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Killing of Sikh in Mumbai rocks city
Infiltration bid foiled, 4 militants killed
BSF instructors accused
of sexual harassment
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Amarnath Board
More than 23,000 leave for yatra
APHC delegation leaves for Pak
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Hurriyat Conference chairman, hugs senior Hurriyat leaders before leaving for Pakistan at the Srinagar Airport on Saturday. A Tribune photo
Transfer of Forest Land
Centre assures help to boost handicrafts industry
Will meet Baig to clarify matter: Arun Kumar
BSP finalises candidates for Udhampur, Doda
Consider compassionate appointment cases: HC
NC MLA accuses govt of bungling funds
2 die in mishaps
Absent employees suspended
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Killing of Sikh in Mumbai rocks city
Jammu, June 21
Angry protesters also burnt an effigy of Gurmeet Ram Rahim. Raising anti-Dera Sacha Sauda slogans, they also burnt tyres on the road. Sikhs protesters alleged that the killing had taken place to belittle the Sikh community. Earlier, members of the Sikh community had protested against Gurmeet Ram Rahim when he had appeared in a photograph dressed as the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. “Gurmeet Ram Rahim has been hurting our sentiments. We want him to be behind bars as he is polluting the country’s secular nature,” Inderjeet Singh, a protesting Sikh, said. The community has threatened to launch a statewide agitation against Gurmeet Ram Rahim if the government failed to take stringent action against him. “There are many cases pending against him. He is using his influence to hush up all cases against him. He also influences the government because of his vote bank politics. We want action to be taken against him,” Kulwinder Kour, a protesting Sikh woman. The members of the Sikh community have urged the Union government to arrest Gurmeet Ram Rahim and file a case of treachery against him for hurting the religious sentiments of the people. “Is he above the law? If the government wants to restore people’s faith in the Constitution, then action needs to be taken against him,” Manjeet Singh, another protesting Sikh, said.
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Infiltration bid foiled, 4 militants killed
Srinagar, June 21 When challenged and asked to surrender, militants opened fire. Security forces retaliated, killing four militants. The operation was going on when the reports last came in.
This was the second infiltration attempt since defence minister A.K. Antony visited the border area on June 17. Meanwhile, Kuldeep Khuda, director general of police, has said the police was alert to any situation arising out of the presence of a large number of militants in the state. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a passing out parade, Khuda said more than a 1000 militants were operating in the valley.
”We have formed secret forces and are vigilant. We are rigorously engaged in our efforts to fight terrorists to ensure peace in the valley,” Khuda said. On Friday, a self-styled divisional commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit was killed in a joint operation by the Army and police in Baramulla district. According to sources, troops of the 32 Rashtriya Rifles and Special Task Force (STF) of the local police launched the operation at Dangiwats-Khaipora following specific information about the presence of the militants.
— Agencies
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BSF instructors accused
of sexual harassment
Udhampur, June 21 Around 400 recruits of the Bihar Military Police had joined two training centres at Udhampur and Jagnoo on June 1 for a 40-week training. Lokesh Kumar, one of the trainees who left the training centre, told The Tribune that one instructor called Pyush Kumar, a trainee, in his room and tried to harass him sexually. The fear-stricken constable raised alarm after which his colleagues rescued him from the clutches of the instructor. “As instructors crossed their limit on Friday night, we decided to leave the training centre to save our dignity and honour,” Lokesh said and claimed that almost all trainees wanted to leave the centre but some of them were kept hostages by the BSF authorities. They spend the night at the Udhampur Railway Station. “This is not the first instance. In the past also, the BSF instructors had made similar attempts,” alleged Manoranjan Sharma, a trainee. He regretted that they were forced to leave the training midway due to humiliation. Instructors used to taunt us as Bihari, said Lokesh. This morning, some officers tried to pacify the trainees but without success. They proceeded towards Jammu in a DMU. Meanwhile, DIG BSF Asaf Ali denied these allegations. He said it was all due to the toughness of the training that these constables left the centre. A missing report has been lodged in this regard, he added. The DIG, however, said he has constituted a three-member high-level committee headed by a senior officer to look into the
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CEO’s press briefing under scanner
