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2 killed in firing
Ultras escape after brief encounter
Good Governance |
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State to propose Rs 6,500 crore annual plan
Quake-resistant Buildings
MC removes encroachments
on footpaths
Rs 50,000 each for
all state colleges
Seminar on IT held
Azad’s resignation as MLA accepted
District status for Jammu West sought
RS polls illegal: Bhim Singh
Air Marshal Barbora to visit Srinagar airbase
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2 killed in firing
Srinagar, February 21 An Army spokesman in Srinagar said the details were still sketchy and they could make a statement only after getting all relevant information. However, tempers ran high in Sopore, which is one of the most sensitive places in the valley and where separatist sentiments are rather strong, as people in hundreds came on roads, protesting against the killing. “Both of them are innocent civilians. We are not going to take it lying down,” Shabir Khan, a local, said. Official sources said the firing from the Army was probably provoked by the apprehension of a militant attack. “So far, we are given to understand that the Army troops believed that they were attacked by militants and fired in defence,” an official said. The injured has been identified as Firdous Ahmad and has been referred to the SKIMS in Srinagar. The administration has deployed a large contingent of police and CRPF personnel as volatile crowds of civilians surged in the township.
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Ultras escape after brief encounter
Udhampur, February 21 Though additional forces had been rushed to the area to track down the militants, sources said due to incessant rain and snowfall search operations had been stopped. “Due to the inclement weather, the operation parties are finding it difficult to chase the militants. Additional forces have been rushed to the area to plug all escape routes”, SSP, Udhampur, Surinder Gupta told the Tribune. The SSP said under the cover of darkness and taking advantage of downpour and snowfall, the militants managed to escape after a brief encounter. He, however, said the security forces had unearthed a terrorist hideout and seized a cache of arms and ammunition, besides some ration and dry fruits. The sources said a high alert had been sounded in the civilian areas and all 72 VDCs of the Ramnagar area had been alerted. VDC members had been asked to start patrolling in their respective areas to foil any attempt by the militants to enter their villages. The Udhampur police and the Army had launched a joint search operation after specific information about the presence of some militants in the Ranmatha area of Seojdhar belt, bordering Doda district. The security forces established contact with terrorists on late Friday night when the militants fired on them. Though the operation party retaliated, the terrorists managed to give them a slip. This morning, the security forces unearthed a hideout in the area and seized an AK 56 rifle with a magazine, one 303 rifle with a magazine, a binocular, a Chinese grenade, 36 shells, two solar chargers, besides 200 kg of ration and blankets and other items. Reports said fear gripped the Doodu area after people came to know about the escape of the militants and their possible presence around their villages. Residents of Lodra, Panara, Sangh and Khaner villages have been living under constant fear, as forces from these villages have been withdrawn following “improvement” in the situation. The encounter and escape of the militants have made people more fearful. Local leader RS Pathanai has demanded the deployment of the Army in the area to revive the shattered confidence of the people. He has written a letter to the Union Defence Minister in this regard.
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CM: Rapport with people must
Tribune News Service
Rajouri, February 21 Addressing public meetings at Surankote and Poonch, Omar said strong public-government relations would be the hallmark of his government in the next six years. “I am committed to be always in touch with you to receive firsthand information about the quality of service being provided by the administration”, he averred. The Chief Minister said people’s difficulties could not be felt in the cozy rooms of the Civil Secretariat. Ministers and administrators should travel across the state to remain in constant touch with the people and be at their “beck and call”. “A leader is one who leads from the front. I will march to take the government to the doorsteps of the people”, he told the administration and urged the officers to follow him in this regard. The Chief Minister said he wanted to bring about a change where people would not have to search for the government, but the government itself would look for public to hear them and address their grievances. Referring to the tense relations with Pakistan, the Chief Minister enumerated the merits of good relations between the two neighbours for enhanced peace and prosperity in the area. He expressed hope that thaw in relations would take stage. He said the Congress and the NC were opposed each other in the Assembly elections, but they were united in carrying forward the process of development as per the mandate of the people. “Both parties are above politics of divide and rule. We do not create a wedge among communities, regions and religions for vote-bank politics and vested interests, but are committed to unity in diversity and equitable development without any considerations”.
