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Assembly Poll
1 dead, 20 hurt in Moharram clashes
Policemen detain a Shia Muslim during a
Moharram procession at Residency Road in Srinagar on Sunday. — Tribune photo
by Mohd Amin War
6 mediamen injured, API office ransacked
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BJP revitalises demoralised cadre
Free ration for drought-hit areas
HC leader Ansari under house arrest
Tough ‘drive’ for professionals
Soz front runner for PCC chief
CRPF firing triggers protest
392 road projects completed
Holed up militant killed
Centre asked to accord sanction against forest officer
Cheating Case
Bird Flu Samples test negative
Rs 348-crore for Baramulla
Govt supports terrorism, accuses NC
Dy advocate-gen passes away
Fine, imprisonment for hotel owner
12 govt officials suspended
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Assembly Poll
Udhampur, January 20 Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has deputed his political adviser Janak Raj Gupta to interact with grassroot party workers to shortlist names of some “strong” candidates. Gupta today visited Chenani and met with a number of deputations, including block level party workers. Officially the Chief Minister’s adviser inspected various development works and inquired about the problems being faced by the people, he availed this opportunity and reportedly sought advises from the workers to shortlist candidate for Chenani seat. The adviser was in Udhampur yesterday, where he met with large sections of party workers. A number of deputations called on the adviser and projected candidature of their leaders in the next assembly elections. Although more than 12 leaders have been staking claims on three seats of Udhampur district, party has been facing dearth of “potential” candidates, who will take on the Panthers Party and the BJP in this district. The Panthers Party had won all three seats from present Udhampur district in the 2002 assembly elections. This time, the Congress has been desperately trying to wrest these seats from the Panthers to increase its tally in the next assembly elections. Similar is the situation with the main opposition National Conference in this district as party candidates were failed to mark their presence in the 2002 assembly elections. This time, the party has been seriously thinking to give mandate to some potential candidate to open its tally in this district. One-day convention of the National Conference was held today under the chairmanship of Mohammed Shafi in which block level workers of Udhampur assembly constituency participated. Although agenda of the convention was to strengthen the party at the grassroot level, names of candidates for this seat were also short listed. A through discussion was held on the names of potential candidates.
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1 dead, 20 hurt in Moharram clashes
Srinagar, January 20 Sectarian clashes between Shias and Sunnis in downtown area of Srinagar erupted yesterday evening when the former were coming out of an Imambargah. As the news of clash spread, more people joined and soon a full-blown fight began between the groups. The police lobbed teargas shells to disperse the rampaging mob, but till they could succeed many were injured. The police registered a case. In another incident, two groups of Shia mourners attacked each other in Budgam district after a dispute arose between them over the culmination of Moharram procession. The police said one group wanted the procession to end at a place different from suggested by another group, resulting in fight. Armed with sharp-edged weapons, their fight left at least 14 persons were injured and one of them, Ghulam Rasool (60), later died in a Srinagar hospital. Religious leaders have called for peace and said the month of Moharram held supreme significance for the Muslims and any violence was totally unjustifiable. Meanwhile, more than 25 people, including several police personnel, were injured when police fired teargas shells and resorted to repeated baton charge to disperse violent mob in the down town city today. The trouble started last night when people belonging to two sects of Muslims clashed at Hawal in the down town city. Official sources said windowpanes of several houses and vehicles were damaged in the clash. Later, the police resorted to baton charge and also fired teargas shells to disperse the processionists who turned violent and started pelting stones on
police. |
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6 mediamen injured, API office ransacked
Srinagar, January 20
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BJP revitalises demoralised cadre
Udhampur, January 20 In its effort to regain the lost ground, the party has been organising series of meetings in Udhampur, Ramnagar and Reasi to rake up the issue of discrimination with Jammu region. To boost morale of the party workers, former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Shanta Kumar, who was instrumental in the BJP’s victory in his state, is visiting Udhampur on January 21 to address the cadre. Shanta Kumar’s visit to Udhampur attaches importance as this would be the first time after so many years a leader from the Centre is visiting this town. Kumar is in charge of the state unit of the BJP and he has assigned the job to rejuvenate the faction ridden party. “A visit of a leader like Shanta Kumar would definitely revive confidence of the party cadre,” observed Pawan Gupta, who was party’s candidate from this seat in 2002 assembly elections. The BJP has reasons to concentrate more on Udhampur as this district, which was earlier considered as bastion of the party, has been annexed by the Panthers Party as latter had snatched two seats from former in the 2002 assembly elections.
