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Shopian Case
PDP membership drive from Oct 14
Inter-district Appointments
Housing Board employees continue agitation
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SRTC staff suspend court arrest till talks on
Need to combat climate change stressed
Kolahoi glacier ‘melting at alarming pace’
Climate change a real threat: Vohra
Post-mortem reveals he was tortured
2 held with leopard skins
DGP: People helping security forces
Editors’ conference begins today
Docs hold protest at Bhaderwah
Safai karamcharis seek higher daily wage
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Shopian Case
New Delhi, October 12 “Our immediate task is to focus, to prove, whether the FIR was right or wrong. That investigation is on,” CBI Director Ashwani Kumar told PTI. The CBI chief, however, refused to say anything about the allegations of mishandling of the case by the state police saying it was not the subject of investigation. “I do not know. We are not looking into that. That is not our subject. We have been asked to investigate the case, which we are doing,” he said. The agency, which will submit its preliminary findings before the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, is awaiting the forensic report of victims Neelofar (22), and her sister-in-law Aasiya (17), done by doctors from AIIMS four months after the alleged crimes took place. “We are yet to carry out the forensic tests. We are working with a view to seeing whether Aasiya was raped and murdered... whether the elder lady (Neelofar) was raped and murdered. “That is what the FIR says. We are working on that,” the Director said. The High Court had on September 11 granted bail to four police officials arrested for alleged destruction of evidence in the sensational case and made some harsh observations against the police team probing the incident. The four police officials — SP Javed Iqbal Mattoo, DSP Rohit Baskotra, SHO Shafeeq Ahmad and sub-inspector Qazi Abdul Karim — were arrested on July 15 and released by the court on a bond of Rs 50,000 each and conditions that they would not leave the state or influence witnesses. The CBI took over the Shopian case on September 15 on the Centre's directive. On being asked when the medical report was expected, Ashwani Kumar said, “Let us see.”
— PTI |
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PDP membership drive from Oct 14
Jammu, October 12 In this regard, a membership drive was inaugurated by former Chief Minister and patron of the party Mufti Mohammed Sayeed two days ago. Sayeed has instructed senior party functionaries in the Jammu region to reach out to the masses and educate them about the “self-rule” formula propounded by the party to solve the long-pending Kashmir dispute. Senior PDP leader and former minister Manjeet Singh said the aim of the membership drive was to reach every nook and corner of Jammu region and find dedicated members for the party. “According to official guidelines of the Election Commission, after every three years a membership drive has to be launched after which the office-bearers of the block, tehsil, district and state-level can be elected,” said Manjeet Singh. “This time, another aim is to educate people of Jammu region about the “self-rule” formula propounded by the party leadership,” he added. Although the drive has been inaugurated, it would take-off on October 14 and last till November 5. Major constituencies of all districts of the Jammu region would be covered as part of the drive. The party would also hold a membership drive in the twin frontier districts of Poonch and Rajouri where PDP already enjoys a sizable support. Notably, the PDP is the second largest party in the Assembly with 21 seats out of which two seats of Darhal and Mendhar are from Jammu region. However, the party proposes to increase its base in the Jammu region where it received a severe setback for its stand during the two months of Amarnath land row last year. |
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Inter-district Appointments
Srinagar, October 12 Politicians, traders and representatives from other groups have come together to form the committee and asked the state government to pass a law banning inter-district appointments. Shops and offices were closed and traffic barely plied as people came out with their support for the cause. Five MLAs representing Kupwara, three from National Conference, one from PDP and another an Independent, districts had even threatened to commit suicide inside the Assembly during the budget session, forcing the government to assure them that a bill would be tabled soon. However, sharp division among ruling party MLAs stalled any such move. PDP MLA Abdul Haq Khan said as many as 143 teachers appointed recently for 434 posts in Kupwara district were outsiders and 60 of them were shortlisted for posts of 12 forest guards. “We are a backward district on all counts. Why should candidates from Jammu and Srinagar be allowed to occupy posts meant for Kupwara, denying us employment?” he questioned. He said backward places like Kupwara, Uri or Poonch are the main victims of inter-district appointments and candidates from more developed places like Jammu, Kathua and Srinagar benefit from it. The anger over inter-district and inter-division - Kashmir and Jammu being two administrative divisions of the state - appointments is more palpable in the valley as people believe that brighter candidates from Jammu division walk away with a majority of jobs, as seen in recent appointments for Naib Tehsildars. Decades long animosity between two regions and prejudiced local media have only fed it further, converting it into a case of “discrimination”. So stark is the division, more along the regional lines than party affiliations, in the ruling alliance that one cabinet minister from Congress, Raman Bhalla, opposed banning the inter-district appointments while another cabinet minister from the party, Taj Moiuddin, supported it. “Meritorious candidates coming from outside should not eat away the jobs of their less fortunate brothers,” Haq said. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has admitted to the gravity of situation and its potential to inflame further and said his government has prepared a legislation, which would be passed after due consultation. |
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Housing Board employees continue agitation
