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Azad’s assurance to Buddhists on Kailash-Mansarovar route to China
Shoppers throng markets ahead of Id
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111 Indians died during Haj
69 lakh visit Vaishno Devi shrine
Promotion of 10 SSPs recommended
Over 100 policemen awarded
CRPF jawan killed
6 officials suspended
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Azad’s assurance to Buddhists on Kailash-Mansarovar route to China
Jammu, December 31 Mr Azad, who was talking to a delegation of the Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Association, said Jammu and Kashmir had in the past been the hub of trade through its network of important routes. He said time had come when these routes could be utilised for making the state one of the prosperous trade hub. The Chief Minister said he took up the matter with Minister for External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee, during his recent visit to Delhi. He said earlier the matter was taken up with China but due to certain technical problems it could not be finalised. He hoped some positive decision might be taken when the issue was again discussed with China. Mr Azad said J&K had suffered due to turmoil and the only hope to enhance its economic well-being was by creating peaceful and congenial atmosphere where trade, economic activity and pilgrim tourism had utmost priority. Minister for Power Nawang Rigzin Jora was also present on the occasion. Representatives of the association demanded like Kashmiri and Dogri, the Bhoti language should also be included in the 8th schedule of the Constitution. Mr Azad said he would ensure that heed was given to the demand. Representatives of Association led by Mr Tashi Targis informed the Chief Minister about the role of the Himalayan Buddhist Cultural
Association in the development of intellectual activities and integration of people of all the regions. He said Ladakh’s role in the development of handicrafts of the state, particularly pashmina industry, had its historical background. |
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Shoppers throng markets ahead of Id
Srinagar, December 31 Thousands of people visited main markets for the past couple of days and there was no let off even today. Security has also been tightened following the killing of a police officer at Pampore town in Pulwama district yesterday. Besides sweets and other delicacies, people were busy buying sheep and goats to be sacrificed tomorrow by the Muslims, a ritual which re-enacts submission of Prophet Ibrahim to the will of Allah. Id-ul-Azha is celebrated by Muslims all over the world at the culmination of Haj pilgrimage marked by animal sacrifice. Authorities have made elaborate arrangements to facilitate the movement of people for Id prayers to major religious places like Hazratbal and Jamia masjid in downtown Srinagar. Prepared in advance to cope with the rush, shopkeepers who usually observe Sunday as holiday have kept shops open and decorated these to attract more customers. Heavy rush of people forced the police and paramilitary forces to remain on tenterhooks to maintain law and order and keep militants away, official sources said adding security personnel have been advised not to
harass people but keep an eye on the movement of suspicious persons to avoid any untoward incident. Authorities have made arrangements and had put in place electronic gadgets, including close-circuit cameras, to maintain vigil.
— PTI |
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111 Indians died during Haj
Srinagar, December 31 Majority of the pilgrims died of cardiac arrest. Uttar Pradesh and Kerala accounted for maximum deaths with 24 pilgrims from each state dying due to natural causes. While 11 pilgrims belonged to Karnataka, eight were from Maharashta and seven from Rajasthan. Among the dead were five pilgrims, including the brother of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, from Jammu and Kashmir, three each from Gujarat and Bihar, two from Uttaranchal and one each from West Bengal, Manipur, Assam,
Puducherry, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi. |
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69 lakh visit Vaishno Devi shrine
Jammu, December 31 “Till now yatra has already completed 68.70 lakh mark is reached and by night it will reach 69 lakh, Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board (SMVSB) Additional Chief Executive Officer (ACEO), Puneet Kumar said. The cave shrine yatra registered an increase of 9.6 per cent this year compared to last year, he said. Vaishnodevi shrine is the second biggest shrine across India that attracts highest number of pilgrims after Tirupati, he said. In 2004, 61.09 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at the shrine while the number was 54 lakh in 2003, 44.32 lakh pilgrims visited the shrine in 2002, 50.56 in 2001 and 52.17 in 2000, he said.
— PTI |
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Promotion of 10 SSPs recommended
Jammu, December 31 The police authorities six months ago, had recommended to the government that 10 posts of DIGs, vacant in Jammu and Kashmir, be filled by promoting senior superintendents of police on the basis of seniority and
merit. The proposal had been put on hold for all these months. Police sources said Rauful
Hassan, Zahoor Chisti, Farooq Khan, Suleman Salaria, Sunil Sharma, Alok Puri, Kamal
Saini, Yoginder Koul, Qayoom Manhas and Munir Khan had been recommended for elevation as DIGs. According to official sources, once the 10 posts of DIG were filled four IGs would be
reshuffled. Mr K. Rajinder, who was injured in a militant attack in Srinagar during this summer, has resumed duties. The government is in favour of assigning him soft duties and he is likely to be posted as IG police headquarters in place of Mr Javed Maqdoomi who may be posted as IG crime and
Railways. The present Kashmir and Jammu IGs may be shifted. Indications are that Mr Dilbagh Singh may be appointed IG Jammu and Mr
S.P. Vaid may be posted as IG modernisation. Sources said Mr Mohammad Amin Shah and Mr Owais Ahmed Sheikh were being considered for the post of IG
Kashmir. They said that filling of 10 posts of DIG and reshuffle among IGs were called for simply to remove stagnation in the
police. It was also aimed at promoting better coordination among various wings of the police and intelligence agencies. |
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Over 100 policemen awarded
Srinagar, December 31 A police spokesman said those awarded the Director-General of Police’s commendation certificate included four SSPs, seven SPs besides 22 Inspectors and other ranks.
— UNI
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CRPF jawan killed
Srinagar, December 31 The police said here militants shot dead a CRPF jawan, Sameer Ahmad Bhat, who had come home on leave. He was posted with 136 Bn of the CRPF Group Centre, Jammu. Unidentified militants lobbed a grenade at Kangan police station, Srinagar district, 40 km from here this afternoon on the Srinagar-Sonmarg road, without causing any damage. No loss of life or injury was caused to anyone in this attack, the police here said. Two .303 rifles with two magazines and 50 rounds were recovered during search by the police and security forces in Budhal area of Rajouri district. The weapons had been snatched by militants from Village defence Committee (VDC) members in December 2005, the police said. |
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6 officials suspended
Srinagar, December 31 He said Transport Minister Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen made a surprise inspection of the Regional Transport Office (RTO) here and found six officials absent from duty. The minister later directed the Deputy Commissioner, Badgam, to put the absentee officials under suspension. During the inspection, Hakeem Yaseen found unaccounted money of Rs 12,030, besides a fee of Rs 2,600 with an accountant. He asked the SP, Badgam, Mohammad Amin, to conduct an inquiry into it and submit the report within three days.
— UNI
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Srinagar, December 31
