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Hizbul top gun finds no escape this time
Governor’s rule: Fifth time in state
Completion of projects tops Vohra’s agenda
Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra with the DGP at the civil secretariat in Srinagar on Friday.
Pats police for tackling terrorism
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Army helps upgrade school
Amarnath land row
BJP HQs to be renovated
Our decision to pull out timely: PDP
People lauded
Tributes paid to Sheikh Abdullah’s wife
National Conference party president Omar Abdullah and supporters of the party offer prayers at the grave of Begum Akbar Jahan, wife of late Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah, at the eighth death anniversary at Hazratbal on the outskirts of Srinagar on Friday. —Tribune photo by Mohd Amin War
GREF killing: 7 suspects held
BJP ridicules claims of Azad govt
Residents rue power shortage
Case registered against junior assistant
Oil tankers body calls off strike
Samiti holds demonstration
Major tragedy averted
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Hizbul top gun finds no escape this time
Srinagar, July 11 Ali Mohammad Khan alias Showkat, who had trained in Paksitan-occupied Kashmir for four years before infiltrating into Kashmir in 2004, was one of the most wanted militants in the area, the police said.“The militant escaped during search and cordon operations launched by the Handwara Police and the Army several times and had received six bullet injuries during breaking of cordons,” the police said. When the police received a tip-off regarding his presence in the forest area, they launched an operation with the 30 RR of the Army. During the cordon and search operation, security forces came under fire from the trapped militant. The militant finally tried to break open the cordon and flee away from the spot, but was apprehended. One AK-47 rifle, five AK magazines, 150 rounds, four Chinese grenades, one pouch and one identity card have been recovered. |
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Governor’s rule: Fifth time in state
Srinagar, July 11 The state is now poised for the elections, which otherwise were due to be held after the completion of a six-year term within next four months. The state has come under the Governor's rule four times during the past 31 years. It was first imposed in 1977, when the Congress had withdrawn its support to the National Conference government, headed by Sheik Mohammad Abdullah. It spanned over three months from March 26 to July 9, 1977. Sheikh Abdullah took over in 1975 after the Indira-Abdullah accord. The Congress, however, pulled out early in 1977 leading to the fresh elections in the state, in which Abdullah returned to power with a clear majority. After the death of Abdullah, his son, Farooq took over the reigns on September 8, 1982. Farooq regained power in the May 1983 elections, but was dethroned by his brother-in-law Ghulam Mohammad Shah in July 1984, who ruled the state till March 1986. After the withdrawal of the Congress support to Shah and the resultant fall of his government, the Governor's rule was imposed for six months, and it was followed by one-month President’s rule. However, Rajiv-Farooq accord of 1986 ended the Governor’s rule prior to the fresh elections held in March 1987. With the eruption of militancy and virtual collapse of the law and order situation, the Governor's rule was imposed on January 19, 1990. After six months, President's rule came into force. This continued till October 9, 1996 during which G.C. Saxena and Lt-Gen K.V. Krishna Roa held the gubernatorial post. This has been the longest period of the Governor's or President's rule while the shortest span has been between October 17 and November 2, 2002. Former union home minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed having over four decades long association with the Congress both at the state and central levels, took over as the chief minister for the first time on November 2, 2002. This had come at the end of a prolonged stalemate over the installation of a government as none of the parties got a clear majority. Though the National Conference, which ruled the state for over 27 years, got the highest number of 28 seats in the 87-member House, it was not in a position to form the government. The Congress adopted a common minimum programme and formed a a coalition government with the support of other independents, four members of the Panthers Party and two CPM members. While Mufti Sayeed managed to complete his term of first three years, Azad was left with no other option than to step down.
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Completion of projects tops Vohra’s agenda
Srinagar, July 11 Addressing the administrative secretaries at the civil secretariat here this morning, the first after the imposition of Governor’s rule in the state, Vohra spelled out his priorities and stressed the need for completing key projects within a short and stipulated time frame. He stressed that priority attention should be devoted to the projects like roads, bridges, education and healthcare services. Likewise water and power supply schemes must be maintained with high efficiency, he added. Referring to the forthcoming electoral process in the state, Vohra said each and every public servant must
do his job efficiently and honestly. The Governor also referred to the Assembly elections in the state due later this year and assured of smooth transition saying that the present arrangement is a part of
democratic and constitutional process. “Let’s do our job well to facilitate smooth process to elections,” he added. Chief secretary S.S. Kapur assured that the entire administration would continue to work with zeal and devotion for mitigating the problems of the people. Earlier, the Governor was presented Guard of Honour by a contingent of the Jammu and Kashmir Police. The Governor urged the administrative secretaries to monitor the pace of projects on ground and gear up field agencies to ensure their speedy completion.
