 |
|
MoD simplifies hiring of land for armed forces
Liberal leave policy no help to soldiers
Kashmiri Pandits demand jobs
Hike in fuel prices irks residents
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Azad briefs Parliamentary panel on tourism
KU campuses at Kargil, Kupwara soon
Rising fuel prices anger people
3 held for smuggling arms to Punjab
The police arrested three youths of Barnala district with arms and ammunition in Jammu on Wednesday. —Tribune photo by Anand Sharma
Students’ wait for DCI approval to end soon
Protest continues over paid darshan
Police-public mela on June 8
Houses damaged in flash flood
DD Chandigarh director laid to rest
Mufti advises people to keep NC out of power
LeT ultra held
|
|
MoD simplifies hiring of land for armed forces
Srinagar, June 4 This decision follows various representations from discontented owners whose properties were occupied by the armed forces and there was a delay in regularisation of occupation of such properties due to various operational reasons, a defence spokesman here said. The ministry has also delegated enhanced power substantially in favour of local commanders of the Army and officials of Defence Estates for speedy disposal of rentals at the ground level. The ministry had enhanced the rentals for acquisitioned land in Jammu and Kashmir from two to five times the prevailing rates in April last. Under the new guidelines, normally, no land or building should be occupied by the armed forces without completion of hiring formalities, the spokesman added. However, whenever their occupation becomes inevitable without first completion of the formalities, in the case of buildings, the Board of Officers should be convened promptly and proceedings completed within a period of 60 days from the date of occupation of the building. In the case of occupation of land, the intimation thereof should be given immediately to the DEO concerned and to the station headquarters so that the board of officers for regularisation of occupation of land is convened within a period of one month from the date of such occupation. The board proceedings should be completed within a period of 60 days, it said. Thereafter the case should immediately be processed for issue of administrative approval and sanction for hiring of the land by the competent authority. The defence spokesman said in the case of buildings, where there is delay in signing of lease agreement, the payment of due rental compensation would be released by the DEO, provisionally, as per provisions in unit accountant’s manual, up to a period of three months from the date of hiring of building without signing of the lease agreement, beyond which specific approval of the CDA may be obtained for such payment. The board proceedings should be completed within a period of three months. |
|
Liberal leave policy no help to soldiers
Rajouri, June 4 The defence ministry in order to control suicides and fratricidal killings has decided to go for a liberal leave policy. But according to sources, the troops were still finding it quite hard to get leave as and when they needed it the
most. Swapnil Badane (21) of Usmanabad district in Maharashtra, posted with the 286 Medium Regiment at the Advanced Landing Ground
(ALG) here, had allegedly committed suicide after he couldn't get leave to attend to his ailing mother. “Swapnil’s mother was very ill. Instead of granting him leave, his higher-ups allegedly punished him for asking for leave. He was reportedly asked to make six rounds of the ground,” an intelligence sources claimed. “During that time, Swapnil received a call from his home and was told about his mother’s failing health. Swapnil finding himself helpless to fulfill his duty as son of a ailing mother, allegedly shot himself dead at the ALG here,” the sources added. The Army sources said jawans didn't get leave when they need it the most (during celebrations like marriages and also in case of eventualities like death of relatives or family members). “Our higher-ups continue to create hurdles when it comes to getting leave,” said a soldier posted to a unit here asking not to be named. Jammu-based defence spokesperson Lt-Col S.D. Goswami claimed that liberalised leave policy is already in vogue. “There is no problem in granting leaves to soldiers,” the spokesperson averred. |
|
|
Kashmiri Pandits demand jobs
Srinagar, June 4 The march was taken out by the members of the Pandit community under the aegis of the Hindu Welfare Society. The Society threatened that if the demands not met, the members of the community still living in the valley would be forced to leave the valley. The demands included an employment package for 500 unemployed educated youths and rehabilitation of 65 families who had been locally displaced due to turmoil and were residing in rented houses in safer zones. The agitating representatives from different districts of the valley said they had submitted several memorandums to the state government to highlight their problems, but in return they only got assurances. “It simply means that the government does not want to have the secular character of the state although the majority community in the valley do favour us in all spheres of life,” the statement of the society said. Meanwhile, the Kashmiri Pandits Sangarsh Samiti (KPSS) working for the safeguard of temples and its properties in Kashmir for the last two years, has extended its support to the Hindu Welfare Society, a registered social organization to highlight the social and economical problems of the valley-based Pandits. Though the number of Pandits residing in the valley is believed to be around 4,000, the KPSS is shortly completing the first-ever census of the non-migrant Kashmiri Pandits, president Sanjay Tickoo said. |
|
Hike in fuel prices irks residents
Jammu, June 4 “The hike in the fuel prices has come as a shocking news for the people, especially the working class. The hike will not only put an extra burden on the pocket of the common man but also disturb the entire household budget.” said Mukesh Kumar, a local resident. “The rate of inflation has already broken the shoulders of the common man, and now with the hike in fuel rate, the rate of inflation will increase further,” said Vishal Kumar a resident of Nanak Nagar Jammu. Housewives are also worried with the increase in prices of LPG cylinders as they say that they will have to suffer, as the entire household budget will get disturbed. Meanwhile, as the news about the fuel hike came in the morning, gas station owners resorted to hoarding of the fuel and made huge profits by selling the old stock at newer rates. — TNS |
