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Second phase of Assembly session from today
Azad meets Manmohan
Panthers for downsizing Cabinet
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31 IAS, IPS officers shifted
Teachers stand ‘guard’ against monkeys
Militants kill two villagers in Rajouri
Army organises medical camps
Banihal youth for special quota in govt jobs
Muslims too join Buddhists’ ceremony
BSF jawan killed in firing
Rehman is finance panel chief
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Second phase of Assembly session from today
Srinagar, August 19 Among other issues, the National Conference is expected to take up the fire Army’s ammunition depot at Khundroo in south Kashmir, that led to the evacuation of more than 26,000 people from over 12 adjacent villages. Other issues like human rights, developmental activities and the security scenario in the state may also be taken up in the session. The Opposition is also upset over restricted period of 11 days’ session, with only seven working days, that would not be sufficient to take up peoples’ problems. Four working days of the Assembly session will have government business, two for private members’ Bills and one day for private members’ resolutions, reports here said. During the first two days last month, the Assembly had a heated debate on the human rights issue, with the government coming out with a detailed reply on the state of rights in the state. On its first day, the Assembly was adjourned after obituary references to four leaders and legislators. The House was adjourned on the first day on July 19 after obituary references to former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar and four former state legislators. A day-long session on human rights on the demand of the National Conference was held on July 20, before the session before the adjournment till tomorrow.
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Azad meets Manmohan
Srinagar, August 19 According to an official spokesman, the Prime Minister informed Azad about the progress on the dialogue process between India and Pakistan and measures taken by India to promote reconciliation and friendship with the neighbouring country. He assured his full support to the development initiatives taken by the Chief Minister in Jammu and Kashmir. Azad briefed the Prime Minister about the fallout of the recent incident of fire at Army’s ammunition depot at Khundroo in south Kashmir and measures taken to evacuate and temporarily rehabilitate the affected population. Azad urged the Prime Minister to send a joint team of Defence and Home ministries to take stock of the situation and assess the damage to houses and property of the civilians in the vicinity of the depot. He urged him to have the area cleared of all unexploded ammunition that had flown from the depot and landed in the nearby villages and habitations. He asked for early compensation to villagers and suggested that for future arms depots should be set up at a safe distance from population. The Chief Minister also briefed the PM about measures taken by his government to address political, economic and social issues through a three-pronged strategy that was showing positive results. The Prime Minister was informed about the setting up of nine task forces to monitor development works in infrastructure-related sectors, including healthcare, education, power, agriculture, drinking water, urban development, economic reconstruction, tourism and roads. The Chief Minister told the Prime Minister that upgradation of healthcare facilities in the state was taken up on a massive scale simultaneously at provincial, district, sub-district and village levels. He told him the state needed more financial support from the Centre for development of healthcare sector. The Prime Minister assured Azad full support for upgrading the healthcare facilities. The Chief Minister also called for early convening of the final meeting to discuss recommendations of the Working Groups on Jammu and Kashmir and the need for implementing these recommendations.
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Panthers for downsizing Cabinet
Jammu, August 19 The Panthers Party had two ministers in the erstwhile Mufti regime, during the first half of the present coalition government, when it had 33 ministers in the then Cabinet. Criticising Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad for a "top-heavy cabinet" with 25 ministers, JKNPP Legislature Party leader Harsh Dev said at a press conference here his party would raise voice for a legislation to control the cabinet strength up to 15 per cent in the Assembly session beginning tomorrow. "Jammu and Kashmir is the only state where the central legislation for control on the Cabinet strength is not implemented," Harsh Dev said. He said more ministers were a burden on the exchequer as there was annual expenditure of Rs 2.5 crore on each minister. When asked the Panthers Party was also part of the erstwhile heavy cabinet of Mufti Mohammad Syeed, Harsh Dev stated the Union government had not adopted any legislation for control over the cabinet strength by that time. "Now when the Centre has adopted the legislation, the J and K also should adopt the same keeping the interests of the state in mind. The JKNPP Legislature Party leader said his party had filed a "contempt of House" petition with the Assembly speaker and it would pursue for a discussion during the session for the removal of certain ministers holding various departments for non-implementation of several schemes and the assurances which the government had earlier given in the House. He said the Panthers Party would play the role of a main opposition party during the session, taking the Azad government to task for non-implementation of the assurances. Hash Dev said the Bill for the reservation of the Scheduled Tribes, to be tabled in the ensuing Assembly session, had been drafted and introduced earlier by the JKNPP.