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Free ration for drought-hit areas
Udhampur, January 20 As many as 2,82,521 families, registered with the Department of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution
(CAPD) would get free ration due to prevailing drought conditions in this hilly belt. Instead of waiting for additional ration from Jammu, the authorities at Doda have decided to distribute rice and flour from the already dumped stock to solve problems of the drought-affected families. Furthermore, the authorities have taken up the issue with petroleum companies to augment supply of LPG and kerosene oil in these three districts. “We have already started distributing free ration to the 78,000 ration card holders of Doda district”, assistant director of the
CAPD, Doda, B. K. Sharma told the Tribune. According to director of the
CAPD, “The department is committed to provide three months ration free of cost to 2,82,512 families of the drought prone areas of Jammu division from January.” While admitting that there was delay in release of ration for January because of time taken in working out the modalities of distribution of the ration, the director stated that to ensure adequate supply of ration in these areas, 11,256 quintals of ration released by directorate for the month of January shall soon be distributed to the people of hilly district of Kishtwar free of cost. |
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HC leader Ansari under house arrest
Srinagar, January 20 However, thousands of mourners took part in Moharram processions in all other
Shia-dominated areas, particularly in the central Kashmir district of
Badgam. Ansari, who heads the Itehad-e-Muslimeen(IeM), was put under house arrest on January 18 morning to prevent him to lead the Moharram procession in the Civil Lines area. A Hurriyat Conference (HC) spokesman said Ansari was not allowed to leave his Khankahi Sokhta house in the down town by police. The IeM has challenged the ban on the main Moharram processions in the city in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court and described it as a “violation of their religious and fundamental rights”. However, the court has given two weeks time to the authorities to give their response to the case. The police resorted to baton-charge to disperse mourners led by HC leaders at Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the summer capital. However, the mourners clashed with the police insisting that they be allowed to move towards the down town in the
procession. Similar clashes were also reported from other parts of the Civil Lines area. Official sources said about 60 mourners were taken into preventive custody by the police. Hurriyat spokesman said about a dozen people, including a senior Shia leader Aga Syed
Mujtiba, were also injured in police lathi-charge. — UNI |
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Tough ‘drive’ for professionals
Jammu, January 20 But being in Kashmir, he has to be content with being a driver with the Jammu and Kashmir Police. Ashraf’s is not an isolated case, but just an example of the growing unemployment among the educated and professionally qualified youth in the state, particularly in the Kashmir valley. Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said recently that he could hardly do anything about the problem. The problem of unemployment in Kashmir is too complex. Azad said, there is a notion that employment means the government job only. He said the state government was too overstaffed and there was hardly any scope for further recruitments. “Even if I recruit 50,000 more people, that is not going to solve the problem, we need to create avenues for employment and also focus on self employment,” he said. He revealed that last year the government had decided to authorise deputy commissioners to fill class four vacancies in their respective districts. He revealed that for 35,000 posts, there were 3.5 lakh applicants with most of them graduates and post graduates and a few even doctorates. The problem of unemployment is serious in Kashmir valley, because the people there avoid sending their children out, neither for education nor for the jobs. Like Ashraf, who did his engineering diploma with first class, there are many others, graduates and postgraduates, who are doing petty jobs. He said he felt better off with a monthly salary of Rs 13,000 than his brother, who is also an engineer but sitting idle at home. He said, there were scores like him who had got themselves recruited as constables in police. Some of them were even law graduates and quite a few were postgraduates. This was confirmed by a senior police officer also. He said, recruitment in police was relatively simpler and moreover, it is mainly the police, which needs people these days in Kashmir. People in Kashmir have mostly preferred to stay back there only. The two decades of militancy isolated them further. While youth from other regions like Jammu and Ladakh have been moving out to other places across and outside the country, Kashmiris are staying put in their home. With the result they stay idle hoping against hope that someday the government might launch a special recruitment drive. The educated unemployed youth are potential fodder for the militancy also. Local recruitments, which had declined for some time are learnt to have increased once again. Unemployment is considered to be one of the major factors. “Although unemployment is not directly responsible for the militancy, but it can always work as a contributory factor,” said a senior police officer. He said, since there is not much possibility of any outside investments in the valley and with declining number of government jobs, the only option is to motivate the educated and qualified youth of Kashmir to move out to different parts of the country. This, he said, will serve two purposes. One, the educated unemployed youth will remain busy and they would not deviate and second they can mix up with the people from outside, which can reduce the alienation also. He said, otherwise the problem is going to get complicated and lead to other unwanted consequences.
