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End dithering on Kashmir: Mufti
JD(U): Probe JKTDC promotions
Kashmir Issue
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Brick-kiln owner alleges police inaction
67,000 pilgrims register for yatra
Shiv Sena to set up langar at Bagwati Nagar base
Stranded return with memories of Punjabi hospitality
Burglars strike at GPO
Minister for AIDS awareness
Efforts of Red Cross hailed
Maths exam to be rescheduled
Purkhoo migrants face water crisis
Protest against attacks in Australia
Patwari caught taking bribe
Class X topper felicitated
Illegal Land Mutation
Those absent from duty suspended
Patient held for ‘misconduct’
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End dithering on Kashmir: Mufti
Srinagar, May 29 Speaking at a party workers convention, the PDP patron urged the new government to resume dialogue with Pakistan as also address the internal dimension of the problem to achieve sustainable peace in the subcontinent. While the bilateral dimensions of the problem need to be resolved through a sustained dialogue with Pakistan, on the internal front, the Government of India must work towards implementing the recommendations of the Prime Minister’s Working Groups to expand the peace and reconciliation process, Mufti said. The new government should start implementing the recommendations of the working groups appointed by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his previous tenure. That alone, he said, could inspire confidence among the people here and set stage for development and employment. Economic measures like transfer of power projects as recommended by Rangarajan group could go a long way in improving state economy and creation of employment opportunities. Referring to the emergence of an atmosphere of realism about Kashmir, Mufti said the PDP through its efforts and the self-rule agenda had been able to create a middle ground for all forces of peace progress and reconciliation to operate. These forces, he said, need to be strengthened and given credible instruments to deliver on peace and progress fronts. India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir had invested substantially in peace process since 2003. The progress achieved through various confidence-building measures should now be utilised for a final solution by taking all the stake-holders into confidence. Mufti said the party would continue to pursue the issues of reduction of troops on internal security duty, scrapping of the AFSPA and unfair exploitation of the state’s water resources. Side by side, the party would work for strengthening the tans-LoC relations to remove the sense of siege and separation among the people of the erstwhile state. |
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JD(U): Probe JKTDC promotions
Jammu, May 29 Addressing mediapersons here today, state Janata Dal (United) president Inder Mohinder Sigh said a committee should be framed to probe alleged bunglings in the JKTDC. “Chief Minster Omar Abdullah had promised that corrupt practices will not be tolerated but it is unfortunate that corruption has become an accepted part in government departments,” he said. To substantiate his claims he said both the divisions of Jammu Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation are hot examples of such malpractices. The JKTDC had issued promotion orders of 150 officials of various cadres in total contravention to rules and regulations laid down by the Board of JKTDC from time to time, he said. He said that these promotees include 80 per cent officials from Kashmir valley and remaining from Jammu Division. The Board of Directors of the JKTDC during 83rd meeting on December 31 last had resolved not to release elevated pay scales in favour of all the promotees till the report sought was not received, he said. The board had expressed strong reservations against these illegal promotions but ironically higher-ups did not bother to stop hiked pay of promoted officials. Further, the JKTDC has been reflecting fake profits for the last few years, he alleged. He urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to order a thorough probe into the “arbitrary promotions”.
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Mirwaiz threatens mass agitation
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, May 29 That was on the occasion of the 19th death anniversary of his father Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq observed on May 21 at Eidgah, wherein he had announced to launch a mass contact programme all across the valley to garner public support. Mirwaiz was addressing a Friday congregation at the district headquarters of Pulwama in south Kashmir today on the first leg of his mass contact programme to create awareness among the people over the urgency of resolving Kashmir issue. Addressing the congregation, Mirwaiz said the resolution of Kashmir issue pending for the past six decades needed a gradual move forward. This could be achieved through various steps beginning with the withdrawal of troops from all the populated areas of the valley where people suffered allegedly due to the excesses being committed by the security forces. Mirwaiz also sought the revocation of special powers to security forces and demanded release of all those languishing in jails over the past several years. Several separatist leaders including Shabir Ahmad Shah, who was released recently, and Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Javed Ahmad Mir and Hakeem Abdul Rashid were kept under house arrest to prevent them from taking out any protest demonstrations.