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31 IAS, IPS officers shifted
Srinagar, August 19 An official spokesman said Jeet Lal Gupta, director, Industries and Commerce, Jammu, was transferred and posted special secretary to chief secretary in place of Pradeep Gupta, who is transferred and posted director industries and commerce, Jammu. Mir Naseem, vice-chairman, Srinagar Development Authority, has been transferred and posted vice-chairman, Lake and Water Ways Development Authority. M. A. Liagaroo, managing director, state Financial Corporation, has been transferred and posted vice- chairman, Srinagar Development Authority. He will also hold additional charge of managing director, state Financial Corporation, till the post is filled. Dilshada Khan awaiting posting has been transferred and posted director,Land Records, Kashmir, against a vacancy. Farooq Ahmad, special secretary, Revenue, has been transferred and posted director, Industries and Commerce, Kashmir. G.M. Sofi, managing director, state Road Transport Corporation, has been transferred and posted special secretary consumer affairs and public distribution. J. L. Bhagat, additional secretary, Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution, has been transferred and posted project director, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. Manzoor Ahmad Lone, addl secretary, Finance Department, has been transferred and posted managing director ,SRTC. Javed Ahmad Panjoo has been transferred and posted managing director, Cable Car Corporation, relieving Farooq Ahmad Shah, director, Tourism, Kashmir, of the additional charge. P. L. Gupta, inspector-general, Modernisation, has been transferred and posted inspector- General State Human Rights Commission. Raja Aijaz Ali, inspector-general, Traffic, has been transferred and posted IGP, SSG. Mohammad Amin Shah, awaiting posting, has been transferred and posted inspector- general of police, Traffic. P. L. Mohanty, DIG, Doda, has been transferred and posted DIG, Jammu Range. Ravinder Kotwal, DIG, CID, has been transferred and posted DIG, Administration and Training Police HQ. M. A. Anjum, DIG, Rajouri, has been transferred and posted DIG, Crime and Railways. Farooq Ahmad, DIG, Kashmir Range, has been transferred and posted DIG, Personnel Police Headquarters. He has been replaced by A. S. Lone, DIG, Jammu Range. Niaz Mehmood, awaiting posting, has been posted DIG, Railways, Udhampur-Baramulla rail link.
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Teachers stand ‘guard’ against monkeys
Kagga (Udhampur), August 19 Monkeys entering classrooms, taking away books from students and tearing these into pieces has become a routine affair in the school. Students of the institution have been learning on how to attend classes amidst herds of monkeys and the task before the teachers is to ensure the safety of the children when classes are in progress. “We have to utilise our maximum energy towards devising strategies to tackle this problem'', said Chain Singh, adding, “Most of the times monkeys enter classrooms and create a nuisance''. “We have to spare some teachers to ‘guard’ the classrooms while students attend the classes'', he said, expressing helplessness to tackle this problem. He narrated that a class III student was severely injured when he was attacked by a monkey. The student had just ventured out of the classroom for a glass of water. The most difficult task before the school management is to protect students at the time of recess when food is served to them under the mid-day meal scheme. The monkeys virtually invade the school when meal is served to the students studying below class V. Six teachers with lathis in hands are deployed around the hall to protect the students. One year ago monkeys were “ruling” in two villages, but today they have expanded their empire in at least six villages. While a majority of the population of Charai village has already migrated to safer
places, inhabitants of Kagga, Mutal and Sundarni villages are facing a similar problem from monkeys. “The population of monkeys has increased manifold in the past two years and they have been taking control of one village after another,” said the headmaster, a resident of Sundrani. Keeping in view the religious sentiments of people, he suggested some scientific measures to keep a check on the population of monkeys in this belt. Echoing similar views, octogenarian Chajju Ram Shastri, rued that despite a number of representations, the Wildlife Department had not taken any step to address the issue. “A high-level team of the department visited the village five years back, but nothing concrete has been done so far'', he said. Shastri, a retired teacher, who had led an agitation to rid the inhabitants of this menace, has lost all hope. “Earlier monkey menace was confined only to Charai and two other places, but now they (monkeys) have spread their terror in six villages,” he said.
