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2 LeT militants killed
Untimely rain a bane for rabi crop
Disenchanted migrants to boycott LS poll
LS Poll |
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BJP quietly plays Varun card to muster Hindu votes
BJP prevented from holding rally
Nod to 15 documents for voting
PDP intensifies campaign
PDP nominees for Hazratbal, Sonwar
Kashmiri Pandits protest against poll process
Rush for AK-47 number sees its auction put off
Kingpin from good family
New colony for leprosy patients
After Srinagar, Jammu says no to polythene bags
Tulip festival inaugurated
Plan to boost heritage tourism
Increase profits, Jora asks JKTDC
History-sheeter arrested
Minor raped by teacher
Govt misusing power, says Bhim Singh
NCC to enrol more
students
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2 LeT militants killed
Srinagar, April 7 Official sources said the militants belonged to the LeT and one of them could be Musa, a senior commander of the outfit, who had been managing its operation in the area for some time. The Army lost two soldiers in the encounter which had begun on April 5 in the forests falling in the Lolab area. The forest and hill ranging through this northernmost district of the valley have witnessed several fights between militants and the security forces since the killing of 18 militants and eight Army personnel. Meanwhile, 46 RR during checking this afternoon seized a 5 kg IED from one Matador which was on its way from Sopore to Baramulla. The seizure was made near Saint Joseph School Baramulla. Meanwhile, the conversation between two LeT militants the police intercepted two days back must have sent a chill down the spine of security officials. “The Taliban have come in our hideouts,” the deputy told his commander in Kupwara. “Chase them away,” he ordered. If the worst fear of official agencies has come true only a few days after DGP Kuldip Khoda expressed concern about the Taliban drawing closer to the Indian border, they are not unduly perturbed. “We have had intercepts hinting at the presence of Taliban in the valley but it is far from confirmed. There are inputs but they are not corroborated,” a senior official told The Tribune. Since the fierce encounters in Kupwara forests, speculation has been rife in Kashmir about the movement of Pashto-speaking militants in interior areas who look and sound more like Afghanis (meaning Taliban) than Urdu-speaking Pakistanis. And the latest intercepts of militants’ conversation has given push to these claims. But the present mood among security officials is that of skepticism. An official said militants at times resort to such rumour-mongering to spread panic among masses. “About three years ago we were told about Al-Qaida’s presence in the valley and even a video showing its local spokesperson was circulated. Nothing, though, came out of it. But we are alive to the situation and waiting for more evidence before making a conclusion,” the official said. On the other side, officials concede that association of the Taliban with some of the Pakistani outfits already active in the valley might bring about the entry of battle-hardened Talibani guerrillas into the valley. Official sources said cadres of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, which was once very active in the state and remains strong in some pockets, and Jaish-e-Mohammad, whose network has only increased over the years, have fought alongside the
Taliban. |
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Untimely rain a bane for rabi crop
Jammu, April 7 Besides affecting the quantum of the produce, untimely rains may also affect the eatable quality of the produce. According to agricultural experts, in the wake of strong winds, the impact would have been severe as it leads to logging of wheat and shattering of mango flowers and mustard. Farmers were already reeling under lot of stress as Yellow Rust and Aphid have reduced the prospects of better yield this year and the inclement weather has only added to their woes. “The rabi crop has certainly suffered some degree of loss as wheat was about to harvest while seed production of vegetables like cauliflower, Coriander and Fenugreek has also borne the brunt,” Prof JP Sharma, head division Vegetable Sciences and Floriculture,
Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, said. Chief Agriculture Officer, Samba, Arun Kumar Makhnotra said: “The recent rains have spell a boon for the green crop and bane for the ripening crop that was ready for the harvest within days.” “Prolonged rains could have made the situation adverse. Reports are pouring in that the loss was not so intense,” he maintained. “We are worried about inclement weather. If the clouds continue to loom large, the weather for sure can play spoilsport with the standing crops,” Ajay
Meenia, a farmer, of RS Pura said. |
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Disenchanted migrants to boycott LS poll