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Brick-kiln owner alleges police inaction
Jammu, May 29 Talking to The Tribune, Ashok Sharma, who had been kidnapped by the unidentified men from his brick-kiln said that though police arrested a cop of the armed police, Onkar Singh, alias Palli of Camp Gole Gujral, seven others involved in the crime were still at large. “They also looted Rs 32,000 from us (Ashok Sharma and his brother Sanjay Sharma) and an FIR too had been registered against them at Kanachak police station last evening but police is trying to hush up the case,” he said. “After they kidnapped me in a police gypsy kidnappers asked me to sign an affidavit and pay them Rs 40 lakh in lieu of a disputed land (14 kanals) adjacent to my kiln but I refused,” he said. “I have no interest whatsoever in the disputed land,” he maintained. However, late last evening police eventually registered an FIR against Onkar Singh, alias Palli, a cop of the Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police, sources told The Tribune. The entire incident is being attributed to a dispute over a piece of land in Pakhian between an old man Sahib Singh and the “kidnappers”. “We had been purchasing soil for manufacturing bricks from Sahib Singh from the land on which kidnappers staked their claim,” said Sunil Sharma, younger brother of Ashok Sharma. “Some eight months back kidnappers, who belonged to Camp Gole Gujral, had assaulted Sahib Singh for selling soil to us”, he said, adding the kidnappers say that the land was allotted to them long back and they had given it to Sahib Singh for cultivation. “The matter was sub-judice before a court and we had no role in the dispute”, he added. SP Rural Mohan Lal said that only one accused Onkar Singh, a cop, had been arrested while raids were being conducted to nab seven others. Majority of them hailed from Camp Gole Gujral, he said. The SP said that even if there was a dispute over land, the accused can not kidnap anybody.
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67,000 pilgrims register for yatra
Jammu, May 29 The two-month pilgrimage had to start on June 7 but for heavy snow on both the tracks on higher reaches leading to the cave shrine compelled the SASB to defer it by a week. Official sources told The Tribune that so far 67,000 pilgrims registered themselves with the JKBL out of which 22,350 pilgrims have been registered via www.jkbank.net/yatra2009, bank’s online facility. However, via online facility the bank has fixed an upper limit of 1000 registrations each working day. Giving break-up of the pilgrims registered so far, a senior JKBL official said that 20,000 pilgrims each have been registered from Mumbai and Delhi zones while 2000 pilgrims were registered in south zone comprising states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The bank had started the registration process on May 20 and within a span of just 10 days 67,000 pilgrims have been registered so far and the upward trend continued to pick up the momentum with each passing day, he said.The JKBL, the state’s official bank, has set up 110 registration counters across the country for the registration of pilgrims. In winter capital Jammu 2,974 pilgrims (1457 pilgrims from Baltal track and 1517 from Chandanwari track) have been registered at the bank’s registration counter at Exhibition ground so far, he said. A total of 3.20 lakh pilgrims would be registered by the JKBL, which has been charging Rs 15 per registration from the pilgrims while an accidental insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh each is being offered to the interested pilgrims at an affordable premium of Rs 24 only, he added. In New Delhi alone, the JKBL has set up 20 registration counters in as many branches, he added. It may be recalled here that last year Amarnath land agitation had cast its shadow on the annual pilgrimage.
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Shiv Sena to set up langar at Bagwati Nagar base
The Shiv Sena Hindustan in its general meeting has decided to set up ‘langar’ (community kitchen) for the Amarnath yatris at the Bagwati Nagar base camp during the yatra.
