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MC continues to dump city waste in open trenches
Monsoon deficient in state by 26 per cent
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Hurriyat best bet to resolve Kashmir issue, says Mirwaiz
Govt employees’ panel holds meeting to discuss demands
Pollution board deliberately delaying clearance of files, claim industrialists
Production of quality seeds discussed
Fate of first Law Commission hangs in balance over Art 370
Pot calling kettle black, retort security forces
Richard Gere in Leh for Kalachakra initiation
Man ‘forges’ documents to get job in Excise Dept
NC reaction exposes its complicity in bias against Kashmir: PDP
State Congress leaders against tie-up with NC
corruption charge
Protests in Kupwara over water, power woes
City mosques use phone jammers for Ramadan
Price rise adding to common man’s woes: AMM
DGP sanctions scholarships to 111 students
17 Sainik School Manasbal students clear Common Entrance Test
Two youths drown in Tawi
1,29,099 offer prayers at Amarnath
Surgical company penalised
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MC continues to dump city waste in open trenches
Jammu, July 7 Sources said it could become a major environmental disaster in the coming decades and would pollute the groundwater sources directly affecting the health of people. Nearly 400 tonnes of solid waste is generated in the city everyday, but there is no dedicated filling site for dumping this huge amount of solid waste, which includes toxic material. Though in Srinagar, waste is dumped in the Achan area, the one identified at the Kot Bhalwal area of Jammu was abandoned after villagers protested against the plan to turn their area into a dumping yard. At the moment garbage is collected from 453 collections points within the city limits by means of men and machinery and is being disposed of at Bhagwati Nagar on the banks of the Tawi. “The government has not shown any interest in creating a landfill, which is necessary to ensure that the solid waste generated is dumped at a particular place. The civic authorities are showing no concern to identify another site,” said Bushan Parimoo, an environmentalist. However, Municipal Commissioner Kiran Wattal did not respond to the question and said he was busy with some crucial meeting. “I am busy in a meeting. I will give information later on the issue,” Wattal said. Further, the Municipal Corporation continues to transport solid waste in open trucks during the day hours, which is quite nauseating for residents. “Its quite disgusting to see trucks with heaps of rotten garbage going on roads, while other commuters, at times, had to stop because of four smell emanating from these vehicles. They are also source of germs and at times rotten garbage had fallen on the motorists,” said Mohit Gupta, a private telecom company employee. |
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Monsoon deficient in state by 26 per cent
Jammu, July 7 The monsoon has disappointed the farmers as well as common people of Jammu. However, it is raining above normal in Srinagar. The monsoon had reached the state on July 1, but due to lack of strong current, the rain is deficient in Jammu by 76 per cent. “Monsoon reached the state well on time, but this year the strong current is missing, which led to deficient rain in Jammu. However, in Srinagar, the rain is access by 35 per cent,” said the Met officer Srinagar. The normal rain from June 1 till now should be 102.9 mm in Jammu, but the actual rain is 24.9 mm. However in Srinagar, normal rain should be 45.2 mm, but the actual rain is 61mm. The overall actual rain in the state is 64.4 mm, but should be more than 87.1 mm till now, which is deficient by 87 per cent. “The current may increase later, but till July 12 there is no possibility of rain,” Met officer informed. The deficient monsoon has also increased the worries of the farmers of the state as it may affect the paddy and maze crops. |
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Hurriyat best bet to resolve Kashmir issue, says Mirwaiz
“The Kashmir issue has an overwhelming political content and it should be addressed politically,” he told The Tribune in an exclusive interview. While acknowledging the importance of the economic development of the state, he said: “The first thing that should be recognised by one and all is that Kashmir cannot be read without its political dimensions.” Urging the Modi government not to commit mistakes made by the UPA government, the Mirwaiz said the previous government at the Centre “failed to build anything during the peace time”. “The UPA government woke up to the Kashmir problem only during crises and once the trouble was blown over, it fell back on complacency and did nothing during the peace time,” he said. Underlining the importance of his faction of the Hurriyat, the Mirwaiz, who had held talks with the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government and the Manmohan Singh government in 2004, 2005 and 2006, said: “We represent the sentiment and change.” “There is an urgent need to recognise that there is a sentiment in Kashmir and Kashmiris cannot be Indianised by the rail and road links. They want their sentiment to be recognised,” he said. “Modi ruling India with a strong mandate has a unique opportunity to seize the moment and spell out his government’s Kashmir policy. Vajpayee’s formula of talks within the ambit of humanity is the best that we have heard so far. It needs to be carried forward,” he said. If Modi, he said, had some other policy (on Kashmir), he should spell it out. “We believe the four-point formula of (former Pakistan President) Pervez Musharraf — open borders, demilitarisation from both sides of the LoC, joint rule of J&K and self governance,” he said. He said this could become a basis for a triangular dialogue between Delhi-Islambad-Srinagar. “All parties in Pakistan are interested in change. They want Kashmiris should get something.”
