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PDD daily wage staff snap power supply to 3 dists
Fighting in public view
Rajnish’s Custodial Death
Border villages in valley cut off due to heavy snow
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Veteran journalist Sanaullah dead
Front demands 6th pay panel benefits
Educationist Nanda awarded
Lawyers to boycott CJ’s court
Placement drive at varsity
Amandeep Murder
Newsmen protest against defence PRO
Illegal trade of endangered insects unearthed, 5 held A file photo of endangered insect ‘cardyceps sineses’ Return flights of Haj pilgrims from Dec 3
Two library officials suspended
Two held with hand grenade
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PDD daily wage staff snap power supply to 3 dists
Jammu, November 25 Trouble erupted at the Janipur grid station around 1.30 pm today when the PDD daily wage workers were prevented by a huge posse of police force from taking out a rally towards the Chief Minister’s house. Irked over police action, the protesters snapped power supply to the three districts around 2 pm for nearly three hours. The unscheduled power cut ended around 5 pm following a written assurance by superintending engineers of the PDD Jatinder Sharma and Vikramjeet Singh. However, essential lines to the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sitlee filtration plant, Civil Secretariat and other vital installations in Poonch and Rajouri districts, said Tarun Gupta, president of the PDD Daily Wagers Association. “The police closed the gates of the grid preventing the daily wage workers from taking out a rally. This infuriated the workers and they disrupted the power supplies to three districts of Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch around 2.30 pm for nearly three hours,” he added. Later, SP City (North) Randeep Kumar and the two SEs arrived at the Janipur grid and tried to pacify the agitating PDD employees. Following a written assurance from the two SEs of a meeting with commissioner/secretary BR Sharma on November 27, the supplies were resumed at 5.30 pm, said Gupta. Among other things, the agitating daily wage staff had been demanding the regularisation of services of those who had completed seven years of service, conversion of need based workers into casual daily labourers and release of wages pending from the past 30 to 35 months. It may be stated here that the PDD functions with daily wage and ad hoc workers, who continue to cry hoarse over the raw deal being meted out to them by successive regimes.
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Fighting in public view
Jammu, November 25 Sources said some party leaders had approached Kissan Morcha president and Marh MLA Sukhnandan Choudhary and tried to placate him by assuring that the party would effectively take up the issues of farmers, especially the shortage of seeds and fertilisers. He was asked to address a press conference to highlight the issues of the farmers, besides clearing his stand on yesterday’s incident. After the intervention of some senior leaders, Sukhnandan decided to address the press conference to save the party image. During the press conference, Sukhnandan sought to clarify that his ‘heated exchange of words with state party president Ashok Khajuria was a minor issue’. He, however, asserted that being a farmer his first priority was to protect the interests of the farming community. “I am ready to make any sacrifice for farmers,” he added. Sukhnandan repeatedly said there was no differences between the party MLAs and the leadership over the farmers’ issues and denied he had any differences with the party chief. All 11 elected MLAs of the BJP today presented a united face and participated in the protest organised by agriculture technocrats. Khajuria and party legislative party leader Chaman Lal Gupta addressed the agitating technocrats and warned the state government against adopting a casual approach towards their demands. During the last 10 months, it was the second time that all BJP MLAs came on a platform.
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Rajnish’s Custodial Death
Jammu, November 25 The MSS has been demanding a CBI probe into the alleged custodial killing of Rajnish Sharma, besides the arrest of those involved in the incident. The MSS may launch a similar campaign in various colleges and Jammu University from tomorrow, a spokesperson said. “We would not let this government walk away easily with the custodial killing of an innocent youth,” he said, adding that the MSS would force the present regime to order a CBI probe, besides arresting the culprits involved in the murder inside the police lockup. Meanwhile, the samiti launched its signature campaign at Kachi Chawni here today. Addressing the gathering, committee members Priya Sethi and Shilpi Verma castigated the “criminal silence” being maintained by human rights activists. Their silence over the custodial killing of Rajnish exposed their double standards, they said.
