J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Azad opposes troop withdrawal
Srinagar, May 26
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad here today disapproved the withdrawing of troops from internal security in view of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir though there had been an improvement in the overall security scenario.

Be accessible to party, Cong leaders’ plea
to Azad
Jammu, May 26
Senior Congress leaders have asked Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to be approachable to party activists to remove the impression that he was inaccessible. Senior Congress leaders, including health minister Mangat Ram Sharma, MP Madan Lal Sharma and MLAs Yogesh Sahney, Suman Bhagat, Raman Bhalla, Sham Lal and Gharu Ram, called on Azad here yesterday.

Govt asked to sack ex-MD of TDC
Jammu, May 26
In a significant recommendation, the Jammu and Kashmir State Accountability Commission has asked the government to dismiss from service Khursheed Ahmed Naqeeb, the then MD of the Tourism Development Corporation, for indulging in “favouritism and nepotism” by recruiting wards of highly placed persons and carrying out various tourism related works in violation of rules.

Storm: 2 killed, 20 injured
Udhampur, May 26
Residents of Nai Basti and adjoining localities of the town have lost everything in the storm which raged late yesterday night. Two persons were killed and 20 injured, two of them seriously, the storm. As many as 25 houses were damaged completely while electric gadgets in more than 100 houses were burnt.

Azad opposes troop withdrawal
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 26
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad here today disapproved the withdrawing of troops from internal security in view of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir though there had been an improvement in the overall security scenario. He said it would not be possible, under the circumstances, as violence had gone up during the past few months, witnessing 370 incidents with the killing of 110 civilians and 146 militants since March last.

Replying questions at a press conference here today, the Chief Minister said when his predecessor, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, had put forth the demand of troops cut, the level of violence had gone very low. Azad also referred to the 2000 ceasefire and the unilateral ceasefire during the holy month of Ramazan adding that this had led to the "reorganisation" of militant outfits resulting in attacks on Parliament House and J & K Assembly. "I do not want such things to happen again or something wrong to happen", he commented.

Senior Congress leader and union minister for water resources Saifuddin Soz, who was also present, said though the police was in a position to play its role, the Army was deployed wherever necessary in view of the situation. He, however, hinted at the improved performance of the Jammu and Kashmir police, which could take charge in the hinterland and thereby pave the way for Army’s lesser role so that it returns to its primary role on the borders.

Setting at rest speculations on early elections in the state, Azad clarified that the Assembly elections would be held as scheduled by September-October next year.

He pointed out that nearly 200 public meetings of various mainstream political parties and even the separatist organisations had taken place in recent months. The Chief Minister said the Army was required to ensure peaceful public meetings.

Azad held that his aim till the next Assembly election was to enhance the pace of infrastructure development. He disclosed that Rs 4,000 crore had already been sanctioned under various Centrally sponsored schemes and these funds had to be utilised within this period. In view of this target, he had been visiting all 22 districts to ensure the pace with the flow of funds and achieving targets in time in a coordinated manner.

Be accessible to party, Cong leaders’ plea to Azad
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 26
Senior Congress leaders have asked Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to be approachable to party activists to remove the impression that he was inaccessible.

Senior Congress leaders, including health minister Mangat Ram Sharma, MP Madan Lal Sharma and MLAs Yogesh Sahney, Suman Bhagat, Raman Bhalla, Sham Lal and Gharu Ram, called on Azad here yesterday and asked him to be easily available to party workers as the assembly elections were approaching.

These leaders reportedly pointed out to the Chief Minister a section of bureaucracy was creating hurdles in the way of the implementation of decisions taken by the government and also in the meetings of district development boards. Such actions of the bureaucracy were detrimental to the ruling Congress, they warned.

They also took exception to ministers arbitrarily transferring officials in the departments under their charge without taking the local MLAs into confidence.

Convinced with their arguments, Azad ordered his secretary Pawan Kotwal, would camp here for a week every month and attend to the problems of legislators. He also assured the unjustified transfer of officials would be cancelled.

These leaders pointed out to Azad Jammu was being discriminated against in the matter of development. No school has been upgraded in the districts of Jammu, Kathua and Udhampur in the past two years, they claimed.

They are learnt to have also pointed out the daily- wage staff of the Public Health Engineering Department in Jammu were being paid monthly wage of Rs 500 each, while those in the Kashmir valley were getting Rs 2100. They demanded such cases of discrimination with the Jammu and Ladakh regions should be removed.

Govt asked to sack ex-MD of TDC

Jammu, May 26
In a significant recommendation, the Jammu and Kashmir State Accountability Commission (SAC) has asked the government to dismiss from service Khursheed Ahmed Naqeeb, the then MD of the Tourism Development Corporation (TDC), for indulging in “favouritism and nepotism” by recruiting wards of highly placed persons and carrying out various tourism related works in violation of rules.

A Bench of SAC consisting of its acting chairperson justice G.L. Raina and member Justice Muzaffar Jan, observed that Naqeeb had “abused and misused” his position by appointing Shazia Khan, daughter of M.Y. Khan, the then chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, and Adil Khurshid, son of a doctor, in the corporation without observing the rules. The complaint against Naqeeb’s functioning was filed in SAC by a public spirited lawyer, Shakeel Ahmad. — TNS

Storm: 2 killed, 20 injured
Tribune News Service

Udhampur, May 26
Residents of Nai Basti and adjoining localities of the town have lost everything in the storm which raged late yesterday night. Two persons were killed and 20 injured, two of them seriously, the storm. As many as 25 houses were damaged completely while electric gadgets in more than 100 houses were burnt.

Due to the storm last night, some high-tension wires fell on low-intensity wires resulting in sparking which led to a fire in the slum area. The fire engulfed the entire locality and inmates of this slum colony were trapped in the fire. At least 25 houses were burnt in the fire.

Two youths died in the fire while as many other persons were injured. As the fire broke out in the midnight, there was total chaos. Panic-stricken people rushed towards forest to save their lives.