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India, Pak must solve disputes amicably: Farooq
Gap between Cong, PDP widening
APHC to stay away from election process
Bring out truth behind killings: Kashmiri Pandits
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Remove peoples’ grievances: DGP to cops
Army Chief inaugurates students’ hostel
Cops rescue tourists
Policemen rescue tourists who were caught in the rain at the Dal Lake in Srinagar on Friday. — Tribune photo by Mohd Amin War
993 fire incidents since Jan’ 08 makes alarming reading
Social activist dies in road mishap
Poor traffic control causes loss of innocent lives
Traders offer free taxi service to pilgrims
8 held for holding procession
Kashmiri activists of the Muslim Khawateen Markaz light candles to protest for their demand to release Kashmiri men detained in different jails across the country in Srinagar on Friday. — A Tribune photograph
20 cops promoted out of turn
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India, Pak must solve disputes amicably: Farooq
Jammu, May 9 Responding to queries at an interactive session organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Forum for Peace and Reconciliation today, Farooq said, “Taking displaced KPs back into the valley and putting them in clusters would not be a good move unless congenial atmosphere is fully restored.” Farooq said both India and Pakistan should speed up the dialogue process and take it to a logical conclusion. He asserted that any solution to the Kashmir dispute should address the aspirations of people of all three regions. “Only this will pave way for the return of displaced KPs back to valley,” he added. However, at the same time, Farooq felt that euphoria over the Indo-Pak peace talks shouldn’t be created. “In a recent seminar at New Delhi, 20 Pak delegates admitted that terror camps in PoK were still intact,” he said, trying to convey intentions of the neighbouring country. He said without KPs, “Kashmiriyat” was incomplete but unless complete normalcy returned to the valley, they shouldn’t be forced to go back. Before taking KPs back to the valley, India and Pakistan in the right earnest should resolve their disputes as per aspirations of the people of the state, he added. Referring to KPs putting up in valley, he said, “Government should also ensure that they prosper because their prosperity may give hope to displaced KP families to return to their homes.” Talking about politics and religion, Farooq said both should not be mixed up. “Those who mixed politics and religion in the 1987 Assembly polls in fact started trouble in the state,” he added. They stirred religious sentiments of the people by giving slogans in the name of religion, he said. “Everyone knows who torched temples in valley and who encroached upon the property of KPs. I don’t want to go into details,” he added. |
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Gap between Cong, PDP widening
Reasi, May 9 PDP general secretary Dhaman Bhasin, who conducted an extensive tour of far-flung areas of Reasi district, minced no words in attacking Minister of Social Welfare, Abdul Gani Vakil for his failure to streamline functioning of his ministry. Mr Vakil belongs the Congress Party and is considered a close confidant of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. Addressing a public meeting at Reasi, Dhaman Bhasin took Congress minister to task for alleged bunglings in the mid- day meal scheme at anganwari centres in the remote areas of Reasi district. The PDP leader said he had covered the area from Salal to Dharmari and found most of the anganwari centres were non-functional. "Whatever area we visited, people complained about bunglings in the mid-day meal scheme,” he said and pointed out that most of the anganwari centres were found locked. Having a dig at the social welfare minister, the PDP leaders regretted that instead of concentrating on his department the minister was concerned about giving controversial statements to create confusion among coalition partners. "Being a coalition partner we suggest the social welfare minister to utilise his energy on streamlining functioning of his department,” PDP general secretary said and advised the minister to work for the betterment and uplfit of the common masses through his important department. In an obvious reference to recent statements of the minister in which he had opposed policies of the PDP, Mr Bhasin said, "it is very unfortunate that the minister is more interested in giving confusing statements rather than working for the masses". This is not the first time that PDP leaders have attacked the Congress minister. Recently, a senior PDP leader Choudhary Zulfikar strongly condemned the social welfare departmnt for mis-utilisation and diversion of funds under SCA to TSP component of the plan which is meant for the tribal population of the state. Choudhary Zulfikar had alleged that funds were meant for income generating units (70 per cent) but not even a single penny was put for them. Most of the funds were released by the department concerned without taking into consideration the aspirations and wishes of the tribal population of
