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Modification of Master Plan
Rajnish’s custodial death
Mirwaiz dissolves party units
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Slum-dwellers’ development on priority: Minister
Rs 150 cr for preserving monuments: Jora
PDD daily wagers begin indefinite strike
29 cops promoted for exemplary courage
Delay in Phd registration
French defence team visits Army battle schools
Ban on sale of combat dress in Udhampur
Documentaries can ‘help address’ critical issues
Farm technocrats threaten to go on indefinite fast
School Principal booked
Zero-pendency in treasuries soon: Rather
NGO decries govt’s silence
on mass copying
1 killed, 25 hurt as minibus falls into gorge
Cylinder catches fire, 10 hurt
2 break into ATM, held
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Modification
of Master Plan
Katra, November 23 According to locals, the town observed a complete shutdown for the first time in the history. Pilgrims of Mata Vaishno Devi bore the brunt because most of the dhabas and eating points were closed and devotees were seen roaming from one place to another in search of food. “We are searching for an eating joint to have lunch, but the market is closed,” said Dolly Kakkar, who along with her family was at the Katra bus stand to proceed on the yatra. Dolly and her family members were in the town to have darshan at the shrine on November 25 to celebrate her 25th marriage anniversary at the bhawan. Same is the story of Ravinder Mishra, who had come from Banaras in Uttar Pradesh on the pilgrimage. “Keeping the strike in mind, the authorities should have opened additional bhojanalayas to cater to the needs of the pilgrims,” he said. In response to the strike call by the Katra Development Centric Committee (KDCC), all shops, business establishments remained closed in Katra. Locals joined by shopkeepers and traders held a protest in the town. The protest started from the main bazaar and passed through various areas before culminating at the main chowk near the bus stand. The protesters were shouting slogans against Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, who is holding the charge of the Urban Development Department, and the Deputy Commissioner, Reasi. They also burnt an effigy of Tara Chand. The protest turned into a rally and was addressed by the KDCC leaders. While addressing the rally, Sher Singh, chairman of the KDCC, alleged a nexus between land grabbers and officers. He said the Master Plan of Katra town was modified without taking people of the town into confidence. Sher Singh alleged that officers and land grabbers had struck a deal in shifting the proposed Katra bus stand. Local MLA Baldev Raj Sharma, who was also accompanying the agitating people, told The Tribune that Katra residents were infuriated over the wrong decision of the authorities. Sharma said he was not against the development of the town, but policies and plans should be formed keeping in view the increasing number of pilgrims. He also alleged the decision to shift the proposed bus stand was taken by the authorities to give benefits to some land grabbers. Later in the evening, a meeting of the KDCC was held to chalk out the future course of action. |
Rajnish’s custodial death
Jammu, November 23 The MSS - a conglomerate of various women organisations - has been demanding a CBI probe into the alleged custodial killing of Rajnish Sharma and the arrest of persons involved in the crime. Rajnish Sharma, who had married Anchal Sharma aka Amina Yousuf before a Jammu court on August 21 this year, was allegedly tortured to death in police custody on October 5. However, Anchal’s father, Mohammed Yousuf Mirazi, had lodged a complaint against Rajnish accusing him of kidnapping his daughter, a charge outrightly denied by the girl. Briefing supporters, core committee member Priya Sethi said that the law of the land permitted consenting and adult males and females to marry irrespective of caste, creed or religion. “Such an act is not a crime but the Srinagar Police, in connivance with the Jammu Police, illegally kidnapped Rajnish from Jammu, locked him up in a police station for days and brutally tortured him to death,” she said. She regretted that despite the brutal killing, the state government did not take action even a month-and-a-half after the incident. “The criminal silence of the government forced us to launch a signature campaign to build pressure so that guilty police officers from Srinagar and Jammu are punished,” Sethi said. The MSS has also started submitting memoranda to Jammu-based ministers urging them to ensure justice to the family and widow of the deceased. “MSS will not rest till the culprits are booked and punished,” Sethi said. Core committee members Sushila Abrol and Shilpi Verma urged the people of Jammu to rise above their political, social and religious affiliations and come out in support of MSS. The signature campaign will continue till November 30 followed by protest rallies by women from December 1 to 5 when activists would try to meet Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The probe being carried out by the Crime Branch on the orders of a local court has not made much headway. Anchal has already moved the apex court in New Delhi where the case will be heard on November 27. |
Mirwaiz dissolves party units