|
|
Azad briefs Parliamentary panel on tourism
Srinagar, June 4 The committee members, on a week-long visit to the state, apprised the Chief Minister about their visit to Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Royal Springs Golf Course, Hazratbal, Ali Masjid and Nageen Lake. They would also visit the Ladakh region, an official spokesman here said. Secretary, Tourism, Naeem Akhtar and Director Tourism, Kashmir were also present in the meeting. The Chief Minister apprised the members of the committee about the highest priority accorded by his government to connectivity, saying within next four years all villages of the state would be connected by roads. He said dependable and improved road and air connectivity for a place like Jammu and Kashmir was imperative for its socio-economic development. The development of tourism sector, he said, was also a focused area for the government and about two dozen tourism development authorities had been set up to develop and upgrade facilities and amenities at various tourist resorts in the state. The Chief Minister told the visiting parliamentarians that with the completion of terminal building at the Srinagar airport soon international flights would start operating from Srinagar. He said other airports in the state were also
being upgraded. |
|
KU campuses at Kargil, Kupwara soon
Srinagar, June 4 The decision was taken at a meeting of the Council presided over by Governor Lt-Gen S.K. Sinha (retd), who is also the chancellor of the university here on Monday. Chief Minister and pro-chancellor of the university Ghulam Nabi Azad, minister for higher education Gulchain Singh Charak, Kashmir university vice-chancellor Prof Riyaz Punjabi, Jammu university VC Prof Amitabh Mattoo and other senior officers attended. The university has already started the process of establishing new campuses at Anantnag, Baramulla and Leh while the Anantnag campus would be functional next month. With the two new campuses at Kargil and Kupwara, the twin universities of Kashmir and Jammu would have as many as eight additional campuses spread across the state. The revival of Mushir-ul-Haq Chair as Mushir-ul-Haq Chair for Inter-Faith Studies was also approved by the Council. The Chair would be set up in the name of the former vice-chancellor of the university and eminent Islamic scholar who was assassinated by militants on April 10, 1990. The University Council also approved setting up of the Department of Food Science and Technology with introduction of five-year integrated Masters and Doctoral programme in food science and technology. Punjabi informed that the executives of 15 national and international companies including Reliance, BPO Wipro Technologies, Dell, Barclays Bank, Bank of America, Bajaj Allianz, Prudential and Nokia Siemens Network were here for on-campus placement of the students of the University of Kashmir.
|
|
Rising fuel prices anger people
Rajouri, June 4 The petroleum ministry this morning announced hike in petrol by Rs 5, diesel by Rs 3 and LPG by Rs 50. “Every morning I fill in petrol for Rs 200 in my motorcycle to reach my work place. But since the government has increased the rates, my whole budget has been affected. However, we can't do much,” said Aasif Ahmed, a local contractor here who has to move to Nowshera for work. “This decision will rout the Congress party in our area,” he said. |
|
|
3 held for smuggling arms to Punjab
Kanachak, June 4 Addressing a press conference at Kanachak police station, SSP Alok Kumar said the police received a tip-off last night that some persons were trying to smuggle weapons out of the area. He said a police team along with the personnel of 14 SIKHLI (Sikh Light Infantry) set up a check post at Doomi on the Jammu-Akhnoor road. The joint team soon intercepted an Indica car (CH-03E 0674) and nabbed its three occupants. On carrying out a search in the vehicle, they recovered five Chinese pistols, an AK-47 and rounds of live cartridges. Those arrested were identified as Malkit Singh, Harbans Singh and Surjit Singh, all residents of Barnala district in Punjab. According to the SSP, during interrogation the trio revealed that they were to deliver the consignment of weapons to some person in Barnala. However, the police is yet to ascertain the source from where they received the weapons and the identity of the person whom they were to deliver the consignment. The SSP said they also confessed that they were smuggling these weapons to Punjab with an intention to kill Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh of Sirsa (Haryana) and Baba Piara Singh Bhaniarewala of Noorpur Bedi in Ropar (Punjab). He said they have also given some vital leads on which the police has started working. Regarding their background, the SSP said Malkit Singh was the general secretary of the youth wing of Shiromani Akali Dal (Panj Pardhani) and was released from Patiala jail in January this year after 10-month imprisonment in a case relating to the Arms Act. “Harbans Singh is a granthi at Gurdwara Quila Sahib, whose location is yet to be ascertained, while Surjit Singh was a taxi operator. The latter owns the car in which they were travelling last night,” he added. The senior police official said two mobile phones have also been seized from them, of which only one has a SIM card. Alok Kumar said they have contacted the Punjab police to find out more details about their background and also to trace the person who had asked them to collect the consignment of weapons from Jammu and Kashmir. He said a team of the Punjab Police will soon join them to facilitate joint investigation into the case. On any possibility of their links with outfits like Khalistan Commando Force or Khalistan Zindabad Force, the SSP said as the case was in preliminary stage of investigation it would not be possible for him to comment on it. |