the state. Abdul Gani Vakil has virtually launched a campaign against the PDP. Holding the important portfolio of the social welfare, Mr Vakil availed every opportunity to attack the PDP for, what he alleged, befooling people. |
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APHC to stay away from election process
Jammu, May 9 Party sources today said "the APHC leadership has come to believe that participation in the Assembly elections is a futile exercise because the process of election or selection has never settled the Kashmir issue." The sources said since 1952 several elections were held but none could resolve the basic problem of Kashmir and the polls had failed to fulfil the aspirations of people. The hardliners headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelai have already given a call to people to keep away from the polls. It is to be seen whether the APHC will also issue poll boycott call to the voters in the Kashmir valley or adopt an evasive policy on the matter. Indications are that the APHC may avoid giving a direct call to people to boycott the election because whether in 1996 or in 2002 elections separatists' call for poll boycott had not been fully responded to by people. It is in this context that the APHC leadership will make a formal announcement on its decision to boycott the ensuing elections. The APHC leadership will also announce its future strategy so far its emphasis on the continuation of talks at the bilateral and trilateral levels was concerned. Since the APHC leaders are likely to visit Islamabad anytime next month the party may take people into confidence so that their discussion with the establishment in Islamabad remained Kashmir-centric.
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Bring out truth behind killings: Kashmiri Pandits
Srinagar, May 9 They also urged them to end the allegations and counter allegations between the two communities in Kashmir. This appeal was made by Sanjay Tickoo, president of the Kashmiri Pandits Sangarsh Samiti (KPSS) in a statement here today. The KPSS is a representative body of the community members who preferred to stay back even after migration of Pandits from the valley, 18 years ago. Referring to the killing of its community members, Tickoo claimed that the version given by the government was not put to challenge by any one, including separatist organisations and civil societies, while the number given by the government was
not correct. “For their killings it is not only one agency that has been involved which forced the minority community to leave the valley”, he added. The KPSS has also appealed “to all erstwhile militant organisations, separatist organisations, human right groups, civil societies, including government agencies and people of the state to come forward so that the truth behind the killings, massacres,disappearances could be established in a proper way”. This would help end allegations and counter allegations made by various agencies, especially between the two communities in the valley, Sanjay stated. “While separatist organisations authenticate the government’s version of killing of Kashmiri Pandits during the
past 17 years, they never accept the government version that approximately 33,000 persons lost their
lives in the valley due to the conflict”, he stated. “Why don’t people in general and different agencies in particular, including militants, give a truthful account of various killings that have taken place?”, Sanjay questioned, adding,
that there was no satisfactory answer. |
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Remove peoples’ grievances: DGP to cops