“Though the provision of food to the yatris should have been done by the boards of different shrines, the boards are not taking proper care of the yatris despite the fact that these yatris offer handsome donations to the board and also contribute to the economy of the state,” party president Dimpy Kohli said. Kohli requested the shrine board to provide food at Jammu at low costs. He also appealed to the people of Jammu to due care of the yatris as their guests. |
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Stranded return with memories of Punjabi hospitality
Jammu, May 29 Two families from Lucknow travelling in the Jammu Tawi-Banaras Special told The Tribune how residents of Goraya village, near Jalandhar, served them food, water, milk and whatever they required continuously for several hours. “After being stranded at the Goraya railway station, we were moved to a godown for our safety. Our train was stopped at the station following the burning of the Kanyakumari-Jammu Tawi Express. We were scared to death, worried about food and water, when hordes of Punjabi men and women came offering eatables, drinks and clothes,” Shakuntla Devi said. Over 5,000 such pilgrims returned from Vaishno Devi yatra in different trains. Shakuntla’s aunt, Reema, said: “We had heard stories about Punjabi hospitality. We experienced it first hand.” The Punjabi youths gave them security also. “The police security was there. But the security provided by villagers gave us greater comfort,” she said. The burnt down Jammu Tawi- Kanyakumari Express parked now at Jalandhar Cantt railway station has become a major attraction. The moment train comes near to the station, passengers rush towards the left windows to have a glimpse of the train. All heave a sigh of sadness at the sight.
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Burglars strike at GPO
Udhampur, May 29 Talking to Tribune, Superintendent of Police Udhampur, Rajeshwar Singh said that three to four unidentified burglars entered post office building and severely thrashed the watchman on duty before tying him down. The looters later broke doors and chest of the post office and decamped with the cash. The senior police officer further said that watchman, Mulkh Raj, who fell unconscious after being beaten up by the burglar on gaining senses made hue and cry for help. Local residents living in nearby residential areas came on spot and informed police about the incident. After getting the information SHO, Udhampur police station, Vivek Gupta (IPS probationer) along with a police team reached the spot immediately and started combing the area to nab the robbers. Meanwhile, police has also picked up the watchman for questioning.
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Minister for AIDS awareness
Jammu, May 29 After inaugurating a four-day seminar on Implementation of Adolescent AIDS Education Programme here on Wednesday, Sharma said adolescents were the most vulnerable section of society in terms of exposure to HIV. “Lack of comprehensive adult education in our country adds to their vulnerability, making them easy prey to the infection,” Sharma said, adding that time has come when we leave our taboos behind and talk openly about the infection. Principals, teachers and students of various educational institutions of the Jammu province are participating in the seminar.
— TNS |
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Efforts of Red Cross hailed
Jammu, May 29 Addressing a gathering here after honouring Red Cross volunteers at a function, Kotwal said the Red Cross Society had taken roots in the state. Reminding the gathering of the first and foremost principle of the Red Cross to help suffering humanity without any prejudice, the Divisional Commissioner said the country today wanted to tap and channelise the energy of youth as they can play an important role to bring change in society. He appreciated the efforts of the Red Cross volunteers who selflessly worked to help the 30,000 stranded passengers at the Jammu Railway station in the wake of Vienna shootout. |
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Maths exam to be rescheduled
Jammu, May 29 In the meeting, RD Sharma assured the delegation to reschedule the exam within few days so that the students do not suffer. Activists of the JJSF along with students of various colleges had held a protest against the university authorities yesterday. They shouted slogans against the university authorities and said the paper was out of syllabus. |
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Purkhoo migrants face water crisis
Jammu, May 29 Dalip Pandita, secretary of the Pradesh Youth Congress Committee, said there were over 5,000 migrant families in the Purkhoo camp who were facing hardships for want of drinking water. “There was a little supply of water which has also been stopped for the past five days and inhabitants have no choice but to purchase water for their survival,” Pandita said. He urged the PHE authorities to press into service water tankers for immediate supply of drinking water to the migrants. Pandita also demanded adequate security and other arrangements at Kheer Bhawani Temple, Bhawani Nagar Janipur, Jammu, as well as at Kheer Bhawani Temple, Tulmula, Kashmir, on the eve of Mela Kheer Bhwani on May 31.— TNS |
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Protest against attacks in Australia
Jammu, May 29 Asking the Indian government to take up the matter with Australian government, agitating activists strongly castigated racial discrimination and subsequent attacks on the Indian students in Australia. Addressing the activists, Harjeet Singh, president of the Nirbhow Nirvair Organisation, said that latest victim of racist attacks in Australia was yet again an Indian student Rajesh Kumar, who sustained 30 per cent burns when a mob hurled a petrol bomb on his apartment at Harris Park in Sydney. Harjeet Singh said, another Indian student Shravan Kumar was attacked by a mob of hooligans in a train in Melbourne. In the vicious attack the Indian student sustained serious injuries, he added. “We urge Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to take up the matter with his Australian counterpart so as to ensure safety of Indians in Australia”, he said. “We also demand that medical expenditure of victims hurt in these racist attacks should be borne by the Indian government,” he added.
