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Muslims denounce Banihal attack
Grenade attacks: Ultras’ new strategy
Beig stresses on Indo-Pak talks
Vohra delegates powers to admn secys
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Central Excise Duty Refund
Denying subsistence allowance during inquiry illegal: HC
Gear up for polls, DCs told
Dera row: Sikhs organisations hold protest
PDP calls for trade across LoC
Solid waste management plant needed
Teachers bypass govt orders on detachment
Students lodge complaint against ‘drunken’ teacher
Case registered for land fraud
Doctors go on strike
BJP assails Soz over yatra remarks
11 students injured in bus mishap
3 IAS officers transferred
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Muslims denounce Banihal attack
Udhampur, July 19 The town observed complete shutdown against the terror attack and people vowed to expose those responsible for this heinous crime. Director General Police (DGP) Kuldeep Khoda along with Home Secretary Anil Goswami today reviewed security arrangements in the town. The officers visited the incident site and directed the police officers to strengthen the security in the town, keeping in view the ongoing Amarnath yatra. The police said the militants had hurled grenade on a CRPF vehicle from the congested bus stand and later they managed to escape, taking advantage of the crowd in the area. Tehsildar, Banihal, Jatinder Mishra said following the directions of the DGP, the administration had decided to shift the bus stand from today. “We will not tolerate such inhuman acts and offer every possible help to the local administration to find out the culprits,” Abdul Rashid, a resident of Banihal, said. |
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Grenade attacks: Ultras’ new strategy
Udhampur, July 19 This has not ony posed a great threat, but has also become a big challenge for security forces. Three successive grenade attacks at Bhaderwah, Doda and Banihal have given sleepless nights to security forces especially, the Jammu and Kashmir police. Two persons lost their lives, while more than 60 persons were injured in the attacks. The spate of grenade attacks have forced security agencies to devise a new strategy to deal with this new method to terrorise people. Hemant Kumar Lohia, DIG, Doda-Ramban range, told the Tribune that militants had adopted a new strategy to avoid direct confrontation with the security forces. “We have already picked up some suspects in this regard and investigations are going on”, the DIG said and exuded confidence that the police would get a lead in these attacks. As the modus operandi in all three attacks was same, there is a possibility of the involvement of some specially trained militants in these incidents. “It is premature to say whether all attacks were interlinked but we are investigating all aspects”, Lohia said. He said some suspects had been rounded up but the main accused was still at large. “Most of the militant groups active in Doda belt have been facing shortage of cadre. Instead of involving direct confrontation with the security forces, militants have adopted this strategy to cause maximum causalities without exposing themselves”, Lohia said, adding, “The main problem is that once the militant has thrown a grenade, he can easily mix in the crowd so it is difficult to single out the accused.” Although he refused to give details about the counter strategy adopted by the security forces to face new challenges, the DIG, however, asserted that grenade module would be busted all over the district. As it is difficult to identify the militant involved in throwing the grenade, the police has been planning to announce cash awards for those who would provide information about the militants. |
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Beig stresses on Indo-Pak talks
Kreeri-Baramulla, July 19 He said in the emerging scenario, the sub-continent’s security and stability would largely depend on how the leadership of India and Pakistan confronted the challenges ahead. Addressing a public meeting at Kreeri in Baramulla district today, Beig announced the candidature of Syed Basharat Bukhari for the ensuing Legislative Assembly elections from the Sangrama constituency. He said the PDP had a comprehensive economic and political plan for Jammu and Kashmir which would be relevant in the future as well. Beig said trade through routes, connecting the two sides across the border in Jammu and Kashmir, would strengthen ties between the two divided parts. On the recent Amarnath land row issue, Beig said people in the state, including the PDP had paid a huge price for the National Conference follies. He added that in 1980, a “sarai” was inaugurated at Baltal by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. He said, “Later the Amarnath Shrine Board was created by his son Farooq Abdullah.” Beig said the recent crisis was the result of “follies” of the NC. He said on February 22, 2001, a high-level meeting was chaired by the then Governor and attended by the then chief minister Farooq Abdullah in which they both agreed in principle that the shrine board could exercise administrative and operational control on the stretch between Sangam-Amrawati and the holy cave. Beig said the papers also revealed that once the board obtained the necessary funds, it would extend its area of responsibility towards Chandanwari and Baltal which constituted 3,600 kanals. “Therefore, this dream was woven by Farooq Abdullah in 2001, which former Governor S.K. Sinha wanted to fulfil during his tenure”,
he observed. Beig said the only order that the coalition government had agreed to was to give 800 kanals on rent for 45 days, where temporary toilets and other facilities could be provided to pilgrims. “But unfortunately on the directions of Sinha, former CEO of the shrine board, Arun Kumar, claimed this rental land as the property of the shrine board. This created apprehensions in the minds of people”, he added. |
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Vohra delegates powers to admn secys
