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2 militants killed, jawan hurt
2 militants escape from security cordon
PDD schemes caused huge loss: CAG report
Rebel BJP candidate intensifies campaign
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PDP kick-starts LS campaign in Jammu
Former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed addresses a PDP rally at Prem Nagar in Jammu on Saturday. A Tribune photograph
Jammu-Poonch
Ensure use of latest farm practices: Vohra
Poll officers told to follow EC norms
Udhampur admn misutilised funds, says Harsh Dev
Omar: No scope for divisive politics
Probe into custodial disappearances
Ex-minister Kochak dead
Doda hospital gets blood bank
Allow import of cement, contractors urge govt
Guv nominates nine MLCs
Bhim Singh files papers
Notification for 2nd phase
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2 militants killed, jawan hurt
Srinagar, March 28 A soldier leading the party was injured when militants fired upon the patrol party. In the ensuing encounter, two militants were reportedly killed, but official confirmation was yet to be received. Meanwhile, the security forces also defused an IED weighing about 5 kg and fitted in a pressure cooker in Baramulla today. A team of 46 RR and the police found the IED in a barber shop near the Sumo stand. A team of experts destroyed the IED. The security forces also nabbed two Hizbul militants from Pattan today. The police said the troops of 29 RR during a search operation near Palhalan apprehended Ashaq Hussan Tali, alias Imran, of Handwara and Abdul Qayoom Lone, alias Asif, of Sopore. An AK 56 rifle, two magazines, 60 AK rounds and a pistol were seized from their possession. |
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2 militants escape from security cordon
Dharamsaal-Kalakote (Rajouri), March 28 Police sources told The Tribune that two of the three militants, believed to be from the Hizbul Mujahideen, managed to escape from the security cordon laid by the joint team of the special operation group of the police and the Rashtriya Rifles. The security forces had gunned down a militant yesterday and the encounter ended this afternoon. The sources said the militants taking advantage of dense forest and hostile terrains of the area managed to slip through the security cordon. They identified the slain militant as Muneer Hussain, alias Abu Adnan, aka Ashiq, of Kandi area in Koteranka. They added that Muneer had been active in Buddhal and Kalakote areas for the last 5-6 years. “Though we manage to gun down one of the militants, the other two managed to escape from the encounter site this afternoon. Dense forest and hostile terrains worked to the advantage of the surviving militants”, said a police officer, who was among the officers overseeing the operation. “However, we will get these surviving militants soon, as we have mounted heavy pressure on the militants operating in the area”. Meanwhile, Army sources maintained that there was no laxity on the part of the security forces. Even as the encounter started last evening, there were reports of residents of Brebi village, near the Baji Maal forest area, fearing getting killed started migrating to safer places, but returned after the gunfight between the militants and the security forces ended this afternoon. |
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PDD schemes caused huge loss: CAG report
Jammu, March 28 The PDD’s failure to provide funds for bus-in bus-out (BIBO) arrangements resulted in wasteful expenditure of Rs 96.46 lakh and an idle investment of Rs 28.09 lakh. Also the failure of the department to arrange funds for the liquidation of loan despite acquisition of huge infrastructure resulted in avoidable interest liability of Rs 13.70 crore. The revelations have been made in the recently released report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended March 31, 2008, that was tabled in the Budget session of the state legislature recently. As per the report, Rural Electrification Corporation approved a system improvement scheme for Mandal (Kishtwar block) and Gulabgarh (Padder block) at an estimated cost of Rs 2.21 crore. The scheme envisaged the erection of 28.5 km, 33 KV line from Mandal to Galhar and the construction of two receiving stations at Mandal and Gulabgarh with the objective of regulating voltage, reducing line losses and accommodating future load growth. The scheme was to be completed in two years. However, the scrutiny of the records of the executive engineer, sub transmission division, Udhampur, revealed that the scheme was approved by the executive engineer from Rural Electricity Corporation without the provision of
the BIBO arrangements in the project, which was required to connect the main system to the 33 KV transmission line. It also says that the executive engineer incurred Rs 65.41 lakh on the construction of the receiving station at Mandal, Rs 28.09 lakh on the construction of the receiving station at Gulabgarh and Rs 96.46 lakh on the laying of 26 km of transmission line. The transmission line remained uncharged due to the non-provision of the BIBO system further resulting in non-charging of the receiving station in Gulabgarh. The report says the department’s failure to provide BIBO resulted in wasteful expenditure of Rs 96.46 lakh incurred on the transmission line and Rs 28.09 lakh on the construction of a receiving station at Gulabgarh. Meanwhile, in another case the department failed to arrange funds for the
liquidation of loan despite the acquisition of huge infrastructure causing avoidable interest liability of Rs 13.70 crore. |
