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16 killed, 26 hurt in Banihal mishap
Parents want Governor to intervene
Chander Shekhar Azad remembered
Omar’s comments trigger protests
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Man commits suicide over ‘land row’
Army inaugurates 304-line exchange at Garhi
State should get benefit from
N-deal: PDP
Development top priority: Vohra
Power Crisis
Panels reconstituted to review suspension of officers
Sewerage system in deplorable condition
Kapoor suspended from Panthers
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16 killed, 26 hurt in Banihal mishap
Banihal (Ramban), July 23
During the last three days this was fourth accident on this spot. Three officers of the UCO Bank, including a manager, were also killed at same spot on Monday night, when they were coming to Jammu. Although the police has started investigations into the incident to ascertain the real cause, it is believed that driver of the ill-fated bus was caught napping while negotiating a curb, as result of which lost control of the vehicle. The bus rolled down into a deep gorge. The bus left from the Jammu bus stand at 9 pm on Tuesday night and reached Banihal on 4 am. As the accident happened early morning, the authorities got the information after one hour. Senior police and civil officers rushed to the spot and started the rescue operation. Thirteen passengers died on the spot. According to the police, 25 injured were air lifted to Government Medical College Hospital Jammu where three of them died. Some of the injured were taken to Banihal hospital. Banihal tehsildar Jatinder Mishra, who was supervising the rescue operation, told The Tribune that identity of only locals has been established. “A majority of the victims were from Bihar who were going to Kashmir to work as labourer in brick-kiln,” Mishra said and informed that five deceased were locals who were engaged by the Hindustant Construction Company in the on-going railway project. As identities of majority of the victims could not be established, the civil authorities performed their last rites as per their religions.
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Parents want Governor to intervene
Jammu, July 23 Eighteen-year old Vipul Koul, only child of Ashok Koul and Usha Koul, has been suffering from cryptoriturism, pan-hypopituratism, hypopituratism, thyroid, mental illness seizures, adunal, and growth hormone deficiency-a rare life consuming genetic disorder. Ashok Koul, an employee of the Stores and Procurement Department, said: “Dejected by the lackadaisical approach of the previous coalition government, I wrote to the Governor seeking financial assistance for the treatment of my son.” AIIMS had prepared an estimate of Rs 20 lakh for Vipul’s treatment. “Under the J&K Civil Service Medical (Attendance-cum-Allowance) Rules, 1990, the previous coalition government had provided financial assistance to about 5-6 other families in similar cases of growth hormonal disease but in my son’s case nothing had been done,” he said. “So far no reply from the Governor has come but we hope that justice would be done to us,” said Usha Koul. Ashok claimed that he had seen records wherein the then secretary (education) K. M. Wani vide government order dated October 18, 2007, had sanctioned Rs 3.01 lakh in favour of Altaf Hussain Tara, a senior lecturer at a higher secondary school at Bomai in Sopore, for the treatment of his daughter Afnan Altaf. Likewise, the previous government had also sanctioned Rs 1.48 lakh and Rs 2.19 lakh in favour of Mohammed Yousuf Dar, a teacher at a middle school at Magam in Budgam district, for his son Danish Yousuf while Rs 4.37 lakh were released to Mohammed Ashraf Bhat of Gojwara, a class IV employee of the Power Development Department. “We are not against the families who had received financial assistance from the government but at the same time due consideration should also be shown to us,” Koul said.
