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Two B’deshi youths nabbed
PVC awardee Bana Singh, PDP leaders join NC
‘Bring’ business houses, NGOs under RTI Act
12 more file nominations from Anantnag
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Preserve ecology in Vaishno Devi: Vohra
HC rejects lifer’s appeal
Residents rue poor roads in Dy Mayor’s ward
His music has a healing touch
Rahul Gandhi to visit Jammu on April 14
Workshop on disaster management concludes
ABVP begins poll campaign
2 killed, 3 hurt in mishaps
Muzaffarabad bus service suspended
Kupwara Encounter
Booking for Nano begins in Jammu
Omar reviews progress of university
Bootleggers held, liquor seized
CM reviews security
Inspector suspended
House pays tributes to Kockak
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Two B’deshi youths nabbed
Jammu, April 9 Overall inputs suggest possible militant strikes and hence we have put up additional check posts in and around Jammu city, besides launching search operations in forest areas on the outskirts of the city to cleanse them of saboteurs, said SSP Jammu, Manohar Singh while fielding media queries here today. “We have heightened security and are doing random checking at various check posts, besides scanning hotels and combing jungles on the outskirts of the city to thwart possible militant attacks,” he added. Acting on a tip-off last night, we thoroughly combed the Raika forest area and launched a search operation in Rajeev Nagar. In the night-long operation, we apprehended two youths from an abandoned house in the Karyani Talab area, he said. The two youths later turned out to be Bangladeshis, who had come from Amritsar after visiting Ajmer Sharif. The youths identified as Moulana Saidur Rehman, 38, and Habibur Rehman, 25, both natives of Sonamgonj district in Bangladesh, entered India on April 2 through the West Bengal border on valid passports (No: Z 0563558 and Z 0560330) and Indian visa valid till April 30, said the SSP. They had come here to trace one Muhammad of Jammu, who had taken 20,000 Riyal (Rs 3 Lakh in Indian currency) on a false pretext of arranging a visa for Rehman’s younger brother. The duo is being questioned thoroughly. Similarly, the police also nabbed Javed Ahmed of Anantnag district from Preeti Hotel in the Nowabad area here last night. He was impersonating as an Army soldier and was carrying Army combat uniform. He, too, was being questioned about his visit to Jammu. Meanwhile, with the arrest of two persons the Jammu police busted another gang of motorcycle lifters. They were identified as Gafoor Ahmed of Reasi district and Subash Chander of Sunderbani. With their arrest, the police managed to work out 10 cases registered at different police stations of the district. |
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PVC awardee Bana Singh, PDP leaders join NC
Jammu, April 9 Welcoming the new incumbents here today, party’s provincial president Rattan Lal Gupta said their entry into the party would boost the morale of party activists and strengthen its mass base in the Jammu province, especially among ex-servicemen. Gupta claimed that people irrespective of their religion and region had accepted the policies and programmes of the party. “On the directions of the party high command, Bana Singh is nominated as the new president of party’s ex-servicemen cell with immediate effect,” he said. Later, talking to mediapersons, Bana Singh said his family always had a strong affiliation with the NC. “My father was an active NC worker and we are associated with the party for the past 20 years,” he said. “We decided to join the party because the NC is the only party that talks about equitable justice to all three regions of the state,” he added. He also assured to take up the long pending issues of the ex-servicemen in the state with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Meanwhile, Gupta also welcomed leaders of the PDP and the ANC to the party fold. He said their joining would further strengthen the party in Rajouri district. Prominent among those who joined the NC included Fazal Hussain Khan, senior vice-president of the PDP’s Rajouri district unit, Mohammad Shabir, Rajouri district president of the ANC, and Shamim Ahmad Mughal, Ali Akbar Khan and Mohammad Farooq
