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Amarnath Land Agreement
Dhanteras: People choose to save money this time!
Shopkeepers display utensils on the occasion of Dhanteras in Jammu on Sunday. Tribune photo: Anand Sharma Kashmir Encounter |
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5,000 employees to man 1,064 polling stations
120 more security companies sought
Boycott mainstream politicians, calls militant amalgam
Two LeT suspects held
Cong, NC, BJP to go
it alone
Morcha poll plans jolt BJP
Celebrating Diwali modern way Anganwadi workers denied salary
Ayurvedic body rues govt apathy
Power cut duration reduced
Party of Pandits joins hands with socialistic party
‘Landlords averse to security norms’
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Samiti calls core panel meeting
Tribune News Service
Jammu, October 26 Addressing the media, samiti convener Lila Karan Sharma said though the state government had met its core demand of restoring the land to the Amarnath Shrine Board, other key issues like the withdrawal of cases against samiti supporters, relief to the trading community, and compensation for the families of the dead and the injured were not yet addressed. On the core demand too, he said, the government had done nothing on the disposal of LPA in the court of law till now. "The government is yet to withdraw cases registered against our supporters, including the one registered under the PSA against Swami Dinesh Bharati. Regarding the compensation to the families of the deceased and the injured, it says it is still collecting the reports. The Chief Secretary has not held a single meeting to assess the losses suffered during the agitation. The government must remember that we have only suspended our agitation," he averred. He, however, said they would not do anything that would disturb the ongoing poll process in the state. On the samiti's role in the ongoing Assembly elections, Sharma said they would not support any particular party, but would simply tell the people to vote for the candidates who can fight for the cause of Jammu on the floor of the House. Samiti leaders seek security
Sharma asked the state government to provide the samiti leaders adequate security in view of the threat calls received by them. Sharma said he himself had received threat calls two or three times, besides receiving a threatening letter on October 20, a copy of which had been given to the IGP. He said samiti's spokesperson Narinder Singh, too, had received such calls. Urging the administration to extend security to the samiti leaders facing threat, he said the government would be responsible if any untoward incident took place. |
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Dhanteras: People choose to save money this time!
Jammu, October 26 On the occasion of Dhanteras today, people chose the second option. The markets wore a deserted look and utensil shops were left with huge amount of investment. “For the past few months the value of money has dropped and everything in the market is also losing value. So we thought we should save money rather than spending on new items,” said housewife Sonika Kumari. The shopkeepers said if they knew what was in store for them they would not have made so much investment. The scenario is no different in other trades. Though the shopkeepers had made proper arrangements by offering various freebies and lucky draws, they have failed to attract customers. The shopkeepers rue that they had made lot of investments with the hope to generate profits, but now they say that they might have to bear losses if people do not turn out for shopping. “After getting a poor response I feel that I wont be in a position to recover my investments,” said Puran Kumar, a gift shop owner in Gandhi Nagar locality. He said: “Last year was different. Days prior to Diwali celebrations I had to place another order for gift items. But this years I haven’t been able to sell anything more than 20 per cent of the total stock.” However, amidst gloom, the goldsmiths this festival has been having a gala time as given the drop in the gold rates people in large number are busy purchasing gold ornaments. “In the past five days gold prices have fallen by Rs 1,500 per 10 gram so we are here to take advantage of this, besides gold provides the option for best investment,” said Kundan Lal, a resident of Pucca Dunga Jammu.