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Border villages in valley cut off due to heavy snow
Srinagar, November 25 Heavy snowfall was witnessed in
Gulmarg, 55 km from here, since around 8 am and over three inches of fresh snow accumulated on the slopes of the resort, officials said
here. Gulmarg had experienced over 2.5 foot snow on November 8-9, but subsequent improvement in weather saw nearly most of it melting during the past fortnight. Its peripheral areas, including
Aferwath, Kangdoori and Khilanmarg, too recorded a heavy snowfall ranging between 1.5 and 2 ft. High altitude areas of north Kashmir, particularly the passes along the
LoC, had received a heavy snowfall since early today. Flakes of snow covered the Sadna top, Farkian
Gali, Z-Gali and Machil in frontier Kupwara district and Gurez and Razdan Pass in Bandipora district and nearly two-foot snow accumulated in most of the areas, the officials said, adding that Gurez recorded two inches and Machil witnessed six inches of snow. Meanwhile, a fresh snowfall prompted the authorities to suspend traffic on roads leading to border areas of
Keran, Karnah, Machil and Gurez sectors as a precautionary measure. The border areas usually remain cut off from rest of the valley during winter owing to heavy snowfall. However, a mild snowfall was reported from high altitude areas along the 434-km Srinagar-Leh national highway, including Zojilla Pass. The last snowfall had forced the authorities to announce the closure of the arterial road, the only link between the frontier Ladakh region and the rest of the state. Meanwhile, cloudy conditions provided some respite to the people of Ladakh and Kashmir from biting cold
condition. Leh and Kargil district towns of the Ladakh region, where the night temperature has nose-dived to below minus 20°C, recorded a minimum of minus 17.6°C and minus 15°C, respectively, the Met office said. It said the minimum temperature in the valley also improved though mercury still remained below zero degree
celsius. Pahalgam recorded a night temperature of minus 3.2°C and Gulmarg in north Kashmir minus 3.0°C against a minimum of minus 4.5°C and minus 3.8°C, respectively,
yesterday. Srinagar, where the sun shone late this afternoon after remaining hidden behind the clouds, recorded a minimum of minus 1°C, the Met office said. Meanwhile, on a request from the state government, the IAF airlifted 1,300 civilians stranded in Srinagar and Kargil by pressing into service two IL-76 transport aircraft from the Western Air Command
(WAC) since yesterday. The two aircraft flew six sorties between Leh and Srinagar to airlift the stranded civilians, a WAC spokesperson in Delhi
said. — PTI |
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Veteran journalist Sanaullah dead
Srinagar, November 25 A large number of people attended the “Nimaz-e-Jenaza” outside his office at the historic Lal Chowk this afternoon. Prominent among those who participated in the funeral prayers included Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and separatist leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Syed Ali Geelani, Mohammad Yasin Malik and Shabir Ahmad Shah. The Chief Minister expressed shock and grief over the demise of veteran journalist. In his condolence message, the Chief Minister said Late Khawaja Sahib was the close witness of the history of the state and his writings are clear examples of his craft and command not only on language but on situation as well. He said his love for people of the state was evident from fact that the entire Lal Chowk was thronged by a large number of people. Omar said the deceased had his own vision about journalism and always fought against corruption, injustice and exploitation. PDP patron and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed has also expressed grief over the death of the veteran journalist. The body of Sanaullah was taken to his house at Soura on the city outskirts before it was laid to rest. The prayers were offered near the Peak View Hotel facing the Clock Tower with traffic diverted to make space for the congregation. Earlier, a large number of people continued to converge outside the office complex of Aftab where his body was kept before the funeral prayers. Born on November 14, 1922, in Srinagar, Sanaullah matriculated from Punjab University, Lahore, in 1938 and shifted to Rawalpindi in connection with his family business. However, having little interest in the business he shifted to Lahore and then to Bombay. With Partition in 1947, Khwaja Sahib returned to Lahore and later shifted to Muzaffarabad. He started writing for various Urdu newspapers in Lahore in 1953, and returned to Kashmir in 1957. Having developed interest in journalism, Khwaja Sahib started the weekly Urdu newspaper - Aftab - in June, 1957. It started daily publications from January 1, 1958. Rafeeq Masoodi, Director, Doordarshan Kendra, Srinagar, chairing a condolence meeting at the kendra, said Sanaullah was the doyen of Urdu journalism in Kashmir and “it was because of his efforts and uncompromising stature that the tenants of journalism in the valley became more objective and journalists more professional”. Governor mourns death
Jammu: Governor NN Vohra has expressed grief over the death of veteran journalist and Chief Editor, Daily Aftab, Khawaja Sanaullah Bhat, who died in Srinagar yesterday. In a condolence message, Vohra recalled the valuable contribution of Khawaja Sahib to the development of Urdu journalism in the state and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul. Meanwhile, the Press Club, Jammu, also mourned the death of Khawaja Sanuallah at a condolence meeting at the club. Manu Shrivatsa and Raju Kerni, president and vice-president of the club, respectively, also attended the condolence meeting. |
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Front demands 6th pay panel benefits
Jammu, November 25 The protesters raised slogans in support of the demands and appealed to the government to consider their demands sympathetically. Mohammad Gafoor Dar, state president of the front, demanded enhancement in wages of ICD workers and helpers from Rs 1,500, release of DA and arrears of the Sixth Pay Commission since 2006, HRA on a par with other government employees, enhancement of retirement age from 58 to 60 years, removal of pay anomalies, an amendment to SRO 64 for the regularisation of services of daily-rated workers and others. Dar warned the government that about four lakh state government employees and workers would be compelled to take tough steps if the government failed to fulfil their demands at the earliest.
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Educationist Nanda awarded
Jammu, November 25 The award that carries a citation, a plaque and a cheque for Rs 10,000 was conferred upon Dr Nanda by Union Minister for Human Resources Development Kapil Sibal in a function at the National Bal Bhavan in New Delhi recently. The award was initiated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in November 2005 and has been given for the first time to some one who has worked with a missionary zeal to build India of her dreams with values. The award came as a recognition of welfare measures being taken by the Shantiniketan Bal Bhavan, Jammu, under the leadership of Dr Nanda in the past few years. The Bal Bhavan has been working for the uplift and education of backward and underprivileged children through its various programmes and campaigns.
