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5 militants shot dead in Gurez
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Assembly session was marred by controversies
Upper House adjourned sine die
Loss of study due to varsity stir
Andolan Samiti flays lathicharge on students
JDA refuses to give land to rehriwalas
Haj flights likely from Oct 22
Truce Violation
MC removes encroachments
Petrol, diesel to cost more
Anti-tobacco advocacy kit released
Protest over delay in results
Thieves decamp with jewellery, cash
PDP rues ration shortage
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5 militants shot dead in Gurez
Srinagar, September 2 The spokesperson said the security forces, already on an extra vigil in the wake of several infiltration attempts by the militants in the past couple of weeks, detected a group of militants moving in the Gurez sector. The militants fired upon the security personnel and five of the infiltrators were killed in the ensuing gunfight. The hunt is on in the region to nab the other infiltrators, whose number is not certain. There has been a number of infiltration attempts by jehadi groups led by the Lashkar-e-Toiba recently and the Army has been able to spot most of them. Though it has gunned down many militants in the Gurez and Keran sectors, a number of militants may have survived and could try to settle down. The Army officer said the Army was using modern technologies to detect suspicious movements. Meanwhile, security forces arrested a suspected militant, identified as Abdul Majid Ganie, and seized arms and ammunition from him in Bandipora district today. Acting on specific information, the police assisted by troops of the 13 Rashtriya Rifles and the 45 battalion of the CRPF intercepted a vehicle at the Asham-Hakabara crossing, 35 km from here. During the search of the vehicle, an AK 47 rifle, its one magazine, four grenades and an ammunition box containing 98 rounds were seized and Majid Ganie was arrested. |
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Army withdrawing 39 Mountain Division from Poonch
VHP seeks Prez’s intervention The VHP today sought personal intervention of President Pratibha Devisingh Patil into the withdrawal of 15,000 Army personnel from the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch. Addressing mediapersons here today, state VHP president Ramakant Dubey said if the move being made at the behest of the Kashmir-centric government was not reversed, militancy would re-escalate in the two districts. Pulling out 15,000 troops from these border areas would not only give impetus to terrorism in these militancy-infested areas but also create fear-psychosis among the people living there, he said. Dubey said moving 15,000 troops back to their peace-time location in Himachal Pradesh would have serious ramifications on the security scenario in the two districts.
Jammu, September 2 The Army is withdrawing the 39 Mountain Division from Rajouri and Poonch back to its base in Palampur in Himachal Pradesh. General Officer in Commanding of the Rising Star Corps Lt-Gen GM Nair said: “The division is being shifted and some of its units have already reached its base in Palampur.” The 39 Mountain Division was shifted to Jammu and Kashmir to carry out counter insurgency and counter infiltration operations in 1994. However, it was later moved back to Palampur. But during the operation ‘Vijay’, it was redeployed in the state and since then the division has been conducting operations in the state. “The entire division has not been moved completely so far. It will take some time. It takes nearly six months to shift the entire division,” Lt-Gen Nair said. The movement of the division comes a year after the government moved the Naria (Rajouri)-based 27 Mountain Division out of the state. The shifting of the 39 Mountain Division, which was looking after the most security sensitive districts of the state, would give an upper hand to the militants in the area. People residing in these areas have already expressed apprehensions of the increased militant activities. The division had played an active role during the operation ‘Sarp Vinash’ which was launched to eliminate terrorists who had taken shelter on the heights of Kaka hill of Rajouri district in 2003. “It is operational requirement and the division had to be moved back to its base in Palampur where it would undergo the routine training exercises,” a senior officer of the Rising Star Corps said. Meanwhile, the GoC of the Corps said a large number of ‘local terrorists’ who had crossed the border to take arms training were willing to return and surrender. However, Pakistan was preventing them from doing so, the GoC said. He said Pakistan had taken advantage of the ongoing ceasefire and had fortified its positions along the border by building ditch-cum-bunds and new observation towers along the International Border. |
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Assembly session was marred by controversies
