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Centre considering proposal to convert JU into central varsity
Jammu — A city of protests
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Panun Kashmir concerned over political milieu
Doctors’ Strike
Protests over youth’s killing
Stir affects children of SRTC staff
Engg Dept told to consult councillors
Vohra reviews cleanliness drive on holy cave routes
Darbar Move: Security reviewed
Amandeep murder case
Woman found dead
Ten feared killed in road mishap
Camp on disaster management held
Panthers plan National Integration Day
Minister assures good governance
Power supply to industries to be streamlined
One killed in accident
Student body to have unit in GGM college
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Centre considering proposal to convert JU into central varsity
Jammu, October 25 “Senior functionaries in New Delhi and in the state are pushing the proposal keeping in view long-term financial and academic benefits of converting JU into a CU,” a senior academician involved in the process told The Tribune. However, politicians’ consensus over the issue would play a major role before a final decision was taken on the issue, they added. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was conferred upon the degree of Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) by Jammu University in 2007, had promised one central varsity to the state. Later, owing to the demand of Srinagar and Jammu residents, the Centre announced two central universities for the state. An ordinance to this effect was issued two days ago. However, owing to huge financial implications of setting up two new universities, a strong voice has emanated from academicians, intellectuals and research scholars to confer the prestigious status on country’s first ISO 9001:2000 certified “A” grade Jammu University, which ranks among top 15 academic institutions in India. The government was going to engage politicians in parleys in a bid to apprise them about long-term benefits, said sources. Once converted into a CU, JU would not only get liberal funds from the Centre but it would also develop a direct financial link with New Delhi and then it won’t have to look up to the cash-strapped state government. If things materialise that way, 4,000 kanal land identified near Suchani in Samba district for the central varsity could be developed into an exclusive science and technology park and the main JU campus could be used for teaching social sciences and humanity stream, they said. Further, the value of degrees being offered by JU would weigh more compared to other varsities, if it got the coveted status, they added. Describing it a win-win situation for Jammu, they said, “If Kashmir gets a CU and JU was converted into a CU then the state government can divert funds meant for Jammu University to Kashmir University.” Academicians are afraid a separate central university would cause brain drain in Jammu University. Sources said 17 teachers of the university had already applied for jobs in the proposed central varsity. Prof PK Srivastava, secretary of the Jammu University Teachers’ Association (JUTA), Dr Hari Om, who holds Maharaja Gulab Singh chair in Jammu University, and Prof Rekha Choudhary of the department of political sciences, felt every individual has a right to progress, have improved facilities and better perks, but at the same time JU may witness a temporary brain drain. |
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Jammu — A city of protests
Jammu, October 25 Jammu has virtually become a city of protests with over 2,500 protests taking place during this year alone, although the state Darbar remains in Srinagar mostly. It would move here on November 9. Doctors, engineers, employees, teachers, transport workers, students, home guards and even surrendered militants - everyone has either staged demonstrations here or are still continuing with these. Students take to the road in support of their demands ranging from central university to higher stipends or even installing a generator. The unemployed are seeking jobs; daily wage/ad hoc employees want regular jobs;while teachers, doctors, corporation staff and other employees having regular jobs want higher scales. Not only that, a road accident, rape, murder and even an incident of a person going missing can trigger a protest anytime, holding traffic to ransom. The main venues of protests are outside Jammu University, office of the divisional commissioner and three bridges over the Tawi . These bridges are the favourite spots of agitators as a protest on any of these brings the traffic to a standstill in the city and affects flow to Srinagar. Although the law makes it mandatory to seek prior permission for holding any demonstration, very few adhere to the provision. “Our country upholds democratic values. We give permission for peaceful rallies only. Those holding up traffic, resorting to burning effigies can’t get permission,” said M. Dwivedi, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu. Though ready figures were not available, the number of those seeking permission was very less, he said. Taking action against protesters was again a complicated matter and could spark more protests, he added. “Around 15 protests take place in Jammu daily. Thousands of employees of the State Road Transportation Corporation have been on the roads for five months, Home Guards have been camping outside the Divisional Commissioner’s office for over 800 days and doctors are on strike for over a month now,” said a senior police officer The Jammu University Research Scholars Executive Association (JURSEA) is “well-accepted” as holding the record of over 300 protests on diverse