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Saturday,
September 20, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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7 top IAS officers transferred Four militants killed, 25 kg
RDX seized Counter-insurgents feel isolated 33 pc reservation for women in J&K panchayats |
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7 top IAS officers transferred Srinagar, September 19 The decisions were taken at a meeting of the state Cabinet presided over by the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, here this morning. Mohammad Shafi Pandit, Financial Commissioner, Finance, has been appointed as Chairman, Public Service Commission, an official spokesman said. Other six officers transferred and posted included Mr Ajit Kumar, Principal Secretary, ARI & Trainings, who has been transferred and posted as Principal Secretary, Forests. He will also hold the additional charge of ARI, an official spokesman said. Mr Vijay Bakaya, Principal Secretary, Planning and Development, will hold the additional charge of the Finance Department. Mr N.R. Gupta, at present attached with the Chief Secretary, has been posted as Financial Commissioner, Revenue. The post fell vacant following the retirement of Mr H.L. Kadalbaju. Mr Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, Resident Commissioner, New Delhi, has been transferred and posted as Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, vice Mr Parvez Dewan, who is proceeding on 120 days’ earned leave. Mr Suresh Kumar, Commissioner, Coordination, New Delhi, has been posted as Resident Commissioner, New Delhi. Mr A. K. Mehta, on being sent back from Central deputation, has been posted as Managing Director, SRTC, vice Mr Abdul Hamid who is currently on leave. The Cabinet also approved promotions of 43 KAS officers and inducted six officers into the time scale of KAS, the official spokesman said. Seven officers have been promoted to the super-time scale of KAS of Rs 18,400-22,400. They are: Mrs Tanveer Jehan (on proforma basis), Mr R.K. Thusoo (on proforma basis), Mr A.K. Raina, Mr K. Mohinder Singh, Syed Fazalullah, Mr Azad Ahmed Lone and Mr I.S. Wazir. Thirteen KAS officers have been promoted to the special scale of KAS of Rs 14300-18300. They are Mr Mushtaq Ahmed, Mr G.N. Bodha (on proforma basis), Mrs Suraiya Bhat, Mr Mohammad Abbas Dar (on proforma basis), Mrs Shagufta Parveen (officiating), Mr Muzaffer Iqbal, (on proforma basis, officiating), Mr G.N. Sufi (officiating), Mr Mushtaq Ahmed Sheikh (officiating), Mr A.R. Mir (on proforma basis, officiating), Mrs Vineeta Gupta (officiating), Mr D. K. Vaid (on proforma basis, officiating), Mr Shahid Innayatullah (officiating) and Mr O.P. Kalanderia (officiating). Other 17 KAS officers have been promoted to the selection grade of KAS of Rs 12,000-16,500. They are: Mr Sohan Lal Raina, Mr G.R. Sheikh, Mr Sharafat Ali Khan, Kachoo Mohammad Shah, Mrs Salma Hamid, Mr Sonam Gyalsam, Mr Jai Pal Singh, Mr Khursheed Ahmad, Mr B.A. Jan, Mr I.A. Zargar, Mr Khursheed Ahmad Bhat (on proforma basis), Mr Dhanatar Singh, Mr M.A. Bukhari, Mr S.K. Sharma (on proforma basis), Mrs D.D. Nayar, Mr M.Y. Zargar and Mr Nana Ji Raina. Six junior-scale KAS officers have been promoted to the time scale of KAS of Rs 10,000-15,200. They are: Mr Talat Parvez, Mr Farooq Ahmad Kirmani, Ms Rukhsana Gani, Ms Rehana Batul (ST), Mr Sanjeev Kumar (SC) till 28.8.2003 and Mr Zubair Ahmad. |
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Four militants killed, 25 kg RDX seized Srinagar, September 19 An official spokesperson said the security forces arrested two Harkat-ul-Mujahideen militants, Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat and Ghulam Ahmad Kumar, along with 25 kg of RDX, an AK rifle, three magazines, a pistol with magazine, a UBGL with five rounds and five hand grenades at Nowpora Sopore last night. An other militant of the Al Badr, Fayaz Ahmad, was arrested today. The security forces gunned down militants Abu Haroon, Mohammad Farooq and Fareed Ahmad at Salbala today. Two AK rifles, two rocket launchers, three magazines, 135 rounds and two grenades were recovered from them. The body of Abdul Rehman Mir, who was kidnapped by the militants recently from his house, was recovered from a nearby forest today. The body of Mohammad Qasim was recovered from Sangra last night. In another encounter, a militant was killed in the Tarkundi area of Rajouri district last night.
