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10,000 Amarnath pilgrims have darshan on first day
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Ration scarcity in Ramban
Katra hotels told to install CCTVs
30 hurt in clashes in Pulwama, Shopian
CPM concern over Shopian situation
Swine Flu
Jammu varsity re-accredited ‘A’ grade
BJP backs agitating PDD daily wagers
Army Chief visits Kashmir
Arms, ammunition seized in Rajouri
Tata Indicom launches wireless broadband
Shahidi Diwas observed
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Bad weather, poor facilities haunt pilgrims
Jammu, June 16 And if the pilgrims are to be believed, inadequate arrangements in the form of community kitchens, water and lack of information, besides fleecing on the Yatri Niwas premises continue to consternate them. “Since 9.30 pm yesterday, when we were allowed entry in the Yatri Niwas, we had no information about the resumption of the pilgrimage,” said Aarti, a resident of Khanna. Security personnel informed us about the inclement weather at Baltal, but they too had no clue, whatsoever, about the resumption of the yatra, she added. No proper arrangements had been made in the Yatri Niwas to provide food to the pilgrims. A canteen there was charging Rs 25 each for a plate of rice, a soft drink and a plate of channa bhatura, said Praveen Kumar from Kanpur. Airing similar views, 60-year-old Kashmir Chand Chhabra from Khanna, who had been visiting the cave shrine since 1986, saw no improvement in the conduct of the annual pilgrimage. “No community kitchen outside the Yatri Niwas had food till 1 pm, while poor pilgrims were being fleeced by the government-run canteen on its premises,” said Chhabra. Chhabra, who was among the first to register for the yatra through the Jammu and Kashmir Bank’s on line facility, was furious as he had to get the registration revalidated in the wake
of the deferment of the pilgrimage. Delay in the pilgrimage, which was to start on June 7, had caused confusion among pilgrims who registered on line, he said. Poor pilgrims had been held hostage for no fault of theirs, Chhabra added. Sunny, 36, a resident of Pune, said he preferred the Pahalgam route, which may be thrown open on June 22. However, he could not wait till June 22 and hence had decided to return. |
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10,000 Amarnath pilgrims have darshan on first day
Srinagar, June 16 According to reports received here, 8,812 pilgrims, including over 6,500 men, had darshan by 6 pm today. Long queues of pilgrims were witnessed near the cave. Over 1,200 pilgrims were stopped at Domel from moving ahead due to the bad weather, and they were all safe. Many of the pilgrims after having darshan returned to the base camp at Baltal by this evening, the reports said. Chanting “Bam Bam Bhole” and “Har Har Mahadev”, the pilgrims, including women and children, left Baltal this morning, official sources said. They stopped briefly at Brari Marg, en route to the cave shrine, following moderate snowfall, the sources said. No fresh batch of pilgrims left Jammu for Baltal today in view of the inclement weather on the mountainous route, a Shri Amarnath Shrine Board spokesman said. Quoting the latest reports, he added it was still snowing at the cave. He said the board officials performed the ‘Pratham Poojan’ this morning before the cave shrine was thrown open to the pilgrims. Governor NN Vohra was scheduled to visit the shrine, but could not do so today due to “adverse weather conditions”. Vohra would visit the shrine tomorrow if the weather permitted, the spokesman said. He also asked the devotees to proceed on the pilgrimage only after gathering information about the weather and the route condition. |
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Ration scarcity in Ramban
Udhampur, June 16 Residents of areas like Mohu Mangat, Khari, Pogal, Paristan and Neel have been facing an acute shortage of ration. Most of the outlets run by the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Department are closed due to the no ration supply from the headquarters. Highlighting the miseries of the residents of remote areas, Wani said a majority of the them depended upon the CAPD Department for ration. “People are virtually on the verge of starvation,” he alleged. He lambasted the authorities for not taking the problem seriously. Joint Director, CAPD, Farooq Ahmed, while admitting a shortage of ration in Ramban district, said the quota allocated to this newly carved district was not enough to meet the demand. “We are supplied ration as per the quota that was fixed on the basis of the 2002 census report,” he admitted. He added that there was more than 65,000 families left out in the district. Interestingly, the CAPD authorities has not taken any serious step to include the left out families in the lists of beneficiaries so that they could get ration from the government-run depots. Instead of allocating additional ration for the left out families, the CAPD officials usually “adjust” them against the existing quota. Though the CAPD Department refuted the allegation of the black marketeering of ration, the residents alleged that instead of supplying ration to the far-flung areas, CAPD officials were selling it in accessible towns and adjoining localities and siphoning off carriage charges. |