Yousuf. |
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‘Bring’ business houses, NGOs under RTI Act
Srinagar, April 9 Speaking at a workshop organised here by the RTI movement in collaboration with Actionaid, Raja, while referring to a recent survey carried out by Transparency International, said the state had the dubious distinction of being the most corrupt state in India. “In our state, the RTI Act, 2004 was full of loopholes and some amendments were proposed to be made in the RTI Act, 2009. We carried out a survey in Budgam and Srinagar districts according to which 98 per cent people don’t know anything about the RTI Act. The case of government employees was no different and 85 per cent of them know nothing about the Act,” he said. Raja said operational difficulties being faced by people while filing applications for seeking information under the RTI Act should be publicised. He added that the government should strengthen institutions like the State Accountability Commission (SAC) so that bureaucrats and other public servants were made accountable for their actions. Referring to the enactment of the Act across the globe, Dr Sheikh Ghulam Rasool of the RTI movement said same was introduced first by Sweden, followed by other countries like the USA, Bangladesh and India. “Participatory democracy is the buzzword in the contemporary world and we want people to adopt this here. Justice has eluded people here with commissions like the SAC and the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) failing to come to the expectations of people approaching them,” said Rasool. He said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had assured the state RTI Act would be made on a par with the Central RTI Act. |
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12 more file nominations from Anantnag
Srinagar, April 9 The scrutiny of the nominations would be held on April 10, while the polling in this south Kashmir constituency is scheduled for April 30. PDP candidate Peer Hussain, who was the first to be elected to the state Assembly from the Shangus constituency of Anantnag district in 2002, served as a minister in the Mufti-led coalition government. Mufti Mohammad Sayeed or his daughter Mehbooba Mufti did not contest from the home constituency this time. While filing his papers at the Dak Bungalow, Khannabal, before the District Development Commissioner, who is the returning officer for the constituency, Hussain was accompanied by most of the MLAs from the constituency. Out of 16 Assembly segments, the PDP represents 12 segments in the constituency. Prominent among those present on the occasion were former ministers AR Veeri, Mohammad Khalil Bandh, Syed Bashir and Sartaj Madni, who is also Deputy Speaker of the Assembly. Speaking after filing the nomination, Hussain reiterated his party’s stand on self-rule, revocation of the AFSPA, withdrawal of troops from internal security, talks between the Centre and Kashmir leaders, and compensation to the state for the losses due to the Indus Water Treaty. Meanwhile, Mohammad Dilawar Mir, nominated by the PDP for the Baramulla constituency, has said the ruling NC had once again chosen the path of betraying people. He claimed that the party could not keep its promise to provide one lakh jobs to the unemployed youth and has also failed in providing basic amenities to the people. He said this while addressing a day-long workers’ convention at Tangmarg in Baramulla district today. He said the promise of releasing detainees within a week after coming to power had vanished in thin air, and instead innocent people were being booked under the PSA on mere suspension.
