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Suspected Taliban
presence may dominate campaign
Candidates under code violation index radar
10 vehicles impounded for poll rule violation
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Beating of drums still a communication mode here
Rain, snow may make poll plan go awry
Undergraduates ‘hold’ senior posts in govt depts
Human Rights Act
Bypoll in Hazratbal, Sonwar on May 7
LS Poll: BJP, Cong intensify campaign
Fresh snow, rain revive chill
Defacement taking toll on city’s beauty
Hajis rush for passports
BJP holds road show
BJP candidate Leela Karan Sharma campaigns in the Janipur area of Jammu on Wednesday. Tribune photo
Three killed in mishap
Ex-BSF commandant surrenders
Akanksha, Swati top class VIII exam
Flesh Trade
25 kg liquid IED seized
Elderly couple found dead
Protesters seek hike in wages
BJP: Border residents worse-hit
2 held near LoC
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Suspected Taliban
presence may dominate campaign
Srinagar, April 8 The Lok Sabha elections in different constituencies that will be held on the pattern of the 2008 Assembly elections, in five phases in equal durations of about a week, will have certain similarities with the Assembly poll as compared to the last elections. If the Assembly elections were held in the aftermath of a two-month-long Amarnath land agitation, the Lok Sabha elections are being held under the NC and Congress government headed by Omar Abdullah. The resolution of the Kashmir issue will be at the top of the campaign trials of campaigners of both separatist and mainstream political parties. If the Amarnath land row was the top rallying point for the campaigners, the hype over the possible presence of Taliban in north Kashmir, following the recent encounters near the LoC, may be at the top of the Lok Sabha campaign. The NC and the PDP are looking at the recent incidents and reports of infiltration of armed militant with hi-tech gadgets, from different angles. On the other hand hardliner Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani has already rolled out his poll boycott agenda for it was no solution for the Kashmir dispute. In his anti-election posture, Geelani, who has been kept under house arrest here, following his visits to various places projecting his viewpoint after returning from New Delhi, has asked people to boycott elections against “India’s diplomatic efforts”. A meeting of his party leaders observed that “the elections are a meaningless exercise” and the only option was to “resolve the Kashmir issue in accordance with the aspirations of its people”. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has reacted to the recent statement of the Chief Minister on the possible strikes by militants during the elections, following encounters and reports of infiltration attempts in north Kashmir. “This is only to scare away people from the poll process”, Mehbboba said. She said the low turnout would benefit only the NC, which had become clear during the last Assembly elections. |
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Candidates under code violation index radar
Jammu, April 8 Following the EC instructions, a violation index of every candidate is being prepared, returning officer for the Jammu-Poonch seat, Dr Mandeep K Bhandari told The Tribune. It may be recalled here that three candidates, Leela Karan Sharma of the BJP, Madan Lal Sharma and Lal Singh, both of the Congress, had violated the EC guidelines while filing nominations before the returning officers in Jammu and Kathua, respectively. These candidates were not only accompanied by more than five persons while filing nominations, but they also took out rallies in total contravention to the EC guidelines. Chief electoral officer BR Sharma said notices had been served on the three candidates for flouting the EC norms and they had been asked to submit their replies before the returning officers. However, as of now, no other poll code violation had been reported, he added. Bhandari said BJP candidate Leela Karan Sharma and Congress candidate Madan Lal Sharma filed their explanations to the notice on April 2 and the EC had been informed about the poll code violations by them. CDs and other relevant material had been forwarded to the EC and these candidates had been warned to strictly adhere to the norms, he added. In the last Assembly election, candidates of various parties had violated the EC’s guidelines, but were allowed to go scot-free with a warning after they apologised in writing, said official sources. Furthermore, there was no provision to impose penalties on such candidates, they added. |
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10 vehicles impounded for poll rule violation