Jammu, October 12 The leaders of the association have warned the administration and Managing Director of the J&K Housing Board, Ishtiyaq Ahmad, not to sit over the issue and come out with a solution soon. Meanwhile, the Managing Director has said he was in process of finding a solution to the issue. He said despite assuming charge only a year-and-a-half ago he had already taken many steps for the welfare of employees, which was a testimony to his sincerity regarding finding a solution to the problem. “I have already submitted recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission to the chairman of the Board, who has sent it to the Financial Implication Administrative Department. They have issued a letter to us and, asked for some additional information, which shows that the government is mooting the proposal,” he said. As far as issue of pension of employees was concerned, he said he had deputed some of his staff to the Contributory Fund Department to finalise the details. As far as daily-wagers were concerned, he informed that he had already regularised four workers and the rest of the 74 would be absorbed as and when there were vacancies. |
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Govt staff back striking SRTC employees
Srinagar, October 12 Hundreds of employees from various government departments holding placards and banners marched from the Sher-e-Kashmir Park on the Residency Road to the SRTC yard at Lal Chowk here this afternoon. They extended their fullest support to the striking SRTC employees, who had been on the strike since August 26. A joint rally was held at the SRTC yard, where the agitating employees urged the government to fulfil their demands at the earliest. The striking employees in Kashmir had resigned en mass in protest about two weeks ago, while their counterparts in the Jammu region submitted their resignations last week. Over 4,500 employees from all over the state, including drivers and conductors, mechanics and administrative staff, had been on the strike grounding about 1,250 vehicles, including buses, since August 26. “We will not waste any moment to resume work in case the government comes out with a final decision,” said a striking employee. The government also seems to be bound to resolve the issue with the striking employees so as to overcome the strenuous task of durbar move, shifting of the seat of the government from here to Jammu. Employees and office records during the durbar move have to be shifted by the SRTC buses and trucks alone. The government has asked the SRTC to make available sufficient number of buses in good condition for transporting employees and office records between October 31 and November 8. |
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SRTC staff suspend court arrest till talks on
Jammu, October 12 “We have decided to suspend the jail bharo andolan till the negotiations between the employees’ union and the government goes on,” said Ashok Mehra, president of the SRTC Employees Union. The state government had called the leaders of the SRTC Employees Union for talks. However, the first round of talks held in Jammu remained inconclusive. “As the second round of talks are being held in Srinagar this evening, we have decided to suspend the jail bharo andolan,” Mehra said. He said the SRTC employees in Srinagar would be holding negotiations on their behalf with the government and they would accept the decision. For almost two months, around 4,000 SRTC employees had been on strike demanding the payment of pending salaries of the past five months. “Today, we held a protest on the office premises where more than 700 employees, including women employees from the Jammu region, participated,” Mehra said. The employees say if the government failed to fulfil their demands, they would intensify the agitation and would go on a chain fast. “Most of our employees are already on the verge of starvation as they are the sole breadwinner of their families. They have nothing to eat and the government is not doing anything for them,” he
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Need to combat climate change stressed
Srinagar, October 12 Speaking on the occasion, Forest Minister Mian Altaf Ahmad emphasised on the present state of environment in the state and need to combat climate change which had started to show its effects in the region. Acknowledging that climate change was now visible in the state, Ahmed said the state specific issues for the redress of climate change and melting glaciers needed to be looked at and action needed to be formulated towards mitigation. “The state should, along with global efforts, formulate policies to tackle climate change locally, and the state mechanism needs to be formulated for micro-level solutions that require a sincere response from the bureaucracy, civil society, NGOs and the media,” he said. Vice-chancellor, University of Kashmir, Riyaz Punjabi called for a coordinated effort between different government and non-government agencies to address the issue in the state. “It would be a big contribution if the different agencies like Kashmir University, TERI and State Forest Research Institute, state government are able to pool up the data regarding the status of climate change in the state. There is need to identify factors and remedies for the issues that we confront vis-à-vis climate change and glacial retreat,” Punjabi said. Shabir Ahmed Khan, state Minister for Forests, SS Kapoor, chief secretary, Syed Iqbal Hasnain, a noted glaciologist from the TERI, and senior officers and international experts on himalayan ecosystems and climate change were present on the occasion. |
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Kolahoi glacier ‘melting at alarming pace’
Srinagar, October 12 Experts say rising temperatures are rapidly shrinking Himalayan glaciers, underscoring the effects of climate change that has caused temperatures in the mountainous region to rise by about 1.1° C in the past 100 years. The biggest glacier in Kashmir, the Kolahoi glacier, spread over just a little above 11 sq km, has shrunk 2.63
sq km in the past three decades, a new study says. “The Kolahoi glacier is shrinking 0.08 sq km a year, which is an alarming speed,” says the study, presented at a workshop on “Climate Change, Glacial Retreat and Livelihoods,” in Srinagar. The three year-long study was led by glaciologist Shakil Ramsoo, assistant professor in the department of geology at Kashmir University. The Kolahoi glacier is the main source of water for the Jhelum and its many streams and lakes. According to a United Nations
Environment Programme and World Glacier Monitoring Service study, the average melting rate of mountain glaciers has doubled since the turn of the millennium,
with record losses seen in 2006 at several sites. But Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said in August there was a need for more scientific studies to conclusively establish the link between climate change and shrinking glaciers. He said while “a couple of" Himalayan glaciers were receding, some others such as the Siachen