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Govt employees’ panel holds meeting to discuss demands
Jammu, July 7 The agenda of the meetings was to discuss the long-pending demands on which the state government was allegedly backtracking, despite a written agreement with the employees five years ago and endorsing twice in 2010 and 2011. The crucial meeting also chalked out the common strategy for a joint meeting of employees’ representatives of different JKEJAC factions and an independent organisation at Srinagar and convention to be held also at Srinagar on July 9. Those who attended the meetings included Balwan Singh Jamwal, Madan Sangral, Kamla Sharma, Yash Pal, Marks Gill, Chaman Lal, Kuldeep Singh, Swarna Devi, Tripata Devi, Chhatr Singh, Payal, Noor Alam, Kewal Singh, Kuldeep Singh, Krishan Lal, Pardeep Kumar, Mohammad Yousuf Rather, Sanjay Dorjay, Ismail Kambay, Zahoor Alam, Sanjay Dhar, Mohammad Yousuf Khanday, Shah Nazir Ahmed, Sudershan Sharma, M Yousuf Bhat, M Ayoub Pandit, M Shafi Bhat, Bashir Ahmed Dar, Javed Ahmed Dar, Abdul Rashid Dar, Fayaz Ahmed Bhat, Bashir Ahmed Malik, Shafiq Ahmed Mir, Bilal Ahmed, Mushtaq Ahmed, Ghulam Mohd and Habibullah Ahanger. Expressed their views over the agenda, the representatives discussed long-pending “genuine” demands. These included enhancement of wages making them at par with other states, removal of pay anomalies, budgetary support to PSU employees, implementation of the medical insurance policy on minimum premium basis, grant of special duty allowance to the employees of Ladakh region on the pattern of Central Government employees, etc. |
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Bhau cycles country for his crusade against dowry, female foeticide
Jammu, July 7 Bhau Saheb Bhawar, who was now in the city today, shared his experience with The Tribune. “I did three cross-country tours between 1993 and 2006. I again started in 2007 from Mumbai and overall this is my fifth cross-country tour,” Bhau Sahed said. In fact, the journey of the brave heart cyclist for his mission commenced 18 years ago after his family had to pay a Rs 5,000 as dowry to get his sister married. “It was in 1986-87 when my family was asked to give Rs 5,000 as dowry for my sister’s marriage,” Bhau Saheb claimed. “At that time, I decided to change the mindset of the people regarding this social crime which has done so much harm to women in our country. Women should stand up for their right. I travel about 50 km a day and meet around 100 people on an average creating awareness among them about the menace of dowry, female foeticide and the importance of national integration. I sleep at temples or depend on local people for help,” he maintained. Bhawar, who is a bachelor, says he plans to set out on a world tour after completing his current tour. He also plans to write a book on his travels at the end of his mission. “During my last visit to the state, I had the privilege of meeting with Governor NN Vohra and he appreciated my efforts for crusade against social evils. I think it is high time now that we should raise strong voice against dowry and female foeticide,” Bhau Saheb opined. “Our younger generation is very smart and it has better understanding of harmful consequences of dowry and female foeticide. The need of the hour is just to continue our efforts and I am hopeful that a revolutionary change will come,” he added. “Right now, I am planning to visit other districts of the state like Rajouri and Poonch and then on my final leg of the tour, I will go to Gujarat. It takes a minimum of four years to complete one cross-country tour. Since the beginning of the mission, I have changed as many as 10 bicycles,” Saheb said. |
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Pollution board deliberately delaying clearance of files, claim industrialists
Jammu, July 7 Addressing a meeting of association members, BBIA president Annil Suri said the SPCB was taking a long time to issue consent to operate/renewal certificates, which affected the working of the industries. “Despite these services being covered under the Public Services Guarantees Act (PSGA), hundreds of files are pending in the offices of chairman, member secretary and regional director, SPCB. Our members have no option, but wait, which leads to huge losses,” Suri alleged. Suri said due to the shifting of the offices of chairman and member secretary, Pollution Control Board, to Srinagar during the summer months, the clearance of files of Jammu-based industrial units got more delayed. “No guidelines are issued by the board for obtaining SMR reports from the green category units, whereas the report is being demanded by the department from all the green category units duly certified by a private agency approved by the department as a facilitator for SMR report,” Suri said. Members said in respect of exempted list of industries for obtaining NoC from the board, the unit holders were facing a lot of problems as the department was not accepting the previous list duly approved by the board. The BBIA has appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Minister for Forest and Environment Mian Altaf Ahmad to intervene in the matter to resolve their issues on priority basis, which would provide relief to the industrial sector. |