Srinagar, May 9 Speaking at a police darbar at the subsidiary training centre at Sheeri in Baramulla district today, Khoda said the role of police had changed and not only had it got diversified, but had become difficult over a period of time. He said people’s expectation from the police had increased and advised the jawans to come up to these expectations. In his welcome address, Kifayat Haider, principal of the centre said the subsidiary training centre was established in Malsooma Sheeri village in 1989. He said the centre was under the command and control of Commandant JKAP 13th Battalion. The institution became an independent unit in 2000, with R.S. Jamwal as its first principal. Since its inception, the centre had passed out seven bathes of BRTC comprising 5,834 personnel, besides, a MHC course, a Kot NCO course and three pre-promotion courses. Presently, 1,006 recruit constables of almost all districts and units are undergoing BRTC at the training centre |
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Army Chief inaugurates students’ hostel
Srinagar, May 9
The Army Chief is accompanied by his wife and president of the Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA), Kirti Kapoor. The school is a joint venture of the Army under the aegis of the Border Area Development Project (BADP) and Care Today Foundation, an NGO of the Living Media Group. The hostel is spread over an area of about 4,400 sq feet and fulfills the long-standing requirement of a boarding school for children of far-flung areas. A defence spokesman said Gen Kapoor was on a three-day visit to the valley and would visit various formations involved in counter infiltration and counter terrorism operations. Gen Kapoor would also be briefed by commanders at various levels to assess security situation on the Line of Control (LoC) and in the valley, the spokesman added. Kirti Kapoor was scheduled to review various AWWA activities and visit few Army goodwill schools, the spokesman added. Speaking on the occasion, Gen Kapoor complimented the Army for the good work done in the area for the uplift of masses in general and for children in particular. He expressed deep appreciation of the Shakti Vijay Brigade and “Care Today” for their relentless and untiring efforts. He also emphasised the importance of education and stated that future generations must be highly competitive in order to compete in the present day global environment. Gen Kapoor also complimented the local Army formation Commanders, the Civil officials, and Care Today for their vision and dedicated efforts in facilitating the speedy construction of the hostel. Lt Gen P.C. Bhardwaj, GOC-in-C Northern Command, Lt Gen M. Sabharwal, GOC 15 Corps, Major-Gen J.S. Bajwa, GOC Vajra Division, Kirti Kapoor, president of the AWWA, and Deepa Bhardwaj, president AWWA Northern Command were among those present on the occasion. The event was marked by unveiling of the inauguration stone, tree plantation by Gen Kapoor and a cultural programme by children of the hostel.
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993 fire incidents since Jan’ 08 makes alarming reading
Srinagar, May 9 It included damage to property worth Rs 63.72 crore in 3,536 incidents involving 3,869 structures and loss of 76 lives across the Kashmir valley, though the number of lives lost had been the highest with 109 in Jammu division during 2007. During the first three months this year, there had been 993 fire incidents across the state in which property worth Rs 17.65 crore involving 1,018 structures was damaged and 46 persons lost their lives. It included damage to property worth Rs 11.53 crore in Kashmir and Rs 6.12 crore in Jammu, while 13 persons lost their lives in Kashmir and 33 died in Jammu region. Official figures revealed that property worth Rs 2206.65 crores was saved in fire fighting measures in the state during 2007, while during the first three months this year, property worth Rs 87.24 crore had been saved. While incidents of fire damaging residential houses, buildings and forest cover increased with the onset of summer in the Jammu region, its intensity was felt from July-August to the midst of winter in Kashmir. As the Kashmir valley has different climatic conditions, there is respite from frequent fire incidents with rain and snowfall in winter months. These incidents take place mainly with autumn dryness and low moisture, leading to highly combustible “A” class wooden structures. The main causes of fire incidents in this category of highly combustible structures in Kashmir are electric short circuits, LPG leakages and human carelessness, according to Dr G. A. Bhat, director general, fire and emergency services department. Of the 149 fire and emergency service stations already in the state, 112 are located in the Kashmir division, depending upon the requirements. It is equipped with advanced hydraulic platform, turntable ladders, advance rescue tenders, emergency tenders, multi-purpose tenders, water boosters, water tenders and imported portable pumps besides, floating water pumps and disaster management equipment.