Srinagar, September 2 While the new Assembly complex had hosted the maiden one-day session of former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad a day after inaugurating it, he had announced his decision to step down on July 7 last year. That was in the aftermath of the PDP’s withdrawal of support from the Congress, breaking the then coalition arrangement, following an agitation over the Amarnath land. Azad announced to step down without seeking a vote of confidence last year, which led to the imposition of the Governor’s rule followed by the Assembly elections later in November-December. For Omar it was the first session of the state legislature in the summer capital, where the coalition government had to present its Budget five months after a vote-on-account in Jammu. Certain dramatic experiences were witnessed in the Assembly from the very first day on July 27, which marked the wrenching of the Speaker’s mike by Mehbooba Mufti. It did not end there. Senior PDP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig, on the second day of the session, made a startling allegation about the involvement of the Chief Minister in the sex scandal of 2006. This prompted Omar to announce his resignation that he submitted to the Governor. After three days of his conditional resignation, Omar later resumed his duties and also the Assembly. The issue of unjustified expenditures on the construction of the “jinxed” Assembly complex also figured in the House a day before the Assembly session came to an end yesterday. The Legislative Council was adjourned sine die later today. |
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Upper House adjourned sine die
Srinagar, September 2 Giving details of business during the session, Micky said 413 questions were received by the Council Secretariat, out of which 344 were taken up for discussion. Similarly, 22 resolutions were received, out of which 11 were taken up. He said out of 42 calling attention notices, 33 were taken up for consideration. He said the request for 16 half-hourly discussions was received and out of which 11 were taken up. Earlier, winding up the discussion on the proceedings of the House, the Deputy Chairman thanked all ministers for replying to the questions raised by the legislators. He also expressed gratitude to the legislators for highlighting the issues of public importance in the House and extending their cooperation for conducting the proceeding of the House smoothly. The House held discussions on the working of four ministries of social welfare, health, horticulture and roads and buildings. Besides, five papers were laid on the table of the House. The House also passed seven Bills by voice vote today. Micky said the House discussed the issue of Dal Lake, road accidents and ration supply. |
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Loss of study due to varsity stir
Jammu, September 2 These two steps enable the college management to hold six lectures by 11 am, the time when the agitating groups take students out. The students too are cooperating with the change in timing as they too want to finish the syllabus, as well as continue their agitation over the Central University issue. The Tribune enquiries revealed that different colleges found this convenient “middle path” to fulfil education requirements as well as to avoid the ire of students and protesting groups, if the management bans their participation in strikes. Nalini Kohli, Principal, Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, said: “We are adjusting last periods by reducing the time period of morning classes. All students get free till 11 am. The students, who are protesting on the issue of Central University, used to boycott classes after 11 am”. In MAM college, SPRM, Commerce College and Government College for Women, Parade, classes are conducted one hour before the actual time period fixed for the opening up of the colleges. |
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Andolan Samiti flays lathicharge on students
Jammu, September 2 CUAS co-convener Suresh Magotra said 25 students of Boys Higher Secondary School in Akhnoor were injured, while three seriously, in the lathicharge. He also castigated the police for arresting six students in Parade College and two in Samba. Balvir Kumar, class IX student of a school in Akhnoor, today became a victim of police brutalities. Brutal torture at the hands of the police left him unconscious, Justice (retd) Paviter Singh, CUAS convener, told mediapersons here today. He also condemned the police lathicharge upon the students, who were demanding the setting up the central university in the Jammu region, at Government Gandhi Memorial Science College here yesterday. He warned the state government to refrain from committing police atrocities upon the agitating students across Jammu. “They are holding peaceful protests for a genuine cause and using brutal force upon them exposes mala fide intentions of the government, which want to suppress their voice, he said. He said: “Instead of resolving the issue in right earnest, the state government has been resorting to unfair means, which in turn is aggravating the situation across the Jammu region.” Taking potshots at Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over the issue, he demanded immediate notification to acquire the already identified land in Samba for the construction of the central varsity. “Omar in his budget speech didn’t utter even a single word about the issue, which was unfortunate,” he said. He also disclosed that the CUAS would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, HRD Minister Kapil Sibbal and Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. Meanwhile, the protest continued in MAM College and GGM Science College here today. Panthers Party chairman Bhim Singh also condemned the lathichage on the students inside GGM Science College and demanded immediate withdrawal of the police from education institutions. Khajuria condemns use of force against SRTC staff BJP state president Ashok Khajuria condemned the alleged highhandedness of the state government for resorting to lathicharge on the protesting students and the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) employees. Khajuria said the coalition government had provoked the students to take up the agitational path on the issue of the central university. He condemned the use of force on the agitating students. When the Union Government had sanctioned a central university for Jammu and an IIM for Kashmir, why Congress and NC leaders allowed the opening of the central university office in Srinagar? he asked. Khajuria also criticised the government for trying to suppress the voice of the SRTC employees, who have not been paid their salaries for the past four months. Khajuria advised the Chief Minister to be humane towards the genuine demands of the students and the SRTC
employees. |
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JDA refuses to give land to rehriwalas
Jammu, September 2 The Rehri Union has decided to intensify its protest. The rehriwalas have been selling vegetarian and non-vegetarian food at this place since 1984, but now the JDA has allotted the site to the Taxi Union. The Panthers Party has come out openly in their support. Meanwhile, talking to The Tribune over the phone, Qureshi said, “These rehriwalas make the place look ugly, which is close to the railway station. They should not have been permitted to operate from here at the first instance. Moreover, people need taxis more often, so land for a taxi stand makes sense.” The harried rehriwalas questioned Qureshi’s intentions. Aggrieved, Raj Kumar, president of the Rehri Union, said, “When a taxi stand is already operating from inside the railway station, there was no point in allotting land for another ‘stand’ for some 20 taxi drivers just outside the railway station.” He rued the step-motherly treatment given to them by Qureshi saying “when we took the matter to
Qureshi, he abused us and misbehaved with us. But we will fight till the end, as we have lost all means to earn a living.” Meanwhile, Panthers Party patron Bhim Singh said, “The JDA is playing into the hands of Raman
Balla, Minister for Revenue and Rehabilitation. But I will take up the matter with the Governor and the Divisional Commissioner. And if needed, would drag the JDA in courts.” He also announced to constitute a committee of party workers to keep a tab on the issue. |
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Haj flights likely from Oct 22
Srinagar, September 2 The passport office, Srinagar, meanwhile, has issued 3,500 passports out of 4,065 applications from Haj pilgrims so far. The issuance of passport for the pilgrims was made compulsory this year. All those who submitted personal undertakings were given these passports, an official spokesman here said. Passport officer of Kashmir region, BS Manavalan, has played a key role in expediting completion of the passports for all intending Haj pilgrims in a record time. Later, a joint meeting of the officers of the state Haj Committee and the engineers of JKPCC was held to assess the progress of the ongoing work of the House. The meeting was told that Rs 11 crore had been incurred on the project so far out of total revised project cost of Rs 17.50 crore; Rs 2.50 crore have been spent on the construction of residential quarters for the pilgrims out of total project cost of Rs 4.14 crore, besides Rs 87 lakh have been earmarked for the central heating system in the complex. |
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Truce Violation
Jammu, September 2 “We have lodged protest with the Pakistani counterparts through a hotline today in connection with the ceasefire violation and death of a jawan in the Pakistani firing yesterday,” a senior Army official said. “We apprised them of the situation and the circumstances in which one jawan was killed in the firing on the forward post yesterday,” he said, adding that the Indian side was awaiting their reply. The security forces have been asked to remain vigilant round-the-clock along the borderline in view of apprehensions of cross-border infiltration. Lance Naik Dag Bahadur Gurum of the 2/5 Gorkha Rifle died in the Pakistani firing on the Tipa post in the Balnoi-Mendhar sector of Poonch district yesterday.