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Production of quality seeds discussed
Jammu, July 7 They discussed various issues related to production and supply of sufficient quantity of pure and quality seeds of the foundation and certified category for the ensuing rabi season. They also discussed the seed rolling plan for the coming years with a view to ensuring availability of the required quantity of seeds of area-specific varieties of different crops. The director disclosed that the Agriculture Department, Jammu, was contemplating an intensive programme for training of farmers in certified and quality seed production and establishing a pool of registered seed growers. It was also disclosed that the department is on its way towards strengthening of infrastructure for seed production, processing and quality control with support from the Central Government-sponsored Sub-Mission on Seeds and Planting Material. The CMD revealed that after the merger of the State Farms Corporation of India with the NSC, the latter was focusing on breeder and foundation seed production of crops at its own seed multiplication farms and the government farms to ensure that quality standards were maintained. Others who were present in the meeting included Jatinder Sharma, joint director, agriculture (inputs), Kashmir, Sudesh Kaul, joint director, agriculture (inputs), Jammu, Pankaj Tyagi, regional manager, NSC, CM Sharma, deputy director, agriculture, Jammu, KK Sharma, officer in charge, CSS, Jammu, Ajay Kaul, assistant agrostologist, AS Reen, officer in charge, seed despatches, Sahil Gandotra, liaison officer, besides other representatives of the NSC. |
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Fate of first Law Commission hangs in balance over Art 370
Jammu, July 7 The ruling alliance partners — the National Conference and the Congress — are not on the same page over the present draft prepared by the Law Department for the establishment of the Commission as it would have jurisdiction to review only those laws, which have been enacted by the state legislature. It would not cover central laws made applicable to Jammu and Kashmir in the light of the Article 370. The proposal, deferred for an indefinite period on June 3, is likely to come up again for discussion in the next Cabinet meeting. The state Law Department is headed by National Conference legislator Mir Saifullah. A senior official of the Law Department, who refused to be named, admitted there was difference of opinion between the two coalition partners over the proposal during the last Cabinet meeting and it was deferred following certain objections raised by some ministers. The official said some ministers possibly could not understand the essence of the proposal and insisted for bringing the Central laws, enacted by Parliament, under the ambit of the State Law Commission, which was legally not possible. “Some ministers perceived that the linking of establishment of the Law Commission with the Article 370 would only trigger another controversy and will allow the opposition parties to exploit the sentiments of people in the name of the Article 370 in the run-up to the forthcoming Assembly elections,” the official said, adding there was a National Law Commission in the country to look into the Central laws, including those made applicable in J&K. On May 27, Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh had stirred a hornet’s nest when he said the BJP had started speaking to stakeholders to repeal the Act in Jammu and Kashmir. Last year, Mir Saifullah had announced in the Legislative Assembly that the government would establish a Law Commission in the state for enactment of new laws. When contacted, Law Secretary Mohammad Ashraf Mir said the proposal for setting up of the Law Commission would again be put before the Cabinet in its next meeting. According to the Law department, the proposed Law Commission would broadly review the existing laws and recommend amendment and repealing of those laws which it thinks have become outdated or obsolete. |
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Delhi to Srinagar on single ticket
