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Hizb commander killed in Doda
Jammuites suffer water pangs
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NC woos Kashmiri Pandits
Poll-boycott call flayed
Headmasters told to explain absence
Farm varsity staff work in sectt against rules
APHC poll-boycott campaign begins
Poll din ends in Anantnag
Shopian in no mood to forget and forgive
Mufti seeks clear mandate
Heart disease ‘can kill’ in 10 seconds
Rahul Visit
HC rejects plea of dismissed BSF jawan
Voters may stay away in Tral
Mob sets ablaze CRPF vehicle
Bhim: NC, Cong used official machinery
5 killed, 31 hurt in road mishaps
TV channel bureau chief in 5-day police custody
One killed over land dispute
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Hizb commander killed in Doda
Jammu, April 28 This is the third such encounter within a week in this mountainous district. Official sources told The Tribune that Yousuf Zaral, aka Haq Nawaz, of Marmat was gunned down by
the troops of the 10 Rashtriya Rifles and the police, while two other Hizbul militants were
still holed-up in hutments near the forest area in Marmat bordering the Latti area of Udhampur district. They said the slain militant was active since 2000, adding that one of the two holed-up militants had been identified as Noora, who has sustained injuries in the gunfight with the security forces. The security forces have seized an AK-47 rifle, two magazines, 10 rounds and eight SIM cards from the possession of slain ultra. Earlier, four Lashkar militants were killed in recent encounters in Doda district. Hideout busted
Rajouri: The security forces seized a cache of ammunition and some eatables from a militant hideout in the Koteranka forest area here this evening. Police sources told The Tribune that on specific information a team of troops of 60 RR and the police launched a search and destroy operation in the Barauni forests of Kandi Dhok in Koteranka here this evening and busted a militant hideout. The seizure included a AK 47 magazine, 70 AK rounds, UBGL grenade, a polythene sheet, 10 kg of rice and 5 kg of mustard oil. |
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Jammuites suffer water pangs
Jammu, April 28 As per official statistics, the Jammu city alone needs 37 lakh gallons of water everyday whereas it gets only 25 lakh gallons. In Jammu, people could be seen in long queues near a water tanker for their turn to fetch water and many times there have been scuffle between the people for getting their utensils filled before the tanks run out of water. The residents rue that the government has miserably failed to mitigate the problems being faced by the people and fear that their problems will now multiply after the Darbar has moved back to Srinagar. They allege that the laxity of the department could be well gauged from the fact that it has failed to repair the worn-out pipes. “The arrival of summer has been a curse for the people, especially housewives, as majority of them have to sweat out to fetch a pitcher of water. The shortage in our area has forced many of us to fetch water from other localities,” Sunita of Shastri Nagar said. “Though the city is reeling under acute water shortage, the government has failed to replace the damaged pipes which contribute to more than 40 per cent loss of water in the area,” said an official of the PHE Department. “Many times our water supply is diverted to the residents of the posh areas and we are being ignored,” Anuj Koul, a resident of Nai Bast locality, said. |
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NC woos Kashmiri Pandits
Jammu, April 28 Addressing a public rally of Kashmiri Pandits here today, NC provincial president RL Gupta castigated the PDP for having developed a habit of “befooling” people. “The role of the Muftis in 1984, thrusting of Governor Jagmohan on the people of Kashmir, massacre of innocent people thereafter and the use of brutal force on innocent Kashmiris during the Mufti’s tenure as Home Minister is an open book for the people of the state,” he said. Gupta said it was Farooq Abdullah who submitted his resignation from the chief ministership in January 1990 in protest on the grounds that the Centre and the then Home Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed were adamant on sending Jagmohan to the state again as Governor. “What Jagmohan did in the state at the behest and guidance of the Mufti is known to all and needs no explanation,” Gupta added. He said time and again the PDP and its leadership raised different issues just to divert the attention of the people and hide their misdeeds and mis-governance. Gupta said the PDP leadership had always deceived people right from the day it came into existence and now it had mortgaged its conscience to the BJP. He appealed to the displaced Kashmiri Pandits to cast their votes in favour of the NC-Congress coalition candidates. “Your vote in favour of coalition candidates shall be a vote for peace, progress and prosperity of the state,” he added. Former Chief Secretary and party MLC Vijay Bakaya urged his community members living in Jammu, Udhampur and elsewhere to cast their votes in favour of the coalition candidates to make the KP community politically strong. |
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Poll-boycott call flayed
Jammu, April 28 According to the statement issued here, Bhatti said these Sikh leaders were posing themselves as mouthpiece of Hurriat and other separatist leadership, which are puppets of Pakistan. He said: “Sikhs have always been patriot and peace-loving community, who always stands for the safety and prosperity of their motherland.” While encouraging the community to vote in favour of those who are working for the interest of Sikhs and the state, Bhatti advised Sikhs of Kashmir to remain vigilant about those who were playing divide and rule policy to gain political mileage for their pity causes. |