Srinagar, July 19 The decision to decentralise administrative and financial powers was taken in-principle during the first meeting of the administrative secretaries presided over by the Governor on July 11, the first working day after the proclamation of the Governor's rule in the state. Vohra had asked the chief secretary to work out a detailed framework of decentralisation of powers at two levels --- a general delegation that would apply to all departments and the other involving department specific delegations. According to an official spokesman, the chief secretary has been empowered to accord administrative approval to all kinds of works and projects under plan or non-plan costing over Rs five crore up to Rs 20 crore, with the concurrence of the Planning and Finance Departments. He would also effect transfers and postings of officers up to the level of the time scale KAS officers and equivalent besides sanctioning deputation of officers of the level of secretaries and above or equivalent for government business outside the state but within the country. As regards the delegation of powers in favour of the administrative secretaries of different The departments, the spokesman said, have been empowered to accord administrative approval in respect of individual works costing up to Rs five crore as prescribed in the book of financial powers. They have also been authorised to release scheme and object wise funds as allowed by the Finance and Planning and Development Departments in favour of the departments under their administrative control. In yet another major decision, the Governor delegated department-specific powers to the administrative secretaries concerned. The administrative secretary of Planning and Development Department has been authorised to release additionalities up to Rs 25 lakh in favour of various Departments/DDCs under district plans, up to Rs 50 lakh in respect of state plan and to allow re-appropriation of funds. He can convey results of project appraisal to department, approve annual plans after formal adoption, approve revised estimates and to sanction re-appropriation of funds for schemes under BADP. These decisions are considered a major step towards empowering the administrative secretaries to enable them to secure immediate clearance of a large number of cases piled up in their departments. |
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Central Excise Duty Refund
Jammu, July 19 “The virtual withdrawal of the excise duty refund makes the entire package of incentives for J&K useless and meaningless”, FOI secretary general Tejwant Singh Reen said. Tejwant said this “premature change of policy” had severely shattered the confidence of entrepreneurs. Tejwant recalled that the Centre had extended this package of incentive to J&K from 2002 to 2012, but the same was abruptly rolled back from April this year. “The virtual withdrawal of the excise duty refund is a breach of trust and commitment, which will have wider and negative implications in times to come as no non-state subject will come here for investment in industries or other infrastructure sectors”, Annil Suri, FOI chairman, said in a memorandum to Governor N.N. Vohra. Suri suggested that industrial units in the state be given an option to avail the Centre excise incentive either by opting for exemption as applicable in Himachal Pradesh and Uttranchal or by opting for refund. The option of excise exemption on the lines of Himachal and Uttranchal will ensure that those industrial units who manufacture consumer products from basic raw materials continue to flourish. This will also ensure that the Central Excise Department need not go into the process of collecting duty and then refunding back the same, he clarified. Regretting the present power crisis confronting Jammu region due to collapse of the 400 MVA transformer at Gladni, the FOI memorandum urged the authorities concerned to supply electricity to the industrial sector for at least 12 hours till the damaged transformer was replaced. |
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Denying subsistence allowance during inquiry illegal: HC
Jammu, July 19 Amur Kotwal, advocate for Chenab Textile Mills relying on Clause 28 (c) of the Certified Standing Orders of the Company, questioned Abhimaniu's right to receive subsistence allowance during the course of inquiry pursuant whereto he was dismissed. Surinder Kour, counsel appearing for the employee, submitted that the Certified Standing Orders had no application to the facts of the case and that the right accrued to Abhimaniu to receive subsistence allowance during the course of the enquiry, being a statutory right under the Industrial Employment (Standing Order) Act, 1946, cannot be denied to him. The HC while dismissing the petition observed: “I do not find any error in the award of the Labour Court, for all that it allows to the dismissed employee is what he is entitled to under Section 10-A of the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946, as also under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. The payment of subsistence allowance to an employee during the course of inquiry, which is a necessary facet of the “Right to life” enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution, cannot thus be denied to the employee. This is so because, no one can be expected to face an inquiry without being paid allowances needed for his sustenance until the conclusion of the inquiry. Even if there would have been any provision in the Certified Standing Orders to the contrary prohibiting payment of subsistence allowance to an employee in the event of his dismissal becoming effective from the date of his suspension, such a provision had to relent to the provisions of the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946, in view of its Section 4 which mandates the Certified Standing Orders to be in conformity with the provisions of the Act. In view of the above discussion, I do not find any merit in this petition, which is accordingly
dismissed.” |
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Gear up for polls, DCs told
Srinagar, July 19 B.R. Sharma, chief electoral officer (CEO), here presided over a high level meeting yesterday where he asked 10 valley deputy commissioners, who are also the district election officers in their respective areas, to gear up men and machinery for the smooth conduct of elections. The CEO directed for minutely checking and verifying complaints regarding wrong entries, if any in the electoral rolls 2008, an official spokesman here said.