Srinagar, July 7 The rail-cum-road service, the first of its kind in the country, began on July 5, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the rail link from Katra. In his address, the Prime Minister announced that rail and bus connectivity had been combined to enable passengers from New Delhi to reach Srinagar. “The Northern Railway has provided daily connectivity to Srinagar by extending the New Delhi-Udhampur Uttar Sampark Kranti Express,” said a Northern Railway official. “Road travel will bridge the gap between Udhampur and Banihal. Passengers will travel from Banihal to the Valley through a fast diesel electrical multiple unit (DEMU) service,” he said. The Northern Railway and the Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation had signed a memorandum of understanding for a dedicated bus service between Udhampur and Banihal. “Passengers will be charged Rs 260 for the one-way bus journey. Charges for train travel will be Rs 400 for Sleeper class, Rs 970 for 3rd AC and Rs 1,370 for 2nd AC,” he said. After the Katra-Udhampur rail link was thrown open last week, the Railways was left with connecting Katra to Banihal for completion of the ambitious 326-km Udhampur- Baramulla rail link. The 112-km Katra-Banihal stretch was scheduled to be commissioned by 2017. At present, trains cover 135 km from Baramulla to Banihal everyday. A train reached Kashmir for the first time when then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurated the service at Nowgam in Srinagar on October 11, 2008. It chugged between Mazhom in north Kashmir and Anantnag in south Kashmir. Trains in Kashmir have made the journey easier and cheaper. About 25,000 people travel by train everyday. Ride in comfort
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Pot calling kettle black, retort security forces
Jammu, July 7 “They (the Pakistani army in tandem with the ISI and terror outfits) have an ulterior agenda to try and push infiltrators into Jammu and Kashmir to keep insurgency alive. Our job is to guard the frontiers and we are duty bound to respond to any mischief in an appropriate manner,” said a top Army source. On Monday, Tahir reportedly condemned “firing along the Line of Control (LoC) by Indian troops in the Abbaspur area of Rawlakot in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir”. The Pakistani troops had violated the truce agreement 37 times this year so far on the LoC, south of Pir Panjal range in the Jammu region. The figure of violations including intrusion bids had gone up to 12. The number of truce violations last year was 149. “Militancy is on the decline in the state and remaining cadres are being eliminated in the hinterland. The Army has been foiling attempts to push in infiltrators,” said the source. “The Pakistani army is more than desperate to fuel insurgency and is trying by opening fire on the LoC. The onus of maintaining peace largely rests with it as we do not have any ulterior agenda to pursue in Pakistan,” he said. “Pakistan has between 40 and 50 terror camps on its soil to wage a proxy war against India. We do not have any,” he added. Last year, border action teams carried out two raids, killing seven of our soldiers in the Poonch sector. “Rogue elements planted IEDs on our territory to inflict casualties on our patrol teams on the LoC. They open sniper fire at us. We have had enough, but at times, we have to act to discipline them,” he said. A BSF officer said the 198-km international border was calm for now, but one could not say for sure how long it would last. “By and large, the international border is calm. Our officers and personnel are maintaining a sharp eye. We have been anticipating some mischief, but so far, nothing has taken place,” said the officer. “Sniper fire by Rangers and intrusion bids are the common modus operandi. The denial by Rangers to every mischief is the standard reply,” he said. “We know that they will not only deny it, but blame us as well for any skirmish. Even then, bridges of communication via flag meetings should remain open,” he added. |
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Richard Gere in Leh for Kalachakra initiation
“Gere reached here couple of days back and he would be attending all the ceremonies till the culmination of the event. This is for the second time that Gere has been meeting with the Dalai Lama. Earlier, he had met him in Dharamsala in 1981,” the Dalai Lama’s office said. It is the third time when the Ladakh region was hosting the Kalachakra, which is believed to be the most important ritual of the Mahayana sect of Buddhists living across the globe. Nearly 1.5 lakh people, including 8,000 monks and nuns from across the world were participating in the event. Yesterday, the gathering at Kalachakra in Leh celebrated the Dalai Lama’s 79th birthday. On the occasion, Gere recalled that after his first meeting with the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala 33 years ago, he had visited Ladakh and described it as one of the most beautiful places on earth. “On behalf of more than 4,000 other foreigners in the audience he wished His Holiness a happy birthday,” a post on the official website of the Dalai Lama said. On July 5, Governor of Jammu and Kashmir NN Vohra had also called on His Holiness at his Shiwatsel residence.