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Rebel BJP candidate intensifies campaign
Udhampur, March 28 Anil Gupta, who is son of veteran BJP leader Chaman Lal Gupta, today convened meetings of workers at different areas of Doda and Ramban districts and vowed to expose wrong policies of the party. During these meetings, dissident BJP workers and leaders promised all support to Anil Gupta. They assured Anil that they would work overtime to teach a lesson to the BJP leadership for ignoring the wishes of the party cadre. Sources in the party said during his visit to Jammu, Rajnath Singh had unsuccessfully tried to placate the annoyed party leaders. Enraged over the party decision to give ticket to Dr Nirmal Singh from the Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat, a section of BJP workers, including four
MLAs, had raised a banner of revolt. Party leaders were expecting that during his visit to Jammu, Rajnath Singh would solve the crisis. But Rajnath’s efforts did not yield any encouraging result as the dissidents were adamant on their demand for revoking the decision. The sources said through a local leader Rajnath Singh had asked Chaman Lal Gupta to convince his son to withdraw from the fray, but the veteran BJP leader refused to discuss the issue. He made it clear that there was strong resentment among party workers over denying ticket to his son. As the rebel candidate has stepped up campaign, official BJP candidate Nirmal Singh has started closed door meetings with various organisations relating to the BJP to garner support. Instead of launching an aggressive campaign, Nirmal Singh is visiting houses of senior BJP leaders to rope them in. The sources said Nirmal Singh had sought help from senior leaders of the party, including some Sangh Parivar leaders, to solve the crisis. Meanwhile, some dissident Congress leaders have offered support to Anil Gupta, who is also in touch with dissident leaders of other political parties. Pertinent to mention here that Anil Gupta has staked claim on the Udhampur-Doda seat, as his father Chaman Lal Gupta had represented this Lok Sabha constituency thrice. |
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PDP kick-starts LS campaign in Jammu
Jammu, March 28 The party held a rally here today that was addressed by senior party leaders. While addressing the rally, former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed asked the people to compare the performance of the three-year tenure of his government with more than five decades of rule of the NC-led governments. He said in just three years the PDP-led government carved out a path of peace and ensured equitable development in the state. The PDP patron expressed surprise that the NC and the Congress had entered into an alliance without any programme and policy. “As far as the performance of this alliance is concerned, it appears only on papers and nothing concrete is visible on ground”, he said. He added that “three months are adequate to assess the functioning of a government”. “For the past three months, the functioning of this government is appearing only on papers, but at the grass-roots level not even a single promise has been implemented so far,” the former Chief Minister said. He reminded the gathering that during campaign for the Assembly elections the NC had made a number of promises, but none of them had been fulfilled. “We will not remain a mute spectator to the misdeeds of the government”, he asserted and reiterated his resolve to make the PDP a voice of the people of the state. “We have enough strength in the Assembly to keep a check on the anti-people steps of the government”, he said. The Mufti opined that a common minimum programme (CMP) was must for running a coalition regime. He said the PDP had an alliance with the Congress based on a CMP and the Congress had incorporated its main demands in it. He said, “The PDP regime not only removed discrimination against any region or people, but also empowered the Jammu region.”
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LS candidates file nominations
Tribune News Service
Jammu, March 28 The last date for filing nominations is March 30. The candidates came with their supporters and held rallies on way to the Deputy Commissioner’s office, where they filed nomination papers. Madan Lal Sharma, sitting MP and Congress candidate, was the first to arrive with an entourage of vehicles of his supporters. He addressed a rally and stressed the need to step up development, especially in border areas and in villages facing connectivity problem. He also assured the gathering that the Centre-sponsored scheme of replacing the open drainage system in the city with underground sewerage would be completed within six months. A little later, BJP candidate Leela Karan Sharma arrived at the DC office among chants of “Bham-Bham Bhole”. After filing nomination papers, he addressed his supporters and general public and implored them to support him to end discrimination against Jammu for ever. Later in the day, Leela Karan also inaugurated the BJP’s election office at Talab Tillo in presence of senior leaders, legislators, hundreds of party activists. He said more such offices would be opened in Jammu. Labha Ram, leader of West Pakistan refugees, who has floated Kranti Dal, filed nomination papers. He said, “For the past 60 years, parties have fooled us by empty promises. But now we will wage a fight for our cause by contesting elections ourselves. Commuters had a difficult time driving from Shahidhi Chowk to the DC office as the road was packed with supporters of various parties. The traffic remained disrupted till late afternoon.