Sarya-Nowshera (Rajouri), April 7 These migrants, who were dislocated in 2000-2001, say though they always voted in elections, they were denied their rights. Raj Kumar, originally from Petha, is living in a camp with his wife, three daughters and a son since 2001. They were dislocated from their native village during the Kargil war due to intense shelling from across the LoC. Originally a farmer, he had 10 kanals at his native village that he tilled to earn his livelihood. Since his land was occupied by the Army for fencing near the LoC, he had been working as a labourer and finding it hard to feed his family. “Why should we vote sahib?. For 50 years we have been fulfilling our duty toward our nation, but are the elected representatives worried about our rights. We are living in sub-human conditions and no politician comes to see our plight. They are seen only during election days”, says upset Raj Kumar. “The Army occupied our land for fencing, but it has not compensated us. When we approach the Army authorities they tell us we will get compensation through the district administration and the administration says the Army will compensate us. Before seeking our votes, politicians should first get us compensation. Simrit Kour, who has constructed a one-room shed by taking Rs 50,000 loan from a bank, says echoes the same sentiments toward politicians. Asked why these migrants have not been compensated by the Army, an Army source told The Tribune that the Army compensated the beneficiaries as soon as the district administration presented it with a fully processed case. He added that payment was made to the beneficiaries through the district administration only. A senior officer in the district administration said, “In the majority of cases, the beneficiaries delay the things prolonging the processing of compensation cases and ultimately the payment”. |
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LS Poll
Jammu, April 7 Talking to The Tribune, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Dr Mandeep K Bhandari, who is the returning officer for the Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat, said, “We are keeping a close watch
on expenditure by candidates.” All 21 candidates in the fray have been asked to present their expenditure registers issued by the election authorities before the returning officer. From the date of nomination to the date of polling (April 16), the candidates had been asked to furnish their expenditure statements on the registers issued to them, said Bhandari. He added a show cause notice would be served on those candidates who exceeded the upper limit of Rs 25 lakh fixed by the Election Commission. Besides, the nomination of the erring candidate may also be cancelled,
he said. At the end, we would corroborate the expenditure statements of the contesting candidates with that of the AROs
and assess the real picture, he said. Bhandari added any candidate found violating the upper limit of Rs 25 lakh, would be liable to a stern action by the the Election Commission. The rates of vehicles, loudspeakers and other materials used for canvassing support had also been notified to the candidates, he said. Chief electoral officer BR Sharma said candidates violating the EC guidelines on expenditure would be liable for appropriate action. However, when this correspondent tried to access information about expenditure by the candidates belonging to two major political parties here in Jammu, their leaders
were reluctant and not forthcoming. |
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BJP quietly plays Varun card to muster Hindu votes
Udhampur, April 7 In the communally-sensitive mountainous belt of Doda and Kishtwar districts, BJP workers, along with activists of other Sangh Parivar organisations, have been “creating awareness” among the members of the Hindu minority about what they allege the step-motherly treatment to Hindus in the country. Due to the deployment of election observers at the micro level, senior BJP leaders are not directly playing the Varun card, but its workers at the grassroots level have already started a campaign to make Hindus “aware”. Instead of raking up the issue in all parts of the Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha segment, BJP workers have singled out some communally sensitive areas where they are highlighting the episode to consolidate the Hindu vote bank. In Kishtwar district, which witnessed communal clashes during the Amarnath land agitation, small groups of BJP workers have been moving in the Hindu-dominated villages and informing people about treatment meted out to Varun Gandhi. Though workers and leaders of the BJP are hesitating from taking up the issue all out, activists of other Sangh Parivar organisations have come out openly in support of Varun Gandhi. Activists of the VHP have already started a door-to-door campaign to “educate” the masses about discrimination with Hindus in the country. “We are not asking people to vote the BJP. We are just creating awareness among the Hindus”, said a VHP activist, who was distributing some pamphlets. Due to eruption of militancy in this belt, the Hindu minority stood behind the BJP for about a decade. But in the 2004 Lok Sabha election, the Hindus voted in favour of Congress candidate Choudhary Lal Singh and the BJP had lost its bastion. Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban districts hold the key to the Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat. In these three Muslim majority districts Hindu comprised more than 42 per cent of the total votes. With an eye on this vote bank, the BJP workers have been adopting all tactics to consolidate the Hindu vote. |
