 |
|
5 ultras killed, Major injured
Dras records coldest night
Kundal Committee Issue
Proxy candidates likely to be fielded
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tight security for R-Day function
Govt to modify VAT for ex-servicemen
Psychiatric hospital needs expansion
Programme for schoolchildren
Students meet CM
Status of numberdar to be restored
8 smugglers held, illicit timber seized
2 die in separate incidents
|
|
5 ultras killed, Major injured
Srinagar, January 21 In an encounter lasting over 36 hours in Mandigam area of Handwara, a police district in north Kashmir, all three LeT ultras trapped in a house were killed, Handwara SP Haseeb Mughal said. The militants, who were killed in the encounter, were yet to be identified. The SP said the police received a tip-off on the presence of these militants in the area on January 19 and they launched a joint operation with 30 RR and 22 RR of the Army. Then the Army launched house-to-house search to zero in on militants, he said. “We established their presence in two houses and the operation party was directed not to retaliate until all civilians were evacuated”, he said. Haseeb Mughal said they asked the trapped militants to surrender, but they refused the offer and fired at them. The firefight stretching over two nights ended today and the dead bodies of all three militants were recovered. A Major of 22 RR had sustained injuries and some houses and cattle-sheds were damaged in the exchange of fire. The police said they recovered three AK 47 guns, six hand grenades beside ammunitions from the killed militants. In another encounter, security forces killed two LeT militants at Aliyaal Pora village in Shopian district. Pulwama SSP Nitish Kumar said they had surrounded the village after receiving the information regarding the presence of these militants and encounter began when they refused to surrender. One of the killed militants has been identified as Tahir-ul-Islam of Shopian while another militant is yet to
be identified. Police officials said the killings would be a major setback to LeT, who had already suffered several losses in last few months. This Pakistan-based pan-Islamic outfit, however, remains a most formidable challenge to the government after they have managed to marginalise Hizbul Mujahideen, an indigenous group unlike LeT, to a large extent. |
|
Dras records coldest night
Srinagar, January 21 A UNI report from Kargil said people in Dras experienced the coldest night of the season so far after the minimum temperature dipped to -27°C this morning, disrupting normal life. The day was cold as the maximum temperature was recorded at -13.5°C, the report said. It said a number of water bodies were frozen due to the severe cold. The authorities had already stopped the supply of water through taps to people in Dras for winter months. However, it is being supplied through water tankers. The night became colder because of clear sky after the recent snowfall, the
report added. Kargil also recorded the coldest night with the minimum temperature dipping to -21.5°C, while the maximum was -10.5°C, badly affecting normal life. A majority of people in both Dras and Kargil remained indoors owing to Moharram holiday today. Parts of the Dal Lake were again partially frozen this morning near the banks after the minimum temperature dipped to -5.7°C, four degree below normal. However, the frozen parts melted as the day progressed. Today was the second coldest morning, a weather office spokesman said, adding that the coldest night was on January 2 when the temperature dipped to -7.4°C, completely freezing major parts of the
Dal. Water taps in many areas were also frozen, affecting normal water supply. In 1986, the minimum temperature was recorded -7.9°C when the Dal lake was totally frozen and people, mostly children, played cricket and ice hockey on its surface. However, in 1998, the minimum temperature dipped to -7.5°C. According to records available in the weather office, the lowest minimum temperature was recorded on December 13, 1964, when water in the Dal Lake totally froze and a vehicle crossed the lake from one end to the other. The water-level in the Jhelum river and its tributaries has slightly increased as snow on the upper reaches has started melting due to the above normal temperature during the day. The upper reaches in the valley had experienced 5 to 10 feet of snowfall in the first fortnight of this month, generating a hope of sufficient water during the summers.