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Ensure use of latest farm practices: Vohra
Jammu, March 28 They said there was a tremendous scope for agriculture and allied activities in the state to achieve self-sufficiency in agriculture production. They were addressing the third meeting of the varsity council here today. The Governor stressed the need for effective linkage between research institutions like SKUAST and the agriculture extension network (T&V Programme) to unlock the vast potential in the agriculture and allied sectors for generation of self-employment opportunities. Vohra said the varsity had sophisticated equipments and facilities to carry out quality research. This, he said, could be optimally utilised for the overall benefit of the farming community and bringing excellence in the agriculture sector. Saying that in the present era of globalisation there was a greater need for establishing links and collaboration in the research and development programs with the international agri-institutions and research centres, the Governor emphasised that immediate steps were required to be taken in this direction. Omar, who is also the Pro-chancellor of the university, observed that there was a lot of pressure on land resources and said the focus of researchers should be on increasing the per unit productivity. Highlighting the scope for diversification of the cropping pattern, he said state’s agro-climatic conditions offer greater potential for the cultivation of cash crops and different varieties of fresh and dry fruits. Vice-chancellor of the varsity B Mishra in his power point presentation gave details of the academics, research and extension activities of the SKUAST, Jammu. He said two varieties each of Basmati rice, wheat, Raya and Toria, three varieties of Desi Gram and one variety of Gobhi Sarson, have been released by the SKUAST, Jammu, while as seven more such new varieties are in the pipeline. Vice-chancellor, SKUAST, Kashmir, Anwar Alam, Vice-chancellor, GADVASU, Ludhiana, VK Taneja, Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production, Sonali Kumar, Principal Secretary to Governor BB Vyas, Commissioner/Secretary, Finance, Sudhanshu Pandey and Registrar, SKUAST, Jammu, RK Sharma also participated in the meeting.
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Poll officers told to follow EC norms
Udhampur, March 28 Detailed review of arrangements, including status of EPICs and
EVMs, polling stations, electoral rolls, deployment of staff, training schedule, transport and communication plan, media management and security deployment was undertaken in the meeting. The Divisional Commissioner stressed upon the officers to put in their sincere, dedicated and coordinated efforts in ensuring all arrangements made well in tune so that the Lok Sabha Election slated to be held on April 23 in the district culminates smoothly. Dwelling on the EVM training aspect of presiding and polling officers, Kotwal urged the District Election Officer to impart training to the polling staff from experts so that poll related staff may not face any problem in the conduct of poll on the date of polling. District Election Officer,
Udhampur, Ajay Khajuria, SSP, Udhampur, Surinder Gupta, Assistant Project Director,
DRDA, Assistant Commissioner, Development, ARTO, Executive Engineers of
PHE, PWD, PDD, District Informatics Officer, District Social Welfare Officer and tehsildars attended the meeting. |
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Udhampur admn misutilised funds, says Harsh Dev
Jammu, March 28 In a statement issued here yesterday, Harsh Dev Singh said funds released under various heads had been re-appropriated and misappropriated by the district administration in flagrant violation of norms and guidelines prescribed for the purpose. He said large scale irregularities had been committed even with regard to the utilisation of the Infrastructure Development Fund in Udhampur district, for which specific guidelines were issued by planning and finance departments. Harsh Dev said elected representatives and legislators, who are members of the district development Board, had been bypassed and funds released on extraneous considerations on the basis of whims and fancies of the district development commissioner, Udhampur. He expressed dismay over purchases made by the district administration out of funds provided under the Infrastructure Development Fund “untied grants” meant for the completion of ongoing development works. Harsh Dev said funds under the said schemes could be released only after priorities had been fixed by the district development board members as per prevailing norms. But the said requirement was dispensed with for reasons unknown and no legislator or district board member was consulted and no meeting convened for the purpose.
