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Notification issued for sixth phase
Phase - II |
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Mehbooba's convoy attacked
Anti-incumbency sentiment dominates Nowshera
PDP takes credit for brisk polling in phase I
EC allows alternative IDs
Election authorities for action against 3 officials
Balanced development during Cong rule: Azad
Border people to cast vote without fear
Militant-turned-politician Bilal dies
Retaining Bhaderwah won’t be easy for Azad
Two families vie for Rajouri pie
Omar serves notice to Mehbooba
No work no vote, say voters
Vohra reviews arrangements for winter season
No photography inside booths
Appointment on Compassionate Grounds
6 jawans killed in accident
Romesh bags Ist prize
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Notification issued for sixth phase
Jammu, November 22 November 29 has been fixed as the last date for filing nominations; scrutiny of the nomination papers would take place on December 1. The last date for withdrawal of candidatures has been fixed as December 3. Only the seventh phase of polls when 21 constituencies will go to polls and the fourth phase when 18 constituencies will vote have more constituencies voting than the sixth phase in the present elections. However, district-wise, the sixth phase, when five districts will vote to elect their representatives, have more districts voting than in any other phase during the elections. A total of 11,65,409 registered electorate, which includes 6,03,123 male and 5,62,286 female voters, are eligible to exercise franchise across 16 constituencies, that are Noorabad, Kulgam, Home-Shalibugh, Devsar are in Kulgam district, Anantnag, Doru, Kokernag, Shangus, Bijbehara and Pahalgam are in Anantnag district, Kishtwar and Indarwal in Kishtwar district, Doda and Bhaderwah in Doda district and Ramban and Banihal in Ramban district, respectively. The total electorate that would vote in sixth phase also include 2,521 service electors. As many as 1,268 polling stations are being established across the 16 constituencies for the sixth phase of polls to facilitate voters. Of these, 282 are in Kulgam, 427 in Anantnag, 187 in Kishtwar, 206 in Doda and 166 in Ramban district, respectively. |
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Phase - II
Rajouri, November 22 The administration has been coordinating with the security agencies to take adequate precautionary measures. In view of the heightened security threat perception, various security agencies have been hold informal meetings and discussion to make presence of the security forces felt. In the polling tomorrow (Sunday) six assembly segments will go to poll in the state. Out of these four are in Rajouri district, namely
Rajouri, Nowshera, Sunderbani and Kalakote. The other two are Ganderbal and Kangan in the valley. Tomorrow's poll is being keenly watched as it will test the political fate of NC President and chief ministerial candidate, Omar Abdullah. As the Rajouri area comprises of a higher percentage of Hindus as compared to predominantly Muslim Poonch (where poll was held in the first phase on November 17), the Amarnath Yatra row is likely to play some role tomorrow, even though the poll will mainly choose candidates on the issue of development. To foil any militant bid to disrupt the poll, the security forces took position in and around the polling stations today to instil confidence among the voters, a senior official said. In the Jammu province following the success of the agitation with regard to the Amarnath row, the BJP is trying to make its presence felt in these areas. This has led to an open political battle between the BJP and the Congress, both of whom are trying to play the blame game with the bid to garner votes. The Congress it seem has been unable to recover from its political losses in the Jammu region and the valley, so it is trying to tell people that militancy would return to the state if the Congress was not voted to power again. Both the PDP and the National Conference (the two parties considered to be the front runners as of now) have stakes in tomorrow’s poll. The PDP is seeking votes by putting forward its self-rule document, while the National Conference (NC) has called for the restoration of pre-1953 status of J&K, which means the state will have a complete control of the state affairs baring
defence, foreign affairs and communications. A team from the Election Commission of India is in the state to review the arrangement from tomorrow's poll. They reportedly expressed their satisfaction over poll arrangements at a meeting in Srinagar in which Chief Electoral Officer of the state B R Sharma, Election Observers, Divisional Commissioner (Kashmir), IGP (Kashmir) and other civil and police officials were present. |
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Srinagar, November 22 Mehbooba, who was returning here after conducting election activities in Kupwara district, was surrounded by a mob at Baramulla town where two youths were killed allegedly in firing by the security forces earlier in the day, the sources said. The angry crowd smashed the windscreens of three vehicles and tried to set ablaze one of them. Although the PDP president was safely whisked away from the scene of trouble by her personal security guards, three of them were injured in the process. — PTI
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Anti-incumbency sentiment dominates Nowshera
People of this small town are all out to settle scores with the PDP and the Congress, both of whom formed the government in the state after the 2002 polls, but ignored the area in terms of development. Part of the Nowshera Assembly segment in Rajouri district, this constituency is spread over two of the eight tehsils of the district.