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BJP prevented from holding rally
Jammu, April 7 The police said the BJP workers did not carry prior permission from the administration to hold the rally, while the BJP refuted the claim. The BJP criticised the Congress for misusing the administration for its purpose in favouring its candidates and harassing them. BJP Treasurer Sat Sharma said just two days ago, the Congress held the same rally without taking any permission from the Election Commission or district administration. Meanwhile, SP City West Randeep Kumar said: “The BJP workers did not have the written permission of the District Magistrate, without which we could not permit them to hold rally.” However, Sharma said, “We have a letter from the Election Commission, directing the police to make required security arrangements at the rally points of the BJP.” BJP State Gen. Secretary Shamsher Singh Manhas said: “The Congress and NC leaders, including their candidates, are openly violating the model code of conduct by using official vehicles with beacon lights for campaigning in different areas of the Jammu province.” The BJP leader said the Election Commission should take a serious note of the partial and biased role of the local administration. |
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Nod to 15 documents for voting
Jammu, April 7 Chief electoral officer BR Sharma said, “Voters, who don’t have voter cards can use 14 to 15 documents to exercise their franchise, like we did in the last Assembly elections.” It may be stated here that despite initiating the process of issuing voter cards, still nearly half the number of voters remain without the authentic documentary proof. Sharma said people without voter cards can produce ration card, permanent residents’ certificate, driving licence, document of electricity connection, passport, PAN card, bank passbook, student I-card and similar other documents to prove their identity before the polling staff. The Election Commission had approved the use of these alternative documents, he added. It would take some time for us, may be another one year, to issue every voter of the state a voter card, he said. Official sources said among 65 lakh electors the authorities was yet to issue approximately 30 lakh voter cards. He added that the authorities were working overnight to issue around 45 lakh voter cards before April 16, the date of polling for the Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat. However, Aditya Gupta, a 52-year-old banker, said in the last Assembly elections I had produced my ration card to cast my vote at a polling booth in Rehari, but to my utter dismay my name did not exist in the revised electoral rolls. Another voter, Sneh Lata of Sarwal said her name was completely mis-spelt in the revised electoral rolls and she had to argue with the polling staff to convince them of her identity. |
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PDP intensifies campaign
Udhampur, April 7 Addressing these meetings, PDP secretary Sayeed Asgar Ali asked the people to compare the three-year regime of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed with decades-long misgoverance of the National Conference. Speaking at Jakhar village in Udhampur, Asgar Ali reminded the people that discrimination with the Jammu region was removed only during the regime of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Cautioning people against some elements that have launched a vicious campaign against the PDP, he said that policies and programmes of the PDP were guided by the wishes and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He further said the PDP was committed to the equitable development of all regions and sub-regions of the state. |
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PDP nominees for Hazratbal, Sonwar
Srinagar, April 7 Mir replaces GQ Pardesi from Sonwar, who had lost to Farooq Abdullah by a thin margin in the last Assembly elections. The PDP is also contesting the byelection to Bhaderwah constituency of Doda district, which has fallen vacant following the election of Ghulam Nabi Azad to the Rajya Sabha. Meanwhile, the PDP is yet to decide the candidate for the Srinagar constituency. |
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Kashmiri Pandits protest against poll process
Jammu, April 7 The protesters urged the authorities to defer election to three parliamentary constituencies of the Kashmir region. The protest started from Vivekananada Chowk and culminated at the Press Club after passing through various bazaars of the city. The protest was in continuity to the earlier protest held before the state Chief Electoral Officer on March 23. “Finally a memorandum was handed over to the Election Commission, which also made the EC admit that injustice had been done to the displaced community. Since the assurance is not translated into reality, we are forced to protest again,” Vir Das, a leader, said. While burning the effigy, the JKNM activists vowed to take struggle to its logical end. |
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Rush for AK-47 number sees its auction put off
