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60 litres of liquid explosive seized
From an ‘outsider’ to CM
Delimitation of Assembly seats
Shock over exclusion of Raman Bhalla from Cabinet
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A lopsided Cabinet: BJP
Now is the time for Omar to deliver
Omar to go Kalam way on Internet
Traffic diversions led to jams
Governor’s rule ends in state
Relief package eyewash, say tourist traders
5.72 lakh patients visited SKIMS in 2008
Srinagar rocked yet again
Worker falls to death
Four rescued in Gurez
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60 litres of liquid explosive seized
Srinagar, January 5 They said following a tip-off about a militant hideout troops of 22 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), 177 CRPF and the state police launched a joint search operation at Chana Khan, Sopore, about 55 km from here, yesterday. During the operation, the security forces raided the house of one Abdul Khaliq Dar and seized the liquid explosive. The sources said the explosive was enough to make bombs, which could have caused much damage to life and property. This was the second major seizure in north Kashmir during the past two days. Yesterday, the security forces unearthed a hideout and seized war-like stores, including RDX and other arms and ammunition, at Kandi Budan forests in north Kashmir. Jammu: At least 10 militants are believed to be holding out in concrete bunkers by reinforcing the existing natural caves, as their encounter with security forces in Poonch district entered the fifth day on Monday, when two jawans were injured. An intense gun battle continued with Army troops firing rockets and mortars targeting the militants’ cave hideouts in the Bhati Dhar forest area near the LoC in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district, defence sources said. The sources said over 10 militants were hiding in the area and intercepts decoded had revealed that some top commanders of Jaish-e-Mohammad, al Badr and Lashker-e-Taiba were among those holed up in the natural cave type fortified bunkers. During the gun battle, which resumed this morning, huge smoke was seen billowing from in and around the caves in which militants were sheltering, after rockets and mortars were fired, the sources said, adding that two jawans were injured in the operation. Despite heavy fog and poor visibility hampering the operation, “a major assault was launched today morning to destroy the cave hideouts”, a defence source said. The Army, along with special forces and commandos of the state police force, is planning conducting surgical operations to destroy the hideouts and neutralise the terrorists. Apart from Romeo Force’s 29th unit, 26 Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operation Group of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the authorities had rushed para units of special forces to the area, besides some additional troops, the source said. “We will not allow them (the militants) to escape. The operation will finish after the recovery of their bodies,” the sources added. Meanwhile, security forces have arrested a woman for “sheltering” and “helping” the group militants engaged in the fierce gun battle, they said. The security forces last evening apprehended one Muneeza Begum, a resident of Bhati Dhar, Mendhar, for “sheltering” the militants. “Muneeza’s husband, who is working in Saudi Arabia, asked her to help the militants during their stay,” the sources said, adding that she had been sent to the joint interrogation centre in Jammu. |
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From an ‘outsider’ to CM
Jammu, January 5 The 38-year-old scion of Kashmir's "first family", the Abdullahs, Omar started his political career as an MP in the 12th Lok Sabha in 1998 and was re-elected a year later. He went on to become the youngest union minister at the age of 29 in the previous BJP-led NDA regime. He served as the Union Minister of State, Commerce and Industry, in the NDA government. After a couple of years, he was made the Union Minister of State for External Affairs. During his tenure as a central minister, he was praised for his eloquence and communication skills as also his ability to speak up for India in various international fora on the issue of Kashmir. Omar was handed over the NC mantle by his father and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah at the age of 31 in 2002. After tasting defeat at the Abdullahs' home turf Ganderbal in the 2002 Assembly poll, Omar exhibited extraordinary adaptability and political acumen to emerge from the shadows of his illustrious father and grandfather. He was re-elected as an MP for the third time from Srinagar in 2004 Lok Sabha poll. He led the party in trying times when it was in the Opposition for six years from 2002-08 and spearheaded its poll campaign in the recent Assembly poll, making it emerge as the single largest party with 28 seats. Omar is an ardent sportsman and known for his interests in tennis, skiing, swimming, squash and biking. His favourite pastime is reading while his special interest lies in finding a long-term solution to the problem of unemployment among the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. |
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Delimitation of Assembly seats