The heads of departments (HoD), he said, should inspect the projects and take on-the-spot decisions to ensure against delays. “The pace of development must not slow down at any cost,” he said, adding that he himself would be visiting various parts of the state to review progress of the major developmental schemes. He observed that he would undertake department-wise review to assess progress. Stressing the need for transparent, accountable and clean administration, the Governor said that while honesty and hardwork would be rewarded, no laxity will be tolerated. He also stressed the need for decentralisation of powers at the administrative level to cut short avoidable delays. |
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Pats police for tackling terrorism
Srinagar, July 11 DGP Kuldeep Khoda gave a detailed briefing on the police functioning in the state while IGP Kashmir Range and DIGs of Baramulla and Anantnag Range gave their assessments of the situation within their respective jurisdictions. Besides senior officers of various security agencies, chief secretary S.S. Kapur was also present. The Governor was also briefed on the security arrangements made for the Amarnath yatra from both the Pahalgam and the Baltal routes. Vohra complimented the police for meeting the challenges of terrorism with courage and said the force has played and shall continue to play in bringing about normalcy in the state. He stressed the need for taking all necessary steps to ensure a peaceful poll and said an undisturbed environment must prevail to ensure a free, fair and impartial electoral process. Meanwhile, Vohra expressed serious concern over the power shortage in Jammu in the wake of damages caused to the 400 MVA transformer at Gladni grid station. During his meeting with the administrative secretaries at the civil secretariat here this morning, the Governor said while the cause of damage was being looked into, the officers of the Power Development Department must explore all possibilities to improve the power supply urgently. Due to damage to the Gladni transformer, parts of Jammu, Poonch and Rajouri districts are witnessing massive power cuts, an official spokesman here said. The Governor held that he had taken up the matter with the concerned authorities in Delhi who had promised to help in the time-bound repair of the transformer, which had been dispatched to the BHEL unit at Ranchi. In response to a letter from the Governor, union minister of state for commerce and power Jairam Ramesh has informed that he would take personal interest in helping the PDD to get the damaged transformed repaired and also a new one supplied by the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited. |
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Army helps upgrade school
Dhandal (Ramnagar), July 11 The worst sufferers were the students who face numerous hardships due to non-availability of required infrastructure. Following failure of the civil administration, the Army, under Operation Sadbhavana, upgraded a number of schools located in the district. The Government High School, Dhandal, was in a bad state of affairs. The school lacked basic amenities and 10 classes were being held in four rooms. It was due to the Army’s efforts that four additional furnished rooms and one computer lab was constructed. The school now has modern toilets for boys and girls and an office for the headmaster besides, a library. Facilities like computers, library, laboratory, sports etc, were also introduced. Lt-Gen Pradeeep Khanna, Chief of Staff, Northern Command, today inaugurated the school’s new building in the presence of villagers and officers of the civil administration. He also urged upon the civil administration to take care of the school’s infrastructure. |
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Amarnath land row
Jammu, July 11 Addressing a press conference here, association president B.S. Slathia said, “The people of Jammu were supporting the agitation and had the bandh been extended by another two days, it would have done no harm.” Slathia felt the mode of agitation was changed at a time when it had gained momentum. However, at the same time, he reiterated his support to the samiti. He said the association was actively participating in the stir. “We took out a procession, besides staged a dharna outside the Governor’s house. We also called various outfits participating in the agitation to acquaint them with the legal position of the case. It is our concern that the matter reaches its logical conclusion and the land revocation order, issued under pressure from secessionists and fundamentalists, is reversed,” he said. Slathia also termed Governor N.N. Vohra’s communication to the government, regarding giving up claim of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board on the land, as “totally illegal.” Slathia said the Bar was examining the case as of now and would decide the future course of action in a meeting on Saturday. On some political parties trying to make it an election issue, Slathia said they would not allow any party to draw political mileage out of the land row. Slathia also lashed out at the administration for its approach. “Curfew was not clamped in Srinagar, where secessionist forces took to the streets and hoisted the Pakistani flag, while it was imposed in Jammu, where people were protesting peacefully.”