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Kashmir Encounter
Thiruvananthapuram/Srinagar, October 26 According to top police sources in Kerala, the two militants, identified as Abdul Faiz from Kannur and Muhammad Yasir, alias Verghese Joseph of Kochi, who converted to Islam about a year back, were among four who fell to the bullets of security forces while one of them escaped. Earlier, the police had identified the other two militants slain in Lolab valley in the second week of October as Mohammad Fayaz from Kannur and Abdul Rahim from Malappuram. “Only one among the five Kerala youth who had joined Pakistan-based LeT outfit survived the encounters in Lolab valley and had apparently fled back,” senior superintendent of police, Kupwara, Uttam Chand said. The Kerala police’s investigations into the identities of the dead militants gained mometum after the arrest of one Abdul Jaleel from Kannur last week, who had turned out to be a link in a network that spotted and recruited youths for militants. The police had found that Jaleel had received calls on his mobile phone from Kashmir on the day of the encounter. Acting on information gathered from Jaleel during questioning, one Faisal, believed to be a vital link in the network recruiting candidates for militant outfits, was arrested yesterday. The Jammu and Kashmir police also said only one among the five Keralites, who joined LeT militant outfit, survived the encounters in Kupwara district and apparently fled back. “Only one among the five Kerala youth who had joined Pakistan-based LeT outfit survived the encounters in Lolab valley in the second week of October and had apparently fled back,” Uttam Chand said. He, however, said only two of the slain Keralites have been identified so far. “Based on the election identity cards in their possession, their fingerprints and other evidence, they were identified as Abdul Rehman alias Yasin and Mohammad Fayaz, belonging to Malappuram and Kannur districts, respectively,” he added. Efforts are on to identify the other two deceased militants, the Kupwara police chief said. About their fleeing associate, he said, according to reliable information the militant had fled the state apparently to his home. The Jammu and Kashmir police had to face a rough weather immediately after the encounters when their counterparts in Kerala strongly denied that the deceased were natives of the state. However, the police here maintained that the deceased were from Kerala and, finally, a senior officer from the special branch of Kerala’s CID arrived here to identify the slain militants late last week. “The officer confirmed that both of them were from Kerala”, Chand said. According to sources, there was an intelligence report suggesting that Lashkar commander Abdullah had been on a recruitment spree under instructions from Pakistan’s ISI and Kerala’s Malappuram district was chosen as one of the targets in South India. — PTI
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Curfew Imposed Srinagar, October 26 Irfan Ahmad, a university student, was killed on-the-spot when the police opened fire to control a violent mob in the town, 55 km from here, official sources said. The sources said the mob was protesting against the detention of certain Tehreek-e-Hurriyat functionaries last night. The trouble started early this morning when hundreds of people took to the streets and blocked the Srinagar-Kupwara road demanding action against the police personnel who, they alleged, had let loose a reign of terror in the town for the past two days. They said reinforcements had been rushed to Baramulla and senior police and civil officials were monitoring the situation. — PTI
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5,000 employees to man 1,064 polling stations
Srinagar, October 26 Official sources said a high level meeting chaired by Governor N N Vohra reviewed arrangements for the ensuing General Elections to the Jammu and Kashmir State Legislative Assembly last evening. The Governor was informed that the poll training schedule has been finalised for the state government employees for conducting the first phase of elections in 10 constituencies of Bandipora, Leh, Kargil and Poonch districts and the training of the designated employees was proceeding as per the schedule. The constituencies to go for polls on November 17 are Gurez, Bandipora, Sonawari in north Kashmir
Nobra, Leh, Kargil, Zanaskar in Ladakh region, Surankote, Mendhar and
Poonch-Haveli in the Jammu region. Meanwhile, helicopters would be pressed into service to dispatch polling officials and election materials to the snowbound and inaccessible areas of two constituencies of Kargil district of poll-bound Jammu and Kashmir. This was decided at a meeting between the state chief electoral officer B R Sharma and the district election officer Satish Nehru at Kargil, 204 km from here, yesterday, official sources said today. Seventeen zonal magistrates and 42 sector magistrates have been deployed for Kargil and Zanskar Assembly constituencies for the conduct of polls, the sources said.
— Agencies |
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120 more security companies sought
Jammu, October 26 After reviewing the security scenario in the valley, DGP Kuldeep Khoda visited Rajouri district today where he had detailed discussions with senior police functionaries. He visited Doda yesterday where he interacted with police officials of Kishtwar and Doda districts He is scheduled to review the situation in
Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts too. Official sources said the visits aimed at finding out the requirement of security personnel in these areas. The sources said several hundred companies were required for manning about 8,000 polling stations.
