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Poll: Cong concentrates on far-flung areas
Govt turns state into Bihar: Omar
Valley haven for stolen Punjab cars
Jawan’s suicide murder? |
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Baghliar Power Project
26 cr spent on development projects
104 roads to be constructed
Poonch becoming hub of thieves
Man gets life term after 18 years
Stress taking toll on security forces
Wheat crop suffers for want of water
Insurer wins case as driver had fake licence
Rajouri allotted Rs 58 cr under annual plan
Azad seeks corporate help to boost healthcare Private buses
remain off road
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Poll: Cong concentrates on far-flung areas
Udhampur, April 22 Instead of attending their offices in the Civil Secretariat most of the ministers are visiting remote areas and campaigning for the Congress. Even official functions have been turned into political events by the minister to further consolidate vote bank for the party. They are concentrating more on Poonch, Rajouri, Udhampur, Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar districts to increase party tally in the coming assembly elections. The party considering Jammu, Samba and Kathua its stronghold, the Congress leaders this time are utilsing their sources to win maximum seats from Ramban, Doda, Udhampur and Kishtwar districts of Jammu province. While the Minister of Roads and Buildings, Jugal Kishore Sharma has been frequently visiting Udhampur, Ramban and Reasi districts, newly appointed Minister of Tourism, Forest and School Education, Ghulam Mohammed Saroori has beem assigned the job to kick off campaign in Doda and Kishtwar districts. Taking benefits of their official positions these ministers have been aggressively campaign in the districts allotted to them. Ghulam Mohammed Saroori conducted an extensive tour of various areas of Bhalssa, Gandoh Kahara, Batri, Bhatyas and Chinyas and took stock of ongoing development works in these areas. The minister was accompanied by senior Congress leader Ghulam Mustafa Azad, a number of Congress workers and officers. He addressed public meetings at Kahara, Bathri, Bhatyas, Chinyas and Challer and also inaugurated a newly upgraded High School, Challer. The minister highlighted achievements undertaken by the coalition government and reiterated commitment to equitable development of all the areas of the state. He called upon the people to strengthen hands of the Congress and reaffirmed faith and confidence in the leadership of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. Although the Chief Minister is a native of Doda district, Ghulam Mohammed Saroori has taken the charge of consolidating party’s position in Doda and the adjoining district. Saroori is himself a MLA from
Inderwal, constituency of Kishtwar district. In the 2002 assembly
elections the Congress won two seats from erstwhile Doda district while it secured only one seat from Reasi district. It lost all the three seats of present Udhampur district. |
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Govt turns state into Bihar: Omar
Rajouri, April 22 Continuing his invective against the coalition regime, Omar said the divisive politics of the ruling alliance would have serious repercussions and lead the state to the path of disaster. “The day is not far behind when we will be at par with Bihar for corruption, violence and lack of development,” Omar said. “The people in Jammu and Kashmir have become victims of fissures within the coalition partners, lack of consensus and thirst of power.” “The multiple power centres within the coalition and a rate race to defeat others has given rise to the weakest ever government to the state of Jammu and Kashmir,” he added. Alleging that the policies adopted by the state government have created a sense of frustration among the common masses, Omar said they were being fed with hollow slogans and tall claims. He asserted that the coalition was playing politics in the name of religion, caste and region and added “any such attempt” would have serious consequences in future and people should take serious note of such methods being adopted by the ruling alliance. “Unity and integrity are the basics of our heritage and we should remain cautious about the elements, which want to create a wedge among us for their own political interests,” he said. There, he said, should be no leniency towards those who seek to discriminate on the basis of religion and region and such parties deserves a befitting reply in the ensuing Assembly elections. Asserting that the state belongs to all and all have equal rights to it, Omar said it was the responsibility of all to ensure security of life and property of every