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Patwari caught taking bribe
Srinagar, May 29 A spokesman for the State Vigilance Organisation said Farooq Ahmad Dar lodged a complaint alleging that his father had exchanged a piece of land with Ghulam Mohi-u-din Wani of Arth, Budgam, for which he had to deposit levy in the treasury but the patwari concerned demanded Rs.5000 for the preparation of a challan. A team of SVO officials arrested the accused patwari while accepting the money from the complainant. The tainted money was recovered from the the accused in presence of independent witnesses.
— TNS |
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Class X topper felicitated
Jammu, May 29 Felicitating all 11 position holders of the district in the Class X exams, Bhagat remarked that these students had set an example for their counterparts to follow. He also praised teachers, the school management and parents in making these students excel. He appealed to the students to follow the learning methods of meritorious students to find a place in today’s competitive world. Bhagat assured all help and support from the district administration to all students of the district.
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Case against revenue officials
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, May 29 A spokesman of the State Vigiliance Organisation said that the case was registered when it was prima facie established that shamlat land in estate Pahalgam and its adjacent villages has been illegally mutated in revenue records and allotted to beneficiaries in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy with concerned revenue officials. A verification was conducted which revealed that land measuring 3 kanals 17 marlas is basically a state land and has been illegally transferred in favour of Abdul Gani Khan and Abdul Majid Khan of Anantang. Similarly, state land measuring 22 kanals in Nunwan village has also been found illegally transferred in favour of Mohammad Bashir. State land measuring 1 kanal situated in e Nunwan has been transferred in favour of Bashir Ahmad Najar of Anantnag. Further verification revealed that state land measuring 10 kanal 11 marlas situated at village Laripora has been illegally mutated in favour of Ghulam Ahmad of Sallar Pahalgam. In this manner officers/officials of Revenue Department, tehsil Pahalgam in league with beneficiaries under a well knit conspired plan, by abuse of their official position with dishonest intention, have illegally transferred the State land in favour of beneficiaries, thereby causing huge loss to state exchequer, the spokesman said. The investigation of the case has been taken up on priority and more such instances of illegal transfer of state land are expected to be unearthed in the course of further investigation, he added.
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Those absent from duty suspended
Rajouri, May 29 A district administration spokesperson here said that in separate inspections conducted by teams constituted under Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) Rajouri, Javed Khan and ADDC Rajouri, Robin Singh Mehta, the employees were found absent from duty and suspended with immediate effect. He added that on the instructions of District Development Commissioner, Rajouri, special inspection committees have been constituted to monitor the working, transparency and punctuality in government offices throughout the district. The spokesperson claimed that the concerned district/ sectoral officers will chargesheet the absentees of their department/ offices and furnish their reply to the office of DDC alongwith their comments within a week time for taking disciplinary action against the absentees.
— TNS |
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Patient held for ‘misconduct’
Rajouri, May 29 However, local sources said the accused along with his family members protested against the medical staff posted at the hospital for allegedly referring even a delivery case, including their case, to Jammu Medical College. The family alleged that the doctors and the medical staff posted at the hospital had been referring minor cases to Jammu Medical College and were doing private practise even in the duty hours. A police officer told The Tribune that the doctors and the medical staff were bringing bad name to the noble profession by not attending the patients. He said though the police had arrested the accused, the later had misbehaved with the nurse only after she refused to give treatment to him. |
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Separatist Hurriyat Conference chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has threatened to launch a mass agitation in case concrete steps were not taken towards the resolution of Kashmir issue soon.
Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq addresses a public rally at Pulwama on Friday. Tribune photo: Amin War