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Social activist dies in road mishap
Udhampur, May 9 According to the police Rajinder Kumar Shan, a contractor of the State Forest Corporation (SFC), died in a road accident. He was coming to Kishtwar when his Maruti car skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge near Banihal this afternoon. Rajinder Kumar died on the spot. Locals swung into action and retrieved the body from the nullah. Shan was a prominent social activist of Kishtwar. For quite some time he remained associated with the BJP. He was also associated with some social organisations of Kishtwar. Citizens of Kishtwar have condoled the sad demise of Shan. Acccording to another report one person, Mohd Rafiq Sheikh, son of Basher Ahmed Sheikh of Qilla Mohalla of tehsil Bhadarwah died due to felling from a hill top. |
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Poor traffic control causes loss of innocent lives
Jammu, May 9 The drivers plying their vehicles on various routes of the state are least bothered about the safety of passengers and what they worry about is more and more passengers so as to earn more money. In the absence of proper traffic management by the state traffic police, the transport operators float all norms and resort to overloading and “violation of speed limits.” As per an estimate, the number of people killed due to road accidents is far greater to the number of people who have so far lost their lives to terrorism in the state. Just yesterday around 40 people lost their lives when the ill-fated bus in which they were traveling fell into Chenab river. Locals had alleged overloading and negligence by the traffic police responsible for the accident. People allege that the traffic police personnel deployed to manage the traffic have been indulging in malpractices and slipping from their duties. “The traffic police personnel deployed to regulate the traffic in Jammu are least bothered to do the main job, what they want is money and they just demand bribe from anyone found violating the norms,” said Jasdeep Singh Bali, a resident of Sidra, Jammu. Adding, he said, “The problem of overloading is so much that it becomes difficult for passengers inside to breathe.” On the outskirts of Jammu city the traffic condition is grimmer, where the drivers are least bothered about the safety of the passengers. “A journey of two hours on the Jammu-Kathua highway, literally kills a man thousand times, the drivers overload the vehicle to such an extend that many a time it becomes difficult for him to control the vehicle,” said Kuldeep Raj, a resident of Kathua. Officials of the state traffic police department blame lack of manpower responsible for the mismanagement of traffic in the region. The government is non-serious in increasing the manpower in the department, with such a limited manpower how can one expect that we can regulate the traffic of the entire region properly,” an official of the state traffic police department said.
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Traders offer free taxi service to pilgrims
Srinagar, May 9 The Taxi Association said it would render free transport services to sadhus and other weaker sections of devotees from Pahalgam to Chandanwari. The Pahalgam traders have offered cut throat rates to pilgrims undertaking pilgrimage through the traditional route and sought support of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) in carving out a bigger role for the local business community. The traders during their meeting with the chief executive officer, SASB, Arun Kumar last evening said the Pahalgam Hotel Association was ready to slash down tariff drastically, bringing it at par with the rates of tentage accommodation. They appealed that no one should be stopped from staying in their hotels during the yatra period. Chairman of the association, Javed Burzza, said hoteliers had extended hospitality to the pilgrims, as the pilgrimage had been the only silver lining during the peak of militancy when tourist influx to the valley was almost zero.
“It will not be an exaggeration to say that our sustenance during that period was due to Amarnathji pilgrimage,” he added. The association said it was not averse to having the Nunwan base camp but it should not be at the cost of hoteliers, whose business had suffered immensely during the past few years. They complained that the security exercise had created various obstacles for carrying out their avocations and called for its streamlining. —
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Srinagar, May 9 About 50 burqa-clad activists of the Markaz led by their chairperson Zamrooda Habib took out a procession from Abi Guzar area of the city with burning candles in their hands to protest against the alleged “ill treatment” of Kashmiri detenues lodged in jails in and outside the state. As the protesters reached Regal Chowk, policemen tried to persuade them to disperse but they refused, the sources said. When they tried to break the police cordon, the policemen bundled eight of them into a vehicle and lodged them in Kothi Bagh police station. However, rest of the activists fled from the scene. Talking to mediapersons Zamrooda said the procession was meant to invite the attention of various world agencies towards the plight of Kashmiri detenues lodged in jails in and outside the state and to express solidarity with their families. — PTI
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Srinagar, May 9 and property.Thirteen constables were promoted to selection grade, six selection grade constables elevated to head constables and an assistant sub-inspector given sub-inspector’s rank as per orders issued by Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda here."These promotions have been ordered in recognition of the exemplary manner in which the state police is tackling militancy and protecting the life and property of the people of the state," Khoda said. The DGP said the number of civilian casualties had come down drastically to 25 from 58 last year while casualties in police and security forces had fallen to 19 from 37in the first quarter last year.He said a large number of top foreign mercenaries and local militants had been eliminated in operations since January this year.While 108 militants were killed in the first quarter of this year as against 114 in the corresponding period last year, militant attacks had been reduced to 215 from 315 in the same period last year. The police force has lost more than 1,400 officers and men in the 19 years of militancy, Khoda said, adding that "much has been done and more remains to be done and the police has to keep itself ready to make any sacrifice." — PTI
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Srinagar, May 9
Srinagar, May 9