citizen. “If the strategy and approach of the coalition alliance is not checked, the weak and downtrodden would be crushed and the state's unity and integrity would be in danger,” he said adding that division of the state on religious, cast, ethnic and regional lines would lead the state to a catastrophe. Jammu and Kashmir, he said, has a history of tolerance and communal harmony and it could not be shattered by playing cheap politics. “We are the most tolerant civilisation and we cannot divide people on the basis of religion, cast and race,” he said. “Frustrated political leaders in the state, who have played with the dismay of the state in the last five and half years, will face defeat in the coming polls and will get a befitting reply from the people of the state for their politics of deceit and manipulations,” the NC president said. |
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Valley haven for stolen Punjab cars
Srinagar, April 22 Sources said car lifters had taken a fancy to far-flung cities of Kargil and Leh in Ladakh. The Jammu police recently seized several cars, stolen from Ludhiana, Mohali and Chandigarh which bore fake number plates. Many stolen cars were running in these districts on fake papers. Indeed, luxury vehicles like Scorpio and Tavera were liked by auto lifters as they were preferred in the tough terrains of Ladakh, sources added. Police officials told The Tribune that inter-state gangs of auto lifters found it convenient to dump their loot in the valley’s black market as poor policing, combined with the valley’s distance with the rest of the country often dissuaded the police of other states to follow the trails to Kashmir. A Srinagar court recently went public with a list of 175-odd stolen vehicles, records of which were deposited with it by the police. It revealed that about 50 vehicles were from outside the state, while many were without registration numbers. A senior police official said small cars were in good demand and stolen vehicles provided a good bargain from both sides. At times, he said, gang members managed fake ownership papers to pass off these vehicles as
genuine if asked by the police. A police official at the Karan Nagar police station said his team recently seized a stolen truck with a New Delhi registration number. Later, we were approached by some people known to the accused with papers, which showed their ownership rights, he added. “I contacted the truck company with its details and these so-called “owners” were found fake,” he said. Sources said SSP, Srinagar, A.S. Mujtaba, had asked police stations to prepare a list of all seized vehicles with them and approach the National Crime Record Bureau to trace their ownership. The move could be especially useful to reach the owners of cars with outside registration numbers. Sources said the police of other states, under whose jurisdiction cases were registered, were often coy in following leads to places like Leh or Srinagar due to the
forbidding terrain. |
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Jawan’s suicide murder? Jammu, April 22 Devinder Singh, a CRPF jawan, had allegedly shot dead his company commander and another colleague, before allegedly committing suicide on April 21. Though the police and the CRPF claimed that Devinder had killed himself after firing at his colleagues, sources informed The Tribune that Devinder was killed by other CRPF jawans. Contrary to the claims of the police and the CRPF officials, eye-witnesses said Devinder’s body bore eight bullet shots, whereas the police claims that Devinder died after he shot himself twice. “Devinder could have been arrested, but he was killed when other CRPF men fired at him. The CRPF claims that Devinder was holding a Light Machine Gun, but it is very difficult to commit suicide while holding an LMG,” sources said. “Eight bullets were found on his body and the marks were quite visible,” sources added and said that the police and the CRPF did not allow Devinder’s body to be photographed. “In their hurry to hush up the case, the viscera was not collected, nor was Devinder’s body photographed,” they said. Ashok Sharma, SP, Katra, told The Tribune, “You carry on with whatever your sources say, but I myself have seen two bullet wounds on Devinder’s body. The post-mortem report is awaited and I can not say anything further.” The police had nothing to say when asked why an injured Devinder was not flown to the Government Medical College, Jammu, while two of his colleagues had been admitted. “It is not known why the police is trying to hush up the case. Anyone who has seen Devinder’s body can confirm that he had eight gunshots and a person who commits suicide can in no way fire as many bullets to kill himself,” sources said.