Srinagar, November 23 The decision was taken in the party meeting and party sources said putting their house in order had taken precedence with the Mirwaiz and his supporters as their hard line colleagues led by Shabir Shah and Nayeem Khan were seen going out of the way to scuttle ‘quiet talks’. Shabir Shah though supported the decision and told The Tribune that restructuring the Hurriyat had become necessary so that it could speak in ‘one voice’. “It was a unanimous decision as we believed restructuring would strengthen the Hurriyat,” he said. Though members of executive and general councils would retain their posts, they would not be meeting till the restructuring was done. The Mirwaiz would hold a meeting with his colleagues and the restructuring process was likely to begin after the Id on November 28. Media reports, especially in Kashmir, were rife with the statements of Hurriyat leaders for the last few weeks with everybody espousing his own opinion on the projected dialogue and it was clearly visible that many of them were out to challenge the Mirwaiz’s authority to take decision on the amalgam’s behalf. Sources said the churning in the Hurriyat would certainly put its leadership’s secretive talks with the government on the back-burner for the time being and might dissuade the Mirwaiz, who has been doing firefighting after being attacked by Islamist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and his own colleagues, from pursuing the dialogue any further till he takes control of the amalgam. Not only veterans like Nayeem Khan and Shabir Shah, both of whom were seen toeing Geelani’s ‘no-talks-come-whatever’ line, even many second-rung leaders, who are part of Hurriyat’s general council, had openly expressed their reservations against the talks. A defensive Mirwaiz was forced to harden his stand and returned to the Hurriyat’s earlier rhetoric that no talks with India could be held until the security forces were withdrawn and India declared the state disputed. The Mirwaiz and his close associates like Bilal Lone and Abdul Gani Bhat, the sources said, were particularly peeved with Nayeem Khan, who had been issuing statements almost everyday against the dialogue process and implicitly criticised his chairman terming the talks against the Hurriyat’s constitution. Khan held the post of provincial chairman in the amalgam and now has been divested of his posts. |
Slum-dwellers’ development on priority: Minister
Jammu, November 23 An official statement issued here said the minister stated this while laying the foundation stone of approach steps and retaining wall at Qasim Nagar in Bagh-e-Bahu being completed at a cost of Rs 5.6 lakh by the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC). Bhalla said on the completion of 256 flats in Sunjwan, each comprising two bed-rooms, kitchen, and bathroom, the urban poor and slum- dwellers would be accommodated there. For proper rehabilitation of the leprosy-hit of Rajiv Nagar and Bhagwati Nagar, the minister said the government had planned to construct 608 flats in Sunjwan , 36 flats in Bhagwati Nagar at a cost of Rs 143.51 crore, besides upgradation of 881 slum units in 21 different locations of Jammu city at a cost of Rs 3341.11 lakh and added that the works were in progress. |
Rs 150 cr for preserving monuments: Jora
Jammu, November 23 Addressing the inaugural function of the two-day workshop on ‘Heritage and Science’in connection with the celebration of World Heritage Week, the minister said over Rs 150 crore was being spent for the restoration and conservation of Royal Palace, Mubarak Mandi, SPS Museum, Srinagar, Bahu Fort, Hari Parbat Fort and other famous heritage sites of the state. The workshop is being organised by the Centre of Studies in Museology and the Noor-ud-Din Noorani Museum of Heritage of Jammu University in collaboration with the International Council of Monuments and Science (ICOMs) and the State Tourism Department. Jora said 30 monuments had been declared as protected heritage sites in the state and they would be protected and conserved. He said the government had submitted a comprehensive project report to the Union Ministry of Culture for the conservation of various famous heritage sites and monuments. The minister said all three regions of the state had their own distinct identity and cultural heritage, which could be protected and showcased as heritage tourism. Jora said the role of science was important in the preservation and conservation of monuments and heritage sites of cultural and historical significance. “We should adopt scientific methods for the purpose,” he added. He underscored the need for introducing museology as a subject at the university level so that students could get jobs across the global and also play their role in protecting and preserving the cultural heritage of the state. Jora called upon the authorities concerned to package culture in such a way so that it could be dovetailed with the tourism sector for optimising the results. He said the state received lakhs of tourists, who evinced keen interest in oriental cultural preferences. A comprehensive strategy was required to tap this potential, he added. Prof Varun Sahni, Vice-Chancellor of Jammu University, in his presidential address, said the university was planning to introduce museology as a subject at the university level. He said World Heritage Week offered an opportunity to raise public awareness concerning the diversity of the world’s heritage. The significance and the primary role of science and technology in conservation, and even understanding cultural heritage could not be overlooked. |
PDD daily wagers begin indefinite strike