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Anger brews up in PDP over ticket distribution
Srinagar, July 7 While announcing its third list of candidates on Sunday, the PDP denied tickets to sitting Rajpora legislator and former Minister of State for Education Syed Bashir Ahmed and Shopian MLA Abdul Razak Zawoora. The PDP instead named former J&K Bank Chairman Haseeb Ahmed Drabu, who joined the party recently, as its candidate for the Rajpora Assembly segment, while Mohammad Yusuf Bhat, a lawyer, was nominated for Shopian. In north Kashmir’s Sopore Assembly segment, the party ignored musician-turned-politician Shahzad Asim and nominated Nazir Ahmed Naikoo. Naikoo is a close relative of senior PDP leaders Mohammad Dilawar Mir and Altaf Ahmad Bukhari, who area the members of the Political Affairs Committee, which finalises the name of candidates. “I have called the meeting of my supporters on July 9 and a decision on future course will be taken in a day or two,” said Asim. “I was assured ticket by the party from Sopore, but they preferred the one who is a relative of two top PDP leaders,” he said. There are reports that a PDP leader from Shopian was contemplating to quit the party on being denied the ticket. Meanwhile, dozens of PDP activists and supporters of sitting MLA Syed Bashir today staged protest against the party high command for denying a ticket to him. Bashir, however, said he was not angry on the party’s decision to ignore him. “I am a party man and have nothing against anyone. The decision to not give mandate was taken at a highest level and I have no grievances about it,” he said. Sources said the party was in a fix over the selection of candidates in various Assembly segments of the Valley, including Baramulla, Batamaloo and Wachi, the seats vacated by recently elected PDP parliamentarians. While PDP MP from Srinagar Tariq Hamid Karra is seeking ticket for his wife for Batamaloo, Muzzaffar Hussain Beigh was reportedly seeking ticket for his spouse to contest from Baramulla. Job creation a priority for next PDP govt: Beigh Srinagar: Senior PDP leader and Member of Parliament from Baramulla Muzzafar Hussain Beigh on Monday said unemployment was the biggest challenge facing the state and job creation would remain the thrust area for the next government, likely to be formed by the party under the leadership of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Beigh was addressing a function at the party headquarters to welcome dozens of National Conference workers from Sonawari constituency of Baramula into the party fold. — TNS
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Eight police officers decorated with SSP rank
Srinagar, July 7 The officers have completed 15 years of their gazetted service in the Police Department and are entitled to wear the SSP rank. The decorated officers include Staff Officer to the ADGP, Armed, Zahid Naseem Manhas, Commanding Officer (CO), JKAP 9th, Altaf Ahmad Khan, CO IRP 16th, Altaf Hussain Khan, Principal, Commando Training Centre, Lethpora, Choudhary Mehmood, CO, Indian Reserve Police (IRP) 13th, Showkat Ahmad, CO, IRP 2nd, Mohammad Aslam, CO, IRP 6th, Zubair Ahmad Khan and CO, IRP 12th, Baqir Samoon. The ADGP urged the officers to work with zeal to make the department proud and emphasised upon them to dedicate themselves to the service of the nation. Sahai expressed the hope that the officers would accomplish the assigned tasks and work efficiently for better police-public relations in the future also. |
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Man ‘forges’ documents to get job in Excise Dept
Pulwama, July 7 Javed Ahmad Shah of Drusoo village in Pulwama district was appointed a sub-inspector in the Excise and Taxation Department after he presented himself as legally adopted son of Mohammad Aslam Shah, who was found dead in mysterious conditions in 1998. Mohammad Aslam’s sister Saleema alleged that Javed in connivance with her other two brothers and some officials made a forged adoption certificate to usurp the property of the deceased and also get the job. She pointed out that the adoption deed was prepared in 2002, four years after the death of Mohammad Aslam. Moreover, Javed was reportedly 25-years-old when he was appointed in the Excise and Taxation Department, while as per the police records Mohammad Aslam was just 30 at the time of his death, Saleema said. When asked about the alleged forging of documents by the accused, an official of the Excise and Taxation Department said: “The case is under consideration and the information regarding the case is being compiled by the department.” The case was also forwarded to the Vigilance Commission few years back, but no progress has been made in the case. “There were two cases against Javed Ahmad Shah. One was of getting a job in the Excise and Taxation Department under SRO 43 by obtaining a forged adoption certificate and the other was related to the acquiring of assets more than the income,” an official of the Vigilance Commission said on condition of anonymity. The official, however, did not give further details of the case. |