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Headmasters told to explain absence
Jammu, April 28 Sharma today visited Government Higher secondary School, Channi-Himmat. Yesterday, he inspected various schools like Government Middle School, Kachi Chawni, Government Middle School, BC Road, Government High School, Sangrampur, and Government Higher Secondary School, Nawabad. He said during a visit yesterday, he observed that in many schools the teaching process was totally disturbed. He called for explanation from the headmasters who were found absent from schools. He also withheld their salary till further orders. The Education Department had directed headmasters in each primary and secondary schools to take a class daily in their respective institutions from this academic session. Sources revealed that the order was issued after a number of complaints were received about the repeated absence of headmasters from schools, particularly in rural areas. Talking to The Tribune, Sharma said inspections were being conducted to check whether the schools were obeying government orders or not. He said instructions had been given to all principals to ensure punctuality and hard work to improve quality of education in schools. Besides, surprise visits were also being conducted to monitor the implementation of government orders regarding institutional planning, scrutiny of school records, teachers’ diary and punctuality of teachers in the schools. Meanwhile, Sharma informed that the process would remain continue till the quality of education was improved effectively. He added that soon he would also conduct surprise inspections in private schools as well. |
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Farm varsity staff work in sectt against rules
Jammu, April 28 The “unethical” practice has forced the understaffed agricultural varsity to come out with an advertisement seeking fresh applications for various posts, including those on which the ‘blue-eyed’ employees had been appointed, official sources told The Tribune. However, despite repeated attempts university registrar Ramesh Sharma could not be reached for comments, but PRO to the Vice-Chancellor, Sanjay Sharma said only one person was working in the civil secretariat. “And if he, too, had been absorbed by the state government, the agriculture university had no option but to re-advertise the post,” he said. Sources said at least two employees of the university had been accommodated in the civil secretariat and they continue to work with sitting ministers. The agriculture university vide notification No. 06 (EST) dated December 16, 2008, had advertised certain posts, viz, field-cum-lab assistant, programme assistant (computer), library assistant, junior stenographer, assistant-cum-typist/dispatch/receipt/ stationery/store clerk, computer assistant, accounts assistant and artist-cum-photographer etc. The sources said the varsity had fixed January 16 as the last date for the receipt of application forms along with demand drafts. They added if the staff shifted to the civil secretariat was surplus the university came out with fresh advertisements for same posts against which the appointments had been made in the past. Quoting instances, the sources said an employee of the university, who was appointed as field-cum-lab assistant, was first adjusted in the Chief Minister’s secretariat and then shifted to the Deputy Chief Minister’s office, that too, as a computer assistant. General Administration Department Commissioner-Secretary BA Dar described such staff as surplus in their parent departments saying, “They have been engaged in the civil secretariat for gainful utilisation of their services.” However, when his attention was drawn toward specific cases of the agriculture university, he described them as a temporary arrangement. It may be stated here that employees adjusted in the civil secretariat availed certain privileges like Darbar move allowance of Rs 10,000 per annum, accommodation or HRA of Rs 2,500 per month and CCA. |
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APHC poll-boycott campaign begins
Srinagar, April 28 This was disclosed at the executive and general council meetings of the APHC presided over by chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq here today. “Braving all odds, APHC members are going from door to door asking the people to observe a complete strike on the days of polling”, an APHC spokesman said here this evening. The meeting observed that the APHC had always stayed away from poll, treating the poll process as a “futile and meaningless” exercise. The APHC believes that elections did not solve the Kashmir issue nor these could change its disputed status. “We want an everlasting and judicious resolution of the Kashmir issue”, the APHC spokesman added. He said the meeting urged India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. |
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Poll din ends in Anantnag
Srinagar, April 28 An electorate of over 11.65 lakh voters would decide the fate of 13 candidates. A total of 1,485 polling stations have been set up across the constituency to facilitate voters on the polling day. Anantnag is the largest constituency in terms of electorate, number of districts as well as Assembly segments in Kashmir division. Kulgam and Shopian will vote for the first time as independent districts. |
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Shopian in no mood to forget and forgive
This fruit bowl of south Kashmir that connects the Kashmir valley to Poonch in the Jammu division through the old Mughal Road has not forgotten the discrimination it faced when it was denied a district status in 1979.