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Baghliar Power Project
Jammu, April 22 It has been decided that the state would blacklist JayPee industries if it failed to complete the Baglihar power project by June 30 this year. The 450-MW Baglihar power project that had once become the bone of contention between two nuclear power nations was commissioned in year 2000 by the then chief minister Farooq Abdullah, the project was supposed to be completed by 2005. “The deadline was extended many times, but every time it got delayed the state government had to shed an extra amount of Rs 1,000 crore,” an official source told The Tribune. On completion the project that was scheduled to be completed at an estimated cost of Rs 4,000 crore would produce electricity at a cost of whooping Rs 11 crore per megawatt, thus the electricity produced would be the costliest in the entire world. “Baglihar had already become an economically unviable project for the state government as a single megawatt of the power produced from the project would now cost a whopping Rs 11 crore.” “The cost of power produced is so high that nobody would purchase the electricity at such higher rates, the state would also lose money on every unit of power sold,” said the source. According to the sources, the state government had already raised loans of up to Rs 2,000 crore to fund the Baglihar project but till now the project has not been completed. The state government’s stricture would come as a huge setback for Jaypee Industries, which was eyeing more mega and mini hydel projects in the state. Earlier in 2005, Pakistan had sought intervention of the World Bank, which was the third party to the 1960 Indus Water Treaty. Pakistan had alleged that construction of the project was in violation of the accord. It had opposed the construction of the project, particularly the design and height of the dam. However, a neutral expert appointed by the World Bank had cleared the project with some minor changes in the design and height of the dam. The expert had asked India to reduce the height of the dam by 1.5 metres from the original proposed height of the dam, 144.5 metres. India agreed upon the reduction in height and the work continued. Meanwhile repeated attempts to contact the power minister of the state proved to be futile. |
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26 cr spent on development projects
Srinagar, April 22 Of this, Rs 10.23 crore has been spent on social and general services, Rs 5.29 crore on road communication, Rs 2.02 crore on rural development, Rs 1.96 crore on agriculture and allied sectors and Rs 6.28 crore on infrastructure development in the district. This was recently informed at a meeting of district officers under the chairmanship of district development commissioner, Bandipora, Sheikh Mushtaq Ahmad. The meeting was convened to review the physical and financial aspects of last year's district plan. Superintending engineers of all streams and the chief planning officer, Bandipora, were also present on the occasion. The meeting was also informed that 55 different works had been completed, 14-km road blacktopped, 49-km metalled, 114 youth given employment, 9 playgrounds developed and 197 damaged transformers repaired. |
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104 roads to be constructed
Srinagar, April 22 Over Rs 30.38 crore have so far been utilised on carrying out earthwork, solving, metalling etc. on the 140 km road length. Minister for consumer affairs and public distribution and animal husbandry Taj Mohi-ud-Din said this, while addressing a public meeting at Garkote area of Uri after inaugurating the 5.5 km road to be constructed at a cost of Rs 2.12 crore. He said 16 bridges were taken up for execution at a cost of Rs 6.57 crore, of which 10 bridges had been completed at a cost of Rs 4.67 crore. The minister said the government was committed to restore complete normalcy and peace in the state. He said the present government was planning to provide employment to 27,000 unemployed
youth of the state under Class IV category. He said Rs 150 crore were being spent on various sectors in Uri constituency. |
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Poonch becoming hub of thieves
Rajouri, April 22 Interestingly, this is happening at a time when the state government is taking steps to modernise the police. According to sources, this sad state of affairs has been going on for quite some time. Only yesterday morning, thieves broke open a locker inside the office-cum-residence of a local scribe and decamped with Rs 2,200 cash and a digital camera. The scribe Ramesh Bali working with national Hindi newspaper later lodged an FIR and according to him, the police has assured him prompt action into the case. However, sources in the police said track record of the Poonch police has shown that it has solved fewer numbers of theft cases in the past. There has been increase in number of such cases and since April 1 there have been 17 theft cases. “Since the police has failed to arrest the thieves in most of the cases, their (thieves) morale has touched a new high and they are now striking at will,” said a source. Sources further said during this month, there have been three theft attempts in Jhallas area on the outskirts of this border township. Thieves reportedly decamped away with a cash box of a temple and a gurdwara but they were unsuccessful while trying to loot a branch of Jammu rural bank in the same area. In one other such theft, thieves had struck in a house in the always-buzzing ward No 10 and had reportedly taken away a gas
cylinder. Every attempt to contact the Poonch senior superintendent police didn't materialise, however, a senior police officer on the condition of anonymity told The Tribune over the phone that the police has registered
all such cases. He also acknowledged that there has been increase in a number of theft cases during last some months. “Even as theft cases have increased, I assure you that culprits behind such offences will be soon brought to book,” he said. |