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BJP HQs to be renovated
Jammu, July 11 Sources said about Rs 1 crore had been sanctioned by the party high command for the purpose. Earlier, the state BJP chief had mooted a proposal to renovate the BJP headquarters, but only one portion of the building was done up. |
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Our decision to pull out timely: PDP
Srinagar, July 11 Though Azad succumbed to the public and political pressure and withdrew the order, the same decision, if taken in time as was suggested by the PDP, could have saved the situation from turning ugly resulting in the loss of around a dozen precious lives across the state, the leaders observed. The PDP leadership came heavily on the Azad government for mishandling the situation that caused damage to the traditions of communal harmony and brotherhood in the state. It also fueled alienation in various regions to the detriment of the peace efforts, the PDP leaders added. The meeting observed that despite strenuous efforts by the PDP leadership including party patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to get the land diversion issue resolved amicably, in the very first place, Azad’s obstinacy led to the massive crisis that engulfed the whole state. |
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People lauded
Jammu, July 11 “We condemn any sort of violence, disturbance and communal approach of any section of people or elements,” Chowdhary said. He said Gujjars of the state would always stand by those who are discriminated on the basis of religion or region. The front also condemned the action of some “miscreants” who tried to instigate the communal sentiments of people and tried to spoil the peaceful atmosphere. |
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Tributes paid to Sheikh Abdullah’s wife
Srinagar, July 11 She was buried aside late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah at Naseem Bagh. Madri Meharban Welfare Institute at Miskeen Bagh, where she was the founder chairperson, also paid tributes to Begum Jehan. The institute organised a seminar on ‘Save forests to save water bodies’ on the occasion, which was attended by students of various schools. The National Conference observed her death anniversary as ‘Sadhbhawana Day’ in Jammu.
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GREF killing: 7 suspects held
Udhampur, July 11 Lt-Col Verma along with his deputy and three other officials of GREF were gunned down by militants in Watsar village of the Singhthantop area under the jurisdiction of Chatroo police station in Kishtwar district on June 13 this year. Although the police claimed to have solved the case, sources said the main accused who had executed that incident were still at large. "Three dreaded militants of HUJI and one of Laskher-e-Toiba (LeT) had executed that heinous crime and all of them have still not arrested by the police", sources said and added that LeT militant who had masterminded that killing was a foreigner and active in the Gandoh area of Doda district. "Those arrested by the police were not directly involved in the killing,” sources said and informed that four of the arrested persons were engaged by the GREF authorities and were informers of the militants who gave information about movement of Lt-Col Verma. Sources said three active militants nabbed by the police were fresh recruits who had been assigned the task to collect ransom from the GREF authorities. "Killing of five officers of GREF was handiwork of the HUJI outfit with the assistance of LeT commander who is expert in executing such crime", sources said and added that police has already launched a massive manhunt to track down that LeT commander. The seven arrested are Ghulam Hassan, Abdul Wahid, Mohd Hussain, Ghulam Hassan, Noor Din, Irshad Ahmed, and Mohd Qasim son. |
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BJP ridicules claims of Azad govt
Jammu, July 11 He said, “It was the height of religious fanaticism that even the mainstream parties, including the National Conference and the PDP, joined hands to arouse communal frenzy in Kashmir over the allotment of a piece of land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.” He accused the previous Congress government of bowing before extremists and pro-Pak elements. “Their surrender before communalism has set alarm bells ringing among nationalist not only in the state but also across the country,” he added. On Azad's claims of peace and work culture, the BJP leader pointed out that the Congress-led regime would be remembered for strikes, dharnas and demonstrations. “Despite lengthy strikes and near collapse of the functioning in the offices, the Congress leaders don’t feel shy in claiming that their government had ushered in a work culture in the state,” he said, adding, that government schools and colleges in the state lacked proper infrastructure. |
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Residents rue power shortage
Jammu, July 11 “They (PDD authorities) promised to provide electricity for at least 12 hours, but they only do it for less than six hours a day,” said Manjeet Singh, a resident of Akali Kour Singh Nagar in Jammu. “When people go to bed, electricity also goes off. So we have to rush to the terrace or in the open to escape the heat,” said another resident