issues. From the Amarnath land row to central university, to seeking higher scholarships, to researchers, to fee deposit counters, Internet facility, the association has been taking on the authorities for everything. “Why should we seek permission for protesting. Who will give it? There is no point in talking to the authorities. We only get hollow assurances,” said JURSEA president Vikas Sharma. JURSEA Vice-President Rakesh Chib said talking to officials had never yielded results. “However, we have got 148 illegal study centres closed and stipend of MPhil and PhD scholars raised by way of holding protests. The tool has also been effective in many other cases like examination for the posts of naib tehsildar, Internet facility for students in all departments and even installing generators. Generally, we have to protest three to four times a week for various demands,” he said. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah did not respond to queries on the issue sought by The Tribune through email. Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather has said on record that the government doesn’t have resources to accept all demands. Former state DGP MM Khajuria said prolonged agitations were a sign of political immaturity. He rued that rarely any action was taken against protesters. |
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Panun Kashmir concerned over political milieu
Jammu, October 25 “Attempts are being made by various forces to dilute the sovereignty of India in Kashmir in the garb of self-rule and autonomy. The recent statement of the Home Minister as regards silent diplomacy with secessionists is fraught with dangerous consequences. Previous attempts of similar hues by the Musharraf regime presented a horrifying solution of shared sovereignty over Kashmir. All these attempts are not going to yield the desired results unless the talks are held in the glare of Indian people and constitutional ambit,” the committee said. Dr Agnishekhar, convener, said, “The government is allowing secessionist leaders to espouse their “cause” abroad and mobilise world opinion as became evident during the recent OIC summit that passed an anti-India resolution and also appointed an authority on Kashmir for the first time. The argument that “the Kashmir issue cannot be shied away by the Government of India” is also relevant in the context of issues of displacement and resettlement of indigenous people of Kashmir, the Kashmiri Pandits specifically. The people who have faced genocide, exodus and ethnic cleansing have the first stake to any negotiation on the Kashmir imbroglio.” Prof ML Raina, chairman of the Political Affairs Committee, said, “The accession of Jammu and Kashmir with the Indian Union is full and final and there is no scope for any politicking in that regard. The committee unanimously decided to reinforce the unity of their organisation at all levels and take effective steps to take its broader perspective to the rank and file of the organisation. It was also decided to involve activists of the community and take them in confidence to percolate down its message.” |
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Major surgeries put on hold at GMCH
Ashutosh Sharma Tribune News Service
Jammu, October 25 Since October 5, the routine surgeries have hit rock bottom, whereas only a few surgeries are being conducted in serious cases. Worries of the cancer patients have flared up, as the delay in surgeries can push them into advanced stages of the dreaded disease. “I am in the first stage of uterus cancer and with delay in operation, my worries are increasing each day,” said Shakuntala, a patient at the SMGS Hospital. At the main referral hospital GMCH, only emergency patients are being operated upon. “We used to conduct at least 20 routine surgeries each day, but for the past over 18 days we have not conducted any routine surgery,” said Medical Superintendent Dr Romesh Gupta. Official sources maintain that there are only 12 regular surgeons at the GMCH, whereas 36 postgraduate surgeons and 20 registrars have been on strike, thus affecting the number of daily surgeries in the hospital. At Shri Maharaja Ghulab Singh (SMGS) Hospital, which is predominantly a gynaecology and paediatric hospital, planned surgeries have been put on hold, whereas the number of major surgeries have also declined by 45 per cent. “These day, we have been conducting only eight, nine emergency surgeries in the gynaecology department. Earlier, we used to carry out 15 operations a day,” said Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr Satish Sharma. The hospital, which has only 14 regular surgeons in the gynaecology unit, is largely dependent on 40 striking junior doctors, house surgeons, assistant surgeons, postgraduate doctors, registrars and interns. Similarly, in the ENT department there are only eight regular senior surgeons, whereas its 15-20 surgeons and other faculty members are on the strike. Head of department Dr Anees Choudhary said: “The operating theatre as well as the OPD unit have been closed in the wake of the strike. So we are not entertaining any case of surgery as the principal, GMC, has issued an order to this effect.” “Normally, we used to carry out eight to 10 surgeries daily, but since the medicos strike we have not conducted any,” he added. Meanwhile, in a late night development yesterday both neurosurgeons, Dr Haroon Salaria and Dr Sudhir Sabharwal and registrar Dr Adarsh Bhagat from already shot-staffed unit at the GMC hospital were attached to the Directorate of Health Services. They had been on the strike despite government warning. The official order has further aggravated the vulnerability of accidental cases having head injuries.