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State to propose Rs 6,500 crore annual plan
Jammu, February 21 The proposed plan outlay 2009-10 was discussed at a high-level meeting here, held under the chairmanship of Rather. The proposed plan outlay would soon be submitted to the Planning Commission for approval. Among others who attended the meeting include economic adviser to the government Jalil Ahmed Khan, Chief Secretary SS Kapur, financial commissioner, Planning and Development, SL Bhat, Commissioner Secretary, finance, Sudhanshu Pandey and other senior officers of the Planning and Finance departments. The meeting discussed threadbare the proposed plan of the PMRP and earmarked Rs 2,417 crore for 2009-10 to complete the various flagship programmes undertaken under this scheme. The important projects taken up under this programme include Baglihar hydroelectric project, Mughal Road, Srinagar-Leh power transmission and distribution line, Khanabal-Pahalgam road, Narbal-Tangmarg road, 14 new colleges, nine new women ITIs, model villages, two-room quarters for Kashmiri migrants under Phase I and Ramban-Dhamkund road, 10 more colleges and 5 more ITIs of Phase II. To minimise the negative impact of global economic meltdown and the recessionary trends it has produced all over the world on the economy and developmental schemes, the meeting discussed a comprehensive stimulus plan of Rs 1,000 crore for rural infrastructure and social security schemes in the state to be forwarded to the Centre for approval. |
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6-day
training for masons
Our Correspondent
Srinagar, February 21 Civil engineering experts suggested masons to follow a plan of action that includes examination of the site. They said perfect combination of cement, sand and iron should be used during construction in order to make structures quake-resistant. “Masons are our ambassadors, particularly in areas where people directly approach them without consulting engineers or architects. So the masons need to be sensitised so that they carry forward the message that it is not earthquake that do the damage, but quake non-resistant structures” says Aamir Ali, project coordinator, Disaster Management, Kashmir. Head of the Department (HOD) of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar, AR Dar said given the sphere of damage caused due to earthquakes, it was better to term houses as “death-traps” instead of “shelters”, since they were not earthquake resistant. Mohammad Yaqoob, a mason, while sharing his experience, said: “At times, customers compel us to follow their plan of action. In such a situation when mason has no role in planning as well as execution of construction, how can one hold them responsible for damages.” Abdul Rehman, another mason, said structures could be made quake-resistant by using standard construction material.
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MC removes encroachments
on footpaths
Jammu, February 21 The MC team consisting of 25 municipal employees, including three chief khalfwardi officers and inspectors, and 40 CRPF personnel removed illegal structures erected by shopkeepers on footpaths. Rehris on footpaths and along the main road were seized. Seized goods and rehris were loaded on six Tippers and dropped on the premises of the MC today. Tandon said the MC would not allow the rehriwalas and dabha owners to install rehris by the roadside. Strict action would be taken against those who tried to encroach upon footpaths and roads again, he added. He said the drive was launched to ensure smooth traffic that was hindered by illegal encroachments. Tandon said, “The high court has also instructed inspectors at the police post to ensure that encroachment do not take place in their areas once the MC removes illegal structures and rehris”. “Today, we collected up to Rs 60,000 as fine in these areas,” he averred. Satish Khajuria, chief khalfwardi and revenue officer of the corporation, said about Rs 50,000 was collected as fine in Vinak Bazar, Canal Road, Talab Tillo, Bohri, Akhnoor Road, Bakshi Nagar and Indra Chowk on February
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Rs 50,000 each for
all state colleges
Jammu, February 21 The Chief Minister has approved Rs 39.50 lakh to provide equal opportunity to students in all districts to prepare for various professional examinations. Besides pooling in resources in such a manner that all requisite information is available under one umbrella, the counselling centres will also provide access to latest books, referrals and periodicals, enabling the students to make a coordinated effort for preparing for the coming examinations. This move comes close on the heels of Omar’s earlier initiative of inking a pact with JK Bank to set up 1,109 IT centres as well as sanctioning 18 new polytechnics in the
state. |
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Seminar on IT held
Jammu, February 21 The function was inaugurated by NK Verma, IAS, commissioner secretary, Higher Education, and presided over by ND Wani, Director Colleges. Meenakshi Kilam, Director Colleges Development, Jammu University was guest of honour. The chief guest said IT had become indispensable component for the progress of the nation. Joint Director IT Dara Singh highlighted the relevance of the topic and necessity of deliberations on the revolution brought about by the use of computers. |
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Azad’s resignation as MLA accepted
Jammu, February 21 The former Chief Minister had resigned from the membership of the state Assembly on Thursday after he was elected to the Rajya
Sabha. Secretary of the state Assembly Mohammed Ramzan said Aslam had accepted the resignation of
Azad. Azad, who had won the elections to the Assembly from Bhaderwah constituency in Doda district for a second term last year, was elected to the Rajya Sabha unopposed on February 6. |
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District status for Jammu West sought
Jammu, February 21 Several traders, residents and heads of mohalla committees of the area held a protest demonstration against the state government. The protesters burnt effigies before the office of the Jammu Municipal Corporation and disrupted vehicular traffic on the main road. Sunil Dimple, president of the movement, alleged that the government was not doing any developmental work in the area and people had been suffering due to lack of amenities. He said the condition of lanes, drains and roads, besides other basic infrastructure of public use in the area was in a bad condition and required repairs immediately. |
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RS polls illegal: Bhim Singh
Srinagar, February 21 Bhim Singh said ruling allies - the NC and the Congress - won two seats primarily due to three notifications issued for four seats, which was unconstitutional. Speaking to mediapersons here, he accused the Election Commission for being complicit with the ruling parties and said they were guilty of “electoral fraud”. Though all other Opposition parties, including the PDP and the BJP, have given little heed to the Panthers Party allegations. |
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Air Marshal Barbora to visit Srinagar airbase
Srinagar, February 21 The main emphasis during the inspection visit will be to check the operational readiness of the combat units at Srinagar and Awantipur airbases. The two-day visit will also include interaction with the key appointments, officers and other ranks at the base, an official spokesperson said. His visit assumes significance in the light of the current tensions with Pakistan and the strategic location of the valley. Air Marshal PK Barbora, a qualified flying instructor and fighter combat leader with a flying experience of over 3,500 hours on fighter aircraft, had taken part in the 1971 war. |
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Srinagar, February 21
