e-Shar-e-Shia, a part of the Hurriyat Conference’s moderate faction, and Yasin Malik-led Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), began on June 3 when Malik was barred from speaking at a seminar organised by the former. Malik, a former militant commander, felt humiliated and issued a stern statement accusing the moderate Hurriyat faction and its leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq of being “hypocrites”, who protect India’s interests while claiming to struggle against it. The fiery comment against the moderate separatist faction triggered a vitriolic war of words that turned into one of the worst infighting incidents within the separatists in recent years. The separatists in Kashmir had earlier suffered a vertically split a decade ago which resulted into the emergence of the hardline faction and the moderates. In a series of statements and counter-statements issued by the two groups, the separatists continued to bicker. While the JKLF accused the moderate separatist leaders of “swindling”, the latter dubbed the JKLF chief a “runaway fighter”, in a reference to his 1994 “unilateral ceasefire”. The strife-hit separatist camp remained a formidable political force in the Valley for a decade, before the All Parties Hurriyat Conference was split into two in 2003 - the moderates led by Maulana Abbas Ansari and the hardliners led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani. The lost love between various separatists groups since then is already a part of the street-talk. However, fighting in public had rarely been witnessed. The division among the hardliners led by Geelani and moderates led by Mirwaiz also showed no signs of patching up this year. Geelani even publicly rebuffed Mirwaiz, for proposing India-Pakistan summit talks in Srinagar and Muzaffarabad. Towards the end of the year, the separatists held meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz in New Delhi. The hardliners and moderates met Aziz separately, which only magnified the existing divide between the two. During the rest of the year, separatists mostly kept themselves busy issuing statements to press and organising a handful of seminars. Geelani, who was released after a long detention in the last week of October, also held several rallies, before he was again put under detention. The separatist warnings of a “storm” if Parliament attack convict Muhammad Afzal Guru was ever hanged had no impact as the state government took strict preemptive measures in the wake of Guru’s execution. Most of the top separatist leaders, including Geelani, Mirwaiz and Malik, were away from Kashmir when Guru was hanged. The Mutahida Majlis-e-Mushawarat, a separatist council formed in the aftermath of Guru’s hanging, continued to press for the return of his body for some time before disappearing into the realms of history. Widening divide
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Challan against proprietor of Lakshmi Traders produced
Jammu, December 30 The crime branch produced the challan under sections 420 (cheating), 465 , 467, 468, 471, 482, 486, 487, 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) against all the three accused. The accused have been identified as Saber Singh alias Sambav Singh of Mahanpur Billawar, he is currently residing at Adarsh Nagar Barnai Road Bantalab, Jammu; Khem Raj of Kotli, Birpur, Bari Brahamna and Krishan Singh of Kothey Morh, Bari Brahamna. In a statement issued here today, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), crime branch,
Jammu, said that a case was registered on the basis of information received through reliable source. The sources, he said, informed that Saber Singh, Khem Raj and others under the name of Lakshmi Traders on Purmandal Road, Birpur, procured sub-standard cement of different brands from local factories and then sold them in open market as branded cement through different
outlets. The accused procured sub-standard cement of different brands from local factories of Kathua and Jammu and after that refilled it in bags of Ambuja Cement and ACC and after that sold them in open markets. After investigating the case, the crime branch today produced the challan in court against the accused. The next date of hearing has been fixed on January 10, 2014. |
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Rs 20,000 fine slapped on shopkeepers for selling adulterated eatables
Jammu, December 30 In a statement issued by the municipal health officer Dr Muhammad Saleem Khan, a team of food safety officials conducted surprise check of several shops in Janipur area and found that several shopkeepers were selling sub-standard food items at their shops. The owners were fined under the provision of Food Safety and Standards Act and were instructed to strictly comply with the act or face cancellation of their licences. Khan warned eateries and shop owners selling eatables to people to ensure supply of pure milk and fresh and good quality food articles to the general public. “Any shopkeeper, manufacturer found selling milk and its products
and other food articles under unhygienic conditions and without food licences will be booked under law and suitable action will be taken against them,” he said. As per the data, the Municipal Corporation claimed to have booked 738 people, particularity owners of eateries in the city, for dumping solid waste in the open during 2012-13 under the Food Safety Act. As per the data, total challans produced by the Health and Sanitation Wing in the Municipal Court in 2012-13 was 617 and during this fiscal,
a fine of Rs 3,85,360 was imposed on 738 defaulters. Round Up