— UNI |
|
|
Kundal Committee Issue
Jammu, January 21 The Jammu and Kashmir Panthers’ Party has already decided to bring in a “breach of privileges” motion against the government for leaking the report to the press when the House was in the session. Moreover, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had promised in the state Assembly on January 15 that the committee report would be tabled in the House on January 16. Instead it was released to a particular newspaper, followed by another report, on the action taken in the subsequent issue. The Panthers’ Party president, Bhim Singh, today alleged that the report had deliberately been leaked by the government to please a section of the opposition, the National Conference (NC), by providing them the ammunition to seek the removal of two ministers, Tariq Hameed Karra and Qazi Afzal, both belonging to the People’s Democratic Party (PDD). The two are alleged to have been indirectly indicted by the committee. And these two are the prime targets of the NC. While Karra being a staunch loyalist of the People’s Democratic Party patron, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Afzal has defeated the NC president Omar Abdullah from the party stronghold, Ganderbal. The NC has already made the firm ground to seek the resignation of two of its bête noires after the Chief Minister sacked education minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, following allegations of corruption against him. He was also made to resign from the post of the state party president. After Peerzada’s exit, the NC will find the case of Karra and Afzal fit for their removal. Because, the Chief Minister has already set a precedent by removing one minister on corruption charges. Now he might find it difficult to defend the other two, particularly when, unlike Peerzada, they stand indicted by an inquiry committee. |
|
Proxy candidates likely to be fielded
Srinagar, January 21 Knowledgeable circles say that since the relations between Sajjad Lone and his brother Bilal Lone continue to be strained, the APHC leadership is not prepared to part company with Bilal, who is a member of the Hurriyat’s executive committee after Sajjad quit the conglomerate. Hence, Sajjad plans to register his strength by helping some of his candidates to enter the assembly. He would field candidates, indirectly, in various constituencies in Handwara and Kupwara areas, which have been stronghold of the Peoples’ Conference. It is yet to be seen if Sajjad Lone joins the third front for which the spadework was being done. As far as the third front is concerned, founder member of the PDP Ghulam Hassan Mir, CPM leader M. Y. Tarigami and transport minister Mohd. Hakeen Yasin are said to be active in giving shape to the front. Ghulam Hassan Mir said yesterday “There is no harm in having a third front.” He explained that during an election year “new political combinations” took place and one such combination might take the form of a third front. Asked whether his move will be a revolt against the PDP he said: “Why it should be so?” When reminded that there is already a Congress-PDP combination in the state which did not call for a senior most PDP leader to try for a third front Mir said: “When the poll dates draw near, new political equations will develop.” The PDP leader said: “There does not seem any scope for the moderate separatists for joining the third front.” When asked which other parties will form the third front Mir said: “It is too early to say anything about it. Wait and watch.” However, general secretary of the PDP Nizam-ud-Din Bhat expressed his surprise over the moves on the formation of a third front. He said any new front without the support of either the PDP or the Congress or the National Conference (NC) could be a “meaningless” political entity. He said there were two major political fronts in the state, the PDP-Congress and the National Conference, adding that the scope for the third front was very limited. Bhat said there were still months left for the poll and during this time not any major political development was foreseeable. He said this year elections were likely to be different from the 2002 poll because not even senior and tested leaders were sure of their victory. “You cannot expect to win the next poll through rigging as electoral malpractices have no scope now”,
he added. |
|
|
Tight security for R-Day function
Jammu, January 21 Sources in the Intelligence wing of the JKP told The Tribune that LeT had deputed at least three cadres to carry out suicidal attacks at crowded places, including MA Stadium, where the tricolour would be unfurled by Governor Lt-Gen S.K. Sinha (retd). In 1995, the then Governor K.V. Krishna Rao had escaped a bid on his life after three bombs exploded at short intervals at MA Stadium, killing eight persons and injuring 45 others. “Apart from Governor Sinha, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s security, too, has been beefed up and more NSG commandos have been inducted,” said an intelligence officer on the condition of anonymity. “Strict instructions have come from the Centre to deal sternly with those who may try to breach security of the Governor and the Chief Minister,” he said, adding, “The security of ministers has also been reviewed at a recent meeting.” He said, “An advisory has also been issued to politicians, including former ministers and ex-legislators of the ruling and opposition parties not to compromise on their security while attending public rallies. Similarly, CRPF personnel in strength have been posted in and around vital installations.” “With the state Legislative Assembly in session, security at the MLA hostel and residences of Jammu-based politicians, too, have been beefed up,” he said. |
|
Govt to modify VAT for ex-servicemen
Jammu, January 21 Indications are that the percentage of VAT on some CSD items may be approved by the government. The Cabinet sub-committee report has been received by the government. In Jammu and Kashmir, CSD items were brought under the cover of VAT and General Sales Tax (GST) from April, 2005. |
|
|
8 hurt as Sunnis clash with police