Jammu, January 5 Omar yesterday had reportedly said he would consult his coalition ally as fresh delimitation had been frozen till 2026. Yet again he had cited nitty-gritty’s of the state constitution saying that the Congress and the NC alone could not get the delimitation done because it required a two-thirds majority in the 87-member House. In 2002 elections, the Congress had delimitation commission in its manifesto and later it was also included in the CMP of the erstwhile PDP-Congress coalition government. “The Congress had been in the power and again would be a partner in the new coalition, but it took no pains to walk its talk,” said Panthers Party legislator and former Education Minister Harsh Dev Singh. The former NDA government, of which the NC was a partner, had put a rider on the delimitation of the constituencies till 2026. Even going by the 2026 restriction the next delimitation would not be possible by 2035, because it can’t be done till the first census slated in 2031, he said, adding that the Union government, too, would take a couple of years to publish the census report. However, he said, if the NC and the Congress want to deliver justice to the people then moving a Bill after making the constitutional amendment was no big deal. BJP leader prof Nirmal Singh said political discrimination with Jammu region had been going from the past six decades but in a democracy doctrine of equality must be ensured. He felt that the Kashmir-centric parties, including the Congress, would never like to see an end to Jammu’s slavery, adding the Congress, too, would never exert pressure on NC to make an earnest effort in ending the political discrimination of Jammu. |
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Shock over exclusion of Raman Bhalla from Cabinet
Jammu, January 5 Supporters of Bhalla blamed former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad for supporting Sham Sharma’s candidature for the ministerial post. They said earlier Azad was seen lobbying for Deputy Chief Minister’s post for Sharma, but the party high command turned down his suggestion after it found Sharma was yet to gain that much stature which was needed for the post. In the 10-member Cabinet, headed by Omar Abdullah, the Congress has given equal representation to Kashmir and the Jammu region. It has two ministers one from Jammu and one from Ladakh. While Tara Chand and Sham Sharma represent Jammu in the Cabinet, Nawang Rigzin Jora represents Ladakh. Taj Mohi-ud-Din and Peerzada Mohd Syed belong to Kashmir. All these three Congress ministers were in the Cabinet headed first by Mufti Mohd Sayeed and later by Ghulam Nabi Azad. Against the four NC ministers, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, are from Kashmir. Abdul Rahim Rather, Mian Altaf and Ali Mohd Sagar hail from Kashmir and from the Jammu region only Surjit Singh Slatha, who had won the Vijaypur seat, has been inducted in the Cabinet. |
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A lopsided Cabinet: BJP
Jammu, January 5 In a statement released here, Prof Gupta says in the ministry, six ministers, including the Chief Minister, are from Kashmir valley, three from Jammu and one from Ladakh. He alleged that little care was taken to give due representation to different regions while taking a decision on the Cabinet formation, though it is a different matter that the issue of representation may be brushed aside by arguing that there would be an expansion in the Cabinet in future. “The first impression casts a shadow on the forthcoming events,” he added. Prof Gupta strongly objected to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s alleged remark that “delimitation of Assembly segments was not their priority” and observed that the issue held great significance for the political empowerment of the people of the state. He also ridiculed the argument that the coalition did not have the two-thirds majority required for delimitation, stating that their 11-member party is ready to extend the support to the coalition
government over the issue. |
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Now is the time for Omar to deliver
Srinagar, January 5 Significantly, he is heading a coalition government with the Congress, unlike in the past when his predecessors had taken on the throne with a clear or absolute majority. The swearing-in ceremony was held in Jammu, winter capital, for the first time after the past three such events, in view of it being the seat of government at the moment. Earlier, Farooq Abdullah was sworn in as the Chief Minister on October 9, 1996, in Srinagar when an elected government took over after seven years. Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Ghulam Nabi Azad also took oath in Srinagar on November 2, 2002, and November 2, 2005, respectively. The seat of government remains at the summer capital, Srinagar, between May and October, while it is shifted to Jammu between November and April every year. On both last occasions, as the Civil Secretariat having been closed in Srinagar, was yet to be opened at Jammu, the swearing-in ceremony was held in the summer capital. |
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Omar to go Kalam way on Internet
Jammu, January 5 The Internet savvy NC president said he would put a system in place so that the general public could directly send him e-mails. "I will be asking my technical team to create a system whereby the general public would be ready to e-mail me their grievances directly," Omar Abdullah told PTI. For the majority of people in Jammu and Kashmir without any access to the Internet, Abdullah said he would make sure "they can write to me directly or meet me." There willalso be a mechanism under which "the pending files of people move in a timely manner." Omar's display of oratorial skills on July 22 during the Congress' trust vote in Parliament won him a huge fan following on the video sharing portal YouTube. He also wrote weblogs and has a profile in one of the popular social networking sites. Kalam, during his tenure as the country's President, was known for personally replying to e-mails send to him by citizens, a large section of whom were schoolgoing students.