Jammu, November 23 The employees held a sit-in protest outside the Janipur grid station. “Our peaceful protest started from 10 a.m and lasted till 5 p.m.Around 1000 daily wagers participated in the protest”, said Tarun Gupta, president of the PDD Daily Wagers Association. He said the daily wagers would be holding peaceful protest demonstrations for three days after which they would decide their future course of action to intensify the stir.”For the first three days, we would be holding a peaceful protest after which it would be intensified and the government itself would be responsible for the consequences”, Gupta said. The employees have been demanding regularisation and release of the pending salaries for the past 35 months.They also want to convert the need-basis employment to the casual day labour (CDL). “There are employees who haven’t received their salaries for the past 35 months. We had earlier served an ultimatum on the government, but nobody paid any heed to our demands.So,we were left with no other option but to go on indefinite strike”, said Gupta. There are around 3500 daily wage employees of the PDD who have been working on the critical power generation and transmission in the Jammu region.A large number of the daily wagers have lost their lives while discharging their professional duties, they allege and say that the department has not paid a single penny to the family members of the daily wage employee who died while performing their duties. |
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29 cops promoted for exemplary courage
Jammu, November 23 Khoda said personnel have been fighting in tough and extremely hostile conditions and putting their lives at stake. “These bravehearts in the line of duty avoid any collateral damage during operations against militants across the state,” he said. Two sub-inspectors have been promoted to inspector rank, three Selection Grade Constables have been made head constables and 24 constables have been promoted to Selection Grade Constables. Recognising the bravery and courage exhibited by these personnel, the DGP - while presiding over the Police Establishment Board meeting - said that they have boosted the morale of all ranks of the force. “All police personnel who have shown such exemplary courage in eradicating militancy would be honored in the same manner,” said Khoda, reiterated that the Jammu and Kashmir Police was determined to wipe out militancy from the state and create a well-protected environment where the rights of the people were safeguarded. |
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Delay in Phd registration
Jammu, November 23 The protesters gheroed the DSW office and blamed the authorities concerned for delay in action against the Director Business School. Addressing the protesters, Vikas Sharma, president of the NSF, accused the Director Business School of manipulating the registration process of Phd. He said out of 30 students, who had cleared the entrance test, the case of only two students was discussed in the meeting of the board of research study, thereby neglecting other deserving students. “Students whose case was taken up in the meeting of the board of research study are closely associated with the Director Business School,” Vikas alleged. The protest continued for two hours. Mohammad Ansari, president of the varsity unit of the NSF, accused the Vice-Chancellor of being indifferent towards the problems of the students. “The Vice-Chancellor never exhibited interest in meeting student organisations,” he alleged and demanded that the existing Vice-Chancellor be immediately removed. Sanjay Sharmam, chairman of the NSF at the university, has appealed to the Chancellor and the Pro Vice-Chancellor to hold an inquiry into the matter and take strict action against the Director Business School. He also demanded the Vice-Chancellor be replaced by a local. Meanwhile, JS Tara assured the students that an inquiry would be initiated in the matter on November 25. |
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French defence team visits Army battle schools
Jammu, November 23 The visit is part of the implementation plan for defence cooperation and exchanges with the French army. During the visit to these training establishments, the delegation was briefed in detail about various functional, training and administrative aspects. The French military officials were given a demonstration of the finer aspects of battle craft and tactical drills being imparted to the troops to cope with the challenges of combating insurgency in the state. The presentations included the methodology of conducting people-friendly operations and ensuring human rights in the conduct of counterterrorism operations. |
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Ban on sale of combat dress in Udhampur
Jammu, November 23 The order has been issued on the basis of reports from security and intelligence personnel that militants wearing service uniform had been found moving around in remote areas of the district posing as Army, security force personnel and committing atrocities on civilians. According to the District Magistrate’s order, unauthorised persons have been barred from selling and purchasing combat dress, besides use of uniform articles. The use of Army-type painted vehicles by civilians has also been banned in the territorial jurisdiction of Udhampur district. |
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Documentaries can ‘help address’ critical issues