Jammu, April 7 There was a heavy rush for car registration numbers resembling the popular versions of AK assault rifles at the auction held by the state Transport Department here today. The AK-47, popular short form of (JK-02 AK-0047 number), was the most sought after, even though AK-0056 and AK-0074 numbers, were also put on sale. So heavy was the rush for the number (AK-47) that its auction was put off for today. Several prominent people were reportedly keen on buying the number. Sources disclosed that some top political leaders had sent their representatives to buy the number. However, number JK-02-8888 fetched the highest price. A son of a retired Brigadier bought it. He reportedly bought the number as his father already had the “8888” number of some other states. JK-02 AK 56 was the another fancied number, as it also attracted many buyers. It was sold for Rs 7,000. Randhir Verma, a Jammu resident, said he had come to buy the AK-47 (number), but had no option but to settle for the AK-56. The Transport Department today started a new series of registration numbers beginning with AK letters. The numbers from 01 to 100 in the new series were put up for auction. Regional Transport Officer RC Sharma told The Tribune there were many buyers for the AK-47 number, but due to some technical reasons it could not be auctioned. “We have sought guidance from the government about the technical problems. We will put the number again for auction later this month.” |
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Flesh Trade
Jammu, April 7 Official sources told The Tribune that 62-year-old Dr Shrivasta Sharma failed to produce any documentary evidence to prove he is a doctor by profession. However, he had divulged that many customers used to visit his clinic where he was running the flesh trade, they added. The sources said the “doctor” had two wives and was from a good family. They added that he had two daughters from the first wife, who was now dead. His two daughters, a doctor at Pune and another a pilot with Malaysian Airways, were married and settled outside Jammu, they said. After the death of his first wife, Dr Shrivasta married another woman, the sources said. His second wife was a
government lecturer in the Basohli area of Kathua district, they added. They said several people, including girls, used to frequent his clinic and a few days back some neighbourers had asked him to desist from immoral activities, but he paid no heed to their warnings. A senior police officer said the accused was being interrogated and the involvement of other people was also
expected. |
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New colony for leprosy patients
Jammu, April 7 The Leprosy Centre known as Kusht Ashram, established around 40 years ago in the Jammu city, is inhabited by around 34 leprosy-hit families. This colony would be established under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM) and Rs 1.43 crore would be spent on it. The Corporation has issued tenders for the construction of 36 two-room sets for these patients. Talking to The Tribune, JMC Commissioner Mubarak Singh said Rs 3, 12, 000 would be spent on each house. He said the new dwelling units would have all modern facilities like running water, separate bathroom and well-ventilated rooms. Mubarak Singh said they had earlier decided to construct two-story flats that would be completed in 15 months. But keeping in view that most of these leprosy patients were handicapped, it had now been decided to construct only single-storied buildings. Under the project, 90 per cent of the funds would be provided by the central government while remaining would have to be borne by the state government. |
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After Srinagar, Jammu says no to polythene bags
Jammu, April 7 Though the High Court has banned the use of polythene bags years ago, the JMC has decided to launch a campaign against the use of polythene bags that too when the SMC has already launched the drive against polythene. “Polythene pollution is a major problem in the state. During the monsoon, the rainwater brings along heaps of polythene bags and other non-biodegradable material that choke most of the main drains. But we are unable to ban polythene completely in the city because the polythene manufacturing companies have brought stay on the High Court order,” Mayor Kavinder Gupta said. Mubarak Singh, Municipal Commission, said: “I will put the matter of launching an effective drive against polythene bags in next meeting for discussion.” He said: “In keeping the city clean, polythene poses the biggest problem for the MC. Special sanitation drives need to be launched across the state to educate the common man about the ecological hazards polythene poses.” “Paper and jute bags manufacturing needs to be encouraged to dissuade the people from using polythene bags in the state,” Banu Pratap Singh, a shopkeeper from Jammu city, said. Considering polythene as a biggest source of environmental pollution, BN Sharma, Director Pollution Control Board, Jammu said, “Under SRO 182, 2008, the use of polythene has been banned in the city except health care insinuations that can use it for disposal of biomedical wastes.” He, however, said the rules for implementing the ban effectively were yet to be formulated by the government. There would be complete ban on use of polythene after these rules were formulated. Moreover, in absence of alternate biodegradable bags, it is a herculean task to enforce the ban, Sharma said. |