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Preserve ecology in Vaishno Devi: Vohra
Srinagar, April 9 Chairing the first meeting of the reconstituted Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) in New Delhi on Tuesday, Vohra, who is also its chairman, said the current pilgrims flow had already crossed 7 million mark and posed multifarious challenges in terms of infrastructure, sanitation, accommodation, drinking water, electricity and all other facilities related to the yatra. He said the preservation of the ecology and the environment of the shrine area would also be the top priority of the board. He also emphasised the need for including the disaster preparedness plans as a part of the shrine board’s broader management framework. During the 46th Board Meeting, various development proposals were discussed and several initiatives were approved. These include the construction of new Durga Bhawan at bhawan at the cost of Rs 1.98 crore, Manokamna Phase-II involving an expenditure of Rs 4.22 crore and Rs 5.18 crore would be spent on Aashirwad Complex at Katra. The board also decided to get a master plan for the entire bhawan complex prepared for upgrading various facilities. This would include construction of queue complex and remodelling of bhawan complexes in a phased manner. The board also decided to construct outdoor stadium at Katra. Various decisions were taken to improve the health facilities, including appointment of medical officers for important locations to provide ‘round-the-clock’ medicare to the devotees. |
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HC rejects lifer’s appeal
Jammu, April 9 Appellant Balbir Singh was on duty at the residence of Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Chief Minister, at Hyderpora Bypass, Srinagar, with other personnel of his battalion on January 1, 2001. Balbir Singh opened fire with his SLR on his Platoon Commander Harvinder Thakur and constable P A Naidu, critically injuring the Platoon Commander and killing the constable on the spot. Thakur too succumbed to injuries while on the way to hospital. The appellant ran away, leaving behind his SLR, but was later arrested. After protracted trial, the appellant was held guilty of committing the murder of Thakur and Naidu and was sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5000 by the Sessions Judge, Budgam. The appellant's counsel questioned the impugned judgment in the high court on several counts. While dismissing the criminal appeal, the high court observed that the evidence led by the prosecution in the case was overwhelming and consisted of those persons of 'C' Company of the 87-Bn of the CRPF, who had seen appellant resorting to firing by the SLR issued to him, pursuant to his agitation over short supply and distribution of meat to jawans and altercation with mess commander, killing his Platoon Commander Thakur and fellow constable Naidu, and thereafter running away. For all what has been said above, we are satisfied that the Sessions Judge, Budgam, has properly appreciated the evidence and his findings, judgment of conviction and order of sentence do not call for any interference in the appeal. |
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Residents rue poor roads in Dy Mayor’s ward
Jammu, April 9 Chaman Lal, a shopkeeper, said: “The main road is in pitiable condition from the last three years and during rainy season the problem gets adverse, causing inconvenience for the commuters and the transporters.” He said the matter was highlighted several times to the councillor, but he was not paying any heed to it. Ramesh Sharma, another resident of the area, said: “In the absence of street lights, it becomes difficult for us to reach home safely on two-wheeler during evening hours.” The street leading to the Susheel Nagar is also in a bad shape for the past one month. The residents rued that the PHE department had dug the whole street and laid water pipes, after which they left the street without placing metalling over it. Principal of a private school, which is situated near this lane, said: “Recently three students slipped and fell down. It has become difficult for the students to reach safely to the school.” Residents rued that they were facing problem in the absence of drainage system. A drain has been constructed in this locality but it remains chocked as there is no outlet to it. Meanwhile, despite repeated attempts, the deputy Mayor could not be contacted.
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His music has a healing touch
Jammu, April 9 The Northern Command of the Army, which witnesses a large number of suicide and fratricides incidents, had invited him to hold a concert to destress the
soldiers. Dogra has been approached again by the Army to hold a concert to destress the soldiers, and in the coming days he would be holding a camp for them as well. His music is in great demand in the United Kingdom where he has established a Swarangan Meditation
centre. “Classical music is a spiritual and shortest way to connect with the creator,”
Dogra, who is in Jammu for a brief stay, told The Tribune. He said: “Doctors have been inviting me to apply my music therapy for pregnant women. Though I charge 50 pounds sterling per patient in London, I do it free of cost here as I belong to the region.” He, however, said the people in the region were less aware about the
therapy. Dorga said he had been regularly holding music therapy camps inside drug de-addiction
centres. He claimed that majority of them (drug addicts) had given away drugs and joined the mainstream. Medical superintendent of Government Medical College Ramesh Gupta has also requested Dogra to hold a musical concert for the cardiac patients. |