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Man gets life term after 18 years
Srinagar, April 22 A complaint was lodged by Durya Mann, son of Salam Din on August 16, 1991, at the Kupwara police station, against Baju Bagoo and Alam Din, sons of Abdullah Mir. It had been alleged that the accused assaulted him when he raised an objection not to raise the construction of their house. He also alleged that the accused hit Alam Din Katana on the head and he fell unconscious. The injured was referred to the sub-district hospital,
Kupwara, from where he was referred to the Medical Institute, Soura, for further treatment. Injured Alam Din Katana succumbed to injuries on August 22, 1991. During investigation, the allegations levelled against the accused were established and accordingly the investigation was closed as challaned against the accused namely Alam Din. The other accused namely Baju and Bagoo were dropped from the array of accused. The challan was produced in the court of law for judicial determination. The charge against the accused was framed on October 1, 1992, under Section 302 of the RPC and the prosecution was directed to produce evidence. In order to prove its case, the prosecution examined 11 witnesses during trial. All witnesses corroborated the contents of the FIR and as such the prosecution booked the accused under Section 302 of the
RPC. The accused was accordingly convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment with a fine of
Rs, 5000. His bail bond was cancelled and was taken into custody forthwith. The accused has been sent to Central Jail,
Srinagar. |
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Stress taking toll on security forces
Jammu, April 22 According to sources and eyewitnesses, CRPF jawan Devinder Singh, who allegedly killed his two colleagues before committing suicide, as stated by the police, was under great stress. He was on duty till 7 am on Monday. After an hour’s nap, the CRPF jawan was ordered to move along with the patrol party to the top post near the shrine. Though he accepted the orders, the remarks of the company commander Snoob irritated him. Devinder lost his cool and out of frustration pumped two bullets in the commander’s body. Experts said Devinder Singh, who had been recruited in CRPF in 2003, was treated shabbily. Had it not happened, he would not have killed his colleagues and himself, they added. Eyewitnesses said in and around the shrine area, which continued to be on the hit list of militants, no senior police officer has been posted. The security arrangement was being managed by an officer at the level of SHO, the sources said. Security experts were amazed at the fact that when Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh was scheduled to visit Katra and would preside over the convocation of Mata Vaishnov Devi University on April 25, no senior officer of the police or the CRPF have been posted in and around the shrine area for strengthening the security grid. |
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Wheat crop suffers for want of water
Ala (Bisnah), April 22 Apart from the vagaries of weather, farmers in these villages continue to bear the brunt of official apathy, despite tall claims of the Congress-led coalition government of embarking on a project to expand the network of existing canals in the state. Though farmers in Bishnah tehsil will start harvesting wheat crop this week, they feel the sparse supply of irrigation water via the Ranbir Canal will affect the ripening of the wheat grain. Some said the yield would also be less. Ranbir Canal, an offshoot of the Chenab, largely caters to the irrigation water needs of farmers in the R.S. Pura and Bishnah tehsils. However, it seems that there are no takers to address the grievances of farmers in Suhagpur, Powal, Marhoal, Chak Ram Dass, Karyal, Ala, Fatehgarh, Chibu Chak and Pandorian villages. Talking to The Tribune, Tarlok Saini of Ala village said, “Despite repeated requests, the irrigation department has not pay any heed to our pleas.” He claimed that villages got water once or twice a week. |
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Emotional moment for martyrs’ kin
Jammu, April 22 Her mother could not hold back her tears as she was presented the Sher-i-Kashmir police medal, which was awarded to her husband. “He was a brave soldier who never turned his back to the enemy. He attained martyrdom and laid down his life fighting for his motherland,” Rajesh Kumar’s widow said. It was a heartrending moment for the relatives of those police personnel who came to accept the Sher-i-Kashmir police medal for gallantry presented by Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad yesterday. The Chief Minister presented 48 Sher-i-Kashmir police medals to police personnel and officers for showing exemplary courage and 23 out of the 48 awards, were given posthumously. While appreciating the role of the state police in combating militancy and bringing peace in the state, Azad said, “Even if the situation has improved, a lot has
to be done.” Adding he said, “Disruptive elements will try to throw the state back into the old situation where they could benefit at the cost and suffering of the common people.” Director general of police (DGP) Kuldeep Khoda said, “The role of the state police underwent change and from an investigating agency, it has become a counter insurgency force operating in hinterlands and forward areas.” While accepting the fact that the police in the state lacked modern gadgets, he said, “Though we have several deficiencies in terms of sophisticated weaponry and communication cover and transport, the state police has acquitted itself commendably in the eyes of the public and the government,” he said. Meanwhile, the relatives of martyrs urged the government to take care of their family members. |
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500 ultras ‘waiting’ to sneak into state
Jammu, April 22 Defence sources have told The Tribune that nearly 500