glacier were advancing, while others like the Gangotri glacier were receding at a decreasing rate compared
with the last two decades. But Ramsoo says: “Other small Kashmir glaciers are also shrinking and the main reason is that the winter
temperature in Kashmir is rising.” Experts say the melting of Kashmir glaciers could have a serious fallout as most Kashmiris rely on the glaciers for water. — Reuters |
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Climate change a real threat: Vohra
Srinagar, October 12 Vohra was addressing the valedictory function of a three-day international conference on Conservation of Hangul and Endangered Deer Species at the SKICC here today. The conference was organised by the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India. It was inaugurated by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday and attended by over 150 delegates from within and outside the country. Various themes were deliberated upon during the five technical sessions with an aim to bring together deer experts to present and discuss their research findings and share their experiences and scientific knowledge in effective management and conservation of endangered deer species. He said wildlife constituted the vital organ of eco-system and its “welfare is seminal to human sustenance itself”. “The learned society has always shown a concern for this. However, too often reality struggles to reach its potential. This needs concerted efforts on part of all planners, researchers and executioners concerned,” he said. Referring to the conservation of Kashmir stag and endangered deer species at global level, Vohra said it had to be measured in terms of the status of the species in the eco-system. |
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Rajnish’s death: College students hold protest
Jammu, October 12 According to a statement, the students demanded immediate action against all police officers allegedly involved in the custodial death of Rajnish. They protested under the banner of the Jammu Justice Students Federation (JJSF) and boycotted classes. Addressing students at Maulana Azad Memorial (MAM) College, student leader Thakur Varinder Singh, said, “The police has been unfair to Jammu people as such heinous crimes are being committed in custody.” |
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Post-mortem reveals he was tortured
Jammu, October 12 As per sources, the board of doctors that conducted the post-mortem in its preliminary report submitted to MK Dwivedi, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, established marks of torture on the body. “There were multiple marks of torture and injuries all over the body of the youth. There were many other injuries on the body of multiple dissections indicating torture,” the preliminary report reads. Sources further informed that the post-mortem revealed a mark of hanging on the neck of the body, besides burns. |
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2 held with leopard skins
Udhampur, October 12 The police laid a trap on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway near Jekhani in Udhampur. As the cops were checking all vehicles coming from Kashmir, the smugglers, travelling in a mini-bus, came out of the vehicle. To dodge the cops, they tried to cross the checking point on foot. The cops, however, got suspicious and later arrested the duo, identified as Habib-Ullah of Trehgam village and Ghulam Rasool of Kharilab Lota in the Banihal area. A case has been registered against them. Police sources said the gang was involved in smuggling of skins of wild animals throughout the country after procuring the same from far-flung areas of Doda and Kashmir valley. Sources said they later disclosed names of as many as 12 persons involved in such activities. |
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DGP: People helping security forces
Udhampur, October 12 Referring to recent killings of top militant commanders, the DGP said the anti-militancy operations had been intensified and it was due to the support and cooperation of the people that the security forces had achieved success. He said the locals were fed up with the ongoing bloodshed and destruction so they had been voluntarily coming forward to share information about the presence or location of militants with the police. He said the police had also foiled an attempt of a suicide bomber. |
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Editors’ conference begins today
Srinagar, October 12 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah would inaugurate the conference in presence of the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ambika Soni and Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah at the SKICC. Former Chief Minister and Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad is also scheduled to address the conference on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ambika Soni on her arrival here today met various delegations that included representatives of the local print media and a literary organisation. She has assured a delegation of the literary organisation Adbee Markaz Kamraz that institutions under her ministry would take all steps to ensure due representation to Kashmiri language. |
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Docs hold protest at Bhaderwah
Udhampur, October 12 Highlighting their demands, the agitating doctors regretted that the government was not serious regarding their genuine demands. They rued that it was all due to the adamant attitude of the state government that poor patients had been suffering. Dr Yudhvir Singh Kotwal, while addressing the doctors, said they were demanding their genuine rights but the government was still adamant. Dr Bashir Bhatt, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Doda, also visited Bhaderwah and interacted with the agitating doctors. He urged them to return to their jobs, but failed to persuade them. |
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Safai karamcharis seek higher daily wage
Jammu, October 12 Under the leadership of Devanand Gill, president, Safai Karamchari Union, a delegation today met Deputy Mayor Dharamveer Singh Jamwal, who is also chairman of the Finance Committee, and put forward their demands. They are demanding timely salaries as well as immediate release of pending arrears of 125 employees, who were appointed in 2005, and of 169 employees, who were appointed in 2008. There are as many as 1,000 safai karamcharis working with the MC through an NGO on a contract basis. Gill said the Deputy Mayor had assured that their salaries would be enhanced soon. |
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