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Chander Shekhar Azad remembered
Jammu, July 23 Rich tributes were paid and students chanted patriotic slogans to mark the occasion. Prominent among others who were present were Prof Naresh Padha, Prof Lokesh Verma and Vikas Sharma, president, JURSEA. |
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Omar’s comments trigger protests
Udhampur, July 23 Activists of the Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti and the BJP burnt effigies of Abdullah and warned to carry on their on-going stir if Kashmiri leaders continued to stifle voice of the people of Jammu. The samiti activists took out a procession in the town and shouted slogans against the NC president. They alleged that instead of accepting genuine demands of the people, Abdullah has been dancing to the tones of anti-national elements. |
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Man commits suicide over ‘land row’
Jammu, July 23 The deceased, Kuldeep Dogra, a resident of Talab Tillo in his 30s, today reached the Parade Ground where the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti, the umbrella organisation spearheading the agitation, is staging a seven-day relay hunger strike. According to samiti convener LK Sharma he was giving an interview to a private TV channel when Kuldeep reached there and said he wanted to address the protesters. He started reciting a poem, but fainted before completing it. He had reportedly consumed some poisonous substance before arriving at the scene. Sharma said he rushed him to the Government Medical College (GMC), but by then it was too late. Sources said when he was declared dead at the GMC the protesters reportedly didn't allow the police to take his body for a post-mortem examination and instead brought it to the Parade area. The protesters kept his body on the road, after which those leading the protest addressed the agitators for almost a couple of hours. Sources said a suicide note was also recovered from his pocket. SP City Randeep Singh told that Kuldeep had stated in his suicide note that he was committing suicide as per his own wish and nobody should be blamed for it. He, however, said the deceased hasn't mentioned anything about the Amarnath land stir in the note. On the other hand, leaders of some agitating outfits claimed that the deceased in his suicide note said: "I'm giving my life for the cause. Do remember me when the land is restored to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board." The body of the deceased was lying in the Parade and the leaders of agitating outfits were delivering speeches when the reports last came in. However, no report of violence was received till the filing of this report. Later, addressing a press conference, samiti convener Sharma announced that they have given a call for Jammu bandh tomorrow. With Kuldeep's death, the number of the deceased in the land row agitation has reached three. |
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Army inaugurates 304-line exchange at Garhi
Udhampur, July 23 The officer held a sainik sammelan, inaugurated a state-of-the-art 304-line hybrid exchange at Garhi and had a meeting with Lt-Gen Pradeep Khanna. According to PRO Northern Command, Col D.K. Kachari, during the sainik sammelan, the officer lauded the untiring efforts, devotion and professional competence, displayed by the Northern Command signalers in their approach and day-to-day work. He urged them to continue to work for the growth of communication networks by absorbing state-of-the-art technologies. He also conveyed his deep appreciation to Major General M.K. Gupta, Chief Signal Officer, Northern Command, for his contribution in planning and provisioning of reliable communication and electronic warfare support to the Northern Command and for providing a happy and a growth oriented environment to units. During the inauguration of 304-line exchange at Garhi, General Kumar expressed his appreciation of the new concept of utilisation of spare capacity of station exchanges in case of failure of main exchange. On his farewell visit, Lt-Gen S.P. Sree Kumar complimented all officers for bringing pride to the Corps of Signals and asked all ranks to strive hard for more and more achievements so as to contribute to the glory of the Corps. |
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State should get benefit from
N-deal: PDP
Srinagar, July 23 Though Mehbooba, lone PDP MP, was not able to fully present her point of view amid noisy scenes in the Lok Sabha, she issued a statement today in which she said, “As the country’s leadership is expecting phenomenal improvement in the power generation because of the deal, we would expect that a power-starved state like ours also gets adequately benefited.” Mehbooba, who represents the Anantnag constituency, said her party’s support to the UPA was aimed at strengthening the secular forces in the country to avoid recurrence of the gory Gujarat like tragedies perpetrated by the communal elements led by the BJP. She held that the state suffered whopping losses to the tune of around Rs 6,000 crore annually because of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), and the PDP had been repeatedly demanding sufficient compensation for the same. She said power scarcity was one of the major hurdles impeding the state’s economic growth and the issue has to be addressed to tide over the crisis. She hoped that with the overall improvement in country’s energy scenario through the nuclear deal, Jammu and Kashmir would be adequately compensated for the losses due to the IWT. National Conference president Omar Abdullah wasted no time in presenting his view point as the head of two-member NC squad in the Lok Sabha in support of the UPA government. Omar represents the Srinagar constituency, while his party colleague, A.R. Shaheen represents the Baramulla constituency. Omar said, “I am a Muslim. I am an Indian… I do not find any difference between the two.” He asserted that the people in India were in favour of the nuclear deal with the US. “The US is not the enemy but poverty and hunger are the enemies of Indian Muslims,” Omar said in his brief speech in support of the nuclear deal. Omar criticised the Left parties for their role in the present scenario and added that these parties claimed to be secular but were siding with the communal
parties. The NC president also expressed concern over the role of the BJP and its allies and lamented on the past mistakes committed by his party for being part of the NDA government at the centre for some time.