militants had moved close to the LoC on the Pakistani occupied Kashmir (PoK)
side. They have been kept in small groups at places like Kotli, Bindi,
Dhallupur, Mamana, Hijira, Goie, Nikial, Bhimber along the LoC. It may
be mentioned here that intelligence agencies had already alerted
security agencies including the BSF about the presence of nearly 500
militants in different training camps across the LoC. The latest
development is being seen as a desperate attempt of militant outfits and
the ISI to boost the sagging morale of militants in Jammu and
Kashmir. Sources said that security agencies in the recent past
detected increased infiltration bids along the Rajouri-Poonch
sector. When contacted, a senior Army officer said, “Still 26
militant training camps exist in Pakistan, 21 along the LoC and the
remaining along the international border.” According to sources, over
60 militants have already sneaked into the state in first quarter of the
year. However, in the wake of intelligence inputs, the Army has
deployed additional troops along the LoC after withdrawing them from
counter-insurgency duties in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch. |
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Insurer wins case as driver had fake licence
Jammu, April 22 Passengers carrying commercial vehicle No JKQ-8335 stood insured with Oriental Insurance Co Ltd for Rs 1.50 lakh for “Own Damage”. The vehicle met with an accident when it was on its way from Kalakote towards its destination and suffered total loss. The claim before the Divisional Forum, Jammu, was resisted by the insurer mainly on the ground that the driver of the vehicle, Deep Singh, was possessing fake driving license even though it had been got renewed from the regional transport officer. It was specifically pleaded that the original driving license had been issued in the name of K.P. Sudhakaran and not in favour of Deep Raj. The Divisional Forum, Jammu, in terms of award directed the insurer to pay an amount of Rs 55, 030 along with an interest at the rate of nine per cent per annum with effect from two months from the submission of report of surveyor till its realisation together with litigation charges of Rs 300. The Commission observed, “Once the license is fake one, the renewal cannot take away the effect of fake license. From the record, it is established that Deep Raj was having a fictitious license. The licensing authority, Pathankote, clearly stated that the driving license No 1693/P/79 obtained on July 19, 1979 was issued in the name of K.P. Sudhakaran.” |
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Rajouri allotted Rs 58 cr under annual plan
Rajouri, April 22 Speaking at the meeting of the District Development Board here, minister for higher education, who is also the chairman of board said the current year’s annual plan of Rs 5,797.28 lakh has been funded for this district, which includes Rs 710.05 lakh as share from the Centre. He further said Rs 1,197.58 lakh would be revenue component and Rs 3,889.65 lakh as capital component of the plan.
— TNS |
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Azad seeks corporate help to boost healthcare Srinagar, April 22 Inaugurating a healthcare conference at SKICC here today, Azad said all of us should work to put the state on international map of destinations of specialised healthcare. Azad said the state government with the help of the Centre has focused on providing better healthcare facilities to the people and efforts were on to extend and upgrade existing healthcare facilities in terms of infrastructure, machinery, equipment and manpower. He said 33 hospitals were under construction on fast track basis and adequate funds were earmarked for purchase of equipment in the current fiscal year's budget. He said super specialties are being developed in the medical colleges at Srinagar and Jammu, which will raise these hospitals to the AIIMS level. He said attention was also being laid on the development of healthcare system at the district, sub-district and primary health centre level. Azad appreciated Dr M.S. Khuroo for bringing the faculty of Artemis Health Institute through imaginative concept of affiliation to improve healthcare services in Kashmir. He exuded hope that this initiative would benefit the people of the valley. He said recent trend in privatisation of health services is medical tourism, which was gaining prominence in developing countries. He said slogan of such enterprise should be first class treatment at affordable price. Azad said steps have been taken to strengthen the referral and basic healthcare infrastructure, as more than 90 per cent of patient load in the state was handled by the government health institutions.
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Private buses
remain off road Rajouri, April 22 The private transport operators are seeking hike in the passenger fares besides waiver of passenger tax. Even as the government was aware of the strike call given by the private transport operators, the commuters which largely included government employees and the students taking their annual exams — who were seen having tough time to arrange transport for themselves — alleged that government didn't arrange for some alternate mode. They also alleged that private transport operators just for their petty interests were making the common man to suffer. "Though the government knew that private transport operators will go on strike today, they didn't make some alternate arrangement. And see the people like us are suffering,” said Vijay Sharma, a student, of the Chingus area. "If the private transporters have some genuine demands the government should think over these. But they (private transporters) too must not indulge in blackmailing tactics and shouldn't take people to ransom". Reports from neighboring Poonch districts also suggested that the strike call given by private transport operators had quite an affect.
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