Srinagar, January 21 Youths belonging to the Sunni sect, protesting the alleged assault on them by Shias on Saturday evening, took to the streets and pelted stones at the police, official sources said. The police fired teargas shells and swung batons to scatter them, they said, adding eight persons, including three cops, were injured in clashes. Shops and businesses were shut in Gojwara, Nowhatta and the adjoining areas in the city view of clashes, the sources said. The protesters demanded action against Shia youths who, they alleged, indulged in vandalism on Saturday evening targeting Sunnis. Adequate policemen were deployed in sensitive areas to maintain law and order, the sources said. Yesterday, 25 persons, including five policemen, were injured in daylong clashes between the police and Sunnis as Jammu and Kashmir observed Muharram. The hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference, led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, appealed to the people to maintain calm. There was no place for sectarian violence in Kashmiri culture, a spokesman of the Hurriyat said after an emergency meeting of the
amalgam. — PTI |
|
|
Psychiatric hospital needs expansion
Jammu, January 21 Talking to The Tribune, Secretary, Health and Medical Education, K.B. Jandial said, “The government has been pondering over a couple of proposals. The hospital may be shifted to an appropriate place, may be within GMC Hospital premises so as to hand over the existing structure to Government Indira Gandhi Dental College for its expansion.” He said, “A proposal has also been forwarded to the government for constructing 30-bedded structure for such patients within the GMC premises.” Talking to The Tribune GMC Principal Dr Rajinder Singh said, “The Mental Health Act says that there should be a provision for such patients in the general hospital and hence we recently forwarded a proposal to the state
government.” However, official sources said, “In dire straits since its inception in the 60s, the successive regimes, including the present coalition government, didn’t deem it fit to either go for hospital’s expansion or shift it to a suitable place.” “Sandwiched between dental college and its administrative block, the psychiatric diseases hospital of winter capital has been a victim of official apathy,” they added. They said, “Being the only psychiatric diseases hospital in Jammu and considering influx of patients it needs immediate revamp.” Quoting a WHO survey a psychiatrist said, “By 2020 psychiatric patients will outnumber others to take the second spot after heart patients throughout
the world.” “Being militancy-infested state people here are more prone to mental disorders and influx of patients to the hospital is self-explanatory reflecting rising curve of such patients in the state,” he added. On an average over 200 patients daily come to the hospital’s OPD seeking diagnosis while 75 beds usually remain occupied throughout the year. It may also be mentioned here that the hospital has only three MDs in psychiatry, who have to examine OPD patients and hospitalised patients. Regional bias continues to haunt medical fraternity as well. A doctor at the hospital said, “The postgraduate faculty in Psychiatric Diseases Hospital in Srinagar was established way back in 1982 but for reasons inexplicable it has not been started here as yet.” |
|
|
Programme for schoolchildren
Jammu, January 21 Minister of state for forests, social welfare and school education G. M. Saroori launched the programme in presence of vice-chancellor, BGSBU, Masud A. Choudhary. The programme also intends to create awareness of the economic, cultural, scientific and aesthetic values of fauna and flora and provide opportunities to schoolchildren to acquire attitudes, values and skills required to protect and improve the environment. The four-week vocational training programme launched on the occasion is one of the various activities launched under the programme and would target students. |
|
|
Students meet CM
Jammu, January 21 The students with 6 teachers were taken on an excursion by the state police visting Delhi, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Jaipur and Ajmer. Azad advised the students to work hard and concentrate on their studies. He asked them to become good citizens and leaders for the better future of the state. |
|
|
Status of numberdar to be restored
Jammu, January 21 “To restore the identity, powers to the numberdars and chowkidars, a policy is on anvil. The government would also provide proper uniform to them so that they can be recognised as per their status”, he said. He said the government plans to provide accommodation to numberdars and chowkidars in revenue complexes at district and tehsil levels. “The aim is that they can cooperate with the administration and attend the visitors from their respective areas for getting redress of their problems with regard to revenue and other works”, the minister said. |
|
|
8 smugglers held, illicit timber seized
Srinagar, January 21 They said the police on specific information set up a naka at Kunzer in Baramulla district. During the naka, they noticed a group of people with a horse coming towards the main town. When challenged, the smugglers tried to escape, but were overpowered by
the police. A large quantity of illicit timber had been seized, they added. Sources said during another checking, the Charar-e-Sharief police seized illicit timber from a vehicle.
— UNI |
|
|
2 die in separate incidents
Srinagar, January 21 Ghulam Rasool Wani (50) was critically injured when he came in contact with a live wire at Yachgose, Keller, in Pulwama district. Later, he was admitted to hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. The sources said a vehicle hit and seriously injured Mohammad Amin Haji, a resident of Dal Lake, in the same area. He was admitted to SMHS Hospital where he died. In another incident, a vehicle hit and injured two labourers from Bihar near a petrol pump at Nipora in south Kashmir district. They were admitted to Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences at Soura. Road accidents are too frequent in the valley due to non-compliance of traffic rules.
— UNI |
|
| 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 | |