Jammu, April 8 “Impounded vehicles include six of the Congress, two of the PDP and one each of the BJP and the Panthers Party,” returning officer Mandeep K Bhandari told The Tribune. These vehicles carrying flags, posters, banners and loudspeakers to motivate voters did not have prior permission from the returning officer, a pre-requisite before embarking on election campaigns. The permission from the returning officer had to be pasted at a conspicuous place on the windscreen of vehicles, but these 10 vehicles belonging to various parties had violated the EC guidelines and hence were impounded, said Bhandari. Six vehicles of the Congress include two minibuses (JK02G/2111, JK02S/4566), a Toyota Qualis (JK14A/9777), a Tempo Traveller (JK02AE/6833), and two Maruti Alto cars (JK12/2078, JK02AG/6157). Similarly, the two vehicles of the PDP are a Mahindra Bolero (JK02W/2186) and a Maruti Alto car (JK02G/8656) while the Panther’s Party’s vehicle is a Tata Sumo (JK08A/5779). The impounded vehicle belonging to the BJP is a Toyota Qualis (JK14A/1744). However, party presidents, contesting candidates and spokespersons of the parties first feigned ignorance and then cited excuses to escape the wrath of the EC. |
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Beating of drums still a communication mode here
Jammu, April 8 One such typical instance was witnessed recently in Pansar, Mahreen, Londi and Bobia villages, bordering Pakistan. The village chowkidars, beating drums, were at the top of their voices while reading out the order of the district magistrate, Kathua, forbidding the fellow villagers to move about during the night hours within 3 km of the international border. The order of DC, Kathua, Mandeep Kaur reads that there has been an apprehension of infiltration of the anti-national elements from across the border, resulting in perpetration of subversive and disruptive activities in the district. The drummers, holding the order, cautioned the fellow villagers to stay inside their houses between 8 pm to 5 am daily up to May 27, so that they should not become the victim of a mistaken identity. However, under the exceptional circumstances the villagers could seek medical and other assistance, after the commander of the BSF outpost or Army official is satisfied with the credentials of a villager, the order said. Sewa Ram, a chowkidar of Bobia village, while referring to the order further said, “However, the people who need to answer the call of nature during the night hours should carry a torch or some type of light like petromax or lantern in hand and not go beyond the periphery of their residential houses. Village head of Londi Om Prakash said, “Whenever there is any threat of infiltration, the district administration communicates such orders in this traditional and novel way.” “People give more ear to the man who beats the drum and reads out the government order in their own language", said Om Prakash. Kuldeep Kumar, a villager of Satechack, falling close to the international border, however, said he heard this announcement from the All India Radio, Kathua, and the copy of it was also pasted at the tehsil office. "But to assemble at a village choupal and hear the announcement amidst beating of the drums has its own taste and melody. It reminds us of those ancient days when drum beating was the only medium of communication to enforce the important government orders", he added. |
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Rain, snow may make poll plan go awry
Udhampur, April 8 The authorities have already identified 34 polling stations for which air sorties are being arranged to airlift the polling parties and security personnel along with election material, but due to the fresh snowfall the local administration has decided to reschedule its plan for sending the polling staff in time in these areas. Keeping in view the inaccessibility and unpredictable weather conditions, the authorities have decided to dispatch the polling staff along with security personnel three days before the elections, which are scheduled to be held on April 23. “We don’t want to take any risk, so it has been decided to dispatch the polling staff on April 20 to inaccessible areas,” district election officer Guldev Raj Bhagat told The Tribune. He informed that for 34 inaccessible polling stations, 81sorties of choppers would be made to send all staff members and election material to these areas. For manning these hyper sensitive polling stations, 250 security personnel, 94 Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel and 178 officials from civil departments needed to be airlifted. Two remotest polling stations in Kishtwar districts are Sansari in the Paddar block bordering Himachal Pradesh and the Asthi polling station in the Wardwan block bordering south Kashmir. The Asthi polling station is located at a distance of 148 km from the district headquarters. According to official records, there are 1,44,357 electors in two Assembly constituencies of Kishtwar and Inderwal in Kishtwar district with reference to the latest electoral revision. These include 74,606 male and 69,751 female voters and 737 service voters of the district. As many as 203 polling stations, including 16 auxiliary, are being set up in both segments for the smooth conduct of elections scheduled for April 23. The polling station have been categorised as 90 hypersensitive, 53 sensitive and 60 as normal. Meanwhile, the administration feels that the fresh snowfall in upper reaches and incessant rain will spoil all arrangements. |
