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Samiti warns govt of resuming stir
Kashmir traders refuse goods sent from Jammu
Call for General Strike Today
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BJP blames NC, PDP for Jammu ills
Thrust on irrigation facilities
Schools short of teachers
Ban on SMS continues
Nod awaited for more battalions
Cong caused delay in rail line: BJP
BJP ‘making’ false charges
Poor BSNL services rued
No clue to theft of artefacts
Forward post fired upon
Army search for militants
Deputy SPs transferred
Govt to rehabilitate child labourers
2012 Committees formed for effective PDS
Hajis to depart on Oct 30
Accountant held for graft
Government wheat seized
2 held with 50 kg poppy
Beating of students
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Samiti warns govt of resuming stir
Jammu, September 19 Addressing a press conference here, samiti convener Lila Karan Sharma said it had been 19 days since they reached an agreement with the Governor's panel on the land row, but the government was yet to issue an order regarding it. Accusing the government of deliberately delaying it, he said the government must remember that "we have merely suspended our agitation and not called it off". Sharma said the case registered under the Public Safety Act against Sant Dinesh Bharti had also not been withdrawn despite the government's assurance. "On the contrary, the police raided his ashram in the wee hours today and abused and thrashed the ashram inmates," he charged. An emergency meeting of the Samiti had been called tomorrow to discuss the issue. He warned that if any action was taken against Dinesh Bharti it would have serious consequences. He said they had shot off a missive to the government for holding talks with the Governor or his panel on the issue, but were yet to receive a reply. Sharma said while the government was thinking of elections at a time when all was not well in Kashmir, Jammu would also be on fire if it continued with its lax approach on the agreement. He said they were ready for talks with the Governor and his panel on the issue. He alleged that some political parties were pressuring the government to act against Dinesh Bharti. "They are the same leaders who hurt the interests of Jammu in 2001 by supporting the Bill under which no Census could be carried out in the state till 2026. It means that the delimitation could also not be held for another 18 years," he said. |
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Kashmir traders refuse goods sent from Jammu
Jammu, September 19 The traders in Kashmir claim it to be a retaliatory action against the 'economic blockade' imposed on them by the people of Jammu during the two-month agitation over the land row. People here see the move of snapping trade ties with Jammu traders as a pressure tactic being implied by the Kashmiri traders to force the government to open across LoC trade routes in Kashmir. The Kashmiri traders have been returning back the trucks carrying items from Jammu for the dealers in Kashmir. "Everyday they send our trucks back without unloading the items. At many occasions, they damage the consignment." A Jammu-based trader, whose truck loaded with electronic items was sent back, told The Tribune requesting anonymity. He added, "The traders here are suffering, but the so called trade leaders of Jammu have maintained a studied silence over the issue." “There was no such economic blockade on Kashmir but they exaggerated it and now nobody is paying any heed towards what they are doing with the traders of Jammu,” said Ashok Kumar, a metal dealer. The traders in Kashmir had snapped trade ties with their Jammu counterparts and are now purchasing the items directly from various other markets of the country including Punjab and New Delhi. The worst sufferer would be the pharmaceutical distributors of Jammu whose truck loads of medicines are being returned back to Jammu. The Kashmir-based traders were now contemplating to stop the oil tankers from Jammu region to enter the valley as they are proposing to purchase petroleum products directly from New Delhi. "We have come to know that from October 6 onwards they won't allow any oil tanker from Jammu to enter the valley and would be purchasing petroleum products from Delhi itself." said a transport operator of Jammu. Meanwhile, Ram
Sahai, president of the Jammu chambers of commerce and industries, have said the normal trade was going on between the two regions of the state, and it was only a faction of the Kashmir chambers of commerce and industries that was opposing the trade ties between the two regions. |
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Call for General Strike Today
Srinagar, September 19 An official spokesman said the police exercised maximum restraint while dealing with the situation. However, in Nowhatta area, five policemen were forcibly encircled by an unruly mob. The mob tried to lynch them. However, they were rescued by other policemen. One Dy Commandant, CRPF 46 Battalion, S.K. Mall, and two policemen were seriously injured. Constable Mukhtar Ahmad and constable Mohammad Abbas were referred to the SKIMS, Soura. The separatist coordination committee has called for a general strike in the valley tomorrow. Protest demonstrations led by Hurriyat Conference and JKLF leaders were held in the central Lal Chowk area after Friday prayers, where pro-freedom slogans were raised, demanding an end to repression and release of detained Hurriyat Conference leaders. Incidents of stone pelting were reported from Nowhatta, Habakadal and Hyderpora Chowk here. At least nine persons, including six civilians, three policemen and a deputy commandant of the CRPF, were injured in stone-pelting incidents. Protests leading to injuries to over 12 persons were also reported from major towns of the valley, including Shopian, Kulgam, Anantnag, Pulwama, Baramulla, Kupwara, Sopore, Bandipore, Ganderbal and Pattan. A large number of people in Shopian took to the streets after normal life resumed in the town only two days ago. The police used batons to chase away protesters in the Pattan area of Baramula district while they were proceeding towards the Srinagar-Baramula highway in north Kashmir. Hardline APHC chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani continued to be under house arrest for the fourth consecutive day today while Mirwaiz Umar Farooq addressed the Friday congregation at Jamia