Masood Samoon, divisional commissioner, Kashmir, was also present in the meeting. All the DEOs were directed to ensure that booth level officers (BLOs) positively visit each household for preparing computerised elector photo identity
cards (EPICs). The tehsildars, who are designated as assistance electoral officers, have been directed to supervise and monitor working of the BLOs so that preparation of EPICs is completed by schedule date of
July 27, 2008. All the DEOs have been instructed to inspect various polling stations and ascertain requirements of air sorties and other transport for lifting election material. The issue regarding complaints of enlisting of non-state subjects, in the electoral rolls also came up for discussion. It was decided that the DEOs would personally look into such complaints to rectify the errors, if any. Jai Pal Singh, DEO, Anantnag, reviewing the achievements made in the issuance of EPICs to the voters in the district said 30 per cent forms had so far been collected whereas the preparation of photo identity cards and collection of forms from voters is in progress. He stressed upon the officers engaged with the election work to expedite the process and complete it within the stipulated time. In Kupwara, the voters have been asked to collect election photo identity cards (EPICs) from the booth level officers, who are making door-to-door survey for preparation of these cards. The BLOs have been urged to prepare EPICs after proper verification and complete the assignment within the stipulated time. |
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Dera row: Sikhs organisations hold protest
Jammu, July 19 As per a release issued by the Bhai Kanahiya Nishkam Seva Society, the protesters condemned the killing of a Sikh youth at Dabwali by the dera followers. They appealed to Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda to register a murder case against the dera chief and arrest him immediately. They also urged the Centre to order a CBI inquiry into the case. They demanded a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased, besides a ban on the activities of the Dera Sacha Sauda. Sikh bodies like the Nirbhau Nirwair Organisation, the All-India Sikh Students Federation, the Shiromani Youth Akali Dal and the Sikh Naujawan Sabha, Simbal Camp, participated in the protest, the release added. |
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PDP calls for trade across LoC
Srinagar, July 19 Addressing a meeting of members of the district committee and zonal committee of Srinagar at party headquarters here today, senior PDP leader and former finance minister Tariq Hameed Karra said the concept of closed border was fast vanishing. “Now, when the Srinagar-Muzzaffarabad bus service is available, trucks should start plying on this road for trade across the border,” Karra said. He added that the truck service would provide an alternative market to the farmers, and fruit growers of Jammu and Kashmir. This alternative service would ensure smooth import and export of goods to and fro the areas across the borders during the Srinagar Jammu highway blockade, Karra said. The process of economic integration of the two parts of Jammu and Kashmir could start with “Preferential Trade Agreement,” Karra said adding that in this agreement India and Pakistan would offer tariff reductions, though perhaps not eliminations, confined to the geographical boundaries of Jammu and Kashmir on both sides of the
LoC. |
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Solid waste management plant needed
Jammu, July 19 Government hospitals authorities said they had been provided with small incinerators which treated anatomical and soiled waste only whereas rest of the waste was dumped at some other spot. However, they were weary of parting with more information on the need of effective incinerators on their
premises. The waste was then taken away by the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) which was thrown into the river Tawi. Medical Superintendent, Government Medical College and Hospital, Dr Romesh Gupta, said the hospital followed the guidelines of the Biomedical Waste Management and Handling Act, 1998.He said “The department of health and medical education has mooted a proposal for a common treatment facility besides equipment like autoclaving and shredders for the effective biomedical waste disposal.” Safai Karamchari Union spokesman, Paras Ram Poonchi, said “The entire hospital waste, including urine bags, tubes, bottles, blades, syringes and gloves is taken away by the corporation to the river where the waste is dumped .” Mayor Kavinder Gupta said “We have floated the tenders for the solid waste management plant and land for the same has been procured at Palol Nallah on the Kunjwani -Bishanah highway.” |
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Teachers bypass govt orders on detachment
Mandi (Poonch), July 19 Sources said the zonal education office here has prepared a list of 13 teachers and non-teaching employees, who are accused of violating the detachment orders. The list contained five master grade teachers, five teachers, a Rehber-e-Taleem teacher (contractual) and two junior assistants. Sources said most of these employees were working in chief education office and zonal education offices in the district. G.A. Pir, secretary, School Education, said all the orders of attachments passed by the directors, chief education officers and zonal education officers would be cancelled except those cases where the government has passed orders on medical and security grounds. “Even in these cases, the individual case would be put before Governor N.N. Vohra for his perusal and appropriate orders,” the secretary said. |
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Gilani under attack from hardline separatist
