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Judicial probe into death of 2 women
Jobless Kashmiri Pandits to march to Srinagar
15 hurt in Srinagar clashes
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SIM-activated meters to check power theft: CM
UJC chief in Neeli Dokh?
Govt flayed for not giving Budget session dates
Thousands take AIIMS test
Shortage of docs in rural areas
Display-your-talent winners awarded
Crime Branch seizes 200 forms
Jawan killed in militant attack
Jammu girl represents India
Fake Insurance Policy
Repair roads before rains: BJP
1 killed, 23 hurt in bus mishap
Exert diplomatic pressure: YNC
Police finds British girl’s molestation charges false
CCI elections not held for 9 years
Temple burgled
Lineman caught in graft case
Water shortage: Villagers block highway
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Judicial probe into death of 2 women
Srinagar, June 1 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while addressing a press conference, said today that the inquiry to be conducted by the retired Judge of the High Court, Justice Muzaffar Ahmad Jaan, would be completed within one month. “I will request him to take least possible time,” Omar said, adding that the report will be submitted to the government and tabled in the state Assembly to make it public within one month. He took a strong exception to the opinions made by the political parties and the media organisations in the case. Their deaths had invited strong resentment in Shopian for the past two days while a general strike was observed on the call of the separatists in protest against the incident today. The Chief Minister said the political parties would try to exploit the situation, and asked the media to let the facts come forward. Omar assured of serious punishment to those found guilty and added that the government would not allow sentiments to be exploited. “This government will not hide facts or shield the guilty,” he pointed out. Omar lamented that the impression given out over the death of the women was that they had been raped by the security forces, even as the facts were yet to come out. He said since the bodies were recovered from Ranbiara nullah, it was not yet established that the two had been murdered or not, and that the security forces were to be blamed for their death. Two postmortems were conducted on the demand of the people, he said, adding that he was ready to have the postmortems again conducted after the exhumation of the bodies.
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Jobless Kashmiri Pandits to march to Srinagar
Jammu, June 1 The samaj alleged that the community had been denied jobs promised to them under the PM employment package announced in June last year. “We would march to Srinagar from Muthi, Jammu, and sit on a dharna in front of the secretariat in Srinagar from June 4 to 6 in support of our demands,” he said. RK Bhat, president of the samaj, said a number of youths had submitted letters to the government demanding jobs. However, till date, the government had done nothing. |
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Srinagar, June 1 The violence erupted when the police stopped hundreds of people from marching to Shopian, 52 km from here, from nearby villages, demanding action against those behind the killing of the two women, official sources said. Nelofar (22) and Asiya (17) were found dead on Saturday after they went missing from their orchard in Shopian on Friday evening, sparking off massive protests by locals, who suspected the hand of armed forces in the alleged rape and murder of the women. Chief of separatist Dukhtaran-e-Millat Syeda Asia Indrabi and her party activists, who were marching toward Shopian, were taken into preventive custody in Pulwama district of south Kashmir, the sources said. The police fired teargas shells and used batons to disperse the crowds in Shopian town and in the ensuing battle 12 persons, including three policemen, were injured, the sources said. The clashes took place at Shirmal, Zawoora, Maminder, Aliyalpora, Gagran and Batpora villages. Mobs also pelted police and paramilitary personnel with stones at over a dozen places here and the Tawheed chowk in Ganderbal district during the separatist-sponsored strike, prompting the police to fire teargas shells and use batons. Three persons were injured in the clashes while several vehicles were damaged, the sources said. — PTI
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SIM-activated meters to check power theft: CM
Jammu, June 1 Expressing concern over discomfort caused to people over large-scale power theft, the Chief Minister said two pilot projects would be started soon to check the pilferage of electricity by installing SIM-activated electronic meters in the state. He was speaking while inaugurating a four-day course on Energy and Power Management organised by School of Infrastructure, Technology and Resource Management, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, at Katra today. Referring to various initiatives taken by the government to speed up the pace of development, Omar identified power generation along with creating employment opportunities for jobless youth and maintenance and improvement in security as the three most crucial areas of intervention. He said the state had only utilised 2,000 MW generating capacity out of 22,000 MW potential that power sector offered. Omar said despite having vast potential, the state was still an energy-deficit state. The Chief Minister said near-perfection was required in generation, transmission and distribution of power for minimising losses and bringing in efficient power management. Referring to the prevailing global energy crisis, he said avenues in new and renewable energy resources had to be explored to supplement conventional energy base in the state. The Chief Minister said the decision to revise State’s Hydel Policy was a step in the direction to tide over power transmission losses, adding that Central government is committed to setting up of non-conventional energy projects in the State. Earlier, the Chief Minister inaugurated the central workshop of the university, comprising six departments and four modern laboratories. |
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UJC chief in Neeli
Dokh?