Masjid. |
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BJP blames NC, PDP for Jammu ills
Jammu, September 19 Addressing “Swabhimaan” rallies at Vijaypur and Samba, state BJP chief Ashok
Khajuria, former union minister Chaman Lal Gupta, Dr Nirmal Singh and Daya Krishan Kotwal described the Congress, NC and the PDP as birds of the same flock, who always had a soft corner for the perpetrators of violence in the state. Castigating the Congress, NC and the PDP for their “ambiguous” stand on Jammu and Kashmir and “militant-friendly” policies, Khajuria hailed former diplomats, senior editors and former top-ranking military officers in Delhi, who strongly advocated a clear- cut stand on Jammu and Kashmir by the union government. “The way they put things in the right perspective must make authorities in New Delhi to adopt a clear-cut stand on Jammu and Kashmir, which acceded to India as per law,” he said, adding that the BJP would never allow Kashmir’s separation from India. He also lashed out at the Congress, NC and PDP for pursuing anti-Jammu policies. Prevailing discontent among the people across Jammu province was the fallout of their bias against the region, he said. He hoped that in the backdrop of the recent agitation over the Amarnath land row across Jammu, which dramatically changed the whole scenario, people would extend their support to the BJP in the coming elections. Former union minister Chaman Lal Gupta alleged those who ruled the state since 1947 had consistently denied the people of Jammu province their due share in all spheres of life. Blaming the Congress, NC and the PDP for deliberately turning Nelson’s eye to the region, Gupta said continued neglect of the Jammu region had virtually rendered its people as a non-entity. The only way to get political power for the Jammu region was by getting rid of such parties, he said, adding that political power would be the party’s poll plank. Former state BJP presidents Dr Nirmal Singh and Daya Krishan Kotwal also castigated the Congress, PDP and the NC for their anti-Jammu approach, asking the people to teach a lesson to these outfits in the coming polls. |
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Thrust on irrigation facilities
Srinagar, September 19 An official spokesman said these included centrally sponsored Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) for upgrading of irrigation facilities. Under the programme 90 per cent funding is being provided by the central government while as state’s share is 10 per cent grant in aid. Under the programme nine major and eight medium irrigation schemes at an accumulative cost of Rs 564.93 crore have been taken up in the state during last fiscal year. Against this Rs 366.24 crore have been utilised up to March, 2008, to create irrigation potential for 2.53 lakh hectares in the state. The Planning Commission of India has also accorded approval for construction of four new major and medium irrigation projects involving a cost of Rs 68.28 crore during current year. Of this, Rs 6.79 crore has been received by the state so far. The new irrigation projects include Rs. 12.33 crore Babul canal Tangmarg, Rs 20.51 crore Ahaji canal Budgam and Rs 35.44 crore Parka Chik Kargil canal. The work on irrigation canal at Kathua, Lethpora lift irrigation schemes, Zainageer canal and Igophy Leh irrigation scheme has been completed at a cost of Rs 90.40 crore. The Central Water Commission, the Union Ministry of Water Resources have also sanctioned 139 new minor irrigation schemes worth Rs 99.53 crore for improvement of irrigation facilities in the rural areas in the state under AIBP during last fiscal year. Of these, 77 minor irrigation schemes are being executed in Kashmir division at a cost of Rs 47.43 crore and 62 schemes in Jammu division at a cost of Rs 52.10 crore. Under state sector 85 minor irrigation schemes with an estimated cost of Rs 305.53 crore are under execution in the state against which Rs 263.58 crore stands utilised. As many as 60 schemes have been completed and irrigation potential for 8.47 thousand hectares has been created. In addition, the state government has also submitted 167 new minor irrigation projects costing Rs 307.66 crore to the central government for grant of sanction under AIBP. Against this, centre has released Rs 83.17 crore for initiating early execution of these schemes so that more and more uncultivable land would be brought under agriculture production especially in hilly and the kandi areas of the state. Concerted efforts are also been made for conservation of traditional water bodies in the state. Under the programme, about 22 ponds in Kupwara district have been revived with an estimated cost of Rs 3.06 crore. The programme is also being launched in other districts of the state to utilise water of traditional ponds for irrigation purposes. |
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Schools short of teachers