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Omar: No scope for divisive politics
Jammu, March 28 Addressing a felicitation function organised by the Associated Chamber of Traders Federation and Federation of Retailers Association at Zorawar Auditorium, Omar said many attempts were made to destabilise the secular traits and love bonds in the state but people foiled the designs of elements propagating hatred in the name of region or religion. He said his government would nurture the secular traits and achieve economic progress for all regions and areas in an equitable manner. Omar said unfortunately the state witnessed a crucial phase in mid-2008 which derailed the process of progress and economic activity received a big jolt, adding that trade, commerce and industry sectors suffered most of the brunt, all of us have to work together to rejuvenate the economic activities and develop the industrial sector. He asked the trading community to extend their full cooperation to the government in translating the government’s development schemes into reality, ensuring progress in all sectors and welfare for
everyone. |
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Probe into custodial disappearances
Srinagar, March 28 APDP spokesperson Ghulam Nabi Mir said enforced or involuntary disappearances were being carried out in a systematic manner in the state. “This constitutes a crime against humanity and cannot be an internal affair of any country. It is a matter of international concern. The government has granted sanction in 270 out of 458 disappearance cases, but prosecution has not been initiated,” the spokesperson said. Mir said it was appreciable that the High Commissioner for Human Rights had also talked about the Revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the state. “On June 10, 2008, the European Parliament called upon the government to carry out a probe in unearthing of mass graves across the state,” he added. The protesters during the programme burnt down an effigy of Abdul Rashid, alias Rashid Billa, the police officer allegedly involved in Soura triple-murder case.
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Ex-minister Kochak dead
In a condolence message, the Chief Minister described Kochak as a veteran politician and recalled his services to people as a political worker and minister. He said his services to people of the state would be remembered. The Chief Minister expressed sympathy with the bereaved family. He is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters. Kochak had joined the Awami National Conference headed by Khalida Shah, widow of former Chief Minister GM Shah on March 25. Kochak was a close associate of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. He served as a minister of state in Sheikh’s Cabinet from 1975 to 1977 and later as Cabinet minister till September 8, 1982, and again during 1984-86.
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Doda hospital gets blood bank
Doda, March 28 This blood bank has been constructed at a cost of Rs 10
lakh. Doda Deputy Commissioner Syed Sharief-ud-Din lauded the role of the Army in maintaining peace and harmony in the region besides making social contribution and expressed thanks to the 10 Rashtriya Rifles
(Rajput) for building an important installation in the district hospital,
Doda. He underlined the need for organising blood donation camps so that during emergency precious lives could be saved. The inaugural ceremony was also attended by Brigadier SS
Hasabnis, Commander HQ 4 Sector R.R, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Education Officer, staff of the district hospital and many other senior functionaries of the district. Later, a blood donation camp was also held in which Army jawans donated blood. |
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Allow import of cement, contractors urge govt
Jammu, March 28 “The cement imported from outside the state costs Rs 250 per bag which is Rs 100 cheaper as compared cement bought from a departmental store,” general secretary of the committee Balvinder Singh said in a press conference. He said the departmental store provided that steel at a cost of Rs 4600 per quintal whereas steel was easily available outside the state at Rs 3400 per quintal. |
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Guv nominates nine MLCs
Jammu, March 28 Of them Subash Chander Gupta has been nominated against the seat that fell vacant due to election of Rafi Ahmad Mir to the Legislative Assembly for the remainder of the term up to April 1, 2014. |
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Bhim Singh files papers
Jammu, March 28 Bhim Singh was accompanied by senior Panthers Party leaders, including Harsh Dev Singh, Balwant Singh Mankotia and Yashpal Kundal, all MLAs, Syed Rafiq Shah, MLC, state party president Bansi Lal Sharma and several others. After filing nomination, the party held a rally in Kathua. Prominent leaders of the party addressed the rally. Harsh Dev Singh, former Education Minister and vice-chairman of the party, appealed to voters of the Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat to vote for Bhim Singh. |
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Notification for 2nd phase
Jammu, March 28 The last date for filing nominations is April, while the scrutiny of nomination papers will be done on April 6. The last date for withdrawal of candidatures is April 8. Polling will take place on April 23 from 7 am to 5 pm. |
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Recreational facilities
Jammu, March 28 |
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The PDP today kick-started its election campaign in the Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha constituency, where it has fielded former Rajya Sabha MP Tirlok Singh
Bajwa. The party held a rally here today that was addressed by senior party leaders. While addressing the rally, former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed asked the people to compare the performance of the three-year tenure of his government with more than five decades of rule of the NC-led governments.
Jammu, March 28