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, June 21 This has been done with a view to reporting whether prima-facie the officer had violated the provisions of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules and accordingly recommend further action if necessary. The committee has been asked to submit its report to the government within one week, an official spokesman said today. The committee comprises financial commissioner coordination, J&K government, New Delhi, S.S. Sahni, IAS; principal secretary to government, Social Welfare Department, Dr R.K. Jerath, IAS; and commissioner/secretary to government, General Administration Department, Basharat Ahmad Dhar, IAS. Cancel order: Mufti Former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has expressed concern over the situation arising out of the land transfer controversy. “I am pained at the turn of events and would advise caution to all the stakeholders in state’s ecology, environment and cultural identity as also the government and the SASB,” Mufti stated here today. He said the controversy had drawn Kashmir to an unprecedented and dangerous polarisation over a matter of faith and a pilgrimage that had been conducted historically by the people of Kashmir and the state government with distinction and care. He said it would be dangerous to allow the situation to drift any further. He urged the state government to forthwith cancel the order diverting the land for use by the SASB as an immediate measure. He stressed the need to have a re-look by the state legislature at the desirability of having a separate board for the Amarnath yatra, which had generated controversies more than the amenities for the pilgrims. Legislation had led to the creation of the SASB in 2000. The PDP patron said he had from the very beginning advised the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board not to make this holy pilgrimage look like part of any agenda and instead allow it to flourish as it had been on the good will, hospitality and accommodation of the local population. It was ridiculous, he observed, to measure the event in commercial terms. |
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More than 23,000 leave for yatra
Srinagar, June 21 They included 15,511 pilgrims from the shortest trekking route of 12 km from Baltal to the cave and 8,300 from the Nunwan camp in Pahalgam, Madan Mantoo, director, PR, SASB, said. The traditional route of Pahalgam has 16 km motorable road to Chandanwari, where 32-kms-long trekking route via Sheshnag and Panjtarni leads to the holy cave. Though the number of pilgrims on both the places has been more than the stipulated 5,000 on each trek, officials said this was because pilgrims were enthusiastic. Officials said the heavy inflow of pilgrims would be regulated during the next few days. “We have been requesting the pilgrims to arrive as per the dates of registration”, Mantoo said, adding, that on-the-spot registration would be accorded to the maximum number of pilgrims. The state police has also issued certain instructions for the smooth conduct of the yatra. It has asked all intending pilgrims to carry registration cards so that no pilgrims was seen without any registration. Pilgrims only with due dates would be allowed to undertake the yatra, it has pronounced, adding that pilgrims would be allowed only on the permitted routes as assigned in the registration. Those travelling by helicopters had also been advised to undertake the pilgrimage on the due dates, while no vehicles bound for Pahalgam route would be allowed to move via the Baltal route, the police said. |
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APHC delegation leaves for Pak
Srinagar, June 21 “We are going to Pakistan, which has all along supported the struggle of Kashmiris,” Mirwaiz said here during his Friday congregation. During its visit to Pakistan, the APHC delegation would meet the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leadership, including the Prime Minister and other ministers, opposition leaders and people from different walks of life. The visit also assumes significance in the wake of the recent unity efforts between the two factions of the Hurriyat Conference. The Mirwaiz and Syed Ali Shah Geelani had their first meeting two days ago, after a gap of five years, ever since they parted ways. The two sides had decided to constitute a six-member committee to work out the modalities to formulate a united platform in the “ongoing freedom struggle”. The two factions held a joint protest demonstration led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani here yesterday, against liquor menace and other immoral activities, allegedly going on in Kashmir. Meanwhile, the Mirwaiz before leaving for Pakistan has constituted a three-member committee to negotiate with the Geelani faction committee members on the unity efforts. The members include Shabir Ahmad Shah, Fazal-e-Haq Qureshi and Shabir Ahmad Dar. It has also constituted a two-member committee comprising senior leaders, Sheikh Abdul Aziz and Nayeem Ahmad Khan, to have consultations on the issue of transfer of land to the SASB. |
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PDP communalising issue: Cong, BJP
Tribune News Service