“We have asked the successive governments to give this town a trauma hospital to save precious lives. Schoolchildren have repeatedly sought the setting up of a college. However, a degree college was given to Thana Mandi by the PDP, and this tehsil was ignored. Our children have to travel for several hours if they want to go to college. People have a feeling that the area was purposely ignored by both Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Gulam Nabi Azad during their terms as Chief Ministers. The resentment is bound to reflect in the poll result,” says Vinod Gupta, reflecting the popular sentiment of the area. The people of the area have been demanding upgrading Siot, a place about 95 km from Jammu, into a district as it is equidistant from Nowshera, Sunderbani and Kalakote. Others have also been demanding a district status for Nowshera, one of the biggest subdivisions of the area. At present, the people of the area have to travel to Rajouri for all official works. The local area has also since long been demanding an industrial estate, repair and construction of link roads and adequate drinking water and electricity for the area. “The BJP candidate does not stand much chance, but some Hindus here will vote for the BJP to make their point to the PDP and the Congress. Yet some others along with Muslims will vote for the National Conference (NC) candidate giving him an edge,” feels Arif Khan, a local contractor. Legislator in the last Assembly and a minister in the Congress government is bound to face a tough fight when people go to vote on Sunday. Ramesh Sharma (Congress) is seeking re-election, but faces a strong opposition from the National Conference and the BJP for his “failure” to grant district status for Nowshera. In the past, Nowshera was considered to be a hardcore Congress bastion, which was won by the Congress eight times since 1962, out of which 7 times by Sharma’s father Late Beli Ram. Sharma, who will face the anti-incumbency vote, is mainly fighting NC candidate Radhey Shyam Sharma - a rich businessman - and BJP candidate Vishwinder Dev Sharma (a retired bureaucrat). There are 11 candidates in the fray, including Arshad Mehmood (PDP), Mohmmad Zaman (JKDPN), two Rajputs -Ajeet Singh (Independent) and Shamsher Singh (JKNPP) and a Jat candidate Surinder Choudary (BSP). |
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PDP takes credit for brisk polling in phase I
Mahore, November 22 “After 2002 elections, the PDP-led government revived people’s faith in the democratic institutions through its policies and programmes,” he said. Addressing a public meeting at Mahore in support of party candidate Mumtaz Kousar, PDP patron said that after formation the coalition regime in 2002, first time in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, the state government took the centrestage in the process of solving the problem as the PDP led coalition regime facilitated the peace initiatives and convinced both India and Pakistan to take some concrete steps for bringing normalcy in this region. The former chief minister opined that the new Assembly has to play a vital role in felicitating solution of the Kashmir problem. Sayeed criticised the NC leaders for saying that the Legislative Assembly didn’t have any role in solution of the problem. |
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EC allows alternative IDs
Jammu, November 22 Following directions from the Election Commission of India (ECI), district election officer Sheikh Rafiq Ahmed has asked the polling personnel to acknowledge other documentary evidences during polling in four constituencies in the district tomorrow. The alternative documents included passport, driving licence, PAN card, service identity card and bank passbook, an official spokesman said here today. Student identity card, property documents like pattas, registered deed, ration cards, SC/ST/OBC certificate, pension document such as ex-servicemen's pension book/pension payment order are among other alternative documents. Any such document of the head of the family shall be allowed for other members of the family too. Four constituencies in the Rajouri district are among the six segments going to polls in the second phase.
— PTI |
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Election authorities for action against 3 officials
Rajouri, November 22 The officials against whom action has been recommended by the authorities include two gazetted officers and a numberdaar. The election authorities had received 13 complaints of the violation of the model code of conduct and have recommended action against the employees for the same. Giving details, district electoral officer Sheikh Rafiq Ahmed told mediapersons here that two gazetted officers and a numberdaar were found campaigning for various candidates. One of the gazetted officer is posted in Kathua district who has come here for campaigning for his favourite candidate, the other one is posted in Rajouri itself. |
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Balanced development during Cong rule: Azad
Rajouri, November 22 He said the Congress era was an era of overall development, peace and prosperity. It is during this era that the militancy has been tackled with heavy hand and human rights violation has almost come to zero. The former Chief Minister said in the past three years, Rajouri district had taken up massive road connectivity programmes. However, the district was neglected by the previous governments, he added. |
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Border people to cast vote without fear
Jhangar-Nowshera (Rajouri), November 22 Unlike 2002 elections, when they were transported by the local election authorities from the migrant camps at various places in Nowshera after being dislocated from their native places near the LoC, this time around these people will cast their votes from their homes. There are roughly about 5,000 voters in these areas of Laam, Ladoka, Kalsiyaan, Bhawani, Ser and Makri. Elated Ajay Kumar, resident of Sarya near LoC, says: “This time we will cast our votes from our homes.” However, Kumar said the successive governments have done little for them. "We have been dislocated more than four times since Independence, no one cares for us. Every time we constructed our houses, they are destroyed in shelling. The government has not compensated us for the losses we suffered due to tension along the LoC,” rues Kumar. But we hope the representative we elect will do something for us, he adds. Another resident Sat Paul Sharma, former Sarpanch of Jhangar, echoed similar views. |