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Protests over youth’s killing
Srinagar, October 25 Geelani, who was placed under house arrest at his Hyderpora residence on the Srinagar-Airport road, was taken to the Humhama police station after he broke the police cordon around his house and tried to leave for Handwara this afternoon. Malik and some party activists were detained at Mirgund, 12 km from here on the Srinagar-Baramulla national highway. They were also on way to Handwara. Earlier, Malik staged a sit-in on the highway. Malik’s detention sparked protests from his supporters, who stoned police personnel at Maisuma and adjoining areas. Meanwhile, normal life remained affected due to protests in Handwara after Sajjad Ahmad Lone of Ganapora village in Langate was shot dead yesterday by guards at an Army camp where he had allegedly made unauthorised entry and attacked a sentry with an axe. People said Sajjad left home yesterday morning to collect firewood, but did not return. They later learnt that body of a youth killed by the Army was lying at a local police station. It was later identified as that of Sajjad Ahmad. The killing sparked protests by people and they alleged it was yet another example of Army’s highhandedness. His father Ghulam Mohiuddin said his son had left studies to support the family and he could never believe that he would stealthily enter an Army camp and attack a guard. “He might have stepped into their area without knowing so. Trigger-happy guards opened their guns on him,” he said. Army said the youth, whose activities were suspicious, was asked to stop but he did not pay heed to the warning and attacked a guard with an axe. They shot him as the last resort, an official said. Protesters were led by Langate MLA Abdul Rasheed, who has long been calling for holding Army to account for “frequent” human rights violations. The police has registered a case of “murder”. The district administration has ordered an inquiry into the incident. The Army said it was also probing the incident. However, the mood in the township remains angry and volatile.
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Stir affects children of SRTC staff
Jammu, October 25 The children registered their protest by burning their school books and bags. The helpless parents say they are left with no option but to send their children to earn livelihood for the family. “We have not got our salary for the past six months now and our agitation has completed two months. Our children have been expelled from their schools as we are unable to pay their school fee,” Paramjeet Singh, general secretary of the SRTC Employees Union, said. “The ongoing stalemate between the employees and the government has completed two months and four rounds of talks between the union leaders and the government representatives have failed to yield any result,” he said. He said if the government failed to address their “genuine” grievances, their children along with them would court arrest from tomorrow. “To avoid getting humiliated daily, it is better for us to leave the school. I have decided to work at some shop to support my family as my father has not received his pay for the past six months. Our families are starving but we are left with no money to buy more ration,” Prajit, a son of an SRTC employee, said. A few days ago an ailing employee of the SRTC Patras Masi died as his family could not afford to bear the cost of his treatment. His only son Boby Masi was already expelled from the school two months ago for not paying his school fee. |
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Engg Dept told to consult councillors