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Boycott mainstream politicians, calls militant amalgam
Srinagar, October 26 “The elections (for 87-member Assembly) is a futile exercise aimed at hoodwinking the world community about the ground situation. Pro-Indian politicians taking part in these elections are traitors,” Syed
Sallahuddin, chairman of PoK-based UJC and Hizbul Mujahideen chief, said in a statement. The statement, which appeared in the local dailies today, appealed to the people to socially boycott these “self-centred” and “hungry for power” people. The chairman of PoK-based UJC also appealed people, transporters and others not to take part in the election process. “The reality is that the whole valley has been turned into a fortress where imposition of curfew has become the order of the day. Everyday Hurriyat leaders and pro-freedom people are being arrested,” the militant leader said. Lashing out at international human rights outfits, Sallahuddin said: “Why are they silent and turning a blind eye? The enacting of election drama in Kashmir is India's admission of the failure to suppress the people’s voice.”
— PTI |
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Two LeT suspects held
Jammu, October 26 Shamshad, a class XII student, and Farooq Ahmed of the Mahore tehsil in Reasi, were arrested from the busy Ragunath bazaar area in the heart of the city last night, the sources said, adding five rounds of AK rifle and two letter pads of an LeT commander were seized from them.They have been sent to joint interrogation centre, the sources said. Srinagar: Following a tip-off, the forces raided the house of Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh at Ahopaisan village and seized two hand grenades and 10 rounds of AK ammunition, the spokesman said today.
— PTI |
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Cong, NC, BJP to go
it alone
Jammu, October 26 The only major factor dissuading these parties from entering into a tie-up is the polarisation of the state on regional and religious lines in the aftermath of the Amarnath land row. However, there is a possibility that some of them may have reached a tacit understanding before the elections, but they don't want to formalise their tie-up as it may lead to erosion in their respective votebanks. The state's main political party, National Conference (NC), has already made it clear that it will contest the elections on its own. The NC once was a constituent of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre and had recently supported the Congress-led UPA government during the trust vote. However, when it comes to state politics it has preferred to maintain equal distance from the Congress as well as the BJP. It has not allied with the Congress, as the latter has suffered immense damage in the Jammu and Kashmir regions due to its role in the land controversy. Also, the NC didn't want to lose the advantage of the anti-incumbency factor. The reason behind the NC keeping away from the BJP is obviously the land controversy. The people in Kashmir see the BJP as the driving force behind the land agitation and the NC cannot risk its stronghold in the valley by tying up with it. After a bitter experience of coalition with the PDP the Congress is "once bitten twice shy". The experience was so bad that the Congress leaders had started talking of going it alone in the elections much before the land controversy. The BJP, meanwhile, is riding high on the success of the land agitation and is in no mood to forge an alliance with any of the mainstream parties. On the other hand, the question of the PDP forging an alliance doesn't arise till the party takes a decision on contesting the poll. |
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Morcha poll plans jolt BJP
Udhampur, October 26 Although the morcha might not win any seat from the district, it could spoil BJP’s prospects in the area. BJP leaders have also expressed concern over the morcha’s decision to fight the elections as in the 2002 Assembly elections, the BJP had lost half a dozen seats in Jammu region. The original morcha, which had contested the last Assembly elections, has already been disbanded. Its splinter group - morcha has announced to contest the elections on the issue of separate statehood for Jammu region. BJP leaders seem to be worried as their pro-Jammu agenda has been already hijacked by the Panthers Party headed by Prof Bhim Singh and the morcha’s decision to contest the elections would create further division among their vote bank. Meanwhile state morcha president Prof Varinder Gupta declared social worker of Majalata, Surat Singh Sumbria, as the candidate for the Ramnagar segment. Sumbria accordingly kickstarted the election campaign and held a series of meetings at Channi, Mansar, Majalata, Kuarnu and Battal villages. |
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Celebrating Diwali modern way Jammu, October 26 Most of the traditions associated with the festival of lights have got blended with modernisation. Artisans who once used to do brisk business during Diwali days, are now searching for alternatives for earning their livelihood. Earlier, huge stalls of marigold flowers were set up. But now, shopkeepers are found selling various China-made decorative items, including flowers and assorted decorative lights etc. The idols of gods and goddesses indigenously made up of plaster of paris have been replaced with China-made idols. Apart from it, the market is flooded with China-made decorative goods. Most of the business and residential apartments in the city have been decorated with multi-coloured artificial flowers and plastic creepers instead of fresh flowers. The same artificial flowers can also be seen in the corridors of temples in the entire city. Potters who used to make earthen lamps have also been experiencing low business this year. People are also going in for candles instead of mud lamps. This changing trend has also affected people’s food habits. Earlier, long queues of people could be seen outside sweets shops. But this year, people are going in for gift packs. A variety of such gift packs are available in the market in attractive packaging.