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Militant-turned-politician Bilal dies
He was contesting as an independent candidate from the Beerwah constituency of Budgam district that goes to the polls in the fourth phase on December 7. Commonly known as Bilal Lodhi, he visited Beerwah today, where he suffered a massive heart attack and was rushed to the nearby hospital in Magam. He was declared dead in the hospital, reports said. Bilal Lodhi after quitting militancy had joined the PDP when it was constituted in 1990. After the 2002 elections, 45-year-old Lodhi became the party’s MLC. He resigned from the PDP early this year and joined the National Conference, following which the PDP expelled him from the membership of the Legislative Council. Lodhi was contesting as an independent candidate from Beerwah constituency after the National Conference did not give him the party ticket. PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, president Mehbooba Mufti and general secretary Nizam-u-Din Bhat have expressed deep shock and grief over the sad demise of Bilal Lodhi. |
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Retaining Bhaderwah won’t be easy for Azad
Udhampur, November 22 Bhaderwah being his native place, Azad won the seat with a record margin in the April, 2006, byelection. However, the NC, which did not field any candidate in the 2006 poll , has given mandate to its strong candidate Mohammad Aslam Goni, who has already toured the whole constituency. The BJP too fielded a “weak” candidate to ensure victory of Azad so that he could become the first chief minister from the Jammu region but this time the party has chosen veteran leader and former state president Daya Krishan Kotwal to contest the seat. Having a strong following in Bhaderwah, Kotwal, who remained active in this belt during the peak of militancy, is concentrating on Hindu votes, which constitute 46 per cent of total votes in this Assembly constituency. As the Congress is strong in Bhalesa belt, the NC and BJP workers are especially concentrating on this area to make inroads in the citadel of Ghulam Nabi Azad. The PDP, the erstwhile coalition partner of Ghulam Nabi Azad, has also started aggressive campaign in Bhaderwah. The party has especially deputed its vice-president Ved Mahajan to supervise election campaign in Bhaderwah constituency. For the last three days PDP leaders have been addressing series of public meetings at Bhalesa, Gandoh and adjoining localities to garner public support. PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is scheduled to address a public meeting at Doda on November 23. In 2002 Assembly elections, Mohammad Sharief Niaz of the Congress had won this seat by defeating NC candidate Mohammad Aslam Goni. When Ghulam Nabi Azad became the chief minister of the state in the year 2005, Mohammad Sharief Niaz vacated this seat for him. |
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Two families vie for Rajouri pie
Rajouri, November 22 Uncle Muhammad Aslam Khan and his nephew Shabir Ahmed Khan of another family would contest on the National Conference and Congress tickets, respectively. Whereas Haji Taj Khan, a businessman, having election symbol ‘Book’, is contesting election on development plank, his son Shahzad Khan, a graduate, with election symbol ‘ceiling fan’ is focusing on issues concerning youth. Even as Shabir Ahmed Khan, a Congress candidate is highlighting development of the constituency and promising the same if voted by the people, his maternal uncle and former MLA in the previous Assembly Muhammad Aslam Khan is focusing on lack of development during the previous Congress and PDP coalition government with a promise that he will bring fast track development of the assembly constituency. He is also selling autonomy as an issue. There are 23 candidates in fray for this assembly constituency. Of these 23 candidates, 13 are fighting elections as independents, highest number across all the constituencies in the state. |
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Omar serves notice to Mehbooba
Srinagar November 22 Omar, through his advocate, sought an apology from the PDP leaders for their “defamatory statement” in a press conference, within one week, failing which he would file a suit for damages to the tune of Rs 1 crore. The notice comes at a time when Omar Abdullah’s fate would be decided by the electorate in his home constituency of Ganderbal, where the polling for the second phase is scheduled for tomorrow. Karra on Thursday released a photograph of the NC president seen with Pandey at a function some time back. This was followed by Mehbooba’s press conference here yesterday where she questioned the invitation extended to the NC leaders by the Swami Dayanand Pandey of Durga Nath Temple Trust. — TNS |
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No work no vote, say voters
Rajouri, November 22 Jasbir, who has four voters in his family, says: “Our legislator did nothing for our area, so we will vote to punish him. We are facing so many problems like non-availability of water, erratic electricity, bad condition of roads, shabby condition of health institution and have not seen development of the area." “There is saying in English ‘No work no pay’. For non-performing politicians it can be ‘no work no vote’. Jasbir's brother, Balbir Singh Rajput, an ex-serviceman says: We don’t have basic amenities. We have water pipes laid in our area but there is no water, there is a sub-centre in our village but the medical staff is hardly seen there, there are electric poles but electricity supply is a rare thing.” Joginder Gupta, a businessman of Sunderbani, says: “We wished our MLA to get college, trauma hospital and district status for our area. But our legislator let us down and didn't fulfil any of these promises made by him during elections.” |
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Vohra reviews arrangements for winter season
Srinagar, November 22 He held discussions with senior security and civil administration officers to review the situation and stock position in the valley for the winter months. Those who attended the meeting included Commander of the Srinagar based 15 Corps, Lt General Mukesh
Sabherwal, DGP Kuldeep Khuda. The meeting held to review the stock position was told that the stocking of essential commodities in far flung areas of Ladakh region, apart from
Karnah, Gurez and Machil areas of Kashmir division, which remain land-locked for several months in winter, has been completed much ahead of the schedule.
