 |
|
Govt defers plan to reduce troops in state
Govt streamlines selection process; vacancies to be referred to PSC, SSB
Moughal Road project despite Defence Ministry warnings
Travel advisories on J&K may be withdrawn
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Electoral rolls revised
Four Army men killed in encounter
Governor reviews Amarnath Yatra arrangements
Yatra remains suspended; two dead
|
|
Govt defers plan to reduce troops in state
Jammu, July 8 Official sources said the plan was deferred following no considerable drop in the level of infiltration and militancy-related violence in the state. During the past six months 3,000 soldiers had been withdrawn from three pockets in the Kashmir valley and the region. The sources said though the rate of infiltration from across the border had dropped when compared to the level registered during the past one year however, bid to sneak into Jammu and Kashmir continued. During the past 24 hours more than six infiltrators had been killed in the Rajouri and Machel areas of Kupwara district indicating that agencies across the LoC had brought groups of militants on the launching pads for infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir. Even the senior Army functionaries claimed that 450 and 500 militants, equipped with sophisticated weapons, had been brought on the launching pads across Poonch, Rajouri and Kupwara in the recent weeks. A senior police officer told this correspondent today “there is no scope for reduction of troops, whether on the border or within the state.” He said the recent IED explosions and grenade attacks, besides several attempts on senior political leaders, including ministers, had hardly by any room for reducing the strength of the security forces. The ongoing Amarnath yatra and the mass interaction programme launched by the separatists, especially the APHC have placed additional responsibilities on the security forces when about 15,000 men of the Army, paramilitary forces and the police had been deployed for the yatra’s security. |
|
Govt streamlines selection process; vacancies to be referred to PSC, SSB
Srinagar, July 8 This direction was given at a high-level meeting held under the chairmanship of the Minister for Finance and Planning, Mr Muzaffar Hussain Baig, here yesterday. It was decided that a direction would go to all departments from the Chief Secretary that around 20,000 vacancies in the direct recruitment quota, available in various departments, should be referred to the state Public Service Commission (PSC) and the SSB within 15 days. These would also include the posts in Education and Health Departments for which the selection process has already been started at the district level. It was decided that the persons appointed on contract would compete with other applicants for regular selection through the PSC and the SSB. However, if any candidate appointed on contract has crossed the upper age limit for selection, the government would consider age relaxation on humanitarian grounds. However, there would be no relaxation in requisite qualification. The meeting was told that the government had to resort to contractual appointments only to expedite the selection process and it was not a permanent arrangement. By next year, the meeting was told that the whole selection process would be streamlined and there would be no need to go for such stop-gap arrangement. The meeting decided that all departments would be directed not to hold back any direct recruitment vacancy and as soon as such a post becomes vacant in the department it should be referred to the recruiting agency. The meeting also decided that a request would be made to the PSC and the SSB to take up the recruitment process on a war-footing so that the selection was made within three to six months. For this purpose, computerisation of both recruiting agencies would be taken up immediately so that there was no delay in the processing, compiling and shortlisting of the applicants. |
|
Moughal Road project despite Defence Ministry warnings
Jammu, July 8 The road was built by the Mughals to reach the Kashmir valley when they were rulers. However, what is not being relished by a section of the people is that the state government was adamant to build the road at a whopping cost of Rs 160 crore ignoring warnings of the Defence Ministry that the project was not useful from the security point of view. Sometime ago, the Defence Ministry had made three objections to the construction of the road as it would provide additional axis to Pakistan for the furtherance of terrorist operations into the Kashmir valley in future conflict. The road would facilitate terrorists in their logistics build-up and also that an alternative road link between Jammu and the valley was under construction through the Pathankot — Bani-Basohli-Bhaderwah-Kishtwar-Sinthan Pass-Anantnag route. Rajauri and Poonch districts are the entry points for terrorists from Pakistan. They reportedly had made their bases on the hills of these two districts and were still operating from there. The project was abandoned keeping in view the observations of the Defence Ministry and also the fact that the road project might not be too much needed in view of the rail link that was being built between Jammu and the Kashmir valley and also the alternative national highway. However, after becoming Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed rebuilt pressure on the Centre to provide funds for the Moughal Road and now the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, has provided a grant of Rs 38 crore out of his special reconstruction plan for the current financial year. Besides, Rs 12 crore has been earmarked for the project from the normal plan. The project was conceived during the National Conference regime in 1979 and in 1981 the SAMPARK project of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) prepared a proposal for the construction of the road at a cost of Rs 15.78 crore. However, the cost of the project has now increased manifold now. Even then the project did not receive a green signal from the Centre because of objections of the Defence authorities. Futile attempts were made by the state government again in 1996 to revive the project. Historian and senior journalist, D.C. Prashant does not approve of the construction of the road on two counts. Firstly, it will provide a free movement between Rajauri and the Kashmir valley to Pakistan-trained terrorists, as the launching pads of the ISI are mostly functional on the borders of the Rajauri and Poonch districts. And secondly, he suspects the road project aimed at dividing the Hindu and Muslim population of the Jammu region. Another section here foresees the Moughal Road project as a furtherance of the Dixon plan that does not favour linking of the areas across the Chenab with India. With liberal grants having now been provided for the project by the Prime Minister, the ruling coalition partners, including the Mufti’s PDP and the Congress, were trying to take credit for the revival of the project. They claim that the road was of economic importance for the area that will get a direct access with the valley. A group of Congress ministers recently rushed to Rajauri and Poonch to take credit for the project. They were soon followed by Finance Minister, Muzaffar Hussain Beig, accompanied by a couple of PDP