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Development top priority: Vohra Rajouri, July 23 Addressing the district officers at Rajouri this morning, the Governor said in the absence of a political dispensation, the responsibilities on the civil administration have increased manifold, which call for prompt response. He observed that the border districts like Poonch and Rajouri have particular problems, which need special initiatives for mitigating the difficulties and enhancing the pace of development. Vohra said that the development of the remote and backward areas was on the top his agenda and expressed confidence that the government machinery at all the levels would gear up to meet the challenges. While reviewing the Tourism Development potential in the district, the Governor assured release of necessary funds for the local Tourism Development Authority and said he would also take up the matter with the Union tourism ministry for early clearance of the pending projects. The Governor was informed that the tourism sector has got a tremendous fillip during the past two years and various infrastructural facilities have been completed.
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Power Crisis
Jammu, July 23 Several students preparing for the entrance exams in the region said owing to sporadic power supply in hot weather, it was difficult for them to concentrate on their studies. Due to failure of transformer at Gladini, three districts of Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch were facing erratic power supply and according to the Power Development Department, regular power supply would only be restored by the end of August. “In the wake of 12-15 hours scheduled and unscheduled cuts in the region, it is very difficult to study. The J&K Board of Profession Entrance Examination (BPEE) must enhance the date for examination so that students could complete their revision,” said Tsewang Galtson, a student from Ladakh preparing for the examination. “In the face of heavy power curtailment since the intervening night of July 2-3, it is difficult to focus on the curriculum in hot and humid conditions,” said Shivani Gupta, another student. Sunit Verma, director, Sachdeva New PT College, said: “Students are under stress. The recent land row has already given a blow to the exam preparation and now power cuts are making things worse.” He further urged the authorities to conduct higher secondary examinations in time and added that the BPEE should extend the date of examination. He also demanded that the examination be conducted in April-May on the pattern of other states. When contacted, Santokh Ram, chairman, BPEE, said: “We are already too late as compared to other states and any further extension of date for examination is out of question.” Commenting upon the recent turn of events in Jammu, he said considering career prospects of students all political and non-political parties of the region should ensure that exams were conducted on time.
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Panels reconstituted to review suspension of officers
Srinagar, July 23 The chief secretary would head the committee, which would review cases of the KAS officers. The principal secretary to the government, Home Department, and principal secretary to the government, Law Department, are the other two members of the committee. The commissioner-cum-secretary to the government, General Administration Department, would be the member secretary and Administrative Secretary concerned the special invitee. An official spokesman said the chief secretary would also head the committee to review the suspension cases of the police officers. The DGP, principal secretary, Law Department, and commissioner-secretary, General Administration Department, would be the other three member of the committee. The principal secretary, Home Department, would be the member secretary of the committee. |
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Sewerage system in deplorable condition
Jammu, July 23 A flood drain at the cost of Rs 30 lakh was constructed through the Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) in 2007 in Saraswati Vihar, Bohri. But colony residents rue that in order to save money on the scheduled work, the contractors raised the level of the main drain ignoring the passage of the drains of lane 1, 2 and 5. The residents have demanded immediate metalling of these lanes to check waterlogging in the rainy season. They also alleged that there was no garbage collection system in place in the locality. Similarly, residents of Anand Nagar, Bohri, were also bearing the brunt of waterlogging. The poor arrangement of streetlights has added to their woes. The scenario in Amar Colony, Gole Gujral, is no different. “The ERA has constructed a main drain but in the process it has destroyed the metalled road. Although the lanes have been connected through pipes with this main drain, no provision has been made for letting out rain water into the drain. As a result of this, rainwater stagnates in the lanes and makes it difficult for people to venture out,” C.L. Trakroo, a colony resident, said. He also said no dustbins had been provided for clearing garbage and the same was being dumped in a ground from where it was lifted once a week by the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) authorities. The residents of Malik Market complained that due to non-availability of proper drainage, the Dr Salaria lane road had been washed away in rainwater. Also there are some colonies which did not come under the JMC’s limits and people were living in a pathetic condition. “There is no drainage system in our colony and during rainy season, water enters into our houses,” Jai Krishan Pandita, a resident of Shardha Colony, Patoli Bhramna, said. He said an old pond in the locality had also turned a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Meanwhile, all attempts to contact the municipal commissioner, joint municipal commissioner and the mayor proved futile. |
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Kapoor suspended from Panthers
Jammu, July 23 Kapoor's anti-party activities forced the disciplinary committee to take such a decision, said party sources. A handout issued here stated that Kapoor had previously worked against the interests of the party during 90s and he was expelled. However, keeping his young age in mind he was given another opportunity to improve, reads the handout.
Meanwhile, the party has also accepted resignation of Mool Raj, a former district president. |
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