Gautam Kumar. The power cuts have also taken a heavy toll on the industries, whose production has gone down manifolds, causing huge losses to the owners. The cuts have dealt a maximum blow to the small-scale industry, many of which face threats of closure. “Half of my orders have been cancelled. I am at the verge of closing my shop,” said Tilak Singh, an ironsmith. The curtailment of electricity has also hit the water supply. In absence of power, the pumps at various water stations have turned defunct. Meanwhile, there seemed to be less hopes for uninterrupted power supply. Sources in the Power Development Department said the city residents might have to live with this shortage
till for next two to three months. Official sources said until the damaged 133.33 MVA transformer of the mother grid is repaired, chances of normal supplies to three districts of Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch looked remote. The transformer has to be repaired by the BHEL engineers in their workshop at Jhansi, they added. Talking to The Tribune, development commissioner, Power, R.K. Seli said considering the circumstances we have been resorting to power curtailment for 10 to 12 hours out of 24 hours that too on rotational basis. To deal with the situation we have been trying hard to enhance our capacities, said Seli adding that BHEL has been strongly requested to send us a 160 MVA transformer at the earliest. “It would be installed at the Gladni grid to enhance the capacity,” said
Seli. A senior PDD official said, the BHEL engineers during inspection of the damaged transformer here said it would take at least 60 days to repair
the machine. |
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Case registered against junior assistant
Jammu, July 11 He had produced a permanent resident certificate (PRC) shown issued by the Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, in December, 1983, at the time of his appointment. However, the said PRC has been found fake as the Deputy Commissioner informed that the certificate in question had not been issued by his office. The family background of the subject indicates that the said family basically belongs to Kerala, but is A case has been registered against Plassey under Sections 420, 468 and 471 of the RPC. The crime branch has taken up the case for thorough investigation. |
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Oil tankers body calls off strike
Jammu, July 11 Sudhanshu Pandey, DC, Jammu, and K. Rajendra, IG, Jammu, in a meeting held with the association president, Anan Sharma, sorted out the matter, after which the strike was called off. Earlier, the association had demanded safety to drivers and adequate
compensation to the injured drivers and damaged tankers. Association president Sharma said the DC had assured that from now on, a convoy of oil tankers coming to the valley would be escorted by the police. Further, telephone numbers of all police stations en route the Kashmir valley would be provided to the drivers so as to enable them to lodge complaints and seek help during such contingencies, Sharma said. Sharma also informed that president of the Kashmir valley Petroleum Dealers Association, Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Rafiqi, had also promised that if oil tankers across Jawahar Tunnel were damaged in such incidents in the future, the dealers and transporters of valley would compensate for the losses. The divisional administration has also agreed to provide free medical treatment to the injured drivers. It may be recalled that in the last three days, nearly 16 drivers along with their oil tankers were targeted by some mischievous elements in the Kashmir valley. Meanwhile, long queues of vehicles could be seen at various filling stations, which had run dry in wake of the strike. When asked Sharma said, tankers would be back at work within a couple of hours. |
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Samiti holds demonstration
Udhampur, July 11 The procession started from the main chowk of the town and passed through different areas. Addressing the gathering Slathia regretted that the authorities were not serious in solving this
problem. He warned that the samiti would not hesitate to take extreme steps if their demand was not fulfilled. Speakers urged Governor N N Vohra to take back the land and return it to the SASB so that better facilities should be provided to the pilgrims of Amarnath. They said that the decision of the state government to cancel allotment of the land to SASB was wrong as it was taken under pressure of the fundamentalists and secessionist forces. Activists of the BJP, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), the Bajrang Dal, the Shiv Sena and |
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Major tragedy averted
Jammu, July 11 The Jammu airport is one of the most guarded establishments in Jammu city as it has always been on the hit list of militants. A bomb disposal squad was soon called in the area which defused the landmine. |
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Srinagar, July 11
Srinagar, July 11