Neighbouring Pulwama became the preferred choice for elevation by the then Chief Minister, Sheikh Abdullah, and residents have still not forgotten the insult. When it comes to polling for the Anantnag parliamentary constituency on April 30, people here make a deliberate effort to recall the past. Now a district since 2007, Shopian has had to struggle a lot for its new status. But for the opening of the Mughal Road by former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed that starts at Shopian and ends in Bufliaz, there is nothing much here in terms of development. In fact, it is not militancy but lack of development that is brewing as cause for a boycott in this area. Since, the parliamentary constituency is witnessing a direct contest between the PDP and the NC, efforts are being made to check polling from falling. “Only a district in name, Shopian has only one town by the same name. The rest of the district comprises of 220 odd villages spread out over a varied terrain. Even though the district had been announced in 2007, the work on the mini-secretariat complex is yet to start. The funds for development have been lapsing for the past two years. The town has a degree college with strength of 2,500 students, but the college is working out of four rooms. It took the students to agitate in the streets to get separate bathrooms for boys and girls,” MA Wani, who participated in the 1979 agitation, said. Further, the residents here perceive that the Wazir Commission, which was born out of the 1979 agitation, did not do justice to them. Perhaps the politicians too feel that it is hard to rid the people of the “discrimination” sentiment so none of them have so far held any rally here. The only rally the district has seen is a rally in support of a boycott led by youngsters that started from the local masjid and ended a few meters down the road in the bazaar. When The Tribune visited this town, it had no power for the past 24 hours. Locals reveal that this is a regular feature here. With the commissioning of the Balpora and Pinjora power units, the power condition may improve. The saving grace for the people here is that almost everyone has landed property, ranging from 4 to 150 kanals. With each canal of Ambri, delicious or Bulgarian apples or pears and dry fruit fetching close to Rs 50,000, they have survived will without much dependence upon the government. That is also a reason for the lack of interest in elections. This time people here are in no mood to forgive those who ignored them and reward those who stood by them. |
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Mufti seeks clear mandate
Srinagar, April 28 Addressing a rally at Khannabal, Anantnag, in support of PDP candidate Peer Mohammad Hussain this afternoon, the former Chief Minister reiterated his resolve to fight for the rights of the state that had been systematically surrendered by the NC leadership in pursuit of power. “The NC had sold the very soul of the state by gifting water resources to the NHPC, which generated billions from it but Jammu & Kashmir was steeped into perpetual darkness as a result”, he said. The Mufti said Omar Abdullah had gone a step ahead of his father in handing over the fully operational Baghlihar power project to the NHPC within just two months of assuming office. He said earlier Farooq Abdullah had gifted seven power projects to the NHPC in 2000 to please his BJP friends in the NDA Government. But, the PDP would not remain a silent spectator and launch a people’s movement against the sellout of the state’s resources. The PDP patron said the NC through all its accords right from the Delhi Agreement of 1952 had only surrendered the rights of the state and got nothing in return for the people except for power and luxuries to build personal fortunes. “It is, in fact, never too difficult for the NC to make any compromise as long as one or the other member of the Abdullah family is in the employment of New Delhi”, he added. |
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Heart disease ‘can kill’ in 10 seconds
Srinagar, April 28 Revealing this, Dr Shariq Masoodi, Department of Endocrinology, Sher-e Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, says that the heart problem results due to hypertension. “The heart problem is a deadly disease and it leads to instant death in most cases. As such people should not feel stressed due to work or some other reason,” says Masoodi during a health awareness programme on life style diseases at the SKIMS auditorium. Referring to high blood pressure as a major symptom of heart diseases, he said people should avoid smoking in order to reduce high risk to their lives. “High blood pressure leads to extra pressure on blood vessels and arteries. This leads to contraction and as such blood does not get circulated to heart,” he says. Dr Abdul Majeed, Department of Community Medicine, SKIMS, said people should adopt a seven-step approach in order to prevent