Srinagar, November 23 Addressing the inaugural session of the three-day South Asian Film Documentary Festival at Kashmir University, film-makers and academics asserted that documentary films were a powerful medium of expression. “Documentary films can address critical issues confronting society like global warming, deforestation, conservation of Dal Lake and extravagance. It is a forceful medium of expression when it comes to dissemination of information or educating people about these issues,” said Prof AR Yousuf, Dean Academic Affairs, who presided over the festival. He said the festival gave an opportunity to the students to examine the technology being used in making documentaries and the issues addressed by the documentary film-makers. The festival is being organised by the varsity’s Educational Multimedia Research Centre (EMMRC) in collaboration with the Anhad Institute of Media Studies (AIMS). |
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Farm technocrats threaten to go on indefinite fast
Jammu, November 23 Demanding the regularisation of services as junior agriculture assistants, the protesters have been on a chain fast in front of the Press Club, Jammu. The protesting employees continued with their demonstration for the eighth consecutive day today. In a statement, Surinder Randotra, president of the Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture Technocrats Association (Jammu division), said various organisations had supported their cause. “Last time, we committed a mistake by calling off the dharna in Srinagar on the assurance of the Chief Minister. We are determined this time to continue our protest till our demands are fulfilled,” he said. Bilal Ahmed Gani, president of the Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture Technocrats Association (Kashmir division), said the government had assured to meet their demand in August. “Three months have passed and we do not see any headway. So, we have decided to intensify our struggle from next month,” he added. |
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School Principal booked
Jammu, November 23 At the same time, the police also booked the minor for attempting suicide. It may be stated here that 12-year-old Raj Rani, a class VI student of Government Middle School in Gorkha Nagar, had set herself ablaze on November 17 after the Principal, Rizwan Ara, accused her of stealing money from her purse and had paraded the victim on the school premises. Giving details, SHO, Bagh-e-Bahu police station, Anu Kumar, said in her statement the girl told us that she had been accused of stealing money from the purse of the Principal. Subsequently, the girl had threatened to commit suicide. The Principal had asked her to do whatever she wanted to, said the SHO. “Acting on the girl’s statement, we booked the Principal under Section 109 RPC (a bailable offence)”, he said, adding the victim had also been booked under Section 309 RPC (attempt to commit suicide). The girl, who had sustained 15 per cent to 20 per cent burn injuries, is under observation in Government Medical College and Hospital here. |
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Zero-pendency in treasuries soon: Rather
Jammu, November 23 Rather said the implementation of the 6th Pay Commission recommendations was the biggest challenge before the present government. He said that the state was in precarious financial health and it would take some time to improve. Notwithstanding the problems, the government had made allout efforts to minimise pendency in treasuries on the occasion of Eid, he said. |
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NGO decries govt’s silence
on mass copying
Jammu, November 23 In a statement here, Deep Singh, president of PAPA, said recently the issue of mass copying in some private B.Ed colleges affiliated with University of Jammu came to light. Singh further said after that, the leakage of Elementary Teachers Training (ETT) paper conducted by the J&K State Board of School Education hit the headlines. However, not even a single statement was issued by either the higher education department authorities nor by the education ministry. |
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1 killed, 25 hurt as minibus falls into gorge
Jammu, November 23 Official sources said the minibus skidded and plunged into the gorge around 3 p.m. The victim was identified as Harbans Lal of Banore village. Giving details, SHO, Billawar police station, Pawan Khajuria said the vehicle was being driven recklessly.The injured were shifted to Billawar hospital from where six critically injured were referred to Government Medical College and Hospital here. A case under Section 304-A was registered against the driver. |
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Cylinder catches fire, 10 hurt
Jammu, November 23 Prakasho Devi was hosting lunch for her relatives and other guests after solemnising the marriage of her daughter when one of the cylinder being used by the caterers caught fire and burst. Five of the critically injured were rushed to the Government Medical College and Hospital here. |
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2 break into ATM, held
Jammu, November 23 SP City (north) Randeep Kumar said that the accused completely damaged the unguarded ATM but they could not access the money. “Acting upon CCTV footage and other clues, we arrested them today. A FIR has been registered against them,” he added. The accused have been identified as Arvind, aka Vicky Pandit and Dheeraj Singh, both residents of Chinore. |
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