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Undergraduates ‘hold’ senior posts in govt depts
Jammu, April 8 Though the General Administration Department (GAD) claims that rules have no scope for undergraduate officials to get promoted to secretary-level posts, describing it a “very rare” phenomenon, it says that a small opening has been kept for the junior staff so as to check stagnation. However, to substantiate the claim, The Tribune has an official document wherein at least six undergraduate officials were promoted as deputy secretaries and additional secretaries in the past. An undergraduate official, Mohammed Yousuf, who has worked as Deputy Director, Employment, in Leh, was promoted as Deputy Secretary, Public Service Commission, and then as Deputy Secretary, Cooperatives Department. Similarly, another undergraduate official, Imtiaz Ahmed, had remained Deputy Secretary, Home, while Latif Ahmed Zargar, another undergraduate, had been promoted as Deputy Director, Stores, Hospitality and Protocol. Likewise, an undergraduate official holding a diploma in stenography, Ram Gopal, at present holds the post of Additional Secretary in the Power Development Department. While another undergraduate with a diploma in stenography, Mohammed Shafi, is Deputy Secretary, PWD (R&B), Shamima Rashid having same qualification as Shafi at present holds the post of Principal Private Secretary to Chief Secretary SS Kapur. Official sources say the government cites the reason of “merit-cum-suitability and seniority” while promoting undergraduate officials to senior posts. GAD Commissioner Secretary BA Dar said for those coming through the Public Service Commission the eligibility criteria was graduation and it rarely happened that an undergraduate got directly appointed on a senior post. But long back there had been officials, who were matriculate and were promoted to senior posts, he added. However, a small quota had been fixed by various departments to promote junior staff so as to avoid stagnation among them, he said. A senior bureaucrat said to streamline the process in a bid to avoid any controversy, the government had now fixed 60 per cent quota for the KAS officers, who possessed the minimum qualification of graduation and 40 per cent quota for the undergraduate officials, who joined various departments on lower posts. But another bureaucrat contended such claims saying the government under the garb of merit-cum-suitability and seniority had been encouraging the malpractice. |
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Panel to seek amendments
Ashutosh Sharma Tribune News Service
Jammu, April 8 The successive state governments have hitherto failed to implement the State Protection of Human Rights Act in letter and in spirit. The paucity of funds at its discretion is also hampering its functioning. The commission is headquartered at Srinagar and has a sub office in Jammu. It has so far failed to establish suboffices in the militancy-infested far-flung districts like Rajouri and Doda, which is in contravention of the state Act. The commission is facing an acute shortage of funds, infrastructure and manpower. It has meagre means of communication. In Jammu it is operating from a rented accommodation. Though the commission is to be headed by a chairperson and four members, there are only two members at present, besides a chairperson who manages the Jammu and Srinagar offices. Official sources told The Tribune that the commission had already submitted a memorandum of demands to Governor NN Vohra, seeking various facilities for the statutory body. The commission will soon submit a set of recommendations to the government seeking several amendments to the existing law to bring it at par with the Central Act. The sources further revealed that the commission in its recommendations had impressed upon need for proper representation to all regions in membership of the commission, increase in the term of the chairperson up to five years from three years at present and making it mandatory that the members must have practical experience in the field of human rights. Chairperson of the SHRC, Justice (retd) Bashir-ud-Din said: “We have sent our recommendations to the Governor which would now be submitted to the state government.