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Rahul Gandhi to visit Jammu on April 14
Jammu, April 9 Ravinder Sharma, Congress spokesperson, said, “Rahul Gandhi will address a rally at Vijaypur, which falls in the Jammu constituency, whereas his second rally the same day will be in Kathua, which is in Udhampur. We are trying to touch the rural masses with these rallies.” Sharma said Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh were likely to come in the second phase of election. Before the arrival of Rahul Gandhi, which has meticulously been planned on the last day of campaigning to leave a lasting effect on the electorates, PCC president Saifuddin Soz, national Congress general secretary Prithviraj Chavan and former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad would address rallies at various places in Jammu-Poonch and Udhampur-Doda on April 12, 13 and 14. He said the Congress would soon announce the name of its candidate for the Ladakh seat. Dismissing the lack of coordination among the Congress and the NC at the grass-roots level, he said the coalition was doing fine through its state and district level coordination committees. |
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Workshop on disaster management concludes
Srinagar, April 9 The valedictory function of the four-day workshop on preparation of disaster management plans was organised today. Additional Commissioner, Kashmir, Mohammad Amin was the chief guest on the occasion. Officers of various districts presented their proposed disaster management plans. Mohammad Akbar representing Srinagar district said: “There is a need to set up a corpus fund so that the amount is utilised in case of disasters.” He said departments like Geology and Mining, Irrigation and Flood Control, Fire and Emergency Services, Soil Conservation and Roads and Buildings would be expected to provide maps. He said officials of the Urban Environmental Engineering Department would also be asked to provide a map so that the recurring problem of water logging was solved. Mohammad Yousuf Zargar representing Shopian said his administration would carry out mock drills so that officials as well as people were sensitised about occurrence of disasters and how to overcome the situation.
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ABVP begins poll campaign
Jammu, April 9 “The student organisation has been concentrating upon young electorate and has been impressing upon the latter to demonstrate their strength in the Lok Sabha elections,” ABVP state secretary Suresh Ajay Magotra said while addressing a media conference here. Magotra said the ABVP activists had been impressing upon young electorate to cast their vote in favour of a candidate who was in favour of issues described in their awareness leaflets, which are being distributed among the masses. The issues included nil compromise over national security, tough laws against terrorism, laws against Bangladeshi intrusion, execution of main accused in the Parliament attack, Afzal Guru, employment to educated youth, stopping privatisation of education, opposition to the recommendations of the Sachar Committee report, delimitation of constituencies in the state, citizenship status to the refuges of West Pakistan and fight against several social evils.
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2 killed, 3 hurt in mishaps
Jammu, April 9 A man was killed on the spot and two others were injured when a truck hit their motorcycle at Manwal late last night. The deceased has been identified as Darshan Lal of Manwal, who succumbed to his injuries at the Government Medical College here, while injured were Sanjay and Subash, both residents of Manwal. In another road mishap, motorcyclist Zuhab Hussain and Nusrat Ara, who was riding pillion, both residents of Talab Khatikan here, were injured when a Maruti car hit their motorcycle at Sugwal Bhagoona in Vijaypur this afternoon. Both of them have been admitted to the GMC here. Meanwhile, Sunil Bhan, of Bharat Nagar in Bantalab, who was admitted to the GMC after he was seriously injured in a road mishap at Raipur in Akhnoor on April 4, died today.
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Muzaffarabad bus service suspended
Srinagar, April 9 This is the second time in over a month when the bus service was suspended, much to the chagrin of passengers who assemble in Srinagar from different parts of the state to travel across the border to meet their separated relatives. A senior official said roads were blocked on both sides with Chakoti in the PoK and many places. “It would be impossible to make the road motorable today and it was a bit risky as well. Rain is still expected to fall so it is better to call off the journey today,” an official said. Earlier, the government had called off the cross-border trade on April 5 on the similar ground. The Pakistani authorities had also cancelled the passenger bus service on March 5 on technical grounds.
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Slain ultras were Pak nationals Tribune News Service
Srinagar, April 9 Another slain militant has been identified as Abu Mawia, a close accomplice of Musa and also from Pakistan. The Army had lost two commandos of its elite Para Regiment on the first day of the fight, as the hiding militants fired from an advantageous position at a height. The security forces suspected that there could be more militants in the area, which had seen a heavy influx of infiltrators, most hardened LeT cadres, in the last few weeks. Two AK guns, three grenades, several mobile phones and magazines were seized from the militants. The security forces said the killing of Musa was an important success for them.