— UNI, PTI |
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Counter-insurgents feel isolated Srinagar, September 19 This feeling has come to the fore following the recent killings of two such top leaders, Javed Shah and Kukka Parray within a span of 17 days. The counter-insurgents or militant-turned-politicians, like Usman Majeed from Bandipore in Baramula district of north Kashmir, Liaqat Ali from Anantnag in south Kashmir, and Papa
Kishtwari, are equally sore with both the Central and the state governments for “lack of sincerity” in restoration of peace in this trouble-torn state. These leaders also plan to stage a “fast unto death” in New Delhi in protest against the approach of the Central Government towards Kashmir. Talking to TNS here today, Usman
Majeed, Independent MLA, held Government of India “responsible” for the killings of Kukka Parray and Javed Shah. He also accused the state government of being a “facilitator” in the act.
Usman Majeed belonged to Kukka Parray’s Awami League and was elected from the Bandipore constituency in Baramula district. He had unsuccessfully contested the 1996 Assembly elections. Liaqat Ali, another leader of the Awami League, constituted in 1995, unsuccessfully contested the last Assembly elections from his home constituency of
Anantnag. Javed Shah, who parted ways with the Awami League, joined the National Conference of former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and became a member of the State Legislative Council in 1996 for a term of six years. “We have played a major role in the restoration of peace and democracy”, said Usman
Majeed. He blames the coalition government for its utter failure in restoring peace, since it came to power in November last year. He adds that hosting of the Inter-State Council meet here and tall claims about a peaceful Amarnath yatra were ill-timed. These led Pakistan to send in more militants and create more trouble, he adds. He equally blames the Congress that was “bent upon destroying” Kashmir due to its wrong policies. “There is no other way than to seek resolution of the Kashmir issue”, he says, demanding an end to the killings of
Kashmiris. He laments that the Government of India was “not sincere about holding a dialogue”. |
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33 pc reservation for women in J&K panchayats Srinagar, September 19 The decision to this effect was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed here. Announcing the decision, Chief Secretary S.S. Bloeria said the Cabinet had declared its intention to do away with nominations in panchayats and instead make 33 per cent reservation for women. It decided to amend the Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, to bring it in line with 73rd amendment of the Constitution. Mr Bloeria said the Cabinet decided to grant voting rights to nominated panches for elections to the Block Councils.
— PTI, UNI |
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Cultivating cannabis with impunity Jammu, September 19 After 10 days from now, men, women and children rubbing cannabis flowers and leaves between their hands to extract the contraband will be a common sight in the areas of the valley where it is cultivated in an organised manner. Cannabis and opium is being cultivated on a large scale in the valley and the problem has assumed alarming proportions eversince terrorists have reportedly joined hands with the drug mafia. Successive governments have taken half-hearted steps to eradicate the menace because of political reasons and involvement of a large number of population in cultivation of these plants. It is learnt that the plucking of cannabis flowers and leaves is done during this part of the season because the tetra-hydro cannabinal (THC) potency of the produce is higher and it commands a better price in the market. The mafia does not seem to be afraid of the authorities and did not allow their illicit plants to be destroyed when a special drive was launched for this purpose recently. The paramilitary forces were also engaged, but the crop was so widely spread, particularly in three of the six districts of Kashmir, that the drive remained a symbolic one. However, this was for the first time that the NCB dared to visit certain areas in the valley to undertake destruction of the cannabis plants although on a very small scale. These plants are widely cultivated in an organised manner even in the apple orchards, particularly in the politically volatile districts of Anantnag, Baramula and Pulwama. These districts are also worst affected by terrorism. Although the militants completely banned the sale and consumption of liquor in the valley, cultivation of cannabis and opium has increased. It is learnt that extraction of charas from the cannabis is intentionally coincided with the plucking of apple to enable smuggling of the contraband in fruit boxes which are carried in trucks to various markets in Delhi, Gujarat and Maharashtra. The number of trucks carrying apple is so high during the season that it is practically impossible to check each and every fruit box. Moreover, the NCB is handicapped because with the involvement of the entire village, no one would come forward to provide specific information regarding smuggling of the contraband, said Mr Arun Kumar, zonal director of the bureau. Mr Arun Kumar said that the cultivation of cannabis and opium was being done shockingly on a large extent in the three districts. In certain cases the cultivation was being done right on the roadside in the view of the district authorities who cross the place every day. He said that seizure of the contraband was very low because no one came forward to provide information about its smuggling. The support of the local authorities was cosmetic. He said that the NCB proposed to involve troops and paramilitary forces next season for destroying the cannabis and opium plants. It is worth mentioning that so far no serious efforts have been made by the state government to eradicate the menace which was further spreading its feet in the valley. It was only once during Governor’s rule when Mr Jagmohan was heading the state that such organised cultivations were destroyed mechanically. Even certain people having high political connections were not spared. While its cultivation was not being done in an organised manner in the Jammu region, its wild growth was of high magnitude. At times, students and youth have been seen plucking the cannabis flowers near various educational institutions and rubbing these with their hands. |
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Srinagar, September 19