hypertension and coronary heart disease. He said people should plan for long term in order to overcome health disorders. “A healthy eating plan, maintaining a healthy weight, taking regular exercises, reducing salt intake, avoiding smoking, avoiding stress and consulting doctor are basic things that can help a person overcome hypertension and the coronary heart disease,” said Dr Majeed. Prof Abdul Hameed Zargar, Director, SKIMS, said changing life styles of people had led to more and more occurrence of disorders like heart problem, hypertension and diabetes. “Earlier people used to die due to mal-nourishment, but now food is available in abundance. They die due excessive food intake. Due to more food, blood vessels get shrunk and this leads to death on account of blockage in blood supply to vital organs like heart,” said Zargar. Referring to a research carried out by the institute on diabetic patients in the Kashmir valley, he said, “During research, we came to know that one fourth of the population living in the age group of 20-40 years have an abnormal glucose level.” |
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Rahul Visit
Srinagar, April 28 The Defence Intelligence Unit (DIA) set off a security alarm from New Delhi to Srinagar after eavesdropping on a conversation between a city policeman and his wife. The constable was yesterday heard telling his wife that he would not be able to make it home because of the VVIP visit the same day. After the telephone intercept, the DIA also sounded an alert to the elite Special Protection Group (SPG). Another intercepted conversation between a head constable posted in Ashmuqam in South Kashmir and his wife also aroused the agency’s suspicion. In this case, the constable was asking his wife to take a different route to the hospital, as the road near Khanabal, where Gandhi along with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah were to address a poll rally, was blocked. Both constables were quizzed, but nothing sinister was found. However, anxiety meant that SPG Director BV Wanchoo had to accompany the young Gandhi to Anantnag. The DIA had pressed the panic button last year too when Congress president Sonia Gandhi was in the town. At that time, it was a conversation between two employees, who were working out plans to reach the secretariat because of heavy traffic restrictions due to the VVIP visit.
— PTI |
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HC rejects plea of dismissed BSF jawan
Still owner held, liquor seized RAJOURI: The Excise Department arrested the owner of an illegal still
(desi liquor extraction machine) and seized over 200 quintals of raw material used to manufacture desi liquor from the Dassal area near here on Tuesday. Sources in the department said Excise Department officers raided a house and arrested Bakshi of
Dassal. They also seized 20 litres of ready-to-use liquor and the still.
— TNS
Jammu, April 28 Raj Kamal Sudan, a BSF jawan, was dismissed from his service on August 31, 2001, pursuant to the verdict of the SSFC on a charge that he had shown wilful defiance of authority and lawful command given by his superior, sub-inspector Darshan Lal, to proceed to post at FDL Jungle. The petitioner questioned the findings and verdict of the SSFC on grounds that he was unaware about the nature of the proceedings being not conversant with English language. Neither the petitioner was not given any opportunity of hearing before amendment of charge nor was informed about the plea of guilt or its effect as contemplated by the BSF Rules. Justice JP Singh while declining to interfere with the verdict of the SSFC observed: “Records demonstrate compliance of all rules which respondents were required to follow while proceeding against the petitioner. There is no material on records in support of petitioner’s plea that he was not made to understand the nature of proceedings that had been held against him. On the other hand, the records reveal that petitioner pleaded guilty where after the Commandant directed recording of evidence which was attended by petitioner saying that he would not cross-examine the witnesses or make his statement when provided opportunity in this behalf by the officer recording the evidence. The court observed: “The petitioner has signed a certificate appended to the proceedings which negates his plea that he was unaware about the nature of the proceedings. Proceedings held by Commandant 59 Bn. of the BSF specifically record that officer holding trial has been duly affirmed in terms of rules and the trial has been attended both by witnesses as well as by BK Mohanty, Deputy Commandant, friend of the accused. Justice JP Singh: “After going through records of the SSFC, trial proceedings, which carries the records of the recording of evidence and hearing of the petitioner on the Offence Report, I do not find any infirmity in the trial of the petitioner and pleas raised by the petitioner in the writ petition are not found substantiated.” |