Jammu, September 19 School principal N.R. Dingra said: “The intake of students has increased whereas the sanctioned strength of the teachers has remained same.” “There are two to three posts vacant in our school. Though it is the necessity of the school, no teacher has been appointed against these posts by the government,” Dingra added. Government Higher Secondary School in Domana is also facing the same problem. There are only 12 teachers for 491 students. Not a single teacher has been appointed for environmental science, information technology and computer science. There is only one teacher each for English and Hindi. Jaswant Singh, vice-principal of the school, said, “We required two additional teachers for English and one each for Hindi, environmental science and IT.” “The government should take initiative and appoint least ad hoc teachers for our school immediately. Till date, we are managing by utilising services of master grade teachers who already teaches other subjects,” he added. Hindi is being promoted as national language but Government Higher Secondary School at Paloura has no lecturer in the subject for the last three years. School principal Shakuntla Rani said, “From the past three years we do not have a lecturer for Hindi whereas the strength of the students in the school is 490, who suffers a lot due to this.” Meanwhile, Zahida Parveen Khan, director, School Education, said, “We are trying to mitigate the problem of shortage of teachers in some schools. We are trying to appoint well-qualified teachers on contractual basis till the permanent solution of the problem is
found.” |
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Ban on SMS continues
Jammu, September 19 The common man is facing various hardships due to the ban. On the one hand, people are not receiving service messages and on the other, they are being forced to make calls, where they could have communicated through messaging. “My postpaid number got disconnected as I was not aware of the last date to pay the bill. I didn’t get the service message about the bill amount due to the ban, while I received the bill only after my number was disconnected”, Ranjeet Sharma, a private firm employee, rued. He said he had to pay Rs 100 extra as re-activation charges of his postpaid mobile number. Madan Mangotra, a recharge coupon seller, said the sale of recharge coupons had been hit ever since the services were suspended. “Earlier, I used to sell over 30 recharge coupons of Airtel and BSNL daily, but now the number has reduced to half”, Mangotra added. Avinash Sachdeva, a university student, said: “I receive limited money from my parents and SMS is a cheap option for communicating with my friends. However, for the past over a month, it has become quite difficult to stay in touch with my classmates due to the ban.” A BSNL official refused to comment on the issue, stating that the matter was sub judice. However, he admitted that they had suffered huge losses due to the suspension of the messaging service since August 5. Meanwhile, the Bar Association, Jammu, a key constituent of the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti, is pursuing the matter at the apex court. “We have engaged some lawyers at the Supreme Court and our efforts for the restoration of SMS are on”, Bar Association president, B.S. Salathia, said. |
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Nod awaited for more battalions
Jammu, September 19 The sources said the file seeking government’s approval was lying in the State’s Finance Department. The Centre’s approval had been conveyed to the state government during the Congress-PDP rule but the then government could not take any final decision because it took time in examining the financial feasibility. The Centre has conveyed to the state government that it would bear 50 per cent of the expenses on the plan and the remaining 50 per cent was to be borne by the state government. According to official sources, in the light of the tight financial position the state government may give sanction for raising two to three battalions for the time being. A senior police officer said that delay in sanctioning the plan would delay induction of more men in the police. He said the current situation had demanded raising of additional police battalions that too when about 100 policemen retire every year. He said, “Normally, it takes one to two years for completing the recruitment process for two battalions and another year for allowing the selected candidates to complete their training.” He further said, “Since we need more forces raising additional police battalions was the only answer to the
problem.” |
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Cong caused delay in rail line: BJP
Jammu, September 19 Senior BJP leader Chaman Lal Gupta said the Congress-led dispensation was operating under the pressure of Kashmiri separatists, which caused reviewing of the railway line nearing its completion. He questioned the feasibility study at this juncture when crore of rupees had been spent. Gupta said completion of the railway line would open another direct link between the Kashmir valley and the rest of the country. He recalled that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, while dedicating the Jammu-Udhampur railway line to the nation on April 13, 2005, had emphatically announced that the Katra-Qazigund railway track would be ready by 2007 and in no way it would be delayed like the 53 km Jammu-Udhampur line. Gupta rued that the railway line had not been laid even till
Katra. |
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BJP ‘making’ false charges