Rajouri, June 1 Inquilabi, a resident of Gujjranwala in Pakistan, married a Bakkarwal (nomad) girl and has a two-and-a-half-year-old son. Intelligence sources divulged that Inquilabi, who is also the divisional commander of LeT, protected by his bodyguards, along with his wife, Parveen Akhter, and son, Junior Inquilabi, was probably in the Neeli Dokh area. They added that Abdullah, along with his family members, might be moving towards Kashmir in view of mounting pressure on him from the security forces. Sources said the police would get him as it was aware of his movements. Abdullah has unleashed a reign of terror in the upper reaches of Buddhal, the Koteranka areas of Rajouri and the Mahore area of Reasi for the past six years, by beating up nomads. Meanwhile, local sources said Abdullah Inqualabi was chairman of the UJC - a group of militants of various outfits, including the LeT, Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), Al-Badr Mujahideen and the Hizbul-Mujahideen-Pir Panjal range - who joined hands after the security forces gunned down their top militant commanders.
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Govt flayed for not giving Budget session dates
Jammu, June 1 “It is pity that though five months have passed after the formation of the Congress-NC government, no decision has been taken with regard to the probable dates of holding the Budget session,” Harsh Dev said while addressing a press conference today. He said within five days of its formation the Union government had announced to hold the Budget session in July, but the state government had dithered on holding the Budget session. “The ministry formation and portfolios have not been finalised and as a result 19 departments were headless,” he said. Harsh Dev said due to delay in passing the Budget development activities in the state had come to a grinding halt. “The Budget is to be followed by the formulation of district-level plans in the respective District Development Board (DDC) meetings to be held in 22 districts of the state. The holding of DDB meetings in 22 districts and the approval of their minutes would take more than 3-4 months. That means the current financial year would elapse by that time resulting in a plan holiday for the state,” he said. Harsh Dev said the government needed to realise that the state had already earned the dubious distinction of being the last in the matter of implementation of the National Rural Health Mission, PMGSY, UIDSSMT, local bodies schemes, power reforms, NREGA, besides other centrally-sponsored schemes. He said the Chief Minister had announced at the time of assuming office that a hundred-day agenda had been laid down to prove that his was a government with a difference. “Neither that 100 days’ agenda was made public nor its output was recorded,” Harsh Dev alleged. |
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Thousands take AIIMS test
Jammu, June 1 “I have appeared in the examination in last two years. But today I feel I will pass the exam,” said Moneesh Kumar. — TNS |
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Shortage of docs in rural areas
Mandi (Poonch), June 1 Reliable sources in the Health Department in Mandi told The Tribune that of the required strength of 28 doctors in the health institutions here, including Sub-district Hospital (SDH), six Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and four allopathic dispensaries, just five doctors are available. Since a majority of the health institutions are lacking specialised doctors, the people, mostly poor, who seek health care from the government health institutions, are feeling the pain, the sources said. “As against the requirement of 12 doctors in six primary health centres and eight doctors for allopathic dispensaries, we are having just four doctors for the PHCs (two PHCs are even without a doctor) and only one doctor for allopathic dispensaries. Even in the SDH, Mandi, as against the requirement of 8 doctors, there are just two doctors available. Out of these two, one is on working on a contract basis”, a senior official of health department here told The Tribune on terms of anonymity. “Since we are facing shortage of doctors for a majority of the health institutions here, people, especially poor, who come for treatment at these institutions are suffering”. Even as the Health Department is facing the shortage of doctors for health institutions across this backward area in Poonch, people here, mostly poor, say that the government has failed to take healthcare to their doorsteps as it claims all the time. “There is not a single health institution in this area where you find adequate number of doctors. Since most of the health institutions are facing shortage of doctors, we people are suffering”, said Muhammad Shafi, a resident of Loran. “Though government claims to provide health care even in the remotest part of the state and take health care to the doorsteps of common man, it has badly failed to do so. However, government alone cannot be held responsible for all this mess as doctors too don’t want to serve poor people in remote areas and instead prefer to live in cities. Doctors are no longer guided by love for poor people and majority of them are running after money”. Block Medical Officer (BMO), Mandi, Dr Shamim Mir told The Tribune: “Though we are facing shortage of doctors, we have managed the situation within the available resources”. |
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Display-your-talent winners awarded
Jammu, June 1 Vice-Chancellor Prof Varun Sahni, who was the chief guest, while speaking at the function exhorted the younger generation to participate in extra-curricular activities with enthusiasm. Mahu Gupta from the Department of Psychology, University of Jammu, bagged the Prof YB Singh Memorial Trophy for overall best performance in fine arts.