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Bypoll in Hazratbal, Sonwar on May 7
Srinagar, April 8 NC president, Farooq Abdullah won from the two constituencies in the last Assembly elections, when he for the first time contested from outside the home constituency of Ganderbal. His son and now Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who lost from Ganderbal, the home constituency of the Sheikhs in 2002, was elected for the first time to the state Assembly from Ganderbal last year. Farooq defeated his nearest rival Asiya Naqash of the PDP by a margin of 4,272 votes. While Farooq polled 11,041 votes, Asiya polled 6,769 votes. The total votes polled were 24,720 and the percentage was recorded at 28.91. Farooq retaining the Sonawar Assembly seat, resigned from the Hazratbal seat, necessitating a byelection in the constituency. The Hazratbal constituency has been represented all along by the NC since 1952 till 2002. While Peer Yehya Shah Sadiqi won in 1957, 1962, and 1967 elections, Sofi Ghulam Ahmed won in 1972. Hissam-ud-Din Banday was elected in 1977 and 1983 elections from this constituency. This constituency was represented by Mohammad Yaseen Shah in 1987 and Mohammad Syed Akhoon in 1996, respectively. In 2002, Akhoon again won the seat on NC ticket. It has a total number of 86,668 voters, including 45,498 male and 41,170 female voters. The total number of polling stations is 119. The total number of voters in 2008 Assembly elections were 85,514. The Sonawar constituency was won by Farooq when he defeated his nearest rival Sheikh Ghulam Qadir Pardesi of the PDP by a margin of 94 votes. Farooq polled 7,018 votes, while Pardesi polled 6,924 votes. The total votes polled were 26,852 and the poll percentage was recorded at 39.61. However, Farooq resigned from the constituency after being elected to the Rajya Sabha forcing a byelection. The constituency was carved out on April 27, 1995, and Ghulam Mohammad Bhawan of the NC was elected from this constituency in 1996. In 2002, Mohammad Yaseen Shah of the NC won this seat. |
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LS Poll: BJP, Cong intensify campaign
Jammu, April 8 The BJP, which banks upon its national leaders, got ahead by holding rally on March 29 that was addressed by party national president Rajnath Singh. Two days after the BJP rally, the Congress held its first public meeting at Sunderbanion that was addressed by leaders like Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, national general secretary Prithvi Raj Chavan and PCC chief and Union Minister of State for Water Resources Saifuddin Soz. BJP prime ministerial candidate LK Advani and senior leader Arun Jaitley are likely to come to Jammu before April 12, while the Congress has yet not been able to finalise the dates and venue for Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Azad is likely to come in a couple of days to address rallies. The Congress is also likely to rope in NC leader and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for its campaign for the Jammu-Poonch and the Udhampur-Doda seats. Both parties in a bid to outdo each other have locked horns as well. The BJP blamed the Congress for misusing the administration as it changed the venue of Rajnath’s rally to the Parade Ground, and, later prevented it from holding a scooter rally in the city with its young party workers. Only time will tell if voters bring the BJP to power on its promise to end discrimination of Jammu and tax free benefits to middle class or the Congress will steal the show on its slogans of secularism and development. |
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Srinagar, April 8 High altitude areas, including Khilangmarg and Koongdori in north Kashmir and Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panjtarni in Pahalgam in south Kashmir, received a fresh spell of snow, while plains in the valley were lashed by rain for the third successive day today, bringing down temperatures, official sources said. Four to five inches of snow had accumulated in the mountains surrounding the valley. Rains also lashed many areas on the 300-km Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, but traffic was plying uninterruptedly, a spokesman for the Traffic Department said. Pahalgam was the coldest place in the state, where minimum temperature dipped to 3.2°C, the MET office said, adding the area recorded 3.5 mm of rain. Kupwara in north Kashmir received the highest rainfall of 28.6 mm till 8.30 am today with minimum temperature of 4.7°C. Srinagar recorded 7.8 mm of rain with minimum temperature of 6.9°C, while Kokernag recorded 12.3 mm of rain. A low of 5.8°C was recorded there. Batote, Banihal and Qazigund situated on the Srinagar- Jammu highway recorded 13.0, 11.4 and 7.4 mm of rain, respectively. The Jammu region also experienced rain, bringing down the minimum temperature by a few notches. The city recorded a low of 16.1°C followed by Katra (14.0°C) and Bhaderwah (7.4°C). — PTI