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Katra hotels told to install CCTVs
Udhampur, June 16 These steps were taken following the arrest of gangsters from outside the state staying in the town on fake names to dodge the police of their respective states. “Recently we have arrested some anti-social elements who were staying in the town in the guise of pilgrims”, Reasi SSP Anand Jain said, adding that hotels, guesthouses and lodges had now been asked to maintain the record of all inmates. As Vaishno Devi has been witnessing heavy influx of pilgrims this summer, it is difficult for the security agencies to keep a watch on all devotees. |
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30 hurt in clashes in Pulwama, Shopian
Srinagar, June 16 Fresh protests were reported from Pulwama following the death of a youth, Mohammad Shafi Bhat, who was injured last week during a protest against the alleged rape and murder of two women in Shopian. Bhat, 22, was injured on June 9 and was undergoing treatment at the SKIMS, Soura, here. He succumbed to his injuries yesterday, while his body was shifted to his native village late in the evening. The death led to fresh protests in the town today, prompting the police to lob teargas shells and cane charge the protesters. Till the last reports came in, tension prevailed in the town. In the continued shutdown in the nearby Shopian town, fresh protests were held as a complete shutdown continued on the 18th consecutive day today against the alleged rape and murder of two women in Shopian on May 30. According to the reports, the police lobbed teargas shells and cane charged an agitating mob indulging in stone throwing on the CRPF camp and the local police station. At least 15 persons were injured in the police action that followed. Meanwhile, the coordination committee of Shopian, constituted to spearhead the agitation, has demanded action against those involved in the murder of the two women. |
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CPM concern over Shopian situation
Srinagar, June 16 Tarigami said the continuous strike and agitation had a disastrous impact on the area’s economy, education and day-to-day life. “This is a peak season for both education and cultivation. The abysmal situation has cast dark shadows on these vital facets of lives of the people there. So the government should immediately communicate with the locals and assure them a fair and speedy probe,” Tarigami said. |
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Swine Flu
Srinagar, June 16 Dr BA Gash, who has been appointed nodal officer, says they have an adequate number of medical kits, which would take blood samples of suspects to be sent to the National Institute of Communicable Disease (NICD), New Delhi, for confirmation. They have, he says, also kept nine-bed and four-bed isolation wards in the valley’s SMHS and SKIMS hospitals, ready to keep the suspects. The conformation test in the NICD could take two or three days and more depending upon the number of samples sent there from north India. Would it not be better if experts in states could be trained to test the samples to speed up the treatment? Officials agree but say the direction to send the samples to the NICD has come from the government. “If we are faced with a number of cases, then we could be in trouble. As all suspects would not test positive, this would hamper treatment, more so if the waiting period in the NICD gets longer,” an official says. So far, though, there has not been any suspect in the state. An official conceded that there had been some inquiries about swine flu, especially after neighbouring Punjab began reporting these cases. But the level of concern, he said, was lower in Kashmir than Jammu. |
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Jammu varsity re-accredited ‘A’ grade
Jammu, June 16 According to statement issued here today, the report from NAAC indicates that the university has obtained a high score of 3.13 out of 4 i.e. 78 per cent. The six major features and strengths of the institution highlighted in the NAAC report are establishment of quality management system under ISO 9001:2000 certification, good governance and leadership, establishment of centre for quality assurance, creation of a vibrant ambiance to meet knowledge challenges, good progress in spite of functioning in a sensitive environment and establishment of satellite campuses. Director of quality assurance Dr Meenakshi Kilam said, “The quality initiatives, which were responsible for transforming the university, were also extended to the affiliated colleges. Having benefited from multiple accreditations, the university provided guidance, consultancy, training and an enabling environment to the colleges to go in for accreditation under ISO as well as NAAC.” |