Jammu, October 25 This direction was issued to the UEED officers in a general house meeting held at Town Hall yesterday. Sheela Handoo, a councillor of Ward 64, said the UEED Department had constructed a drain in her ward without identifying any proper terminal point, adding that now the construction work of the drain was stopped by the department in a midway, she said. The councillor said the stagnant water of the drain was entering into the houses of around 1,000 families. She also informed that several accidents took place due to this drain, which has increased the miseries of the residents of the ward. The councillor said she had appealed several times to the officers concerned for completing the drain work quickly, but they had refused by saying that the UEED did not have sufficient funds to complete the construction work. Similar allegation was levelled against the UEED Department by other councillors too. The Commissioner also announced that the corporation had enhanced the wages of casual safai karamcharies who were working on contract basis through an NGO. “The wages are increased from Rs 70 to Rs 110, which will be given to safai karamcharies with effect from October 1,” Mubarak Singh said. |
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Vohra reviews cleanliness drive on holy cave routes
Srinagar, October 25 The Governor took stock of the post yatra-2009 sanitation drive and discussed with district officers the measures for evolving appropriate strategies for further improvement in the management of the Amarnath yatra next year and beyond. On the directions of the Governor, who is also the chairman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), the SASB had launched an extensive sanitation drive to clean the camp sites and the tracks on both axis - Baltal and Pahalgam. On the conclusion of the yatra on August 5 the board had over the past weeks cleaned the track from Baltal to the holy cave. This had involved the disposal of about 20 tonnes of garbage under the supervision of the senior officers. The Governor, while interacting with the officers of the Ganderbal district administration and of the SASB, at Baltal and Panchtarni, appreciated the efforts of all government agencies and the local workforce for making the SASB’s efforts to ensure against pollution and thereby contribute to protecting the ecology. He gave on-the-spot instructions for preparing detailed sanitation plans in respect of the Amarnath yatra 2010 for all base camps, and the transit camps on both routes, as well as in the holy cave periphery, based on the experience gained during this year’s yatra.
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Darbar Move: Security reviewed
Jammu, October 25 The meeting was attended by the DGP, senior civil, police and paramilitary force personnel and army officers. The Security Adviser complimented the security forces, intelligence agencies and the civil administration
for achieving a high degree of synergy, coordination and efficient handling of internal security during the recent festival season. He stated that there was need to be extra vigilant in view of the recent increase in infiltration attempts and large recovery of arms and ammunition in the region. He stated that the turbulent situation across the border required the security forces to be more proactive in
order to ensure no infiltration attempts succeeded and to ensure that normalcy was maintained and peace ensured at all costs. On reviewing the situation, the security adviser reiterated that the downward slide in terrorism was attributed to the high degree of dedication and cohesiveness amongst all the security agencies in the state and this needed to continue to ensure peace prevails. He added that zero tolerance for human right violations by security forces must continue and added that all precautions must be taken by everyone. |
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SIT presents challan
Our Legal Correspondent
Jammu, October 25 Other accused, Choudhary Nagar Singh alias Nago, Jagar Singh and Rakesh Singh have already been declared absconders and in their absence challan was presented u/s 302/34/201/120-B/409 RPC read with Section 3/25/27 of the Arms Act. The Judge after going through the challan, committed it to the Sessions Court for trial and directed the accused to appear before the Principal Sessions Judge, Jammu, on November 4, 2009. In the challan, it has been submitted that the accused, Jatinder Singh alias Raja and Royal Singh, who have a criminal background and had enmity over the cable business with deceased Amandeep Singh, had threatened him to either wind up the business or face the consequences. On the day of the crime, accused Jatinder Singh fired at Amandeep Singh at his residence, who later died in the Sri Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi.