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Lawyers to boycott CJ’s court
Jammu, November 25 The meeting that was attended by ex-Bar presidents and designated senior advocates was convened to take stock of the situation arising out of the administrative order passed by the Chief Justice for withdrawing cases filed against the J&K Public Service Commission from all Benches for hearing by him alone. As per a press release issued by general secretary of the association, a memorandum would be submitted to the Chief Justice of India and the Union Law Minister in this regard. |
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Placement drive at varsity
Jammu, November 25 Prof BC Sharma, Dean, student placements, said the company visited the varsity and selected students from various streams. “As many as 16 students got placements in reputed companies. Ten students were placed as management trainees,” he said. The Kathua campus of the varsity also participated. The company has offered summer trainings to eight students of the Business School. The placement team of the Business School included Alka Sharma and Sameer Gupta. —
TNS |
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Amandeep Murder
Jammu, November 25 The CJM, while remanding Nagar Singh and his brothers in police custody, had permitted them the assistance of their lawyers. The magistrate held that he had allowed the accused to have the services of their advocates during the course of their custodial interrogation. However, the court had not in any way permitted the advocates to remain present during interrogation. “Advocates are to provide legal assistance only and it is not the job of an advocate to provide physical and moral support to the accused. It is also not the duty of an advocate to monitor the interrogation proceedings,” observed the magistrate. |
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Newsmen protest against defence PRO
Jammu, November 25 Army Chief Gen Deepak Kapoor along with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah had yesterday dedicated to people the county’s biggest war memorial ‘Balidaan Stambh’ constructed at a cost of nearly Rs 11 crore. Carrying placards reading “Don’ be biased with media” and “Don’t try to divide us, we are one”, the mediapersons expressed regrets over the unprofessional approach of the defence PRO. They said the defence officer had always adopted a pick-and-choose policy. We had to personally call the PRO to ensure that our names were included in the list of people invited to cover the event, they added. “What surprised us was that the PRO had personally mailed invitations to some of the media organisations in Jammu,” they said, adding that those journalists who went on their own to cover the event were maltreated. No proper sitting arrangements were made for them at the function, the protesting mediapersons added.
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Illegal trade of endangered insects unearthed, 5 held Leh, November 25 The insect is commonly known as ‘caterpillar mushroom’ and is widely used in the Chinese medicine system for curing hypertension, cancer and impotency etc. It grows in Uttarakhand. It is considered as an unique example of the symbiotic relationship between flora and fauna. SP, Leh, Bhim Sen Tuti told The Tribune “the Leh district police has seized the consignment of endangered insect ‘cardyceps sinenses’ weighing 75 kg from five smugglers during the intervening night of November 22 and 23 while they were trying to cross the Mahey bridge towards the border.” Tuti added that the caterpillar mushroom was an endangered flora and fauna and seized insect was in excess of Rs10 crore in the international market. The seized material reached Leh from Delhi through courier via Kingfisher cargo. The police claimed that this was the first kind of biodiversity related illegal trade in the country and a case had registered under various Acts. The arrested smugglers have been identified as Sherab Angdu, Rigzin Angchuk, Urgan Rigzin, Nawang Rigzin, all residents of Muth village of Nyoma block. The woman accused has been identified as Kelzang Angmo. The police is looking for the kingpin of the smugglers gang, Stanzin Dorjey, a resident of Chumur village in the Nyoma block. Tuti said the police investigation had revealed the smuggler booked the marked the courier as carrying noodles and blankets in New Delhi.
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Return flights of Haj pilgrims from Dec 3 Srinagar, November 25 Shahbaz said the vehicle passes would be issued by the Haj Committee and only one person would be allowed to enter the airport to receive relatives. Regarding traffic arrangements and hassle-free movement of the Hajis, it was decided that no vehicle would be allowed to proceed to the airport beyond the Humhama crossing without the vehicle pass. The Divisional Commissioner directed the JKTDC authorities to arrange for heating arrangements in Hotel Heemaal and the TRC for those Hajis. She also asked the authorities concerned to ensure proper sanitation in and around the airport premises. In all 7,644 pilgrims had left for Jeddah on 38 Air India direct flights.
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Two library officials suspended
Jammu, November 25 The suspended officials shall remain attached to the libraries at Chanani and Thathri, he said. — TNS
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Two held with hand grenade
Jammu, November 25 Though the police is tight-lipped over the arrests, sources disclosed that following interception of messages between militant groups raids were conducted in a remote village of Thathri tehsil of Doda district and two persons were arrrested. “Two persons were arrested and a hand grenade and 12 rounds of Ak-47 were seized,” the sources said. One of the arrested has been identified as Sajjad Ahmed and the case is being investigated. They disclosed the names of some youths who had been providing logistic support to militants, they added. |
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Leh, November 25