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Defacement taking toll on city’s beauty
Jammu, April 8 Again the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has become a mute spectator to the defacement of walls by these political parties and organisations. In fact the comparative political strength is being demonstrated by political parties through display of their candidates on posters and writing slogans on city walls. Defacement has given a shabby look to the entire city. Posters pasted on walls can be seen in different areas of the city like Jewel Chowk, Talab Tillo, Bohri, Rehari, Panjtirthi and other parts. The JMC should take immediate steps to stop further defacement by these political parties. They should impose a heavy fine on defaulters in order to restrain them effectively, Krishan Kumar Sharma of Janipur said. Municipal Commissioner Mubarak Singh said defacement was not permissible under the model code of conduct in force. He said: “We have already constituted mobile teams to remove all posters pasted on walls. If these parties cannot restrain themselves from the violation of public property, we will issue notices to them and also impose a fine as done earlier.” |
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Hajis rush for passports
Srinagar, April 8 The state Haj office this year has received over 21,000 applications out of which about 7,000 are expected to perform Haj. “We will hold a draw of lots anytime between April 10 and 20. Once the draw of lots is complete, then we can request the officials concerned to expedite the process of issuing passports to Haj pilgrims,” says Dr Abdul Salaam, executive officer, State Haj Committee. He said last year his office received 16,118 applications out of which 7,933 pilgrims performed Haj. He added that as passports had been made mandatory for Haj, the pilgrims should on their own applying for it quickly. Some of the applicants said they had applied for a passport to the RPO, but they were not aware that a passport was mandatory for Haj from this year. “I submitted my passport application in March. The same would reach me as and when the process is complete. Since Haj is performed on a pilgrim Visa, why should I bother for a permanent passport,” says Ghulam Hassan, an applicant from Tral. However, Abdul Khaliq from Shopian believes that the cover number and the acknowledgement receipt issued by the State Haj Committee and the receipt issued by the RPO are the documents that matter for the annual Haj. Meanwhile, the regional passport officer, Srinagar, could not be contacted. |
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BJP holds road show
Jammu, April 8 Gupta in his address described Leela Karan as a symbol of Jammu’s struggle for justice and equality. He reminded that it was Leela Karan who didn’t yield to any pressure from during the Amarnath land agitation. Leela Karan, while addressing the gathering, said people of the Jammu province had not forgiven the Congress for its anti-Jammu stand. The Congress has always played second fiddle to Kashmiri leadership and the NC-Congress coalition government is a glaring example. The coalition government has shown no interest in solving the long-standing problems of this region. Meanwhile, BJP state president Ashok Khajuria addressed election rallies at a number of places in RS Pura and Suchetgarh along with local MLAs Sham Choudhary and Prof. Garu Ram. They highlighted failures of the Congress party and asked the people to strengthen the BJP assuring that the party would ensure equal treatment and justice to the people of the Jammu province. |
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Three killed in mishap
Srinagar, April 8 The accident took place at Gassipora near
Qazigund, 80 km from here, on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, last night resulting in the death of three persons, it said. The deceased have been identified as Mohammad Ayub Najar, Waseem Ahmad Gagoo and Nawaz Ahmad
Wani, all residents of Mir Maidan village of Dooru. Another person travelling in the car was critically injured and was shifted to hospital, the police said. In a separate incident, five persons were injured when a truck collided with a pick-up van at Batkote in the Pahalgam area of Anantnag district. The injured had been shifted to hospital where their condition was stated to be critical, the police said.