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Soz front runner for PCC chief
New Delhi, January 20 Sources said the issue has been discussed at the highest levels in the party and the effort is being made to evolve a consensus in consultation with the state leadership. The Kashmir group of the party has also deliberated the issue. The proposal being contemplated at present is of appointing a senior leader as PCC chief who will be assisted by three working presidents from each of the regions of the state. Water resources minister Saiffudin Soz, minorities commission chairman Mohammad Shafi Quershi and party leaders Abdul Ghani Vakil, Mohammad Aslam are among those whose names have been discussed as likely candidates for the PCC chief. While Qureshi was appointed minorities commission chairman only a few months back, Mohammad Aslam belongs to the Jammu region. Vakil is seen as a leader who may not be acceptable to the alliance partner PDP. Sources said Soz is being considered as the frontrunner, but there is opposition to his appointment from some senior leaders in the state. There is muted campaign from a section of the Congress in the state that the new PCC chief should be someone who has served the party for long years. Soz had joined the Congress some years back after leaving the National Conference. Sources said leaders opposing appointment of Soz as PCC chief feel that it could lead to creation of two centres of power in the state Congress. These leaders are considered close to Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. They have suggested Azad should be given the charge of PCC in the election year. Those supporting Soz’s candidature for the post say it will help raise the party’s profile in the valley. Though the Congress has more strength in the Jammu region, the party is keen to improve its tally in Kashmir. Azad hails from Jammu region of the state. Soz, who has been a union minister for the last two years, is unlikely to resign from the cabinet if he is appointed PCC chief. Senior party leader Pranab Mukherjee had also worked as president of West Bengal unit of the Congress while being a union minister. The Congress is also contemplating appointing working presidents from regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. A decision on new PCC chief has been necessitated following resignation of Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed over corruption charges. |
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CRPF firing triggers protest
Srinagar, January 20 The police said soldiers of the130 Battalion of the CRPF were on duty on the national highway when they noticed some youths running, which created suspicion in their minds. The troops opened fire, causing injury to one Sheraz Ahmad Bhat, 23, while another youth accompanying him escaped unhurt. A large number of people came out on the roads to protest against the heavy-handed approach of the CRPF. The Police said they had registered a case on the complaint of locals. In a suspected militant activity, a grenade, which missed its target, exploded and injured a civilian, Abdul Rashid Marazi, in Sopur. The police said CRPF personnel were on their way when militants threw the grenade at them. But it instead it exploded at a safe distance from them. They later cordoned off the area and launched search operation but in vain. UNI adds: A CRPF spokesman said a youth was injured after he tried to snatch a rifle from a jawan in Pulwama in south Kashmir district. However, locals who protested against the incident yesterday alleged that Shiraz Ahmad Bhat was injured in CRPF firing. CRPF spokesman Prabhakar Tripathi said three youths when challenged by a patrol party of the 130 Battalion CRPF tried to escape at Chursoo village in Awantipora of Pulwama district. However, two of them were overpowered after a long chase, while another managed to escape, he added. He said when the senior Company Commander of the CRPF reached the spot, people started pelting stones and raised slogans against the force. Meanwhile, one of the detained youths, tried to snatch a rifle from a jawan and in the process got injured. He said Shiraz, who was admitted in the hospital, and another youth were still under detention.