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Woman found dead
Udhampur, October 25 Police sources said some persons spotted a body packed in some clothes drenched with blood and informed the police. The police took away the body to the hospital for autopsy. The circumstantial evidences suggest that the woman was murdered as she was assaulted with a sharp-edged weapon. There was also a deep cut on the skull. The police has picked up Ashok Kumar and five other suspects, but nothing substantial has emerged from the interrogation. A senior police officer told The Tribune that they had been waiting for the postmortem report to further investigate the case. |
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Ten feared killed in road mishap
Srinagar, October 25 A seven-year-old boy was the lone survivor in the accident that killed all other occupants of the vehicle. Ganderbal SP Imtiaz Mir said pitch darkness hindered the rescue operations. Bodies of two children, aged around 10 and eight years, had been taken out from the gorge, he added. The administration took the help of the Army in carrying out the rescue operations. More details were expected tomorrow when all bodies were brought out from the gorge. The driver, a local resident, was also killed in the mishap. Names of the victims could not be ascertained immediately. The accident occurred around 4.30 pm. The victims had hired a Sumo to visit zero point at
Zojila. They were on their way back to Sonmarg when the accident occurred. |
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Camp on disaster management held
Udhampur, October 25 Deputy controller, Civil Defence, Udhampur, Bodh Raj, deputy chief warden Vaid Parkash, civil defence wardens, volunteers and prominent citizens were present on the occasion. The deputy controller called upon the civil defence wardens to hold awareness camps in their respective wards so that maximum awareness could be generated among the people to deal with any disaster effectively. On the occasion, the deputy chief warden and other wardens also delivered lectures on the role of Civil Defence and suggested various ways to save lives and property in case of any disaster-like-situation. Later, the deputy controller, Civil Defence, Udhampur, distributed certificates to those civil defence volunteers who have been imparted five-day-civil defence basic training. |
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Panthers plan National Integration Day
Jammu, October 25 Addressing a press conference, party chairman Prof Bhim Singh said the 62nd anniversary of the accession of Jammu and Kashmir with India should be celebrated at Abhinav Theatre. Former Union Minister, Home, Dr Yogender Makwana would be the chief guest, while similar celebrations should be held in Srinagar and Leh on the same day, he said. He said this programme would be organised by the Voice of Millions Publications and the council of promotion of Dogri language, culture and history with invitation to all political parties and the Jammu Bar Association, Mahajan, Brahamah, Rajput Sabhas and other NGOs. |
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Minister assures good governance
Jammu, October 25 At Sainik Colony, Bhalla inaugurated the blacktopping of Sector A, B. C and G lanes, besides laying of drinking water pipes by ERA at a cost of Rs 8 crore. Later, he inaugurated late Ram Sahai Memorial Conference Hall at Chamber House in Bahu Plaza. |
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Power supply to industries to be streamlined
Jammu, October 25 He said this during a visit to the industrial area at Bari-Brahmana here yesterday.He visited the third phase of the 132/33/11 KV power grid station and took stock of the power supply to the area. He also inspected 3x11 33/11 KV receiving station and 2x50 MVA 132/33 KV grid sub station in Bari-Brahmana which has been installed under Prime Minister’s reconstruction plan and caters to the electric supply of most parts of the industrial estate.
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One killed in accident
Udhampur, October 25 According to the police, Javed Zarger, a resident of Kishtwar, was killed and two others namely, Sadhu Ram and Sewa Ram of Sarthal, Kathua, were injured when the car in which they were travelling skidded and fell into a gorge near Korapani on the Batote-Kishtwar national highway. In another incident, a youth identified as Rameshwar Kumar Mishra alias Munna, son of Subash Chander Mishra of Uttar Pradesh, who was living in Bhera Bhatta, Kishtwar, committed suicide by jumping into the Chenab. The police has registered a case and started investigation.
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Student body to have unit in GGM college
Jammu, October 25 From the boys’ wing, Umesh Sharma was appointed vice- president, Gourav Kapahi working president, Narotam Singh, Ajay Kumar, Navneet Singh, Tarun Kanotra, Rohit Bhat as secretaries, Arif Khan, Nitin Gupta, Vikrant Sharma, Tarandeep Singh, Arshad Ahmed, Varun Sharma and Mohammad Ashraf as general secretaries.
— TNS |
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The Civil Defence Organisation, Udhampur, organised an awareness camp today at ward no. 17, Lower Omarah
Mohalla, Udhampur, to educate people about various safety measures to be adopted during any disaster.