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Tulip festival inaugurated
Srinagar, April 7 “This is the most beautiful garden with natural surroundings”, said Tanveer Jehan, Secretary, Department of Tourism and Culture, Jammu and Kashmir government while inaugurating the festival. It is considered as more beautiful “than Keukenhof, the most beautiful tulip garden” in Holland. “We have preponed the tourist season by inviting tourists in early spring after the winter sports in the snowbound Gulmarg conclude”, she added. While over 80,000 tourists visited the garden over a month last year, the response this year seems to be lower though 95 per cent of the tourists are domestic, 5 per cent being locals. The tulip garden, known as Siraj Bagh and later as Sheeraz Bagh, caught the attention of former CM Ghulam Nabi Azad in 2006 when 30,000 tulips were reared over the past nine years near the Botanical Garden. This was followed by the procurement of three lakh tulips and then nine lakh tulip buds last year, leading to 12 lakh tulips in full bloom these days. |
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Plan to boost heritage tourism
Jammu, April 7 Underscoring the need for restoration of the past glory of all cultural heritage sites, the minister asked the authorities concerned to identify all such sites for taking up their
conservation. Jora ordered that the conservation work on Bahu Fort be taken up on priority so that it could be developed as a magnificent Dogra heritage site of this region. The fort had the potential to attract a large number of domestic as well as international tourists. The minister asked the authorities to seek the services of reputed artisans of the counry for early completion of the
project. |
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Increase profits, Jora asks JKTDC
Jammu, April 7 He said a circular would also be issued soon to make defaulting departments (NPAs) accountable for re-payment of the long arrears of the corporation. The minister was speaking at the 23rd annual general meeting of the JKTDC in Jammu. Jora is also the chairman of the corporation. Commissioner-secretary, finance, Sudhanshu Pandey, secretary, tourism, Tanveer Jahan, managing director, JKTDC, Rafiq Ahmad Qadri and director, finance, JKTDC, attended the meeting. The meeting approved rise in authorised share capital of the corporation from Rs 5 crore to Rs 16
crore. |
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History-sheeter arrested
Jammu, April 7 Official sources said the accused, who was involved in a murder case at Dooru in Anantnag district and several theft cases in Katra and Pouni, made the police suspicious as his relatively new motorcycle had an old registration number (JKU/2796). A police officer of Vijaypur police station, who confirmed the arrest, said the accused was stopped at the check post for checking. However, his relatively new motorcycle bearing an old registration number aroused our suspicion. “We took him into custody and during questioning he disclosed that he had been involved in a murder case in Dooru, but had been acquitted of the charges,” the officer said. The officer further said the accused also disclosed that he was involved in some theft cases in Katra and Pouni. He added that the motorcycle was a stolen one and it aroused our suspicion. “We are now probing his involvement in other cases registered in various police stations in Katra, Pouni and Dooru,” he added. |
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Minor raped by teacher
Srinagar, April 7 The minor was allegedly raped by a voluntary teacher Mukhtar Ahmad Ganai at Balpora village in the Khan Sahib area of
Budgam. The police registered a case after a written complaint by Bashir Ahmad
Ganie, who alleged that the girl was raped by the teacher on April 4. The police had sent the girl for a medical examination. The teacher is absconding and a hunt was on to nab him.
— PTI |
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Govt misusing power, says Bhim Singh
Jammu, April 7 While addressing a press conference in Jammu, he said district president of Shopian (Kashmir) Mohd. Yousaf Bhat was being threatened by the “highest police officer” either to quit the Panthers party or face the consequences. Bhim Singh has threatened to protest in Delhi in front of the Election Commission office and the Union Home Ministry “against this treachery of the state government against the Panthers Party out of frustration and revenge.” |
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NCC to enrol more
students
Jammu, April 7 It was decided in the conference to launch a vigorous drive to enrol maximum number of eligible cadets this year and also to introduce sports and adventure activities as part of the NCC curriculum. |
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Mahavir Jayanti celebrated
Jammu, April 7 Members of other communities extended their greetings to members of the Jain community. |
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Observer visits Ramnagar
Udhampur, April 7 |
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