— PTI |
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MC removes encroachments
Jammu, September 2 The encroachments were removed under the ongoing anti-encroachment drive launched by the corporation. The drive was carried out by the chief enforcement officers of the Enforcement Wing of the corporation. The encroachments made by shopkeepers and rehriwalas was removed on BC Road, Maheshpura, Bakshi Nagar, Rehari Colony, Subash Nagar, Janipur and Jewel Chowk. During the drive, umbrellas, weighing scales, benches, counters, baskets, chairs, wooden benches, tarpals, signboards and aluminium stairs were seized. The team also seized around 12 reheries plying without licenses. Mubarak Singh, Commissioner, JMC, appealed to the shopkeepers to keep their articles within their own premises and also to rehri owners to seek the license from JMC to avoid seizure and action against them under the provisions of the J&K Municipal Corporation Act, 2000. |
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Petrol, diesel to cost more
Jammu, September 2 Petrol, which earlier was available at Rs 45.85 per litre would now cost Rs 47.85 whereas diesel which was sold at Rs 31.08 would cost Rs 32.08. The state Finance Minister, while presenting the state budget this year, had proposed to hike the prices of petrol and diesel in the state by inducing additional employment cess on it. However, the Jammu and Kashmir Petroleum Dealers Association said the hike in the petroleum products in the state would have a negative impact on the sale of the products. “The hike in the prices of petrol and diesel will have an adverse affect on the sale of the petroleum products and monetary loss to the state exchequer as the rates of these products is comparatively cheaper in the neighbouring state of Punjab,” said Anan Sharma, president of the association. He said most of the consumers, including Army, industries and railways prefer to purchase the diesel in bulk from Punjab. “Army locations in the state procure their annual winter supplies of the HSD and petrol from Ambala and Pathankot depots due to difference in prices in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Haryana,” Anan said. |
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Anti-tobacco advocacy kit released
Srinagar, September 2 According to AM Mir, executive director of the VHA, a recent survey showed that 30 to 35 per cent of the male population were smokers and eight per cent among women in Chadoora, Tral, Pulwama and pampore areas used to smoke. The Speaker stressed that the provisions of the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisements and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution Act 2003) commonly called COTPA 2003, should be strictly imposed and anyone found violating the norms shall be dealt with seriously. He directed the authorities to ensure that tobacco and tobacco products were not sold to persons below 18 years of age. He also directed them to enforce a complete ban on its sale within 100 yards of educational institutions, as per the provisions of the Act. |
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Protest over delay in results
Jammu, September 2 While criticising the delaying attitude of Jammu University in announcing the results in time, PSA president Rahul Bahu said the university authorities were playing with the career of the students by wasting their precious time. He also demanded announcement of results of MA Economics and Mathematics and said the students who had applied for revaluation were waiting for their results eagerly. |
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Thieves decamp with jewellery, cash
Jammu, September 2 Official sources said at the time of theft Daya Ram Sharma, owner of the house, and his wife, both teachers by profession, had gone to their schools. They said the thieves decamped with 10 tola of gold jewellery, Rs 5,000 and a mobile phone from the house situated in Shiva Nagar of Kathua. A case has been registered in Kathua police station. Meanwhile, two cheats decamped with gold jewellery after fooling a housewife, Reva Devi, in Lagate Morh of Kathua district. Sources said two cheats on the pretext of polishing her gold ornaments entered the house and asked Reva Devi to bring the ornaments. They said Reva Devi gave them a gold chain, a locket and two rings. The duo kept the ornaments in a pressure cooker containing some chemical mixed water and asked the housewife to boil it for half an hour, they added. However, when the victim opened the pressure cooker after half an hour, she could not find the ornaments but by then the cheats had fled. It may be stated here that a similar incident happened on August 28 when two cheats had duped a newly married woman in Khakyal village of
Kathua.
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PDP rues ration shortage
Udhampur, September 2 Saddique said today most parts of Kishtwar district had been confronting shortage of ration as most the outlets opened by the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution were without ration. BPL families are the worst affected as ration meant for them is not available in the government-run
outlets. — TNS |
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