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PHE workers hold protest
Jammu, April 9 Under the aegis of the PHE Workers Welfare Association, hundreds of workers from far-flung areas participated in the protest. Agitating employees have been demanding a wage hike to casual workers from Rs 70 to Rs 150 a day, regularisation of workers having completed seven years of service, one-and-a-half day extra pay higher scale as per SRO 149 to permanent employees and release of pending arrears. Association president Bakshi Singh asked the government to implement commitments made by former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. He urged the state government to fulfil the legitimate demands of employees immediately, failing which they would intensify their agitation.
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Booking for Nano begins in Jammu
Jammu, April 9 Seeing the overwhelming response of the people, the showroom employees had to make arrangements for people availing loan facility to purchase the car. “So far, we have sold 5,000 booking forms, and since morning I have interacted with an equal number of probable customers,” Rajinder Kaul, sales manager Tata Motors, said. He said, “During the first one hour of the booking over 50 persons submitted their forms.” Showroom staff said they were encouraged to see the response of the people who had been queueing up in the showroom to have a glimpse of the car. “We are hopeful that soon this car would become the car of the masses in Jammu,” Kaul said. Asked whether the entry of Nano has any effect on the sale of other variants, Kaul said: “No, there has been no decline in the sale of other variants.” |
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Omar reviews progress of university
Jammu, April 9 A power-point presentation was made by varsity Vice-Chancellor Dr Wahid Sidiq, who informed that Rs 1.25-crore Skill Enhancement and Training Centre (SET) would be completed by May and would be ready for occupation by August 2009. The centre would have a language laboratory, an audio-visual studio for journalism, training halls, a central library and two large classrooms. It was further stated that the university planned to launch academic courses like integrated BA/LLB course, B Tech in civil engineering during academic year 2009-2010. The Rinchan Shah Centre for West Himalayan Cultures and the Mantaqi Centre for Basic Sciences would also start functioning. It was also stated that the new academic programmes would cost Rs 2.60 crore. |
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Bootleggers held, liquor seized
Jammu, April 9 Official sources said after a couple of suspicious looking men riding a two-wheeler ignored police signal to stop for a routine checking at a check post near
Lakhanpur, a police party after a hot chase nabbed them. During their frisking, 102 pouches of illicit liquor was seized from their possession, they added. They were identified as Gulzar Chand and Gurnam Kumar of Chack Drab Khan in
Lakhanpur. Meanwhile, Samba Police seized six bottles of IMFL and 10 bottles of country-made liquor from the possession of two persons Mohan Singh of Saran Bus Stand in Samba and Rajesh Kumar of
Bilaspur, at present residing at Kathli in Samba. They too have been arrested.
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CM reviews security
Srinagar, April 9 The Chief Minister, who arrived here from Jammu this morning, had a detailed assessment of the security scenario in Kashmir, an official spokesman said. The meeting was attended by top civil, police and intelligence officers, including Chief Secretary SS Kapur, Financial Commissioner, Home, Samuel Verghese and DGP Kuldeep Khoda. |
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Inspector suspended
Jammu, April 9 Official sources told The Tribune that Inspector Gurmeet Singh, posted at the District Police Lines here, had allegedly disobeyed the orders of the SSP, who had instructed him to conduct raids in neighbouring Punjab in connection with robbery of a jewellery showroom in the state last month. The Inspector was a member of the team probing the robbery case. DIG, Jammu-Kathua range, AQ Manhas confirmed Gurmeet Singh’s suspension on the grounds of non-compliance of orders. |
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House pays tributes to Kockak
Jammu, April 9 Moving the obituary reference, Deputy Chairman, Legislative Council, Arvinder Singh recalled the contribution of late Kochak in the political sphere of the state. The House also observed a two-minute silence in the memory of the political leader. Meanwhile, Arvinder Singh adjourned the Legislative Council sine die after a day-long session. The session was called today to dispose of pending business. |
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