— PTI |
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Farooq to plead Sikhs’ demands
Jammu, January 5 NC patron and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah said this while addressing people at Gurdwara Chand Kour, where he had gone to pay obeisance on the birth anniversary of 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh. Thousands of Sikhs gathered at the gurdwara to celebrate the anniversary. Farooq also extended his greetings to the Sikh community on the occasion. “I would take up all issues concerning the Sikhs with the Chief Minister and he would definitely redress their grievances,” Farooq Said. He said, “Sikhs are a courageous race and should remain united to face all challenges. The greatness of your community lies in your unity.” Farooq said he was hopeful that the community would be given due representation in the ministry, as was given during his tenure. “When I was the chief minister of the state I had given an important portfolio to a Sikh and now I hope Omar Abdullah would also give due representation to the community,” Farooq added. On the issue of introduction of Punjabi as a compulsory subject in elementary education, he said, “During my tenure, I had instructed the Education Department to include all languages spoken in the state, including Punjabi, in elementary education. However, the successive state governments failed to continue that policy. Hopefully, the new government would carry on with the policy.” Earlier, the president of the district Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Jammu, put forth various demands of the community, and asked the former Chief Minister to take them up with his son. Their demands include a Sikh minister in the Cabinet, establishment of a chair in Jammu University after Guru Gobind Singh, naming the road leading to the railway station from Bikram Chowk as Guru Gobind Singh Ji Marg. The Sikhs also demanded Punjabi language to be included as a compulsory subject in elementary education, besides making amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Sikh Gurdwara Endowment Act 1973. |
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Gurparb celebrated with fervour
Jammu, January 5 Devotees, including women and children, paid obeisance at city gurdwaras, which were illuminated and decorated with colourful buntings. The main function was held at Gurdwara Bibi Chand Kaur Samadh at Chand Nagar in the heart of the city, where devotees from all castes, creed and religion paid obeisance and offered prayers. A chariot on which Guru Granth Sahib was placed was decorated with flowers, followed by the Panj Piaras, while hundreds of people participated in the colourful procession amid chants of religious hymns to mark the celebrations. However, many religious and social organisations had also arranged ‘langars’ for the devotees. Meanwhile, NC patron Dr Farooq Abdullah also visited a gurdwara and offered prayers.
— UNI |
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Implement resolution on Kashmir, separatists to UN
Srinagar, January 5 Senior leaders of both factions of the Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Geelani addressed a seminar here on the occasion and reiterated their stand on the resolution of Kashmir issue. A memorandum was also addressed to the UN secretary-general, Ban-ki-Moon, seeking his attention towards the resolution of the Kashmir issue in accordance with the UN resolutions. Speaking at a seminar, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said if the newly appointed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah represented the people of Kashmir in its real terms in New Delhi, he would support him (Omar). The Mirwaiz said any elections held in the state made no difference to the Kashmir issue, and added that the separatist leadership would continue its “struggle forward”. Syed Ali Geelani reiterated his stand on the grant of right self-determination to the people. The memorandum sought UN intervention to let India and Pakistan know that talks between these two countries be accompanied by practical measures to restore an environment of non-violence. This could be achieved through various measures, it added. The memorandum also sought an end to the military actions against the civilian population. |
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Traffic diversions led to jams
Jammu, January 5 People had to face various problems as traffic at various places was halted for sometime following the movement of VVIPs, including top dignitaries from New Delhi, in the town. The Sikh devotees going to gurdwaras to pay obeisance on the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh had to faced problems as traffic on the highway and roads leading to Gurdwara Chand Kour, where the main function was held, was diverted. “We were caught in the traffic jam for half an hour. There was lot of congestion on the roads and we could not move even an inch,” said Gurcharan Singh, a resident of Nanak Nagar, Jammu. The traffic police also failed to control the traffic as congestion on the roads kept on mounting. “The traffic police is here only to facilitate the movement of VVIPs and does not cares for the common masses. Everyday, common people are forced to bear the brunt of erratic traffic management in the city,” said Kuldeep Kumar, a local resident. |