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NC reaction exposes its complicity in bias against Kashmir: PDP
Srinagar, July 7 “To the utter surprise and dismay of every right thinking person, the National Conference spokesman instead of coming clean on his party’s collaboration in perpetuating discrimination in jobs, institutions and funds with Kashmir, has in his knee-jerk reaction vainly tried to hoodwink people by resorting to fictional and malicious personal tirade against Karra,” Peoples Democratic Party youth president Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra said in a statement. A National Conference spokesman on Sunday had said Peoples Democratic Party leader Karra was a “land grabber and terrorising people” in his area. Waheed said the life and political career of Karra was like an open book and he had made public all his assets in the affidavit filed before the Election Commission of India (ECI), unlike National Conference leaders who had “amassed huge wealth through benami deals”. “If the National Conference spokesman is keen to know, we can provide him the list of the properties of his leaders from Soura to MA Road, MA Road to Gupkar, Gupkar to Gulmarg, Gulmarg to Bathindi, Bathindi to Sanavar, Sanavar to Delhi, Delhi to Mumbai, Mumbai to London, London to South Africa, South Africa to Spain, the United States and so on and so forth,” he said.
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State Congress leaders against tie-up with NC
Srinagar, July 7 A 12-member delegation of the state Congress, with representatives from the Kashmir and Jammu divisions, had separate meetings over various issues with All India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi today. The delegation met AICC general secretary in charge of Jammu and Kashmir affairs Ambika Soni yesterday. “The meetings were held on Assembly elections and alliances,” a senior party leader who attended the meeting said over the telephone from New Delhi. “Members of the delegation stressed on not having any alliance with the NC,” the leader said. He added that the members demanded an early decision on ticket allotment so that leaders could start their campaign sooner. The members impressed upon the party high command not to nominate any chief ministerial candidate, who should be decided after the performance in the Legislative Assembly elections. The delegation included vice-presidents Moola Ram from Jammu and Mohammad Anwar Bhat from Kashmir, general secretaries Manmohan Singh, Farooq Andrabi and Shoaib Lone and some district presidents. This was not the first time that the party cadres sought to do away with any coalition with the National Conference. Similar views had been conveyed to the Congress high command prior to the General Election. “We wish to go into the elections on our own,” said a Congress leader. |
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Third annual mahayagya organised at Mata Katyayani temple in Kulgam
Srinagar, July 7 The ‘mahayagya’ was organised by the All Parties Migrants Coordination Committee (APMCC), which had earlier undertaken the restoration work of the temple. APMCC chairman Vinod Pandit said they were committed to restore all the temples of Kashmir valley to their original glory. He also said the APMCC was organising the historical Kounsar Naag (Kramsar) yatra from Aharbal from July 30 to August 3, while the 6th annual Gangbal yatra will be held as per schedule from August 31 to Sept 4. Pandit added that the APMCC was committed to get the Temple Bill passed. “Modi government too must involve people working at the ground-level before finalising any return plan for Kashmiri migrants,” he said. APMCC national spokesperson King C Bharti, meanwhile, said they would continue their struggle for passage of the pending Temples and Shrines Bill, probe into the cases of encroachments of temples/shrines in the Valley, dialogue with Pakistan for facilitating visit to the Shardha Peeth Temple in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, establishment of Mata Sharda Peeth University in J&K, one-time compensation for over-aged migrant Kashmiri Hindu youth, special employment package for non-migrant Hindus of
the Valley. |
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Baramulla education office suspends work