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Sopori music academy to release Dogri song today
Jammu, December 30 The song is written by writer Brij Mohan, conceived and composed by music legend Pandit Bhajan Sopori. The Dogri song has been directed by Rahul Sharma and Faheem Tak. “The song would welcome the New Year with a hope that 2014 is more prosperous, peaceful, harmonious and joyous for the entire state and every citizen,” said Sopori in a statement. “We wish to begin the year in a musical way and I’m sure it will be liked by one and all. The song presents the beauty of all three regions of the state—Kashmir, Ladakh and Jammu,” said Sopori. SaMaPa has given some major musical hits of the state, including ‘Aao Kadam Badhayain’, ‘Jannet-e-Kashmir’, ‘Zameen’, ‘Nav Kashmir’, ‘Nai Subha’, ‘Jammu-Ane’ and many other super hit songs. Other titles include first international albums of J&K such as Runjhun in Dogri language and Aalav and Shehjaar in Kashmiri. SaMaPa is acclaimed as a cultural bridge of the state with the rest of the country. It has created a new generation of music connoisseurs and brought a revolution. |
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GSI, Kashmir varsity join hands to conduct research on Himalayas
Srinagar, December 30 The statement said a meeting of the experts from the two organisations was recently held at the University of Kashmir to discuss the modalities of the collaboration between the GSI team headed by Additional Director General Dr SK Wadhawan and KU team headed by Prof Talat Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor of the university. “During the meeting, Prof Ahmad said the collaboration between KU and GSI will help share the facilities of the two organisations for promoting research in the frontier areas of geology,” the statement added. Dr Wadhawan said under the collaboration, GSI would build the technical ingenuity of the geology students of the university so that they were better equipped to contribute locally and nationally in the promotion of research and development in the field of earth sciences. The collaboration covers student and faculty exchange, use of analytical facilities, joint workshops and field campaigns and joint implementation of the national research projects in the J&K Himalayas. The GSI has also sought support of the Earth Sciences Department, KU, to revive the regional GSI Centre at Ashmuquam, Pahalgam, it added. The GSI has been designated as the nodal agency for organising the International Geological Congress (IGC-2020) - a mega scientific conclave to be held in 2020. |
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Funds for JLNM hospital’s second wing to be released soon: Azad
Srinagar, December 30 During a visit to the hospital, Azad expressed satisfaction over the functioning of the hospital. “I had laid the foundation stone of this hospital seven years ago and I am satisfied over its maintenance. Usually, it has been noticed that buildings are inaugurated with fanfare, but later the maintenance is neglected,” he told mediapersons. Stating that the first wing of the hospital was functional, he, however, said heavy rush of patients at the hospital had surprised him. Azad said he had been told by the officials concerned that Rs 50 crore would be required for the additional 200-bed facility in the second wing of the hospital. He said he would release some amount soon after reaching New Delhi and the remaining amount would be released during the next financial year. Azad visited several hospitals and health centres today and said he was here to review the health projects being executed under the National Rural Health Mission scheme. |
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Kupwara traders observe shutdown against thefts
Kupwara, December 30 They demanded that the police should undertake night patrolling to keep a check on thefts. “We are feeling insecure about our shops as the number of burglaries is rising day by day. A few weeks ago, three shops were looted on the College road. The policemen should hold patrolling in the market during night hours to curb thefts,” said Nazir Ahmad, a shopkeeper. On Saturday night, burglars broke open the locks of two readymade garments’ shops at the Hajaj market and stole garments worth
lakhs. The police have registered a case and started investigations. — OC |
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‘Moral values imperative for students’
Jammu, December 30 The minister was addressing the gathering during the 37th annual day function of Little Flower Higher Secondary School here today at General Zorawar Singh Auditorium. Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation Kiran Wattal, principal Meera Soni, teaching, non-teaching staff members, parents and students were present on the occasion. A colourful cultural programme was also presented. Bhalla distributed mementos among meritorious students, who performed well in exams and extra-curricular activities. Meanwhile, the minister also attended the annual day function of DRS Kids, Samba, at Samba Fort. |
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NPSU press for reorganisation of state
Jammu, December 30 Partap Singh Jamwal, state president NPSU, said that reorganisation of Jammu & Kashmir, which is constitutionally viable through the amendment in Article-370, was the only solution to settle intra-provincial conflict within the state. He said Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir Valley should be provided with independent political system so that the identity and dignity of all three regions remain intact. |
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