Jammu, June 21 Talking to The Tribune today, social welfare minister and JKPCC vice-president Abdul Gani Vakil said, “The PDP, unfortunately, had been looking for issues to gain mileage. Earlier too they had come out with the slogans of demilitarisation, self-rule and Pakistan currency. However, now they have raised the land transfer issue in a way that communalises the situation. Ironically, they accuse other parties of communalisation.” “The Amarnath yatra symbolises Hindu-Muslim bond and it provides employment to thousands of Kashmiris,” he said. Senior BJP leader Nirmal Singh said, “While the PDP is trying to communalise the atmosphere to garner votes, the Hurriyat is exploiting the issue to recover the lost ground,” he said. “Amarnath pilgrims are not going to stay in the valley forever. The pilgrimage benefits Kashmir’s economy as it facilitates gainful employment for thousands of its residents,” he averred. The BJP also sees the possibility of an early election in the state. “The PDP doesn't want the Congress to win in the Assembly elections and it might pull the government down before the completion of its tenure,” said Nirmal Singh. Dr Mehboob Baig, vice-president of the National Conference, felt that all the PDP wanted was an issue and these were clear signs of the party's desperation. “The PDP is exposed. A resolution over the matter has been passed by the state Cabinet and the PDP is very much a part of the state government,” he said. “The PDP has forgotten demilitarisation and it is yet to define self-rule. Now, they have found this issue,” he added. “Even if the elections are advanced it won’t make any difference to us,” he said. Responding to these charges, agriculture minister and PDP leader Abdul Aziz Zargar denied that his party communalised the issue to garner votes. He said the issue was “unnecessarily raised by the bureaucracy.” Udhampur: Lambasting the Congress for maintaining a “criminal silence” over the nefarious designs of some forces to disrupt the Amarnath Yatra, the BJP today warned to block the movement of Kashmiri leaders from Udhampur if they continued with their attempts to sabotage the pilgrimage. Addressing a press conference, state secretary of the BJP, Pawan Gupta today said BJP workers would not remain mute spectators if Kashmiri leaders continued with their protest against the yatra. “We will not allow the Kashmiri leaders to pass through Udhampur”, he threatened and warned that the people were competent enough to foil the plans of Kashmir-based political parties to sabotage the yatra. Referring to the transfer of forest land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, Gupta said thousands of trees were axed when a private university was constructed in Rajouri district.
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Centre assures help to boost handicrafts industry
Srinagar, June 21 The minister was addressing artisans and officers after inaugurating a Craft Development Institute and Indian Institute of Carpet Technology at Baghe Ali Mardan Khan, Nowshera here today. Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, industries and commerce minister Nawang Rigzin Jora and minister of state R.C. Sharma, were also present on the ocassion. Vaghela said: The ministry is focussing on creating institutional support to the craft sector to make products competitive in the world market as traditional methods are insufficient in the present era of growth.” The Indian Institute of Carpet Technology, set up at a cost of Rs 545.30 lakh, would provide support to the local carpet and allied industry. The Craft Development Institute has been set up at a cost of Rs 9.104 crore and would provide research and development facilities in the field of managerial and process testing, field studies, ecological issues and process related issues. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said the annual turnover from the handicrafts sector was Rs 1,600 crore, of which Rs 1,400 crore came only from exports of the handicraft produce, mainly the carpet industry. He said more than 80,000 carpet looms would be modernised during the next five years. Vaghela said the exquisite craft products of the state, including Kashmiri silk and art silk carpets, embroidered Pashmina shawls, papier mache and wood carving had sought worldwide recognition and acceptance. Vaghela announced that his ministry had launched six generic schemes for the overall development and promotion of the handicraft sector. He also announced the launch of a raw material bank here, which had been sanctioned in favour of the State Forest Corporation for fir wood/khatamband craft, at a cost of Rs 2 crore for making raw material available to the artisans. Later, he also laid the foundation stone of the office complex of the Handicrafts Development Corporation at Bemina. |
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Will meet Baig to clarify matter: Arun Kumar
Srinagar, June 21 Some comments attributed to Kumar in a section of the media infuriated the PDP to such an extent that Baig accused him and Governor Lt-Gen S.K. Sinha of playing the “communal card.” Baig went on to allege that Sinha and Kumar wanted to “set Kashmir on fire”. Kumar said the comments from his side in the media were completely “untrue” and he would set records straight in his meeting with Baig. Though Baig could not be reached for comments, a party leader said they would have no problem in meeting Kumar. Kumar said he was busy with the Amarnath yatra and would soon meet Baig. The PDP, which has been vocal in its criticism of Sinha and the shrine board, has latched onto the controversy caused by the “diversion” of forest land to the board and tried to play the “Kashmiri regionalism card” apparently keeping in mind the forthcoming elections. Meanwhile, one of the PDP leaders has even filed a court complaint against Kumar for spreading communalism under Section 153 of the Ranbir Penal Code.