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Crime Branch seizes 200 forms
Jammu, June 1 SSP, Crime, JP Singh said as part of investigations we confiscated 200 customer application forms from the offices of Reliance Telecom, Aircel and Airtel to see whether the SIM cards issued against these forms reached the correct and genuine subscribers or landed in the hands of unscrupulous elements. “We know that SIM cards of various companies were being issued without proper verification and in some cases by forging documents,” he said. However, no arrests were made today, he added. The Crime Branch had already arrested three dealers yesterday. |
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Jawan killed in militant attack
Srinagar, June 1 The injured jawans were rushed to military hospital, Drugmullah, where one of them, identified as Lance Naik Guru Raj, succumbed to his injuries. The militants fled from the spot taking advantage of the thick forest cover, the spokesman said, adding that a search operation was on to nab them. 5,000 AK rounds seized
Rajouri: The security forces seized 5,000 AK rounds from a militant hideout in Sawjian sector of Poonch on Monday. Police sources said the SOG, Poonch, and the troops of the 40 RR launched a search operation in the forest area in Sawjian sector of Poonch district and seized a cache comprising 5,000 AK rifle rounds. — PTI & TNS |
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Jammu girl represents India
Jammu, June 1 According to a statement issued here today, she was also included as a participant in the 58th Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs. Pugwash is an international Nobel Peace Prize winning NGO. The purpose of the Pugwash Conferences is to bring together from around the world influential scholars and public figures concerned with reducing the danger of armed conflict and seeking cooperative solutions for global problems.
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Fake Insurance Policy
Jammu, June 1 Abdul Rashid Khan in connivance with others had filed a false complaint based upon a fake insurance policy, which actually stood issued in the name of his namesake Abdul Rashid. But there was a difference with regard to parentage and place of residence. Against the genuine insurance policy covering a risk of Rs 9 lakh and a risk of Rs 1 lakh for household articles, the complainant in connivance with others procured a fake insurance policy by tampering with the record of New India Assurance Co. Ltd. and tried to encash it for Rs 10 lakh from the insurer. The commission, while dismissing the complaint with costs of Rs 10, 000, took a serious view of the matter and observed that “though there is a paucity of evidence at this stage to hold that insurance agent Bashir Ahmad Wani had connived with him for the issuance of the policy in question, it is established from the evidence that Bashir Ahmad Wani had lost his agency as an agent because of complaints and his misdeeds. His pointblank refusal that he does not know the complainant does not give him a clean chit because a black sheep like him could only be a link for being the villain in duping the insurer for sharing the booty of the alleged fraud. The miscreants chose the commission as a money minting counter and their attempt stands thwarted. Considerable public time has been wasted for conducting proceedings w.e.f July 12, 1999, and remained alive till date. Anyone who takes recourse to fraud, deflects the course of judicial proceedings, or if anything is done with oblique motive, the same interferes with the administration of justice. Such persons are required to be properly dealt with, not only to punish them for the wrong done, but also to deter others from indulging in similar acts.” While dismissing the complaint, the commission imposed a cost of Rs 10, 000 upon the complainant to be deposited in the Lawyers Welfare Fund of the Kashmir Bar Association.
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Repair roads before rains: BJP
Jammu, June 1 “Roads and streets will be damaged due to monsoons if repairs are not carried out immediately. The people of Jammu will suffer more due to negligence on the part of the government,” he said. Arora urged Rana to ask the department concerned to carry out repair of roads in Jammu immediately. He suggested that steps should be taken to encourage coordination among various departments in order to avoid digging of roads. Arora also demanded a regular supply of electricity.
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1 killed, 23 hurt in bus mishap
Jammu, June 1 Official sources said a Kathua-bound bus, which left Jammu this morning, skidded off the road near Sheelawanti Temple in Maheshwar Chowk in Samba around 8.45 am. Passengers were mostly daily commuters, who had boarded the bus from Jammu to attend their duties in Kathua, they added. The injured were shifted to Samba district hospital from where four critically injured passengers were referred to Government Medical College (GMC) here. Sardar Singh succumbed to his injuries died at the GMC here. The ill-fated vehicle has been impounded while search was on for driver Jaswant Singh of Mangloor in Hiranagar tehsil, the police said.