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Voters may stay away in Tral
Srinagar, April 28 Official sources said the militants fired upon an Army camp last evening and one jawan was injured in the incident. At least three persons, including two political workers affiliated with the NC and the PDP, have been shot dead in the last fortnight by the militants. They had also opened fired at a camp of the 180 battalion of the CRPF in the area a few days ago. The area has seen increasing action from the militants’ side. Different militant outfits, especially Hizbul Mujahideen, LeT and JeM, have increased their presence here for over the past few months. A number of militants of these outfits have also been killed by the security forces. In one such encounter, the security forces had shot dead seven militants, most of them belonged to the JeM. Official sources say militants of different outfits roam in the forests and hills skirting Tral, which is part of the Anantnag constituency, and their presence has always been formidable. A local resident told The Tribune over phone that a sense of apprehension has already set in and would definitely affect voting turnout. “During the Assembly elections, they (militants) had put up posters, asking us to not vote. But we came out on the polling day as no killing had occurred. Things are different this time,” Farooq Shah, a trader based in Tral, said. |
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Mob sets ablaze CRPF vehicle
Srinagar, April 28 A mob set ablaze a CRPF vehicle in Bohri Kadal while scores of youths began throwing stones at security personnel in Maisuma. Initial reports said police and CRPF personnel fanned out in the locality to quell the violent crowd. At least four persons, including a CRPF man, were reportedly injured. Security officials expect these areas to remain tense in the coming days as Anantnag goes to the polls on April 30 and the polling dates for Srinagar and Baramulla draw closer. |
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Bhim: NC, Cong used official machinery
Jammu, April 28 The poll percentage in Udhampur, he said, was lower than 50 per cent as the residents being peasants were busy in harvesting their crops. Addressing a press conference here Bhim Singh said the actual poll percentage was less than 30 which was raised by bogus voters and rigging by Congress and BJP supporters. Bhim Singh also accused Union Minister for Water Resources Saifuddin Soz of using state helicopter for the entire electioneering period though the EC had allotted not more than three days for using helicopters. He also accused the Congress and the NC of misusing the official machinery for campaigning in the LoK Sabha elections.
— TNS |
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5 killed, 31 hurt in road mishaps
Jammu, April 28 A bus (JK02B/3761), on its way from Basohli to Dher Mahanpur in Basohli, overturned near Zero Morh resulting into the death of two passengers, Bahadur Singh and Mohinder Singh, residents of Palassi. As many as 22 other passengers also sustained injuries. In another mishap, a minibus (JK014A/5803) carrying “baratis” from Ehardi to Badal Moda in the Ramnagar area, skidded off road, killing Chet Ram of Ehardi Ramnagar. Motorcyclist Rajinder Kumar of Channi Pargwal died on the spot at Mala Mela in Khour when a live wire fell on him. Reports said the wire fell on the mobike rider after a tractor (JK02AC/4059) rammed into an electric pole. Kanta Devi of Gandhi Nagar died after the rear tyre of a mobike burst suddenly in the Janipur area here today. The railway police today found the body of a man aged around 45 near Raya railway track. |
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TV channel bureau chief in 5-day police custody
Jammu, April 28 Khatri, who hails from Varsova in Mumbai, was brought to the Gandhi Nagar hospital here this afternoon for medical examination. Jammu SSP Manohar Singh said the accused had confessed to his crime. The police was awaiting the medical report of the victim. A police officer said the victim, who underwent a medical examination in SMGS Hospital here, was two-month pregnant. The victim had alleged that Khatri had taken Rs 1 lakh from her for arranging the job of an airhostess but was demanding Rs 3 lakh more. When the victim asked him about the job, Khatri threatened her with dire consequences, saying that her pornographic VCDs would be circulated in the market. |
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One killed over land dispute
Srinagar, April 28 A fight broke out between two parties in Siriwarapora village under Pattan police station, resulting in the death of Abdul Rahim Khanday(65) and
critical injuries to Abdul Khaliq Wani of the same village. Wani is in a critical condition in the SKIMS. The police said the victims were attacked with sharp-edged weapons. |
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