ministers, who announced that work on the project would be accelerated. |
|
Travel advisories on J&K may be withdrawn
Srinagar, July 8 Ms Chowdhary who arrived here today said the Central Government had pursued the issue of travel advisories with the countries concerned. She said the Minister for External Affairs, Mr Natwar Singh, also took up the matter forcefully. It was due to these efforts that Italy had already withdrawn the advisory, she said. The Union Minister said Kashmir tourism would now be sold by her ministry with extensive publicity the world over. She said Kashmir would form a major destination in the publicity programme of the ministry. The Prime Minister and Mrs Sonia Gandhi were interested in the development of Jammu and Kashmir, she said. Soon after her arrival, the Union Minister attended a high-level meeting with Chief Minister Mohammad Sayeed this afternoon. The meeting discussed several tourism related issues, including development of infrastructure and Central assistance for tourism villages to be set up in the state. The meeting was attended by the Minister for Tourism, Mr Ghulam Hassan Mir, and the Minister of State for Tourism, Mr Jugal Kishore. She said recently in US when she was asked how safe she thought Kashmir was, she replied: “As safe as New York”. She proposed for the state the concept of “guru kul” adopted by her ministry to showcase rural tourism and culture. She said shawl weavers and embroidery artisans could be involved. She appreciated the concept of the Chief Minister to set up tourist villages at important tourist destinations. The Chief Minister said 50 tourist villages would be set up in the state. |
|
Electoral rolls revised
Srinagar, July 8 Disclosing this here yesterday the Chief Electoral Officer, Mr Rakesh Gupta, said for the first time the draft electoral rolls with the help of state NIC would be made available in electronic form over the Internet. Mr Gupta said with reference to the intensive revision of electoral rolls as on January 1 this year as qualifying date, the draft electoral rolls had been prepared and were being displayed. For the migrant electorate, all Camp Commandants and Zonal Officers, including Territorial Zonal Officers (Tehsildars) of the Relief Organisation, had been appointed as Designated Officers, Mr Gupta said. In case of migrants living in Delhi and Chandigarh, the SDM In charge, Relief, of Delhi and Chandigarh had been appointed as Designated Officers. They would receive claims and objections from the migrants living within their jurisdictions. The AERO (Migrants) in Delhi and Jammu, he said, would dispose of the claims and objections received by them. The CEO announced that the date for filing claims and objections, had been fixed from July 7 to August 5. The date for disposal of claims and objections had been fixed as August 31, the date for preparation and printing of supplements had been fixed as September 26 and the date for final publication of electoral rolls has been fixed as September 30. |
|
Four Army men killed in encounter
Jammu, July 8 These terrorists had infiltrated into the Indian territory from Pakistan and were reportedly heading towards the town. The encounter started around mid-night when troops of the 13 Sikh Light Infantry challenged them. Four militants died when the troops returned the fire. The encounter was continuing as the Army has trapped eight other LeT ultras in the area. Four Army personnel, including Naib Subedar Avtar Singh, sepoys Gurcharan Singh, Kuldeep Singh and a jawan, who is yet to be identified, lost their lives. SRINAGAR: At least six militants had been killed in separate incidents in Kashmir since yesterday, while three suspects were held and arms and ammunition seized from them. The police here said three militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen were killed in an encounter with security forces at Zalpora and Devsar in Anantnag district yesterday. They were identified as Raja Aurangzeb alias Raja Afghani alias Raju from Pakistan, Abdul Hameed alias Jehangir from Malwan, and Mohammad Altaf alias Imran of Nenbagh. Three unidentified militants were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Choorwali Machil in Kupwara district of north Kashmir yesterday. The security forces apprehended two upper ground workers of the Hizbul Mujahideen at Chootipora and Kalamchak in Handwara of Kupwara district. One suspected militant was held from Sogam of Kupwara district yesterday. |
|
|
Governor reviews Amarnath Yatra arrangements
Srinagar, July 8 The Governor, who is also the chairman of Sri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) during his visit to Pahalgam and Chandanwari held meetings with the officers of the civil administration and security forces at Pahalgham and Chandanwari. He expressed satisfaction over the security grid put in place and called for extra vigil to ensure incident-free yatra for the third consecutive year. He complimented the people and the Security Forces for successful and incident-free yatra in 2003 and 2004, an official spokesman said. At Pahalgam, the Governor was told that Meteorological Department had started functioning and is reporting weather forecast thrice a day. As per these reports, on-the-spot decisions are taken about the passage of yatra to the holy cave. While 22 Disaster Management Centres have been put in place at various sites, Mountaineering Agency has deployed 15 rescue teams in the entire area. The Border Security Force has made elaborate arrangements for exigencies and set up a relief centre with adequate bedding including 4500 blankets. Medical teams have been stationed at various camps and Shrine which include 12 teams from the BSF. Earlier, the Governor visited Serbel and inspected the security arrangements made at the entry point. He gave on-the-spot instructions at various points in the entire area for strengthening the security grid. He also went round Joint Police Control Room, Jammu and Kashmir Police Telecom Centre.
|
|
Yatra remains suspended; two dead
Jammu, July 8 However, the highway was opened for one-way traffic in the afternoon, but only the vehicles that were stranded since yesterday were allowed to go. On the other hand, the IAF rescued 14 BSF personnel who were trapped in the flood waters on the Indo-Pakistan border in Jammu district today. According to a UNI report, two more pilgrims died of heart attack. |
|
|
Flood toll rises to 3
Jammu, July 8
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