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Anganwadi workers denied salary Jammu, October 26 There are over 24,000 anganwadi workers in Jammu province. While the workers are paid a lump-sum salary of Rs 1,400 per month, the helpers get a meagre Rs 600 per month. “Salary should be immediately released to the workers before Diwali in all the blocks of Jammu. We are not being regularised by the government while our counterparts are regularised after 5 years of continuous service in other departments,” said Ashok Chaudhary, in charge, Anganwadi Workers Welfare
Association. Chaudhary said that all anganwadi workers are facing a financial crisis and demanded enhancement in their salary up to Rs 5,000 for workers and Rs 3,000 for helpers. He also demanded an increase in the allocation of funds towards nutrition for children from Rs 20 to Rs 45 per day at present. The association members will be meeting Governor N.N. Vohra in the winter capital after Darbar move to press for their demands. |
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Ayurvedic body rues govt apathy
Jammu, October 26 Addressing a function held to celebrate Dhanwantri Jayanti here today, Shivdutt Sharma, vice-president, AIAC, said ayurveda had not received the attention it deserved. Sharma demanded constitution of a separate directorate for the ISM on the line of other departments at Jammu. He said it would increase work efficiency and iron out differences,
if any. Sharma said China had taken a lead in exporting medicine plants and herbs across the world with 80 per cent share, while India stood second with 14 per cent share of export. |
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Power cut duration reduced
Jammu, October 26 Ajay Gupta, chief engineer of PDD (M&RE wing), has revealed this. When reminded that there should have been some improvement in the backdrop of commissioning of the first unit (150 MW) of the Baglihar hydel project, Gupta said, the state has been duly getting its 50 per cent share out of total generation. Regarding remaining two turbines of 150 MW, Gupta said, hopefully one would start generating power next month while the third one would be put into operation in April next year. As winter has almost set in, reduced water discharge in rivers has adversely hit power generation. |
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Party of Pandits joins hands with socialistic party
Jammu, October 26 Addressing a joint press conference here, SDP president Darakshshan Andrabi and JKNUF national convener R.K. Mattoo termed the tie-up as a political alliance of nationalist forces for restoration of age-old glorious tradition of Hindu-Muslim-Sikh harmony which has been a casualty of the parochial politics of divide and rule. JKNUF working president A.K. Deewani said the minority community in the state, especially in the valley, has suffered a lot due to mass migration two decades back and unfortunately all the political parties of the state “played politics with the displaced community.” |
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‘Landlords averse to security norms’ Jammu, October 26 Unmindful of the security threat due to rising infiltration bids in the wake of the state Assembly elections, landlords are not adhering to the set
guidelines. As per norms, a tenant is asked to furnish either the driver's license or a state-issued identification card. When The Tribune correspondent asked Rajesh Kumar, a tenant from Pathankot, as to what inquiry his landlord carried out before renting his premise to him, his reply was “no”. Rajesh said except for negotiating the monthly rent, the landlord did not bother to verify his documents.
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3 Shiv Sena leaders join BJP
Jammu, October 26 |
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Devotee dies
Jammu: A woman devotee from West Bengal died on the way to Vaishnodevi on Sunday. Geeta Helter (60) collapsed at Adhkuwari on the way to the shrine and was rushed to a hospital, where she was declared brought dead, the police said. The body was sent for a post-mortem.
— PTI
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Global financial crisis has created a doubt in the minds of Jammu residents on whether to spend money or not during this festive season.
