|
|
 |
HIMACHAL PRADESH |
 |
 |
CHAMBA
Folk artistes to be honoured: The Himotkarsh Parishad Chamba unit has decided to honour the traditional folk artistes and artisans who have contributed towards preserving and propagating traditional folk music, traditional dishes of royal times and small wood-craft items. Parishad president Yugal Puri said six meritorious girls from here were selected for Mangat Ram memorial rewards for the year 2008. Dharamsala
Tibetans to fast on Aug 30: Tibetans have decided to hold 12-hour fast and mass prayers on August 30 to highlight their plight. The fast would be organised at all destinations across the world where exiled Tibetans have their settlements. Tibetan Prime Minister-in-exile Samdhong Rinpoche has appealed to Tibetans to participate in proposed protests. “I personally request you and your organisations to kindly participate in the fast and prayers and encourage others to join the effort. I believe you will cooperate us in this non-violent action,” he has said. KULLU
Toilets at tourist spots: The Department of Tourism has decided to launch mobile toilets at Rohtang Pass and construct 12 toilets, each costing Rs 8 lakh, at the tourist spots in the district. Kumud Singh, district tourism officer, stated this at a media conference here on Wednesday. She said the scheme was sponsored under the Union government’s pilot project and the works were allocated to Sulab International. Singh said these toilets would be ready by next summer. The department had also decided to start a three-day-long ‘Apple Festival’ at Manali from August 30, she added. SHIMLA
DA instalment sought: The State Non-Gazetted Services Federation has urged Chief Minister
P.K. Dhumal to announce the release of dearness allowance as an Independence Day gift to the employees. Surinder
Mankotia, general secretary of the federation, said the salaried class was reeling under inflation and it needed immediate relief. The instalment of dearness allowance was due since January. He also urged him to implement the demand for increments after 4, 9 and 14 years of service instead of 8, 16 and 24 years of service on the pattern of the Punjab government.
|
JAMMU
& KASHMIR |
|
|
JAMMU
Muslim body for peace: The Muslim Federation Jammu (MJF) on Thursday appealed to different communities of the state to maintain peace and communal harmony. Addressing a press conference, president, MJF, Abdul Majeed said the agitation should not be communalised. “People of both the regions should not pay heed to rumours”, he said. Majeed said intellectuals in Rajouri, Poonch, Doda and Kishtwar, should work to strengthen bonds between the people. He said a team of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Jammu, would visit Kishtwar to assess the losses and ask the government to compensate the victims. Majeed also appealed to the government to find an amicable solution to the contentious issue. 3 Army porters hurt: Three Army porters were wounded in a mine explosion near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district on Thursday. The incident occurred when a porter with the 2/8 Gorkha Rifles accidentally stepped on a mine at Krishna Ghati (KG) area near the LoC this morning, sources said. At least three porters, whose identity could not be revealed, were injured in the blast, the source said. Meanwhile, the Army authorities were not available for comments. SRINAGAR
Shell explosion: 5 hurt: Five labourers were injured when a shell exploded in the Field Ordnance Depot at Khundroo in Anantnag district on Wednesday. The injured have been identified as Mohd Ishaq Khan and Mohammad Shafi Mir from Gopalpora village, Mohammad Shafi Bhat, Mohammad Ashraf Khanday and Abdul Rashid Bhat from Pahloo village in the area. They have been shifted to the hospital, the police said. Supplies reach valley: As many as 359 trucks and tankers arrived in the valley from Jammu on Thursday. Of these, 34 tankers were loaded with diesel, 26 with kerosene oil, 18 with petrol, 26 with LPG, 32 with sheep, 15 with rice, one with chicken, 7 with fruits and 200 with other essential commodities. An official spokesman said during the same period, 177 trucks and tankers departed from the valley for Jammu and onwards. Of these, 64 trucks contained fruits, 7 vegetables and 19 contained other commodities.
PDP stages dharna: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti today staged a dharna along with senior party leaders outside Raj Bhawan here in protest against the alleged police and security forces excesses in Kashmir during the past three days. She also threatened to launch ‘jail bharo tehreek (movement)’ in case there was not an end to the ongoing brutality. Mehbooba Mufti also blamed the administration for adopting “double standards” in the two regions of Kashmir and Jammu claiming that about 40 persons were killed at the hands of the police and the CRPF in Kashmir since Monday last.
IED defused: Security forces on Thursday averted a major tragedy when they detected a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) planted by militants to target security forces in the frontier district of Kupwara. Official sources said a road opening party (ROP) of security forces detected the IED planted on the road side at Nawabazar Khumriyal in Kupwara district. The area was sealed and the IED was defused by the bomb disposal squad (BDS) without causing any damage.
|