— PTI |
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Ex-BSF commandant surrenders
Srinagar, April 8 JK Chawdary surrendered in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Mohammad Ibrahim Wani on Monday in connection with the case pending for the past nearly 18
years. Wani cancelled the warrants against Chowdary after his surrender, saying “as the applicant has now approached the court, the purpose of issuance of warrants has been served”. Chowdary, who retired from service on September 30, 1995, stated that he could not record his statement as he was indisposed for a long time. Wani directed Chowdary to approach the police station concerned which was at “liberty to proceed further in the case in accordance with the law”. The warrant was issued against Chowdary on March 16 following an application moved by assistant officer of the case stating that the former commandant was involved in the custodial disappearance of Arshad Ahmad Bhat of Buchpora-Dalgate. Arshad, a cricketer, was picked up by the BSF during a crackdown along with 35 others from the area on December 5, 1991. While others were set free, Arshad was allegedly subjected to enforced disappearance.
— PTI |
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Akanksha, Swati top class VIII exam
Jammu, April 8 Akanksha Raina of St. Xavier Convent Senior Secondary School, Barnai, got the first position by achieving 95.6 per cent, second position was bagged by Swati Sharma of the same school by getting 95.2 per cent marks, whereas the third position was bagged by Kanveer Singh Chib, student of Evergreen Higher Secondary School, Roop Nagar, who got 94.8 per cent marks. As many as 23,461 students appeared for the examination in which 20,280 students qualified the examination, while 2,926 students got distinction. Total passing percentage was 86.44. The passing percentage of the government schools was 72.84, whereas private schools got 95.20 passing percentage. Around 117 students of private schools remained successful in achieving first 10 positions in the examination.
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Flesh Trade
Jammu, April 8 The accused has failed to produce any degree to prove that he is a doctor, SSP, Jammu, Manohar Singh told The Tribune. He, however, refused to divulge further details. Another senior officer said the accused did not have even a single document to substantiate
his claim. A case under sections 3/4 and 5/7 the Immoral Trafficking Act had been registered against the accused. Another case of cheating and forgery under sections 420, 467 and 468 of the RPC may also be registered against him, the officer added. Official sources said after serving in the Army for 18 years as Captain, the accused had retired in 1992. Thereafter he did a physiotherapy course. However, of late, he started running a brothel under the garb of a clinic in the posh locality, they added.
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25 kg liquid IED seized
Srinagar, April 8 The Anantnag police received information about the IED last night. The explosive was detected and defused. It was not in the ready stage, it said. The security forces found the IED stored in a cylindrical shell made of heavy, thick metal around 30 km off the rail line. “Had militants been able to blast it, its impact would have been huge,” an
official said. The security forces destroyed the explosive using a demolition set. However, no arrest has been made in this
connection. Militants have been active in Khelan village area in Pulwama district and have been trying to target the railway line.
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Srinagar, April 8 Ghulam Ahmad Digoo (60) and his wife Rafiqa (57) were found dead in their house in the Kolipora locality of Khanyar this morning, a police spokesman said. The cause of their death, whether a murder or suicide, is not known yet, but a case in connection has been registered, the spokesman said. “It is premature to say anything about the cause of their death. The bodies have been sent for an autopsy,” the police added. — PTI
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Protesters seek hike in wages
Jammu, April 8 The protesters demanded benefits on the pattern of the employees of the Food Corporation of India (FCI). Their demands include the release of provident fund (PF), compensation allowance and increase in wages. Talking to The Tribune, Bishan Das, president of the union, said if the department and the government did not take immediate steps to fulfil their demands, they would intensify their agitation.
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BJP: Border residents worse-hit
Jammu, April 8 Commenting on twin district of Rajouri-Poonch, he said these two districts were mostly worst in terms of development in all sectors as people were forced to live without the basic amenities. He, however, said the villagers, whose land had come under fencing on international border, had not got adequate compensation from the government. He alleged misuse of government funds on the work of anti-erosion project on the Chenab at Akhnoor. |
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Jammu, April 8 A BSF spokesperson said one of them was a deaf and dumb, the other was identified as Bagna Sheikh of Malda district in West Bengal. Nothing incriminating was found from their possession during preliminary questioning. Later, the duo was handed over to the local police for further questioning. — TNS
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Jammu, April 8