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392 road projects completed
Srinagar, January 20 This information was given at a maiden meeting of senior engineers of valley convened by minister for roads and buildings Jugal Kishore to review progress on road connectivity projects and also snow clearance operations in the back drop of recent snowfall here yesterday. An amount of Rs 377 crore has been utilised on these projects, which have been taken up under state and district sectors, Prime Minister's Package and Central Road Fund. The meeting, among others, was attended by secretary R&B, Shalaindra Kumar, and chief engineer R&B, Kashmir, Sheikh Mohammad Hussain. While taking in depth review of physical and financial achievements of various ongoing projects, it was informed that widening and upgradation of Narbal-Tangmarg road and Khanabal Pahalgam road is in progress at a cost of Rs 226 crore. So far Rs 88 crore stand incurred. Work on
Batamaloo-Qamarwari, Dalgate-Zakura and other road projects was also reviewed and it was told that work is going on satisfactorily. Under NABARD funding 585 road projects have been taken up at a cost of Rs 743 crore, of which 211 schemes have been completed while work is in progress on other projects. He asked them to ensure that the funds released are utilized judiciously and in full with on ground results saying that better road network was imperative for overall development of the state. He stressed for quick removal of snow from roads to ensure hassle free movement of traffic. |
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Holed up militant killed
Srinagar, January 20 A defence ministry spokesman said troops of 30 and 22 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police launched a joint operation at Mandigam village, Handwara, in the frontier district of Kupwara today. Militants later entered the house of one Mushtaq Ahmad Mir after a brief encounter with troops. Later, reinforcements were rushed to the area from nearby camps and the cordon around the particular house was further tightened after all civilians were rescued. Militants continued firing on troops when they were asked to surrender, he said adding one of the militant was killed and the operation was still going on. He said the militants belongs to Pakistan based LeT. Official sources said militants hurled a hand grenade towards a security force patrol party at main market Sopore, about 55 km from here in Baramulla district. However, it missed the intended target and exploded on the roadside injuring a pedestrian identified as Abdul Rashid Marazi. The injured was hospitalised, the sources said, adding that the police later conducted search operation in the area but militants managed to escape.
— UNI |
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Centre asked to accord sanction against forest officer
New Delhi, January 20 The investigations against Aizaz Ahmed Bhat, an Indian forest services officer, had been completed and before chargesheeting him in the court, a sanction for prosecution was required from the Centre’s Department of Personnel, official sources said. Bhat, who may have to face a probe from the US as well, was arrested by the state police on September 19 last year after he was suspended from his post. The official was also questioned by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation after the American Mission was informed by the state authorities about his arrest under the Indian Passport Act for allegedly suppressing information about his US citizenship while applying for an Indian travel document. Bhat has also been slapped with some more charges, including violation of the Foreigners Act and Immigration Act, as he had given a wrong address on disembarkation card during his travel from the US in May last year. Bhat had allegedly violated the Foreigners Act by entering Jammu and Kashmir without an “inner line permit”, as required by every foreign national.