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Militants kill two villagers in Rajouri
Rajouri, August 19 On August 16, militants, probably six in number and reportedly of the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), struck at Pangaber Dhok in Kotranka block and kidnapped Muhammad Yaseen and Muhammad Rasheed, sons of Jamal Din of Kandi and brothers of Territorial Army soldier Muhammad Rafiq, and their cousin Muhammad Razak. While Yaseen gave militants the slip, they slit the throat of his brother Rasheed and released Razak only after giving him a severe thrashing. The body of Rasheed was later recovered from Hubbi village. Yesterday only, the body of another civilian Muhammad Afsar (70), son of Hassan Muhammad of the Kandi area, a retired forest guard, was found from a forest from Dakhan Wali Dhok in the Kandi area here. Afsar's son, Muhammad Hanief, is a police constable posted at Rajouri. Sources said these two killings came after militants had pasted two posters at Jamia Mosque in Kandi on August 12 night, telling villagers to ask their family members in the Army and the police to quit their jobs. The hand-written posters issued on behalf of various militant organisations and reportedly signed by HM commander Ali Hamza had also warned villagers not to participate in the Independence Day celebrations and instead observe it as ‘black day’. SSP, Rajouri, Farooq Khan said reports of militants having pasted posters at the Jamia Mosque in Kandi are wrong and cooked up by some section of the media. "I must tell you that during the past three months, we have been able to eliminate four of the militant commanders. This has frustrated them and they are for some softer targets", said Khan. "We have identified three militants involved in the killing. I assure you very soon; terrorists responsible for these killings would be brought to book," he said.
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Army organises medical camps
Rajouri, August 19 A Defence spokesperson said the camp was aimed at reaching out to people living in the far- flung, interior and border areas of Mendhar tehsil. During the day-long medical-cum-veterinary camp, Army and civilian doctors, including paediatrician, orthopaedician, dentist, gynaecologists, psychologist, skin specialist, ENT, surgical and medical specialists attended to the sick. The spokesperson said medicines and vaccines free of cost were provided to the patients and pregnant women and newborns were given special attention. As many as 800 patients were treated at the camp. Veterinary doctors treated 200 animals.
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Banihal youth for special quota in govt jobs
Udhampur, August 19 Addressing reporters local Youth Congress leader Sajjad Shaheen pointed out to the backwardness of the tehsil and demanded reservation for people of Banihal in government jobs. Keeping in view the educational situation in the tehsil, youth demanded special recruit drive for them . They demanded local youth be adjusted in the police and paramilitary forces. Sajjad Shaheen demanded special development package for Mahu Mangat, Pogal, Paristan, Neel, Sina Bati and Khari areas of the teshil as these belts were most backward in the state.
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Muslims too join Buddhists’ ceremony
Leh, August 19 Appealing to people to adopt ethics and have compassion to clean one's inner self, the Dalai Lama said he was happy to see the participation of Muslims as well in the Sten-juk ceremony. The ceremony was performed for the Dalai Lama's long life in which offerings were made by the devotees and monks said prayers. The Dalai Lama, after receiving the holy relic at Jivatsal, performed puja and the relic was unveiled and opened for darshan. The Dalai Lama also released a booklet about the relic. |
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BSF jawan killed in firing
Rajouri, August 19 The deceased was
identified as head constable Romesh Chander of 49 Battalion of the BSF posted at
Mendhar. Chander succumbed to gunshot injuries while being taken to 425 Field
Ambulance unit. Sources said Romesh Chander received bullet injuries after suspected infiltrators opened fire at the BSF patrol party at some forward posts along LOC in Mendhar sector. They said Chander was rushed to nearby 425 Field Ambulance unit but he succumbed to the injuries on the way. |
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Rehman is finance panel chief
Srinagar, August 19 Other members of the commission are Swami Raj Sharma, ex-secretary, Jammu and Kashmir government, Sonam Dawa, ex-chief engineer, and Prof Nissar Ali, professor of economics, University of Kashmir. The Cabinet also approved the creation of separate directorates of floriculture for Kashmir and Jammu division. K. K. Sharma, director, Floriculture, has been posted director, Floriculture, Jammu.
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