Baramulla, July 7 Officials of the Chief Education Office said the protest of the teachers was aimed at disrupting normal functioning of the department. They said the forum had levelled allegations of corruption against the Deputy Chief Education Officer and the Section Officer. “The teachers’ allegations are aimed at maligning the image of the CEO’s staff and their protest was for their own benefit, not for any general cause,” said an official of the CEO. On Wednesday, hundreds of teachers, led by district president of the Teachers’ Forum, Baramulla, had staged a sit-in and protested against the Deputy Chief Education Officer and the Section Officer and accused them of facilitating corruption in the Chief Education Office office by suspending teachers and later accepting bribes for reinstating them. The allegations, however, were rejected by Chief Education Officer, Baramulla, Abdul Rouf. He had said he would take action against the official if evidence was produced before him. “I have talked to both groups and I hope they will resume work soon,” Rouf said. — OC
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Protests in Kupwara over water, power woes
Kupwara, July 7 The locals said they were forced to use contaminated water ad have ‘sehri’ (pre-dawn meals) and ‘iftar’ under candlelight. “In this holy month of fasting, we are dying for a drop of potable water since Friday. Power is also playing hide and seek for the past few days. We visited the concerned offices and apprised officials of the problems, but they didn’t show any concern forcing us to protest today,” said Shahnawaz Ahmad Malik. DC, Kupwara, Itrat Hussian Rafiqi assured protesters that their problems would be addressed at the earliest. “We will be forced to come out on streets again if the assurances from the DC do not come true,” said Zoona Begum. |
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City mosques use phone jammers for Ramadan
Srinagar, July 7 The locals, particularly elders of the localities, are relieved over the step taken by mosque committees. “This is a good step, otherwise many phones would keep on ringing during prayers disturbing others,” said a local from Buchpora, Srinagar, where a jammer has been recently installed. Locals said though placards and notices were displayed at mosques asking devotees to switch off their phones, people never used to put their phones on the silent mode. “Despite notices, people would still take it lightly to put their cellphones on silence mode, thus disturbing others. It is a good move and will ensure peaceful prayer, especially in Ramadan, when prayers continue for long,” said a local from Khan Kahi Mola in the old city, Srinagar. Another caretaker of a mosque in Hyederpora, Srinagar, said ringing phones between prayers distracted everyone in the mosque. The jammers automatically turns off the mobile network while one enters into the mosque, he added. The trend of installing jammers has increased in the month of Ramadan. “It looks awkward and insulting when a phone suddenly rings inside the mosque during prayers. We felt the need to stop it somehow and the option of jamming mobile network is the best,” said a resident and caretaker of a mosque on the outskirts of Srinagar. Jammer, a digital device, works on the CDMA and GSM technology. In the conflict-ridden Valley, jammers were earlier used around forces’ camps, VIP residences and their vehicles. But with their installation inside mosques, cellphone signal jammers have entered the domain of civilian use. |
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Anganwadi workers seek pension plan
Srinagar, July 7 The protesters carrying banners and placards raised slogans and demanded regularisation of their services as Class III and Class IV employees and the fixation of their salary accordingly. “The government should increase our honorarium to Rs 5,000 and 4,000. We are facing injustice and we will intensify our agitation if our demands are not met,” one of the protester said. The protesting workers also demanded linking of their remuneration with consumer price index and 10 per cent annual increment. They also demanded release of training grants in favour of workers and helpers and providing TA, DA for attending different meetings like pulse polio, AIDS awareness, etc. The protesters also demanded considerable enhancement in rent and fuel charges for the anganwari centres. Abdul Gani Bhat, vice president, CITU, expressed concern over the plight of the working classes, who, he said had been adversely hit by the hiking prices of essential commodities. The protesting workers also demanded constitution of a national-level welfare fund for the anganwadi employees with contribution from the Central and the state governments. |
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HC condoles Justice Farooqi’s death