Srinagar, July 19 The League accused Gilani of marginalising the genuine voices of their political struggle and protecting those with dubious integrity. League's chairman Mushtak-ul Islam, who once headed now-defunct militant outfit Hizbullah, in a press conference, accused Gilani’s deputy Massarat Alam of “misappropriation” of funds. The amount of money is close to Rs one crore. Mushtak-ul, who spent 14 years in prison after being arrested by security forces, said Gilani kept silence despite his repeated reminders to him that he should not regard Massarat as a
representative of the Muslim League. “Gilani needs people like Massarat, who may be dishonest to the cause but could raise noisy slogans in his favour,” he said. Massarat was in charge of his outfit when Mushtak-ul was behind bars and is now accused of misappropriating fund's money. It is first time in a long duration that Gilani, who is himself regarded as an orthodox ideologue, has come under attack from somebody whose claim to hardline Islamist ideology is more than his. Mushtak-ul has been rallying for separatism and against elections in Jammu and Kashmir long before Gilani joined the anti-Indian forces. |
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Students lodge complaint against ‘drunken’ teacher
Jalian-Mandi (Poonch), July 19 They took their parents’ help and lodged complaints against the teacher, who has also been accused of remaining absent most of the days. The district Education Department has initiated a probe into the matter. As a result of our teacher, we lag behind in mathematics, the students alleged. They said the teacher came to class once in 3 months and that too under the influence of liquor. Instead of marking attendance for the day, he marked our attendance for some future date, said the students. “How can we complete our syllabus when sir doesn't come to class. And when he comes he is not in a position to teach us since he cannot stand,” they said. A Rehber-e-Taleem teacher posted at the school confirmed that the teacher, who is also the in-charge headmaster of the school, remained absent from his duties. “We have lodged a complaint against the teacher couple of times but the department has not taken any action.” Syed Anwar Shah, additional deputy commissioner, Poonch, who received the complaints against the teacher from the parents of the students said he has instructed the Poonch chief education officer Paramjit Singh to look into the serious allegations against the teacher. Paramjit Singh said he has taken cognizance of the matter and has asked the zonal education officer Mandi to probe the matter to ascertain the truth. |
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Case registered for land fraud
Jammu, July 19 According to a press release, complainant Kuldeep Singh said he owned a piece of land measuring 60 kanals 10 marlas at Sunjwan. He said society's chairman, Amar Singh Charak, and other authorities responsible for the board affairs had acquired a land measuring 1,500 kanals in Sunjwan. However, the complainant’s land was not acquired in this acquisition. Singh said the board authorities allotted his land to various persons after receiving huge amounts from them. The preliminary inquiry into the matter revealed the board authorities occupied some portion of the complainant's land and allotted the same to different allottees for the construction of houses and shops, the release said. |
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Doctors go on strike
Udhampur, July 19 Officers of the civil administration tried to pacify the agitating medical employees but of no avail. Due to flash strike by doctors and para-medical staff victims of the grenade attack have been facing hardship. Reports said an attendant of some of the grenade attack victims allegedly misbehaved with a doctor who was attending to the patients. This morning all medical employees of the Banihal Hospital went on indefinite strike, leaving grenade blast victim at the mercy of the God. Although majority of the blast victims have been either shifted to the Srinagar Medical College and or airlifted to the Jammu Medical College, those who have been at the hospital have been facing hardships. |
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BJP assails Soz over yatra remarks
Jammu, July 19 Addressing a press conference here today, state BJP president Ashok Khajuria said the recommendations of the Nitish Sengupta Committee had not been implemented by the government or the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board since their submission in 1997. “The suggestion by Soz is a deliberate assault on Hinduism, an act, designed to accord greater respectability to Kashmir-based religious extremists and separatists,” he added. Khajuria cautioned Soz and Jammu-based Congress leaders not to “vitiate the atmosphere in the region by poking their nose in the religious affairs of Hindus.” |
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11 students injured in bus mishap
Poonch, July 19 Police sources said “The bus driver lost control of the vehicle near Shallian village and the bus having 11 schoolchildren crashed into paddy fields. The children had boarded the bus at Bufliaz to go to their homes in Chandimarh.” Meanwhile, the police team under the supervision of DSP, Surankote, Preebet Singh Parihar rushed to the spot and carried out rescue operation. In the meantime, Surankote hospitaldeclared condition of all the schoolchildren as stable. |
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3 IAS officers transferred
Srinagar, July 19 Shantmanu, awaiting orders, has been posted as managing director, Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation on deputation basis relieving the commissioner-cum-secretary to government, Power Development Department of the additional charge of the post. — TNS |
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