— PTI |
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Ex-SIDCO manager, 2 others chargesheeted
Srinagar, January 20 A spokesman of the CB said a complaint was received that a manager and two other persons had withdrawn loan worth lakhs of rupees from the SIDCO fraudulently for an industrial unit which never existed. He said an FIR was received and during the investigation the CB found that lakhs of rupees had been sanctioned in favour of Nazir Ahmad Wani, proprietor M/S Modern Toy Electronics Rangreth. After checking the documents and other evidence, the CB found that a former manager of SIDCO Zafar Ahmad Jalali sanctioned a huge amount of loan in Wani for setting up an industrial unit. The machinery for the unit was shown to have acquired from Shakeel-ur-Rehman of Budshahnagar, Natipora proprietor Himaliyan, Srinagar. Similarly, a cheque was issued in favour of Shakeel, the Crime Branch said adding that the accused Jalali had violated all norms to ensure fraudulent disbursement of the loan in favour of Wani. — UNI
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Bird Flu Samples test negative
Jammu, January 20 But the Jammu Municipal Corporation has not devised any strategy to check the outbreak of the virus in the region. Speaking to The Tribune, Mayor of Jammu Municipal Corporation Narinder Singh said, “Though no case of bird flu has so far been detected in our part of the country, we have kept all our units in alert to check any inflow of affected birds in Jammu.” However, he admitted that the Jammu Municipal Corporation does not have any equipment to test the presence of bird flu virus in poultry birds. “We admit that we don’t have any testing facility for detecting the presence of H5N1 virus in poultry birds, though we have testing facilities for sheep and goats. Testing of poultry birds is done by the Animal Husbandry Department,” he said. Though as per officials of the state Animal Husbandry Department no positive case of bird flu has so far been detected in the state. As per official figures, 3,200 samples of the chicken from various parts of the state were examined for the presence of H5N1 virus in various laboratories of the state, however not a single positive case has so far been reported by the department.
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Srinagar, January 20 He said the approval for four years from 2008 to 2012 was accorded during a meeting held under the chairmanship of district development commissioner, Baramulla, who was also the chairman of the society. The spokesman said the main focus would be on construction of buildings for sub-centres and primary health centres, recruitment of specialists and para-medical staff for hospitals as per Indian public health standard, upgradation of all PHC’s and CH’s in rural areas with latest equipment, machinery and construction of district store for medicines being supplied to the blocks. He said the thrust areas of the mission would be taking care of maternal health, dental and child health, immunisation, family planning and adolescent health. — UNI
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Govt supports terrorism, accuses NC
Jammu, January 20 Former minister and senior National Conference leader Surjit Singh Slathia while addressing a public gathering in Ramloo Brahaman in Ramgarh town in Jammu said, “The present government is harbouring terrorism and supporting the militants.” “The government has failed to address the problems of the people of the state. All their promises were false and people have realised that they were power hungry and not their well-wishers”, he added. Accusing the state government of “failure” at all fronts, he said “The government has failed at all fronts as it was not able to provide any basic amenities to the people of the state. The people have now realised that the National Conference is their own party and in the coming elections they would throw the ruling alliance out of the power.” |
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Dy advocate-gen passes away
Jammu, January 20 Dogra breathed his yesterday at Apollo hospital in the national capital, official sources said
here today. Dogra was attacked by the assailants when he was on his way to his residence at
Udhayawala, on the outskirts of Jammu city on January 10, they said. Initially, deputy advocate general was treated in the government medical college hospital here, but later referred to Apollo, they said, adding the body will be sent to Jammu today. All the six accused, involved in the attack, have already been arrested by the police.
— PTI
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Fine, imprisonment for hotel owner
Srinagar, January 20 A fine of Rs 1,37,675 besides imprisonment of the accused, Abdul Qayoom Beigh, managing partner of Hotel President, Sonwar, Srinagar, till rising of the court has been imposed upon him. The case was registered on October 24, 2000, following a complaint from the
director, Estates, alleging that in the course of verification of their records it had surfaced that the owner of Hotel President, Sonawar, Srinagar had fraudulently drawn against fake bills of rent for the hotel. During the course of investigation the involvement of any public servant in these fake drawals was not made out and involvement of the hotel owner was established and offences proved against him. |
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12 govt officials suspended
Srinagar, January 20 He said on the instructions of Budgam deputy commissioner Khawaja Farooq Ahmad Renzu, a checking squad led by additional DC inspected various offices in the district. During the inspection, 12 officials of different departments were found absent from duty without any sanction. In similar action in Baramulla district, 13 officials were suspended on Friday, he added.
— UNI |
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Two clashes during Moharram in different parts of the valley have left one person dead and over 20 injured, the police said today.