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Exert diplomatic pressure: YNC
Jammu, June 1 “We appeal to the Indian government to act quickly and put diplomatic pressure on the Australian government to take immediate action so as to ensure the safety of thousands of Indian students studying in Australia,” said YNC provincial president Surinder Singh Bunty in a statement issued here today. He said a majority of the Indian students in Australia belonged to middle class families and had paid lakhs in the form of feesfrom their hard-earned money or had borrowed loans and hence they could not leave their studies half way. Both Australia and the US generated huge revenue from Indian students every year and it was their responsibility to provide safe and secure atmosphere to Indian students in their respective countries, said Bunty.
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Police finds British girl’s molestation charges false
Jammu, June 1 It may be stated here that travel agent Raj Kumar of Prem Nagar was arrested for allegedly trying to molest the foreigner in a hotel room late last evening. Official sources told The Tribune that the Briton had come to the state along with her boyfriend from London and after staying in the Kashmir valley were returning to Jammu. However, the duo had forgotten a bag in Chenani and the girl’s boyfriend had gone back to bring it, the sources said. They added that the inebriated girl had been waiting for him outside the office of a travel agency in Nowabad. Already drunk, she had a beer can in her hands. She asked the travel agent to find her a hotel room at an affordable rate, said the sources. They added Raj Kumar first took the girl to Vivek Hotel, where she found the room rate of Rs 1,200 to be costly. Subsequently, the travel agent took her to Khazan Hotel, but she again found the room rate of Rs 350 to be exorbitant. With no money, whatsoever, she created a ruckus inside the hotel, accusing the travel agent of trying to outrage her modesty. This led to the arrest of Raj Kumar, the sources said. “This morning the Briton came to police station and demanded a compensation of Rs 30 lakh and later wanted to settle the issue for Rs 600,” they said. The sources added she, however, was apprised about the Indian judicial system. SHO, Nowabad, Arun Jamwal said the accused, who had been booked under Section 354, RPC, was bailed out today. The chargesheet in the case would be produced in court in due course of time, he added.
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CCI elections not held for 9 years
Jammu, June 1 As per the constitution of the chambers, the tenure of the CCI office-bearers is two years, but the present incumbents have been holding the office for the past nine years, said former CCI general secretary Satish Gupta He said: “The present office-bearers wanted to amend the Constitution against which the opposing party went to court which gave a stay order.” The case went right up to the Supreme Court which gave the directions that the matter could be decided by the sessions court. Finally, the case was withdrawn with mutual consent. Ram Sahai, president of the Chambers of Commerce and Industries, Jammu, said, now that the case had been withdrawn by the opposing party, he was ready to hold the elections in October.
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Temple burgled
Jammu, June 1 However, they failed in their attempt to burgle another temple and a gurdwara in the village, they added. Paper mill owner held
After two labourers died and two others fell unconscious in Komal Paper Mills at Hatli Morh in Kathua district, 87 km from here last evening, the police today took factory owner Komal Aggarwal in custody. Official sources said two labourers from Bihar had died after allegedly inhaling a poisonous gas at the factory. However, unconfirmed reports said the two labourers had died of electric shocks while the other two got burn injuries. |
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Lineman caught in graft case
Jammu, June 1 Official reports said sleuths of the SVO arrested lineman Bachiter Singh while accepting the bribe from Hans Raj at Jhajjar Kotli. The complainant had lodged a written complaint with the SVO, alleging that the lineman concerned had demanded Rs 2,000 as bribe for restoring his electricity connection. Hans Raj had also alleged that a few days ago the lineman had disconnected his electricity connection and later had taken Rs 500 as bribe for restoring it, official reports said. The tainted money was reportedly recovered from the possession of the accused in presence of independent witnesses. The accused was arrested for further investigations. |
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Water shortage: Villagers block highway
Jammu, June 1 Reports said carrying empty buckets angry villagers blocked the highway and shouted slogans against the PHE authorities. They said though the water supply had not been regular for the past six months, the situation had deteriorated during the past couple of months. The villagers refused to lift the blockade, resulting in traffic jam on both sides Raj Bagh. However, they lifted the blockade after Raj Bagh SHO and other officials assured them that the matter would be taken up on priority with the PHE Department. But the traffic jam caused hardships to commuters for an hour.
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The government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the mysterious deaths of two women in Shopian district of south Kashmir, whose bodies were recovered from a stream on Saturday.
Fifteen persons, including three policemen, were injured as violent protests against the killing of two women rocked Shopian town and other areas in the Kashmir valley for the third day today.
Jammu, June 1