— TNS |
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No photography inside booths
Jammu, November 22 Also political functionaries, who have been provided security shall not be allowed to remain present in the constituencies to which they are not electors after the period of campaigning is over. Acting upon the EC communiqué, chief electoral officer
B.R. Sharma today issued these directions to all the district election officers and
SPs. |
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Appointment on Compassionate Grounds
Jammu, November 22 The brother of the petitioner -Varinder Sharma-working as a sub-inspector in the police department died in a road accident along with his wife. The petitioner being a law graduate and the brother of the deceased sought his appointment on compassionate grounds suitably against the available vacancy in the department. However, the petitioner was appointed as an assistant sub-inspector in the J&K police on April 28, 1994. The counsel petitioner argued that the appointment of the petitioner as an ASI was not suitable as required under rules more particularly when similarly situated persons being graduates were appointed as sub-inspectors. Respondents in their objections stated that seeking appointment on higher post, which is based on compassionate grounds, cannot be claimed as a matter of right. The object to make compassionate appointment is only to alleviate the sufferings of the family. Mr Justice Sunil Hali while allowing the petition observed that “Admittedly the case of petitioner was recommended by the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) for the appointment to the post of sub-inspector in the J&K Police Department. It seems that the post was available, but for unknown reasons, the claim of petitioner was not accepted. The petitioner also placed on the record copy of appointment order of Respondent No 5, who was a graduate and was appointed as sub-inspector in the department. It can safely be said that the petitioner being a law graduate was entitled to be adjusted suitably against the post, which was commensurate with his qualification.
It is also not in dispute that the vacancy of sub-inspector did exist in the department against which the petitioner could have been adjusted.” The HC while holding the petitioner entitled to relief held that “I find force in the submission of the petitioner that he was entitled to be considered against the post of sub-inspector in the J&K Police Department; firstly on the ground that he can be adjusted suitably against the aforesaid post as the vacancy existed at that time. Secondly, similarly situated person i.e. Respondent No 5 has been appointed as a sub-inspector even though he has less qualification than the petitioner.” |
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6 jawans killed in accident
Leh, November 22 The injured jawans have been admitted to the Army hospital in Leh. The deceased have been identified as hawildar Palber Singh, naik Chander Mohan, naik Sanjay Singh, signal man power Anil
Ramesh, signal man Adesg Singh and Mogh Mustag. Avalanche: Death toll rises to
7 PTI adds from Srinagar: The death toll in the avalanche in Gurez sector of the state rose to seven with the recovery of the body of the missing Army Lieutenant. The body of Lieutenant Ameek Kumar was recovered from the site of the avalanche yesterday, official sources said. The avalanche had swept away seven Army personnel, including two officers, on Monday. |
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2 killed in oxygen plant blast
Srinagar, November 22 Tension gripped the area with the deafening sound of the explosion at about 2.30 pm, due to which smoke and dust covered the surroundings. The injured were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital with the help of locals and the police. The deceased have been identified as Shakeel Ahmad Kumhar and Merajuddin Naik. Investigations into the cause of the accident are going on.
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Sanskrit students ‘face uncertain future’
Jammu, November 22 Speaking to media persons at Jammu University campus, Parishad president Paras
Shastri, said: “Except for Sanskrit, the medium of research work and lectures in every other language is conducted in the same language. Therefore, Sanskrit is being undermined and being pushed towards extinction.” He expressed anguish over the functioning of the Sanskrit Department at JU and said for the past several years none of the student could crack any of the examination held by UGC or state and national level civil services exams. “This is because of the fact that, Sanskrit is being taught and learnt in Hindi which is proving an impediment in the progress of the students and language also,” reasoned
Shastri. |
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Romesh bags Ist prize
Jammu, November 22 Sadarika Chada of the Government College for Women, Parade, was awarded certificate of merit. |
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Srinagar, November 22