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BJP backs agitating PDD daily wagers
Jammu, June 16 Manhas said the services of the daily wage workers in the PDD had not been regularised even after they had worked for 10-15 years. These workers had even not been paid wages for several months together, he added. Manhas said besides the PDD workers, daily wage workers in the PHE Department too were suffering due to the indifference of the government. They were even being discriminated against in the matter of monthly wages. While PHE daily wage workers in the Kashmir valley were paid Rs 2,100 per month, those in Jammu were being paid Rs 500 per month, and that too not regularly. The BJP leader also supported the demands of the agricultural technocrats, who had been assured of regular jobs in the Agriculture Department by CM Omar Abdullah, but nothing was done. He asked Omar to honour his words. |
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Army Chief visits Kashmir
Srinagar, June 16 A Defence spokesman said here today Gen Deepak Kapoor accompanied by his wife, Kirti Kapoor, president AWWA, had a two-day visit of the valley that concluded today. He was given a detailed briefing on the security scenario by Lt Gen Bikram Singh, General Officer Commanding Chinar Corps. The Army Chief called on Governor NN Vohra here last evening. During an hour-long meeting various issues relating to the existing and emerging security situation were discussed. General Kapoor was accompanied by Northern Army Commander Lt Gen PC Bhardwaj, GOC 15 Corps, Lt Gen Bikram Singh and Additional Director General Military Operations Major General Rameshwar Roy. Gen Kapoor interacted with officers and soldiers during his visit to various formations involved in counter infiltration and counter terrorism operations and reviewed the prevailing security situation. He appreciated valiant efforts of the soldiers in maintaining strict vigil to prevent infiltration from across the line of control. |
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Arms, ammunition seized in Rajouri
Jammu, June 16 Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of the Rashtriya Rifle troops and the state police launched a search operation at Jalla Mang in the Targain area of Budhal tehsil and seized the arms cache yesterday, they said. The seizures included a powerful 4 kg IED, an explosive device, four hand grenades, 387 rounds of AK ammunition, 66 rounds of Pika ammunition and 33 detonators. Another hideout was busted in Kuth Gali forests of the Thanamandi area yesterday where they seized two hand grenades, three AK rifle magazines, 147 rounds of AK rifle ammunition, one pistol magazine and seven pistol rounds, among other things. The third hideout was busted in the Jhalamang area in the district from where one revolver, 416 rounds, 650 gram of explosives, one IED, one magazine, 66 Pika rifle rounds, 33 detonators and four grenades were seized. Meanwhile, Karamat, a supporter of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), who was working as a guide to the militants, was arrested from the Chakli area in the district today.
— PTI |
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Tata Indicom launches wireless broadband
Jammu, June 16 According to statement issued here, available at a competitive price of Rs 3,500, Photon+ can be combined with Photon+ Super Surf Plan at a monthly rental of Rs 1,500 with bundled usage of 15GB. Tata Indicom’s Photon+ wireless broadband service is up to 10 times faster than existing mobile wireless technology. “With the significant internet penetration in India, it is becoming crucial for telecom service providers to meet the increasing consumer expectations. The awareness and demand for wireless internet connectivity is increasing rapidly and with laptop and computer sales showing exponential growth, there is a huge demand for wireless high-speed Internet services”, said Atul Kansal, circle operating officer, Tata Teleservices Limited. |
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Shahidi Diwas observed
Jammu, June 16 Various ‘ragies’ recited Shabad Kirtan and preachers highlighted life history of 5th Guru. All speakers stressed upon the sangat to follow the footprints of Guru Arjun Dev. Mahant Manjit Singh of Shiromani Dera Nangali Sahib, Poonch, was invited by the District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Rajouri, at Nowshera Gurdwara, where Shahidi Diwas of Guru Arjun Dev was also observed. |
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