Jammu, September 19 In a statement issued here, NC leaders Rattan Lal Gupta, Rachpal Singh and Kashmira Singh alleged that what separatists in Kashmir could not do in 20 years, the BJP helped them achieve their goal in just three months by spreading hatred among different communities and regions. Out of sheer frustration BJP leaders were now levelling false allegations against the NC and its leaders. Meanwhile, former chief secretary and party leader Vijay Bakaya has asked Panun Kashmir to clarify its statement that "Kashmiri Pandits are not an integral part of Kashmir society". "Otherwise, it can be construed as repudiation of history and closing all doors in Kashmir for the return of internally displaced Kashmiri Pandits," he said. Bakaya said time had come for Kashmiri Pandit leaders to give up the language of hate and
anger. |
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Poor BSNL services rued
Jammu, September 19 In the absence of short message services (SMS), cellphone customers are virtually being put through a lot of inconvenience. People said usually phone lines were busy or it said - “This number does not exist”. The customers further complained that similar was the case with the customer care services of BSNL. “One fails to understand as to why BSNL is increasing its customer base when it can not provide services to the existing customer base,” a BSNL subscriber, Ashish Gupta, said. “As I have already circulated my number to many people, I can not switch over to other service provider like Airtel and Aircel - which are providing smooth and snag-free services”, Ashish added. As of now, BSNL has only 575 mobile service towers to cater to a population of 8.50 lakh (both prepaid and postpaid) across the state. |
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No clue to theft of artefacts
Jammu, September 19 Some unidentified persons had stolen these items of immense historical and archaeological value from the ASI-protected 8th century Shiva Temple located at Fategarh near Baramulla. The stolen artifacts were believed to be a section of lord Vishno's idol in the shape of a “gadhadhar”. The Pattan sub-centre of ASI had filed a complaint with the police station, Sheeri five months ago. But the police have so far failed to recover the stolen artifacts. Superintending Archeologist Srinagar Circle (Camp Jammu), R. Krishnaiah here said that a departmental enquiry has also been initiated to find out the circumstances under which the theft had taken place at this historical site. The ASI is presently taking care of 69 monuments falling in various districts of the state. It has recently taken up the preservation work of Dogra heritage complex at Mubarak Mandi here. |
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Forward post fired upon
Jammu, September 19 “There was firing from the Pakistan side across the LoC on our forward post at Copra in the Sabzian sub-sector of Poonch district last night”, a senior Army officer said. However, no loss of life or injury to anyone was reported. The officer said Indian troops guarding the LoC observed total restraint and did not retaliate. Ruling out ceasefire violations along the LoC from the Pakistani troops, the officer said militants may have fired at the post. Since January, Pakistani troops have violated the five-year-old ceasefire agreement 32 times and provoked reactions from Indian troops, though the latter refused to retaliate on most occasions. Seven incidents of ceasefire violation in the Poonch-Rajouri sector were reported during August and September. The Director General of Military Operations has strongly protested to his Pakistani counterpart on several occasions over the ceasefire violations, especially during the Tangdhar firing and the Nowgam-LoC breach. Ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops have also been reported from Jammu, Samba, Rajouri, Tanghdhar and Poonch sector this year during which a large number of militants tried to infiltrate into India. The Army has assessed that the firing occurred whenever militant groups made attempts to infiltrate into India and ceasefire violations could be a tactic adopted by Pakistani troops to distract Indian forces. Army sources said close to 110 infiltration bids had been reported in the past eight months. — PTI |
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Army search for militants
Rajouri, September 19 The vehicular traffic along the Jammu-Poonch national highway remained disrupted for about two hours during the search operation in the neighboring forests lying along the highway. Army sources divulged that following the inputs from the locals that four militants were roaming around in the forest area of Lerya at around 4 pm on Thursday, troops from the Akhnoor Division launched the operation in the forest area. Meanwhile, army sources said the operation had been suspended for the moment but they would continue to track the hiding group. They added that the militants might be targeting the national highway, in view of the increased political activity ahead of the forthcoming elections in the
state. |
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Deputy SPs transferred