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Governor’s rule ends in state
Jammu, January 5 According to a Raj Bhawan spokesman, the Governor issued the proclamation before swearing in the new council of ministers headed by Omar Abdullah, here this afternoon, bringing to an end the Governor’s rule in the state. |
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Relief package eyewash, say tourist traders
Srinagar, January 5 “We didn’t ask for it. It’s totally a different thing. The traders, particularly those related with the tourism sector, had demanded compensation for the agitation period, but the same has not been fulfilled. We hope the new government will hear us,” says G.M. Dug, chairman of the Kashmir Tourism Alliance. Dug, who is a former president of the Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Owners Federation, says the compensation package announced by the government mainly caters to the industry and the weakest sections of the tourism industry like shikarawallas, pony owners have not been benefited. “About 30 per cent of people survive on tourism. The package caters to a fraction of the total number of hotels. The hotel owners have been asked to go for air conditioning and heating arrangements. We are not taking it. First, we have to maintain standards and then we can go in for modernisation,” says Dug. Siraj Ahmad, senior vice-president, Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Association, says the thrust area of the package is to compensate for losses suffered during the agitation period, which continued for almost three months. “The tourism sector has been badly hit since 1990, but so far we have received nothing from the government. Basically, we demand compensation since 1990, even though the agitation period is the thrust period,” says Siraj. He says the three per cent subsidy offered by the government for upgrading infrastructure is not their demand at present. “We are facing the burden of loans, salaries, insurance and electricity fee. We have to meet those expenses first. But the government is not listening to us,” Siraj laments, adding that “we won’t stop here, but will strive for it.” Pinning hope on the new political dispensation, he says the NC should fulfil its promise of helping tourist traders, especially hoteliers. He says the NC highlighted the problems of the tourism sector during campaigning and promised to set things right. |
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5.72 lakh patients visited SKIMS in 2008
Srinagar, January 5 The annual report for 2008 of the hospital says that out of 47,660 in-patient admissions last year 44,541 patients were discharged after recuperation. The report, presented to Governor NN Vohra, says that the latest medical technology was used in the hospital. It adds that OPD attendance in the institute increased by 11 per cent with nearly 5.72 lakh patients availing the facilities in various departments. Doctors at the institute carried out 16,348 surgeries, including 9,867 major operations, in the departments of neurosurgery, paediatrics, plastic surgery and urology. The report claims that the department of Cardio Vascular and Thoracic surgery performed more than 100 open heart surgeries during the past year. The institute started the postgraduate degrees in DM cardiology, M Ch cardio-vascular and thoracic surgery, DM gastroenterology and M Ch neurosurgery. The PhD clinical bio-chemistry and molecular medicine were also started last year. |
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Srinagar rocked yet again
Srinagar, January 5 The tremor, registering 5.8 magnitude on the Richter scale, was felt around 4.43 am, waking up residents as doors and windows of the buildings rattled under its impact. There was no immediate report of any casualty or damage to property, officials said. The epicentre of the earthquake was in the Hindukush region on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border with latitude 36.6 north and longitude of 71
East. — PTI |
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Worker falls to death
Srinagar, January 5 Tulsi Ram, a resident of Chach Hara in Himachal Pradesh, fell from the Uri powerhouse building in Baramulla district, they said, adding that a case had been registered. Meanwhile, the police this morning fished out the body of a man, who had drowned in the Jhelum two days ago. The body of Mohammad Yousuf was fished out from the river in the Gund Nasir area. The victim was a resident of Chandpora in the Jama Masjid area and had reportedly drowned on Saturday.
— PTI |
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Four rescued in Gurez
Srinagar, January 5 The police here said the four persons were trapped under the snow avalanche at the first refugee location in the Tulel area on Sunday morning. Later, the Army rescued them. The condition of one of them Jamil Ahmad Lone was stated to be critical. — TNS |
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