Srinagar, July 7 However, this obituary reference was boycotted by the Kashmir High Court Bar Association, who later held a condolence meeting on the court premises to pay their homage to Justice Farooqi. Today there was no work in the courts as the lawyers abstained from work to show their respect for the departed soul. The court reference was led by Justice Verinder Singh, in which other High Court Judges, including Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir, Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar, Justice Hasnain Massodi, Justice AM Margay and Justice DS Thakur participated. During the reference, one-minute silence was also observed to pay respects to Justice Bahauddin, who served as the 12th Chief Justice of the J&K High Court. While speaking on the occasion, Justice Verinder Singh described the departed soul as a “great judge”. Advocate General Mohammad Ishaq Qadri also spoke on the occasion and paid his tributes to Justice Farooqi. “The High Court Bar Association today boycotted the reference because it was conveyed by Justice Verinder Singh and his “brother judges through Mohammad Ashraf Bhat, general secretary, Bar association, to the Bar president that he should give his speech in writing and in advance, which has to go to the Chief Justice for approval and that only after his approval the president would be allowed to read the speech in the reference,” the Bar said in a statement here while giving reasons for boycotting the reference to honour Justice Bahauddin. “As the demand was unprecedented and it had never happened so before, therefore, the Bar rejected the same,” it said. Later, while speaking during the condolence meeting, Bar president Mina Qayoom narrated all the events which had led to the elevation and, thereafter, to the resignation of Justice Farooqi as the Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High court. Qayoom pointed out that it was because of his (Bahauddin’s ) “in depth understanding of constitutional law” that he had resigned by saying that he cannot be transferred by the Government of India to Sikkim, as the state enjoyed a special status under Article 370 of the Constitution of India. |
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Price rise adding to common man’s woes: AMM
Srinagar, July 7 The Awami Mutahida Mahaz leaders met today to review the political situation of the state. The meeting also expressed concern over the “sky rocketing prices” of essential commodities that have made the life of people “miserable”. “Public issues have taken a back seat and price rise is adding to the sufferings of the people,” the statement added. |
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DGP sanctions scholarships to 111 students
Srinagar, July 7 The Director General of Police stressed upon the students to receive modern education and achieve excellence in different fields. The police chief said the scholarships are given
to students from Class VIII to the postgraduate level and professional courses. |
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17 Sainik School Manasbal students clear Common Entrance Test
Srinagar, July 7 Tufail Ashoor of the school secured third position in the state. Principal of Sainik School Manasbal Sheikh Gayasuddin congratulated the students for making the school proud and proving a source of inspiration for other students of
the school. |
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Two youths drown in Tawi
Jammu, July 7 Police sources said the victims along with their three friends had gone to the Tawi to take bath during the evening hours when two of them reportedly slipped in the river and drowned. The other youths accompanying the victims raised an alarm and informed the local people and police. Vishan Bhan was pursuing engineering from a college in Haryana while Rajneesh was working in a private telecom company in Jammu. The police and local swimmers launched a search operation to recover the bodies.
— TNS |
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1,29,099 offer prayers at Amarnath
Srinagar, July 7 Clear skies enabled Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board officials to release pilgrims early in the morning from Baltal, Nunwan and other base camps namely towards the holy cave.
— TNS |
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Surgical company penalised
Srinagar, July 7 An official said the shop owner was booked for sale of “adhesive osteoplasts in per-packed form which carried the maximum retail price of Rs 450 on the sticker.” “The retailer provided the invoice of the stockiest and stockiest in return provided the bill of the company. The legal notice was served on the company for affixing the sticker and the company confessed the lapse of affixing the sticker on the product. Under aforesaid laws, it is a serious offence to declare MRP on the sticker. MRP on product should be printed. A penal sum of Rs 20,000 was slapped on the company for the lapse,” he added.
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Srinagar, July 7
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