Srinagar, September 19 Deputy superintendent of police (OPS), Srinagar, Sheikh Zulfikar Azad, has been transferred and posted as SDPO, Kothibagh, against an available vacancy. Deputy superintendent of police (OPS), Srinagar, Sajad Ahmad Shah, has been transferred and posted as SDPO, Saddar, vice Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar, presently on medical leave. Deputy superintendent of police, vigilance, Mohammad Yousuf Mir, has been transferred and posted as deputy superintendent of police, DAR, Kulgam against a clear vacancy, while deputy superintendent of police, JKAP, 5th Bn (OSD Railways), Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, has been transferred and posted as deputy superintendent of police, railways, Srinagar, against a clear vacancy. Deputy superintendent of police, JKAP, 4 Bn, R.P. Singh, has been transferred and posted as deputy superintendent of police, HQR, Kargil, against an available vacancy and deputy superintendent of police, JKAP, 14th Bn, Jaidev Kumar, has been transferred and posted as deputy superintendent of police IRP-3 Bn against an available vacancy. |
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Govt to rehabilitate child labourers
Jammu, September 19 The project initiated by the Government of India and run by the National Child Labour Project Society and the district magistrate, Jammu, will be its in charge. Earlier this year, the Red Cross Society had identified 1,329 children, who have been working in both hazardous and non-hazardous industries in the district, during a survey conducted last year. All these children would be rehabilitated and will be provided free food, education, medicare facilities and uniform and stationery articles under this project. As per Child Labour Act 1886, a person violating the Act is liable to be fined from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 or imprisonment up to 1 year or both. As reported by joint commissioner, labour, Bachan Singh last year, an amount of Rs 10,000 has been collected as fine from shopkeepers who employed children of less than 14 years of age at their shops. Around six shopkeepers have so far been booked this year as well. Around 81 inspections have been conducted in the district from January to June alone by the commissioner’s office. During these inspections many cases have been filed out of which three persons have been prosecuted and six have been convicted for violation of Child Labour Act so far. In addition, Rs 3,500 has also been collected as fine from them.
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2012 Committees formed for effective PDS
Srinagar, September 19 As many as 2012 Vigilance Committees at district, tehsil, block and panchayat levels have been constituted by the Consumer Affair and Public Distribution (CAPD) as part of measures to check the misuse and black marketing of PDS, an official said today. These Committees will keep a close vigil on the dealers and ensure smooth and timely supply of essentials in all parts of the state, he said. The department is also contemplating to set up consumer clubs in various colleges and schools for creating consumer-related awareness amongst the masses, he said, adding that the department has identified 138 schools in the state for the said purpose. The CAPD has also formed flying squads to control the prices and quality of essential commodities. Till recently, the flying squads conducted 7022 inspections and 918 raids at different places, resulting in arrest of 14 persons. Show cause notices were issued to 59 persons, 52 licenses were suspended, 317 shopkeepers were challaned, FIRs lodged in 204 cases and a fine to the tune of Rs 5.94 lakh realized, the spokesman said.
— PTI |
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Hajis to depart on Oct 30
Srinagar, September 19 An official spokesman said single flights would operate from Srinagar to Jeddah from 0ctober 30 to November 12 while double Haj flights would operate from November 13 to December 2. The meeting had in-depth deliberations on providing different kinds of facilities to the pilgrims like immigration and Customs clearance, distribution of foreign exchange, sanitation in and around Haj House etc. |
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Accountant held for graft
Srinagar, September 19 A vigilance spokesman said one Ali Mohammad Bhat, a resident of Ompora, Budgam, filed a written complaint with the organisation alleging that accountant Mehraj Ahmad was demanding a bribe for release of compensation of Rs 1.50 lakh (through cheque) for land acquired by the Northern Railway. A team of the VO laid a trap in the Revenue Complex in Tankipora during which the accountant was caught red-handed, while accepting the bribe in his office. The tainted money was recovered from his possession in the presence of independent witnesses. He was arrested and a case was registered.
— UNI |
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Government wheat seized
Rajouri, September 19 The police has seized the truck and arrested five persons. Police sources said during routine checking of vehicles at a naka near Tain bridge, a truck (JKS-9282) was intercepted and 40 bags containing 20 quintals of wheat grain were recovered. The five persons revealed that the grain belonged to the CAPD department and was being taken to Jammu to be sold in the black market.
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2 held with 50 kg poppy
Jammu, September 19 Acting on a tip-off, a police party led by sub-inspector Anil Sharma intercepted a car (PB10U/5004) at Sapwal on the Jammu-Pathankot national highway at around 12.30 am. During frisking of the vehicle, the contraband was recovered. The two occupants of the car - Narinder Singh and Saketar Singh - both residents of Gurdaspur, were immediately taken into
custody. |
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Beating of students
Rajouri, September 19 The students, who suffered multiple injuries, were later admitted to the District Hospital here. The police officer said since the crime was bailable, the teacher escaped arrest by securing anticipatory bail. |
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Jammu, September 19