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BSP finalises candidates for Udhampur, Doda
Udhampur, June 21 After getting power in UP with the help of “upper castes” the BSP leadership has been working overtime to woo Gujjars and other castes in this state to consolidate its vote bank. The list of BSP candidates for Udhampur and Doda districts is an indication that the party wants to repeat the UP formula in the state with the help of “upper castes.” In the Ramnagar Assembly constituency where the BSP has a strong vote bank, the party has decided to field Vinod Khajuria, a Brahmin candidate. Khajuria, a defector of the Panthers Party, was earlier chairman of the Ramnagar Municipal Committee. In the 1996 and 2002 Assembly elections, BSP candidates secured the second position in Ramnagar seat. Similarly, the party has also selected engineer Ajay Singh for the Reasi Assembly seat. The party has also finalised names of Mohammad Sultan Malik for Gool Arnas and Hafiz Wani for Bhaderwah seats, respectively. Master Geelani and Mushtaq Ahmed would be the party candidates for Gulabgarh and Doda seats, respectively. Apart from finalising names of party candidates for the Assembly seats, the BSP has also announced candidates for the Lok Sabha elections. Rakesh Wazir, general secretary of the party, has been directed to start work to contest the Lok Sabha election from Udhampur-Doda seat. For quite sometime, the BSP has been desperately trying to woo nomadic Gujjars and Bakerwals to consolidate its vote bank in the Doda and Reasi areas. It is the only political party in the state which has been supporting the demand of granting political reservation to the Scheduled Tribe Gujjars and Bakerwals. |
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Consider compassionate appointment cases: HC
Jammu, June 21 The petitions were filed by Dev Raj, Rangail Singh, Subash Chander Thaker, Vinod Kumar Thaker, Rattan Lal Thaker and Swami Raj Thaker of Ladder village in Paddar. The petitioners said the then home minister Lal Krishan Advani visited the site and assured employment under SRO 43 of 1994. On the basis of reports/recommendations made by Kishtwar tehsildar, petitioners were found eligible for appointments on compassionate grounds under the J&K (Compassionate Appointment) Rules, 1994, in lieu of deaths of their kiths and kin. Accordingly the petitioners approached the state machinery, seeking employment on compassionate grounds. |
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NC MLA accuses govt of bungling funds
Jammu, June 21 “A huge amount of money has been bungled by the Congress MLA, as all contracts in the area were allotted to the party loyalist who give a large chunk of the embezzled money to the MLA”, former MLA M.K. Wani said, while addressing a press conference. The National Conference leader blamed the government of cheating the people of the Doda and Kistwar districts by not allotting them job cards. “Places having a population of 10,000 families show 15,000 job cards, whereas only 2,000 job cards have been given to the residents,” he said.
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2 die in mishaps
Srinagar, June 21 One person died on the spot and several others were injured when a passenger vehicle, in which they were travelling, turned turtle near Harwan here. Two persons were injured in a head-on collision between a Maruti car and an auto-rickshaw at Bemina here. The injured were shifted to the SMHS hospital for treatment. One person, who was injured in a road accident at Pampore about 10 days ago, succumbed to his injuries in the SKIMS hospital today. |
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Absent employees suspended
Srinagar, June 21 The Chief Minister has directed the administrative secretaries and heads of departments to ensure the presence of functionaries of all levels of respective departments. |
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Srinagar, June 21