|
|
Students’ wait for DCI approval to end soon
Jammu, June 4 Secretary of the Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare Naresh Dayal has approved the case of these students and a notification in this regard will be sent to the DCI within a couple of days, official sources disclosed. It may be mentioned here that 58 students admitted to the dental college in three different batches since 2004 have been pursuing their academics without the approval of the DCI. The sources said, after Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad took up the matter with the Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare, the latter has approved the case and within a next couple of days, a notification would be sent to the DCI. The DCI would be asked to approve these three batches with retrospective effect, they added. Confirming this to The Tribune, a top official of the Health and Medical Education Department said, “Naresh Dayal, who is currently visiting the state, has assured that after first batch approved by the DCI passes out from the college, the remaining batches too will be accorded approval.” The dental college, a brainchild of the then health minister and sitting Congress MP Lal Singh, continues to face problems since its hasty inception in 2004. “We have been facing mental agony for no fault since 2004 and now every assurance to approve our batches doesn’t convince us,” said a student. Azad assured us on at least three occasions that our batches would be approved but he too failed to fulfil his word, she added. |
|
|
Protest continues over paid darshan
Udhampur, June 4 Keeping in view the forthcoming Assembly elections, political parties too have jumped into emotional issue to gain public support. Activists of the Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha (BJYM) led by its state president Pawan Khajuria and Panthers Party workers led by Ranjeet Singh organised demonstrations at Udhampur. The Panthers Party activists took out a demonstration that passed through different bazaars of the town. Shouting slogans against the shrine board, the Panthers Party activists staged a dharna on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and blocked the traffic. The party activists alleged that instead of maintaining sanctity of the most revered shrine, the shrine board authorities were concerned over commercialising this religious place. Activists of the BJYM also took out a procession in Udhampur town. Meanwhile, a spokesman of the board said the term ‘paid darshan’ is a misnomer being used by many people unnecessarily. In fact, the new priority system that the board is experimenting with is just a mechanism to further streamline the yatra. |
|
|
Police-public mela on June 8
Srinagar, June 4 The annual exercise is a huge get-together for cops and their families who are treated to a slew of entertainment and shopping opportunities by the department. Officials said the J&K Police Wives Welfare Association and various other police and voluntary bodies would pitch in to host the day-long event. A large number of enterprises would set up over 40 stalls to sell their merchandise at a discounted rate and the shopping excitement is enhanced with lottery offers of various prizes that lucky shoppers could win. The fair has grown to become a big draw among the cops and their families beside locals. DG Kuldeep Khoda had a meeting with officials to take stock of the preparations and gave final touches to them. |
|
|
Houses damaged in flash flood
Srinagar, June 4 Due to heavy rains, the walls of irrigation canal of Veshaw nallah were damaged near Khud village and the floodwater entered the village causing heavy damage to three residential houses and partial damage to six houses, govt primary school building besides some cowsheds. Twelve sheep of one Mohammad Maqbool were washed away in the floodwater. The police said areas of Watoo, Check Watoo, Aharbal and Tangmarg have also witnessed heavy hailstorm and affected families and those vulnerable to it have been evacuated to higher places. |
|
|
DD Chandigarh director laid to rest
Srinagar, June 4 Sahil, who had been suffering from cancer for some time, developed liver problem and breathed his last at the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) here. A large number of people from different walks of life in the area and friends in electronic and print media from Srinagar poured in large numbers to join at the last rites. —
TNS |
|
|
Mufti advises people to keep NC out of power
Jammu, June 4 While addressing a rally here this afternoon, Mufti called upon party workers to educate the people about policies and programmes of the PDP. He called upon party workers to educate the people about policies and programmes of the PDP. “If you want development, corruption free administration and transparency then don’t vote in favour of the NC,” he said. "It was our regime that brought transparency and accountability in the government," he asserted. If voted to power it (National Conference) would again open Pandora 's Box and evil of corruption would plague the state, he added. He asked the people to participate in elections in a big way to strengthen democratic institutions in the state. Without naming the BJP, Mufti said that those who had launched malicious campaign against PDP bracketing it as an anti-national party should keep in mind that the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajapyee and his deputy LK Advani had endorsed the healing touch policy of the PDP. Emphasizing for the time-bound implementation of the recommendations of the Working Groups constituted by the Prime Minister, Mufti Mohammad strongly felt the need to reactivate and carry forward the sagging peace process, which was initiated after formation of PDP-led coalition regime in the state. |
|
|
LeT ultra held
Jammu, June 4 Acting on a tip-off, the police carried out a search operation and apprehended him. A mobile phone has been recovered from his possession. His brother Mohd Shafi was arrested by the Jammu Police in a hawala case a couple of years back. |
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Kanachak, June 4
